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Carnival
We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. I do not agree with the big way of doing things.
--Mother Teresa
Saturday, December 6, 1997
I woke up early this morning and went over to my sister's house to do the kid's carnival thing with my six-year-old nephew J--- and his friend P----. One thing they both enjoy is dressing up for festive occasions, so they were ready in their special vests and gold belts. J--- even had a little "Kentucky Colonel" tie that he got from somewhere.
We went over to the church, which is just a few blocks away, and got our part of the festivities set up. We covered our long table with butcher paper and some foil-covered cardboard stars and tinsel. The construction paper and cards were at one end, the stamps and pads distributed along the table in color zones, and the colored markers and gold stars at the other end. The price for our table: stamp three cards for one ticket, which equals one quarter.
The deal for the carnival: half of the profits went to a shelter for homeless families, and half to the stand proprietors. There was a pretty good crowd, and the boys got to take breaks from behind the stand to go play other people's games and get snacks. The whole thing lasted three hours, and J--- and P---- were pleased with how their booth did until the nasty boys down the street were boasting that they made more money. The good things about the rubber stamping: we didn't have to spend money on "prizes" as you do in a game, and all ages could do the activity, from preschool to adult.
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Vanguard was tonight at Jerry Kaufman and Suzle's house. I had forgotten that down at Orycon, Kate Yule and David Levine had been talking about visiting Seattle and we had been pressuring them to come on the first weekend of the month -- Vanguard weekend! So they were the surprise guests of the evening!
The only disappointing thing was that Denys didn't show up (he was ill), so our dancing in the basement was restricted. We did do some practicing, and Kate said that she thought I had "teacher" genes. I do feel it could be dangerous for a beginning dancer, which I still am, to do too much in the way of instruction. I could easily instill bad habits!
We had new people at the party. I think it's a good idea that the next Vanguard in January will have a nametag decorating theme. It often takes me a few times of meeting people in that party atmosphere, before the names stick with me.
A reader was at Vanguard! Deb Schwartz revealed herself to me. She's been at Vanguard before, but we haven't talked much. So hi, Deb! I think I've got her convinced to come to some Cacophony events, too.
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