October 19, 2007 - Friday

ll my friends were either in school today (many go to a college of the arts) or at a job I couldn't hang out at, so I had the island to explore by myself today. I misjudged on how far it was from the house I was staying to the main 'city' center of where I was walking to. I had an errand of going to the mail to post something for someone and to meet Duane and maybe Tess for hot cocoa at a wonderful organic chocolate place. It was pouring! I took one of the many trails to the cove and discovered a wonderful waterfall and fish ladder. With all the rains the rush of the water was deafening. To tell you how much it had rained, it was filling my pickup bed to the rim almost every 2 days. However, it still didn't do a thing for getting rid of the skunk stench from the truck. How many weeks ago was the skunk episode?

Cocoa West is not a store, it is not a restraunt... it is just wonderful whatever it is. However, I thought I was late and I sprinted up the hill and stairway to the meeting spot. I did stop halfway to take a couple pictures back into the cove and of the mountains which started to get covered with snow (and catch my breath). I was somewhat worried about my traveling home and this snow guaranteed that I was taking the canyon route north. 

I have not run up a hillside for a long time. When I got to where I was going, I found out I was 20 minutes ahead and my face was as red as a lobster. The organic Mexican hot cocoa was blissful. 

Sopping wet by the time I got back to where I was staying, I was well exercised. I took a nap after I got dry clothing on, as the Kitchen Junket was tonight. I was warned that these start at 9-10 pm and can go until the wee hours of the morning. 

 










A Kitchen Junket is where many musicians, singers, storytellers, poets and the like all squash into someone's livingroom and/or kitchen and do whatever it is that they do. Bob did ask me if I did anything and sadly I said I lacked talent, but he reassured me that it was doubtful... that I surely had some somewhere, I was not pressed to perform anything, which is just as well as many of these people are professionals. This was a large junket and they were amazed by the large turnout. There were probably at least 40 adults and 2 wee children at this thing. The picture shown here, really doesn't do the junket justice. There were bodhrans, pennywhistles (I am guessing this is what they were), guitars, alot of mandolins, a wooden flute, a couple accordions and many other musical things. One younger guy must play every instrument in the world, as in the 4 hours I was there, I don't think he played the same instrument twice. There were alot of accapellas, sea chantys and there was one woman who 'became a coronet/trumpet', with just her hands and voice. I almost became brave enough to sing a song, but I failed. Maybe another time. I had alot of fun and it was so cool listening to so much talent just for the going. I did sing along with the songs that I knew and when everyone else was singing along. 

Ah.. yes.. there were readers as well. Sort of a cross between a poem and a short story, many of them had me laughing so hard my stomach muscles hurt. One of the readings was about "Do the Lake". On my 1st trip down, I did the lake trail, so I could envision each place and each hill she was talking about, but even in my one jaunt on it from before I could tell it was all too true. I was sorta laughing at her plight of sore muscles.. Karma was about to hit me in the bum.. literally.