Spinning Yarns

Yesterday, I got the hickory jo and kashima bokken I ordered from Kingfisher Wood Works in Wilder, VT. Let me just say, I am deeply impressed with the beauty and the quality of these weapons. I’m also really thrilled to have my own training weapons. My sempai often tell me it’s just as effective to practise with broom-handles and heavy dowels, and I can believe that is true — but the fact remains, there is something really special about the feeling of a heavy, smooth-turned oval of hickory in your hands, that is not captured by a broom handle. Call me impractical, if you will; I shall not deny it. But I’m still quite pleased with my new acquisitions.

Of course, it would figure that they would arrive just when the play is about to open, so I don’t have time to go practise with them. But anticipation is the engine of progress, so I suppose it is all for the best, in some sense.

Speaking of which, tonight is opening night for Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, and I look forward to seeing you out there in the audience. Directions and show times are listed on the web page. Admission will be $6 for adults, $4 for children and seniors.

Filed by Michael at 12:48 under Personal
Comments Off

First off, I’d like to mention that there’s a new web page up for DragonsPair Productions, and you can go there to get any information you might want about the status of the play we’re putting on this summer. Note that the show starts this coming Friday, June 27th, 2001. Show times, and directions to the stage, are available from the web page!

Naturally, that means this week will be one of frenetic activity. I’m actually finding it quite fun to balance between research, aikido, work, play practise, and general living. It’s like being an overcommitted undergraduate all over again.

Last night, a bear wandered into my back yard, and pulled down the bird feeder I keep out there. It is — or rather, was — on top of a kind of metal pole with a hook, and she (I think) bent the pole right over ’til the feeder almost touched the ground. Taking the feeder gently in her jaws, she shook out all the seeds onto the ground, and carefully licked them up with a whuffling sound of contentment. Remarkably, the feeder itself is still intact. I suppose I’ll leave it empty for a while, so the bear won’t start getting any ideas, then set it back up and see what happens.

Filed by Michael at 12:40 under Personal, Story
Comments Off

Okay, for those of you who might be interested in coming to see a performance of R&G, our lovely and talented director has told me the performances are to be at 8.00pm on each of the following days:

• Friday, July 27th, 2001
• Saturday, July 28th, 2001
• Sunday, July 29th, 2001
• Friday, August 3rd, 2001
• Saturday, August 4th, 2001
• Sunday, August 5th, 2001

The shows will be held outdoors, in the open area behind the Marion Cross School in Norwich, Vermont. Tickets will, probably, be available at the “door”. I do not yet know of a rain location, but we’ll probably burn that bridge when we come to it.

Filed by Michael at 12:38 under Personal
Comments Off