Jakefest 2018

  As if GrassRoots doesn't have enough going on (see previous post), this year I also took part in constructing a stage at Jake's Place where I camp.  There's already a shed, a barn, a pond with a zip line, but the temporary stage just wasn't sufficient so this year a permanent one was built.  I think the intention was to have it ready for the festival but when that didn't happen there were lots of people around to help finish it. 
  Finally on Saturday night it was ready to go, but the music started right when the rain did and there were electrical problems.  All was right Sunday morning and some fine music was made before the out-of-towners packed up and left Eric and Wendy to their "normal" lives.

GrassRoots 2018

  GrassRoots has come and gone again, hard to believe it only lasts a few weeks (set-up, Culture Camp and the festival itself).  This year logistics were tricky as Gail was in Germany for work the week before and only got back late the night before the festival.  My sister, Sue, stopped in town for a couple nights with some of her family from when she was an exchange student in Chile in high school.
  I was able to get up to Trumansburg enough to help assemble the Infield Stage and the special project.  This year we built new showers for the fairgrounds.  No pictures of that, but did get Alan and Mark in their matching shirts seeing whose tape measure was more accurate while Selena wonders what she's gotten herself into.
  Though Gail was out of town I wasn't home too sad and lonely.  My friend, Lori, got a spot teaching children's songs during Culture Camp and brought her friend, Winnie.  They stayed at our house for a week and we rode back and forth together while taking in a bit of the local scenery.

  When the festival actually got underway Lori's dad, Dan, came up in his camper with Steve and tried out the Across the Way campground that GrassRoots bought.  They declared it a wonderful setup and plan to return next year.

  I think Across the Way worked as well as it did because it was neither scorching hot (there's no shade), and it didn't rain like last year (there are few gravel driveways).  Remember the rain from 2017?  Anyone who was there won't ever forget it.

GrassRoots 2018

  It used to be Thursday at GrassRoots was mostly for local bands and small crowds.  Not anymore, this year Eilen Jewell played in the Dance Tent with her daughter (her husband is her drummer).  She mentioned her first tour brought her to Trumansburg for the festival and we were glad to have her back.
  Two international bands were also playing Thursday, LADAMA, which featured four women from various South American countries, and Siri Toure from Mali.  The guy who played a banjo-like instrument in Siri came out during LADAMA's set and joined them.

GrassRoots 2018

  One of the nice things about GrassRoots is all the surprises that happen to add to the expectations that have been held all year.  This year the surprise was getting to hear Sierra Ferrell.  She was discovered by some of the folks from Donna The Buffalo in Nashville too late to get a set on a stage but she was featured prominently during Culture Camp and then did two unplugged sets in the Workshop Tent during the festival with some fantastic backing by Brian Williams, Aaron Lipp (who also joined the Wood Brothers for their set), and Jeb Puryear of Donna.  I had a prime seat right at her feet for both sets and got some nice video but can't upload it here.
  When I went down to the Grandstand Sunday morning for the chamber orchestra she was there and I got to tell her how the orchestra is usually the highlight of the festival for me but this year she was it.  Just to be clear, that's not me in the animal outfit standing next to her.

GrassRoots 2018

  A couple other musical highlights happened on the Grandstand Stage.  I didn't actually get the name of the band pictured on top but loved them for more than their looks.  Below is Valerie June, who claims in this interview that she'd heard about GrassRoots many years ago and was determined to play it.  Glad she made it this year.  No pictures of the other musical highlight, the Wood Brothers, who drew what I believe was the largest crowd I've ever seen to the Grandstand and when it began to rain I didn't notice anyone going anywhere to seek shelter.

GrassRoots 2018

  As always, a fair amount of time was spent hanging out at Connie and Andy's camper with lots of friends, new and old.  Connie, Caroline and Marie bought matching shirts, but only Caroline has the hair to match.

GrassRoots 2018

  It took until Sunday before I was finally able to connect with Kim and Adam and their kids, that's how it goes at GrassRoots sometimes.  There were several people who I only saw in passing or not at all though I know they were there.  These guys had the misfortune of parking too close to a driveway and their car was towed, and damaged in the process, but they did get to find out their boys both have talents they weren't aware of before the weekend: Jackson took to the stilts he made in the Kids Tent like he was born on them and Wyatt has the groove needed to keep a hula hoop spinning endlessly.

