Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

WOODSTOCK AND WOODSTOCK: A 50TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE



Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Pop-up quiz time!

50 years ago today.......from August 15 - 18, 1969,
the renowned Woodstock concert was held in:

a) Woodstock, VT
b) Woodstock, NY
c) Woodstock, CT 
d) None of the above.

Did you say "None of the above?"
Groovy! Give yourself a pat on the back. 

If you didn't, don't freak out  -- you're in good company.
I actually failed this test just a few years ago
when Mr. Goo Shoes and I spent a week at the Waterfall House
near Woodstock, NY (read about that, here.
We planned to visit the Woodstock museum,
which now sits on the concert site,
figuring it was close to where we were staying.
After google-mapping it, I learned that it was 67 miles from the town of Woodstock.

What the what
That just about blew my mind.
Mr. GS, who attempted to drive to the famed rock concert 50 years ago,
knew that it wasn't exactly in Woodstock, 
but had no idea (or maybe he forgot) just how far it was from its namesake town. 
He never made it to the concert -- he had to turn back -- because all the roads were closed.
But, perhaps if he had,
he might have remembered that it was actually held 
on a 600-acre farm in Bethel Woods, NY. 


The concert promoters intended to hold the concert in the town of Woodstock, NY,
but they were denied a permit.
A local farmer, Max Yasgur, offered up his property........ 
and half a million people descended upon this heretofore unknown country town.
The rest, as you know, is rock and roll history. 

The investment backers of the festival were called Woodstock Ventures,
and, because the town of Woodstock had a reputation of being pretty hip 
among those in the music world, the name Woodstock stuck.

Soooooooooo.....
There's Woodstock, and then there's Woodstock.

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


It wasn't until about three years ago that we finally made it to
the museum at Bethel Woods.
The grounds now consist of a beautiful complex, 
housing the museum, an amphitheater, and performing arts center.

Bethel Woods Center For The Arts Center sits on the site of the famous Woodstock concert | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


The museum showcases a lot of far-out 60's artifacts.

The Woodstock Museum at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts Center sits on the site of the famous Woodstock concert | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The Woodstock Museum at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts Center sits on the site of the famous Woodstock concert | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The Woodstock Museum at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts Center sits on the site of the famous Woodstock concert | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The Woodstock Museum at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts Center sits on the site of the famous Woodstock concert | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The Woodstock Museum at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts Center sits on the site of the famous Woodstock concert | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


As for the other Woodstock.......the town........
 we've been back a couple of times since our vacation there,
most recently in July.
We took a 90-mile ride one afternoon 
because Mr. GS wanted to get a Woodstock 50th anniversary t-shirt.
It was a good excuse for a spur-of-the-moment road trip. 
Most of the photos in this post are from that day; some are from previous visits. 

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that relishes its ties to the famous concert event.
It very much maintains its 60s vibe.......Can you dig it?

It's a great place to stroll through, grab a bite,
do some shopping, and get your inner hippie on. 

 If you can leave Woodstock without purchasing something tye-dyed, 
or with a peace symbol on it,
well, you've got more self-control that I do. 

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Woodstock, NY is a cool little village that maintains a 60s vibe and its ties to the famous Woodstock concert. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



Happy 50th Anniversary, Woodstock!

Peace, Love and Rock and Roll!
☮☮☮







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Friday, August 9, 2019

A WEEKEND IN COLORADO SPRINGS WITH MY BETSIES (NO, THAT'S NOT A TYPO!)






Crystal Reservoir, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
Crystal Reservoir


No, that is not a typo in the heading.
I specifically mean Betsies, not Besties,
although I am referring to a group of women 
that I have a unique and special bond with.

Betsies is the plural of Betsy,
and now, lest you think I went to Colorado with a group of ladies all named Betsy,
please allow me to explain.

In my previous life, I was an executive at a popular television network.

I loved my job.

I must have.......I worked there for 32 years. 

I was extremely career-driven, and wanted to advance.
Back around 15 years ago, 
 I heard about a program for executive women in the cable TV industry 
run by The Betsy Magness Leadership Institute.
It was highly competitive to get accepted, 
and the application process was daunting. 
But........I really wanted it.
And I think that passion came through on my application,
because lo and behold, they accepted me!

