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MD part sette, 2010
I have been falling behind in getting these out, but all of the missing ones are started. I will get to finishing them eventually, I promise. Sadly, that means more details will be missed, but forgive the missed memories and away we go....
WORKING HARD
Into the night it seems. I finished working around midnight and still had to shower before bed. This is really late for me as I am normally in bed between 10-11 at the latest to go to sleep. Finally, I crawl in and curl up with a very happy kitty making muffins...then I fall asleep. Morning comes FAR too early. I drag my sorry tired ass out of bed and head toward site after stopping for brekkies. It’s a bit colder today, but should be warming up. To get to site though, I have to layer up with scarf, hat and sweatshirt. I get to the gatehouse after looking for someone to take the extra sandwich I bought because I was hungry. No takers, so I stretch, dance, sing, and warm up. Next, make up and hair, then back to the costume house to sing again. There I find a hungry soul to take my sad sandwich into her belly to fulfill its mission of feeding someone in need. Job done.
SINGING ALONE, FINDING GOLD
I had plans to meet up with some other ladies to work on a song, but they were not all there at the appointed time, so we didn’t really sing through everything. I head into the costume house where it is warm and change into much thinner clothing. When I get to my area, I see a blast from my past, an embroidered handkerchief with Stupina’s name on it. I haven’t seen this in 3 years. It’s washed and folded and I am thrilled to have it back. I find out it was found in the men’s laundry bag and is now back in it’s rightful home. I HAVE SCHTICK AGAIN. I am just bubbling over with it. I used to have a bunch with Stupina’s and Columbina’s names embroidered, but over the years, they all went missing, then gone. I am glad to see this one back.
SOUNDING OFF
I am in good spirits and chatting with a few on the way to the White Hart. SMDave isn’t there yet, so I start to set up. I am mostly done and plugged in when he arrives and we test levels pretty quickly. I then hear that CDCB has been up all night for work and won’t make it in today to sell for us. We need to find someone to jump in and sell last minute...um, ok....They go to eat breakfast as I head to the Lyric after a brief chat with the White Hart Breakfast crowd. At the Lyric, I show off my handkerchief and touch base with Stupina’s guest star to make sure they are ready. Cast call begins and we hear about new acts, special events and missing compatriots. Once done, we BEEP and head to front gate.
BALANCING ACT
Today the oompah band Magic Mountain Music begins our day and gets everyone in the spirit. The cannon Booms, the gate opens and the crowd comes pouring in like a tap that they forgot to shut off...no, really, it’s fast and furious. We give two tours, I give out many hugs...and I still chuckle that the fountain is filled with people talking in accents or saying weird things. A Pole, a Spaniard and the town fool walk into a festival...yeah, you can see where this could go. Gindobre becomes Gin and Tonics, at least under our breath. It’s amusing. After the rush, I can see the crowd is heavy outside and grab two stacks of programs to give out on my head. I get through them and am handed another. I am concerned for the time, but when I check, I still have 8 minutes to hand more out, so I take them and keep going. They are gone quickly. I head in and forward into the village.
KNIGHT AND DAY
I head through the village chatting with people and being generally silly, dusting them, trying to clean off tattoos and the like until I get to the White Hart to grab my props. Off to the Royal Pavillion by way of Page After Page. The author is not set up yet and I feel off kilter not seeing someone there. Sniff. I guide a few running children up and down the stairs, well, up, since often they have just ridden the slide. I head to start Stupina’s show and in the crowd approaches a man in Silver, Sir Barchan of Dinglebury is my guest. He explains what it is to be a knight, how many battles he has been in (none) and how wealthy you need to be to be a knight. Stupina gets questions too, but many are fascinated with the actual information he provides. Once finished, I take my leave and head up to the White Hart to return my hat.
CLIMBING OVER
The site is crowded already. There are many people everywhere you look and I can tell it’s going to be one of “those” days. The ones where you don’t end up entertaining unless you are scheduled to do so on stage. But not quite yet. I chat with numerous patrons on the way back. I spend about 5 minutes at my tree, if that, as there is so much going on and people to talk do that I don’t get there till it’s almost time to go. I sing at a few patrons who I see tweak their ears to me as hear me start to describe them...”I see a man in blue...” and so forth. Soon enough, its time to move on and find that lady in blue. Well there are two, and I talk to one, but that’s not the one I am looking for now.
TRANSFORMATIONS
The other fun part of the weekend is that I have new pantaloons. I had bought fabric earlier in the year and the nice lady finally had time to sew them for me. Today, I am putting on the new blue ones. YAYEEE! Ok, so they are all blue, but they are all slightly different shades of blue and I can tell the difference. These are more slidey than the other ones. Anna OC arrives earlier and I find out she has taken back routes because the main roads are backed up to 97 and onto the highway...joy. We chat a bit as I am fixing my hair and makeup. I am done relatively quickly and head out on street. I am hungry and decide to get a snack before my regular lunch. Off to the Frozen Banana place, my new home. I get a frozen banana covered in peanut butter and wander to the White Hart, eating carefully. If you don’t understand why I am saying that, good, you still have an innocent bone in your body and wouldn’t be offended by my snack, unless I wanted you to be.
OOM PAH WHO?
