Only lost one rose bush, it was young and only recently planted, so though we mourn its loss, it is not as if we'd formed any great bonds with it as yet. Perhaps we'll replace it with another, and perhaps we'll just wait and see.
We're now up to 13ish windchimes in our back yard. Three are solar powered and have LED's in them that light up and cycle through blue, green, red, purple and yellow adding nicely to the nightime ambiance of the yard. With all of them chiming in the wind it is a nice symphony, especially with the rush of the wind through the boughs of the trees and the trickling of the waterfall into the pond. Some of the chimes could use a little maintence, but then so can most of the yard after our absence.
I'm really looking forward to getting fish into my pond SOON! I've just got to figure out where the closest place that sells what I want is and when I can afford the time for the trip.
All in all life is good, I've quit my job at the hospital and am working on another that should allow me to do what I want when I want so that I can work from anywhere anywhen that works for me. I'm stoked by this opportunity because it means I'll finally have time to do a number of projects that I've dreamed of working on for years but not had the time or energy for before. Life is good.
And even though the ball for this year is now past, here is this years flyer, I'll post next years when I get it. Pics from the show are soon to follow.
My Goodness! I've been slack in posting here...in an effort to get to where I'd like to be...the XIth labyrinth of Jareth Fantasy Masquerade Ball was a great success. The weekend before last my family and I arrived at the Sypher House and dove in headlong into preparations (prop building, finishing touches on costumes, logistical efforts, etc.) for the Ball. The week was filled with the delightful chaos of feverish work from early in the morning until the wee hours of the morn followed by a scant few hours of sleep and then back to consciousness to do it all over again until this Friday just past which saw us load in to the venue and get the doors open for the first night of the Ball.
As anyone familiar with the Labyrinth of Jareth knows, describing the evening is just the other side of impossible. Pictures fail to do more than show the costumes worn, video give an idea of the acts performed, but the essence, the ambiance is magically elusive and something to be experienced. It is truly an amazingly magical gathering of creativity and wonder fostered by Lord Striders Royal Court as it touches the mortal realm for two evenings.
Yes, I’m gushing about something I help make happen. No I’m not being that helpful in describing it. I make no apology other than for the fact that language truly fails us in the endeavor to covey what occurs. I am blessed to be a part of the crew that helps bring it all together. My family and I put our hearts, blood, sweat and tears into this event as do many of our closest friends.
One of my personal favorite moments of this years ball was when one of the House security staff came up to me Saturday night and apologized for being upset with me Friday night when he asked what Saturday night would be like and I told him, "Just wait to see." His eyes were gleaming with delight and he made it clear that he understood that I hadn't been just putting him off with my answer but had actually been enjoining him to wait patiently to be delighted by something ephemeral and ineffable until experienced. One more spark of magic kindled and carried out into the dark of the world at the end of the evening.
Other favorite moments include watching my daughter as she went from project to project working on props and costumes as at thirteen she is finally physically big enough to join in a lot of work she’s not been able to help out with in years past. (She showed she hasn’t been just sitting around over the last five years, but has been learning what she could as we’ve all taught her bits and pieces over time for working with the materials used in all we do. Blessedly this year I do not have to listen to her usual litany of frustration that she needs to get big enough so she can help out more. No, now its plots and plans for how to help make things work out better!) Seeing the look on all the patrons’ faces as the evening evolved. Greeting old patrons, some of whom have been in attendance for longer than my wife and I have been involved with the show, as well as meeting new patrons who have come not knowing exactly what it is they are getting into and yet are still there knowing they have found that which they hunger for. I also always love seeing peoples reaction to the fact that my wife makes all of our costumes (my daughter gets to make her own next year having proven she’s got a knack for sewing herself this year) and that they always look fantastic!
I also enjoy our crew breakfasts Saturday and Sunday mornings as we go over issues that have come up and discuss lessons learned along with anecdotes from the evening before. Because there is always so much going on it is impossible to see everything going on at once all over the venue and the only way we have of seeing the whole picture is to share what each of our individual evenings was like. We still miss things, but that is the joy of it all as well.
Anyway, that should be plenty for now and I’ll look at posting more once we are finally back home and settled in and rested a bit.
As promised, here is a picture of Zelda, our hedgehog.
She's charming and recently decided that she really likes to cuddle inside of shirts, something my wife got to experience whilst I was away at work. Fortunately no one was hurt.
Finally back on line, we've finally gotten internet access and the wifi up in the house and life is once more connected! Funny how that seems to be though, we've been living without access for almost four months and yet it is only now that we have unfettered access to the internet that things seem "connected".
More updates shortly, but we've added another to our family, Zelda the hedgehog has joined us and is as cute as a button. Pictures to follow.
Things have been busy! My wife and I are now living in Colorado, Sringfield to be exact, have completed schooling for and have been certified as Certified Nursing Assistants and have both been employed at the South East Colorado Hospital. Next up is school for our LPN's on the road to RN and who knows from there where. I've also got some training coming up as a Ward Clerk.
Our internet access at the moment is spotty at best, so there are going to be great lengths between postings for the forseeable future.
We are actively seeking a place to live other than my in-laws. To say it's been stressful is an understatement, but at least there is a roof over our heads and food on the table. In many ways we've been gaining many lessons in perseverence and patients.
Currently the best way to get ahold of me is via my cell, or through my google email at david.b.mcneill@gmail.com.
