So I decided to end the family visitation a day early this past weekend and take on the day off on Memorial Day on my own. Near Route 22, I explored a short trail and followed the orange blazes. I made a trek and turned around. When I got back to where I parked my car, I found that some folks had assembled a flea market on the pull-off on the side of the road. "Sure, why not?"

I usually don't find a whole lot at flea markets but looking is permitted. It's old instruments and used books that I'm on the look-out for. "hub caps, old dishes, roller blades....Magnus chord organ?" A nearly toothless man, owner of the toyish keyboard, started up his generator and plugged in the thing to let me play with it. Neat. $15.00 later and it was mine. Now what do I do with it?

Generoo is a small non-profit arts organization I work with out of my hometown of Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania.

From The Daily Item May 13, 2009
http://www.dailyitem.com/0300_entertainment/local_story_133233101.html
Arts Council receives grant
MIDDLECREEK -- M&T Bank, through the M&T Charitable Foundation, has awarded a $500 grant to the GENEROO Organization -- the Middlecreek Council on the Arts.


The name, Generoo, which means "good friend," comes from the language of the extinct Susquehannock Indians, who resided in the Susquehanna Valley. The GENEROO Organization, an all-volunteer registered nonprofit, supports and benefits all segments of the community through the production and coordination of cultural and educational events, including all the creative art modalities, such as: theatre, dance, visual arts, music, literature, film, media, folk arts/crafts, history, workshops, lectures and special events to cultivate awareness, understanding and respect for the arts and cultures.
The current season's events include a guitar workshop, an ongoing book club held at 7 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the MACC, a drum circle led by Michelle Bixler to be held the evening of June 20 at the Troxelville Community Hall, a beginner drawing workshop led by Joanne Landis to be held July 18, and a community theater production planned for Aug. 6-8 at the West Snyder Middle School.
GENEROO's goal is to involve individuals of all ages and from diverse circumstances, without exclusion, in cultural and artistic events, providing opportunities for exploration and appreciation that may otherwise be lacking in our rural community, so that all people might experience the joy and benefits of a richer life.

I used to tally most of my miles by automobile.  While I've pretty much said "goodbye" to my days of extensively touring along the east coast and outside the central Pennsylvania region, I'm pretty obsessed with my "feet and knees" miles.  My runner's log tells me I ran a total of 1036.5 miles in the year 2008.  Do you think that'd get me more quality dates?  I mean, is that a good pickup line?  "Hey, nice sneakers.  I went through five pairs of 'em last year when I ran...*cough* one-thousand-thirty-six-point-five miles."  OK, maybe it's best to leave some things untested.
So I started thinking about all of the notable things that took place in 2008...well, at least for me.

I said goodbye to a bunch of part-time jobs.
I got a full-time job.
I left my hometown, again.
I started working on my graduate degree.
I wrote some farm songs.
I helped to organize and taught a guitar workshop with Generoo (another one this year).
I dated some boys.
We broke up.
My parents celebrated 30 years of marriage.
Doug and I played some very fun shows.
My cat and best friend of 11 years passed away.
I put in another year at Sweet Meriam's CSA, my last.
I grew hops in my parents' backyard.
I grew some carrots.
My best friend from high school got married and the dress she made me wear was pretty practical.
Sean and Heather got married.
For some reason, I made a lot of hummus.
I discovered Boxer's Cafe.
I watched a new president get voted into office and cried out of joy.
I learned how to throw away socks with holes in them.
And I ran 1,036.5 miles.

I'm thinking...Marathon 2009.

In the spirit of this Election Eve, I'd like to share a video with soundtrack that I created for a Music Technology class I had in college in 2004. The title - "Bean for President." The music - goofy notes and samples assembled by a younger me using Reason and a clip from Dan Bern.