July. July.

We had an amazing time in Massachusetts. Amazing. Our second year at Solid Sound was phenomenal (even drenched) and I've developed a deep love for Thurston Moore's solo work. Also, a deep love for Western Mass. Surprise, surprise, I took tons of photos of decay and rust and chickens and people, and came back ready to make stuff again (I was a little worn out.)

One of the things I love best about rural Massachusetts? People don't ask what you do. In the DC area, within the first five minutes, most conversations wind up at "Where do you work? What do you do?" There, I asked people twice, but no one ever asked me. Refreshing, especially since I always feel like a fish out of water. It's hard to explain what I do, beyond "I make stuff". I think that if you aren't constantly trying to validate your position, it's a lot easier to get on with actually doing. I aim to find out.

And I want to figure out how to cobble together some sort of career that I don't need to explain to anyone. That's my new goal. Also, I want a pony. Or a really big dog.

I said yes to my high school reunion.

What have I done?

I've managed to avoid the others (pregnancy-related bedrest, opera jobs, general disinterest) but I'm going next month. True story. If my parents and sister weren't in Colorado I probably wouldn't really consider it, but we haven't been back for a few years so it seems like a good time. Honestly, I've become much better friends with some former classmates through FaceBook than I was when we were in school. And I learned that my assessment of my high school experience seems to have been at odds with other people's assessment of me in high school. Here I always thought I was a total awkward pathetic weirdo. I may have been a little mistaken. OR I was right all along and this will be horrible. Maybe I should start a pool...

Okay, I'm kind of looking forward to this. And if John Cusak (circa Gross Pointe Blank) could show up, that would really seal the deal. Really.

Maybe I'll skip parts of the weekend (just like I skipped most of chemistry -- I figure the statute of limitations has passed and I'm safe in that confession) and hang out at the Market drinking espresso and trying to be cool. Or maybe at City Park. Or the IHOP in Cherry Creek. I still wear pointy shoes, maybe I can dig up a black tutu. Gee, this is already getting weird...

(Also, that's me in high school. I know.)

I bet you're wondering where I've been...

I did not fall off the face of the Earth.

I did not fall asleep in a ditch somewhere.

The children did not win (though it's been close...)

I've been busy...

First, we spent a lovely weekend at Lake Gaston, Virginia with our best friends. The prettiest member of several Cheverly bands that you know and love and her very kind parents opened their house to all of us for the weekend. By "opened their house" I mean fed us, housed us and took us on the boat. Repeatedly. At all hours of the day and night. (Actually, I slept through that...)

And why, you may ask, did we go all the way down to the VA/NC border?

So that Things 1&2 could see their very first WILCO show!!!!!!!!! They had a great time. We all had a great time (even though the crowd, as Jeff Tweedy mentioned repeatedly, smelled very nice...but not like the pine trees surrounding the amphitheater. You know, concert nice.) Cary, North Carolina, has a great concert venue -- the Koka Booth Amphitheater. If you ever have an opportunity to see a show there, do it. The band was great, and Bon Iver, the opener, was really cool. I want to see them again.

On the drive between Lake Gaston and Cary, we went to Raleigh, which has a great comic book store. Any comic book store that employs nerds willing to find the perfect comic book for a three-year old girl is tops in my book. They had one copy of a Barbie comic book and we all made a big deal about it being rare in in plastic. Maggie was thrilled. The boy needed no help in the store... there was also a good used bookstore and lots of coffee shops. Fun, fun, fun. (But not as cool as Richmond, where we stopped on the way down to the lake.)

So we had a terrific long weekend with great people and I got more sleep than I have in months. Fantastic. And then...

JURY DUTY.
Okay, I'm one of those people who think that jury duty is a good thing. I've been called several times, but was never put on a trial. Until this week. All I'm going to say: Do not do drugs. Do not use guns. If you have to use drugs, do not use guns at the same time. We'll all be alot better off if you just take my advice.

Monday night, after a quick yummy dinner at Eat First, we went to see Grizzly Bear at the 6th & I Synagogue in DC. A band I'd never heard of, Violens, opened (but I will seek them out!) It was the most polite show I've ever attended, and we were probably the only people there who had to get home to a babysitter (thanks, Abby!) Also, Charles said that every guy in the restroom while he was there washed their hands. Impressive fans, Grizzly Bear.

My jury duty ended early (plea deal) and I went to a little coffee place in Upper Marlboro that I've driven past so many times: More than Coffee! They make an incredibly good black bean and corn salad -- warm, tossed with oil and lots of cumin, and served over lettuce. (And really good soy cappuccino...) So after a relaxing lunch and a stop to buy school supplies for the boy, we got to spend Tuesday afternoon at the pool. You know those days when the cold water is especially welcome because you've been laying in the hot sun? Yeah. And we ended last night with a fantastic vegan meal made by some new friends and shared with some old ones.

So. In less than a week, four bands. Three states. The pool. Lots of great friends and food. Civic duty. Not a bad way to wind down summer...

And so ends Spring Break...

We had a fantastic end to Spring Break -- three days at Bethany Beach with our (very kind, patient) friends, Erik & Kelly. We rented a little house about a block from the beach and spent a lot of time in the sand. Friday was unseasonably warm, so Paul spent most of the day in the water (yes, in his jeans and sweatshirt...it wasn't that warm). And, inspired by Kelly, I actually got some knitting done. You know it's a good beach trip when you hit pizza twice and chinese food once within three days. We also got to meet Kelly's 97-year old grandfather -- that was great. The only sad thing was driving out through Ocean Beach yesterday and seeing huge wafts of smoke coming from the boardwalk...

And so reality comes back with a roar -- my annual trip to Redskins stadium (FedEx Field, whatever) to throw money at Dan Snyder. I hate Dan Snyder. Year after year I visit the stadium to pay the bill for **someone's** season tickets. Year after year I vow that this will be the last year. Year after year, Dan Snyder's evil trolls walk away with our money. I feel violated -- they don't even give you a cup of coffee...or a "Thank you." One funny thing -- there are big video monitors in the lobby with a loop of past Redskins vicotries. Someone in line joked, "When was the last time we saw something like that?" Another person responded," Long time ago. And we won't be seein' anything like that this year either." And we all sighed. Dan Snyder doesn't care if the team does well -- he already has your cash. Mine, too.