Procession of the Species Celebration

April 25, 2010

Thanks, Berd!

Thanks, Kirsten

originally from Healing Journey with Dr. Roger Sty Bantam… features a brief cameo by Jusby the Clown during Procession of the Species 2010
Thanks, David

Definite Tiger Synchronicity Going on for the Year of the Tiger


Jusby’s Best of 2009

January 5, 2010

January - Honey the Clown is born! She attends (approximately) SEVENTEEN events with me in 2009!

February – Trish and I take “The Art of the Tease” class with Miss Indigo Blue and I start reconnecting with David Raffin upon reading his short story “Twilight of the Clowns”.  He creates (approximately) SEVENTEEN works of art featuring me in 2009.

March – I continued classes in anthroposophical based clowning with Dawn of the Simple Fool school (of top secret esoteric clowning).  Orion turned 5 with a Glow Golf party.

April – An old friend gets stuck on her way home to Alaska and gets the first mini-pie-in-the-face.

I turn 40 and eat fried crickets.  I break the 100 pie mark.  Honey and I clown at Procession of the Species.

May – Jusby the Engineer is born!  Red Nose Brigade parade season starts.  I get called into the ring to be an assistant at Circus Gatti!  I get interviewed for Folkshine.  Jusby the Agent is born.

June – The Timberland Regional Library now has 2 years of the clown magazine “the New Calliope” thanks to me (and the RNB).  I order a whipped cream dispenser from e-bay so I can offer sugar free non-dairy organic pies in the face.  Honey and I march in the Pride parade.  Mish and I do a party in McCleary.

(c) Steve Bloom, the Olympian

July – Pied Monica Drake, author of Clown Girl in Portland… and her husband, and two of their author friends!  I bought a red unicycle.  I graduated from the Simple Fool school.  We see orca whales in the San Juans.  Jusby the Referee is born and I break the 200 pie mark!

(c) Greg Wahl-Stephens

August – I pie zombies!  I construct the first two models of the flaming pie.  The zombies survive.

August -  I get a job at a school I used to work at.  (I go into the interview with two letters of recommendation from members of the interview committee).  They nominate me to lipsynch to Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” at the first assembly.  I debut the unicycle.   I pie a woman I haven’t seen in 25 years… and her 16 year old daughter.  I buy a pair of size 20 shoes for $5.

October -I appear (4 times) in a huge photo collage at Fall Arts Walk in the window of Hot Toddy.  Orion and I go to Portland for the Juggling Festival and I practice my unicycle for hours.  The alley attends the Northwest Festival of Clowns.  I take home three medals and $20 for my shoes (sold to a Belgian clown).  I escort people through the Tumwater Halloween House three nights in a row.

November – I meet and pie (of course) Dingo Dizmal and his girlfriend, Olive Rootbeer.  I also meet (again) Pamela “Fancie” Woods and her poodle, Olive.

December – I debut my new theme song and the flaming pie at a birthday in Portland.  I pie David Raffin’s mother in Lacey.  (The pie is not flaming.)


Meeting Fancie the Clown & her poodle, Olive

December 6, 2009

It was Fancie after all who recommended one of Dingo’s events and that I go meet him in person.

He had been part of a series of Speakeasy’s.  She attended the final one of the series and invited me (via facebook) on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  After the trip from Olympia to West Linn I was too beat to drive back into Portland.

I did get out to Dingo on Black Friday.  Then I doubled back to to the dingo-lovin’ Aussie who took the Monica Drake pics last summer and got the disk from him.  I had enough time to cross into NE and visit Fancie.

She introduced me to the other Olive, her oh-so-sweet circus poodle.

We shared stories and a glass of carrot juice.  Very wholesome.


The Assembly Showcase (w/ recommendations)

October 4, 2009

So, the embarrassment didn’t stop after I realized I had shown up on THE WRONG DATE!  To my credit, at least I was EARLY.  I haven’t been late to a party since my Going Into Business Sale four years ago!  The universe was reflecting back to me that I was really interested in this event, and I had extra time to prepare for it.  However, I didn’t have a good plan about how I would prepare.

