Category Archives: Travel Fun

Jun 07 2013
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Food/Drink Fun, Friends and Family, Travel Fun

Day 256: Dad Chef

Day 256 took me to Iowa to see my family. I left Chicago a little later than expected and had to deal with some bad traffic, but it was all worth it when I got to Iowa and, among other things, got to eat my dad’s cooking.

Since his children left the nest, he has had more time to experiment in the kitchen and is now the primary chef at my parents’ house. This was a sort-of make your own kabob dinner with the most flavorful and juicy chicken I have ever had, delicious grilled veggies, grilled pineapple and toasted bread with homemade (not home churned) garlic butter. I wish I had a picture, but I ate so fast I didn’t have time. I mean, it was delicious, need I say more?

Jun 03 2013
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Friends and Family, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Solitary Fun, Travel Fun

Day 252: Dulcimer

While in New Harmony, I wandered into a store that claimed to sell antiques. Once inside, I quickly realized that the store actually sold hand-made items like jewelry, art like paintings and instruments like dulcimers. The store owner started talking to me about the various items for sale. His daughter-in-law makes the jewelry. He paints the paintings. His friend across the street makes the dulcimers.

This friend gets the wood as scraps from a guy who has a lumberyard and sells floors to “rich people who pay bazillions for the stuff.” The owner told me the quality (and beauty) of the wood is the reason the dulcimers are so expensive, like $600 plus. He started playing his for me and I just fell in love with the sound. If you don’t know it, the dulcimer is a five stringed instrument that you play like a guitar (strum with a pick and make chords on frets) however the tuning is much simpler (of the five strings, four are tuned to D, three of them the same D and one an octave lower) and you play it on your lap.

I knew I couldn’t afford one but I let him tempt me anyway. He told me all about Appalachian people making dulcimers and playing a standard called “Boil Them Cabbage,” and then he told me the story that sold me completely. He teaches classes on the dulcimer in town. People come from Newburgh and Evansville to learn from him. One lady sat with her dulcimer on the first day of class. When they started to play, she started to cry. The shop owner/teacher was very concerned because he didn’t normally have criers in his classes. He was worried she was upset about the quality of her playing as a new student. When he went over to her, she said, “I used to be a violinist but I started having trouble with my hands. Eventually I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and I couldn’t play at all. I’m so happy because now I can make music again.”

If that wasn’t a sign, I don’t know what is. I met the hubs, brought him to the store, and we looked over all the dulcimers. A simple one caught my eye. “That one was made by my other friend. He dislikes all the fancy carvings the rest of these have. He says he makes ones that make music.” Sold. (For significantly less than all the other ones yet still very pretty in its own way).

So I’m learning the dulcimer. I’m inspired. I’m making music. (I’m one of those people who quit playing the piano, my mom said you’ll regret it, and I do). Day 252 was my first day of real practice and I am working on strumming and chords. I can also play “Boil Them Cabbage” and am working on “Kum Ba Yah” for an upcoming camping trip.

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Jun 02 2013
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Outdoor Fun, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Solitary Fun, Travel Fun

Day 251: Roofless Church, Peace

Day 251 was my real New Harmony day. I love the New Harmony Project (I mean have been professing my love for it over the last two days) but the town is just so inspiring. It has been the site of at least two attempted communal utopias. It features a roofless church, a mediation maze, preserved log homes from 1814, and so much more history. The town’s main income, I believe, comes from the New Harmony Inn where the New Harmony Project is held along with countless weddings each year. With a population of around 800, it is definitely the kind of place where locals know if you are a visitor. And they actually like you for it!

While the hubs had his board meeting, I set out on my own. My first stop, my old favorite, the Roofless Church. Designed by architect Philip Johnson, this non-denomination church was commissioned by Jane Owen, the town’s main benefactor. She was an oil money heiress who married a descendant of Robert Owen (Owenites were one of utopian groups to settle in New Harmony). She was also a great supporter of the New Harmony Project whom I remember for her quiet thoughtfulness, prim voice and lovely hats. The Roofless Church has long been a place I have sought out for peace and quiet. In college, friends and I would visit the church in the middle of night to stargaze. (Oh, the stars on a clear Indiana night). Every time I’ve gone to the New Harmony Project, I’ve made a special trip to the church. This time it was particularly important.

