BATMOM

Shakescene

There was more great news this week. My littlest sister Juliet (also the tallest sister) became engaged to Harry Alabaster! When my kids found out they screamed (well, George did), "Aunt Juliet is going to marry Harry Potter!" To which Harry replied, "I am never going to live up to their expectations."

Over the weekend, we produced a Shakescene. Shakescene is the first known reference to Shakespeare... a critic made fun and ridiculed the man by calling him "this shakescene." Back in the days of Transparent Theater (pre-children), we took our actors up to Mendocino County and produced a staged reading in the woods and rocks and waters of Covelo. This year we did it in Berkleley in the park behind our house. 

It was a fundraiser for our children's school Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley and had about 200 guests. We feasted on wild-fennel and lavender-marinated 125 lb pig, herbed potatoes, local wine, and every kind of decadent dessert known to French cuisine (or so it seemed). Families placed themselves on the lawn after a swim and watched a shortened version of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM as the sun set behind them.

Some Ecole Bilingue 6th and 7th graders and English and drama teachers joined the assembled cast and crew. Tom directed and acted. I did costumes and produced (oh, yes, and marinated the pig to whom we gave thanks before we did so). Friends made dessert, gave clothes off their back, wired bottles, cleaned platters, carried watermelon, carried trash cans, built a roasting space for a large beast and roasted it, you get the picture. The result was, I think, what happens when a village comes together with all of its talents. It was beautiful. A magical evening.

 The scene:

 

The play:

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
   

 

 

 

 
 
   

 

 
 
 
  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 
 

 

And Puck ends the play!

 

Boots

We saw "Wendy and Lucy" at Think Visual tonight. Wendy never makes it to Alaska (at least not by the time the movie ends), but it got me thinking about Alaska... and all those stories Beth and I have. I was working on a screenplay depicting those days, but put it away for a spell. The stories needed to stew in the pot (the noggin'). And maybe it was because I knew we were watching the movie tonight or maybe it was just the boots, but when I went to sell some of my old, cool clothes at Cross Roads the stories started to surface again.

Firstly, I found out how not cool my once cool clothes are now. Secondly, the young women who buy the clothes now are still as haughty and unfriendly (and type A) as they were ten years ago. They never look you in the eye. They don't want to like you so as not to disappoint. Thirdly, I was planning on taking the cash for the first time (you get 30% in cash or 50% in store credit), but the amount was so pathetic, it seemed pathetic to take it. I got some jeans. Fourthly, you know you're old when you factor in gas and the environmental damage caused by car, parking fee, time wasted, and plastic bag costs (I broke 2). Ten years ago, I would have bummed a ride, bought the jeans (though probably cooler ones) and then bought $50 worth of clothes on credit with the $20 I had in the bank. Some one I was meeting would probably buy me a coffee or a beer.

Anyhoo, the point was...is... that as I was looking around the store, I found many pairs of boots that Beth would have bought (as she did in many states across the country). They varied in size as hers always did ("Wow. These kinda fit."), but they were all the motorcycle variety that she was drawn to. I thought about buying a pair just for the heck of it and taking them to her. But I didn't have enough credit (maybe next time when I have actually sold some cool clothes).  And they're not the best for strolling with a stroller or Gymboree mat class. She's a mom now and in SF and we hardly see each other which seems unfathomably as I lived with Beth possibly longer than anyone other than Tom (and certainly in more states). When we do get together, there are no more rooster shots or duck farts (Alaska shot speciality). It's more along the line of breast pump talk and husband bashing (sorry, honey).

Maybe I should go back and get those boots. It'd be nice to try them on for size once in awhile.

Carrot Man and Other Superheroes

 

My friend Julia lives in Prague and came across this video of the Prague's Carrot Man (note the lethal carrot in his holster) trying to help people on the metro. Since this is Prague, people not only don't want his help, they pretend he isn't there... or maybe it's just the tail. What superhero has a tail? 

Being the mother of a couple of superheroes, I appreciate the innovation. George went to the post office as Umba yesterday and has Grandma draw pictures of such creations as Pillow Man, Mouse-Trap Man, the Moon Saver and the unfortunate Booger Man (even Grandma has refused to make that costume). 

This guy reminds me of the very skinny Berkeley unicyclist who wears a full body, hot pink unitard complete with hood. I worry that George might see him and require the costume. At least he doesn't have a tail.

Batmom and Her Power Rangers

So I couldn't resist sharing this with you. It cracks me up. Am I deep into this or what?

I am finishing final edits on my thesis/creative work. I turn it in tomorrow and I am done! Woo-hoo! The we go to Disneyland from May 12-15. Oh boy... Mickey Mouse and all his buddies are new to our guys. We're looking for Wind in the Willows t get them riled up for MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE! Oh that wild toad...

George did inform me that there will be Power Rangers there. "Oh?" "Yes, there are Power Rangers everywhere pretending to be little kids." And indeed, I have three little, beautiful power rangers... and one big one, too!