pretty things, so what if I like pretty things

pretty lies, so what if I like pretty lies...

As a reward for working 12 days in a row, I got a three day weekend of joy. Thursday night, one of Heather's classmates picked us up and whisked us away to Chicago. We visited her friend at a new italian restaurant for melon margaritas and fab garlic bread. Friday we wandered the shops on Michigan Avenue, had the best Tai food ever and went to a classmate's gallery opening party. Then it was off to see Rufus Wainwright at the Riviera. I was surprised to see that it was "general seating" which was really standing room. We got there ten minutes early so naturally the close spots were filled with people. We found a nice open spot behind the sound and light booth. I had a perfectly clear view of the stage. I must say, it was a big change compared to seeing him open for Tori in '01: with his small electric keyboard, chugging a beer in between songs, to now: him behind a grand piano with a guitar player, a drummer, a keyboard player, a bass player and two backup singers that doubled as violinist/guitarists. He sang a long set, I think about 20 songs or so, with two (3 song) encores, mostly from Want One. He sang a new song that will eventually go on 'Want Two' called 'Art Teacher', sang from the point of view of a 14 year old girl that is in love with her teacher. The highlight of the show was his first encore: he came out on stage, along with his band, all wearing black capes and witch hats in green spotlights and performed 'Oh What a World'....it was freakin awesome. He was dancing and flipping his cape around as he sang. He said 'we should all be on strings and flying around right now...oh well, maybe next tour' and finished off the song with a dramatic re-enactment of the Wicked Witch of the West melting during the descending minor chords at the end of the song. He also sang the first song he ever wrote (when he was 17 and just returned to New York after living in Canada for most of his life) called Liberty Cabbage. Before singing 'Vibrate' he mentioned that he met Britney Spears three times and all three times they just stood there, looking at each other, with nothing to say. Then he said, 'You know, Christina and Britney are singing about anal sex. That is so wrong. Only I should be singing about that'. He covered all my favorites: Hallelujah, Go or Go Ahead and Complainte De La Butte. I love all of his new album, and he sang most of it. Hearing them live made them all the better. I even scored an autographed copy of 'Want One' at the t-shirt stand (my first legit copy of a Rufus album. I am such a bad girl). After the concert, the huge group of us poured into a restaurant and I was introduced to Tapas. and it was good. We talked about future concerts that we must attend: such as Damien Rice performing at the same venue at the end of March. and I heard David Bowie will be coming to Milwaukee. If the tickets aren't ungodly expensive I would love to see him. What's with me being a concert freak all of a sudden? Of course I would give it all up to see Andrew Bird, but he's busy touring Europe right now. Hopefully he'll come home soon and release the songs he's been recording and tour again. That would be great.

Last night I returned to Chicago to celebrate miss Becky's 25th birthday. She chose to go see Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind and I was more than happy to oblige. Those guys ROCK. I especially loved the rolling chair ballet. We got awesome seats again. Even with the mid-show audience rotation.
Oh, and afterwards we went out and I had those fantabulously wonderful sweet potato fries. It was good to see Becky and Eric again and catch up on ren faire gossip and whatnot. Hopefully we'll all get together again next weekend for a play I reeeeeeally gotta see. Which reminds me:
**HEY ALL YOU THEATER FREAKS IN THE MIDWEST!!!**
I recently discovered that Parkside is doing Metamorphoses next weekend. This is the most awesome thing ever and everyone that can, MUST go see it. Preferably with me, because I will be there anyway and need bodies to block the water for me. I shall be calling and putting tickets aside around Tuesday or so, so let me know if you can come too!! So far my plans are to attend the Friday show on the 27th, possibly with Becky. Anyone care to join us for a fantastic evening of greek mythology and awesome theater for the low low price of $13??

It's good to be home. I haven't slept in my own bed since last Monday. I've been at the parent's house taking care of thunderkitty while they were in Jamiaca. But they are home now (and sickeningly tan. they make me look like I practically glow in the dark standing next to them). They had a great time and stuff. I got to crash there for Valentine's Day weekend, which turned out to be better than I thought it would be. It was my turn to cover the hospital, so working was naturally a good distraction. Then Heather, Megan and I spent the evening eating fabulous pizza and having a Jon Belushi marathon. I can't believe I've never seen Animal House and Blues Brothers all the way through before. Those movies are full of great stuff.

OH! Speaking of trips (don't you love my stream of consciousness posts!?) I will be flying out to New York to visit miss Liz in two weeks. March 11 thru the 14th, to be precise. We were talking the other day and she mentioned her very very nice school has the opportunity to get tickets to Wicked for five bucks and I immediately went searching for the means to get there. I was planning on spending my tax return money on and ipod, but seeing my best friend for a long weekend will be far better. It will be a birthday present to myself. So that's cool. I think it will be good for the both of us.

That's about it for now. I filed my taxes like a good little lemming. I'm finally cleared by the state to be able to take my Physical Therapist Asst. licence. I'll be meeting with some classmates to start studying for it tomorrow night.

