I separated from the group at one point to see the Michael Jackson impersonator do a few tunes on the big stage, then everyone found me and I insisted in pushing the baby's stroller. We tried to find J2's girlfriend and then I tried to find Brandone. The JW's found their friend and settled in, J2's li'l bro found me and B, and the 3 of us decided to get away from the crowd and watch the fireworks from the parking lot, which was a capital idea! Although... I'm sorry but fireworks always fail to thrill and chill me. I'll watch them every year half-heartedly, but always wonder if that's one reason I play the blues, b/c fireworks don't turn me on the way they do everyone else?
After the fireworks we figured we should appease the Mominator by stopping by her house to set off additional fireworks and since I was both hungry and thirsty, for "wine and snacks" which I repeatedly asked for and which J2's li'l bro assured me would be in stock. I got the tour of J2's childhood home and I was amazed and impressed, as it was a huge, beautiful house with a huge, awesome backyard including groovy vegetable garden tended by her dad! At one point J2's li'l bro offered me a beer and I asked him, "Which part of 'wine and snacks' do you not understand???" Ha ha! J2 and I got white wine and I got some crackers, cheese, and Mominator's yummy crab dip. Then we trekked out to the far back of the yard so we, along w/the 'rents and their friends and J2's other friends, could watch her bro and dad set off more fireworks. Yawn. Bleh. The best part was closing down the night in the enclosed back porch, chatting, yukking it up, and sipping wine. Brandilicious and I headed home at a decent enough hour.
The next morning was the big day! Levon Helm in Kansas City day! Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!! I was sooooo freakin' excited, and looking forward to a fun little roadtrip w/the JW's. B and I armed ourselves w/drinks, picked up the JW's, kissed the baby goodbye, and headed west! Naturally we had to stop at one dive bar for a drink and a couple quick games of pool. Also J2 and I blasted the ghetto rap and sang loudly and obnoxiously along during the drive. We knew once we got to KC we'd be ready for some KC barbeque and we found it at Jack Stack in the Plaza. First though we did a drive-by by the outside of the JW's investment condo, a cute li'l place not far from the Plaza. I remembered the Plaza from the last time I was there w/Bean, somewhere's around 1997 or so. Jack Stack was deeelish! Mmmm, burnt ends!
After bbq we had just enough time to find our quaint La Quinta, unload, and get to the gig. Once we found the place, I STILL couldn't believe parking was right there and free!!! Again, in Houston, $20 easy, man. We had splurged on the "VIP" level tickets and it was soooo worth it b/c we got our own line to enter the outside venue and once inside, I rushed for the folding chairs to set them up right against the stage barricade! Me and J2 were in front and the boys were right behind us. Everyone knows that I MUST be front row!!! We immediately bought double Crown and Diet Cokes and beers, and for cryin' out loud, we VIP'ers enjoyed a barrel of free bottled water as well as free snacks (crackers, pretzels) for the taking! How #$%@ing cool was that?!?
We waited only an hour for the opener Justin Townes Earle to come out. I'd never seen him before but naturally, had heard a lot of good things about him. He and his fiddler did an enjoyable set and I thought he was cute even with his incredibly flat ass. But I also thought he looked like trouble--which he is. J2 also enjoyed his set. Then it was time for Levon--after all these years! When he came out I waved like mad at him and blew him a kiss and he smiled hugely and pointed back at me, as if he recognized me. His daughter Amy definitely recognized me and waved and smiled at me. Jim Weider was also there and I waved at him and he waved back as well, seeming to recognize me too! Then again... this is ME we're talking about!
Ok, I guess this is gonna hafta be a 4-parter. I'm at Job #2 and have to do some sheriff personnel work on my file. This past weekend was mostly great and Friday night's dinner at the fish place was so nice. I had the parmesan-crusted shrimp and tilapia over linguini and we had the oyster nachos as an appetizer! Since we had a $50 gift certificate to spend we each ordered a dessert: I had the bread pudding and Stefano had the apple crisp and I can't believe we finished it all. We went walking around the Sugar Land Town Square and ran into several of our musician friends at 2 separate gigs! We even ducked into one and danced for a couple songs.
I had the Whole Entire Day off yesterday which was KILLER--I got so much done and relaxed a LOT. I had Saturday off too but Mr. Wonderful took me to the middle eastern market to get supplies for dinner, so my afternoon was interrupted by that, although it was sooo incredibly fun! Their bakery is very much what I imagine heaven to be like, and I spotted next year's birthday cake for me! I got a lot of work done on my personnel file on Sat. too. I got caught up on some of my DVR'ing and finished one library book. I did little things around the house. Sat. night we did indeed head out to the Continental's 10th anniversary and I'm so glad we did b/c it was packed with tons of people/musician friends we knew and the music was awesome and we had a couple drinks and even ran into my cousins. (However, I didn't drink too much as I'm still a little scared straight from the Tequila Dive Bar Adventure with Brandog!)
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