No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on September 11, 2019

I have talked about this day in the past. I talked about feeling the rumble when the towers fell and seeing a dust cloud roll up Broadway. I talked about people I knew that I never saw again. I talked about how I lost a job I loved because of downsizing because of what happened on this day. There are still things happening that can be directly linked to this day eighteen years ago. 

There are still people dying because of what they breathed in that day. Jon Stewart shamed the US Government to keep the promise that our government made to the first responders. Now we the voters have to continue protect those who ran in to help.

Today I am doing self care. I am staying off the Internet. I have things to do around the house and I plan on doing them. The only socializing I am doing is bowling this evening.

Some day maybe it won’t hurt as much as it does now.

We talk about life changing events and this day is one of them in my book.

I am grateful for the first responders who ran to help.

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Posted By Kathleen David on September 10, 2019

Or rather I got nine and half puppets done. The half was not needed for the sketch but it would have been fun to have in the mix.

I made six puppets for the sketch and three puppets to give to various people.

Most of this was done in less than a month. I had the Good Omens puppets done before we went on our journey to a point but they still needed finishing work.

The Three that Gave Away

I make puppets for people for various reasons. They are my thank you to those people for what they have done. Some are apology puppets as in fandom is not a crazy as the people attacking you.

The 10th Doctor

This is David Tennant’s second puppet. The first was lost. I told him at GalaxyCon Raleigh I would make him a replacement since his children have so much fun playing with the Mom puppet I made them. He loved it. And a few days later his wife put up a video of the kids and her playing with the puppet. So I know it went to a good home.

Spock from Discovery

I met Ethan Peck at Shoreleave. We judged the Masquerade together. I had Aziraphale and Crowley with me. He played around with the puppets and had a good time. I made him a Spock puppet which he promptly started to use amuse his cast mates right before they went on for their panel.

Regina the Evil Queen from Once Upon a Time

This was one of my apology/appreciation puppets. Lana Parrilla played Regina on OUAT and got a lot of hate from people because she played the role so well. I had gotten puppets to Rebecca Mader, Sean McGuire, and Colin O’Donoghue. I really wanted to get one to Lana.

She loved it. Apparently she has loved puppets since she was a child. And this was so in her wheelhouse. Rebecca saw the puppet and said, “I have one too.” Lana now wants to do puppet shows with Rebecca.

Hellmo’s World

This was a mash-up of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy and Elmo using the format of Elmo’s world.

Peter wrote the script after we talked about what puppets we felt should be in the sketch to hit a sweet spot with fans.

I proceeded to build
Hellmo
Crowly
Aziraphale
Lucifer from Supernatural
Lucifer from Lucifer
John Constantine

(From left to right Crowley puppeteer Gina, Supernatural Lucifer puppeteer John, Lucifer from Lucifer puppeteer Paul, Hellmo puppeteer me, John Constantine puppeteer Cherlyn, Aziraphale puppeteer Jamie and Caroline extra hands and props.

The two Lucifers had rip off heads for a bit in the show so that had some extra bits to do.

The sketch went over very well.

Building these puppets reminded me that I am good at this. I know how to build a puppet and dress it. And we know how to put on a show.

I would like to thank Peter for writing the sketch, John Hudgens for recording it and getting the audio ready, all the folks who lent their voices to this, and my puppeteers, Caroline, John, Paul, Jamie, Cherlyn, and Gina for helping me bring my idea to life.

I am grateful for all the puppet in my life.

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Posted By Kathleen David on September 8, 2019

This week was all about finishing up DragonCon, Caroline starting school, and working towards our school year routine.

I have a plan for the month. Now I just need to execute it.

Caroline had a few bumps to start school but everything is smooth and she knows how she is going to tackle her course load. She loves her elective selections this year.

Peter is writing which is what Peter is does. He is working on various things and waiting to hear about other potential projects.

I am sorting out things in my head and in the house. I have decided to tackle some of the “get to it later because it is out of the way” piles in the house. I want to get Peter’s office back where it can be used as an office again. That and getting Caroline access to Ariel’s desk.

