The Great Catch Up Post
Faire: Went to faire the day before we left for NC. I was still feeling very ill from the week before, dehydrated and lightheaded and overall just lacking in energy. A benefit of this is that I needed to stop and rest much more than I usually do, so I saw more shows. I took in thatliardiego's 4pm show at the Boar's Head, the Barely Balanced acrobats, Squire on the Wire, the Rogues, Cu Dubh, and bits and pieces of lots of others. One glass of wine was too much for me and made me want to yak. I had to pass over many of the tasty fried stuffs in favor of bland fare like pretzels. While I wanted to be there, I also wanted to be home, in bed, asleep. Also, dancing three songs with Amy & Brooke at the end of the day was a spectacularly bad idea and I should have known better. Ah well, we are very tentatively going to go the Saturday of the last weekend. I would like to, but with NC just past and Gettysburg ahead, finances are tight. We'll see.
Outer Banks:
The "vacation" that wasn't. We went down to Duck, NC to stay in a biiiiig cabin with Jason's family. His dad & stepmom, his sister and her husband, and then a late addition of three more family members. I really do like my in-laws with very few exceptions-- they're pretty conservative, and every time Adam Lambert comes up in conversation, which, by my count is three times, my father in law has to make a point of how he doesn't like his "flamboyancy" as a coded way to say he doesn't like that he's openly gay. Because yaknow, kissing boys on stage is worse than kissing girls onstage harumph harumph I AM NOT STRAIGHT, DUDE, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE ME.
But anyway, it was mostly fine, and by that I mean that while everyone else vacationed, I worked most days. I set up my studio in a corner and just kept on plugging. In its way, that was a blessing in disguise, because that family? Is not a quiet family. I consider myself equal parts introvert and extrovert, but I was very much in introvert mode, and they were very much not. I think it was the fourth night where I was feeling the extreme need to go hide and be alone someplace quiet (plus I was crampy and just generally not feeling well). Jason had a big headache. My FIL goes "it's too quiet in here, let's turn on the tv." Jason goes, "can we not right now? I'm not feeling very well, and I don't think Chris is, either." "Fine," he said. "How about radio? Do you like big band music?" *facepalm* I mean, I like him a lot, but I often feel he doesn't actually listen to the person speaking to him, and that is a big pet peeve of mine.
Add to that, having Olive with us was a huge issue. Chris & Sarah took care of Nox and Mim while we were gone, but Olive's bathroom routine is such that it would have required them to stop by twice a day, so we just took her with us. She cried the entire time. Nonstop. All the way there. The entire time we were there. Half of the way back. I don't think I slept more than four hours at a time all week. There was just no consoling her. Add to that, she decided to jump off the bed the first night we were there, and took a header straight into the bureau. My damn heart nearly stopped. But she was okay. Well, still loud and whiny, but physically okay. If we ever travel with her again, there will be kitty prozac. I was very frazzled by the end of the week.
There were some high points. I ate a lot of tasty, tasty seafood. Oysters and steamed shrimp and crab. We went out for sushi at a wonderful little joint with very friendly staff and delicious rolls (though seriously under-boozed martinis). I got to spend a lot of time with my sister in law, Stacy, whom I really like. While I didn't spend a lot of money, I did a lot of window shopping at the little artisan shops. I spent half a day at the beach and went for a walk on the beach under a nearly full moon (though I did wish it had just been me and Jason-- a herd of chattering family members with flashlights dampened the effect).
Overall, I was more or less glad to be home. Next year, I hope there's no last minute illness so I can actually relax.
The Update: I finally got the Halloween update up in the wee hours of Thursday night/ Friday morning. I was working on a serious sleep deficit. For one, about a quarter of my written copy was destroyed in a file issue. For two, it was a lot of work, and I was going to bed around 4am, only to be awoken at 7:45am by hammering upstairs. (Which is still going on today... the upstairs neighbors with the toddlers moved out. They left us Godiva chocolates to thank us for putting up with toddler noises.) Add to that, I had several rush orders from one of the jewelers I work for. But the update is up, an I am pleased with it. Today will be packing orders and getting them out in a timely manner.
siGHt: Friday night (after having gotten three hours of sleep the night before and working an extra shift at Terra Firma), I powered through and went with Jason to see siGHt, Deviated Theatre's 50 minute ghost story "dance opera." To be honest, I didn't know what to expect. They started off with three "rising artist" pre-show openers. A gorgeous silks aerialist whose muscles had muscles doing a dramatic narrative piece, a younger group of girls doing modern dance to "Sail," and a phenomenal group of child tap dancers.