I’ve been showing up at events, uninvited, for a while now.  It’s good gonzo clowning, but it takes its toll.  [see blogs about Lakefair parade, Sand in the City, etc.]  I had considered coming to the showcase in clown.  After all, I’d like to have some assembly gigs.  The extra day gave me time to run this idea by Trish.  She talked me out of it.  “It would be unprofessional.  Like showing up at a trade show where people have paid for booths and trying to sell stuff out of your coat.”

Oh, yeah.  I could see that.  She continued, “Go.  Watch the show and learn from them.  Make connections and hand out your card… as Justin.”

So I did… with Orion.  Kids were free.  [Actually, it was free for me, since I RSVP'd]

I was, at turns, astounded, inspired, and underwhelmed.

I counted a room off approximately 40 with seating for an additional 20.  So, we’re talking intimate.  Jeff Evans later sent a spreadsheet with the breakdown of attendees.  He said there were 28 attendees, possibly a dozen of them kids.  There were about 14 performers, and each group was given about eight minutes on stage.

bucknelizabeth elizabethwlasso

We arrived just as Buck & Elizabeth took the stage.  They have a country themed act that plays well in the East part of the state, but they’re trying to book more shows with the city folk.  Elizabeth sings and does ventriloquism.  Buck sings and plays the guitar.  I liked their professionalism, attitude, and humor.  See for yourself at http://www.cowboybuck.com

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The finale (he’s pulling the tablecloth off the table while 9 bowls spin)

Then we saw Rhys Thomas do an amazing 7 minutes and 59 seconds of juggling, humor, and science.  Definitely one of the highlights of the showcase.  His site is http://www.jugglemania.com/ We saw him a few weeks later at the Portland Juggling Festival, and he excelled even more with a longer set and a much larger audience.  In the parking lot he stopped me to say that he used to have a gag about a Bi-Polaroid camera that works much better now that he put in a Lithium battery, but the camera is obsolete, so he’s not doing that one anymore.

ricktoyman mrtoy-je

Rick “Mr Toymaker” Hartman took the stage with a huge wooden box from which he produced a clothes-pin man that can amuse kids without batteries!  http://www.toyworkshop.com/

rickhuddle

Rick Huddle came on stage, and his deal is all about storytelling, writing, and music.  He brought a guitar, but he didn’t play for us.  http://www.putthebookdown.com/

msfinale ms-je

Then, my old boss, Sherril Stead came on representing Mad Science of South Sound.  She later told me that she’s getting her teaching certificate, and when the franchise expires she does not plan to renew it.  She also offered to bring me back on for a few gigs.  She loaded up a bag of great Mad Science toys, but I set it down to take a group photo and forgot it!  Very embarrassing.  http://www.madscience.org/locations/southsound/

charliewilliams

Another guy I would recommend unreservedly was Charlie “The Noise Guy” Williams.  He produced the most laughter and best audience participation of any presenter.  His website is good for 10 minutes of laughs even if you don’t click anything.  http://noiseguy.com

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He’s a former children’s librarian with a background in radio.  Completely inspiring!

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Then we had more jugglers.  The guys from W.E. C.A.R.E. Sports did a wonderful routine.  Their message is “The Most Fun Wins”. http://wecaresports.com I saw Mag Hughes a year ago at West Linn’s Art in the Park, but this time he had two other members of the group.

wecaresports

Don Fogle did most of the talking during the presentation, and they ran a tight show.  I’d love to see their staff development workshops. Orion and I took the How to Juggle class with Mag at the Portland Juggling Festival a few weeks later.  I don’t think I’d ever take another class held in a racket ball court, but it was great to have a gentle and familiar face around when Orion got frustrated with himself.

clintonshattersthefrozenglove

Clinton and Megan represented the Pacific Science Center’s assembly program, and Clinton demonstrated the effects of liquid nitrogen on a variety of objects.  His best line was to a boy in the front row: “Sit down, energetic friend.”

