Hugs and Kisses

This is a pretty pessimistic post... So, if you're in a great mood... don't read it if you don't want your mood to drop... and if you're already in a crap-mood... well, I don't think you're going to be happier... Here goes...

Love is an over used word.

You can love a person, true enough, you can love a pet also... you can also love Stacy's new bag, or Jack's new ride. Also, the weather, that cake you had at the restaurant your family loves, and what your hair is currently deciding it wants to do.

Do you really love these things? Probably not, you just really like them... though, for lack of a better word, you love them. It used to be that you would only say that you loved a person.... and even then, you said it and you meant it.

As I think about the people in my house, there are four who live there currently, I say 'i love you' to two of them. And it's true, I love my parents. It doesn't, mean, however, that I don't love my sister. I just don't say the words. I don't know why, I think I used to, but I don't anymore... And my friend, Sir, who lives at my house says he loves me - I think it's the love best friends have, that he reminds me he has for me, if it's not, I'm oblivious... but my response to him nine out of ten times is 'I know', the other percentage is online, where I just respond with a smiley face. I friend-love him, too, but I don't say it....

Why? Because I think the word has been cheapened over the years...

And as the months get colder, and I hear the word love thrown around, all I can think about is how I am alone. How I have all kinds of family-love and friend-love to go around, but when I wake up at four:fifty-seven, that sentiment from home won't wrap it's arms around me and ask me if I'm okay and continue to keep me warm at night.

I just want to be held, I think, and to have my own guy to say 'i love you' to... that's it...

Whoa....

So... updates... This will probably wind up being a short bulleted list of what's on my mind... In fact, let's start with college...

College is happening at a rapid speed and I'm not so sure I enjoy the pace at which the professors are throwing knowledge at us.

I think I'm becoming a depressed person again.

No, I don't want to talk about it.

Yes, I'm sure.

I foresee myself going home on the weekends more often than not to escape this place.

My friends are more helpful than they know.

^_6;;

Success.

So, I managed to get Mr. Sir out of my mind. Yay me. It wasn't that difficult, I just had to open my eyes and look down the hall. Oh, hello there other Sir. What have we here?

I'll tell you what we've got: Opportunity.

So now what I've got going on in my life is a kind of romantic comedy going on, if it were a movie. Now, viewers, sit back and enjoy the ride, because the protagonist has just met a possibility. The guy you go 'oh look! Not a douchebag!' So, good for him.

Anyway, we just met... and school is ending. And now I'm going home. This romantic movie has its twists now. Oh dear. Ah well. Next year, the possibilities are endless. However, I'm focussed now on the summer... Because for the past several months the sun and the bright green grass and the constant sleeping until noon is what I've been craving.

Also - I'm pretty sure I need to desperately clean my room at home. Plus, I've got a whole mess of junk from the dorm room that needs to find a home in my actual home... so.... it'll be an adventure.... The time fast-forward, with the musical montage of clips of time passing, if we continue with the movie theme, I guess.

I wonder how it will end.... This is very exciting! Stay tuned!

^_6;; Jereality

I Swear These Are Going To Stop Being About This Soon....

The past couple [amount of time since I have last posted J] have been very, oh, what’s the word I’m looking for… productive? No, that’s not the word… Interesting? That’s not the word I really want either, but I suppose both of them describe together the amount of time since the post below up until now.

The guy I was talking about – he and I got all that nonsense squared away…. I reread the post, all of it still applies and all of that still bothers me so much. The desperation, teen drama movie it all sounds like… I don’t appreciate it. Anyway, the two of us spoke, and I would up looking like a babbling brook – thinking back, we did look as if the situation could have been on a movie screen. It makes me wonder if that happens to anyone else…

So, the babbling brook thing – after the water works started, he did what he would normally do if someone he knew was sad, I guess, and went for a hug. And for some reason, the second I felt his arms on my back I kind of shrank… He didn’t even get a real hug on me, it was just the beginnings of a hug, where his arm had just barely touched me… He backed off like he had been burned.

