I’ll start by saying that Ohio University has been very good to me. My fall semester consisted of Introduction to Graduate Study, a journalism teaching seminar, Research Methods, Mass Communication Theory, Ethics, Internet and Society, and Thursday night bull-sessions at Jackie O’s.

It was a busy semester, especially toward the end, when I had to write two 15-page research papers and one 27-page research paper. There were moments when I thought I was never going to make it through finals, but the outcome was well-worth the struggle. I managed score a 4.0, as well as some amazing friends. Admissions couldn’t have selected a greater group of students.

Spring semester starts Jan. 14, which is right around the corner. This year I’ll be taking Research in Journalism and Communication, Historical Research in Journalism, a seminar in Mass Media Research, a seminar in International Mass Media and another teaching seminar.

When I’m not in class I’ll be teaching multi-platform reporting, which is the same class I taught last semester. As excited as I am to meet my new group of students, it’s going to be hard to top the sophomores I had the pleasure of working with last year. If Scripps students are any indication of the future of journalism, the field is in good hands.

Addam had a successful year as well. He was in some difficult classes, but he managed to pull in A’s and B’s. I couldn’t be more proud of him. Next semester he’ll be busy with an English class, as well four audio/video editing classes for his major. He may not be excited about reading and writing, but I know that he’s going to have a fun and productive semester.

When we weren’t working, Addam and I were checking out shows, hanging with friends and attending family Casa nights. While seeing Jack White in Columbus was the highlight of my semester and possibly my life, #10 Fest was a good show, as was Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) and the plethora of local talent that made their way through Athens.

Another cool show? Barack Obama.

He stopped at Ohio University while touring the midwest in the hopes of procuring votes before the November election. Addam, Emily and I sat in line for more than 10 hours for access to the field outside Memorial Auditorium, but the president was well worth the wait. It was a moving speech and an experience that I won’t soon forget.

Of all the memories that spanned this semester, some of the best occurred when friends from Virginia came to visit. Addam’s best friends Chris and Stephen came up for two days in September.

They got in on a Friday afternoon, just in time for family Casa night. After dinner we shuffled through some of Athens’ finest bars, including The Pigskin and The Pub, before introducing the boys to Big Mamma’s Burritos.

After sleeping in as late as we could on Saturday morning we met up with Ben, who drove the group over to Old Man’s Cave in Hocking Hills State Park for a mid-afternoon hike.

Shortly after Addam and I took Chris and Stephen to Jackie O’s for pitchers and pool, before grabbing some pizza at home. As soon as our stomachs were satisfied we met up with Emily and Connor at Broney’s to close out a great weekend with some after dinner drinks.

The guys left on Monday morning, but “goodbye” was more of a “see ya later.” Chris was back with Jake the following month for the annual Athens Halloween celebration. For those who are not familiar with the festivities — Halloween is huge here. The yearly block party is literally on scale with a New Orleans Mardi Gras or an NYC ball drop.

I didn’t think the boys were going to make it, but they arrived on Saturday afternoon with costumes in tow. Addam was Beetlejuice, I was Lydia, Jake was a Mexican and Chris looked like he could have starred as an extra in Boogie Nights. After checking out the madness the guys and I settled into Jackie O’s, where we met up with Emily and Connor (Batman and Robin), as well as a few of my friends from the Scripps program.

The guys left early the next morning, but as soon as the semester ended Addam and I jumped in Ben’s car and headed for Virginia. It was our first trip home in about five years, and while it was not exactly stress-free, it was much-needed and extremely appreciated.

We got in a wreck on the way to Harrisonburg. A recent snowstorm ensured that West Virginia roads were icy, and a truck that was turning left slid into our lane, making it impossible for Ben to avoid hitting it head-on. In the end the Tracker was totaled and we were towed to the nearest mechanic, where we received word that our good friend Daniel was going to try to come pick us up as soon as he got off work.

In an effort to kill part of a three-hour wait in the most reasonable way possible, Addam, Ben and I walked over to a very local bar known as Spanky’s, where we were told we could “drink all our problems and gamble all our money away.” The place could fit about 15 people comfortably and offered five slot machines, three beer choices and absolutely no mixed drinks, but I’ll be damned if the little old lady who tended bar was not the sweetest person I’d ever met in my life. She served sandwiches and offered small talk while we waited for the time to pass.

Jim Butcher. Not so pleasant.

Butcher entered the bar half drunk, but made a friendly-enough first impression — until he started talking about politics and the outcome of the most recent election. He seemed to have a strong issue with Obama’s victory, which he very much blamed on us. He thought that I was the stupidest girl he had ever met in his life and absolutely hated everything about me except for my dimples, which is probably why he helped us book a hotel room before exiting our lives forever.

