No More Middles

The middle kitties -- shown in the March 25 blog -- have gone to a new foster home. I must hang my head in shame: they had ear mites, fleas, and worms ... With 12 kitties in the house, and Faire and school, I just hadn't taken serious care of health needs. Now we have the 4 "littles" in the bathroom and the 4 "big uns" in the bedroom ... well, Skittles -- my eldest tom -- doesn't always stay in the bedroom. Bojangles may be a neutered tom, but he still wants to beat up the competition. It's a tomcat testosterone thing ... UIL for Sunset went as smoothly as expected ... some kids didn't show up, so we had to substitute one for another. Luckily, Doc had signed plenty of sheets. We did make alternate in 1 speech event and placed 6th in two journalism events. When you're up against the big powerhouses of Jesuit and Townview, it's tough to break into the top 3. Mrs. B has decided to lobby for more administrative support to encourage (ie, forcibly persuade) the faculty who teach the highly academic and talented few to participate in UIL ... Scholarship money and resume tags for college apps are at stake. Last weekend was a dreadfully slow Faire day. I arrived late on Saturday night -- after learning that the middle kittens had gone to a new foster home. The weather felt warm; June bugs buzzed anyone near the light ... but in the middle of the night the cold front came through. We woke to gray and drizzling skies. We've seen more first timers, but you could tell that many had no idea what a Renaissance faire meant ... Worse (for merchants), many had closed their pocket books. Bummer ... we made the same amount of the 1st Saturday as we did all weekend. Sigh! It's the odds, you know ... Very few weekends, even in the better economic times, crack the $200 mark. But we can try! This weekend has the masked ball, so we hope that the ladies (and gents, too) will be in the market for some added bling to their ball gowns and fancy dress. I'm not sure whether to smile or shake my head when people praise the Faire newsletter. I put it together in about 30 minutes -- it takes longer to gather the news! But it does put information into everyone's hands ... The Faire grapevine was notoriously unreliable when you wanted to get the word out; gossip flies, but the truth limps ... Considering that Sara had foot surgery this year and zips around on a scooter AND I bunged up my left leg and knee so I limp, the old saying is true!! The bum knee doesn't stop me from going to ballet class, although the 12-year-old does much better relevees than I do ... Tonight my knee is reminding me that the physicists say that a human being shouldn't be able to do pirourettes; I did -- and at over 1/2 century I do rather well ... most of the time!

Felines & Felinity

Darcy -- and the rear foot of his brother, Grandmaster Flash

Soren, who was once Serena

Darien (AKA Tuxedo Mask)

Not quite Sense & Sensibility, but I had to try. One of the kits just batted my braid -- the hair snake was too much of a temptation ... Right now, we have 4 "big uns" (term taken from Golding's Lord of the Flies, 4 "middles" (all literary boys), and 4 "littles" ( born during the last school closing day in February). Tomorrow the "middles" go to a Catmatchers pet adoption event; I hope all of them find new forever homes. They're cute little purr-motors, but we have way too many of Bast's children in our little house.

On Monday, I had to take the "middles" to Crandall -- about 30 miles away -- for their neutering and shots. It was dark, since I had to deliver them by 7-8 A.M., then get across Dallas County for school. Every so often, a box would rattle and rock as its occupant tried to escape. I tried soothing soliloquys, a bit of shouting -- nothing worked for long. When I got off 175, there were no street lights, just the local Dairy Queen ... which my neighbor at Four Winds Faire told me marked the street. Did I turn there?

Of course not ... I followed Mapquest -- and had to make a block. Then I still had a little way to go before the Kaufman County Clinic emerged from the growing predawn darkness ... I then discovered that Darcy (or perhaps Grandmaster Flash) had escaped from his box ... I could smell evidence of his displeasure, but it was time to deliver kits and move on.

When I arrived at school, I discovered that he had ruined a blouse ... well, I ruined the blouse because after I washed it I forgot to bring it home for a second drying & washing ... such is life. But the operations went well, and the kits returned home ready to skitter around the living room and generally be cute and crazy until they were locked once more in the bathroom. Tonight I'm letting them run about the house -- it may be the last time they're in the little house on Lancaster prairie.

Dancing My Life Away

Now there's a dramatic look at ballet class! This week, we had 3-5 people per class; it gives the feel of having a "real" class, though our ability levels vary wildly. We have Liz, who just decided to begin ballet at the age of 20+; she may have energy, but she's very heavy. Who cares? Just put on the rights and slippers and join us at the barre. At the other extreme is Rozelle, a high school sophomore who dances with the company. In the middle are my niece Stephanie, Mo, and myself ... Mo danced quite a bit and has a dancer's body; however, ballet is one of many things she does to keep fit. Steph has become a metal worker; she creates useful items by shaping and welding metal bits together. She's come back after a killer teaching schedule that kept her at work for all hours ... and then there's myself. I returned to the barre after 20+ years ... although I'm not as heavy as Liz, I am the oldest student (so far). I'm the poster child to persuade parents that they, too, should join the adult classes.

