Sunday, June 14, 2015

An unpredictable quest, a mysterious experiment

"Go on an unpredictable quest that will free your trapped vitality, or try a mysterious experiment that will awaken your sleeping magic.  P.S. For best results, ask for help every step of the way." 
Rob Brezsny

I decided to apply this fantastical advice from one of my favorite authors, to the entire Wakarusa festival experience.  Who wouldn't want to free trapped vitality and awaken sleeping magic?!  I did.  I do. 
                   
My quest was to show up to every moment with the inner knowing that my energy, responses, actions, etc could effect those around me in benevolent ways.  The mysterious experiment was to see if, by focusing on this intention throughout the entire festival experience, the results could be palpable - seen, felt, experienced in a tangible way.   

photo credit:  Brandi Emley

I did feel vitality and magic throughout my time here on Spirit Mountain.  I did experience extraordinary connections with others.  I was moved by music written with what seemed to have the same intention - to impact others in a beneficial way.  I laughed, I cried, I danced, I lived in each miraculous moment with gratitude.  Of course, it would be hard to prove whether this came from my quest/experiment, the mountain or just being surrounded by so much beauty(flora, fauna, people, music).    I imagine it was combination of all those things and more. 

photo credit:  Brandi Emley

I do know this, it was thrilling to give myself a secret adventure to go on.  A secret adventure within an audacious adventure - Wakarusa.  I think I'll try it again, soon.  

Monday, June 1, 2015

The mythical NSSO force


Years ago, Greg tried to explain it to me.  He said that this profession not only let him utilize some of his strongest gifts, but that he felt at home with the people he worked with.  It does no justice to say "the people he works with", nor does the word "team" even come close to describing the bond.  Friendship is an understatement, as well.  Naturally, I try to describe it as a work family, not related by blood, but through "blood, sweat and tears", and yes, that can be taken literally.  Ties welded through relying on each other, when stakes are high and in the face of obstacles where no one backs down.  They've come together, not merely by chance, but united by the common denominator - integrity.  They see life with this vitality that surges with dedication, authenticity and a levity that balances out all the high-stress moments in their lives.  
Their dedication not only extends to what it takes to make these events happen but to one another.  A fierce loyalty to each other can be found in every member of this family.  It's not common to find a group that can be tough enough to withstand the rigors of being the operational logistics of creating large scale events and still be conscious and considerate of each other's needs whatever they may be.  Spending months on the road in close quarters, they're adept at living together cohesively.  It's all the qualities I've described - integrity, dedication, loyalty, dependability, authenticity, levity, etc that make this unit work as remarkably as it does.  
Endless Summer - pillars of this family

They're especially supportive and appreciative of the talents, gifts and abilities of every individual that makes up this gang.  
Here's just one example of the support.  Jessica Pyrdsa is a siren in voice and a magician on piano.  In these pictures, we're supporting her at one of her first festival shows. 
And they know that it's as important to enjoy themselves all along the way...as you can probably deduct from all of these pictures.  
Ziplining in Whistler, Canada
NSSO Putt Putt in Austin, Texas


Dinner with the family in Pemberton, Canada

NSSO Forest time in Rothbury, Michigan

NSSO Sirens on Spirit Mountain, Arkansas



It all began on the magical mountain we are on right now.  Wakarusa is a special festival for this family.
Phil Clarkin took these spectacular Waka pictures.  He can be found at https://www.facebook.com/PhilClarkinPhotography?pnref=lhc
Check out Phil Clarkin Photography for epic Wakarusa picshttps://www.facebook.com/PhilClarkinPhotography?pnref=lhc

This strapping fellow(pictured below) saw the potential of the individuals.  


And who, you ask, are the masterminds behind the building of such a mythical company?

  None other than these gentlemen....






