While I am frequently accused of being out-of-touch by my teenage children, this weekend I really am going to be out-of-touch....with civilization (also known as, no internet). I will be spending the weekend at a Jr. & Sr. High Winter Retreat with about 300 young people.
Translation......
I will be getting very little sleep in the next two days.
Pray that I can keep my eyes open, and act the like the adult that I am supposed to be!
Talk to you Monday!
Showing posts with label road trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label road trip. Show all posts
Memories Made
So.....many....emotions!
I'm home. Back from that little festival I went to. After an amazing weekend, great music, precious little sleep and 12 hours in the car, I'm a little emotional.
Instead of a weepy, reminiscing post I will sum up the weekend in some short phrases or words - each one has a story (stories) behind it, each one carries a precious memory of my time in Guthrie...OH! now I've done it, I'm crying....
Okay...
Here's the list...
I'm home. Back from that little festival I went to. After an amazing weekend, great music, precious little sleep and 12 hours in the car, I'm a little emotional.
Instead of a weepy, reminiscing post I will sum up the weekend in some short phrases or words - each one has a story (stories) behind it, each one carries a precious memory of my time in Guthrie...OH! now I've done it, I'm crying....
Okay...
Here's the list...
- Sisters of the Road (Oh, man, I'm crying again!)
- Hugs!
- Ivan
- HOT
- Graffiti
- Dust
- Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
- Wal-mart
- Bastille
- Rythm of the Night
- Walking
- 5:00 AM
- Ice
- Security Guards
- WATER!
- The Vaccines
- "We love you!" **usually said to #14 because of #13 and #15
- Adam
- Kansas
- Half Moon Run
- Lucy
- Hair freedom
- Tattoo
- "If you close your eyes...."
- God
- Spring
- Barrier
- Drum stick
- Mumford & Mums
- Sunscreen
- Sweat
I'll stop now. Feel free to ask for the story behind any of those, if you're interested. I'd be happy to share memories with those that are interested. For now, a few pictures...
FINALLY, I got to hug some of my Sisters of the Road!! Notice the intensely happy face!
Graffiti was encouraged, so we obliged (thanks to Ben for the fine artwork!)
More SOTR arrived the next day!
Molly & Ben doing the festival thing in Guthrie.
Sunrise at the queue.
Waiting for gates
Barrier spot secured. LOOOOONNNNNGGGGG wait in the heat. Ice in a bottle is a glorious gift!
Notice how much happier they look now that the sun has set!!! It's almost Mumford time!!
As I've said before, it doesn't matter if there are 100 people or 30,000 people at the concert if they're all behind you! And yes, there were 30,000 people there.
Just about the only decent picture I got of M & S. I'm lousy at taking concert pictures and I would MUCH rather just enjoy the show. And enjoy it I did...thoroughly...even though I had just seen them three days prior...and no I am not obsessed....okay, maybe just a little bit....
Oh, one last thing....
it's mine now :-D
SIsters of the Road Trip
I have been woefully negligent in keeping you all up-to-date on the impending road trip to Guthrie, Oklahoma. I hope none of you have lost any sleep wondering if I was, indeed, still going to trek 11 hours south to hear some bands play.
Rest assured the road trip is still on. I have just had precious little time to blog about it, what with school starting and all. Sending two girls off to community college for the first time, and then today sending Aidan off to the public school for the first time, I have been a busy little beaver.
Oh, and then there's that little concert thing I'm going to here in St. Paul tomorrow...
Let's not forget teaching my first science class at co-op tomorrow, as well.
And prepping for school to start next Monday here.
And Meal planning for Chris, so that they have things to eat while I'm away.....
Yeah. It's been a little crazy around here.
I will probably be out of touch of the blog until I arrive back in Minnesota on Sunday. :-( Sorry about that. It's hard to blog from my ipod, and there will be no internet at the campground, I'm sure. I will try to post stuff on Facebook and Instagram as the opportunity arises, but if you don't hear from me, just rest assured that I am having a GREAT time.
And, oh, the stories I will have to tell upon my return!
Ta ta!
