Indie Rock, the Orchestra, and Some Rain.

So, Last evening I had the joy of two of my favorite genres merging into one. My Hubby and I (and I'm guessing 1000 others) got to see the Decemberists play with the Grant Park Orchestra in Millennium Park. It was all I expected. Chicago has some of the best Orchestras in the world, and alone would have been a joy, but add the Decemberists, and it was even better.

I've been listening to the Decemberists for about 3 years, so I'm no new to them, but they were so different with the "back-up" band. Even though I was back in the dregs, ie almost the Lawn, the sound was great, and the bit of the view I had was good, too. My only complaint was that I was easily distracted by the architecture of the Pritzker Pavilion. I need to look up who designed it, it reflected the lightening majestically.

It was a bit drizzly, but that was pleasant after the baking yet sunless heat that preceded the performance. The rain fall added to the atmosphere, and the booming thunder seemed to be in time with the mood of the music.

I usually feel old going to shows like this, the vast majority are college age, but I genuinely enjoy music still, and always have enjoyed College rock/indie/underground/whatever the label of the year is. Anyway, that is not what makes the evening, it is the fact that my husband and I got to spend the evening without the kids, and had a late night rain picnic together.

The rain did pour, but we were already on our way to the train. Needless to say, we got soaked, like not a single thing on us was dry, my coat is still dripping 20 hours after the fact. I think DH thought I lost my mind, i was laughing and could not stop as we walked to the train carrying useless umbrellas. I couldn't see, we were drenched, but I was laughing. I guess I was having to much fun to let a "little" rain get to me.

Oh, the Dilemma

Books are big in our house. This summer especially, we have been reading up a storm. This makes me very happy, less TV always makes the mama happy. But this Friday I have a dilemma, what to read? I'm 1/3 the way through The Man Who was Thursday, which I am completely enthralled with, but I have a ticket to the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows shin-dig at my local bookstore. Do I drop Thursday on Saturday for Harry, or do I wait until my niece spoils the ending for me because I'm still on Thursday?

HP is big news in my town. The entire Downtown area is transforming into the various locations in the HP books. My kids are super excited to have Butter Beer with their Chicago style pizza Friday night. The Library is staying open until Midnight. This is more than just a book here, it is an event. In a town of 130, 000, most kids have read the books, and this is the kid-friendliest town in the US.

Thursday is a great book, if I drop it now, I will probably not pick it up for a while, I have that bad habit. Maybe the key is to just read faster!

I'll have to ponder this in the woods. We are off to catch frogs and see muskrats, which are far cuter than I would have thought.