No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on November 29, 2010

Caroline has a half day today and we have the annual Parent/Teacher conference this afternoon to find out how she is doing. I have a fairly good idea since I have been the class chaperone and talked to her teacher on occasion. I believe we get her first report card as well today.

Fig is stalking the other cats and is getting into minor kitty spats interspaced with kicking things across the room and then pouncing on them. She is growing and looks more cat than kitten but behaves all kitten with all the pouncing and exploring that comes with being a kitten.

Tomorrow we are going to the launch for Epic Mickey in Times Square. It should be fun. Peter wrote a bunch of stuff for the Epic Mickey Ap and the graphic novel of the game. It promises to be an interesting adventure.

I watched a couple of game yesterday. It was not a great week. Lots of close games but a lot of hitting and punching some that cost their teams dear. Yeah, you want to be home for Thanksgiving but you are a professional athlete and have a job to do. Taking it out on the other team in ways that aren’t allowed by the rule book is not very nice nor does it set a good example. And yes, you do set an example no matter how much you cry that you shouldn’t be. So not that happy with football players this week. In college football, I can’t believe how far Boise State tumbled in the standings and wonder what the next shoe is going to be in the Auburn mess.

I got one project off my plate and hope to get two more into the mail today so that those can be done by the 1st then I have two more before the 6th and all my swaps will be done for the season. It should be do able.

Caroline’s Birthday is next Sunday but we are having her party Saturday. And for the first time we are not having it at the house. Caroline gets a party at a party place and I don’t have to clean up or worry about activities for the children. Might give me a little more time to enjoy the party.

I have one or two other deadlines that I need to meet. I figure I can get at least one out of the way in the next two days.

I am grateful for teachers who care about their students.

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Posted By Kathleen David on November 27, 2010

Today, according to American Express, is Small Business Saturday where the consumer, who have ravage the Big Box Stories, should turn their attention to the small businesses in their area. Small businesses are important to the health of a country. It is those small businesses that, some times, turn into big businesses and bring in revenue and taxes to an area.

I have a small business and am part of another. My small business is practically microscopic right now but I am working on expanding it a bit. I make puppets and dolls. They are one of a kind wonders that I am quite proud of. Peter is a business since he incorporated himself and I am part of that business as well.

I have a lot of friends who run small businesses of all sorts. Some are copy editors and indexers. Others create really nifty stuff that is either practical or pleasing to look at. Esty is full people who do really cute crafts and those practical things that look good.

So I encourage you to shop a small business today. Either online or in person. I encourage the owners of small businesses to put your links in the comments so that others can look at your work and maybe you will make a sale or two.

Personally, I think I am going to be putting up photos later of what I have to sell and see if I can’t generate some income for the holidays as well.

I am grateful for small businesses and those who work so hard to make them succeed.

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Posted By Kathleen David on November 26, 2010

And if you are shopping, be nice to a store clerk today. They will appreciate it.

Yes, I am celebrating Black Friday by getting nowhere near a mall. Probably because I have done one too many retail gigs that involve this strange holiday that takes place the day after Thanksgiving.

So far there have been no reports of anyone trampled trying to get a flat screen TV or Nintendo DS or a Wii. I am sure if it does happen, there will be news flashes about it.

I think the hardest part is telling people that you no longer have that item that they wanted in stock and no you can’t give a rain-check because it was limited to the number at the store that day. You get two reactions for the most part. One is the customer who thinks that they are entitled to this object and we are being big meany-poopy heads for not giving it to them. We must have one in the back that we are hiding for ourselves and therefore it must be given to them. The other is the truly disappointed look with the story of why this object is the Holy Grail that they really wanted to get. My sympathies are with the disappointed rather than the entitled.

If you are shopping or have shopped, more power to you. I have a problem with grabby shovey customers who will block check you for the last pair of mitten if they are on sale.

This year I have noticed that lots of stores had sales earlier or are extending the sales to spread things around a little more. I also noticed the number of people who didn’t get Thanksgiving off. They had to work the sales that started on Thanksgiving night and went through this AM. Walmart touted the fact that the store opened at midnight so come shop until the electronic sales at 5 AM. Also online retailers are trying to appeal to people like me who really don’t want to deal with the crowds and lack of parking. So maybe the mayhem will be a little less.

