(no subject)

[aprilstarchild]

I don't think there's any way I can make it to the Oregon Country Fair this year, even to day-trip it. I just don't have the money.

I grabbed the Peach Pit (aka the newspaper/schedule for OCF) at People's yesterday. Trillian Green isn't performing this year, unfortunately; but Nanda is.

It's their fortieth anniversary this year (the art for it is awesome). It'll also be the first year I've missed it since I started going in 1998.

Bleh.

In other news: the unemployment agency sucks and I'm way stressed out. Shawn has been awesome, though.

---

Looking through the Peach Pit is just rubbing salt in the wound, I swear.

I can look at the huge map on the back and remember what almost every single section of it looks like/smells like/feels like.

No Patty's Fruit Pies, no Stage Left show, no Peachi The Dragon...waaah! I seriously might cry.

Comments

[jenhowell.livejournal.com]

I know it's hard, but I've had a few summers lately where I've had to miss OCF and lots of other things I've wanted to do because of lack of funds. And now I feel like I'm being repayed for it this summer by getting to go on lots of fun adventures. On credit, sure, but I wouldn't have anticipated this, and I guess the lesson is - it'll come back around. You'll have fun summers again. Try not to think of it as "the one year I'm not going", try to think of the fact that you have gone every year since 1998. I mean, that's really awesome. Lots of people haven't even ever gone once and you've gone for like 10 years! Also, think of all the awesome Pedalpalooza fun you've had and will have, think of your awesome pool right there by your house. And your new boyfriend! There's a lot to be thankful for.

Good luck with your unemployment check adventures, however. That is rough, but I think Lani might be right - I'd go over to the office. It's sometimes easier to get served when you're there in person, and, especially, to get served correctly. If you go in person, if there's a problem or a hitch, you can talk to someone in charge. But I'd bring every stitch of paperwork you can find that might possibly be even slightly relevant, including phone numbers for all your places of business.

Good luck, Sweetie! And remember, as awesome as OCF can be, it's only 3 days long. Even if you went, it'd be over soon enough. For some reason, I find that oddly comforting when missing out on a cool thing.

[aprilstarchild.livejournal.com]

I told Lani this too: You can't go to a local office for unemployment. They give you a post office box in Salem and a phone number, and the website says specifically that local offices no longer handle claims. Trust me, I'd go there in person in a second if I thought it would help--I'd almost always rather do that then call.

In terms of OCF: I know all those things, and I know you're trying to help, but being told to be thankful feels condescending to me, especially since none of those things are any kind of replacement for OCF. It's just a very specific different experience, one I start looking forward to every year in January. It's a space where I can truly feel like myself, a place that feels damn near created for me, among lots of other people, all day long; and being there for a day or three and soaking it in really sustains me for the rest of the year.

I am thankful for all those things, but I can still be really sad to miss OCF.

[aeonflux1973.livejournal.com]

It sucks that the unemployment office won't let you come in person anymore. That is dumb. Especially when you can't get to talk to someone on the phone or online.

I'm sorry you can't o to OCF. I know how it is to do something all the time and then not having the funds to do it.

[jenhowell.livejournal.com]

I'm totally not trying to condescend to you, April. Just trying to help you feel happier, maybe. I mean, it's okay to feel sad, too, and I'm not trying to say you're wrong or bad to feel sad about this, just trying to help you over the hump.

I do understand what it's like to miss something or not be a part of something that's important to you. Maybe OCF isn't the same thing for me, but not being in "The Vagina Monologues" this year hit me like a truck. I had been looking forward to being in the show again as soon as we left the stage the year before. So when I found out that I wouldn't have a part it was really hard.

I ended up coping in a similar way to what I mentioned above - I thought about things that were good and tried to find alternative ways to have fun while the VMs were going on. Cause it was a choice between that and being miserable. And that's all I was saying - you're my friend and I don't want you to be miserable.

As to the unemployment office - that both sucks and blows at the same time.

Would your family be able to help out a bit if the unemployment office doesn't come through?

[aprilstarchild.livejournal.com]

I know you're just trying to help.

I don't know if my family would help out. I haven't talked to them about it. I was thinking of calling them anyway, though.

[thorongil8.livejournal.com]

That sucks. You've certainly had a rough time of it recently. :( Fiona and I will miss seeing you. I hope your job and money situation improves soon.

[aprilstarchild.livejournal.com]

Thanks, me too!

*Hi stranger*

[mediter.livejournal.com]

Aww, I hope the OCF is as good as I remember it. The first time I went was in 1992. I was pretty young, but I'll never forget it. Over the years, I noticed it change from a rather obscure nakedfest to a mixed crowd of jock-gawkers & yippies. BUT it was still loads of fun! If only I could be there for their 40th ^_^

Re: *Hi stranger*

[aprilstarchild.livejournal.com]

It's a family fest of colors and vaudeville now! I love it so much.