GARF ends this weekend, and I haven't had the enthusiasm that is normal for me, but that's becasue I'm tired. It's taking my fulltime day job, plus weekends at Horizon and stray fillins at Theatrical Outfit to make ends meet, and none of thise is guaranteed to last. So, I asked this question:
You asked: Balancing income and outgo, and also have job satisfaction?
The Basis: Ice cream, reversed A soda jerk cheerfully puts the cherry on the top of a giant ice-cream sundae dripping with hot fudge, and offers it to the viewer. Meaning: Do not delay. A good offer now will lose value the longer you let it sit.
The Situation: Random, reversed A long string of digits streams across the face of the card, against a background of paint splotches. Meaning: You're not imagining it. What's going on really doesn't make any sense.
The Outcome: Disintegration A hideous and wicked green-skinned hag holding a broom is melting into a puddle. A girl with a bucket in her hand watches, alarmed. Meaning: A surprising, and suprisingly mundane, means will solve your problem.
It's been months since I posted, and I've posted very little since last fall, when my laptop started having serious issues. I had to spend most of my time in Safe Mode, with no audio, and even there, my keyboard was very, very flakey. FaceBook (and some apps, oh the shame) are a lot easier to do if you cannot type coherently. Now, I'm out of the writing habit, which need to be redeveloped.
Hm. Still working as bookkeeper for wholesale industrial plumbing suppler, still working weekend box office at Horizon Theatre, and will still be at the GA Renaissance Festivial at Raven's Nest Herbals making catnip mousies, which means two months of working seven days a week. Oy.
Rick's Senior Recital was postponed last month because of icing in Atlanta, so it has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 27th at 9:00 p.m. Come one, come all!
Still a volunteer captain at the Shakespeare Tavern, and now am bookkeeper and on the Board (how'd that happen?) of the Essential Theatre. Working now and then as a substitute house manager at Theatrical Outfit. Still a Christian, and I need to post about that someday (yes, I think evolution makes sense and does not contradict the Bible, is a first step).
One big change coming is that a friend who has been down on her luck, is moving back to Atlanta and will stay in my spare bedroom. We'll both have to adjust!
And it was back to the standard near 90 temps that we expect in Georgia this time of year. Saturday was the first day this season without rain between opening gate and closing -- and I mean RAIN, not little drips and drizzles. It was a lot warmer than it has been, and I had a bad case of "I don't wanna" when it was time to get in costume (tightening those bodice laces ups the temp 5 degrees, at least), and then Sunday was the annual Everything Is All Crooked and Why Won't They Do Right? day when I got dressed. Pfui , to quote Nero Wolfe.
Attendance was up, and so were sales -- more people walking nearby means more chances to smell our shop and come see and sniff. During the previous weeks of rain, and fewer customers in the shop at any one time, we (vendors and friends and family) had become accustomed to chatting for long periods, since there often more of us than customers in the shop, and that is a hard habit to break. Raven's Nest is at the back of the site, so we've always has a soft opening, with time to dawdle tightening the bodice and to visit, but this weekend, we had people in well before 11:00, and they were actually shopping! Saturday I stuffed and sewed nearly two dozen catnip mousies and the level in the bin was the same as at opening, This new bag of catnip is incredibly pungent, even to a numb nose like me.
It's been a quiet week at home, and tomorrow night I'll go work bar at the Shakespeare Tavern for preview of The Mystery of Irma Vep. I am so looking forward to seeing it! Casting is excellent - Dolph Amick and Jeff McKerley, and I expect to be in pain from laughing.
Heavy rain beginning 5 minutes before opening gate lasting 45 to an hour. Clearing up. Rain beginning again in earnest just before 6:30 while we're doing last minute privy run and loading car. Highway all wet, so wipers needed for what's kicked up by wheels. Rain stopped, but began very strongly with thunder and lightening as I got home and Gail had to transfer her stuff to her truck. Yes, I'm obsessing. We all obsess.
I've been telling patrons that we at the Faire have gone to all sorts of trouble and have finally conquered a continuing problem. This year we have had NO complaints about pollen and dust.