At the time, I had felt so small – vulnerable – because when he waits for you to speak, he stares right at you. Not because he wants you to speak, but because it’s polite to look someone in the eye when they speak. [On a side note, I totally love that – when people look other people in the eye when they speak…. Respect is amazing] But when I’m sitting there on the edge of his bed, my arms wrapped around my legs, looking – searching – out the window for anything to help me find the words I wanted, while his eyes were on me… It’s a high pressure situation… because I am scared of being honest with someone I care so much about in a room so quiet and in such close proximity – of both physical distance and my heart breaking….

After I was finished speaking – my eyes dripping stupid emotions [which caused him to go and scour his house for tissues for me…. again] while I had been speaking – I was silent for a while… And then it was his turn. He said everything I already knew and didn’t want to hear, but there is always hope for the future. We were both silent then, and then there was a hug – the hug that he told himself he wouldn’t give me, and the hug I told myself I wouldn’t cry over as he gave it to me. Obviously, both were done.

The tears from the hug shocked me – I had already taken my deep breaths, and looked out the window, shaken everything off and put into place what he had said. I thought I had everything under control, and put him off the “shelf”… but as soon as he hugged me – tears. Obnoxious, stupid girl emotions. Big baby….

Eventually, when I left, he walked me to the door and we both agreed that we would try a hug again – sans tears. A success. Then, we said our goodbyes, and I went on my way to Onyx’s house…

I’m sure if I could fast forward through all of my silence in that room, I only spoke for about fifteen minutes. I was there for about an hour and a half. But because of that time, that night – for the first time since January – I didn’t think about any sort of rendezvous we had had, and just fell asleep. It wasn’t even a dreamless sleep, it was just a great night’s sleep. I woke up refreshed and happy… It was good.

He said not to wait for him, because he knew that I would. That’s where he’s wrong. I won’t wait for him. True, I will always care for him – but I’m not going to stop living because his life currently is focused elsewhere. I’m not going to be waiting around – I hate waiting… Besides, I managed to push him out of my romantic sights before, I can do it again.

^_6;; Jereality

I Never Thought I'd Be One Of These People

So, life is a pretty confusing thing... As soon as you think you know what's what and you are finally happy with what 'what' is 'what' changes all over again into something. And something is completely different from what.

I thought I had a couple things figured out, I'm not going to go into great detail with them, because I would bore myself to tears, and I don't even want to wish something like that on you...

I lied.

Several years ago there was a boy - isn't there always, though? - and I liked this boy, and this boy liked me... and things seemed like they would work out great... Until my best friend said, Jereality, open your eyes really quick, Boy also likes other girl. And that's when I said to myself, 'Self... you shall never try care for anyone ever again.'

Two years pass. I meet another boy. I like this boy and unbeknownst to me, he liked me as well. In the land of magic, he asked me to be his girlfriend. I accepted. Another friend of mine said, hey, Jereality, open your eyes really quick... This other girl likes your boyfriend... I saw her talking to him... And then I became wary.

This relationship lasted through the rest of the school year and the summer. Then I ended the relationship. I didn't think I was ready to pursue anything... At least, not with my heart all boarded up like it was. I soon left the state on vacation... and came back to find boy and girl who liked boy now in a relationship. Wonderful.

More years go by. Meanwhile, I still harbor feelings for boy who caused me to grab nails and timber for my metaphorical heart. Sure, crushes go by and other unattainable side glances wander along - and I continue to float through life single. Not that that's a problem. Until for some odd reason I start talking to boy 1 again.

I don't know what started the conversation, or when... or who initiated - probably me, late at night, under the influence of fatigue or some hyper active sugar high. We spoke for a while, reminiscing about the times we had back in high school. He had wondered what cut our friendship off there. I still haven't told him. He says the nicest things, though...

He's broken. Several times over. He doesn't know that he's the reason I've never been able to be broken. Except now... now that we are seeing more of each other, I fear the weathering of whatever friendship-relationship we've got going on is causing the timbers around my heart to shrink and the nails to move.

'We're friends' he says. I know, I say. 'Do you?' he says.

