The Boys are back and all is right in the world

As if they were giving the phamily a chance to reproduce and let the offspring grow dancing lega, the Phish are back with a vengence just in time for Abbey to experience them. Of course, this wouldn't mean much if they were just going through the motions. So far the shows have ranged from good to excellent. Their play is tight and the jams have really gotten strong in the first NE leg of the summer tour.

Life is different under Phish 3.0, but change is just part of life. The band has grown up. They reportedly sober. They are playing tighter. The tour seems designed to shake-off raod warriors, i.e. it is not very easy to follow. Some shows have had multi-department federal drug enforement.

The best thing is how technology has changed. There are reports of people streaming shows live on their cell phones for a fee. These efforts are underground since they violates phish's taping policy. Others have been making recordings available immediately after each show without any information about the show so you can listen at home without preconception of what you hear. check it out here: http://phishthoughts.com/nospoilers/ . And head over to the main blog for Mr Miner's thoughts.

For me, the main lesson from the reunions so far: always listen withoout preconception ... when you can. I had forgotten how Phish can turn a random song into something epic. Perhaps that is the benefit of a rest - the energy is there to do that. And though I am sure I wil be hoping for Antelope at the Gorge this summer, I will try to remember that any song could blow the doors off.

For some examples, check out 6/7/09 show or the second set of 6/2/09. Yes, awesomeness is now available in bulk.

Speaking of the Gorge this summer, I am starting to work on the family's scene for the show. Camping at the Gorge is always an undertaking... and bringing Abigail is going to add to that. But right now I am thinking outfits. We are a family now and that gives us an opportunity to show it. My first idea was disco dolphins. Andrea had this picture of this little girl riding a dolphin that see loved. I thought we could be the (Disco) dolphins and Abbey could be the little girl. Done right could be pretty trippy. Like this:

http://www.costumesontheweb.com/costumes/dolphin_nose_rubber_m212b.html

With a sequin cape and some funny t-shirts.

Well, I was brainstorming and it paid off. Andrea thought we could just be Bootsie's (abbey) entourage. For effect, details will be kept underwraps. Let's just say Bootsie is gonna get a funk makeover. stay tuned for details.

We "do" each other's hair

These photos are really more about being silly than "doing" hair.
I always knew that I would be a silly mum, but i never knew that i would have such a silly daughter. I honestly think that Abbey is proof that having a sense of humor is a gene rather than learned. Even when I was pregnant with her, I sensed that she was going to be funny. In fact, my sense of humor gained a new level of absurdity while I was "carrying" her. Maybe it was the 5 gallons of water I was ALSO "carrying" at the time but I am pretty sure it was because Abbey got the silly gene.

These photos depict typical afternoon (rainy-day) fun-time in the MacSchenken household. We play with toys, sing songs and dance to music, get silly, maybe fool around with photobooth. I have many ridiculous photos of us fooling around with photobooth. Frankly it is just too easy to abuse!...
and I am a fool for photography, always have been, always will. I recently chopped off several inches of hair and thought to take some photos so I could post them for my sisters, who both live in Vancouver (BC). Abbey was enjoying getting to know my new hair by using it as reins when I put her on my sholders....that was how she "did" my hair...like i was her very own pony.

Later it occurred to me that I had another funny photobooth photo of the two of us exploring what Abbey might look like with hair. Dont want to give anyone the wrong idea, I have no plans to get her a whig...it was just for shits and giggles...and to try and get a glimps of what she might look like as she gets older. You cant help but be curious about what lies ahead for these little ones. And frankly her hair is a continuing mystery. Bill and I both have blond hair and were total toe heads. My vast understanding of genetics (10th grade biology) tells me that we can pretty much expect the same our of our kids. But Abbey was born with a head of black hair . Her hair color has been getting lighter but is still kind just starting to really grow in at 10.5months. So we wonder, and family always comments - "its kind of red isn't it?", "i think its going to be brown"...and on and on. Oddly enough, my dad described her when she was born as having blond hair and blue eyes...the latter is correct...the former remains a mystery.

The MacSchenkens Welcome You!

Hey there - guess we are finally breaking down and bloggin it! might make more sense to provide family with updates this way.

But prior starting this blog - i must warn that i am somewhat (completely) deficient in the field of spelling...so please excuse me and my chronic 3rd grade spelling! i might have 2 degrees but got them both relying on spell-check!