Daniel ran into quite a bit of weather on the way to pick us up, so we had to stay in West Virginia overnight. We met up with him first thing Saturday morning and were finally on our way. Within three hours we were in Harrisonburg, receiving news that the city’s only car rental agency was closed until Monday, extending our trip by the day we had lost.

As frustrating as it was to face another setback, the boys and I made the best of it and stopped by Daniel’s house to unwind and stretch our legs. It was the first time I’d been in Grottoes, the small town that raised me, since I left for Chicago about five years ago, and I am happy to say that not a thing has changed. I still know the town like the back of my hand, and there is something comforting in that fact.

That night Daniel, Ben, Addam and I went to the Quaker Steak and Lube for drinks and light appetizers. It was a pretty cool place, mainly because of the motorcycle decor and the fact that they serve beer in 100-ounce “lube tubes.” It was kitchie but fun.

After drinks the boys dropped me off at Heather’s house and met up with some of Addam’s friends at Dave’s Taverna. The time allowed me to give the kiddies their gifts and catch up my best friend, whom I have missed immensely since I left Harrisonburg five years ago.

Words can’t explain how good it felt to finally wrap my arms around Logan, Maggie and Stella, or to have a drink by pit-fire on Heather and Eric’s front porch. I wanted to nurse Soco and cranberries by the fire all night, and if I wasn’t so exhausted from the previous night I just might have. After so much time and distance it was hard to tear myself away.

The guys picked me up from Heather’s once the bar closed, which was right around the time we all headed back to Chris’s house to continue the party. Late night or early morning — we had a raging time all the same.

On Sunday morning I had the pleasure of meeting Eli, Chris’s adorable and well-behaved two-year old boy, as well as Kaityn’s two girlies. We were all starving, so the guys and I loaded up the car and headed to Jalisco’s, which I had been missing since the day I left Virginia. It was just as good as I remembered and absorbed every ounce of hunger I had been feeling prior.

Chris had Christmas shopping to do, so Addam and I hitched a ride with Ben and Daniel and met Andrew in Rawley Springs.

Addam and I haven’t been off-roading in years, so it was fun to hit the backroads again. After riding through some trails the guys built a huge campfire, which kept us warm while we nursed a few beers that had been cooling in the creek.

It was a comfy, cozy night, which we followed up with dinner at O’Charley’s (Addam’s favorite) before making our way back to Chris’s house to pass out.

Ben had rented a truck by the time Addam and I woke up on Christmas Eve morning, so the ride home was relatively uneventful. After unpacking we made our way to the Evans family commune to pass the holiday with family, food and cranberry Christmas cocktails.

Believe me when I say that Christmas was absolutely incredible.

I made snickerdoodle muffins as everyone one was waking up on Christmas morning, courtesy of Emily’s wish list. We ate breakfast and opened mounds of presents, within which I think everyone got exactly what they wanted most. Addam got me a White Stripes collectors set; I got him a home beer brewery kit. I got beautiful trench and pea coats, which will both come in handy this semester, as well as a ton of movies, books and clothes. Addam got a skateboard, which he picked out and built himself, an Omaha Steaks package and some new kicks. It was definitely a very merry Christmas.

While I went all out on Thanksgiving, a turkey and a couple of side dishes sufficed for Christmas dinner, especially since everyone literally ate cheese and guacamole all day. I didn’t think I was going to be able to roll myself home at the end of the night, but I somehow made it back to my comfy little home. After such a hectic week, I had been missing it.

As an unexpected treat Addam’s entire Ohio family was able to visit for New Year’s Eve. This included his Aunt Ginny, Uncle Kevin and their four kids — Kelly, Karla, Karmen and Kyle; and his Uncle Dave and his three kids — Abbey, Jim and Tom. It was a full house, but a great time was had by all.

Everyone took turns gathering around the holiday roundtable, and after dinner we met in the family room for a family gift exchange. I gifted a white chocolate cake, which Emily received (even though she hates them). I ended up with Emily’s nerf gun, which the guys had quite a bit of fun with later. The big winner, however, was Jim, whose lottery tickets ended up totaling $34.

Addam and I rang in the new year at The Union with Ben and a few of his Ruby Tuesday friends, which was a great way to kick off 2013. Since then I’ve been preparing myself for the upcoming school year, reading Life of Pi and watching countless episodes of Dawson’s Creek while Addam brews beer. It’s been a fabulous break, but I’ll be back to the grind in T minus one week. As excited as I am to settle into my new classes, a large part of me wishes winter break would never end.

