home office – Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy and Chia

I love laying here in the red chair like this, looking out the window. The sun is so warm on my furs! When I concentrate I can almost see the little buds trying to pop out on the tree branches.

Every once in a while I get to see a deer or two walk into our front yard. When that happens, I start making these high yipping noises cause I’m so excited. I want to run out and, and, well, I don’t know. I just want to go out and see and smell them. I think we could all be friends.

Mom moved her work office up from the downstairs so her and Dad could use the dance floor again. Now the office is in the front room. Even though it takes up half the room, she was careful to leave the red chair in front of the window so Xena and I could continue to keep a watch on the neighborhood.

With Mom working from home, and Dad working from home all but the two days he goes into his workplace, I’m rarely alone.

That also means shorter naps. It’s always, “Lucy, does this email I’m sending to everyone sound OK? Here, let me read it to you.” Or, “Lucy, would you shed a little more on these letters I’m getting ready to mail?” Or, “Lucy, do you want some lunch?” And sometimes, “Lucy, come help me groom this difficult dog.”

It can be tiring work.

Then there’s my little sister. She likes the red chair too. Sometimes she jumps over me to the top. Sometimes she brings one of her stuffies with her.

And every once in a while she politely asks if she can lay up here too.

I never say no. We’re good about sharing. We’re kinda like that song “Sisters” that Mom likes.

Sisters, sisters
There were never such devoted sisters
Never had to have a chaperone, no sir
I’m here to keep my eye on her
Caring, sharing
Every little thing ~~that we are wearing~~
When a certain gentleman arrived from Rome
She wore the dress and I stayed home
All kinds of weather, we stick together
The same in the rain or sun
Two different faces, but in tight places
We think and we act as one, uh-huh
Those who’ve seen us
Know that not a thing can come between us
Many men who tried to split us up, but no one can
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister
And Lord help the sister that comes between me and my man

This is Lucy in the Red Chair, wishing you a happy Friday.

Lucy: As many of you know, our Mom works as the Office Manager at a Conservative Jewish synagogue. The shul, or synagogue building, is too unstable to use, and it is going to be torn down. Because of that the office has been moved into the basement of our house while they try to figure out a more permanent solution for worship, work, and events. It’s really nice, cause Mom only has to walk downstairs to go to work, and we can go to work with her.

Xena: By the way, I am out of the cone now. I got my stitches removed from my Big Girl surgery, and I’m leaving my incision alone. I really don’t want to have to wear that plastic head band again.

Lucy: So anyhow, back to Mom, I kept hearing her and Dad talk about teaching a dance called the Hustle. Then I got an idea!

“Hey Mom, why are you teaching Hustle at a synagogue? I thought they worshiped and learned there. I didn’t know it was a place to dance!”

Mom: “Purim is coming up, and it’s one of the most fun holidays celebrated by the Jewish people. Purim (held on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar — this year the first week of March) commemorates the day Esther, Queen of Persia, saved the Jewish people from execution by Haman, the adviser to the Persian king. “

Lucy: “Haman…boo! Um, do they use cats to purr, for Purim? I can’t wait to hear that. Will any of them come to our office?”

Mom: “No, sweet Lucy. It’s pronounced pour-um. And, before you ask, the only thing being poured is some drinks.”

Xena: “Why are you teaching hustle? Maybe I could do my dance routine with you and we could teach Freestyle?”

Mom: “It’s got to be hustle because the theme for the evening is ‘Stayin’ Alive,’ like in the John Travolta movie. It’s right out of the 1960’s, when hustle was big. Because of the problems with the building, and the challenges of keeping the congregation together with hope that we will overcome those challenges, we went with that theme. Last year there was a Talent Contest at the Purim celebration, and your Dad and I dressed up and performed the hustle.

Everyone enjoyed it, and it fit right into this year’s theme. Hence, your Dad and I are teaching hustle.”

Lucy (back to my idea): “Hey Mom, maybe I could try helping to teach dance as a career, like Angel Lexi did. She even created a Video of her doing hustle as a Valentine’s present to Noodle.”

Xena: No! I want to help! Me, me! I want to do a video! I want…

*a few days later*

Lucy: “Mom, aren’t you going to brush your hair before you leave the house?”

Mom: “Nope, I need big hair for our Stayin’ Alive party! See you pups later.”

Lucy: We heard about the party, but didn’t get to go. The Rabbi and our friend Laurie did a skit like in SNL (Saturday Night Live) and different folks read the Megillah in Hebrew, and everyone ate and drank, and then the Hustle class started.