Break

So here I go...

I'm off, going to the caribbean for an extended period of time. I am extremely excited even though I have to leave all those I love here, I can't wait. Sailing is a passion of mine and I truly want to get better at it and succeed on my mission for this adventure. Wish me luck. This will be a good time to take a break for the next 7 weeks. I will post stories and tales on my arrival in August.

Phish

PHISH 06/21/09, Alpine Valley

Woaw. I have been to many great concerts in my life: Umphrey's at Riverview both nights, and their new years shows, Jack Johnson, Wailers, Matisayahu and others. It may be too early to say this, but this was the greatest concert I have been to yet. 

Many factors come into play with the quality of a live musical experience such as one of these. Venue, weather, crowd (quality people/amount), food, and of course music etc… This concert honestly hit top records for most of these said factors.

 The people were numerous; I would say about 15,000 people. The crowd truly was diversified in the greatest way. People from all generations were there, older than my parents to younger than me, and everyone was having a fantastic time. You can truly tell this is one of the greatest genres and bands within the genre by the faces of the thousands enjoying the concert. Not to mention the weather was excellent. We were initially worried about some forecasts predicting rain, which lasted about 5 min before the show even started (the ground wasn’t even wet). The cool breeze and warm air fueled to create a perfect temperature and calming atmosphere. Out of all the concerts I have ever been and all the venues, Alpine Valley still is my favorite for an outdoor concert (or any concert for that matter). The hill is perfect, although hard to walk on the slant it creates a place were even the highest people on the hill (no pun intended) could see right onto the stage. The most influential part of the whole experience was the tunes. Music: Absolutely phenomenal. I mean these guys have been broken up since August 2004, each having various solo adventures and other bands. Now they come back for a full summer tour and dam it they still got it. I mean seamless transitions, perfect timing and improvisational licks all intertwining into the wondrous band that is and always was PHISH.

Summer

 I don’t know what it is about summer that makes all of us go crazy. Perhaps it’s the heat, the memories, the freedom, and the lack of schoolwork or diminished responsibilities. A mixture of all of the above arouses these feelings probably, but most of all is the sun. It’s a proven fact that the sun has a great effect on us as people, and this idea is true in the opposite. Winter can be fun and peaceful, but it is definitely the most depressing time of the year. I have grown up with Chicago summers and winters, for any of you who don’t understand these implications it means we all deal with below 10 degree winters and 90-degree high summers. This shift has given me a deep respect for both seasons, and don’t get me wrong with winter. I love the snow, and skating with my friends, snowball fights and the sickness. Something about summer is just so attractive, and I know most people agree. It’s interesting how ever since I got a car and started driving places I noticed something. During winter I always keep skates, a hockey stick and hat in my car; when it turns to summer I always have a bathing suit, towel and soccer/football in my car. Having said this it seems that as I stand now, I would like to live in a year-round warm place: California, Saba, St. Barts etc… I’ll probably have to wait till after college to have my fantasy of warmth come true, but it will be appreciated. 

This year specifically, I am super excited for summer, for the weather and the meaning this year has. If you have ever seen the movie Dazed and Confused , and given that you are a half decent person, then you absolutely love the film and everything it has to offer. I came to a realization a few weeks ago that this summer is my “Dazed and Confused” summer, implying that I am a junior going into my senior year of high school. I’m not sure if I will smack incoming freshman’s buts with a wooden plank I made in woodshop, or do half the stuff they do in that movie: throwing bowling balls, climbing electric towers, obtaining Aerosmith tickets and playing foosball, but I’m still convince it is a monumental summer. 

Thinking ahead this is also my last summer as a high schooler, and next year all my friends and I will be moving on to college, the new world. Certainly I plan to enjoy these few months I have as my expectations expand for the inevitably fun, interesting and eventful season ahead.