I missed seeing one of my all-time favorite bands last night because....it was past my bedtime.
Erin and Doug came into town yesterday so we could all go to Summerfest. I've never been before, but from what I saw, it was your classic midwestern summer festival: beer, walking about, eating food on a stick, beer, people watching, sunburn, beer, beer, beer.
Erin and Doug had Kiss tickets, they aren't my kinda thing, so I didn't go. I found out in the afternoon that the BoDeans, the afore mentioned all-time favorite band, was playing later in the night--but not until 10:00. I almost made it back to the grounds last night to see them, but I was sun-tired, carb-overloaded and well, 10pm is my bedtime. And it was raining.
How pathetic?! Next time, I'm dragging my tired ass out no matter what.
And how could the The BoDeans, Milwaukee's GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC OF ALL TIME, have a 2nd rate stage, lousy 10pm slot?
Even if the bedroom window had not been open, the thunderstorm earlier this week would have woken me. It was a huge, booming monster of a storm--at one point, the thunder following the lightning by only one second--it was right above the house. I was dreaming when it began, and as the windows rattled from the wind, the storm became intertwined in my dream. As did Buncle Tom's midget story told the previous afternoon. Correction: Buncle Tom's FAMOUS midget story. The story is not famous, the midget was.
Back to my story: in my waking and yet still dreaming mind, the storm was Dorothy's tornado, whirling with Oz characters including aforementioned midget, all wielding menacing commercial table legs.
We had dinner at Fond du Lac's The Sunset Supper Club on Friday night, it was the classic small town Wisconsin evening out. The only way to describe it is to transcribe the ordering conversation:
"I'll have the petite filet please".
"How would you like that?"
"Medium Rare"
"Baked Potato, Hash Browns, or Cole Slaw"?
"Baked Potato".
"House Salad or Cottage Cheese?"
"Salad" (with Blue Cheese House Dressing)
"Clam Chowder or Tomato Juice"?
This is where I lost it...but I had to control myself, not make too much fun and 'when in Rome' the situation. Dad, as he always had in the past, enjoyed my Tomato Juice.
My social calendar has been so full lately that I haven't had much of a chance to explore the town that is Milwaukee. But I will share with you a few of the pleasant places I've enjoyed so far:
Once a week, I get to have a treat of a lunch from Larry's Market. Yum.
When I need an antique store fix, it's off to three floors of bliss at Blackhawk Antiques Market.
For a lovely walk to the lake front, I head down Capitol Drive to Atwater Park and Beach. If I can manage a trek, it's in Estebrook Park.
Milwaukee is full of summer festivals, including SummerFest itself, the biggest music festival on the planet. I hope to make it to a few of the summer time Wisconsin events, and to start, I'm off to Walleye Weekend in Fond du Lac next Saturday. Watch for posting of giant fish.