The green edition

This is what Claudius got me for my birthday this year:



It's a Solio, a solar powered charger that actually stores power, so that you can juice it up on your window sill and then when you're good and ready, attach your cell phone or ipod or whatever and be all up in the 21st century but off the grid at the same time. I've been using it to charge my cell phone for the past week and it works perfectly, though I admittedly have ridiculously good, direct sunlight streaming through my windows for a good 4-5 hours per day. I could see it coming in handy when camping, of course, but even when travelling, since it obviates the need for power converters.

Moving on. Today was the first distribution of the Stanton Street CSA, and things went delightfully smoothly! I've been salivating for Ted's farm fresh veggies and fruit for months, and I could hardly wait to get home to make myself a massive dinner salad. Strawberries for dessert!

Beach Camping

The weekend that thunderstorms lashed the city (again), Cara and I decided to go beach camping on Fire Island. The mosquitoes were well behaved, and the weather out there actually cooperated with our plans fairly nicely too. We had a few hours of lounging in the sun:





As the temperature dropped we headed off to find a spot to pitch the tent:





And then dinner:



Some raindrops started sprinkling down right as we finished eating, so we threw the rainfly on the tent and settled in for a raucous thunder and lightning show, to a soundtrack of Arcade Fire over Cara's ipod with headphone splitters. It was a little scary, but really really stunning being in the middle of a summer thunderstorm with just a thin sheet of nylon separating ourselves from roaring thunderclaps and lightning so bright that it looked like stadium lighting trained on our tent.

The next morning everything was calm again, so we headed back to the Watch Hill area for breakfast (roughin' it!):





And then we joined rangers Rosemary and Mike on a canoe tour around the area's salt marshes:

Another killer summer is on the way

The first outdoor scrabble game of the season happened in Fulton Ferry State Park, in honor of Kristina's visit from San Francisco. Things felt a little off kilter and then we realized it was because Banana Hammock man was nowhere in sight. Dunno where he was off to, but condolences to him and his loved ones--I can only imagine that it must have been a serious family emergency to keep him and his fluorescent butt floss away on such a perfect day.



May being bike Month, there were also many Bicycle Film Festival happenings, including a party at Studio B. There was dancing:



There were pals hugging:





And Lucky Dragons did a performance art piece involving humming rocks:



Elliott helped get the party started:





And that's all she wrote for BFF shenanigans:



Two weekends ago there was also a 50 mile bike ride out to a farm in Long Island (thanks for inviting us, Monica!) which involved lots of lycra, excessive heat, and a seaside respite--most of the pictures are on Facebook already but here are a few more:

Gov Island Jazz Picnic

Me and Tekla (she made this silk dress!)The halfies represented!!


Some of my Monday-night swing dance buddies pose in front of my instructor's (far right) 1929 vintage car.

Stripes! Gretchen (left) also made her dress and hat!!

More swing dancing cuties from my dance studio.