http://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/

rickandersonwbunny

Pulling a live rabbit out of the hat

The show’s MC, Rick Anderson (Yes, that’s THREE guys named Rick we have to keep straight) concluded with his magic act.  He is also Jeff Evans’ business partner over at http://www.edumazement.com/ He knew enough to pick Orion from the crowd to be his assistant.  How did he know?  Because his dad was the one in the front row taking so many pictures!

orionatcabelas

On the way home we stopped at Cabella’s.

sealionatcabelas

And the sea lion laughed and applauded: “Aaarp!  Aaarp!  Aaarp!”


Weekend Report – Off Duty Birthdays & Seattle Trip

August 3, 2009

We finally connected with Pat & Melissa Suther for her birthday party!  Orion got to play with their son, Keenan.  We all go back to Evergreen, KAOS, & TCTV days.  They had been living in Seattle for a couple of years but recently rematriculated to Olympia in the wave of reverse diaspora.  Melissa is back on the KAOS airwaves.

melissawcandles

melissawocandles

The cake arrived in a giant blue canning vat surrounded by ice.  Pat had agreed to a pie, but my heart wasn’t into it.  It was too hot, and I just wanted to enjoy the BBQ.  I promised him a raincheck.  I like to be fully in character.  I’m not a pie delivering machine.  And after all, it was HER birthday, not his.

This was Saturday.  On Sunday we drove up to Seattle for a combined birthday of Michelle and Roxanne.  Roxanne turned 1 year old.  Michelle turned another year older.

We went to the Pier 55 Red Robin for lunch.

I sat next to 3 y/o Rogan, and he started messing with me.  He grabbed my face.  I told him that it was my body space, and he should keep his hands to himself.  He poked me with a crayon. I told him that I didn’t like that and he should stop.  He didn’t.  I picked him up and passed him across the table to his mother.  10 minutes later he was back.

He grabbed my face.  I grabbed his face and said QWIT IT!  He poked me with a crayon… in the ear!  I broke his crayon.  He cried.  I wiped his tears away and patted his head.

The food arrived, and he was all better.  I had this..

Burnin’ Love Burger™
You’ll get fired up for the crispy-fried jalapeño rings, tangy salsa, and spicy Pepper-Jack cheese layered on top of our cayenne-seasoned beef burger.  It’s topped with shredded lettuce and tomato to cool things off and served on a jalapeño-cornmeal Kaiser roll with Chipotle mayo.
burningloveburger

And it was goooood.

roxannendrewwcupcake

There’s Roxanne with her Daddy, Drew, and brother Rogan helping blow out the candle.  When the fire was extinguished and the cupcake brought closer, she got the idea and made a chocolatey mess of herself.

Then I brought out my nose and glue.  I hit on the genius inspiration (if I do say so myself) of gluing the broken crayon tips to the kids’ noses… and foreheads.  Then the straws to their upper lips.

dakotanwmwcrayonnoses

Dakota and William wearing crayon noses.  They messed with me too.  Lotta boy silliness like burp contests and tickling and mustard-coated fry waving.

dakotawmustacheroganwhorn

Dakota with straw mustache, Rogan with crayon horn.  William kept a nose and mustache on all the way into the Seattle Aquarium, traveling a 1/3 of a mile on foot down Alaska Way and up until he got into the SCUBA gear.

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I brought my goggles and diving toys for this shot.  The diving hood was a bonus score.

1eyedfish

Ewww, a pirate fish missing an eye.  Or two.  It never turned around.

gavinwfishb

Gavin’s demonstrating something.

gavinwfish

otterside

otterfront

sealskissin

Then I convinced the group to drive a few miles to Archie McPhee’s.  Trish liked this fez, but I didn’t buy it.  I liked a pair of underware gloves, but I didn’t buy them.  I wound up with a chef’s hat (for my gourmet pies), a big comb, and a big axe.

jusbyatarchiemcphees

orionnwmatesbigtoms

Then we gave William a ride home, and he had his first Eastside Big Tom burger and first chocolate shake (EVER!?)  He and Orion are posing by the new mural going in at the patio area. Not pictured: the garden gnomes.

