It's building up now, heading for the grand moments

A big weekend for M is almost upon us, I saw us as I've been taking her to many rehearsals and classes, I make sure she has her things, and pay for them, I'll take her to the studio before dawn tomorrow (yawn!), help take tickets and sell snacks at her big show on Saturday.......   wish her fun for the parade on Sunday:)

If she didn't enjoy it, if she didn't want this, then, she wouldn't.   I could never push a child, my child, to do something optional (unless she'd made a commitment before changing her mind type thing).   Yet, she LOVES this:)

Crunch time is beginning, more e-mails back and forth, does anyone have full-length mirrors, and if so, can you bring them?  Yes, just like for last year.   The last costume came in last night, which looks lovely on M:)   Covered nicely, will show well on stage.  (Oh, will they need makeup for tomorrow a.m.?)

Tomorrow morning, M and her performing dance troupe will be live on a news station bit in the overall Washington/Baltimore area.  (Anyone in the area who wishes to know specifically what time and what station, please just e-mail me; I don't wish to post it publically.)   M is SO excited for it:)   She'll wear this new costume, too.

Tomorrow night, dress rehearsal!  Just, not makeup or hair done.   Typically, hair would be in wigs, but not for this "big show" on Saturday.   The auditorium seats 900 people, and last week, over 500 tickets had been sold, I think???   M is actually more nervous about THIS show.  Perhaps as they'll all be there in front of her.   One of the dances she is in, will be her Cross Reel figures dance, a traditional dance with four pairs of girls, that she and these other girls competited with in December's 2006 Southern Regional Oireachtas.

Saturday, a full show for just the video cameras, and then in front of the full live audience later.   Nicely, it's early enough, not like so many productions are, not too late like their recital nights will be.

Then, Sunday!, the big Baltimore St. Patrick's Day Parade, at 2:00 p.m.   This is what the particular news station wishes to lead into.   M's dance school will hold a party after, renting out a place downtown Baltimore, as per usual.   M will be with C and Sh, so hopefully, Si will wish to dance in the parade.   Typically, C won't bring M to any parades she's been able to be in, much to her dismay.   This year, she MIGHT be able to be one of the dancers on a float, in her solo dress, too.   Time will tell.   I took her one year, so at least she's gone in the past.   And, she went with me last weekend, to the one in Alexandria, even if Why Not? was closed early, as was Bird in a Cage, sigh.

I'm tired right now.  Juggling my father's needs (I so can't do for him everything he needs, even the things he can't do for himself, but, I' try to do what I can do, more shopping for him today, it's just getting it all done, ALL things done), making sure Daisy (and the cats) are not neglected.   Even if there are rehearsals going on, I always make sure Daisy gets a walk and fed and attention before the evening starts.  It's only fair.   Work.   Home life stuff.  Homework!  

Homework for today included M and her group presenting life as an Irish immigrant to other, younger, students in their Montessori school.   I was proud of her for having planned it sufficiently, that all that she personally had left to do last night, was pick up a few "Irish" stickers, and New York City, stickers, and we happened to find some nice Celtic cross stickers for the St. Patrick's Cathedral segment.  Naturally, a bit of garland, and some pencils to hand out, just HAD to be obtained, also.  LOL.

Next week, things will conclude.   There'll be another parade next Saturday, rehearsals and gigs and a mini ceili during the week, and of course a couple on Friday and a mix on Saturday (both M and I have turned down gigs ad conflicting with others), and two big ceili's (one M and V and another will dance step dancing in, maybe / maybe not with Si, also, cuz for some reason, neither C nor Sh can confirm with M).   The last one, we may skip.  Oh, *I* don't wish to miss it, it's with both of my adult ceili/set dance groups and a lot of fun, but, M may be burned out.   She'll get to decide.  There are always other ceili's.  

This year, M has not been asked to perform at school in any of the classes, which is a first.   She instead asked me if we could bring in an ice cream cake, as she saw that Dunkin Donuts makes one with a rainbow and pots of gold.   Ah, maybe:)

The rest of life doesn't stop.   I wish there were more celebrations for other ethnic groups, too.   Really only Chinese New Year (love those parades), and Cinco de Mayo, which I haven't seen a parade for, but I saw a Vive la Fiesta parade in Santa Barbara the summer of 1984 which coincided with the world's Olympics there, and Octoberfest's.  At least I understand a bit more now.   There were more German immigrants than any others, and then Irish.   This parade was originally an attempt to "fight" back, in a way, positively affirm the Irish  heritage against all the prejudice of the times back then.   I'd just like to have more opportunity to learn about OTHER groups, too, for all of us.

Enjoy your weekend, all:)