In preparing for the arduous bus ride (and to attend my sister’s wedding), I drove my un-air-conditioned boat of a car from Greensboro to the approximate middle of this country last week.  1500 miles round trip.  A bout of restless leg syndrome. Sing-a-longs with an antiquated collection of cassette tapes.  (Namely The King and I soundtrack and an obscure Dan Fogelberg album.)  It wasn’t unbearable, but I believe body conditioning of the static variety should take a high priority in our last two weeks before departing.

Both Ian and I are continuing to work on the bus and the itinerary.  Struggle on both ends.  It seems that there are some mechanical complications with the vehicle, primarily pertaining to the WVO system.  At the other end of the spectrum, I’ve struck a dense network of red pipelines to navigate in order to receive a permit for occupying public spaces.  Part of the problem is the height of the tents (15-22 feet), which towers over the standard 10 foot allotment.  The other part remains ambiguous, but I’ve been told by officials that they haven’t had a proposal like this before, and I’ve concluded that we’ll just have to avoid using land under the tight control of  intricate government systems.  But not to be a downer, because I’m not.

We’ve been greeted with heaps of luck and punctuated proclamations from welcoming arms.  For example:  4th of July weekend we’ll be in City Park, New Orleans and have a smaller cluster of tipis at The Front Gallery.  And from there we’ll find ourselves in Austin, Texas, where we’re partnering with Austin Green Art and the MASS Gallery.  I am very excited, in the plainest of terms. (!!!)

In other news:

1.  Ian and I are having a bamboo roast in his field this Sunday.  We still have a few sets to cure before the trip.  All are welcome.  (This is also my birthday, so the event will double as an excuse to eat cake.)  Camping, roasting, aging, sweating over a very large open fire pit.  A “birthboo.” What more could one want?   Except a donut. (!)

2.  I love donuts.  This is a recent discovery of mine.  I’m thinking about adding a donut hunt to tipi tour, which would give me permission to have a few in each destination.  Also, if you’re ever in the South Elm neighborhood, please bring a dozen or two over to Elsewhere.

3.  We’re still looking for in-kind donations, particularly of the solar-panel kind.  We’re not sure it’s an asset we can afford, but we would definitely be grateful recipients of such items.  Contact ian@plasticparade.org for specifications or if you have any ideas to offer.

4.  Dinner is ready.

(Greensboro, Center City Park, Earth Day 2009)