So, I've been a Paid User for some time; I know how that works. I am going to stop paying for LJ, reasons behind the cut tag. My question is, I want to review what my other options look like.

Basic Account - I can go back to a basic account, with the serious negative effect of never being able to ever add another friend (you get 20 friends as a basic user, that's it). Will I elect to pare down my friends list? Or will I have to shell out $5 for 2 months of Paid account anytime I want to add a new friend? Otherwise, I don't seem to lose any feature I use other than LJ polls.

Plus account - serious drawback: ads. And see above about friends; I am already over the 200 friend limit, or near enough to it.

So, those of you out there who are not paid users and do not have permanent accounts, how's the basic account or plus account working for you? How intrusive are the ads? How noxious is that friend limit?

It will probably be difficult for me to -stop- using LJ wholesale, because I compulsively journal. However, I suspect my time of journaling in the public blogosphere is probably approaching its natural end. I think that's going to be ok, overall.

( Reasons )

I was smart. I used sunscreen. And a hat. And an overshirt. I got some sun at the fest, but I was not a lobster.

Until today.

Today I was outside hosing the mud off the tarps and gear and tent and shoes in the midday sun and I clean forgot to put on sunscreen. So, my back looks like a lobster and feels like one too. But all the gear is clean, dry and packed away. My shoes will recover. And all is "back to normal".

Except that now I have been to Falcon Ridge. I know what it means to say, "Oh, sure, I've been to Falcon Ridge."

Life is good :) -H...

Gospel wake up call was exciting. The Nields excelled here. Later came Tracy Grammer with Jim Henry. She is wonderful to listen to.

That's a fine thing, too, as the festival ended mid-way through her performance this year (see previous post about inclement weather). We're all sitting on the hillside. The rain is just beginning, but Tracy and Jim have been watching the lightening strikes creep up closer and closer behind us. Tracy moves "Gentle Arms of Eden" up in her playlist, "Because I really want you guys to sing along with me and I'm not sure we'll get to otherwise." And we did. We sang and we sang and it was great and glorious and good.

And the song ended and Tracy said, "Ok, we're done. We're seeking shelter. You should do the same." And they ran off stage. I picked up my gear and quick stepped it across the field, making it to the tree line just as the hail began.

"Gentle Arms of Eden" is not "Never Turning Back"....that said, it's still a lovely song to end a gathering on.

In every life a little rain must fall. And it's a truth of all outdoor camping events I've ever attended that into each tent a little wind will blow and a *lot* of rain will fall - just assume that it will. So, anyone who has ever gone to FRFF knows about the rain, the wet, the sliding, the stuck vehicles, the shows that might have to end a little early, the wet winds, the "pennsic tumbleweed" tents that someone forgot to stake down as they roll along the hillside. And you learn little wisdoms like "don't seek shelter under lightening magnets such as trees" and "don't seek shelter in the privies; you'll regret it when it and you blow over". And *everyone* knows about the mud.

I don't mean mud like what you get on you boots when you step in some mud. I mean mud like mudwrestlers wrestle in only deeper, thicker, muddier. Mud that will, quite literally, suck the shoes completely off of your feet! Primordial mud.

And Thursday we did good. It rained. We got wet. There was mud. We adjust.

Saturday we did good. It rained. More things got wet. Some tarps blew down. Tents shook. Thunder and lightening woke the children. We adjusted. Oh, and there was mud.

Sunday, however. Sunday was special. Sunday was cloud to ground lightening. Sheets of rain. Gusts of wind. Cherry-sized hail that fell for a full 5 minutes. Cherry hail isn't so bad ... when you're inside. It hurts rather a lot when you are standing outside in it with nothing but a poncho between you and it. And that was tough to deal with. But the shocking thing came later when I continued my progress towards the pavilion tent where I knew my friends were on shift working, only to be unable to locate the existence of said pavilion tent anywhere on the horizon.

