The Goonies

Denna Beena invited friend over to celebrate her fiance, Travis Fillmen’s birthday. It was an evening potluck and barbeque. As soon as Terry and I arrived, it began to rain and everyone ran up the wooden steps to the second floor apartment. The first thing I saw entering the apartment was a sinister life like baby with blood stained teeth. I had seen similar babies at Spirit Halloween. Travis was at the stove preparing some deep fried pickles. I had never tasted a deep fried pickle before and now I’m a huge fan. Many of the people at the party were comedians from the SAK comedy lab.

The grill outside was kept going an soon there were hotdogs and hamburgers for everyone. There were cupcake sized cheese cakes that were to die for. Terry and Wendy Wallenburg sat together on the couch looking at shoes and other accessories on Wendy’s phone.

The highlight of the evening was an out door screening of “The Goonies“. The movie was a silly and fun Spielburg kids adventure. Travis had purchased a huge wide screen TV but discovered that it was impossible to get up the stairs to the apartment. The TV now lives in the garage and is rolled out for outdoor screenings. Perhaps a dozen people sat in a semi circle of camping chairs watching the movie. A cage was suspended from a tree above them with skeletal remains inside. Candle light and a string of Christmas lights offered the only illumination. I created my own second row so I could sketch.

Piano Bar Cabaret

Amanda Chadwick gathered some friends together for brunch at Dexter’s (808 East Washington Street.) Tables were pushed together to accommodate everyone. Everyone ordered Mimosa’s or juice. My omelet was reasonably good but lacking in spices. After we ate some of us went to Parliament House (410 North Orange Blossom Trail) for the Sunday Piano Bar Cabaret that occurs every week from 1pm to 4pm.

When Terry and I arrived, Kelly Richards was still setting up. He draped a black cloth over two small tables and used that to support his electronic piano. A tall tips chalice was rimmed with Mardi Gras beads. Amanda, Denna Beena and Travis Fillmen were already there. Mark Baratelli arrived soon after us. Mark performed early in the line up. He sang a Jason Robert Brown song but he improvised all the lyrics. It was pure genius and hilarious. I was surprised when Terry got up to sing. She sang “Send in the Clowns” tentatively at first then with feeling. It felt as if she was singing to me. I kept tearing around while she couldn’t move. As life throws it’s challenges at us, we are finding ways to laugh and tear up this town together.

Once again I was coaxed up to sing “Somewhere Out There” with Amanda. I’m always surprised when the whole audience joins along with the chorus. Amanda did a little soft shoe shuffle between verses. The most heart warming moment of the day came when Kelly asked all the singers to stand together on the small stage. We all sang “Seasons of Love“. All our voices blended and harmonized beautifully. Terry lowered her head to my shoulder as we sang. It was a simple glorious moment but soon forgotten in the crush and demands of everyday life.

Ethos Kitchen

It was Dina Peterson’s birthday. She invited friends via Facebook for an Ethos dinner and conversation celebration. I arrived early straight from work and started blocking in this sketch figuring she would push some tables together to eat with friends in the main dining area. I was wrong. I was halfway into the sketch when Dina arrived and told me she would be sitting outside. I never abandon a sketch but the dining room was absolutely deserted. My heart sank. Thankfully a mother and daughter sat at the table in front of me.

Outside several tables were pushed together and Dina’s friends began to arrive. Maria, Tia and Sophia were at the far end of the table. Denna Beena was there with her fiance Travis Fillman. It was a creative, holistic, fun group. Travis had a brand new 3-D smart phone. He took a photo of Denna as she held her hand out menacingly towards the camera. The 3-D image was impressive. A train whistle blew in the distance and Travis ran to the train tracks to shoot a 3-D video clip.

Amanda Chadwick read excerpts from a diary she kept from elementary school days. The entries were blunt and hilarious. Terry arrived late and when she arrived we split a plate of vegan tacos. Terry gave Dina a birthday card with a painting by John Sloan. The painting depicted a social gathering much like this birthday celebration except the intellectuals in the painting wore turn of the century outfits. I realized that the artist must have been seated at a table away from the main gathering. I looked around and saw a table with a good vantage point but decided to relax and enjoy the conversations instead.

Denna Beena’s Wedding dress

Denna Beena is engaged to Travis Fillmen. The wedding is being planned for fall of 2012. Amanda Chadwick arranged for Deena to try on wedding dresses. Now Deena isn’t someone who I would consider to have conservative tastes. Her hair is bright pink with purple and yellow highlights. I am more used to Deena wearing bright colors and black leather boots.

I got lost trying to find the Bridal shop. I thought it was in the Millenia Mall but Amanda texted me to let me know it was in a strip mall near a Super Target. Deena had already tried on a dress as I scrambled to find the place.

The Bridal shop was a flurry of activity. Tony Bennet crooned. I walked past row after row of white dresses toward the back of the store, then Amanda flagged me down. Deena was inside the dressing room. When she came out she was wearing this simple elegant dress with a brown sash around the waist. She liked it but wasn’t sure it was “the one.” The shop only allowed the future brides four dresses to try on. The dressing rooms had to be booked in advance. After four tries Deena had not found the perfect dress. This was a major step forward towards making the dream wedding a reality. Amanda offered some advice but was mostly there for moral support.

At lunch afterwards we had a long discussion about whether I should post this sketch. After all Travis shouldn’t see his blushing bride in the dress until the wedding day. It was decided that since this wasn’t “the” dress, it would be alright to post it.