Electrolicious

So, I’m doing it … today I’m heading out into the wilds of Sacred Groves for a 10 day writer’s retreat. I’m hoping it’s just the right combination. I need to get away from it all, but I’m also a fan of focused getting-away-ness, and writing is super therapeutic for me. These things combined (no distractions! focused project! sanity-saving writing!) will hopefully help me get out of the emotional state I’ve been in for the last week or so.

The election was awesome, but it ratcheted all my emotions up a degree and I’ve spent the last couple days crying at odd times (”I’m brushing my hair –sniffle) and feeling borderline crazypants. 10 days away will do a brain some good, and hopefully I’ll come out of it with the hilarious and silly first draft of Pacified: The Rave Diaries.

…Or maybe not. Maybe I’ll just come back refreshed and relaxed. That would be even more cool. Either way, I’ll be back on the 17th.

Most of the weekend
Originally uploaded by .Ariel.
Another year of Meadowfabulous! What can I really say other than that I love being with my friends in the woods? I love it when the only thing separating the people I love are forested paths. I love it when mornings start with a stumble into a meadow. I love it when whichever way I turn there’s someone to hug.

Meadowfabulous was different this year, though: no soundsystem. We had an ipod hooked up to a speaker, but the focus was less on dancing and freaking out than it was on sitting around the campfire and catching up. I think we just lost 5% of our last remaining raver cred.

We also had about a third less people, which was a very conscious decision, and very difficult to enforce. Anyone who’s read my book knows how hard it is for me to play bouncer. I hate it, and this year I got some practice saying things like “I’d really rather you not bring that person because I’ve seen them perhaps once in the last year and I don’t really know them.” But it was worth it to have a gathering where everyone fit around the campfire. I suppose this means I’m in a social contraction right now.

Teagan - brushing cobwebs down from the ceiling
Originally uploaded by terecat2.
Ooh. This picture is lovely. More shots from my mom’s roundhouse over here.

Ariel & Sassy
Originally uploaded by Lily!.
We spent the weekend on Bainbridge. It was cozy.

fly by night
Originally uploaded by yelahneb.
Really, does it get much cooler?!

Napping
Originally uploaded by KaraMaia.
When I rest, I rest SO MUTHAFUCKIN’ HARD!! Face-down xTreme Relaxation.