01 November 2002 - 22:40

The past few days fluttered by in a series of surreal images.

2 a.m. Outside under a yellow moon, with the lights of Sarasota shimmering from far away across the bay. Deep down at the bottom of a featureless cylinder, water more than chest high. An orphaned infant whale sleeps fitfully. For some unknowable reason a great many humans have gone to a lot of trouble to build this place and all this equipment for him, but more particularly, a group of three forgo sleep to walk in wide circles, cradling him at the surface.

He wakes and follows us; diving and butting against my legs. I reach out to stroke him as he approaches and he swims slowly in front of me, turning sharply whenever he leaves the range of my fingers. He tries desperately to suckle from my arms and hands and breasts, with predictable results.

He sleeps. My partner in the water takes him and I watch them repeat the dance. I watch her peer down at him intently, murmuring sweet nothings as the baby swims around her.

I forgo polishing my take home midterm to stay up all hours with Wheel and The One and ten pumpkins, two ice cream scoops, and many knives. Our front porch glowed orange and exotic in the night, candle light illuminating grinning faces, a projected space ship hovering above a menacing alien, the eye in the pyramid, and a pumpkin "pi."

Halloween is spent at Sarasota Square Mall, wearing nothing more exciting than jeans and a t-shirt and dragon wings and my black, gold streaked tail. Malls still fascinate and amaze me--surprisingly, I've never actually been cynical about them in practice.

Legions and flocks of children wander around in adorable costumes, gathering candy from various stores. I saw several Harry Potters, all different. I caught sight of Ariel (the little mermaid), Mini Mouse, Bubbles (the powerpuff girl), Robin (of Batman &), Spiderman, ghosts, devils, fairy princesses, harem girls, pimps, a hippie, a cat, lady bugs, Superman, Madeline, an overgrown baby, a bride ghoul, witches, clowns, Snow Whites, Stitch (of Lilo &), a little Buzz Lightyear, a Jesse (of Toystory II)...

Wheel and Hoochie and I wandered dazedly from store to store, examining the fascinating plethora of merchandise... books! Clothes! Cutesy teeny-bopper accessories! Toys! Decorative items! Tuxedos! Pets! Pianos!

The only things I saw and coveted were some ideal cat ears; unfortunately they were on other patrons rather than being for sale.

The barrettes that Janet wears in Rocky Horror Picture Show are devilishly difficult to find. Anyone with leads will be rewarded.

Today I woke up and set to work. I took bicycle tubes and created a skirt and a corset-like lace up top on commission. The skirt was fringed at the bottom and tied on the side; the top had a wide horizontal strip across the top and shoulder straps and laces up the front. And a friendly and charming student bought the pair for PCP and was gratifyingly enthusiastic. I am deeply satisfied.