Rest assured the road trip is still on. I have just had precious little time to blog about it, what with school starting and all. Sending two girls off to community college for the first time, and then today sending Aidan off to the public school for the first time, I have been a busy little beaver.
Oh, and then there's that little concert thing I'm going to here in St. Paul tomorrow...
Let's not forget teaching my first science class at co-op tomorrow, as well.
And prepping for school to start next Monday here.
And Meal planning for Chris, so that they have things to eat while I'm away.....
Yeah. It's been a little crazy around here.
I will probably be out of touch of the blog until I arrive back in Minnesota on Sunday. :-( Sorry about that. It's hard to blog from my ipod, and there will be no internet at the campground, I'm sure. I will try to post stuff on Facebook and Instagram as the opportunity arises, but if you don't hear from me, just rest assured that I am having a GREAT time.
And, oh, the stories I will have to tell upon my return!
Ta ta!
10 DAYS!!!
In just ten jam packed days, i will be leaving the lovely, balmy state of Minnesota to go to the lovely, balmier state of Oklahoma for a wonderful weekend of friends, family and amazing music! I do need a name for this latest road trip. Two years ago it was the Middle-aged Moms Roadtrip then came the Mother-Daughter Road Trip, but what shall we call it this year? I'm open to suggestions :-)
I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!
Oh, wait, I will wait....
I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!
Oh, wait, I will wait....
Doctor's Orders
My grandma had osteoporosis. My mom has osteoporosis. My oldest sister has osteoporosis. See a trend here?
I'd really like to put off that diagnosis for myself for as long as possible. Aside from a strong family history of the illness, I am a slender Caucasian woman who was anorexic when I was younger - all things that increase my likelihood of getting osteoporosis.
So, what's a gal to do to reduce her risk of osteoporosis? Well, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website I should be drinking my milk, not smoking or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, and exercising. I'm doing all those things. Regarding exercise the NIAMSD website says "High-impact exercises may provide the most benefit. "
I can't think of any more high-impact exercise than jumping up an down, over and over again. Wouldn't you agree?
Sooooooooo, my upcoming concert trips are JUST what the doctor ordered, don't you think? I'm doing it for my HEALTH!
I'd really like to put off that diagnosis for myself for as long as possible. Aside from a strong family history of the illness, I am a slender Caucasian woman who was anorexic when I was younger - all things that increase my likelihood of getting osteoporosis.
So, what's a gal to do to reduce her risk of osteoporosis? Well, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website I should be drinking my milk, not smoking or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, and exercising. I'm doing all those things. Regarding exercise the NIAMSD website says "High-impact exercises may provide the most benefit. "
I can't think of any more high-impact exercise than jumping up an down, over and over again. Wouldn't you agree?
Sooooooooo, my upcoming concert trips are JUST what the doctor ordered, don't you think? I'm doing it for my HEALTH!
Almost Time For a Countdown
Some of you may have forgotten my excitement over securing tickets to the Mumford & Sons Stopover show in Guthrie, Oklahoma. I, on the other hand, have NOT forgotten. The concert is now only 84 short days away! It's probably a little early to start an official countdown, but I thought I would just insert a little reminder here today.
GAAAHHHHH! (okay, I got that out of my system)
One can never go too long without watching a Mumford & Sons video, can one? I wrote a whole blog post about this song, but apparently I have never put the song out here on the blog. In order to remedy that situation, I present to you "For Those Below."
Random Saturday Pictures
Siren, WI - Main Street
Doesn't every eight year old drink Miller Lite?
(Calm down, people, she didn't really drink it)
The lakes too cold to catch anything, but it's fun to cast anyway.
Random days are the best!
O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A
A Sign!
After giving blood yesterday, I was sitting at Caribou replenishing my fluid supply with a mint mocha latte. I was also monitoring the Gentlemen of the Road website to find out where my beloved Mumford & Sons would be holding their Stopover music festivals this year. Coffee and Mumford & Sons, what a fine way to spend 45 minutes of my day...but I digress.
