Workin' at Kurly's

So this February I stopped working at the Colophon and have been pursuing my own path. Within said path includes a flexible schedule and availability for various work opportunities. Workin' at Kurly's is one of these bonuses. River has his Kurly's cart at the Bellingham Farmers Market on Saturdays, and I have had the privilege and joy (as shown in photo) of workin' there.

So thanks River, for inviting me to enhance an occasional Saturday, and for helping me continue my unique and varietous path.

Mama Lou at the State Fair

 This year I had the privilege of performing at the Washington State Fair (Puyallup) and meeting Mama Lou, American Strong Woman. Her show was full of feats of strength, and encouraging messages about doing the impossible. Here are two great quotes.

"Dare to be remarkable."

"It is my hope you will walk away with a new idea of what is possible in your life."

 Here she is busting an apple with her biceps!

Lifting 20 lbs of potatoes with her tongue!

Snapping a pencil with her butt cheeks!... a suggestion from a little kid.

 And here we are... Mama Lou emulating another quote "My confidence is bulletproof." And me... I'm pretty sure my confidence is not even waterproof, but not for long with inspiration from the American Strong Woman! And what a woman she is.

The Action Ranch

One of my favorite homes over the years of many great homes was in Bellingham... The Action Ranch on Dean Street. It was co-owned by two fabulous fellows (Lucas Hicks and Jeff Lefferts) and roomated by so many amazing people... and animals... like Rudolf! He's a 23 pound cat! And soooo hilarious to live with.

Julia Spencer (center below) is Rudolf's mom and one of the notables of the Dean house. A generous, fun lady with a strong personality and a notoriously classy dresser.  Clair Hilsinger (the one in the green wig), was another Dean street favorite. A ukulele-playing singer and all around amazing human. I lived there (in 4 out of the 5 rooms from around 2008 to 2011). This photo represents one of many incredible adventures we had together...this one ending in an epic photo-shoot of Claire and driving off with friends who casually stopped by to Toad lake for a real dip. It's photos like these that flash my life (so far) before my eyes...and how grateful I am for it all.

Steve the Pretty Good Magic

This summer I had the proud opportunity to work with a marvelous man. Steve the Pretty Good. My honor was to be his magicians' assistant.

I got to crawl in there and be slid into pieces!

 I put Steve in the wash after noticing his tie has a spot on it.

We ring him out, then he's back to "normal".

Steve lures me into the safe so he doesn't have to pay me.

 Presto! I magically take the place of Steve!

And he takes my place, and I take the loot!

 Another of Steve's assistants is Mr. Pellets.

After performing with Steve for over 4 years, this fella's a pro-fish-onal!

Some of Steve's colleagues.

 I had such a great time performing with Steve, I hope to "Doo Doo the Puyallup" again next year!

Yay!

Washington State Fair

This year I was fortunate enough to perform at the Washington State Fair!

And with none other than Steve the Pretty Good... who btw is amazing, and kind, and hilarious.

Here I am getting in the juke box, where he will separate the pieces with me inside!

I come out unharmed, and out of my work attire like magic!

I put him in a washing machine and he gets all twisted up, then back to normal.

 He lures me into the safe and locks me in.

 And then I magically appear on top of the safe!

And him inside.

It's a super fun show, and I was so stoked to be part of it. It was also fun to be a part of the fair and see other show and meet other performers, like these guys.

The dude in the middle here is Aaron, who is the big duck from above.

Two weeks at the fair (minus a few days where Steve's wife Arlene took over for me) is a long, but good time.

 I'm so thankful that I got to doo doo the Pyullup!

Local Foods Dinner Theater

Wren and I were invited to perform at the Bellingham Coop, along with a few other circus folks, for a Local Foods Dinner Theater Show. We would be accompanied by a local accordion player, Josh, in the dining area of the coop. I was asked to perform the chair dance, and boy, is that a tough act to perform for a small, close-up group of people not knowing what they've gotten theselves into. But other than the chair dance, Wren and I performed an updated "improvised" version of our rope act,

 and our slowly-growing high-five club-juggling act. It was petty fun. Clay, Andrea, and Jason Quick were the other performers, and they had some fun acts as well...like a swing dance coffee bit, and a pie making table bit. Here is a photo of us at the end of the night.

 What a great thing to be advertising, local foods, local music, and local nuts! Ha! That's us!

A Joyful Reuinon

I have recently been in contact with my favorite high school teacher, Gorge Talman. He was my Spanish teacher and a great inspiration to me... he was fun and funny, caring and generous, and interested in fitness. We were gym and racketball partners, he lived just a few blocks from my house, he called me Big D. He was always supportive and encouraging, full of pep talks and positivity. We recently met up in Anacortes, along with Marcus Sather, the high school counselor and another genuinely great guy, and what a treat it was to see them after 18 years!

So here we are, Marcus, myself, and George... a full lifetime (my lifetime anyway, I was almost 18 when we last saw each other) we meet again. I feel so blessed!

Phillipe Gaullier Workshop

Los Angeles. I took Phillipe Gauleir's two week Master Clown class. He was an apprentice of Lecoq, a well-know clown and clown instructor. He typically teaches at his own school, outside Paris. He teaches in the style "La Negativa", which essentially means through giving negative feedback.

Here is Hollywood Boulevard! I had to go there because it is next to the Value Village where I got my dress for the class. Phillipe assigns you a character, and I was appointed "Madam".

The lineup... Phillipe would line us up and have us do a task, like make a sound like a coffee grinder. The ones who did it the "best", typically meaning with the most enjoyment/delight/pleasure,  would get to stay and play longer, or more, or different games.

One of our warm-ups... Mr. Hit.

 Teams played jump rope. If you (as an individual) lost for your team 3 times in a session, you were in the handicap group. Here is the handicap group... barely making it here...

 ...struggling there.

 A chorus of vaccume-cleaner sounds.

 Game where competing teams try to win the ball.

Me (as a Babushka...Phillipe had me change from Madam toward the end of the workshop) and Ned Brauer.

It was a challenging class. There were 30 of us, so limited solo time in front of Phillipe. It was scary, and eye-opening. I learned a lot about play, lying as a tool to play, and my face/smile. My smile can be a mask, and his job was to peel off our masks. My favorite message from Phillipe, and I quote, "Your smile is an international catastrophe!" I love it.