Holy Moly! SB's Blogging Again?

2014 Belle the Cat recap:

View from Ishnala

I started this year in the same way I've started pretty much every other page in my adult life - reflecting on the past, forecasting the future, shoring myself up with good words and inspiration in the form of quotes from great people, ("Help others. - D. Lama)... and getting it all wrong.

By the end of 2014, I told myself, I wanted to have a professional head shot. I wanted to have an IMBD credit.

I actually had three head shots taken. None turned out looking anything like me.

I embarked on a path to help a friend with a personal creative endeavor. In January we met for coffee and a first discussion. In April we started fundraising. In June we started shooting. We continued filming in July, August, then on into September, October and November, and despite having this in my head as a "summer project" we are still not done. (So no credit, yet.) 

I thought I wanted to run charity races: the Zoo run, the Depot to Depot, the Fruit Loop. I wanted to learn to bow hunt - to harvest my own meat.

Maybe I should have tried the walk.

I wanted to make songs with my husband in a silly band we called Kittens On Roombas. I wanted to have more backyard parties. I wanted to go to the State Fair. I wanted to go to conventions.

I did none of this.

I did garden, very lackadaisically, which is how I think I am going to garden from now on. Whatever grows, grows. I spent a lot on the water, which was nice, although I will think twice before floating an 11 ft. rowboat 25 miles downstream again (even in summer, it gets dark eventually). I donated to places I believed in, and set out a plan for 2015 donations.

As much as I plan as much as I think as much as I pontificate, I realized I will never have "extra" time.

I get high off of being the master of my own destiny, so I will be content with the enjoyment of deciding not to go to the state fair other than rearranging my schedule or sacrificing another event (in this case, a film shoot in the fabled Pabst brewery tunnels) to have the experience of going.

I tried some new restaurants: Sardine, Ishnala, Samba.

I ate a lot of fish fry.

I watched a lot of football.

I attended Fireball with the remnants of the Dane101 crew, a house burn, Scaryland, a 75th bday party, Fruitsfest, Irishfest, Focus on Goats, The Wisconsin Film Fest, a Roller Derby bout, a hockey game, the Zoo (2x in Madison, 1 in Chicago), Vegan Fest, a 5th bday party for twins at a pizza place, a Hawaiian BBQ work picnic, and The Amazing Acrocats.

I volunteered for the local library's 115th anniversary.

I wrote a blog post for a friend's blog.

I visited Cleveland, Disneyland, Sybaris, Portland, Aldo Leopald's shack, listened to Honky Tonk at the Shitty Barn with my aunt.

I made a reflective vest.

Got new car ties.

My cat Jackie chan died.

My sister's friend Danny was murdered by someone he was trying to sell his Playstation to.

I didn't go to APT.

I saw Warhorse, Naked in Amazo, Dorthy in Wonderland, The Dixie Swim Club and How to Train Your Dragon 2.


I visited my 102 year old great aunt (she was only 101 then).

I swam a lot - at the Y, at the gym, in the ocean, at hotel pools.

Ocean took my glasses; got new glasses

Got Lance.

Lancelot

Got a new job.

I ate John West Kippers.

I updated my passport.


So what am I doing now? Reflecting on the past, forecasting the future, shoring myself up with good words and inspirationin the form of quotes from great people ("Make good art." - N.Gaiman)... in preparation for getting it all wrong again. Apparently it's what I do.

R.I.P, Jackie.

Xmas Cards 2013

Some of my family and friends received altered cards this year from Recycle All The Things publishing. They were a combination of reused Christmas cards of olde, some free cards from various charities, and at least one issue of Popular Mechanics from 1962 cut to ribbons.

I apologize to anyone who got these, or to those who wanted them that didn't get them. I promise to do better with cards next year (in fact, I have already started on the design, which is turning out joyously bittersweet--suitable for the end of the year holiday season.)

I might save this issue of PM for envelope decor.

Click any card for a larger view

Thanksgiving!