Anyway, when the digital clock on my laptop struck 2:30 CST, the announcement was made that the nearest Stopover to me was...wait for it....Oklahoma! Oklahoma? Why could it not be Minnesota, or at least Iowa or Wisconsin? Even South Dakota would be closer! Guthrie, Oklahoma is 10 1/2 hours away....
But! But! But I have a Mumford friend in Oklahoma...and other Mumford friends spread across the south....and a sister in St. Louis (only 7 hours and 20 minutes from Guthrie, OK)...
And then there was my coffee cup...
Soooooo, it looks like I'll be taking a little trip to Oklahoma come September. Anyone want to join me? You'll have to decide fast. Tickets go no sale on Friday and they are sure to sell out the same day.
When I went on my first Middle-Age Moms' Road Trip I had no idea that this would become a yearly event. But then, I had no idea that Mumford & Sons would stop doing concerts in Minnesota either (what's with that, any way?!) So, I've seen them in Kansas City, MO and Dixon, IL, and this year it will be Guthrie, OK. More memories, more friends, more fun!
Is It Bigger Than A Bread Box?
When I was growing up, that was a standard 20 Questions question. When I play 20 Questions with my kids and ask them that question I get blank stares, or "What's a bread box?"
Now for their education, I present a bread box...
Of course, they still can't tell how big it is, but at least they know what one looks like!
Btw, if you're ever in Siren, Wisconsin, and looking for a way to kill an hour or more, the antique store there is great fun. I now want an old Victrola, about a dozen stoneware bowls, numerous old books...and many, many other things!
I'm bringing the kids next time, as it is a highly educational (albeit breakable) place.
It's A Small World After All
Well, it's been quite a week. One week ago today, I was in Dixon for the Gentlemen of the Road festival with 15,000 other people, and tonight I was at the Minnesota State Fair with countless thousands.
Then the world shrunk significantly. The girl (Katelyn) we sat next to in the second row at the Dawes concert had camped RIGHT next to our tent on the Page Park ball fields in Dixon, IL, just seven short days ago. She was also just one row back and slightly over from us at the Mumford & Sons concert, too. So, how cool is it that at the Dawes concert tonight we sat next to my tent neighbor in Dixon?! No lie! It was so fun to talk about our shared experiences as we waited for the concert to begin tonight!
Aside from random fans who were both in Dixon and at the MN State Fair, the concerts themselves were somewhat different. Very different seeing a band with a few hundred other people, as opposed to a few thousand. This was also supposed to be a "stay in or by your seat" sort of event, which pretty much didn't happen as soon as they sang "When My Time Comes." At that point people started rushing the stage (which had no barrier), and we joined them, landing a spot in the second row.
Dawes put on a spectacular show...just great music all around! And hubby got to see how I do this concert-thing.
Ahh, it's been quite a week!
We were scoping out the venue for the concert when Dawes' tour bus pulled up. I looked at the driver and he was wearing a Dixon Stopover shirt :-) This made me happy! We wandered around a bit and then made our way back to the bandshell to try to secure some prime seats for the concert.
Then the world shrunk significantly. The girl (Katelyn) we sat next to in the second row at the Dawes concert had camped RIGHT next to our tent on the Page Park ball fields in Dixon, IL, just seven short days ago. She was also just one row back and slightly over from us at the Mumford & Sons concert, too. So, how cool is it that at the Dawes concert tonight we sat next to my tent neighbor in Dixon?! No lie! It was so fun to talk about our shared experiences as we waited for the concert to begin tonight!
Aside from random fans who were both in Dixon and at the MN State Fair, the concerts themselves were somewhat different. Very different seeing a band with a few hundred other people, as opposed to a few thousand. This was also supposed to be a "stay in or by your seat" sort of event, which pretty much didn't happen as soon as they sang "When My Time Comes." At that point people started rushing the stage (which had no barrier), and we joined them, landing a spot in the second row.
Dawes put on a spectacular show...just great music all around! And hubby got to see how I do this concert-thing.
Ahh, it's been quite a week!
Rewind
If I could rewind my Saturday and relive just one song from the whole concert, this would be it. The video is not great, but it's the best I can find so far.
