This weekend was fun with a touch of bittersweet in it to bring you back to a bit of reality. Santarchy DC was a great time! A much needed weekend to get my mind off of other things. My friends Rebecca, Amy, and Scratch all went to Santarchy in DC to play in the streets of DC and bring the Spirit of a wacky Holiday Season to all who saw the Santas. Rebecca, Amy and I headed down to DC in our festive wear and were asked if we were in a play several times...:) As we got toward Metro Center there were a few more Santas and they were happy to see us. When we headed out of the Metro toward the museum of Natural History you could see all the 200 + Santas on the steps of the museum. We were greeted by cheers of "Hello Santa!" by all those on the steps. Once we crossed the street we were in a sea of red and white. It was crazy. From Santas of all sorts, from elves (good and very bad) to reindeer, christmas trees, presents, steam punk windup toys, dolls, and even a beautiful snow queen! You name it it was there. We headed over to the Merry-Go-Round in the park across the street as this is an annual Santa tradition. Shouts of Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday's, and caroling as well as excited kids and families reacting to all the Santas was heard through out the crowd. We passed out candy, some passed out mini bottles of booze to the adults and other fine things as gifts from "Santa" and his helpers. From the carosel we headed to the National Monument. Traffic was stopped, Santa's handed out candy to those who were waiting for all Santas and friend to cross. One Santa even boarded a bus and "Caned" the bus...:) At the monument, several santas locked arms and charged the monument. Carols were sung and a circle around the Monument was created by all involved. Next was the huge DC Christmas Tree near Santa's workshop. Scratch aka Rudy Toot Toot, being a music teacher, brought his pocket trumpet and played many songs. He started playing to a very small group of Santas who were singing along and within minutes more and more Santas joined in. A huge chorus of several songs were heard til all Santas's and friends were singing. Then we decided to visit the White House. We needed to say "Buh-Bye"to GW and Scratch started playing Nah nah nah nah, Hey Hey Hey, Good-bye getting the Santas to sing once again. Lots of photos were taken by participants as well as the public. It even SNOWED in DC. A Rare occurance for Santarchy DC so we did well...:) We ended up at Archibald's strip club for about an hour and then Amy, Rebecca and I had to head home. Luckily we did because the roads were really icy and lots of accidents happened along the way slowing us down. :P What a fun time! I was so wiped out. We started at 1 and ended up at Archibald's Strip Club at 3:30 so that's a lot of walking around and working to stay warm. I slept like a baby!

Images are here: flickr.com/photos/21943...603488866048/ and hopefully you can get in to see them...:)

Yesterday, I went to Spoutwood Farm to help Rob and Lucy bury beautiful Shadow, their border collie. I felt a very strong urge to be there to help them with this. I am so glad I went because the love and care that went into that burial was just amazing. Lucy had chosen several different herbs and branches that represented Shadow's spirit to put into her resting place. We went around pruning them and each had a meaning to them. Rob had dug her space and Lucy and I made a bed of maple leaves for her. She was gently laid on the bed of leaves and we each placed in an item one at a time reflecting on what each aspect meant. Shadow was a wonderful dog and her spirit is truly blessed having been with Rob and Lucy. We placed daffodil bulbs that had been dug up in the space and so by spring we will see them on her grave. A bit of joy and knowing that when we see them Shadow's spirit will be running around blessing the festival grounds ready for Fairie Festival 2009. I am on the Music Committee for FF 2009 and will be at a meeting on Sunday to help choose the many performers that have applied to be there. I am looking forward to changing up duties for sure. I love music and what it brings to my life. In a way this may be giving back in several ways to what it has brought to me from the time I was a kid til now.

After being at Spoutwood I went to Frederick's Drum Circle at the Center of the Four Wind's Studio on Caroll Street. The space is run by Rose Sincevich and her kids are all in Shakespeare with Kayley. Wonderful energy and even though the space was small I was still able to hoop a little. So that was a good end to my weekend.

Now on to another week. I have 15 days until I head to Texas. I hope it is warm....:)

Ok now let's see if I can get back into my computer at work - it's been a bear all morning trying to get in...not so cool when I need to get stuff done!!! Grrr...

Peace!