Yep, you read that right. I’ve been busy at home for a whole year now (!), and it’s almost that long since I went to the US for the puppet festival (!!). I got so frustrated with everything about a month ago, that I promised myself that I would take the honorarium I’m getting for being webmaster for UNIMA Australia, and go away for a bit. I normally wouldn’t even consider travelling, given my non-existent income, but the money is just enough for a few days away - and I need a holiday.

So anyway towards that end:

Puppets in Melbourne will not be trading from 1st July 2010 - 8th July 2010!

Where am I going and what am I going to do? I’m not saying. No, it’s not a surprise, it’s just there are people out there who may be reading and I don’t want them to know about it. Suffice to say that I’m spending a few days away from home, my computer, my email… and yes, my sales…. Actually, I may not be going anywhere. I’ve spent most of today dealing with doctors. A few weeks ago I started taking antibiotics for what was assumed to be a chest infection (I used to get them a lot as a kid, but I’ve never had anything worse), the meds haven’t done anything for what I can only call the most horrendous cough ever. It’s kind of like being winded 24/7. This morning my doctor advised me to get a chest x-ray and blood tests.  So you know it’s not my usual griping over being sick or tired or overworked; I’ve never, ever been sent for a chest x-ray and the whole thing would be creeping me out (I did see the x-rays on the screen and I can tell you, even my layman’s senses picked up the fact that the technician looked concerned about the images) if it weren’t for the fact that I’m pretty out of it (combination of wheezing, coughing, and meds which are making me drowzy - it’s a good thing I predrafted most of this post a few days ago). I’m hoping it’s nothing too serious, but either way I’ll be spending next week trying to get better, sleeping - most likely coughing - and relaxing. Fingers crossed!

…In the meantime, feel free to reminisce with the puppet festival diaries for the Atlanta trip or for UNIMA 2008. It’s strange to think that it’s already one whole year since I went to Atlanta (and two and a half since UNIMA ‘08). The things that stick in my mind are as expected, the highlights: Nana Projects and their fantastic shadow puppetry; meeting many puppeteers, many of whom are now more familiar to me via Puptcrit and other forums; the Centre for Puppetry Arts (and Jim Henson day overall) who I now follow on Twitter; and my sightseeing highlights (the Air and Space Museum, Fox Theatre, the segway tour, free cookies at the hotel, and good food from a restaurant). A year later, I’m wishing I could see Poli Degaine again, despite my continual dislike of Punch and Judy. Some shows I saw remain forgotten until I reread the review and recall how terrible it was (I get shivers thinking about Bride); others, like The Day it Snowed Tortillas, I’ve used as descriptive examples of how to create distance and scale onstage to non-puppetry people. I recall with clarity the joy and excitement of Leslie Carrara-Rudolph and her infectious and high-voiced characters.

Have I done what I planned to do since? I’ve not kept up with Sticky Apple Legs, my alternate company; I have gotten more active in UNIMA Aus. and the local industry; I have got plans to be more active still; and have continued progress on making this site and the business overall better and more profitable. And a while ago I found out that the exhibition organisers from the National Puppetry Festival were planning on creating a book with photos of the puppets showcased, which will include the ones I submitted: I sent my ok in and am looking forward to getting a copy. (And actually, also discovered my registration for the festival has made me a member of Puppeteers of America, and recently received last year’s publication and member directory in the mail!) And I’ve successfully used an idea I had for making reversible shadow puppets. Have I done everything I wanted? No, I spent far too much time on UNIMA Australia’s site than I had ever planned, which has made me fall behind on so many things. I’ve been extremely behind on my plans on splitting PIM into two. I’ve not made much more progress in making and selling shadow puppets; although am succeeding in seeing a consistent, if seasonal, sales trend on patterns. I bombed out at both live puppetry classes and selling at a market. I have ideas for designing my shadow puppet screen that will offer more flexibility than planned; and an idea on making a shadow puppetry short using an innovative design (oh, how I wish I could figure out how to do it though!).

And I’m starting to long for attendance at another puppetry festival. UNIMA 2012 in China, or a regional (and likely more active) American one. But for now, I have another doctor’s appointment tomorrow, and I shall take a few days off, sleep, eat comfort food, and hopefully be back to my usual self in a week.