The Last Two Days

Right this minute, I have the east window open here in the office/tv room... and I am 

listening to frogs croak in our own yard!  The whole east side is now swamped... 

and we definitely are now planning a rain garden on this side. 

There's the grainy view through the window again, looking down on the "pond"... which I ALWAYS WANTED at our old house.  

We aren't going to fight it, but embrace it, though we have a lot of learning to do. 

We do have an electrician coming on Friday to hang some lanterns for us on the front of the house... and we are going to ask him to give us a quote on removing that large electrical box so close to the wet. 

I have been watching birds bathe in it all day long, to my delight. 

Here was our dinner tonight... this is the first time in my life I have EVER made enchiladas! 

Thanks to Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond, who put a recipe for chicken enchiladas on her 

blog yesterday that I happened to see through Facebook... and I adapted the recipe for beef (hamburger). 

I sauteed the onions just as she said... and oh, my... the darn things were good. 

Our problem is that I made four, and we can each only eat one... so I know what my lunch will be 

tomorrow. 

This is also a recipe I'll use when Haleigh and Chris are up in a few weeks to work at the old house. 

They'll love it. 

I dressed them up with some chopped tomato and sour cream on top.  

Look what I got to do yesterday, on the spur of the moment! 

I went to the library in Leavenworth about 1:30... we have had rain off and on for the last two days, so I have been working indoors... 

and I happened to see the billboards for one of my favorite circuses in the world, 

Carson and Barnes.  They were JAMMED into a small lot of a now almost defunct shopping center in Leavenworth. 

I went back for the 4:30 show, after calling Keith and letting him know what I was doing. 

The trucks carry the stringers, the seating sections. 

This lot is small, and was crowded full of tents, the pony sweep, the menagerie top... and various children's games, along with the crew quarters and the individual performer's rigs. 

There was very little walkup, so the small ticket wagon was used... it was sprinkling when I got there at 3:30, and it commenced to rain steadily.  The house was small. 

These two young boys appeared to be twins... their dad had a pole on his shoulders, and they had shinnied up it, and did headstands, while their mom styled beneath.  

They also juggled very well... and did a walkaround in the opening number.  

There were dancing girls... and you can see the top of the "top"... with it's pretty stars. 

There was a slack-wire artist... 

And above him, a few minutes later, a Washington trapeze act done by 

the older brother of the two little boys above that was very good. 

The Globe of Death. 

There had been a notice outside that the elephants would not be performing yesterday.  Carson and Barnes used to carry 30 elephants on the road, it was really something to see.  They also performed in three rings, and are now down to one. 

I heard the "bulls" in back of the tent, and looked up the crowded lot... their menagerie tent was set up farther to the back of the lot, and since it was raining, I did not walk around to see them.  I wondered if they did not show because of the rain and crowded lot. 

The only animals in the show were some wonderful performing poodles... and 

the other "human" acts were so good... that was enough. 

At one time, I could have told you the names of every family appearing on this show during the summer... but not anymore... Time has passed me by. 

This shot of the jugglers is made up of a family who did three other acts in the show (see the two boys again?) 

The show ended not with the elephants, but with the Flying Cavallinis,   a famous group that was led in years past by Teri Cavallini, who, if memory serves me right, was the first American woman to do a triple somersault.  They performed for years at Circus Circus in Las Vegas... and now, Francesca Cavallini not only flies... but also is featured in two numbers singing. 

Here's the passing leap, for your pleasure: 

If you look closely in this short video, you will see that the big Super Trouper lights have been covered with plastic.  By the time the girls were on the fly bar, the rain was pouring outside.  During the season, the top canvas begins to develop small holes as it is loaded and unrolled, put up, and then rolled up again.  The rain was coming in the pinholes and the place where the quarter poles held the tent up. 

The electricians moved to cover the lights, but it was dangerous for the fliers. 

As the show ended, there were wet spots around the tent.  

My guess is that the 7:30 show was cancelled... I would not have been surprised.  I drove home in rain, and it rained all night and half of today. 

Carson and Barnes has gone on now to Illinois... in fact, to the area in Lake County where Keith and I lived while he was on his final year of duty.   I'm glad I had a chance to see it and take a 

short Circus Vacation! 

Chiefs Beat Broncos

Hmmm, I might be a little ahead of myself. 

However, we're ready for the game tonight!

And confidence can't hurt! 

I played hooky from Calamity Acres for a while today.  

Some of you will disagree with where I went, but I am going to talk about it a little, anyway. 

You see, as a little girl, our parents didn't believe in taking us to "frivolous" things.  We went to parochial schools, and had a nice house to live in, and bicycles, etc., but we did not go on vacations or do outings except with our cousins, to local venues like the skating rink, or public parks. 

