Railroad Days 2014

I admit it, I'm not a festival person. Never have been. In the 80's, I would get dragged along to a 3 day festival of sorts nearly every year to see the Grateful Dead play at Alpine Valley, WI. and I hated every minute of it. My friends wanted me there because I had a roomy car, and I was smart enough to pack a first aid kit, water, and the sort of stuff you need to spend 3 days in a field in Wisconsin. And I didn't drop acid, so there was someone to calmly explain the hallucinations weren't real. I was in effect, the babysitter.

Railroad Days is a little like that, but without the drugs, and you can go home at 5 PM. You still have to deal with the heat, and crowds, and if I'm honest the Deadheads were better behaved, but as festivals go it is the only one I'm willing to tolerate being uncomfortable to attend. Splitting it up to different venues in two cities does help to disperse the trapped feeling these events typically give me. I didn't share that with Danny. Look, I put on the face that says, "Yes! I adore a hot bumpy bus ride! Let's stop at another museum."

We rode the bus. And a trolley. We toured the historic Dodge House.

and we enjoyed a visit to the botanical gardens...

But now, I'm dead. I mean flat-out-to-the-core-exhausted-going-to-sleep-knackered.

But wait...hold the line! What's that you say? There's a second day of this? Oh dear, I'd better get to sleep immediately.

Outfit Particulars:

1950's sundress-Brimfield Antiques Fair-90's
Yellow belt-thrifted
Shoes-K mart
Handbag-Hand-Me-Ups
Seashell earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
Milk glass beaded bracelet-Hand-Me-Ups
Dior scarf-thrifted
Hair clip-Tiff and Tam

I felt sorry for the Civil War re-enactors in their heavy costumes. It was exceptionally hot and humid today. I can't imagine actually going to battle dressed like that. Wool is not a suitable summer fabric in America.

Danny held up OK, but ate a gigantic bowl of ice cream before collapsing in bed the minute we got home. He had fun. On the bus he kept pointing to the box on the wall that read, "Bodily Fluids Disposal Kit" and asking loudly if anyone needed to throw up. It was a rather bouncy ride, but thankfully no one needed it.

If anyone was tripping their brains out hallucinogens, they didn't let us know, and I didn't have to talk anyone down from anything, which is good because I've never been good at that sort of thing. I'm far too impatient with people to make a good counselor. "The Leprechaun isn't real! Shut up already!" Really, I don't know why anyone would want me along to a festival because all I do is obsess over adequate hydration and where the toilets are once the hydration is completed.

Here I am looking fully hydrated.

You will never see this woman at any Palooza-ish  sort of thing. You might see her at Railroad Days again tomorrow, but only if she's bribed with another pint of lemon sorbet. I'm not leaving the house for anything less that a pint to myself.