That's all for now. Have a good week everyone.

pretty things, so what if I like pretty things

pretty lies, so what if I like pretty lies...

As a reward for working 12 days in a row, I got a three day weekend of joy. Thursday night, one of Heather's classmates picked us up and whisked us away to Chicago. We visited her friend at a new italian restaurant for melon margaritas and fab garlic bread. Friday we wandered the shops on Michigan Avenue, had the best Tai food ever and went to a classmate's gallery opening party. Then it was off to see Rufus Wainwright at the Riviera. I was surprised to see that it was "general seating" which was really standing room. We got there ten minutes early so naturally the close spots were filled with people. We found a nice open spot behind the sound and light booth. I had a perfectly clear view of the stage. I must say, it was a big change compared to seeing him open for Tori in '01: with his small electric keyboard, chugging a beer in between songs, to now: him behind a grand piano with a guitar player, a drummer, a keyboard player, a bass player and two backup singers that doubled as violinist/guitarists. He sang a long set, I think about 20 songs or so, with two (3 song) encores, mostly from Want One. He sang a new song that will eventually go on 'Want Two' called 'Art Teacher', sang from the point of view of a 14 year old girl that is in love with her teacher. The highlight of the show was his first encore: he came out on stage, along with his band, all wearing black capes and witch hats in green spotlights and performed 'Oh What a World'....it was freakin awesome. He was dancing and flipping his cape around as he sang. He said 'we should all be on strings and flying around right now...oh well, maybe next tour' and finished off the song with a dramatic re-enactment of the Wicked Witch of the West melting during the descending minor chords at the end of the song. He also sang the first song he ever wrote (when he was 17 and just returned to New York after living in Canada for most of his life) called Liberty Cabbage. Before singing 'Vibrate' he mentioned that he met Britney Spears three times and all three times they just stood there, looking at each other, with nothing to say. Then he said, 'You know, Christina and Britney are singing about anal sex. That is so wrong. Only I should be singing about that'. He covered all my favorites: Hallelujah, Go or Go Ahead and Complainte De La Butte. I love all of his new album, and he sang most of it. Hearing them live made them all the better. I even scored an autographed copy of 'Want One' at the t-shirt stand (my first legit copy of a Rufus album. I am such a bad girl). After the concert, the huge group of us poured into a restaurant and I was introduced to Tapas. and it was good. We talked about future concerts that we must attend: such as Damien Rice performing at the same venue at the end of March. and I heard David Bowie will be coming to Milwaukee. If the tickets aren't ungodly expensive I would love to see him. What's with me being a concert freak all of a sudden? Of course I would give it all up to see Andrew Bird, but he's busy touring Europe right now. Hopefully he'll come home soon and release the songs he's been recording and tour again. That would be great.

Last night I returned to Chicago to celebrate miss Becky's 25th birthday. She chose to go see Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind and I was more than happy to oblige. Those guys ROCK. I especially loved the rolling chair ballet. We got awesome seats again. Even with the mid-show audience rotation.
Oh, and afterwards we went out and I had those fantabulously wonderful sweet potato fries. It was good to see Becky and Eric again and catch up on ren faire gossip and whatnot. Hopefully we'll all get together again next weekend for a play I reeeeeeally gotta see. Which reminds me:
**HEY ALL YOU THEATER FREAKS IN THE MIDWEST!!!**
I recently discovered that Parkside is doing Metamorphoses next weekend. This is the most awesome thing ever and everyone that can, MUST go see it. Preferably with me, because I will be there anyway and need bodies to block the water for me. I shall be calling and putting tickets aside around Tuesday or so, so let me know if you can come too!! So far my plans are to attend the Friday show on the 27th, possibly with Becky. Anyone care to join us for a fantastic evening of greek mythology and awesome theater for the low low price of $13??

It's good to be home. I haven't slept in my own bed since last Monday. I've been at the parent's house taking care of thunderkitty while they were in Jamiaca. But they are home now (and sickeningly tan. they make me look like I practically glow in the dark standing next to them). They had a great time and stuff. I got to crash there for Valentine's Day weekend, which turned out to be better than I thought it would be. It was my turn to cover the hospital, so working was naturally a good distraction. Then Heather, Megan and I spent the evening eating fabulous pizza and having a Jon Belushi marathon. I can't believe I've never seen Animal House and Blues Brothers all the way through before. Those movies are full of great stuff.

OH! Speaking of trips (don't you love my stream of consciousness posts!?) I will be flying out to New York to visit miss Liz in two weeks. March 11 thru the 14th, to be precise. We were talking the other day and she mentioned her very very nice school has the opportunity to get tickets to Wicked for five bucks and I immediately went searching for the means to get there. I was planning on spending my tax return money on and ipod, but seeing my best friend for a long weekend will be far better. It will be a birthday present to myself. So that's cool. I think it will be good for the both of us.

That's about it for now. I filed my taxes like a good little lemming. I'm finally cleared by the state to be able to take my Physical Therapist Asst. licence. I'll be meeting with some classmates to start studying for it tomorrow night.

That's all for now. Have a good week everyone.