It has been about forty-thousand years since I have had the time to be here, and I have missed it tremendously. Life has thrown many curve balls in the last year-and-a-half, and I've pretty much whiffed at every single pitch. At any rate, for the many folks that I don't recognize on this blessed place, my name is Chris, and I've been loving puppets since I can first remember Mr. Moose on Captain Kangaroo in the late 50s or so.

I've had job changes, marriage change, and everything else, so puppets have been put in the bins lately, but I hope that things might actually start to settle out and I can do more than entertain one toddler with them.

I can't find any posts talking about my last trip overseas (Johannesburg, South Africa) with puppets, so let me summarize it by saying it was really an amazing time. The puppets were simple, the show very basic (no stage, just me sitting on a stool or chair pulling puppets out of a bag as needed), but lots and lots of fun. I went to some after school programs, as well as two elementary schools and a few other locations, had audiences up to 500 kids! I NEVER had THAT many watching before.

I'm now living in Ohio, (barely) right across the Ohio River from Wheeling, WV. (I still consider West Virginia my home)

I hope to be able to dive back in here from time to time, and not be away for so long again. It's good to see old friends, hope to make new friends as well.

Welcome back old friend! 

Old?  OLD?! Well, yes, I'm definitely in the mature category. (age-wise, that is.) Thanks, Shawn, I feel like I'm home again.

Welcome home Chris........you have been missed.

Forty thousand years?! No wonder I don't remember bumping into you here. Glad to make your acquaintance! Hope you get nothing but clean pitches and solid swings that connect every time from here on out!

Welcome back from the iceage... . Only one question left: What is a curve ball?

Welcome back!

Hi Rikka! Curve Ball is an American sports reference. The pitcher throws the ball toward the batter. It starts going straight, but when it reaches the batter, it curves in mid-air and fools the batter so that when he swings at the ball, he misses it completely (whiffs it).

Billy and Na, thanks for the welcome back! I hope you have all been well.

Puppetainer, Thanks for the well wishes, at this point, when I see a ball coming my way, I just duck, lol.

Sorry to hear about your difficulties, but glad you are bouncing back. I had wondered about how your trips went! Thanks for the summary! Hope that things start looking up for you!

I did think that you cornered me with baseball- I only knew this as a codename though... (You get corners in American Football, do you? ). But I think I know (all too well, too) what you mean. Then I hope for a lot of straight balls coming at you (and I also hope I didn't say something evil... ).