I was not a part of the parties caught in the 3 separate pavilion tent failures that occured during this storm so it is not my story to tell. All I can say is...pavilion tents are shocking to see collapsed to the ground, and much moreso when more than one come down at the same event in the span of 15 minutes, and yet moreso when you knew 3 of your friends were under it when it came down.

Reports are that no one was injured. My friends are all present and accounted for. Info desk, sign shop, lost and found were in shambles. The volunteer food tent no longer exists. Concessions suffered.

Later it was clear that smaller tents fared poorly also, but they are not half so shocking as seeing main event buildings blown to the ground.

And while privies blown to the ground is funny, knowing that you have been knee and elbows deep in mud and water tainted by privy spillover is just a little gruesome, daunting, and really gross.

Somehow I suspect next year may be the safest Falcon Ridge ever. :)

The spirit of Dave Carter is still very much alive and well at Falcon Ridge. He's a part of the intro in the program book. His songs ring out across the hills as covers. Tracy brings him on stage with her in every song she sings from their time together. And at 9a Sunday morning was his memorial song circle. Six years after his death and still 50 people showed up, even at that early hour the last day of a festival. The body is long gone, but the spirit lives on in the power of the song.

Many attendees of Falcon Ridge are "Friends of Bill" as the saying goes. The beautiful thing is that, at 8am every morning of Falcon Ridge, there is a 12 step meeting. Whatever your addictive compulsive behavior might be, be that drugs, drink, codependency, debting, eating, sex, or trying to fix everyone around you, you are welcome at the Falcon Ridge 12 step meeting. It's an amazing thing to see all these people in recovery, 50 some odd members strong. It's amazing to see them all come together and peacefully just coexist. It's phenomenal to hear how some of the people are struggling in the face of the active, open, free and obvious drug and drink use that also comes with the outdoor music festival atmosphere; amazing moreso to watch them chose the 8am meeting over the 4am "just one". There is safety at Falcon Ridge.

One kind of power is the mechanical energy of feeling the vibrations of the music pulsing through the air and vibrating through the ground. Probably you can experience this at any amplified music event.

This post is about the other kind of power. Imagine yourself sitting just in front of the sound booth, center of the audience, center stage, on a hillside in upstate New York on a clear warm night in August with 1000+ fans of like mind. The musician launches into what is clearly a crowd favorite. A sing along. You know the song.

You know the song because one of the loves of your life first introduced you to it on a CD that love burned just for you. Your associations with the song have all the joy and all the sorrow and all the bittersweet that ties to the music when the meaning grows and alters and changes over time.

You know the song because musician friends of your have recorded it on their debut album. You've played their version a few times. Sometimes because of old love, sometimes to celebrate the new found joy of emerging music, new art created in the world in the footprints of those who've sung before.

Tonight, you know the song and you are prepared to sing it along with the audience, because that is part of why you came to Falcon Ridge.

And the chorus begins.

And every glowing object in the audience comes out, like lighters during a torch song, only more fun. There's glow sticks and necklaces, flashing devil sticks, blinky LED toys. And more people join in. Now there are cell phones and ipods and anything else with screens that light up. And here and there a flashlight sends its beacon up to the sky. Even the tree is glowing with a bright white peace sign.

And everyone is singing out loud. Everyone united in song.

Moments like these.

Saturday is one concert after another. From the Most Wanted Song Swap and much more Anthony DeCosta, Randall Williams, Joe Crookston, Lindsay Mac goodness to the stunning vocals of Martin Sexton, the music just doesn't let up. You will miss *something* - count on it.

The Love & Other Tragedies song swap among Red Molly, The Nields, John Gorka, The Sevens, and Jason Spooner was delightful. A Change Is Gonna Come covered every aspect of change you might imagine (yes, it was a little heavily about the Worst President Ever.)

I was most grateful to hear John Gorka play his full set. The man is just so gentle and amazing to listen to.

