Just Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

If you don't get my title, it's referring to a Jack Johnson song, "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing" (one of my faves)

Why?

Because I went and saw Jack Johnson on Lake Michigan in Chicago with my friend and her mom and her mom's friends.

And it was AWESOME!

If you don't know Jack Johnson, youtube "Better Together" or that song above, right now. It's beautiful, chill, calm, and sounds like you're sitting on a beach with someone playing the guitar in the background. 

So yeah, we went up to Chicago on the train on Saturday morning wayyy too early and stayed right on Michigan Avenue and walked to the concert when it came time. 

Chicago is so cool. I was with a bunch of teachers -that's what Addy's mom is and her friends are teachers too, but not the old ladies you're thinking, think more like late 20's straight out of school and super cool. We walked around down town for a bit, went to a bar for pre-concert drinks and food and then headed to the concert.

Too much fun. He's so talented, sounds even better live than on the albums. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros opened for Jack Johnson. Quick description of these guys…Uber Hippies. Like big time, shoulda been at Woodstock or at least living in Berkley in 1968. Youtube "Home" by them and you may have heard the song before, maybe not. Outside the indie, hippy scene, they're a one-hit wonder. But still good music.

Chicago Selfie. Sorry bout it.

Sun dresses and blonde curls. That's just how we roll.

Chicago skyline at sunset. Too cool.

 We were grooving and singing along to all the words. So much fun. It wasn't too hot, or too cold, a perfect summer evening to listen to some jams on the guitar and be in good company. Concerts are also the best for people watching. My favorite sport. Lots of drunk people. And lots of people who may have mistaken the concert Denver, Co, if you catch my drift… haha. Lots of those 'toke'n people. What are ya going to do, it was more funny than anything. But all in all everyone seemed to enjoy the concert and no one got out of hand, everyone was chill, nobody was that obnoxious guy singing too loud and stumbling everywhere, the only real issue was how crowded it was close to the stage and how people try to move up. But can't get too mad since we did the same thing. Every chance we got we would try to creep our way closer. Something about live music that makes you want to get up close and personal.

Without zoom. So not so close to touch him but not half bad.

They did have a big screen on the side of the stage that showed off the band for people in the grand stands but we were close enough that we didn't even need it. Ya. We're pretty good. His band were a bunch of hams, and they really put on a good show. There were beach balls begin thrown around, they all kicked it off stage a few times, Jack talked about how his water was getting filled with bugs since we were at an outside venue. He even admitted to drinking a few. Yummy.

Talented musician/surfer who lives in Hawaii? Marry me? Please?

After the concert we walked back to the hotel and rewatched the videos on our phones and talked about the songs he played and how awesome it was. The next day the rest of our crew had to head back to the Dale but Addy and my adopted mom and I stayed and headed to a friend's apartment in one of the suburbs. It was a super small studio apartment but we made do, and it was cool to see the not so touristy side of Chicago. But we did go shopping. Ok we did a lot of shopping…oops. But I got a dress for my Aunt's upcoming wedding. Just in time as it's two weeks away. Again…oops.

To be fair, they were drinks we were holding for the other girls in our group but we looked like we knew how to party. And who says we don't?

After a full day of shopping we did dinner and drinks at one of the local pubs, Wilde Bar in Lake View. It was a super cool place, all wood and dark and had a library across from the long bar. It was felt like we were in a Gentleman's club or some sort of bar that Hemingway and Oscar Wilde (get the name now?) would hang out at. The hockey game was on and there were a few college students watching. We sat and had appetizers and I had my first dirty martini. Not bad but I'm not a fan of olives so I doubt I'll do that again. But I felt super sophisticated and beyond my young 22 years. Nothing says class like a martini in hand in a bar that personifies one of the literary greats. I know, so hipster. But it was really really cool. I mean like if you're into that sorta thing.

We had too much fun. Can never have too much of a good thing.

We had to leave the next day but not til later in the afternoon. So we spent the time in the suburb walking around checking out the different places. We did accidentally break the tension rod in the shower (it was kind of hilarious as Addy was about to shower and it came crashing down, and well she screamed a little bit) so we were searching for a new one to replace the old. We stopped for lunch at this hotdog and gyro place on the corner. It had probably the same owner/chef there behind the counter who had a raspy, chicago accented voice who called us dears and told us that the gyro was the best in the city. So naturally, we got them and they were pretty tasty. At lunch we talked about the future and how both Addy and I hope to have jobs in exactly a year from that moment. Scary to think that I'm half way done with my 2 year stint here in Salukiville.

Chicago definitely has the shopping, the concerts, the parks and touristy sites that are very cool. But it was in that little diner on the corner about mid-gyro that I realized that I really wanted to live this way. I want to live in a city. I want to see the hustle and bustle but then go to my favorite little diner where the store owner probably was alive to see the Cubs win the world series (i kid since that was forever ago but you get it) and live in a big city. My home town is anything but a city. Davis, a bit better but not a city of that level. And Carbondale…ha! Jokes. But even if it's only for a year or a few months I want to try. Chicago now is where I would like to be. But who knows where I end up…guess we'll just have to wait and see.

We headed back to Carbondale on the train, and we slowly rolled back to reality, with life guarding, summer classes and none of the shopping Chicago has. Sigh. Til next time I guess.

Future home? Maybe.

To be continued!