I’ll try not to go four months without an update, but time always seems to get away from when classes are in session. In the meantime, I hope that you guys will try to be patient with me. I’m a busy girl.

“But what minutes!  Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day.”  – Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister, (1804-1881).

My Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will be dedicated to the Multimedia Reporting class I’m set to teach this fall.

While I will only teach one Monday lecture, the class meets from 11:50 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. each week. I’ll be handling a lab section of the course, which meets from 7:30 to 9:20 on Wednesday and Friday mornings. As happy as I am to keep the majority of my day free, I am not looking forward to waking up so early.

My Tuesdays and Thursdays, however, are pretty busy.

My first class, Research Methods, meets from 9:10 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. Mass Communication Theory immediately follows and stretches from 10:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. I have a bit of a break before my last class of the day, Ethics, Internet and Society, which meets from 1:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.

I am also enrolled in two one-credit hour classes — Introduction to Graduate Study and the Scripps Journalism Teaching Seminar. The department head is supposed to look over student schedules this week to determine when everyone is available to meet. The one-hour classes meet once a week, so it shouldn’t be too inconvenient regardless of when they’re scheduled.

I’m taking 15 credits, so I expect to be pretty busy for the next four months. Regardless, I’ll make sure to keep up with this blog to update everyone on my academic endeavors. Addam and I are both very excited to get started this Monday.

GO BOBCATS!

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats, Irish poet and playwright (1865 – 1939).

As it’s been a hot minute since my last post, I thought I’d take tonight to update my loyal readers on what I have been up to since my move to Athens, Ohio.

Addam and I have moved into our own little home at 47 1/2 South May Avenue, and after a few weeks of lugging loads and unpacking boxes, it is finally starting to feel like home. We don’t have a lot of extra storage space, but we’ve made do with what we have, and it’s coming together quite nicely.

While I love the entire house, my favorite feature is our front porch — where you can usually find me reading a book and sipping on some vino after a long day of reporting for The Athens NEWS.

For the past three weeks I have been freelancing for the weekly paper — reporting on everything from hospital safety to area thrift shops to the local farmers market. I start school next week (eek!), but I plan to continue freelancing as much as I can while balancing my busy class schedule. I don’t know what I’m taking yet, but I’ll find out on Friday, when I officially register.

But it hasn’t been all work and no play at the Evans household.

In continuing with our usual tradition, Addam and I have been checking out the local music scene. Earlier this month we saw The Hackensaw Boys at Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville. A couple of weeks later we checked out Gizzae — a Chicago-based reggae band — at Pomeroy’s Rhythm on the River. Both shows were small but absolutely incredible. I’d encourage any music fan to check them out.

Mumford & Sons, however, took the cake! We saw them at Bonnaroo a couple of years ago, but nothing could compare to seeing them in Columbus! After a long dinner at Gordon Biersch, we headed to the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion — where the show was scheduled to kick off around 7:30 p.m.

Dawes opened the show and performed a very energetic set before handing things over to Mumford. Mumford & Sons played all the hits off their first album, as well as many songs from their upcoming release, which is set to hit stores next month. From what I heard, it shouldn’t disappoint.

In other news — this week Addam and I celebrated our first year of marriage. I don’t know where the time has gone, but it’s been one of the best of my life.

We kicked off the festivities with gifts on Monday morning. Since tradition dictates that couples gift paper to celebrate their first year, after a lunch at Big Mamma’s Burritos I headed to the Athens Bureau of Motor Vehicles to make my name change legal — on “paper.” Addam was running an errand, so I took the extra time to head by the university bookstore, where I bought an OU sticker and a kid’s book entitled Mr. Impossible. I found it fitting, as it was about a man who goes to school and learns how to make the impossible possible. <3 Earlier this month I ordered some prints of original artwork from MYNDzEYE, which is headed by Addam’s good friend Jimmy Parker. The artwork is amazing, and Addam seemed pretty pleased with everything I got him.

Addam gifted me with a collector’s edition of The Hunger Games, complete with a Mockingjay pendant and a ton of Hunger Games notebooks and folders. (All paper). He knows how much I enjoyed the books and he’s well aware of my obsession with school supplies, so it was definitely the perfect present.

After lunch and a few gifts, Addam and I took Yoga for a hike to an Athens overlook, which we all enjoyed. The weather was perfect, and it got us off our butts for a little bit, which is always a good thing. Yoga suffered a bee sting, but after some pampering she was no worse for wear. It was a fabulous way to break up the day.

Once we had finished hiking, Addam and I returned to our house for a few episodes of Breaking Bad (our newest obsession) before dressing for dinner.

