Saturday post, with Flickr Test.

Kouryou-chan climbs a tree at Oloteas
Images hosted on Flickr!

We took the girls to Oloteas on Saturday, where we all had a great time. We started out late; I wanted to get there by three, so we would have time to swim and socialize, but real life and housework got in the way and we didn't get out of there until four, so we didn't get to the Longhouse until almost five.

Still, the girls instantly took to the swimming pool. Yamaarashi-chan demonstrated her doggy-paddle with efficiency, swimming about the pool as if she owned the place. She's still not drownproof, but she's getting close. Kouryou-chan can't manage without a floatation device of some kind; she has no bodyfat to speak of and sinks like a stone, but she loved demonstrating her ability to jump into the pool from the edge with just a foam float under her arms.

Yamaarashi-chan climbs a tree at Oloteas
Images hosted on Flickr!

After fishing them out of the pool, we let them dry off and climb trees while we waited for dinner. The potluck ran out of food fast and I had some ideas for what to make for the next one, although it means I'll have to get my long, pointy knife sharpened for what I want to cook. Still, we all ate reasonably well.

The ceremony was nice. I held Yamaarashi-chan's hand as we went out and walked through the labyrinth, then attended the small tent where we asked for the Goddess to help us with our own healing. In my case, and I hope Yamaarashi's (although I didn't ask her; it was her private decision to make) it was for the fractures and stresses created by all the recent legal wrangling.

Afterwards, the kids dove back into the pool. The ever-lovely shemayazi joined Omaha and I in the pool and we just relaxed and chatted while simultaneously I fretted over the safety of my girls. The lovely damiana_swan wandered through, as did many others whose names I can no longer remember. Still, a good weekend all around.

Folklife Sunday!

The girls and friends.
Images hosted on Flickr!. Click image to enlarge.

Omaha does Folklife every year, and this year was no exception. In past years, she would go all four days, she would volunteer. The year Kouryou-chan was born, she volunteered three days, leaving me with this seven-month-old creature and bottles of mechanically extracted breast milk. This year we did one day, Sunday.

The weather wasn't as beautiful as Saturday; instead, it was overcast and a bit chilly most of the day. But it didn't rain, so we wandered out to listen to buskers and some of the stage bands before finally wandering out to listen to Wandering Hands (who don't have a website I can find, darnit), who did a fine job although the bells and traps percussionist in the back needed to get closer to her mike or have it turned up; we couldn't hear her out in the audience. But there was lots of family and friends there, and the girls all sat together with their friends and danced to the music. Excellent!

 

Pictures from Wandering Hands performance.
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We ate greasy food (I had Warthog Barbecue, which was some of the best pulled pork I've eaten combined with some of the most mundane and boring barbecue sauce I've ever encountered) and ran into tygereclipse, who was looking pale but healthy. Omaha and Kouryou-chan wandered over to do dancing, but Yamaarashi-chan and I went window shopping along "Unique Alley". Later, we met up with fallenpegasus and all went to the cooking demonstration, where the girls learned how to make mozarella and marshmallows. They really want to make marshmallows at home. I think I can accomodate them, I'll just have to replace my candy thermometer; the old one broke.

Yamaarashi-chan and Omaha dance.
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We then wandered over to the Brazilian Drum Team, which completely rocked, and the girls had a blast dancing to the beat. I did one whole song with Kouryou-chan on my shoulders shouting "Woah! Wow!" and giggling insanely and I don't think I could have pulled that off without the strength training exercises I've been doing.

I took the girls home while Omaha and FallenPegasus stayed to dance the night away. I put the girls to bed; they were good about it, although Yamaarashi-chan complained that her eyes were too tired to do the string eye therapy exercises properly, but we still did them. They promptly fell asleep; it had been a busy day. I stayed up awhile and watched some TV, then went to bed myself.

Homeless guy, still reading

After lunch this afternoon, I took a walk down to the drug store to pick up a week's worth of allergy medicine. It's all I should need until this weekend, when we're supposed to head over to Costco and I can pick up a three-month supply from the pharmacy outlet there. The weather was cool and overcast, but still bright enough I wished I'd brought my sunglasses.

I walked down the street past the office supply store where I buy my Moleskines and pens and stuff, and in the abandoned store next to it a homeless man was sleeping, curled up in the doorway. He looked okay, just sleeping. He wore a leather jacket with the imprimatur of some biker group on it, grimy jeans and old boots. And next him, turned so that he wouldn't lose his place, was a beat up copy of Robert Silverberg's Majipoor Chronicles.

I wish I'd brought my camera. It was one of those moments that deserves collection and keeping. I wonder if he read anything else, but I didn't want to wake him. Still, it was interesting to see, and made me think that there was hope left for him, if he was doing something other than drinking the end of his life away.

I don't buy it, but... okay.

You Are The Champion
"Don't worry, I got it."
You play as the Hero. You are the one who usually tries to take on the world for any cause you believe in. You are a natural leader in most circles and are not afraid to take that position if a situation calls for it. Others look to you for inspiration and praise you for your acheivements. Even though they love and adore you, however, you are left feeling alone or overwhelmed many times. You're almost always positive and keep your chin up despite any setbacks because you know that you will succeed in the end, no matter how long it takes.

Which Classic Story Role Do You Play?
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