 

Well it finally hit me. I got sick from bad sushi, or pent up stress. I wasn’t stressed out on vacation, but all the planning, the experiencing, it can take a toll. Had some coffee and a banana for breakfast. It was kinda fun – we watched the Packer game from 8am-11am before we checked out of the hotel. We headed out, returned the flippers to the rental place and went to the airport.

I took a nap under a bench (one bad thing about the airport is that they have bars on the benches so you can’t lay down). DMV had the only loco moco of the trip and said it was pretty good. I was sad I didn’t even get to see it!

On the plane home, DMV had a ham salad sandwich we bought the night before and a diet coke. I made myself some tasty kimchee ramen in my new Hawaii themed travel mug with some hot water the flight attendant brought me. I also had a sprite. And we shared some mac-nut lavash with Puna  goat cheese and some dried apricots. Time for sleep now.

Breakfast today was our last croissant from the Medcalfbakery in Madison, topped with butter and organic strawberry jam. I also had a ginormous banana offered in a fruit basket outside the resort gym and a cup from the pot of 10% Kona blend coffee I brewed in the room.

We ran to the store and stocked up on some beer for the room, including Maui Brewing's coconut porter, and milk for coffee.Milk is pretty darn expensive and apparently comes from Texas. A pint was $2.99.

 Our resort is built on an old sacred location. It actually seems like most of Hawaii was originally worshiped for some reason or another. We keep find
ourselves wanting to apologize for any perceived affront. There is a sign and a brochure about the areas around our resort which we should respect. 

Our resort is older, and has passed through a number of hands. But still, the room is of a good size (albeit a bit musty) and the lanai (balcony) is as big as the room. It does have ferns growing from the ceiling tho.

 

 

There are a selection of native wildlife throughout the area. Giant crazy looking spiders with webs I keep almost walking into because I won't stay on path, Giant land snails, and squirrly looking things we call tree mink.

We took some pics in front of the Royal Palace, and the church in Kona-Kailua, two of the only remaining original buildings in the town.

Out exploring the town, we found Lulu’s, which I had looked up online before our travels as a place to watch NFL games. It resembled what I guess a bar in the Florida Keys would look like, with dollar bills and license plates stapled to the wall, open air views of the ocean, and string of light-up puffer fish.  We each had a Red Lava Kona Beer (these are delicious), and ordered their signature manapua appetizer: soft buns stuffed with pork that are then deep fried and drizzle with nacho cheese sauce. Sounds like a strange combo, but it was delicious, especially when we dabbed some Tabasco sauce on top.

With that under our belt, we wandered over to the Kona Inn, a restaurant that use to be a motel and is now a supper club. I had my Mai Tai (recommended by a lady at our Resort).  I don’t know, but I always expect a fancy drink to come in a fancy glass. And to be bright colors. I guess I’m confusing it with a girly drink…

At the Kona Inn, we were privy to a slice of island drama. Apparently feral cats are part of the local wildlife.  We saw them all over. Some have obviously been born in the wild, or have been without human caretakers for so long they don’t even know they’re cats. However, I think others are former pets, or perhaps only one generation removed so that the wildness has not completely overtaken them yet. At the restaurant, we sat at the bar, and soon heard whisperings amongst the waitstaff (mostly women) that “someone (couldn’t quite make out the name) is back.” Eventually I asked a blond server what was up. “Oh, we use to have a whole bunch of cats here, but the management doesn’t want them. Bazooka was the last one, and we had him neutered and everything. He’s gone home with two different people who said they’d adopt him and,” at this point she got choked up. “He keeps coming back here. Because this is his home.”

 

“What’s his name?”

“Bazooka. Because he has a bubblegum nose.”

She scurried away, and lo and behold, the fabled Bazooka hopped up onto a stone fence nearby.  Sure enough, the lithe feline did have a pink nose. He kept a close eye out, but allowed himself to be pet by anyone that approached him with calmness and love.