I am a liar, though - the best liar I know. I can even lie to myself. 'You don't like him. You couldn't possibly like him. You still know he's chasing after the girl from before, right? You've seen them together... You know they're still friends.' I know the last half of that to be true. They are still friends. And why shouldn't they be? I want to know why, though, when I come back into the picture so does she... or is it vice versa?

And when I take a step back from my life, and look at what I'm doing... I'm pining once again over someone I can not have. If I force the relationship, it won't turn out well for either of us. I make myself sick with the thoughts I have, those nauseating 'maybe he'll come around' type of things. No, he won't. Just move on. I wonder if everyone in this situation sees both sides of this, or just the one...

Friends? Friends with benefits? Boyfriend and Girlfriend?

If I'm the first one, I'll be happy to see him. If I'm the second one I'll be... disappointed in myself, I think. And for some reason, I doubt we will ever escalade passed friendship.

I'd like to say 'stupid boy, who needs him...' but the nauseating thoughts come back, and I think 'I want him...'

And here we go again.

I Will Be As Harsh As Truth And As Uncompromising As Justice

I would very much like to be viewed as an adult by my parents. I don't know why they feel the need to treat me as if I'm a four year old in the big, bustling world. I'm not two feet tall, alone in the mall. I don't need my hand held when I cross the street. Don't leave my door open a crack with the light on in the hallway - I don't even need you to check if there are monsters in the closet or under my bed. Why? Because I'm an adult.

Dear Parents,

You taught me many things growing up - things I am very grateful for, believe me. You taught me to be good, so as I grew up, I tried my best to be good. I didn't stare at people, I wasn't loud in restaurants, I didn't talk back often - and when I did, I knew what I did was wrong and apologized. I was polite to people, and never spoke to strangers. You taught me how to tie my shoes. You taught me how to ride a bike. You taught me my phone number and how to write my name on all of my school supplies (just in case). Importantly, "Yes" and "No". You taught me so many things, and through the years I grew up.

Growing up I learned that not talking to people, and not looking around has made me slightly paranoid. This makes friendships hard to gain and maintain.

I've learned that, despite my being the daughter, Mother, I've become your therapist. It was my role in my group of friends, I took it well, but when you turned to me and began showing me your weaknesses, began to chip away at the pillar that labeled you my Mother, and formed it into one that simply read 'Friend' - our relationship changed. Of course you are still my Mother, and I do love you - but I am not six years old anymore, and I don't know how I can look up to someone who has to look down for advice. Dad, you just make me sad. How many times do you have to ask 'how are you' and get the response 'I'm fine' before realizing that I'm not really fine?

I've learned that everyone around me had a different curfew. This bothered me at a young age because I have always had some sort of affinity for the night. I just like to be awake. You made me go to bed. I would know that most of my friends would be awake for another hour or two, because no ten year old when to bed at nine o'clock. Now that I am twenty, my curfew hasn't been dropped completely, like it should have been - it has just been altered a few hours. Now, I must be home by midnight. I am not Cinderella. I am always safe - you taught me this.

Now, because of this curfew, you have me being bad. For the first time in twenty years I am not following your rules. You figure I will be home by midnight, but I won't be. I will probably be home by two. What time do my other friends get home by? My other adult friends? They safely get home when the gathering is over. I feel with the skills you have taught me growing up, I have learned to be safe, I have learned "yes" and I have learned "no." I feel those three things are the most important things you have taught me. Which is why I don't understand why I can't stay over someone's house if a large group of us are going to be there. If that someone is male, why can't I stay over if there are going to be other females over? Furthermore - why don't you trust me enough to take care of myself?

I remember - it's because you don't listen to me when I talk to you. Don't try to deny it, you've told me those words yourself. Of course, you could say you don't remember saying them - it doesn't matter though, I will always remember. Just like tonight, when you said that the trust between you and I was wearing thin... You said earlier to make the best decision - the best decision was to stay. I'm sorry.

