I stood in the center of the clearing, deep in the forest. This was my place, a place where only the creatures of nature and I knew about. It lay a short walk from my back door through the woods. The trick was crossing the stream back there. There was a log you could cross, but it was hidden in a cove that was most likely created by beavers. To either side of the cavern was a branch and bramble wall, no way to forge over it. but if you looked real close you would find a small section of branches tied together with makeshift tree bark rope.
Once pulled aside you could crawl under the catch weed into a small space with the large timber to cross over the water. The space here was not mine, and I knew it. It was modified so I could pass, but there was always a sense of eyes upon you. I never felt in danger, but I knew that I was only welcome as a passer by and not invited to stay for any length of time.
Beyond the crossing there were a few love paths well trodden in the forest floor. They seemed ancient and terribly unkempt. I had once spent some time trying to map them out, but quickly became bored with the prospect of where they led when I had found the clearing.
I had affectionately come to call it the glade. It was about forty paces in diameter and near perfectly round. The edges seemed to understand that they needed to maintain the circle. The foliage was emerald green, not a section of earth could be seen, thick and lush. A short grass about ankle high grew all over. It was as if it had decided that it was at the perfect height and stopped.
The trees encircling the space almost formed a perfect privacy fence. From everywhere outside of the clearing one would have no idea it existed. It was as if nature herself decided that this place was to be kept hidden from most, I would say all, but I had been given the privilege of locating the space.
In the summer I could lay in the open space for hours and just think about the universe around me. It was quite an inspiring place to be. Light breezes would light over the trees and swoop down into the center and keep one at the perfect temperature, also creating a soothing sound, a music all it’s own, in your ears.
Sometimes a squirrel would play along the edge of the clearing searching for supplies for the upcoming winter, mostly they kept to themselves, but if I brought snacks with me, they were certainly happy to share. Sometimes they would dance along the edge of the green, a complex series of movements around each other, elegant and otherworldly I could watch their movements losing complete track of time. When the shade would hit the center of the patch I knew it was time to head home.
Monday, February 25, 2019
Monday, February 18, 2019
The Cat Man
Thump, thump, thump. A knocking erupted from the front door throughout the house. An old lady in her seventies waddled down the steps to her foyer and peeked through the peephole in the door. Through the viewing device she could only make out a large grin with stubble all around it. Oh no, she thought to herself, what could this man possibly want? She checked herself in the full-length mirror by the door it’s not proper to look shabby when greeting people she felt. Then she undid the main lock and opened the door.
A burst of breeze and sunlight bounced around the room. One might have felt a light happy musical tune off in the distance saunter in with the air and light and take a seat by the entry table. The tune whimsically observed the old lady and the man on the other side of the portal. He wore a loosely fitted brown plaid wool suit with a dirty well-worn fedora on his head. He had a touch of stubble on his face, as if it had been a day or two since his last shave. His eyes radiated a serene blue, which felt calming. He had a dark grey satchel draped over his shoulder.
“Hello there and what a lovely day it is. The sun is shining. The breeze is blowing. The clouds are playing in the sky. My name is Gerrod Fantingue,” his words came out in rapid-fire succession. The old lady was finding it hard to keep up; he seemed to notice this and slowed down just enough that she was still barely gripping on. “You’re probably wondering what I’m doing on your doorstep today? I bet, you’re thinking to yourself, what could this somewhat shabby, yet debonair man be wanting with me. Well there are so many reasons I could be here, it’s near unfathomable. But the real reason is I’m here to sell you a used cat or two! It’s a pleasure to meet you, miss?”
She stood there, mouth agape. Mr. Fantigue looked around the foyer, and then decided it might be better to inspect his fingernails. After a length of time she finally seemed to catch up to the current point in the conversation.
“Ruth,” she said cautiously, “Did I hear you correctly? A used cat?”
“Ah Ruth, a truly wonderful name. I once had a grandmother named Ruth. Can’t go wrong with a name like that. And yes you did. As I was passing by, I noticed a distinct lack of creatures of the feline persuasion about your property and figured that we ought to rectify this toot sweet.”
Ruth wasn’t sure how to respond to this. The only thing that came to mind was that this man wanted something more than what he was letting on to. She decided caution would be the best policy. “Um. I don’t need any cats. As you can see, I’m old and fragile, I wouldn’t be able to take care of them.”
