1. New Board Name (since i forgot my last one and the password to go with)
2. Looking forward to catching up with the ladies, been way to long.
3. Happy and grateful, that even though i may not be heading to fest this Aug, i still have alot of Festie Friends I hope to see regardless.
4. Have a huge crush on for 2 festie goers already
5. Been an eye opening Winter for me, (no snow helps) and I am getting out and having way to much fun
6. signed up to adopt a 'Rescue Great Dane" or "Rescue Basset Hound" .... on a waiting list.
7. Looking forward to a fantastic year of fun and other "Wholesome" activities (been working on my upper body strength and cardio)
8. Strongly considering finally getting my Tattoo
9. Mahasti, and Bio still waiting for my rain check (if only for my hairs sake)
10. Loving the Dreads as they keep getting longer and longer.
11. have to make it to V 13
12. Grateful that i am happy, loved, and surrounded by festie friends, old new and not yet met.
13. V...... This is the Year of ME...... (in your honour even though i never had the pleasure of meeting you in person... secretly you are a big part of my new HP)

>>10. Anyone else read Jamie Anderson’s blog? She’s hilarious!!

>>http://jamiebobamie.wordpress.com/

HF, I adore you!

Sad that the forum has changed so that I can't post my weekly updates to my blog. I got quite a bit of traffic from the boards here. Motor over there if you're so inclined - I've got a lot of blogs about women's music, including some about fest.

Hmmm, let me think of a list:

1. This is just my second Canadian winter. I'm cuddling up to my wife and my heat lamp until spring.
2. Love my kitties. They just had a check up and everyone is fine except my boy kitty needs $1200 worth of dental care. Yikes.
3. Just finished a rockin' bowl of oatmeal. I have it every morning. I'm such a creature of habit.
4. Just wrote a new song. Yay!
5. Looking forward to teaching my intensive workshop, Musical Jam for Everyone. Y'all bring your instruments and have fun with us!
6. I love playing with my Americana band. Wish I could bring 'em to fest but two of them have the wrong genitals. Hee.
7. I also love playing solo and with my female musician friends.
8. I first went to fest in 1979. I've gone every year since 2000.
9. I'm writing a book about women's music. Right now I'm doing the research and have interviewed lots of women. Having a great time.
10. I am obsessed with Kelly Clarkson's new album. I know, her lyrics aren't always great but I love the energy and that voice! Yeow.

1. hello Ladies. Just checking in after yesterday's storms. All is well with me and my family, lots of destruction across the area though.

2. I hope you are all the same.

3. I just had iced tea go down wrong and cannot stop coughing.

4. Eating Ramen noodles with corn added. Yum but super bad for you.

5. Also cleaning out the DVR today. NCIS, NCIS LA, The big bang etc.... I love to DVR tv show and watch on weekends. of course that will all change in the summer but as long as it's cold I might as well curl up on the couch with my favorite shows since I go to sleep to early to watch live.

6. As long as we have new digs (thanks HF) I figure a little background is appropriate. MY first fest was the 29th anniversary, and I've been every year since. We camp in RV, my wife has health issues that mean she needs heat. It also means we don't have to haul our gear so we bring tons of extras. Red has us beat though....

7. Streetsweep, So I hope Scout is doing well? A week in April will be fun! What is their spring weather like? Although I guess if your knitting it doesn't matter?? haha

8. heartsmind, I haven't seen you in forever! how are you? Wasi is a wonderful woman, congrats!

9. My girl is off to a Fly Fishing Banquette tonight. This means i have the house to myself. I love her but it is nice to have control of the remote occasionally. maybe I'll use the Quedoba coupon that just showed up in the mail for dinner!

10. Our CSA starts soon. I am sooo excited. Orientation is April 1 and first pickup is May 15. I'm ready to start my workshifts and get some good fresh veggies! Last year was our first time and we love it. We work 2 hours a week on the farm for 1/2 price ($425) for a whole share. We split the share with my sister.

11. I finally named my new car! I got a Kia Soul in July and have been trying to name her since. Maggie it is. Named after my favorite band my first Fest. Magdeline Hsu Li, does anyone remember her? She sang this beautiful song about Mary Magdeline then moved on to scream a song with the lyrics "F*ck Busch, Busch is a Mother F*cking asshole".....

12. So where are you all camping this year??

13. V and Bruno, you are missed.

Boring and random things about me....

10. twisted my ankle bad on monday. was stepping off the porch to clear leaves out of dog dug holes so the guys with the fill dirt will be able to fill them and i wont hurt my ankles... oh well, stepped off the porch into one of the holes and OW!!!!!!! i could feel that flash of heat. lay there for about 20 minutes before i could crawl up to the porch and get myself up. i was going to call someone to help but my phone battery was dead. so i have had a week of crutches, then cane, and ice and ow!!! it is still sore but getting better.

