We went to see Paul McCartney in concert last week with Jason’s parents. This was his first time performing in Utah. I anticipated that this would be a cool show but it blew away all my expectations.
There was a nice open area by the porta potties that was a pretty sweet place to hang out and enjoy the concert without having to worry about the giant sized man in front of you blocking your view.
Paul, though nearly 70, was just as energetic as he was in his younger days and definitely just as talented. His band played flawlessly together. They mostly performed Beatles songs but they threw in a few classics from his solo career as well. Paul also relayed some fascinating stories from his extraordinary life and sang heartfelt tributes to both George and John.
The performance of Live and Let Die, a song featured on the Bond flick with the same title, was accompanied with fireworks. Pretty dang cool!
Sir McCartney was a great performer and really connected with his audience but what impressed me most about him was his graciousness. Although this man is a legend and an idol he was the most obliging musician I have ever seen in concert. Someone in the audience had made a sign requesting a song and even though it wasn’t on the band’s playlist Paul said that since they took the time to make that poster the least he could do is take the time to play their request. I’ve never witnessed a performer accommodating a request from their audience in a large stadium like that before. Paul also autographed some items that people threw up on stage for him to sign without complaint. He genuinely seemed to appreciate his fans.
At the conclusion of the concert red, white, and blue confetti rained down on the audience. It was a festive ending to an outstanding evening. Paul was a cute, funny, quirky, and brilliant performer. His clothes almost looked like something he might have worn back in his Beatles days and he was so lively you could practically imagine yourself there.
Being in the presence of such a music icon was a privilege and it was very rewarding to see that he wasn’t just a superstar, he was actually a nice guy. The concert was fantastic and the man was fantastic. It was definitely one of the most memorable concerts I have ever been to and if he comes back to town I will gladly shell out the money to see him again.
Our friend, Jeremy Rowley, recently fulfilled a lifetime fantasy of his: he bought a motor boat. I think he envisioned achieving this dream a little sooner in life but, as the saying goes, better boat now than never.
Jeremy's got the water sport skills. He made all of us look bad. On the other hand, Jacob made the rest of us look like water geniuses.
He invited me, Jason, and our friend Jacob, to join him and his family on the maiden voyage of his illustrious watercraft.
We took the boat out on Utah Lake and had a lovely time wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and slalom waterskiing. Well, I should qualify that statement by saying that I kneeboarded, Jeremy waterskied and wakeboarded, Jason wakeboarded, and Jacob drank a lot of nasty lake water as he was dragged through the wake while he attempted unsuccessfully to kneeboard and wakeboard.
Don't Jason and Jacob look good together? What a cute couple.
Milo, the Rowley’s little boy, had no problems kneeboarding even though it was his first time trying too. Sorry Jacob, I guess you were out done by a 7 year old. Oh burn! Speaking of burns, Jeremy and Jacob failed to apply adequate amounts of sunscreen and they both got bad sunburns. Oh, double burn! (Yup that’s right; my insult works both metaphorically and literally. I am so dang clever!)
Boating made Silas very sleepy. He spent most of the time napping on one of the seats or balled up on the floor under a towel.
We had a lot of fun out on the water and are glad that Jeremy got his dearest wish. Now that he has everything his heart desires what will his next lifelong ambition be? Getting a better boat? Reach for the stars Jeremy, reach for the stars!
How sweet! The boys look very comfy together. Maybe they were cuddling together for warmth?
Ah… the birthday: no other occurrence is first so loved and later so dreaded. As kids we just can’t wait for birthdays but as adults we loath them, avoid them, ignore them- whatever it takes to pretend to ourselves and others that our lives are suspended in a state of constancy.
It got a little cold outside at Log Haven once the sun went down so I used my napkin to keep me warm; it didn't work too well.
Luckily for me I don’t have issues with these annual events. Unlike many of my fellow adults, I see life as a blessing at any age and I don’t intend to waste any moments of it lamenting the end of another year, especially when I could be out doing something cool instead of pouting. Sure, I have a few more wrinkles now than I did a decade ago and they will only increase as time moves forward but I’ve enjoyed the years and smiles that brought me those lines so I have no regrets.
This fantastic cake was made by my friend Robyn. It depicts me gloriously conquering the half marathon I'm running next month.
Since I don’t view my birthdays as a curse, I have no problem celebrating them with gusto. Why squander a chance to get together with the people who have added love, meaning, and laughter to your life or eat yummy food until your stomach is ready to mutiny?
Robyn and her girls are some of my favorite ladies. Yes, they are her children. I know, I know- she looks way to young to have children that age. You'll just have to believe me.
Fortunately, I have a husband that doesn’t believe in skimping on the celebrating either. He made me a delicious Cabo style birthday breakfast, which took him so long to prepare that it turned into more of a late lunch. And then, as if I hadn’t already snarfed enough fresh salsa and grilled sausage, he took me to Log Haven for dinner. We ate our delicious meal out on their patio with the grandeur of the mountains all around us. It was lovely. The evening was completed by the lighting of a series of fireworks at my in-laws’ and dancing around their hypnotic glow like a bunch of deranged tribesmen.
Jeremy, Jason, and I barely pulled off the wallyball tournament victory. I am proud to say that my spike was involved in our winning point. It was probably the only useful thing I did for my team the whole time.
The next day Jason had planned a repeat of last year’s wallyball/ping pong/billiards extravaganza with all of our friends. This event was held in the same two rooms at Noah’s as last year and it was a lot of fun again the second time around. I lost miserably at pool to my friend Robyn and then lost miserably at ping pong to pretty much everyone. But my wallyball team pulled through, probably no thanks to my skills, and won the grand tournament finale. There were no broken fingers or other injuries to speak of this year so I guess things must have been a little tamer on the wallyball court this time.
This little guy was all ready to party.
Even after that wild wally get-together my birthday festivities were not over. A few days ago my family held their usual quadruple July birthdays spectacular. Since Jason and I have July birthdays, along with my sister and her husband, my family does one giant party every year for all four of us. It’s always a memorable experience and one that the nieces and nephews particularly seem to enjoy.
After we stuffed ourselves with pizza and cake my family walked to a nearby park so we could all spin on the playground until we puked, all part of the bulimia plan for the passive.
So now I’m another year older, maybe another year wiser, but definitely another year celebrated!
My family insisted that I take the entire chunk of cake that bore my name. Needless to say, I still haven't eaten all of that giant piece.
Recent Comments