6.30.14 Grand Rapids, MI to Chicago, IL

Day 13-
We survived the night rainstorm.
Woke up to another beautiful day.
Christina and I packed up quickly and were desperately ready to leave the forest and move on in our adventures. We were even ready to go possibly the night before but we had responsibilities to the group. We waited another 2 hours to make sure that our entire camp was ready to go. Two of our friends had flights that left the next day. We decided to drop them off at the airport outside of Grand Rapids.
They were both from California and had not experienced Bob Evans before. We stopped for a late breakfast at 1pm. It was exactly what we all needed. We needed real breakfast food after days of partying. It was perfect!

After brunch, we parted ways. Christina and I continued out west. We made a detour to 3 Floyds Brewpub in Munster, Indiana. I tried the Atlas King. "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" play on the screens while the speakers blared metal music. It reminded me of the music my friends listened to in high school. After our drinks, we continued our Journey to Chicago.

THERE IS NO PARKING IN CHICAGO! I discovered an app "SpotHero" - it was really convenient. We met with Erica, another friend from Bonnaroo past, and drove until we found SpotHero reserved parking under the L. We arrived just as a major storm started. We entered Erica's studio apartment soaking wet. We were not going back out that night. instead we ordered Chicago deep dish stuffed pizza from Giordano's. It took forever to arrive because of the weather but it was delicious. We slept - it was glorious.

6.25-29.14 Electric Forest - Rothbury, MI

Day 8-
We left Columbus, OH. I burned my bottom lip with one very hot cup of coffee.
DROVE ALL DAY through Ohio & Michigan. We met with our Festival Family  in Grand Rapids  and caravan-ed to Electric Forest. We checked in for credentials and had to wait for our parking pass.
After 2 hours, Ellie happened to be at the right place at the right time. We went to the right person and proved that we were working tonight. He discreetly gave us passes. We parked in a vendor lot. We had to carry our gear into a forest! WE CAMPED IN A FOREST AT ELECTRIC FOREST!!! We set up camp with 10 people, 5 tents, and 2 canopies. I am so happy and excited to be here. I am trying to get rest but its not really happening. Our shift begins soon.

Day 9-
I like to dance with the hoop.
I don't like to make it do things.

I believe in the good things coming...

I want to be a giant. I will walk on stilts, fly the trapeze, silks!

1hr. Sherwood Forest Installations - a band of elves performing, hammocks, light shows, shelters, altars, mystery, and mayhem.

We worked last night from 12:45am - 9am.
I feel like I am exaggerating but it was ridiculously cold. I don't like being cold.
We didn't sleep. It was really hard. An easy task but painful to stay awake for. I tried to play with and juggle waters bottles and paint markers. I didn't have energy to play with my toroflux. Someone gave us cookies.

I spent the entire day sleeping. We went to the festival around 7pm. I saw Nahko & Medicine for the People. SPICY PIE! I went for the Hot Lips Houlin. We walked through Sherwood Forest. Sat in hammocks. Danced at Paper Diamond. We couldn't find water so we left during Glitch Mob. A $7 fresh berry lemonade refreshed me along with a sample gator hush puppie... so tired.

Day 10-
Work obligations complete - I worked another 12:45am - 9am shift. This time I was preparedwith an additional layer for sweat pants, hoodie, and a fleece blanket.
They didn't have any work for us. Eventually, they placed us in VIP. We had an awesome golf cart ride to the "Good Life" area. We passed by Lake Wildcat at night. We went behind the stages on access roads. The ride was bumpy and creepy. I was separated from my friends; they went to another post and I stayed at the "Good Life" concierge table. I helped people with simple questions, charging their phones, and sharing event schedules. We were right next to the Good Life stage. They have private after hours shows for the Good Life people.

I spent the night awake, listening to Dustin Thomas, Nahko, and Cherub. The last few hours were especially painful after the music ended. I saw the sun rise. I could use the nice VIP bathrooms :). The people I worked with were cool. We survived tge night. I took a shower after I checked out of my shift and then I went to sleep.