Ever since we’ve  moved I’ve been bugging Addam to take me to Salaam, an up-scale Indian restaurant in downtown Athens. It was well-worth the wait, as the food was INCREDIBLE! We started with an appetizer of hummus and flat bread and moved into a refreshing tomato gazpacho. My main course consisted of couscous and falafel, while Addam went with a chicken penne pasta with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes. Needless to say — we left full.

From Salaam Addam and I headed to Jackie O’s, which is quickly becoming one of our favorite hangouts. Addam is obsessed with their house-brewed beers, so we had to make the trip over to celebrate.

While I had only planned on a few after-dinner drinks, I was in for quite a surprise, as Addam had another trick up his sleeve.

After saying that he had to “run to the bathroom,” Addam returned with a silver paper bag with the sweetest card I have ever received and a gorgeous rose-cut wedding ring. Little did I know that while he was “running errands” earlier in the day, he was really heading to Cornwell Jewelers to buy the ring — which I fell in love with while picking up a sizer just a few days earlier.

It’s very vintage and exactly my style. As beautiful as it is, the best part is having a constant reminder of the day I dedicated myself to my husband just one year ago.

While the ring is at Cornwell being sized, I can’t wait until it’s a permanent fixture on my finger. It was completely unexpected, and I still can’t believe that it, or Addam, is really mine.

Once we were done with Jackie O’s, Addam and I invited Ben and Emily over for some late-night festivities. We hadn’t seen Emily since we moved to Athens, as she was finishing up an internship at Fendi, so it was great to finally wrap my arms around her!

Although there wasn’t much on the night’s agenda, Addam and I made sure to bust out a slice of our wedding cake — which we froze and bravely transported from Miami, Florida to Athens, Ohio. As a vegan I couldn’t have any, but I got a kick out of watching the Evans clan dig in and claim their own piece. Emily doesn’t typically like cake, but I think that Ben could have put away the entire chunk by himself. (As you can probably tell — Addam just enjoyed the photoshoot.)

As much as I fun as I had during my anniversary celebration, next week I’m back to business. Orientation kicks off on Thursday, and by Monday Addam and I will be thrust back into academia. I’m nervous but extremely excited.

I’ll post an update listing my class schedule later in the week, but in the meantime enjoy the slideshow I created that highlights our new home. Feel free to leave me a comment below and let me know what you think.

“It doesn’t matter where you go in life, what you do or how much you have. It’s who you have beside you.” – Anonymous.

While we will always miss Miami and all the beautiful memories it brought us, we are happily turning the page to the newest chapter in our lives. We are, once again, becoming novices in the search for self-improvement — chasing the horizon in the hopes that it will bring us to bigger and better things.

This post outlines our journey and introduces followers to the town that I now call home.

After an hour of biking and bussing across North Miami, Addam and I picked up our Penske around noon on June 30. We had one last lunch at Dogma Grill, then headed home to pack up the truck and clean up the apartment. Once everything was in order we headed over to John’s house for a quick goodbye, then hit the road — leaving Miami behind us.

Since we knew we were going to get such a late start, we made arrangements to stay at Addam’s Aunt JoAnn and Uncle Lenny’s house and arrived in Fort Meyers around 8:30 or 9 p.m. JoAnn was asleep, but we were able to catch up with Lenny over spaghetti. After a quick dip in the pool, Addam and I headed to bed to rest up for another day on the road.

After spending the morning with JoAnn and Lenny, Addam and I hopped in the Penske and headed north around 8:30.

Since I hadn’t seen my sister in years and I was driving by her place on the way to my mom’s, we made a slight detour to Seminole to visit with Lenora, Shelby (4), Cash (2) and Lilly (2) — my little nieces and nephew.

The kids were incredibly cute, and it was great to finally catch up with my sister. We discussed how everything has been going with our families, Addam and my move to Ohio, and what we’ve been doing for the past couple of years. I brought the kiddies some candy, crayons and a coloring book — so I spent a lot of time unwrapping wrappers and watching as Shelby drew pictures for Addam and me. (Trust me when I say that they’ll always have a spot on the front of my refrigerator.)

Even though we couldn’t stay long, I was glad that Addam was there to meet everyone. Not many people in my life have had the opportunity to meet my sister, and since Addam will never be able to meet my dad, it meant a lot to me that he could share in the moment.

From Lenora’s Addam and I headed to Brooksville for a lunch date with my mom and Aunt Terry.

After meeting up at my mom’s house, we ran over to Golden Corral, where my Aunt Terry was waiting with Natalia, my cousin Brittany’s  little girl. I’d never met her before, but she was such a cutie and looked just like Brittany.