I missed seeing Chris Smither, but he was delightful to hear wafting over the rolling fields.

The Nields are a lot more Southern Gospel than I was expecting. And the one sister dances like Pat Benetar when she sings.

Dar Williams was spectacular :) What a sweetheart on stage. More on this performance in a separate post.

Eddie from Ohio are fun! Amazingly powerful performances. I like bands that can rock out.

Friday's main highlight is the Emerging Artist Showcase. All and sundry will tell you - Do Not Miss the emerging artist showcase. These people petition/audition to be a part of the showcase; of the 1000+ entrants, only 23 or so are elected to be in the showcase. After their performance, Falcon Ridge attendees get to submit surveys voting for their top 3 showcase favorites. Those 3-4 favorites are invited back to Falcon Ridge the next year as the Year's Most Wanted. It's a pretty good system, all things told.

All the musicians in the showcase are Good musicians. What can make or break a vote getter, however, is their stage presence - the difference between a veteran and an amature. Those who dissembled set the audience up to have low expectations, and no matter how stunning the performance, the vote is already lost. Meanwhile, those who did not dissemble, set the audience up to expect a polished performance. Some performers exceeded that bar - those people got the votes. My personal favorites of the 17 people I heard out of 23 were Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers (much more energetic live than their website would suggest), Rj Cowdery (a favorite from 'back home'), Gretchen Witt (confidence bordering on arrogance), and Danny Schmidt (excellent guitarist, check out This Too Shall Pass).

Later, over at the Beatles Forever gathering, was a first glimps of this year's Most Wanted - Lindsay Mac who plays cello as if it were a guitar, Joe Crookston who cleared last year's Emerging Artist hurdle despite having played a cover as one of his two songs, Randall Williams who lends a hand everywhere he can, and Anthony DeCosta who appears much younger than he is. Joe Crookston was worth buying both albums - have a listen to Fall Down As The Rain.

Late at the Summer's Eve Song Swap were John Gorka and Vance Gilbert and others. Of the whole weekend, I got the warmest friendliest feel from John Gorka and the music he makes. Vance, meanwhile, reminds me in every way possible of Howie Harrison :)

The schedule on Thursday begins about 2p for workshop, dance, and family stages; main stage kicks into gear about 6p. This year's main stage Thursday lineup included The Horse Flies, Red Molly, Jason Spooner Trio, Crooked Still, and Lori McKenna. All very good. Red Molly and Jason Spooner Trio are especially good when they perform all together. Camping near the main stage means you can hear all of them whether you are at MainStage or not :)

Camping with friends is a great blessing. When the skies are about to open, many hands make speeding work of the chore. Also, sometimes friends have extra tent stakes to lend you when yours have gone amiss. And really, any stake in a storm. The drops begin to fall just as the tent goes up. Sheets of rain blow down from the sky as you all deftly get the fly in place and secured before it takes flight. Some guy lines, more stakes, maybe a tarp later and the skies clear. All you can do is just laugh. And exchange names.

Thursday, driving down Rt 22, going about 10mph behind a slow Wide Load Ahead, a sign declaims "Event Ahead". The line of trees to the right clears onto a wide open view of the Dodd's Farm as she slowly emerges from her hay farm crysalis into a brilliant 5 day tent city butterfly called Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. The sight of the tent city takes my breath away.

1) My aquasocks, though drenched in mud and water, are currently the driest, cleanest piece of clothing I have of all that I brought with me to FRFF. That says everything, most of it incredibly good :)

2) The music was awsome.

3) The community was awe inspiring. I understand things now I didn't understand before.

4) Shout it out for chaiya, hakamadare, and N (whose secret LJ identity is well protected by an understated but very dedicated butler), for lo, they are great good company in times like today.

Tomorrow there will be stories. In installments. For your Monday-morning reading pleasure. Till then, shower and sleep. *hugs* -H...

