Zenobia's Least Professional Vlog Ever

It's moving day for Zenobia and Tris!

Zenobia: Hi, everyone! We're live!  You might be wondering why no vlogs recently and I'm finally here to explain.  I got a real job and a roomie, all in the same day.  This is my roomie, Tris Prior, and we're moving today. 

Tris: I grew up with the Pike twins and Whitney, who make up 3/4 of Sarcastic Fringehead, so we knew each other in passing, but wasn't until we both showed up at open interviews for Sunburst's new location that we really talked.  

Zenobia: Turns out we've got a lot in common.  We're both the black sheep of the family, for starters.  Tris got booted, but I left under my own accord.  She was couch surfing when we ran into each other at the interview and I offered her a permanent couch.

Tris (laughing): Which is going to be a pain to get into my bedroom!  But, hey, it's my bed.

Wilma climbs onto Zenobia's lap.

Wilma: I wanna be on TV again!  It's fun! 

Zenobia: I'm gonna make the crew cram into camera range and you can introduce everyone, Wilma.

Wilma: YAY! 

A lot of jostling later...  

Wilma: The standing up people are Nakoma, my granny Kyra, my auntie Wendy, Kevin, and Ricky.  The sitters are Finnick, Brent, my mommy Whitney, Four, and Tanner. Someday Nakoma and Finnck are gonna get married.  So are Brent and Grandma and Tanner and Mommy.  Oh, yeah, and Four's gonna marry Tris. 

Zenobia: The Smiths are still on the way here - we piled all the furniture into a rental van and John's driving it.  We'll drag them in front of the camera when they get here.

Ricky: I'm more concerned about when the pizza man gets here.  I'm starving after all this work.

Kevin (scoffs): Wilma's done more work than you. 

Four: Maybe not, but she's sure done less complaining.  

Zenobia: Surprise guests! Hi, guys. 

Ken: We saw John at the traffic light and volunteered to help.  

Zenobia: The more the merrier.  

Peeta: That's what John said!  

John (teasing): Sitting around jawing while there's work to be done.  

Zenobia: We were taking a break while waiting for the slowpoke furniture van.  I've ordered pizza and we're gonna eat before unloading the big stuff.  But first you have to say hi to my subscribers.

John: Hi, Zenobia's subscribers.

Zenobia bullies them into place and Wilma does her thing.

Wilma: John is my babysitter and he wants to get married to Nakoma's sister someday, but Pocahontas is mad at him.  I don't know why.  He's Kelly and Roxy's daddy, but their mommy is in Heaven. The big boys are Ken and Peeta.  They go to school with my mommy. 

John: Wilma, who told you I want to...  

Wilma: I gots eyeballs, dude. 

The doorbell rings and Zenobia ends the live feed with a hearty "More later!" 

Workshirts and the Windigo

My goal was to have the Windigo ready for July 4th.  I've been working on it for quite some time and finally sat down to finish the project.  Before anyone gets too excited... I'm not actually making a play scale roller coaster.  Not until I win that sweepstakes, anyway.  

What I am making is the seats - just enough to trick the ole eyeballs into seeing them on a coaster.  First step, cutting the box into two halves longways.  The seats are the ends of the box and the rider's feet dangle.  Albus volunteered to be my average rider so I could get the measurements. 

Hip rails measured, the sides of the box will be removed at the pre-existing bend...  

...and turned into the overhead safety rail.  

Albus claimed I was tickling him when I measured the overhead rails on him.

His shoulders didn't sit even (because I was tickling him?) so I went with the 3.5 inch height.  The remaining flaps get folded over to make the coaster's suspension bar.  I used denim scraps to line the seats but quickly discovered cardboard wasn't a good choice for the safety rails.

So I used the only ribbon in the sewing box that was long enough to serve.  They're permanently attached behind the shoulders, but the crotch "snap" is just taped to the underside.  This is not a recommended procedure for human roller coasters.

