Weekend of August 6th - 8th, 2010 - What are your plans?

Going to a friend's house this evening for food and wine, and then HOPEFULLY enjoying our fire pit Saturday and Sunday. Probably sorting and boxing books at the library tomorrow! Great fun for me. (Plus I get my pick of whatever. Within reason, of course.) :oD

What will you be doing?

My sister-in-law is taking our daughter shopping tomorrow for school clothes. So my wife and I will be sans 6yo. We still haven't figured out what to do with our brief moment of freedom. Any suggestions?

My eldest son's girlfriend is 21 on Sunday. We are all invited to the party in a Chinese restaurant, followed by drinks in the pub across the road.

The excuse of getting a birthday present means we will spend Saturday at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. Unfortunately the bookshops there are not great, but they are bookshops.

Working the night shift and counting the days until my vacation starts. 4

#4 vacation plans?

I have a ticket to tomorrow evening's Cyclones game. (The Brooklyn Cyclones are the feeder team for the New York Mets; they play in Coney Island and take their name from the roller coaster there.)

#5 - Mostly, I plan to be away from work. :)

Also, my dad's 80th birthday is on the 14th, so I will be heading home (childhood home) on the 12th to be with family. We have cousins coming we have not seen in over 30 years, so I'm pretty excited. Hopefully, OH and I will get away for one night and two days by ourselves after the party. Sadly, our days off have very little overlap. Still, I don't have to be back to work until the 19th!

More cleaning of the house on Saturday morning. The realtor said she's doing the open house next Sunday.

Anyone interested in buying a fixer upper in Northfield, MA?

Other than that I have no plans.

heading to Vermont to a favorite restaurant and I have no idea what else. something though.

Heading home. 1000 kilometres in a car on Saturday, starting early.

I foresee washing up and general rest on Sunday, before work starts again on Monday!

As I was ill between my planned vacations I've been away from work a total of 8 weeks.
Feels weird.

All I really want to do is continue reading Infinite Jest, which if you've read it is sort of ironic or the whole point, I'm not sure which. Probably both.

I will be pulled away for baseball and some other activities, I'm sure.

> 11 From your profile pic, I take it you're a Yankees fan?

#12 Actually, I live in Nor Cal now and have become a Giants fan. However, I still go see the Yanks when they come to play Oakland.

FOOTBALL!

I don't care if it's just the preseason Hall of Fame game, it's football and I will love it and hug it and call it George.

Monday is a public holiday, and my third Thingaversary. Otherwise, change library books, get chocolates for the layout lady who did Botanical Exploration -- we're having a 'launch' party on Tuesday, and she and my co-compiler are coming down specially from Pretoria. Also reading, sleeping, working up pictures from recent vacation and possibly another visit to Exclusive's book sale.

I am a wicked slacker today, having left the office about 4 hours early. But hey, it's a Friday in August and really there's not much activity in my particular industry.

My son and girlfriend are showing up tomorrow for a brief visit before he returns to continue doctoral work at Ga Tech later this month. So that sucks up all of tomorrow.

Sunday is the catch-up day w/ regard to picking up and stuff.

I'm at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival all weekend, starting last night. My city has MANY festivals but this is my absolute favourite. The picture below is to partially show you the awesomeness that is sitting on the hill watching some of the most amazing and eclectic music anywhere. Great food options too.



My sister (LT:Northernstar) arrives Saturday night and will join us on the hill for Sunday and then visit for a few days.

May try and get to the football tomorrow. Last pre-season game before the Premiership kick-off the following week.

I'm going book-crawling with my friends today. Nine bookstores in 8 hours (including stopping for lunch).

It'll be good to be away from the house - my housemate has three friends sleeping over in our little townhouse, so it's better if they have some space.

Hanging out with old high school friends who I haven't seen since graduation. Reading a bit, playing with Merlin (he loves to eat my socks), and baking goodies for said old friends.

School started here for students Wednesday, and I am exhausted! I'll be going to the gym early, and then some housework and resting the remainder of the day. I'm going back diving/snorkeling Sunday. I've been more this year than I have in a very long time. I found a great dive buddy in an long time friend and it's been great!

I will also practice my Taekwondo forms. I test in one week for the next belt. **nervous**

Georgia,I wish I could join you on the diving /snorkeling. I miss it and I have no one to do it with. I am frustrated golfer and I would love to take the sport up again before my clubs get too old. Enjoy your time before you head back to school.

