Friday, July 13, 2007

13 days and counting...

...until the Joy of Joys, the Festival of Festivals, our Falcon Ridge. In the spirit of kj's vacation toolbox, here are my bare essentials for 4 days of sunshine, fire and rain:

sunscreen (LOTS of sunscreen)
headlamp (late night trips to the portajohn make this a top priority)
Charmin on-the-go packs (see above)
large flashlight
blankets (for hillside lounging)
a good book (for the downtime)
crazy creek style "chair" (essential for hours spent sitting on the hillside)
sleeping bag
rain jacket
bathing suit
tank tops
a beach towel or 2
Yankees baseball cap
camping chair
cameras and lots of film
sunglasses
trail mix ingredients
apples
a cooler
Coke, water and a 6 pack of Sam Adams Summer Ale
spending money (can't avoid the merch tent)

Then, you add a few good friends. Many a wonderful musical act. Some good food. The fact that you're spending a couple of days away from the office. This will be my 5th FRFF...every year it's a little different and every year I discover a new delight. It's where I first heard the Nields, Eddie from Ohio, Crooked Still, Tracy Grammer, Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell, Girlyman, We're About 9 and DaVinci's Notebook.

Life doesn't get any better than sitting under a blazing sun or a blanket of stars, singing along to music you love, surrounded by people you love (and a few thousand strangers), and feeling 1000% "home."

Monday, July 09, 2007

Stolen from kj

OK, life's been nutty. And the 2 times I've tried to blog in the last month, blogger has been wonky. Here's another go at it...and because I'm feeling lazy, I'm stealing a quiz/survey thingy from kj. Maybe my next post will be the necessities for vacation--or Falcon Ridge as it may be.

A is for age: 28...though most people would put my inner child at about 7.

B is for beer of choice: Sam Adams Summer Ale...or Blue Moon.

C is for career: I'm currently in higher education...working for my alma mater and enjoying it as a job. But not as a career or a vocation.

D is for favorite Drink: CocaCola. Even if it means I am somehow evil in the eyes of some...I don't drink coffee, but I need caffeine! Iced tea is the runner up.

E is for Essential item(s) you use everyday: Toothbrush and toothpaste, for sure. Glasses or contacts so that I can see the world around me.

F is for Favorite song at the moment: So hard to choose. I've been singing along quite loudly to Dar's "The Hudson" in the last few days.

G is for favorite Game: Basketball.

H is for How About Whatever Favorite I Choose: Hmmmm...my favorite summer smell is rain.

I is for Instruments played: Guitar and Piano, both badly.

J is for favorite Juice: Cranberry juice

K is for Kids: I'm pro-kids ;) None for me at the moment, but I'll have a basketball team one of these days. For now, I borrow other people's children whenever they allow.

L is for last kiss: That's for me to know...

M is for marriage: Again, I'm pretty much pro-marriage, for any and all who want to enter into the union.

N is for full Name: In the interest of anonymity, first name starts with K, middle name begins with F and is my maternal grandmother's maiden name...and, I'm a Mc.

O is for Overnight hospital stays: Let's see, at least 2 nights at the age of 14 months for toe amputation, one night at the age of 13 for screws and plates in my forearm...I think that's it.

P is for phobias: No real phobias. Things I don't like, but no real phobias.

Q is for quote: "Oy with the poodles already."

R is for biggest Regret: Try not to have them. The worst decision I ever made still gave me a lot of great gifts.

S is for sports: I am pro-sports. To the point that I watched the Wimbledon finals yesterday even though I find tennis boring. Federer and Nadal are anything but boring. My Yanks are having a rough go of it, but I still love my boys from the Bronx. March Madness is a month of pure joy.

T is for Time you wake up: Depends...lately, I've been getting up at least once a week to work out before lunch--what is happening to me?!

U is for color underwear: whatever's on top of the pile

V is for Vegetable you love: Cucumbers and asparagus

W is for Worst Habit: I defer...if there's a decision to be made, I'd rather *anyone* other than me make it.

X is for X-rays you’ve had: Not counting dental x-rays, well, I can't even count. Seriously--I mean, just last week I had at least 4 taken of my knees. I should have a custom-made lead shield.

Y is for Yummy food you make: Lasagna

Z is for Zodiac sign: Stubborn as a bull, that's me! Somehow, I don't think I could be anything but Taurus.