Where I've been

Blog? What blog? Oh, right, I have one, don't I?

I've been busy. Since I last wrote, I've been to Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island visiting family, then to libraries and camps in Arkansas City, Wichita (twice), Valley Center, Oskaloosa, Lawrence, Overland Park and Leavenworth, Kansas, as well as Ponca City, Oklahoma and Jefferson City, Missouri. Mostly I've been doing summer reading programs, which have gone over well. The baby puppet has been singing "Throw, throw, throw the goat in the lima bean, Slippily, loppily, lippily, loppily, on the trampoline." Just as we do with the Itsy Bitsy Tiger, we sing it the proper way for her. Will she ever learn?

This was a performance in my backyard last week.

In Valley Center, they decorate the library up to the rafters. That whale must have been a tough one to net.
Also in Valley Center, the library lends out fishing poles, courtesy of Kansas Wildlife and Parks. In the past I've mentioned libraries lending cake pans, but I'd never seen this. First-time fishing pole borrowers get a little tackle box to keep.
This kind of busy-ness is typical of summer. July is quieter than June by far. Maybe I should go fishing?

Puppets and the TSA

I can only barely imagine the scene at the airport on my way to Utah, when the Transportation Security Agency folks inspected my bag for dangerous items. Did the baby pop her binky out at them? Did Belle the dragon bat her eyelashes at them? Did Kiddy Goat and Felice Sheep, nibble their clothes? Did they complain about how cramped it was in the bag and how Mavis made it smell like a monkey pit? Or did the puppets all take on that strange submissive attitude many of us get as we're trying to go quickly through security? We'll never know.

Getting ready for Brazil

If you look at my calendar on my website, you'll notice that from September 26 to October 25 I'll be in Brazil. I'm filling in the visa forms today. I got the passport renewed in January, so I'm set.

I'll be telling stories to kids in English, with the help of puppets, harmonica and all the gathered improv and storytelling skills I can muster. I've been borrowing books and CDs on Brazilian Portuguese for a few months now, so I'll be at least a little prepared for the time outside the shows.

I was reassured this past week to read Megan Hicks' blog about her recent tour of Peru and Chile, through the same company. I'll probably write more about this when I've talked to Megan by phone.

Joe Fish on travel

Joe Fish clearly has an opinion about my travels. He's curled up with Mavis (the monkey) and Olivia (the ostrich).