Chicago
Jeez, I'm gone for 3 days and I have to take a whole day to catch up on LJ. :| avoiding it for another day does not help
Have a Chicago report!
Day 1
So my friend Chelsea and her mom arrived at 6:15 so Chelsea and I can catch our train to Chicago. It was scheduled to leave at 8. We had time for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I bought teaberry gum! But after a short wait at the station (it's being renovated) where a woman told us not to wait outside 'cause pigeons might poop on us, we were off!
Picture interlude: Chelsea's distress at Pigeon Lady; I am quite foxy at 7:30am
And we were seated across the aisle from a rather drunk lady cradling a cup of "orange juice." She greeted us excitedly as we got on, then turned her attention back to the little girl behind her. A choice bit from THAT conversation? "*holding her overly-tanned arm up to the little African-American girl* Look! I'm almost as dark as you but people can see me at night!"
Cue o___o faces. The poor mom just had a "humor hte crazy" look on her face. The little girl was kind of bewildered but otherwise chatty. The drunk lady then regaled the train with tales of "I'm going to Chicago to see my grandbaby!" and a rendition of the Barney song. She also attempted to bond with a mohawk'd man and his family.
Strangely, she ended up getting off at Champagne. Upon her exit she hit on a group of young guys. I quote: "Dude, was she wasted? Yeah, she just hit on us. 'Why are all the hot guys getting on as I'm leaving?'" And thankfully the rest of the ride was uneventful.
Arriving in Chicago we are met by Chelsea's boyfriend Shane. From there, it's to the hotel and Grant Park for Taste of Chicago (by the way, totally awesome hotel location - a block away from the Park oh yes). And there we walked around and ate. I tried pieorgi for the first time. Where has that been all my life? *___*
That night we went to Urban Outfitters and the Navy Pier. They have one fancy-pants McDonald's. Upon returning to the hotel I attempted to give the lovebirds an hour alone. I grabbed my book with the idea I'd use the public computer then read in the lobby. Well, the hotel did not have free public computer - it was 3 dollars minimum, and after that 50 cents/minute. pfft. So I was going to read when this guy started talking to me. He asked if th ecomputer was working and was dismayed at the price. Then he asked why I was in Chicago (wherein I made sure to mention my room mate) and told me why he was there and after a minute of pleasantries unleashed the question "So, are you single?" And I told him no, of course. He looked pointedly at my left ring finger (sadly sans rings) and said "Well, you're not married. So, single." I lied and said I'm getting married next month. Then he asked about Chelsea! And invited us drinking. I left. Quickly.
Picture interlude 2: The Bean. Actually called The Cloud Gate. Weirdly concave. lolol I'm a tourist.
Day 2
We were planning to go to the zoo in the morning but spent way more time at Taste than yesterday. Oh, and we didn't get up and out until 11. :| So we're doing our thing and suddenly it's 3pm. I tell my companions that in an hour I'm getting in line for my concert. Because, honestly, the whole reason I was there was for the Wallflowers. XD So at 4 I got in line! It was an amazingly short line, and honestly? I probably didn't need to line up nearly so early. I got a good seat not too far back and in the center.
First act: Lovehammers. A little bass-heavy but otherwise enjoyable. The lead singer was quite personable and interacted with the audience quite a bit. In fact they were all very cute~ Music style is rather standard rock. Some 90s flair. The 90s were my favorite period for music so that's not really a criticism on my part. ;p One lady was obviously a huge fan - she was down in front dancing like her life depended on it. It was entertaining to watch.
After an hour break, the Wallflowers came on. :D They walked on stage and grabbed their instruments and launched right into "Nearly Beloved" (one of my favorites!). With barely a pause it was on to the next song. Then Jakob greeted everyone and spoke to the audience a minute before starting another song. The band didn't do a lot of audience interaction especially compared to Lovehammers, but I didn't think they came off as cold or anything. Jakob gave an air-drumming audience member a drumstick. :3 And then asked for requests~ A lot of people started clamoring for "One Headlight," the song that is arguably their most well-known. Dude, they were obviously going to play it so don't waste a request on something like that. Thankfully, they played "Josephine" (I was hoping for "Murder101" or "See You When I Get There" but that's ok ^^).
