Concert Review

Last week, I took Miles to his first concert. He has been to Bumbershoot, but this was his first big venue shindig. We went and saw David Byrne down at the Paramount. I have seen DB 4 times live, and I think every time, that was the BEST! Maybe this was the best because I was with Miles, and he is so fun, and we have been SO excited for about 2 months now. Or maybe it was the best because I think this is the first time I have ever heard DB play any Talking Heads songs in concert! Maybe it was the best because it is the first concert I have been to since seeing Devendra in Paris, and I forgot that -- Concerts are Really Fun!

There was no opening band, David came out and got right down to business.
He said we could take photos, despite all the signage telling us we could not, but that we were only allowed to post the flattering ones, haha.

He had a great band, and backup dancers, that were so good, I forgot to watch HIM sometimes.
Seattlites are famous for sitting sedately in their seats, and never dancing. I would have been up and boogie-ing from the get-go, but the people sitting sedately behind you frown on that sort of thing.....eventually, he busted out 'Once in a Lifetime' and everyone was on their feet for the rest of the show. Miles is here, waving his hands in the air, like he just don't care, wearing his concert t-shirt over his oxford shirt. He was awesome, though it was very loud for him, he didn't want to plug his ears, because that would be disrespectful. I told him it was OK, David wouldn't mind, and he couldn't really see us up there in the first balcony.....
This song David sat down for...in rolly office chairs.

The second of three encores featured a marching band!!! Not just any old marching band, but this one, called the Extra Action Marching Band. It was awesome.

We had such a good time, Miles loved it, and spent the next day listening to Stop Making Sense all day.

Train of Thought

Dear Maple Leaf Neighborhood Community Council,

Thank you so much for putting this beautiful Pea-Patch in my 'hood. It is really nicely done, and a great little place to mosey around when out for a walk. We love the labyrinth,

the tool shed,

and the view!

Such a great view of Northgate Mall from such a groovy location!

Love, Elise

Speaking of the Mall that I love.....

Dear Northgate Mall,
While I understand that you were trying to improve things with the remodel, and I appreciate the addition of more stores I will never frequent (I'm looking at you, Bed Bath and Beyond), why did you have to go crazy in the parking lot, so when I want to go to Barnes and Noble, I have to drive through the serpentine maze of wackitude. Why, Northgate, why?
Sincerely,
Ms. Hillyer

Speaking of parking lots of insanity.....

Dear Trader Joe's,
Why do you find America's Worst Parking Lots, and then build a store around them? Is it part of your business plan? Why? Please consider some parking lot remodels with some of that money you are saving by packaging your own pasta and soy flax chips.

kthxbai,
enh

Back to Camp

Last Saturday, we hopped the 10:10 ferry out to Vashon Island for Camp Sealth Open House. When we arrived, I was SO HAPPY to see Tommy and John, (it's been a year), and Tommy made us tofu and potatoes with nutritional yeast gravy!! It was fantastic, of course. We hung out for a while and chatted, the kids ran around in the yard, and we ate a bunch of tofu and pastries. Then we headed out to camp, with Twist-O and Baby Twist-o in one car, and the rest of us in our car. After a stop at the market so Shrub could get some good smelling soap, and crazy bad directions from the guy parking cars in the meadow, we got to camp!! We immediately went to Lower Shutanka, to relive the glory days of Clover and Mod's Arts and Crafts Den. We found TINA (luckily we were 4 minutes early to meet her, not 56 minutes late)and then walked down the beach to the Boata Dock.

There was a touch tank on the dock, and we checked out all the stuffs, and posed for some photos....Played on the beach.....(Twist-O, Tina, Baby Twist-o and Miles running off....)
The kids and Tina and I went out to Kiwanis, and took a little walk behind the teepees, and ate some of the best salmonberries I have ever tasted!

....and old friends in front of Shutanka--Clover, Safari, Twist-O and Shrub.Then back to Shrub's house for panini and beers, and the kids ran around and found a gecko in the pond. Now they want one for a pet, but I think I will continue to deflect that request...

Caroline Kaliedoscope

Last weekend, Caroline had her dance performance. This year she was in four dances. The first one was called "Cultivating Entropy". Before it started, Miles and Geni had a nice nerdy discussion about whether this was possible or not. Miles didn't get it, but Geni said that is what she has been doing in her house for ages....These photos are from dress rehearsal, so not great, but you get the idea. It's hard to point out where she is in this one, I am not sure myself...

Same with this one, she is in the front on the right, just believe me....
In this one she is right in front of the person whose hands are illuminated....Aha! Here she is in the middle!! Many people told me this dance was one of their favorite pieces...

Here she is on the far right doing a spin in a Jitterbug dance during "Simply Ellington".


Here she is on the far right, as a crow during "99Crows on a Wire".
In this pic, she is 3rd from the left with her hands over her head.

It was a great show....she was fantastic. Such a tiring weekend, though, after 4 performances and a cast party, she had to sleep in a bit on Monday morning. She loves it, though, and the week after is a bit of a letdown, since they have been preparing for it all year!

Caroline has Cooking Success

This week Caroline baked her first batch of cookies all by herself! She did a great job and Nick, Miles and Tara all spoiled their dinner by eating a bunch of them straight out of the oven.
I only helped a little bit, with stuff like where do we keep the baking soda (NOT the one in the fridge, honey), and now she knows where the secret cookie baking cookie sheets are.

She was so proud, she even went online, and found her own recipe!! She likes my cookies, but prefers them without oatmeal, so she made them herself. She even cleaned up!
Apparently am now a food blog.

Easter

On Easter, I made a strawberry pie.
Yes, I did.

Random

Well, long time no post. Here are some things that have happened in the last 4 months, I think.

Miles had a band concert. Ok, I think that was in December, but he looks SO cute in his tux with gold lamee accessories. It was about a hundred below zero that night, and all the instruments were so out of tune, the concert took an eternity to get thru because they had to keep re-tuning. Luckily it dumped snow, and we were out of school until after New Year's.


This happened with the Driver family. Don't know, but I love this pic.

I went to Hood Canal with my Super Crafting Coven of Shrews, and our cabin came with a ginormous bag of oysters. We made amazing sauce and ate until we were stuffed. Geni went and threw all the shells in the water. I pretended I was really arty and did some watercolors. Looking out the window at the rain was very inspirational.
Best damn photo I ever took of a sheep.

We went to the Lodge in February, and there was a moderate amount of snow.
At the Lodge, the kids went Tubing, here are Owen, Miles and Stefan.
Caroline on the rope tow.Miles, likewise.

Caroline and Nora, Cousin Fun!!!