Texas Blue Lime Productions » Blue Lime

A growing family: Panther

lori — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:49:58 +0000

We added four feet to our family this weekend.
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Last weekend, after a quick visit with Shelly (a.k.a. Sheldon before they found out he was a she; an 8-week old sibling of Lenoard, Penny, and Howard), we found out that that her parents weren’t quite ready to give her up for adoption like they had planned. [1]
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In the mean time, Emil got excited about the idea of a new feline member of our household. Furthermore, we had already prepped for a long weekend visit that Shelly’s parents originally offered, so we had a four-day weekend planned and had purchased some basic supplies like an additional litterbox.
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Emil began research. Lo-and-behold it was “cheap pet” weekend at the Austin shelter. Just like with Mítad on Cinco de Mayo in 2000, we landed upon the adopt-a-thon.
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Friday, I took Purrrrrl to the vet to update her rabies vaccine and met a vet tech who fosters 22 cats in a “cattery”. We’d always had girls and were planning to get another female, but he suggested that male cats are both more affectionate and easier to introduce. According to him, females are quite territorial with one another.
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We entered into the visitation room primarily because one of the young male cats named Sebastian. After all, who could resist a kitty with the Miami mascot name? Sebastian was very sweet and had a white patch on his chest and stripe on his belly just like Sosta did. But, he was out-loved by his roommate, Panther. Panther had a Zeta-turquoise collar, too. It felt meant-to-be!
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The good/bad part of this deal is that he reminds me so VERY much of Sosta. I still miss her a great deal and the reminder is both warm and harsh. So far, I spend my time adoring him in reference to her and realizing he’s not the cat she was. He is ready to be friends with Purrrrrl, and she’s close to accepting him, too. We are sure that by the time the weather is cool, they will be snuggle buddies.
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The vet tech may very well have been right: Panther’s lovely and affectionate. He seeks attention from us and does his best to sleep in the middle of the bed so he can be close to us both. We are already quite pleased with him and with our decision to add a member to our family.
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Oh, and black cats (as well as dogs) are always the least adopted, so we not only saved a kitty from shelter life, but also took one of those at the greatest risk of never having a family to love.
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[1] There is a story here that, believe it or not, implies that we offer kitty parachuting lessons from our 3rd floor balcony!
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Funny Protest Signs

lori — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:34:21 +0000

…and some of them will make you think, too!

Thanks, Julie, for finding this one!

Blue Theater Fundraiser

lori — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:22:50 +0000

Update: the BLUE Theater was victim of a fire a couple of days ago, so the fundraising needs are now even greater. Please support this group if you can.

The BLUE Theatre Hosts Fundraising Event – Help Support the arts in East Austin!!!
Austin, TX , July 2010

The BLUE Theatre, the hippest artist-operated performance space on Austin’s east side, is now under new artistic management! The previous company is taking all of their lighting equipment with them; nobody blames them (this stuff’s expensive!). However, in order for The BLUE to continue business as usual, all of this equipment needs to be replaced. So, the BLUE is reaching out to the community and local businesses for help …

On Sunday, August 1st, 2010, the BLUE Theatre will team up with local bands Home By Hovercraft (http://www.myspace.com/homebyhovercraft), Abandoned Warehouse (http://www.myspace.com/homebyhovercraft), and other local talent to host BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL, an all-day music event designed to raise money for the overhaul.

The entire community is invited to come rock out while supporting a local arts institution in raising money for a complete lighting equipment overhaul. Give till it hurts while listening to great music, drinking fantastic cocktails courtesy of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and mingling with music lovers, artists, patrons, and neighborhood family and friends.

Details …
What: BLUE Light Special benefiting the BLUE Theatre
When: August 1, 2010 beginning at 3pm
Where: BLUE Theatre, 916 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78702

The BLUE Theatre is ‘home’ for many of our communities’ performing and visual artists and with the community’s help we will continue to bring powerful, innovative, thought-provoking works for Austin audiences to enjoy.

About The BLUE Theatre
The BLUE Theatre supports and presents artists whose work challenges the traditional boundaries of art, theatre, music, dance, film and performance. An artist-operated, multi-disciplinary performance space, community center and gallery with roots deep in the Austin arts scene. We produce our own shows, help support all artists and activists with our programs and can be rented for productions, rehearsals, events and auditions.

