Giving Thanks

Today is a messy, cold Texas autumn day ... a few hours ago, the temperature was a balmy 65 degrees, but it's fallen about 20 degress since I got up. Thank you, Mother Nature, for giving us such interesting weather. The Macy's Day Parade in NYC has nice (if coldish) weather. Ah, well. Thanks to my students, I have a nasty cold. Plus, later today I get to see and give thanks with a bunch of people with whom I normally would not wish to associate. (You can't choose your family the way you can choose your friends ...) Still, they are family -- and I am glad that they're still around to share another holiday season with us.

It could be worse ... Last year, Jon's mother-in-law was directing her daughter on how to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Within a month, she was dead ... In the last 2 weeks, three people whom I know directly or indirectly have passed away: 1 from heart failure, 1 from leukemia, and 1 in a car wreck (with her daughter). Prayers to their families who mourn their loved ones ... I'm thankful that most of the family is with us ... Drive safely, everyone, and watch out for the other drivers! You never know who's been indulging before she or he gets behind the wheel.

In the picture, Joy and I hold two of our BJDs -- P'asht, the 60cm OOAK Obitsu cat-girl that Joy designed, and Matthias, one of her AOD vampire elves. These two dolls have travelled all over Texas -- P'asht has gone to California several times. The occasion? A modern doll convention -- next weekend, I believe the Barbie brigade will come to the Metroplex. I don't know whether we have a local Barbie collectors group; however, it's fun to see how other people have worked over Mattel's flagship doll. We'll have to squeeze it in after the ballet performance on Saturday; the company will perform a program at St. Bernard's church bazaar. Thanks, Joy, for putting up with my evil attitude (I'm a teacher -- it happens!) and obsessions with books, dolls and sparkly baubles and beads.

Speaking of friends, here's a shout out to my long distance friends who go back -- well, over the decades. I shan't say how many decades, but we went to junior high and high school together. Nancy, Helen and Spencer -- the miles may separate us, but the 'Net keeps us posted on what's going on. Karyl, who performed with me at the Dallas Theatre Center, and daughter Cheryl -- cross-country -- and cross-oceanic -- good wishes for the rest of 2010 and 2011. Many thanks for all our local friends whom we met through the Gallifrey Connection, as well as online friends who like BJDs and school associates who make life at SHS bearable as we whip students into shape for TAKS and STAAR and whatever other tests the great state of Texas throws our way.

The people at church ... all 12-15 (maybe more, depending on which family members are in town) who worship with me. You say I have a voice ... well, it's just that I know the tunes and can belt them out. (But with this cold, who knows how it'll sound on Sunday!) Oh, well, somewhere it says that when you sing you praise God twice ... and I'm sure, like any indulgent parent, God adjusts the notes so they harmonize.

The ballet company and students at the studio -- thanks for giving me a chance to dance and participate in performances once more. More costumes -- and another show! -- for 2011. Now if I could just get my feet and arms to cooperate, the dance would go much smoother ... well, there's always next year.

Let;s not forget the "fairemily" that we see each March and April. You folks make those months a magical, wonderful time ... hopefully the economy will be a bit kinder to everyone in 2011. A special tip of the hat to a departed Faire friend, James Harlan. He made the "gate side" a welcoming place for patrons and merchants alike. I am thankful to have known him ... his memory lives on at Four Winds Faire.

And then there are the pets who abide with us -- cats, birds, and dog ... St. Francis knows that they give us more than we give them ... so, I'm thankful they are with us another year ... and we have a "poofed-out" pussycat (AKA pregant), so who knows what's in store within the month.

All in all --

Thanks to all and sundry during this holiday season.

Dance quote: If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you'd best teach it to dance.
- George Bernard Shaw

Bison Bits & Nano Novel Thoughts

Is it Thanksgiving holidays yet? Sigh!! Yes, it is ... and not a moment too soon. I was ready to collapse from the stress -- either that, or go postal on 3rd period, which would not have been pretty.

The last two days were rather sad ones around SHS -- one of the teachers died of heart failure on Wednesday night, and today a senior died of leukemia. Unfortunately, I cannot put a face to either name ... and I've taught there 4 years. However, unlike RHS, the campus is so much larger -- and with a larger faculty that I don't know the majority of faculty or a class the way I did at Velt. (Sorry -- RHS. For some reason, the powers-that-be didn't like the old nickname.) Why the thoughts about my old school? I got a surprise today while I was fighting wind & papers on the way to the recycling bin ... a middle-aged lady was talking to her male co-workers after they had finished spraypainting over the graffiti on the retaining walls that lead from the back teachers' parking lot to the fine arts wings ... and she turned around and said those words guaranteed to recall the past: "Hi, Ms. Nickell."




Yep, I had taught her back in the days ... In fact, she asked why I hadn't retired. (Darling, I'm not THAT old!!) To tell the truth, it's the tax laws and the economy. I might be able to beat one, but not both ... Then one of last year's kids stopped to help me -- yeah, he's a junior. My first time sophomores are seniors now -- and very lazy, alas. Still, I was not ready to discover that (a) most of my early students ARE middle-aged parents and (b) that many work for DISD. There are days I feel a part of the problem of the future of American education -- rather egotistical of me since I'm not their only English teacher. Still, how do they find me?

We're in the midst of cleaning house ... a monumental task, believe me! Plus, I'm still working on the NanoWriMo novel. Since I'm writing by hand, it takes a while to compose 1500 words. (I've never done it in one day.) At the moment -- I should be at 25000 words; but, no, I have about 14000. Still, I haven't strung that many words together in one month in a loooong time. So, there is something to be said for the "no plot, no problem" approach to writing.

