Live show and the Kiddo

I’ve seen some shows in my day.  More bands than I can count or even remember in some cases.  I’ve seen bad shows with local bands.  I’ve seen good shows from good bands before they were famous, like Death Cab for Cutie at a bowling alley in Chicago with my buddy Ryan and about 25 other people.  I’ve seen festivals and multiple band shows, like Lalapolooza or Area One.  I've been to raves, both concert settings and warehouse types.  I’ve seen punk, rap, pop, and everything in between.  

I mention this because J has only ever seen one show.  It was Depeche Mode on their Delta Tour on 22 September 2013.  We were just married.  Now, almost a decade later, she gets to see another show.

I’m super excited for her. 

Her friend from BASIS, Ash, invited her to a show that is a bunch of cover bands.  It’s not like she gets to see a rock legend or anything like that, but a show is a show and it might surprise you.  So, I’m excited for her to go.  To experience and enjoy it.  Getting out and letting the music flow into your ears, feeling the energy of the crowd, and just taking it all in is a fun thing.

Tomorrow it will be a Kiddo and Dada night.  We’ve got some books to read.  We’ve got some video games to play.  We’ve got fun to have.  I’m excited for that as well.  

Kiddo will be sad and “miss Mumma” during the night, especially at tuck in time, but that’s par for the course.  I’ll geek or watch something, maybe I’ll just sit and read, but before that, I get the Kiddo fun.

At the library this last weekend, we got some Mo Willems books- Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay up Late! and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!  I do a voice for pigeon, kind of like an angry and more aggressive Poley, but Kiddo loves in and we read and have fun together.  Besides, what’s better than a lil monkey cuddling up and wanting you to just read to her?  

Also, Kiddo and video games.  She is getting SO GOOD!  She’s getting to know the controller without looking.  She’s better at navigating the games she’s playing.  She will fail and want to try again.  She is replaying missions on the game to 100% them.  It’s amazing watching her play and just hanging out with her while she’s playing.  She’s even starting to critique games.  “That’s a bad camera angle”, “This jump is no fun”, “That guy was too easy” and things like that.  She’s also talking about how and what she would do in a game.  Making the maps bigger, hiding things in certain spots so it’s more of a challenge, or just how she’s lay out a controller for easier use.

She’s five.  Some of her ideas are very very five.  However, she’s giving it critical thought.    Being able to retell a story, accurately and in narrative order, is huge for her at this age and she can do it; Not only with known stories, but in games, stories, her day, or even in retelling a story or game and how she wishes it would be.  Not only is she already understanding narrative flow, but she’s modifying that to build a better story… Or at least the story as she would tell it.

I’m excited.  For J to get out and see a show.  To experience that fun.  To have a night with a friend.  To just be for an evening.  Good for her and hope it’s… if not great, good at least.  As for Kiddo, I’m excited.  To play.  Read.  Game.  Love.  And all the rest.  

Also, I see the doc tomorrow and (hopefully) will get cleared on my knee.  I’m probably not going back to BBall, but maybe a few times a month I’ll pop in and shoot on a side court or hoop.  Maybe I can drum up a game of HORSE on the side if there are an odd number of people so it’s always a few guys out for a game.  Just to run and jump.

I’m (as long as I’m spending a minute on me) starting to do some yoga at home.  Maybe next year, if I’m more limber and flexible and the knee feels ok, I’ll get back to regular BBall, but for now… I’ve got enough going on that I don’t want to risk my knees and ankles once a week.  My one wish is a batting cage.  If I could have a batting cage near us and I could do yoga, but get out and take some cuts a few times a week, that would be awesome.  Instead, maybe twice a month I can shoot around, even if it’s not full contact and full speed; Jumping, Shooting, and just being active in that way is a different form of burn, fatigue, and body use.  Why not?  Besides, hanging with the crowd that usually shows up is always fun as well.

A lot to be excited for tomorrow.  Today is just a day.  Kiddo did request Tuna Steak by name for dinner.  With rice.  And not Yuck Choy.  Make a salad Dada, I like salad.  So, there’s that too.  She certainly has her preferences.  

Let’s go, Kiddo… Tomorrow is our day and we are gonna have so much fun.  DO I ASK FOR A FRENCH FRY ROBOT… YES!!!!!!!!!!!  I love you, Kiddo!