Darn this weather.
Saturday was beautiful, but extremely windy. I suppose it is to be expected when you are on the beach. And I know that if the wind had stopped, it would probably have been unbearably hot (I am a wimp, I know). But sheesh. It was windy!
It was a great day though. The audience came in slow and steady all morning, and our afternoon shows were hugely attended. We had a great time. We had fun kids and crazy parents. We had them cheering and booing and laughing. That was very exciting. We were looking forward to what the next three days would hold.
Then Sunday happened. Our first show went well, we were looking forward to those afternoon shows again. Until the rain started.
It was supposed to breeze through. It was supposed to hit once and then be done with it. It was not supposed to rain on and off until shortly before closing.
Darn this weather.
We did our shows. One with finger puppets to a rather amused, bumbershooted crowd. Our last show we had enough people to do the show and then some. And even though it rained halfway through and we all got soaked (again), they stuck through it and had a great time.
What an awesome audience.
Still, darn this weather.
Another nice day on the beach! Patrick and I went for a morning walk. We went north until the beach ran out. It was a little windy, but a glorious morning otherwise. Finally, the weather is more… Floridian.
On the way, we saw many of these vulture-like birds that are always circling. I am not sure that is actually what they are. They sort of have the same shape, but their heads are not as… unattractive as other vultures I have seen have. But then I saw another kind of bird of prey. I think it looked falcon-like, and Patrick thinks it may have been an Osprey. This calls for a trip to google! Or maybe I can look at some iStock photos as part of my project… Now there is an idea.
This beach is so beautiful. And to be right next to it is great. When the wind dies down a little and stops ruffling the tarp (very noisy. Bad, tarp, bad.), we can hear the ocean in the tent. And the whuffing of the horses, but that is something else that is a happy thing.
Of course, maybe part of what makes this experience so great is being right here with the people we are with. Kate and Roy are like family and I, for one, feel very safe here with them. Or little (hee…) tent is boxed in by wonderful things: Horses on one side, the beach on another, the faire site on the third, and finally the trailers and tent of the jousters. It is so cozy and happy.
This evening, we had hamburgers for dinner outside. The open air, the wind and the water, good company, good conversation. Then we crowded into Kate & Roy’s trailer and watched Two and a Half Men. What a great way to spend a Friday evening!
Just before bed, Patrick and I took a quick visit to the beach. I love being able to do that. It is not like when my family would go camping at the beach when I was younger. A quick walk to the beach meant about a ten minute stroll. If we walk slowly it can take us a whole minute to get to the ocean.
We stood there as the water rolled in and out, looking at the stars. There are not many to be seen what with all the lights coming off Miami, and even Key Biscayne. But I saw Orion and the Little Dipper. I do not know many constellations by name, so it is nice to see ones I know.
It was a nice day.
Today began with a glorious sunrise.
Patrick came back from the bathroom to tell me that there was a lovely glow over the beach. I was not quite awake yet, and grumbled a great deal. But eventually I wandered out with my camera. Patrick stayed cozy in bed at first, but he eventually joined me, too. That made me happy. I would rather share these sort of moments than not.
We continued to explore Key Biscayne, little by little, in our never-ending quest for free wi-fi. We like the restaurant we found, but today it was busy at lunch and we do not want to never go anywhere else. So we continued along the main drag, my laptop open and looking for a wireless signal that matched the name of a restaurant we passed. We finally stopped at a juice bar that actually had yummy wraps and smoothies. Although, Patrick did get us a shot of wheat grass to share. Nothing like feeling like a cow every time you burp. :P
This evening, Patrick and I had Tommy and Tom over, so to speak. We got some charcoal and some bratwurst and found a barbecue down by the playground that was vaguely clean. I should have looked for one that was both clean and shielded from the wind. I was concerned at first that the wind would prevent us from having enough flame to get the coals going. But thanks to Patrick and lighter fluid, everything turned out ok. And boy was it delicious!
The best part is knowing I can barbecue without a propane grill. It is something I have wanted to try for some time; there is something wonderful about food that has been cooked over charcoal. And now that I know I can, I want to do it again! And again! Perhaps steak or chicken next week… marinated, of course… Mmm.
Patrick and I finally were able to see Avatar today. We went for the IMAX 3-D version.
