Jason Mraz--word master!!

We sing, We dance, We steal things.....

(newest CD title, in case you were wondering!)

Yes, Jason Mraz in concert--
His Gratitude Cafe tour--
amazing!!

I have now gotten so rebellious . . .
I have become a
line-cutting,
camera smuggling,
food hiding,
concert dancing,,
music fan!!

Here we are cutting into line
after we realized there was only
one entrance gate open--
at the opposite side of the park!!
I made Ron do it--
we just avoided eye contact with those around us!!

(ok, Ron just proof-read this and was horrified that
I admitted to line-cutting,
I told him I had to keep it real--
besides no one reads this and
we are too old to prosecute!)

(see the long line in the distance?--it was even longer behind us!)
we just squeezed in by the lamp post--
shhh, no one noticed!!

great venue--
but the signs said "no cameras or food"
right, everyone was taking photos--
I wasn't the only one breaking the law!!

beautiful sunset--
unlike the gorge, no rain or wind--
just a perfect night-
with a rising moon.

G Love and Special Sauce was again
the opening act--
He was good--

I was beginning to worry though--
everyone (but the kids up front)
was sitting down--
chairs and blankets--
a bit too comfy for me--
how was I suppose to DANCE!!?

getting darker--and still everyone SAT

G Love left the stage-
someone needs to get him a record deal--
he's done the coke commercial-
now he needs to go big time!

we now were waiting for Jason Mraz--

I had stopped using my iPhone camera
and had taken out the real one--
everyone was flashing photos--
really, just change the rule and make us
law- abiding citizens

Ron took photo of me--

so I had to take one of him--

see we don't look too old to be concert groupies!!
except that yes, we brought chairs
instead of sitting on the grass--
you know the bad back, creaky knees thing...

Then Jason and band came on--
WOW
what an amazing display of word play--
his songs are like
rapid-fire poetry

Can you see the photo of Jason on the back screen--
cool, right?

As you can see,
when Jason appeared--
EVERYONE stood--
Yeah, now I can DANCE!!

His horn section was GREAT--
not only did they sound amazing but
they had Motown-dance moves!
gotta love a horn that moves!!

again, cool screen shot--

This was my favorite screen shot--

It was hard to focus
and dance and sing
at the same time--
so please acknowledge my
amazing photo skills!!

Here's a bright-light crowd shot --
I wanted to take a photo of the
woodstock-era dancing chick next to Ron
but I thought it might be a bit obvious!!
then again she did seem to be in her own world,
and no, my dancing was WAY better!!

Oh, over all ready--
didn't last long enough
even though they played for 2 hours

They thanked the audience, bowed
and started shaking the audience's hands--
cool band--

so besides my amazing photography
I tried my hand at videos--
There are 3 below--
hope they make you sing and dance--
(maybe I better be happy if they just work !)

What can you do in 30 Hours ?

clock starts Sept. 18th-ends Sept. 20th

Well, if your son needs a root canal
and the local dentist can't do it
you have him fly home
(cheaper than the local endodontist)
and as Meredith says
"let Ron work his magic"!

So, Steven flew into Spokane on Friday
at 11:10 PM
fast drive home with catch-up conversation--
Home and in bed by 2:00 AM

-sleep-
(a little)

Saturday morning, up and at the clinic by 10:30 am

3 HOURS later:
The amazing completion of a perfect root canal !!!

Oh boy, Michael and Jacob would have loved to watch this one!!
It came complete with oozing pus
and the replacement of the crown
chipped by the "other" dentist!!

Afterwards, FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL
watched UW BEAT USC
(go Huskies--a win--finally!!)
flipped channels to see the Utes lose to Oregon
(bad day for MTW)
flipped again to see WSU beat SMU --YEAH!!
(remember kids that's the name on my diploma!!)

And then watched BYU forget to show up when Florida came to play--
so sad--
But thanks mom and Bob
for letting us take over your living room floor
due to Direct TV messing with Versus!!
(don't get me started on Direct TV!)

Then Steven met up with friends
--Byron and Kristie--
attended the Sausage Fest
and THEN came home
for favorite salmon dinner
at 10:30 PM
(usually our bedtime!)

brought back memories of
waiting up for our children--
no matter how late!!

after dinner, some father and son bonding--
watching . . .

a very concerned Tim Gunn!!

So, bedtime was late--
Sunday morning came early--
up and on the road by 4:30 am

driving back to Spokane...

catching the cheapest flight back to Dartmouth

And this is how a medical student travels...
with TWO backpacks!!

