Looking for Birds at Carvins Cove (and Finding Them)

Eileen and her binoculars are searching for birds at the dock. 

My pal Eileen Rowan and I took the kayaks out to Carvins Cove this morning and she spent two hours identifying birds for me. I saw few, but heard scores and, because she was telling me their particulars, began to feel like I knew them. Birding with a birder is a pleasing experience.

Eileen at parade rest in her kayak.

This group of kayakers was learning the basics of whitewater kayaking (on really calm water).

Eileen is cruising in the background. (My shirt says, 'Keep laughing. This is your girlfriend's T-shirt.'

Eileen and her kayak in black and white.

Nope. Not a snake. A branch impersonating a snake.

Paddle girl zooming along. 

Waterlines on the trees.

A picturesque stump.

 A Special Birthday; A Special Celebration

LindaK's daughter, Noelle (a grammar school teacher) made the backdrop here, one that Bella admired.

LindaK was 67 yesterday and I thought a full celebration would be appropriate. She is 2/3 of the way to 100 and in a couple of months, I'll be 3/4 of the way there. Big deal for both of us.

So, we did it up. I put together two photo books for LindaK and got her some other things to put under her birthday tree. Her family (Noelle, Marcos and Bella) joined us for the festivities, bringing some outstanding strawberry cupcakes.

It was a delightful time for us all and even Bella, who's 2, had a great time with a bunch of kids' books, markers, and a drawing pad. 

Here's what it looked like. 

The ladies of the family.

Bella is the princess.

More of the magic trio. 

Marcos joins the girls.

Pampa, Booka and Bella.

Want a Tootsie Roll, Pampa? (Uh, yep.)

That magic smile that I adore.

Together, we are 142 years old. Oh, my, that's hard to think about.

Bella is learning to write and draw.

You're kidding! A COMPUTER! Holy do-dad!

Digging through the gift box. 

Bella shows off her art work.

Marcos signs the flower show.

Noelle takes a turn with the pen.

Bella is sneaking around behind Mom. 

Linda's birthday tree. 

A Reason To Celebrate!

Happy birthday to my gorgeous, funny, affectionate, often-outrageous, talented, creative, brilliant best girl, Linda Kay Simmons.

You are officially an old lady now, but you will be forever 25 to me and I love you for all that you are and all you are not. 

 Showtimers Get Us Back Outside for a Show 

The crowd viewed from the actors' perspective on the porch. 

You gotta give the Showtimers credit. There was a certain level of bravery involved in their impromptu production of Dwayne Yancey's play, "In the Moment," last night at the community theatre's McVitty Road front porch.

Dwayne was given the task of writing a play of about an hour's length that actors would view for the first time as they took the stage. The play had been seen only by Yancey and the stage managers beforehand. His instructions were to "write something silly," and he complied.

It was obvious from the beginning that the actors weren't familiar with the comedy, but as the show went on, they got into character and adjusted.

Viewing exemplary theater was not the motivation for LindaK and me showing up. We went because of the adventure and because Dwayne's work is always worth a look. It was nice to get outside, to get hugs from some friends I haven't seen in a while, and to be in a crowd without a mask.

It is all coming back to us. Soon the experiments in group gathering will be over and we can return to the kinds of entertainment we have loved for so long.

Meanwhile, thank you Showtimers and thank you Dwayne Yancey.

Dwayne Yancey and his wife Katrina watch the proceedings. 

The show is underway. 

Linda got cold, but found her own entertainment. 

I enjoyed everything, even the acting.

 Local Colors Is Diminished, 

but It's Back; Let's Celebrate!

This is more typical of Local Colors than most of what went on today. She is representing Scotland.

The best you can say about today's annual Local Colors festival is that it happened. It didn't completely happen, but there were some cultures represented and a nice crowd gathered to eat ethnic food.

What didn't happen is what makes this festival special: the parade of nations and the native entertainment from as many as 126 nations at one point. This festival is more than a quarter of a century old and little has even slowed it down until Covid-19.

But we are coming out of that and hints of our own American culture are showing through. Local Colors was not what it has been, nor what it will be again, but I certainly welcome it. Pearl Fu, who led it for 25 years, would be proud.

My friend Susan (left) and her friend, Michelle, found Mediterranean and Thai food to love.

These young lovers weren't holding
 hands because their hands held cell phones.

This dude found the solitude he wanted under a bridge in the park, fishing for trout.

These young teens carried their gear
to a softball tournament in the park.

Carilion's Lifeguard helicopter made an unscheduled stop.

My Viking friend Jeff Rigdon has
been part of most Local Colors festivals.

That's old buds Jeff and me.

I had difficulty believing this lovely bagpipe
player is older than 50. But she said she is.

I am Scottish, but the bagpipe doesn't do much for me.

She put her all into playing.

The crowd was spread out at Local Colors, most people eating or wanting to eat.

I found one redhead. Just one. Dang.

These are only some of the local colors.

It's Showtime for the Play! Where Is It?

Dwayne Yancey: A confused writer.

It's looking an awful lot like Showtimers' impromptu production of Dwayne Yancey's new play, which has a couple of titles, will be, in Dwayne's words, "a train wreck" Saturday night. That may be a good thing.

This started with me asking Dwayne a simple question to which I have been unable to get a response from Showtimers (until now): Where will the damn thing be staged? 

I thought it was at Wasena Park. Dwayne says it'll be at the Showtimers' studio on McVitty Road. But where? Maybe outside, maybe the porch, maybe the audience sitting in the parking lot (on its own brought-along chairs). Showtimers' response is outside, porch, parking lot.

Dwayne writes this response to me:

"They want a train wreck of a show and I suspect that's what they'll get. I was given some instructions--basically a silly script for a cast of six--so that's what I gave them. "

The only person who has seen the script is the stage manager, who I gather is in charge of costumes, etc. The actors won't see the script until it is handed to them before they go on 'stage'--whatever/wherever the stage is. The casting was done randomly. They had people volunteer, then they drew the names randomly without regard for age, gender, anything."

Even the name of the play is confusing to its author (and to me): "The Show Must Go On (With Some Exceptions)" vs. Showtimers' preference, "In the Moment."

LindaK and I are going and we're going to have a good time. The confusion may amplify that. But I'm glad I asked the key question.

 The Old Man and the Fashion Show

LindaK takes a turn in a lovely outfit.

Yesterday LindaK took part in a fashion show for women of a certain age at the Westlake Country Club in Moneta and I got to photograph the proceedings.

It was an instructive time, showing just how pretty older women can be when they dress well and know how to take care of themselves.

I know. I know. It takes money to do some of this stuff, but some of the basics don't cost much of anything. Viewing women between 60 and 75 doing a fashion show and looking grand was truly enlightening and gratifying.

It is a matter of putting emphasis on where it should be and de-emphasizing that which is unflattering. Simple physics, I'd say.

Linda, rose in hand, works the room. 

Proud old man and his best girl.