We're back in school, jewels. I went back last week and the kids came back this week. It's early, but we're there!

I've recently taken up Disc Golf. I love it! It's challenging, and very much fun. The courses I've been on are like a walk through the woods! I haven't play "real" golf in a long time.

I am unpacking boxes and finding the right places for all kinds of things; returning to former house and cleaning; still packing up a few things there and bringing these to the new house. In brief: unpacking, cleaning, packing, traveling, cleaning, packing, unpacking, traveling, cleaning...bla bla bla

I will squeeze in some LT time and also some reading. Never fear.

It's my niece's wedding today, so we'll soon be heading out to that. It'll be a big family get-together and celebration, lots of fun. My niece is such a sweetie. And it's a perfect day, sunshine, not too hot, couldn't ask for a better day. Tomorrow we'll be at my sister's place for brunch and more family time before everyone heads off for their homes far and away.

3

Ok, so maybe I walk on dog poop then traipse around on top of your potato salad at picnics, but look at how cute I am just chillin' on this leaf.

I love it, Fleela! :)

MrsLee? 3? Did it miss something important?

I've always wished flies weren't quite so dirty. I do think they are cute.

Georgia, probably not important to the rest of the world, I'm just counting the days until my vacation. I won't inflict you with the hours and minutes. :)

Fantastic, MrsLee! Enjoy your time!

I have 178 more days with my current 8th grade students. :)

"but who's counting?"

lol @ Maggs!

It's hard to believe that we're already back in school.

Evening all, I've not long got back from a great trip to Wales... not a huge amount of photography, but that wasn't really the point of going - however, having said that I did get one or two images that I'm pleased with - this one being one of them:

Paxton's Tower


The rest of the weekend could be taken up with Starcraft II, trying not to think about going back to work, Words with Friends, and generally trying not to think about going back to work ;-)

Have a good one, all.

>34 Tane: Wow, Tane! That is one of the coolest photos I've seen in a long time. Incredible!

Tane, that is a very cool image. Was it a full castle or was it more of a watchtower? And where exactly was it in Wales.

Awesome, Tane!

I like to think, without much evidence, that "my people" come from Wales, as well as, with evidence, Scotland and England. I really must visit.

Dammit, the one plan I make for the weekend ends up going wrong. Do I need a day-glow orange flag, or should the guy who organized the trip -- and who had my ticket -- have had one?

I'm enjoying a weekend on the planet of New Orleans and having a blast. Posting from the hotel lobby.

I haven't been on in a while since the computer isn't set up in my new apartment yet, so aside from the occasional Facebook post via my iPhone I haven't been online. I'll be back soon!

#6 - Ooooh I love the Cyclones, hope you had a BLAST!

#39 - OH! dOES THAT MEAN YOU DIDN'T GET TO GO TO THE GAME!!!? hmm, didn't mean to SHOUT but, ACK!

Ok, so it's not an ancient tower (nice one, Tane), but they're sort of scarce in Vermont, but these aren't -



From our driving trip yesterday.

Is this picture idyllic or iconic? Whichever, I like it!

Two beautiful pictures above! Dare this one join such august company?

--------------------------------------------

Hi, Ena!



(Yes, it was that close. I was leaning against the rest-camp fence.)

>41 mrgrooism:
You're right on the money. And no problem about the shouting. I'm not quite entirely off capslock myself (which is saying something, since I'm generally too damn nice for my own good).

Thanks for your comments, folks - they're always gratefully received and a huge part of what keeps me inspired to continue :-)

Fleela, Bookmarque, and hfglen - superb shots!

As for Paxton's Tower, it's not actually anything more than a folly, in other words a building constructed to have no practical purpose other than to exist for show. #36 jillmwo, it's just south of Llandeilo, I can't remember the name of the actual place.

#44 - Is it grown, or a baby? It doesn't look vicious, but two things I've read recently referred to them as very much so. True?

Full size, somewaht larger than a German Shepherd. Very vicious -- that jaw can snap your arm without effort. And STINKS of all its meals for the last year or more. It's looking "gentle" as it was evidently frightened by the flash, and knew about humans raising things to their eyes.

#17 - I too was at a folk festival this weekend and had a great time. Who was on where you were? Anyone from this side of the Atlantic?

