TGI... S!
I’m so glad that it’s Sunday. I had an incredibly busy, albeit enjoyable, week – and am looking forward to a relaxing afternoon today and a break tomorrow as well.
Last Thursday evening after work, my girlfriend Laura and I headed south about 2 hours to Grand Rapids to see Les Miserables at the Devos Center. We left Cadillac around 5:30 pm and got there in just enough time to grab a couple of refreshments and head to our seats. DeVos Center is a pretty big place, so you’d think there would be plenty of ushers in starched maroon vests to point you in the correct direction of your seats, but not so fast! Laura and I wandered around the lobby and then in the direction that most people were headed (like cattle)… upstairs. Once we got within inches of our assigned seats, an usher finally appeared. (This is where it starts to become entertaining). While he’s checking the tickets of the couple in front of us, I notice his name is Les. What are the chances that you’re going to see Les Mis and the first guy you meet is Les? (I jotted it down on a scrap of paper so I wouldn’t forget to include it in this post. I found out later that Laura was looking over my shoulder and considered correcting my poor grammar for writing ‘Usher Les’ instead of ‘Usherless’ which is what that place was!).
We got settled in and the show began. Within the first act I laughed AND cried. I was moved by the music, the characters, the message.
At the first intermission, the lights came up revealing the second of the evening’s highlights. There was a family sitting in front of us, and the dad looked EXACTLY like Quentin Tarantino! I am still lamenting the fact that I don’t have a camera phone. (Neither did anyone else around me, you know I was asking strangers if they had one!) Unfortunately I can’t include a picture of the QT look alike, but you can ask Laura if you don’t believe me…
This friendly older couple sitting on the other side of Laura started a conversation about the show, asking how she liked it so far. The man was expressive and had a strong German-sounding accent. He was obviously thrilled about the show, because everything he said was dripping not only with his strong accent… but spit. Laura turned to me and couldn’t resist being both a little horrified and cracking up that he was spitting all over her face as he spoke. She toweled off as the lights began to dim for the second act. People were settling into their chairs and finishing their conversations when the 3rd highlight (first) happened.
Now, explaining this one requires a measure of tact to properly deliver. You would think in a huge theater where each seat costs at least $50, people would exercise a bit of etiquette. You would think. Apparently someone forgot to give the ‘remember your manners’ memo to the 14 year old in front of us…
Flatulence...
A lot.
Bad!
Amber and Laura laughing like 3rd graders.
…And gagging.
Enough said?
Once the show was finished, I found my breath again (it had been taken away by the power of the music… and the kid in front of us)… and we headed for Laura’s apartment. After a stop at the store, and a brief recap of the evening’s events for her sister Karin, we cashed out at about 1 am. Lucky me, I had a meeting scheduled in Cadillac at 8 am, so we got up Friday morning at 5:15, left GR about 6, and started another work day.
On the drive home, Laura and I sipped our morning beverages and chit chatted. I noticed a semi truck in front of us with a very simple logo, and no real explanation of what they produced. I wondered aloud to myself, ‘S. Abraham & Sons Incorporated… I wonder what they make?’
‘Oh, they’re all over,’ she replied. ‘It’s a vending company. Chips and stuff. In fact, we saw 2 of their trucks on our way down yesterday.’
‘Wow. That’s a lot of sons’ I joked.
‘Yeah, kinda like Father Abraham.’
What are the chances?
Friday night was my sister Olivia’s high school graduation. I expected it to be very emotional, but it was nice. No one in our family really cried – mainly because we were all so preoccupied with keeping little Ella quiet. (You know how it is when one family is at an event and the little kid isn’t happy with her snacks, bottle, books, blanket, stuffed animals, Grandma’s keys, ANYTHING and just keeps making noise? Yeah, we were THAT family).
Yesterday we spent most of the day at subsequent graduation open houses, which is what the next 3 weekends will be like. Actually, I think I’ll be seeing several people at Livy’s open house that I haven’t seen since Lacey’s 2 years ago!
I’m sure your dying to see my sweet sister in her graduation gown… so I’ll be sure and attach a photo soon. In the meantime, I’m going to relax. I hope you all have a great Memorial day tomorrow!
