missing kerrville
it's a little hard to believe, but we're skipping kerrville this year. i started going 14 years ago. gosh, is that half my life? both of us have worked on staff for all or most of our years there, and the annual pilgrimage down south has always been something to look forward to - a familar place with creative people who i look forward to seeing again every year. so it's not a surprise i feel a bit strange about not going this year. the only other year i missed entirely was 1997, when at least the excuse was that dan and i were travelling in greece and turkiye.
so, in an effort to make myself feel a little better about it,
loudly snoring neighbors. after all, the walls are thin and everyone is in close quarters.
seeing locals using soap or shaving cream when bathing in the rivers/swimming holes. there's water (even hot water for non-staff as of last year) on the ranch, but some people are possibly uptight about shared bathing/dressing areas.
weird old fling lurking around.
how impossible it is to take a nap in the texas midday heat.
when the water on the ranch gets cut off, and i just got back from a work run, covered in recycling juices.
waiting hours for my crew to get its shit together or get the truck or both. especially when this means that it's the midday (HOT, NO SHADE) by the time we're scurring all over the ranch. doubly annoying when this means i miss my window of opportunity to go swimming off the ranch before it's time for dinner/shows.
men who abuse the friendly/hugging atmosphere for an opportunity to grope.
drenched belongings in thunderstorms (we are usually more immune to this - dan sets up an expert campsite).
waiting in line to use the computer only to find the internet connection so painfully slow i just abandon my mission.
ah, who am i kidding? i'll probably miss those things too.
however, all is not lost. as a small substitute, we're gonna check out a shorter and more local festival: the falcon ridge folk festival. i sent in our staff applications today, in fact. i wasn't sure which crews to choose, but i put down:
1st choice - ice sales
2nd choice - recycling/litter
3rd choice - performer merchandise
4th choice - food services
dan wants us to be on the same crew. should be fun, as we've always been on different crews at kerrville. unless we work in the kitchen. i'd be a little scared of that, since he can be such a control freak.