Three "Atypical" Weekends (in a row): The Good Visits

This upcoming weekend is the beginning of spring break, for KU, for the KC school district, and also for USD 497. I should get ready for this weekend, I think, because it won't be like a normal weekend. This got me to thinking, what is a normal weekend for us here? I realized that our constant is the uncertainty. Patterned life at the Butterfly Apartment is not. Perhaps, at least for now, it's that it isn't homework, it isn't weekly meetings or college games, and that is where our adventure lies.

Today, some photos from the past three weekends.

Nashville first! I already wrote about my interview weekend some, but I failed to mention Saturday's adventures. I haven't gone into it in detail because it was generally more of the same: good friends, good fun, good memories.

It was already beginning to suggest spring in Nashville. <3

We caught up with Lindsay after her performance for prospective students at Blair. She came to ANYF! (I hold up my program like a newspaper to mark the date)

John was also in attendance for ANYF.

In conclusion, we all went to ANYF.

I don't have good photos of ANYF, although it was generally to be described as kick-ass. It turns out, it's rather hard to take photos of a stage in the dark when those on it are moving pretty quickly in dance movements. I'm sure videos will surface eventually; Souran Bushi was was more awesome than it's ever been when I was in it, and the Korean Fan Dance (+ breakdancing) was featured on the Vandy front page and the header of the monthly e-newsletter! I'm so proud!

Post-show, the Souran-Bushi dancers entertain/are entertained by an awesome kid who will one day grow up to be a fitness instructor, dance choreographer, or diplomat.

The post-ANYF celebration was a low-key gathering at a friend's apartment; it may or may not have included one of the JET interviewers, and we may or may not have discussed my and my colleagues' chances of getting in. [A few days ago, Tokyo demanded a letter from a doctor stating that my migraines would not be an issue in the event I might be living in Japan for a year. You know.. liability issues. Hello Nihon!]

The following weekend was going to be a low-key thing, until I saw the Bottleneck marquee on Thursday afternoon proclaiming that Joshua Radin was performing Friday night. I had recently begun to listen to Joshua Radin CDs because Vates gave them to me for this purpose. I called Vates in from St. Louis.

Vates and I wait in line to get into the Bottleneck for the concert.

It was pretty cold out there, more because it followed on the heels of a warm snap. (These past few days have been just below freezing, but feel like the cold dead end of the world for the fact that it was up at 82 at the end of last week)

The Bottleneck turned out to be a nice, kinda grunge, kinda hip rock bar which did not make you feel as though you were a thousand miles from the performers (hello marjor concert venues).

This is me taking pictures from behind the stage: Jesse Harris performs.

I liked the openers a lot, but my favorite thing was the way Joshua told stories about his different songs, how they were concieved and written, or wherefrom inspired. Stuff like that enhances my appreciation of a thing; now when I listen to it on CD, I remember too why he wrote it.

Johsua Radin, the man himself.

So anyway, even though Vates came to visit that end-weekend of February, we still kept to my originally designated plan of going to StL on the weekend after that. So hopped in my car on Friday, already tickled to be "halfway there." (Kansas City is not in fact half way to St. Louis. It is approximately the state of Missouri away.)

As we know already, I am crazy about parks. We snagged Vates' friend Marty and headed to the enourmous Forest Park in StL to enjoy the balmy afternoon.

The art museum, located in this park, is pretty awesome. Also, free (but they take donations).

"Hey! Look frat-boy contemplative!"

Kids and their kites. Sweet.

The big water feature at the bottom of Art Hill.

Try to pretend you don't know Marty is taking a photo of us all...

After lunch/dinner, but before the Imax Watchmen experience. Marty, Vates, brothers of Vates, and that girl.

And finally... an iconic St. Louis picture. Allow me to enhance your appreciation by stating that this was taken through my car's side window by me as I merged onto I-70. Picture me holding my camera sideways at arm's length without even looking at it as I press the shutter button. NOT BAD, EH? I treasure the "kids and pets" setting on my new camera.

So I guess this weekend won't be much different than those that have come before it, except that I'll be spending it here in town, with people who live here in town... eh?

Oh, right.. just before I leave town. Details on that triangulated piece of lovliness to follow...