Music to my ears...
This was a pretty relaxing Memorial Day weekend.
Friday was the signing for Angela Aki, Arnie Roth, and Nobou Uematsu from Play! A Video Game Symphony at Tower Records in Lincoln Park. After work, Leyann and I went to the Blue Line and took it (while transferring to the Red Line) to where we needed to go. There we met with my good friend Tommy and got in a pretty short line for the signing. Ahead of us in line were the Spoony Bards, primarily stephen_poon. There, Tommy bought the More Friends concert CD and Leyann bought Angela Aki's new release single. I brought my Dear Friends Program book for Arnie Roth and Nobou Uematsu to sign. Thankfully, the people at Tower were passing out cards for Angela Aki to sign if we didn't have anything of hers. Before we got up to the honored guests, the Spoony Bards got to serenade them! And Stephen got his guitar signed. It was pretty awesome. After that we got our stuff signed and decided to go have a bite to eat.
We went to this sushi place that was line of sight from Tower... but we walked in and the place was packed. wall to wall, every table, cram packed. It only took a minute for us to say screw this. Heading out, Leyann remembered that we saw another sushi place when we were walking to the Tower just a couple hours before. I'm glad we went to Edo Sushi, the atmosphere was great, there was a live DJ, and the sushi was DAMN GOOD. I paid for the meal, and Tommy said he would get me back with purchasing a program book for the concert. Sweet.
After the meal we parted ways and Leyann and I took the EL back.
Saturday I woke up late and just liked sleeping in. But I played a darn healthy amount of HALO, also showering up and getting all spiffy for the Play! Concert. I got to Leyann's and when she opened the door I was floored with how beautiful she looked. I mean, dayum. Her Mom took a couple pictures of us looking spiffy and then we got going. We arrived at the Rosemont and were surprised that there was no line leading up to the doors like last year... which was freezing. Parked, got to the lobby and saw a bunch of people: the two Stephens; stephen_poon and hedgesmfg, thelonew0lf, and also a bunch of people from ACEN whom we worked with. I had called Tommy and we decided we would catch up during intermission.
The first half of the concert was great. Shenmue, Mario, and Aeris' Theme were my favorites for that first part. Then it was time for Intermission. We met up with Tommy who bought a program book for Leyann and one for me too, also saw stephen_poon, thelonew0lf, and evrdream33. After chatting for a bit it was time to head back for the last part. My definite favorite was the HALO suite, it was epic and grand including some of everyone's personal favorite themes from the first and second game. I also enjoyed the Sonic suite and the double playing of One Winged Angel for the finale. Leyann almost forgot her Program book in the bathroom, we met up with the group, went to the Double Tree to hear the Spoony Bards play for a bit, then Tommy, Leyann, and I headed to Denny's. By the time we ordered and got our food (30 minutes) the Spoony Bards showed up and stephen_poon was kind enough to snap a couple pictures of us.
Tommy found a $100 Visa gift check that he got for opening up an account at WaMu in October, and was kind enough to pay for dinner/breakfast. I told off a guy who was just downright staring at me the entire time Tommy and I were at the cashier. Then Leyann and I dropped Tommy off at the Blue Line, parted ways, and then we crashed at her place.. with me spending the night.
Yah it was a pretty Lazy Sunday, sleeping in way late... also watching Top 100 Child Stars on VH1. Leyann's Mom made her infamous beef soup and big salad for me. Then Leyann and I got bored so we went to go see X-Men: The Last Stand. It was a great movie that even though it had some flaws, it concluded the "trilogy" with enough story and set-up for a fourth (or in the case of the studio, spin off films for Magneto and Wolverine). I slept over again, and Monday we just relaxed and also hung out with Leyann's "girlie" Linda and her husband, Jose. We went to play pool... well to watch Jose vs. Leyann's mom, and after a few round we ate dinner at Culver's then kind of vegged out the rest of the night talking.
Awesome weekend. Some upcoming events include, going to the ACEN staff picnic, going up to Michigan for my Dad's birthday, and me needing to sell off a bunch of my stuff on eBay. Other than that if you guys want to hang out or do something, gimme a ring.
