Perched II

I'm officially in Hunker Down and Focus on the Task at Hand Mode, which is the stage just after Procrastination Mode and the one immediately preceding Panic Mode, at least as it relates to getting ready for Blog Fest 2013. This exact same system, however, got me through life thus far four years of college, plus I don't know how many projects at work--plus two previous Blog Fests. It may not work for everyone, but waiting until the last minute to accomplish anything seems to work for me.

Daughter has a cross country meet this afternoon in Lancaster, which will subtract a minimum of three to four hours from the total number available to work on Blog Fest-related preparations.

Oh well. There's only always tomorrow. 

Hope all is well in your world.


p.s. If you're unfamiliar with Blog Fest, click here for the 2009 Blog Fest Eve post or here for Blog Fest 2010.

Three Things

Welcome to Thursday, where I try to share no more than at least three things and encourage you to do so too.

I'll begin.

1.  A few weeks ago, if you'd told me there would be another Blog Fest (click here) in Mathews--this year--I'd have thought you were crazy.  If you said Not only will there be a 2013 Blog Fest, but new bloggers will join us too, I'd say no way.  Get out of town.

Kay from Canada is researching travel options and Sheryl from here is coming, in addition to many from the other two Blog Fests.

No way! Get out of town! 

It's true.

2.  Whether you're contemplating a trip to Mathews for Blog Fest 2013 or just need a week, a weekend or even a night away from it all, please check this vacation rental out.

3.  Son, Daughter and I are traveling today to Dewey Beach to visit my college roommate Iris, who has a vacation house there.  It will be great getting away and seeing her and her family.  It's hard to believe I've known her for over 30 years.  (Click here for a post about the last time we visited her.)

4.  (Because three is merely a suggestion.)  With various trips out of town, back-to-school stuff, major family celebrations (Son's 18th birthday and parents' 50th wedding anniversary), and Blog Fest 2013 to prepare for, the months of August and September are more than full.  One blink and I'll be applying for Social Security  it's going to be October.

Now it's your turn.  Please share three or more things. Whatever happens to be on your mind.


5. p.s.In case I don't have the opportunity to post from Delaware, have a great weekend.

Three Things

Callis Wharf

If it's Thursday, and it appears to be, it's time to share three things--hence the clever name Three Thing Thursday, which is where I share three random thoughts and hopefully you do too.

I'll go first, because that's just how it works. Or rather, that's how it has worked in the past, not that we can't change things and have you all go first.

Let's just begin.  Please.

1.  Yesterday Daughter, her friend Olivia and I, as part of our quest to forget that Son is gone for the week, traveled 81 miles to Doswell, Virginia, to Kings Dominion, an amusement park.  I first went to this park back in the 1970s when it was called Lion Country Safari.  Back then there was one tiny wooden roller coaster and the rest was a safari-like drive that led you past elephants, lions and zebras who were either sleeping or so depressed and unimpressed with their environment they just couldn't move.  Although the safari is no more, I'll have you know that tiny wooden roller coaster is still there, and we rode it yesterday.  We also rode the Rebel Yell, also there since the '70s.  While I gladly observed from the comfort of my park bench, Daughter and Olivia rode all of the high-thrill rides, including something called the Volcano, which looks like a death trap that propels you straight to hell utter and complete torture. I dragged them on things like the tiny wooden roller coaster and the Rebel Yell.  Speaking of yelling, my throat is still raw from all the screaming.  Olivia begged dared me not to scream on the tiny roller coaster--particularly since that tiny roller coaster is intended for tiny people, also known as small children.  Nope.  Couldn't help myself.  Screamed and laughed the whole way.

1 b.  The last time we were at Kings Dominion was last summer right before Son had his major surgery.  Although yesterday was intended to help us forget that Son is away this week, everything reminded me of him and those days leading up to the surgery.  I'm so grateful all of that is behind us now. Also, I miss him.  The quest didn't work.  Regardless, Daughter, Olivia and I did manage to have a good time.

2.  Tuesday evening I had a long overdue dinner with one of my first blog friends, Angie. After two hours of conversation that only skimmed the surface of catching up, we talked about dinner at my house in the fall, which is the soonest either one of us is free.  That got me thinking about extending the invitation to other blog friends.  After a preliminary poll about interest and availability, it looks like I'll be throwing a party here late September, a sort of reunion of some of the wonderful friends I've made from this blog. Details are sketchy at the moment, but I'm excited to have something to look forward to. Plus it forces me to clean my house, something I loathe, but which is necessary at least once a year. If you're reading and want to attend, let me know, the invitation is open to everyone.

