Yesterday.....We managed to get up and going even though we were not at home, but still at the 1st Lady's mother's home......but...by 9am, we were on the road north to Iowa City.....and about 2.5 hours later, we were pulling up at the entrance to the Comfort Suites Hotel, where we had our reservations for the night.....and where the Shere Khan percussion group from Cape Girardeau was also staying.
We got checked in, moved our things into the room....and then decided to drive downtown Iowa City to locate the Englert Theater where the concert was going to be held. Locating it...about 10 minutes from the hotel, we returned to the hotel area and decided to have a 1pm lunch at the Olvie Garden. Yep.....we DO enjoy having lunch there....and, always it is their wonderful "soup and salad" for $6.95 for ALL you can eat: more salad, more soup, different kinds of soup if you want, more salad....and ALWAYS, their wonderful hot, garlicky (sp?) bread sticks. This IS one of our very favorite places to enjoy lunch.........can't wait to return as it was terrific, as it always is!
Then we went to the local shopping mall within the same area....and spent the next 2 hours or so....just looking with no purchases. Didn't see anything that I couldn't live without!!
Returning to the hotel......we just kicked back and attempted to do some online work....wifi available......but, OMG, was that wifi every, every SLOW!!!!!!!!! As the 1st Lady had some work to do for Darrel's business billing......I luckily had brought along a ethernet cable so that she could hook up to the available DSL. But.....for me, it was just a slow crawl to really get anything reading or surfing done.
We left about 6pm for the Theater.......and had to park a couple of blocks away in a parking garage.......not too much available streetside parking there, as there are many apts. in that area....and the U of Iowa campus just interlocks with the city center....can't tell when you are on campus and when you are "downtown".
The event was free....and soooo, we arrived in time to get seats that were fairly close but far enough back that we could see the entire stage without being seated tooooo low, as the floor was slanted towards the orchestra pit. This was the "3rd Intergenerational Singing Jam", however.....very little singing, as there was only a Senior Citizen's "Choir" to represent the older generation. There were then Shere Khan from Cape G. and two other elementary/middle school percussion groups that performed.........and OMG, OMG.........
HOW WONDERFUL it was!!!!! Oh yeah.....I DO have a good ear (a bit deaf...just a tiny bit after being in front of bands for 30 years), but these young kids were just outstanding. Shere Khan was the largest, I do believe......and with definitely the most varied percussion instruments.....theirs being mainly from Africa which they had purchased, I believe, with a grant which they received. I was soooooooooo proud to say my granddaughter was in that group...as they were without a doubt the best there!!!!!!!! And....the thing which impressed me the most was that with every different selection which they performed, each student in the 40 member group changed instruments, so they did get an opportunity to play several different kinds of these African instruments.........not the normal band percussion instruments which we are used to seeing. It was FANTASTIC......the entire evening!!!!!!!!!!! As with most of the relatives of these young people......when it was finished, their were tears streaming down my checks as well as everyone else there was experiencing the same emotions. A marvelous evening!!!!!!!!!
We got to visit briefly with Rachel before the concert began....and then a quick hug after it was over. We returned to the hotel.....and the charter bus, truck, and parents' cars didn't get back until 10pm, so we didn't get to see her much. The kids were exhausted as they had had to get back on the stage and do their part once again for a video to be made for Youtube.....whew!!!!
Think the kids must have crashed and burned because we were above them and it was quiet all night long!
TODAY:.......the 1st Lady and I were up and downstairs by 7:45 this morning for a delicious, free breakfast.......one of the best breakfasts I have had at a hotel!!! Again.....a quick hug with Rachel and then they....and, we....were off and headed south. They had another concert to do this morning at Columbus Junction, Iowa.....but, we just kept rolling southwards.......and with only one stop for fuel and other needed things.....we drove into our driveway at the sticknbrick at 2:30pm.......about 5.5 hours after we left on the 345 miles trip back.
Tonight....well, I can tell I haven't driven that much with only one quick break....as I am really tired. We have not done much this afternoon/evening.......just rather unpacked and put things away....and, as the 1st Lady has her Beta Sigma Phi sorority meeting here at the sticknbrick tomorrow evening, we have a bit of cleaning to do.....and we did start that process this eveing.
We did watch American Idol.....and fully, fully agree with saying "goodbye" to Big Mike. Now......the next two weeks will be interesting to see how things shake out. We will be in Canada when the Finals are on, but should be able to see it in Edmonton.
A busy two days.....a busy weekend.....and a busy week ahead. And.......as always....
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
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