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> NOVEMBER 2004
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Journal (The Ember Update)
Tuesday, November 9
Dr. Seuss Mushrooms
Kevin and I hiked North of Adelphi Mill Sunday morning. Before turning
off Riggs Road, Kevin spotted a huge mushroom at the entrance. Up close
it was a foot and a half long, white (albeit soiled) and was furry like
something out of Dr. Seuss — photos 1 & 2 below.
As we examined its sponginess, Kevin noticed a different mushroom growing
from the top of the same crevasse in the tree (experience has him light
years ahead of me on spotting things). This red-tipped flowery growth
was as beautiful as a sea
anemone, upside down (photo 3). Then Kev saw ANOTHER freaky mushroom,
at the opening's base, resembling spaghetti (last photo). We simply must
get a mushroom book!
Thursday, November 4
Besides being astonished and devastated more deeply than I could have
imagined (this election speaks volumes), I'd just like to say that the
Democratic Party's nomination process needs to be overhauled. But that's
just a drop in the ever deepening ocean of problems this country now faces.
(The #1 reason given for voting Republican: Morals?!)
On a happier note, I got a raise!
Bellying Up to Three Parties  
I was a belly dancer much of Halloween weekend (first incarnation at
right). Newly engaged Alan and Faith invited us to their Friday night
costume party, where we had a great time and yummy fare as always. "Please
allow me to introduce myself…" said Alan in his devil costume.
While Kevin hung with John, I spoke at length with Gabrielle (center above,
the wounded cat with the hunter husband) about the Alexander
Technique (alt link),
and with Michelle and Erin (who wore a terrific milkmaid outfit to her
husband Brad's cow). Michelle and I won little toy pumpkin prizes, tying
for "costumes with the most layers."
Saturday afternoon Kevin and I hiked along the Potomac again, photos
another time.
   
Saturday evening was spent at Ali and Cliff's party (photos just above),
with Jamie, Etienne, Heather, Zoom, and lots of other folks dressed up
and down. Kevin and I won the awards for best costumes, this time receiving
red and white bottles of Vampire
wine actually imported from Romania. Kevin was a "lion tamer,"
complete with whip (we found at Ali's) and a little stuffed tiger-striped
cat. He marveled over the fact that his makeshift costume won, and maybe
it wouldn't have after a good Han Solo outfit showed up, but Kevin sure
looked sexy!
Kev was exhausted by Sunday night and had to get up early, so I went
alone to Renée
and Alex's Halloween party at
The Conservatory (their house with the ballroom). Because of my belly
dance performance that evening (dress photos of my group below), I didn't
arrive at the start-at-5pm party 'til 10, still made-up. The crowd had
thinned out and I was drawn into a game of Celebrity, where I proceeded
to hamper my partner Renée in her attempts to help us win. I'm
just not a movie/celebrity buff and barely knew a number of the people
I was supposed to hint at or guess. Petra
looked great in her Pirate outfit and Constantia was very purple.
     
I devoted Sunday afternoon to gradually prepping for the evening's 7:00
performance of the 5th Annual Arabian Nights 'Enchantment!': An Intimate
Evening of Magical Middle Eastern Dance at Joe's.
My class troupe, dubbed the WMDs (Women of Mass Distraction) performed
the opening piece—our first—and everyone said we had the most
dazzling costumes — though I loved Lucy's shimmery blue-green mermaid-like
bra and skirt and elbow-length blue fingerless gloves. Our piece went
great, as did every one I saw. There were numerous other student group
performers as well as established dancers, and my favorite soloist was
Keylan
Qazzaz for her expressiveness, elegance, and beautiful, graceful hands.
Thanks to Christel
(Charsima), Susie, Elizabeth, Janet, Andrea and our teacher Laurel
for helping make our (or at least, my) first performance a success!
While I don't have any photos of the actual performance, you can see
our wonderful outfits above.
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