Interlude 2.5 - The only good picture I got of them. What a day to forget the camera in the hotel. >_<
However, when they did play "One Headlight" it was quite amazing. :) In fact, the lady at the end of my row had a bit of a spazz attack! Another person further up was dancing enthusiastically to even the slow songs. Speaking of the slow songs, everything sounded so much better live. A couple songs they performed I tend to skip over at home, but oh man I would not for the live versions. ♥
I'm going to see them in Indy later this month! ^^
Picture interlude 3: One of the music shells. Really tall building. Some boats. Stealth picture of... myself~.
Day 3
Aah, nothing interesting this day~ Hotel checkout, went to Dunkin' Donuts, a giant Borders, Epic Burger, and another concert! An electronica band called Black Moth Super Rainbow. Not my thing but I enjoyed the concert nonetheless. Their drummer's a ninja!. And the guitarist wore a Wild Things hat. They had groupies with a penchant for dancing. Seriously, this one girl was the embodiment of crazy drugged-out Dragnet perp. Soon the whole right side of the audience was dancing with abandon. Fun to watch~
Train ride home featured a screaming child and an angry man across the aisle who did not enjoy our car. Not only was the child too much for him ("Hey! Shut that kid up!") but he took offense to the people in front of him giggling. Yes, giggling. He yelled at them too: "Hey! Hey! Don't think you guys are funny. Don't even start anything." Right then. o_o
And then I came home~
And as promised, the "words!!" meme from Miss Luna:
Reply to this meme by yelling "Words!" and I will give you five words that remind me of you. Then post them in your LJ and explain what they mean to you.
SS501 - I loves them. My sister kept trying to get me into her KPop fandoms and had to try the least with them. Snow Prince sucked me in and I've been happily loving them ever since. ♥
Labyrinth - My favorite movie! I always liked Sir Didymus. :3
unfortunate-looking guys - lolololol yesssss. It's a trend, that I like "ugly" people, especially of K/J-music groups (Micky, Hyung Joon, Shindong), and my boyfriend is... not the best-looking, compared to some standards. Here, have two old-ish pictures:
At the beach with his niece Hayley probably 3 years ago now.
Again with Hayley except maybe a year ago. Maybe 2.
lulz they're both side views. He is a bit like Jung Min and only shows one side to the camera~
pink lemonade - My favorite flavor! Makes for excellent cookies too.
twins - Indeed, I have a twin! Isn't he adorable?
===
Welcome to pokechessi!
Happy birthday cosmic_kath!
Have a Chicago report!
Day 1
So my friend Chelsea and her mom arrived at 6:15 so Chelsea and I can catch our train to Chicago. It was scheduled to leave at 8. We had time for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I bought teaberry gum! But after a short wait at the station (it's being renovated) where a woman told us not to wait outside 'cause pigeons might poop on us, we were off!
Picture interlude: Chelsea's distress at Pigeon Lady; I am quite foxy at 7:30am
And we were seated across the aisle from a rather drunk lady cradling a cup of "orange juice." She greeted us excitedly as we got on, then turned her attention back to the little girl behind her. A choice bit from THAT conversation? "*holding her overly-tanned arm up to the little African-American girl* Look! I'm almost as dark as you but people can see me at night!"
Cue o___o faces. The poor mom just had a "humor hte crazy" look on her face. The little girl was kind of bewildered but otherwise chatty. The drunk lady then regaled the train with tales of "I'm going to Chicago to see my grandbaby!" and a rendition of the Barney song. She also attempted to bond with a mohawk'd man and his family.
Strangely, she ended up getting off at Champagne. Upon her exit she hit on a group of young guys. I quote: "Dude, was she wasted? Yeah, she just hit on us. 'Why are all the hot guys getting on as I'm leaving?'" And thankfully the rest of the ride was uneventful.
Arriving in Chicago we are met by Chelsea's boyfriend Shane. From there, it's to the hotel and Grant Park for Taste of Chicago (by the way, totally awesome hotel location - a block away from the Park oh yes). And there we walked around and ate. I tried pieorgi for the first time. Where has that been all my life? *___*
That night we went to Urban Outfitters and the Navy Pier. They have one fancy-pants McDonald's. Upon returning to the hotel I attempted to give the lovebirds an hour alone. I grabbed my book with the idea I'd use the public computer then read in the lobby. Well, the hotel did not have free public computer - it was 3 dollars minimum, and after that 50 cents/minute. pfft. So I was going to read when this guy started talking to me. He asked if th ecomputer was working and was dismayed at the price. Then he asked why I was in Chicago (wherein I made sure to mention my room mate) and told me why he was there and after a minute of pleasantries unleashed the question "So, are you single?" And I told him no, of course. He looked pointedly at my left ring finger (sadly sans rings) and said "Well, you're not married. So, single." I lied and said I'm getting married next month. Then he asked about Chelsea! And invited us drinking. I left. Quickly.