Rain early, south of downtown Atlanta. I restocked while in my jeans and t-shirt, but had a severe case of I don't wanna, so I didn't go to the back to change until opening. Raven's Nest is at the back end of the site, so we have a soft opening, and there were three others dressed and ready to serve. The rain ended early, and we had a generally sunny day. It has rained every single day of faire this season, during open hours.
A week or two ago, a man in his thirties (I think) came up to chat about patchouli and his wife, and I noticed his Iraqi Freedom cap. He had been in the Army, in the Georgia National Guard and had been in Iraq the same time my oldest was there with the 101st. We were having a pleasant chat, and suddenly he pulled his cap off and ducked his head, to show a totally bald scalp with a deep crease from front to back on the top left. I said, "You were lucky!" which must have been the right thing, because he relaxed and talked even more. He never said what had happened, but that he had a medical discharge due to brain damage. Well, yesterday, he came in again, bringing a bag of desert sage over to me to pay, and I recognized him, "You're back!" He beamed at me, and shook my hand tightly, and left after I wished him well.
It's Memorial Day, officially to remember those who gave their lives in military service, but we need also to remember those who have given their health and maybe competencies, and still live. Others risk their families in being gone a year at a time every second year. Those of us with family in the military often feel as if no one knows that people are still sent overseas and into danger. Please, read the news, and remember all those men and women have families and lives. They laugh and joke, and aren't mass produced little green Army men.
The rain started a little past 9:30 after we passed the airport, and had become full rain when Gail and I pulled up behind the shop. It was pouring by opening gate, and looked as if it would be like that all day, but by noon, the rain had stopped, and during the afternoon, the sun came out, but wasn't hot and humid, since there was a lovely breeze. All in all, a very decent day. It's Invasion Weekend, so there were rennies from all over - North Carolina, of course, but I also met folks from the Ohio RF (who say Hi! to Jim Sweetland) and Sioux Falls, South Dakota faire. Rennies know they don't melt, and since they've traveled perhaps hundreds of miles, they get out and go on to faire, even if there is rain. Thank goodness. It was tempest_gypsy's anniversary, so she had the day off, and runeenigma filled in. Because of the rain, Terry warned her that she might only be needed a few hours, but we stayed busy all day and it was a great help to have her there.
Patron of the Day: Tall, with a big curly reddish brown wig, in a bright red miniskirted belly dancing outfit, with spike heeled sequined strappy sandals. Wrong in so many ways. Mind you, we're at the back of the site, it's been raining for weeks, and people with boots have some trouble in the muddy patches, and those sandals looked spotless. A few hours later, when we had a lull, Gail (who is a belly dancer) and I swapped observations. I still wonder if that person was in drag.
Last night was the Back End of the Site Potluck, mostly vendors, with Lynn (aka Fiona the Scots woman) and Steve Hoddy (Birds of Prey) joining in. It was also a surprise 60th birthday celebration for Linda of the Fairy House booth. We had permission to set up at the pub in the back, so we had a good long counter for the food, and tables for us to sit down. Everyone knocked themselves out, with homemade chicken salad, pasta, baked beans, barbecued pork, banana pudding, apple pie, and lots more. I was ordered to bring deviled eggs (they disappeared FAST last year), and also made Texas caviar. There was much laughter and eating, with one young man asking to marry several of us for our food. He didn't care what gender, he just wanted deviled eggs, barbecue, and pie. We were all tired, of course, and have two more days this weekend, so the rain at 7:30 broke up the party at a good time. It was so very good to sit and talk and laugh with each other.
And so we had accurate weather all weekend long -- rainy and chilly. Yesterday we had a noisy thunderstorm and heavy rain for over an hour before noon, with slow rain for hours longer, easing off to merely overcast and lowering. When the forecasts predict an 80%-90% chance of rain all day long, those who do come to faire are are prepared for weather and set to have a good time. During the heavy rains, people would move into the shop, hang around to dry off a bit, get interested in the stock and start shopping, and then move on after they'd purchased, and the next crowdlet would come in. Sweet! Once the rain backed off, however, people reverted to the usual pattern of walking 10 or 15 feet away from the fronts of booths, which avoids all entanglements. A decent day over all. elliedee visited and we gossiped.
