From the bus today...
A workman sitting on top of a five foot step-ladder, peering in the window of the Big Time Brewery, hands shielding his eyes to cut the glare like a small boy staring in at a Christmas window display, oblivious to the six inches of butt exposed above his belt.

Joy!
The Top Pot Donuts next to my neighborhood library is finally open.
Where else in the world can you get a raspberry jelly-filled powder sugar donut?
With actual raspberry jam inside?
Not at Krispy Kreme...

Oh the variety!
This weekend has been an exercise in opposites, but in the nicest sort of way. Saturday, after working at the ballet making beautiful things, I went home. She and I put on our gowns and headed out for dinner and then the opening night gala at PNB. We had a lovely meal at a local diner with a friend of mine from work and then we all gathered up our taffeta and headed to the show.
I love dancing. It seems to be the art form that speaks to me most clearly; music in physical form. So we saw a great show: several Balanchine pieces and a great piece called Red Angels which was hold-your-breath amazing. After the performance, there was a band and dancing and champagne. It was a lot of fun to see all the swanky people in their swanky clothes and to be out and doing some dancing of our own. She kept teasing me about the champagne and I kept elbowing people on accident. Different rules than at Hell, I guess.
The next morning, I took some aspirin and we all headed to the Puyallup Fair with some friends to look at the animals and the 4-H projects. I can now report authoritatively that animal smell, hay and elephant ears are no cure for a hangover. Nonetheless, we admired the cows and horses, dragged the boys through the quilts and knitting, and ate a lot of starch. I declined to go on any rides, caving to my goosey stomach, but the Ferris wheel and giant slide were enjoyed by others.
I love that we could go from the ballet to pigs in 12 hours.

Apology

Today, after a miscommunication that led to a 1 1/2 hour bus ride on three buses, I called my mother to apologize for ever having sighed, gone to my room, and then played the same song over and over and over again. And then I apologized to the universe for ever having told her that if you can't sing well, sing loud.

Miscellany

School: After transforming myself into a thorn and wedging thickly into the side of anyone who I thought could help our situation, she is in school. Not school A, nearest and dearest to us; not school B, far from home and family; but at school C, part way in between. I am torn about announcing victory because it isn't really what we wanted, but it is so much better than it could have been. She can catch the bus close to home and not so early. So she is re-waitlisted at school A and they have to make a decision before Nov. 1. In the mean time, I am nagging the teachers to see about moving her into honors/advanced classes since school C is not generally as rigorous as school A. I never wanted to be one of those antsy, domineering mothers, but I fear it is unavoidable for the next couple of months, especially since it is her way to back down from conflict and challenge when it comes to school.

Travel: Good lord, we're home for a while, although the social obligations are stacked up in a pile right now. Wedding this afternoon, season opener for the Washington Ensemble Theatre next week, starting back at the ballet on Monday. However, she and I have decided, having seen New York from the plane on our way into Newark this week, we have to go. As a girl, I always assumed I would live in New York (I was going to be a ballerina, after all...), but that idea faded with age and circumstances. But now I think I have to go and see what's there. Plunk--that's the first nickel in my coffee can.

Weather: I knew it was near, but last night confirmed it. Summer is over here. We have had two chilly mornings in the last week, but last night, when walking the dog, I could tell. In the spring, if you go out in the evening of the first warm day, the air remains warm, but the ground is still cold and you can feel the cold radiate out of it. So you know it is a trick and that the next day will be cool again. In the fall, the situation is reversed, with the earth maintaining the last warmth of the summer, but the air cooling to whisk the heat away. That is how last night was. So today the rain has started and against the grey, you notice the red tinge in the vine maples. And we can wear jackets.

The plane lands

And we get back to our normal lives. We (she and I) spent the holiday weekend in NC, visiting old friends and reliving our glory days. There was a dance party, a beach trip, a visit to Carrburritos, some barbeque, and a cookout--everything I could want. Or alternatively, there were a couple of movies, a bat mitzvah, dancing, a pillow fight, a visit to the old school, and attention from an older boy--everything she could want.
More tomorrow about the trip, the resolution of our school issues, and the end of the summer...