July 22, East Concord, New York (43 miles, Fire Department grounds.)
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
On chairs and such.
July 21, Warsaw.
As Jim Royal told me in an email earlier this month, it is hotter than the fringes of hell today. The Midwest has been suffering under a heat wave for longer than anyone cares to remember, but we had been relatively sheltered here in the East, until now.
Tavana's quote on the route slip said "It's a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do," (Walter Winchell) to which one can only add, if the pavement goes with the chair, you're in for trouble.
As Jim Royal told me in an email earlier this month, it is hotter than the fringes of hell today. The Midwest has been suffering under a heat wave for longer than anyone cares to remember, but we had been relatively sheltered here in the East, until now.
Tavana's quote on the route slip said "It's a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do," (Walter Winchell) to which one can only add, if the pavement goes with the chair, you're in for trouble.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Geneva.
July 19, Geneva.
Great location to advertise the circus, downtown and on the lake, within walking distance of everything; we went for breakfast just crossing the street.
Monday, July 18, 2011
After the storm.
July 18, Tully.
Storm this morning, storm tonight.
Lucky it was clear last night for the big BBQ at the Poemas, who had family visiting, and for the guys at the pie car, next door at John and Reyna's, who were having a party.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Split.
July 16, Mayfield.
Split lot, the big top is crammed next to a gas station with a few performers' houses and the rest of us are down the street, on a school parking lot. No light, but water.
Ryan when we asked him about the situation as we saw some people drive away from the school late in the morning: "Only performers can go back and park near the tent. My sister-in-law (Delena) does not qualify. Oscar does."
The Poemas set up their pool so I added ours and we beat the heat.
Split lot, the big top is crammed next to a gas station with a few performers' houses and the rest of us are down the street, on a school parking lot. No light, but water.
Ryan when we asked him about the situation as we saw some people drive away from the school late in the morning: "Only performers can go back and park near the tent. My sister-in-law (Delena) does not qualify. Oscar does."
The Poemas set up their pool so I added ours and we beat the heat.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Circus Smirkus.
July 14, Malta.
I did laundry with the kids while Fridman worked on the school house and then we rushed to see Circus Smirkus this afternoon at the Saratoga Springs raceway, a student circus performing during the summer, and were delighted by the show, as well as the equipment (a Canobio tent, state-of-the-art light and sound system) and overall professionalism of the whole production.
I did laundry with the kids while Fridman worked on the school house and then we rushed to see Circus Smirkus this afternoon at the Saratoga Springs raceway, a student circus performing during the summer, and were delighted by the show, as well as the equipment (a Canobio tent, state-of-the-art light and sound system) and overall professionalism of the whole production.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Travel day.
July 12, Cairo.
Today was another travel day and we didn't make it to this lot until four o'clock, this being an unusually long jump, and as always some problems arising on the road, first Casey's truck again, transmission went out, then Carolyn's truck, which overheated.
It was a wonderful treat, those five days in Rhode Island, the ocean, the little park beach, the endless parking lot perfect for kids riding their bikes, five days of not waking up early, we could get used to this, but it's over.
Today was another travel day and we didn't make it to this lot until four o'clock, this being an unusually long jump, and as always some problems arising on the road, first Casey's truck again, transmission went out, then Carolyn's truck, which overheated.
It was a wonderful treat, those five days in Rhode Island, the ocean, the little park beach, the endless parking lot perfect for kids riding their bikes, five days of not waking up early, we could get used to this, but it's over.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Friday, July 08, 2011
The pond.
July 8, Charlestown.
Yesterday was a travel day and we arrived just in time for cook house after having stopped for Casey and endured drivers going from bad to worse. I missed a left exit on I-95, driving almost two miles with my signal on trying to move lanes and nobody letting me.
The day turned hot and in the afternoon we went to the beach at the little pond by the playground, as we did last year. The circus is parked right next to them this year.
Fond memories of catching fish and teaching Dylan how to swim. This time around Nicolas was the one stealing the show with his antics. He started being a bit of a clown about a month ago, changing overnight from a shy little man into a relentless trickster and performer.
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Double baptism.
July 6, North Andover.
Two-year-old Argio and six-month-old Nicolas were baptized today at Saint Michale's Catholic Church in North Andover by Father Jerry Logan, the national circus chaplain.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
A trailer with a view.
July 5, North Andover, Massachusetts (58 miles, North Andover middle school.)
The Fourth.
July 4, Penacook.
Great Fourth of July party and bike parade contest, where judges Brian and LeBron awarded a prize for as many categories as there were contestants ("Best man in a Cage" went to Casey; even Nathan won as "Best Non-decorated Non-Participant.") We were all laughing our head off.
Fridman had decorated Nicolas' tricycle with recycled Coke and Pepsi bottles trailing in the back, and Carolyn put all sorts of red-white-and-blue ribbons on Dylan's bike.