I feel so lazy and I don't want to do anything but hang out at camp. Clouds look amazing! I will go to the festival later today. No expectations.

Nahko in the Forest Observatory - Papadosio - String Cheese Incident
---
12th Planet - Group Totems. Lights. Lazers. Stars. Trees.

Sherwood Forest - Finding the nest. Moving - the hardest part is getting up. Difficult to be still. To breathe. Everything is moving. Vibrations everywhere. So much energy. Overwhelming. Trying to be centered.

ZEDD - I'm alive! I'm alive! I'm alive!

Excision - Exhaustion - done! My body still moves as long as there is music. Electric energy. Machine vs Nature.

Day 11-
I am alive. Christina is alive.
We rested. We survived the night.
There is so much happening here.
We went to the Hoop Troupe Showcase before returning to camp to meet back with our Festival Family. We prepared for the night... it took a really long time to get ready.
---
I saw Stephen Marley. I danced reggae in the sunlight underneath the sky on the ground/Earth in front of the stage. I am a lion.

Taco Love explosion in our mouths. Deeply appreciative of all the care that Tacos has provided and shared with us.

We wandered into the forest afterwards. We waited in Sherwood Court for Flying Lotus. We discovered that tickles are electronic transfers of vibrations. Energy moves from one end to another.
Sunsets of ATM. Understanding of commerce and capital. Universe. Negative sinking feeling.
Eventually Christina and I wandered away from the group. We made it to the front of the stage to see the man behind the screen. He reminded me of the Wizard of Oz. He had a really great production.

After Flying Lotus, we tried to leave. We barely made it past the forest entrance when we were distracted by a hammock. We both climbed into it and watched everyone go by us in the forest. it was like we were sitting in a boat in the ocean of life. The forest scares me. All the visualizations are production. Optical illusions. Nothing is real. It is all a big production. Trigger simulations.

We managed to will our energy and escape the forest. We ate Spicy Pie on our way back to camp. We fell asleep early with the rain and bass in the distance.

Day 12-
So tired and irritable.
I am tired of bass drops, fire crackers, house music, and fools wandering around.

Today is a day of rest. We did yoga at Tripolee Stage with Hanna Muse. It was exactly what our bodies needed. We showered after yoga and relaxed at camp.
Christina and I split away. We went spent the afternoon at the Ranch Stage. I danced to Bombino. I had a Bells Oberon and laid down to rest in the sun during Aloe Blacc. We found our way to a position in the front and center for Matt & Kim. It was fun but the people around us really bothered me. Some were not kind or understanding. They lacked mindfulness.
We got Spicy Pie on our way out of the festival. Currently resting at camp. Trying to get a quick nap before Tycho and Cut Copy.

"We are in the woods listening to Bohemian Rhapsody in the woods." - Smiling at the idea and then the bass dropped and we just stared at each other with the same look...

We didn't successfully get back up again. We were supposed to meet Tacos @ 11:30pm. I wokeup in a rush at 11:45pm, got dressed and fell back asleep in my sleeping bag.
We were done with the forest.
I woke up again at 1:30am - the music was still going. Tacos found me and I joined the tribe one last time before the rain fell that night.
Christina and I were beyond exhausted. The drum and bass was relentless. I wish I had spent more time exploring the wonders of the forest.

KASKADE & DEADMAU5 - "Move for Me"
another night out, another dance floor

Adventures in Cat Sitting in NW DC

Karma is wonderful. Earlier this summer I was blessed that my friend could take and provide care for my cat while I was away. It was a bit traumatic for me. I had just lost his brother to urinary crystals and I knew that my surviving cat was depressed. I was going to be away for 6 weeks and needed someone to keep him company and give him attention. Nemo Cat is really attached to me.

This weekend I am returning the favor and taking care of her two little cats while she is in Miami. I have been using the time in her home to really focus and get things done. The first day of school is approaching. Officially, we begin this Monday. Until then, I am planning to relax and try to get myself into the place I need to be in order to be prepared for my little ones. I was called out on my lack of presence today. I didn't sleep much last night and was struggling to stay awake during today's meeting. I made it through a whole week of staff meetings at 3 different schools. It is Friday night and I have so much to do still. Being in my friend's home has given me a chance to really sit down and focus. I cannot be distracted by my surroundings as I would be in my home. I don't have any control over the things in here and so I must control the work that I brought with me to complete.