What Really Happened
After posting two brief summaries of our time in Dixon, this post is for those of you that really want the lowdown on the weekend :-)
It was amazing in so many ways, I know that I will not be able to fully recount them all. Dixon is a beautiful town with so many friendly people. They made us feel very welcome, to say the least.
Molly and I spent Friday afternoon getting the "lay of the land." This included some less-than-kosher (although still legal) methods of trying to scope out the festival grounds, which were off-limits to the public.
Molly and I spent Friday afternoon getting the "lay of the land." This included some less-than-kosher (although still legal) methods of trying to scope out the festival grounds, which were off-limits to the public.
Here we see Molly traipsing through the woods on the hillside above the festival grounds.
We went to dinner with a new friend on Friday night and then "hung out" around the downtown area and made MANY more new friends. Met some great people from Chicago, Rockford, and Minnesota. Discovered that our new Minnesota friends know some of our friends back home. How weird is that? (actually that happened a couple different times over the weekend!)
Here's one of our new friends!
Got high-fived by Big Mike from Apache Relay and Ross & Ben from Mumford & Sons.
The hand that Ben touched.
Got back to the Campground formerly known as Page Park Ballfields and tried to sleep. Lots of people enjoying their night made sleep a little difficult. Fell asleep around 1:00, woke up at 4:15 when the stage crew camping behind us got up and ready for work.
Got in line around 6:00 AM. I should say, we began the line around 6:00 AM. Our new friend Denise, Molly and I were the first ones there, soon to be joined by new friends from Michigan, Missouri and Ontario.
We were chilly in the morning, but then the sun started beating down on us. By mid-morning we forgot all about being chilly!
Waited in line for seven hours. Oh, and you know how I said I wasn't going to make the news while I was there...well, I didn't make the news, but we did get interviewed for a local newspaper :-)
Molly and I at the starting line (I mean queue), ready to make a made dash (I mean controlled walk) to the barrier.
Made a very controlled but speedy jog, for the stage at 1:00 PM and landed, once again, the VERY BEST SPOT! Dead center at the barrier!
Then spent the next 3 1/2 hours standing there waiting for the music to start - and making more new friends.
Apache Relay came on first (on our stage) and did a great show. They were followed by Nathaniel Rateliff - always quality music! He was followed by Gogol Bordello. I'm not going to write too much about that because it is the ONE unpleasant event of the whole weekend. I will just say that I feared for our safety at times (literally) and Molly and my temporary daughter Erin were quite scared. The momma bear in me came out and over my dead body was anyone going to hurt my girls! Okay, enough on that. I will now erase that from my memory card.
Then, what we had been waiting for ALL day, Mumford & Sons came on and did an amazing show as always I don't have too many pictures from the show for two reasons. One, it is really difficult to take good pictures at a concert and two, because I wanted to experience the show not photograph it. It is lodged forever in my memory, I'm just sorry you couldn't have been there.
Mumford & Sons finished up around 10:45 and we headed over to the historic Dixon Theatre for a concert by Jerry Douglas.
It felt good to be inside, sitting down, and able to use the bathroom whenever we wanted to! Uncle Jerry is an AMAZING musician and played beautifully, but we were TIRED, so we listened and dozed intermittently...until Mumford & Sons (sans Ted) joined Jerry onstage (at about 1:45) for three songs. As you might expect, and as you have seen it was wonderful. Much more intimate than the big festival.
Hiked back to the campground after that and finally put my head on the pillow at 2:40 AM. Up at 7:00 and back home we came. And now it is all just a BIG, HAPPY memory!
In A Word (or two or three)
Now for a recap of the weekend in a single word (or a couple words) -
Amazing.
Memorable.
Tiring.
Hot.
Long.
Lots of walking.
Beautiful.
Stalking.
Frightening.
Crazy.
Too fast.
Too little sleep.
Too little food.
Too little water.
New friends.
Crazy connections.
Amazing security people.
Kind townspeople.
Amazing.
Memorable.
Tiring.
Hot.
Long.
Lots of walking.
Beautiful.
Stalking.
Frightening.
Crazy.
Too fast.
Too little sleep.
Too little food.
