Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Walk in a new town.
September 19, Lyons.
Night jump again last night, Chicago traffic oblige, and the kids are all over the place until the second they fall asleep, the second I hit the road.
New town, right next to Berwyn, where we were a week ago, and it seems an eternity, the way time flies when you are in the circus and moving all the time, or maybe just the way time flies.
A good day in a new town, right next to Chicago and you can see the skyline in the distance, tantalizingly close, a heavy Latino presence, working class neighborhood or is it middle class but isn't the same? of small, neatly kept brick homes, we walked through the neighborhood to go to the library nearby, and Dylan stopped us to watch a large black beetle escaping into the sidewalk grass to safety, and I almost stepped on it, Mom!, it was a good day, even if practice was a little tense with Dylan easily distracted and Fridman easily frustrated.
Night jump again last night, Chicago traffic oblige, and the kids are all over the place until the second they fall asleep, the second I hit the road.
New town, right next to Berwyn, where we were a week ago, and it seems an eternity, the way time flies when you are in the circus and moving all the time, or maybe just the way time flies.
A good day in a new town, right next to Chicago and you can see the skyline in the distance, tantalizingly close, a heavy Latino presence, working class neighborhood or is it middle class but isn't the same? of small, neatly kept brick homes, we walked through the neighborhood to go to the library nearby, and Dylan stopped us to watch a large black beetle escaping into the sidewalk grass to safety, and I almost stepped on it, Mom!, it was a good day, even if practice was a little tense with Dylan easily distracted and Fridman easily frustrated.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Bed and beyond.
September 19, Elburn.
These days we have gone about home improvement, trailer style, or how to make lemonade out of water leaks, and better late than never with a month left in the season.
Following the Mister Fix-It quick fix episode of water management system of late, we donated the old mattress to Wonder Ryan, who can summon a world of fantastic creatures out of humble foam (and it tickles me to imagine my bed turned into next year's laughs,) bought an Ikea mattress, the only one that would fit in the narrow alcove space, and one of the four-day-stand nights Fridman created a brand new bedding area, complete with built-in night stands and as book shelves. All the while the kids were watching El Chavo, the old favorite Mexican children's program they have taken to recently.
Then we walked out to Denny's for dinner.
These days we have gone about home improvement, trailer style, or how to make lemonade out of water leaks, and better late than never with a month left in the season.
Following the Mister Fix-It quick fix episode of water management system of late, we donated the old mattress to Wonder Ryan, who can summon a world of fantastic creatures out of humble foam (and it tickles me to imagine my bed turned into next year's laughs,) bought an Ikea mattress, the only one that would fit in the narrow alcove space, and one of the four-day-stand nights Fridman created a brand new bedding area, complete with built-in night stands and as book shelves. All the while the kids were watching El Chavo, the old favorite Mexican children's program they have taken to recently.
Then we walked out to Denny's for dinner.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Dump and dance.
September 15, Vernon Hills.
We spent last night, the first of a four-day stand, driving half an hour each way to a travel center off I-94 to dump, as Fridman found out today that our black water tank was broken and leaking and we needed to have it empty and dry for him to repair it today.
Much different program tonight: Sara rented a DJ and organized a dance party in the big top.
We spent last night, the first of a four-day stand, driving half an hour each way to a travel center off I-94 to dump, as Fridman found out today that our black water tank was broken and leaking and we needed to have it empty and dry for him to repair it today.
Much different program tonight: Sara rented a DJ and organized a dance party in the big top.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
A few days here.
September 12, McHenry.
Three whole days in McHenry, parked in a beautiful park, within walking distance of my favorite grocery store (not a bad thing when you live in a traveling circus, walking distance,) and the kids and I discover backyard goats in the park near the playground across the street and the playground suddenly fades away and we come back to say hello to the goats, the kids love them because they have horns, there is the lake beach there too, and on Tuesday we build sand castles and walk in the water to cool off, it's been unusually warm the past two days.
It's nice to stop and enjoy a few days without the daily drive.
Three whole days in McHenry, parked in a beautiful park, within walking distance of my favorite grocery store (not a bad thing when you live in a traveling circus, walking distance,) and the kids and I discover backyard goats in the park near the playground across the street and the playground suddenly fades away and we come back to say hello to the goats, the kids love them because they have horns, there is the lake beach there too, and on Tuesday we build sand castles and walk in the water to cool off, it's been unusually warm the past two days.
