a little island of beauty

LadyB is visiting home for the holidays, her travel originating in her current home in eastern africa. she's a good sort to have in my life. full of sass, seeking out new experiences, and always wanting to dissect them. the gurl is good company. she's been living there for a year and some change now and this is the second time she's been home. this visit seems to be moving much smoother for her, as she's gotten past some of the adjustment to the two parallel lives she's currently living. adding to her normal entertainment value is her charming boyfriend, an italian raised in africa most of his life. he's quite cosmopolitan, but has never visited the states before. i'm amused that's he's trying out chicago during the drudgery of winter. they took charge of our kitchen last night and whipped up some delightful hommus pitas for us. couldn't help but laugh as he tried in vein to find any kind of reasonable ingredients in our sparse pantry. lots of wine and smoke before we headed out to a triptastic play, the annual winter pageant presented by red moon theatre. the sold out audience was apparantly oversold, as the volunteer senior lady on usher detail chirped, "hope you find a seat!" at us as we shuffled in right before curtain. the place was totally packed with kids and adults on every inch of floor and riser and i'm pleased to say that we seemed to create a bit of scenic commotion as we stuffed ourselves first onto the aisle of steps, then into the overextended bench seating. surprising to see a SteakhouseManifest comrade in a prominent role and she was great. this show was really out there, a psychedelic, scarcely verbalized production of colorful, physical acting, and i didn't take my eyes away from the stage for a minute. it trod the fine line of being suitable for kids while bringing to life the sheer production value of so many intricate details that kept older eyes entertained. the story was loosely spun around a giant who raised the sun for a village each day, but went on strike as winter descended on the land. there were dancing cooks with weber grills; sleazy, pimpy advertising folks hawking the sunraser 2000 and a load of kids racing around a blind old hippie, little pied pipers with their birdhouse banjos. methinks this will be one winter event i'll look forward to before our exodus next year.

LadyB's man drawled out that i should create a little island of beauty around myself when i'm not feeling society. need to plan a nice island experience for myself tomorrow. Mole will be working til 2, but i have the day off. think i'll give WeeBeastie a nice extra long shank run, then pick up a yoga class and spend a few hours lounging with a book at filter. get my hot tea on, maybe take the north avenue bus to the american eagle in angrytown to hunt for discounted corduroys, then run by the log yard for some fireplace fodder. want to be ready with stash onhand when the air gets crisp again later next week.

my alteration mission must be put on hold. i stopped the malibu outside the new neighborhood dry cleaner, malec's, on noble at erie to read their holiday hours. i see a scuttling figure in the window and here comes the stocky owner out to greet me. i roll down my window and ask about him about being open tomorrow and he tells me only til 4, "on accounta it being da new yearsss eve and all." i ask about altering services and he says they'll accept new orders after january 8. see you in a few weeks, my new tailor.