My foul attitude and resulting blog post yesterday morn was some sort of foreshadowing, seeing as I found out, just minutes later, that the Sacramento show, and the SLC show on Wednesday, were canceled. Our drive to Sacramento from Phoenix in one day was in vain. LeRoi's funeral this week, plus Dave's cracking voice, was more than enough reason for a few-day break before their/our rigorous three-day run at the Gorge this weekend.
So there we were, in downtown Sacramento at our Courtyard Marriott, with a flawed itinerary and close to no guidance. The new game plan became: get some R&R and then drive (today) to Olympia to stay at [our] Dave's house for a couple days (for free). I just took backseat after driving us from Sacramento to the tip top of the state on I-5, which means we've run the entire length of California two days (not counting yesterday's do-nothing day). *Sigh.
Good pizza + salad + chardonnay last night restored something in me after several meals off interstate exits. (I'm telling you what, not having the catered dinners just wrecks me...it'll be interesting to see how my diet changes, for better or for worse, once I'm back home. But I've told Yance more than once that I'm thrilled to return to the twice weekly Publix visits in Cola town.)
We're about to get some grub in Ashland, Oregon, and then we have several more hours to go till we get that sweet Pac NW hospitality Dave promises. Tomorrow, Erin and I are taking a gals' day trip to Portland, which I've heard I will fall in love with. I guess we'll see. Judging by Northern California and the bit of Oregon I'm seeing now, this is a region in which I could set up shop.
8.26.2008
8.25.2008
Another capitol city
Today we're in Sacramento. Yesterday we drove halfway across Arizona and then 3/4 the way up California for one stinkin' show tonight...at a ballpark, nonetheless, on a Monday. (I fear my pessimism may be shining through.)
I'm still enjoying this so, so much, but we're tired. And it's increasingly harder to register large numbers of voters night by night, not easier. As Kurt says, our job can't follow a typical business model. The nature of the game (the game being political involvement as we inch toward November 4) is that more people nationwide are getting on the boat, taking the steps to get registered if they're not yet, in preparation for the presidential election. Sure, many (up to 200) fans are still utilizing our on-spot voter registration resource at DMB shows, but the demand for such a service is decreasing, not increasing, and our lack of delivery when it comes to numbers is really getting us down.
The Jack Johnson team is slaying venues all over the place, often days before we get there, and so the apples-to-apples comparison is hard to swallow. (Jack's meet 'n greet with each and every group of volunteers likely boosts productivity in those places, but I'm attempting not to dig for excuses...)
LeRoi's death, too, has tainted the attitude of the whole touring operation, as is to be expected. This super summer is winding down with less frivolity and fun, and more "let's get the job done, and try our hardest not to step on any toes." My heart goes out to the band members, who seem to appreciate the cathartic performance process, but are surely grieving, silently, and wishing the tour to be over.
Good and bad, all things considered, this will be over two weeks from today. In 14 days, I make it back to my beloved Southeast and begin (again) to flail around and figure out my life's path. My goal from now until then is to organize and inspire and energize, which has been the aim all along, but takes more concentration and deliberation than before.
This morning I talked to Miles, who seems awake and energized by going back to school and looking forward to seeing one of his favorite bands play next week. I'm going to take his spirit with me today, and send everything else (anything at all negative) back from whence it came. It's a beautiful day, and I'm going to live it as such.
I'm still enjoying this so, so much, but we're tired. And it's increasingly harder to register large numbers of voters night by night, not easier. As Kurt says, our job can't follow a typical business model. The nature of the game (the game being political involvement as we inch toward November 4) is that more people nationwide are getting on the boat, taking the steps to get registered if they're not yet, in preparation for the presidential election. Sure, many (up to 200) fans are still utilizing our on-spot voter registration resource at DMB shows, but the demand for such a service is decreasing, not increasing, and our lack of delivery when it comes to numbers is really getting us down.
The Jack Johnson team is slaying venues all over the place, often days before we get there, and so the apples-to-apples comparison is hard to swallow. (Jack's meet 'n greet with each and every group of volunteers likely boosts productivity in those places, but I'm attempting not to dig for excuses...)
