I love Lucy

Okay, Not really. So you can see why I was a little disappionted when i drew her name for the murder mystery night our borther's keeper's group was doing. I hate stupid comedy and she had the art perfected.
But I'm not a party pooper so I played along. I bought a red wig (okay two, since the first one turned out to be a waste of money) and put on some really red lipstick and a nice fifties-esque outfit. Overall it worked.
I'll have to post a picture later- when my husband can get it off our digital camera for me.
Oh, what was Josh? Well we all know that Josh is a dapper, charming man.... so they gave him Fred Astaire. Really the tied bandana and the comb-over were quiet charming!

Chara

Mary Baker, a friend from the Storytelling program, sent me this picture of myself telling at the National storytelling Festival for the first time. I was in the Swapping Grounds tent and I told the story of how I got my bed. One day I will be in a bigger tent with actual chairs.

home at last

I have been away for the past nine days taking an unexpected trip to Oklahoma. I love going home but not for the reason I have had to go this week. I lost my Aunt Terre last sunday and her funeral was Thursday. All the days have run together and mostly I feel like I stepped into an alternate dimension for a week. There is so much to catch up on here.
I hope no one is diappointed but this will be a very short post. My life has become a tad veclempt (am I spelling that right?).
Perhaps you should talk among yourselves... let me give you a topic: Ten things I really want to accomplish in my life that aren't career goals are...
Well?

Charlie

The Junk Man

THE JUNK MAN

I AM glad God saw Death
And gave Death a job taking care of all who are tired of living:

When all the wheels in a clock are worn and slow and the connections loose
And the clock goes on ticking and telling the wrong time from hour to hour
And people around the house joke about what a bum clock it is,
How glad the clock is when the big Junk Man drives his wagon
Up to the house and puts his arms around the clock and says:
"You don't belong here, You gotta come Along with me,"
How glad the clock is then, when it feels the arms of the
Junk Man close around it and carry it away.

I was looking for pictures of death on the internet and they are all ugly. The grim reaper, gothic chicks with stringy hair, skeletons in long robes...
Is death ugly or have we simply become too frightened of the unknown to even allow ourselves to think about it?

When my grandfather died I went to the funeral home with my mother, aunt, sister and cousin and I looked at my grandfather's face. he looked like he was sleeping, except he wasn't snoring- my grandfather snored like a fog horn- that's how I knew it was something more permanent. Papa moved to another home where he is able to do all the things that he wants to do- where age isn't an issue. I know these things- my mind sings them to me like lullabye, luring me to a calm peaceful numbness- but my heart still wished I could put my arms around him and feel his body, like a great strong tree trunk, and his branches reaching up to heaven.

Charlie

Okay- I think this picture is hysterical. I found it while looking in images for landscapes- I wish I knew who did it because this is really a hoot! 

Story hangover

This weekend was quite a good time- but I'm glad it's over. There were so many good tellers and I had a good time, but it has taken me until wednesday to get over all the excitement.
In fact my parents came to visit me yesterday- juggling school and work and parents has been interesting, but I am looking forward to having some quiet time tomorrow after work.

I am hoping that I can get some ideas up here about another story I am working on- I have some ideas, but I am not sure how to string them together without ruining the natural order of the story- it is a little harder than I thought to adapt folktales.
I am looking to adapt "Godfather Death" a german foltale. If you are interested in reading it here's the link to a good version.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm044.html

The character of Death has been portrayed in many many ways, but I was hoping to attach the face of someone that I already know- Namely Mr. Bill.
If you never met Mr. Bill and you have never heard about him from Laura or Josh or me, let me give you a little overview:
Mr. Bill was the handyman for our landlord in Henderson several years ago. He spent a large amount of time around our place replacing floors and carpet and ceilings (the place was a dump) and he was always a little drunk. Also he only had one eye and he was driven around in a hearse that he got free from a "business acquaintance." He was driven- instead of he drove- in a hearse because he had his lisence taken away for repeated drunk driving offenses.

The way I figure it, Mr. Bill makes the perfect character for Death. The one eye is symbolic of his singular way of seeing things- objective and fair. And if your job were to kill people all day, wouldn't you drink? Plus he drives a hearse- it sounds unbelieveable, but true.
Also I have a little idea that he chose to use his spare time as a semi-carpenter because he fancies himself a little like Jesus- God-like in a lesser way.
I would really appreciate any observations on this- particularly if you have met the infamous Mr. Bill. (I am thinking there might be a "death and taxes" joke in is name)

Charlie

Day One Down

There is something about being at the storytelling festival that makes me feel like I have come home. All of the summer students from the Storytelling program are here and I spent quite a while with them. Also I heard some REALLY great storytellers- like Nancy Donoval and Susan O'Halloran-fabulous women who have a strong hold on the art form.
Also there will be a spot on tonight's evening news about the storytelling program- WCYB in Johnson City- I think. They sat in on one of our classes and then interviewed my research partner- a boy who is like a giant, lovable, demented Huckleberry Finn type person.
The downside was that it was hot and overcrowded and that doesn't make for a really good storytelling situation.
I will take it however I can get it, though.
I must go rest now- I am scheduled to tell at the swapping grounds tomorrow and I haven't decided what to tell.

Charlie