Last Thursday evening after work, my girlfriend Laura and I headed south about 2 hours to Grand Rapids to see Les Miserables at the Devos Center. We left Cadillac around 5:30 pm and got there in just enough time to grab a couple of refreshments and head to our seats. DeVos Center is a pretty big place, so you’d think there would be plenty of ushers in starched maroon vests to point you in the correct direction of your seats, but not so fast! Laura and I wandered around the lobby and then in the direction that most people were headed (like cattle)… upstairs. Once we got within inches of our assigned seats, an usher finally appeared. (This is where it starts to become entertaining). While he’s checking the tickets of the couple in front of us, I notice his name is Les. What are the chances that you’re going to see Les Mis and the first guy you meet is Les? (I jotted it down on a scrap of paper so I wouldn’t forget to include it in this post. I found out later that Laura was looking over my shoulder and considered correcting my poor grammar for writing ‘Usher Les’ instead of ‘Usherless’ which is what that place was!).
We got settled in and the show began. Within the first act I laughed AND cried. I was moved by the music, the characters, the message.
At the first intermission, the lights came up revealing the second of the evening’s highlights. There was a family sitting in front of us, and the dad looked EXACTLY like Quentin Tarantino! I am still lamenting the fact that I don’t have a camera phone. (Neither did anyone else around me, you know I was asking strangers if they had one!) Unfortunately I can’t include a picture of the QT look alike, but you can ask Laura if you don’t believe me…
This friendly older couple sitting on the other side of Laura started a conversation about the show, asking how she liked it so far. The man was expressive and had a strong German-sounding accent. He was obviously thrilled about the show, because everything he said was dripping not only with his strong accent… but spit. Laura turned to me and couldn’t resist being both a little horrified and cracking up that he was spitting all over her face as he spoke. She toweled off as the lights began to dim for the second act. People were settling into their chairs and finishing their conversations when the 3rd highlight (first) happened.
Now, explaining this one requires a measure of tact to properly deliver. You would think in a huge theater where each seat costs at least $50, people would exercise a bit of etiquette. You would think. Apparently someone forgot to give the ‘remember your manners’ memo to the 14 year old in front of us…
Flatulence...
A lot.
Bad!
Amber and Laura laughing like 3rd graders.
…And gagging.
Enough said?
Once the show was finished, I found my breath again (it had been taken away by the power of the music… and the kid in front of us)… and we headed for Laura’s apartment. After a stop at the store, and a brief recap of the evening’s events for her sister Karin, we cashed out at about 1 am. Lucky me, I had a meeting scheduled in Cadillac at 8 am, so we got up Friday morning at 5:15, left GR about 6, and started another work day.
On the drive home, Laura and I sipped our morning beverages and chit chatted. I noticed a semi truck in front of us with a very simple logo, and no real explanation of what they produced. I wondered aloud to myself, ‘S. Abraham & Sons Incorporated… I wonder what they make?’
‘Oh, they’re all over,’ she replied. ‘It’s a vending company. Chips and stuff. In fact, we saw 2 of their trucks on our way down yesterday.’
‘Wow. That’s a lot of sons’ I joked.
‘Yeah, kinda like Father Abraham.’
What are the chances?
Friday night was my sister Olivia’s high school graduation. I expected it to be very emotional, but it was nice. No one in our family really cried – mainly because we were all so preoccupied with keeping little Ella quiet. (You know how it is when one family is at an event and the little kid isn’t happy with her snacks, bottle, books, blanket, stuffed animals, Grandma’s keys, ANYTHING and just keeps making noise? Yeah, we were THAT family).
Yesterday we spent most of the day at subsequent graduation open houses, which is what the next 3 weekends will be like. Actually, I think I’ll be seeing several people at Livy’s open house that I haven’t seen since Lacey’s 2 years ago!
I’m sure your dying to see my sweet sister in her graduation gown… so I’ll be sure and attach a photo soon. In the meantime, I’m going to relax. I hope you all have a great Memorial day tomorrow!
posted by Amber | 5:11 PM
1 Comments:
so does laura live in G.R or cadillac????..i dont get it?
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