Cats & Dragons

This week had its share of ups and downs ... This computer went down, thanks to an old power supply, and I had to drive up to East Dallas to get it fixed. Why East Dallas? My ballet teacher recommended a computer repair shop -- they have many, many rebuilt computers, computer parts, peripherals ... and they can repair most computers for a reasonable price. True, it cost gas money; however, the computer was in and out of the shop in less than 1 day ... and it seems to run better than before. Joy went down with a cough and cold (or allergies); the outside temp went down on Friday and continued down today. Fall is back!

This morning marked BBC America's Doctor Who marathon for Matt Smith's 11th Doctor ... but they started with "End of Time," which leads to his regeneration scene. Yes, David Tennant is THE Doctor for the 21st century in the way that Tom Baker was THE Doctor during the 80s. David is a better actor than Tom, who is a great performer but not always the best ensemble actor. Unlike Matt Smith, David could make you believe that there was a 900-year-old soul in the body that looked like it was barely over 30. Joy bought the Tonner "Doctor 10" doll -- pictures of THAT in another entry -- and he materialized courtesy of the US Mail last week ... I wouldn't watch that episode over and over, since it does end with David's departure, and it still brings me to tears as the Doctor meets his own mortality ... for the sake of one ordinary old man. His reward? To use his final moments to make certain that his companions are safe and secure ... but he regenerates alone and in pain.

Fiona the Flea, our tortie cat, is nestled in my lap while I write. Every so often a little paw reaches up to tap my hand ... obviously I am not using my hands properly since one in not petting her. More on her -- and her sibs -- later.

I'm still writing on the novel ... I don't like parts of it because there is just way too little action and too many "talking head" dialogue scenes ... but I'm almost at 12, ooo words (I'm behind on the word count by almost 8000.) Still, we're still working on it -- despite a side trip to the computer shop and a visit to Mar's house ... where I wrote while we watched How to Train Your Dragon. We had a minute doll moment ... next week, it's writing and crafts and more videos. To many fans it's rather dull -- but, outside of gas money, it's a chance to do something fannish without spending too much $$$.

Oh, and it's fall house cleaning time ... the cats are bouncing off the walls, which causes books and boxes to tumble. Still, their shenanigans unearthed Joy's Japanese haoris ... and I managed to discover where my new leotard had gone.

Dance quote: "Life's a dance you learn as you go/ Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow ..."

Nanowrimo, Week 2

I'm begun chapter 2 and have about 10, 000 words. They aren't great words or a great plot; however, it does tell a story ... I may yet introduce Joy's character, Harry St. Cloud, into the mix. He's just the sort of pooka -- well, wizard, actually -- who might shake up this weird combination inspired by Henson's movie Labyrinth.

Alas, the computer decided to do something weird today, so it goes into the shop tomorrow. Fortunately, Cheri loaned Joy one of her old computers, so we still have on-line access. Mom, bless her, has done my laundry tonight ... it seems that I only have time to finish that project during the holidays -- or on weekends.

Mundane, I know, but I have to chart my progress on the "nano" novel somehow ...

Oh, and I managed to balance on one foot for 7-8 counts several times tonight! Huzzah! The foreign lady in this picture is "Madame," aka Nathalie Krassavska, a prima ballerina who decided to settle in Dallas' Turtle Creek area when she retired from touring with the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo. She taught many of the ballerinas who perform in the DFW area; they gather together each year to perform a recital -- or a programme -- dedicated to the dances that she choreographed or inspired ... and sometimes we get the treat of watching her perform ... Man, those videotapes are old!!

NaNoWriMo, week 1

This marks the first week of novel writing -- and there is definitely no plot in the back of my mind! I don't have a computer to dedicate to writing; plus, I write better in front of the TV, so I'm handwriting this opus. This means I won't meet word count, but since I won't officially submit this manuscript to the "Nano" people, it doesn't matter. What does count is actually forcing myself to write 500-1000 words per day. It's getting back into the habit of thinking of something besides school -- or reading someone else's novel -- that counts. Not that I'd ever criticize people for reading, whether it's graphic novels, romances, SF, fantasy ... well, I'm not too sure about pornography, but that's another issue isn't it? In a word -- I shall check back periodically to this blog; however, my characters have to run down a dark city block with a nasty blob-like creature following them ... it's targeted Rowena, our protagonist, and I'm not too certain whether Gareth (yes, inspired by David Bowie's Jareth) is her knight or just a bad boy. We'll see.

A note -- it looks like Four Winds Faire will begin the next decade with a new look. One of the older buildings, the Trojan Rabbit, will move because it's original building is slated for demolition. There will also be a pub -- I wonder if there will be official pub sings now? -- for the adults. Dustin plans to open the faire grounds more, so we need to move our things out of the booth ... it is full of stuff! When the weather is nice, it would be a pleasant spot to sit and write -- or draw -- or just get away from town. They'll have a New Year's Eve camp out, but Joy and I aren't really camping fans ... The SCA Tourney of the Queen's Ice back in the 70's cured me of outdoor camping. Brrr! It chills me to think on it.

Time to get back to the novel ... we're in chapter 2, about 6, 000 words. That's about 1,500 words short of where I should be. Got to move that pen over paper!

Dance Quote: “If dancing were any easier it would be called football.” -- Anonymous