The joy of the big city

Last weekend saw myself and two of my best friends traveling to Chicago.  I love that city.  Honestly, growing up, I didn't like Chicago all that much.  But as I have aged, I have grown to appreciate that place.  It is wonderful.  I love the bustle, I love the downtown, I love the theatre district.  It is a blast.

The decision for this trip came up because one of my favorite groups - Wakey!Wakey! - was on leg 1 of their North American tour.  And unfortunately, Chicago was the closest that they were coming.  It seemed like a great opportunity for a trip - and I talked my girls into coming with me.

So Saturday morning, we were off. 

First up - a drive to Indiana

Next - a train ride to the Windy City

The train is so the way to travel to Chicago.  It allows you to avoid driving in the city, but get right to the heart, and takes about the same amount of time.

While on the train there were a group of twenty-somethings who were traveling down, as well.  We learned a lot of interesting things from this group - including - clear liquor will lead to fewer hangovers, diet drinks (or anything with a sugar substitute) will get you drunk faster, and Canada is not the invading kind of country.  It was quite interesting.

We made it to the city - found our way out of Millennium Station - and of course headed straight to Millennium Park.  First up - the Bean.

Being the typical tourists - we took pictures everywhere and of everything

Then we continued our journey with a brief stop to our hotel and swung through Macy's.

View outside our window on the 17th floor

 I cannot get over how beautiful Macy's is...

We then headed up the Magnificient Mile and saw what there was to offer.  We stopped for lunch in Water Tower Place, had hot chocolate at Ghiradelli's, and ended our walk north at Sprinkles for some cupcakes.

 Ummm...yeah...there is a cupcake ATM!!!

Irish Cream, Cinnamon/Sugar, Banana Chocolate, Maple Bacon, Off the Record, and Peanut Butter Chocolate....YUMMO!!!

We then limped back to our hotel to shower, order some dinner, and relax before the show....

More on the show is coming up soon - and it was amazing - absolutely worth the wait as I edit pictures and sort through video.

In honor of this trip, I leave you with a song - just one for fun tonight. :)
"Let's Kill Tonight" by Panic! at the Disco

Dark and Cold

Winter has hit.  And hit hard.  And honestly, it has almost nothing to do with the weather.  Those in this area know exactly how lousy the weather has been - which is pretty terrible.  But for me - the winter blues have little to do with snow and ice.  Once Christmas is over, the excitement has disappeared.  The darkness has descended.  And there really isn't much to do.  Those who have tracked me know how busy I stay.  It is rare that I am home (and awake) for more than a few hours a week.  But in winter that changes.  I am home all the time - and very happy to be so.  So odd.

It is so dark out.  And so cold out.  And really - there is only one thing that I enjoy in the winter - and that is downhill skiing.  Not a hobby that I can afford to enjoy very often.

And to make matters worse - there is almost no good live music around.  Seriously.  I haven't been to a non-online concert since Black Friday.  And I haven't really had another one in the horizons until May.  Yep - like 6 months out! 

Thank heavens for Facebook.  I received an invite from a local DJ to a local charity concert.  Honestly - I hadn't heard of the main act, but the opening act is a local musician (Mark Sala) that is amazing.  So I have invited my best concert buddy and we are going to that next week.

Also in amazing news, I got an email from our favorite venue (Pin Drop Concerts) and it says that the musician (Pat McGee) who puts together the festival that we are going to in May is going to be back in town the beginning of that month.  I know that this is crazy far out, but it is nice to have something to look forward to.

So what am I saying?  Who knows.  Winter is hard.  It is cold, it is painful, it is a time for staying in and staying warm.  But it is also a time for reconnecting with loved ones, for organizing your home and your mind.

I am very thankful that I can make it through this winter with warmth all around me - especially when so many others aren't able to say the same.  So I will simply keep my eye on the end of winter, and enjoy the highlights that appear.  Thank heavens for good music!!!

So on this cold and dark night - I offer you a favorite.  I have been on more of a rock kick lately, and loving it.  Something to help with energy on the dark, cold days/nights. 

"Miss Jackson" by Panic! At the Disco

Close the Door?

"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?"

That would be a lyric from one of my favorite songs of all time.  "I Write Sins not Tragedies" by Panic! At the Disco.

This song came out in 2005.  I was in college and/or grad school at the time.  It was radio popular, it was a little outside the realm of what I normally listened to, and it was darn catchy.

There is quite the truth within that song.  It talks of deceit, honesty, and how to deal with these things.  In a sticky situation, there are only so many options of how to deal with things.  You can be honest, meaning brutally honest, you can find a strange middle ground with no actual truths, or you can shut your mouth.  I'm not sure that there is an actual right answer as it usually depends on the situation.  I am also willing to bet that everyone else, like me, has chosen all of these options at one point in time or another.

My mind got to thinking about these things as I remembered the first two acts at the concert I went to on Saturday.  Twenty One Pilots opened, followed by Panic! At the Disco.  It was, simply put, a darn good show.  I wish our seats had been closer, but next time they will be!

So now I sit here, on a Monday night, contemplating life, truth, and how we all get into ugly situations, despite our best efforts.  Tonight...I have no answers.  I have no great revelations.  So please, enjoy the limited picks and the awesome videos.

And if you get the chance, check out the music by these artists, and even better, get out and see them in concert.  It is well worth your time.

Stories about the lovely ladies behind us are still to come

View without zoom

twenty one pilots on stage

  

Guns for Hands

Almost time for Panic! (I waited years to see them!)

I hate the blurriness when zooming in far...but not too many options

The Ballad of Mona Lisa

Nine in the Afternoon

I Write Sins Not Tragedies

Memories

So...

A lot is going on right now.  I have a couple of blogs that I need to publish from this past weekend.  It was Festival of the Arts.  So I have pics and videos from some amazing groups, which I hope to share soon.

Also, this coming weekend is Relay for Life in downtown.  I am co-captain for our team, so there is tons and tons of prep work happening right now.

When things get busy, my mind alternates between spinning in circles and being completely empty.  Either way, I can't seem to put clear thoughts together.

So while I keep moving forward and attempt to put my thoughts in order, here is one of my favorite new songs.

"Memories" by Panic! At The Disco. This is a band that I listened to several years ago and loved.  Now I am waiting to see them perform with Fall Out Boy.  Enjoy the song...simply put....it rocks.