I am also working on me a bit. I need to take a breath and make some time to help me by exercising and clearing my head. That will help my family too.

Tomorrow is my 56^thbirthday. I have a couple of appointments to go to and some lovely activities planned. 

I am grateful for that which helps my health both physical and mental.

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Posted By Kathleen David on September 6, 2019

Yeah, I did a vanishing act that I really hope to not do for a while here. 

I honestly hope someone is still reading this.

Short Version since we last left our story

Built Puppets

Wished my brother Sean a Happy Birthday

Drove to DragonCon

Did various panels

Gave puppets to three people I wanted to get puppets to

Did the puppetslam

Packed the car and drove home

Started our bowling league

Caroline started her Junior year of High School

Now the longer version

Since I stopped writing I built the puppets for my PuppetSlam Piece (6 puppets) and my ambassador puppets (3 puppets)

I got all the machine sewing done before I left but I had a heck of a lot of hand sewing and some props that needed to be built before everything was done which happened in all my free time during DragonCon. I have promised my family I will not do that again.

I didn’t do an entry for my brother Sean’s birthday for a number of reasons including being at DragonCon. But I did say on Facebook, “He’s the one I am betting on to survive the Zombie Apocalypse.”

The drive to DragonCon was a bit of a pain between large construction projects and pop-up thunderstorms. We got about six hours out when we called a halt and then finished the drive to Atlanta to see my parents before the convention.

Wednesday we checked into our hotel and, miracle of miracles, our room was ready so we were able to get our stuff in and settled a little early.

Thursday consisted of getting our badges, loading into the Pop Art Alley, and, for me, a Good Omens meet up which was the only one I made this year. A bit disappointed in that but hope to make others next year.

Friday was hit the ground running. I had my usual gang for the Friday Night Workmanship contest and we judged the costumes. Lots of great costumes with lots of amazing craft in them. The winner was a 15 year-old phenom who recreated Scrap Baby from Five Night at Freddie’s. It was hands and above everyone else.

Saturday was a heavy panel day including a new track for me entitled Robotics and Maker’s Fan track. My friend Cheralyn Lambeth and I talked about professional puppets and the like for an hour. It was a very good panel with a lot of great questions.

Sunday was rehearsal and prep for the Puppet Slam. It is the first time in a couple of years that I participated in it.

This year’s sketch was entitled “Hellmo’s World” and was a mash-up of Elmo and Hellboy. It went over very well with the crowd and my puppeteers were amazing considering how fast we had to put it together.

Monday I had a number of panels again including one of my favorites, “So you want to build a puppet.”

Tuesday we drove back.

Wednesday was the first night of our bowling league and we did OK for not bowling much the entire summer.

Thursday was the first day of Caroline’s junior year. She is taking 4 AP classes so it will be a busy one indeed along with her other activities. I got the larder re-stocked so we have food in the house and the car unpacked

That takes us to today where I am dealing with the suitcases and bags from DragonCon. I also need to sort out what books Peter has and what books he need to get before his next convention.

I am grateful to everyone at DragonCon who work so hard to make sure everyone has fun.

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Posted By Kathleen David on August 18, 2019

When I was younger I spoke before my brain told me that what I had to say was not necessary to the conversation or, in some cases, helpful. I am very glad that the Internet as we know it today did not exist when I was a teen and young adult. 

Now I measure what I say out here on the Wild Wild Web because once out there, it is pretty much out there. Do I have things that I hope no one finds? Probably but I can’t think of any off the top of my head other than some early fanfic that is out there somewhere.

Considering how people are using the way back machine to find things people said in their teens or did in their teens to besmirch them, I am glad that I took a conservative view of sharing my private views. My mantra has been since I got on the Internet, “If I wouldn’t say it in a public area or to the face of the person I am talking about, I don’t say it.” Simple as that.

I can’t say I like the Internet version of “telephone” where something is said and it goes around the Internet until it becomes something entirely not what was said. I have been spending more time recently on Snopes and other sites that look at the veracity of what is being said.

I take anything I read on the Internet with more than one grain of salt.

I am grateful for my parents teaching me to think before I speak.

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