Thursday, June 30, 2011

20 Before 20: Go to a Real Concert

Let me first say that I am slightly embarrassed that I am almost 20 years old and have only recently been to my first real concert.  My dad may contest with this, but somehow going to a concert with your parents don't feel "real" even if it is a Van Morrison concert (it was great, just didn't seem quite right).  I feel like this should have happened ions ago.  I should have been sneaking out at night to go to concerts that my parents didn't want me to see and paying far too much money for crappy seats where I couldn't see anything.  I guess I just didn't have that kind of a childhood.

I did however, go to what I feel was a real concert this past April.  A friend of mine who used to go to a school right outside of Chicago called me saying I should come and visit her for the concert her school was having.  I agreed somewhat reluctantly as I had just spent all day on a shoot for my final project.  All I wanted to do was fall down and collapse into bed, but I decided to say yes anyway.  Funny that what I feel was my first real concert almost didn't even happen.  Hmmm.

Anyway, I got on the train and texted her saying I was on my way.  Her imediate reply was "Yeah!  Plain White T's!!!"  Wuht?  I was so excited that I didn't even remember how tired I had been only moments before.  I was going to see a real band at a real concert!  It got even better.  After a shady walk to her school's campus as I half stalked a guy to be sure I was going the right way, I found out the concert was free!!!  How much better could it get?

The concert was awesome!  We squished in to get as close as we could to the stage.  We cheered.  We sang as loud as we could and still couldn't hear ourselves.  We drooled over concert t-shirts and sweatshirts we couldn't afford, and then stopped each other from buying them.

Near the end of the show Tom Higgenson left the stage.  Everyone was so confused.  We knew it wasn't over yet, he had promised us Hey There Delilah.  We stood there, breathing down the backs of each other's necks, wondering what he would come back with and why he left while the band kept playing.  All of the sudden there's a spotlight behind us and he is standing on a chair by the audio board saying, "Come on over here and we'll sing Delilah."  It was incredible.  Instead of him singing Hey There Delilah he played guitar while the crowd sang.  So awesome.


At the end of the night I left with a few photos (not the best quality, sorry about that) and an awesome memory.  Even though I was exhausted I had trouble falling asleep because I was so hyped up.  All in all definitely worth it (I would have paid money for it too, but free was even better).  I can't wait for my next concert.  Hopefully then I'll be a little more prepared.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Around Town: Hello, Golden Gate Bridge!

Last week, after meeting one of my besties at the crack of dawn to go rock climbing I climbed back up the hill to catch the bus and was greeted with this lovely view.  The Golden Gate Bridge!  Oh hello!  How are you this morning beautiful!?  I immediately took out my camera to take pictures.

I had never taken that route before (I usually get a ride partway) so I was totally caught off guard by the beauty that is San Francisco.  I could not be more excited by the fact that I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  Sometimes I forget how amazing this place is.  I miss it when I'm at school, so much.



I hope that I will never forget how blessed I am to live in such a beautiful place and have so many people who love me.  Thank God for all the wonderful things he has done!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

__ Before __

So, I'm not even sure when I started writing a list of __ before __.  Based on where it is in my book of lists (between a list of Nancy Drew Mystery games I've completed and a list of reasons to watch Doctor Who) it probably was around my birthday last year.  Which is logical, why didn't I think of that before?  I definitely made this list after having followed Sarah Von of Yes and Yes fame for a while.

Without further ado, my list of 20 Before 20:
1.  Have a fancy tea party.
2.  Try out a crown braid.
3.  Knit a hat.
4.  Bake a pie.
5.  Read the whole bible.
6.  Sew a pair of pants.
7.  Grow a herb garden.
8.  Go on a hike.
9.  Go to a real concert.
10.Learn to navigate by bike
11.Send a care package.
12.Organize a clothing swap.
13.Learn to apply make-up.
14.Be in a performance.
15.Go to a Critical Mass ride.
16.Teach myself to play a song on the piano.
17.Post poetry online.
18.Skip class and go out to breakfast.
19.Try yoga.
20.Go camping.

I'll admit that not everything is exactly new.  But there are some things on my list that I haven't done in a long time and really want to get back to.  Some are more long term goals that I made more of a conscious effort to reach over the year (my birthday is in September).  So, for the rest of the summer I will be occationally posting on the things from this list that I've done (and some that I haven't).  There is still half of the list to do and I'm running out of time, so I know that not everything will get done.  The things that I don't complete will be my basis for next years list.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Of Summers and Playdates

Remember when you were little?  How when you finished school summer stretched out before you like an open playing field.  Summer was the time of dreams.  You would be free from school, free to do whatever you wanted.  No one was going to stop you from having a great summer.

Then summer actually came and you spent the first month of it relishing.  You slept in as late as you wanted.  You went to the playground and mastered the monkey bars, nothing could hurt you.

All of the sudden it hit you: summer was actually really boring.  There was nothing to do.  Sure, in a few weeks you were going to camp, but that was only for a week.  Maybe you were going to go visit Grandma and Grandpa for the 4th of July, but that was just a weekend.  Before you knew it, you were counting down the days until school was going to start.

In the meantime, Mom made you start doing chores.  You went out for playdates with people that you would see every day during the school year.  You spent a lot of time with the children of your parent's friends (which was fine if they were nice).  For the most part you sat around at home and played by yourself.  You watched movies with your siblings and argued over what games to play.  If your mom was anything like mine you also did a worksheet of math and reading every day so that your brain didn't deflate.

Now the weird part, is that I'm in college now and I'm doing the same collection of stuff.  About once a week I go rock climbing with a friend or two from high school (playdate).  In a few weeks I'm going on a family vacation (4th of July at Grandmas, figuratively), but I'm only going the weekend because I'm taking a summer class at City College (worksheets).  My sister and I are watching our way through Buffy the Vampire Slayer (movies) and occasionally we go shopping (which sometimes leads to fights).  Last week I volunteered for my church's Vacation Bible School (camp).  And today, I went out to lunch with my mom, mom's friend and her daughter (parent's friends children).

Now granted, I'm actually pretty okay with this.  My summer so far is pretty awesome.  It's just fascinating how little has changed in my summers.  I have gotten to reconnect with friends and been able to do things for myself, and that's enough for me.

Monday, June 20, 2011

In Which I Prove I am My Father's Daughter


During my last few days in Chicago I decided that I wanted a cheese plate. This is significant mostly in that I would constantly make fun of my Dad for always having a cheese plate as an appatizer. But I had some cheese left over from what I call a "Farmer's Market Lunch" a while back (more on that in a future post) and I didn't want it to go bad.

On the way home from church my last weekend in town I stopped by Pastoral, a Bread, Cheese and Wine Shop in my neighborhood. I was imediately overwhelmed by the options. I just kind of stood next to the cheese counter with my baguette and looked needy. The man behind the counter asked if I would like to try the wine and cheese pairing of the day. Why yes thank you, I would.

A bit of confusion at the register, a girl asking me where I got the dress I made, and a short walk later I was in my kitchen slicing bread. Resulting in this picture which proves, in a roundabout way, that I am my Father's daughter. Funny that it takes cheese to prove that.

Happy Father's Day Dad!
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