Tour 2011, Days 22-28
I am definitively having a reaction to sea level altitudes and high humidities. Or I'm getting sick.
On the other hand, I've just given two of the most beautiful concerts of my life.
Went with Andy, Tom, and Noah (Tom's son) to a Banjo Pick in Lexington; it was lovely. Tom was the only banjoist, but there were three guitarists, and Andy brought his guitar and fiddle. Noah was on mandolin. First time they'd ever had a harp. (gryn)
Thanks to the answerer of my Shout-out, children_of_lir, who posted to her Huntington folk, and found us crashspace with an SCA friend of hers in Hungtington, WV; turns out Bruce is also part of the Occupy Huntington crew, and we had a grand time. Impromptu House Concert at Bruces, for frozen Occupiers as they warmed up (and one or two showered). I have learned a great deal, once again, from spending time in Andy's company. Paying, through my PASS program, for the milage is helping him reach his Dad's place in Massachusetts, and it was lovely to be able to help HIM, since he's been such a big help to me.
Huntington (like most of West Virginia, and well, Kentucky too) is hurting. The economy there is very slow. Seems only banks there are thriving. The Occupation is set up in front of the words, "J.P. Morgan", and I think the choice is EXCEPTIONALLY valid.
We got a couple of pots of soup (the same pot, actually, twice, once the night before) down there, played as best as we could for them in the cold, and headed out to Roanoke. Got into Chip and Colleen's a little before Sunset.
Andy elected (after a great bowl of stew was had by all) to continue to DC if he could, before stopping, and I spent the night with one kitty or another snuggling the small of my back.
Saturday was the Roanoke Pagan Pride Day. Once the correct part of the correct park was found, we all had a lovely time. Drynnith picked me up, and we followed Donal and Frosti to the site. I sang in between the sets which were occuring on the amplified stage (which it was interesting to find they had). "Anachie Gordon" went over particularly well with the booth across the way, and lots of folks stopped by to enjoy it.
Begged a haircut from Frosti, and received it. No more wisps, catching in my higher harpstrings. It's essentially a very wide (number 2, about 1/4 inch left on the sides) mohawk left long between the partline and it's corresponding "other side" point, and comfy. As promised to Stoiph, I still have a tail. Sat out on Chip's porch running my hands through it after the shower, though, and was amazed it wasn't dry. And then realized, I was not *in* Colorado. Things don't dry by themselves East of the Mississippi, do they?
Had a wonderful time with Chip, Colleen, Drynnith, Donal, and Frosti, and slept decently. In the morning, Drynnith and I headed toward Richmond, after failing to find Occupy Roanoke people (they'd been present the previous day).
Betty had offered to host a brunch there, when it became widely realized that folks were trying to get together ahead of concert. Lovely jalapeno-and-bacon poppers which Betty had "made to many of" and had also taken my recommendation to freeze. Yum, nom, and all sorts of other similar sounds. Wonderful to see so many folk I love; stitchwitch and Arn came up. Brenna, who was a foot shorter when I last saw her, and Terry and her son (who was more than a foot shorter when I saw him last), and Babs and Shana (and her adorable daughter, Karen). Thomas, my Horde Brother, took me and luggage to the venue; he has been my Driver since, and is on his own computer to the left of me as I write this.
The venue was the Positive Vibe Cafe, on Hathaway, in Richmond. Nifty, and nifty, and nifty. Used to be a bank, so they have a Vault Door (with two little tables in the Vault). It is now a restaurant which is also part of a Foundation, and they teach folks on Disability to integrate themselves into the Food Service Industry. There were a number of folks in the audience who had not been at Betty's (and some that were at Betty's, including herself, who found themselves too tired or stuffed to attend - believe me, I understand... the bacon-wrapped jalapenos had almost had me downing the whole pate of them, and I had to work hard to restrain myself at the brunch...), including my other whiskered e-friend Tom, whom I've finally now met (and reacted to with typical and predictable trichophilia - the fellow's beard IS down to his waist!), and a number of locals. There seemed to be exactly the right mix of folk, and I seemed to know exactly how to please these people, and I adore the nature of the venue, and the venue itself is wonderful. I sang hard, but am not sure I sang hard enough to have as scratchy a throat as I did this morning.
Thomas drove me after to his home, and I crashed in his "animal-free zone" room (there are a few cats and two greyhounds), and we left late this morning for Silver Spring. Thanks muchly to his patience in driving; DC traffic is even worse a nightmare than I had remembered. I played tonight in technomage's Cohousing building (an exceptionally nifty place), to a delightful crowd, and again, seemed to hit just the right tone with the mix of people there. I am the first person to hold an event there who has shared the "Donation Box" with the Cohousing. They said they might put up a plaque. Next year, the place will be packed. We were offered the use of the Guest Room, and took them up on the offer (Thomas was going to go to Rianna's, and I was to take technomage's couch, but this works to everyone's advantage.
Partially because I might really be getting sick. As stated above, I'm certainly having the reaction to the humidity, but I really think I may have picked up something between Memphis and Lexington, and worry. I sang fine tonight, and do not believe I hurt myself, but I am REALLY glad that tomorrow is more of a travel day than a performance day (although I may get taken by technomage down to the Occupy DC, and play some there). I feel dampened, and my sinuses won't stop clogging. Even so, I sang pretty durn well.
Tomorrow afternoon I'm on a train to Cleveland, which will get in at OhMyGhodThirty in the morning in Cleveland, and I'll have a whole new sojourn there. Wish me strong and proper immune response, please. I want to be hale and hearty when I arrive in Cleveland.
