Michaël and I went to the 30th Annual Summer Art and Music festival on Sunday along with many other employees and students of the school. Heartwood always has a booth where folks can have low cost sample massages, and it was always full when we saw it. Michaël has a lot of friends in the area so it was an opportunity to reconnect with them now that he has taken a job here. Here are some photos of him when he was in his element as ground support coordinator for the famous Luna Treesit in 98 and 99.
At the festival we saw a musical artist that Mich has seen before named Scott Huckabay, who did an amazing solo performance in his style of aptly named "acoustic trance".
Then he introduced me to the renowned activist, musician Darryl Cherney, whose sardonic political lyrics I have come to respect.
Often during the day people would recognize Michaël and sneak up on him to surprise him. It was comical to see it happen over and over again with different people getting him into their sights for an ambush. He is somewhat well-known, (as forest name: 'Rising Ground') to people involved in environmental activism in the area and in the EarthFirst! Movement. It was good to see him have such community up here.
The festival was right on the Eel river, and we went out there to eat our lunch and then walked in to cool our feet off. The food was good, the music better, and we just enjoyed people watching and being 'off the mountain' for a day.
I have personally felt so much gratitude that the weather here has continued to be on the cool side. I went for a swim in the big pool, and just as I was getting in Michaël finished a free deep tissue massage with a student and got in the water too. He had to go to work, but I ended up doing 90 minutes of laps which was wonderful exercise. If any of you come to visit, it is a swimsuit optional pool, so don't be surprised, but feel free to either suit up or strip down. I have this handy snap front dress that makes it really easy to get in and out. Then a short walk away is the sauna and hot tub. Really nice. 
Here is also a photo of Michaël and I one of the first days we got here. It has been nice to be one of the couples here. There are not too many, about 3 or 4. One is this totally cute lesbian couple named Morningstar and Romeo. Honestly very cute and loving, it makes everyone happy to be around them. The other couple that I know about is with one of my co-workers Elizabeth and her boyfriend Said. Right now I am off to get a free Polarity Session from one of the studens - YAY! that should put a nice finish on the weekend!
