Previewing the Halloween House

October 29, 2008

Mike told me to drop by the scene this evening. I had Orion with me, and he was having serious reservations as we approached via the cemetery.

I’d given him my 18Kt Gold Ankh as a protective amulet. Oma Selma gave it to me many years ago. She got it off the Home Shopping Network, but I didn’t mention that. I led him to believe that it would repel the undead as it stands for eternal life. I also suggested he wear his LED headlamp and sound dampening headphones.

Furthermore, I let him carry the green LASER!

I brought my new Maxwave wireless audio support blasting a Halloween mix of mp3s, including at least three episodes worth of October Dance O’ Dance tracks. It’s gone FURTHER on sale since I bought mine. See this listing at SEARS.COM. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05792917000P

Jusby's Wireless Audio Support

Jusby's Wireless Audio Support

Mike had told me that the Olympian wasn’t giving him any coverage. I noticed as much myself on searching their website for Halloween trick or treating locations/ haunted houses. http://www.theolympian.com/entertainment/story/632229.html

Mike wasn’t home when we arrived, but his evil minions were busy working, and Orion could barely hold himself together. He wouldn’t walk in and started bawling, but I lifted him onto my shoulders and had him zap all the creepy guys with the laser until we left.

One improvement they’ve made this year is a one-way valve to prevent people from revisiting the back yard and ruining the surprises. They’re also using more of the side yard.

Also, the road actually got repaved TODAY, so you don’t have to drive through the graveyard if you don’t want to, but I recommend it anyway.

Edit: As we left Orion said, “That was SO AWESOME! I’m gonna tell Mom how brave I was! I’ll show her all the stuff I was wearing and that I zapped the bad guys with the green laser! She’ll be so proud of me!”

I suggested that we go back later so I could actually talk to Mike. “No WAY!” he said.

520 North St TUMWATER

View Larger Map


Tumwater Halloween House

October 27, 2008

I’m Plotting How to Integrate Jusby the Mad (Clown) Hatter into the Tumwater Halloween House 2008.  {Current scheme involves LASERS, Flares, Wireless Sound System}

REPOST from myspace

Most of you probably know by now that I (Mike of Eastside Big Tom’s) put on a little fundraiser each year in my yard for the Thurston County Food Bank.

It’s kind of Halloween themed.

This is the tenth year I’ve decorated and invited the general public into my little nightmare of a brain brought to life in my yard.

There’s a lot of construction going on in my neighborhood this year and I could use a little help getting the word out that we’re open this year.

Folks seem to think the road is closed or something. I’m not sure why that is.

Anyways, you can come through the cemetery if you think those pesky road closed signs are for real. No one has enforced them since the project started so it’s hard to imagine they’ll start now.

Park in the cemetery. Everyone does it this time of the year. The Masons are the coolest neighbors in the world. OK, it’s a toss up between them and all the dead folks.

Bring cans of food for the Food Bank. Bring lots, it’s been a rough year for the food bank and they and the people they serve can use the help.

Bring donations for the Other Bank while you’re at it.

Bring $5.00 or five cans of food and enter in a raffle to win one of the select props that I’ll be giving away this year. I’ve given away quite a few displays over the years.

The address is 520 NORTH ST SE   across from cemetery and the Masonic Temple.

Short run time this year with Halloween falling on a Friday this year.

Thursday the 30,  Friday the 31st and Saturday, November 1st.

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

The front yard will be mild and mostly alright for youngsters.

The back yard will cause what I so lovingly refer to as “pee-tastrophes” and may induce nightmares for those under the age of 10. I’ve decided that it’s not been hard core enough in the past so this year you’re all fair game.

You’ve been warned.

Now, back to business.

Since I had no idea for sure until the last week or so that I’d actually be able to open it to the public I’ve not gotten around to being the media whore that I normally am.

I’m asking for something that I don’t normally ask for.

Any chance all 562 of you can repost this for me so that we can actually get folks to come down the road and bring donations.

Now each and every one of you is going to think that the other one is going to do it for me and think you can slack off and not honor my request. Don’t fall into this trap.

Repost it pretty please. Repost it often. Repost it in community blogs that normally hate folks like me.