Many people who read this know I’ve struggled with my RA. Many also know that I’ve struggled with Anxiety, that I’ve struggled at work, that I’ve struggled with what I want to do with my life. I sat in the Roofless Church and let a lot of that go. I had, for about 20 minutes, the entire place to myself. First, I walked through the doors straight to the benches overlooking the field.

20130613-114659.jpgThen I walked the perimeter and examined the huge iron gates.

20130613-114729.jpgReal peace came when I sat under what I have always assumed is the altar and just relaxed. I let a lot of things go and, under blue sky, I truly felt calm, happy, peaceful, well.

20130613-114743.jpgI carried that with me as I walked the meditation maze, as I explored the gift shop at the visitors’ center and roamed the many little shops lining the main street. One particular shop owner inspired me to make music (more on this in Day 252). I even carried that with me back to Chicago and for a few days following.

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But now I’m finding it harder to remain there. Again the stresses of work and health creep in. Again I am frenzied, always working, running around. At New Harmony and back in Chicago, I’ve had multiple people ask me about the blog. Why haven’t I been posting? They miss it, they tell me how much it means to them and I am moved and yet, I still manage to let other things get in the way. This blog is my continued peace and again I have to force myself to remain focused on it. Year of Fun is what I want to do, yet I keep letting other stuff get in the way.

This pretty much sums up THE major conflict of my life: do what I love/what I want vs. do what I have to do. Maybe all of our lives? Maybe that is what living is? Finding the right balance between the two or going on a quest to fill your life with just the things you want to do? I sure don’t know but I would like to think that I am getting closer to figuring it out.

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Jun 01 2013
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Fun for Couples, Nightlife, Theatre Fun, Travel Fun

Day 250: Oh What a Night

The end of the New Harmony Project is always celebrated with a formal dinner with donors followed by an informal party in the Barn Abby. This has always been one of my favorite nights in New Harmony. People are excited about the plays they’ve seen or worked on. Everyone gathers to celebrate the writers and another successful project wearing their New Harmony best. Funders give generously to support the continued life of this amazing writers’ retreat. Then everyone gets crazy at the Barn Abby: flip cup, beer pong, dancing, drinking–its a UET style party with professionals. The vibe goes from formal to informal pretty much instantly. And it is amazing.

It was fun to have that kind of night where, by the end, your dress clothes are rumpled and sweaty and you feel exhausted but exhilarated at the same time so you go back to your hotel room and play cards for an hour before you can sleep. That kind of night.

May 31 2013
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Fun for Couples, Theatre Fun, Travel Fun

Day 249: Play Day

The hubs and I travelled to New Harmony for the New Harmony Project, a writers’ conference focused on new play development. Five plays received two weeks of in-depth work with actors, director, dramaturg, and, of course, playwright. Three other writers were in residence at the conference to just getaway and write.

Day 249 was packed with readings of the plays that had been in workshop for the duration of the conference; 10:00am, 2:00pm, and 8:00pm. We had just enough time to eat between readings–well, and I managed to do some work. I love new plays. I love that they are mid development. I love New Harmony Project for facilitating a thoughtful conversation afterwards. I love thinking about where those plays will go. I love talking about my thoughts afterwards with the hubs, friends and colleagues.

These three plays were all set in the 1970’s–a strange coincidence though I wonder if we’ll see more of that as modern technology can often fix some of the dramatic “problems” created in plays. I mean if Juliet could have texted Romeo, the whole thing might have turned out differently. Modern playwrights will either have to embrace or neglect or set their plays in the 1970’s…Anyway, even though they were all set in the same period, they were all quite different. Different styles, structures and voices. Being exposed to three plays in one day as well as sitting in a room full of creative minds got my artistic juices flowing. I felt so inspired by our whole trip (more on this later).

The whole mission of the New Harmony Project is to serve writers who provide positive artistic work in a world that can often be viewed cynically. The founders sought to fight the negativity often found in modern cinema and theater by investing in writers who focus on hope. Very similar to what I’m trying to do for myself with this blog…no wonder I found it so up-lifting.

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