3.  After the half marathon I ran in April, I decided to give myself some time off from running to recuperate.  Well, here it is July and I'm still recuperating giving myself time off. If I don't sign up for another race, there will be no motivation, no reason to run. If anyone has any recommendations for a good half marathon for the fall, no matter where it's located (preferably continental United States), let me know.  Otherwise I will probably sign up to do the Outer Banks one again in November.

I could keep going and write up to 23 things today, but this is too much as it is more than enough.

Now it's your turn to share three things.  Or three and a half things. Or one and three quarters. Whatever you want, whatever is on your mind.

Blog Fest Memories

Chesapeake Bay Woman, Summer 2009
Thank you, Country Girl Kate, for the photo.

Yesterday's quest for a promotional photograph led to Country Girl Kate sending me a link to a blog post she did two years ago that contained a picture of me (above, thanks Kate!).

Reading her post brought back a flood of memories from July 2009 and 2010, when bloggers from all parts of the country (and Canada) convened on Mathews County, sight unseen. The vast majority of us had not even met in person before this event.  For them to travel here to little ole Mathews to join up with folks they only knew through blogging was unusual, arguably, but it turned out to be fantastic.

The links below are just some of the many posts written about the two Blog Fests we held here. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time last evening to search for all that was written, but below is a representative sampling of the good times we had.

Let's start with Country Girl Kate, who so kindly sent me the photograph above as part of her post on the 2009 Blog Fest:

http://chroniclesofacountrygirl.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-dont-think-she-knew-what-she-was.html

Laurie, aka Foolery, who came here all the way from California:
http://foolery.typepad.com/foolery/2009/07/love-letter-to-mathews-county-va.html


Daryl, who came from New York City:
http://onthem104.blogspot.com/2010/07/words-lots-of-words.html


Lauren, aka Mental Mama, from Connecticut:
http://thementalpausechronicles.blogspot.com/2010/07/blisters-beaux-babies-buds-beach-and.html

Deltaville Jamie (not really from Deltaville but with deep family roots there):
http://deltavillevignettes.blogspot.com/2010/07/blogfest-2010.html


Tracy from Maryland:
http://nine-acres.blogspot.com/2010/07/last-of-blogfest-2010.html


Meg from Maryland, the very first blogger I ever met in person:
http://www.soupisnotafingerfood.com/2010/07/lessons-learned.html


Reading all these posts brings back so many good memories.

I think it might be time to start thinking about a Mathews County Blog Fest 2012.

Signs

Intersection of Old Ferry Road and the road leading to the Islander, near the Seabreeze

These signs over on Gwynn's Island crack me up.

I know they serve a purpose, and I understand why they are there.

But still.

Do I really need a sign to ensure I don't drive directly into Milford Haven?

(Don't answer that, Chesapeake Bay Children.)

Tin Can Alley

Hmmm. I wonder if anyone has ever stood in this very spot and wished the state maintained the roads just a wee bit further.

Who knows, but these sure do amuse me, which is not easy after four thousand weeks months of cold, dreary weather.

Speaking of amusement, the two of you who read some of you who read know that for the past two summers I've thrown a little gathering here in Mathews known as Blog Fest.  Bloggers from as far away as Canada, California, Maine, Texas, Connecticut, New York and places in between convened in our little county for a long weekend of laughter and camaraderie. To this day I feel strongly a movie should have been made about all the fun we had.

This year, for a variety of reasons, most of which have to do with the book that will never get done my workload, I can't host Blog Fest.

However, that doesn't mean the tradition will die.

Click here to visit Asthma Girl's post about Blog Fest West, coming this summer to the city of Seattle!

Even though there's no official Blog Fest in Mathews, my door is always open to visitors assuming the stress of writing the book doesn't do me in.  In fact, Kay from Canada is talking about bringing her husband and goose-chasing dog here in June; Grandma J. and Postcard Cindy are contemplating dates for a Mathews trip; and the East Coast bloggers will likely assemble at least once over the course of the summer months.

There will be a summer this year, right? Right? 

It's hard to think clearly with all this winter getting in the way.