“Ruth, Ruth, Ruth. Do I look like I would be so insensitive? No, no, no. Like I said these are used cats, they can take care of themselves. I think I know the perfect one for you in fact.” He turned his back on her took off his satchel and started digging around in it. “Now, I know he was in here somewhere, I just saw him the other day… Oh where are you. Fred? Fred! There you are.” He turned back around and in the palm of his hand sat a very old looking miniature cat.
“I wouldn’t know what to do with that.” Ruth said to the man.
“Course you wouldn’t! You’ve probably never received a used cat before. It’s simple, just put him in the sink and run water over him, in no time he will be up to the right size. He knows how big he’s supposed to be.” The cat looked up at Ruth and smiled. “And look he already likes you.”
“I don’t think I can afford a fancy cat like that.”
“Afford? Afford! No Ruth, there’s no charge for used cats. They’re used. Already been paid for once. No need to pay again. This guy, Fred, be sure to get his name right, they get ever so testy if you don’t, is yours.” He handed the cat over to her. Before she had time to say anything back he was already walking away from her house.
“Wait!” She called after him. “I can’t take this cat!”
He just smiled and waved over his shoulder. The tune got up off the chair by the entrance and laughed heartily and spun out into the sunny day. Ruth took the cat into the house and closed the door behind her. She walked into the kitchen and put Fred into the sink.
“Well now Fred, lets see if we can’t get you up to size.” She said as she turned on the faucet.
A burst of breeze and sunlight bounced around the room. One might have felt a light happy musical tune off in the distance saunter in with the air and light and take a seat by the entry table. The tune whimsically observed the old lady and the man on the other side of the portal. He wore a loosely fitted brown plaid wool suit with a dirty well-worn fedora on his head. He had a touch of stubble on his face, as if it had been a day or two since his last shave. His eyes radiated a serene blue, which felt calming. He had a dark grey satchel draped over his shoulder.
“Hello there and what a lovely day it is. The sun is shining. The breeze is blowing. The clouds are playing in the sky. My name is Gerrod Fantingue,” his words came out in rapid-fire succession. The old lady was finding it hard to keep up; he seemed to notice this and slowed down just enough that she was still barely gripping on. “You’re probably wondering what I’m doing on your doorstep today? I bet, you’re thinking to yourself, what could this somewhat shabby, yet debonair man be wanting with me. Well there are so many reasons I could be here, it’s near unfathomable. But the real reason is I’m here to sell you a used cat or two! It’s a pleasure to meet you, miss?”
She stood there, mouth agape. Mr. Fantigue looked around the foyer, and then decided it might be better to inspect his fingernails. After a length of time she finally seemed to catch up to the current point in the conversation.
“Ruth,” she said cautiously, “Did I hear you correctly? A used cat?”
“Ah Ruth, a truly wonderful name. I once had a grandmother named Ruth. Can’t go wrong with a name like that. And yes you did. As I was passing by, I noticed a distinct lack of creatures of the feline persuasion about your property and figured that we ought to rectify this toot sweet.”
Ruth wasn’t sure how to respond to this. The only thing that came to mind was that this man wanted something more than what he was letting on to. She decided caution would be the best policy. “Um. I don’t need any cats. As you can see, I’m old and fragile, I wouldn’t be able to take care of them.”
“Ruth, Ruth, Ruth. Do I look like I would be so insensitive? No, no, no. Like I said these are used cats, they can take care of themselves. I think I know the perfect one for you in fact.” He turned his back on her took off his satchel and started digging around in it. “Now, I know he was in here somewhere, I just saw him the other day… Oh where are you. Fred? Fred! There you are.” He turned back around and in the palm of his hand sat a very old looking miniature cat.
“I wouldn’t know what to do with that.” Ruth said to the man.
“Course you wouldn’t! You’ve probably never received a used cat before. It’s simple, just put him in the sink and run water over him, in no time he will be up to the right size. He knows how big he’s supposed to be.” The cat looked up at Ruth and smiled. “And look he already likes you.”
“I don’t think I can afford a fancy cat like that.”
“Afford? Afford! No Ruth, there’s no charge for used cats. They’re used. Already been paid for once. No need to pay again. This guy, Fred, be sure to get his name right, they get ever so testy if you don’t, is yours.” He handed the cat over to her. Before she had time to say anything back he was already walking away from her house.
“Wait!” She called after him. “I can’t take this cat!”