Suddenly, I was one of 25 women across the country 
to be named as a Betsy Magness fellow.

These ladies and I spent several multi-day sessions together over the course of a year 
honing our leadership skills through intense introspection.
There were times when even I didn't want to understand myself that thoroughly!
The culmination of the program included powerful, 
yet gentle feedback that we gave to each other........
insights that I continue to value to this day.

It was terrifying.
It was exhilarating.
It was draining.
It was invigorating. 

It worked.

Soon after I completed the program,
I was promoted to a senior executive position
with more responsibility and a much larger staff.
It would not have happened had I not been a Betsy Magness fellow.

The 25 of us in the program became extremely close over that year,
and these woman will forever be known as my "Betsies." 
They are some of the wisest, funniest, most giving women 
I have ever had the honor to know.


In June 2018, twelve of us attended our third reunion,
this time in Colorado Springs.  
We came from New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, Washington, DC, and California.
One came all the way from Germany with an infant.
I was a little nervous about going, since I'd left the industry
a few years back,
but I need not have worried.
Bonds are strong, and it was as if no time had passed. 

We talked.
We laughed.
We drank.
We ate.
We explored.
We drank some more.
And we continued to offer support and advice to each other.


Crystal Reservoir, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
Crystal Reservoir


Over our three days in Colorado Springs,
 We spent an afternoon at Pike's Peak......
a morning in Garden of the Gods,
and an afternoon at the Air Force Academy 




  PIKE'S PEAK  

We arranged an afternoon tour with Manitou Springs Adventures,
as none of us had the stomach to do the driving up Pike's Peak Highway.
They took us up to the summit in jeeps, and I do mean up.......
 
Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


and up.......

Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



and up........14,115 feet to be exact.

Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



We made tons of stops along the way to admire the scenery. 

Beautiful sights to see along Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



Beautiful sights to see along Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



Beautiful sights to see along Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



Beautiful sights to see along Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



The views from the summit took our breath away........
and I mean that literally!
The air was so thin, it was hard to breathe, 

and we all felt a little woozy at times. 
No one had any serious problems, though. 

We were intoxicated by the vista stretched out in front of us.

Views from the summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
View from Pike's Peak


In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote America The Beautiful,
after her visit to the summit, inspired by the glorious views.

O beautiful for spacious skies
for amber waves of grain.
for purple mountain majesties
above the fruited plains.

Views from the summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
View from Pike's Peak


Since then, whenever I hear that song,
I visualize those mountain majesties and spacious skies that stretched out before us.

Views from the summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
View from Pike's Peak


Views from the summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
View from Pike's Peak


The original Summit House at Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
Original Summit House built in 1873.



The original Summit House at Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
Original Summit House.



  GARDENS OF THE GODS  


I must be truthful.......
It was HOT,
and I did not complete the hike to Garden of The Gods.
A couple of us turned back mid-way,
and surely missed some great photo opportunities.
In the heat of the moment (literally!)
I made a choice between continuing the hike,
or passing out on the trail.
 In hindsight, I'm kind of bummed that I didn't stick it out. 
Fainting seems a small price to pay for getting some amazing snaps. 😉

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes




   US AIR FORCE ACADEMY    
 
Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do. 

That's the motto of the Air Force Academy. 

We watched a wonderful introductory video,
which brought us all to tears with the academy's mission:

"To educate, train, and inspire men and women to become leaders of character,
motivated to lead the US Air Force in service to our nation."

Integrity.
Service Before Self. 
Leaders of character.

Yes, indeedy....... 
what important traits to instill in our youth,
and those who represent our country.

There's an entire "wing" (pun intended!)

devoted to character and leadership development.

The United States Air Force Academy,  Colorado | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
Center for Character and Leadership Development


The eye-catching centerpiece of the campus 
is Cadet Chapel, an interfaith house of worship.

The United States Air Force Academy,  Colorado | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
Cadet Chapel.






The United States Air Force Academy,  Colorado | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
Cadet Chapel


The United States Air Force Academy,  Colorado | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
Cadet Chapel


It was wonderful to spend a long weekend in Colorado with my squad.......
 a girls' getaway at its finest!
 

I 💖 my Betsies!



Colorado Springs, CO is home  to some of  America's most beautiful scenery.  | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #girlsweekend




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