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Blissfest 2026! Back again

  Shady Stage 3 My first Blissfest experience was in the late 1900's on my way back from Michigan Tech, downstate. That was the 13th or 14th annual festival back then. This year marks the 44th Blissfest -- 2020 & 2021 were paused for global pandemic.  Taste of Bliss - Beer and Wine tasting Stonehound Brewing shared a  Local Winery who kept dumping their rinse water over StringGrrrl's head before paying us in wine Stage 1 viewed from a shady spot  Early morning calm on Mishigaami (Lake Michigan) Brewed Fresh just for us Brought a few beers up north from GPW Hiding out in the shade Deployed for second year in the same spot between stages 1, 2, and 3 Disc Golf Camp, new favorite spot, let's see if i can grab it next year Last beer before wildcat camping on the shores of Lake Michigan and Sturgeon Bay Dunes Theo Katzmann or Galactic, I forget which night was which Shake The Ground by The Rebel Eves
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Canoes then Brews in Rhode Island & Massachucetts

  Central Falls, Rhode Island StringGrrrl's siblings live in Rhode Island, presumably to maximize distance from the 'rents in Michigan. Just outside of Providence we found Central Falls and the Blackstone river, providing a nice morning paddle with the opportunity to visit some local breweries.  Below Central Falls, no idea how to access the water here Graffitti artists have some game around here :-) A quiet spot to pause and brew coffee Just below the reservoir dam, riffles and current halted attainment Many old industrial sites pepper the riverbank Blackstone River Greenway Alternate Continuum (Barrel Aged Saison) & Greenway (NE IPA session) Mordax (NE IPA) & Coarse Woody Debris (Saison)   Oops! I accidentally brought some home
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On the anniversary of nearly dying

How it started, a beautiful day of skiing I've been unpacking some significant trauma or maybe it is post-trauma response, whatever. Suffice to say 3 years ago this week I came within centimeters of deadly injury. Since then it's been pain, questioning of my willingness to survive, fears of living in constant debt and pain, and instead of a "new lease on life" which many assume that surviving accidents should have brought me, I have a healthy fear of "surviving" in today's fraught world. Don't panic, it's not a cry for help or indication of a crisis, but certainly a recognition that there are many ways we can go and long suffering ends will not be my favored way.  That's us at the top After a full day without incident on the skis   I am fortunate to have friends who cared enough to visit me Luckily travel insurance paid everything, so survival wasn't a curse. If it had not?  Better that we don't dwell on that. Hospital Coffee and Yogu...
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Kyushu izakaya with Keysight (ESI) team in Shinjuku

Kyushu Netchuya, Shinjuku in the Nomura Building  The team in Shinjuku Tokyo, in Japanese custom, very hospitably invited StringGrrl out for an Authentic Kyushu izakaya experience. We walked from the office to a nearby shopping area to visit the restaurants in the lower levels (Why can't we have such nice things in the USA?). Izakaya are casual Japanese pubs or taverns that serve drinks and a variety of small plates, similar to experiences with Tapas in Spain, the work teams will leave the office for a drink and meal of several tastes before embarking on sometimes long commutes home. Kyushu Island is home to Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Oita, Saga, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Okinawa prefectures. It is the 3rd largest of the Japanese Islands and is the southernmost of the larger Japanese "mainland".  Credited with being the "Birthplace of Ramen", where Tonkotsu Ramen was innovated as a novel new dish using Chinese Noodles in a Creamy Pork Bone broth. Hakata Gyoza,...
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