Any vegetarian/vegan boards that we can crash would be fantastic. I’m down with that.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support and your help.

Mike     www.halloweenhouse.org


Protected: Naked Clown Calendar

July 9, 2008

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:


Jusby the Mom or Payaso Madre

May 11, 2008

Happy Mother’s Day!

California Taco Truck on Harrison

They asked what I wanted. I said, “Chipotle!

I ordered the Mexican Sausage Burrito instead and waved at the traffic while they cooked it. It was delicious. It took two sittings to finish.

Meet my little guy, Meredith. He never knew his birth mother. He’s adopted.


Another Pie to deliver

March 29, 2008

jusbywcurtist.jpg
The lucky bidder for a Pie-in-the-face at the Oly UU dinner auction was Curtis Tanner.
His wife, Wendy, will be the recipient on Tuesday, April 1st. We’re going to blame it on her boss.

Here are some remarks I intend to provide before participating in another fund-raising auction.

Lessee how it grabs you…

“This offering has been often misunderstood by a paranoid and litigious minority. It is not meant as an assault or insult -though I’ll grant you that you might choose a recipient with whom you are currently disagreeing, but I guarantee that the pie will not help you win any arguments.

“The pie is meant as a sacred honor bestowed at the completion of a rite of passage – the return from a spiritual quest or silent retreat, for instance. The pie represents crossing into dreamtime, into a lucid euphoria, a liminal space between ordinary states, neither the known world nor the unknowable ground of being. It represents the union of the mundane and the divine.

“A messenger arrives and the recipient becomes the message by donning a sweet pillowy mask of non-dairy clouds. It represents inspiration, expiration, ecstasy, synergy, epiphany, catharsis and spiritual transformation. When the clown comes, your life goes from the average to extraordinary. He brings attention to your experience. You are bidding on an event that lasts mere seconds but whose residue lasts quite a bit longer.”

Trish asked, “Why not just say that it’s for fun?” I replied, “Don’t rain on my parade.”


Valentine’s Day (part 3)

February 23, 2008

It was 9:30 pm, and we took Mimi Terry’s gift card and strolled into Cielo Blu. We weren’t sure if the kitchen was still open. The man said, “We’ll take care of you.”

Trish had gone in before and ordered a Pumpkin Pie martini. This time she wanted to try something else the bartender had mentioned. Something with balsamic vinegar!

He asked, “The Hibiscus Martini? Oh, yes. We have that. It has hibiscus nectar, the 500 year old balsamic and orange bitters.”

She said, “Oooo, I want one of those.” I ordered a grasshopper.

Read the rest of this entry »


Valentine’s Day (part 2)

February 22, 2008

Then swimming at Brigg’s. Trish went to exercise. Nick and I watched Orion in the activity pool.

Nick wore Trish’s goggles and a spare suit of mine.

nickingoggles.jpg

Now we don’t know where her goggles are. She loved them so. They were my winter solstice gift.

vanquishergoggles.jpg

Afterwards, Nick and Orion shared a pizza from Brewery City.

Nick had Olives and Mushrooms on his half. Orion had plain cheese!

brewerycity.jpg

Then we left them to have our romantic evening.


Valentine’s Day (part 1)

February 21, 2008

In March we commemorate the time Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland.

In February we commemorate the time Saint Patrick drove the chocolate turtles out of Switzerland.

At 7:30 AM on V-Day, Trish was dressed and moving fast. She said, “I’ll be right back.”

I thought, “Oh, how sneaky. She left a card or gift in the car. Oh, that’s the car starting… and that’s her driving away… well, she’ll be back in a few minutes.”

So, I got up and discovered that she’d already made huge cards for the both of us with a list of Sweet things that we do.

Orion and I then made heart-shaped pancakes from scratch by mostly following a recipe from the Joy of Cooking. I substituted a mix of Rice/ Almond flour, Bob’s Red Mill Coconut Flour, and Barley flour for the wheat flour.

Around 8:00 AM Trish returned with two grocery bags that included heart-shaped bagels and strawberry cream cheese.

Orion chose the bagels, and we put the pancakes in the fridge.