We drove back to the Resort, but stopped off for our main fare, burgers from Ultimate Burger, an unassuming joint in a strip mall that served locally grown beef and fresh caught fish. I snapped a pic of a sign for the catch of the day. I got the local beef with Swiss and mushroom, tomato, white onion and lettuce. DMV ordered something of his own creation, a burger with cheddar, jalapeno, pineapple, tomato and lettuce.

For dessert we ate some really amazing toffee we’d brought from home.

Gathering of American Gods Costume Party

I did the above sketch after the weekend. I am not saying it is any good (click for large view) but I just had to do it.

















My day Saturday started early, transporting Golden Tickets which would be given as souvenirs to each of the people who would win rides on the carousel by the end of the day. They had been signed by Neil and were also signed by Sue, the President of House on the Rock. I admit, I felt pretty special.
















Much of my day was spent at the Scavanger Hunt table. At first we didn't know what to expect as far as people participating in and completing the hunt. There seemed to be a lot of people interested, and someone posted on Facebook Friday night that they were stumped by some of the clues. I had one participant stop by early on Saturday to ask about the final clue, and felt bad I couldn't tell her much. I wondered if I should have given more hints - what if no one completed it??

I need not have been worried. Our first completed hunts started coming in at Noon. They had worked all night and planned out the lay of the land to find the best route to get all of their stamps. All in all we think 1/3 of the attendees completed the hunt, with about 200 being turned in fully completed. And - the girl who stopped by first thing to ask the questions? She was one of the winners (even without my help)!

















Neil was about. Here he is talking with Dawn of the Spring Green Chamber of Commerce about the raffle.

















The real party got started Saturday night, of course, as school buses began vomiting up costumed characters to participate in the contest. The Welcome Center soon filled with gods of all shapes and sizes.

















After grabbing a drink, many headed over to the tent, where the contest was taking place. The line of participants snaked off into the twilit night.















And on into the tent itself. Here you can see a "Mr. Wednesday" front and center. I thought he'd be shorter.















Some of the assorted crowd. There were about 200 people who entered the contest, but a lot of people were there just to gawk.
































Trooper that Neil is, he had each participant parade before him and tell who they were. Then he called a list of finalists forward. Finally, he had to decide on his 8 winners. Which he fudged and called 9 :-) I feel for him - it had to be one of the hardest calls.















And I WISH I had a list of the winners. I know, above, Morgana (who had an amazing leather mask and hand sewed feather cape), the Nameless God, Dr. Horrible, Anansi (dancing in front of the line - holding 2 tigers balls), and the Ms. Liberty on stilts all won.























White Buffalo Woman and the Nameless God.






















Cthulhu drinking a Spotted Cow.























Possibly the only Shadow I saw, tied to the World Tree.






















Bast.























I loved these two - these were the guys I had such a problem finding in my registration database! They dressed as the 'Bog brothers - Czernobog and Bielebog.


Then, it was on to the Carousel!


















The winners of the scavenger hunt were already there, the winners of the raffle soon to follow.

















The House on the Rock staff were there to assist people with boarding and disembarking. There were certain animals that could be ridden. The carousel was never made to be ridden (it only stops and starts once a day), and so a lot of prep was given to making sure it would survive the number of rides we wanted to give. The luck of the gods, and perhaps the spirit of Alex Jordan, were all there that night.
























The crowd watching the rides.























Other events included food, bands, tarot card readers and magicians.
















Little Red Wolf from Madison drew a crowd in the Organ Room.






































Finally, just because I wanted to, I've saved my favorite moment of the night for last. I was in charge of collecting about 1/2 of the raffle winners and had the chance to talk with them before escorting them to the crazy loud and crowded carousel room (that's actually when I took most of the stand alone costume pics above). The guy below had just gotten married and was on his honeymoon. I got a short little video of him just as he rides past his wife and blows her a kiss (she's video taping him.) Ah me.






















On my drive home at nigh about 2am, I spied the last quarter harvest moon rising. Good night!