A pretty cake, a pup and a petition

Last Friday was the monthly crop at the store. I almost always work the crops, hanging out with the croppers and working on some of my own projects. There are quite a few women who come every month.

Last weekend, though, I was at the marriage conference with Asia. I took the crop night off and another store employee handled it. Of course, the ladies who attend the crop didn't know I wouldn't be there - and they had all gone together to get me a cake and have a little early party for my birthday.

But I wasn't there.

They brought the cake over to my house on Sunday. Isn't it pretty?


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It's been awhile since I've taken any Gracie pictures. A couple of days ago she was sitting in front of the window in the kitchen and I had my camera out, so I snapped a few. After a very short time, she became bored and refused to look at me. So I got out some treats.

This is my favorite shot of all the shots I took.

She's waiting for me to say "Okay!" She would sit like that all day - drool dripping off her jowls - until I told her she could have her treat. Isn't she the cutest?

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If you've been around Thoughts From the Deep Recesses for long, you may remember that K. has been involved in the school variety show for the past four years as a chicken. He and two buddies came up with an act (doing the chicken dance) in second grade and have done something every year since then. One year it was the theme from "Mission Impossible" sung by chickens and acted out. Then they did "In the Mood" - complete with saxophone solos and some screamin' dance moves. Last year it was a chicken rendition of Queen's "We are the Champions," changed to "we are the chickens."

It's been a fun tradition. One that the students seem to enjoy. They get HUGE rounds of applause when they take the stage. The kids whisper "It's the chickens!" when the boys come out from behind the curtain. They have created a bit of a legendary space for themselves in the history of variety show acts... they will always be remembered as the chickens.

Last year they were pretty clear about it being their last year. The 'cool quotient' had taken over, for one boy especially, and it was like pulling teeth to get him to participate. He did it. But very reluctantly. And with a declaration that he would not be putting the chicken costume on again. (The orange and yellow tights always made the boys cringe - but they were an essential part of the chicken costume... or so we moms thought...)

So this year, when the varitey show auditions were announced, I casually asked K. if he thought there was any chance the other boys would want to participate. He was always up for another year - after all, they're moving on to junior high next year - and this would be their last chance to be involved. There was some discussion about the chickens emceeing the event - alleviating the need for a 'routine' and maybe making room for a modified chicken costume - sans tights... but I wasn't getting much feedback and decided I wouldn't push it.

Monday, as I was cleaning the house, I got a phone call from some acquaintances.

"Hey - we just drove past the school, and the reader board says something about chickens. Does that have anything to do with K?"

That was just the beginning of it.

Believe it or not - someone has started a campaign to get the chickens to perform one last year. There are petitions. Posters. Letters and cards to the boys.

Everyone wants to see the chickens one last time.

You should see these 'cool' sixth graders respond to the attention. They're maintaining a modicum of disinterest, but you can tell, they're feeling pretty groovy about the whole thing.

They're not answering questions regarding their participation.

But I have an in.

Stay tuned. We may just see the chickens again this year...