Focus. Commitments. Responsibility. I need to leave soon to pick up supplies for the Kizomba Social and fulfill my role... challenge accepted. Stillness will be granted soon. I am trying to find balance in the turbulence of shifting change.

Learning to let go. Not looking back. Move forward. Advance. Succeed.

7.19.14 Disneyland & Disney California Adventure - Anaheim, CA

Day 32-
7:30 am  Wake up call : "If we do Disney  we have to meet the people getting us in kinda early. Latest 8:45am"

We haven't really had any plans since Yellowstone. We have had an idea of where we had wanted to go but nothing really solidified onto our itinerary. Disneyland was something I threw on there for fun. It was more of a joke really. We were going to go to Las Vegas and I figured that Disneyland would be on a similar level of epicness.

We had to cut Vegas out of our trip. After time and financial budget constraints, we both realized that we wanted to do Vegas big. We have been living out of my van for the past month and I felt for myself that I did not want to get lost in Vegas in my current state.

Disney was a different story... We did not think Disney would happen either but we were lucky to meet wonderful friends through our journey. About a month ago, we met the most amazing people at Firefly Music Festival. Our friends from the taco tribe who live near Los Angeles have been super welcoming during our visit. They were able to get us into Disney courtesy of a friend who worked there. IT WAS AWESOME!

I woke up to my phone vibrating on the floor across the bedroom near Culver City on a Saturday morning. We had to meet our friend in Norwalk in less than an hour. I didn't change my clothes and got into soccer mom mode driving my van quickly across Los Angeles. It was great, we were listening to hip hop on the freeway.

I had absolutely no expectations from Disney. We pulled into the Donald Duck level of the parking garage. I looked around for a giant mountain with a castle on top like the animation I had seen before all the films growing up. There was none... there was a tram that would take us to the gates.

One more thing - the last time I was at a theme park was nearly 10 years ago. I developed a fear of roller coasters and cried as I stood in line for my 4th ride at Six Flags in Maryland. This phobia was something I was willing to rise above. We entered Disneyland and headed to Tommorowland.

Our first ride was Space Mountain. It was amazing. I definitely had a panic attack on the ride. My eyes were closed tight as I sat on the ride. I would take quick peeks in between breaths to see the laser stars around me as the wind blew past. Eventually I realized that if I kept breathing at the rate that I was something was going to happen - so I stopped and took in deep breathes to calm myself down. I opened my eyes and enjoyed all the production that went into the ride. I liked seeing the lasers hit the metal beams that created the structure. I wondered what it all looked like. Disneyland was all a massive production. I survived the ride. We rode a lot of rides. I RODE THE TEA CUPS! I liked waiting in that line. "A very, merry unbirthday to you!" It was somewhere around that point that I realized I was in Disney and that I wouldn't die in Disneyland.

I challenged my fears and rode the rides on our mountain tour of Disneyland. We were introduced to the magic of the single ride line - we rode Splash Mountain independently of our group and bypassed the stand by line completely. I screamed on the ride. I got wet. There was a small human in the seat before mine. I got splashed on the mountain and was thankful for my waterproof backpack as I shivered and trembled on the ride. I was cold and scared. I enjoyed the production of the moving animals, sets, and music. It was eerie. I kept imagining what the park was like in the past. I could imagine the exterior mountain structure being lifted to reveal the magic inside. Disney is magic.

The Haunted Mansion was cool. I'm not a fan of seeing bodies hanging so the first room creeped me out. There was also a hanging bear in Splash Mountain that made me feel uncomfortable. Seeing these huge nonliving illusions move and sing and repeat that felt very odd. I feel that they could be traumatizing on some level. Pirates of the Caribbean was weird. How do they hide so much production within these structures? The line mazes were interesting to study too.