It's nice to stop and enjoy a few days without the daily drive.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
The Rescue Rangers.
September 10, Round Lake Beach.
How could I forget the best part?
The ritual, yes, the convoy speech in the morning, Jeremiah our daily announcer, but the best part about the ritual is the name, for we are the Rescue Rangers, and there can be no speech without mentioning the Rescue Rangers.
We are the Kelly Miller Circus Rescue Rangers, what more can you ask for?
How could I forget the best part?
The ritual, yes, the convoy speech in the morning, Jeremiah our daily announcer, but the best part about the ritual is the name, for we are the Rescue Rangers, and there can be no speech without mentioning the Rescue Rangers.
We are the Kelly Miller Circus Rescue Rangers, what more can you ask for?
Night Jump again.
September 10, Round Lake Beach.
Another night jump, but no rain, and an early arrival.
Another night jump, but no rain, and an early arrival.
Sunday, September 09, 2012
A mellow morning.
September 9, Harvard.
Hard day yesterday for everyone but especially show workers who double up as drivers, as we were up at five in the morning to drive the fifty miles to Lake in the Hills in time for early shows then up until late at night to drive to today's town, under pouring rain and high winds.
But this morning, the mundane joy of waking up slowly and having breakfast together lazily, Dylan snuggling up in the dinette bed with us early on, the both of them bouncing up and down the moment they were up together, "Go get dressed!" repeated many times over and then yelled to more bouncing around, no need to get impatient for nothing could spoil the lovely morning, the crisp air outside, windy and cool and already autumn, Dylan and I have a cold but there is the freshly ground coffee, and Italian cookies from the international store yesterday, and I feel like music so we put Bob Marley on and then there come the memories, my first real party at twelve, dancing to Jamming and flirting with Thierry Oustalet, my first crush and I can only remember his name now, all of us children still, all in that song and in the mellow morning.
Hard day yesterday for everyone but especially show workers who double up as drivers, as we were up at five in the morning to drive the fifty miles to Lake in the Hills in time for early shows then up until late at night to drive to today's town, under pouring rain and high winds.
But this morning, the mundane joy of waking up slowly and having breakfast together lazily, Dylan snuggling up in the dinette bed with us early on, the both of them bouncing up and down the moment they were up together, "Go get dressed!" repeated many times over and then yelled to more bouncing around, no need to get impatient for nothing could spoil the lovely morning, the crisp air outside, windy and cool and already autumn, Dylan and I have a cold but there is the freshly ground coffee, and Italian cookies from the international store yesterday, and I feel like music so we put Bob Marley on and then there come the memories, my first real party at twelve, dancing to Jamming and flirting with Thierry Oustalet, my first crush and I can only remember his name now, all of us children still, all in that song and in the mellow morning.
Friday, September 07, 2012
Night sky over Berwyn.
It seems like every year when we come to Berwyn it either rains or storms and this year is no exception.
And each year I can't help but take a picture of the stormy night sky.
It has turned cold unexpectedly, and I love it.
Rituals.
September 7, Berwyn.
We moved at night to avoid Chicago traffic, and Jeremiah drove with his brother, Christian, and Jacob, three young guys working in the circus, the three Cook bothers here now, Jeremiah, Christian and Daniel reunited.
To Jeremiah I owe one of my favorite circus rituals. Every morning as we set out, last of the lasts off the lot, Fridman and Castro first with I following them and Jeremiah closing behind us, Jeremiah makes a little speech on the CB radio, and it inevitably ends with "the perfect combination for a convoy," with the two syllables of convoy drawn out in a falling guttural cry. The speech can include everything from comments on the weather for the day to the reason why we had to wait half an hour on the lot, but the end never changes.
Another ritual, Jeremiah asking Fridman if he can stop at a gas station for a cup of coffee, and as we stopped last night there was Christian talking out his skateboard for a few quick figures on the station's parking lot, like a kid who can't stop himself, and that's what they are, really, the whole gang of them, kids having fun, working hard at the circus.
But for me, being grateful for more rituals to remember fondly, and miss.
We moved at night to avoid Chicago traffic, and Jeremiah drove with his brother, Christian, and Jacob, three young guys working in the circus, the three Cook bothers here now, Jeremiah, Christian and Daniel reunited.