Williams said, “Look out, we’re surrounded by crazy norms!”

“Um… norms? Did you mean gnomes?  They’re called gnomes.”

“Whatever.”  Okay.  He meant norms.  What a clown.

Then we met Mike who had just returned from Seaside and worked his 61st straight day of work.  He is NOT PLEASED with certain teenager employees.

All in all, the trip might have been better had I realized well in advance that I do have other friends up in Seattle… and alerted them more than an hour prior to arrival.  I had an ongoing phone conversation with Sage, and he would’ve done some magic tricks for us at Red Robin or gone along on an adventure, but it didn’t work out this time.

The lesson I learned was that I’ve got to alert my Portland friends TODAY if I want to meet them ten days from now.  And/Or when Trish and Orion go camping I could plan to get out of my safety zone and venture up to the big city again if I arrange a time and place NOW.


Bil’s Party Whig Out BBQ Pie Fest

July 25, 2009

I traded a Gift Certificate to Bil Fleming for some X-Mas presents last year.  He redeemed it tonight.

At a Spiritual Marshmallow B-B-Q (with wigs) at Casa Blanca.

groupatwhig

Jusby goes sleeveless for a hot summer night.  I know Alexandria and Dinea through Enterprise for Equity.  Mike is wearing my rainbow wig.  Maybe if it had a cut and style I would feel better about wearing it, but I need a stylist to do the job.

stevesuskiatwhig

To my pleasant surprise, Steve Suski was in attendance.  He’s got a show of his art up at the Capitol Theater, and his show at the Minneart Center will happen in January.  He had some sad news, though.  His pet poodle, Gigi, was hit by a car and killed since the last time I’d seen him.

bilsigned jusbyinwhig

I envisioned the shot having the campfire in the foreground and flaming marshmallows along side of us.  Thanks to Dinea de Photo for capturing the shot on Bil’s Camera.

bilprepied

bilpiedc

bilpied

bilpiedb

Amanda had asked, “Why is the pie in the face shamanic?”

I replied, “Because it is an esoteric experience.  It has to be given from one person to another.  The pie is a circle.  The pie-ing happens for the community as well.  They gather and participate in an ephemeral ritual of sudden awareness… overcoming their fears and savoring the sweetness of life… et cetera, et cetera.”

piefillinginfire

Here’s the fire and excess pie filling at least.

Then I asked David if he was ready for a pie-in-the-face.  He said, “Sure.”  He got his g/f Britney in on it, bringing my total to about 193 faces.

192 192b

193

192-3

192c

And after David got cleaned up he returned to give me a fat tip!

jusbyatbils

In the background, a collection of Bil’s custom lamps.  See also http://bilfleming.com/

A different look: my old nose!  Trish found it in the camel bag I wore at Performance Dishwashing last year… along with the fingerless dishwashing gloves.

See also

http://jusbytheclown.com/2008/08/15/performance-dishwashing/

http://jusbytheclown.com/2008/10/12/more-performance-dishwashing-pics/

http://jusbytheclown.com/2008/11/20/more-performance-dishwashing-pics-2/


Circus themed birthday

June 8, 2009

I did my first double pieing the other night.

It was at the birthday of a twin, a gemini, but I didn’t pie her and her twin brother.  I pied two girls who are dating, and they are both named Erin.

Mauren and her twin brother turned 33 (another symmetrical synchronicity!), and she decided to announce her party on #fcbk.  Since she didn’t have a computer with internet at her house, creating the invitation fell to me.  Since she had decided on a Circus theme I felt morally obligated to make the scene.

I convinced Heather “Honey” Duke to accompany me and assist with principal photography. heh.

honeynmo

Honey applies the bindi jewel to Maureen’s 3rd eye.

mo

The birthday girl now sees all, and tells nothing.  We gotta get her a red nose and clown character though, so she can start participating in the RNB alley events.

blaireau

blaireaub

“Blaireau” did a great set with a street organ.  He’s an actual French “organ grinder”.