We hadn’t eaten much all day, so Addam and I maxed out on the buffet while catching up with the family. While I wish more people would have been able to make it out, I had a great time discussing OU, the move and all the hype behind Fifty Shades of Grey (which my mom had just finished reading.)

Once Addam and I finished eating and said goodbye to Aunt Terry, my mom bought us a load of snacks for the road and took us back to her place to pick up the Penske. I hated to leave, but we were back on the road around 4:30 p.m. I’m hoping I can convince my mom to move closer so that we won’t have to wait so long between visits.

Addam and I drove until 2 a.m., stopping only to use the restroom and pick up food. Even though we had planned to sleep in the truck, we were so tired by the time we reached Tennessee that Addam caved and let us rent a room at a Holiday Inn. As soon as we were settled we fell into bed and didn’t wake up until 10:30 a.m. the next day.

The next day’s drive was not nearly as brutal. We only had to drive for about eight hours and were able to stop at Mellow Mushroom for lunch. Once we reached Ohio we purchased some fireworks for the Fourth of July and continued on to Athens, arriving at Addam’s parent’s house around 5:30 p.m.

Since reaching Athens, Addam and I have been extremely busy getting settled and enjoying the town we’ll call home for the next four years.

In the two and a half weeks we’ve been here Addam and I have signed a lease on a little house near campus, gotten our OU student IDs and checked out my office at the university. I’m in Sing Tao, which is right next to Emily’s sorority house, meaning we’ll be really close next year. It’s nice to know that she’ll be popping in from time to time.

I’ve  interviewed with The Athens News, which I should begin freelancing for this week, and Addam has been working as a chef for Ruby Tuesday, which he seems to be enjoying so far. He has his OU orientation this week, where he will find out more about his program and register for classes. I can’t wait to see his schedule!

While we’ve been getting a lot done, we’ve also been having a lot of fun. The family had a great Fourth of July cookout, and Daniel visited the weekend after. We’ve been boating, hiking, biking and zip lining. We’ve built a campsite, explored the woods, went to the movies and celebrated my 26th birthday.

Even though Judy is in Cape Cod for the month, every Friday the family meets for dinner at Casa Nueva – a local restaurant that has a wide variety of vegan options. (Everywhere I go seems to cater to vegans. I finally have a choice in what I can order.) Leave Corp, which our friend Brandon — who I used to work with at JMU — drums for, recently played there. It was a great show, so make sure to check out this link for a clip from their performance.

In fact, the entire music scene here is pretty cool. Last night Addam, Ben and I went out for Boogie on the Bricks — which featured acts like Big Sam’s Funky Nation and Elemental Groove Theory. It was a good time, which we followed up with Big Mamma’s Burritos.

Since Addam and I have done so much, and I cannot begin to do Athens any justice in this post, check out the slideshow of photos of compiled of our first two weeks. We have so much more planned for this summer, so make sure to check out this blog for future updates on this new phase of our lives.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” ― Augustine of Hippo, Latin philosopher and theologian (354 –  430).

Far East Movement opened for Redfoo and SkyBlu, who threw an AMAZING party and definitely knew how to party rock. Since we were VIP, Addam and I were so close we could practically reach out and touch the uncle/nephew duo, and when they showered the crowd with champagne, we could taste the bubbles! We had an incredible time, so I wanted to share some of the photos we took throughout the night.

PARTY ROCK!

Check out this link to my YouTube Channel to view a set of videos I took of the performance.

“Yo, I’m runnin’ through these ho’s like Drano; I got that devilish flow, rock ‘n’ roll, no halo. We party rock, yeah, that’s the crew that I’m reppin’; On the rise to the top, no lead in our zeppelin.” —  LMFAO, Party Rock Anthem, Sorry for Party Rocking (2011).

I’ll get to all of my life changes in a later post, but this one is dedicated to Bonnaroo 2012 and the bands that made the journey from Miami, Florida to Manchester, Tennessee worth the 14-hour drive.

From Miami to Manchester

Addam and I woke up at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, with John and Tati knocking at our front door. (Or texting from our gate — if I’m going to be completely honest.) We were on the road within a half an hour and headed to the most magical place on Earth.

We didn’t make many stops along the way, but we were sure to pull off the interstate when we saw a sign for Mellow Mushroom — a pizza chain that Addam and I fell in love with when we lived in Virginia. After the gang filled up on pizza and I enjoyed a veggie tofu salad, we were back on the road to meet up with Ben and Daniel — who were coming in from Ohio and Harrisonburg.