He just smiled and waved over his shoulder. The tune got up off the chair by the entrance and laughed heartily and spun out into the sunny day. Ruth took the cat into the house and closed the door behind her. She walked into the kitchen and put Fred into the sink.
“Well now Fred, lets see if we can’t get you up to size.” She said as she turned on the faucet.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
This is Trulie and I've Been Thinking
The Trulie Awesome Show is five years old this year and to celebrate, Totalie and I have been planning a party/show for August. We hope to have our friends entertain you and to create a birthday party atmosphere. I personally hope we have an area dedicated to throwing pies at Totalie's face.
While I work on convincing Totalie that the pies are a great idea, we are also preparing for my first gallery show at Blockfort! This is one of my serious pieces and will be on view from March 7th-9th. I began with the concept of a paper chain link per every day of my life leading up to the show, and it is now a 30 minute piece exploring time and the constant internal and physical struggles I face.
In and around these two projects, we have a few small shows on the calendar and we are writing new comedy for shows that don't even exist yet. A twinkle in the eye, so to speak. It takes a lot of planning and organization to do a large event, but even the small shows take weeks of preparation. I love all of it.
This week, I have a show on Friday and it is only one number. Usually my songs are under 4 minutes but every second has hours of thought put into them. I've been obsessing over this dance and the costume all for it to be over in 4 minutes 45 seconds.
The month long projects are important to me, but the short bursts of extreme effort for a one and done show, are so satisfying. In the long run, big projects are still done in a night and then put back on the shelf, so maybe I appreciate the small shows for their mercifully short rehearsal periods and less stuff to put away.
The small shows are usually variety shows and that's where I started as Trulie. I created the character in 2012 and debuted my first paper costume at a Stupid Cupid event at Feverhead. So take note: Trulie's birthday is Valentines Day. That date matches her color scheme too, so it worked out perfectly.
Having started out in small variety shows as just one person building paper costumes for myself and then moving on to over-the-top shows with lots of performers in them, I also appreciate the intimacy of small venues and shows. I have so many great memories of getting ready for a show in the backroom of a bar with 8 other performers (and all of our suitcases) and performing on a tiny makeshift stage to a room of 10 locals who have never seen anything like what we do...it's home really. It's "the life"
I'm so lucky to be able to constantly spend time working on projects for The Trulie Awesome Show. The last seven years as Trulie and the last five with Totalie Awesome as the Trulie Awesome Show, have given me more confidence and a sharper vision for my future than not doing those things would have given me.
I'm not very good with mushy feelings but those are my thoughts.
XOXO
Trulie
XOXO
Trulie
Monday, February 11, 2019
Plum Pudding Day
What is a Plum Pudding? A question I felt I would never ask myself at any point in my life up to this point. It’s sort of one of those things that people just take for granted. You hear about them in stories, but you very seldom see them in real life; At least I never have. In fact, I racked my memories in search of a plum pudding related recollection. Sadly, none came to mind.
I found I had many memories of plums. Summer days on a hill in the park with a friend on a blanket. We were staring at the clouds with a bag of plums next to us. Just eating them and throwing the pits down the hill (in the direction opposite of where we had come from). The wind was gentile and light, bringing scents of charcoal burning for a family’s weekend barbecue in the park. The clouds that day were more than willing attendants to our shape naming needs that day. We pictured dragons, knights, castles, and fairies in the forms above us.
Puddings! Now those I have many more memories of. I’m quite the fan of puddings. My favorite is tapioca, followed closely by banana. Perhaps I should mix the two? Nah, I should get two helpings, one of each and have both! So many soccer games with pudding and juice boxes after. Birthdays, family gatherings, and of course pudding Tuesdays, which I observe every day. One can never be to careful, wouldn’t want my calendar to be off and accidentally miss a pudding day.
Back to plum pudding. In my mind it would be a glorious pudding much like a banana pudding, but plum flavored. Turns out I was very wrong. It seems to be a more bread like substance. It could even be some sort of alien egg. Who knows? No one, because I’m sure no one eats them. They are scary looking. Why don’t we just forget about plum pudding day, and have tapioca and banana pudding day? Works for me, if it works for you.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Um...Brellas.
I absolutely love candy canes but this post is supposed to be about umbrellas
which sometimes have candy cane shaped handles, so I suppose that's why I would like to have a candy cane right now, instead of writing about umbrellas.
Umbrellas are very useful.
