Muse Concert (Sept. 12, 2007)

MUSE!

This last Wednesday was Jana's (my younger sister) birthday. My other sister, Larissa, had planned for the three of us to go to a concert that happened to be on that day--for the English rock group Muse. This also happens to be pretty much Jana's favorite band, so everything worked out there.

On Sept. 12, that wonderful day, I took work off and met up with Larissa to bake a birthday cake and get ready for the concert in the early afternoon. Soon Jana showed up, and around 6:30, after recklessly eating cake, frosting and Bunny Grahams for a couple of hours, we were dropped off in front of the McKay events center, where we found a rather longish-looking line awaiting us. We waited until the doors opened at 7, and from there we made our way to the floor in front of the stage.

Now, I've only been to a couple of concerts. I am not well versed or experienced in the ways of concerts, but I soon learned that this one was going to be way different than the others I'd attended. For instance, I had never experienced a concert from "the floor." This is pretty much the area right in front of the stage where everyone crowds and jumps and screams and dances and moshes and crowd surfs. I had only sat in the seats before. Now we were right down there, only a few feet from the divider that separated us from the stage. This was a very, very different experience.

When the first opening act started (a group called Immigrant), the speakers blared and shook and the whole place vibrated. I could feel it literally making the fabric of my clothes move like there was a breeze. Sweet. But then there was the issue of, "Holy crap...WHY didn't I bring ear-plugs, since I happen to enjoy my hearing?" Yeah, it was ridiculously loud. But that's the way a concert is meant to be, after all.

We endured a second opening act (I forgot her name... _____and the Lips) which went on FOREVER. Sorry, but I think that opening acts should keep it to just a few songs, and when they don't it's agonizing! Well, during these two acts, we noticed that there was some unrest amongst the members of the crowd. They began squeezing closer and pushing so that a few times we nearly fell over. By the end of the first opening band, Larissa was like "Whatever!" and went up to sit in the chairs, which wasn't a bad idea. But Jana and I decided to stay on the floor and hope for the best. We were both a little freaked out, but decided it was for the greater good that we stay and experience it.

After the opening bands, we waited anxiously for the main event--Muse--to come onto the stage. We were a little scared with all the pushing, shoving and squeezing, so we locked arms so we wouldn't get separated. At last the place darkened, and excited shouts and screams emerged from the masses. Pixelated screens above the stage lit up, and the band came out! There was much jumping and jubilation. The excitement that swept over the venue was impossible to describe.

We were standing on the right side of the stage (our right), and Matt, the lead singer, was on the left. D'oh! We picked the wrong side! But it was still amazing. Throughout the concert we moved and jumped and swayed and, at one point, were asked to hold up our cell phones to the darkened room as a slow song played. What happened to lighters? Oh well, it was still sweet to behold--an auditorium glowing with lit cell-phone screens.

The music was unbelievable, and hearing the band live was something I'll never get over. There was such an energy, such an excitement, that only live music can provide, and I was there in the middle of it all. I loved it! At first I was scared, but soon I was such a part of it that I didn't want it to end.

It wasn't long before the place began to feel disgustingly hot and sweaty with all the perspiring bodies moving together, and there was a stench in the air that could make you queasy. This is just one of those things about a concert you deal with, I decided. Near the middle, a few adventurous people tried to crowd surf, and near the end a circle opened up in the middle of the floor. At first I was like, "What the crap?" but soon realized that it was, indeed, the mosh pit. People started slamming into each other and dancing crazily. The way the crowd moved, by the end of the concert I was literally one person away from the mosh pit--the guy next to me was pushing the people into it and all. I'll admit I was a little worried--what if I got sucked in or something? Haha. But it was okay.

The encore was great, and we left the concert feeling full of energy and revitalized from it all. We went to Larissa's apartment and talked about the concert for an hour or so before I went home. I pretty much showered the moment I walked through the door--enough sweaty people had brushed (and squeezed) up against me that i was sure I smelled like a locker room.

So there is the story, in its glory, of my Muse concert experience. I think it might be an addiction or something, because already I can't stop thinking about how sweet it would be to go to another concert...although I don't look forward to the strangers rubbing up against me (I guess that's just a part of it, right?).

Mountain Hike

We ended up spending part of our Saturday hiking in AF Canyon with some of our family. Dave and I did our grocery shopping and errands first and managed to meet with everyone only 45 minutes late :( But it's okay. By the time we got up the mountain, it was the perfect time of day.

(Dave, with people behind him.)

(Dave and our nephew. I know it looks like they are observing some fascinating plant or animal up close, but the truth is that they are staring at horse crap.)