Since we were all set to arrive in Manchester around the same time, we met up with the boys at a local Wendy’s and immediately got in line. I don’t know how it happened, but there was absolutely no wait and we were setting up camp five minutes after we hit the road. It was a huge improvement from the eight hours we had to wait last year.

Since it is impossible to sit still as soon as you’re set up at Bonnaroo, the gang had a couple of drinks and roamed around before resting up for the next day’s festivities. Addam tagged up some of Roo’s legendary art walls, Tati and I checked out the clock tower and the rest of the group came along for the ride. We met up back at the campsite for about half a night’s sleep.

Thursday, June 7

The gang woke up on Thursday morning ready for a full day of music. After a quick breakfast we headed out to Centeroo to check out this year’s digs, only to find that the line to get in was impossibly long. Since there weren’t any acts that we felt a dire need to see that morning, we decided to kick back at the campsite until Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. played at 7:15 p.m. By that time the line had gone down and it took us just a few short minutes to make it in. (Probably because everyone was already inside checking out the set. Take a look at this link for a video that highlights just how large the crowd was.)

SOJA was the next act that Addam and I made it out for, and we were pumped to see them. As I’ve stated in previous posts, the band has made quite a name for themselves in Virginia, so we’ve been following them for awhile now. They were even better than I remembered, so if you like reggae I’d encourage you to check it out.

After heading back to the campsite for a brief break, Addam, Ben and I headed out to Alabama Shakes at 11:30 p.m. As much as I enjoyed the show, I was disappointed that Jack White did not make it out for the set. He has been touring with them this summer, and since he was not on the lineup, a big part of me was expecting a surprise appearance. Unfortunately — if he was at Bonnaroo he never showed himself. (Trust me — I looked.)

From the Shakes, the boys and I jumped on Roo’s Ferris wheel for a look at the late night crowd and headed out to our final show of the night – Mimosa. The group put on an absolutely incredible set, and it was one that I am extremely glad to have caught. Their light show was amazing, and I encourage everyone to check out this link for a video Addam shot of the performance.

Friday, June 8

As much fun as we all had on Thursday, Friday felt like our first official day at Roo, since that was the day that headliners took the stage. After Daniel grilled me up an amazing breakfast of potatoes and baked beans, Addam and I headed over to the TUnE-YArDs, who played at 1:45 p.m.

Since we hadn’t seen enough of SOJA, Addam and I checked out a small set they were playing on the Solar Stage shortly after. It was a very intimate performance, and we even managed to snag a free sample CD out of it. We had most of the songs that were included, but it didn’t diminish our excitement one bit.

After grabbing some lunch back at the campsite, Addam and I went to see The Avett Brothers, who played the main stage at 5:00 p.m. (I don’t even need to tell you how great that show was. Best. Band. Ever.) We caught a bit of Little Dragon on the way, then headed over to Ludacris.

Since we just saw Luda perform in Miami over the New Year, Addam and I headed back to the campsite to meet up with Ben and Daniel before Foster the People took the stage at 8:45 p.m. I just recently got into Foster, but now that I’ve seen them live I plan check out much more of them. It was a very lively, feel-good show.

Radiohead was up next, and GOOD GOD were they incredible! They recently played in Miami, and I had absolutely no idea what I was missing. Now that I do, I’m determined to make it out to another set. Like Mimosa, the light show was impeccable.

After Radiohead, the boys and I checked out a bit of both Major Lazer and Black Star, as they were playing opposite each other. Addam and I had seen both Talib Kweli and Mos Def before, but it was our first  Major Lazer show. Check out this link for a video Addam shot of the crowd going bat-shit crazy.

While the majority of Bonnaroo was a fun free-for-all, when Addam and I returned to our campsite we discovered that someone had cut into our tent and stolen my phone and all of Addam’s clothes. It was a huge bummer, but we tried to put it out of our minds so that we could enjoy the rest of the festival. Needless to say — after a great day it was a disappointing way to end the night.

After we were over the disappointment, the boys and I closed out the night with some Flying Lotus, who played from 2 to 3:30 a.m. It should have been an amazing set, but he spent most of his time replaying songs that Major Lazer had performed an hour prior. Sorry Fly Lo. I’m just being honest.

Saturday, June 9

Saturday was probably the most jam-packed day of Bonnaroo. Addam and I were up and out of camp by 12:30 to check out The Devil Makes Three and Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires. As much as I love The Devil Makes Three, the Screaming Eagle was definitely the best act of the morning. He’s so soulful that it was easy to get lost in the sound despite the midday sun.

Das Racist played at 2 p.m., and Addam and I met up with Ben and Daniel for the set. Unfortunately, something was terribly off with the group’s sound system and it was very obvious that the members could not hear one another. It could have been one of the best shows at Bonnaroo, but we ended up leaving after a few songs.