So CDCB had no sleep and we needed a replacement. I run into two of his friends to commiserate and one offers to take up the task. I gratefully accept. CDCB2 is given a crash course in taking care of us ladies and we head to the stage after Magic Mountain Music, a lovely oompah groups. The show has great energy. The nicest thing I am seeing these days is that in the first few minutes of our show starting, the crowd continues to grow. This may not mean much on the outside, but that means to me that they are coming specifically for us, rather than at the end of the show, where they may have arrived early for the next show. I see this more and more and it makes me very happy and a bit overwhelmed...As Sally once said “you really like me..”ok, you might like Trinket, but you are still there for us.
HUNTING FOR LUNCH
So there are lines everywhere, like EVERYWHERE, I try to grab my bowl and head to get lunch, but it’s climbing over people and not fun. I try to be friendly and throw a fun comment out now and then and ask about the ATM line, but wow, it’s almost impossible. I get to the potato line expecting it to be huge and...in 2 people, I am in an getting my potato. They are moving through quickly and there isn’t a wait. Impressive. I get my potato and begin the trek back, hoping to try to make a quick laugh for a patron on the way, but gosh darn it’s hard to even keep your balance in the wash of people. I get to the food court and find a seat with a family of 4. They are new to the festival and ask me if this is normal. I assure them it’s not. We get crowds, but this is a bit crazy. I let them in on a secret about the good privies and a few other choice things that will make their day easier. We have a nice chat and I head over to look for a napkin to clean my bowl, but a kind vendor washes it for me. I drop it off and head back to Kenwood in hopes of using the privy. There is a line there. Oh hells no. Wait, I see what’s wrong and walk in and bring everyone in as there are 10 free stalls in the back. In less than 2 minutes the line is gone and I can go pee. I was very happy about that. I head back making small talk and it’s already time to wire up.
CDCG
Well, CDCB2 had to leave for a wedding, so we are blessed that CDCG-Tiger jumps in for us. She comes into the closet with me and learns the money, pricing, stock, etc. She uses the bigger basket and brings out the Tshirts. I am informed that in 2 minutes, she sold Tshirts (this chagrins CDCB), but she was heavily showing them off, the Tshirts that is. This show is fun and high energy and full...and well, there is always more interesting fun when a girl joins Trinket at the end of the show. There is amusement.
BACK TO KENWOOD
Once I am done with the show and greeting everyone, I head back to Kenwood to the privy again. Turns out that the colder weather just makes me pee more. Grand. At least there is no line. Once out, I hit the ATM line and chat with people. I find myself caught between some steampunks and a strormtrooper...that was odd. I run that line and head over to the Slide privy...and it’s LONG. Ok, here’s where the work begins. I see that everything is being used. Once I move the line in so they can see things quickly, I head outside. “Allright, while you are out here, you are going to make a few decisions: Who’s going to hold the baby, who’s going to hold the beer, who’s going to hold what you bought today. When you get inside, there will be no texting, no talking on the phone, no smooching, no taking pictures, Just Pee and Poop. There are people behind you doing the peepee dance and they want to get in to one of those as much as you do, so get in, do your business and get out. We are all going to work together to get this mission done!” And I get a cheer and a round of applause. That was the first time for that, but the people at the end of the line fell in love with me at that moment.
HOW LONG IS IT?
I work the line for quite a while alone. One somewhat drunk patron tries to help, but I know she will move one once Its her time in line. I keep going and by 5:20 I have finished the line...I started at about 4:15 BTW. But at least it was gone when I left. That is saying a lot with the intensity of the lines we saw. I did go out to the main line many times and adjusted my schpeil but the baby and beer lines always seem to get laughs. Perhaps because they are so true. With this accomplishment under my belt, I head play with Baby Stupina for about 20 minutes then to Pyrate Camp to get ready for tonight.
NERVES
I am nervous tonight. Trinket had to leave for another obligation, so I am going to sing a song that hasn’t been done on site in years...and it’s a pretty song. I can have fun with comic ones, the personality can sell it, but this has to be legit...I also find it hard to get through the song without crying every time I really sing the words, so this is going to be interesting. I have been working on and off with Robyn Stubbs and Cat of Cat and the Fiddle to make a new arrangement of the piece. It has taken its time, but is finally coming together. I am waiting to run it and drinking a lot (water) and treating my throat, which has become rather dry. Another gent is to sing a solo tonight and is also nervous, so he takes one of the ladies to help set a key, then get them to run our song, then he gets her again. Bouncy violins and violas. Soon enough it’s time to start. I put on my oddly shaped feathers and head to the pub.
MUPPPET PUB SING
Since it was a big hit last week, we do the Muppet Opening again. No pink thing with sticky out hair, but my feathers did a little defying of gravity. There is fun music and Gypsophillia is back, which makes my heart and ears go zing! Everything they play is amazing. Each time we turn around, they are joining in and backing up music and it sounds amazing. I am a very happy gal. The King stops by, the Duke burps into the “Ivy” and there is much silliness. As it starts getting closer, I am getting more nervous. The song before mine requires me near the stage which is fine. I had a thought for the intro, but didn’t share, and John and Mary had another which was, not in my mind...so the intro was not cheery, but I focused on the song. It’s hard to sing with just instruments as voices when you are generally used to singing with voices. And they are to the side instead of in front and and and...ok. I was really nervous till about verse 3, then it clicked as I told the story. Near the middle, I did start to cry, but held it together and only slightly cracked again near the end. It made sense...and Demeter’s Daughter once more shared her story on the White Hart.