Sunday,tempest_gypsy had the day off to spend playing with her husband, and since there was a steady drizzle to slow soaking rain most of the day, patrons weren't chased inside so we were fairly quiet, with a lot of Lookie Lous. Finally, about 3:30 the gullywasher hit, raining hard for an hour. The site appeared deserted except for vendors, and we resigned ourselves to a deathly quiet couple of hours, but first one of the lovely people at Fairy Houses came over with fabulous giant pretzels from the minipub at our end of the site --- they had planned to throw them out, but our friend rescued them, and made deliveries. Whilst noshing blissfully, we had a series of die hard shoppers stop in, and all were pleasant and actually bought things! Not the best day for sales, but not nearly as awful as might have been.
I'd meant to take home my shawl last week, but I'm so glad I didn't. In my corner of the booth, the air is still, so I was fine without it, but when the last heavy rain and wind came, I surely was glad to have it to wrap in!
GARF on Saturday and Sunday, cooler than predicted, pleasant customers. All day Sunday, a series of townspeople delivered roses to tempest_gypsy, courtesy of her husband. So much joy watching them in character, going directly to "the most beautiful woman" of the village. The roses filled Tempest's hat, and then the window sill behind her. The Lord Mayor delivered the final rose, and left us saying he had to go to the support group for people who talk too much - On and On and On Anon.
I had a Mother's Day triduum, extended through Tuesday. Sunday was Mother's Day, but I didn't actually set eyes on any of my kids, since we all had to work, but I did have good phone conversations with all and sundry. James and his wife had sent me a very fancy necklace, and now I need to find somewhere to wear it! Monday, I entered the world of medical tests that are necessary "now that you are over 50 even though you have no symptoms" although I've managed to delay them for *coughcough* years. I had an ENG (they take a look around the upper GI tract) on Monday, and in a couple of weeks later will have a colonoscopy (during which they do not look around the upper end). Rick is my designated driver for these expeditions, and that's a good thing. The anesthesia left me clear and alert, not foggy at all, but I didn't really care about much, and just couldn't be bothered. Not a good way to drive a car! Steve came up too, and we ate pizza and watched Richard III with Ian McKellen. Tuesday, Steve, Rick, and I went to see the new Star Trek, and had an excellent time. Yes, there were places to quibble, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the whole movie, and got sniffley at the end. I'm not really a fan, in the sense of having mad crushes, and memorizing every trivial detail, but I watched the original show faithfully when I was a teenager and it was oh so new and exciting, and I loved the wholeness of it, all their interactions, and the society. So glad it still appeals!
my life would be interesting. I think I blog to help me remember when it's too hectic to truly contemplate.
Monday, I had a hurried call from Stephen; he and Rick has just realized that the next day, when we were planning to meet to eat at La Fonda was May 5th, a very bad choice for Cinquo de Mayo. We went to the Brick Store Pub instead and I am still in a beer and food lover's blissout. Isil's father Ihsan said there was nothing like the Brick Store Pub in Turkey, and anyone who opened a place like that would make millions. Apparently, the only public places there to sit and drink are dives. Steve, Rick, and I all swapped sips and bites of each other's beer and food, which delighted Ihsan. He and I got into a cheerful shouty argument about Bill Clinton (he says Clinton was intelligent and Europe liked him, and I say he was stupid, he knew people were hoping to get him in trouble), and suddenly he stopped and proclaimed, "NOW it's like Turkey for me!" I had the impression that he thought Americans were stiff. He might have a point, but a better word is uninvolved. Most places have loud music and televisions, so there's very little interaction between people at the same table. The Brick Store Pub has good background music, loud enough to hear, but not overwhelming, and no TVs at all.
