Chris' Update

August has been something of my free month since the campaign ended at the beginning of the month.

I've been volunteering with the Friends of the Library all summer and I got back in the habit of helping them this month since in the last days of the campaign I had gotten a little out of the habit. I just moves books around and recycle the ones they don't think they can use.

The next task I picked up was working on a rocket to launch (a Chinese Long March 2F)/display, which requires enough detail work that after a month's work it still is only about 2/3rds done.

After that I agreed to help the Reno County Democrats organize their get-out-the-vote efforts. This means wrangling volunteers, teaching them how to do calls, and keeping tack of which voters are persuadable and which just need reminded to turn out. Most of the data has already been handled by the Paul Davis campaign, so I think it's an easy job, but every RCD meeting I've gone to has had them completely fumbling the execution. I'd like to say I'll change that, but after having been "in charge" for a month, I've yet to do any real work because they're constantly sabotaging themselves by putting things off.

Along the way I also agreed to help the new Education Director at the Cosmosphere plan a program for schoolgroups to do, which has largely been what I work on in the evenings. My other evening task has been helping the Reno County Area Transit agency get their routes and services on Google Maps. It's work that started with the campaign and has taken a while to execute, but will hopefully launch this fall.

Then I took a quick trip to California with my high school friend Bismark, where I saw the ocean/San Francisco and then helped him drive a car back to Kansas City. Finally I'll be starting at the Cosmosphere as an employee (working the front desk) this week, which I'll use as an in-between job to support going back to school for a certificate in (probably) machine technology.

Duh Duh Duh!!!!!

Well.  Almost two weeks late.  But I finally remembered.

One of the reasons that I forgot to write my last blog post on time is that its publishing date came in the middle of Nickel and Dimed.

The production (which many of you attended) took a great deal more of my energy than was expected.  This energy was expended for many different reasons.   The least favorite of which was the fact that I was expending energy on cast conflicts.  Particularly (which has never EVER happened to me), I was dealing with attempting to keep actors from walking out of performances due to their feelings being hurt and internal conflicts.  While I always knew that the arts drew individuals with mental health issues together, I have never, ever, experienced a period of time where I've had two individuals so opposed to each other that they walk out of a performance.  Both of the women who attempted to walk out of performances have severe depression issues.  I am thankful that I am healthy and aware enough to recognize that I never want to go back there again.

The production played its last performance on Sunday, August 17th.  Strike was over in a very speedy amount of time.  It had concluded by 6:30 pm.  I walked out of the building around 6:45 pm.  That is an accomplishment in and of itself.  In the meantime, I have helped with two Stage 9 events.  The first was the inaugural Third Thursday Film Festival.  Bob Colladay, a HTG Board member and longtime arts cohort, organized the event.  I was on the jury panel for the films as well as being a projectionist and host at Stage 9.  It was poorly attended which for this town is pretty much standard.  But the closing presentations were attended by around 70 people so that kind of made up for some of the empty houses I played films for.  On Saturday, the second in our Stage 9 Live! benefit concert series was held.  I was supposed to take tickets for the event but ended up being the unofficial bar tender, given the fact that the theatre guild does not have a liquor license.  I was not pleased about this but for the most part, everyone in attendance enjoyed themselves.  I could go on forever about why I think these Stage 9 Live! events are a bad idea for the theatre guild but that would I'm afraid be a novella of negativism which is not helpful to anyone.

For the most part, one year later, I am grateful to have been in Hutchinson and leading the production end of the Hutchinson Theatre Guild up.  At this time last year, I was in full production for a project called Be a Good Little Widow.  Now I'm preparing for the final 2014 Season production of Other Desert Cities.  If you haven't made it out for 2014 Season, this is a production to attend.  By far the best written play of the season, it has themes which are near and dear to my heart.  Plus, its just a romp of family dysfunction and keeps you guessing until the end.  And the design that we are working on executing for it is remarkable.

Other than that, life continues moving forward as expected.  I continue to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa K, Grandma Johnston, Aunt Carol and Mom and Dad here in town.  I must say that I am disappointed that I haven't been able to spend more time with the little girls.  This has happened partially out of schedule conflicts and partially out of a desire to give my best self to them.  Due to the extreme stress I was under during this production, I did not want to treat any family members but especially the little ones with less love and cheeriness that they deserve.

A much needed vacation begins on September 3rd.  The trip is a giant loop on Amtrak.  Dad and I leave on September 3rd and get back on September 12th (in time for some quality time at the State Fair).  We visit LA, Emeryville (right outside of San Francisco) and Chicago before we arrive back.  We spend more time on the train then we do on the ground.  I'm thrilled.

My hope is this trip will will allow me to de-stress and return with a renewed sense of love and care for everyone, especially my family.  You all remain inspirations to me for your ability to forgive and support.  Its a lesson I wish everyone could be privileged to learn from you.    

Until the next (and hopefully on time) entry.

Greetings from Grandma, Grandpa & Kat

The word for the day is "HOT".  The temps have been in the 100's now for several days!  105 yesterday.  It's like having cabin fever in the summer because it is too hot to go outside.

It has been two months since we had our turn to post on the blog.  As most of you know we have had two family reunions, celebrated the 4th of July and our 60th wedding anniversary.  Thanks again for all the cards.  I think we received 47 cards in all.

Besides the special occasions, time has been spent volunteering at the library (Grandpa) 2 days a week and myself at the Cosmos whenever they need someone.  Mowing at the pasture whenever needed and lawn care here at home.  It was a good year for sandhill plums so I was able to make a couple batches of jelly.

September 5 is the state fair which I always look forward to.  I hope we have some cool weather by then!

Janssen Reunion

Janssen Reunion

Reunion

Kat has taken to having breakfast with Grandpa

Tolleson Tidings

Hello from Austin! 

Both James and I are in the middle of our favorite weeks of the year (she says sarcastically); for James it is staff updates and for me it is staff development :-). It's definitely an important time as we regroup with colleagues for the year and make sure everyone is on the same page, but it includes a lot of sitting and listening to presentations/speeches.

James is working hard and continues to cook lots of amazing foods. He is also keeping up with the bursting beer scene in Austin right now. We invested in a growler and have one of our favorite beers, the 512 Brewing Company's Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter, sealed in the fridge awaiting Kurtis and Mary's visit in October! After three years of taking one class a semester in the Musicology master's program at UT, James is considering a change in majors. He is currently in the process of switching to a degree in higher education. Teaching private lessons and playing tuba in the community wind ensemble will help to keep him involved in making music.

I enjoyed traveling this summer to spend time with Andy, Katie, and brothers in Chicago, Grandma Shook, Aunt Lynne, and family in Minnesota, and lots of family in Kansas! Yoga has become my stress relief and I hope to continue practicing this year as school starts. When I returned to school, I decided our orchestra room needed curtains :-), so I made them (it took longer for me to remember how to wind a bobbin than it did to actually sew the curtains...probably not, but it was a little embarrassing how long it took). 

In other news, Rimsky and Duncan are awesome kitties! They play together, cuddle together, and love double teaming the ribbon as we pull it around the room. Rimsky turned one on August 1st and Duncan will soon be 5 months old.

watching bugs on the balcony

sleeping on their favorite chair

One of the two windows in the orchestra room with curtains! The right panel is music and the other is a black and white pattern. The other window is the opposite, music on the left and pattern on the right.

Caramel Macchiato Cheesecake Erik and I made in Minnesota, yum! 

Beautiful Minnesota Sunset

Love to everyone! God's Blessings,

Hannah and James