Too Old for This?

A few weeks ago it was all about celebrating the pre-teen/tween days with our boys from Boston, NKOTB. Lastnight I went back to the era of my late-teens/early 20's to see the Bouncing Souls, a punk rock band from Jersey. Many many memories have been made listening to those guys and going to their shows back in the day. It was time to make some more memories... as old people.

Tony and I and our buddies Nick and Paul headed into town to grab a bite and catch the show for some nostalgic punk rock action. It was a weeknight, so we were livin' it up like the young people do!

When we got to the door of the Middle East and noticed what time the Souls were going on, we shuddered in our cardigans. 10:50? PM?? Oh dear god. That's, like, 3 whole hours after I usually change into my old lady nightgown. Breathe. Everything will be fine. I survived months of newborn wakings, I can get through one early morning after a late night.

We planned to grab a slice and a cheap beer at the Hi-Fi, a hole in the wall pizza place across the street. But as we walked in we were hit with the memory that the Hi-Fi is really only good for apres-show slices. Sober, you kinda have to choke it down. Blech. So we ventured down to the Asgard irish pub for good beer and decent sandwiches. Much better choice, senior citizens.

When we finally headed into the show we found the ultimate Souls fan, Dink.



Can't see the Souls without Dink. We chatted for a while, drinking our tallboy PBRs, and she made the time fly by. Before I knew it, the band was going on. I made it! I can't believe it! And I only yawned a half a dozen times or so!

The Souls were... amazing. I was jumping up and down like a lunatic. They're just fun and chill and not so serious.

Whooa-oh-oh! Great show. Great times.

It was worth it, but I'm feeling it today. It'll be a while before I go out on a weeknight again. Kids don't care if you're out late. I swear, they'll wake you up at 5am just to spite that crap.

For good measure, here's Des 'helping' with the laundry:

He keeps me young.

NKOTBSB

I'm not sure whose idea it was so many months ago. But someone in my crazy family decided we should all go see New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys when they come to Fenway Park. It would be a belated 30th birthday celebration for my sister Janet! And baby Guppy would also get to enjoy the sweet sweet sounds of Step By Step.


Oooh baybeh!



We somehow managed to get 12 tickets together, thanks to my savvy husband. The seats were great, the company was ideal, and the show was a blast!







The ages of our group ranged from 11 to 64 and everything in between. We still all had an amazing time. We're good like that.





I thought the New Kids were going to look all old and depressing. But they didn't! They were fit and fresh and on-key. They took off their shirts a lot, so we got a good look.




Nick was Hangin' Tough. The beer helped.


Bill was a trooper too.





And then it started raining. Many buckets. But it couldn't dampen our spirits!





My sister Maureen said that watching me and Janet sing and dance to the New Kids was like a flashback to 20 years ago. There were many flashbacks happening that night.



It was such a fun night, a great way to start the summer.

Many of these pics were stolen from my cousin Breanne, our gracious host for the weekend. Thanks Bre!

Blogtoberfest 2010

Last Thursday Tony took over the bedtime routine for one night so that I could attend the 4th annual Boston Blogtoberfest. Hosted by the beautiful and talented (as most of us BTrees are) Jenny, of All Eyes on Jenny fame, it was a chance for local bloggers to get out from behind the screen and meet up face to face. There were cocktails, appetizers, impractical shoes, and adult conversation. Like a whole other planet. A fabulous, urban, lovely scented world free of primary-colored plastic toys and spit-up... although there may have been some caked on the collar of my dress.

I got to catch up with old friends, as well as meet many new ones. I also won booze! If the universe is sending me a message to get out more, it hath been received. Event sponsor Brew England (run by my good friends Sarah and Adam) raffled off gift baskets of their favorite beers. I've already imbibed in two and they were deeeelicious.

My night out with my fellow blog nerds made me realize two things:

1. I am hopelessly technologically challenged. This blog is as savvy as I get. I still use a non-smaht phone... phone calls and texting are the extent of its capabilities. Gagdets aren't my thing. I don't tweet and don't understand the purpose of Twitter. I'm sure there is one, it's just beyond my comprehension. I save my most visited links and blogs to my favorites in Internet Explorer... I know not of this Google Reader. Marcel tried to show me, but I was all:


It's okay. I like that disconnecting is easy because I don't carry the internet in my pocket at all times. I have no immediate aspirations of becoming more tech savvy. But I'm not stubborn about it. One day I may jump on board and get a phone from this decade or start up with the tweeting. Stranger things have happened.

2. I need to get out more. Regularly scheduled Momma's Nights Out are in the future. I'm not at a place right now where I need to get out of the house. I actually enjoy being home with my family. But I don't want to get into a rut where all I can talk about is BABY BABY BABY, and I never want to get to a point where I feel trapped or resentful that I'm home on another Saturday night. Like I said, I don't see that happening. But going out every once in a while will make me a more well-rounded person, and therefore a better mom and wife. Duh, right?

All in all, it was a great night out. Although there was not a whole lot of networking on my part... I think I passed out 3 of my DIY business cards (made with mailing labels and a cereal box, hello ghettooo). I still had fun chatting with peeps in a new bar with make-up on my face and a drink in hand. Very refreshing. It was like my version of a spa treatment.