I, for one, really enjoyed the film. Ok, so the basic plot may not have been the most original thing ever to grace the big screen (my personal favorite interpretation is Ferngully meets Terminator). But I thought the telling of the story to be enjoyable and compelling.
And, boy, was it visually stunning! I loved how subtle the 3-D effects were. Sure, there were the classic gimmicks that are in everything like this (floaty dandelion fluffs that almost tickle your nose…). What was impressive was the depth in every scene. It felt like we were simply on the other half of a room full of people, that the forest really would go on forever.
That was awesome.
Patrick’s Windows 7 upgrade is going to drive me crazy. … Well, let me correct. Getting his Blackberry to work as a modem with the required Verizon software on Windows 7 is going to drive me crazy. Everything else seems to be working so well as of yet. Better than so well, in fact.
Why can’t this?!
Argh. I will try again in the morning. See how that goes.
Today, we finally did what Patrick has been waiting to do since we last left Florida: Go to Kyojin for lunch.
Kyojin is a haven for sushi lovers. Their lunch buffet is $10 and they have quite the selection of sushi. And, for the non-sushi eater in the group (that would be me), they have really nice pot stickers, excellent spring rolls, and a small mongolian grill that gives me a happy tongue. We went today to the Boca Raton location with the Jousters and had a marvelous time. I think, perhaps, next week we will renew Sushi Monday and go to the one we saw in South Miami.
It was Windows 7 installation day, too! I have never done a clean install of an operating system and was quite nervous about whether we properly backed up the key files (namely Patrick’s email). But it worked! Hooray!
In order to complete the install, we had to find some internet and power. We have power at the tent, but no internet. In the process, we found a new place to eat! It is called 100% Natural Restaurant, has vaguely Mexican flavors, and incredibly affordable prices! I think we have found our new favorite restaurant.
But they are about to close… so I must wrap up. I sigh a happy sigh.
It was so nice to get out of bed and not shiver. Patrick was convinced that it would be cold but, while it was not precisely warm, it was not terrible.
Monday is Laundry Day; not quite as exciting as Sushi Monday with friends. We could probably have held off until tomorrow had we not dirty clothes left over from before we flew out after Louisiana. Ah, well. That is what happens when you wear things, right?
We had a run-in with a lizard this afternoon. Well, not so much a run-in as it was an encounter. And maybe even that is too strong a term. Ok, we saw a lizard. Patrick saw him first, then made sure to point him out to me. I was happy to have had my camera with me!
He was actually rather large for a lizard to be found in the parking lot of a laundromat, but considering he looked like a tiny crocodile I would say he is a lizard of a little size. I looked online for what kind of lizard he might be and came up fruitless. Perhaps someone who watches my smugmug will let me know what kind of lizard he is…
Ok, and I thought the rain was bad. Today was brutal with that windchill of 15-20 degrees. When the wind would die down for ever-so-brief moments, it was actually quite pleasant. But then it would come back and the moments would be ruined.
However, bless ‘em, people came out today! We had four singing shows, which is fun and all but nothing passes time on a festival day like doing our real shows. Also keeps the blood going with all that bouncing around. It is days like today that make me want to learn a performable skill.
We did see several friends who come to the Deerfield Beach show (which is about an hour north of here and about a month from opening!). That was nice.
As we walked back to camp for lunchtime, Patrick and I saw a beautiful thing. The ocean was the most stunning turquoise! White caps dotted the surface. It was breathtaking. Is it not wonderful how beauty can be found in the most challenging of times?
(Even so, I am very much looking forward to the weather turning around. My fingers are numb as I type this and the wind continues to howl. I would rather hear the sound of the ocean than the sound of our tarp rustling.)
I sent Patrick back to the tent at the end of the day with our lunch bag and thermos while I put things away. We would meet at the pub tent for pub sing shortly. As I wound the power cord for our mic boxes, I heard someone making bird noises. Looking up, peeking over the backdrop of our stage, was Ace!
Ace is a falcon, a kestrel I believe. And he is my favorite falcon ever. He is tiny and I love him! We walked by the falconry area today and he was so fluffed up because of the cold! Adorable! Ray, the falconer, said he was on his way home while feeding Ace (who munched away the whole time) and he ran into my “man” who asked him to come visit me. Ace has such beautiful markings. He kept spreading his tail, which I assume was to help battle the winds while he perched on Ray’s hand.