I'm honored to be included in this incredible clan.  Thanks to my stud muffin husband, I get to be nestled in the amazing embrace of NSSO love.  NSSO(Non-Stop Site Ops)

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Without further ado, Katie "Action" Gavin

Here's to our exuberant, adventurous and light-filled, travel companion, Katie Gavin!
I found this amazing picture on her facebook page.  She has been on so many adventures it was hard to choose what I felt was a good representation of all her super powers.
Katie and I have been friends since 1999.  We were roommates for a few years, along with a posse of other amazing women.  There is no doubt in my mind that "like attracts like".  I felt extremely grateful back then and I continue to feel thankful for our friendships to this day.  Here's a few glimpses into the past:  
Left:  Katie and I in 2002  Right: Me and Katie present day.
A few of us girls having a magical night at Lake Waccamaw, 2003
One of the many late night dance parties in our kitchen.  Katie proceeded to jump from the counter onto a cantaloupe shortly after this picture.

Our friendships were/are genuine, hilarious, powerful and full of love.  We were a lucky bunch to have found each other.  The experiences we had are now stories we tell with tears in our eyes and laughter in our bellies, from spontaneous trips(New York, New Orleans, or any locale or festivity that captured our interest), all of our Wilmington debauchery and the heartfelt, deep moments that carried us through some of life's most intense ups and downs(my Mom passing away, Katie getting into graduate school and so many other important events of our life).  
And so the adventure continues!  Katie and I live our dream life, traveling the US, exploring new lands around our country and new lands within ourselves.  She plans to be with Greg and I, for most of our tour this year.  We both share many dreams and aspirations that are miraculously in sync...it's just so EXCITING!   But back to Katie, she has enriched an already enriching experience in many ways.  Before I begin my doting on her, I want to point out some magic available to us all - manifesting abundance of what you want and need into your life.  Katie, is a prime example of manifesting miracles into my world.  There are many things that I wanted to have more of in my life...more healthy eating, more balance and more focus in achieving goals.  Well, having Katie with us has brought, with abundance all of these things, I wanted more in my life.  

Greg and I have been for a few years, making better decisions on eating healthy(eating more raw foods, green smoothies, smaller food portions, drinking more water, etc).  Well, we wanted to take this healthy eating up a notch, like incorporating more high quality foods, eating less processed foods, etc.  Voila!  Katie turns out to be quite the illustrious, healthy food chef who has introduced me to another world of eating deliciously healthy. 
This isn't one of "Katie's Beet Salads" but it's a glimpse of the amazingness we put into our bodies on a daily basis.  What is really uncanny is in my "fun, manifesting dreams and desires" I specifically wanted to eat fresh beets.  We now eat her beet salad on a weekly basis.  That's just crazy!
Her qualities, gifts and beauty extend to many things, not just healthy eating, but I would say that the theme to her super powers does revolve around being healthy-mind, body and spirit.  She is on her own mission to make choices and live a life that is healthy mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.  It is a natural byproduct that her attributes influence those around her.  Greg and I lucked out in upgrading our life!  Not only is she a positive influence in bountiful ways, but her and I have many of the same intentions in our life.  We make the perfect team to achieve our goals(this is also an example of how Katie coming with us is something I manifested...in other words, a dream come true).  We started this 12-Week course together called "The Artist's Way".  This course has opened Katie and I to unbelievable opportunities in our lives already.   
What Katie and I have gleaned from this deserves it's own blog post
On a daily basis, we practice yoga, meditate, process life on many levels, explore the areas we find ourselves in, step outside of our comfort zones, run and many other uplifting activities.  She is a major reason behind all of these soul-and-body-nourishing endeavors.  She's a catalyst!  I like to call her Katie "Action" Gavin.  She is always up for worthy crusades whether they be rock climbing, kayaking, intuitive development, dancing with abandon to Old Crow Medicine Show, Full Moon celebrations, etc!  No stranger to exotic locations, she brings a unique understanding to being a traveler.  She's been to many places in Europe and lived in Hawaii for two years, which means she has many tricks of the trade to bestow on our North American safari.  It has only been a month and a half and we've already experienced so much!  Somehow she manages to have all these ventures while being a massage therapist/physical therapist to Greg's work family.  I'm so happy to have one of my best friends beside me in this wild nomadic adventure.  
I started playing around with this picture in photoshop to take myself out of it and make it cool and before I knew it, it turned into a tomboy glamour shot.  
We've been on many spectacular excursions together in our 15 year friendship and are now in the midst of quite an extraordinary pilgrimage.  From the moment we set out on this expedition to the present, I've experienced such expansion, evolution and joy...and I thank Katie for being a integral part in this growth as a human being.  