Saying goodbye is always hard,
even when we will see him again soon.
mother and son....

father and son...

then walking away--
back to his REAL life--
back to his amazing wife--

Us?
back to bed....

oh, wait, it's Sunday--
hurry back for 9 am meetings
and a very loooooooong Sunday!

whew, a fast, fun 30 hours
love it!!

30 % chance of Rain...

That was the Labor Day weekend forecast
for the Gorge at George..
but as we were driving,
the closer we got to the concert,
the higher that % grew.

But Rain or Shine
The Dave Matthews Band
will perform!!
And we will be in the crowd!!

It was POURING when we arrived at the Gorge!!
We sat in the car in the parking field--
waiting....
for a half an hour--
It NEVER rains in Eastern Washington,
right,
It was a downpour!!

Luckily, Ron had ignored the forecast
and grabbed the Cub's ponchos we had
purchased in Chicago--
We pulled them on and joined the line
waiting for them to open the gate.

I took no photos--
I was in too many layers to find my camera-
I had on a t-shirt, thermal shirt,
rain jacket, poncho and had the
blanket stuffed under the poncho
to keep it dry!!

The line started moving...
the rain kept falling--
the crowd was enduring....
but we were still excited--
and as Jessica said--
"it just adds to the adventure!!"

We had reserved seats--
so we didn't have to run for a spot
on the grassy terraces.
We showed our tickets--
had our purses searched--
and then made our way down
the slippery slope to our seats--

Our tickets were sopping wet from having to
show them to so many security guards to get to the floor.

Found our seats--rain still falling
1st warm-up band was playing...
the Yonder Mountain String Band.

Here's our row--
see the stage covered in plastic!!
good times!!

We decided since the seats were so wet--
we might as well get our food and
our concert T-shirts!! YEAH!!

Here's Michael and Jessica eating rice bowls--
trying to find shelter
from the overhang of the food booth!!

Ron getting our coke and water--
look at the sky
and the puddles
and the other ponchos and
trash-bag cover-ups!!

obliviously,
staying dry was more important than
being a fashion statement!

Look at the sky--
conflicting messages:
black clouds
and the start of the rainbow!!

As we made our way back to our seats
the clouds broke--
the rain stopped
and the sun tried to appear--

Michael and Jessica,
taking photos --fast,
in case the rain came back--

Ron kept his poncho on the longest....
just in case...

We were wet--
but oh, so glad to be here!!

The rainbows started appearing...

the sun started shining....
our clothes started drying

And we were ready for the concert...

Dave
(as in Matthews)
came out and thanked the crowds for
showing up in the rain
and for the Yonder Mountain String Band
for playing thru the storm

He was making jokes like a warm up act--
pretty funny!

G. Love and Special Sauce
was the next group--
love him--

He was great and really got the crowd going!

Then we noticed the sky--
dramatic,
crazy clouds--
rolling in.....

It was so cool--
surreal looking--
and the crowds really started pouring in
it was crazy!!

And then the famous Gorge Sunset happened--

Amazing colors--
perfect temperature

Getting us ready for the show....

Lights dimmed,
sun had set...
glow sticks appeared..

a few lights swept the stage....

Then the lasers started.....

And then,
WOW--
the lights, the music
the smoke
(on stage and the funny- smelling kind )
filled the air!!

The band was amazing--
truly musicians playing multiple instruments
--jamming--

And yes, I was dancing and singing--
it was too dark and crowded
for any incriminating photos

too bad--
you will have to take my word--
I had some good moves going on!!

loved the music-
the giant screens were great--
we were already so close,
but it was fun to see the facial expressions of the group.

Surprised how well these photos turned out--
no flash
and I was dancing and singing--
And it was soooo crowded --
with fans walking on the chairs
to get to their seats!!

the band was GREAT--
the guy on the electronic violin was amazing--
the sax player played 4 different types of instruments
the bass player never changed his expression--
the drummer looked like he was having the most fun--
and the guitar player reminded me of Clark Kent!!

But the real star--
Dave Matthews was incredible--
loved his love song--
"You and Me Together"-
I was singing it all night!!


Here is their latest album --
oh, that's right--no such thing as "albums" anymore--
Here's the latest CD--
Go get it!!

So, in case I haven't made it clear--
I HAD A GREAT TIME!!!

I really am a fan of live music.
I have gotten hooked on concerts--
so this is an announcements, kids--

I am going to more concerts--
I am going to dance
and sing
and make your dad smile--

Next on OUR concert tour:
Jason Mraz,
Billy Joel and Elton John

and I have LiveNation
and Ticketmaster on speed dial!!



Oh, as a side note to this concert:

you need to ask Jessica
about her up close and personal
story of Dave Matthews!!
Even though she never got his autograph--
she does know his periodontal probing numbers!!