The Master Class and the performance at Spivey Hall were excellent, and I'm so glad to have been there. I don't have the words, not the concepts or the vocabulary, to describe what I hear when I listen, so it was great to hear an artist who is a communicator talk. Very satisfying.
Another weekend of faire (week #3) and kids' days, of which I only worked one (couldn't get off my day job two days in a row, and I need to print checks tomorrow, so today was massive entering of invoices). I've tried to be optimistic, but there is no way around it --- attendance is down, and those who are there aren't buying much. Yesterday was the high school/middle school day, and most of what I sold was $1.00 muslin bags of pot pourri, not even a whole $2 cup. A few honey straws for the big spenders, and the only hard candy was to a teacher who remembered us from last year -- an impressive 24 pieces at a dime each. One of the cast told me that some schools had cancelled for fear of swine flu. Humph. They're not all crowded togther outdoors on a faire site.
And the very competent galbinus_caeli installed my ceiling fan yesterday, and to my horror, I had forgotten to get the beer to pay him. ARGH. My brain is trickling out.
Shakespeare Tavern tomorrow to volunteer and see The Tempest.
WHY IS IT that every single time I substitute as house manager at Theatrical Outfit, the volunteers go flakey? Last night there were three scheduled for a nearly sold out house and not one of them showed up or called in! I had to take one door and the development director (there to sell subscriptions) and the stage manager .. the stage manager! had to take the other door. Didn't get most of the ticket stubs, and was just glad to get everyone seated and only start 10 minutes late. Theatre people are the best about getting up and helping out, without whining about Not My Job. The stage manager, for Pete's sake!
The regular house manager Wendell asked me to sub when I was there Wednesday with Thsan, Isil's father who is here for a month from Turkey. Driving Miss Daisy, is an excellent show, and accessible (I hope) for someone whose isn't a native English speaker. The Southern accents are a challenge, since he has an Indian English accent, much more clipped and articulated than our Southern accent, but he did fine. Good parental conversation afterward about how are our children going to support themselves as musicians. Not many people see that the need to perform, and use the talent is as important as earning a living.
Eating breakfast before 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday is just wrong, but I have to get ready for working faire and leave by 8:30 ish, I must suffer. Still to do - stitch the long seam which adds the ribbon tail to several mousies, thereby transforming them from the roadkill stage to the anorexic stage, and pack up my makeup and concert-going clothes so that I can make a dash to Spivey Hall for a 7:00 p.m. concert. Not a concert actually, that's tomorrow afternoon, but to a Master Class on Bach keyboard works by Angela Hewitt (Isil is one of the students accepted for it - an honor). Tomorrow afternoon, she has a duet performance with the cellist Daniel Müller-Schott.
I am home, and semi-rested, fed, with laundry in process, and actually posting with content.
Global warming does not have the result that everywhere is uniformly warmer all the time; it results in more random weather, which doesn't fit the patterns we're used to, both heat and cold. Last weekend, the weather was cool and crisp, and I wore a shawl in the morning for that bit of extra warmth. On the other hand, yesterday was 90, I think, unseasonably warm, and none of us are acclimated yet. Bah.
That wouldn't have been too bad - complain a little, go home, shower, sleep, repeat, but Rick (#3 son) broke the news that Isil's (his girlfriend) graduate solo recital was this Saturday, in addition to the GSU orchestra concert today that I already know about. AND, that she'd been accepted for a public Master Class being held in Spivey Hall next Saturday, and the pianist was in concert the next Sunday and they'd already bought me tickets, AND AND her father was visiting here from Turkey for a month and when will we all get together? Eeep. This might be the place to mention that conversations with them always make me feel as if I've stepped into a Georgette Heyer story.
After some alarums and excursions, arrangements were made at Raven's Nest for me to leave on time the two Saturdays, and work half days the two Sundays. So, yesterday outdoors all day, nice and sweat sticky, and I had to freshen up and dress to go to a concert. And meet people. Her father is very nice, a Turk who was educated in India, and runs an import business from India and Bangladesh. He opens doors and stands up when a woman enters, or rises to leave, and does is in such a natural way, that I felt very gauche with my habitual turn-taking with opening doors.