2facepainted

This fellow wanted eyes like Siouxsie Sue.  Sarah got a white dragon across the nose.  How could I have forgotten to take a picture of the Temple kid who got a blue dragon?!

dougpied dougpiedb

glenpied

glenpiedb

Glen had some great “chicken scratches” from prison.

groupscene

The King of Olympia (in yellow pants) tried to pie me at one point, but I fended him off with my superior Clown Fu.

erinjusbyerin

erinjusbyerinb

The two Erins.  My first time doing a double shot.

piederin2

erinsnclown

bilpied

bilpiedb

Bil Fleming finally got his pie… a year in the making.

Before it got dark I got to show off my fan flipping to a beautifully costumed Dutch-Indo family.  Who, of course, I didn’t get any pictures of…  nor the other clowns!  nor the half dozen weiner dogs in cute costumes!  Oh, I was preoccupied.  With pie-ing!  Here’s ANOTHER double shot!  Two men, one young and one not.

bigmouthnfriend

bigmouthnfriendb

Tim “Big Mouth” the Ringmaster waited until sunset until he felt ready.  Then the Little Prince seemed to want to get it too.

bigmouthnfriendc

My second double shot EVER.  Appropriate for the birthday party of a Gemini Twin.

Then the King set up a video projector and we watched UHF and Shakes the Clown projected on the side of Maureen’s house.  Until the cops came.

Here was the epic fail of the night.  After a flurry of twittering about inaugurating the new Organic pie-in-the-faces with a red 1/2 pint whipped cream dispenser delivered fast and cheap from e-bay…. it didn’t work.

brokengasket

The busted rubber gasket in my brand new whipped cream dispenser from e-bay.  I wasted the first two NO2 cartridges before I realized it wasn’t keeping a seal.  Sprayed Horizon Organic Heavy Cream and Agave syrup all over the dining room and Trish’s homework!  The seller said “I don’t have spare parts.  Call the company!”

The company website lists a spare gasket for $3, but they’re asking for $7 in shipping and handling.  That would bring the total up where it would’ve been if I had bought the thing from Fred Meyer or the mall, but they didn’t have RED.

I’m checking locally with Espresso Parts to see if their gaskets are compatible.  And I’m geeked to collaborate with them on a Barista Clown idea.

cowboyjusby

Absconded with Chuck’s hat at the end of the night.  I’m keeping it hostage until my missing lucky spatula is found.


Helping Circus Gatti and the Shriners

May 20, 2009

I saw the poster yesterday while ordering new business cards (card pdf), and I thought about it for a minute.  I thought to myself, “Hey, Jusby, do you want to go see the circus?”  I answered myself, “Heck, Yeah!  It’s been about thirteen years since I saw the Gatti Circus! And Orion has NEVER seen a circus!”

So I called around and finagled a ride to Trail’s End Arena, with Marci Sunshine, but we could have biked in the daytime.  I convinced Maureen to come, and she convinced a few other friends, including Roger “the King of Olympia” Robel.

We arrived with minutes to spare, and before I knew it I had volunteered and was selected to help out the clown in Ring #1.  I gave my camera to Marci, and here’s the blurry proof.  [I should have checked the settings before I left the house!)

intheringws

Tweeted: I got to go in the ring as a volunteer during the clown act! I killed!!!!!!!!!! ~ posting blurry photo for proof! 2 elephants too!

intheringcu

The clown had us imitate his moves.  I’m about to bust out with “the Running Man” dance.  Then I held a balloon while the other guy pretended to shoot at it.  He missed.  Then I pretended to shoot at his balloon.  I hit HIM.  I had to wail and mourn (which I did exceedingly well, I’ll admit candidly).  Then I pretended to shoot myself in the head… and fall across the other guy’s body.  The clown tried to leave at that point until the ringmaster called him back to get us out of there.

whutnjusby

“Whut” is with the Shriner Clowns.

rnbaftergatti

Jusby, Marci Sunshine, and Maureen

girlswnoses Junior Joeys

gattielephants

Jumbo Joeys

gattifinale

the Finale

groupaftergatti


Burgled!