9. i have almost enough to get to festival. Purchased my airline ticket and have enough to check my bags and to pay for a dog/house sitter (i found one that is willing to do it for a discounted rate, way discounted... love the angels that help me) now am working on getting the shuttle to and from airport. i am taking the redeye and dont like asking folks to drive that late at night.

8. i made enough money in january to pay all my january bills and not fall behind anymore. have not done feb. yet but it looks like the same from where i sit. keep sending those jobs to me, in your woo and your prayers and in person if you have any.

7. just got home from my last scheduled puppy class. we graduated from puppy II. I think they shoulda left us behind though, i dont feel like we did too good, so i am considering taking it again. Kuma is getting awfully big to have free puppy play time though with pups that are just geting out of puppy I If you have not seen picutres of my "little" guy, please take a look at his facebook album. The last pic i posted is almost a month old now, gotta get back to it, but it will give you an idea of how fast he is growing. puts on 2 to 3 pounds a week. He is over 60 lbs now and only six and a half months old.

6. the url to see the Kuma Album is long but here is it, you dont need be a FB member or my friend to use this url:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2122903867451.2101339.1091464670&type=3&l=9b48813ce0

5. So what do you all think of the new focus of the BB now? Let me know if you see threads that dont match the criteria for the forum and i can move or delete them. I love we are steering clear of politics for now. Lets hope it stays that way and folks dont ignore the guidelines.

4. And the new design of the website itself? have you taken the time to look at it other than the performances and workshops? We have a whole new design now. And lotsa new pictures for the randomizer photos up top on the right. Can you spot a new one? just keep hitting refresh on the page and you get news ones loading. I am kinda fond of the arrow and Elvira.... and Chic Lix on the single wide photo... see if you can find them.

3. Last year we did a math problem to see how many clicks it would take to see all the images i think, or did we... maybe it was how many images there were... should i come up with a complex math problem? Any takers? Any guesses on how many images we have in the randomizer now?

2. HF, i had no idea you would do whatever i asked of you... oh the power in that.. now if i can only remain humble and not abuse it.

1. The number one boring and random thing about me today... lets see...i am hungry and need to eat breakfast.. how boring is that? Oh for the FB folks, should i post a picture of it?

BB! I hope your ankle feels better asap!!! Also, your puppy is adorable. Also, I love the new forums. Also, did you use a new font for the new site design? Cause I like it lol

I love you all!

I also am in super deep lez love with Lynx right now. Usually I listen to a few songs by everyone in the lineup so I'm prepared for fest, and then buy the CDs of awesome bands at Goldenrod and then listen to them nonstop for about 3 months after fest.

I don't think I can wait for Lynx. I have been listening to her non stop since Thursday. I got my girl to listen to the whole album (here: http://lynx.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-horizon ) last night and today she bought it on itunes LOL

Seriously! This lady has TALENT. She plays the instruments, writes the songs, BEATBOXES. And she has so many different styles that all come together in magic.

Ok I'll shut up now. But seriously. Go listen.

1 - Started the day with a rescued dog transport, two Brittanys and two muttlys, love the mutts the most, but they are all pretty sweet. I feel so lucky to get to do these transports. And I feel lucky to have four rescues at home. Saw a lot of wind damage along the highway today, feel really fortunate that nature has deemed to let our roof stay intact.

2 - Got to have a delicious late lunch made by a festie friend and just chill out. I think I love gluten free bread!

3 - LD I just cringed reading about your ankle, believe me sister I feel your pain. I used to have chronic sprains and ended up in a cast more than once. Swimming laps and using zoomers (stiff little fins) have made my ankles so much stronger, but I remember the burn you describe. I wish you a speedy recovery.

4 - Gonna start teaching an online course in nine days. I really enjoyed last semester and looking forward to this again, all thanks to another Festie.

5 - Gonna get to visit with a certain Festie next weekend in KC and I have a couple of surprises for her.

6 - Now Tori I may have the biggest ass canopy in RV, but you definitely only compete with HF for stuff you bring. It has to do with how organized you and HF are. Note: the big ass canopy (BAC) will be RED this year. I have been to fest 17 times, starting in 93, but missed 96-7-8. I was on that orginal BB as Shbear.

7 - I am still trying to retrieve the couple of hours I lost to Tori's PPD a couple of years ago. I am told I behaved in a manner unbecoming...well I kissed someone I have no idea whose name it was, or so I am told.

