Exactly right

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary.
I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and to be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion. "


Walden or Life in the Woods
- Henry David Thoreau

Back from the wilderness

Well, nothing like a weekend away in some natural settings with good people and some music. Turns out it was a bit of a collective workshop weekend, with a lot of hippyish workshops so I could relax in the sun or go learn a thing or two when I wanted. Over the weekend I learned a bit about ayurveda, how to make (and use) my very own hula hoop (it's yellow and orange...hee), more about lucid dreaming (something that has always intrigued me), and met a lot of very happy people, many of which I haven't seen in a while. Some bits bordered on being fruity, what with it being a solstice celebration, but it really was a nice relaxing time with plenty of great music in the evenings to dance to. There was even a steam tent...I didn't go in, but it looked really neat, as they kept heating up rocks in the fire and then making a steam sauna with them...And J's set went well...anlthough his audio project ended up not happening due to technical difficulties (and a lack of interested performers...) Never fear...I'm not going all fruity. It was just a nice weekend away with nice people.

It got chilly at night, but the whole event was on the grounds of a progressive school fro gifted kids set on an acreage/mansion...kind of like Xavier's school, only slightly more hippyish and less rich. The kids were there for the weekend as well. I didn't see them use any secret powers, but I'm sure they were just being polite as they didn't want to alarm us.

I got the change to relax and sleep and I feel a lot more recharged, enough to make it thru this week I think. Must get to work...lots to do. Hope youi all had a good weekend.
Please amuse yourselves with a look at what the interweb feels would be my ultimate lair...(I'm particularly fond of the rooms with caffeinated beverages and places for griffons - and a kitchen full of Keebler elves is my kinda place. Don't even get me started about the whole Xwing thing...:) )

Your home is a Wizard's Stronghold Your kitchen is manned by a team of Keebler Drow Elves. There's a pantry with emergency backup caffeinated beverages. You also have some breakfast cereals in there, but you haven't had breakfast since last Spring. Your master bedroom is decorated to look like the treetop village of the Galadhrim. Your study has every fantasy novel ever written, including multiple editions of the Silmarillion and advance copies of Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition. One of your garages contains a life-sized X-Wing fighter, and KITT. (KITT was a gift from a well-meaning uncle.) Your home also includes a roost for griffons. You've never actually seen a griffon, but you keep the roost ready anyway. Your guests enjoy your home theater with hi-def plasma screen TV, and the thrones you watch it from. Outside is the moat that protects your home from goblin invaders and extended family. And, you have a pet -- a unicorn named "Shadowhooves". Below is a snippet of the blueprints:

Find YOUR Dream Home!

Just like I planned it

I have a day and a half to get ready for Motion Notion because I slacked off all weekend. I *only* have to

Make:
2 dozen muffins
2 dozen cheese bacon biscuits
6 scotch eggs
3 dozen granola bars
2 dozen cookies

Find and pack all our gear
Do laundry
Fix up tears in the bear costume (it's pretty old and beat up)
Freeze 12 L of water for drinking/cooling the coolers

And all tonight Im busy with a meeting and visiting with a friend who just got back from holidays in China for a bit. BUT luckily I have tomorrow off from work...heh heh. I hope it is enough time. I seem strangely relaxed about things - as long as I get there and have stuff to eat, it will all be good. i can't wait for the friends and the music to start.
But until then - hectic times. Doesn't the world know I have things to do?
Sheesh!

But then...holidays in the woods with much dancing.
I can't wait! :)
I keep thinking of the dream I had last year before Motion Notion...it has me in the right mindset for things...