Then we left for school and work and working-at-school. I made pop-up Lego-inspired Valentine’s cards for Orion.

vdcard.jpg

I’d arranged for Uncle Nick to come and babysit. He was supposed to arrive by train around 4:40. Trish would ordinarily be at St. Martin’s until 3:30, but she’d work later and pick him up.

However, at 2:00 my phone rang. Uncle Nick asked, “What are you doing?”

“I’m working,” I said and asked, ” What are you doing?”

“I’m standing at the Olympia/ Lacey train station,” he replied.

“I’d love to pick you up, but I don’t have the car. I expected you on the later train. Do you have Trish’s cell number? (Yes) Call her and get back to me.” I instructed.

At 2:14 I hadn’t heard back yet, so I tried Trish. She usually leaves her phone off during sessions. It’s not polite to interrupt a peaceful massage with an electronic Charge of the Light Brigade.

Edison wax cylinder version

I let her know the situation, since he hadn’t reached her. At 2:41 [synchronistic inverse of 2/14] I got a text message from him: “Trish is picking me up at 3:30″. I replied: “kewl”

nickerror1425.jpg

Our babysitter, Uncle Nick, a former member of Team 1425, the Wilsonville Robotics team. [another synchronistic inverse of 2/14 again, with a 5 thrown in for change]


Protected: Simple Fools and Petting Zoo Players

December 31, 2007

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:


More local shoppin’

December 7, 2007

Jusby hasn’t forgotten Traditions Fair Trade Café and World Folk Art!

traditions.jpg

tradheader.gif

He DID forget that Orca books is also a KAOS patron business, but since he didn’t buy any used books he wasn’t going to get a 10% discount anyway.

HOWEVER, if someone’s shopping for Jusby, they do have several used books on clowning and juggling you could get him ! [Hint-hint]

Jusby got his KAOS membership card by contributing $8.93 during Radio 8-Ball for the last “Fall Fun Drive”. And furthermore, he and Orion went over to the station last Tuesday and dropped off a CD of Andras Jones playing at Traditions from long ago.

If Andras needs any idea of a solstice present for Jusby, he could reciprocate by burning CDs of old shows from prior to 2006 – when Jusby first got that handy mp3 player! [hint-hint] Or maybe a Shmushkin CD!

shmushkin.jpg

Andy Shmushkin

Speaking of CDs, though, Rainy Day gives 10% off new albums, CDs and DVDs… the last NEW CD Jusby bought was that Bjork one before the tragedy of Sasquatch fest.

Other ideas -

ospedit.jpg

Old School Pizzeria gives 15% any purchase over $5 (Jusby prefers the Sicilian Deep Dish and wears a Large T-shirt)(You’ll have to go there in person to buy anything though, the website only has the prices.)

Otto’s Bagels & Delicatessen gives 15% any purchase over $5 (Jusby prefers the jalepeño bagel with salmon cream cheese)(website?)


Mercury Ranger vs. the Halloween House

October 30, 2007

We caved.

Orion kept saying he wanted to be a Power Ranger for Halloween. We had never watched Power Rangers as a family. We didn’t know where he got the idea, but his other ideas were: Darth Vader or a Transformer.

I started to get very hung up on all of us dressing in complementary costumes. If he was to be a knight. We could be a king and queen.

For a while we considered being Harry, Ron & Hermione. Trish was excited to buy a new hair curler. I would be in “red hair and hand-me-down robe”.

One night, during bath time, Trish called me in and said, “We can be rubber ducks! It’ll be easy. We can cut out cardboard and paint it and get little duck noses and spray our hair yellow and get some feathers…”

Me (calculating the time and expense), “Uh huh.”

Well, some things go by the wayside. Especially when there’s work and school and work IS school and homework and home IS work…

So we stopped at Target and let him pick out his favorite color among those left in his size… now 25% off!

This guy, it turns out, is a Special Ranger. He’s an alien who can transform (or ‘MORPH’, if you’ll recall) into the liquid metal, Mercury. He sometimes drives a fire truck zord.

powerranger1.jpg

I took him over to the Halloween House for a trial run. He showed his bravery in the face of horror!

pirates-powerranger.jpg

I can’t say as much for daddy.

freddy-jason-jusbysm.jpg

I’m hoping to spend some time there in costume after Trick or Treating. They’re open until 10 PM.