8 - The motto at under the BAC is "coffee in the morning, beer anytime". Find me in the morning and I will make you coffee, the beer is chilling in the cooler all the time.

9 - The BAC can be found on Debauchery Lane, or so our sign says, right next to the sign that says "We will wake your children". I love my grands and they stop by everyday at fest, but they camp else where, LOL! This year they and their Mom are borrowing Stella the RV to camp in. Stella returns! I will be in Xena the Pop Up Princess with a certain Festie.

10 - One of my favorite fest moments has to do with Saxfire dropping to the ground for resuscitation from the two EMTs on their way to the party in the Zone. Those of us viewing at Tori & Ace's gave her a standing ovation.

11 - Womyn's BB helps me wile away the hours during March. Watching a great SEC game as I write, with another coming up right after this one is over (Wrinkles it is a TN game next!).

12 - You know I may actually finish my first quilt before fest, but do not hold your breath. I did send Roar a couple of blocks for the Fest quilt, hope she can use them. All bow to Roar, the quilt Goddess.

13 - For V For Bruno For Sparky

Oh Red, i def. know TN is playing S. Carolina in the SEC semi tonight (and the final is on tomorrow night). But, thanks for the heads-up. Unfortunately, at present, due to the company i'm with, we're watching Ohio State going down in defeat to Nebraska instead.

1. I am definitely too excited about fest this year.
2. Bringing 2 or 4 virgins and I am trying too hard to make it easy for them. But I really want them to have the best time they can have.
3. Thanks Trixie- for the fest planner you sent to us last year. I left it at home....But it is coming in handy this year already. I am going to make some on rite in the rain paper so they can get wet if it rains or if my water bottle leaks all over.
4. My rescue cat that we adopted in January is having a rough time. We got him at 5 months and he was just recovered from a major broken leg surgery. they said he was all checked out and could play normally. But I think it was too soon and he injured his knee. Now he is recovering from another major surgery. He is not supposed to jump and run and go up and down stairs for another 4 weeks....That means only supervised play times outside his cage....
5. Must go eat home made pizza now....

1. Thanks for the well wishes and welcomes back!

2. LD - I LOVED the math problem last time (2 years ago, I think?)... it was such fun getting to nourish my inner geek in a michfest context!

3. Jamie - I don't know... wouldn't your blog still count as a "festival connection"? I don't see why you couldn't restart another blog update thread (unless there's small print I haven't noticed that would make it inappropriate??)

4. LD - re the new format, it's a relief to have the politics section gone. As much as I have found that section of the forum useful in the past (for self educating about the difficult politics surrounding michfest), for the past year+, I've felt like politics has filtered into everything and everywhere... I've been away from the boards for most of the last year, in good part because that negative vibe just seemed to have seeped in everywhere... to be fair, though, I was also less engaged because of having had to skip two michfests in a row (and sometimes the forum becomes more of a painful reminder than a balm).

5. I spent over 7 hours cleaning my apartment today. I spent last week down visiting solameya, and my landlord installed new windows while I was away (despite my expressly asking him to make sure I was there when it happened)... he's been promising the windows since last August - what were the chances it would've been this past week that they finally followed through??? So, because I wasn't here to prepare for the work - EVERYTHING got covered in a heavy layer of dust and dirt - I had tons of stuff disorganizedly around my room.... and ALL of it was covered. I can't say how irritated I was when I returned. My cat was absolutely traumatized. She doesn't deal well with people to begin with, so having all that construction going on while i was away was devastating. Anyhow... afterhours and hours of scrubbing, vacuuming, tons laundry etc... the apartment is finally livable again!

6. Visiting ohio was awesome - felt hugely renewed and re-grounded from the week with solameya (long distance is hard... we're at 3.5 years doing this now!)... and there's spring there! Petting spring flowers in the woods was so exciting!

7. I returned to snowstorms and mountains of slush in montreal...

8. streetsweep & trixie... it's been ages since I've run into you in person, but here's a virtual wave hello...

9. i took out my flute and played it again for the first time in a long time... I need to do that more often. Sometimes I forget how much pleasure I get out of losing myself in instruments... speaking of which, Jamie - the multi-instrument jam sounds like great fun - assuming all goes well re getting to fest this year - count me in with flute and pennywhistles in tow! (I still remember the bluegrass jams of prior years! very fun!)... I'll try to remember to post over there too!

10. I caught myself up on recent glee episodes last night... i thought it was sweet that they depicted some christians students debating (and eventually coming around to) helping a pair of lesbians celebrate valentine's day, on the basis that love is love... then, out of curiosity, I started googling christian reactions to the show... and found the vitriol I expected... not sure if I was bating myself to feel irritated or what.... but I guess i still hope there are at least some christians out there who say - yes - encouraging love between all people is fundamental to following christ... cause that's a key part of his teaching.... sigh. Sometimes I wish I still considered myself christian so that i could count myself as a different kind of christian... but my beliefs have moved too far away for me to carry that label the way I did as a child.