I'm just going to stay at school unless I have to come home, I guess - if I disappoint you that much. I'm sorry I wasn't planned, I'm sorry I don't get the best grades, I'm sorry you can't trust me now. I'm sorry I've become a disaster child. I hope that what you wanted to hear.

With love,

;;Jereality

Enter the Haggis;; aka - THE BEST WEEKEND OF MY LIFE! [Friday]

And you think I'm exaggerating...? Oh, well, I'm not. I had the best weekend of my life that I can remember. I don't remember my heart stopping so many times in such a short few days, or clapping, 'Woo'-ing, and screaming so much... Also, I just about melted to the floor eighteen billion times... Oh, and I cried once. But don't tell anyone... Or I'll have to hurt you. I'd do it. I will... Okay, maybe I'm kidding, but really, let me tell you why it was so incredibly amazing!

Also, I know it's been a while, and I'm kind of sorry about that... College is very busy and I left you all at some very bizarre posts, so... woops;; ^_6

Friday, September 18^th Two-thousand and Nine
I woke up at ten something, and went to class only to find that "Eco is canceled." So, I practically teleported back to my dorm room and found that Liz (who is my room mate this year, also) had to take a shower - she had every intention of being finished packing and such by the time my class was finished. However, since the class was canceled, well, her plans were foiled! So, I waited around, humming so many random Enter the Haggis songs, all excited to just leave the room. I picked up my bags, put them down again, paced the room, did stuff on my computer (mainly Facebook nonsense) until she was finished, and by then, I was singing the song at the end of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, when all of the Who's down in Whoville welcome Christmas... So, I was all hopped up on excitement and maybe sugar - I maybe had some PEZ and Pixie Stix while she was gone, maybe... After getting the neighbors to watch my betta fish, Keiran, we set off on a whirlwind adventure to find my car in the parking lot!

And then we drove from the far, lower east side of Pennsylvania all the way up to Saratoga! And we only stopped once for gas, which is awesome, because I didn't really want to stop... Oh! Sad news, the thing that I plug into the cigarette lighter thing in the car to put my iPod in to play music... my iTrip, or what you call it - didn't work! It died! In my hands! It died! It wasn't even all that old, I just got it for Christmas about three years ago. I mean, I use it all the time, so I guess it finally threw in the towel. So, it was sad. Liz and I wound up getting our Haggis fix in the car, though - we had iPods, and headphones. Don't be alarmed, fellow drivers of the road! I had the right earbud and Liz had the left, and she held and played with the songs on the iPod, I just drove and sang along like a good driver - paying attention to the road and the GPS, I have a side story about her name later, it's mildly entertaining, but not pertinent to my amazing weekend! I think I'm going to dub it my unbirthday, because it was just that amazing...

Anywhoozle, we got to Saratoga in a little under 4 and a half / five hours and walked into the fairegrounds of Saratoga and got our map, and our hands stamped with little 'I2K's, because that's what it was: Irish 2000. Awesome, right? I know!(Look, my hand! Yeah, that's a ring on my left ring finger.... No, I'm not married... what of it?) So, Liz and I walked in and it wasn't long before I saw purple hair, and a pirate hat, and a shirt with Trevor Lewington's face on it that said 'More Vibraslap' and I pointed, because that's what I do, and I went "Fia!" Granted, she was on her phone, so Liz and I just walked up to her and waited until she was off to speak with her - which didn't take long, because we're awesome, and she wanted to speak with us.

Now, I know what you're thinking. 'Jereality, how do you know this Fia person? I have never heard you mention her before ever.... Also... isn't Haggis sheep stomach? Why would I want to go into that? That doesn't sound like a good time at all... I think you're opinions are skewed!' That's where I have to stop you, because you're asking too many questions. Okay, I know Fia and a whole bunch of other Haggis Heads - that's what we call ourselves.... - from the Enter the Haggis (ETH) ChatRoll that is online while they stream their concerts. Oh, by the way, ETH streams their gigs live, so those of us who are far away and can't go see them in person can still see their show. How amazing is that?! I'll tell you, really amazing. Really super amazing! I have lots of friends there, and I think I met, well, I met a bunch of them. I really can't remember all of them.