Gratduation 2018

  It's become clear to me over the years that graduation isn't just for the students and their families, it's also a chance for those of us who watched kids grow, learn and mature, celebrate their accomplishments.  On top: Karen and Aman.  Second: Jordanny and Jason.  Third: Ne Lar gets a warm hug from Kim.  Fourth: Kari and Min.  On the bottom:  Aye Mya Mya.
  So proud of all these young adults, I can't even begin to describe the efforts some of them went through to get to this point.

Graduation 2018

  Four people who have made my job a treat.  Two graduates and two more to go.

Graduation 2018

  Sometimes I get to know kids from their birth up through and beyond graduation, other times I meet them only when they are juniors or seniors.  On top is a good friend I met in the late 90's, Dave, and his son, Howard.  I remember hearing the news of Howard being born.
  Three young women, Ne Lar, Haythi, and Aye Mya Mya, I had the pleasure of knowing and working with at the high school for a few years.  There are wonderful things ahead for them.  Dolma is from Tibet/China and I only got to know her this year.  At the bottom Tenzin exudes the confidence she rightly possesses and will take with her to UB next year.

Best Retirement Party Ever

  My dear friend, colleague, neighbor, swimming and skiing pal, Kari, retired at the end of the school year and we had a little party for her.  It was going to be coworkers from her 30 years at different schools in the district all gathering to eat too much and give her a plant or something.  But when I heard about a gofundme campaign by some of our Karen refugee students to raise money for a mural depicting their journey from Burma to the US (please donate by clicking on the link.  They have almost enough for the mural and want to raise more for education programs) I encouraged people to donate to that in Kari's honor.  She's also an artist and does bright, vibrant oil paintings.  The kids from Burma came and livened things up a bit and accepted the giant check for the mural.  I don't know what they did with it but Eh Gay Mu wouldn't put it down and walked towards the Commons with it.

Best Retirement Party Ever

  It was so cosmic, Kari's earring even matched the decorations on the cupcakes.

Unexpected Trip, Unexpected Place

  At the end of the school year I took a trip that caught me by surprise, both for where I went and how much I enjoyed it.  The International Club organized a trip to a water park in the Poconos, a destination I probably wouldn't go to with anyone else.  They originally wanted to go to New York City and asked if I would chaperone which I would have loved to, but when it changed to this location and came a week after I had gone to NY with family, I had to decline.
  When the chaperones they had lined up needed to cancel at the last second I put aside my distaste for these kinds of parks and went along.  They did an amazing job of setting it up and really didn't need any chaperones, but since the school requires them I was happy to join Mark and Jen.  They had as much fun and relaxation as me.

Unexpected Trip, Unexpected Place

  There were plenty of water activities, I even tried out a few of them.  Some were slower and more enjoyable, some were too fast and dangerous for my tastes.  We all tried out the ski lift that they had running at the outdoor park.
  There was also an arcade for nights and times of inclement weather.  Just look at how the kids faces glow!

Unexpected Trip, Unexpected Place

  This shirt speaks volumes, what a great message.  I was glad to have company on a 6 am hike up the ski slopes.  Both Tenzin and Terry were awake and ready to go when I got up, Dolma was too but wasn't having any of the steep climb at the beginning, it turned out to be the steepest part.

Unexpected Trip, Unexpected Place

The kids had all the food planned out and twice cooked up great meals for everyone.  Blute only looks annoyed to do the dishes, it was a constant battle to get people to move away from the sink to get a chance to wash them.  Hendrick poses by a yellow-dominated breakfast.

  Everyone asks if this photo was posed.  It was not.  We had about an hour to hang out before the bus came to take us back to Ithaca and one-by-one people dropped off to sleep. 

Successful Surgery

  Janet has had quite the scare going back to last winter.  Things were not working right with her mind and it turned out to be a tumor on her brain.  Once it was diagnosed, surgery was performed immediately, followed by an aggressive radiation and chemo treatment.
  I'm glad to say things have improved remarkably and so many friends and family have had a chance to return the love she shares with all of us daily.  We've been able to visit her and help out with various appointments and keep her as active as possible.  At this point there is no sign of the tumor and they are being very vigilant so they know right away if it does return.
  Janet is keeping busy with her many activities and relationships.  We hope she will be able to return to work soon.