HOME IS WHERE YOUR HEART IS
The rest of the pub sing is a blur and when it ends, I grab my stuff and head to the costume house for the parking lot that is the parking lot. I get changed but I am sure I will be here a while. I am trying to get done and out as my parents are waiting for me at my house. I risk the crowd after a while and through kindness of strangers I am on my way home by 8:10 or so. At home, my parents have already provided dinner and I am ravenous. I eat and we catch up. Eventually, I get ready for bed and am so tired, I don’t hear a thing.
RESTED AND READY
Because my parents and I had a quiet night, I am in bed at a decent time and away more refreshed than in a while. I feed the cats, get my stuff, layer up a bit and head to site waving hi to mom who wakes up. On site, I stretch and finish a bit early so I can get to the costume house...for me it seems again. SMAdam and I chat over his breakfast and I head into the costume house to get dressed. It’s a bit chilly, so I add socks and the like to my clothing to keep a little warm. Some of the ladies show up and we run our song a bit before we head our several ways. At sound check, SMDave is running late and I begin to grab things when he shows up and we set up as normal. Sound check has been more and more smooth, but we have to adjust some levels because of spitting sounds. I haven’t looked at the settings in forever, which will be important later.
MEETING UP
The gang gathers at Lyric for morning meeting. We find out that I was actually right about the numbers the day before, in fact, I might have been a trifle low in my guess, but at least my radar about how it “feels” on site was right. It’s a day that isn’t comfy or creative, it’s just about making it through. After a few other quick announcements, we BEEP and I head to gate with my barrel of monkeys. Yes, I have a wood barrel, and I have steel monkeys..and chalk. But more on that later. I take my last pee, greet Spyke, but not at the same time, and get ready to face up. Soon enough, we BOOM and in comes the crowd.
BALANCING ACT
It’s still crowded and busy, but not as bad as the day before. The rush is done after a tour and some polish humor. I grab my things and some programs and head out. I am having issues as my hair isn’t flat and the programs are fighting me. Anyone adds pressure and they go falling, dagnabbit. Finally, I find a balance point and we are good to go. I make it through the stacks and get a crowd of early 20’s who all want them from my head. It’s 10:30, my head is clear, and it ‘s time to go inside. I have not yet seen my parents, which makes me sad.
SUSPECT BEHAVIOR
I wander in and chat with patrons along the way, show of my monkeys and explain the great chain. I am stopped by O’Shucks to chat with a few regulars and am greeted by the Sheriff. He asks if I have chalk, which I do, and he asks me to lay down. He then explains how you mark the outline of a victim...me. However, each time he comes near my side, I become insanely ticklish and giggle and thrash about. I don’t make a good dead body it seems. After about 5 or so tries, they give up and give me back my chalk. I head my merry way showing off monkeys and letting people draw their own monkeys. I get to the White Hart and pick up my hat then head to the stairs to greet people and guide them. It amuses me when people run down the steps because I have to talk faster and faster to get them all. Its fun.
NOBLE QUESTIONS
Today, I have a special guest (well, I always do, but this one is really cool). As I sit down, I still see no parents. I begin and finally see them coming down the stairs. A few moments later, I welcome my special guest, Princess Mary (Lady Mary, I know, but for the kids, she’s a princess). When asked what the best part of being a princess is, she replies “The Jewelry.” The little girls are fascinated with her and she and I are sharing questions pretty evenly. We even have a nice crowd. I get a bit unfocused during the show and begin to sit upside down on the throne and the Princess asks if she should join me. I confirm she is “prepared” and she flips over and drops her shoes to show off striped toe socks. The kids laugh and I am amused. We turn back around and she asks the kids to promise not to tell her father. One little girl wants to tell. So when the princess explains how we can thank children for being good...LIKE NOT TELLING MY FATHER...it gets a laugh. It was a really fun show and I was thrilled to have her with me.
MONKEYING AROUND
I hug my parents and let them know when the next show is, as well as letting them know the non-hilly way to get back to the main part of faire. I head up the stairs though and turn in my hat avoiding the man with the baubles. I start walking around asking people to draw on my monkeys (covered in chalk board paint) and use them to show them how people rank in the village. I run into two kids who both color their monkeys with fun pics and name them. I find another group having a lunch near O’Shucks below. The 3 kids all jump in and coat the monkey’s in chalk. Dad asks me how much, and I tell him there’s no charge, I just keep my monkeys. One little girl is dressed as a pink cat and asks for a pink chalk. After coating her monkey pink, she names it kitty...all the kids had fun names and the parents were pleased I could help play with them. Off I go with my monkeys and everyone is happy.
TREETIME
I get to my tree and only have a few minutes again. It is fun to sing to people. And I like that they often leave smiling or laughing. I head backstage finally and head to the costume house. There, I see the other Princess in a more relaxed way, she is getting dressed. The other princess has already told me she thinks my show might be the highlight of her year. (YAYEEE!) I start to change and switch. For some reason, the indent in my skin is stronger today, but in a short time, it will settle back to normal. I am changed quickly and head out feeling puckish. I head over to banana land and get another peanut butter banana. Mmmmm. I suppose the chocolate ones would be good if I could have one, and I suppose I could in 2 weeks or so, but I am happy with what I have.