My Belated Funny Valentine’s

February 27, 2007

For my day job I hang out with 1st graders, and I get to do arts and crafts related to upcoming holidays.

As I was creating a Valentine’s envelope I didn’t realize how my life would imitate art. Specifically, it was to imitate a Charlie Brown Valentine (which we had rented the previous week).

To refresh your memory, Chuck doesn’t get a single solitary Valentine’s card… until… the following day when he is approached by several girls who felt bad and offer him some of theirs. Schroeder intervenes and reads the girls the riot act. He tells them that Charlie Brown doesn’t need their day-late reused Valentine’s cards. They can’t ease their guilty consciences with this pitiful display of pity.

Chuck suddenly pipes up with, “Don’t listen to him. I’ll take them!”

The big day arrived, and it was rapidly becoming apparent that most of the kids did not plan on including adults in the card exchange. Several quick-thinking girls drew me cards on construction paper. Then we shift into the parallel cartoon universe. A girl had recently moved away and kids did not know what to do with hers.

The teacher suggested, “Maybe you could give it to Mr. Justin,” and so they did. Poor Rebecca! Her Pixie Stix got re-gifted. You can call me Re-Justin.

After school, Trish picked me up and informed me that we would be going to Olive Garden. The boy has a fondness for their breadsticks. We arrived and were shown a table.

It did not meet the boy’s approval. He preferred the large corner table by the window, set for six.

We ordered and ate our salad and breadsticks. Then the boy started to shiver and asked to go home. I told our server, “There’s good news and bad news. The good news is that this table will soon be available. The bad news is that the boy doesn’t feel so good. Could we get our order to go?” Instead of going home, we took him to the doctor’s office instead. The doctor told us to go to the hospital for a flu test. It turned out that he had Type A Influenza, and it was highly probable that all of us had it.

After all, he sleeps in our bed still, I eat off his plate, and he sneezes in my face.

I took the rest of the week off, and since the following week was mid-winter break I stayed at home blowing my nose. At least I had left-over gourmet pizza!


Best of 2006

January 20, 2007

Tante Tia came to visit us.

Trish & Orion flew on an airplane to visit friends and family in Memphis. DeeDee came to visit us. She and Trish took a car trip along the coast.

GRUB gave us 3 raised garden beds and we grew herbs and vegetables. In the back yard, Justin cleared ivy and blackberries to create a Secret Garden with a tunnel. Our fruit trees produced plums, pears, and apples. We made several gallons of applesauce and ate it at every meal.

grubbed.jpg

Orion had his birthday party at our house. We removed our dingy grey living room carpet and had wood laminate floors installed. In the process we added two yellow accent walls.

Justin got his business license and began clowning professionally. He continued work on Red Nose Brigade projects and was elected Historian/ Pencil Pusher. Orion participated in his first parades and the by-laws now include accommodations for a Junior Joey category member.

Orion’s progressed from tricycle to scooter to bicycle with training wheels. He also took swimming lessons. Orion’s vocabulary has increased considerably and includes numerous Latin phrases such as “Lumos Maximus!” and “Wingardium Leviosa”. We have continued to use sign language as well.

Trish spent part of summer working at Sol Duc hot springs in the Olympic National Forest. She also coordinated the massage practitioners who volunteered at the cancer research fund raiser Relay for Life. Trish has had 7 – 10 clients in her private practice most every week. Her office got painted with lime-based, hand-made paint.

Orion had a Dedication ceremony at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist church and was welcomed into the congregation. We welcomed a new member to our family, “Peach Tortatilla”, a peach-faced lovebird.

Justin acted in two commercials and an MTV show. He helped produce 12 more episodes of Dance O’ Dance and eventually decided to officially return as producer for the 2007 that will mark ten years on the air.

Many of our digital pictures finally got printed and framed or put in albums. Justin worked on a number of websites and appeared as a guest on his first podcast. “Uncle Luke” cobbled together several computers for us from parts he gleaned from the Evergreen dumpsters. The last incarnation included two operating systems: Windows 98 & Ubuntu (a Linux kernel). The day after we set it up Oma Barbara arrived with an early Christmas present: a new computer system running Windows XP media center 05!