To Jeremiah I owe one of my favorite circus rituals. Every morning as we set out, last of the lasts off the lot, Fridman and Castro first with I following them and Jeremiah closing behind us, Jeremiah makes a little speech on the CB radio, and it inevitably ends with "the perfect combination for a convoy," with the two syllables of convoy drawn out in a falling guttural cry. The speech can include everything from comments on the weather for the day to the reason why we had to wait half an hour on the lot, but the end never changes.
Another ritual, Jeremiah asking Fridman if he can stop at a gas station for a cup of coffee, and as we stopped last night there was Christian talking out his skateboard for a few quick figures on the station's parking lot, like a kid who can't stop himself, and that's what they are, really, the whole gang of them, kids having fun, working hard at the circus.
But for me, being grateful for more rituals to remember fondly, and miss.
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Monday, September 03, 2012
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Deja vu.
September 1, Schererville.
He did it again.
The now classic Mister Fix-it quick trick: water leaks in from above (the exact point of origin still a mystery) then is allowed to go out gently below, through a hole drilled for that purpose by Mister Fix-it, aka Fridman Torales, circus acrobat by day (mostly.)
My old quinta boasts a similar and quite unique RV feature, under the dinette, where water was accumulating into pools and mushrooms were growing into bouquets, deja vu all over again.
He did it again.
The now classic Mister Fix-it quick trick: water leaks in from above (the exact point of origin still a mystery) then is allowed to go out gently below, through a hole drilled for that purpose by Mister Fix-it, aka Fridman Torales, circus acrobat by day (mostly.)
My old quinta boasts a similar and quite unique RV feature, under the dinette, where water was accumulating into pools and mushrooms were growing into bouquets, deja vu all over again.
A trailer with a view.
Friday, August 31, 2012
A party for Luciano.
Luciano is leaving tomorrow for Florida and school and the kids threw a party for him, with a play by the little ones.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
All rained in.
August 28, Hebron.
We discovered a major leak this morning, right along our bed, in the alcove above the driving area.
The water has literally accumulated, for who knows how long, Fridman thought he had stopped the leak last year after we bought the motor home, it has piled in there, under the mattress and along the alcove's front window, slowly rotting all the supporting wood frames, permeating the entire board frame under the bed, seeping from it, and from the mattress, and finally this morning, after the rains of the last couple of days, staining the sheets, giving itself away.
There is a gaping hole in our house today, and flies are having a field day, as Fridman took the window off to let the whole thing dry as much as possible.
We just checked if it had by pressing on the frame, and water keeps on seeping out.
We discovered a major leak this morning, right along our bed, in the alcove above the driving area.
The water has literally accumulated, for who knows how long, Fridman thought he had stopped the leak last year after we bought the motor home, it has piled in there, under the mattress and along the alcove's front window, slowly rotting all the supporting wood frames, permeating the entire board frame under the bed, seeping from it, and from the mattress, and finally this morning, after the rains of the last couple of days, staining the sheets, giving itself away.
There is a gaping hole in our house today, and flies are having a field day, as Fridman took the window off to let the whole thing dry as much as possible.
We just checked if it had by pressing on the frame, and water keeps on seeping out.
A trailer with a view.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Vintage dream.
August 25, Middlebury.
Yesterday I passed the opportunity to buy a vintage Schwinn bike, cerca 1960, for next to nothing, because I thought Fridman would be mad, seeing that we've become the traveling circus hoarders with our weekly garage sale pilgrimages, and that there is reasonably no more space in the trailer to put anything, much less a bike.
I have now become obsessed with that bike, beautiful that it was, complete with a front light and a wide, cushy seat, and it is this guaranteed that, no matter how many yard sales we visit now, no matter how much I search, I'll never find another one like this.
Yesterday I passed the opportunity to buy a vintage Schwinn bike, cerca 1960, for next to nothing, because I thought Fridman would be mad, seeing that we've become the traveling circus hoarders with our weekly garage sale pilgrimages, and that there is reasonably no more space in the trailer to put anything, much less a bike.
I have now become obsessed with that bike, beautiful that it was, complete with a front light and a wide, cushy seat, and it is this guaranteed that, no matter how many yard sales we visit now, no matter how much I search, I'll never find another one like this.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Candy store.
August 24, Edwardsburg.
Fridman like a kid in a candy store at the RV supplies place with Danny.
Fridman like a kid in a candy store at the RV supplies place with Danny.
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