I became insane with long intervals of horrible sanity.
Edgar Allen Poe

The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all.
- H. L. Mencken

Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so
-Bertrand Russell

What I have been telling you, from alpha to omega, what is the one great thing the sigil taught me — that everything in life is miraculous. For the sigil taught me that it rests within the power of each of us to awaken at will from a dragging nightmare of life made up of unimportant tasks and tedious useless little habits, to see life as it really is, and to rejoice in its exquisite wonderfulness. If the sigil were proved to be the top of a tomato-can, it would not alter that big fact, nor my fixed faith. No Harrowby, the common names we call things by do not matter — except to show how very dull we are ...
-James Branch Cabell

August 04, 2012 - 11:13 a.m.

I Go Like the Raven

I'm going to finally finish writing about Falcon Ridge today. Tomorrow I start packing for next year's festival.

I woke up Sunday morning to the sound of rain on my tent. I hate when it rains when I wake up. It means that I have to get my rain gear on before I walk the quarter mile to the porta-potty. I did and made my way back to my tent. Got the rain gear off, and realized I had to go back to the porta-potty. I then somehow missed breakfast with the Steeple Tent. Sundays at FRFF are always tough. I usually end up not listening to that much music because I have to pack up to go home. I not only pack up my tent but I have to help with The Budgiedome too. This year I also volunteered at the WFUV.

On the way back from the porta-potty I noticed that people looked grumpy. People are never grumpy at FRFF. It was a combination of the rain and it being early. I was just as wet and tired but I was still happy. I stopped and talked to one woman that I noticed was smiling. I told her how nice it as to see someone that wasn't grumpy. She put it right, "Being at FRFF beats the alternative." As I think Carey first put it years ago, FRFF or was that the Budgiedome is the happiest place on earth. Either way I was happy.

I made it down to the workshop stage for Wake Me Shake Me with Pesky J. Nixon, ilyAIMY, and Annie Wenz. It was at the ungodly hour of 10:00 AM. When you've been up to dawn that's ungodly. It's a testament to how much I love PJN and ilyAIMY. I was joined by Brianne and Abby. It's nice going down to hear music with somebody. It's also gratifying that they got up early and went down to see musicians that played the Budgiedome. We all need validation, I'm no exception,.

After the set I actually bought breakfast, French Toast. Horror of horrors, I bought food other than a cold dessert. Then I went back to camp and showered as I wanted to be presentable when I represented WFUV. The sun came out after I went down to the workshop. I was afraid I'd get burned as I didn't bring a hat or sunblock but I survived that. Then I benefited from it because one of the quick drying shirts that I had hanging in my tent actually dried out so I could wear it. If you remember all my clothes got soaked when my tent leaked and my suitcase ended up sitting in a puddle.

It's always fun manning the booth. Lori not LORi and Joe did multiple shifts and then hung out with me through most of mine. That's above and beyond the call of duty.

What I love about manning the booth is that the world comes to me. People I know spot me and come over to talk. Sometimes I spot them and call them over. Total strangers come to hear about the station and I talk to them. Till his death if Jack Hardy spotted me he'd come over and rant. I miss Jack's rants.

That was pretty much it for me and hearing music on Sunday which was too bad as two of my favorites were on the main stage, Ellis and Spuyten Duyvil. I see SD often and I saw Ellis last month but I can't see too much of either. I was happy that I ran into Ellis and got to talk to her.

We managed to take down the Budgiedome without me hurting myself this year. That is in no way a given. A few years ago I stabbed myself in the hand. I still have the scar.

We can hear the main stage from our camp and heard the Nields despite our best efforts to drown them out.

I finally got all packed up right before the Closing Song, Never Turn Back which once again was sung as a dirge. The only time it sounded at all good was when The Kennedys led the singing and picked up the tempo. Who is with me and thinks that the song should just be retired and Dave Carter's Gentle Arms of Eden made the official theme song of FRFF.

This is my home, This is my only home
The only sacred place I have ever known
Should I stray in the dark night alone
Rock me goddess in the Gentle Arms of Eden

That sums of Falcon Ridge to me.

During the day the members of our camp departed, each getting an emotional goodbye from me. Of course I'll be seeing most of them tonight. I never go that long without seeing the Chicks with Dip and their significant others. I think it was just an excuse by me to get more hugs. I�m pretty sure that Catherine is on to me.

The people I don't see often, Brianne, Katie, Abby, and Jenna left while I was manning the WFUV booth so I didn't get to say goodbye to them. That was sad. It means I'll have to find excuses to see them before next year's festival.

After the closing song Gene and Isabel drove against traffic up the hill to pick up me and my stuff. I said my goodbyes to Steve, LORi, Paul, and the Steeple Tent camp and headed out.

My post FRFF tradition is eating at the Chief Martindale Dinner. Theirs is eating at Four Brothers Pizza so that's what we did. I got to meet the people they camp with which was great.

The biggest change in tradition for me is that I slept most of the ride home. I don't get to do that when I'm driving. I woke up in the Bronx, thought I stayed awake but the next thing I knew I was in Brooklyn. I was afraid to ask how loudly I snored. I heard enough of that from the people in our camp.

After Falcon Ridge I always think of the Hobbits returning to the Shire in Lord of the Rings. All my copies of the book are in storage so I'll have to attempt this from memory. Merry or Pippin, it might even be Sam, says:
"It's like waking up from a dream "

Frodo responds:
"For me it's like falling back to sleep."

So that's my account of the 2012 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, my 14th. Come hell or high water (don't all FRFF's have high water?) I'll be back again next year. I better start scheduling the Budgiedome.


I signed the Pro-Truth Pledge:
please hold me accountable.





Memories: Not that Horrid Song - May 29, 2018
Wise Madness is Now In Session - May 28, 2018
The NFL and the First Amendment - May 27, 2018
On The Road Again - May 26, 2018
Oliver the Three-Eyed Crow - May 25, 2018



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Horvendile August 04, 2012
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