Back to the story --

So, I pointed, Fia, phone call, waited... and then we introduced ourselves - and it wasn't difficult to figure out who were were. I mean, I use this name on the ETH chatroll, and I have them call me by my real name and it's got my picture on it (yes, I know, of my face... Paranoia, I know... weird, right?) and Liz uses her name and also has a picture, so we were pretty noticeable... Also we were excited 'and were all "Heeyyyyy!!" ' So, I'm pretty sure they figured us out very easily. Then if they didn't we introduced ourselves, I think handshakes were involved, I'm not quite sure... So, after Fia introduced me to her sister and a fellow who goes by Whip, and Jenthetrainer (all friends on the chat) I grew even more excited. Not only were the guys from Enter the Haggis in the same vicinity as we were, but we were meeting our online friends too... I was ecstatic.

So, we got the names of everyone around us and then we decided to go toward the main tent, passing other little kiosk-y tents with food, and awesome knick-knacks and other brick-a-brack that is totally awesome. So, for some reason, we stopped about forty feet from the main tent where the music was coming from, and I had a cookie from an ETH chatroll friend who goes by IrishSmurf, which was delicious... and then all of a sudden, walking like a normal person is Trevor Lewington (guitar and vocals)... just walking along from the music tent. And I swear to you that my heart stopped, and my breath was gone, and I put my hand on Liz's shoulder, and I caught Trevor's eye for maybe four seconds and I think I'm lucky to be alive because I don't know if you can survive without a heartbeat or breath for that long. So, Trevor walked away, and I think he may have laughed at us... which is a huge possibility, because lets face it, he's probably used to it. Fia just stared at us, and smiled... Fia is friends with the band... Which means I'm jealous. However, that does not mean she and I cannot be friends - by the end of the post, we are friends... I just gave away some of the story, I'm sorry.

So, we stood there for a while longer, and Trevor walked back to the tent, and Liz and I almost died again. Here, you should already be aware that as far as we are concerned, these guys are 'famous' people, and they were just walking around, all willy-nilly... It was so amazing. After our hearts continued to beat, Fia needed more refreshments, so we went to the Beer Tent, losing some people in the process. While Fia and her sister went into the tent, Whip, Liz and I were forced to wait outside because, unfortunately, we're underage. We spoke instead, about how Whip did not look like he was 17, but that he look 20, and then we moved to how we liked the bags that were being sold in the booth shop across from the Beer tent. Though, when Fia and her sister came out, we were all bitter looking 'cause they came out with delicious looking drinks. I did, though, double-dog dare Liz to go in... she did take a couple steps in, and then came right out.... She had to, I double-dog dared her. That's how we roll.

Then we moved back to the white tent with the music and saw Mark Abraham (bass player) talking to some Haggis Heads, and I was like 'Oh my gosh.... this is going to be the best day ever!' Little did I know, it would wind up being the whole weekend; :) ... Anyway... The group moved into the tent a ways, and Liz and I met up with her Aunt where we spoke for a little bit about my driving the next day up to Saranac Lake for the next Enter the Haggis show. I assured her that I was totally capable, and then all of a sudden, I remembered that I had to call my dad - so, I did. After I hung up with him, I rejoined with Liz and then we lost Fia. So... we sort of wandered for a little bit. [All of this reading, and the band didn't even start yet! Phew! You're awesome!]

I saw Craig Downie (bagpipes and founder for/of Enter the Haggis) talking with a couple Haggis Heads, and told Liz... we freaked out for a few moments. Then we meandered through the fairegrounds and looked at the people - well, I did... because people watching is one of my most favorite hobbies. We passed the Beer Tent, honestly, I had hoped to find Fia there.... because I felt really lost... I liked having sort of my own tour guide, like my own leader of the festival, is was 'totes awesome'. However, I did not find Fia at the Beer Tent, so Liz and I hung left and then found Jenthetrainer, and stayed with her for a little bit. She was speaking with a guy about the Great American Irish Festival's Golf Tournament ( I know, I didn't post about GAIF, I really do apologize... I did get busy... but just pretend I did, and said 'awesome' a whole bunch... Because I would have... I would have been introducing the same people, I promise.) So, she was speaking with that guy, and Liz and I were sort of standing around, looking for Fia... and then we found out she went with her sister and Whip to go and buy a Bodhrán.... We nodded, and were like 'oh, that's cool', because it was - I kind of want one... Anyway, we walked with Jen for a while, in fact, we walked all the way up to the Beer Tent with her, got a little bit bitter because we couldn't go in, and then decided to leave her and find Fia.

