Off to California again
January 18th, 2009
Yep, loadin’ up the van (one doesn’t fly with fourteen snakes, four lizards, a cat, maybe the dog…) and headin’ off to Orange County again – this time for Muzeo in Anaheim. My old friend Peter Comisky from Australia, who was at the Discovery Science Center a few years ago when I did shows there, is now at Muzeo and I’m looking forward to working with him again. Delightful fellow.
Lots of logistics to be worked out. Julie’s horse Jake will be staying at the wonderful Stone Canyon Ranch in Glenn Heights, owned by our friend Dr. David McFadden. (Need dental implants? Apparently he’s the man. We’re talking the ranch that teeth built). Jake has been part of a herd with only one horse for several months now, so we’re expecting him to enjoy having a little equine companionship again.
The dog question is probably the toughest. Charley is the same age as my son Alex (his middle name – all his friends call him by his first name, Daryl) so he’s sixteen years old, and as much as he adores road trips I can’t help thinking it might be his last, and therein lies the rub. Would the journey hasten his leaving us? He can hardly hear these days, and his solemn duty is to guard Julie (ever since I told him to do so before a trip I made without her a few years ago) so would it be more stressful for him to have us out of sight for a week? Big decision.
Given access to enough water and if they’re fed before we leave, the snakes that aren’t in the show can stay behind. Of course, we can’t turn down the thermostat like normal people would, but that’s a cost of doing what we do.
The lizards are another matter so they’re coming along too – including the Bearded Dragon, the African Plated, and the Leopard Gecko that are not in the show. Can’t wait to explain all that to the checkpoint people at the CA border, who always ask if you are bringing in any pets.
I have a friend in Phoenix so we can stay there on the way, but it’s a long haul to get there in one day. It’s January, so in all probability everywhere we stop the van will have to keep running to provide heat or we’ll have to move everyone indoors for the duration of whatever stop we make. It keeps things interesting.
Before the trip, there’s North Park Center Mall in Dallas next Saturday, and a photo shoot to do tomorrow. That doesn’t leave much time to nail down the remaining details. Come to think of it, back to work!