March 24, 2009

On the way home after the field trip, Trish had to warn me that our front door was broken.  She couldn’t figure it out.  It was the strangest thing she’d ever seen.  She’d just pushed it open and it fell apart with a huge crack in the frame.  We should call the landlord and get him to look at it.

We dropped her off downtown and went home.

I chalked it up to shoddy workmanship or wood rot.  The house seemed normal.  However, a box of mementos that usually lived on the closet shelf was on the bed, and somebody had knocked over a glass of water that had been on the floor next to the bed.  Annoyed but not yet suspicious, I had a nap.

Then, I found the pdf of the manual for the camera so I could reset the auto timer to 10 seconds instead of 2 seconds.  Trish had bought it from a pawn shop, and it only came with the Spanish manual, so I’d downloaded the English version.  When I figured out what buttons to press I looked for the camera but didn’t see it.  No big deal.  It was probably around somewhere.

Late that night I asked Trish to keep an eye out for it, and she did a search.  She noticed more stuff missing: the video camera and portable dvd player (which was beside the bed) were gone.  So was her gym bag and tennis shoes.

That night I dreamed about being trapped in a friend’s house while a Grizzly Bear roamed beyond some French doors.

Goldilocks + Burglery= Bear Nightmare!

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ourdvdplayer

canona40

minitripod

juicebag

None of us handled it very well.  Trish thought her final paper had been stolen.  Orion was afraid of what would happen when the police came.  Jusby ran off his mouth when he should’ve been stuffing it with his foot.

[edit.  Trish found her Tennis shoes at her office.]


Weekend Story (2nd grade style)

March 8, 2009

This weekend I did many fun things.

On Friday night, I went to “Dance Oly Dance” with Orion. Dan said that he’s planning a similar show, but it will be two hours long and all techno/ electronic music. Afterwards, I felt like a celebrity when I overheard someone say “He started it” and then a young woman asked “Are you one of the managers here?” She wants to plan another similar show for the Evergreen Hip-Hop Congress with b-boys (breakdancers).  I wish both projects the best of luck.  [suckers!]

On Saturday, we watched the Big Comfy Couch (with Lunette the clown).

big_comfy_loonette_molly_150

Then, I checked out the Lacey Maintenance Center as a possible meeting place for the next alley meeting. I’ll have to go in person between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM to book it, but they have over a dozen parking spaces, and they’re right next to Pints and Quarts.

We also dropped off blankets at Animal Services and saw kitties, bunnies and guinea pigs for adoption. We looked at the lumber in Olympia Salvage, but it really seemed too beat up to use for Orion’s loft.  Next, we went to Wind-Up Here.  I made a wish list for my birthday there.

In case you’re wondering what an almost 40 y/o clown would like, items on the list range from trick candles to a heat sensitive shower light.

Orion got a Playmobil catalog.  He wants most everything in that for his birthday, but he also wants most everything from his Lego catalog.

Then, I got my hair cut by Toni from Euphorium.  She showed me a map of where she went on her honeymoon in Hawaii and tried to make me look less like Herman Munster and more like the suave, sophisticated gentleman I imagine I will be at 40.

Then, I took Orion to Rusty Cock Ridge. He played Pajama Sam and had a root beer float.
We saw Keith Jewell and his lady companion, Jessica. She’s a contortionist with the Pure Cirkus and has just started working with fire fans. They’ve got a new show at the Triple Door in Seattle on April 28th.
hellfire

Then, we visited “Uncle” Luke and hooked up the computer to his network to recover long lost data… and a bunch of new mp3s from Duckhugger’s collection. I also left my S-VHS deck there for more maintenance. When it gets working I will be able to archive tapes from Kagami butoh, Infectious Waste Theatre, and the first few years of Dance O’ Dance.