At least for 90 minutes I can concentrate on something besides the "crisis in the classroom" (state & federal budget cuts to education) and the homefront problems ... We began Stage 2 of the Big Change, although I'm anxious about my mom. It seems she dates her problems from the week in 2008 when the drug interaction messed her up ... or maybe she's gotten the dates confused. I'm not sure, but I may have to re-arrange my life -- or at least my schedule -- to deal with the problem. Luckily, the brothers will help; the question remains: can they? Jon is a salesman; Rob works as an engineer in Arlington. It's a tough call. Janelle warned me at her mom's funeral to get ready ... but it always comes before you think it will. Fortunately, the law now recognizes the need for children to take care of their parents -- and that works in my favor if I go into bankruptcy court.

Such a cheery subject! All the way from dance to doom ... well, here's a quick prayer for all the dolly and anime and manga creators who live in Japan. May St. Barbara, the patron saint for those dealing with explosives and electricity, watch over them. This year's A-Kon will not be quite the joyful event as in prior years.

Cat & Cattitude

Fairy Tales for the Faire

"Not quite the same ring as Pride and Prejudice, but I needed a title to sum up Tuesday -- Mom and cat day, with a little laundry thrown into the mix. First, Fiona had to return to the ASPCA clinic to be neutered -- this time, the process went smoothly, although she slipped out of her "collar of shame" in order to eat. The kittens will be disappointed that the milk bar has closed. They're almost 3 months old, so I doubt that it was more than a comfort food thing. Then I zoomed off to Mom's house; she's had an issue with her library, so we took her receipt and checked it out ... only to discover that she had the wrong receipt, and we should look for an entirely different set of books. She's still angry about that -- I want to request a search, but I'm also inclined to go to Half Price Books and buy replacement copies while checking around the house, just in case Mom got her books and dates mixed up.





I now know how Janelle felt the last years that her mother was alive ... although Mom's not nearly in the state of Mrs. C, I think my story that I need to be ready to move in might not be far from the truth ... Still, Mom and I living in the same household would prove frustrating for both of us -- and I couldn't keep Skittles, my eldest cat. Time will tell.





Today we get to load boxes and zoom off to Grapevine ... I don't know how long that will take, but I can foresee at least 2 trips -- unfortunately, that's not enough to warrant renting a U-haul truck, although the rental might be cheaper than gas this week. I'm sticking to my decision to limit my boxes of books and stuff -- As Harry Houdini said to Professor de Witt, "Travel light." We have a 3 month deadline ... I'm hoping to extend it until the end of school, so I won't face the long drive until next fall semester. We shall see.





Steph, my niece, turned up at ballet class. This semester's schedule allows her to come, although she normally goes on my "off" days, Wednesday and Saturday. Maybe after Faire, we can do occasional Saturdays. She's working on various metal-working projects; Hope's landlord has hired Steph to do some table bases for him ... the beginning of a business that will prove more lucrative than jewelry, I hope. Maybe I should get her a ledger -- yeah, I know "Quicken" is better, but that takes time to learn -- so she can keep her income and outgo recorded for 2011.

Baby Steps

No bullies at the new house -- Gone but not forgotten

The migration from Dallas County to Tarrant County has begun -- north by northwest. Wait -- I think that title's been used, Hitchcock kept all the best lines for himself (though Cary Grant spoke them with such panache!). We now have a new storage unit for the books and nonperishables (so to speak); we don't have to worry about boxes in a garage that gets hosed down occasionally. (They keep an elderly German Shepherd in there.) When they lived in Oklahoma, Cheri once was a bulldog breeder; she showed dogs and won a few ribbons. However, they wound up keeping most of their bulldogs ... but those much-loved pets are now only memories and pictures on the wall. Joy and I will have 2 elderly Lab mixes in the apt. In fact, the female is a rescue dog.

Yes, I rescued her outside of F.D.Roosevelt HS back in the 90s. (I told you she was elderly.) Frankie has never forgotten, even though her permanent home has always been with Cheri. I spotted a 6-week-old puppy curled up behind the bushes near the auditorium ... No one claimed her. No one wanted her, so I put her in my car (It was a very mild day.) to keep her safe ... Luckily, it was a Friday; we drove up to Oklahoma that weekend. Frankie loved her new home, but that didn't stop her from trying to crawl into my lap like a little puppy every time she saw me ... Her flatmate, Kix, is also quite elderly, so we'll have two old dogs to mind.

I don't know about the city where we'll officially live, but Grapevine definitely makes its money as a tourist spot ... and maybe we can find an outlet for Joy's jewelry. I know that everyone does beads (and there's at least 1-2 bead shops in Grapevine), but does anyone up there do chain maille? We shall see. I have all summer to explore ... well, most of the summer. There may be planning to do as we get ready for (gads!!) freshman English. I foresee many e-mails between my computer and Ennis ...