The recital was lovely, with over an hour of demanding solo piano, all from memory -- she's a tiny young woman, and plays in an elegant style that makes the piano look like a stroked instrument, rather than percussive. Not wishy-washy or tentative at all, but not beating upon the keyboard. karmakeys, John, and his father were all there, too, and they are all trained musicians, and could give specific compliments -- much better than my "Oh, that's pretty, I liked it!" Afterwards, we all went to Manuel's Tavern, which can seat a party of 8 or 9 without notice, and is a great place to talk. The tables are the perfect size to allow talking across the table, so no one is unable to hear and feel left out. Their roommate was there too, an Indonesian grad student who has just been accepted to Harvard for a doctorate in Public Health. Lots of accents, much hilarity, and discussion of how to make guacamole (her father has avocado trees in his complex). I had to leave at 10:30, since I had GARF in the morning.
All that was after having waken up at 3:30 Saturday to deal with the wireless router. I was so exhausted! Today was more of the same, but I forgot my blouse and had to drive home to change instead of leisurely changing in the shop. So glad the cops weren't watching my speed. I love live performances, and even when they are not perfect, I get so much more when I can watch, and be part of it. Glad I went!
Work tomorrow morning, eye exam in late afternoon, dinner with Rick, Isil, and her father on Tuesday, taking him to Driving Miss Daisy at Theatrical Outfit Wednesday (it's set in Atlanta, and is much more accessible to a non-native English speaker than Shakespeare or the Horizon's play this month which is a two woman show, set in a black beauty parlor), and on Thursday, fierce_rabbit is loaning galbinus_caeli to install my new ceiling fan. I'm giving up on having the place all tidied up, and am content to be in the Unnecessary to Call Health Department category instead.
And after fabulous opening weekend crowds, it was sparse this weekend. Gorgeous weather, although hot, so I'm hoping they were all at the Inman Park Festival.
And, I saw a link to this in Metaquotes, and then read more of his blog, which led me to his Rottweiler's blog http://willow-the-dog.livejournal.com/, which had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes.
Gorgeous, fabulous perfect weather! Puffy clouds and sunshine, temps at that sweet spot where some were in belly dancing garb with lots of skin exposed (that's elfgirl, and others all covered up as cavaliers (that's dwivian) and all looking smashing and comfortable. It was an LJ intensive day, with madladyred and her husband and friends (also LJ) bringing home-made scones and decorations -Mmmm, lasarigue who is no longer a singing pirate but a shepherdess, sixbadapes boot shopping for Tavern parts, and of course, the ever so competent and cheerful tempest_gypsy who is working in Raven's Nest this season (Huzzah!).
The only bad to the day was early enough to get over it: The Georgia Department of Transportation, in all their wisdom and perceptiveness, shut down the two right hand lanes of a four lane highway just before Exit 61 to GARF, and the four lanes of brake lights didn't happen until a few yards past the last exit before. It took me 45 minutes to go 3 miles! Oh, yeah, and just after we mushed into the two left lanes, they forced ALL lanes to the far right exit only lane, and the entire highway had to exit there at Fairburn. I was sooo glad to make the right turn towards the site and skedaddle.
The week before Easter, the dogwoods and azaleas are in full bloom, the trees are leafing out with great enthusiasm, and there's snow predicted tonight.
Hot and dusty today, and I'm going to come up with some sort of appropriate loose flowing garb for next season's hot weather (No, really, I really am!). Do it yourself mud packs of dust and sweat were standard today.
Three day weekend. Memorial Day weekend. Summer is here weekend. Invasion weekend.
I put on my Wench Guild pin and my GARF Invasion 2000 pin. First invasion at GARF, and I organized it. Realized then that working at faire does not combine well with invasion meet and greet and play activities. Bah. And no one has noticed them, so double Bah. Well, except for Mercie and Rowland who were there to day and as fabulous as ever. I do like being with them!
