Andrew Bird at Chautauqua

I was surprised when Neal reminded me that, some months ago, I had agreed to go to Chautauqua to see Andrew Bird today. My body is old and cranky, and not often willing to sit in an uncomfortable seat for hours, especially after an hour in a car.

We went to the raptor center an hour early, but it is full to the rafters with orphans, high-impact trauma, and West Nile virus. We didn't get out until 5:30. We went back to my house, shoved some food in our faces and the dogs' bowls, and set off for Boulder. I was sure this was a terrible idea.

I was wrong. It was great. Andrew Bird just makes me happy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psNcT_jBiZY

The Decemberists at New West Fest

Two live musics in two days! And this one was also worth it. No driving, but two hours of standing in the hot sun and accidental touching from strangers, but most of the strangers were young women who were dancing with each other and really happy to be there! And no one spilled their beer on me.

Colin Meloy did not seem to be enjoying it. Neal says he likes his audiences to sing along on the repetitive parts, especially when he can get one half of the audience singing one part and the other half singing a different part, and he conducts them. But most of this audience was there for New West Fest, not for the Decemberists specifically, so that wasn't going to happen. After their first song Meloy said, "We're the Decemberists, from Portland, Oregon," in this sulky tone of voice that was, I'm sorry, hilarious. But they did a very professional show and even came back for a three-song encore, including "Oh for once in my life," which we all sang along to. We sang along to "We all die young" too. Colin, you want people to sing along, you just gotta write the simple lyrics!

meteors!

These is noticeable haze from wildfires, also I live in a city, but I saw some Perseids! And a bat.