It’s just that there is so much to do and I want to do it
all. If there are that many cuisines available for takeout, imagine the number
of events: rock concerts, comedy benefits, book launches, TV wrap parties, art
openings, restaurant openings, theatre openings, even the opening of the mail
is a fete if you add champagne. – I Totally Meant to Do That, Jane Borden
When I read the line above, I thought it was the perfect
description of one of my self-diagnosed illnesses. I have mentioned before that
I suffer from FOMO, and this summer was a doozy
for me. If you ask anyone in the Windy City, they will tell you that Summers in
Chicago are the best time of the year. As mentioned in this previous post, there
are limited weeks each year where Chicagoans can put on shorts baring their
white winter legs, and enjoy beer gardens, festivals and baseball games in the
greatest city in the world.
This year, I had 3 weekends from the month of May-September
where I did not have plans. And you what I did those weekends? I made plans.
There was just so much I wanted to do! Outdoor concerts, Entertaining guests,
watching best friends tie the knot, being lazy at the lake, enjoying a street
festival, going on a cruise…the options were endless, and I didn’t want to miss
a beat! Scratch that – I couldn’t miss a beat, because I suffer from FOMO and
it is out of my control. I must do it all.
Let's start by talking about the concerts this summer...
Note: Needed to wear the Ball State tee because the White Old Navy V was too big of a risk in the rain.
Here is a picture of Chad from the Dave concert 14 years ago. The guy you are afraid of in the back? That's him.
I think all of you know that Carreen (my lifelong bestie) is
a huge Dave Matthews Band fan. She receives email alerts about the band, cried
the day one of the members passed, and NEVER misses a summer tour. And this
year all of the ants marching aligned, and the DMB concert fell on Carreen’s
birthday (6/22/13). What could be a better way to ring in 29 than eating,
drinking, and being merry with your best friends? So Carreen, Ed, Chad and I
hopped in the Rouge (Rogue-Trip!) and headed to Indiana for the ultimate
birthday celebration. We drove 3 hours through the sunny Hoosier State, and
just as we pulled in…It. Started. Pouring. We didn’t let that stop us (no way!)
so we cracked open a few cans, and waited for the monsoon to pass – there was still
a celebration to be had, and celebrate we will. In addition to Carreen’s
birthday, we were celebrating Chad’s anniversary of his last DMB show at this
venue, which happened to be exactly 14 years prior to the day. Overall, the show was amazing, but the best part about it
was celebrating the birthday of my best friend in a way that so simply was
“Carreen.” Oh, I forgot to mention we ate at TGIFridays the next morning. Now
THAT is “Carreen.”
Don't Need Money, Don't Need Fame. Do need to go to work the next day.
The next morning, we headed back to Chicago, took a brief nap, and rallied for another great concert. In the car growing up, my parents, always listened to “Oldies 104.3” (it’s more fun if you sing the jingle) and now I listen to it too. Except now the “oldies” is the best of the 70’s and 80’s, but I’ll take it. This year, the station hosted the first ever concert at Montrose Beach, which happens to be a short walk from my house. The show? Huey Lewis and the News…I know. I KNOW! I was just as excited as you are! Beach concert with oldies music? That has FOMO written all over it! So LT, James, Chad and I bought tickets to learn about the power of love. And you know what else we learned? We learned that Vodka Teas go down very smoothly on a walk to Montrose Beach. We learned that you can fit 2 of the skinny cans of Corona Light in each of Chad’s pockets, so buy them 8 at a time. We learned that cutting in line will get you told off by some mean girls. We learned that dancing in the sand is more fun if you are not wearing shoes. We learned that the heart of rock & roll is still beating (from what I see I believe ‘em). But the biggest lesson we learned, is that Sunday night concerts make for a rough Monday morning. That’s why I took off work following my Sunday show – Toby Keith.
Red Solo Koozie is almost as good as a Red Solo Cup. Proceed to Party!