Too little water.
New friends.
Crazy connections.
Amazing security people.
Kind townspeople.
By The Numbers
Quick numerical summary of my weekend -
Time away from home: 58 hours
Time driving: 13 1/2 hours
Time sleeping: 7 1/2 hours
Time standing in line: 7 hours
Time standing in front of a stage with NO music playing: 3 1/2 hours
Time listening to amazing music: 8 hours
Meals eaten: 2
New friends made: Too many to count
Steps taken: Around 40,000
Memories made: More than I can count
Times we asked, "Do you know....": Many, many
Times we heard, "We don't know yet.....": See above
Time away from home: 58 hours
Time driving: 13 1/2 hours
Time sleeping: 7 1/2 hours
Time standing in line: 7 hours
Time standing in front of a stage with NO music playing: 3 1/2 hours
Time listening to amazing music: 8 hours
Meals eaten: 2
New friends made: Too many to count
Steps taken: Around 40,000
Memories made: More than I can count
Times we asked, "Do you know....": Many, many
Times we heard, "We don't know yet.....": See above
What Were YOU Doing?
So, out of curiosity, what were you doing at 2:00 AM this morning?
This is what I was doing...
This is what I was doing...
Dixon Bound
And we're off, on what is sure to be a weekend of fun, festivities and many good memories!
If the promised wi-fi is up and working,I will keep you updated. If not, you'll have to just imagine the fun I'm having!
If the promised wi-fi is up and working,I will keep you updated. If not, you'll have to just imagine the fun I'm having!
Only The Necessities
Well, how else do you expect me to keep you all informed of the comings and the goings in the town??
One can never bring too many cameras either, don't you think?
Hmm, I guess I'll need a tent and sleeping bag as well....
Like A Speeding Freight Train
Friday is coming!! So, instead of preparing for the coming school year, I am listening to this....
Don't worry people, the concert will be over in just a few more days, and you will not have to deal with my mild obsession anymore!
Don't worry people, the concert will be over in just a few more days, and you will not have to deal with my mild obsession anymore!
So They Say
You've heard it said that "man cannot live by bread alone."
What I'm wondering is can woman live by hummus, carrots, almonds, Oreos, and Coke alone? At least for two days?
The camping rules in Dixon are "no fires or stoves." This leaves cooking anything out of the question. I'm already spending a chunk of change on this little trip, so I don't want to spend even more on food. Not to mention, no food or beverage is allowed to be brought into the festival grounds on Saturday. Perhaps a day long fast of just water is in order? The water's free :-) Well, it's free inside the festival. No drinking water will be available in the camping area. (we're camping on a baseball field, btw)
No cars next to your tent either, which means I will be lugging a cooler across a baseball field as well. This will definitely limit the size of the cooler I bring!
Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit! I am going out for Thai food on Friday night, as I hear there is an excellent Thai restaurant in Dixon, IL. Maybe if I eat a lot on Friday night I won't be hungry at all on Saturday?!
And now...FIVE MORE DAYS!!
The following video will give you a preview of what is sure to be one of the finest moments of the whole festival!! I CAN'T WAIT!
What I'm wondering is can woman live by hummus, carrots, almonds, Oreos, and Coke alone? At least for two days?
The camping rules in Dixon are "no fires or stoves." This leaves cooking anything out of the question. I'm already spending a chunk of change on this little trip, so I don't want to spend even more on food. Not to mention, no food or beverage is allowed to be brought into the festival grounds on Saturday. Perhaps a day long fast of just water is in order? The water's free :-) Well, it's free inside the festival. No drinking water will be available in the camping area. (we're camping on a baseball field, btw)
No cars next to your tent either, which means I will be lugging a cooler across a baseball field as well. This will definitely limit the size of the cooler I bring!
Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit! I am going out for Thai food on Friday night, as I hear there is an excellent Thai restaurant in Dixon, IL. Maybe if I eat a lot on Friday night I won't be hungry at all on Saturday?!
And now...FIVE MORE DAYS!!
The following video will give you a preview of what is sure to be one of the finest moments of the whole festival!! I CAN'T WAIT!
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