No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on May 16, 2017

It is one of those occasions that one remembers exactly where one was when you heard the news. I was in the green room of the Yale Rep Theater on York St in New Haven, CT. To say I was devastated would to understate the kick in the gut when I found out. Jim Henson was dead and the world seemed to dim a bit.

If not for Jim Henson, I would not be making the kinds of puppets that I am known for. If I hadn’t been building those puppets, I would not have met Peter the way that we met and connected. If I had not met Peter, I would not have Caroline in my life in fact I doubt if I would be alive.

Because of Jim Henson, I have a crazy tribe that I belong to. We joking call each other doll wigglers because of Gonzo the Great asking Kermit what a puppet was.

Kermit: It’s a doll that’s made to look alive by wiggling strings or putting your hand in it.

Kermit (looking into camera): I didn’t have the heart to tell him.

That was from the Senor Wences episode of the Muppet Show.

I have made friends because I make puppets. I have interesting stories to tell because I make puppets. And I make puppets because of Jim and his body of work.

Henson’s work brought joy into my life at some pretty dark times. Gave me a reason to get to the next day and the next because I wanted to see the next episode or movie and sometimes holding onto to that kept me from letting go entirely.

So today I will work on puppets in honor of Jim Henson. I will create and make in his memory. I will proudly wiggle dolls for fun and profit.

I am grateful that I got to meet Jim Henson.

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Posted By Kathleen David on May 15, 2017

Last week I wasn’t sure if I would get done all that I had to get done by Friday. I really felt behind the 8-ball. But I did it. I got everything done.

That both fills me with hope and trepidation about this next week.

The end of the week finds us at the Five Points Festival. Peter will be at table A-9 in the artist alley.

But the days between now and then need to get some online and off line stuff done.

If you missed the news last week, we paid the IRS so that monkey is off our backs.

This week we get the Let’s Kill Glenn anthology going.

Then onto Peter’s Patreon account so that we don’t have another tax crises.

I have to send some puppets to England and get Arthur done and to his new owner.

And find some dolls I want to bring to this month’s Artist Brunch.

And keep the house clean and neat.

And get Caroline’s closet to the next step.

And whatever else crops up.

Oh and after getting the other puppets done, get started on DragonCon.

Gulp.

I am grateful for what I got done.

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Posted By Kathleen David on May 11, 2017

Peter is going to be posting about the IRS debt and some other things on his site later to day.

Big news that I am involved in is an anthology that the two of us are going to edit entitled, “Let’s Kill Glenn” where the authors get to come up with ideas for the demise of Glenn Hauman the web master for this site. More on that on Peter’s site then the Crazy 8 website and then here once we have the rest of the dominos in place. Glenn has given his blessing for this enterprise.

Peter’s Patreon is going to go live by June 1st. That’s the goal and we are using the money we raise there for taxes next year and paying our accountant who has been doing a yeoman’s work.

Today is about finishing the living room for tomorrow that had a bit of a spanner put in it yesterday when I found water on the floor of the closet.

We had to have the plumbers back in to fix the toilet that they fixed yesterday. It wasn’t entirely fixed and there was a leak, which is how this whole mess started. Crossing fingers that we don’t have any more problems.

Now onto that and a few other things that MUST BE DONE.

I am grateful that the plumbers were very apologetic for the problem and fixed it.

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Posted By Kathleen David on May 10, 2017

I have been rather quiet recently on the Internet.

First off is that we have a lot going on here so finding the time to just sit and write rather than work on things is a challenge.

Today I have given myself one cup of coffee to write something.

Another reason is because my mother taught me two things that I keep close to my heart. If you haven’t anything nice to say, then think carefully if you should say it at all and think before you speak especially if you are angry.

I have nice things to say to all the people who have helped us this past month. Hard to believe this all started a month ago. Restored my belief in humanity, which has taken quite a hit since the election in the United States.

I will say again, as politely as I can, my child therefor my rules. I know my daughter. I know her likes and dislikes. I can determine what she can and cannot do. I am very careful respect other parent’s wishes when it come to their children. I would like mine respected as well. Nothing specific but I am tired of the looks I get after their children tell them about something Caroline did or saw that they can’t.

I have been frustrated at the gym recently by two groups of patrons who are machine hogs. If you are going to have a long and involved conversation, please don’t have it while sitting at a machine that others want to use and know that, especially if you are being loud because one member is practically deaf, we will hear you and your conversation. The other group are the weigh hogs who grab 4 sets of weights and put them around a bench so that no one else has a chance to use them. They also are the group that sets up a series of machines and then gets upset when you use one that is not being used even if you put the machine back to their preset. Now I do a series on a set of machines, but I work around the other people also using those machines so everyone gets a chance at getting their workout done in a timely fashion. Yeah, that one has been bothering me for a while.

I tend to avoid a lot of the darker places on the Internet. I have heard about 4Chan and other places were trolls seem to meet for the sole purpose of bashing people that they don’t know to make themselves feel better/superior. Right now I am rather ticked off by some ‘fans’ of a show that are being rude and abusive to the people who make the show that they say they love so much. These ‘fans’ have also gone after the actors on various social media platforms to try to win them to their cause. Also an actor is not their role. Someone who can play the villain well is not a villain in real life. That’s why it is called ACTING. Blaming the actor for something that the character did is seven kinds of bad crazy. Yes, I do get angry when I see people having a go at Peter for reasons that surpasses understanding.

This week is packed with things that MUST BE DONE by a certain date or time. As an adult, I have to make this happen. Would I rather be doing something else like writing or puppet making? Sure, but I know what needs to be done so I can get back to those activities. Priorities, I have them.

I honestly don’t know if I am going to radio silence or find myself writing more often. It is going to be one or the other. Please have patience with me either way. I will try to be polite about it.

I am grateful for plumbers who go above and beyond.

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Posted By Kathleen David on May 8, 2017

Because of things happening here this week, I have a ton of motivation to get the living room back into shape. Right now it is mostly stuff in the corners that I have been ignoring.

Saturday we finally got rid of the last of the black mold from the slow leak that permeated the downstairs closet. We had Mold Busters in and they stripped and the drywall and tiles so the closet is down to the studs. (Note to my mother, Yes, I am working on Caroline’s closet. We need to find a time for both of us to go to Home Depot and get what we need. Yes, I know we are going on 6 months since the project was green lit. Everyone else keep me honest on this one. Caroline wants her closet to be a big girl closet and work.)

Today we can finally get the plumber in to fix the leak that will allow us to use our upstairs toilet again. The mold was preventing this from happening.

Then on Friday we have some people coming by the house, which means I have less than 5 days to get the living room in order.

Do-able but I am going to have to do some other things before I can get to that done. Sort of reverse dominos.

So I will be working at getting things done.

I am grateful for that which is done and will be done.

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