We had a picnic lunch (which was delicious!) and had a great time up there. It was so nice and cool! After the hike we decided to drive up to SLC to try this restaurant called "One World Cafe." It is an interesting concept...it is mostly vegan cuisine, and instead of having set prices for the food, they just ask for a decent donation. This means that anyone can afford to eat there. I liked this because it meant that they cared more about making sure that people got fed than about making money.

After Dave and I went home, I went shopping with my sister Jana for a little bit. And...that's about all that happened today.

My childhood, resurfaced

I don't know if this happens with every generation, but it is very prevalent with mine: the things I grew up with back in the 80s and early 90s, things that (in most cases) totally disappeared for years, have resurfaced with re-vamped toys and cartoons for a new generation.

I don't know why this is. My best guess is that it has to do with taking advantage of a huge group of consumers who already have (emotional) ties to the product, and even though they aren't in the market for it anymore, their young children are. Am I being taken advantage of? I don't know. As exciting as it is to see parts of my childhood returning, it is also a little heart wrenching. Most of them have changed...a lot. Some of them haven't. But these things are MY childhood, and as excited as I am (in some cases) to introduce these things to my own future children, they are a part of my finished childhood and it doesn't seem quite right to bring them back again. Make sense? Besides...they changed most of them, taking away much of their charm and causing me to wonder, "Were things really so different back then? Would the same toys be so much less entertaining to today's kids that they had to make drastic changes?"

I have some examples of how toys from my younger days have gone and returned, just for reference and, of course, for the fact that it's freaking interesting.

Click on the pictures for a bigger view.

Strawberry Shortcake: Then

She was a cute little girl who wore a disgustingly girly outfit. I think that was what was so appealing about her--she was old-fashioned and darn sweet.

Strawberry Shortcake: Now

They modernized her. Now she's no better than a pre-pubecent Barbie--she's just another fashion doll.

Polly Pocket: Then

She lived in a little world the size of a make-up compact. This was a very portable toy. Polly herself wasn't much bigger than your thumbnail.

Polly Pocket: Now

Surprised? She turned into a fashion doll, too. She doesn't come with a tiny little playset...because she grew several inches. Her wardrobe consists of weird, rubbery clothes.

My Little Pony: Then

Having a pony is every girl's dream, right? I loved having a herd of ponies living in my toybox. Their long hair and cute symbol on their butts were the best parts.

My Little Pony: Now

This toy has changed remarkably little, but technically this is the 3rd generation of ponies, not the second. They brought MLP back for the second time a few years ago, but they were skinny, strange-looking creatures that apparently did not sell well. The company realized that the more classic look would sell better, and it's true--they look a great deal like their 1st generation predecessors . Once change, though, is that the new ones have magnets in their hooves (so they can use playsets, etc).

Littlest Pet Shop: Then

The idea behind these toys was that children could have their own miniature pets to care for. They were very popular and much loved by kids. They came with playsets, carriers, toys, and all the fun stuff.

Littlest Pet Shop: Now

Holy crap. Their heads are disgustingly huge! That's pretty much the main problem I have with these new imposters.

Care Bears: Then

I loved these guys! They were so sappy, but come on--they were so freaking caring! What a good influence on kids....right?

Care Bears: Now

They haven't changed too much. This was one of the first toys that re-emerged from the 80s several years ago. These days they are all pastel and brighter than ever.

Cabbage Patch Kids: Then

These little fellows had delightful yarn hair and the signature of their creator on their buttcheek. They had many varieties and were, although sort of ugly in their way, just so lovable.

Cabbage Patch Kids: Now

The yarn hair is gone and their look has slightly changed. The hair was their main thing...but I know why they changed it--yarn is impossible to brush :) Still...how could they change it?

Barbie: Then

THE fashion and beauty doll. She had beautiful hair and clothes, but most of her ourfits were kept simple and were easy to take on and off.

Barbie: Now

Barbie today is WAY different than she used to be. She has evolved over the years to be...well, what she always was, only now it's worse. She dresses like an extreme hooker and seems to be getting younger and younger. After all, who wants to play with a toy that looks like an old person? Her eyes are huge and so are her lips, and huge globs of make-up adorn her face. She is even skinnier than ever.

There you have it.

Nerdiness, and this week

(Karen's score...maybe Dave will do better? Haha.) Found this on Mike and Jamie's blog, and it was good times.

This week has been a mixture of many things. It didn't start off too great...kind of depressing, for various reasons. And then there's school, which added unneeded stress. Dave thought he had a big paper due yesterday, and so he stayed up late working on it when it wasn't actually due until NEXT week. (hey, at least it's done now.) I've been freaking out for him, because I figured that if that much was expected on the first couple days of school, what about the rest of the semester? Would we ever get time together NOT studying? But it's okay now.

