Weekend Scenes . . .

Just a little late.

It's been so.crazy. here!

We're moving in one day now (!) - but we still took a little vacation last week. Kicked it off Wednesday, which happened to be the 8th anniversary of my 21st birthday. We left to go to camping and to the Phish show on Thursday. We had to wait for some friends to get out of work so we left maybe 5ish.

The whole way there I'm nagging Kevin about watching his speed. I'm a fun person to drive with, really. I don't clutch the door or brace my arm on the ceiling or nag excessively about the way we're driving. Really. I mean, who does that? Not me. :ahem: moving on . . .

So - we pull into this bizarre parking lot at 7ish or so. I'm pretty confused cause I'm not seeing campgrounds anywhere. It's at the back of a neighborhood but past all these horse stalls. I thought it was a pretty strange place for a state park, I'm thinking that we check in here and go somewhere else. So I'm looking around all dazed and confused like - and every time I ask what this is, what's going on, every one (3 friends and my sister in law and Kev) laughs and telsl me we're going to dinner. Now, not that we happen to be an overly sarcastic bunch or anything - giving me any reason to doubt them - but I was pretty sure they were making fun of me. I could not figure out what was so funny and what in the world was going right over my head.

Oh. We actually are going out to dinner. What? Why?

Oooooh, cause it's my birthday and my husband was super sweet and completely surprised me with dinner reservations!

Ooooooooooohhhhhh that's why he was a little heavy on the peddle - to get there in time and all.

Oh!

And that wasn't it! Two more of our friends, who were meeting us the next day - felt bad about not being there for my birthday dinner - so called ahead and paid for my meal! (I got the scallops - nom!)

And theeeeeennnnnn - my sneaky husband disappears and comes back with a cake. That him and his sister baked. And frosted. And drove with two hours with, without me knowing. And put candles on it. And brought it into the restaurant. And sang happy birthday to me. (I turned purple).




What a sweet birthday - and what a sweet husband and friends I have.


Then camping and the next day - off to Phish! It was hot. Really hot. Like melting hot. But also a ton of fun! Phish has grown on me. I saw my first show when I was 18 and VERY pregnant with Evan. That show happened to be on my birthday too.

My next show was 6 years later - Coventry, VT - their "last show". That was an experience (and also across my birthday!) 2 days on the highway. In the rain. Then we were all told to turn around and go home - there was no way to get everyone in because of all the mud. So thousands and thousands of people parked their cars on the highway and hiked in. We were 15 miles back - but some people were as far back as 40 miles. 2 seconds after crossing the gate into the festival, I snapped my ankle and spent the next three days wearing duct tape, gauze, and hiking boots.




Then it was another 5 years - Hampton VA for their first show back, and my first indoor show.



Now - this past week. Yet another birthday show. More than the music( that I've grown to love) I love the crowd. The community. I love watching the lot fill up and become this little temporary town. It's indescribable, really, and completely amazing. It's worth it, every time. The cost, the drive, the traffic - all of it.


From there - we drove across NY to the Catskills for my dad's family camp out/reunion. My dad has 11 siblings and for the past 15 years or so we all (his siblings and spouses and their kids and spouses and their kids) all get together somewhere different and camp for a few days together. It's a wonderful tradition.




We came back home Monday - and are now spending these last days in 95 degree heat with through the roof humidity, packing the last of our stuff - getting things lined up and ready to go - and in 2 more days - we'll be off to the dream house!