Activity for the Young

Saturday, my friend Lacy and I went to a concert. It's rare that my town gets a decent concert, so we felt compelled to support the fledgling scene. We got to the door about 45 minutes early, to grab a spot in the tiny venue (the headliner is a pretty popular Utah band) and sat and chatted while the place filled. Things to note.

1. It's been a LONG time since I've seen live music in a venue that tiny. A couple hundred people packed into a space about as big as my living / dining room space.
2. We were, without a doubt, on the older side.
3. Somehow we've gone from being hit on by the young'uns to being hit on by the only 50 year old there.
4. I'm too old for headliners that don't come out until 10 pm. Seriously. (Rock...earlier, people!)
5. Fun times were had by us both. But just sitting and talking with Lacy is always fun.
6. I always seem to manage to end up sitting by the couple auditioning for the make-out scene. Sigh...

There were three support bands (gotta love the local musicians!). The first, Mermaid Baby, was...um...he had great hair. Sound-wise, I could almost see me liking random songs. But lyrically? On par with ...I don't know. A junior high creative writing class? They were very pedestrian and too poppy for my liking. Band two was Battleschool. We both liked them MUCH better. A little harder music. Sound lyrics. I wouldn't mind actually exploring and seeing if I like them still in the light of day. Next up was The Moth and The Flame, whom apparently have quite the following in Provo. They weren't bad, though they reminded both Lacy and I of someone else we couldn't quite place. I think the closest we came was a mix of Radiohead and bad Coldplay with a little Beck thrown in. And he seemed a little full of himself, for a local haven't quite made it yet guy. And they may have been the reason both Lacy and I were yawning before Fictionist made it out. They were MELLOW...

Fictionist finally hit the stage just after 10. They sadly came down on the floor (instead of the 'stage') which meant Lacy and were trying to climb on our chairs in skirts to see them. We were the picture of decorum! However, the song and quality difference? AMAZING. You can see why these guys were just signed and the others are still local and working on it. Total difference. And a lot of fun to hear live. I liked them better live than I have with anything I've just heard in snippets here and there. So still not sold as a die-hard fan, but I can definitely appreciate them more, now.

It was a good night. It was a good reminder of my once life and limitations! It was great to spend some time with Lacy, just hanging out. And I definitely wouldn't mind doing it again.


(still reaching, fictionist)

Week in Pictures

Family at Halloween party 2 of 3. We look cold. Wanna know why? Because it was SO STINKING COLD.


Halloween bracelets. We're just that awesome.


Can you feel the enthusiasm?


We have a wee obsession with neck pillows happening...


Heh.



(please forgive me, david gray)

Lonely

Sammy: Mommy, I'm lonely when you're downstairs and I'm upstairs.
Me: I'm sorry, bud, but you need to clean up. Daddy will be home soon and you need to go upstairs and clean up. I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere.
Sammy, snuggling on my lap: But I'm lonely!
Me: Honey, I'm sorry. Sometimes you're going to be lonely. Sometimes I'm lonely. Sometimes Daddy's lonely. You need to learn how to deal with it because you have us and Momo and you can pray and all of those things can help you when you start to feel lonely.

Sammy then bursts into tears. Not small ones, either, but big, ugly cry sobbing where he can't be consoled and buries his head harder into my chest.

Me: Baby, what's wrong? Why are you crying so hard?
Sammy: Because when you were just talking it made me sad!
Me: What did I say that made you so sad?
Sammy: Everything about being lonely! (Sob, sob, sob)

Oh. Man. You sometimes think, after leaving certain stages, that parenting, while not getting easier, will become more sane. Or logical. But nope. Just like that, nothing makes sense again. Just as you are congratulating yourself for ushering your kid into kidhood and our of toddlerhood, you find yourself rocking your four foot five year old, trying to ease his tears and wondering how on earth you manage this since you are a 37 year old sometimes sad and lonely one yourself.

A half an hour later, dinner is done. Dad has given his two cents and Sammy is snuggled into his bed, asleep, two seconds after his head hits his pillow. And the freak out, at least, makes a little sense, if this stage still does not.


(are you trying to be lonely, paul weller)

Top 5 Can't Help It

There are certain words that everyday people say in everyday conversation that elicit a certain reaction. Namely? Breaking out into song. Here's the top 5 "words": song. Ready? Go.

1. "It's Tricky": It's Tricky - Run DMC


2. "Silence": Nightmare on My Street - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince


3. "Stop": Stop - Erasure

Or, depending on the mood...


4. "Do you have a knife (or fork)?": A Knife and A Fork - Information Society...in all reality, this just may be my sister and me.


5. "Lies!": Lies - Thompson Twins

Judgey McJudgerson

I really do try not to judge. Honestly. People can do whatever they want and I'm fine with it. I figure it doesn't have anything to do with me, so...why? And, well, I know I've been judged: a family member who doesn't like my parenting (which is fine since the feeling is mutual, you know?), or friends who have judged my opinions and experiences and altered relationships because of it. And I hate it. It makes me feel icky. So, unless you have a love of Glenn Beck to the point of tattoo, I really do try not to judge. HOWEVER...

There is this thing that I am unholy judging up one side and down the other. It's something that does not affect me. It's not even that big of a deal - in any realm. It's simply an activity a former friend of mine has decided to engage in and post pictures of for all the world to see. It's not anything illegal or even immoral. It's something I may even do, but definitely not post pictures of. But for some reason this thing stuck in my head and I can't get rid of it. And every time she updates about it, I make sure my friends see it. And I rant. And rave. And have terrible thoughts. And mock. A lot. I'm a terrible, terrible person. Clearly.

I refuse to believe that I'm doing this out of jealousy. But, sadly, it's the only thing that really makes sense. But! Oh, how I wish it was simply the utter ridiculousness of the situation. That would just be so much better. And easier to swallow.


(jealousy, pet shop boys)