Candy canes are also useful because they freshen your breath and give you a small sugar rush and can be used in self defense. They hang perfectly on the side of a mug of hot chocolate, so you can have a peppermint hot chocolate. So fancy. Also they are just pretty. The small candy canes are preferable.
Small umbrellas are more parasols than umbrellas. Both can block the sun but the umbrella is better suited to keep the rain off of you. One time I used an umbrella to make a newspaper parasol and it's a neat prop, except I can't close it, because it's paper mâché.
Sometimes, because of the way I have to store it, the parasol pokes me in the eye. I think the eye poking, and the potential for water flying everywhere, are the reasons people say that opening an umbrella indoors is bad luck.
This isn't bad luck though, because it's a parasol and it was never closed in the first place. See, the superstition says "opening" an umbrella is bad luck. But if it's already open when you come into the house, then it's okay. Also lucky for the homeowner because they have a big front door that an umbrella baring person can fit through easily.
Opening candy canes is difficult. When I get it right, I feel like the master of candy cane opening. But get it wrong, and the candy cane becomes a crumbly mess all over the floor and I have to kick the crumbs under things so no one can see that I am not the master of candy cane opening.
The newspaper parasol is about to become a crumbly mess if it keeps poking me in the eye.
Peppermint is also a soothing flavor. Which is useful when you're mad at a parasol.
Umbrellas are actually a very selfish thing. Which is great. They never really fit two people comfortably and they give you a lot of personal space. Not unlike the poncho. People who wear ponchos are weird, and people tend to avoid them. Which is why I have three.
One time, when I was wearing a poncho, Totalie took his poncho off and threw it behind him, and the poncho hit me in the eye, and I had to see an eye doctor which was difficult because of vision loss. I ruined that pun on purpose.
What is it with things poking me in the eye!?
So anyway the lesson of that story is, Totalie was wearing a poncho, and is a weirdo so, I should have been standing further away from him.
Um...if it isn't already clear to you, the cool person reading this, I didn't prepare for my blog post this week, and I'm just sitting here looking at my mason jar full of small candy canes and trying to come up with some story involving umbrellas.
which sometimes have candy cane shaped handles, so I suppose that's why I would like to have a candy cane right now, instead of writing about umbrellas.
Umbrellas are very useful.
Candy canes are also useful because they freshen your breath and give you a small sugar rush and can be used in self defense. They hang perfectly on the side of a mug of hot chocolate, so you can have a peppermint hot chocolate. So fancy. Also they are just pretty. The small candy canes are preferable.
Small umbrellas are more parasols than umbrellas. Both can block the sun but the umbrella is better suited to keep the rain off of you. One time I used an umbrella to make a newspaper parasol and it's a neat prop, except I can't close it, because it's paper mâché.
Sometimes, because of the way I have to store it, the parasol pokes me in the eye. I think the eye poking, and the potential for water flying everywhere, are the reasons people say that opening an umbrella indoors is bad luck.
This isn't bad luck though, because it's a parasol and it was never closed in the first place. See, the superstition says "opening" an umbrella is bad luck. But if it's already open when you come into the house, then it's okay. Also lucky for the homeowner because they have a big front door that an umbrella baring person can fit through easily.
Opening candy canes is difficult. When I get it right, I feel like the master of candy cane opening. But get it wrong, and the candy cane becomes a crumbly mess all over the floor and I have to kick the crumbs under things so no one can see that I am not the master of candy cane opening.
The newspaper parasol is about to become a crumbly mess if it keeps poking me in the eye.
Peppermint is also a soothing flavor. Which is useful when you're mad at a parasol.
Umbrellas are actually a very selfish thing. Which is great. They never really fit two people comfortably and they give you a lot of personal space. Not unlike the poncho. People who wear ponchos are weird, and people tend to avoid them. Which is why I have three.
One time, when I was wearing a poncho, Totalie took his poncho off and threw it behind him, and the poncho hit me in the eye, and I had to see an eye doctor which was difficult because of vision loss. I ruined that pun on purpose.
What is it with things poking me in the eye!?
So anyway the lesson of that story is, Totalie was wearing a poncho, and is a weirdo so, I should have been standing further away from him.
Um...if it isn't already clear to you, the cool person reading this, I didn't prepare for my blog post this week, and I'm just sitting here looking at my mason jar full of small candy canes and trying to come up with some story involving umbrellas.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Kite Flying
/\
/ \
| Kite |
\ /
\/
/
flying
is
best
when
winds
support
them
much
like
our
dreams,
friendships,
and
family.
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