Most of today is going to be taking care of Caroline who awoke with a full blown cold with a slight fever rather than allergies. She is a pretty miserable little girl right now. And this takes the plans with her sister right off the board which she is very disappointed about.

I am grateful to all the reasonable customers who make the clerks lives a little easier.

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Posted By Kathleen David on November 25, 2010

Today America gives pause and gives thanks for the bounty that they have received. Abraham Lincoln created by the national holiday in 1863. The current date was set by congress and signed into law by FDR in 1941.

My traditions for the holiday are rather simple watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and eat Turkey for dinner. Those two things and my holiday has been a good one. This year we are having a small dinner at home. Peter is great at making the turkey so that’s his job. Ariel and Caroline make the dessert. I make all the side dishes for the dinner and get the table ready for the meal.

Another tradition of mine since I started this web log was to sit down and express what I am thankful for. So in keeping with that tradition, here is this year’s list.

I am thankful for a roof over my head, food in the larder, and a car that works most of the time.

I am thankful for my family both by blood and by extension. I have a pretty cool family. I know I am very lucky that I get along with my brothers and sister, have a good relationship with my parents, and with my in-laws. Then there is my extended family which are from a lot of different parts of my life.

I am thankful for the writing opportunities I have. This year Peter and I wrote a short story in anthology which saw print and a Ghostbusters comicbook. I named an alien in Ben 10 Ultimate Alien. And there were a couple of things that I did that I can’t talk about yet.

I am thankful for all the creative opportunities I have. I got to take another doll making course with Wendy Froud which is always fun. I participated in dolls swaps and other creative exchanges with artists. I have helped other artists solves various problems over the year. Some people come to me because they want to pick my brain on how to do something.

I am thankful for my friends. I have one friend for over 40 years now who is still one of my best friends on the planet and I know that’s a long time to stay friends but we have through thick and thin. Through Peter I have a new set of friends who have become very dear to me. Then there are my theater buddies who I met through my adventures as a stage manager.

I am thankful for travel. We do a lot of it and get to go to some pretty cool places. We meet interesting people and have a lot of fun.

I am thankful for all of you who read my ramblings over the years. The writer never knows how their words will be received but y’all have been great about giving me feedback on what I am writing and I really appreciate it.
I am grateful for all that I have to be thankful for.

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Posted By Kathleen David on November 23, 2010

47 years ago we first saw a show that changed the lives of many. Not that anyone knew it at the time. It was slated to be an educational show taking some teachers through time and space to show different historical dramas. Well that got thrown out the window in the fifth episode when they went to a distant planet and met the Daleks.

Thus began the saga of Doctor Who which became bigger than anyone probably thought it was going to be. Many actors proudly tell their fellow thespians that they were on or are going to be on Doctor Who. It is a badge of honor among them. Entire careers have been launched from the writers’ room. There were conventions dedicated to the show even when it was on “hiatus”.

Personally I have made many friends over the years because of my love for Doctor Who. I have been part of the fandom since the late 1970s. I have enjoyed watching episodes with friends that are still friends. I belonged to the Terminus TARDIS and the PMEB.

I have made puppets based on the characters and given puppets of themselves to the actors of the characters. I get two reactions on that one. It depends on how they view puppets. A couple of years ago I met Peter Davison at DragonCon. I introduced myself as the maker of the puppet that a friend had passed for me. He told me that he loved it and was proud to own it. Then he said something that I will always remember. He said, “Tell me that you are still making puppets.” I assured him that I was and he said, “Good. Talent like yours should not go to waste.”

I remember when I saw the reboot. It was thanks to a buddy of ours who had a copy on his hard drive. I was amazed and wanted to see more. The Doctor was back and it was magnificent. Since then I have met more fans and gotten to write a Doctor Who short story that saw publication in a Big Finish Anthology. So I am now a published Dr. Who writer among my many other accomplishments.

So Happy Anniversary to Doctor Who! Long may you air!

I think I am going to watch Unearthly Child now.

I am grateful that Doctor Who became what it has.

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