Halloween Party, 2007 Version

Today the boys and I headed to Richmond for Jessye’s party. Yesterday they were both so excited that they tried on their costumes several times each, and neither could fall asleep last night. We were all up way too late and it resulted in a semi-sleepless night for me. We got ready quickly this a.m. and went for the 75 minute drive. Unfortunately, I’d forgotten to fill the tank, so I had to stop at Zion Crossroads to gas up, in my one shoulder Egyptian costume with strappy sandals. At least I did not yet have the headdress on. As it was, I got way too much crazy honking for my taste. The party was fun–the kids loved the outdoor games and I enjoyed the Portobello/pistachio dip on crackers plus a wonderful warm cider. Here are some photos to commemorate the event. Thanks again Jessye for hosting and inviting us!

LSU Football: Ranked #3

Geaux Tigers!  

Date

Opponent

LSU Rank

Location (Arena)

Time (CT)

Results

Thu, Aug 30

Mississippi St. *

2

at Starkville, Miss. (Davis Wade Stadium)

7:00 p.m.

W, 45-0

Sat, Sep 08

#9 Virginia Tech

2

Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)

8:15 p.m.

W, 48-7

Sat, Sep 15

Middle Tennessee

2

Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)

7:00 p.m.

W, 44-0

Sat, Sep 22

#12 South Carolina *

2

Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)

2:30 p.m.

W, 28-16

Sat, Sep 29

Tulane

2

at New Orleans, La. (Louisiana Superdome)

11:00 a.m.

W, 34-9

Sat, Oct 06

#9 Florida *

1

Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)

7:28 p.m.

W, 28-24

Sat, Oct 13

#17 Kentucky *

1

at Lexington, Ky. (Commonwealth Stadium)

2:30 p.m.

L, 37-43 (3OT)

Sat, Oct 20

#18 Auburn *

5

Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)

8:00 p.m.

W, 30-24

Sat, Nov 03

Alabama *

-

at Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Bryant-Denny Stadium)

4:00 p.m.

Sat, Nov 10

Louisiana Tech (HC)

-

Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)

7:00 p.m.

Sat, Nov 17

Ole Miss *

-

at Oxford, Miss. (Vaught-Hemingway Stadium)

TBA

Fri, Nov 23

Arkansas *

-

Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)

1:30 p.m.

Sat, Dec 01

TBD

-

at Atlanta, Ga. (Georgia Dome)

3:00 p.m.

My Keeper

 Tristan’s third save.

Two Saturdays ago,  Tristan couldn’t wait to play goalkeeper.   Because he’s on rec, the “just for fun” portion of the league, He has to alternate with the other 6+ 8-10 year olds who also want to be goalie, despite their should-be-embarrassing lack of aptitude.  He knows he has to share, but sharing is not yet his strong suit. 

  Tristan knocking away a high kick.

He was put in at defense during the first half, due to his speed and ability to read the path of the ball.   My favorite moment was when he made a heroic sideways leap into the air and across the goal when he saw his keeper wasn’t going to dive.  He used his chest but not his hands to deflect a sure goal.  It was his most focused moment as a player up until that point. 

Sure enough, coach put him in as keeper for the second half.  He made 4 more courageous saves, this time able to use his hands when needed to bat away high kicks.  There were a few undefended strong high kicks that he couldn’t stop, and his team lost, making it a bad sports day for a while for him.  But Tristan, my keeper, was a winner.  

Last show of the outdoor season

Today was the day of the Crozet Music Festival, with a respectable lineup of local talent.  But as I had 2 kids’ futbol games to watch, with several hours of kid supervision in between, I stayed home during the day and did some chores.  My reward was to be a show at the Charlottesville Pavillion with the Heartless Bastards opening for Wilco. 

I had listened to the HB CD several times and on re-listening yesterday on the way to soccer, I thought, ok, 4 decent songs, strong voiced female lead, with 2 of the 4 memorable songs.  I’d also been an occasional fan of Wilco–A.M., Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and The Ghost is Born—-I liked them all, but they were all different, and a bit subdued for my usual taste.  So I expected to like Heartless Bastards ok, and maybe prepared myself for a bit of a dull show with Wilco. 

Well, problems with a nonfunctioning wooden device and foiled attempts to clear it of resin, followed by unexpected game-exit time traffic, meant a late arrival to the show.    I didn’t really care that I missed the overly early Heartless Bastards set, because the crowd was as buzzed as I was, and there was excitement in the air.  I sipped a chardonnay and I kept thinking, is this enthusiasm really for Wilco???

Well, I don’t know how they are usually, but they played a smoking set that built layers of complexity and excitement as it went.  Two highlights for me were a big splash of songs from A.M. including I Must Be High, It’s Just that Simple, Casino Queen, and That’s Not the Issue, and two amazing songs from AGIB late in the set that swelled and pulsed way beyond anything on the album: Muzzle of Bees and Spiders.   (Handshake Drugs was a kicking blast from that album as well).  I was surprised because I ended up dancing and swaying and closing my eyes to take it all in, and all this despite being surrounded by singing frat boys and their girlfriends.  I had a ton of fun, and how sweet that it was unexpected.

Plus, I got to hang with one of my top 3 favorite people in the world. That’s even sweeter.

Just another Tuesday evening

After working hard all day on several big work projects, I needed to relax. My best friend came over and we headed to dinner at Three, the hip new redone restaurant occupying the old Jaberwocke space. After that, on to the low-on-charm Satellite Ballroom for some live music by ex-Drive By Truckers guitarist and singer Jason Isbell.   I was only slightly familiar with DBT’s catalog but I knew I enjoyed their funny, witty, and wry humor.  Turns out that Isbell is more the sensitive, less funny one, yet I really enjoyed most of his tunes, especially the more peppy ones.  He apparently slowed the tempo of many of his slower songs, so some became a bit too dirge-like for my taste. 

I was relieved when the band did a surprise cover of PsychoKiller, although I ws dismayed to think I was one of the few in the room old enough to get in the clubs back when that was first a big hit for the Talking Heads. 

The opening band was another deja vu experience, called the Whigs.  This trio rocked hard like it was still the early 90s–nothing very original, but pleasant to hear it redone with a little 00’s flair. 

Please, Ballroom owners, upgrade your liquor options!!!!!