"I don't want to work, I just want to bang on the drum all day." School's out, the actors have gone home, and i'm having a hard time convincing myself that going into the office to do data entry sounds like fun. It just doesn't. I need a dreary rainy day with nothing better to do and a lot of coffee before data entry sounds like fun. I've caught up with myself so that i'm to the drudgery that i've been avoiding the last few months. Actually, i suppose i could skip out and try working on the website. However, based on what happened Monday, i have a feeling i wouldn't get too far. The neighbors (both teachers) are working on their yard today. I'm thinking weeding sounds like more fun than data entry, but i don't get paid to do that. hmm...

Okay, okay, i'm off to work.~w

Yesterday's trip to Charlotte actually turned out to be quite fun. I enjoyed getting the chance to visit with my friend before she left on vacation and then i got to visit an old tour partner who lives in Charlotte. We went out for sushi...yum! I still haven't had a chance to try Restaurant Tokyo, but i must admit that RuSan's certainly had plenty to satisfy my craving. I just don't get enough sushi these days. After that we wandered around the park before i jumped in the car to drive back again. All in all, not a bad day. Today...i'm doing data entry. Or, will be when i stop avoiding it.~w

Today's adventure is driving to Charlotte to take a friend to the airport. It's a rather long drive to go to an airport, but her ticket to Scotland was much cheaper from there. I think i might rather be the one getting on the plane to Scotland than the one making the 2 hour drive back to Asheville, but my adventures are being squished in admist work right now. So, one friend is off to Oregon for shaman training, another leaves today for Scotland, and a third is going to the Burning Man festival in August. I'm wondering when and where my big adventure will take place...oh, that's right, i spent the last four years traveling the US. Hmmm, but i want more. There's a possibility of doing a residency in Beijing, China which could be fun, but it would still be work. I have another friend headed for New Zealand in December...that's very tempting. I've spent almost a full year at home now and i guess i'm getting itchy feet for more adventure again.~w

I guess i needed a holiday because i certainly didn't get much work work done. I did get to the gym and grocery store and my body thanks me for that. I also spent time with the cat, which is good. Unfortunately, that involved a little rescue job, but we're both okay. You see she wandered into the neighbor's yard and found herself in the presence of dog. Dog immediately tried to play "chase the cat." But, it didn't work too well because Anais stood her ground and responded with claws when he got too close. So, it became a game of dog circles the cat and tries to surprise her into running away. This didn't work either, it simply made the cat more mad and the dog more confused. When it became very apparent that the dog was about worn out and really had no intention of biting or hurting, only chasing, i climbed the fence. Dog stayed out of the way as i picked up furr with claws that were still swiping at him and plopped her on the other side of the fence. I had to carry her back to the house because she was still a bit frozen with fear. Funny thing fear. She was really in no danger, but because she didn't understand the game she was stuck in her fear. She actually could have casually strutted out of the yard at any time without even playing the dog's game.~w

So it's back to the real world, sort of. I'm working at home today on the website, so i won't be visiting the office. It is a holiday for many people.

How to describe LEAF? Hmmm, well Friday i followed the masses in to the area and got my pass just in time to head to the Poetry Tent to do an hour long show with Rodney. Then we rushed back to the other side of the grounds to do another hour show on the "kids porch." Having put in that effort i was now free to enjoy the rest of the weekend with my performers pass that also kept me fed and drunk...i mean...fed and with drink? Still doesn't sound right. Anyway, i enjoyed listening to Donna the Buffalo, Frim Fram Sauce, and the mountain drum circle around the bonfire that night. I got home and my friend Kim had made it in from Winston-Salem but was crashed out already.

So, Saturday i spent the morning chatting with Kim before i headed out to catch the 10am show that some of the other poetry alive folks were doing (Kim arrived later in the day and we met up again for poetry). Saturday is more difficult to describe from there. I wandered about watching the crowd and ran into friends and listened to music and enjoyed the sun and took some workshops. The highlights include (in no particular order) the glee on a friend's face as i shared my faery cards, jamming with a fellow flute player in a quiet corner and picking up some new tricks (particularly how to keep my hand from hurting), listening to the poetry slam and watching a friend kick some major booty, dancing salsa (by myself) to Solazo, being found by my spirit animal guide in a most amusing and flamboyant way during a stone healing workshop, walking around the lake, dancing around the bonfire with friends to the drumming of a huge circle, swing dancing with the poetry alive actors, and watching people simply play joyfully. I was recognized as either that funny poet or the faerie queen by a large number of children and adults which was also kind of fun.

Sunday was a mellow day. I was obviously tired from the day before and simply enjoyed sitting down and listening to some lovely music made by a band of friends and taking a peek and the craft booths to find a token to take home from the weekend. The day was wrapped up at Rodney's house with the farewell party for this year's poetry teams and after hamburgers and awards i bid an early farewell to get some much needed sleep. Whew, now i have to get busy again.~w

One more day of play at LEAF and then i'll get back to ya with the details.~w