Childish Gambino was also dealing with some sound issues and ended up free-styling most of his set. While it was a great opportunity for him to showcase his talent, I felt bad for him since the lack-luster acoustics were completely out of his control. Despite the setback, it was a great show.

Everyone met back at the campsite before Dispatch for dinner and drinks. The show was one of the best of this year’s Bonnaroo, partly because I found a huge, inflatable killer whale that Ben, Daniel, Addam and I released over the crowd. It didn’t survive for very long, but it was a lot of fun while it lasted.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers played next, and even though it was the second time most of us were seeing them, they didn’t fail to impress. They’re epic performers, and the light show was very elaborate and very cool.

Alice Cooper played at midnight, and we caught part of his show on the way to Skrillex. While I had never been a big Skrillex fan before Roo, he easily won me over. He performed a very energetic mix, and even though I went in tired, I was alive as soon as he took the stage. His light show didn’t suck either.

Addam and I were going to stay up for GZA, who performed all the songs on his legendary Liquid Swords album, but it started to rain around 3 a.m. He was scheduled to perform at 2:30 a.m. and still hadn’t taken the stage, so we went back to our campsite to get some shut eye before our last day at Bonnaroo. We could faintly hear him from our taped-up tent.

Sunday, June 10

Although I hated to see Bonnaroo come to a close, Sunday was a great end to an already fabulous weekend.

Addam, Ben, Daniel and I got to Centeroo around 12:30 a.m. — right when Fruit Bats and ALO were taking the stage. They were both fun sets, which is not surprising since they’re both upbeat, energetic bands.

We hung around for awhile, catching Grouplove’s Tongue Tied. After enjoying the hit, we headed over to Mac Miller – who I couldn’t wait to see. I’ve been listening to Miller a lot over the past couple of months, and I was happy that he performed his most popular songs while surprising us with a few new ones as well. Two thumbs up.

After Mac Miller, Addam, Daniel, Ben and I met up with John and Tati for a bite to eat and a few quick drinks. From there we all headed in to see Fun. – the best show of this year’s Bonnaroo.

The Civil Wars performed at 6:15, and even though we were rushing to Fun., we were able to catch their hit I’ve Got This Friend on the way.

Fun.’s set was absolutely inspiring. They played their biggest hits, closing with We Are Young and Some Nights. The best part, however, was their encore performance of The Rolling Stones’ You Can’t Always Get What You Want. I’ve never heard a better cover. It changed my life.

Phish closed out Bonnaroo, with absolutley no artists playing opposite them. They played for four hours, and Addam, Ben, Daniel and I hung out for most of their set before heading back to our tents for the night. They’re always amazing, so we were glad we got to see so much of them.

Heading home

As sorry as I was to let Bonnaroo go, by Monday morning it was time to head back to the real world. Daniel, our campsite’s early riser, and Ben had packed up before the Miami crew woke up and were on the road after a quick goodbye.

It was pouring rain, which made deconstructing our campsite a bit difficult, but John, Tati, Addam and I took off around 10:30 a.m. The wait to leave Roo was much longer than the wait to get in, so we had plenty of time to say goodbye.

Until next year, check out the slideshow I threw together of some of the photos from our 2012 Bonnaroo experience. I’m still waiting to receive some pics from Daniel, and Addam hasn’t started on this year’s video, so expect some updates in upcoming weeks.

“As magic gasses fill the air; It’s bad for your health, but I don’t care; This’ll all be gone tomorrow, but we’ll still be able to taste it; The golden chord is frayed; What was that song they played; Our steed lies melting in the sun; They flooded the parking lot; Our tent begins to rot; And I’m in love with everyone.” — ALO, Walls of Jericho, Fly Between Falls (2006).

As you read this John, Tati, Addam and I are heading to Manchester, Tennessee, where we will meet up with Ben and Daniel for good music and better times.

I’ll be out of touch for at least a week, but expect a full update as soon as I get back. Until then, check out the video that Addam edited of last year’s trip.

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“I can’t believe it’s finally here.” — Addam Evans, world’s best husband and biggest Bonnaroo fan (2012).

ALO is a California rock band composed of Zach Gill (keys and vocals), Steve Adams (bass and vocals), Dan Lebowitz (guitar and vocals) and Dave Brogan (drums and vocals).

The group got their start in 1989, when Lebowitz, Adams, Gill and former drummer Matt West formed a band in junior high school. Calling themselves Django, the group recorded their first album, Contact, the summer before their senior year. The band continued through college, when the boys moved to Santa Barbara. West returned home after a couple of years, making room for Brogan.

