Bars, Dives, and other places of beer

We like to explore and definitely take the road less traveled whenever we are able. This has led to many of “adventures”. Since we especially like to stop at little corner bars & pubs, some of these are quite hilarious. So...sit back, relax, and enjoy! Start from the earliest date and work to the present.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Beware of the Brownies!

Chaz’s viewpoint – Donna and I go to a music festival in Remus, MI every year, called Wheatland. This is the 32nd year it has been held and this year (2005) will make Donna’s 26th year attending without missing one and my 12th. If you like music, it’s a great event. Here is the link to the website – www.wheatlandmusic.org

Now, I like all music, but for listening pleasure I like heavy rock. If it’s just me, then I will have on Ozzy or Metallic or Pantera. Yet, I also enjoy Wheatland even though it does have a diverse line up, it does tend to folk style music. During Wheatland, 40,000 people arrive and camp on about 160 acres, but the organizers do a great job of handling the people. There is a lot of drinking/partying going on, but no one is overly obnoxious. It’s like a 60’s Woodstock, but more controlled. Also like Woodstock there is a lot of herb being smoked, but it is generally ignored by the staff as long as it’s not obvious.

My drug of choice is beer, but if herb is yours, I don’t have an issue with it. My second or third Wheatland, Donna and I were wandering around listening to impromptu bands; people watching; and generally having a good time. We stopped at a campsite and listened for a little bit. While there, I was offered some brownies, so I had one, a rather large one. As I am eating it, Donna is looked at me with wonder on her face. After I finish (note the AFTER part of that) Donna asks me, did I really want to do that? I ask her what she meant. She explains that these were “special” brownies and I might not have wanted to eat one, especially a large one. I had heard of such things, but did not make the connection. Of course, it would have been nice to have a warning before I consumed it. When I mentioned this to her, Donna basically said you’re a grown up, so she thought I knew what I was doing.

Remember this was only our 2nd year together, so we were still in the first stages of learning about each other, so she didn’t realize that while I know everything and am usually right, everything doesn’t encompass herbs, either the smoking kind or the cooking kind. Well, I thought other people do this and survive, so it shouldn’t be a big deal to me and it wasn’t..initially.

Its getting dark and we go to the main stage to listen to the music. There are three stages, plus a dance stage in various places. Seating is where ever you can put your chairs/blankets. We are sitting there listening to the music, drinking beer, enjoying the night and I realize that I am starting to get buzzed. The brownie has arrived! It’s not a big deal. Sort of like a beer buzz. Time passes. The Buzz continues to escalate. I am having trouble focusing, people are slurring their words, the music is getting loud, but I can handle it. There is a time warp as I look up in the sky and realize the stars are trying to talk to me. Dam, why didn’t I learn more Morse code? If I knew more than SOS, I am sure the stars will tell the answers to all of life’s mysteries. After 42 seconds, or maybe minutes, since I was having trouble with reality at the point, pass while I am try to contemplating the stars, it happens…

BANG!
BANG!
BOOOM!
This loud noise is coming from the stage. The speakers are vibrating with power and overloading my brain. This act is way too loud and noisy, I can’t handle it. I lean over to Donna and tell her that it’s too intense, I have to leave. She looks dumbfounded.

I explain that yes, me the person that likes to listen to heavy metal; the person that jumps into mosh pits; the person that likes to play music so loud it makes his ears bleed can’t handle it. The act is just too wild. The flaying on stage and the loudness is just too much. Please take me back to the campsite. Please!

Donna, being the loving person she is, stands up and helps me to feet and begins to take me to the campsite. As we are leaving, one of our friends ask where we are going. Donna replies, “I have to take Chaz back to the campsite.” Of course, they enquire why. Donna explains, “He can’t take the noise any more, because …...the clogging is too intense!”

That’s right ladies and gentlemen; I could not handle the clogging, which is basically folk music tap dancing. So if you ever come to Wheatland –

Beware of the brownies!

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know you say to Beware the Brownies!
But are you referring to
THESE Brownies,
or
THESE Brownies?

... which kind did you eat again?

1:58 AM  

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