Careful placement of the backdrop and camera...  here they go!  Click click click up that first hill.

Corkscrew!  The loop is coming, Albus, are you ready? 

I finished the upholstery with colored tape, braided the bit that passes between the legs, and the Windigo is ready for flight.  It ain't purty, but it does the job.

And then there was this.  My nephew finally wore out his Kansas map shirt.  A cheer rose in Barbieville when the muscle guys saw the fabric.  They knew it meant new work shirts for them!  The poor guys are so limited on what they can wear besides military shirts.

Brent wants to know why Albus is giggling.  "I've got Jeanie's brother on my butt." Albus says.  "He lives in Topeka."  Dean says, "Me, too!  Well, it says TOP."

If they want the maps to be upside down, they can just wear the shirt backward.  The fabric is basically flopped over the shoulders and closed up the sides.  Nancy got a dress out of a larger leftover scrap.  Poor thing's had to wear Ken clothes since her arrival...  

By the way, if anyone is wondering about the wallpaper on my computer...  here she is.  

Also, a big thanks to all my doll peeps who gave advice on finding clothes for Nancy and my big guys.  I didn't ignore you, I promise...  I just gotta be frugal when I can! 

Into Summer

Zenobia starts her shift at Sunburst, already looking forward to the move this evening.  She gets an unpleasant surprise at her first table. 

Draco: Oh, dear god.  You're waiting tables now? 

Zenobia: Obviously.   I'm also moving into Lakeshore.  

Draco: From one slum to another.  Honestly, Zenobia, what is wrong with you? 

Zenobia: Contrary to popular opinion, there's nothing wrong with me.   

She takes their drink orders and leaves menus, all business. 

Charmaine: You know that person? 

Draco: Unfortunately, she's my sister.

******

Kyra and Brent follow Rose-Grace to the barn so they can check out The Tank prior to borrowing it.  

Rose-Grace: There's a total of five sleeping surfaces but we also have a small tent we use.  

Brent: You need one, as large as your family is. 

Kyra: This thing is a lot nicer than you led me to believe.  (To Brent) I've only ever seen the exterior.  She told me it's all cobbled together, but look at this - everything matches and there's even a shower in here. 

Rose-Grace: Pike recently found a similar model and cannibalized it.  

Brent: He does good work.  There's very little indication this wasn't professionally done.

Rose-Grace: Since you're doing this to save money, I think you might want to think about another driver.  That way you wouldn't have to stop and get a hotel or campsite halfway there.  

Kyra: Whitney suggested we take Tanner along, but I wouldn't be comfortable with that.  

Brent: She's already concerned about my family's reaction to Wilma.  Whitney's boyfriend... 

Rose-Grace: I understand that.  Did you know Whitney's best friend can drive this thing?  The boys say she even handles it better than Finnick does.  

Brent: Nakoma or Mariko?  

******

Meanwhile, at Doll County Day Care:

John: I'm really proud of you girls.  Most grown women wouldn't handle my job problems as well as you two have. 

Roxy: You won't let us be poor for long, Daddy.  You'll do all your homework and ace that test and get the center back, I bet, before school starts back up in fall. 

Kelly: What we gonna do in here when the center moves? 

John: I guess we'll just leave it as a playroom. Maybe turn this downstairs back into a house and move out of the servant's quarters.  (shrugs) The Sulu kids and Anakin are coming to play while Sulu and Pocahontas help me study. 

Less than an hour later. 

Sulu: You're late.

Pocahontas: You're ugly.  (They both laugh.)  John, I hope you don't want to study in here with all this chaos. 

John: No, I have a study area set up in the kitchen.  Dixie should come with us, but Roxy and Anakin can supervise in here.  

John: You hear that, Roxy?  Anakin? 

Anakin: Yes, sir.  We'll try to avoid bloodshed and broken bones.  

Mistakes Were Made

Albus stops by Sulu's Greenhouse on his way to work.  

Sulu: Not you, too.  I've already told both her siblings and John the same thing...  I couldn't tell you if I knew.  Professional ethics.  

