My ears received a very special treat the last two weeks. I went to six concerts in seven days and let me tell you: it is fabulous to live the life of a rock star. Not so fabulous is having to come in to work for three days at the end of last week because I’ve completely depleted all of my vacation time but I have to pay this all off somehow.
It was worth every moment of sleep deprivation.
Last Thursday, I took off from work early, packed a suitcase full of hippie dresses, Birkenstocks, and necessary toiletries and left Hoboken, New Jersey in direction of Noblesville, Indiana. Karen drove her shiny new car (“Mabel the Enabler”) and we sped off into the blood orange sunset, spending the evening in a very nondescript hotel in Zanesville, Ohio. We continued the drive early the next day, singing at the top of our lungs, dancing in the car, and flirting with the cute Phishheads on the road. It was all very Thelma and Louise (minus the driving over a cliff part). After one night in Indiana, we continued to Wisconsin to hear Phish at the legendary Alpine Valley venue for two more nights and then completely miscalculated how long it would take us to get back to New York for the shows at Jones Beach (answer: 18 very long hours).
Some random, funny, and/or poignant observations from the road:
- While sitting under a tree and smoking a cigarette, a beautiful young girl complimented me on my legs and curly hair. She sat down to chat and asked if she could introduce me to her friend Greg. Before I knew it, he stood in front of me and asked if he could kiss my legs. It was kind of strange but I was buzzed so either I agreed or I didn’t protest, I can’t remember. A moment later, he was gnawing on my leg as though it were a piece of corn but instead of throwing him off me, I couldn’t help but laugh because the whole thing was so ridiculous. I think the girl may have given me the sex eyes. Think they were trying for a threesome?
- Cheese kurds are maybe kind of gross. I don’t get it with these things but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who wants to try these squeaky (read: rubbery) pieces of cheese.
- After the last show in Wisconsin, about 10 of us gathered outside the hotel to drink, smoke, and listen to the Phish show from the previous night. We were maybe a bit loud, so when the manager came out, I was sure he was going to ask us politely to head to our rooms. Instead he told us a Domino’s pizza guy dropped off extra pizzas and would we like any. Definitely not something you would see in New York.
- There was a rainbow at the first night of Jones Beach. So what did we do as we were waiting to get into the show? We quoted the “Double Rainbow” guy from YouTube. If you haven’t seen this already, go and look it up now.
- Recently I mentioned a steamy email exchange with a certain someone which ended rather abruptly. Before I left for my tour, he emailed me a clip of Phish performing “Oh, Sweet Nuthin’”, a Velvet Underground song which they had only performed four times before. Wouldn’t you know it, they played it on the second night at Alpine.
- Remember the handsome stranger I wrote about many weeks ago? The one with the cheesy pickup lines who grabbed me on the lawn when Phish played at Hartford? I thought for sure our texting affair had ended when I asked him for drinks and never heard back. But he came through and sent me a text message at one of the Jones Beach shows so we met up during a setbreak… and I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with him. We hugged more than we should have and he told me a story about how his asparagus helped bring a couple together at a festival, and damn it to hell… It totally won me over. So we’ll see where that goes.
- Many moons ago I had a brief fling with someone but the timing was never quite right. I see him at least once every tour and it’s strange because I feel we’ll always have chemistry but he’s married now and I know I shouldn’t be excited to see him, and yet, I can’t shake the shit-eating grin from my face when we bump into each other. Is that horrible?
I’m sure there’s more I could report but I have the worst head cold since I returned and I’m in a bit of a haze still. I’m old and it takes a while to recover these days. But today Phish announced their fall tour so I get to do this all over again in just a few short months!
On the shuttlebus in Wisconsin (I'm the one with the crazy hair)
Karen as devil, Charlotte as angel
So wait…he just nibbled on your legs? That’s beyond wierd. But also, totally hysterical. And now you forever have an awesome story about the guy that nibbled your legs at a Phish concert.
.-= Shana´s last blog ..I am in the wrong line of work… =-.
Six concerts in seven days??? You’re living my husband’s dream! Sounds like you had a great time!
.-= Tracie´s last blog ..In which I say something nice about The Toaster Oven =-.
Oh good lord, cheese curds? Sound revolting. I think you reacted much better than I would have to some stranger chewing on my leg.
I don’t do well at concerts, think it’s the crowds and lack of ac and bathrooms.
So were all six concerts Phish shows? I remember getting some strange comments/compliments at Phish shows. They (and cannabis) bring out the hippy love (or freak) in people. Never been nibbled on the legs though! I’ll never forget a concert years back where I was admiring the girl on stilts in a Cat in the Hat hat before realizing that she was someone I knew from high school, 3000 miles away and a lifetime ago.
Jealous of the road trip and all that live music you experienced. Glad you had fun.
.-= SoloAt30´s last blog ..Letting Down the Walls =-.
5 of the 6 were phish; the last one was a ray lamontagne/david gray show at jones beach which was amazing. that’s neat with the cat in the hat girl! you see the craziest things at some of their concerts, eh??
yea, they were… uhhhhh… not that good, sadly. i know i was told to try them and i guess they’re a specialty so i’m glad i can cross that off the list.
awww, thanks tracie
it was definitely a blast. hard to be back to reality though 
LOL, this is true
it all happened so suddenly, i didn’t know how else to respond. and i was kind of flattered. i’ve always hated my legs (they are beyond pasty) so it was nice someone complimented me on them (even though it was a beyond strange scenario!)
I’ve never had my legs nibbled at a concert. I gotta get to some new venues. LOL.
.-= Googlover/keishua´s last blog ..Laughter is Medicineor an Ode to Silliness =-.
Hey Charlotte,
I really enjoy your blog. I am giving/passing and award to you. You can find it on my blog
later today.
.-= Googlover/keishua´s last blog ..Laughter is Medicineor an Ode to Silliness =-.
You are sooooo sweet! Thank you so much–I’ll return to your blog later to see
what a lovely blog you have… I’ll be following you!
xo
OMG!!! Why was he kissing your legs thats so freaky! OMG
I can’t say that I’ve ever had someone nibble on my legs before, that’s a bit bizarre! I know squeaky cheese is a bit wierd but dang if I don’t love it. But then again, I grew up in Wisconsin so you could say I’m a bit biased. It looks like an awesome experience!
Aw, Charlotte!! It was me who encouraged you to try the curds, and I think Julie M. can support me in saying that if you get the good ones, they’re fabulous. But maybe it’s just a cheesehead thing, I don’t know. It sounds like you had an amazing time on your trip. Too bad you have to work to get vacation…
Girl, you are livin’ it up – leg nibbling and all — I would have probably swapped myself with a gallon of hand sanitizer afterward. Can you hear anything after all those concerts???
It looks and sounds like you had a great time! Still not sure how I feel about some random guy wanting to chomp on legs… I probably would have reacted the same. Hee Hee
.-= Michelle Pixie´s last blog ..Hosed =-.
The only point of reference for me here was that I’ve been to Zanesville, OH before! I can’t imagine taking in that much Phish – you must need a major vacation to recover from all that!
.-= Joey @ Big Teeth & Clouds´s last blog ..Parent Profile- Rebecca =-.
Wait so to pick up a vegan, you have to tell her stories about asparagus? Things you learn from the internet.
The “Can my friend kiss you on the leg” line might be the most original way to start a three some.