In which I cover the good stuff and the hard stuff in my week, trying for the non-preachy, non-annoying side of ritual and self-reflection.

And you get to join in if you feel like it.

This was a wild ride of a week. A lot of it was pretty sweet, I seem to remember, but it’s hard to tell because so much happened.

I’m heading straight to the new hammocks to recover.

Let’s see…

The hard stuff

Allergies. Allergies? What?

Finally got over the virus. Then knocked out by allergies.

I never get allergies. This is stupid.

Noise.

First a fire alarm test at Stompopolis.

Then construction next door.

Everything being outrageously behind schedule.

I’m not even talking about missing our opening date. That’s fine. Sometimes things require time and process. It’s just how it is.

But the other things! I am not yet able to be fine with that.

The lights arrived, five weeks late.

We’re finally getting air conditioning, which was supposed to happen ages ago. Still no word on the fans.

Anyway, constant re-adjusting.

Fix-it-ey people in and out.

Every time the new Playground is all glow-ey and shiny and sacred space, a bunch of workmen come through and the energy is off.

It used to be like that with the first Playground and I can’t remember how long it took until the space was a strong enough container that things didn’t get shaky.

Lots of clearing out.

Really, really tough decision making.

Hard stuff.

Ow, brain.

Overwork plus allergies plus decisions plus deadlines.

I feel very upset about three different situations.

And I can’t talk about any of them right now. RAWR!

Thursday.

I did a thing (skipping morning glow-sitting and yoga) that is pretty much guaranteed to make the day a mess. And it did.

Then: monsters.

Wanting to put my feet up.

What am I, a thousand years old? I have never in my life said the words, “I need to put my feet up.” Until this week when I said it all the time.

I mean, I am not opposed to forms of horizontal and/or elevated resting. And yes, sometimes it is hammock time. Stop! Hammock time!

And sometimes I put my legs up on the wall for some lovely Viparita Karani.

But verbally expressing the need for elevated feet? I don’t know what this is about, but it’s getting on my nerves.

It’s almost Rally and I promised myself a vacation before Rally.

It needs to happen.

There is no other way.

But time is running out. It can’t not happen, so the me who knows how to make it happen is invited to show up.

The good stuff

Energized! Yay!

After last week’s virus and exhaustion, it seemed like it would take ages to get back into the groove.

I asked — in the Very Personal Ads — to feel energized again, but didn’t actually believe it would work.

It did! I woke up early every day, excited and happy. It was INCREDIBLE.

Oh, I needed this.

The transformation of space.

The new Playground at Stompopolis really came into its glowing radiant wondrous self this week.

It’s here. It feels exquisitely magical.

I am so proud and happy right now. This has been such a massive endeavor, it’s amazing to see all the parts come together.

New costumes!

There’s that place across from SCRAP where they sell vintage clothing by the pound, and they now have costumes.

As you may or may not know, I feel very strongly about costumes, and also we have a very fabulous Costumery at the Playground.

Anyway, $25 got us two giant bags of costumes, all of which now live at Stompopolis.

Also: thank you, Mechaieh, for the donation of a very stunning hat. It is spectacular.

Extremely delicious foods.

If you’re coming to Rally (Rally!) this month (or in June, July or September), get excited about foods.

The Argentinian food cart moved a couple blocks closer to the Playground. The spinach empanadas are to die for. And if you eat meat, apparently everything else is incredible too.

There’s a new Indian place that specializes in street food offerings, a new Iraqi place, a bunch of new carts, and a circus. With food! All on NE Alberta St, which is where the Playground lives.

Of course, we already had way too much good food in the neighborhood, but this is out of control.

I tried a bunch of new places this week, and YUM.

PROGRESS! Serious, serious progress.

Among the many, many things that happened with the new space this week:

• We ran the Hush Hush Rendezvous for the new pirate crew, and it was a great success.
• Changed up the schedule, added a shift, and stopped calling them “shifts”, thanks to metaphor mouse. It’s now First Watch, Second Watch, and Third Watch.
• Set up the party to create the new PLUM (Playground User Manual).
• And now we’re almost done with the new PLUM and it’s gorgeous.
• Found a Head of Crew, who renamed the position and is now The Noodler!
• We have the Hush Hush Crew facebook group and google calendar up and running.
• Much progress on all the official entry and exit procedures for crew.
• A gorgeous new table for the arts & crafts station!
• Wonderful new decorations, like the orange tree in the Toy Shop, the PLAY letters over the elevator shaft, the magical signs, the general sparkliness.
• We renamed the nap room so that it’s now the Caboosery! Also, it is now carpeted.
• Renamed the upstairs (original) Playground to be the Hidden Playground, and then gave it an awesome secret code name.
• Found the right gumball machines.
• And a bunch of other things that I’ve been asking for in the VPAs but haven’t found yet.
• We have a date for the A/C install.
• And the new lighting finally arrived, finally finally.
• Also a brand new design for the Treasure Map, which is now the amazing DECODER COMPASS! Ordered the postcards. Happy.
• A bunch of big decision-making meant we were able to give a NO on a question that had been stressing me out. And that NO meant that I can put off a whole section of systems-creation.
• We’re running a Maiden Voyage period where Crew gets to play, work and practice systems. And then we’ll just casually morph into being OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!!!!!

The L”g B’omer PLUM picnic.

I had been dreading creating the new Playground User Manual, because the first PLUM took such a long time to make.

But we had a picnic! For L”g B’omer.

And the crew came and we did arts and crafts and ate snacks. It was delightful.

Hooray for help.

Yet again, the Floating Playground is a really good place to process.

I am a genius for inventing it.

Sun. Movement. Trust. Flow.

Thank you.

Obama finally speaks up for marriage equality.

I would have thought that I was too pissed off about how long it’s taken to be happy about this.

But you know what? I’m thrilled.

It’s about time.



Playing live at the meme beach house — it’s the Fake Band of the Week!

Background? Ez and I make up bands. Stu (retired Bolshevik-fearing voice-to-text software) once translated “people will hate me and be jealous” to “they’ll hang out at my Meme Beach House“. It’s just one guy.

This week’s band comes by way of Rhiannon, and they sound pretty much the way you’d expect: loud, happy and slightly inebriated.

Lucky Butter Explosion.

You’ll be happy — but not at all surprised — to find out that… it’s actually just one guy.



Hallo Hallo! I am saying Hallo Hallo. Announcement time.

Picture me wearing that crazy hat…

If you don’t have the Monster Manual & Coloring Book, get it.

I see what happens at the Floop when people use it, and the results are mind-blowing. This is a life skill that you will use forever. I recommend!

Also, come to Rally (Rally!) so you can have discoveries and epiphanies and generally change things up. And then we will giggle and eat empanadas.

That’s it for me …

Join my Friday ritual in the comments if you feel like it. Or call silent retreat!

We let people have their own experience. We’re supportive and welcoming. And we don’t give advice (unless people specifically ask for it).

Wishing you a glorrrrrrrrrrrrious day, a restful weekend and a happy week to come.

Shabbat shalom.

p.s. It’s fine if it’s not Friday anymore. There’s complete chicken amnesty — join in whenever (or not) and it’s no big deal.