I am taking a few interesting classes. Actually, all of them are. My intention was to take my last math and english classes and be done with my associates THIS semester, but there was one little problem. I went to math and found out my teacher was Polynesian. Nothing wrong with that, but he has an ACCENT and I CAN'T understand what the crap he is saying 1/3 of the time. This would be okay in another class, but not in math. I went the second day, hoping for a miracle. Nope. What was I supposed to do? There was no other math class to switch into-everything was already full. So I made a choice--spring semester, I will take math instead and have that be the semester I finish my degree. It may be the only class I take, but it will be easier on me that way (I have a lot of trouble with math, generally, so taking it as my only class would alleviate stress). Finishing in spring was the original plan anyway, so it's no big deal.

So instead, I am taking 3 non-math classes: Shakespeare, Speed Reading (and studying), and Sociology of the Family. All three should be great...well, the Speed Reading is questionable, but that was just a filler class anyway :) I'm excited about my classes, though.

It's Friday, and I'm so glad this week went fast. It's time for it to end. And as a reward, it's a 3-day weekend! Later.

Update, etc

Updated "Local Stupidity" just now.

We're doing well. School is a major adjustment, though. More later.

Education Week 2007

After Dave left for his mission, I kept telling him (er, writing him) that I wanted to take him to Education Week, which happens every year at a certain university close by (certainly you can guess which :). I have been attending almost every year since I turned 15 or so, and although it has not always been so fun for me (you know teenagers) I have been wanting to go very much the past few years.

Dave missed it the year he came home from the mission by maybe a day, and the next year we were newly married and way too poor to afford it. But this year, even though it looked impossible, we still picked a day and were able to pack as much Education Week goodness into it as possible. Dave and I were both able to get work off, and school didn't start until the next day. We had just one day to make the most of it.

On Tuesday, Dave, Jana and me found ourselves on the crowded campus with hundreds of class options to choose from. We arrived around 10am and didn't go home until nearly 10pm (I meant it when I said that we had to pack everything in). We went to some fun classes, some uplifting classes, and some downright boring classes, but it was a great time and was much enjoyed by all. We ate delicious food, indulged in fudge and those infamous cinnamon bears, and cruised the bookstore. It was a lovely experience, and I defininitely feel like I have been rejuvenated, even if only a little bit.

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School started this week. I had forgotten the stress that comes with Fall semester. There are SO many people there, and then there is the craziness of buying textbooks and that last-minute rush to change classes. Stress, stress, stress. And, I find myself with this overwhelming desire to put off or change my math class for various reasons. I dont' know what I'll do. I haven't settled in to all the changes yet, so I guess I need to give things a chance before I freak out. Dave is, of course, transitioning beautifully to the new schedule. Sometime I wonder if anything really worries him. I am flipping out about studying and understanding what I'm trying to learn and having breakdowns right and left, but he manages to succeed in his classes with little effort and minimal studying. He just started his cohort for the Education program, and he is very excited.

As an added bonus for reading this blog entry, here is a camera phone picture of Karen being the Queen of the Ducks.

The Farmer's Market Adventure

I recently re-discovered that there is a Farmer's Market that is held in a park only a few miles away from our apartment. Dave and I have been to another one that is like 40 miles away, and it was awesome and huge with tons of selection but it was really crowded and, again, far away.















So since we were out and about the city anyway, we dropped by the market for a few minutes. It was starting to close down for the day, and there were only a few tents still up. I wonder if it is really that small, or if most of the vendors had already left? Still, we found a couple of good stands (although most were for arts and crafts and not produce) and bought a tomato, a new potato (that's what they're called), some apples, and a delicious-smelling vine-ripened cantaloupe. The zucchinni in the picture were from a friend's garden, which means all of that produce was locally grown. I feel proud of myself, because I have been interested in buying more local fruits and vegetables lately. Who knows how far the broccoli I buy at Albertson's has really traveled, and what kind of a toll the necessary transportation has had on the environment and whatnot. Besides--I really like supporting local businesses and farms.

In other news...

Things are a little different now than a week ago. I started a new job that will (hopefully) be quite temporary, since it is a lot like my old job only I actually have to work with people (who are often quite odd) and deal with a more set schedule. I wanted a bigger change than this. It kind of sucks, I can't lie. But is it close by and at least I'm making money.

Also, I am planning on going to at least one day of Education Week at the Y this year. I haven't been able to go for a couple of years, and the experience has always been good when I've been able to attend. Mostly it's just a blast to hang out with my family. Jana should be coming with me, and Dave is likely to come to at least a few classes. So I'm excited.

We are planning on going to a play tonight in Sandy, too--Attie (our awesome friend) had some extra tickets for "Beauty and the Beast" that her family couldn't use (lucky her--she's at the Shakespearian Festival!). It should make for a fun date!