ESMZ

By design, I slept in until 6am. I'd be working out of the Hilliard office all day and didn't have any meetings or calls scheduled until 10am. AS such, I was very much looking forward to a quiet, unhurried work day. Completed exercises then delivered Mindy's coffee before enjoying any of my own. Didn't head out on a run until almost 705am. Said goodbye to Mindy before the run. I knew she wouldn't be there when I returned. Mindy wanted to confirm the time we'd be leaving for the Edward Sharpe concert. Tickets say doors open at 7pm. I hoped to be there before that. We'd pretty much be heading out shortly after arriving home. It was sunny and warm and run time - already in the low 70's. Supposed to reach the upper 80s by late afternoon. I ran 4.1 miles.

As expected, Mindy was long gone by my return. It pleased me much to learn that Bella had already walked the pug. Good girl! It was already 745am. I didn't plan to shower until after Bella was on the school bus. We headed out at 755am. The whole gang was there. Ms. Vanorder showed up pretty much on time. Headed home for a shower.

Dressed in khakis and one of my two new polos - the purple one. I look good in it. I tied up a few loose ends then left for the office. I briefly toyed with driving the BM'er but in the end opted for the Accord. Got to the office near 840am. It was very quiet in our wing. It was almost noon before I realized that my boss wasn't on campus. He was working remote. Definitely not too many folks working on campus.

I stayed focused/busy all morning through early afternoon. Decided to completely skip a lunch, planning instead to leave for home around 3pm, make a stop at Kroger to pick-up a few things for David & Anta's visit and then head home in time to join our 415pm weekly staff call. As luck would have it, I got a little busy from 2pm until about 320pm. Now almost 330pm, I wasn't sure if I had enough time to stop at Kroger, get home, and then get online for our 415pm meeting/call. With little hesitation decided to go for it. Packed up and headed out at 335pm. Made quick work of my stop at Kroger, grabbing some limes, a 12-pack of Corona, and then a dozen roses. The flowers were for Mindy. The beer and limes for David.

Arrived home near 4pm getting home about the same time as Mindy and Bella. Told them both I had to hurry to get logged on to work and then join my weekly staff call. No problem. Mindy said she felt crappy and quickly headed up to our bedroom for a nap.

Time for our staff call. It lasted no more than 15 minutes. Over by 430pm. I tied up a few loose ends then called it a day. I woke Mindy around 5pm so she could get in the shower. She said she still wasn't feeling too well. Said she felt like she was over heated. Mindy and I didn't leave for our concert until 610pm, or shortly after dad arrived. Truth be told, I was still in work mode. As usual, I had a hard time letting go. Mindy left $20 for dad and the kids to order pizza. Jacob was at soccer practice and wouldn't be home until about 730pm. Bella wasn't happy about having to wait that long to order dinner. I think she had a snack to tie her over.

We made good time heading to the arena district and the LC. We opted to park in the brand new NW parking garages where the bland lot once stood. Now a plethora of mixed-use brick structures: parking, business, and residential all within eyeshot of NW arena, Hunnington Park, and the Promo West. Only $5 to park. Good deal.
There was a Clipper game going on at the same time. We laughed at the glaring difference between the crowds heading to the baseball and then those headed to the concert.

Only 630pm, the gates to the outdoor amphitheatre weren't yet open. We opted for the Music bar, a beer and food venue right next door. Not many people there. I ordered a 20oz Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and fetched Mindy a bottle of water. She wasn't feeling too swift. Looked tired. Mindy ordered some food: chicken strips and tater tots. We sat on their outdoor patio which overlooks the grassy amphitheatre from the south. We didn't realize it at the time, but the Music Bar has its own special access to the concert venue once the gates open. A couple we invited to share our table let us in on the secret. Cool!

We headed into the concert venue shortly after the gates officially opened just after 7pm. We stopped by the t-shirt/souvenir booth where Mindy bought me an Edward Sharpe t-shirt. We had our pick of anywhere in the lawn seating area. We picked a spot about 50' up the grassy slope center. Ideal! We spread out the green bed sheet we brought to sit on. Good thing, too. Could tell they've been watering the grass. I'm sure they need to keep it from becoming a dirt/mud hill.

Ran into our Barley's friend, Al along with his daughter. We offered that they could sit with us but they declined the invite. Al didn't seem too enthused to be there. Two couples close to our age range took the spots left and right of us. By and large, the crowd was very young - mostly young 20s. We learned from the woman sitting next to me that there would be a warm-up act- Willy Mason. Said she's known him his entire life. Said we were in for a real treat. She and her husband drove 8 hours home from their northern Michigan vacation just to see him. Had only enough time to head in the house, change clothes, then head out to the LC.

Will Mason didn't come on until 8pm. He was decent. I'd liken his sound to a mix of Johnny Cash, Dwight Yokam, and M.Ward. Willy played for just 30 minutes. Then there was a 30 minute break before Edward Shape & the Magnetic Zeros came on. By then the weed was free flowing. Could smell it, see clouds of its smoke floating all around us. Contact buzz for certain. Dude, where's my car?

From the first song, ES&MZs dazzled and entertained us. I was impressed, blown away by their deep sound, incredible vocals and unreal talent. Mindy was loving too, and the mostly young crowd was way into it. Almost all of their tunes were familiar thanks to my Pandora ES&MZs channel. And while I've come to really like these guys through Pandora, they're easily ten times better live! Can't say that about a lot of bands. I was moved, and even changed by the experience - no kidding!

This is the same band that visited the kid of a friend of ours in the hospital when they learned he had leukemia. We also recently heard the story of them inviting the same kid, after recovery up on stage at their Bonnaroo performance this past spring. As the show was wrapping up as the clock neared 11pm, they called for Hayden to come up on stage yet again. Invited he and his roommate up. It was then that we learned his mom was sitting right next to us.
Hayden remained with them on stage for the rest of the show - 3 or 4 songs. How cool is that? Left completely fulfilled and very impressed. Couldn't ask for a better show.

Mindy suggested rather than turn right out of the parking garage heading towards the 670 on ramp, we instead turn left and take Spring St. That's what we did. Bottom line, we avoided all traffic delays. Made it home in a matter of minutes - 12 tops. Good call, dear! Dad was there awake in the big over stuffed family room chair. Jacob was already in bed, and we assumed the same of Bella, However, a few seconds later she came out of the dark dining room to greet us.

Dad didn't hang out long at all. I'm sure he was tired. Then, shortly after dad bolted for home, Mindy and I headed up to bed. I was tired and Friday was a work day, not to mention also the beginning of Labor Day weekend with friends.