Why is Everyone on Stilts?
June 14, 2008, 10:04 pmWe began the day by attending the opening festivities for the Fairfax Festival - the parade. Given our parade experiences in Brooklyn, I expected some local groups walking down the street, some marching bands, maybe even a few bagpipers. What we got was a whole lot more. The Marin Sanitation group had an entire choreographed routines in which they danced with garbage cans. It was a mixture of the 7th Inning stretch at Yankee Stadium and Stomp. There were multiple floats promoting the merits of bicycles and walking. Naturally, there were unicyclists and a walking dashiki-wearing drum circle.
The unofficial theme of the parade (and what pretty much seems to be the theme of life in Fairfax these days) was Stop the Spray. For those of you unfamiliar with this movement, the Stop the Spray people protest against Governor Schwarzenegger’s plan to drop pesticide to kill some pesky moths (similar to NY’s pesticide dumping to get rid mosquitos). I am as opposed to pesticide dumping as the next person, but I was a little surprised at the direction some of the parade participants took with the message. There were people on stilts who were playing the airplanes and a bunch of other people dancing around as moths. The people on stilts did not just attack the moths with water, but they also sprayed children with bubbles. It kind of reminded me of a Panic at the Disco video and seemed like a mixed message to me.
Then we headed over to the Northern California Pirate Festival. It was like a Renaissance Festival for Pirate lovers. I had heard that people dress up for it and expected somes eyepatches, clothes featuring Jolly Rogers and such. The lengths festival-attendees went to for their costumes were impressive (this of course, is coming from a girl married to someone who created an authentic Storm Trooper costume). I found myself wondering where all of these people shopped. I need not wonder anymore. Almost every booth at the festival feature pirate regalia. There were multiple booths selling pirate outfits that could have come from a Hollywood wardrobe closet. If someone had asked me to imagine a flea market catering to pirates, this would’ve been it.
It really was an entertaining festival. There were some gutter punks from Oregon singing pirate-inspired music and many Pirates singing shanties. It struck me how similar pirate shanties are to Irish folk songs.
Aside from the more generic, authentic pirates, there were many Jack Sparrows, quite a few corset-wearing girls who looked as much like wenches as they did pirate lasses, and, surprisingly, pirates on stilts. I guess no matter the theme, Californians can participate on stilts.
—Rachel | no comments
(posted in the Northern California category)
What’s in a name?
June 13, 2008, 11:04 pmAs many who know me realize, I have been in a name crisis since October, 2005. Of course, October, 2005 is when Mike and I got married. In the months prior to our wedding, I tried to figure out whether I wanted to change my name. Well, I always knew I wasn’t going to completely change my name, but I was deliberating on whether I should add a hyphen and Csurics.
I ultimately decided I would, but it was probably potential future laziness that drove me to the decision. I discovered that all I needed to do to change my name was to write the new name on the marriage license. If I didn’t change it and then decided to change it in the future, there would be a bunch of paperwork. I also figured by hyphenating the two names, it gave me three options for a last name from which to choose at any time.
After the wedding, I remember shuddering any time mail came to the house addressed to Rachel Csurics. It just felt wrong. I was still okay with the hyphenated name, but for most purposes I kept my former name.
I felt this worked pretty well for a while. Unfortunately, it also led to many times where Mike and I were unsure which last name to give when companies needed to look things up. We didn’t keep very good track of which last name I was using when.
During the past couple of months, we experienced another instance of my confusing identity. We ordered a couch and some other stuff from Ikea, which led to plenty of its own issues, and needed to call many times to deal with delivery and damaged goods. Each time, when I was asked my last name, I would say one of the names and then another, hoping they would find it, and then laugh nervously. Mike pointed out to me that he thought I was the only one laughing in these situations, but I still don’t know if that was true. But this scenario at Ikea, once again, made me question what my last name is. Still no answers, though.
Since moving to California, I have found myself in more and more situations where I am just using Csurics. It doesn’t make me as uncomfortable as it used to, but I think that has more to do with Graydon than with me. It’s easier to have the same last name as him, and it’s also kind of nice.
I recall an article written by Anna Quindlen where she discusses having a different last name than her husband and kids and how that led to some awkward situations. I think I always thought that I would keep my former last name (I really hate the term maiden name), but now, I’m not sure. I think hyphenating the two last names is still my preference. but it creates a very long name and spelling Csurics is already complicated enough.
Almost everyone I know who has gotten married has taken their husband’s name wholeheartedly. They seem really excited to do so. It has made me wonder why I feel differently. Perhaps, it’s another case of me overthinking things. When it comes down to it, I think there’s a part of me that likes being able to pick and choose from my three last name options. I think it kind of goes with my different identities. It lets me be independent Rachel, Rachel-and-Mike Rachel and Graydon’s mom Rachel. Maybe one day, they will all merge, but for now I like having a way to keep things separate, even though it’s probably only an illusion.
—Rachel | no comments
(posted in the Random Thoughts category)
Never Say Never
June 13, 2008, 10:44 pmSo, here I am doing something I never thought I would do - blogging. Yes, I was one of the naysayers not understanding why anyone needed to vocalize the thoughts in their head to an unknown audience. But now, here I am. It’s amazing what moving 3000 miles away from virtually everyone you know will do. Mike decided to bring his blog back from the dead, and I have decided to follow his lead. I figured if nothing else, it would get me writing again, something I have not really done since Graydon was born.
Since moving to California, we have met a bunch of people, but I have yet to find my niche. Mike has done better in that department, but that is really no surprise. People are friendly, but it’s hard to find common ground. I had enough trouble finding like-minded folks in NY, so the fact that I am having trouble in a tiny town full of new age shops, hippies and bicyclists shouldn’t surprise me.
I am hoping that I can use this forum to voice the thoughts that pop into my head during the day that I used to be able to share with coworkers and friends. If some of those same coworkers and friends happen to read this, well that’s all the better. I have been struggling with a way to keep in touch with everyone in NY. The time zone difference is a bitch. By the time Graydon goes to bed, it’s too late to call anyone. Although, I finally gave in and joined Facebook, I am not ready to be a status updater. The pressure to be clever is just annoying to me. So, don’t expect anything too clever on these pages.
Mike gave me the advice to come up with some topics upfront, so that I could tag my posts. That got me thinking about what I might include. I have come up with the following list:
- my random thoughts about things I see, hear or read
- funny Graydon happenings (wow I have become that girl)
- Northern California (and all its weirdness)
I’m sure more will end up on these pages, but it’s a start.
—Rachel | no comments
(posted in the Random Thoughts category)
Starburst Theme designed by Claire
powered by WordPress 2.5.1 | valid XHTML and CSS