Why is it that every time I poke around ic.org, I always wind up finding, not farm communes with shared labor and the open discussion and exchange of ideas, but what sounds rather like rural gated communities?

"Hi, we're the (blah blah blah) Community. We live in separate houses, don't share our finances, don't share our labor, don't have any shared practices or philosophies, don't share our meals, and don't even see each other a lot of days, but we're still an intentional community. But we're excellent conversationalists and have an interest in nude hot-tubbing together at night. Come and join us just for that! But you'll have to go to your own home afterward."

All I want is a frickin' farm commune that doesn't require a hefty join-fee upfront and that operates every day of the damn year (a lot of them I've dug up don't even stay open except in the spring and summer).

But most of what I've found sounds like an average neighborhood. They're supposed to be communes and intentional communities, not gated communities, dammit.

Nyaaaaa... the concert was just magical. Best night of my life. I don't think anything will be able to ever top it.

First of all, nobody actually bothered tearing or even LOOKING at my ticket. SA-WEET. I managed to ditch my crappy seat and breeze to the front of my section. I didn't risk my luck in trying to get to the very front, but nevertheless, I was a lot closer. The people behind me at my actual seat were annoying--whistling every time anybody so much as moved. And not just a normal whistle. Those deafening, ear-piercing whistles. Bah! So I got up and leaned against the bannister for the stairs down to the first floor and stared moonily at them the whole time.

The Pretenders were okay. I was never much of a Pretenders fan, but I liked Chrissie Hynde.

The Who were just... magic, for lack of a better word. Roger apologized for sounding very slightly hoarse (I didn't notice it until he pointed it out). "It doesn't fucking matter to you lot anyway. It's still rock n' roll." I squeed while everyone else laughed, and I think he shot me an odd look (although I might've been imagining it--entirely possible). Pete took over talking for Roger and they dove right into I Can't Explain first thing. It must be strange to see a big teenage girl almost lunging over the stairwell and sighing/swooning. Perhaps not for THEM, but for everyone else. Pete bragged: "Have you ever seen anybody jump around the stage as much as I do? *ponder* Maybe, maybe the entire combined weight of the Red Hot Chili Peppers... but only during their warmup." He also mentioned, "I've never had sex in Ohio before." I would have given him the honor. *coughs* He later amended it: "Oh, wait. Never mind, I HAVE had sex in Ohio. I had a girlfriend who lived in fucking Columbus."

They played the Wire and Glass mini-opera in its entirety. It was fab. :3 They also did a few other songs from the new album--when they played Black Widow's Eyes, I nearly fainted. That's my favorite off of the album. ♥ " ... Since we know you like this kind of stuff, we'll play this cheesy old thing." You Better, You Bet. It was great. I know it was a silly fantasy of mine, but Roger seemed to look right over into my section during it. I know he wasn't--the man has better things to do than point at silly fangirls--but I can dream, can't I?

They eventually played Baba O'Riley and Pete started chuckling and talking about how so much of music was great fans like us. " ... Like this song. It's about... digging in a field. 'LET'S GO DIG IN A FIELD!'" Everyone laughed. I shouted "YES! LET'S!" Nobody heard me. I would totally go dig in a field with old Bone there. :P Sometimes, though, during the concert, it looked like he was pointing in my direction. I wonder if he was? Like I said, probably not. Probably coincidence that his fingers ended up pointing that way.

He mentioned that, after the concert, they were headed toward Michigan. Everybody started booing, and Pete started snickering.

Absolutely great concert. Pino was great on the bass and Zak was great on the drums. But Pete and Roger were the best of all. ♥

Oh. And...I GOT TO SEE THEM A BIT CLOSER. :D

I had to go out back anyway, because that's where my uncle was going to pick me up. I noticed, going down the stairs, that, "Hey! That's where the buses are! JACKPOT!" So I lurked around out back, hanging on the fence and peering down a footbridge.

I SAW PETE. :D I didn't manage to get his attention to say hello and get well, but the most important thing is, I saw him. A Little is Enough and all that kind of stuff. *swoons and sighs* I can die happy now.

In a way, I'm glad I didn't get his attention. He and Roger were both a little under-the-weather (Pete had the sniffles, Roger had a bit of a chest cold), and I didn't want it getting worse by attempting to get them to stand out in the Ohio cold to chat with a silly fangirl.

But I'm glad I at least saw Pete leave the building.

I don't know why, but it was almost like it was... significant. It wasn't. But it's almost like seeing a pair of creaky old men jumping around a stage was important or magic in such a mundane life spent swooning over said creaky old men.

I can't explain, I suppose, as cheesy as that sounds.

But there it it--a magical night spent screaming at old men.

*sighs and flitters eyes*

Random thought: I wonder if Keith Moon was able to touch his nose with his tongue?

It's almost time! *does a dance*

I go up to Ohio on Friday. The weather is supposed to be fairly nice--dry, but really freakin' cold. My uncle emailed me and said it was 17 on Monday morning. Jesus!

Mom and I bought some new warm clothes--sweaters and sweatshirts. It was kind of surprising--most of them were in the women's section and fit perfectly. Usually, I have to go dig around the men's section for my clothes, because I've got pretty big arms and women's clothes usually don't accommodate them. I particularly like the penguin sweater. I collect penguin-related things, and Christmastime is always a gold mine.

I hope my uncle's physical appearance hasn't changed radically in the past seven years. I haven't seen him since then, and I remember him as a guy with grayish teeth, a big almost-fumanchu mustache, and thick black hair. He said either him or Papaw Ralph would be picking me up at the bus station.

Been working on collecting up my things and putting them together--I think I'll actually pack tomorrow, and pack my food up on Friday. I feared my uncle would refuse to buy me vegetarian food or mock me mercilessly for my dietary needs, so I'm bringing up a small, lunchbox-sized coolerful of food with me--veggie soups, veggie chili, black bean burgers, smart-dogs, and veggie-slices.

Tomorrow, we're going shopping for a couple of other things I wanted to take on the bus--a roll of toilet paper, waterless hand sanitizer, protein bars, and maybe a bottle of ginger ale.

Then, on Thursday, I'm going to sleep in. XD

Ahh, I've been busy. I got my tickets, I got my travel guide to Columbus, and such. :3 Been planning and all that.

But that's about it. Planning, taking very long walks to sort my head out, screaming at FTCC for locking me out of the program (though they let me back in, I'm still mad), and writing.

Now I'm home waiting for Doctor Who to come on. :3 I'm hopelessly addicted now. XP

I made my dad's present. It's the Savatage S-logo on a painted background of various blues and purples. The man's so hard to do anything for; he's got shitloads of money, so he buys what he wants, when he wants. And he's not really an artsy kind of guy. So I just decided to paint him a picture. Last year, we got him a small brewery set. Now making boozeahol is his hobby.

I don't know what to get Karen and Gram. Karen's got the same problem as Dad--she gets what she wants whenever she feels like it. Maybe I'll make her a basket. I don't know. She likes baskets--you should've seen our kitchen before it went up in flames. Baskets every-fuckin'-where.

I still don't know about Gram, though.