The group is currently signed to Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records. They have released three full-length albums for Brushfire, along with a number of independent releases.

Even though I only started listening to them a few weeks ago, ALO’s smooth sounds should be a perfect fit for the afternoon sun. They’re light and airy, making them an ideal match for a summer music festival.

I’ve included a video of my favorite song of their’s, Walls of Jericho — so take a look and let me know what you think. I can’t listen to it without thinking about Roo.

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ALO is playing a lot of sets. They’re scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, 12:30 p.m. on Sunday and 3 p.m. on Sunday, so we’re bound to catch them at least once. They’re playing on Roo’s smaller stages, so hopefully we’ll secure a good spot and capture some strong photos.

Discography:

• ALO vs. LAG (1998)
• One Size Fits All Soundtrack (1999)
• Time Expander (2002)
• Fly Between Falls (2005/2006)
• Roses & Clover (2007)
• Man of the World (2010)
• Sounds Like This (2012)

Sounds Like:

• Ben Harper
• Jack Johnson
• O.A.R.
• Dave Matthews Band
• Dispatch

Songs to Listen For:

1. Empty Vessel
2. Lady Loop
3. Roses & Clover
4. Waiting for Jaden
5. Walls of Jericho

Times at Roo: 0

Times I’ve Seen Them: 0

While he’s uncredited, Ellison has produced bumper music for the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. He’s also remixed songs for fellow Plug Research artists, including Mia Doi Todd.

In January 2011 FlyLo won the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards in the short-form video category for MmmHmm. He will be collaborating with R&B singer Erykah Badu on new material for her next album and he is working on a  multimedia project with filmmaker Miwa Matreyek,  titled The Mapping of Countries Yet to Come. It is also rumored that Flying Lotus will remix one of Radiohead’s songs from The King of Limbs.

Like many Bonnaroo artists, I didn’t know much about FlyLo until I saw his name on the lineup. That being said, I’ve listened to him a lot in the past few weeks and can’t wait to check out his set.

I’m including the video MmmHmm, as it helped him skyrocket to stardom.

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Flying Lotus is playing at 2 a.m. on Friday night (or Saturday morning — depending on how you choose to look at it). Unfortunately, he’s up against the great Umphrey’s McGee. Since both sets are long (about an hour and a half to two hours), I’m sure Addam and I will be able to catch part of both acts.

Discography:

• 1983 (2006)
• Reset EP (2007)
• Los Angeles (2008)
• L.A. EP 1X3 (2008)
• Shhh! EP (2008)
• L.A. EP 2X3 (2008)
• L.A. EP 3X3 (2009)
• Cosmogramma (2010)
• Pattern + Grid World (2010)
• Cosmogramma Alt Takes (2011)
• Until the Quiet Comes (2012)

Sounds Like:

• J-Dilla
• Gramatik
• MF Doom
• RJD2
• Beats Antique

Songs to Listen For:

1. Zodiac Shit
2. 1983
3. Nose Art
4. Pickled
5. Beautiful Accidents

Times at Roo: 0

Times I’ve Seen Them: 0

The band includes Brad Corrigan (vocals, drums, guitar, percussion and harmonica),  Pete Francis Heimbold (vocals, bass and guitar) and Chad Urmston (vocals, guitar, bass and percussion). Their music crosses several genres, including acoustic folk-rock, reggae and funk.

I didn’t really know much about Dispatch until Addam started listening to them after the Bonnaroo lineup was announced, but we both dove into their music headfirst once we started following them. They describe themselves as a “funk and reggae-packed rock band,” so I’m sure you understand the appeal — especially to a couple of new-age hippies like my husband and I.

The General is probably their most popular song, so take a look and appreciate the sound.

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Dispatch is set to play at 8:30 on Saturday night and I cannot wait! There is not a single artist playing on any of Roo’s five main stages during their set, so there’s no excuse for not making it out. And, honestly — who needs one? Dispatch is can’t miss.

Discography:

• Silent Steeples (1996)
• Bang Bang (1998)
• Four-Day Trials (1999)
• Who Are We Living For? (2000)
• Gut the Van (2001)
• All Points Bulletin (2004)
• Zimbabwe (2007)
• Circles Around the Sun (2012)
• Dispatch EP (2011)

Sounds Like:

• Jack Johnson
• Mumford & Sons
• O.A.R.
• Jason Mraz
• Pepper

Songs to Listen For:

1. Bang Bang
2. Out Loud
3. Two Coins
4. Railway
5. Con Man

Times at Roo: 0

Times I’ve Seen Them: 0