SOUNDS LIKE MUSIC
Today we are doing the new show first since my parents haven ‘t seen it. They are there early and they luckily sit on Trinket’s side. Flirting with my dad would be WRONG. My hand has gotten some strange bruised pain on the top of it, which I eventually figure out is from Baby Stupina and sleeping on my hand oddly. Great. The biggest issue is its my drumming hand and I have 3 bodhran songs in this show. Joy. Pain and joy. The show does go well though. People are responsive and get the jokes, we push a few lines and are rewarded for it. YAYEE. The show ends and we clear the stage for the Pyrates after making smoochy faces with Fletcher.
ON THE HUNT AGAIN
After hugging parents and greeting friends and fans, we go our several ways with me sending parents to see the work I did for Don Q. I tell them they will be missing my show because the ending is part of what I did and they should see it. I then head off to lunch for me. The lines are better, but I still offer a few tricks and sneaky helpful hints to people. Over to potato land for a huntsman with little cheese. I can’t imagine what is a lot of cheese if that is a little. Wow. Back to the food court to chat with another group of patrons, another family of 4 plus grandma, who wants wine. Dad heads off for that and I send the kids to the good privies while I eat. Grandma and I chat about Italy. Once my lunch is done, I say my goodbyes and wishes for their good day. I get up on a bench to do my food court public service announcement, which goes relatively well. Once done, I head back to the White Hart.
WHERE’D HE GO?
I am greeted by CDCB who is back, but informs me he will be replacing SMDave for the changeover as he had an emergency to take care of. He has new settings and doesn’t get what they mean. I get most of it and help him through when we hit the stage. In the middle of the first song, I see my parents return, which means they missed the section I wanted them to see...the section I will never get to see again...unless someone would be wonderful and film it for me...the danse macabre at the end after Don Q, um, well, it will be clear. Lady sings, people dance, other people cry if done right. You know. That part. ANY WAY, they come back for the second show which also has a good crowd. Afterwards, they tell me they wanted to see me more and saw ‘that part you did” when I correct them and let them know there is a part they missed. Oh well.
CHANGING PLANS
I head up to check the privy lines and low and behold there is none. I need to pee and figure I will check the White Hart privy first when I am stopped by yesterday’s CDCB2 who says, Oh, SMDave said if we saw you to say “Globe.” I don’t think they expected my reaction as I took off like a bat out of hell. See, one of the actresses had been having some issues as of late, and that comment meant that I might be needed as back up for her if she can’t go on. I have been there a few times, just in case, but I show up because the show must go on. There, I am informed she is supposedly on her way, but was feeling ill. I am surprised as she looked well earlier, but stuff happens. I am on standby for a bit when they ask me to start to change just in case. Partway through, she arrives and is well, so once they start, I switch back to my normal Italian blue self.
BABY TALK
I head up to Stub Toe and gather Baby Stupina. In the middle of manipulating her , I realize that that is part of what strained the back of my hand, how odd. I take her around to the slide line and play with kids. Its about this time that the Greenman March finds me, hands full and working with kids. Thanks guys, but no, no acorn for me. The people I have been chatting with ask me what the march is about and I explain how the bless everyone in the village with prosperity and creativity and fertility...I just want to avoid that last one. I know at some point earlier, I ended up at Noblesse while Kitte made the headpiece that her hubby is wearing, I just can’t remember when. I wander Stupina through the entire line, which is rather long, then back up and to Tiger’s mask shop. I help to show a man how an eyepatch works, and I hope he gets it, cause it was cool.
CHANGING OUR TUNE
It’s time to head the Pyrate camp to see what we are doing. The set list is much more vague and we had a few ideas already, but this cinches it. We ask around and discover that Jonathan Strum knows the music for the song we want to do. This makes us happy as we find a chord that works for us all. Soon enough it’s places and in we go. The show is fun and playful. I dance like a zombie with John, Daisy turns into a zombie...We get up and celebrate Oktoberfest with Oom-pah-pah then, for our second song, we do a sobriety test and have the audience sing with us “Sarah, Sarah,” with our new verses. I like watching people’s faces brighten or crumple with laughter as they realize what their mistake could mean....and at least one person did not pass the sobriety test. The music made all the difference in the background...it made me happy.
PRETTY MOMENTS
While we all missed Gypsophillia’s support, the show was a lot of fun and ran a bit longer than we wanted, but we got it all done. Once the cannons boomed, we grabbed our things and headed out to the costume house and into real clothes. There was still a crowd in the parking lot, but not nearly as bad. I waited with the costume lady while they waited for the gates to be opened and we gave up and just took everything. Burgers were the name of the night and a small group of us enjoyed cheeseburgers and frings...cause that’s what we are calling them, even if they aren’t on the menu. I am so tired that I have lost my ability to see humor...it’s bad. At least I have people to laugh at me for it. The flat large shake side vs. the curvy small shake side. It was amusing. We closed the place and headed our ways home once I knew that Penelope didn’t need to crash from exhaustion.
Stupina has new guests this weekend. I can’t wait for you to meet them Only two weekends left. I am going to be very sad. Until next week (or when I can get enough time together to get the next recap from prior weeks written...
