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Do Not Sleep on Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Penumbra

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Beatrix has spent her life attending shows that I've gotten comps to — so today, she was able to do the same and bring use to Penumbra, where she spent her senior project internship. For Beatrix, it was the first time she had seen a professional show from early production to opening weekend. For me, it had been years since I had seen an August Wilson show. For Patrick, it was a chance to get back to see a show in a theater he basically grew up in. So yes, we were all a somewhat biased audience. But putting that aside, this was one of the most fantastic shows I've seen in the recent past. Returning to the Pittsburgh Cycle was an incredible reminder of the power of this work. And while the production values were impeccable, the performances were beyond outstanding. I would put any of these actors up against the Broadway cast any day of the week.  I needed to be reminded about the power of theater this week, and there could have been no better show to do it. Go see it — if you can...
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Of All the Stupid Lasts to Get Upset About

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This week, Beatrix turned in her poster about her senior project. There was a gathering of senior parents at City House, and the kids got the yearbooks (which was amazingly good this year) and had a signing party yesterday. We have eight days until graduation, and we are in the thick of it. So what was it that felled me this morning? The Friday school e-newsletter — the last one we'll ever get. I don't even like the newsletter much. This is ridiculous. Please enjoy this picture of kindergarten Beatrix and join me in All The Feels.
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Memorial Day Cabin Weekend

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  Friday night we had the soft open for the pool, and Saturday morning we headed up to open the Osakis family cabin. It was raining and misty as we made our traditional stop at Flour and Flower. The mist continues as we reached Osakis and started to curve around the lake, but honestly we thought that was perfect.  We would take advantage of the weather to get a thorough cleaning of the cabin done, then as it cleared up, head out to get any supplies needed, catch The Mandolorian and Grogu at the The Long Drive-In , hang out some on Sunday before headed up to Itasca to fulfill Patrick's bucket list item of seeing the Head of the Mississippi. Epic weekend. The cabin had other plans. You might remember that Patrick's words for 2026 were "Adapt and Adjust" and mine is "Resilience." So here was a great chance to put this into practice. We got everything vacuumed and swept, if not mopped. We moved all the furniture out, and uncovered everything. We out knick-knacks...
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More Lasts

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Yesterday was a big one for the old waterfall of tears. First, since it was Syttende Mai , Beatrix's Norwegian dance group The Peer Gynt Dancers performed at Mindekirken. She's been dancing with them since she was tiny (6? Maybe 7?), and yesterday was a clear demonstration of the dance and also leadership skills she has developed over the years. I held it together pretty much ok until they recognized her, and when she led the traditional long, snaking dance ("langdans") — think Norwegian conga line — that audience members join in on. Then it was her last performance of The Music Man , and thus her last performance on the SPA stage. The show has been quite a lift this year for any number of reasons, but I am glad she did it and I'm so proud especially of her and all the other seniors who all shone remarkably. As I told the other senior parents " Can't we just forget college and send them all off on tour together?"
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Dog Days

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I am in love with this dog, Ziggy, an overweight Keeshond in McCook, Nebraska. I want him, a lot. Unfortunately, with graduation and all kinds of things coming up, cooler heads in my household are prevailing and we are not adopting him. But of you know someone looking for a young, charming dog, he's perfect! (lmk and I can connect you) I bring this up not to show how other members of my household are more sensible than I am, but because of why he was surrendered. Because he was "too much work." This morning, I spend 20 minutes at 36th and Colfax trying to catch this little gal, who was running around alone in the street. Dogs are stupid AF about cars, and she ran out in front of the car ahead of me and almost got hit, then proceeded to run around in traffic and generally cause havoc. I left my car door open next to her to try to entice her to jump in, while posting her on Lost Dogs MN and making kissy noises. Finally, I heard someone calling, who came out of her house and...
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So.Much.Fun

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Last night, we went out with our friends Brian and Liz. A few years ago, they introduced us to an amazing band called Bandits on the Run , who they got to know when their prodigy son H was in a show years ago (before he eschewed the theater world to become a science thought leader, I really mean it when I say he's a prodigy. But enough about H). They were in town, playing at the Fitz, opening for Alan Doyle. We were not going to go, because $$, but at the last minute 1) I got an amazing price on 4 tix, and 2) the Bandits called Liz and put us on the guest list. So we told one set of tickets to Liz's friend Eric (who loves Alan Doyle) at cost, and we sat in the house seat, and everyone was happy. And what a concert it was! We got to catch up with the band at intermission (before they started driving to Omaha), and then we went back in to hear a couple of songs, including the one where the Bandits went back on stage to sing "Wild Mountain Thyme" with Doyle (I swear, tha...
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Last Spring Shows

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Beatrix first came to work with me at Circus Juventas when she was six days old. She went to her first spring shows when she was not quite 3 months old, and loved the lights.  She attended open houses before she was old enough to take classes,  and started in Preschoolers when she was two. And the next year: My photo stream, in fact, is full of pictures from this time every year, especially as she got older and made so many friends at circus. She has gotten at least one Smile and Style Award every year. She has taken so many acts and grown and learned so much. She has developed lifelong physical and mental strength. Today, for her last spring show, Patrick and I will be sitting in the audience (thanks, Jen!). I won't be volunteering, and for one of the very few times since he started rigging in 2015, Patrick won't be in his corner. I expect tears, while at the same time, I am so proud of her and the young woman she has become, and am thankful to CJ for the role it has played.
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