My agency is looking to acquire:

Digital Camcorder (used ok; no tape media)

Gently Used Car ('98 or newer)

We can offer a charitable donation reciept. Drop me a comment below with a valid email contact and I will reply via my work email. -H...

Still alive. Still in Boston. Still raising the Boy. Still doing social work. Still living (again) with xuth. Making the very occasional new friend. Which reminded me I should say Hi from behind the FriendsLock curtain now and again. Drop a note here and say hi, if you are so inclined.

Cleaning one's room is a dull task, but creates an unparalleled feeling of spaciousness and order. I could use more of that in my life. :)

Just For Today

Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that "most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.

Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires.

Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse or neglect it, so that it will be the perfect machine for my bidding.

Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will learn something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do two things, that I don't want to do, just for exercise.

Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor find fault with anything and not try to regulate or improve anyone.

Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and not try to tackle my whole life problem at once.

Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but it will eliminate two pests: Hurrying and Indecision.

Just for today I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself to relax. In this half hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.

Just for today I will be unafraid, especially, I will be unafraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.

How much is enough?

As I look around, I notice that we don't have any idea what the answer to that question is. And by we, I mean I, and Americans, and geeks and fannish people, and probably you. Have you ever owned more than one copy of the same book, DVD, album, map, pattern, figurine, toy, etc? Have you ever been in more relationships than you really honestly had the time for? Have you ever over-eaten until you felt bloated? Have you ever worked out so hard you hurt yourself? Have you ever overdrafted your bank account? Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket, a hangover, or lost count of how much sex you've had? Have you ever just run out of room? Has perfectly good food ever spoiled untouched, unopened in your house? Ever gotten injured from doing the same motion repetitively?

I just hosted a yard sale, and the very first thing I had to do to make that process come about was decide for myself what my answer was to the question "How much is enough?" And I found some answers for me:

( Enough Media )

( Enough Clothes )

( Enough Food )

( Enough Loves )

So, this was Step One of the yard sale process. It was definately a learning experience for me. I welcome discussion in comments below :) -H...

This is the text of the email I send to LJ today:

To Those Who Operate LiveJournal:

I wanted to write you all a quick note of support in the work that you
do as LiveJournal. I have been a paid LiveJournal user for some years
now and have found your service useful, entertaining, convenient, and
comforting.

From my vantage point, it seems that LiveJournal is meeting the same
fate that media has always met. One strives to be
pro-freedom-of-speech in a time and space where not everyone agrees on
what "freedom of speech" means or covers. One also strives to maintain
minimum standards of decency in a time and space where not everyone
agrees on what those "minimum standards" are or ought to be. These
concepts are even harder to negotiate and set policy around in the
presence of today's global community.

So, for the hard task set before you of leading the tightrope walk
between freedom-of-speech online and online minimum standards of
decency, I thank you for the work you do and I hope you remain
energized and committed to the great service I've always known you to
provide.

Sincerely,
maedbh7

I believe in the potential of LJ. Time will bear out what LJ's reality becomes. -H...

Evolution teaches us that organisms adapt to their environments over time. These adaptations are critical to the survival of any given species. Without such adaptations, survival is not assured.

The following things are known about autism:

- persons with autism are primarily visually oriented: pictures make primary sense while auditory input is seldom comprehensible at all

- persons with autism think in very concrete terms: cliches, idioms, homographs, puns are as incomprehensible to them as Prussian is to most of us

- persons with autism have both higher and lower levels of sensory perception: what is known as 'just right' is often either excrutiating or imperceptable

- the prevalence of autism in the general population has increased exponentially: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_(incidence)

What does evolution look like while it happens? -H...

(I get paid to believe that everything is possible for my individuals, so it's not a far leep for me to think these folks may represent evolutionary advantage. I recognize the concept may be difficult for many of you to consider.)

I'm going to be in NYC Apr 30 - May 5. Drop a note in comments below if you would like to get together in the evenings during that time. Cheers! -H... (Edit: Forgot to unlock it. Doh.)