WORKING HARD
Into the night it seems. I finished working around midnight and still had to shower before bed. This is really late for me as I am normally in bed between 10-11 at the latest to go to sleep. Finally, I crawl in and curl up with a very happy kitty making muffins...then I fall asleep. Morning comes FAR too early. I drag my sorry tired ass out of bed and head toward site after stopping for brekkies. It’s a bit colder today, but should be warming up. To get to site though, I have to layer up with scarf, hat and sweatshirt. I get to the gatehouse after looking for someone to take the extra sandwich I bought because I was hungry. No takers, so I stretch, dance, sing, and warm up. Next, make up and hair, then back to the costume house to sing again. There I find a hungry soul to take my sad sandwich into her belly to fulfill its mission of feeding someone in need. Job done.
SINGING ALONE, FINDING GOLD
I had plans to meet up with some other ladies to work on a song, but they were not all there at the appointed time, so we didn’t really sing through everything. I head into the costume house where it is warm and change into much thinner clothing. When I get to my area, I see a blast from my past, an embroidered handkerchief with Stupina’s name on it. I haven’t seen this in 3 years. It’s washed and folded and I am thrilled to have it back. I find out it was found in the men’s laundry bag and is now back in it’s rightful home. I HAVE SCHTICK AGAIN. I am just bubbling over with it. I used to have a bunch with Stupina’s and Columbina’s names embroidered, but over the years, they all went missing, then gone. I am glad to see this one back.
SOUNDING OFF
I am in good spirits and chatting with a few on the way to the White Hart. SMDave isn’t there yet, so I start to set up. I am mostly done and plugged in when he arrives and we test levels pretty quickly. I then hear that CDCB has been up all night for work and won’t make it in today to sell for us. We need to find someone to jump in and sell last minute...um, ok....They go to eat breakfast as I head to the Lyric after a brief chat with the White Hart Breakfast crowd. At the Lyric, I show off my handkerchief and touch base with Stupina’s guest star to make sure they are ready. Cast call begins and we hear about new acts, special events and missing compatriots. Once done, we BEEP and head to front gate.
BALANCING ACT
Today the oompah band Magic Mountain Music begins our day and gets everyone in the spirit. The cannon Booms, the gate opens and the crowd comes pouring in like a tap that they forgot to shut off...no, really, it’s fast and furious. We give two tours, I give out many hugs...and I still chuckle that the fountain is filled with people talking in accents or saying weird things. A Pole, a Spaniard and the town fool walk into a festival...yeah, you can see where this could go. Gindobre becomes Gin and Tonics, at least under our breath. It’s amusing. After the rush, I can see the crowd is heavy outside and grab two stacks of programs to give out on my head. I get through them and am handed another. I am concerned for the time, but when I check, I still have 8 minutes to hand more out, so I take them and keep going. They are gone quickly. I head in and forward into the village.
KNIGHT AND DAY
I head through the village chatting with people and being generally silly, dusting them, trying to clean off tattoos and the like until I get to the White Hart to grab my props. Off to the Royal Pavillion by way of Page After Page. The author is not set up yet and I feel off kilter not seeing someone there. Sniff. I guide a few running children up and down the stairs, well, up, since often they have just ridden the slide. I head to start Stupina’s show and in the crowd approaches a man in Silver, Sir Barchan of Dinglebury is my guest. He explains what it is to be a knight, how many battles he has been in (none) and how wealthy you need to be to be a knight. Stupina gets questions too, but many are fascinated with the actual information he provides. Once finished, I take my leave and head up to the White Hart to return my hat.
CLIMBING OVER
The site is crowded already. There are many people everywhere you look and I can tell it’s going to be one of “those” days. The ones where you don’t end up entertaining unless you are scheduled to do so on stage. But not quite yet. I chat with numerous patrons on the way back. I spend about 5 minutes at my tree, if that, as there is so much going on and people to talk do that I don’t get there till it’s almost time to go. I sing at a few patrons who I see tweak their ears to me as hear me start to describe them...”I see a man in blue...” and so forth. Soon enough, its time to move on and find that lady in blue. Well there are two, and I talk to one, but that’s not the one I am looking for now.
TRANSFORMATIONS
The other fun part of the weekend is that I have new pantaloons. I had bought fabric earlier in the year and the nice lady finally had time to sew them for me. Today, I am putting on the new blue ones. YAYEEE! Ok, so they are all blue, but they are all slightly different shades of blue and I can tell the difference. These are more slidey than the other ones. Anna OC arrives earlier and I find out she has taken back routes because the main roads are backed up to 97 and onto the highway...joy. We chat a bit as I am fixing my hair and makeup. I am done relatively quickly and head out on street. I am hungry and decide to get a snack before my regular lunch. Off to the Frozen Banana place, my new home. I get a frozen banana covered in peanut butter and wander to the White Hart, eating carefully. If you don’t understand why I am saying that, good, you still have an innocent bone in your body and wouldn’t be offended by my snack, unless I wanted you to be.
OOM PAH WHO?
So CDCB had no sleep and we needed a replacement. I run into two of his friends to commiserate and one offers to take up the task. I gratefully accept. CDCB2 is given a crash course in taking care of us ladies and we head to the stage after Magic Mountain Music, a lovely oompah groups. The show has great energy. The nicest thing I am seeing these days is that in the first few minutes of our show starting, the crowd continues to grow. This may not mean much on the outside, but that means to me that they are coming specifically for us, rather than at the end of the show, where they may have arrived early for the next show. I see this more and more and it makes me very happy and a bit overwhelmed...As Sally once said “you really like me..”ok, you might like Trinket, but you are still there for us.
