knew it was a chance i had to take

Saturday then. i believe that Saturday day i did what is traditionally known as fuck-all. Friday having been quite the night and all that. i, um, i - oh, i made Mock Chicken Noodle Soup! Can't think now what inspired me but i realized i had everything i needed. This is a vegan variation on chicken noodle that i made up years ago to substitute for the poultry-based while still giving you the basic warm soothing broth when you're sick effect. Its since become one of my favorites.. much like real chicken noodle there's something nicely grounding and homey about it.

Saturday Morticia's Chair was playing at the Beachland Ballroom, for the first time in so long (and ever with this line-up) we were calling it a debut. i often wear my 'pirate'-y vest&blouse-in-one for their shows, but it really doesn't fit properly anymore, not to mention the sleeve parts are a bit worse for wear. Opted instead for an old white poufy-sleeve blouse that ties at the midriff, my black pleather 'biker' vest w/crow bling on the shoulder, striped denim-blue leggings w/an overskirt of black velour yoke and sheer/sparkly black flounce. And the top hat i've been rocking lately, of course. [Belated Warning: i like clothes. i like to play dress-up. i write about playing dress-up. Sometimes i even get off my duff and make clothes. Expect regular reports on my ridiculous streetwear. That is all].

Managed to get myself fed, showered, dressed, primped, and to the practice space by about six. Decided we only needed two cars for four people and gear, so i stowed my craft bag and purple tablecloth in the back of Dax the truck and we were off to the Beachland. Made load-in just as the event was getting underway. This was a benefit for a musician who'd played with various Clevo luminaries like The Choir and The Raspberries, but whose longest-running band (i believe) was The Secret. In their last incarnation, The Secret had the same drummer that Morticia's Chair has now, which is how they got on the bill - most of the rest of the night was classic rock covers, with a LOT of Beatles.

We really weren't sure what to expect in terms of turn-out, but it was much better than we were afraid it would be (ticket prices seemed steep, to us). Definitely an older crowd, and i say that as a half-century dowager - tho granted i seldom get pegged as old as i am. i felt a bit shiney coming out to the merch tables in the front hall.. we've got an almost pro merch set-up now, a case that has all the CDs, promo cards, a light, stickers, etc. The one thing i DIDN'T have, and really should know better by now, is a cash box. Gotta gotta gotta remember to bring mine next time!

i spent most of the rest of the night sitting in that hallway, ho hum. Had a pal working the back bar, so i snuck off to chat with him once or twice, but mostly i sat behind the table or stood and watched the bands thru the ballroom doors. Most of the folks i knew in the building were at the show next door; got to see a few faces when i kipped out front for a smoke. i had thought i'd planned for being stuck up there all night, and brought my craft bag; alas, this is the first craft bag outing in many a moon so i didn't have quite what i needed to really make use of the time.

i'll be vending for the 9th year at Spoutwood Farm's Fairie Festival at the beginning of May, so its really time i started building up my stock again. My main item are those little floral headwreaths you see girls wearing at Renn Faires. The white 'Bride' ones i make sell like crazy, with the black 'Sorceress' coming a close second. Last year i added brown ones w/green leaves & no flowers for the boys and those did all right too. i got a lot of wreath blanks twisted up, but didn't have the right box of flowers with me to do the full wreath. Alas, as i could have made some real progress but twas not to be.

The band sounded good, though, nice and tight, and the audience seemed to like them. The MC gave them a ~really~ nice intro.. i didn't realize they'd been invited to play after she saw them at the private party out in Kirtland we did at the end of last summer (the one where i ran into my ex-s ex-, who still thinks she has to be catty to me fifteen years later - get over it chica, he dumped you, effing deal *thibbit*). We also got to talk to the booking guy there and are looking at putting a show together to tie into the player on the Positively Cleveland page - which you can check out here. Our homegrrls Hot Cha Cha are on there too!

Had another lesson on the new lighting system for the band at the end of the night. i've been a lightboard operator for the Liminis Theater for about four years now, but i've never done any lighting *design*; i just hit the cues. This is a whole order or three of complexity above what i do at the theater. i still only barely know a gobo from a par can, little say what to do with all those swirly spinny any color you like so long as its RGB things at our disposal now. And the big sooper-sekrit Center for Rock Research show coming up in June is going to require a LOT of lighting. Not to mention i intend to have a lot to do with making the event a success - it has the potential to be one of those Man, You Shoulda Been There moments - or a debacle. Aiming for the former, obviously.

Nightcap at Eds and some pleasant and productive conversation out front afterwards. i've got several band projects to follow up on between now and practice tomorrow night, not to mention, you know, *life*. So let's see if i can wrap this without requiring yet a third entry.

Tonight was the Recycled Rainbow Ladies Bellydancing Guild meetup - which actually isn't so formally named, tho perhaps it should be! RR isn't an official regional burn, but it plays one on TV - i.e., if you know what regional burns are, you'll have at least some clue what goes on there. So a handful of women associated with the fest got together at a house out in SW Bumfuck to try out a few moves. Something less than a formal class but more than a dance jam. i miss taking real classes.. i can shimmy and do some basic moves, but i've forgotten SO much. i really ought to get into a regular class again - coz, you know, i've got SO much spare time on my hands. Still, there was some agreement that a Lincoln Park drum circle would be not only desirable but potentially do-able this summer, and that's something i've been trying to get off the ground for a couple years now so its all good.

Aanndd that's the movie, folks. i'm out for now. Not sure if i've anything to report on during the week but i'll be back, you can put your pretty little head at ease on that account..