5% of the reason I started dating Chad was for easy access
to Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. Ok, that is not true, but it
certainly is one of the best perks to TP, besides TP only has 6% sales tax at Old Navy and
Target. Looking at my summer, I was getting really nervous about the MWBA concert
schedule – it seemed like I had a conflict every time there was a show I wanted
to see! Plus Chaddy-poo is not that into country music, which limited the shows
he would enjoy. Then it dawned on me…did I want to see Passion Pit? No. Did I
go anyways because Chad wanted to? YES! He owed me one, and it was time for
Chad to get drunk and be somebody at the Toby Keith concert. I mentioned that I’m
not as good as I once was, so I took Monday off work ready to party. In
addition to FOMO, I also suffer from a severe case of patriotism, so a Toby
Keith concert is like a support group for people like me. This was not my first
time seeing Toby, but every time I manage to tear up when he brings the men in
uniform on stage as I belt out American Soldier on the top of my lungs….getting teary just thinking about it now. Even Chad said “the man entertained him for
2 hours.” Sounds like a good review to me, and a great way to kick off the 4th
of July week.
So far I had seen some of my faves – country music and
oldies…but something was missing. What music do I love more than any other? 90s
music, of course!! (If you didn’t know that, how did you stumble across this
blog?) And the BEST band from the 90s is inarguably Matchbox 20, led by the
gorgeous and talented Rob Thomas….ah. This was the first time the band had
toured together in YEARS, and the last time I saw RT perform, MB20 came out and
joined him and I cried. Actual tears (Jen Zei can vouch). So clearly I was
online and ready to be the first to buy tickets when they went on sale…and yet
somehow both of their shows sold out in minutes! For any of you that are
surprised by that, I should tell you that they were touring with the Goo Goo
Dolls. If I die and go to Heaven, I imagine I will be greeted by the Dolls
assuring me they won’t tell no-one my name, and then MB20 will hand me a
raincoat. They’re always worried ‘bout things like that.
This isn't from the show.
It is when I first fell in love with Rob Thomas.
Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised that the tickets sold
out. After a “ticket-liquidator” debacle, I got 3 tickets to the show for the
ultimate sisters night a Ravinia, where you bring your own food and wine, and
(if you are really fancy) table centerpiece. Kim is also a huge fan and turned
me onto MB20, and Pam is a lover of all 90s and anytime she can eat and drink
outside. When RT played Bright Lights (Trivia – my #2 fave song of all time) I
did not know what to do with myself. I belted it out until people were staring
while Sober Pam took a video. Turns out Pam didn’t get to drink outside… That
was “Babys’ First Concert,” and the first time Pam would use the pregnancy card
to skip the shuttle line. I bet Pam will deliver the babies at 3am. Just a
guess.
I tried to make a pizza. I failed.
Wrigley Field is one of my favorite places in Chicago. And
second to drinking a few too many beers in the bleacher seats, one of my fave
things is going to a concert at Wrigley. Being that it is 4 blocks from my
house, I host a little get together before and we all walk over together. This
year’s show combined 2 of my faves – Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean. Kelly
holds a very special place in my heart. The Season 1 American Idol star was the
reason I pierced my nose, she helped Pam and I get through the beautiful disaster
Summer of 2003, and whenever “stronger” comes on during one of my workouts, I
can always run for a few extra minutes (seconds). Her show was incredible and
I’ll tell you what, my life would suck without Kelly Clarkson. Jason Aldean
also put on a great show, from what I recall…things were a tad hazy at this
point. But one of my favorite things about that concert? The attempt to cook a
pizza when I got home, which resulted in a burnt and cheesy potholder (what did
I do?) and then recapping the night with Kim and Schmelter, who were lucky to
be alive based on their tales…per the us.
My last concert of the Summer was a tribute to the city that contributes
to my FOMO – Chicago. As a belated Mother’s Day present, we got my mom tickets
to the Chicago concert at Ravinia. We learned from our past experiences and
brought more food, more wine, and got there early. Just a Saturday in the Park
(it wasn’t the 4th of July) filled with hours of drinking in the sun
with my family – Mom, Kim, Pam, Keith, Autumn, Schmelter and Chad. You probably
don’t think you know many Chicago songs – you are wrong. Just YouTube them and
I think you’ll be surprised. “You’re the meaning in my life, you’re the
inspiration. You bring feeling to my life, you’re the inspiration…” See? You’re
singing along! The horns echoed through the park as Keith got "geese" and we sang and danced,
especially Autumn. It was that nugget’s first concert and I think she liked it
almost as much as the ranch dip.
This little dancer loved the showwwwwwww.
Music, sunshine, and the best company I could ask for…that’s
summer in Chicago.
This post was brought to you courtesy of the red, white and
blue.
