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This year's blood test has been accomplished - I arrived 20 minutes before the lab opened, but decided it made sense to wait outside and sit on a bench in the cool morning air and write in my journal until the crowd of people waiting for the doors to open had all been checked in - and after, as usual, I rewarded myself for fasting by taking myself out for breakfast at Becky's, where they have gluten free raisin toast, and usually you can get grilled gluten-free muffins, though they were out today (they come in on Tuesdays, poor me!); so altogether a pleasant morning. :) Monday mornings is a good time to go to Becky's - most times you'd normally want to go there's a waiting list, even with the new seating areas.
Then I stopped off at work to put in for next Saturday off... because it's time again, already, for the free pick at Beach Hill Blueberry Farm. I'm kind of sad my Aunt S. isn't here for it, this year, last year was fun, even if she was doing avoidant behavior (she didn't want to go to the family reunion because she's kind of terrified of her sister, Aunt BJ). (And now I recall Aunt S. called about a week ago and left a message, and I haven't phoned back - I wonder if she was thinking of coming up? Sheesh, I've got to get more on top of things.)
So, my quick summation of Saltwater Celtic Festival... I hate to sound like a cranky-ass bitch after the fact, but overall not all that impressed. Each band had their good song or two and maybe a fun bit, but then there was a lot of half-baked stuff.
The headliner, for instance ("Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion" Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul), did a really good job with their closing number, a gospel version of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," and I was quite willing to buy into it and have fun, because who doesn't like to do the call-response shouting thing, right? (Okay, I know I'm a loud, obnoxious person when given an opportunity.;)) But they had this song earlier that was introduced as 'a beautiful, beautiful song about being in touch with the natural world' (that whole band is from New York City and Newark, New Jersey - not that this should matter, but I had to wonder if it contributed to the poorness of this song); what the hell was the lyric... Very repetitive, something like "So in touch with the howling of the wind, so in touch with the crashing of the waves," etc. I couldn't help but think that these people on stage had never been through a Maine winter, and that most of the audience knows what it's like to be in your warm little house, hearing the wind outside, wondering if lines are going to blow down and take your power and heat, and contemplating having to get up early to shovel your car out in temperatures which make every millimeter of exposed skin hurt when you step outside. A classic case of 'show me, don't tell me.' Give me some details that illustrate this feeling, don't just talk about this feeling.
But then again, I'm a great critic for never having written a single song lyric. ;) (Although I've toyed with the idea of trying to write an epic song about Hannah Dustin - the statue of her in Haverhill is just so kick-ass - but I doubt I ever will.)
Now, completely unrelatedly, but it's something I've been meaning to rant about for a while; Habitat for Humanity is kind of annoying me with fail in Freeport. They're building two houses, with plans for a third, on a ridiculously tiny lot, and they're using all press-board, and moving along so slowly with construction that it'll be amazing if it's not all flaking apart by the time they're done. These houses have been slated to sell for $199,000 apiece. This is supposed to be 'affordable' housing? By who's standards? When there are houses on the market for $65,000? Not in great shape, mind, but still, the housing market is dropping like a stone. I'm sure that if they put them on the open market they're not going to get that price for them. Not impressed.
Enough ranting for today, I guess. Trying to make up for all the days I don't post anything is not a good idea. ;)
Then I stopped off at work to put in for next Saturday off... because it's time again, already, for the free pick at Beach Hill Blueberry Farm. I'm kind of sad my Aunt S. isn't here for it, this year, last year was fun, even if she was doing avoidant behavior (she didn't want to go to the family reunion because she's kind of terrified of her sister, Aunt BJ). (And now I recall Aunt S. called about a week ago and left a message, and I haven't phoned back - I wonder if she was thinking of coming up? Sheesh, I've got to get more on top of things.)
So, my quick summation of Saltwater Celtic Festival... I hate to sound like a cranky-ass bitch after the fact, but overall not all that impressed. Each band had their good song or two and maybe a fun bit, but then there was a lot of half-baked stuff.
The headliner, for instance ("Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion" Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul), did a really good job with their closing number, a gospel version of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," and I was quite willing to buy into it and have fun, because who doesn't like to do the call-response shouting thing, right? (Okay, I know I'm a loud, obnoxious person when given an opportunity.;)) But they had this song earlier that was introduced as 'a beautiful, beautiful song about being in touch with the natural world' (that whole band is from New York City and Newark, New Jersey - not that this should matter, but I had to wonder if it contributed to the poorness of this song); what the hell was the lyric... Very repetitive, something like "So in touch with the howling of the wind, so in touch with the crashing of the waves," etc. I couldn't help but think that these people on stage had never been through a Maine winter, and that most of the audience knows what it's like to be in your warm little house, hearing the wind outside, wondering if lines are going to blow down and take your power and heat, and contemplating having to get up early to shovel your car out in temperatures which make every millimeter of exposed skin hurt when you step outside. A classic case of 'show me, don't tell me.' Give me some details that illustrate this feeling, don't just talk about this feeling.
But then again, I'm a great critic for never having written a single song lyric. ;) (Although I've toyed with the idea of trying to write an epic song about Hannah Dustin - the statue of her in Haverhill is just so kick-ass - but I doubt I ever will.)
Now, completely unrelatedly, but it's something I've been meaning to rant about for a while; Habitat for Humanity is kind of annoying me with fail in Freeport. They're building two houses, with plans for a third, on a ridiculously tiny lot, and they're using all press-board, and moving along so slowly with construction that it'll be amazing if it's not all flaking apart by the time they're done. These houses have been slated to sell for $199,000 apiece. This is supposed to be 'affordable' housing? By who's standards? When there are houses on the market for $65,000? Not in great shape, mind, but still, the housing market is dropping like a stone. I'm sure that if they put them on the open market they're not going to get that price for them. Not impressed.
Enough ranting for today, I guess. Trying to make up for all the days I don't post anything is not a good idea. ;)