3 Birthday Shindigs: At Hogwarts, At UCSD Concert Hall & Online in The Orchid Room
A few weeks ago, we sent out the following to several dozen children:
11/11/11
11:11:11 – 3:33:33
=you=
are most cordially invited to attend
a Friday of magical adventures at
Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft & Wizardry
West US Campus: Ventura, CA 93001
Potions, Divination, Maps, Charms, Quidditch etc & during which time we will celebrate
Reed (Weasley) Sheridan’s 8th Birthday
please bring swim attire because you never know when there might a moat to cross…
please bring your broom stick for the Quidditch match…
please be prepared for sorting into your house upon arrival…
you may BRING your Muggle or Wizard parents or leave them at home.
Hogwarts/Wizard attire & Wands encouraged.
Because rained threatened, we changed the date to yesterday, Friday 11/18/11–which also meant we were able to add a care of magical creatures class: learn how to take care of your owl.
It went really well and is worthy of its own post full of pictures of Quidditch and the other classes, the cake, the tables, the sorting, the treasure hunt etc. Stay tuned (or subscribe and get me in your inbox!)
Today I was to attend two birthday events: I was supposed to drive three hours south to San Diego to Jeff Kaiser 50th Birthday Concert at UC San Diego where he is finishing up his PhD AND I was to attend an online party in the Orchid Room in honor of Paul Squires.
Sigh.
Is it melancholia? or? All I know is I was so exhausted after my son’s party that I fell asleep on the couch before 10pm–and before I had a chance to visit the Orchid Room for Paul’s party which started on his birthday Brisbane, Australia time–Friday night Pacific Time, a time differential I knew so well from my years of correspondence with Paul.
About 11pm, my husband couldn’t rouse me, but around 230am I awoke thirsty and stiff. I brushed my teeth and headed downstairs where the waxing moon shone on the bed and through the window I could see the bright stars and planets. And I saw them for a long time because I couldn’t get to sleep and I had a headache so bad I went back up stairs in search of Advil…which I never found so I drank a glass of water and went back to bed…
In the morning, I still wanted to go to Jeff’s, headache and all but there was still cleaning up to do and preparations for the following night’s rain. I didn’t have anyone to drive with and no one to stay with. My husband was sick and my son was coming down with something so I made the decision to stay home, do my chores, and take care of my family.
I thought about birthdays all day as I was doing dishes, organizing Halloween and Harry Potter party decor: my own 50th is this January.
The best answer came in the form of a 10 minute video by Paul which was posted in the Orchid Room and contains two of my favorite poems, “Listen” and if i was #2. These are the final two of four poems on the 10 minute video:
And, by the way, did you know I do weddings?
art predator 
It was great to see you at the Orchid Room Gwendolyn. Thank you. We should try to do something about getting the opening hours extended. :)
Yes we should! In fact I had suggested to Paul that we try doing a regular open mic where people know others would be meeting at the Orchid Room and to bring work to share. Something more than once a year would be nice. Maybe once a month? On the 19th?
Well… to be honest I reckon every night is an open mic night. Just a matter of persuading.
Well yes…but it’s more fun if there’s a party going on and an audience too!