Yami Disappeared

The long weekend was nice, but not quite long enough. Puck started a new bartending job on Friday morning at a place called "7 steps to hell" It is a bar in the basement of a house out on lake Koshkenong. Maddie was going to a sleepover for a friend out in Newville which is in the same vicinity and I had a retirement party out there that same evening,

Maddie made her friend an EMO cake. She designed this little EMO character with a big head and little feet and made her first cake. Why in heavens name she chose to make a cut out cake I have no idea. She also decided to slice the head horizantally and fill it with raspberry glace filling so it would bleed when they cut into it. Very ambitious for a first project. She hunted up the recipe for Crazy Cake (a very simple chocolate cake) and a couple frosting recipes. She had to hike up to the Pig for more powdered sugar after I advised her that a double recipe would be better if she was frosting many sides of the cake.

The cake was about finished when I got home thursday, but needed to cool... I gave her a few more bits of baking wisdom and found the decorator tips for her and went to bed. When I got up I expected a mess, but the cake was wonderful. I took pictures but need to get them developed. It was adorable with greasy black licorice hair and a cute little face. She was pretty dang proud of it too.

Friday I drove her to Patty's cabin for the party. We did not have good directions and I got lost... as I was making a wrong turn for the second time I noticed a sign that said Cellar and there was Puck's car. Now I knew where he worked and it ended up being only a block from the party. It also is almost in the back yard of my friend Jean. After I dropped off Maddie I stopped in to see him and he was pretty surprised to see me.

Then I went to the retirement party. It was good to see all my old friends. Our friends Donna and Larry left early but later came back in their little flying machine and buzzed the party. That was pretty cool.

I stayed sober unlike most of the rest of the crew and went home early. Next day I did some shopping for the party then I went to meet Maddie in Stoughton at the movie theater. They were finishing off the party with "Pirates of the Carribean" The theater is unique in that it has tables and chairs and serves pizza. It was fun, but my butt went to sleep. That is one long pirate movie. Probably worth it, but long.

We got home about 6:00 and Maddie went straight to bed. I had left the screen door open to let some fresh air in. Sunday I sort of felt the absence of Yami (our white cat) but really thought he was sleeping somewhere. Bella (the black cat) was acting sort of needy, but that is not too unusual.

Sunday was a distracted day... Our pastor has been transferred with very little notice and we are heartbroken. I will miss him terribly and my banjo playing at church. I hate change!!!!!. Did a lot of cleaning on Sunday and went to bed exhausted. Monday morning I slept in a little (Maddie went off with a friend to sing at a Memorial day event) then went to put some letters out in the mail. I opened the front door and saw that the screen was pushed through and there were white hairs attached to it. I panicked. He doesn't come to Here Kitty Kitty like every other cat I have ever had. He was gone for two days I realized and he is terrified of people. I ran upstairs to find out when Puck remembered seeing him last.

He and I both got dressed and I looked around and called him to no avail. I thought for sure he was lost forever and I realized what a hole that would leave. I was standing in the driveway when Maddie came home. Her friend thought I looked mad,but I explained that Yami had gotten out and I did not know where he had gone. I had looked under the porch and in the garage... I checked back where he was born in the neighbors but that hole had been filled in.

Maddie and Puck walked around the yard and I stood on the porch calling for him. All of a sudden I thought I heard faint meowing. At first I thought it might be Maddie trying to call him. Then they came back around the house and said no they had not been meowing and it started up again and was very distinct under my feet.

Maddie scrambled over the plants in her white gauze skirt and heels and crawled under the porch. It is an old fashioned porch held up by limestone blocks. She said she could barely see his tail swishing from up under the porch. She coaxed him down, but he was scared to death. A few minutes later some friends came down the street and I sent Puck out to keep them away from the porch or Yami would have gone flying. Eventually Maddie got him to the entrance and I was able to grab him by the scruff of the neck. It is amazing how cats go into baby kitten mode when they are held that way... all limp and docile. I carefully hauled him into the house and he let out one low howl and ran upstairs.

Bella didn't like the smell of him and hissed and scratched at him for two days or maybe she was just pissed that he came back.

all is well now though and It is good to have them both back

the weekend flew by

Our best friend Jodi arrived from Galena Il on Thursday. She is from Washington State (Tacoma) and we have not seen her in 15 years. Her mom has friends in Galena so they went there. It is only a little over 2 hours away from us. She drove up about 5 minutes after I got home from school and we squealed and ran into each other's arms. We are both older, but as the weekend wore on the age seemed to just melt away.

We talked for a little while and then just settled into our old patterns. It was nice to have no pressure to talk or keep each other company. I had to keep reminding her that she was the guest so she got some special treatment.

I had to work on Friday so she spent the day alone and made Maddie a cheesecake for her birthday. She also finished up most of my cleaning and swept all the leaves off the front porch. She rearranged the furniture to accomodate the kids who were coming for the movie marathon later so we were all ready to go when they arrived.

