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!)

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

Busy Making Plans

I haven't posted lately. Not exactly sure why not, other than I just haven't taken the time. Plus-- January and February-- not much seems to happen. It's kind of a holding pattern. It's been rather mild, actually. A little snow, then a couple of unseasonably warm days, then snow again. I've got two trips coming up in March, so I've been trying to get everything ready for that. The first is in Florida for a week and a half for my cousin's wedding. My best friend lives down there, so I'm excited that I'm going to get to spend a few days with her.

Then on Easter weekend, the hubby and I are going to Chicago to see fantasy man (and comedian) Noel Fielding. (I'm still squeeing about that!)

Then I'm going to spend the rest of the year working to pay for it all. But it will be worth it!

But for now, here's a picture of Squirt watching it snow.

Since Winter Continues

Ha, I got my next project done in two weekends! I think that's a record for me, but I guess there is a good side to this lousy weather we continue to get. If I can't be outside, I might as well put my time to good use. This is The Tiger-Spider and his butterfly wives. It's a story by Noel Fielding in his book, The Scribblings of a Madcap Shambleton. Color makes me happy and paintings on the wall don't have to be dusted, a double win! I may add some more butterflies and thicken up his face, but for now I'm just going to live with it and decide later.

Now, which wall is next?

Rainbow Bird!

 My last home project took 6 months to complete, so I'm proud to say this one only took 3 months! I have collected bird pictures for years, even before we lived in this house. I had them grouped on the dining room wall, like such. Dust catchers, really. I was tired of them. 

 I became a big Peter Max fan in High School--still am. So I decided, as part of my "getting back into Art" mindset, that I would paint something inspired by his peace dove.

 Only, I then saw Noel Fielding's Tiger Spider wall painting and got inspired by the use of color and free form.

This is the blending of the two. The dining room has been a mess all summer, but I'm starting to get everything back where it belongs. I love the free hand look of Noel's work, and tried to get that same feel. Which is good, since my artist skills are never going to be what they were when I was in school! I'm happy with the result, that's all that really matters!

But now I'm catching myself scoping out other walls! Before I'm done, the house is going to look like an art gallery!

   

My Inspiration

This is Noel Fielding and he's the artist that has inspired me to pick up a pencil again. Back in my Art School days I was into artists like Peter Max--very color driven, abstract types of art. I like people who see the brightness of the world, not the dark stuff. I'm not even that interested in fine art. When we go to art museums I find I'm attracted to pieces with lots of color over great detail. I greatly admire artists who can draw so finely that their pictures look like photos, but I have no interest in doing that. Somehow, finding time seems to be my biggest obstacle but I think I can make time, one way or another! (I do imagine it is going to mean less computer time, but that's probably a good thing!)

Hello, How Are You?

I work in a grocery store. I have to greet people hundreds of times a day. There is the classic, "Hello, how are you?", which of course is supposed to be answered with "fine", because we really don't want to know if it isn't.(Although some customers are more than happy to launch into a long narrative of how bad they are, with details. ick)  Or there is the "How's Sara?", which I really want to answer "I don't know, I haven't seen her". It would confuse the hell out of them, but I hate when people use that greeting--it feels like someone talking to a child to me--, and besides, my name isn't Sara. But that's a whole other post. I watch alot of British TV and I've noticed this greeting,"All right?", in quite a few of them. I know if I tried it, I would confuse the hell out of people. But it could be amusing!