The Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival

Dig that cat Wavy!
On a whim, DB and I decided to partake in the 3-day, 15th Annual Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival in Laytonville, California. With more than 40 hours of great music (primarily bluegrass and folk) on numerous stages, some of which sat in front of grassy lawns shaded by giant oak trees, a clothing optional, crystal-clear swimming hole, fantastic vegetarian and vegan food, great on-site camping, several art exhibits, free jamming and drum circle lessons, free-form jamming everywhere (!), and even a cool host who was none other than the most legendary hippie of all time, Wavy Gravy, it was a scene that I'll be sure to revisit year after year. Truly the sweetest festival I've ever been a part of.
An artist and his art. We saw this guy's stuff at Furthur Fest too - it was very, very good
A great, great scene.
Wavy's man Gino (a genuinely cool dude) put me in touch with Wavy - What an awful photo! But it's me and Wavy Gravy!

July 4 with the Merry Pranksters!

My cousin (once-removed) Marty and her partner Bruce were kind enough to invite DB and I to join them for the July 4 festivities in Dexter, Oregon, hosted by the Merriest of Merry Pranksters Ken Babbs and his friends and family. Many of the original Pranksters were in attendance, including George Walker, Chuck Kesey (Ken Kesey's brother), Mountain Girl, and Sunshine Kesey. Neal Cassady's son John was also there. Babbs' son Eli's band played well, covering several Grateful Dead songs, and there was even a surprise appearance by Bruce Hornsby, former member of the Dead! The food was great, the music and scene was fun, and the conversation with Marty and Bruce was second-to-none. Great stuff all 'round. We look forward to doing it again.
The Revolution Test
It's time to start the party! (...that's Bruce with the trumpet)
Ken Babbs and George Walker
DB talking peanuts with Mountain Girl and George Walker (as Marty looks on in the background!)
Pranksters Chuck Kesey and George Walker prep the cannon
Ken Babbs (left) and Bruce Hornsby (center) rapping and jamming on the 4th!

Crawdaddy! creator Paul S. Williams

Paul at home (photo by Cindy Lee Berryhill)
Paul S. Williams, the amazingly brilliant creator of Crawdaddy! (the very first American rock music magazine, which he founded at the age of 17!), friend of John Lennon, Jim Morrison and Timothy Leary, Bob Dylan biographer, and the legendary author of the underground hippy classic, Das Energi, is suffering from early onset of dementia after a traumatic brain injury sustained during an accident while riding his bicycle in 1995. He currently requires full-time care.

I am fortunate to have spent quality time with Paul, his wonderful wife Cindy Lee Berryhill, and their son Alexander. The experience only reenforced my belief that those who have the means should show them some love...please. The financial cost of caring for Paul has been tremendous.

Cindy Lee's touching blog:
Beloved Stranger
Paul's donation site:
Paul Williams Dot Com

Peace Corps - Senegal

My mom arrived in Senegal, West Africa on March 9, 2010 to begin 27 months of service as a Peace Corps volunteer. I'm infinitely proud of her.

We anticipate that regular correspondence will prove challenging and unlikely. But so far, so good. Let's follow along...

March 10, 2010
"Hi all..arrived today,,the flight was excellent..in village now...will write later...it is absolutely beautiful..we had a great welcome,,lots of amazing birds that are very choral..Love, L'y"
Ma's first picture from Senegal
March 12, 2010
"...things are well,,,extremely busy and it is a full plate everyday but loving it....tonight we went into town to unwind from a very stressful day,,,downtown makes the Bronx look very nice,,no joke,,,all the people are so loving and giving though poor,,,thanks so much for the letter,,it was a wonderful surprise.....I love you too Courtney,,,,,mother"
March 13, 2010
"Hi ,,,I found out today I will learn Pular Fuutu and will live the region S. Central E in Senegal...not the exact village right now except that I will train in the region starting Monday....it is mountainous, green, has herds, near the river, and the people are "hillbillies" of sorts,,they say it is the most beautiful in Senegal..."

...and then it ended.

Littler DB

Before
After

Who knew?

The Dalai Lama

Outside the Long Beach Area, where the Dalai Lama spoke
Recently, I was fortunate enough to attend a teaching given by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama. With a great deal of chanting, including the Heart Sutra recited in Sanskrit, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Chinese, as well as a teaching of the Four Noble Truths, it was truly a pleasure to hear the exiled leader of Tibet speak.

Ever the Fitness Nut...

My ma, a lifelong runner, cyclist and all-around outdoor/fitness enthusiast, has been on a tear, cycling 50-milers with her buddies in the palmetto swamps of southern Florida. Go ma!

Marty Noble

I thought I'd plug the splendid art of my mother's super-talented cousin, Marty Noble...



Marty's new website can be found here.

Some Historical Figures of Note

Public domain image of 'Che' Guevara
-Abbie Hoffman - 60's civil rights/environmental activist

-Gary Snyder - Zen Buddhist nature poet

-Aldous Huxley - writer

-Jack Kerouac - father of the Beat movement

-Gautama Buddha - enlightened man

-Allen Ginsberg - poet & social activist

-Ernesto Guevara - revolutionary

-Arthur Rimbaud - French boy-genius poet

Public domain image of Arthur Rimbaud