We didn't try food in Disney but we did get a Pinapple Ice Cream Float from the Dole Tiki Bar near Adventureland. That was delicious! I absolutely love pineapple juice. They reminded me of Chilean "terremotos" made of pineapple sorbet and pipeño.

We caught a parade in Disneyland and followed the chimney sweepers from the Mary Poppins float all the way to the front entrance where we got our left hand stamped and continues across the plaza to Disney California Adventure. At this point we had spent 6 hours in Disney and had done a lot of exploring. We were running low on fuel and looking forward to a delicious BBQ afterwards. We set a limit of rides and went straight for them. There wasn't much time or energy for this park after such an entertaining morning in Disneyland.

We went to Soarin' Over California, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, California Screamin', and ended our day on Grizzly River Run. Soarin' Over California wasn't anything very special. I was expecting more motion and drops as we were harnessed and raised into a panoramic projection bubble. I also thought that there would at least been more of a storyline to contextualize the images of the California landscape. Christina worried about me in the Tower of Terror as I screamed during the entire ride. I hate tower drops. I probably haven't been on one since I was in middle school. It was the Twilight Zone and I was in California so I had to challenge my fears. I survived. We walked over to California Screamin' and as soon as I saw the loop I decided that I had had enough of the rides... no loops. We saw Grizzly River Run as we were leaving the park. It was the first time I ever rode a ride like that. I usually sit it out and hold onto everyone's bags while they get wet. It was fun.

We still needed food. Chavo invited us over to his home for dinner. We needed to stop by North Gate, a Mexican supermarket, to get supplies. On the way, Chavo talked up Super Fries from Albert's in Norwalk. We stopped by for an order of Mini Super Fries to serve as an appetizer. Super Fries come in a carry out box with beans, sour cream, guacamole, cheese, and salsa. They offer an assortment of sauces to add to the food. It was an experience to savor.

James met us at Chavo's and together they prepared a delicious meal of beer-marinated carne asada with coffee and garlic seasoning from Trader Joe's. Tortilla chips and a pineapple guacamole salsa. Chavo's father joined us later and we stayed up talking and experiencing a hot pepper tasting and a tequila tasting.  I know myself and observed only.  I don't do hot peppers or tequila. It was a great night to end a great day at the "happiest place on Earth."

7.14-15.14 San Francisco, CA (Petaluma, CA)

I have lost track of the days since Seattle. We have been moving very fast and doing very much within the past week. I still need to catch up and reflect on the Pacific Northwest. I also need to take time to share my reflections from this trip thus far. It has almost been a month since we began this journey across the United States.

We were very lucky in San Francisco. We did not know exactly where we would be staying. I had a few friends but no definite hosts until a few days before our arrival. It didn't help that we did not have an exact arrival date. I love friends and their friends. 

We have been blessed to stay in a beautiful home in Tiburon, California. It is about 20 minutes north of San Francisco. We have been spoiled with this place and it has felt very relaxing compared to our running around on the roads. We drove all through the night to arrive to here on July 14, 2014. I didn't want to further inconvenience our host by waking him up before dawn. So when we arrived in the Bay Area, I took advantage of seeing parts of the city before everyone woke up and traffic became terrible. I had been to San Francisco once before in 2012. I remembered the traffic and the streets. This time was a different trip entirely. 

Day 27- 

We saw the sun rise over California State Route-37. Both of use were exhausted. I kept driving on to the city while Christina slept and I sang along to the radio music. As we neared the city, it was the strangest experience to see the fog roll along the hills. I drove over the Golden Gate Bridge. Last time I was in SF, I only saw it from a distance. It was beautiful. Within my first hour in city, I accomplished the highlights that I had failed to experience on my first visit. 

My destination was the Palace of Fine Arts. I had seen the beautiful images of the site. I saw the top of the dome from a distance during a bus ride from Presidio last time I was in SF as I tried to get myself to the airport in time. This time I parked alongside and ran out to explore the structure at dawn. It was eerie. It was massive. It was overwhelming. The figures on the structure were creepy. It was a beautiful space but I did not like the feminine figure that were on the corners. They were all exactly the same and looked as if they had gotten in trouble and had to put their head down. I walked around the fountain. It was awesome to see all the bird species. 

