Monday, March 28, 2016

When Dreams Become Real-- A long ramble

So, this might get long, and it's more for my benefit (because I want to remember every moment!) So, if you don't want to read further, just know the whole weekend was brilliant! 

We made it to Chicago Saturday and found our hotel fairly easily. I'm not sure why it never entered my mind, but we got checked in and I wasn't paying 100% attention as we did so, but we were in a very tall building and our room was at the top-- on the 40th floor! For most people, that is probably not a problem, but I have a very bad height phobia--even pictures can make me dizzy, and I'm not even comfortable going higher than 7 or 8 floors. So I kept telling myself it was okay--and it was. I just avoided the window as much as possible! 

We aren't very familiar with Chicago, or it's transportation system, and the man at the desk didn't give us the best advise, so we got a little lost trying to get to the venue. It's funny, because I don't get too excited, I just ask people and go about it, but my husband is wired different and that was a bit difficult for him. I finally asked some police officers standing near, and they actually got on the next bus with us, rode until our stop, got off, and showed us where to wait for the right bus. Honestly, everyone was so nice and we got where we needed to be--hours early. We found a pizza joint, ate a slice, and then went and got in line. We had other "Booshlrs" that were joining us and they arrived soon, so that the 3 hours we stood in line went quickly as we visited and laughed. It's nice to finally be able to put faces to URLs. That's how everyone introduced themselves-- by their Tumblr names instead of their real names. It was the funniest thing, really. We got lucky--Chicago in March can be brutal, but the weather was mild all weekend, great for walking and standing in line. 

Our wait was worth it-- general seating, which meant our little clump of fans got right in the front. I was less than 20 feet from the stage! It was amazing! I now know how those girls felt when The Beatles stepped off the plane. I screamed and laughed myself hoarse! And I clapped so much, my hands were bruised (I wear a handful of rings). I was familiar with the show--after all, he's been touring it off and on across Europe and Australia for the last year and a half. But still, seeing it live, hearing it in his voice, just seeing the expressions on his face, it all felt fresh and new. And there was material that I hadn't seen posted on Tumblr and he does enough improv that there is new stuff even for those who have seen the show multiple times. 

A couple of the girls were hosting a party in their hotel room after the show and we went, but we were so tired, and our train only ran for less than another hour, so we made our goodbyes, found our way back to our overly posh room, and passed out--for about 3 hours. Again, the husband was so worried about being late, that we got to the train station with more than an hour to spare. The train ride home was packed but uneventful. I dozed for most of it. And now I'm home and (still) exhausted. But oh so happy! 

I had hoped to have lots of brilliant photos to post this week, but it didn't really happen. Several reasons, actually. For one, my camera is on its last leg. And of course, they didn't allow photos during the show. Now, some people were brave and did (the one above isn't actually mine, I kind of, uh, borrowed it), but I wasn't taking the chance of getting kicked out. And, although we waited outside for a while, we heard the cast weren't coming out for several hours, and we didn't hang around (partly because we had a train to catch). Some of them that did stay still didn't get to meet him. It would have been a bonus, yes, but at the same time, the show was amazing and we got to sit in the second row, so I'm just going to revel in that (for the rest of my life!). And remind myself that we're never too old for adventures! I know my husband even had a good time (not that I doubted he would) just because he actually visited with some of the others of our group. He's usually content to sit back and people watch. But he actually engaged! (Bonus!)

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Off On An Adventure!

I'm catching a train in a couple of hours to Chicago to go and see this guy. Dreams do come true!

Noel in some of his finer moments… Don’t miss these and MORE during the #NoelFieldingTourUS! http://noelfielding.co.uk/tour/
Posted by Noel Fielding on Friday, March 25, 2016




Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Talk Talk



    I had a wonderful time in Florida. I drove down with my favorite aunt-- my "mom" away from mom when I was a kid; you know, that aunt who is more than just an aunt. We talked the entire way. I dropped her off and then I spent three and a half days on the Atlantic side with one of my very best friends. We didn't do much, mainly talked and talked, and then talked some more! But it's amazing to have that friend that you don't see very often, but the conversation always just picks right up where you left off last time.

   I then spent three and a half days on the gulf side at my cousin's house (it was his daughter's wedding), reuniting with my aunt and my folks and some cousins. The wedding was lovely, the reception was fun, the booze was free and I got to spend time talking with my cousin's wife, which I haven't been able to do for a long time.

We put the pedal to the metal and made it home in record time for my uncle's funeral. My brother came from Wyoming and other family came from as far away as Arizona, so there was all kinds of catching up at the visition last night and during the dinner this afternoon. So, yes, I've talked more in the last 10 days than I have in the last six months! I'm surprised I don't have a sore throat!

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

On Vacation

I'm sitting on a lawn chair by a swimming pool in Florida, watching the sun come up while I drink my coffee. My cousin's wedding is Saturday but I came a few days early to visit with a life-long friend that I haven't seen for a while. I was supposed to do this two years ago but we had an ice storm in my part of the country and wasn't able to come. Anyway, it's nice to get away, but all last week I had some stomach bug and missed a week of work (because I HAD to get well!) and I was planning on being back in Illinois and back to work next Wednesday, but my uncle died and the funeral is going to be that day (they're actually waiting for us to get back, since half the family is down here). By the time I get back to work I'm going to have used every sick day, every vacation day, and every personal day I have. So I better just enjoy this!

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Morning Coffee

This shelf is over the kitchen sink and there is a tree full of birds just feet away. I fought for a year to teach the kits to stay down. I fold, I concede. They win.