Picture interlude 2: The Bean. Actually called The Cloud Gate. Weirdly concave. lolol I'm a tourist.
Day 2
We were planning to go to the zoo in the morning but spent way more time at Taste than yesterday. Oh, and we didn't get up and out until 11. :| So we're doing our thing and suddenly it's 3pm. I tell my companions that in an hour I'm getting in line for my concert. Because, honestly, the whole reason I was there was for the Wallflowers. XD So at 4 I got in line! It was an amazingly short line, and honestly? I probably didn't need to line up nearly so early. I got a good seat not too far back and in the center.
First act: Lovehammers. A little bass-heavy but otherwise enjoyable. The lead singer was quite personable and interacted with the audience quite a bit. In fact they were all very cute~ Music style is rather standard rock. Some 90s flair. The 90s were my favorite period for music so that's not really a criticism on my part. ;p One lady was obviously a huge fan - she was down in front dancing like her life depended on it. It was entertaining to watch.
After an hour break, the Wallflowers came on. :D They walked on stage and grabbed their instruments and launched right into "Nearly Beloved" (one of my favorites!). With barely a pause it was on to the next song. Then Jakob greeted everyone and spoke to the audience a minute before starting another song. The band didn't do a lot of audience interaction especially compared to Lovehammers, but I didn't think they came off as cold or anything. Jakob gave an air-drumming audience member a drumstick. :3 And then asked for requests~ A lot of people started clamoring for "One Headlight," the song that is arguably their most well-known. Dude, they were obviously going to play it so don't waste a request on something like that. Thankfully, they played "Josephine" (I was hoping for "Murder101" or "See You When I Get There" but that's ok ^^).
Interlude 2.5 - The only good picture I got of them. What a day to forget the camera in the hotel. >_<
However, when they did play "One Headlight" it was quite amazing. :) In fact, the lady at the end of my row had a bit of a spazz attack! Another person further up was dancing enthusiastically to even the slow songs. Speaking of the slow songs, everything sounded so much better live. A couple songs they performed I tend to skip over at home, but oh man I would not for the live versions. ♥
I'm going to see them in Indy later this month! ^^
Picture interlude 3: One of the music shells. Really tall building. Some boats. Stealth picture of... myself~.
Day 3
Aah, nothing interesting this day~ Hotel checkout, went to Dunkin' Donuts, a giant Borders, Epic Burger, and another concert! An electronica band called Black Moth Super Rainbow. Not my thing but I enjoyed the concert nonetheless. Their drummer's a ninja!. And the guitarist wore a Wild Things hat. They had groupies with a penchant for dancing. Seriously, this one girl was the embodiment of crazy drugged-out Dragnet perp. Soon the whole right side of the audience was dancing with abandon. Fun to watch~
Train ride home featured a screaming child and an angry man across the aisle who did not enjoy our car. Not only was the child too much for him ("Hey! Shut that kid up!") but he took offense to the people in front of him giggling. Yes, giggling. He yelled at them too: "Hey! Hey! Don't think you guys are funny. Don't even start anything." Right then. o_o
And then I came home~
And as promised, the "words!!" meme from Miss Luna:
Reply to this meme by yelling "Words!" and I will give you five words that remind me of you. Then post them in your LJ and explain what they mean to you.
SS501 - I loves them. My sister kept trying to get me into her KPop fandoms and had to try the least with them. Snow Prince sucked me in and I've been happily loving them ever since. ♥
Labyrinth - My favorite movie! I always liked Sir Didymus. :3
unfortunate-looking guys - lolololol yesssss. It's a trend, that I like "ugly" people, especially of K/J-music groups (Micky, Hyung Joon, Shindong), and my boyfriend is... not the best-looking, compared to some standards. Here, have two old-ish pictures:
At the beach with his niece Hayley probably 3 years ago now.
Again with Hayley except maybe a year ago. Maybe 2.
lulz they're both side views. He is a bit like Jung Min and only shows one side to the camera~
pink lemonade - My favorite flavor! Makes for excellent cookies too.
twins - Indeed, I have a twin! Isn't he adorable?
===
Welcome to pokechessi!
Happy birthday cosmic_kath!