(no subject)
Hey look I have some free time! Guess I'll write a bit about Falcon Ridge.
This was my 10th Falcon Ridge, and every single one of them has been phenomenal, but I have to say that this was the best one yet. I feel like this was the year where I really took so many of my relationships there to a higher level. There are some Shantytowners I've always been close with, but this year I was able to strengthen some of those bonds and also get to know some of the others in camp much better. I also hung out a lot with the Scotia camp folks, and despite the overwhelming silliness of my outspoken obsession with a certain fiddler, I was able to have some really deep and meaningful conversations with some great people. And also we all shared stories about pooping our pants. So that was great.
The weather was more or less cooperative. Of course it rained a little bit and the temperature was never what you could call "comfortable," but by Falcon Ridge standards, it was damn near perfection. No tornado, no heat exhaustion, no epic sunburn, no hypothermia, no flooding...what more can you ask?
I didn't spend as much of this year completely sloshed as I have in years past, but I did do my share of imbibing. At the liquor store, I found a giant sperm full of cream liquor, which of course became my mascot for the weekend. On Friday night, some of us went to partake in the Scotia song circle, and I ended up sitting next to fiddlin' Eric Lee. Midway through one song, he decided he was done playing, and handed me his fiddle and bow while he leaned back and closed his eyes. You guys, I don't think I've ever been more starstruck. The whole time, I was just like "Holy shit, I'm holding Eric Lee's fiddle. It's probably not okay to lick it..." Then Jason, the real life analrapist, who was taking his turn leading the song circle, shouts "Take a solo, Eric!" not realizing I'm holding the fiddle. That was a particularly comical moment. Mr. Lee perked up out of his drunken stupor long enough to take the fiddle and absolutely shred, then handed it back to me and basically passed out. Love it.
Saturday was a magical day for Shantytowne -- we got to witness the long-awaited Fruvous reunion! Well, 1/2 of Fruvous. Mike and Dave had a mainstage set, and they played some of their own solo stuff plus a lot of Fruvous stuff, and it was just amazing. None of us ever expected to see any part of Fruvous performing any Fruvous material on stage again -- most of our camp is made up of diehard Fruheads. I came into the group after the Fruvous hiatus had already begun, so this half reunion was actually my very first actual Fruvous experience, though I am familiar with the music and antics through years of stories from my fellow Shantytowners. I've never seen more collective happiness in our camp before. It was beautiful.
Sunday was haircut day. I had picked up a haircut set -- I shit you not -- from the Dollar Tree in Great Barrington earlier in the weekend, and Olivia sat me down in the middle of camp to do her thing. I guess you can call it her thing. She's never ACTUALLY cut hair before, (except a few years ago when she gave Nate a trim, but not quite the same thing), but she did an awesome job, and it was quite the camp spectacle. Andrea has a great photo documentary of the whole thing in her photos, starting on page 13 of her Flickr set. My favorite Shantymemory happened during the haircut. Everyone was watching the drama unfold, and Mayor Bill got out his guitar and harmonica and led us all in our camp anthem, "Shantytowner," while Olivia continued to work on my hair. At the end of the song, we all decided it was group hug time, but I was still mid-haircut, so I stayed in the chair and everyone surrounded me. Since I was sitting and they were all standing, I basically got a faceful of crotch. I was really feeling the love in that moment.
The haircut is good. Olivia did a great job, and I feel no need to get it touched up. It's not completely even, but fuck it, I have curly hair so it's not like you can even tell. I left my two braids in front long -- I may cut them even with the rest of it soon, or leave them as they are for a while. I kind of like them long. Andrea takes such great pictures -- if you have some time, check out her whole Flickr set -- it's pretty obvious from that what a great time we always have in the Shanty.
I love these people like family. They ARE family. I'm so lucky to be a part of this amazing group of people. I don't know how next year could possibly top this one, yet I'm pretty confident that it can and will.
This was my 10th Falcon Ridge, and every single one of them has been phenomenal, but I have to say that this was the best one yet. I feel like this was the year where I really took so many of my relationships there to a higher level. There are some Shantytowners I've always been close with, but this year I was able to strengthen some of those bonds and also get to know some of the others in camp much better. I also hung out a lot with the Scotia camp folks, and despite the overwhelming silliness of my outspoken obsession with a certain fiddler, I was able to have some really deep and meaningful conversations with some great people. And also we all shared stories about pooping our pants. So that was great.
The weather was more or less cooperative. Of course it rained a little bit and the temperature was never what you could call "comfortable," but by Falcon Ridge standards, it was damn near perfection. No tornado, no heat exhaustion, no epic sunburn, no hypothermia, no flooding...what more can you ask?
I didn't spend as much of this year completely sloshed as I have in years past, but I did do my share of imbibing. At the liquor store, I found a giant sperm full of cream liquor, which of course became my mascot for the weekend. On Friday night, some of us went to partake in the Scotia song circle, and I ended up sitting next to fiddlin' Eric Lee. Midway through one song, he decided he was done playing, and handed me his fiddle and bow while he leaned back and closed his eyes. You guys, I don't think I've ever been more starstruck. The whole time, I was just like "Holy shit, I'm holding Eric Lee's fiddle. It's probably not okay to lick it..." Then Jason, the real life analrapist, who was taking his turn leading the song circle, shouts "Take a solo, Eric!" not realizing I'm holding the fiddle. That was a particularly comical moment. Mr. Lee perked up out of his drunken stupor long enough to take the fiddle and absolutely shred, then handed it back to me and basically passed out. Love it.
Saturday was a magical day for Shantytowne -- we got to witness the long-awaited Fruvous reunion! Well, 1/2 of Fruvous. Mike and Dave had a mainstage set, and they played some of their own solo stuff plus a lot of Fruvous stuff, and it was just amazing. None of us ever expected to see any part of Fruvous performing any Fruvous material on stage again -- most of our camp is made up of diehard Fruheads. I came into the group after the Fruvous hiatus had already begun, so this half reunion was actually my very first actual Fruvous experience, though I am familiar with the music and antics through years of stories from my fellow Shantytowners. I've never seen more collective happiness in our camp before. It was beautiful.
Sunday was haircut day. I had picked up a haircut set -- I shit you not -- from the Dollar Tree in Great Barrington earlier in the weekend, and Olivia sat me down in the middle of camp to do her thing. I guess you can call it her thing. She's never ACTUALLY cut hair before, (except a few years ago when she gave Nate a trim, but not quite the same thing), but she did an awesome job, and it was quite the camp spectacle. Andrea has a great photo documentary of the whole thing in her photos, starting on page 13 of her Flickr set. My favorite Shantymemory happened during the haircut. Everyone was watching the drama unfold, and Mayor Bill got out his guitar and harmonica and led us all in our camp anthem, "Shantytowner," while Olivia continued to work on my hair. At the end of the song, we all decided it was group hug time, but I was still mid-haircut, so I stayed in the chair and everyone surrounded me. Since I was sitting and they were all standing, I basically got a faceful of crotch. I was really feeling the love in that moment.
The haircut is good. Olivia did a great job, and I feel no need to get it touched up. It's not completely even, but fuck it, I have curly hair so it's not like you can even tell. I left my two braids in front long -- I may cut them even with the rest of it soon, or leave them as they are for a while. I kind of like them long. Andrea takes such great pictures -- if you have some time, check out her whole Flickr set -- it's pretty obvious from that what a great time we always have in the Shanty.
I love these people like family. They ARE family. I'm so lucky to be a part of this amazing group of people. I don't know how next year could possibly top this one, yet I'm pretty confident that it can and will.