all that's past is prologue...

When our friends Chip and Amy lived at the Summit House, they called this space the "garage of giving" — because, they said, every time they needed anything they would go ut there and there it was! Well, in past years, the space has gotten too full (from us and seemingly everyone else in the world) to even see what gifts it might have to offer: So Patrick and I spent the weekend cleaning it out and organizing it.  We were actually pretty ruthless in what we got rid of (some of this stuff is still out there in case you need a patio umbrella or a victrola)" In the end, there's a ton more space and I feel like I know where things are. It's almost time to move back to the Ashland house, so at least I feel like things over here are getting under control!

One of the last remaining projects sitting around the Summit house was the old jukebox my mom had stripped but not refinished. It was her jukebox in the "rec room" at my grandparent's' place at 2104 Carter. So this weekend, I knocked that project off the list by finishing it with 2 coats of fruitwood stain (from the basement of my dad's house) and a coat of poly (ditto). For a "free" project I think it looks pretty good. It's both sad and relieving to finish what I think was my mom's last project. (It still doesn't play, but at least now it looks better). I wish I could find a way to restore this old Victrola. It had been stored in the garage, but someone who stayed here at some pint had moved it, and driven into it. I don't know how to fix it, so it's out in the alley with a big free pile.

I love it at the lake but am never very sure I could live up here without coming up with a small bastion of like-minded people (either those I find or those I bring with me). I fantasize about bringing up a group of people and revitalizing a whole main street full of shops and warm, bright places to live. Two ironic shots from two small towns.

There are some kinds of trips you take to explore the world and have new experiences. Hell, that's  my early twenties in a sentence. But Patrick, Beatrix, and I have had plenty of those kind of trips too, most recently in Amsterdam and Berlin over spring break. Or even last year at Glacier, Yellowstone, and the Badlands. But then there are the kinds of trips to places you go because they are familiar and comfortable, like our Thanksgivings in New Orleans. I'm not going to lie, I had wanted a "new experiences" trip this summer. But schedules, and especially finances, made that an impossibility. And things always happen the way we are supposed to. Instead of a new trip, we are up at the family cabin, in the ultimate of comfort places to me, a place that is thoroughly ingrained in my soul. We are reading, and looking at the lake, and making s'mores, and drinking beer, and cuddling kittens, and canoeing, and making Beatrix's dream video, and playing games. We are ...

It's all been a little crazy lately, and to be honest, I am totally overwhelmed on all fronts. So I've been a little shut down. And today I turned 56 (yikes, how did that happen?) The day started with cake for breakfast with out houseguests Mel and Aidan (Aidan has circus shows all weekend and it's easier for them to just stay close by). It was really fun to be able to celebrate with them! Then yoga, and fantastic conversations over beer afterwards, especially with my friend Marta as Patrick rushed off to a 2-show day. I can hardly wait until the distillery opens. Beatrix and I had lunch at Shish, and then went to Wet Paint to pick up some gold leaf she needed for a piece she's been working on, plus I headed to Starbuck's for my free birthday coffee. Beatrix and I hit two Fringe shows (Two Stars in the Vast Dark and 5 Prisoners), and then Beatrix's show (Choose Your Own Adventure) — where the whole cast was really on point. Thank you SO much to Siobhan, Brogan, ...

If you've known me for a long time, you're perhaps sick of my Circus Juventas posts this time of year. But honestly, how can you be tired of seeing something like this? For seventeen years, I was there at almost every show all summer. Patrick still is, as the lead volunteer rigger. Beatrix still takes multiple classes there, and is dreaming of the acts that she would like to still try (I am sensing fire dancing in our future). But honestly, this show is amazing. If you love Arthurian legend, you'll entranced. If not, you're still going to be amazed. What I especially appreciated bout the show was, though there were some AMAZING individual performances, this cast as a whole was fantastic. I saw kids who I have seen be *good* for years absolutely shine. It was an incredibly united group. I'm so proud of them. It plays this weekend and next. There are at least some tickets available for most shows. You should go. --- Beatrix and I are also hitting the Flotsam River Ci...

(I'm kind of thinking of these posts as the counterpoint to my "Pandemic Projects" posts, but encouraging you to get out and do things!) We started out the night with member night mini-golfing at the Walker. Beatrix and I had played there before, but Patrick had not, and there are several new holes (maybe all of them are new, but I thought I remembered at least one from before). Give me mini-golf at the Walker over a chain like "The Pottery" anytime (I think, have not been to The Puttery actually) I both conquered the difficult hole and summoned up a storm! And then we got to have rooftop drinks. Why are we all in pink? Because our new stop (after grabbing grilled cheese to go at All Square) was the Barbie movie at the Riverview. And what can I say about that? Well my bonus daughter said it right: To which I replied: Which is dead on the truth. Damn, what a movie. I love you, Greta Gerwig! (yes, I cried)