HUNTING FOR LUNCH
So there are lines everywhere, like EVERYWHERE, I try to grab my bowl and head to get lunch, but it’s climbing over people and not fun. I try to be friendly and throw a fun comment out now and then and ask about the ATM line, but wow, it’s almost impossible. I get to the potato line expecting it to be huge and...in 2 people, I am in an getting my potato. They are moving through quickly and there isn’t a wait. Impressive. I get my potato and begin the trek back, hoping to try to make a quick laugh for a patron on the way, but gosh darn it’s hard to even keep your balance in the wash of people. I get to the food court and find a seat with a family of 4. They are new to the festival and ask me if this is normal. I assure them it’s not. We get crowds, but this is a bit crazy. I let them in on a secret about the good privies and a few other choice things that will make their day easier. We have a nice chat and I head over to look for a napkin to clean my bowl, but a kind vendor washes it for me. I drop it off and head back to Kenwood in hopes of using the privy. There is a line there. Oh hells no. Wait, I see what’s wrong and walk in and bring everyone in as there are 10 free stalls in the back. In less than 2 minutes the line is gone and I can go pee. I was very happy about that. I head back making small talk and it’s already time to wire up.
CDCG
Well, CDCB2 had to leave for a wedding, so we are blessed that CDCG-Tiger jumps in for us. She comes into the closet with me and learns the money, pricing, stock, etc. She uses the bigger basket and brings out the Tshirts. I am informed that in 2 minutes, she sold Tshirts (this chagrins CDCB), but she was heavily showing them off, the Tshirts that is. This show is fun and high energy and full...and well, there is always more interesting fun when a girl joins Trinket at the end of the show. There is amusement.
BACK TO KENWOOD
Once I am done with the show and greeting everyone, I head back to Kenwood to the privy again. Turns out that the colder weather just makes me pee more. Grand. At least there is no line. Once out, I hit the ATM line and chat with people. I find myself caught between some steampunks and a strormtrooper...that was odd. I run that line and head over to the Slide privy...and it’s LONG. Ok, here’s where the work begins. I see that everything is being used. Once I move the line in so they can see things quickly, I head outside. “Allright, while you are out here, you are going to make a few decisions: Who’s going to hold the baby, who’s going to hold the beer, who’s going to hold what you bought today. When you get inside, there will be no texting, no talking on the phone, no smooching, no taking pictures, Just Pee and Poop. There are people behind you doing the peepee dance and they want to get in to one of those as much as you do, so get in, do your business and get out. We are all going to work together to get this mission done!” And I get a cheer and a round of applause. That was the first time for that, but the people at the end of the line fell in love with me at that moment.
HOW LONG IS IT?
I work the line for quite a while alone. One somewhat drunk patron tries to help, but I know she will move one once Its her time in line. I keep going and by 5:20 I have finished the line...I started at about 4:15 BTW. But at least it was gone when I left. That is saying a lot with the intensity of the lines we saw. I did go out to the main line many times and adjusted my schpeil but the baby and beer lines always seem to get laughs. Perhaps because they are so true. With this accomplishment under my belt, I head play with Baby Stupina for about 20 minutes then to Pyrate Camp to get ready for tonight.
NERVES
I am nervous tonight. Trinket had to leave for another obligation, so I am going to sing a song that hasn’t been done on site in years...and it’s a pretty song. I can have fun with comic ones, the personality can sell it, but this has to be legit...I also find it hard to get through the song without crying every time I really sing the words, so this is going to be interesting. I have been working on and off with Robyn Stubbs and Cat of Cat and the Fiddle to make a new arrangement of the piece. It has taken its time, but is finally coming together. I am waiting to run it and drinking a lot (water) and treating my throat, which has become rather dry. Another gent is to sing a solo tonight and is also nervous, so he takes one of the ladies to help set a key, then get them to run our song, then he gets her again. Bouncy violins and violas. Soon enough it’s time to start. I put on my oddly shaped feathers and head to the pub.
MUPPPET PUB SING
Since it was a big hit last week, we do the Muppet Opening again. No pink thing with sticky out hair, but my feathers did a little defying of gravity. There is fun music and Gypsophillia is back, which makes my heart and ears go zing! Everything they play is amazing. Each time we turn around, they are joining in and backing up music and it sounds amazing. I am a very happy gal. The King stops by, the Duke burps into the “Ivy” and there is much silliness. As it starts getting closer, I am getting more nervous. The song before mine requires me near the stage which is fine. I had a thought for the intro, but didn’t share, and John and Mary had another which was, not in my mind...so the intro was not cheery, but I focused on the song. It’s hard to sing with just instruments as voices when you are generally used to singing with voices. And they are to the side instead of in front and and and...ok. I was really nervous till about verse 3, then it clicked as I told the story. Near the middle, I did start to cry, but held it together and only slightly cracked again near the end. It made sense...and Demeter’s Daughter once more shared her story on the White Hart.
