We pine for higher ceilings...

The Submarines- You, Me, and Bourgeoisie
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After California, I finagled my way back to Telluride about 8 hours ahead of schedule. My flights were set to leave at 2:30 PM and then 9:30 PM from Denver to Durango, which wouldn't put me into the majestic canyon until about midnight. I wasn't having that. I arrived at the San Francisco airport at 4:45 am to attempt stand-by for the 6:00 am flight. The line for luggage was horrendous and it sounded to me that EVERYBODY around me wanted to get to Denver and be on that exact flight. I was patient and kind with all the attendants and the guy behind the counter looked like he appreciated it. He bumped me to the top of the list, which was about 4th out of 26 people.

I watched my name slip down the list to 19th, as people were added. I didn't understand. I went to the counter and tried my patience and politeness trick again. This lady was not having it. She told me "yes, your name would move down as people were added." I struggled to not say anything back and sat back down. Watching the screen, I saw that United Plus members had more umph on the scale, so I waiting until angry lady was busy and asked the other woman if being a mileage plus member would bump me up on the list. She said "why yes it does." So I gave her my membership number and vavoom! I was back up at number 6 on the stand-by list. Now, this didn't mean anything, really . . . I had to wish that 6 people slept in and couldn't get through the baggage madness in time to get on their Denver flight. Everybody boarded the plane and the crowd had emptied out around me. It wasn't looking so hot. Angry lady called my name and as I walked up to her, she said "you're very lucky" as if she had wished I missed the plane.

If I hadn't gotten on this plane, I would have missed the connecting flight to Durango and still would have arrived in Telluride around midnight, and ALSO spent the entire day in airports. Yeah for that not happening.

Jackie was in Telluride waiting patiently with our friend from high school Jay and his pup Daizy. We rolled in around 4 pm, just in time to begin setting up tents and claim a sweet vendor camping sitche for Kim's van. We parked it nose in on this camper, nestled amongst the bushes and so very close to the watering spigot. We met the camper men. Their names were Brian Merrick and Bart. Brian owns the camper, but also lives in Telluride, so they set it up more for a party zone at the venue. All these guys had backstage passes even though they barely had to lift a finger's work during the festival. Fun!

Jackie and I didn't get many pictures . . . so sad. But we did see David Byrne in the most exciting mind-space and we met Conor Oberst. Other than that, the entire event was a fantastically tragic time to say goodbye to. You ride the high of these amazing festivals and people speak of the withdrawal they go through after it's all over. I like the light these moments shed on my perspective. I am still riding that high - perhaps it is because I am still in Telluride and still hanging out with the people I was so fortunate to meet that weekend.

love can free us from all excess - from our deepest debts - 'cause when our hearts are full we need much less

Beirut - 'Nantes'

Beirut - 'Nantes'
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from Blogotheque

I am a little embarrassed that June was a month unwritten. Yet, as Nickel Creek says "others have excuses, I have my reasons why."

June, like the many months that preceded it and haven't gained recognition here in my virtual world, was plump with fun and loveliness. It began where my travels and adventures began last summer: Telluride Jazz Festival. A fellow friend, Greg, flew into Denver to accompany me on the drive with a few golden nugget pit stops along the way: Valley View Hots Springs, The Great Sand Dunes and then Telluride, Colorado. The weather called for rain rain and a little bit more of some more rain, but we actually lucked out - it just sprinkled a bit at the hot springs (which is my favorite hotspringweather) and cleared up for us to hike a 75 degree day at the dunes. We even got about 60% clarity in Telluride . . . freeeeezing nights.


This is greg and I. On the side of the road somewhere near Villa Grove. We had fun.


Greg looking up at the Dune we're going to climb.


I didn't even try to photo-capture the beauty of the Dunes... it's a visual memory that sits in my head. Go see it yourself . . . seriously, go.


... when the Springtime night chill sets in on Telluride, it's best to find someone who pays heating bills to shack up with. We found the Nugget Theatre to watch Star Trek at. It was awesome and warm.


This little Telluride girl just graduated from kindergarten and this was her graduation balloon that she held so high and proud.


A few free box friends that we found . . . my panda ORI was subsequently stolen in Santa Rosa by a little boy who didn't realize ORI was my watch-panda. I hope he's enjoying him. I didn't even have time to become attached to him. . .


While I was in Telluride, Autumn called with a request that I fly out to California to fill in for the Health and Harmony Festival. I have become a bit sick of flying, but yes is a game I like to participate in. So off to Santa Rosa for the second weekend in June!

The line up for the festival was unbelievable. Act after act, I was loving California and all the endorphins it was bringing to my ears and head. One way to put it... you couldn't tear the smile off my face. I had two lovely neighbors, Robert and Jodi, and a great view of the stage from my booth. Michael Franti, Cake, The Duhks, India Arie, Balkan Beat Box, Matisyahu, Animal Liberation Orchestra... mmmm... and people all around glad to be alive and dancing.


My neighbor Jodi! Check her out - she makes sweet stuff!!!


i hoop.


I was feeling the love . . .


- - and Daniel Pinchbeck spoke in the dome behind my booth, so I got to steal away for half an hour and watch him speak about the book greg and I are reading: 2012. This guy and many of the people seated in the dome have lots of information that is really just starting to seep into our consciousness. I was really glad to be a part of it.



Since the first 10 minutes was basically a reiteration of the content I had already been reading in his book, I let myself get distracted by this mini-dagny that was hanging out with a guy I had met earlier. Cute cute.






... after H & H, I came back to Telluride and that is where I am now. I will fill in the blanks in the morning, as I am too tired to do anything else worthwhile on this post.

See you tomorrow! Nantes :)