Mimi Terry gave us a new washing machine with a Super Large capacity basket. We especially appreciated it because Orion made the transition from diapers to Big Boy Underwear. Yes, our biggest and bestest success of 2006 was Toilet Training!


The Basket

March 10, 2006

Further Easter details

I actually omitted the first Easter basket. Again, the Food Bank provided one. I chose a metal one and cleared out all the chocolate and caramel. A set of jacks was left in the Easter grass, so I substituted in a CAN OF PEACHES. How absurd, right? Maybe to anyone who has other Easter baskets against which to compare it, but Orion doesn’t. So he was mighty pleased to eat that whole can by himself.  Trish, of course, had to BUY a gift. She got him an expanding fabric tunnel. It calls to mind Pooh getting stuck leaving Rabbit’s hole after EATING TOO MUCH! Nothing to do but wait until you get thinner, but we will read to you.

‘Would you please choose a Sustaining Blog such as would help and comfort a Wedged Bear in Great Tightness?’

sustainingbook.jpg


Related Background

April 11, 2005

Clowning:

Member of Clowns of America International

Member of Olympia’s Clown Alley, the Red Nose Brigade 2004-2012, Historian/ Futurist, Webmaster, Convener

Over 600 Pies-in-the-faces Delivered, Dozens of Birthdays Appearances

Selected Performances: Lacey Spring Fun Fair, Tumwater Independence Day Parade, Oakville Parade, Lakefair Grand Twilight Parade, Fremont Summer Solstice Parade, Super Saturday, McLane elementary 125th Birthday, Lincoln Options Auction, GRUB Auction, Olympia Unitarian Universalist Auction, KAOS Spring and Fall Membership drive, Madison elementary assembly, Sherwood Forest Surprise Guest, Dance O’ Dance MC, Karaoke Oly music critic…

Clown Training:

History and Practice of Clowning – Catherine “Penny” McNeff

Clowning 101 – “Babs”, Lakewood Clown and Costume

Practical Physical Comedy, Working the Crowd, and Music Before the Routine – Kenny Ahern

Clown Character – Albert Alter

Prop Making For Dummies – Brenda Marshall

Discovering the Clown Within, and The Simple Fool as Performer/ Artivist – Dawn Stratton

Education, the Evergreen State College, 93 – 96

Bachelor of Arts, Emphasis in Media Production and Performance

Related Studies:

Dance: Butoh, Orissi Indian, Modern, Afro-Cuban Santeria, Jazz, Flamenco, Classical Balinese

Classical Voice Training
Fundamentals of Acting
Trapeze and Skinner Releasing,
Tai Chi Sword form, Indonesian Fan work and Tiger style
White Sash, Poekoelan Kung Fu

Foil Fencing

Employment:

Student Specific Paraeducator, Olympia School District (Olympia); 06 – the Present

Provided One-on-One Support for Student (s) with High Functioning Autism (Asperger’s) including Token Economy, Individual Accommodations, and Self-Monitoring Documentation

Instructor, Camp Invention (Olympia); 07

Taught Elementary School Age Students Basic Forensic Science and Deductive Reasoning

Classroom/ Bus Aide, Head Start/ ECEAP (Tumwater); 04 – 05

Generated and Distributed Parent Outreach Materials, Provided Support in an Active Environment, Contributed Written and Photographic Observations, Co-Designed and Developed Individual Learning Plans and Emergent Curriculum

Classified Substitute, ESD 113 & North Thurston School District; 03 – 06

Educational Assistance in Classroom, Library, Playground, or Detention

Edu-tainer, Mad Science (Lacey, WA); 04

Demonstrated and Led Science Experiments for Elementary School Programs & Birthdays

Academic Coach, 21st Century Community Learning Center (Hood Canal, WA); 03

Tutored Low Income and At-Risk Students during After-School Program

AmeriCorps*VISTA, Washington Reading Corps, Lacey Elementary (Lacey, WA); 01 -03

Coordinated Volunteers, Tutored Elementary Students in Reading Fluency and Comprehension, Planned Family Involvement and Volunteer Appreciation Events, Produced a Limited Edition Spoken Word CD including Students, Staff, and Governor Locke

