House of the Moon

Luny is actually going into the glass studio to PLAY today. No orders, no commissions, trying NEW STUFF with GLASS. It’s been months, literally, since I have time to play on the torch.

YAY for playing with ART!

My stomach hurts. I need to nap.

So this is shorter than I wanted.

I got my first set of needles today for knitting, that are my own. I am going to try to make Derek a simple scarf for my first project. But I have to remember how to cast on, I may try tonight. My friend who taught me the beginnings of knitting helped me today to pick out my yarn and my needles and is up for a refresher one evening next week.

Too short, sorry. Must rest.

On Saturday we took Derek to the Oregon Zoo to see a play called ‘Oregon! Oregon!’ and a full set by Pink Martini. The desc. of this event was:

Hold on to your myrtle wood as Pink Martini and the Oregon National Guard 234th Army Band and Oregon 150 present “Oregon! Oregon! 2009: A sesquicentennial fable in IV acts,” which will debut August 28, 2009 at the Oregon State Fair and then tour the state – the icing on the cake of the state’s 150th birthday party.

On Saturday it was pouring in the morning. We decided if it was lightly raining, we would still go. But if it was raining hard, we wouldn’t. We risked it and it was clear that Portlandia loves its native band Pink Martini. The evening sky was filled with gorgeous, gold-tinged clouds, and soon enough the stars came out.

The show was fabulous. The audience was so into it, singing along to “Que Sera Sera” and other songs, more of a unified response than I have ever seen anywhere. Folks in the back, in the front, all just singing along as Oregonians. The234th Army Band had all the branches of the military stand, those in the audience who served or were serving, which was a nice touch. And local Portland Symphony conductor Carlos Kalmar did a quick stint conducting them, which was a great treat.

Derek had a really good time, watching the play. At the end of it, there was a giant, HUGE beaver. HUGE! Not something you think you would ever see in life while not on drugs. Heh. And the Pink Martini set was really magical. Derek fell asleep during a new song that China wrote, sweet and soft. It will be on their new album, which is being released on Oct. 27th. Of course, I think releasing an album on Simon LeBon’s birthday is auspicious, indeed! :p

We left right as the last song started, figuring a jump on the traffic out would be good for little Derek. On the way back up to the top of the zoo, I realized that everyone onstage could see the moonrise during the show, if they were able to give any attention to it from the stage.

I am so glad we got tickets and went. For Derek, it was quite a first concert, he had never been to one before. He probably won’t remember it, but when he is a little older, hopefully we can go see them again. For me, it was like visiting my old life, a little, one that will be in reach again soon, as Derek gets old enough to let his Mom and Dad have a night out alone soon.

And I never can complain when I get to watch Gavin Bondy play trumpet!

I can’t remember how many times we have seen them now, since the first time I went less than two weeks after I moved here, just because a friend in the midwest told me they were local to my new home, and I should check them out back in 2003. It’s been 2.5 years since we last saw them live, and it was completely worth the wait.

Today I took Derek to the Children’s Museum, to get our annual membership started, a gift from my parents to Derek for his 2nd birthday. He had a good time, and I am sure we will go back soon.

Tomorrow Derek and I are going to walk around the neighborhood and I am planning our food menu for our camping trip this weekend. The weather looks really spectacular, which is great. I want to go swimming again this year in the lake. It’s a perfect way to say goodbye to summer until it comes around again for next year’s adventures.