Berry
Friday was the signing for Angela Aki, Arnie Roth, and Nobou Uematsu from Play! A Video Game Symphony at Tower Records in Lincoln Park. After work, Leyann and I went to the Blue Line and took it (while transferring to the Red Line) to where we needed to go. There we met with my good friend Tommy and got in a pretty short line for the signing. Ahead of us in line were the Spoony Bards, primarily stephen_poon. There, Tommy bought the More Friends concert CD and Leyann bought Angela Aki's new release single. I brought my Dear Friends Program book for Arnie Roth and Nobou Uematsu to sign. Thankfully, the people at Tower were passing out cards for Angela Aki to sign if we didn't have anything of hers. Before we got up to the honored guests, the Spoony Bards got to serenade them! And Stephen got his guitar signed. It was pretty awesome. After that we got our stuff signed and decided to go have a bite to eat.
We went to this sushi place that was line of sight from Tower... but we walked in and the place was packed. wall to wall, every table, cram packed. It only took a minute for us to say screw this. Heading out, Leyann remembered that we saw another sushi place when we were walking to the Tower just a couple hours before. I'm glad we went to Edo Sushi, the atmosphere was great, there was a live DJ, and the sushi was DAMN GOOD. I paid for the meal, and Tommy said he would get me back with purchasing a program book for the concert. Sweet.
After the meal we parted ways and Leyann and I took the EL back.
Saturday I woke up late and just liked sleeping in. But I played a darn healthy amount of HALO, also showering up and getting all spiffy for the Play! Concert. I got to Leyann's and when she opened the door I was floored with how beautiful she looked. I mean, dayum. Her Mom took a couple pictures of us looking spiffy and then we got going. We arrived at the Rosemont and were surprised that there was no line leading up to the doors like last year... which was freezing. Parked, got to the lobby and saw a bunch of people: the two Stephens; stephen_poon and hedgesmfg, thelonew0lf, and also a bunch of people from ACEN whom we worked with. I had called Tommy and we decided we would catch up during intermission.
The first half of the concert was great. Shenmue, Mario, and Aeris' Theme were my favorites for that first part. Then it was time for Intermission. We met up with Tommy who bought a program book for Leyann and one for me too, also saw stephen_poon, thelonew0lf, and evrdream33. After chatting for a bit it was time to head back for the last part. My definite favorite was the HALO suite, it was epic and grand including some of everyone's personal favorite themes from the first and second game. I also enjoyed the Sonic suite and the double playing of One Winged Angel for the finale. Leyann almost forgot her Program book in the bathroom, we met up with the group, went to the Double Tree to hear the Spoony Bards play for a bit, then Tommy, Leyann, and I headed to Denny's. By the time we ordered and got our food (30 minutes) the Spoony Bards showed up and stephen_poon was kind enough to snap a couple pictures of us.
Tommy found a $100 Visa gift check that he got for opening up an account at WaMu in October, and was kind enough to pay for dinner/breakfast. I told off a guy who was just downright staring at me the entire time Tommy and I were at the cashier. Then Leyann and I dropped Tommy off at the Blue Line, parted ways, and then we crashed at her place.. with me spending the night.
Yah it was a pretty Lazy Sunday, sleeping in way late... also watching Top 100 Child Stars on VH1. Leyann's Mom made her infamous beef soup and big salad for me. Then Leyann and I got bored so we went to go see X-Men: The Last Stand. It was a great movie that even though it had some flaws, it concluded the "trilogy" with enough story and set-up for a fourth (or in the case of the studio, spin off films for Magneto and Wolverine). I slept over again, and Monday we just relaxed and also hung out with Leyann's "girlie" Linda and her husband, Jose. We went to play pool... well to watch Jose vs. Leyann's mom, and after a few round we ate dinner at Culver's then kind of vegged out the rest of the night talking.
Awesome weekend. Some upcoming events include, going to the ACEN staff picnic, going up to Michigan for my Dad's birthday, and me needing to sell off a bunch of my stuff on eBay. Other than that if you guys want to hang out or do something, gimme a ring.
Berry