Halloween on a Tuesday should be a federal crime. 3rdLand experienced a significant decrease in learning levels for 5 days straight. By the time the bell rang for dismissal each day, I felt wrung out like an old kitchen sponge. My energy reserves were so depleted I worried that I might not be able to drive the mile back to my house.
I like Halloween as a citizen, but as a teacher I do not care for it. Because of this year's unfortunate timing, my fatigue built up and by Friday I had a sore throat. On Saturday I couldn't move off the sofa. As I languished, I caught up on Golden Bachelor and watched movies. Flora and Son was good. Appropriate Behavior even better. Midnight Run and Blue Jay are older classics. See any of these films if you want to.
Most 3rdLanders had a plethora of fun stories, but come to find out, the kids with the blow up costumes had some sadness. A dinosaur inflatable worn by one third lander deflated halfway through trick or treating. He carried on in his own attire, a pain to explain to the candy givers. Another 3rdlander skipped Halloween altogether when his Sponge Bob inflatable went bust 20 minutes before T-or-T departure time. His parent dashed back to the shop but was denied an exchange. Annoyed beyond all get out, this kid opted for staying home. As we all know, some losses are so devastating that recovery is impossible. You may want to boycott that store next year. At the very least, save all packaging and receipts. Overall, I do not recommend the blow up costumes. Too much heartache.
On Wednesday a kid came to school wearing a Xmas sweatshirt. Charlie Brown. Tiny Piano. Pathetic tree with red ornament. That one sweatshirt led to an extended, wild mashup of Halloween recollection with fervent Christmas plans.
We're in holiday hoedown mode and I need to figure out how to stay healthy. It's not going to be a super season of holiday cheer if I end up in a coffin by New Year's.
I wasn't surprised that Husbandman was a natural with the singing bowls, while I bumbled and bungled along. Bottom line: he's musical I'm not. The gift shop man stood near me redirecting and advising me as I misplayed the various bowls while Husbandman's bowl sang out vibrations throughout the store.
I bought a bowl anyway because I've always wanted one and I'm pretty sure I can pick up better singing bowl technique at some point in the future.
You may remember I recently wrote about my love for my Deagan dinner chimes. Come to find out, I also love my Tibetan singing bowl.
As a celebratory birthday extension, we ventured out to an apple orchard early yesterday morning. We walked among the apple trees, split an apple dumpling with ice cream and listened to music. We joined the hordes of foliage mongers soaking up autumnal beauty. We didn't buy apple cider and that's a regret.
Later that same day, we attended a screening of Killers of the Flower Moon. Excellent. You should see it if you feel like it. It's one of those movies that propels me to the internets to gather facts and opinions about our horrific history.
My personal connection with the film is a fascinating tale and I will share it thusly.
In the fall of 2022, while visiting kin in Seattle, Washington, I unexpectedly discovered, and fell in love with, the melodic harmonics of Deagen's historic chimes and longed to have my own. Unbeknownst to me, #30Something, aware of my obsessive desire, surreptitiously endeavored to procure a Deagan oeuvre. Late in 2022, after extensive searching, she found, and purchased, authentic Deagan chimes and gifted these to me at our annual holiday gift exchange. Come to find out, the seller of the chimes had enclosed a note that these very chimes (which I now own) were used as a prop in Scorcese's film, Killers of the Flower Moon! As you know, we viewed the film on October 21, 2023 at a private screening. While we did not see the chimes, we firmly believe that they were probably on the table of sound effect props featured toward the movie's end. (No spoilers, but great scene). Alas, the chimes were not played, but this is still a cool story. I ring the chimes each day and they never fail to bring me joy.
Birthday Week: Solid 5 on the Fist of 5.
Here's a sad story I haven't shared before. My nana was born Emma Josselin. The Josselin line stretches back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. I'm sad to report that some of my ancestors were killed by Native Americans with hatchets in the 1690's.
I wonder what my family members could have done to tick off their Native American neighbors?
Let's face it. It's not hard to put the pieces of this puzzle together. I wish I didn't come from LAND STEALERS, but I have to face the hard truth of my heritage. It is what it is.
I took a day off work and we bopped around stellar exhibits on campus. Ceramics, Photography, Victorian Book Publishing. We saw it all.
On our second day, we drove over to Stinesville Quarry Festival. I'm sad to tell you that I've never spent time in this charming neighboring town, population 203.