On the other hand, I've just given two of the most beautiful concerts of my life.
Went with Andy, Tom, and Noah (Tom's son) to a Banjo Pick in Lexington; it was lovely. Tom was the only banjoist, but there were three guitarists, and Andy brought his guitar and fiddle. Noah was on mandolin. First time they'd ever had a harp. (gryn)
Thanks to the answerer of my Shout-out, children_of_lir, who posted to her Huntington folk, and found us crashspace with an SCA friend of hers in Hungtington, WV; turns out Bruce is also part of the Occupy Huntington crew, and we had a grand time. Impromptu House Concert at Bruces, for frozen Occupiers as they warmed up (and one or two showered). I have learned a great deal, once again, from spending time in Andy's company. Paying, through my PASS program, for the milage is helping him reach his Dad's place in Massachusetts, and it was lovely to be able to help HIM, since he's been such a big help to me.
Huntington (like most of West Virginia, and well, Kentucky too) is hurting. The economy there is very slow. Seems only banks there are thriving. The Occupation is set up in front of the words, "J.P. Morgan", and I think the choice is EXCEPTIONALLY valid.
We got a couple of pots of soup (the same pot, actually, twice, once the night before) down there, played as best as we could for them in the cold, and headed out to Roanoke. Got into Chip and Colleen's a little before Sunset.
Andy elected (after a great bowl of stew was had by all) to continue to DC if he could, before stopping, and I spent the night with one kitty or another snuggling the small of my back.
Saturday was the Roanoke Pagan Pride Day. Once the correct part of the correct park was found, we all had a lovely time. Drynnith picked me up, and we followed Donal and Frosti to the site. I sang in between the sets which were occuring on the amplified stage (which it was interesting to find they had). "Anachie Gordon" went over particularly well with the booth across the way, and lots of folks stopped by to enjoy it.
Begged a haircut from Frosti, and received it. No more wisps, catching in my higher harpstrings. It's essentially a very wide (number 2, about 1/4 inch left on the sides) mohawk left long between the partline and it's corresponding "other side" point, and comfy. As promised to Stoiph, I still have a tail. Sat out on Chip's porch running my hands through it after the shower, though, and was amazed it wasn't dry. And then realized, I was not *in* Colorado. Things don't dry by themselves East of the Mississippi, do they?
Had a wonderful time with Chip, Colleen, Drynnith, Donal, and Frosti, and slept decently. In the morning, Drynnith and I headed toward Richmond, after failing to find Occupy Roanoke people (they'd been present the previous day).
Betty had offered to host a brunch there, when it became widely realized that folks were trying to get together ahead of concert. Lovely jalapeno-and-bacon poppers which Betty had "made to many of" and had also taken my recommendation to freeze. Yum, nom, and all sorts of other similar sounds. Wonderful to see so many folk I love; stitchwitch and Arn came up. Brenna, who was a foot shorter when I last saw her, and Terry and her son (who was more than a foot shorter when I saw him last), and Babs and Shana (and her adorable daughter, Karen). Thomas, my Horde Brother, took me and luggage to the venue; he has been my Driver since, and is on his own computer to the left of me as I write this.
The venue was the Positive Vibe Cafe, on Hathaway, in Richmond. Nifty, and nifty, and nifty. Used to be a bank, so they have a Vault Door (with two little tables in the Vault). It is now a restaurant which is also part of a Foundation, and they teach folks on Disability to integrate themselves into the Food Service Industry. There were a number of folks in the audience who had not been at Betty's (and some that were at Betty's, including herself, who found themselves too tired or stuffed to attend - believe me, I understand... the bacon-wrapped jalapenos had almost had me downing the whole pate of them, and I had to work hard to restrain myself at the brunch...), including my other whiskered e-friend Tom, whom I've finally now met (and reacted to with typical and predictable trichophilia - the fellow's beard IS down to his waist!), and a number of locals. There seemed to be exactly the right mix of folk, and I seemed to know exactly how to please these people, and I adore the nature of the venue, and the venue itself is wonderful. I sang hard, but am not sure I sang hard enough to have as scratchy a throat as I did this morning.
Thomas drove me after to his home, and I crashed in his "animal-free zone" room (there are a few cats and two greyhounds), and we left late this morning for Silver Spring. Thanks muchly to his patience in driving; DC traffic is even worse a nightmare than I had remembered. I played tonight in technomage's Cohousing building (an exceptionally nifty place), to a delightful crowd, and again, seemed to hit just the right tone with the mix of people there. I am the first person to hold an event there who has shared the "Donation Box" with the Cohousing. They said they might put up a plaque. Next year, the place will be packed. We were offered the use of the Guest Room, and took them up on the offer (Thomas was going to go to Rianna's, and I was to take technomage's couch, but this works to everyone's advantage.
Partially because I might really be getting sick. As stated above, I'm certainly having the reaction to the humidity, but I really think I may have picked up something between Memphis and Lexington, and worry. I sang fine tonight, and do not believe I hurt myself, but I am REALLY glad that tomorrow is more of a travel day than a performance day (although I may get taken by technomage down to the Occupy DC, and play some there). I feel dampened, and my sinuses won't stop clogging. Even so, I sang pretty durn well.
Tomorrow afternoon I'm on a train to Cleveland, which will get in at OhMyGhodThirty in the morning in Cleveland, and I'll have a whole new sojourn there. Wish me strong and proper immune response, please. I want to be hale and hearty when I arrive in Cleveland.