LeRoi's death, too, has tainted the attitude of the whole touring operation, as is to be expected. This super summer is winding down with less frivolity and fun, and more "let's get the job done, and try our hardest not to step on any toes." My heart goes out to the band members, who seem to appreciate the cathartic performance process, but are surely grieving, silently, and wishing the tour to be over.
Good and bad, all things considered, this will be over two weeks from today. In 14 days, I make it back to my beloved Southeast and begin (again) to flail around and figure out my life's path. My goal from now until then is to organize and inspire and energize, which has been the aim all along, but takes more concentration and deliberation than before.
This morning I talked to Miles, who seems awake and energized by going back to school and looking forward to seeing one of his favorite bands play next week. I'm going to take his spirit with me today, and send everything else (anything at all negative) back from whence it came. It's a beautiful day, and I'm going to live it as such.
8.20.2008
Sax, drums and rock 'n roll
RIP, LeRoi Moore. As you readers may or may not have seen (it's on news sites all over the world, amazingly), the founding member and saxaphonist for the Dave Matthews Band passed on yesterday, here in L.A., right before he was to undergo intensive treatment for injuries he sustained in a June ATV accident.
We knew something was up yesterday at the Staples Center when a certain nonprofit affiliated with the band did not set up their booth. Also, as people started filling in the downtown indoor arena, rumors of Moore's death (based on blogs at that point) were circulating and my volunteers let me know as much. By the time the opening band had gone off stage, the fact was confirmed on CNN.com, and Scooter--our contact for the band--admitted that he'd known all day but was instructed not to talk about it.
Needless to say, we did not get dinner in catering last night. Scoots said the guys were pretty red-eyed and somber, and yet...yet, the band played on, before a modest crowd of maybe 10,000. Dave mentioned at the get-go that his dear friend had "given up his ghost," and thanked everyone for joining them. We sat way up top, bird's eye view:
Erin and I left with Brande Jackson before 10 and got back to the hotel to eat delivered pizza and watch the Olympics. (I love Shawn Johnson and am glad she won the gold.)
I'm a tad nervous about tonight, and about the rest of the tour--I don't know what LeRoi's passing will mean for the future of the Dave Matthews Band, or HeadCount at their shows.
One thing's for sure: the Staples Center was an unfriendly atmosphere for voter registration, and I've been warned that California, in general, is fairly "thanks but no thanks" about any and everything. (Which is unfortunate, 'cause we have shows here tonight, Friday in Chula Vista, Monday in Sacramento and a couple weeks from now in Berkeley...I hope the snobbery is a So Cal thing.) At least our hotel is amazing. Get a load of the view from our room:
Today is pretty (though pretty smoggy) in Los Angeles, so maybe we should get outta the Westin and into the city. Angela is coming tonight! And then tomorrow, we can all feasibly hit the beach in San Diego. *Sigh.
We knew something was up yesterday at the Staples Center when a certain nonprofit affiliated with the band did not set up their booth. Also, as people started filling in the downtown indoor arena, rumors of Moore's death (based on blogs at that point) were circulating and my volunteers let me know as much. By the time the opening band had gone off stage, the fact was confirmed on CNN.com, and Scooter--our contact for the band--admitted that he'd known all day but was instructed not to talk about it.
Needless to say, we did not get dinner in catering last night. Scoots said the guys were pretty red-eyed and somber, and yet...yet, the band played on, before a modest crowd of maybe 10,000. Dave mentioned at the get-go that his dear friend had "given up his ghost," and thanked everyone for joining them. We sat way up top, bird's eye view:
Erin and I left with Brande Jackson before 10 and got back to the hotel to eat delivered pizza and watch the Olympics. (I love Shawn Johnson and am glad she won the gold.)
I'm a tad nervous about tonight, and about the rest of the tour--I don't know what LeRoi's passing will mean for the future of the Dave Matthews Band, or HeadCount at their shows.
One thing's for sure: the Staples Center was an unfriendly atmosphere for voter registration, and I've been warned that California, in general, is fairly "thanks but no thanks" about any and everything. (Which is unfortunate, 'cause we have shows here tonight, Friday in Chula Vista, Monday in Sacramento and a couple weeks from now in Berkeley...I hope the snobbery is a So Cal thing.) At least our hotel is amazing. Get a load of the view from our room:
Today is pretty (though pretty smoggy) in Los Angeles, so maybe we should get outta the Westin and into the city. Angela is coming tonight! And then tomorrow, we can all feasibly hit the beach in San Diego. *Sigh.