HOME IS WHERE YOUR HEART IS
The rest of the pub sing is a blur and when it ends, I grab my stuff and head to the costume house for the parking lot that is the parking lot. I get changed but I am sure I will be here a while. I am trying to get done and out as my parents are waiting for me at my house. I risk the crowd after a while and through kindness of strangers I am on my way home by 8:10 or so. At home, my parents have already provided dinner and I am ravenous. I eat and we catch up. Eventually, I get ready for bed and am so tired, I don’t hear a thing.
RESTED AND READY
Because my parents and I had a quiet night, I am in bed at a decent time and away more refreshed than in a while. I feed the cats, get my stuff, layer up a bit and head to site waving hi to mom who wakes up. On site, I stretch and finish a bit early so I can get to the costume house...for me it seems again. SMAdam and I chat over his breakfast and I head into the costume house to get dressed. It’s a bit chilly, so I add socks and the like to my clothing to keep a little warm. Some of the ladies show up and we run our song a bit before we head our several ways. At sound check, SMDave is running late and I begin to grab things when he shows up and we set up as normal. Sound check has been more and more smooth, but we have to adjust some levels because of spitting sounds. I haven’t looked at the settings in forever, which will be important later.
MEETING UP
The gang gathers at Lyric for morning meeting. We find out that I was actually right about the numbers the day before, in fact, I might have been a trifle low in my guess, but at least my radar about how it “feels” on site was right. It’s a day that isn’t comfy or creative, it’s just about making it through. After a few other quick announcements, we BEEP and I head to gate with my barrel of monkeys. Yes, I have a wood barrel, and I have steel monkeys..and chalk. But more on that later. I take my last pee, greet Spyke, but not at the same time, and get ready to face up. Soon enough, we BOOM and in comes the crowd.
BALANCING ACT
It’s still crowded and busy, but not as bad as the day before. The rush is done after a tour and some polish humor. I grab my things and some programs and head out. I am having issues as my hair isn’t flat and the programs are fighting me. Anyone adds pressure and they go falling, dagnabbit. Finally, I find a balance point and we are good to go. I make it through the stacks and get a crowd of early 20’s who all want them from my head. It’s 10:30, my head is clear, and it ‘s time to go inside. I have not yet seen my parents, which makes me sad.
SUSPECT BEHAVIOR
I wander in and chat with patrons along the way, show of my monkeys and explain the great chain. I am stopped by O’Shucks to chat with a few regulars and am greeted by the Sheriff. He asks if I have chalk, which I do, and he asks me to lay down. He then explains how you mark the outline of a victim...me. However, each time he comes near my side, I become insanely ticklish and giggle and thrash about. I don’t make a good dead body it seems. After about 5 or so tries, they give up and give me back my chalk. I head my merry way showing off monkeys and letting people draw their own monkeys. I get to the White Hart and pick up my hat then head to the stairs to greet people and guide them. It amuses me when people run down the steps because I have to talk faster and faster to get them all. Its fun.
NOBLE QUESTIONS
Today, I have a special guest (well, I always do, but this one is really cool). As I sit down, I still see no parents. I begin and finally see them coming down the stairs. A few moments later, I welcome my special guest, Princess Mary (Lady Mary, I know, but for the kids, she’s a princess). When asked what the best part of being a princess is, she replies “The Jewelry.” The little girls are fascinated with her and she and I are sharing questions pretty evenly. We even have a nice crowd. I get a bit unfocused during the show and begin to sit upside down on the throne and the Princess asks if she should join me. I confirm she is “prepared” and she flips over and drops her shoes to show off striped toe socks. The kids laugh and I am amused. We turn back around and she asks the kids to promise not to tell her father. One little girl wants to tell. So when the princess explains how we can thank children for being good...LIKE NOT TELLING MY FATHER...it gets a laugh. It was a really fun show and I was thrilled to have her with me.
MONKEYING AROUND
I hug my parents and let them know when the next show is, as well as letting them know the non-hilly way to get back to the main part of faire. I head up the stairs though and turn in my hat avoiding the man with the baubles. I start walking around asking people to draw on my monkeys (covered in chalk board paint) and use them to show them how people rank in the village. I run into two kids who both color their monkeys with fun pics and name them. I find another group having a lunch near O’Shucks below. The 3 kids all jump in and coat the monkey’s in chalk. Dad asks me how much, and I tell him there’s no charge, I just keep my monkeys. One little girl is dressed as a pink cat and asks for a pink chalk. After coating her monkey pink, she names it kitty...all the kids had fun names and the parents were pleased I could help play with them. Off I go with my monkeys and everyone is happy.
TREETIME
I get to my tree and only have a few minutes again. It is fun to sing to people. And I like that they often leave smiling or laughing. I head backstage finally and head to the costume house. There, I see the other Princess in a more relaxed way, she is getting dressed. The other princess has already told me she thinks my show might be the highlight of her year. (YAYEEE!) I start to change and switch. For some reason, the indent in my skin is stronger today, but in a short time, it will settle back to normal. I am changed quickly and head out feeling puckish. I head over to banana land and get another peanut butter banana. Mmmmm. I suppose the chocolate ones would be good if I could have one, and I suppose I could in 2 weeks or so, but I am happy with what I have.