Today is a Mommy Day ... After I take Fiona to the ASPCA for neutering -- the kits still nurse off and on, so we may get an early pick up call -- then I go to Mom's house. Lots of driving today and yesterday, since I also want to go to ballet tonight ... after I pick up Fiona. They tell us to "take it easy" during the spring break -- and forget that they've told us to schedule as much as we can so we don't miss school time.

C'est la vie ... Ma vida loca!

All in the Faire-mily

Our view of the front gate

They say that your past comes back to haunt you. Well, this weekened one young man's past colored everyone's perception of his stories about his adventures and his assurance than he's changed his ways. I shall call him Mark. According to his mentor, Mark was a feral child who discovered the Faire when he was a youngster. He'd been abandoned by his mother, and his mentor was in his mid-20s (earlier 30s max) ... Of course, Mark loved the idea of adopting a persona -- but he got sucked into the sex, drinking and Celtic reels -- and no one who was working the Faire when he got banned (several times) has forgotten his shenanigans. One of the last was dressing as Gollum on a cold, windy Tolkien weekend ... another was his satyr. Yes, going about half-naked was his thing. Add to that that he was openly pagan and bisexual and -- Mark had made a reputation for himself.

This weekend he returned -- and it caused a ruction in the faire-mily. His mentor wanted to give him another chance, another said no ... a mess. Mark thought it humorous -- he's still at the Faire, so he's "won." But everyone has an eye on him and lets his mentor know what they think Mark is doing ... Mentor's hurt that we just don't trust Mark -- I figure Mark deserves his chance, but would I trust him around my teenaged nieces? Not on your life!!

And you don't know whether to believe his stories ... that he worked in a costume shop in Hollywood and the coat he's wearing was on a featured extra in Pirates of the Carribean, that he played Spiderman as a street performer in Las Vegas, that he has a 2-year-old child that he seldom sees (that I do believe without question), that he came home to attend a funeral (a possibility) ... the list goes on. Our running joke is that you can tell Gov. Perry is lying because his lips are moving; Mark may go on that list, too, because his stories are sooo fantastic -- and he's lied to us in the past. He maybe 10 years older ... but has he made that fundamental change? Has he figured out how he messed up in the past and how he can prove that he's ready to do his share -- and not mess up again? Time will tell.

Outside of that faire-mily drama, we had faire weather (next weekend should be warm with showers) and a moderate number of patrons. We made our booth quota (and paid our quarter to the management) ,,, but it's tight, as always. Sara and I premiered the newsletter -- she insists that I take credit (or blame?) as editor. The main critique was to include the themes in the calendar of events, so we can dress appropriately ... but most people liked our move from the Roman times into the Gutenberg broadsheet.

Experimental Posts

I might not be able to insert videos or pictures at school; however,I can access Blogspot through Gmail while sitting in SHS #313. The room may not remain mine in 2012 since the Texas Legislature in its wisdom has decreed severe budget cuts, which means more than 30 kids in a classroom. SHS got cited for several overcrowded rooms with computer wires trailing on the floor ... I'm sure I was included in the group since the fire marshall was standing in the door when I moved a desk into the room and showed a junior where he should sit ... not in the exit. We laughed, but I bet she made a note that 6th period is wall-to-wall kids.

On a Faire note, I discovered that Keith chose the name "Henri II" because he was the son of Francois I ... I don't know precisely why the kings changed; however, I'm sure there's someone about who can inform me more fully ... and one lady-in-waiting is researching Catherine di Medici, his Queen. As long as no one decides to be Diana de Poitiers (his mistress), I suppose we'll be all right. More royal drama we don't need!

Faire Weather Friends

The opening weekend at Four Winds Faire brought hot and cold windy weather -- and I'm not just talking about the weather! I shan't publish the fairemily's business in a public forum, since so much was relayed in the usual way -- via the grapevine. Still, there are a few memories that are worthy of passing mention.

After the faire closed on Saturday -- a blustery, cold day -- we met at James' memorial garden to salute absent friends. We raised a glass (ah, for the song that goes with it!) to James, who welcomed so many folks (including us) to the Faire; to the Lady in the Woods, a gentle soul who was part of Sherwood Archery -- I still have the amethyst she gave me; Roland and his wife, who had the photography and Celtic works up the hill; and Myst, Dustin's knightly steed, a performer with great heart. On the last -- Dustin had posted that he would "sneak" a mention of his old companion into the service; I shot back that Myst was as much a performer and part of the Faire as us humans. He deserved more than a passing mention ... The pipers played as we drank our remembrances.

I must say that this past weekend brought out some old and new friends and supporters. Some had gone down to Sherwood near Austin; others had gone to the North Texas Irish Fest (though that might be this coming weekend). The joust was well-attended; as usual, all the merchants wanted more customers ... The gas prices may keep the casual day-tripper from making the drive from the Metroplex. We shall see.