Highlight of the festival was the pie auction. The auctioneers skillfully drove up the bidding and the apple caramel pie went for 200$. Two water pies ("poor man's sugar pies") went for about 25$ each. Generous when you get the backstory on water pie. Originating in the Great Depression, water pie is made with water and a few other ingredients. I'm wondering why someone would enter a pie contest with a water pie, but Stinesville is a land of mystery.
Both nights we zipped around town for Lotus Festival. Another great festival, full of unexpected pleasures. Check out San Salvador from France some time if you feel like listening to topnotch Occitan polyphony.
Our time together was delightful. Fall's off to a great start.
We were there at noon to watch the parade, featuring Ellettsville Elite. The grand marshall was a man who owns a small business that sells signs, vehicle graphics and window tinting. Other paraders included school communities, church folk, tractor drivers, young cloggers, equestrians, parade princesses, and firepeople in sky blue trucks.
Missing from the parade: floats.
Don't want to be overly critical, but floats are parade essentials. I recommend a careful reading of How to Organize a Parade when organizing for next year. This website clearly states:
One exciting element to consider for your parade is the inclusion of floats.
We're not mad at you, Ellettsville, but next year we sure would love to see some floats. Think it over.
On the good side, the paraders threw out gobs of candy. We stood near a mom whose kids had a whole bag full. I joked that the mom could use the parade candy for Halloween handouts next month. Mom told me that she was planning exactly that. Doy. Way to state the obvious, leeway.
I nabbed a couple of Double Bubbles. Husbandman scored a mini-3Musketeers.
After the parade we moseyed over to the festival booths. We watched some young cloggers and HM ate a pulled pork sandwich.
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| Praying Mantis on the Playground |
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| Nature Art created by 3rdLander |
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| Nature Art created by another 3rdLander |
1. ever present sensation that my skin is burning off my bones whenever I risk a trip outside.
2. disgusting slathering of sticky, smelly sunscreen on my exposed skin that sometimes gets in my eyes causing intense stinging when mixed with sweat.
3. unflattering summer attire, such as shorts and tee shirts. Not a good look for anyone, especially me.
4. irritating sound of bugs buzzing next to my ears as I take the occasional rare walk through shaded forests.
5. desperate panicky anxiety about being trapped inside air conditioned spaces (due to bugs, burning bones, sunscreen, etc.).
6. overwhelming fear and sadness about my contribution to climate change with excessive use of air conditioning.
Not a comprehensive list. I haven't included comments about the various summer dangers we all face, such as fires and skin cancer, but I will point out one critical issue with ye olde barbecue grille. We aren't grillers, so we don't have to worry about swallowing wire grill brush bristles, but lots of people are, and do. Stray wire bristles lodge in the digestive tract and make life uncomfortable for thousands every year. Stop grilling immediately if you don't want to spend your last days of summer in the ER. Look for alternatives to the wire bristle grill brushes. Maybe try grill floss.
To be fair and balanced, I'll now focus on the few things I like about summer:
A. I love the summer blockbusters on the big screen. I saw Equalizer 3 last weekend. Best movie ever. I might see it again before it leaves the theaters and you should too it if you feel like it. Mission Impossible was also fun.
B. I love to swim. I'm also quite good at it. I swam competitively in high school and set records in the state of California on consecutive years. Look it up if you don't believe me. Unfortunately, I only swam a few times this summer because of the heat and the sunscreen issues mentioned above.
To wrap this up, here's a summer haiku:
Oh summer sorceress!
My garden cries for water
Why do you burn us alive?
And ending on a good note: The temperature dropped yesterday. Husbandman and I traveled to the zoo. I wore leggings. We brought a picnic lunch and ate on a bench near the Kangaroo Crossing. My mood was calm and cheerful.
Also, just FYI: There's an International Chimpanzee Complex coming our way in 2024. Stay tuned.
Also, just FYI: #1 Son's new album has been getting some great attention. His release of Walking On Eggshells is by far the best thing that happened this summer.
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| Have I told you that #1 Son lives in Asheville NC now? |
I am still mad at Oakland because of this summer's smashing and grabbing, but I have to give that city a big fat 5 on the Fist to 5 for being home to 50 years of Creative Growth at the CGArt Center.
Because I am no longer employed, I can do things that I consider good and fun any time of day or night. I watched all 5 of the Twilight Sag...