So, we turned around, and walked back in the direction we came, passed some neat little shops, passed two alpacas - it reminded me of my vacation to Vermont (Marlee Farm Alpacas), were I went to an alpaca farm and got a blanket and some fingerless mittens - and then we made a left and I pointed to Fia again, because lo and behold, there she was! I had found her again! I have some sort of Fia Tracker... or something, it's scary. Anyway, we reunited and Liz and I were shown the nifty drum Fia bought. She said she bought the drum from an attractive ginger man in a kilt. Oh, the things I retain... Later, I saw said ginger-man.... I had to agree, Fia has good taste so far.

So, instruments(Fia's sister bought a penny whistle) in hand, Liz and I followed Fia, her sister and Whip to Whip's car which they call the Box and placed the newly purchased noise makers in the vehicle. Then, talk of Moxie was brought up. I had no idea what Moxie was, so I wanted one. I popped one open, and shared a sip or two with Liz. Turns out I like Moxie... it tastes like ginger snaps... and those are delicious...

Once that was done, we turned around, and began to walk the festival, Whip and I drinking our respective moxie's while random conversations flowed. I vaguely remember saying something to Liz... It was so funny, that's too bad - I'm sure you all would have enjoyed it, I'm sorry. Once the moxie's were gone, and properly thrown away, we reentered the grounds and (after brief confusion by the main gate, deciding which side - left or right - was best to go through, we made it all the way in) saw a huge sand castle! Fia said she wanted to stomp it... I said she was the destroyer of hopes... OH! And by this time, we were with another Haggis Head named Kelly! I don't have any links for you... so, just imagine something lovely. As we continued, we spoke of our childhood sand castles... and how either they were bucket shaped castles, or the buckets that were shaped like castles.... And how it wasn't very imaginative... Then I said how I made my bucket castle, and I made my moat around my bucket castle, and all my imaginary bucket people were very happy in their bucket castle... with the stick in the top for a flag. Good times, child hood. Good times.

Then we meandered a bit and wound up at the Beer Tent, but this time, oh, this time I would not be thwarted and pushed aside like some underage pre-teen! Oh no. I just walked right in, just like I owned the place. Was I asked to leave? No. Why? Because I have confidence in sunshine, I have confidence in rain... I have confidence that spring will come again - Besides which you see I have confidence in me So, Liz and I stood in line with our little group sans Whip 'cause he had a call to make, and then got out of the way a bit until we saw DAG.... Did I mention DAG yet? No? I guess not... I think this was probably the second time I met him at the fest, the first time was all mushed in with a whole bunch of people from the ETH Chatroll. He calls himself Dag for short, but his full online name is Dagnabit - which is totally awesome. And also, also! I speak to his wife online at the ETH Chatroll thing, too! Her name is Brenny, she's so nice! Anyway, when the beers were received our group sort of moved to the center of the Beer Tent and conversed.

Eventually, Fia and Dag got to talking about exchanging phone numbers - apparently, Dag isn't the best texter, either - he said he starts a text in the beginning of the day and finishes it by the end of the day, so silly. So, mildly drunk, I'm assuming, Dag is trying to remember his cell phone number and as soon as he has what could possibly be it, he says "Oh wait, that's my wife's... mine's....oh wait... um..." It was hysterical! It went on like that for like, ten minutes! It was so funny! Then we decided something, I don't know, I was just suddenly worried about crowds and the stage so I missed a few things, but it was okay, because that's where we decided to go next!