Monday, July 04, 2011
Doubles.
July 4, Penacook.
There is a bike decoration parade after the last show to celebrate the Fourth. Carolyn helped the kids set up their bikes this morning.
Laconia.
July 4, Penacook.
We moved last night after the shows because of the rain.
It was three very good days in Laconia, jam-packed full houses every show but one, great lot and location. The happy days were marred by a little circus fracas, and very sad news for a dear circus friend.
We moved last night after the shows because of the rain.
It was three very good days in Laconia, jam-packed full houses every show but one, great lot and location. The happy days were marred by a little circus fracas, and very sad news for a dear circus friend.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Yard sales.
July 2, Laconia.
I am your economy's worst nightmare.
It has been years since I bought anything new: other than food, shoes and underwear, next to nothing I buy comes from a store. Used is the word, out of principle (it's already out there so why not reuse and save a little precious energy and resources?) but really, let's be honest, because both Fridman and I enjoy the treasure chase so much.
The one store we patronize religiously is called Goodwill.
Yard sales, moving sales, porch sales, barn sales, tag sales, basement sales, church sales, garage sales, we've been to all and we love them all. Each one is like a little Christmas in a ride, you open your presents in the morning and you don't know what you'll find. Looking through people's stuff, the proverbial window into their lives, the books they read, or won't, the linen nobody uses anymore, the must-have clothes the teenager won't be caught dead wearing now, and walking away with that scooter we've been coveting since Dylan had his stolen last year (another garage-sale buy, of course,) a hundred-year-old trunk covered in dust and drowned memories, Christmas ornaments, a world history book's edition from 1880, the leather soft like paper, made-in-England, Stratford's "Scenes from the Shakespeare Country" plates, pale rose, like so much family history ("these were my mother's, they're old.")
No finding these in a store.
We are your economy's worst nightmare.
I am your economy's worst nightmare.
It has been years since I bought anything new: other than food, shoes and underwear, next to nothing I buy comes from a store. Used is the word, out of principle (it's already out there so why not reuse and save a little precious energy and resources?) but really, let's be honest, because both Fridman and I enjoy the treasure chase so much.
The one store we patronize religiously is called Goodwill.
Yard sales, moving sales, porch sales, barn sales, tag sales, basement sales, church sales, garage sales, we've been to all and we love them all. Each one is like a little Christmas in a ride, you open your presents in the morning and you don't know what you'll find. Looking through people's stuff, the proverbial window into their lives, the books they read, or won't, the linen nobody uses anymore, the must-have clothes the teenager won't be caught dead wearing now, and walking away with that scooter we've been coveting since Dylan had his stolen last year (another garage-sale buy, of course,) a hundred-year-old trunk covered in dust and drowned memories, Christmas ornaments, a world history book's edition from 1880, the leather soft like paper, made-in-England, Stratford's "Scenes from the Shakespeare Country" plates, pale rose, like so much family history ("these were my mother's, they're old.")
No finding these in a store.
We are your economy's worst nightmare.
Marketing strategies for all occasions.
July 2, Laconia.
The sign at Laconia Monument, next to Union Cemetery: "Drive safely. We can wait."
The sign at Laconia Monument, next to Union Cemetery: "Drive safely. We can wait."
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Friday, July 01, 2011
New Hampshire.
July 1, Laconia.
This the Kelly Miller Circus' first time in New Hampshire, and our first time too.
At the first rest area on the highway up here there was a giant liquor store, closed at that time of the morning, and beer bottles on the empty parking lot. Seat belts are not mandatory here, and that reminds me of my friend Florence's work as an emergency room nurse in Paris when she was in medical school, the endless combination of injuries she witnessed due to people not wearing their seat belts, even when they were just going around the block.
There was only one show today, at seven-thirty, and while Fridman and the kids followed the Poemas to a park up in the mountains, where the Hanneford Circus is also playing, I savored a few hours kids-free.
There are beautiful, impressive old houses in this town, and I walked downtown and marveled. There is also an impressive list of yard sales, can't wait till tomorrow.
This the Kelly Miller Circus' first time in New Hampshire, and our first time too.
At the first rest area on the highway up here there was a giant liquor store, closed at that time of the morning, and beer bottles on the empty parking lot. Seat belts are not mandatory here, and that reminds me of my friend Florence's work as an emergency room nurse in Paris when she was in medical school, the endless combination of injuries she witnessed due to people not wearing their seat belts, even when they were just going around the block.
There was only one show today, at seven-thirty, and while Fridman and the kids followed the Poemas to a park up in the mountains, where the Hanneford Circus is also playing, I savored a few hours kids-free.
There are beautiful, impressive old houses in this town, and I walked downtown and marveled. There is also an impressive list of yard sales, can't wait till tomorrow.
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