I was already ushering by the time I was 16, and I saw my first circus. 

I was hooked.  

I was such a history buff, I went to the library and got every book they had about the circus.  

I joined Circus Fans of America. 

I worked every performance of every show that was at the public buildings in KCMO, and it was a joke amongst all my friends that if there was a circus in town, I would be taking off. 

So today, I took myself to the Shrine Circus in Kansas City. 

I had to gather courage in hand, because I don't often go downtown alone now.  Keith had planned to go with me yesterday, but the electric problem, etc., caused us to decide not to go. 

Then, since I had been to church, I decided I would go to the one pm show. 

Gone are the days of three rings of elephants.  The two you see here had been giving rides, and there were only three total in the show. 

I did not recognize the presenter, and don't know to whom they belonged. 

I don't know if everyone understands, but "circuses" like this are put together by one producer (in this case, Serge Coronas, Jr.) , who signs up acts through their agents.  They don't "tour" together, but they might do a bunch of dates together, if, like this show, they have pretty regular bookings.  This show is Coronas' "Circus Hollywood" or Hollywood Circus, as it is sometimes called.  The second and third generation are now presenting it at the Shrine in KC. 

Gone are the days of "Specs" and walks around the hippodrome track by all the performers, and most sadly, gone are the days of live music. 

Everything was canned, and a lot of it was very modern, and jarring to the ear. 

However, the circus must change if it is going to be something that modern people will want to see. 

My biggest gripe is that the fifteen minute intermission dragged literally to an hour, while lines of kids rode elephants, rode a pony sweep IN the arena, played on bouncy houses, and had their pictures taken with a camel.  I almost got up to leave several times.  

I know they have to make their gas money but gosh. 

And here I have a confession to make.... I have seen many, many acts... and I don't go to rodeos anymore.  I was bothered by watching the cats.  The dogs did not bother me as much, and the camel/llama/horse act also did not bother me, but the cats bothered me. 

The bulls didn't bother me (elephants).  I had a very good friend with the Ringling show and was often backstage with them, and did not ever see any mistreatment, though I know it's been documented in the past... but I have not seen it.  I DID see with my own eyes the mistreatment of apes and monkeys by a performer backstage at a Police Circus one year in the same auditorium I was in today, and the person saw me watching them, and stopped. My own sons had come to get me to stop it, when they saw it happening. 

There are bad people in all walks of life, I have come to find out, and circus folk are no different. 

I left while these girls were still performing. 

I had parked several blocks away, in front of this: 

Here's my dear old Lyric Theater, with her marquee gone... but her dignity intact.  

I was able to get a spot right in front of her.  (the little red card in the middle) 

This is the theater where I was house manager for 8 lovely years, and 3 years filling in after that. 

How many times I shoveled snow on those steps during performances, and how many times I spread salt on the ramp!  

I miss her!  

She's closed now, and has been sold and supposedly to be made into office space. 

However, I stole a look into the lobby: 

Sorry, of course I was shooting through the doors.  It's dusty and dingy now, though the chandeliers are still hanging, and it appeared someone had been doing some work on the ladder. 

The statue that stood in the center is gone, just the base remains. 

It used to gleam from Doug Allen's cleaning and buffing before performances. 

I miss her. 

The ducks greeted the day happily since the water is running again, and I could fill their pool. 

And we repeated ourselves tonight, while I hurried through chores as the sun was setting.  

It was windy here all weekend. 

And here's the Beaver Moon coming up behind the Spehar's house on the ridge opposite ours. 

I often mention our neighbors to the east, the Spehars, who are from Croatia. 

If you have time, HERE is the link to their website.  It has the history of their family, as well as examples of the fine, old-world cabinetry that they produce in the little "white building on the hill" opposite us (just out of view in this picture).  I had not even known all about them, so it was a very interesting read for me. 

And last, tonight, our prayers go out to those whose lives were turned upside down today in the Midwest by the late-season tornadoes, and those in the Phillipines are still in our prayers for the devastation there. 

How blessed we are here with our little problems! 

Another Circus Afternoon

I dithered around all morning and decided that I was still enough of a big girl to go see Ringling Brothers Circus at the Sprint Center in downtown KCMO by myself, as Keith was going to the Royals with his daughter and her little family.  Oddly enough, while I love the TBones, I don't like going to Kaufman stadium.  I convinced myself that despite 30 years working downtown in the theaters, I was not able to go over alone.  Then, after looking at tickets and telling myself all the reasons why I should NOT go, I went.

