I'd like to think I will have the stamina to finish this and catch up the past few years of my life. I want so badly to remember all these things! Right now, it seems daunting because there are so many, but I will just keep chipping away....
July
Here's a group photo from the MRS that was NOT in July, but that's where it fell, so there you have it
Cylus, baby.
A drink, with Kat, a friend....this was next to the Morris, I seem to remember we were disgruntled and commiserating about something. LOL
My grandson, Cash. He looks so wise, and like he's contemplating the question of ages, in that million mile stare.
In my town, in July, there is a month long arts festival called "Artown". One of the events they do is an annual fundraising event for the philharmonic. There is a theme each year, and this year was super fun, there was an Elton John tribute person who was one of the most fun performers I've ever been graced to be able to see. We sang, we danced, we wore awesome costumes and did outrageous stuff. It was a blast.
This was the wedding venue. Sort of a hippy, organic farm, eco-tourism place. I think the drive from Nova Scotia proper was at least an hour. It was beautiful and it was green, and traversed bridges, it was a grand adventure!
This was my little bed. I got to stay with the wedding party. I was overwhelmed with the generosity and kindness of these two families in including me for this event. I was touched in many ways, during this trip....
Beauty from the property
This rooster. Angus (because there's ALWAYS an Angus....), who was the brother of the very Scottish bride, Ali, said, of below, "Ahhh.....just what any wedding needs. An alarm cock!" Quote of the day, for sure, perhaps of the entire event. LOL
The ceremony. There are so many more, but this was their day, I love my friends and they were both beautiful and I was beyond honored to be able to be there with them.
There is a Scottish tradition in weddings....where someone in the family concocts a bucket of boozy goodness, it is called the Cog. There are family recipes for this going back centuries and they are a source of secrecy and pride. There is always ale and whiskey involved. This one was quite potent, pretty darn good. It gets passed around at the wedding until it's empty, to send good felicitations to the couple being handfast or married.
After the wedding, I was returned to a second hostel. This one was in the Gayborhood! Yay! And right around the same time as Pride! SO FUN! The welcome board at the hostel is the second pic. I thought that was a tremendous idea, to be inclusive and make everyone feel like they had a place. And if someone's place or language wasn't there, they were invited to add it.
On one of my days back in Halifax, I went on a cruise on an old style ship, around the harbor. It was a blast!
August
When I got back home, bestie and I went to a foodie event pre-Burning Man. It was at the Children's Discovery Museum.
Before Burning Man this year, I was able to host a lovely friend from Australia, as she came to the big burn. I'd met her when I went over to New Zealand for their burn. Susanne! We went to visit my sister, then we all went up to Virginia City.
This old miner lives in VC, and his mule knows the owners of the shops. If they give him treats, he will stand in front of the shops and bray until his treats are brought to him. It's one of the most adorable things ever!
On the way to Burning Man!
A sign on the road in to the Burn
Galaxia as she was being built.
Yes.
The playa never disappoints.
Sunrise
This was an exceptionally awesome year for me. Chance encounters EVERYWHERE. This lovely lady was a campmate of mine from Kiwi Burn also. I hadn't spoken to her since Kiwi Burn and magically, we happened to pass each other at Burning Man! If you understand that there are 70,000 people there and we had made no plans about how or when to meet beyond, "See you on playa!" you will know how amazing this is. And if you've ever experienced "playa-dipity" you'll know how magical it is and of course it happened!
I invited my bestie on a Regional outing and this, too, was pretty magical.
A good friend from Phoenix who I've been friends with for a very long time....over twenty years in 2024. Scotto! This was a somewhat planned encounter in that he is the mayor of a village, but sometimes I'm able to catch him, and sometimes not. This year, the odds were in my favor!
Amazing playa vehicles
Another Kiwi Burn friend encounter. This is Troy. We also met there and have tried to stay in touch.
Checking out the art in Center Camp Cafe.
One of my co-regionals, Dale and our friend Nikki
On the mentioned Regional Event art car. This was one of the best!
I try to always capture one sunrise and one sunset. This might be a rise, looks like it's from Ranger HQ, and I generally work the early morning shifts. Beauty!
Happy Birthday Husband!
September
My friend Sten-Erik. Actually met him working an event in Costa Rica, he's also a gem.
One of Sten's campmates wives CROCHETED or KNITTED LEDERHOSEN for all the male members of their camp. The level of awesome this is cannot be over stated LOL
Cylus baby.
Susanne had some time to stay after the Burn, so it was super fun to be able to take her and share with her the Great Reno Balloon Races!
Kat and Elvis and me and Susanne. When I think back to times like this, I appreciate Elvis' friendship and I miss him.
Bestie and I also took her to Tahoe.
This is a photo someone made of Galaxia burning. It is very striking.
We got a different tractor from a wildlife rescue. This is us getting ready to cross the highway at 5mph in the 1941 Ford 9N Tractor!
ANOTHER Kiwi burn connection. Bibo has his bus at our off-grid property and is also a dear friend. LOVE this man!
Also went to the lake with these two awesome friends. This was when the lawsuit settled after getting creamed in the Pontiac by a semi. Dan was injured pretty badly. This was pure celebration!
We got a UTV because that seemed important for the property.
THEN, I got to go to Phoenix to spend a bit of time with my brother. My relationship with my brother is complicated, but the bottom line is that now, in 2024, he's the only one I have left. This was a great little vacay and sort of a "dream come true/do everything we want to do" visit to Phoenix. We went to the Children's museum....this was taken there.
The notable thing about THAT is that they have a HAM Radio station, staffed with older retired-guy volunteers, IN the museum! This is SO COOL because HAM's are mostly older people, but HAM radio is an amazing experience and a valuable skill to have! These are the guys I talked to when I was there, and it was a great time! I'd LOVE to do something like this in Reno!
We went to the Zoo, and we had a great time. We got there first thing so we could get through and then get into Air Conditioning before Phoenix became hot as Hades. We fed the giraffe's and rode camels! The reason I say this was a bucket list trip is because the tickets for this Zoo excursion were free, through my brother, and the local Phoenix library. What a great idea! So, we "upgraded" and did ALL of the fun things at the Zoo. I was one of those kids who often KIND of got to do the cool stuff, but it was often all my mom could do to get us IN to whatever place we were visiting, so I always appreciated her doing that, but we often didn't get to do all the "extra" fun things, like feeding the animals or riding them. I sort of feel like it was a tribute to my mom, to have that "bucket list" Zoo excursion with my brother. I imagine her smiling down on us and enjoying us being adult kids. I love you, Mama!
That's it for quarter three! Only one more quarter left of 2018! Revisiting these memories has been good for my soul!
Peace, returning!
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