Oh. My Gosh! When we got to the stage the crowds had already started, the guys were on stage and I swore I was going to wee. I told Liz, I said "Liz, I'm going to wee". S'what I said, I did. So, Liz, Fia and I pushed our way into the crowd, Liz saw her aunt, and we pushed ourselves in furthers and we wound up almost in front of Craig Downie (the bagpiper... from before... founded the band, remember?) Anyway, I was in front of Craig, about ten feet from stage, loving life. In fact, Craig has the first two pictures on my camera. (I'd put some up, however, my camera doesn't have a 'view pictures' button, so I can't upload anything... ]: )

So, I don't remember the set list for the first night, because I don't have a picture of it that I can see, but I do know that they started with Litter and the Leaves and then the rest of the songs are a blur of amazing... I jumped and I shouted, and I punched my fist in the air, and I counted the four a whole bunch of times, and bounced my foot in time with the music... And somewhere during the middle of the set, a guy in a red north-face fleecy looking jacket weaved his way in front of Fia and I and these two other girls who were in front of us, and we all sort of looked at each other and were like 'really?' And wouldn't you know it, this D-Bag eeked out some of the foulest smelling gases.... Oh! It was during Fiddle Set! and Brian Buchanan (he plays the fiddle and the piano... you may notice him as the one with the red/orange hair) looked over in my direction because Fia was standing next to me laughing hysterically - because let's face it... the guy in front of us, it was funny... And Brian does this thing with his eye brows that is totally awesome - Anyway, he looked over in our direction, and flicked his eyebrow up. So, we sober up pretty quick because you know what that means, don't you? That means Brian heard Fia laughing... Woopsies.....

So, then, the rest of the concert commenced and was absolutely amazing. At the one part of The Ghosts of Calico (which was my first favorite song on the CD), there's a lyric that goes ; "So take my last breath quickly/take it in my sleep/take it while I'm dreaming of a life in San Martin/'Cause everyone I know now is a dusty memory/I can hear the wolves delivering my eulogy." And at the point, a whole bunch of the ETH ChatRoll people, we all howled... It was awesome.

But for some odd reason, the venue was rushing through the acts, so the guys didn't get to do an encore or anything. In fact, I learned later that the stage crew was breaking down while they were singing Gasoline.... Insane, right?

After that, the guys left the stage, Brian spoke about his birthday trip to Ireland that I'm going to try to persuade my parental units to let me attend. However, my side of the battle is looking a little bit shaky... Regardless, you're here to read about the festival... So, let's continue.

Then our little ChatRoll group conversed some before Fia was like "there's Brian." And I almost died. That's right, almost died! She then led the way right to him, pirate hat bouncing away (because she's that awesome, she can wear a pirate hat...also, Saturday was Talk Like A Pirate Day)... And she walked right up to him and said 'I'm sorry for laughing so loud in the middle of Fiddle Set' and Brian just stared at her and was like 'What?' .... So, it turned out, he was just making a face earlier... he hadn't heard... Now we had to explain.. So.... we did;; ^_6.... and there was much laughter. And then Fia introduced us, and I said "Hello, I'm Jereality," and he smiled real big and held out his hand and my heart stopped and I fell to the ground!

I'm kidding.

Fia introduced us, and I said "Hello, I'm Jereality," and he smiled real big and held out his hand and my heart stopped, and I smiled real big and he said "hey Jereality," and then he moved on to meet Liz, and whoever else we were near I wasn't too sure because I just shook Brian Buchanan's hand and nothing else really matters...

-insert big fangirl sigh here;; however, after some events, I have calmed down... such events will be explained in the next post-

And then Brian said, "let's move to the light," so, we did! And we followed him toward the Merchandise Tent! Which it really just the side of the performance tent... so.... Yeah. And then in the clamor and clutter of people and bodies, all of a sudden, Liz stopped in front of me, and a guy to my left directly next to me turned around and my heart stopped again, and my breath was gone as Trevor Lewington (guitar and vocals) both exchanged brief stunned glances. Obviously neither of us had expected a person in our paths... And I had not expected Trevor.... In my stunned silence I could barely hear Liz introduce herself quickly to Trevor all by herself (I'm so proud!), and then we were all shooed from the Merch' Tent, because none of us worked there... That wasn't cool though, 'cause Brian told us to go there, and then Trevor told us all we had to leave (very politely, mind you...)