SOUNDS LIKE MUSIC
Today we are doing the new show first since my parents haven ‘t seen it. They are there early and they luckily sit on Trinket’s side. Flirting with my dad would be WRONG. My hand has gotten some strange bruised pain on the top of it, which I eventually figure out is from Baby Stupina and sleeping on my hand oddly. Great. The biggest issue is its my drumming hand and I have 3 bodhran songs in this show. Joy. Pain and joy. The show does go well though. People are responsive and get the jokes, we push a few lines and are rewarded for it. YAYEE. The show ends and we clear the stage for the Pyrates after making smoochy faces with Fletcher.
ON THE HUNT AGAIN
After hugging parents and greeting friends and fans, we go our several ways with me sending parents to see the work I did for Don Q. I tell them they will be missing my show because the ending is part of what I did and they should see it. I then head off to lunch for me. The lines are better, but I still offer a few tricks and sneaky helpful hints to people. Over to potato land for a huntsman with little cheese. I can’t imagine what is a lot of cheese if that is a little. Wow. Back to the food court to chat with another group of patrons, another family of 4 plus grandma, who wants wine. Dad heads off for that and I send the kids to the good privies while I eat. Grandma and I chat about Italy. Once my lunch is done, I say my goodbyes and wishes for their good day. I get up on a bench to do my food court public service announcement, which goes relatively well. Once done, I head back to the White Hart.
WHERE’D HE GO?
I am greeted by CDCB who is back, but informs me he will be replacing SMDave for the changeover as he had an emergency to take care of. He has new settings and doesn’t get what they mean. I get most of it and help him through when we hit the stage. In the middle of the first song, I see my parents return, which means they missed the section I wanted them to see...the section I will never get to see again...unless someone would be wonderful and film it for me...the danse macabre at the end after Don Q, um, well, it will be clear. Lady sings, people dance, other people cry if done right. You know. That part. ANY WAY, they come back for the second show which also has a good crowd. Afterwards, they tell me they wanted to see me more and saw ‘that part you did” when I correct them and let them know there is a part they missed. Oh well.
CHANGING PLANS
I head up to check the privy lines and low and behold there is none. I need to pee and figure I will check the White Hart privy first when I am stopped by yesterday’s CDCB2 who says, Oh, SMDave said if we saw you to say “Globe.” I don’t think they expected my reaction as I took off like a bat out of hell. See, one of the actresses had been having some issues as of late, and that comment meant that I might be needed as back up for her if she can’t go on. I have been there a few times, just in case, but I show up because the show must go on. There, I am informed she is supposedly on her way, but was feeling ill. I am surprised as she looked well earlier, but stuff happens. I am on standby for a bit when they ask me to start to change just in case. Partway through, she arrives and is well, so once they start, I switch back to my normal Italian blue self.
BABY TALK
I head up to Stub Toe and gather Baby Stupina. In the middle of manipulating her , I realize that that is part of what strained the back of my hand, how odd. I take her around to the slide line and play with kids. Its about this time that the Greenman March finds me, hands full and working with kids. Thanks guys, but no, no acorn for me. The people I have been chatting with ask me what the march is about and I explain how the bless everyone in the village with prosperity and creativity and fertility...I just want to avoid that last one. I know at some point earlier, I ended up at Noblesse while Kitte made the headpiece that her hubby is wearing, I just can’t remember when. I wander Stupina through the entire line, which is rather long, then back up and to Tiger’s mask shop. I help to show a man how an eyepatch works, and I hope he gets it, cause it was cool.
CHANGING OUR TUNE
It’s time to head the Pyrate camp to see what we are doing. The set list is much more vague and we had a few ideas already, but this cinches it. We ask around and discover that Jonathan Strum knows the music for the song we want to do. This makes us happy as we find a chord that works for us all. Soon enough it’s places and in we go. The show is fun and playful. I dance like a zombie with John, Daisy turns into a zombie...We get up and celebrate Oktoberfest with Oom-pah-pah then, for our second song, we do a sobriety test and have the audience sing with us “Sarah, Sarah,” with our new verses. I like watching people’s faces brighten or crumple with laughter as they realize what their mistake could mean....and at least one person did not pass the sobriety test. The music made all the difference in the background...it made me happy.
PRETTY MOMENTS
While we all missed Gypsophillia’s support, the show was a lot of fun and ran a bit longer than we wanted, but we got it all done. Once the cannons boomed, we grabbed our things and headed out to the costume house and into real clothes. There was still a crowd in the parking lot, but not nearly as bad. I waited with the costume lady while they waited for the gates to be opened and we gave up and just took everything. Burgers were the name of the night and a small group of us enjoyed cheeseburgers and frings...cause that’s what we are calling them, even if they aren’t on the menu. I am so tired that I have lost my ability to see humor...it’s bad. At least I have people to laugh at me for it. The flat large shake side vs. the curvy small shake side. It was amusing. We closed the place and headed our ways home once I knew that Penelope didn’t need to crash from exhaustion.
Stupina has new guests this weekend. I can’t wait for you to meet them Only two weekends left. I am going to be very sad. Until next week (or when I can get enough time together to get the next recap from prior weeks written...
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also... it wasn't a singalong i know. but Daisy and I were very very, ever-so-softly, singing harmonies with you under our breath. as it ended we both sighed.
p.s. i know the term CD babe. but what does CDCB stand for? "CD Cabana Boy?"
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I am so glad you enjoyed it.,
And yes, we didn't have a wench or babe, we have a Cabana Boy...suits us much better.