Maddie and her friends walked around town until 5:00 and bought some Mountain Dew for their caffiene fix. They started the first movie at about 6:00 Guests arrived for the next couple hours at different times until all 9 of them were there.


They all crammed into the living room. I explained to them all that if they stained my newly recovered sofa and chair they would be immediatly killed and they seemed to understand the threat amiably. Jodi was impressed at how nice a group of kids they are.

I took the first shift and stayed up until about 2:00 when Puck got up to take over. I got about 3 hours of sleep then woke up at 5:00... I knew a couple of the girls needed to leave at 8:00 and I wanted to get some pancake batter mixed up. I sent Puck to bed and stayed up the rest of the morning.

They had run out of energy at about that same time so they switched from the Mystery Science Theater movies to ones which were easier to watch. They watched Bikini Beach with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Then one episode of Pee Wee's Playhouse... The boys were shocked to see the Matrix's Morpheus riding around on a little stick horse as Cowboy Curtis.. that was quite entertaining.

After that they watched The Mummy Returns and topped everthing off with Monty Python and the Holy Grail (they all seemed to know that one by heart) I told them they could watch that one to the end, but then they all had to go home ... I needed to get some sleep. They were very good about it.

Maddie got some interesting gifts from her friends. Her boyfriend gave her little plush microbes she got the common cold, the flu, and a sore throat. She got a Goodwill Gift Card, a boxed set of Big Band CDs and some other burned music and a little plush Gir and a long Gir scarf

It was a great last hurrah birthday party for her. After I sent the kids off Maddie went to bed. Jodi got up a little after 11:00. I tried to nap, but was unsuccessful and was pretty much a zombie all day. I slept good though and we decided early that we would forgo church the next day.

Friend Michael arrived at 11:30 Sunday morning and more squeals of old friendships renewed ensued. We all used to hang out and play cards and other games so much. It was so fun to have them both together.

We got dressed and ready for the concert in the park at 1:00... too bad it was raining. All the church groups were doing a musical fund raiser for our local Outreach. Our church group was set to play at 1:00. We hauled some chairs and umbrellas in for Michael and Jodi and Maddie and I joined the group under the band shell. We played and sang for about a half hour and went home to warm up. I don't think the Outreach did too well (Yesterday I found out that our pastor has been relocated and will be leaving in June... perhaps that was why it was so gloomy)

We went to see Puck at the tavern and he made Michael and Jodi some awesome Bloody Marys... I had a 7-up and Maddie was too cold to drink anything.

We went home and tried to warm up some more. We talked. Michael gave Maddie her birthday present which was season tickets to APT (where he works) Now we need to figure out dates and buy ourselves season tickets (He will get them at his cost though so it is great deal)

We played cards late into the evening... just like old times

I went off to work in the morning and turned down a sub job for Puck.. (Too much partying for the three of them) Michael spent the night and left at noon the next day. Got home from school and Jodi had gone off to watch Maddie's liturgical dance practice which got interupted by Puck telling her that she was back on the schedule to work. Jodi drove her to work and picked her up at 8:00

We were going to play cards again, but apparently we wore our friend completely out. She went to bed with a headache :(

She had a bad fall five years ago which has left her disabled. Her left shoulder is pretty much useless and her range of motion is very limited in that arm. She takes quite a few meds for pain and I think all the activity and fun and drinking just wore her right out. I sat upstairs and we talked for a little while, but then I let her sleep.

This morning we said a teary farewell and promised that it would not be 15 more years till we saw each other

Last Band Concert

Monday was the last band concert of the year. It also was Maddie's last band concert. She has spent 7 years playing the clarinet and done pretty well for someone who hardly ever practices outside of school. She made first chair this year so we finally can see her at the concerts (they don't use risers)

They got to the last song and began recognizing the seniors and giving out awards. We had talked before the concert about who might get what and mentioned a few names... We left unspoken the hope that she would get one, but neither of us mentioned it.

The boy who played the lead in Harvey got the first one, The drum major got the drum major award and another one for meritorious service, The boy who she went to the State Band conference with got one (Maddie's name was mentioned, but no award) Her best friend Amanda (first chair flute) got one and finally they were down to the last award. It was the John Phillips Sousa award for excellence and comes with a plaque and a trophy and a pin.

Honestly you could have knocked us all over with a feather when Val (her band director) read off Madeline's name (so formal) that is when I started crying. Maddie was totally shocked and blushing like crazy. We were so proud of her. Her sixth grade band director was sitting behind me and later said "I was starting to get worried when she didn't get anything... I mean Maddie?" That was very nice of her to say.

We all went out to Culver's (a tradition after a concert)and celebrated. It was a very nice evening

Earlier in the day though The director of the Musical stopped me outside my house to tell me that there were problems with the dates of the High School musical.. after a bit of a bru ha ha it has been decided to flip the musical into the fall and the play into the spring. That screws up my and Puck's contracts along with others and so we had a meeting about the whole mess with the superintendant yesterday. He made some executive decicions and cancelled all contracts for both plays and reissued them today with the changes.