That little visit made the afternoon better. Still cold! But warm on the inside.
I have a thoughtful husband. :)
Wow. I was rather excited for this day. Looking forward to a new festival, excited to be part of it from the beginning… And then the weather hit. It was sort of surprising after such a lovely Friday. I had hoped it would not be as bad as everyone was predicting.
False hopes.
It rained in the night, misted all morning, and then started to rain again. We were all being troopers. We were ready to fight it out, plough through our shows. We did the opening gate parade. Twice in fact, for the live feed. Patrick and I stood on stage and sang for twenty minutes.
But no one came.
It was a sad morning.
After the festival closed forty-five minutes after opening, Patrick and I went back to the tent, exchanged our soaked clothes for dry ones, and took a nap. At lunchtime, we ventured out in search of wi-fi and soup. It took longer than it should have, but that extra time in the car with the heater going at full blast was heavenly! We finally ended up at an Offerdahl’s in South Miami for several hours before zipping up the road to the cinema.
The plan was to see Avatar in IMAX 3-D. When we got there, it quickly became evident that everyone in Miami had the same thought for what to do today. It was sold out, the next showing was sold out, normal 3-D was sold out, and 2-D did not show for several hours. Our next choice was for Sherlock Holmes. We were two people away from the front of the line when the time flipped over to sold out too. Grr.
So we wandered around the mall (which was of the outdoor style with some covered walkways) until Patrick decided he wanted Cold Stone Creamery. Okie dokie! And, actually, it was delicious! And since the store was gently warmed, it was actually quite comfortable to sit in.
As we huddle in the tent until bedtime, space heater going as hot as it can, the wind whirling outside, I cannot help but wonder: is it natural for a tent bend inwards like that, even with the bendy poles? Come to think of it, is it natural for Florida, southern Florida at that, to be this cold???
I just want it to be nice enough to be able to wander down to the beach without becoming an icicle. Or even just to the port-a-potty. :|
What a day off! … Well, it was not, really.
After sleeping in sort of, Patrick and I started off our day by going to the bath house and having lovely, COLD showers. We found out shortly that the power had gone out in the administrative buildings in the park, and apparently that includes the bath house. Which is better than our initial thought that it was going to be a long two and a half weeks!
Then, after getting half registered (again, the power issues) and our props unloaded at our stage, we ventured into Key Biscayne in search of breakfast! Which may as well have been lunch, since it was already 11:00. We ended up at a little bakery called La Boulangerie. Yum!
After that, we went back to Jouster Camp to help out with a promo. Patrick got in basic costume and helped squire while I tended to Lulu. She cracks me up (she is three) and I think I got the better half of the deal. Then it was time to get back on the road to get our last-minute supplies, some for the weekend and some for the full run. It turned out to be a lovely day and Patrick and I shared a sundae. Yum! Again!
When we got home, Patrick unloaded the car (completely!) and started to get the tarp atop the tent while I attempted organizing our stuff into a space too small to hold it. This was interrupted by the cast, vendor, and crew meeting for the festival. We then waited in line for our passes (power had come back) and by the time we got back to the tent, it was quite dark. We did our best to finish up (I finally resorted to putting things back in the car), took our showers (hot water this time), and were ready for bed!
But I had promised Patrick a walk on the beach, not realizing the unpacking/sorting business would take quite so long. So we got our coats on and wandered on down, trying to stay out of the water and enjoying the patterns on the sand. It was not a long walk, but it was a pleasant one. The Atlantic stretched farther than we could see and the stars peeked out between the fluffy clouds.
That was the best part of the day, and a great note on which to end our time off.
I was right. Once the plane took off, all was fine. And neither Patrick nor I really slept much last night. But that is fine. The blueberry muffins I made last night were scrumptious for breakfast! And for second breakfast…
Now we are back in Louisiana for the evening. We arrived in time to help our friends bury their dog. :( It was hard; I do not do well with loss. But I am happy we could be here for them. Lighten the mood at times, or offer a hand when needed. We talked a lot about the circle of life, about losing loved ones. But we also talked about happy memories and happy moments.
Tomorrow we head off to Miami. With any luck, we will get there before it is too dark to get our tent set up. Otherwise, it will be a cold night in the car! But it will mean an early morning, so I must away to bed…