Bad costuming decisions. Teenage girl in brand new bustier style bodice, who hadn't been taught how to wear it, so it was tits on a platter style. And she had on a hoodie underneath.
runeenigma was playing her recorder in the shop, and a woman stopped right in front of us to loudly explain to her escort that the recorder is very simple, that she had played it in fifth grade, and if she could play it, anybody could. Loud silence from runeenigma
So I said, "We-e-ellll, anyone can pick up a drum and make a sound on it, but it takes a lot of practice for it to sound good," and Paige picked up her cue and started playing something nicely complex and fast. Long silence from know-it-all woman, who then had the grace to say, "But she's worked more in it that I did" and wandered on. Oaf.
Speaking of recorders, we had various and sundry musicians of the singing and recorder playing persuasions in the shop for much of the afternoon, which made all of us and our customers very happy. Yesterday, two-thirds of the Rumrunners were in to sing, and I got one of their CDs, which was mostly original music. I'm looking forward to settling down to listen.
Am tired, must sleep. In the morning I will: Sew on mousie tails so that I can stuff with catnip in the shop (a demo!!) Sew dream pillows on the machine (short straight seam) Fix food to take along (a Minibel cheese, a sliced green pepper, and some Canadian bacon) (and maybe grapes or apple wedges). All the scents in the shop suppress my appetite, but about 10 minutes after I leave, just as I'm about to pull onto the paved road, a day's worth of hunger jumps me. I have to eat munchies through the day. or I'll buy at the convenience store. And maybe scoop the litter box if I'm feeling ambitious.
I am usually in Raven's Nest all day every day that faire is open (eight weekends, plus Memorial Day and two student days), in the rock corner, sewing catnip mousies, but this season has been skewed. Until this weekend, opening weekend was the only one I'd had both days of -- I had to work at Horizon the next four Sundays. I like working there, and they've been super cooperative with my faire conflicts, and now I'll have the last three weekends all at GARF (missing opening weekend of The Clean House). The first two weekends, mrakg had to be out of town, so I was in his corner, alien territory for me except on student days. No mousies there. Then, mrakg was back and I had three Saturdays over on my own corner, and now, finally, two-thirds of the way through GARF, I had a whole weekend in my place. Such a creature of habit!
Patron of the Day. White man with long scraggly beard, wearing Confederate flag britches, a Hooters towel around his waist, and white boots that looked as if he'd snatched them from a majorette. The Anti-Matter Baton Bob.
Friday, I volunteered at the Shakespeare Tavern and saw Midsummer Night's Dream again. It's been a lovely, fresh show, and I wish I could have been there every week -- so much fun! Carol Tulloss, who plays Snout the tinker, always took an enormous breath before each line as the Wall, and Friday the whole audience noticed and started gasping for breath along with her - absolutely hilarious, because they all fed on each other.
And to the woman who sashayed in with five teenagers at 7:20, and then, when the house manager told her they wouldn't be able to sit at the same table, ranted, "I am a teacher here with my students, and I cannot believe that after we spent this money you can't seat us together." Lady, there isn't a theatre in town who can guarantee seating six together ten minutes before curtain, unless they haven't sold any tickets anyway. Way to teach them courtesy and savoir faire, ya know?
Thanks to tempest_gypsy, Raven's Nest was serenaded by the RumRunners! lasarigue, the lead singer, has been up to the shop several times, but I'd never gotten to hear her and her crew perform. Good voices, and good arrangement. I know playing in the shop rather than a stage cramped their style, but they gave us much delight. Thanks!!!
Yesterday was supposed to be rainy with thunderstorms, and the weather radar looked threatening, but we only had mild drizzling, which was just right for Scottish Weekend, and it stayed cool enough for the cloak wearers to be happy. By closing, the sun had come out, and there was a brisk breeze, and it is lovely today. I'm working at Horizon Theatre this afternoon, so I had this morning for laundry and vacuuming and such. It's uncomfortable to be working half way at two weekend jobs, but I like them both and want to stay with them. Next week is my last Sunday at Horizon until June sometime, so I am savoring the mornings at home. I'm already signed out from choir, and am not going to church while my schedule is like this.
