SUNDAY AT BENJAMIN'S AND CAROLINE'S PLACE

I guess I've had worse days than yesterday, but I can't think of any off-hand. For openers, I'm still dealing with the supposedly $86 overdue thing, tried to print it out and id didn't print. I was "told" it was a problem with a paper jam, but can't seem to fix it. I tried to print something and it worked fine. I then tried another and it didn't. After I followed what it advised, I still had no luck.

Also, I was dreading conducting the Dudley House tour. I hadn't done it for six months or so and kept putting off going over the spiel. I was also dreading the fact that I wanted to tell Lynne I would no longer be a docent. It's been more and more difficult to remember the narrative, not to mention going up and down the front stairs. Then when I was getting dressed in my 1892 Caroline Dudley outfit, I realized I'd have to wear modern shoes; I had thrown my "ballerinas" away after "Backstage Bedlam." Okay, they didn't look right, but the alternatives were either sneakers or white satin.

To top it off, I went out to wait for the Access Van at 11:30, which didn't come and didn't come. Called and found the driver was waiting at the Woodland Avenue gate. This has happened time and again and it's such a pain in the ass. I called again and, without going into detail, I had to go out to the street and was finally picked up. Got at Dudley House about 12:15 and, of course, nobody was there yet, as the first tour is scheduled for 1:00, so I had to sit outside and wait. Lynne came shortly, though, and the day improved.

I enjoyed talking to Lynne, Jan, and in particular, Jan's daughter. She in her twenties, sings with an eight-member band in Ojai, and is fun to talk to about local show-biz topics. Lynne, director of docents, had attended Backstage Bedlam, and chimed in how much she enjoyed it. 

I conducted the downstair tour for three sets of attendees and did okay, I guess; I had to refer to my script several times, though.  Happily, I was able to tell Lynne I would no longer docent. I said I'll miss, in particular, the covered dish/bi-annual meetings, but she assured me I'd be invited anyway.  Of course she was sorry to lose me as a docent, but she understood. I did say I'd act as greeter at the Christmas Boutique, which isn't scripted. 

Lynne drove me home and I got in about 5:00. I immediately put my Mrs. Dudley outfit in the wash--don't know when I'll ever wear it again. I had had breakfast at 9:30 and nothing else after, so I then had an early dinner of cauliflower, onions, and a cold and delish IPA. 

Happily, I slept well and actually didn't get up until the alarm went off at 7:00. Soaring Spirits lunch today, to which I'm looking forward; because of rehearsals, I missed both September gatherings. 

While waiting for Lynne, I took this of the front stairs of Dudley House. I wonder sometimes if Benjamin and Caroline are hovering there, maybe over a plate of Carrie's biscuits and gravy.