Not a problem, because as we were moving from the tables where all the Enter The Haggis stuff on it, we saw Mark Abraham (bass and vocals). Fia introduced us to him, and oh my gosh, I thought he was going to squeeze my hand off. Mark has a death grip hand shake. I'm sure it's because of the bass player-ness, but still, pulsing hand afterward... No matter... He was so nice! And then, after Mark left to go and greet more fans, our group meandered into the field a little bit, looked at the stars, recounted the story of the guy who eeked foul gases... However, it just so happened that guy was standing behind Fia as she told the story... I tried to get her attention before she told it, but she has the punch line came and the laughter, well... Then the guy left... After that, Dag wore Fia's pirate hat, pictures were taken, some stories were passed.... and then we got to meet James Campbell (drums). Shook his hand, I don't remember what we spoke about, I just remember that he laughed - he has the most awesome laugh! And he's always laughing! He must be the happiest person alive, I think... OH! It was so cold, and he was in shorts... I mean, I know he just rocked out and he was crazy awesome, but it was like... cold. Then he left to go do things.. He said he'd be right back... but Liz and I had plans...

So, Liz and I went to the Merch table and I bought a shirt with the band's Stick People on it... and then I put it on right over my clothes... and then I met Craig Downie! And when I shook his hand, he looked at me all concerned, and said 'you've got such cold hands, wee lass!' and then he took his other hand and warmed 'Righty' (my shaking hand), while I just said 'yeah, I get cold easy'. Stupid... And then I got pictures!

And life was good! My very last picture of Friday evening was with Brian Buchanan. First, we got into the normal 'this is the fan picture pose' and then I held up my 'Rock-and-Roll' fingers, you know... Like I always do for my pictures.... And out of the corner of my eyes, I see bright red hair turn and look down, I hear the softest chuckle.... and I'm almost positive my 'I-don't-want-to-take-pictures-with-fans-anymore-I'm-tired' smile turned into a 'this-girl-is-silly' laugh at me, smile....

So.... It was sort of totally amazing... Of course, my smile in that picture is gigantic.... after that, Brian left, and we stayed and listened to a few more bands....

Somewhere between James and pictures with Brian, Fia disappeared.... After a very long time, speaking with totally amazing people and listening to the rest of the other bands, Liz and I decided it was our time to go. So, saying good bye to those that were around and trying to get a picture that took about eight tries to get before we moved to the area where only the shots of the grass were being taken.... What? We tried to take a picture. It didn't work. Whenever the camera was moved, it took a picture of grass to our left. Liz suggested we go toward that left direction, where the grass was... the place where the camera was taking pictures, and try to take the picture there.... Sure enough, it worked - weird, right?

After all of that fun, we walked out of the tent and ran into Fia, where I tried a Hot Beef Sundae (It's roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy in a cup - don't worry).. It was delicious... that's when I remembered that was the only thing I had eaten all day. Woops. We got to talking for a while, the evening wound down with Liz and I having a place to crash for the night on Saturday, rather than driving all the way back home (NY to PA)... which she didn't like either... Everyone we told always made the same face.

And then we left, ad drove back to Liz's 'Camp' where we stayed up until two-ish, squealing over pictures... Turns out her Aunt's camera has the same memory card as mine, so I got to see my pictures... They turned out well, not a one is blurred - I'm pleased. Then I took a picture of the one with Brian and I with my phone, sent it to facebook and now it's my facebook profile picture... Funny world, isn't it?

Oh, anyway - that about sums it up for Friday.... Tune in readers, for Saturday, September 19^th 2009, when Enter the Haggis plays in an Old Folks Home... True story... totally awesome!

ROCK ON!
^_6;; Jereality