Walked back to the car and drove to the house of our host and fell asleep in our car seats. It was a still too early and I didn't want to wake him... he saw our car and invited us in as he rushed out to work. We fell asleep on his couch and woke up hours later. We had been awake for 24 hours with only a few naps in between. Sleep was glorious. 

We woke up late that morning. It was late for us to go into the city of San Francisco. We didn't have much of a plan. It was a heavy day. We were pulling ourselves together. We decided to go to Petaluma to check out the Lagunitas Brewery. We enjoyed a tour and learned about their colorful history. It felt like a fun place to work and their beer is really good. After our tour, we went to Ray's Deli for delicious sandwiches. It was getting late and we still didn't have much of a plan or energy to really do anything. I got to visit Mrs. Grossman's Sticker factory. It was too late to go on a tour but I was really happy to spend money on the same stickers that I had when I was a kid. We spent the evening wandering around the Petaluma riverfront.

Day 28-
We still had not formed much of a plan but we figured we would explore San Francisco today. Our first mission was Dim Sum in Richmond. We had a feast! We ordered so much food; it would last us the whole day. After our big meal, we needed to walk around to work off the food. My friend recommended a visit to Sutro Baths. I was expecting to see the beautiful remains of the old building but they were really ruins. It was nice. We relaxed by the ocean and walked along trails.

We got back into the car and worked our way through the city. We went to 16th & Moraga to climb up the mosaic tiled steps. We discovered more stairs up above. We were rewarded with a beautiful view of the whole city. We drove down Lombard Street, one of the steepest and curviest streets. We wandered around Chinatown before we drove to the Bay Bridge. The sunset and we watched the Bay Lights installation by Leo Villareal. We ate the last of our dim sum left overs sitting by Cupid's Span sculpture by Claus Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen.

6.24.14 Warhol Museum (Pittsburgh, PA) & Columbus, OH

Day 7-
We went to The Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. It was fantastic! I was so happy to see all of Andy's history. I loved the family photographs on the 7th floor. I got so many lesson ideas from the eras of Andy. His Time Capsules were awesome. He was such a strange genius. I made a screen test that I'll check out later.  Christina and I took a set of photos in the photobooth. So much fun! I am thankful I had a Smithsonian experience.  We were able to bypass the $20 cost with my old Smithsonian ID. It also saved us $8 at Fallingwater. 

Another bonus was that I spotted an Andre the Giant by Shepard Fairley across the street from the museum.

Before we left Pittsburgh we made sure we got pierogies. We went to Szmidt's Old World Deli for lunch. The Beastarogie was delicious!

We spent the afternoon driving to Columbus, OH to stay with my friend from high school. He welcomed us and let us do our first load of laundry on this trip. We are eternally thankful.  Afterwards, he took us on a tour of downtown Columbus. We played pool and enjoyed a burger and brews at Elevator Brewery and Drafthouse on High Street.

A night of sleep on a couch and air mattress after relaxing with Parks and Recreation.  We move North in the morning.

6.23.14 fallingwater & Downtown Pittsburgh, PA

Day 6-
We left Delaware in the morning. I bought a new phone. It is a hot pink Samsung Galaxy mini - I've named it Miss Piggy though its more of an Animal hot mess pink. Traveling with Kermit and Miss Piggy sitting in traffic going from the east coast out west!

Christina made my dream come true! I finally saw Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in PA! We didn't go inside but walked around with ground pass. It wasn't everything I imagined it to be but I was happy to be there and finally complete that mission. I was glad it was a stop through. If we had more time we would have explored Ohiopyle State Park. It would be even more spectacular in the fall with the leaves changing.

We continued on to Downtown Pittsburgh for dinner. We had sandwiches filled with fries from Primanti Bros. at Market Square. We wandered to Point State Park to check out the reflection pool and the fountain where all three rivers converge.  We walked over a bridge and took a lift to check out the Duquesne Incline. We saw the sunset over the Pittsburgh skyline.

We a slept in a real bed that night and had showers. It was amazing! A friend of a friend of Christina opened thier guest room to us for the night in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.