You may not have noticed, but I haven't actually posted an update for the last 6 weeks or so. I refuse to post the farmshare updates this year, so Angela has taken over that part of the blog. So... I've got a whole July+ of updates to try and deliver from my foggy memory.
I visited Gramps on a Sunday morning on the last Sunday in June and spent an hour or so interviewing him about the war. I borrowed his photo album, scanned them all in and put them on disc. I need to go back and tape him narrating the slideshow before I edit it all together.
We spent Fourth of July weekend at camp and that it was the first time that Angela had gone up with us in the past couple of years. Karen and Ritchie were there, too, so we had a full house. The weather wasn't great (unless you're like me and hate the sun/heat), so there was no swimming. The parade was the highlight of the weekend, I guess.
The following week, big sister had a solid week of basketball. She picked up right where she had left off in the winter and has really come a long way from last year. She's probably better at dribbling than I was at that age. I had the edge at shooting, though!
My old buddy Todd was back in town that week. He and Judy came out to the house one night and had their introduction to Rock Band. We spent a beautiful day at the lake that weekend. Sebago was chillier than usual, but we still had fun swimming and going on a couple of boat rides with the kids. We had some excellent views of a couple of bald eagles.
The following night, we took the kids to see TWO juggle at the Westcustogo Hall up the road. We had seen them last year, too. I'm glad to report that the little one did NOT want to leave halfway through the show this time, but I was much better prepared for that this year, having brought two cars. She was very much into it this time, sitting in the front row, clapping and laughing throughout.
The following Friday, I went to the Wilco show at the Maine State Pier. I had never been to a show there, but it was pretty nice. If they could put a tent over it, it would be amazing. As it was, we got lucky and were never subjected to more than a light sprinkle. Seeing the band and looking to my immediate right at the big wooden yachts docked 15 feet away or at the Casco Bay ferries loading and unloading a hundred yards beyond it was pretty surreal. The band took the ferry airhorn blasts and stride and waved to the "freeloaders" as they chugged off to their islands. I think that band leader Jeff Tweedy called the sea "the world's greatest fog machine", or something to that effect. The acoustics couldn't match the show I'd seen at the Camden Opera House, but I have to give it an A for ambience.
The weekend after that was the annual family party at Wendy and Kenny's house to celebrate my grandfather's birthday. The sun wasn't out much, but I still managed to get a really bad sun burn. I rediscovered the fact that a shaved head starts peeling within 2 days of getting burned, pretty much. I've also noticed that the top of my head is becoming freckled like my face as it gets more sun.
It was Cousin Joe's last family function before heading off to college... I'm so jealous...
Later that night, we took the girls to see Audiobody, which is TWO's other act. This show had some really amazing moments, but overall... we all prefer the juggling act. I know the boys are trying to move beyond it and wouldn't want to hear that, though.
The following week, big sister had week 2 of basketball for the summer. Both girls have spent a lot of time at the library this summer. They've been really into the summer reading program and have also attended just about every event offered there this year. I certainly spent a big chunk of my summers there, too, when I was their age. The big one is plowing through 3 or 4 chapter books a week (she particular likes mysteries right now) and the little one is starting to read, too. Tonight at bed time, she read me most of her Step 1 Richard Scarry book by herself while big sister read a Shel Silverstein book to herself.
We didn't actually do much of anything in the last weekend of July, which was a much needed respite. This past week, the girls started swimming lessons. I took Friday off from work because we were going to surprise the kids with a trip to Santa's Village. Tempting fate, I chose to ignore the weather forecast (I'm usually a pretty lucky guy), but by the time we go to Gorham, NH we decided to abort and headed down to North Conway to go school shopping instead.
The next morning, we got up and tried again. This time, the weather was great and we spent the whole day there. It's a longer drive than Story Land, but a much more pleasant trip. There is a fraction of the traffic and the scenery is unbelievable once you get to the mountains. Next year, though, we're definitely going to go on a week day. The lines weren't horrible, but it would have been nice if they'd been shorter.
Yesterday, I made my third long road trip in as many days to go to Boston with my Everett, one of my brother-in-laws. He's a Dream Theater fanatic and they were headling the Progressive Nation show at the Bank of America Pavilion. I had never been there before, but I was VERY impressed. It's laid out really nicely and our 8th row seats were amazing. Before we even got there, though, Ev and I spent an hour plus in line so he could meet-and-greet his rock idol, drummer Mike Portnoy, at Daddy's Junky Music. I played photographer for Ev and his friend Rich. Mike was very affable and easy going despite having to sign a LOT of autographs. DT is VERY popular in Boston and Mike had gone to Berklee right across the street.
I hadn't heard much of Dream Theater, but thought they were pretty good. The crowd was VERY much into it. I was really there to see Zappa Plays Zappa, though. I've been into Frank Zappa since high school, when I first read The Real Frank Zappa Book
The weak point from the clips I had seen was Dweezil's vocals. I think he's probably a better guitarist than Frank was, but he doesn't have the voice. As the band played their opener, Purple Lagoon, this big frat boy-looking guy starts jumping around like a lunatic in front of the stage. He hopped and screamed up and down the aisles before launching himself up on to the stage. Everyone around me was shaking their heads wondering why the heck security wasn't tackling him. Seconds later, as he grabbed the mic and did a perfect vocal on Zombie Woof, it all made sense! The kid was fantastic. Dweezil stayed at center stage and just shredded and smiled. The whole band was incredible and there was an energy that you just don't get from the old Zappa albums. I really wish that I could have seen the Frank play live.
I got home at 2am, but made it in to work as usual. However, I am probably due to crash here at any minute as I type this. I doubt that anyone besides Jim and Nora will read this anyway!
I read it. Cool review on wilco and DT.
what is the interview thing you are doing..that sounds great.
Posted by: Todd | August 04, 2009 at 02:26 PM
Last year, we videotaped my grandfather and 3 of his sisters taking about the old days. I always wanted to record him taking about WWII, so I wrote down a page full of questions and interviewed him about it for an hour. Once I've gotten him to comment on all of his photos, I'll edit it all together and make DVDs out of it.
Posted by: Jason Raven | August 05, 2009 at 08:56 PM