Loter’s Blissdom 2011 – Part 2

Part 1

Jockey & Tide sponsored Thursday night festivities at Blissdom and it was seriously a blast. My roomies (Mishelle, Dawn, Leslie, Victoria) and I all got dressed up and headed to “the red carpet” to kick off the night. This was basically just a chance to act silly and be photographed (Malia joined us on the carpet).

photo by Heather Durdil

Mishelle captured a great shot of the red carpet photographers, Casey, Hannah, Elan, and Heather.

We ate from a variety of foods provided to us – my favorite thing was pulled pork sandwiches with a vinegar-based barbecue sauce. What can I say, I’m still a NC girl at heart when it comes to BBQ!

I was also witness to a momentous occasion: Mishelle had her very first Guinness.

*oooooh* *ahhhhh*

We all enjoyed the food and drinks, chatted, and laughed together.

last four photos by Mishelle Lane

After hanging out for a little while, we headed into the nightclub, Fuse, to watch performances by Michelle Branch and Mat Kearney.

What a treat – both musicians put on a fabulous show. I was particularly excited to see Michelle Branch, as I’ve utterly adored her music for so many years.

last two photos by Mishelle Lane

I generally don’t go all “fangirl” and have photos taken/do meet and greets, but I didn’t pass up the opportunity this time.

photo by Jana Warnke

Once the performances were over, there was dancing…

…and then people wandered off here and there throughout the hotel to eat, hang out, and just have a great time, late into the night.

photo by Mishelle Lane

These are memorable portions of the night – the times you spent laughing with various groups of friends, catching up, sharing hugs, smiles, and silly moments.

At some point later on, Mishelle, Jim, Diane, Amy and I ended up in the Garden Conservatory. As you can see, we spent a little time being goofballs.

Mishelle and her camera… she had me model for her throughout the hotel. I didn’t argue… even when she asked me to climb onto a piano. What can I say? I’m easy.

last two photos by Mishelle Lane

And of course, Diane gave me her now traditional, on-camera, one-finger salute.

It’s this kind of silliness that makes time with best friends so fun!

Still to come – Friday, Flashmob!, Girl’s Night In, and Saturday’s Photo Walk.

to be continued…

Here Comes The Sun

Oh the roads we have traveled.  And oh, those we have yet to travel!  They stretch out before me in my mind.  They’re sometimes long and winding, but more often, lately, so straight and fast that I can see the endpoint like a sudden, bracing hug and it takes my breath away.  That place on the horizon where the road blisses out is bursting with warm sun, calling me.

There is so much going on right now, a flurry of to dos and plans and please let this work outs, that I can’t even begin to tell you about it all.  I want to tell you.  Of course, I will.  In just a little while.  My thoughts are racing along so far and so fast, ahead of me on that straight-shot road, being drawn to the place where my heart lies in wait.  When it all snaps together just right, I’ll calm down, take a deep breath, and let my fingers do the work of spilling the proverbial beans here.

For now, my feet are getting tangled under me as I dart this way and that in nervous anticipation and fervent getting readiness.  It’s quite a dervish of a whirlwind that’s whipping me around currently.

Luckily, in the breaks between spinning and racing and running around with far too much to think about and much, too much, to do, Braden and I have private dance parties to the music of The Beatles in our living room.  There is generally an abundance of giggling.  (You can dance really stupidly when there’s no one but a 3 year old watching, and it doesn’t matter.)  Often, there is falling down on the floor silliness to be had, as well.  And sharing a moment or two of just being.

Life, contrary to what you may have heard, is good.

We just have to dance together now.

Remember when I was lamenting about starting to lose the carefree rain-dancer in me?

I think he’s keeping her alive more than I realize.

[videos in post, click through to view]

Because Wednesday is good for cute videos, right?

I get requests for Braden videos sometimes. Here are two that I think are cute from the other day.

He’s been really interested in naming letters recently. I can’t tell you how proud I am about that.

Here’s proof:

He’s smart, and a great dancer, too…

(Do you like how he orders the dog around? Hahaha.)

His Musical Soul

My son clearly enjoys all things musical. His appreciation ranges from making odd, alien-like and sometimes Clingon, or decidedly mechanical, sounds with his own mouth, to digging the actual music that mommy and daddy listen to.Braden is thrilled to beat on pots and pans, and likes to play his own little guitar. When he hears music (of any kind… the crappy little tunes that his push-button toys play as well as anything from Gwen Stefani to Guns N Roses) he sings and dances.

His version of singing is a beautiful art to behold. Sometimes he dreamily tilts his head back and coos and wails mournfully along with a tune. At other times, he emits a shrill screaming rant, rife with emotion. And there are moments that just beg him to perform his rythmic ‘shout and bark’ style of song. You can’t witness any of it without smiling. And, if you can, then you’re a butthole.

Dancing is also something that calls to Braden’s heart and soul. The child will “dance” even when seated, and to anything even remotely musical. A crappy version of “Camptown Races” had him swaying in his highchair this morning. Upon hearing “Wind it Up” by Gwen Stefani yesterday, he held onto the arm of my office chair and bounced up and down, then swayed, stomping his feet.

When John plays his guitar, Braden can’t decide whether he is more interested in slapping the strings along with Daddy, or dancing around in a circle singing, “AH-ahhh, ahhh-ahhh, AH-AH-ahhhhhhhh!” Both are endearing and adorable.

Even the grinding, creaking sound of the cabinet doors in his bathroom enchants his little, musical soul.

He has a love affair with these cabinet doors, btw. He doesn’t even care what’s inside anymore. His greatest desire in that bathroom is to engage in endless exploration of Cabinet Door Audiology. Sometimes he is studious and serious, bordering on being Completely Zoned Out, while he’s in “cabinet mode.” Other times, he is silly and boisterous, giggling and squealing in delight at the wonders his friends (the doors) reveal to him. I wish I could capture some of that wonder in my life at my age. Wait, I have! In him.

My kid – he both ages me and keeps me young. God bless him, the cute little fart.