49>From UK/Ireland - Kate Rusby, Four Men and a Dog, Lau, Tony McManus, not sure who else without my program book. Can't recall anyone from other parts of Europe. The Edmonton festival is always very eclectic. It was a great weekend.

Highlights - Ben Harper, Te Vaka, Colin Hay, Levon Helm, Sarah Harmer, Brandi Carlisle, Four Men and a Dog, Kate Rusby.

Hated: Melanie, Gord Downie, Tanya Tagaq

Ooh, I do enjoy Kate Rusby. She has a lovely voice and is excellent at the obligatory banter in between songs so I really enjoy seeing her live.

The highlights of my festival were Show of Hands, the Peatbog Faeries, Salsa Celtica, Shooglenifty, Chris Wood, Steve Tilston, 3 Daft Monkeys and the Teacherous Orchestra. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great and I'm definitely glad to be back in the land of proper showers and toilets now.

>51 Ygraine: Ah, that must be why the Peatbog Faeries weren't at OUR festival - they were in Calgary 2 weeks ago - could have done Canmore Folk Fest and then Edmonton but I guess they had to go home :(. I hope to see them next year. I've seen Show of Hands and Shooglenifty and loved both.

One of my friends was the artist liaison for Kate Rusby and her group - said they were all absolutely lovely and a joy to work with.

Since our taste seem to agree I am going to suggest some of the groups from your list that I'm not familiar with to the organizer of our festival. He's always looking for suggestions.

52, sorry we pinched them back. I've seen them before, but I'd forgotten how much I enjoy the bagpipes until I saw them again at the weekend.

If you're making a list, then Bellowhead and the Oysterband must be added to it. Neither were at this particular festival, but both are bands that I try to see at least once a year. I'll have to look up some of the people that you enjoyed too, as we do seem to like similar stuff.

#50 -53. Jealous! Some great bands you've both had there. Ygraine where was your festival?

I spent all of Saturday and quite a it on Sunday driving back from S.France. Had a great trip, didn't do too much caving, but fantastic scenary and enjoyable company.

It was my local festival in Wickham, a little village in Hampshire. Technically the headline act was the Levellers, but I was far more interested in the other bands there.

I've seen and loved both Bellowhead and Oysterband at previous festivals, and Oysterband comes through town periodically on their own, too and I always go see them. They are my favourite band in the universe.

I was surprised - we didn't have any bands with bagpipes this year, except the local pipe band that pipes the first audience members into the park to lay their tarps.

I went camping over our rainy weekend somewhere in the Cascades near Darrington. We ended up in a fairly remote place. Here's a pic of a river we stopped by:

oooh nice one. Did I miss this on flickr? Must have.

There's a face on the left bank!

Neat! I hadn't seen that, Will.

I sure wish I had gone swimming there. Alas, it was raining and the water was probably 40 degrees... and I'd have to store my contact lenses first. But, truthfully, I would have dived right in if the rest of the group had been willing to stay there for a while- we drove to our campsite shortly after this pic was taken.

NOOOO!!! Good thing you DIDN'T go swimming, Mono! The RIVERFACE would have GOT YOU TOO!!!

(Hmmm, maybe I should lay off the Stephen King for a while...)

No, mrgroo, that was my thought exactly, after seeing the face and before monohex mentioned the swimming. I just thought it was my own paranoia. Glad to share it with you. ;)

If I'm ever there again, I intend to swim through his eye socket!

I think it looks like Archie or Richie Rich.

#63 - Yeah, then you could be his MONOcle!

>52 tardis: tardis

Did you get to see Le Vent du Nord at the festival? We had them at Milwaukee Irish Fest four years ago and they were fantastic. I'm hoping the Fest brings them back along with the Peatbog Faeries (we caught 3 of their 4 sets when they were here).

Keep a look-out for Pogey (Canadians) who were fun and Dargle (Dubliners) - both played us last year.

Speaking of which, this year's festival starts in 4.5 hours. Take a look at the line up and let me know if there's anyone that's obligatory to see this weekend. :)

66> Love Le Vent du Nord - saw them only once due to so many other things I wanted to see, but they have been to the EFMF before so I didn't feel too bad about it.

Your list looks fantastic - lots of people I've never heard of (but would love to see) but I do recommend La Bottine Souriante and Cherish the Ladies.