site:marotica

Okay, here's my latest attempt at summarizing The MilChic Summer Gig 2006. I'm going to work in small chunks (yes, chunks) of information at a time. Enjoy said chunks in a chunky fashion. What a chunk word that chunk is. Chunk, ye be marvelous.

On the first Friday of our summer excursion, The Boyfriend and I met up with Nugget and Cousin Louie K in Milwaukee's Mitchell Airport where we proceeded to cab into the city, grab a free lunch at Chipotle (courtesy of Nugget's siblings) and yummy margaritas (as a warm greeting to our vacation - who knew Chipotle had margs? I certainly didn't!) We checked into our hotel room at the luxury (ok, maybe not) Holiday Inn on Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Miltown and proceeded to lay out at the poolside and then nap. Mahoney soon met up with us at the room where we proceeded to get ready to party with Petty and the Pearl. And party we did. That night, we planted ourselves on a lovely patch of green Milwaukee grass in the frontal section of the Lawn Seats (coincidentally yards away from a beer vender), and proceeded to imbibe those lovely somehow tastier-in-the-midwest Miller Lites while enjoying Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam. We continued to enjoy said brews throughout the amazing Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers performance - which, once again, included only ONE NEW SONG and all the rest oldies and goodies such as Honey Bee, Won't Back Down, Don't Come Around Here No More (eep!) and a cover of Neil Young (my favorite ever - Keep on Rockin' in the Free World) and a Traveling Wilburies tune that simply rocked my world. The fact that Vedder and Petty did two songs together as well, was too awesome to behold (The Waiting and American Girl) - does it get anymore American than that?!?!

Here's our one pic from The Lawn - we're lucky I got it, as The Lawn Police said 'no cameras' and I proceeded to argue (playfully, of course) until I got my way with an intentionally turned back photo. Ahhh, sweet success.

The Gang (left to right): Mahoney, The Boyfriend, Kristen, Cousin Louie K, Nugget...

Following the show, we hopped onto some school buses which delivered us, for free, to our favorite local watering hole - Caffrey's - the lovely Marquette hang out with the pop corn machine and fun juke box. It is here where we went picture crazy - you know, the kind where all anyone can do is hug and be buzzed and so grateful that we're all together in the city of beer...and outdoor music.

Here are more pics...from bus to bar:

Mahoney & The Boyfriend - I love night mode on my camera - light trails...

'Twas a fine day...a killer concert...and a happily drunken evening that concluded with the famous on campus CHILI stop.

And that concludes Part I of The MilChic Summer Gig digitally summarized for all you MarotiCats. Okay...two more images to remind you, in the midst of the boring work day drawl, that there are good times away from desks and Word...away from office boxes and superiors....there are times in dark bars where beers are cheap and cold and juke boxes play Foreigner and Justin Timberlake - Rock Your Body.

This post is a tribute to the Team Leader of the Day - Ms. Nugget.

Ms. Nugget was elected Team Leader (at least that's the rumor) for her company's little Outdoor Adventure Activities today and she is not happy about it. All I have to say is Extra. Large. Baggy. Maroon. T-shirt. Enough said.

Good Luck Nugget!!!!

And let's all focus our collective energies on eliminating the oversized baggy t-shirt from all employment functions. Where oh where are those mediums and smalls?

This t-shirt is, of course, not the one provided by Nugget's company - although in favor of Outdoor Adventures, this seems to speak the same language, eh?

One of my favorite bands of all times is certainly not the coolest band. In fact, I only own one of their albums, but it's so awesome that it alone is able to support the band as one of my favorites. My dad bought me the cd as my very first to accompany my brand new cd player/tape player/radio system that I believe I got on my 13th birthday. Who is the band, you ask, that made the official cut as Kristen's first ever cd? Why, ask anyone I've ever lived with and they'll mockingly shout out:

Gin Blossoms

It's true that Gin Blossom's New Miserable Experience was my first ever cd. I still own that copy and I still play it when the mood strikes me - and that's surprisingly often. There is definitely something about their sometimes twangy vocals and whiny country guitar that really gets me. You gotta admit that whenever you hear Allison Road, you are driven to vocal expression. Admit it! I personally prefer such tunes as Pieces of the Night and Cheatin'. I know you're all judging right now. I can feel the musical criticism apon me. I've admited it. It's out there in internetland. All I can say is: