BlueGrass New Years Eve - Last of 07

The short version (for those who don't want to read a whole lot):
Friends and I got together at my place, I drove the whole kit and caboodle (so they could drink) out to Floyd VA where we enjoyed mexican food, bluegrass music, high energy clog-dancing and noise-makers at midnight.


yeah, we are like that.

The long version:

I asked folks what they wanted to do for new years & got replies ranging from utter silence to "I don't know - what do you want to do?" Well, the multitudes spoke (by not arguing with H and I's idea) and plans were put into action.

I made a reservation at a nice place for dinner. We planned to walk down the street to see the bluegrass band after. Then I somehow figured out how $$$ that restaurant was. No way could we enjoy ourselves spending that much on a night with other things on the agenda too. So the search was on. A restaurant where we could eat at 8:15 near the Floyd Country Store. Floyd is a town, right? It couldn't be that hard, right? It's new years eve fer cryin' out loud. Right?


The folks at the Floyd Country Store were kind enough to tell me the names of some places, which lead to some interesting phone calls. I called:

a restaurant that closes at 8;
a restaurant that isn't open but thurs-sun (even closed on new years!),
a coffeeshop (no food).
Nothing. nada, zilch. zippo. uh oh...

So then I called the natural foods store. they deal with food, maybe they have some idea. So I asked them for advice. They told me about a new mexican place. Mexican! Sounds great AND cheap. Now how do I call to make sure they are open?

Not listed in information. Not on the internet (tangent story as I discover how many Floyd County bloggers referenced this new place - woah - we should call it Blog County). Wait - the natural foods store said the mexican place (El Charro) is near Under the Sun Gallery. So I call the gallery....

It rings long enough for me to worry (it is 4:56 at this point). Finally a lady answers....and she goes down the hall to the restaurant and asks for me. Yes they are open! Yes we can eat there! Yes and Yes and Yes! All is set. I make the confirmation calls and get ready for the evening.

Well, folks start to gather at my place round about 6:30 pm, voices and beverages flowing through my home, infusing it with life. This is what I love. Being together with friends. Low impact, comfortable. We pile into the car and head out, 39 miles on windy roads. (On a side-note here, I was NOT drinking, as I was driving.)

I aimed for but missed one raccoon (kidding - I simply vowed to sacrifice the raccoon instead of the car when worried voices wondered), only had to pull over once for gas and once for a bathroom stop. The stars shone down brilliant and strong as we drove along, anticipating whatever Floyd would offer us.

In Floyd, I followed the directions carefully:
Turn left.
Park your car.
I smile. There is only one intersection in Floyd. Wonder how I'd do if I moved somewhere like this...

We park behind H's car and descend into the restaurant where she awaits us, full of the news that the restaurant is too new to serve alcohol so it's a teetotaling new years for her. Flask bearing friends create whiskey-doctored cokes and her sobriety abates. We feel silly and young. I smile as I look around the table at these people I have gotten to know. This is our first new years as friends, but that seems impossible. Haven't we been together forever? I am in love with us, with our lives, our potential.

The food arrives: simple, fresh and good. I have the Favorita: a burrito, an enchilada, fresh guacamole, crisp lettuce, tangy winter tomato it's just perfectly what I needed. Much more than I needed. A. has a vegetarian special that could feed three. The table slowly quiets, and salsa music fills our conversational gaps...chefs (or cooks or dishwashers) grin slyly through the kitchen window as they watch us eat. I wonder what they are wondering as I grin and eat. I realize I have been dancing in my seat, but I don't stop.

Bellies full, we pay and wander outward, up the stairs, wondering what the bluegrass experience will yield. Two door down we find it, light and sound expanding out the door, we enter and experience the Floyd Country Store.

Not to drag the story on too terribly much longer, we cast our inhibitions to the wind and danced with abandon, copying the simpler dancers, respecting the fantastic ones. We meet two lovely ladies from Culpeper who chose to spend their new years here as well - slender, tall, intelligent; we recognize RC sat by them accidentally, but secretly I think karma is rewarding his kindnesses. Charmer that he is, we leave two email addresses, and 2 friends, richer (well, he does anyway).

Well, H and A and N felt the urge to leave a little early, but S and RC and I stayed through to the end. At one point I felt a little tired. One flatfoot dance later, my heart was pounding, the energy returned.

Last thoughts - Brave Rodney, missing many front teeth, wasn't at all concerned and continued to close-talk any willing (or not so willing!) dance partner. Eddie from somewhar jest down tha road 15 miles, the two women whose laughter carried far, far across the room into the night, the folks from AA who came simply cause they heard there was a nonalcoholic new years celebration, the sweet lady who jumped into the square dance melee when she saw I was without a partner, the cool kid with the cowboy boots and the crazy jumping/knee switching dance thing he did, at first wondering why everyone left the floor between songs until finally dancing and realizing how hard it actually is to do, kazoos and horns and organic sparkling pear juice at midnight.

Happy New Year, to my friends new and old.....much love and luck and space and time in 08 to simply be: happy

a little video for ya:

Can i really be reading this right?

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Minimum 2 people (Double occupancy): $457 per person - Group rate of $390 per person with four or more people

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WOW, who's coming with me?

Oh - sky auction has a flight for around $280. seriously. who's in? I can wait til summer instead of going over spring break (the last week in march 08) just let me know.

tired...not rested...should i go to china?

sleepy but feeling better.

chiropractic visit this after-school evening which was very nice. we got to chat, which happens less as her business grows. i think i may be close to better soon.

so tired. but i swore i would write this every day so am awake for a little while with a purpose. oddly, i haven't told a soul about it yet. that's funny. who am i writing to?

Issue of the week: My cousin and his wife are currently living in china and i was thinking about going to visit next summer (joy of being a teacher = summer off)

Dad of course suggests that if i go i should come back by another route, thus going around the world.

would that be crazy?
it sounds so cool and exciting and freakin' fantastic
and like a huge mega-ton of planning
and kinda lonely
and oh my word the cost will be outrageous, (incredible, unbelievable....)
i am a very social loner, or a very independent social butterfly. i don't know if i'd be happy traveling alone for an entire summer. you can't very well travel with your new friends if you have to stay on your air itinerary the whole time.

i think i could save up enough for it.

i wonder if i should go? i have quite a few concerns. Every whatif ever whatifed has been singing in my ear. i mustdo a lot of research before making this decision.

By the way, i spent a semester abroad (spain), traveled to france (twice), england (once), drove cross the us (continental) alone, drove to alaska with a friend, only have 13 states left to visit before i'll have visited them all. so although this trip is an intimidating venture, that's not exactly the source of my ambivalence. It is harder to picture running off for fun like I used to, due to more formal obligations. I do think most of those are surmountable though. Perhaps the shear distance is causing me to worry this time.

someone once said that they were saving a particular trip for when they got married. well i used to save things for when i got married and then one day i realized i was sitting on my butt and my life was passing me by. i think though that this is one thing I could save to do with a partner. it seems a bit too much to take on on my own at this time. (stop making me feel like a loser, i've done a lot, haven't i?)