Aw Hail!
All hail broke loose here in our town during the week.
Quarter-sized hail pummeled us solidly for about 15 minutes, shredding trees and coating the street and cars and lawns in a lumpy sheet of white. The boys and I stood in the window and watched, awe-struck and aghast at the sheer power and destruction. When it was over, it looked like winter–and when it melted, the streets were solidly paved with a bright green carpet of leaves. An odd sort of surreal beauty.
But my garden my beautiful garden that I have coaxed and weeded and tended and enjoyed, was in ruins. The iris, tiger lilies, delphiniums, and stargazers were stripped to sad little sticks. My huge beautiful rhubarb is totally broken, my herb garden is mangled and my scrumptious strawberries have been reduced to mush. The peonies are bent and drenched in mud. I know it will all come back, but oh how I mourn the battered state of it!
In some form of compensation–there was a huge double rainbow at the end of that day that was spectacular against the dark grey sky.
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Did I mention that during the rush and glory of the spring play, our high school theater program was accepted to perform at the Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland? We are the only school in Colorado to be invited to attend for two weeks in August of 2006. So far 25 families have made the committment for their kids to go. (And of course Im going!) We dont know yet which play we will be performing. We will have to transport all costumes and sets overseas, so it must be all be very simplified.
Now begins the flurry of fund-raising. We have to raise Big, BIG Cash over the next year. No bake sales or cookie dough sales will cover the huge amounts we need to raise. We are going to be going after grants, approaching corporations, doing our own mini-Fringe Festival, and then locking into a few other promising money-raising ideas that have been discussed.
I am heading an image and media committee to design and produce all brochures, invitations, programs and a web-site that we will need through out the year. Also we are going to need a well-produced information packet that we can present to corporations for donations.
The parents have been incredible so far very willing to do whatever it takes to get things done. And the kids are awesome and totally involved. We are lucky to have so many do-ers! One of the dads on my team is also a graphic designer who is going to do the website for us. Ill let you know when that is up and you can go and take a peek!
Although, this dad is the source of a mini-rant for me .
I have been told I am a generous designer. I love collaborating with other designers, sharing ideas and working as a team to produce wonderful pieces. I think my healthy ego and belief in my abilities is stable enough to recognize and celebrate brilliance in others. I love it when ideas fly and excitement grows and a stunning piece evolves from the culmination of the best creativity of everybody involved.
We had a meeting at my house last week, and I met this dad for the first time. I looked forward to meeting him, because I REALLY like his daughter. (She was our flamingo in the spring play.) She and her dad walked up to my door, and I reached out to shake his hand. We introduced ourselves and because I had heard his name used by others in two ways, I asked him, Do you prefer to be called Matt or Matthew? He lifted his chin in the air and said defensively, I just told you my name is Matthew. Do people just call you Kair? I was taken aback, but laughed and said that actually a few people do call me that.
The chip remained firmly planted on his shoulder all morning. Every natural comment, question or idea from the group was met with his caustic, arrogant or sarcastic response. I deflected and lightened the air where I could. His poor daughter was mortified, and I suddenly understood her shy, somewhat slumping and shell-shocked demeanor. I know that people often respond in the ways Matthew does because of poor self-esteem and the need to control. He is shy and self-conscious and goes overboard to compensate for that. But it makes for a totally uncomfortable mood within this small group. This may take every bit of my diplomacy and tactas I do not want to jeopardize his daughter in any way.
Since then, I have asked around (this town has many designers) and have heard that he is difficult to work with, not a very good designer and is unable to keep the jobs he does find because of his attitude.
Sigh.
So I am hoping he will be content (and competent enough) to design and monitor the website. Dang it! These are NOT the kinds of challenges I thought I was going to be taking on!!
Oh well. Ill work it out somehow. Just forgive my little mini rants– as I have a feeling I’ll need to spout off every once in a while.:)
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I know that I am already kinda scarce around here in ODland, but I will be more so in the next few weeks. I am helping to chaperone our kids at Theater Nationals and will be gone for a week. Ms. W and I are taking six girls. (You KNOW how much fun that will be for me!) I am looking forward to some costume/make-up workshops and some great shows. And a few days after I get back from that, Don, the boys, and I then take off for a family reunion week at my sister’s ocean house. Wheeeee!
So–much love to you all(and Ill see some of you sooooon!)
*goosebumps*
:)xo
Adagio
Congratulations on being invited to the festival. I know it will be a huge success. sorry about the garden damage. Pooh on sarcastic, caustic, mean-spirited people. May he find a hole and crawl into it!
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Poor garden, ouch! A painting with all the colors running. There are those people whose pain sticks out a sore thumb, and we reach within for how best to handle them. You seem to get the more difficult ones, and answers that come to you will reflect to the daughter, light on her path from darkness. Hm, like an unseen force that gives him help and he cannot see it yet. Thank you. ox
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Owie for your garden! We’ve had similar hail storms in previous years but not quite that rough so far this year. It is amazing. Fabulous about all the theater stuff! That’s wonderful. Hope you find time to share what you can about it all with us 🙂 But most importantly, enjoy!
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We’ve only had one hailstorm since I’ve been in this house (October ’04)…It came on the same day as a tornado warning, but as I didn’t KNOW about the tornado warning until after, when the sirens started wailing, I thought we had a hail alert. How silly is that? I miss California, but I LOVE the dramatic weather we get here in North Texas…summer rain is worth every second of humidity.
