google.com, pub-4909507274277725, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Slapinions

Search This Blog

Thursday, September 5, 2024

The (Rained Out) Noah Kahan Concert at Alpine Valley

 Ok, so somehow, despite taking after me in many respects, Junie has abandoned that standard when it comes to concert going. I'm still not a big concert guy - and Lordy, there better be chairs! - but as a high schooler I saw ZERO shows. I was waaayy too anxiety ridden to go to one. Meanwhile, thirty years later, if you've so much as hummed a tune and she's heard it on Spotify, there goes Junie to see you in concert. 

The latest, back on July 13th, was songwriter/performer Noah Kahan at Alpine Valley. 

The cost of tickets was an issue for a long time, but eventually she and a friend purchased good, (expensive) seats on a payment plan and got ready for the show. 


She borrowed my car for the trip to Alpine Valley, a venue about 45 minutes to the southwest of Milwaukee, and while I had concerns with both the traffic and the parking situation there she did fine. 






Like I said, she had good seats, under the awning - that would come in handy later. 







Meanwhile Lisa and I were at home watching as a major storm rolled into that area. A co-worker of mine was at the concert (but only *lawn* seats, hmph. What do you expect from a lawyer? It's not like he has the resources of a teenage girl!). Soon he reported that the lawn seats were being ordered to evacuate, but that most people weren't budging from their hard earned spots. 

Junie texted to say that she was being ordered to shelfter in place, as was everyone under the canopy. She was scared, and I daresay with reason. The threat of a tornado was on a lot of minds. 

I should mention by the way, that Alpine Valley had pathetic cell and wifi reception, leaving many concert goers without accurate information or means of contacting loved ones. I mean, it wasn't a national tragedy, but yikes. 


I think we got word at home - via Instagram - of the concerts postponement at pretty much the same time anyone at the venue did; maybe even sooner. 




The thought of Junie getting out of that parking lot in under four hours, and doing it in the middle of a storm, just didn't compute. They ran to the car, and as luck would have it, because they got there quite late (relatively speaking) the car was near the exit and so they got out before most poeple even started rolling. 





They got home safe, which is what matters, and the concert was rescheduled, albeit for September 11th, which is little more of a jinx if you ask me. In the meantime, she had some fun with all the memes and posts about the mess. 










Junie's 17th Birthday Party

As her 17th birthday dawned back on August 7th we had Junie read our card and open our gift, a pair of Taylor Swift pajamas. 






And that was about it for her birthday celebration . . . 

Ha. 

I couldn't get off work, but between Lisa and Junie, and two of our cars, a whole bunch of Junie's friends headed up to Green Bay to celebrate her birthday at a Air BnB we rented. Aside from Lisa, no other family member could get out of work for those two days, a fact that dissapointed Junie. I'm not kidding. She's perhaps the only teenager on record who actually WANTED family at her birthday party. 






First tho they stopped at Bay Beach, an amusement park in Green Bay where Junie celebrated a birthday many moons ago. 














Then it was on to the AirBnb, which had room to sleep the whole group with plenty of space to spare, a hot tub, and a view of the lake. It was pretty reasonably priced too, and well worth every penny!








I ordered the cake from a local supermarket well in advance, but when Junie arrived they'd lost the order, so she had to buy one off the shelf, which SUCKS. Lisa then added the custom made edible image topper that I designed and ordered off Amazon. It included her beloved Finn Wolfhard once again, but also the first official use of her monogram!

                                 





I joined in from Milwaukee over a video call to sing happy birthday and do the Polish blessing. 

The next day, after checkout, they returned to Bay Beach, only arriving back in Milwaukee early in the evening. 

(Lisa's friend Jolene joined the party with her grandaughter)






From all accounts, she and her friends had a blast. I'm genuinely sad I couldn't clear my calendar and join them, but I'm super happy she was pleased. 

Sto lot my Junie!




 

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Smiley's First Day of Sophomore Year

We did NOT forget about him yesterday: I even left work early to get a pic of the boy before the 5:30 seminar that kicked off his new school year, but SOMEONE decided to go to campus early and go swimming. 

So this post is a day late, but filled with love and best wishes all the same. 

Have a great school year Smiley! We love you!


Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Junie's Last First Day of High School!

 And there she goes! Junie on last first day of high school!


So, even for Dan and I, it's the end of an era. We have had kids in school for almost 20 years.

- Lisa


correction: It HAS been a 20 year run. YaYa started school in the fall of 2004 as a 3 year old. I remember wearing a Bush re-election pin and talking about it with the crossing guard at St. Catherine's. I think I had Yaya where a "My Daddy is a Republican" button once too! - Dan