8.18.2008
Just an FYI...
...it's REALLY buggy in New Mexico. Big ol' beetles similar to Palmetto Bugs (glorified Southern cockroaches, for those of you out of state) were creepin' and crawlin' as we filled up just now. Ew.
At least we're not in Texas, anymore, right Toto? Two and a half hours left and then we slumber at the Hotel Arizona (yes, yes, we've been singing The Eagles). We're aiming to arrive early in L.A. tomorrow to actually see a piece of the city on a day off, but who knows with this crew. We love to stop, and we could walk for hours around gas stations. (I'll need to walk for hours after that pizza I just slammed, that's for sure. Please, dear lord, bless my digestive system. We need you.)
Earlier, we stopped in Pecos, TX, home of the first rodeo, and I remembered that old cartoon VHS little brother and I would watch everyday as kids, "Pecos Bill," narrated by Robin Williams. Oh, how the years, and miles, fly by.
Oh, also FYI: Texas, the western undeveloped part, is gorgeous. Check it:
At least we're not in Texas, anymore, right Toto? Two and a half hours left and then we slumber at the Hotel Arizona (yes, yes, we've been singing The Eagles). We're aiming to arrive early in L.A. tomorrow to actually see a piece of the city on a day off, but who knows with this crew. We love to stop, and we could walk for hours around gas stations. (I'll need to walk for hours after that pizza I just slammed, that's for sure. Please, dear lord, bless my digestive system. We need you.)
Earlier, we stopped in Pecos, TX, home of the first rodeo, and I remembered that old cartoon VHS little brother and I would watch everyday as kids, "Pecos Bill," narrated by Robin Williams. Oh, how the years, and miles, fly by.
Oh, also FYI: Texas, the western undeveloped part, is gorgeous. Check it:
8.17.2008
I can see for miles and miles
Texas, man. Get me outta here. We've been driving all the live-long day and are still east of El Paso! I am ready as I'll ever be to re-enter Pacific Time. To be frank, my Southern comfort (heh) ran out pretty quickly, and my team didn't do even close to the numbers this weekend that we did at Alpine, for varied reasons. We had some great volunteers in The Woodlands and in Dallas, however the tailgating scenes at both amphitheaters were pitiful, and the hot hot heat certainly prevented some potential voters from following through with us.
No crazy backstage encounters this post, but I did get the chance to watch the encore last night from about 6 rows back..."Sledgehammer" into "Two Step." Hell. Yes. Have I mentioned recently that I love this band? I also love the extended group dynamic we've had, with the Crocs guys (who've now both left the tour) and Lucy (who'll end it with us in Berkeley, woo!) -- I know I made the right choice for DMB tour, no matter how much luck the Jack Johnson team is having. (Grrrr.)
Again gunning for some quality time with old friends, I've been in touch with my girl, Angela, who will probably volunteer with us Wednesday in L.A., and today I got word that my middle school best boy, Nick -- who listened to DMB with me once upon a time -- might come out to the show in Utah a week from Wednesday. Road trips are awesome (especially when you're not on the road).
No crazy backstage encounters this post, but I did get the chance to watch the encore last night from about 6 rows back..."Sledgehammer" into "Two Step." Hell. Yes. Have I mentioned recently that I love this band? I also love the extended group dynamic we've had, with the Crocs guys (who've now both left the tour) and Lucy (who'll end it with us in Berkeley, woo!) -- I know I made the right choice for DMB tour, no matter how much luck the Jack Johnson team is having. (Grrrr.)
Again gunning for some quality time with old friends, I've been in touch with my girl, Angela, who will probably volunteer with us Wednesday in L.A., and today I got word that my middle school best boy, Nick -- who listened to DMB with me once upon a time -- might come out to the show in Utah a week from Wednesday. Road trips are awesome (especially when you're not on the road).
Mr. Matty Takes a Moment
Oklahoma City wasn't all that great of a show for HeadCount--a weekday, no parking lots, a ballpark venue...all these factors work against us.But the four of us were grabbing dinner around quarter till 8 when we ran into Dave again--well, more accurately, he ran into us, made a point to chat us up, all jokes and banter, yet famously calm and collected. So I shoved my "be cool in catering" pride and nabbed this picture. Needless to say, it will be blown up and framed once back in the SoCar. YESSSSS!
8.13.2008
I'm OK...you OK (City)?
It's hot as can be in Oklahoma City. I expected this temperature at this point in the trip, but we were spoiled rotten in Wisconsin with sweatless days and sweatshirt nights, not to mention great company (I love the Milwaukee TL, Kari!) and successful days at the best damn DMB shows I've ever been privy to.
Sunday night at Alpine was even better than Saturday, with fewer volunteers but more registrations--366!!! We found out that Saturday night broke the 2008 record for HeadCount, which pleased our higher-ups and reinstated our confidence as a traveling team, and then we followed up with more at a Sunday show, surprising even ourselves!
After overcoming some personal stresses, I hit the lots Sunday afternoon with two clipboards and a fresh attitude, and remembered why standing at the booth all night--even when one's tired--is not where it's at. People tailgating were so so nice (mostly), and hiking around the hilly grounds did my body and my mind good.
Erin and I grabbed some grub at an earlier time than usual, which allowed us to run into both Tim Reynolds (what a tiny little man!) and Dave, again!
This time, Mr. Matthews was slinking around the catering area with his year-old son, August, and I made mindless chatter with the man as I helped myself to walleye and green beans. Said something about his biking, as I'd caught him flying around the trails earlier in the evening, and followed that up with an unsolicited, "I want to move to a city where I can ride a bike and stop driving so much." He was politely attentive, if not blankly staring at me while I blabbered.
It's embarrassing, but I still get nervous...hell, we're not supposed to be back there! Not really, you know? I play it cool most of the time, don't abuse my privileges, and the crew members who count seem to like me well enough, thanks to some Southern charm I've scrounged up on the road with these damn Yankees. :) But I still feel like I won some contest, and if unmarked by a HeadCount logo, Dave and the rest are thinking, "Who the f***'s crashing our party?"
Erin lovingly gave me hell for my choice of words once we'd parted with Dave and sat down to eat. But I was high the rest of the night, and the pinnacle of the weekend was rocking out in the lawn with my teammates, knowing we'd done well. You might be able to imagine a crowd of 40,000, recalling festivals or huge stadiums elsewhere, but trust me: these pictures of the fluid, frenzied audience in Wisconsin just don't do it justice. Standing on the VIP deck overlooking the whole mess, I felt overcome with emotion (akin to the first time I saw Radiohead at Bonnaroo, seriously!)...like I was part of something special...and I gave thanks.
Anyway, hooray for Alpine Valley. You, glorious place filled with glorious people, set the bar for the rest of the trip. Everyone says the Gorge will blow you away, but I'm skeptical. We had a fantastic weekend, and Monday off in 'Waukee was wonderful, too. (Did I mention I love Kari, who took us to get a banging local brunch and generally played chauffer in her convertible, Mr. Feeny, for three days?)
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for our northern momentum to transfer down south (OK City today, Houston area Friday, Dallas Saturday) until we head to Cali-forn-i-a next week. I'm exhausted, 'cause I finished our 13 hour drive yesterday, arriving here at 4 a.m. and opting in to the continental breakfast at 9:55. But I think I'll see my long lost buddy, Joel, tonight and maybe even the Weisenburgers in Dallas! Life is hot, fast and exhausting, but life is good. I'm so glad I won this contest.
Sunday night at Alpine was even better than Saturday, with fewer volunteers but more registrations--366!!! We found out that Saturday night broke the 2008 record for HeadCount, which pleased our higher-ups and reinstated our confidence as a traveling team, and then we followed up with more at a Sunday show, surprising even ourselves!
After overcoming some personal stresses, I hit the lots Sunday afternoon with two clipboards and a fresh attitude, and remembered why standing at the booth all night--even when one's tired--is not where it's at. People tailgating were so so nice (mostly), and hiking around the hilly grounds did my body and my mind good.
Erin and I grabbed some grub at an earlier time than usual, which allowed us to run into both Tim Reynolds (what a tiny little man!) and Dave, again!
This time, Mr. Matthews was slinking around the catering area with his year-old son, August, and I made mindless chatter with the man as I helped myself to walleye and green beans. Said something about his biking, as I'd caught him flying around the trails earlier in the evening, and followed that up with an unsolicited, "I want to move to a city where I can ride a bike and stop driving so much." He was politely attentive, if not blankly staring at me while I blabbered.
It's embarrassing, but I still get nervous...hell, we're not supposed to be back there! Not really, you know? I play it cool most of the time, don't abuse my privileges, and the crew members who count seem to like me well enough, thanks to some Southern charm I've scrounged up on the road with these damn Yankees. :) But I still feel like I won some contest, and if unmarked by a HeadCount logo, Dave and the rest are thinking, "Who the f***'s crashing our party?"
Erin lovingly gave me hell for my choice of words once we'd parted with Dave and sat down to eat. But I was high the rest of the night, and the pinnacle of the weekend was rocking out in the lawn with my teammates, knowing we'd done well. You might be able to imagine a crowd of 40,000, recalling festivals or huge stadiums elsewhere, but trust me: these pictures of the fluid, frenzied audience in Wisconsin just don't do it justice. Standing on the VIP deck overlooking the whole mess, I felt overcome with emotion (akin to the first time I saw Radiohead at Bonnaroo, seriously!)...like I was part of something special...and I gave thanks.
Anyway, hooray for Alpine Valley. You, glorious place filled with glorious people, set the bar for the rest of the trip. Everyone says the Gorge will blow you away, but I'm skeptical. We had a fantastic weekend, and Monday off in 'Waukee was wonderful, too. (Did I mention I love Kari, who took us to get a banging local brunch and generally played chauffer in her convertible, Mr. Feeny, for three days?)
8.10.2008
'Wauk this way
I love Milwaukee, Alpine Valley, the people here (40,000+ at the show, and awesome people downtown), the scenery, the whole kit and kaboodle. We registered 358 people tonight (!!!!!!!!!!) and are hoping for a huge day tomorrow, too. I could live at this venue, I'm not kidding:
8.08.2008
Pensive-ania
Ugh. What a bloody bore of a drive this morning. Pretty, yeah, but not at all ideal for a quartet trying to make it to Wisconsin by a reasonable bedtime. F'ing 55 mph, are you kidding?!
Toll-toll-coffee break-bathroom break-gas break (you'd think we'd be learning to sync 'em up). Blue(grass)-Beatles (Rubber Soul)-Blue (Album, Weezer)-Green (grass)-Blue(sky)-Green(...barely...overpriced fast food salad).
We're in Ohio now, which I was happy as hell to leave a few days ago. Dave's doing the second leg, after my first. Erin and Kurt (as I write this) are watching "Harold and Kumar" go somewhere.
Virginia wasn't that great, all things considered. I know I should just take the trip (Erik Collins' advice, remember Drew?), do my job the best I can, and care less about the logistical slop (i.e. someone else's job). But I can't help but feel wasteful and ashamed for using up two tanks of gas, and as many (now almost three) days, with only 80-odd new voter regisrations to show for the fiasco. I didn't even see the venue yesterday, rather sat at the table and ate my delicious dinner and then got in the van. (Of course, all these Verizon amphitheaters are basically created equal, so what could I have possibly missed?)
But seriously, the volunteers let me down and I let myself down for trusting them, all of them supposedly experienced with voter registration, and yet bringing in very few filled out forms by the end of the night. Win some lose some, I guess. I just hate that we ventured so far east only to marathon drive west today in this dirty, dirty van.
We're staying four nights in Milwaukee (at the Hyatt!) to cover the band's two-night run at Alpine Valley (capacity 40,000!). This weekend we're banking on 1) huge numbers from campgrounds, parking lots and lawn, and 2) a really good time without immediate anxiety about the next trip. Brewery tours, perhaps? Or, hell, after this car ride, give me your garden variety sauntering around downtown and finding something to get into. I ain't hard to please.
I'm trying earnestly to get my daily dose (or close) of both fruits and veggies, and simultaneously NOT get led into the temptation of the brightly colored plastic chips/cookies aisles in the billion gas stations we visit. I'm solemnly swearing (to myself, and the elusive, faceless you) that I will exercise at the Hyatt at least once in Wisconsin. God knows a four-day stint on an elliptical would do more good than harm...
I can't believe I have only known these folks since mid-July, nor that we have four more weeks of this nonsensical traveling. All of it is pretty, well, unbelievable.
My mind often wanders to thoughts of home and "what's next," but (to be straightforward) these thoughts are fleeting. They must be, so stimulated am I by what's going on around me 18-20 hours a day, and (on the other hand) so stressed I'd be if I dwelled upon this excursion's effects on me, personally and professionally.
Stressed and/or sad? Please, no room for that in this car. Carpe diem, baby. And, this diem, carpe I-80. Again.
Toll-toll-coffee break-bathroom break-gas break (you'd think we'd be learning to sync 'em up). Blue(grass)-Beatles (Rubber Soul)-Blue (Album, Weezer)-Green (grass)-Blue(sky)-Green(...barely...overpriced fast food salad).
We're in Ohio now, which I was happy as hell to leave a few days ago. Dave's doing the second leg, after my first. Erin and Kurt (as I write this) are watching "Harold and Kumar" go somewhere.
Virginia wasn't that great, all things considered. I know I should just take the trip (Erik Collins' advice, remember Drew?), do my job the best I can, and care less about the logistical slop (i.e. someone else's job). But I can't help but feel wasteful and ashamed for using up two tanks of gas, and as many (now almost three) days, with only 80-odd new voter regisrations to show for the fiasco. I didn't even see the venue yesterday, rather sat at the table and ate my delicious dinner and then got in the van. (Of course, all these Verizon amphitheaters are basically created equal, so what could I have possibly missed?)
But seriously, the volunteers let me down and I let myself down for trusting them, all of them supposedly experienced with voter registration, and yet bringing in very few filled out forms by the end of the night. Win some lose some, I guess. I just hate that we ventured so far east only to marathon drive west today in this dirty, dirty van.
We're staying four nights in Milwaukee (at the Hyatt!) to cover the band's two-night run at Alpine Valley (capacity 40,000!). This weekend we're banking on 1) huge numbers from campgrounds, parking lots and lawn, and 2) a really good time without immediate anxiety about the next trip. Brewery tours, perhaps? Or, hell, after this car ride, give me your garden variety sauntering around downtown and finding something to get into. I ain't hard to please.
I'm trying earnestly to get my daily dose (or close) of both fruits and veggies, and simultaneously NOT get led into the temptation of the brightly colored plastic chips/cookies aisles in the billion gas stations we visit. I'm solemnly swearing (to myself, and the elusive, faceless you) that I will exercise at the Hyatt at least once in Wisconsin. God knows a four-day stint on an elliptical would do more good than harm...
I can't believe I have only known these folks since mid-July, nor that we have four more weeks of this nonsensical traveling. All of it is pretty, well, unbelievable.
My mind often wanders to thoughts of home and "what's next," but (to be straightforward) these thoughts are fleeting. They must be, so stimulated am I by what's going on around me 18-20 hours a day, and (on the other hand) so stressed I'd be if I dwelled upon this excursion's effects on me, personally and professionally.
Stressed and/or sad? Please, no room for that in this car. Carpe diem, baby. And, this diem, carpe I-80. Again.
8.06.2008
Hello, Shenendo(ah Nat'l Park)
We (ahem: Kurt) just drove two hours North on 81 in the great state of Virginia, North being the wrong direction (and 81 being the wrong interstate) to our destination of Chesapeake. Oy. Four more hours in this stinky van with my stinky friends (ha). Today we've stopped in Hurricane, WV and Woodstock, VA (whereupon we realized our blunder), and driven through many a scenic rural region. It's been pretty, but all we've done on our day off is ride and drive in alternating shifts.
Other than being a bit disgruntled about that, things are well with team HeadCount...I missed these guys more than I thought I would while I was off tour.
It was nice to work the show at Riverbend last night -- a surreal sort of experience, considering I've thrown my money, my eyes and my ears to DMB a total of five summers in that venue, and this summer finds me nonchalantly walking around backstage (by way of the stage itself!)...
Miles volunteered with us last night, which was one of the highlights of the tour thus far. He did really well, too, nabbing 12 or 15 voter registrations (of our pretty fantastic 185). Many of his registrations came from friends, tipsy and totally loving life in the lawn. I imagined I'd see old pals (or at least acquaintances) there, as well, but didn't expect that the single blast from my past would be childhood church buddy, Leah Hill. Nuts!
Riverbend, as I said, felt nice and familiar. But it also made me feel futher out of touch with NKY/Cincy. Like "I used to call this home?" I hung out with the local Team Leader and a couple other awesome volunteers during the show instead of, say, jetting out of there to meet up with high school friends who'd show us a good time in Florence Y'all, or even downtown.
Reason #183858348 to make an independent, unapologetic, don't-worry-bout-a-thing move next year, don't you think?
Other than being a bit disgruntled about that, things are well with team HeadCount...I missed these guys more than I thought I would while I was off tour.
It was nice to work the show at Riverbend last night -- a surreal sort of experience, considering I've thrown my money, my eyes and my ears to DMB a total of five summers in that venue, and this summer finds me nonchalantly walking around backstage (by way of the stage itself!)...
Miles volunteered with us last night, which was one of the highlights of the tour thus far. He did really well, too, nabbing 12 or 15 voter registrations (of our pretty fantastic 185). Many of his registrations came from friends, tipsy and totally loving life in the lawn. I imagined I'd see old pals (or at least acquaintances) there, as well, but didn't expect that the single blast from my past would be childhood church buddy, Leah Hill. Nuts!
Riverbend, as I said, felt nice and familiar. But it also made me feel futher out of touch with NKY/Cincy. Like "I used to call this home?" I hung out with the local Team Leader and a couple other awesome volunteers during the show instead of, say, jetting out of there to meet up with high school friends who'd show us a good time in Florence Y'all, or even downtown.
Reason #183858348 to make an independent, unapologetic, don't-worry-bout-a-thing move next year, don't you think?
8.04.2008
Maaaatrimoooony
Listening to the Second Gleam (Avett Bros.' new EP), yet again two hours early for my flight. (Better safe than sorry, right?) Saying goodbye to Yancey earlier than I had to seems foolish, however, and I’m trying to think on other things, people.
I’ve looked through the weekend’s assortment of pictures more than three times now, and I better cool it, else I crumple up into a sad little mess of a traveler, who must endure another long layover in Atlanta (here’s hoping for no delays).
The wedding was absolutely beautiful, and the reception an incomparably good time. Best friends, boyfriend, mother and more! Ashley was breathtaking, and I can only pray that she’s taking in big gulping breaths of fresh Left Coast air as I type these words at the humid-as-all-get-out Right.
I’m ready as I’ll ever be to get back to (HeadCount) work and my team, beginning tomorrow in homey Cincinnati and then zig-zagging to VA Beach, then Wisconsin, all before the week’s over. I’m amped to see Alpine Valley, and have a big voter registration weekend there. Also, not gonna lie, I’m hoping to run into the Black Crowes in catering…I’ll have to strategically plan my trip to get a water bottle, hm? “Well, hello, Chris Robinson, fancy seeing you here!”
I wish I had the energy of the little girl in the dress that matches her hair (orange), running laps without destination, round and around this tiny terminal. Alas, whether morning or evening, intoxicated or straight, I can feel the weight of the years in my feet, knees, back, shoulders, neck, eyes, head. I should take better care of myself, and my things—I lost another cell phone, this time with all my contacts and text messages. Ah well, just another step in simplifying and streamlining my life. (The first go at it being my packing one bag for seven weeks and then losing it through the labyrinth of AirTran hubs.)
I’ve looked through the weekend’s assortment of pictures more than three times now, and I better cool it, else I crumple up into a sad little mess of a traveler, who must endure another long layover in Atlanta (here’s hoping for no delays).
The wedding was absolutely beautiful, and the reception an incomparably good time. Best friends, boyfriend, mother and more! Ashley was breathtaking, and I can only pray that she’s taking in big gulping breaths of fresh Left Coast air as I type these words at the humid-as-all-get-out Right.
I wish I had the energy of the little girl in the dress that matches her hair (orange), running laps without destination, round and around this tiny terminal. Alas, whether morning or evening, intoxicated or straight, I can feel the weight of the years in my feet, knees, back, shoulders, neck, eyes, head. I should take better care of myself, and my things—I lost another cell phone, this time with all my contacts and text messages. Ah well, just another step in simplifying and streamlining my life. (The first go at it being my packing one bag for seven weeks and then losing it through the labyrinth of AirTran hubs.)
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