Puck is accepting the Musical technical director, but I am declining the play costumer. It almost totally overlaps the middle school play and I am already suspect that my co-director is looking for another job. I also will be doing a new job here which may not allow me as much time to work on drama during the day. Also Maddie will be 5 hours away and it might be nice to be able to have some flexability for picking her up and seeing her plays and such. I am a little relieved

Puck asked me to sign on for the assistant tech person, but someone else was offered that position. I know that Ellen will try to sucker me into helping with costumes and I am going to try my dangdest to keep out of it. Wish me luck

other than that I continue to clean house in anticipation of the birthday party and visit from our friend Jodi... Friend Michael is coming over on Sunday too so we should have a great time (I might have to call in sick)

Tonight is the Honors Banquet, which should be sort of weird. None of Maddie's friends will be there :) and I really don't know the parents terribly well. Oh well

My feet hurt

Been spending most of my time caning a chair.... finally got it finished and the nice old man who it belonged to was very happy with it. I was glad because it cost him $132. at first he just wanted the seat redone, but then added the back.. It was a beautiful civil ware era rocker in very good condition, but the back was a stinker. The holes were smaller than the ones in the seat and it was an oval so I had to go in and out of the same holes several times. Putting on the binder cane to finish it off just about had me throwing the dang thing through a window.

The weather has been very nice so Puck has been busy touching up the paint on the house... something that has needed to be done for a long time. I have gone back to cleaning. Maddie is turning 18 on Thursday and wanted to have one last party. She is having an all night movie marithon. They are going to watch as many Mystery Science Theater movies as they can handle.

I went shopping today for pizza and movie candy topped off with a little mountain dew... I was a little worried that parents wouldn't let thier boys and girls stay over, but I promised to supervise very well and to keep them until they are supposed to leave... there will be no wandering around the neighborhood

Our best friend Jodi is finally coming for a visit after 11 years. She lives in Tacoma Washington. I am so excited to see her. She is getting here on Thursday and will be here for the party. I hope she can handle all those crazy children.

Maddie spent almost all Saturday cleaning the bathroom (It is good to know that she can be thorough when she needs to be) and today I bought new shower curtains. It looks pretty good in there. I think the cats are a little afraid of the room now.

I picked up a nice large crockpot at goodwill that I can use for the graduation party. Like I said earlier all of you are invited. I always make way too much food.

I have pretty well finished a couple big scrapbooks of clippings and programs for Maddie too. I put most of our pictures into albums this week. I had was 5 rolls of film behind. I also worked a little more on getting names on Maddie's coat. She won a local arts scholarship. That was pretty exciting.

Well back to work
that is all I am doing

The Musical is done

Got a little emotional thinking about it being Maddie's last show in that theater. She was in the very first show ever performed there. Interestingly I was in the very first show performed at the theater in River Falls where she will eventually be on stage. I also was instrumental in getting that theater and the black box theater actual names instead of "main stage" and "little theater" They are now "The Blanche Davie Memorial Theatre" and the "Sanford Syse Memorial Theater" respectively.

Both of those were professors that Puck and I had. Blanche retired the year I dropped out and San died that same year. They were both Titains of the departments and had great impact on all who met them. I am extremely proud to have been able to memorialize them.

I think Maddie is glad to have the play done as well. She has so much to do and it just seems there is so little time to do it in.

I did get a little more pissy during the play about costumes and makeup, but fairly kept my temper and opinions to myself :)

When we got to picture taking though I got a little peeved when it came time for the senior pictures. There are 10 actors and techies graduating this year and only two of them are girls. Maddie and the girl playing Eliza. Their hats were cocked opposite to each other so I thought it would be pretty to have them in the center of the picture. I asked them to move and Diva girl would not deign to sit next to my daughter. Oooooh I was ticked. They ended up on each end, but I know dang well that Diva just didn't want to sit next to my girl. She is going to be mighty surprised when she goes to her first college audition and finds out that all the rest of the divas are as good if not better than she is.

She was in the dressing room telling the rest of the actors that they needed to smile more during the cockney scenes. That when she looked around nobody was looking like they were enjoying themselves (very funny to hear since she phones in just about every performance) I cannot tell you how many people tell me that when Maddie is on stage their eyes just gravitate to her. There are only a few kids that have that stage magic. One of them will be a senior next year and I really hope they find her a great part. It is too bad that Diva just doesn't have "it". She hopes to go into musical theater. She is a pretty girl with a pretty voice, but no soul.... no "it"

ok that is enough stage mothering :)

Last week I found out that my job next year will be substantially different. I am not quite certain how I feel about it. They will be starting the Read 180 program and I will support that. Sounds like a lot of book keeping and I will lose my room :(

Perhaps it is time to move back home.

I did get the seat caned on the little rocker, but the guy left me a message that he wants the back done too so I am glad I ordered cane.

oh and someone walked off with one of my little nosegays of violets... my bet is Diva took it for a souvenir, but I cannot pin it on her. Just can't think of anyone else who might want one. perhaps I am just being mean sprirted?