Monday, July 20, 2009

Mommy-cation

I'm back! I mean, um, I've been back for a week now. I know I am just getting back in the action. I have an excuse, but that's a completely different post that I may or may not get to tonight. Ugh! Anyway, I went to Oregon way back (in blog time it seems like an eternity!) last weekend to attend a festival that I have been going to for 23 out of the last 24 years of my life. I also attended in my momma's womb, but I don't technically count that year in my stats!

My parents were (in dad's case still is) fun loving hippies who started going to this festival from its inception, 40 years ago. It is like a second home to me. I have lived in so many places that it has really been the one constant in my life. The place I would return to every year to see friends and family and pick up where we left off for 4 days before returning to the real world. Now I don't exactly think of myself as a hippie. Don't get me wrong, I would love to not shave my arm pits, wear tie dye and patchouli (I just threw up in my mouth) oil and live a carefree lifestyle. Wait, nope, I don't really dig any of that, so I just go every year to visit the magical place that this small town in Oregon has become for me over the years. The festival is called the Oregon Country Fair. It is a 3 day event with all handmade items, delicious food, wonderful music, entertaining acts and random $h*t that makes it one of the most endearing places to me. This is one of the many fanciful things you would see if you walked through the wooded loop where the OCF takes place.

The best part for me is seeing my friends and family. My sister's family recently moved up to Oregon from So. California and she and my niece came down for the day on Friday. We ate yummy food, got Meg's face painted, her hair braided and watched an acrobatic act with my friends. Of course, no visit to Oregon would be complete without a picture of my tie dye wearing, motorcycle riding, goatee sporting, tattooed teddy bear of a daddy. I miss him a lot and only get to see him a couple of times a year, so it was nice to spend some quality time without the distraction of crazy Natey!
I attend the OCF to work. Yeah, I know, it doesn't sound like much of a vacay now does it?? We work traffic crew and do 4 hour shifts each day parking cars in dusty mowed down hay fields. Well, that's what I USUALLY do when I go. Thankfully when you are preggers you get what we lovingly call "Fair Welfare" in which you get to sit your bloated self behind the traffic desk and answer the phone and radio shift supervisors when retards park their cars in the wrong place or lock their keys in the car with it still running (yes it happened). I met one of my best friends, Darcy, at the fair when we were 15 and we have been friends ever since. She and her boyfriend still had to work out in the dust bowl, but if you have to direct traffic for 4 hours you better look festive while doing it!
I didn't have computer access, but did manage to get some tweets out while I was there. And I wasn't kidding when I said I saw a man powered Hippopotamus go by. Can you see why this place is so much fun?? No, well you have to go to get it!
There are some really talented people out there in crafts I rarely think of, like metal work. There were so many metal sculptures placed around the fair this year, I only captured a few though.
There are all types of vendors there from handmade clothing, pottery, food (have I mention the food alone is worth going for??), jewelry, candles, blown glass pieces, artwork, etc. I could go on and on. One of the booths I remember seeing since I was a small child was a midwifery booth where they have info for natural births. My mom had both my brother and I without drugs and she inspired me to do it with Natey (and again with baby girl). At this booth they also paint pregnant bellies. No, that's not a typo. You tell them how far along you are and they paint a baby true to size for your gestation, with any design you want to go with it. It was one of the things I have been enamoured with since I can remember and I always said, if I were ever pregnant come fair time, I'd do it. Well, this year I was so stoked to go and get my baby girl painted on for the world to see. Since the moment I found out my due date was the day my mom (and grandpa) passed away I knew she had angels watching over her. I asked the woman to paint angel wings on my little girl to symbolize her guardian angels.
All was well...until the sky opened up and rain drenched everything on Sunday. It has only rained like that during the fair one other time in all the years I have been going . Thank God I was parked under the covered traffic desk with my fleece, a cozy blanket and my surrogate mommy Suzie to keep me warm during my shift. It didn't stop me from pouting since I felt like my rain cloud had followed me all the way from RI, but I survived.
Too bad I can't say the same for my shoes.... It was nice to see everyone and have some alone time, but I cried on Sunday because I missed my boys so much. Well, that and it was finally freakin sunny in RI and they were on their way to the beach without me. Six planes, 22 combined hours of flying, 3 nights sleeping in a tent, one rain storm and lots of good quality time with people I love later and I'm back in RI! Staye tuned for Natey's 25 month post and the recap of my sewing and balloon festival adventure.....if I ever get the time to finish them!

22 comments:

  1. I am so happy you are back! I've been watching your blog..nothing..nothing...so I am glad to see you!
    These pictures are amazing! I would love to do this sometime, it looks like a hoot!

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  2. WHat a fun placeto have a history!

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  3. I'm glad you had a great trip! I'm sure my friends, who live in Oregon, were at that festival! Loved all the pictures, especially the painted belly!

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  4. Oh wow, now that looks like it was a blast! I understand missing the boys, but you needed this time Im sure.

    Love and Prayers,

    Tim

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  5. Wow, that looks like such fun. Great pictures!

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  6. i totally blew you off about the man powered hippo, thing!! sorry about that...i believe you now!

    OH.MY.GOD!! i wanna go!!! but, i'd never wanna leave...i would love to be a hippie.

    your dad reminds me of cheech!!! friggin' awesome!!

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  7. It looks like fun. I'm a fool for any kind of festival. I love the painted belly!!!

    Oh, and I would love for you to send me the list of stuff to take to the hospital. I love any advice sent my way. Right now I just have the list the hospital gave me. Thanks!

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  8. Glad you're back! Looks like you had fun (even though you had to work). I love all the pics...especially the one with your painted belly! That is the coolest thing I've ever seen!

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  9. That was soo great that you got to spend time with your Dad and that looks like such a blast of a festival!!! ;)

    So glad to hear that you are doing well...being preggers suits you!!!

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  10. I'm so happy that you got to spend time with not only your sister but your Daddy too! He sounds like my kind of people.. Beard wearing, tatted up and all. :)

    LOVED looking at all the neat things you guys did.. WOW what a awesome place to visit.

    Your painted belly was the best part of the post. I love how she pained your sweet girl at the size she is now.. such talent!
    Glad you had a great time sweetie, you deserved it.

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  11. amberm821@yahoo.com

    Thanks again!

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  12. Wow girlie -- sounds like you had a great time! Love the painted belly, but I'll admit that it took me a few seconds to figure out what it was!

    I'm hoping that you end up blogging about Natey and his trip to the dentist since I know that is in Drew's near future! Welcome back to blog land :o)

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  13. Oh how cool is that?! Sounds like you had lots of fun! Love the painting the preggo belly, never heard of that but what a cute idea!

    You rock, girl. I hate sleeping in tent!

    ~ Nan

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  14. This is so something I would love going to - how fun! And I love that you had your belly painted.

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  15. Looks like a good time to me! You were right close to me. Well, yk, compared to where you USUALLY are.

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  16. oh yeah....that pic of your niece's face is BEAUTIFUL!

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What you talkin' bout Willis??