For more information, visit www.bluetheatre.org.

The BLUE Theatre, 916 Springdale Road, Austin, TX, 78702
CONTACT: Nicole Portwood, Executive Director (512) 743-8089, info@bluetheatre.org

###

familliar faces

lori — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:16:29 +0000

Last weekend was Emil’s class reunion. It was so great to meet some of his old friends and reconnect with others.

I got to meet the fabulous Ken & Denise Hawk for the first time. They were just as much of a joy in real life as they are on facebook. They are the kind of friends that make you want to be more like them so you can be a better person. Inspiring is not a big enough word.
We got to hang out with Dave & Debbie. I worked with Dave in the MSC and have known him longer than I’ve known Emil. Debbie went to St. Joseph Elementary with Emil and has known him almost their whole lives. Dave & Debbie met ~8 years ago and have been inseparable ever since. Dave & I had a blast swapping war stories about the people we hated working with. Kevin P. J. & David “P” C., I’m talking about you, you bastards.
We got to reconnect with Tommy & Lisa. They live here in Austin and we haven’t made any plans to see them in the 14 months we’ve been here. Shame on us! But, now the plans are ready to take some kind of form and shape. yay!

It’s fun to go to Emil’s reunion and hang with people I consider to be my own friends, too.

At lunch on Friday, from across the room, we saw who we thought might be another friend (who used to live in Austin). He works undercover in Houston, now. If it was him, the disguise is working. Funny that we’d almost run into him in College Station.

Then, today, at Dream Dinners, I kept staring at one of the women there. I looked at her name tag on her freezer shelf and it started to come back. By the time I put it all together, I was in the car and on my way home. I doubt she’d have remembered me, anyway. I was friends with her Advisor when I worked in Student Activities. The funny thing, I remember how much grief she caused, not the good she did. Maybe it’s best that I didn’t introduce myself!

Protected: Small World

lori — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:51:04 +0000

Coochie Coochie Coo!

lori — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:42:20 +0000

One of my all-time favorite Internet videos:

The BLUE Theatre Hosts Fundraising Event

lori — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:47:46 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The BLUE Theatre Hosts Fundraising Event – Help Support the arts in East
Austin!!!

Austin, TX , July 1, 2010

The BLUE Theatre, the hippest artist-operated performance space on Austin’s
east side, is now under new artistic management! The previous company is
taking all of their lighting equipment with them; nobody blames them (this stuff’s
expensive!). However, in order for The BLUE to continue business as usual,
all of this equipment needs to be replaced. So, the BLUE is reaching out to the
community and local businesses for help …

On Sunday, August 1st, 2010, the BLUE Theatre will team up with local bands
Home By Hovercraft (http://www.myspace.com/homebyhovercraft), Abandoned
Warehouse (http://www.myspace.com/homebyhovercraft), and other local talent
to host BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL, an all-day music event designed to raise money
for the overhaul.

The entire community is invited to come rock out while supporting a local arts
institution in raising money for a complete lighting equipment overhaul. Give
till it hurts while listening to great music, drinking fantastic cocktails courtesy of
Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and mingling with music lovers, artists, patrons, and
neighborhood family and friends.

The BLUE Theatre is ‘home’ for many of our communities’ performing and
visual artists and with the community’s help we will continue to bring powerful,
innovative, thought-provoking works for Austin audiences to enjoy.

About The BLUE Theatre

The BLUE Theatre supports and presents artists whose work challenges the
traditional boundaries of art, theatre, music, dance, film and performance. An
artist-operated, multi-disciplinary performance space, community center and
gallery with roots deep in the Austin arts scene. We produce our own shows,
help support all artists and activists with our programs and can be rented for
productions, rehearsals, events and auditions.

For more information, visit www.bluetheatre.org.
The BLUE Theatre, 916 Springdale Road, Austin, TX, 78702

CONTACT: Nicole Portwood, Executive Director (512) 743-8089, info@bluetheatre.org
###

Black with Green

lori — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:55:07 +0000

When I was a tween, colored contacts were the new science discovery on my mind. Suddenly, anyone could look like anything they wanted. Since I lived in “hell” (a.k.a. Paris, Texas) and wanted to be anyone else from anywhere else, the idea of a drastic change to my appearance was appealing. I wanted (and still do!) to have jet black hair with vibrant green eyes.

