Manic Mondays

Sigh…..it’s Monday, do I have to go back to work?  I just want to go ride my bike and chill in front of a movie!  Instead I will put in a 9 or so hour day and then head to a meeting after.  How far away is Friday?

It’s Friday, Where Is My Smile?

It’s Friday.  The past few days I have been feeling a little sick.  I think my body just said I have been doing way too much and I needed a break.  So that is what I did Wednesday.  I’m feeling a whole lot better but still not my usual happy self on a Friday.  There is a lot going on still and some of it I’m just trying to work through and also I’m working on staying in tune with myself.

Normally I would tell you I have a jam packed weekend of fun ahead but this time other than plans tonight I have decided not to run around from event to event all weekend long and spend some time with myself and the new household member, Clementine.  Yep, I am officially fostering a tiny Eastern Box Turtle and last night her outside habitat was completed enough for her to sleep in it.  I will be spending some time working on it this weekend adding finishing touches and working on improvements but it’s nothing urgent as it is now a livable space for her.  Clem is about a 2 1/2 inch turtle.  The space we built is about 12-16 square feet.  It didn’t seem that big until we set her in it but compared to Clem she is living in the equivalent of the Playboy Mansion.  She is one lucky girl.  And so am I, I know that right now but yet still feeling a little worn out and down.  Hopefully the weekend picks me back up.

So here is a song that fits my mood and well I had to go with a Clementine song

No Place Like Home

I have been lucky recently to have been able to do a little bit of traveling and spend some time exploring the world, or well at least some of the eastern US. Okay really pretty much Pittsburgh and Atlanta and the roads in between but you get the point.  I have been able to do one of my favorite activities, explore!

Between these trips, work and also a camping/biking trip, having time to spend at my house,play with my cats,hang out with my roommate and best of all sleep in my own bed has been rare.  I was really starting to miss home and all of the stimulation of exploring was starting to wear on me.

I don’t consider myself a homebody as I keep an active social life and definitely enjoy getting out and doing things but I really do prize my nights at home.  I enjoy an occasional lazy Sunday morning cooking breakfast and sitting here on my computer or even watching a movie before doing chores, errands or even a bike ride.  I enjoy snuggling with my cats and spending time relaxing at home.

I was way overdue on this and it was really hitting me hard on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta.  I really just wanted to go home but couldn’t bear the thought of leaving early and  miss seeing Mickey Hart, for free, plus I had a friend with me and he was very excited to see Mickey Hart too so I kept my mouth shut, probably exhibited a little bit of grumpiness and at the end of a long eventful day was happy to finally head north, towards home.

Traveling has been great and I have had some super fun times recently but I think I’m going to spend a little extra time in the next couple of weeks hanging at home.

I just got a new reason to spend more time here, I am now fostering a tiny Eastern Box Turtle, whom I have named Clementine.  She is a rescue and at 3 1/2 years old, smaller than she should be, so cannot be set out into the wild.  An outside habitat for her is currently being constructed and tonight will be her first official night here.  She will be staying in a box tonight but hopefully tomorrow her habitat will be completed enough to hangout outside like she should.

Welcome to your new home Clem!  I’m looking forward to spending some nights at home with my roommate (on the rare night she is here), the three cats and now one lucky turtle.

Ahhhhh…….home.  There is just no place like it.

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420 2012

I had one incredible weekend.  Within 34 hours I traveled to Atlanta…saw one absolutely effin fantastic show by Leftover Salmon with special guest Colonel Bruce Hampton.  It was my 7th or 8th show in 17 years and was possibly the best one yet!

The next day had a wonderful breakfast at the Flying Biscuit, went to the High Art Museum (seems appropriate on 420 right?) and saw some Picassos, Warhols and Matisses along with many other fantastic art.   Went to a local farmers market, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, and topped it off with Mickey Hart and Yo Mammas Big Fat Booty Band at the Sweetwater 420 Fest.  Then drove back home to collapse in a happy exhaustion.

It was one jam-packed weekend of dancing, walking, drinking and eating.  Beautiful weather, good friends, good people, exceptional music and reminded me of just how lucky I am to be able to enjoy these things.

Life is good and I lived it up in less than 34 hours.  Okay so I didn’t get to ride my bike but f*uck it, I had a blast!!!!!

Here is a video from Friday….it is crappy and it doesn’t show the true energy that was there in the crowd but gives you a slight taste.  Truly you missed out.

Leftover Salmon

Back in 1995 I saw a bumper sticker for them that said “polyethnic cajun slamgrass” and this tune describes that and part of what they are about.  One of the few bands I find myself to be truly in love with and when I see them they feed my soul.

 

Travelin’ On a Friday!

So I have been away from home quite bit recently….Pittsburgh, campout in Pisgah, and now I’m headed to Atlanta for the night to see one of my all time favorite bands, Leftover Salmon!!!!  They have not toured the East Coast in years so I am most definitely excited!  They always put on one fantastic show!  Coincidentally the Sweetwater 420 Fest is also happening this weekend so that will be Saturdays entertainment with even more music!

I’m working half a day then meeting my friend to head south for a night and day of glorious music!  It will be a blast and my last fling away from Asheville for a while.  I will enjoy it thoroughly!

Of course to celebrate here is a tune from one of the best bands ever.  You will be missing out tonight!

Cardboard in Existential Hell

So sometimes I say the oddest shit.  For instance today at work.  I work in a warehouse as head of receiving so I live in cardboard at work.  Well the Fed Ex guy stopped by at his usual time in the morning to drop off a few packages and I looked at him and said,

“You know I think our existential hell is full of cardboard”

He gave me a strange look and said, “thinking deeply this morning?”  I said, “no, I just have weird random thoughts”.

Yes I am strange.  So I looked up videos of cardboard existential and found this. Enjoy?

Trees

I love trees.  How could one not love them?  Trees are so important to life, they are beautiful and amazing living things.  Trees seemed to embrace much of the beauty of my weekend. This morning I went on a hike through the arboretum with a friend and we spent a lot of time talking about the flowers and trees and looking at all the different characteristics of trees.  So many times people set out for a long distance view and forget to look at the beauty right there along the path they are walking.

This morning wasn’t my only tie to trees this weekend.  Sometimes I highly value those trees we have lost for something else I find very valuable and beautiful in its own way, paper.  Paper in the form of books and stationary.  Yesterday I wandered around the library for a while looking at the amazing and beautiful world of books and also picked up a few CDs to listen too while I was there.  Today I stopped at my favorite store downtown, Write On, to buy a few cards and as always spent quite awhile looking at all the wonderful cards that store carries.  I love books and I love cards.  Long live the trees that live their lives to bring me the beauty while they are alive and beauty they create when remodeled into the form of a book or a card!

Song from one my CDs on loan from the library