Caregiver, Community Resources d.b.a. Wright Enterprises (Olympia, WA); 99 – 01

Registered Nursing Assistant, Provided In Home Nurse-Delegated Medicine and Care to Severely Disabled Adults

Production Assistant, TESC Electronic Media Department; 95 – 96

Video Peer Consultant, A/V Support for College Projects and Guest Performances

Professional Development

(Including but not limited to) ESL, Multiple Learning Styles, Student Management, Tutor training, Conflict Resolution, Team Building, Love & Logic, Compassionate Communication, Honoring Diversity, Brain Dance, Emotional Intelligence, Helping Students on the Autism Spectrum, Crisis Prevention Institute

Commercial:

WASTE MANAGEMENT – Extra, “Bicycle Messenger” Seattle, WA
TACO TIME – Extra, “Punked in Geneva’s” Seattle, WA

MTV, HIGH SCHOOL STORIES, Steilacoom, WA 2005 – Extra “Spanish Teacher”

Community Theatre:

PAGE TO STAGE – “Mock Twain” (Principle) 2003
THAT LOOK OF LOVE – Dancer

BIG SHOW CITY – MC 2003
APOCALYPTICS OF THE MILLENNIUM (d. Munio Makuuchi) – Butoh Dancer 1997
ABRAXAS (d. Arrington de Dionyso)- Butoh Dancer 1995

BOOMTOWN TRILOGY

THE SUNDOWNER (d. Mara West)- Clint Burke (Supporting) 1999

THE 802 (d. Sky Meyers)- Red Gunderson(Supporting)1999
THE CAMELLIA STREET HOUSE – Stage manager 1999

FRINGE FEST/ PISS TEST – Butoh Dancer 1999

FINGERTIPS & THIGHS – Dancer 1995

SGANARELLE (d. Kirk Haas)- Lelie (Supporting) 1992

AREN’T YOU HAPPY? (d. Dani Crocetti)- Dancer 1997
VISITATION – Masked Dancer 1997
BODIES OF WORK – Butoh Dancer 1997
PAIRADICE (d. Mara West)- Sal Amande(Supporting) 1997
NW BUTOH FESTIVAL – Butoh Dancer/ Videographer 1997
TELLING LIES, CHANGING NOTHING – Stone Cold Fission (Featured) 1997
CIRQUE O – Djinjinn/ Ridiculo 1996
THE HALFWAY DINER (d. Adrian Woods)- Yayo (Supporting) 1995

THE ODDESSY (d. Charlotte Tienken-Wooldridge) – Ensemble 1993
KAGAMI BUTOH (d. Doranne Crable) – Butoh Dancer/ Videographer 1994 – 1997
GAMELAN DEGUNG GIRIJAYA – Indonesian Orchestra Ensemble/ Video Liaison 1996

Video:

DANCE O’ DANCE (Public Access Series) – Producer, Director, Dancer 1997 – 2007
LOVE IS STUPID (d. Jenny Jenkins)- The Jerk (Featured)1997
FLIP OF A COIN (d. Chris Smith)- Wigg (Supporting) 1995
INFECTIOUS WASTE THEATRE – Co-producer, Director, Ensemble 1994 – 1996

Film:

THE TROPIC OF EMERALD (Emerald & Katena Films), Sukabumi Indonesia – Plantation Extra 1996

THE ROOM (d. Angela Jones)- I (Principle)1996

THE HONORABLE PSYCHE – Chester (Lead)1996

THE LIBRARY OF BABEL (d. John Kim)- Librarian (Principle)1996

Radio:

K.A.O.S. 89.3FM, Olympia, WA:

(((BACKATCHA!))) – Programmer & Host, Tuesdays at Noon 1999 – 2000
BREAKFAST SPECIAL – Programmer & Co-Host, Monday Mornings 1998
THE JAVA SAIL & ANCHOR SHOW – Programmer & Host, Saturday Nights 1997 – 1999


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.