Going to concerts...like a Boss!

I’m going to have plenty of time to calm down about this, but at the moment, I am super excited about getting to see Bruce Springsteen in early September...and at WRIGLEY FIELD, of all places!

I talked to my sister Diana earlier this week, and she had read that he was going to be playing at the Friendly Confines and wanted to know if we’d like to go. She also asked two other couples (the ones we do Woody Allen nights with), and they were up for it, too. The only question was whether we’d be able to get tickets. Wrigley Field isn’t a huge venue, and obviously, tickets would go fast. But with computer whizzes Rey and Jen in town for a few days, she enlisted them for the task. Tickets went on sale at 11 am today, and at 11:16, I got a call from Di: “We got ‘em!” AAAAHHHHH! Unbelievable...ten seats, and all of them together! Rey and Jen are even going to fly out from San Diego for the weekend to go to the show. Sadly, there was a limit on the number of tickets you could get, so we were unable to get tickets for Shane and Matt. I tried, but by the time I got through, there were only single seats available, and although I know they wouldn’t have minded not sitting with us, I don’t think they would have liked to sit by themselves. I think they’ll be okay with it, though...they said that if we could get extra tickets, they’d be in, but I don’t think they were counting on it or anything.

I’ve never been a rabid Springsteen fan. I like him plenty and have had several albums over the years, but I’m not the diehard fan that some people are. But everyone knows that he puts on an incredible show (usually about three hours long), and that they are amazing communal events, where the music transcends everything. That might sound like an exaggeration, but I recently read Penn Jillette’s book, and he mentioned going to a Springsteen show. I seem to recall that he was in kind of a surly or tired mood, and wasn’t all into going to it, but by the end of the show, he was sweating and screaming and singing along with several thousand other people. The Boss is apparently THAT GOOD.

Besides...it’s at WRIGLEY FIELD!!

We’re all excited about it. We’ll have to figure out where we’ll stay Friday night, and there is already discussion of renting a limo to go up to Chicago. Ken and I might not get to participate in that, because if we manage to get Notre Dame football tickets for all the home games, we’ll have to drive back early Saturday to get to the game. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I’m already starting to think about what to wear. I figure that if I get a flannel shirt now, cut off the sleeves, and wash it all summer, it will be appropriately faded by September 7th. Or I could go with the white ribbed tank top and leather or jean jacket. Or a vest, like in this picture of him. That’s a cool look, isn’t it? How about a vest over a white ribbed tank top? It will probably still be pretty hot in Chicago at that time, so it will depend on the weather. (I’m just being silly...I’ve only thought about what to wear a couple of times today!)

I’m also excited about another concert in September, this one at a much smaller venue. I’ve been a long-time fan of the Smithereens, and when I saw that they were playing at an intimate theater in Valparaiso (about an hour away), I immediately bought four tickets, for us and Shane and Matt (who also love the Smithereens). That will be as special a concert for me as the Springsteen one, because I’ve loved the band since the ‘80s, and since it’s a small venue, I’m hoping I’ll get to meet Pat DiNizio (lead singer) after the show. He’s on Facebook and seems like a super nice guy. Sadly, I’ll be missing one of my favorites, The Dandy Warhols, because their date in Chicago is when we’ll be on our Route 66 trip. Drat! Keep making music and keep touring, Dandys! I’ll see you one of these days!

Now I just have to wait all summer for these shows! Ha! I think I’ll manage to find other things to occupy my time.

We’re heading out soon to take Ken’s Mom out to dinner at a Mexican place. She just got back from visiting family and friends in Missouri, so she can tell us all about her trip. I’m hungry for Mexican food and a margarita (or two). If I have two margaritas, it’s a good thing I’m writing this entry now! [wink]