Hello from Albany.. I’m in a cheap hotel just off the interstate … and believe it or not.. I’m FREEZING Given though it was 90 degrees today. I just stopped here after attending a Phish concert at SPAC in Saratoga. It poured the first third of the concert so we were drenched.. but not so drenched as to not enjoy the fine music and great folks around..

My friend John made the trip down with me.. which really helped the drive.    We got there around 4.. so we all got to hang out a bit… here’s the venue before the people showed up

 

And here’s the great vendor scene (aka Shakedown street) across the parking lot. You could buy anythign from grilled cheese and pizza to psychedelic lollipops.. (i stuck to the pizza)

 

I met up with John , Collin Dylan and Dylan’s mom Cathy.. ad we walked down the Saratoga gorge to meet up wiht our mutual friends Adam and Becca.. the walk was nce and shady..

 

A perfect place for a samstone !

 

later I ran into my freinds Andy (and later his wife Jen)

 

and my friend Nick from Richmond !

 

then into my freinds Chris and Kim … here are Kim and soem of her friends from Vermont..

 

They started letting folks into the venue around 7.. just as it really started raining.

 

It was coming down hard for about an hour.. but no one seemed to care.. even though we were all soaked to the bone..

 

The show was great.. I wandered around .. in the field and down near the stage just soakign up the music and the vibre (and the water)

 

A few hours in Cathy handed me a nectarine.. a welcome and unexpected energy boost and taste treat 1

 

i really loved looing at all the rave toys.. from LED ballons, to  poi to the simple glowsticks which make all Phish shows amazing..

I watched the last half of the last set right up near the stage.. I find I can really loose myself (anf maybe my hearing) in really loud music.. it worked.. all my angst for my coming work weak was erased in all those decibels..

ok.. I need to go .. first a quick hot bath .. then sleep..

Before I do, I want to ask folks to keep our friend Janet’s family in their thoughts and hearts

nite all, nite sam

-me