Albus: I know they aren't coming from here.  You don't do flower deliveries.  But surely you have contacts in the plant community.  

Sulu:  Sorry, man.  I worry about it, too.  We were friends once, you know.  I'd hate to see her fall victim to a stalker. 

Already disappointed, Albus is on the way out when he sees Hank browsing.  

Albus (irate): You've got a hell of a lot of nerve, showing up here! 

Hank: Have we met?

Albus (feeling about a millimeter tall):  I'm so sorry!  I mistook you for someone else! 

Hank: Happens to me all the time.  I guess I just have one of those faces.

Albus: I don't know when I've ever been this embarrassed.  I'm Albus Dumbledore. 

Hank: Hank Higgins.  Wonderful to make your acquaintance. 

****** 

After lunch, John shows up at the mayor's office for a mysterious meeting.  Kyra sees him in with a sly smile.

Rose-Grace: The village of Barbieville has a proposition for you, Mr. Smith.  Look over this paperwork, please, and let me know if the offer is agreeable.

She watches as John reads over the paperwork not once, but twice.  He finally looks up at her with hope.

John: This is for real?  The county agreed to it? 

Rose-Grace: Provided you take the steps outlined on page three.  A coalition of your clients has agreed to cover the related expenses.  

John bursts into tears and hugs Rose-Grace, thanking her profusely.  

Rose-Grace (chuckling): Well, this is thoroughly unprofessional behavior, but under the circumstances...  I'll allow it. 

******

A short while later, at Witch's Cove Administration:

Pocahontas: I told you to let it go.  Whoever is sending -- 

She's interrupted by John bursting into the room.

John: The closing down of my day care center just became temporary instead of permanent! 

Pocahontas: Say what?

Albus: Calm down, son, before you give yourself a coronary.

John (after taking a moment): The county has agreed to let Barbieville move my center into one of the towers.  After I do some classes and get my GED.  A bunch of my clients pooled their money to pay for the classes, too!  I'm so...  so....  blessed!

Pocahontas: You're gonna need help with that math portion.  I hear it's a nightmare. 

John: You and Sulu will help me there, right?  Since we're all friends again?

Pocahontas (laughing): You sound like Roxy.  Of course we'll help you.  Now get out of here and celebrate with your daughters.  

After John all but dances out, they rise to go inspect progress on the Windigo.

Albus: I'm glad you've finally forgiven him.  All these years, you were mad at him for doing the exact opposite of what your father did. 

Pocahontas: It was never over him taking responsibility as a father.  It was about him having sex with Albion in the first place.

Albus: He was a teenage boy with an erection and a willing partner.  And he's paid for that mistake a thousand times over.  

Questions

Early Saturday afternoon, the Pike residence. 

Bobby: Giddy up, lion!

Vivica: That's a tiger, you dummy.

Fred: I wonder what was in that letter John gave our big people.  My daddy said bad words when he read it and now they're having a big meeting.

Bobby: I hope nobody gots bugs. 

Wilma: No, if it was bugs, my mommy and grandma wouldn't let me come play with you guys. 

Fred: Maybe Jenny or Ty gots bugs. They had to stay home with the big kids. 

Sulu: Thanks for coming.  And thank you, Rose-Grace, for letting us meet here.  

Rose-Grace: It's only logical.  I've got the most room. 

Sulu: We all got the letter from John.  We can't let this happen, and I'm not just saying that because he's my best friend.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not willing to drive my kids all the way across the county to let people I've never met take care of them. 

Suzie: Ty is devastated.  He loves John.  And we need the day care more than ever, with Frodo working now.  

Eddie: I don't understand why John is suddenly an unfit care giver.  They've known all along that he doesn't have a diploma or any kind of formal training.  

Joe: They're doing it for legal reasons.  We decided Jenny's old enough to go to work with me.  If I feel it's not safe, I'll do the work on Batgirl's days off so she can stay home.  

