It was a slow day at the daycare today. We had time to leisurely clean, do laundry, read to the kids, clean up the office, chat about life, cuddle the toddlers, make phone calls, and so on. It was cold and sunny in the morning, warm and sunny in the afternoon. The garden is slowly starting to fade and shift, just as the sun is noticeably setting earlier (the shadows are longer now in the afternoons, and they start sooner). It was a good day for reflection.
So, what have I been up to?
Daycare: Most of you know that I have decided to work full time at the daycare, at least for the time being. Jen and I are writing a book about the daycare, although we do a lot more doing and a lot less writing than we ever hope for. Still, it is slowly taking shape. Daycare doesn’t pay much, so I can’t afford to move out on my own. Instead, I am paying my mom and step dad room and board. It is a win-win situation since I get cheap rent and a comfortable home, and they get to pay a little extra on their mortgage each month. It won’t work once Brad moves out, but for now it is a most agreeable situation.
I have continued to work on organizing Jen’s business. The office is looking pretty good, as are the electronic records. We also launched a daycare newsletter this summer—The Zen Boot Camp Newsletter. Why “Zen Boot Camp”? Well, I have been reading The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron, and she talks about Buddhism being a lot about practicing the four limitless qualities of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. I thought about how much MORE we get to practice all of these things at the daycare and much this work is like a crash course in Buddhism in action… Zen Boot Camp just seemed to fit. (Anyone interested in a PDF copy of one of the newsletters, just send me an email.)
There will be much more about the daycare on this blog, so stay-tuned.
Rogue Theatre: I left the Blue Room Theatre in June and since have been working with a newly forming community theatre group, the Rogue Theatre. Of course, they are brand new so all this work is for free. I am helping them to create a non-profit. I bought a How To book for doing this in California and have been helping them through the steps. We now have filed our fictitious name with the county, filed Articles of Incorporation with the state and are currently working on our bylaws and a budget which are both items needed for the next step of filing for nonprofit status with the IRS and the state of California.
That is the boring nuts and bolts stuff. The exciting news is that we have finally opened our first play. We are doing Pillowman. It is a dark comedy-drama that is disturbing and though provoking. I saw it opening night and it was excellent. Friday we had a reviewer tell us that it was the best play she had seen in Chico in years, so it is all looking pretty good for us. We have no home right now. Currently we are working with owners of different venues to put on different plays. This first one is in an art gallery in between their shows. (Check out the website: http://www.chicorogue.com ).
UUFC: When I moved here, one of the first things that I did was to join the Unitarian church. The one here is called Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Chico, but UUFC is easier. It is small with only about 55 members and about that many again friends. It has been here since the 1960’s and had numbers go up and down, like most UU churches. Right now we have no minister. We are looking for a part-time minister, but there is a shortage right now and a part-time position in a small town just isn’t that appealing. Still, we are hopeful. (Website: http://www.saber.net/~chicouu/index.html )
When I got here, they were looking for someone to take over the newsletter this year. I kept my mouth shut, thinking that surely someone less new would come forward. Yeah, right. So, now I am the newsletter editor of The Messenger which comes out monthly. The biggest trouble, as with all newsletters, is tracking down contributors. Other than that, it is not that difficult a task.
I am also on the Sunday programs committee and have volunteered to help out here and there with our Sunshine committee and hospitality. And this week I am joining the choir. I was invited to join this Sunday at coffee hour and I decided that I would because I bet this will be a meeting that will be refreshing, and I could certainly use some of that!
Odds & Ends: I did a lot of house sitting this summer, which was a good way to bring in a little extra money, and have a place to get off to on my own for a bit. I will be doing some office management work for Jen’s partner, Michael, at least for the fall, which will be another way of bringing in a little side money. I just found out that I am a “fire horse” in Chinese astrology. I have learned how to save things in PDF for the newsletter and it has been very handy.
Finally, I am going to visit Milwaukee for Thanksgiving. A financially reckless act, but emotionally and spiritually brave, kind and joyful.
InPeace, Nikki
So, what have I been up to?
Daycare: Most of you know that I have decided to work full time at the daycare, at least for the time being. Jen and I are writing a book about the daycare, although we do a lot more doing and a lot less writing than we ever hope for. Still, it is slowly taking shape. Daycare doesn’t pay much, so I can’t afford to move out on my own. Instead, I am paying my mom and step dad room and board. It is a win-win situation since I get cheap rent and a comfortable home, and they get to pay a little extra on their mortgage each month. It won’t work once Brad moves out, but for now it is a most agreeable situation.
I have continued to work on organizing Jen’s business. The office is looking pretty good, as are the electronic records. We also launched a daycare newsletter this summer—The Zen Boot Camp Newsletter. Why “Zen Boot Camp”? Well, I have been reading The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron, and she talks about Buddhism being a lot about practicing the four limitless qualities of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. I thought about how much MORE we get to practice all of these things at the daycare and much this work is like a crash course in Buddhism in action… Zen Boot Camp just seemed to fit. (Anyone interested in a PDF copy of one of the newsletters, just send me an email.)
There will be much more about the daycare on this blog, so stay-tuned.
Rogue Theatre: I left the Blue Room Theatre in June and since have been working with a newly forming community theatre group, the Rogue Theatre. Of course, they are brand new so all this work is for free. I am helping them to create a non-profit. I bought a How To book for doing this in California and have been helping them through the steps. We now have filed our fictitious name with the county, filed Articles of Incorporation with the state and are currently working on our bylaws and a budget which are both items needed for the next step of filing for nonprofit status with the IRS and the state of California.
That is the boring nuts and bolts stuff. The exciting news is that we have finally opened our first play. We are doing Pillowman. It is a dark comedy-drama that is disturbing and though provoking. I saw it opening night and it was excellent. Friday we had a reviewer tell us that it was the best play she had seen in Chico in years, so it is all looking pretty good for us. We have no home right now. Currently we are working with owners of different venues to put on different plays. This first one is in an art gallery in between their shows. (Check out the website: http://www.chicorogue.com ).
UUFC: When I moved here, one of the first things that I did was to join the Unitarian church. The one here is called Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Chico, but UUFC is easier. It is small with only about 55 members and about that many again friends. It has been here since the 1960’s and had numbers go up and down, like most UU churches. Right now we have no minister. We are looking for a part-time minister, but there is a shortage right now and a part-time position in a small town just isn’t that appealing. Still, we are hopeful. (Website: http://www.saber.net/~chicouu/index.html )
When I got here, they were looking for someone to take over the newsletter this year. I kept my mouth shut, thinking that surely someone less new would come forward. Yeah, right. So, now I am the newsletter editor of The Messenger which comes out monthly. The biggest trouble, as with all newsletters, is tracking down contributors. Other than that, it is not that difficult a task.
I am also on the Sunday programs committee and have volunteered to help out here and there with our Sunshine committee and hospitality. And this week I am joining the choir. I was invited to join this Sunday at coffee hour and I decided that I would because I bet this will be a meeting that will be refreshing, and I could certainly use some of that!
Odds & Ends: I did a lot of house sitting this summer, which was a good way to bring in a little extra money, and have a place to get off to on my own for a bit. I will be doing some office management work for Jen’s partner, Michael, at least for the fall, which will be another way of bringing in a little side money. I just found out that I am a “fire horse” in Chinese astrology. I have learned how to save things in PDF for the newsletter and it has been very handy.
Finally, I am going to visit Milwaukee for Thanksgiving. A financially reckless act, but emotionally and spiritually brave, kind and joyful.
InPeace, Nikki