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Congrats on Edinburgh – that’s a HUGE honor. And RYN: “I like it” or “This didn’t work for me” is really all I’m going for when I post stuff there, truly, it’s just an exercise in getting used to sharing my work (I still feel like I’m bothering ppl when I ask them to read what I write). So, thank you for visiting. 🙂
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Oh, your poor garden! Hopefully it will recover while you’re off travelling so you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you return. How exciting about the Fringe Festival in Scotland!! Good luck with MattHEW, a.k.a. Mr. Grumpypants. :o)
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About the hair storm. I feel your pain. Such a sad sight a garden after a hailstorm.
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awww, poor garden! My mom is up for a national award for her word with high school musicals… would be so cool if you lived nearby and you could collaberate some day and merge your respective artistic skills…
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So very sorry about the hail damage to your garden. How about vehicles? We got caught out once, and it damaged our car. quarter sized dings all over top, trunk and hood. Congrats on the group being chosen for the trip, I hope the man who is so grouchy doesn’t ruin it for his daughter.
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What an exciting goal to have! Sounds like it will be worth all the effort despite dealing with Difficult Daddy!
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Congratulations!!!! I am so very excited for you all.
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Poor garden!
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So sorry about the beating the garden took… hopefully, the plants will recover.
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Oh noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! feh. Your poor beautiful garden!!!! You NEEDED a double rainbow at end of that, yes? Alas, am in mourning with you…. GREAT CONGRATS on the Fringe festival thingy. Have attended it once and actually have on studio wall poster from it from GASP! 1996! Eeeeekkk. (was actaully there in 1998 though…lol. So am rooting for you guys to make it and to
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fundraise successfully….that very tall order but with you intheir corner endevour cannot fail, no no impossible to even have hint of failure, am very sure that 2006 will see you all in beautiful stunning Edingburgh!!! 🙂 PS; That man sounds like very sad insecure bully. Poor daughter, since everyone else able to walk away, feh…
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…I would be devastated if that happened to my garden but what can you do? Guess that means you’ll have to focus your attention elsewhere. “The” dad sounds like a real piece of work…and not very reliable. Any chance there’s a back-up out there? Darn. Great honor for the thespians! They’re luck to have you around considering you don’t have kids in school anymore. I knew you’d stay! 🙂
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…which ocean???
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First Italy, now Edinburgh what an international traveler you’ve become. And what a great reward for a dedicated Mom. I wish you the best as you funraise – cut flowers might sell and be sure to harvest them just before the next hail storm – Aww drat! what a nasty thing for your pretty garden. We’re having the worst June here – dull skies lots of rain, so juicy berry crop but not too sweet w/o sun
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Edinburgh! Oh la la! Fabulous! Sorry about your garden – too bad insurance doesn’t pay for that loss. Hugs,
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Poor garden! Congrats on the acting gig. We sent my mom and her husband to Scotland back when Reagan was Prez. They loved it, except everyone wanted to argue politics with them! Cant wait to see website, even if he is a bossy-boots. Just kill him wih kindness. I have a feeling hes gonna take a LOT of love. RYN: I’ll post when it’s close to done. It’s not up to your caliber, but I’m happy. 🙂
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Oh, your poor little baby plants. Dang it! Boy told me how crazy your weather has been. Actually, it sounds heavenly to me right now. This dripping, dragging, hanging HOT, HOT heat is suffocating. I hate being cooped up all the time, but it’s better than out there. And you know what an outdoor gal I am. I’m so very happy for your family reunion. What a JOY JOLT! LYMMMMMMMMMMM, me.
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maybe this matthew will be a better person at the end of the year because, over time with your group, you guys will work to like him in spite of his difficult personality. maybe he has developed it as a shield. not that you have to save the world or anything, but maybe your kindness–and your working around it–will make a huge difference in his life.
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*hug* love you too. How exciting with the overseas invitation!! 🙂
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Aw, your poor garden! I’m so sorry…that windfall of hail would depress me for weeks. And that man…I wish there was a subtle way to tell him of his behavior, in hopes that he could change. Why is he so angry and curt? I just want to dig it out from him. Still the best route and your chosen path, kill ’em with kindness. Congrats on the Scotland invite…wow!
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here is an interesting fundraising idea my mom’s church is doing. members volunteer serving a special dinner (mexican, greek, persian, bbq) and say how many they can serve (6,8,10,25). Tickets are sold for $15 each. The server hosts a dinner, money goes to the charity/fundraising effort. mom just hosted the mexican dinner, funding the food herself, and had a blast, getting to know everyone well.
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Wow, what a dramatic entry! (Naturally! Hee!) While I’m sympathetic to your garden loss, I’m curious if the hail also damaged your cars? We once had hail damage when we lived in Texas, & it dented our cars & broke our windows! MUCH nodding & applauding to YOU for the Edinburgh honor! And I’ll venture – no naysaying will convince me otherwise – that the #1 reason is your costumes & Ian’s acting!
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As to *Madhew*, yikes… what a sourpuss. You know, I’ll bet he resents that it’s a woman that’s in charge. That’s the only possible reason. And perhaps his attitudes have created a special need to shine in his daughter, & thus make her a poignant actress. Its hard to realize what shapes us, sometimes, but even though it’s trial by fire, sometimes a diamond is the result…
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Oh my god, Edinburgh, that’s such a big thing!!!!!! How exciting. And seeing as it’ll be August there might be a chance of it not raining when you’re there! I have come back from a month away, having left the hose in the hands of the idiots upstairs to a lot of shriveled brown things but a fully flowering purple bougainvillea and crimson hibiscus, in London! They were my ‘this won’t work’ plants.
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