 

I should tell you that my "vacations" from work always involved the circus, for 25 years.  I would save my pennies (literally) all year long and buy tickets to each show when not working, so I could see it from every angle.  The shows I did work I did not mind seeing over and over, and got to know some circus people well. (in the old days).

 

We had not gone to Ringling for the last five years, though... and yes, I know they are controversial because of treatment of some of the elephants.  I don't know enough about it to comment on it, but am going to ask some friends and see if I can get an answer.  I no longer know anyone on any of the Ringling shows to ask, but I DO know that I was around it a lot in the old days, and that kind of treatment of show stock was not tolerated.  So, having said that, I will also comment that there are only SIX "bulls", or elephants (all circus elephants are called "bulls", even though they are mostly female).  Six, on Ringling... it was absolutely mind-blowing for me. There were two rings of performing horses, including large paints and what appeared to be Belgians, with their manes fancily roached, so that they almost looked like huge Fiords or Halflingers. Then the smaller ring was minis, different shades of palomino and a palomino overo.  These were the only animals in the show, besides the big cats (tigers).   No camels, no llamas, no zebras lead around in the specs.  A different show.

I almost drove past the darn thing, I was concentrating on traffic so much.  How could I have missed it?  We had never been there, though.

 

Inside was same-old, same-old with Sells Floto concession stands everywhere.  Sells Floto is the concession arm of Ringling, and was actually a circus what was brought under the combined shows in the 30's. (Circus Fans reading this, correct me if I'm wrong)

 

 

Down on the floor of the arena, the "Three Ring Experience" was taking place.  Two of the liberty horses were brought out for the parents and kids to see.  I was so glad to see that, despite numbering differences, the Sprint Center is not that far different from good old Kemper, which is now little used, but where I worked for 16 years at night and on weekends.

 

However, the balconey is MUCH higher than Kemper's!  I was glad I had bought a ticket for the downstairs.

 

 

Now all the "rings' have been put away, and the prop crew is setting for the opening number.  Here a word about rings.  The only ring is the center ring.  For the liberty mini-horses, a blow-up ring was rolled out, and then rolled back up.  I never saw a ring at the ring three end, I was on the ring one end.  So there is no "ring crew" for each ring anymore, but a prop crew who wears black and floats around in between numbers.  There did not seem to be tons of rigging, either.

 

 

Here comes our beautiful flag, and ringmaster Brian Scott Thomas sang a beauiful version of our anthem.

 

 

And the bulls in the opening number... that's Stas and Vas, the two Russian comics, who were featured throughout the show, on the left.  They were very good.

 

It turns out that from reading the program, I see there was a zebra liberty act that did not perform, and also, a ring of white liberty horses, Arabian-type.  My guess is they are either out due to injury, or we had a John Robinson show at the second (3 PM) show, cut short because of the three-show day.

 

(John Robinson regularly cut his shows short!)

 

 

The Fernandez Brothers on the Wheels of Death.  They were right in front of me. The younger man on the left must have blessed himself fifteen times while the arena was still dark, blessing the wheel as well.  He performed particularly scary stunts.  I could see him praying as he waited. 

 

 

If you biggify, you can see the Belgians on the right in the center ring.

 

 

There was a wonderful high wire act, which I very much enjoyed.

 

 

Okay, let me say here that I have been sitting here reading PETA's condemnation of Ringling while these pictures have been loading.  I don't know if they present the whole picture.  I have been around those bulls... and many more of them... in the old days, and I did not see anything but "smacking" with the bullhook when there was a recalcitrant elephant.  I'm not going to get into a protracted discussion of whether or not animals should be performing for people... but I can tell you that the ONLY outright cruelty I have seen personally was 30 years ago, when my sons came to get me to stop a trainer who was hitting his apes behind a curtain.  It WAS outright cruelty, and the man saw that we could see him and stopped.  Yes, I remember who he was.  I could never watch his act ever again, and he came through here regularly.  This was not on the Ringling show, by the way, but a circus presented under the auspices of the Police Benevolent Association for many years.

 

When the bulls perform, the show is almost over.

 

 

And then, it's finished.   The houselights go up, and the prop crew gets busy setting the stage for the 7 PM show.  I took a few last pictures, went out to the car, and slowly made my way through downtown.  How happy I was to get home and see our babies.

 

Especially this one:

 

 

I've just heard from Keith, and they saw a great game at Royal's stadium, and he is in the parking lot, slowly making his way out.  I'll expect him in another hour-hour and a half.... and will be glad to have him home safely.

 

Tomorrow after church I'll need to run Nathan home to Garnett.  I have managed to pull something in my back, so I'm dreading the drive for once, so wish me luck!