I just wish we all could have a Katie "Action" Gavin in our lives to encourage, boost and catapult us to our higher selves.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Q is for Quartermaster


How are we able to travel throughout the year?  What exactly does Greg do?
I'm asked these questions when I meet up with friends and family who still don't quite understand how we do what we do.  Greg is known as the Quartermaster in the music festival world.  What is a quartermaster, exactly?  It just sounds adventurous!  You know the character, Q, in the James Bond universe...responsible for all the spy gadgets used in the 007 missions?  "Q" stood for Quartermaster, a military term for the role of being in charge of supplies, equipment and essentials a military force might need.  Greg does that for the music festival industry.  He makes sure that his Operations crew and the rest of the people who put on a music festival, have the tools they need to create these grand music experiences.  Just like Q in the the James Bond missions, he utilizes his talents in problem solving, organizational skills and overall Greg Hoffman genius.  He's one of the first to arrive to a location that will host an event that entertains tens of thousands of people, and he's one of the last to leave that location.  It goes from this:
to this:
back to this:
Since these music festivals are held all over the continent, Greg had the brilliant idea to procure a travel trailer and hit the road as a family of wanderers.  Last year, was our first year of being wayfarers.  We loved it so much, we decided to keep this caravan going AND to invite a very special guest along the way, the extraordinary,  Katie Gavin.  She's enhanced the journey in many ways and it's only been a month!    
I always call Greg a visionary.  He definitely was in dreaming up this amazing experience.  So there you have it...Greg "the Quartermaster, Visionary and Hunky Husband" Hoffman.  Teehee.  
The next few blog posts will be dedicated to:  giving a synopsis of last year's adventures and a feature on this *Wander Woman*, Katie.  

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Getting back into the swing of things

I began a 30 day blog challenge in the beginning of 2010 to catapult myself into writing.  It was a great baby step that lead to many other adventures outside and within.  There were times I continued to write about experiencing life and there definitely have been times I chose not to write, but to just experience it.  Here I am, five years later, deciding I want to commit to writing again.  I'm sticking with the same theme...seeing every day of life as an adventure.  This is such an important thread in my life that I would love to share with anyone that it resonates with.  Here is a short snippet from my first blog post that explains the intention behind the endeavor then and still rings true five years later.  


What is Fergitude  It is the attitude that every day is an adventure

A choose-your-own adventure that is better than any book or movie you will encounter because it is your life. This will be my first attempt at a blog. My goal is to journal my journey through everyday life with the "fergitude"(mindset that each and every moment is a grand adventure). I am doing this to empower myself and perhaps anyone out there who can identify with this vision. I am doing this to stay mindful, to stay present in this beautiful life.  My mission is to relish everyday, to experience, to love those around me and to love me. 


I am currently leading a life that I only dreamed about in the past.  I travel North America with my husband, our dog and this year, one of my best friends, Katie.  We are nomads that drive to beautiful destinations in our continent to experience it with what Greg coined as "Fergitude".  Greg is the reason this is all possible.  He is a Quartermaster of music festivals and we get to travel with our home attached to us, to all these amazing events.  While Greg is quarter mastering festivals, Katie and I spend our time making our dreams come true(adventuring, immersing ourselves in creativity and many other fantastical things).  There will be posts dedicated to elaborating more on all of this.  We were just recently in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a month and now we are in Atlanta, Georgia for a month.  There is much to explain and stories to tell.  I look forward to sharing it all with you.  


Disclosure:  I have amazing internet connection currently but that has not always been the case in the past.  I will do what it takes to post at least once a week in areas that do not have strong internet and hopefully more in areas abundantly connected.