bigtom_burger2

On Sunday, I took Orion to the Eastside Big Tom’s to redeem another Free burger certificate I got on myspace. Mike’s trying hard to win the Best Burger Category at http://bestofsouthsound.com and he’s not afraid to bribe the voters. How does he afford it? Well, I also bought Tater Tots and a White Chocolate Passion (Raspberry) shake too.
Last, we stopped at Home Depot and priced fresh lumber. I also started coveting a Stanley 50 gallon rolling toolbox that’s big enough for pies, buckets of confetti, costumes, and everything.  (Retailing for only $69.97)

stanley50gal
Finally, Trish came home from the Women’s Retreat at Camp Seymour and I cooked her up enough vegetable soup for the week.
All in all, it was a fun weekend.


More McLane pics pt. 2

February 21, 2009

Thanks to Teacher Hollie for these.  Again, this was a Deluxe Visit Donation to the McLane Elementary Community to honor their 125th birthday (as an institution, not necessarily at that address or in that physical building!).

assembly

Crashing into the assembly at the bitter end to help sing Happy Birthday.

balancing

Balancing “Snowball” the white pie-rat on the medium stick

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One balloon dog for 50+ kids to share!  They never guessed I would talk about ancient animal sacrifice!

Here’s one more (from Jen Flo of the PTSO).

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That’s Old Man McLane who started this whole deal!

[Still looking for another batch of pics from Teacher Julie...]


More Michigan Memories

October 5, 2008
Chelsea Teddy Bear Museum

Chelsea Teddy Bear Museum

http://www.chelseateddybear.com/

Chelsea Treehouse

Chelsea Treehouse

http://thechelseatreehouse.com/

This place is a giant indoor playground. Admission for kids is $6 ALL DAY and free for their adults. They also have a room for Birthday Parties! As such, Orion’s admission and lemonade were deductible as (indirect) competitor research.

Orion and Karma by the fire

Orion and Karma by the fire

We needed at least one campfire out at Frogtown.

Orions smore

Orions smore


Ann Arbor Ants, Washington Apple

August 20, 2008

Orion and I took Grampa Dave’s Camry into Ann Arbor to check out the Fairy Doors. It’s got some issues: the driver’s side window won’t go down and it doesn’t have air conditioning.

We’d gone shopping, and I’d picked up a bag of Granny Smith apples… from Washington. I’d packed his lunch box with some bananas, a PB&J, a protein bar and an apple.

On the drive Orion yells, “There’s an ant in the car! There’s two! I see them!” I let him know that it’s no big deal. Later he’s complaining that he can’t get his lunch box zipped back up. I let him know that it’s no big deal.

Then we park the Camry and start traipsing around A2 looking for fairy doors.

Left in the car the ants are traipsing too. When we get back I notice the unzipped lunch box. I reach in and pull out his half eaten apple.

It’s covered black in ants. I scream, “Ahhh!” and throw it into the bushes, “How do you like them apples!?”  Then I do the heebie-jeebie shiver.

Later, Grampa Dave puts down bug powder to kill ‘em. He’s not too surprised. The Camry has had previous tenants: mice, squirrels, snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails.

Dad’s all about killing bugs on our trip. He’s got an elaborate set-up to attract, stick and poison the vicious deer flies. Apparently, they love the color blue.

an earlier version, later the cups grew to the size of plastic gallon pots spray painted blue


New Puppy for Grumps

May 27, 2008

It’s Peabody Magical Mystery Tour.

Learning Stick Technique from Karma Chocolate Pudding

Peabody and Grump’s destroyed slipper


Little Dog Too

March 21, 2008

Also to celebrate Orion’s birthday…

he arrived at school with a little dog who visited us overnight.

Meet Twink.

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Her mom will be taking a week-long vacation, and we needed a trial run to check for compatibility. We all loved her. However, we agreed that she’s smaller than what we’d be looking for in the long run.

I have house slippers bigger than her.

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I Can Has White Castle Cheezburgers?


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