Batgirl: But we're open to a better idea.  Right, Joe?

Joe: Jenny would miss her friends if we have to do that.  We'll hear you out, Sulu.

Eddie: We're kind of stuck, though.  Town employees have to send their kids to county day care agencies.  It's in the contract. 

Rose-Grace: No, we get free day care if we use county facilities.  We're allowed to pay out-of-pocket for other options.  I only use John during the school year.  On summer break, Taylor and Nikki babysit.

Eddie: So I could pay your girls to babysit Ty?

Lynch hurries up the steps onto the deck and hugs her husband. 

Lynch:  Sorry I'm late.  I had a bit of inter-agency drama. 

Sulu: We're just getting started.

Lynch: I'll tell you, I am livid.  Our children have had enough turmoil in their lives without having John taken away from them.  Vivica in particular - John is one of the few men she feels safe with. 

Whitney (painfully aware of her youth): Too bad we can't set John up in business for himself. 

Rose-Grace: Whitney Darling!  You might be a genius! 

Whitney: Wait, what?

Rose-Grace:  We've got all those initiatives to lure businesses into Scott's stupid skyscrapers.  I just might be able to find one that meets our needs.  

Whitney: Wow.  I was just trying to inject some levity.

Rose-Grace:  Honey, right now, you might be the new queen of levity!

Meanwhile, on the Muneca Lake Beach.

Nancy: Who is that man?  

Guinness:  If you're going to look at other men, do you have to tell me about it? 

Nancy:  Seriously, there's something very familiar about that man.  I feel like I should recognize him. 

The man in question.  

Start of Summer

Brent and Kyra meet for lunch on Sundance's patio.

Zenobia: Don't you see enough of me when the band rehearses at your house?

Kyra: Forget you, I'm here for some of Midna's pot roast and a tall glass of sweet tea.

Zenobia: Whitney said you're planning a trip out West.  Please don't do it Fourth of July week.  

Kyra: Whitney already told us you and Tris got that apartment at Lakeshore and drafted the entire family to help.  You might want to keep non-breakables for Wilma to tote.

Brent: I offered to babysit but both she and Wilma vetoed that idea. Who else do you have for heavy lifting? The Pike boys, I'm sure. 

Zenobia: And Four.  Tris's boyfriend. All the guys hope to bring siblings to help.  

Brent: With all that help, we should have you moved in a day.  

Zenobia: That's the plan.  

******  

Pocahontas is working in her office when someone knocks on the open office door. 

Pocahontas (not looking up): If it's open, you can stroll on in!  We keep it casual at the cove!

John: I wasn't sure if I'd be welcome.  All things considered. 

Pocahontas (surprised): Don't be silly.  I told you, I've decided to forgive if not to forget. 

John: Fair enough.

Pocahontas:  Is there a problem with Anakin?  Has he been behaving when he comes over?

John: Anakin's a great kid.  I came to ask for a job. The county's revised the criteria for day care providers and I didn't make the cut.  They're shutting me down at the end of the month.

Pocahontas (angry): What the?!  

John (exhausted): I know.  I'm telling the parents tomorrow.  

Pocahontas: That's ridiculous.  You were born for that job.  All you ever talked about was being a kindergarten teacher, then you couldn't go to college, so...  (forces herself to calm down)  You can start here the first of July. If nothing else, you can operate kiddie rides like back in the day.

John bursts into tears of relief.

******

Finally, Marcus Eaton takes Finnick and Albus back at the same time to get the casts removed. 

Marcus: Who's first? 

Finnick (to Albus): Age before beauty.

Albus: But I'm both!  

Marcus: Both of you, make a follow-up appointment.  I don't think any PT is needed, but I want to make sure before deciding. 

Finnick: I'm just glad to have that thing off!  

Albus: How do you think I feel?  At least you could walk! 

Finnick: Didn't slow you down any.  You still managed to score with the fed. 

Albus: I don't like to kiss and tell... but if I did...