Fast forward quite a few years and a version of that dream came true. Sosta was just that: the blackest black fur and the most vibrant green eyes. (She also had a little white patch just below her collar bone and a tiny/thin white stripe across her belly that few people ever saw.)

This kitty reminded me of Sosta. He’s doesn’t have the white “angel kisses”, but he’s special in his own way.

Yankee Jambalaya Yuk to Dat’s Good

lori — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:44:14 +0000

We’ve been customers of Dream Dinners since we moved here last year. It’s a once-a-month meal preparation service. Each month, we select menu items. Then, I go in for our appointment, assemble each meal “salad bar” style where the ingredients are laid out in order. The correct measuring spoon/cup is even in the jar or bin with that item. For about $100 and just over an hour of my time, I come home like a lion to her pride with a cooler full of 36 entrees (and some side items, too).

One time, we got a meal I didn’t like (but Emil loved it, so it worked out.) One time, we got one that we both felt was meh, but we ate it. We just didn’t plan to order that one again. Out of 90+ entrees we’ve tried, two were less than perfect.

I’ve changed the way I’m eating, so the last two trips to Dream Dinners have taken a bit more homework and planning, but we’ve made it work. One of my attempts was their Jambalaya. Bad move. They are a yankee-based company so they have a northern spin on some Southern dishes. (They also put stews on the menu much to early for Texas weather.)

So, I had six entrees of jambalaya that was more Italian than Cajun. I didn’t want it to go to waste, so a rescue was in order.

I dug through the freezer and found some a package of gumbo veggies with seasonings. I heated them and then started adding little bits of the jambalaya rice at a time. In that process, I deduced that there is something red or green in the jambalaya that is throwing it off. I think it might have been the red peppers. So, I searched for pockets of rice without as many peppers. Then, I added dumped cayenne pepper and Tony Chachere’s original creole seasoning to the mix.

SAVE! I salvaged the meal from “Mwah! Just like Mama’s. Capiche?” to “mmmm DAT is GOOD.”

DFWeek

lori — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:15:44 +0000

Our week in DFW was full of fun (well, for one of us, at least.)

Sunday-drive up. We got a late start, but got there just fine. The hotel next to Emil’s class building was really nice. The only thing we missed was a mini-fridge.

Monday-While Emil had his first day of class, complete with his first night of studying, I spent the afternoon and evening with JJ & Becky and their kids. What fun we had with games, and supper, and trains, and more.

Tuesday-While Emil took his first test, I spent the day with Leanne. She was on vacation before her new job started. We had a great day making Challah and prepping for Friday services and the meal that would follow.

Wednesday-While Emil studied for the 2nd test, I spent the day with Sue and Bero at their home in Weatherford. We worked on her blog, traded Photoshop tricks, and picked gargantuan veggies from her garden. Vine-ripened tomatoes! Yum!

Thursday-While Emil took his 2nd test, I had no plans other than some editing to catch up on. I was a pretty disappointed in my food and WiFi choices for the day. If Las colinas is going to be such a corporate park—and with the construction of the Irving Convention Center complete with a light rail—they need to get with the times.

Friday-While Emil studied for his third test, I buzzed over to Fort Worth to hang with Jordan. I edited photos while she worked the UP desk at her real estate office. Then, we went to lunch and then spent the afternoon co-working before she had to leave to meet clients and I had to leave to get back to Leanne’s. I met Leanne at her Synagogue and attended services with her. She then welcomed me and several friends into her home for a proper meal for Shabbaz complete with blessings of the bread and wine and washing of our hands. It was a wonderful experience; I checked something off my bucket list.

Saturday-Emil’s last day of class and final test. I spent a good deal of time editing, but also carved out some time for myself at the pool.

Sunday-We slept in, had a yummy brunch, and made our way back home. Purrrrl seems to have zen’ed all week; she was bothered that our home arrival interrupted her nap. Thanks to our friend Cathy for checking in on Purrrrrl and Turtleor.