The second Students Day (elementary and middle school) was much better than the first week's. The high schoolers are trying to look cool, and so show little interest in anything, but these would actually slow down and ask questions -- much more fun for me. A group of four middle school boys came in, bouncing off the walls, picking up things, letting go, flurrying on to the next something. One of them picked up a buckeye out of those we had for sale, and asked about it, and when I said it was for good luck, they all started rubbing the buckeye on their arms for good luck. I laughed and they began asking questions about all sorts of things there. Nice kids, just lively. And then one of them counted out all the money in his pocket, and spent $0.30 for three sticks of incense for his mother for Mother's Day. I nearly began to sniffle right then. Oh, and did I mention they were all black? Three strikes against them, yes? Black, middle school, and male. They were delightful, and I hope they'll remember.
Rick, #3 son, worked at the Parrots of the Caribbean for Kids Day, and is in shock at that many urchins at one time.
First, on the way home from GARF, after I let Steve out at the Tavern to work, I went to Borders and bought the new Bujold book!! Yay!!! And some DVDs on sale, too, so I can sew.
Lovely, lovely weather today -- most surprising since it's been Scottish weather on the high school Student Day for the past several years. Good news?! No, that's bad news, because they mostly stayed out doors in the sunshine and didn't come in and shop. Those who did come inside bought mostly dime candies and fifty-cent honey straws, and I didn't see the standard assortment of hats, dragon claw stone on a string, and furry dragon puppets. Not a lot of extra money floating around the teens this year.
1. The Rennie Grapevine
Deb, aka Delia McDougal, singer and player of Celtic harp and flutes, and all her family have been involved with faire in many different ways. Well, they grew up, which is good, and two of the boys are now married, and in the Military. The one in the Navy is stationed in Georgia, and his wife went into early labor,and had to be taken by ambulance to Savannah. He couldn't call Deb on the phone, since (1) she's performing and leaves her phone in the car, which is made easier by (2) the absolutely horrid lack of coverage we have on site.
How to tell the near grandmother what's happening? Answer: Call big brother (akajaythebarbarian), the Marine, who is stationed in North Carolina. He says, "I have friends who will be at GARF today -- they can tell her!" and so they searched her out and told her during a set.
2. The Searchers for Smoking Herbs
We sell herbs. We have a sign prominently displayed, saying, "Raven's Nest does not sell illegal substances. Please do not ask for them." Teenagers do not read, and they ask. They ask each one of us, at length, rephrasing to make sure we understand what their desire is. This becomes annoying rather quickly. My preferred method is to answer their questions in great detail, explaining the foods, and healing, and dye stuffs -- overwhelming them with information, but we don't all use that method.
Today, after I'd bored them with facts, a group of boys decided my son neff, who in his mid 20's, looked like Someone Who Knew, and this is what I overheard:
Boy: Oh, come on, you know what I mean - what can I smoke? Son: You can smoke anything in the shop, but it'll make you cough like crazy, you'll feel horrible, and your friends will all laugh at you for being stupid.
Repeat, with variations for five minutes until boys left.
I've been busy lately, and even when I am home, I require a certain amount of reading time, even if it's catching up with my f-list and not a book. Although we get to IM pretty often, and he calls me occasionally, I still need to finish the letter I began weeks to James in Iraq, because paper mail is important when you are a long way from home. Speaking of James, he's been accepted in to Officer Candidate School, and is now waiting to be told when he will attend.
Thursday night I saw In Darfur at the Horizon -- fabulous drama! It's about the vicious genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, and even though it's about horrible things, there's humor and vivid personalities. The reviews in the various Atlanta papers have been good. It isn't a little fluff disease-of-the-week piece, and I'd gladly watch it again. The performances are uniformly good, even frightening. As with many theatres there's no proscenium arch with curtains, and scene changes must happen in full view of the audience, so I'm always curious as to how it is accomplished in each venue for the various plays. They do an excellent job staging the show and the changes with sound and lights, and you are pulled in.