11. I'm grateful for having been raised a Quaker, without the baggage of most "heavy" christian denominations.

12. If anyone's interested in a good read, try Little Bee (forgetting the author - someone british). Devoured it recently... (good discussion of immigration politics, trauma-survival, and taking optimistic chances... largely narrated by a precocious and charming teenager with a really unique and engaging voice)

derail

Ok clover, i posted a two part math problem for you, have at it, and i hope there are others that play with you as well. Let me know if there are any questions.

rerail

1. HF- thats hilarious! Perhaps I should get one of those. Its sure a conversation starter and a pick up line "Hi, theres "entertainment" at the Opera House tonight, want to visit?"
2. went for a beautiful swim today
3. just looked at the Hart webcam and its so beautiful.
4. saw Naomi Wolf speak today. Very interesting. I wanted to see Germaine Greer too but she was sold out.
5. Tired and going to bed soon
6. LD, loving the new forum too. Thanks :)

1. Hello Ladies!

2. LD, am I missing something or is the Performance schedule still 2011? Do I need to do something to get to 2012? I do love the layout though....need to make my way thru the pictures soon.

3. Red, The couple of hours comment was great! That was the year we brought the blender and generator! Fun times but yes, some of it is a blur for me too! Ace found a Giant ass canopy on sale at Harbor Freight... it has now made the shopping list for Fest.

4. Watching Gilmore Girls re-runs and eating a frozen pizza while Ace and Lane (blender supplier from #3) hang a giant deer head at the cabin. I opted out of hanging the head so I could do laundry and relax!

5. I am also baking bread. I love our bread machine!

6. Trixie, Lez Love rocks! Any Zone plans yet?

7. We need to get planning for this years Fest. Giant ass canopy is the works, next meals and drink plan. Lane will be in Singapore for an extended business trip so we won't have a blender.

8. HF, Caught you on Linked in yesterday. Took me a second to figure out who Julie was! LOL Ace said she has seen your twin at school on Friday.

9. Wow, I'm running out of boring things to tell you galz!

10. Speaking of single use kitchen items (see Bread machine above) I am using my soda stream too! I love the soda stream. I don't normally add flavor, just club soda!

11. Ok, guess I'm out! Love to you all!

derail

if you are still getting 2011 information on the website, then hold down the shift key while you click on refresh, that forces you to dump cache on the page, as this is the issue.

rerail.

1. Wildwomyn: God the pics, they are beyond cute! I wish I had puppy pictures of my two, but they were rescues so I have to imagine them as babes.

2. Got our tickets and looking forward to this year. The last time I saw Chris Williamson was in Chicago in the 80's - wow, can that be true? Used to see Holly Near around Olivia from time to time when I did part-time scut work there in the 90's. Really looking forward to Dar Williams.

3. My random comment about winter winding down was dashed with an "in like a lion" blizzard Thursday. Not so bad here on the coast. Then rain all day yesterday. Tori - took the dogs to the woods in my rain suit! Walking in (even the cold) rain in the woods is a magical experience.

4. Meeting my sister to pick out material for two new sets of pajammas for Henry the greyhound. He wears them at night because he gets cold. Now that we are "going through the change" it is even colder at night due to hot flash induced heat reduction to 55 degrees. My niece sewed the last pair. Belz sometimes wears a hand-me-down pair now that she is in her older years (14 or 15). Keeps down the pacing when she is toasty.

5. I imagine what it would have been like to have Glee when I was growing up in this small town. The last episode with an attempted hanging by a boy who was "outed" was only one in a series which have addressed gay and lesbian issues in teens. Love it!

6. LD: Love the new boards! Are you still accepting "Get LD to Fest" donations? If so, will bump that up if I can find it!
Sorry about the ankle - we always say they are worse than breaks. Don't go to fast in terms of walking without crutches/cane, cause then it takes way longer to heal and we need to strong so you can drive shuttles at Fest!

7. LD #2: I can see the new line-up/workshops on my laptop, but not on my iPad.

8. If any of you missed it, I finally joined Facebook. If you want to friend me you can search under Belzmom.

9. I am sick of cramps. When oh when will that pause in menopause arrive?

10. We brought our screen house last year and set it up but never used it once. Hope to connect with more of you (where are you? Hellooooooo? We are festy sophomores this year. Couldn't find many of you last year!) this year, but will look for your BAC if that is OK, will bring blueberry bear to share.