As for siGHt, it was absolutely breathtaking. There's not a lot I can say without spoiling it other than it was creepy, sad, beautiful, and cathartic. The spirits were so unbelievably spooky-- somewhat influenced by Asian ghosts, I thought-- long hair covering the face, ethereal white nightgowns-- and the way they moved, grasping desperately and jerkily, combined with their frenzied whispering and breathwork was a skin-crawling effect. But the dancing was so synchronized and well-executed that it was beautiful, too. There was also an absolutely wonderful child dancer who was on stage for almost the entire 50 minutes. As for the other two characters, I can't particularly say much without giving it away, but they were wonderful, too. If the show ever runs again (this was its second run), I would love to see it again.
Hocus Pocus: Yesterday, I hosted a few friends for an annual viewing of Hocus Pocus. J & I went out and got lots of fun seasonal touches from Target and Pier One, plus new curtains and a rug, while we were at it. The apartment now feels super cozy. We ended up watching Hocus Pocus, The Woman In Black, and then The Decoy Bride, a charming Kelly MacDonald / David Tennant romcom, to wash out the spooky. It was good to see friendly faces and overdose on gourmet cheese and snacks.
I also used up my one-day store of Martha Stewartness and made cupcakes:
Kittens: Olive has been an angel since we've been back from NC. She was ALL OVER Anna & Amy yesterday at the party. Mim ate way too much kibble and is now on a diet. Nox is worrying us a bit because he just hasn't really been interested in eating. Rather, he eats pickily and is constantly looking over his shoulder while he does. He's had to be coaxed the last few mealtimes, and Jason spent this morning hand-feeding him chicken. He's not running a fever, no vomiting, no litterbox issues. He seems a little bit more sleepy than usual, but not worryingly so. We're gonna keep an eye on him, and if he continues not to have much of an appetite, it's to the vet with him.
As for me, I want to sleep more today. I have 2 more pearl stringing assignments to complete, and a bajillion orders to pack. But I think I need a nap first.
Outer Banks:
The "vacation" that wasn't. We went down to Duck, NC to stay in a biiiiig cabin with Jason's family. His dad & stepmom, his sister and her husband, and then a late addition of three more family members. I really do like my in-laws with very few exceptions-- they're pretty conservative, and every time Adam Lambert comes up in conversation, which, by my count is three times, my father in law has to make a point of how he doesn't like his "flamboyancy" as a coded way to say he doesn't like that he's openly gay. Because yaknow, kissing boys on stage is worse than kissing girls onstage harumph harumph I AM NOT STRAIGHT, DUDE, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE ME.
But anyway, it was mostly fine, and by that I mean that while everyone else vacationed, I worked most days. I set up my studio in a corner and just kept on plugging. In its way, that was a blessing in disguise, because that family? Is not a quiet family. I consider myself equal parts introvert and extrovert, but I was very much in introvert mode, and they were very much not. I think it was the fourth night where I was feeling the extreme need to go hide and be alone someplace quiet (plus I was crampy and just generally not feeling well). Jason had a big headache. My FIL goes "it's too quiet in here, let's turn on the tv." Jason goes, "can we not right now? I'm not feeling very well, and I don't think Chris is, either." "Fine," he said. "How about radio? Do you like big band music?" *facepalm* I mean, I like him a lot, but I often feel he doesn't actually listen to the person speaking to him, and that is a big pet peeve of mine.
Add to that, having Olive with us was a huge issue. Chris & Sarah took care of Nox and Mim while we were gone, but Olive's bathroom routine is such that it would have required them to stop by twice a day, so we just took her with us. She cried the entire time. Nonstop. All the way there. The entire time we were there. Half of the way back. I don't think I slept more than four hours at a time all week. There was just no consoling her. Add to that, she decided to jump off the bed the first night we were there, and took a header straight into the bureau. My damn heart nearly stopped. But she was okay. Well, still loud and whiny, but physically okay. If we ever travel with her again, there will be kitty prozac. I was very frazzled by the end of the week.
There were some high points. I ate a lot of tasty, tasty seafood. Oysters and steamed shrimp and crab. We went out for sushi at a wonderful little joint with very friendly staff and delicious rolls (though seriously under-boozed martinis). I got to spend a lot of time with my sister in law, Stacy, whom I really like. While I didn't spend a lot of money, I did a lot of window shopping at the little artisan shops. I spent half a day at the beach and went for a walk on the beach under a nearly full moon (though I did wish it had just been me and Jason-- a herd of chattering family members with flashlights dampened the effect).
Overall, I was more or less glad to be home. Next year, I hope there's no last minute illness so I can actually relax.
The Update: I finally got the Halloween update up in the wee hours of Thursday night/ Friday morning. I was working on a serious sleep deficit. For one, about a quarter of my written copy was destroyed in a file issue. For two, it was a lot of work, and I was going to bed around 4am, only to be awoken at 7:45am by hammering upstairs. (Which is still going on today... the upstairs neighbors with the toddlers moved out. They left us Godiva chocolates to thank us for putting up with toddler noises.) Add to that, I had several rush orders from one of the jewelers I work for. But the update is up, an I am pleased with it. Today will be packing orders and getting them out in a timely manner.
siGHt: Friday night (after having gotten three hours of sleep the night before and working an extra shift at Terra Firma), I powered through and went with Jason to see siGHt, Deviated Theatre's 50 minute ghost story "dance opera." To be honest, I didn't know what to expect. They started off with three "rising artist" pre-show openers. A gorgeous silks aerialist whose muscles had muscles doing a dramatic narrative piece, a younger group of girls doing modern dance to "Sail," and a phenomenal group of child tap dancers.
As for siGHt, it was absolutely breathtaking. There's not a lot I can say without spoiling it other than it was creepy, sad, beautiful, and cathartic. The spirits were so unbelievably spooky-- somewhat influenced by Asian ghosts, I thought-- long hair covering the face, ethereal white nightgowns-- and the way they moved, grasping desperately and jerkily, combined with their frenzied whispering and breathwork was a skin-crawling effect. But the dancing was so synchronized and well-executed that it was beautiful, too. There was also an absolutely wonderful child dancer who was on stage for almost the entire 50 minutes. As for the other two characters, I can't particularly say much without giving it away, but they were wonderful, too. If the show ever runs again (this was its second run), I would love to see it again.
Hocus Pocus: Yesterday, I hosted a few friends for an annual viewing of Hocus Pocus. J & I went out and got lots of fun seasonal touches from Target and Pier One, plus new curtains and a rug, while we were at it. The apartment now feels super cozy. We ended up watching Hocus Pocus, The Woman In Black, and then The Decoy Bride, a charming Kelly MacDonald / David Tennant romcom, to wash out the spooky. It was good to see friendly faces and overdose on gourmet cheese and snacks.
I also used up my one-day store of Martha Stewartness and made cupcakes:
Kittens: Olive has been an angel since we've been back from NC. She was ALL OVER Anna & Amy yesterday at the party. Mim ate way too much kibble and is now on a diet. Nox is worrying us a bit because he just hasn't really been interested in eating. Rather, he eats pickily and is constantly looking over his shoulder while he does. He's had to be coaxed the last few mealtimes, and Jason spent this morning hand-feeding him chicken. He's not running a fever, no vomiting, no litterbox issues. He seems a little bit more sleepy than usual, but not worryingly so. We're gonna keep an eye on him, and if he continues not to have much of an appetite, it's to the vet with him.
As for me, I want to sleep more today. I have 2 more pearl stringing assignments to complete, and a bajillion orders to pack. But I think I need a nap first.