I think getting rained on both Friday night at the Ben Harper show and again on Saturday has taken a toll on me.  I woke up Monday feeling pretty crummy, and the crumminess intensified while on the plane to Boston.  By the time I woke up on Tuesday, I was feeling pretty miserable.  I have had a big week as far as work is concerned so I wasn’t able to rest a whole lot.  Instead, I just pumped myself full of meds and liquids and made sure to take it easy at night. 

I’ve been on a mission to get back to normal health by tomorrow because I’m taking my first ever trip to Las Vegas to partake in a bachelor’s party for my buddy Jon.  I know I definitely won’t have much of an opportunity to recuperate after partying all night and barely getting any sleep.  The good news, though, is that I’m pretty sure my fever broke last night so I think I’m on the road to recovery.  I woke up last night in the middle of my bed completely soaked in my clothes.  I then took more medication and returned to bed, this time laying down on the left side to avoid the soaked middle portion.  About four hours later, I awoke to find the left side of the bed completely drenched, as well.  Sure, it was gross, but I was just excited that it looked like the end was near.  I then moved over to the right side of the bed and, sure enough, come morning that was soaked, too.

The day went pretty well aside from still dealing with a swollen throat.  When I got back to my hotel room I realized I made a pretty bad mistake this morning.  I usually put the “Do not disturb” sign on my door when I get ready because I have a fear of a housekeeping lady walking in as I’m getting out of the shower.  Yes, I know, it’s stupid.  Anyway, I forgot to take the sign off the door when I left during the day which means my room didn’t get cleaned.  Now, this would normally not be a big deal.  In fact, I usually keep the sign on the door on purpose because I want to save the housekeeping people from having to do extra, unnecessary work.  What’s troublesome about doing it today, though, is that I’m going to have to sleep in the same sheets I drenched in my own sweat last night.  Pretty gross.  As if that’s not enough, my PJs are still wet from last night so that means ol’ Bradical is going to be sleeping in the buff, as well.  There’s nothing like having to sleep nude in a random hotel bed in sheets coated in my dried sweat.  It’ll be worth it, though.  This weekend is going to be pretty amazing.  And I know LOTS of pictures will be posted from it, as well.

Speaking of being sick, I’ve had an ongoing debate with friends about the proper way to beat the flu.  My mom has always taught my sister and I to “break” the flu which means you take medicine, keep warm at night, and eventually you’ll wake up sweaty, signaling that you “broke” the fever.  Many of my friends have said they have been told to stay cool, even taking a cold shower or bath to cure the flu.  Please comment on the right way.  I’d hate to think I’ve been going about this all wrong.

I took my first trip to the Starlight Theater on Friday night to see Ben Harper with a group of friends.  This was my fourth time seeing him live and the first with an outdoor venue.  I have heard great things about the place and was anxious to check it out for myself despite seeing that storms were expected throughout the evening.

The opening act was Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley.  I really didn’t know what to expect with his set because I had never heard his music before.  In fact, the first time I had ever heard of Damian Marley was when I was in the backseat of a taxi cab at Austin City Limits last year.  The driver was talking to me about how he was in his own rap group and drove taxis to pay the bills.  I looked over and saw the CD case for Mr. Marley as I listened to the driver blast “Shake Your Laffy Taffy” through his speakers (this was also the first time I had heard that song, as well).  I remember thinking that anyone jamming out to that wretched song must have poor music taste.  Fast forward almost a full year and, not only was I seeing him live, but I found myself really liking his show.  For a full hour, they played high-energy reggae/rap, throwing in old Bob Marley covers in to delight the audience.  They also have a guy in the group that waved a Jamaican flag through the entire set.  Pretty impressive.

As if on queue, the rain started coming down around the time Ben Harper and his Innocent Criminals took the stage.  They opened with “Faded” and continued throughout the night mixing both old and new songs into their setlist.  Normally, heavy rain would really hinder a concert, the group I was with all agreed that the weather conditions actually enhanced the show.  The natural lightening in the sky during his set was pretty darn cool. 

The thing that I love about seeing a Ben Harper show is that it’s not only rockin’ but it also manages to be a pretty inspirational experience.  It’s rare to witness an artist so passionate about the message in his music, and that passion resonates to the crowd.  As the dripping wet masses left the Starlight Theater on Friday night, I believe it’s safe to say that everyone felt they were treated to an excellent performance.  I know I did.

Setlist:

Set I:
• Faded
• Both Sides Of The Gun
• Steal My Kisses
• Diamonds On The Inside
• Get It Like You Like It
• Waiting For You
• Morning Yearning
• Forgiven
• Please Don’t Talk About Murder While I’m Eating
• Ground On Down
• Black Rain
• With My Own Two Hands
Encore I:
• Another Lonely Day
• Walk Away
Encore II:
• Where Could I Go
• Better Way

I needed to get my haircut pretty badly by the end of the week because my normal barber wasn’t available this weekend.  Using the online Yellow Pages, I tried to seek out a reputable place to get a cut but the search proved to be much more challenging than I had thought.  I soon found that there are no national chains like Great Clips or We Care Hair in or around the area in which I was staying so I was limited to just finding the name that sounded the least sketchy.  The place called “U-Next”, for example, didn’t quite make my list of contenders.

I finally settled on a unisex barber shop that was nearby based on the logic that, since it was unisex, that meant the barber was used to also cutting women’s hair, limiting the possibility that I’d be walking away with a buzz cut and fade.  The second I walked into the place I noticed that this wasn’t quite the barber shop I had envisioned.  Instead, it looked like I had walked into a scene from the movie Barbershop.  They even had two people just sitting there to chat with the barber.  They didn’t need to get their hair cut or anything – they were just regulars of the barbershop the way Norm and Cliff were in Cheers.  When they saw me, it felt like one of those moments where the record scratches to a stop.  I personally couldn’t care less what color people are, but situations like that immediately make me a little self-conscious of my own color (or lack thereof).  It wasn’t like I was just going to walk in and turn around and leave, so I made conscious decision to make sure these guys liked me.

Thank goodness these guys were into sports.  I was able to use the interest of Detroit football and baseball to find common ground and to subsequently avoid being pegged as some white, preppy-dressed doofus.  We ended up having a good time joking around.  The guys even said they’d heard that Kansas City women are supposed to be gorgeous which I found to be pretty funny.  I’ve heard of KC being known for fountains, BBQ, and even a poor crime rate (although considering I was in Detroit I suppose KC ain’t too shabby in that department), but I’d never had heard it have the reputation for the ladies.  The haircut ended up being decent, as well, which is really all I was hoping for. 

I also noticed this week that my body reacts to seafood differently than other foods.  I’ve noticed this difference the past two times I’ve had salmon so maybe it’s just salmon that changes things.  No, it doesn’t make me sick or give me headaches.  Instead, it makes my pee smell funny.  Actually, “funny” isn’t quite the word to use.  It makes my urine smell really bad.  I don’t get why this is.  Maybe I have some weird disorder or something, but I found it to be odd.  In the coming weeks I’m going to have to try different types of seafood to test out my newfound discovery.  Very weird, I know.

I’ve never been the best when it comes to working out.  A big reason for this is because I don’t like running unless it’s while taking part of some competitive sport.  I’ve gone in spurts where I’ve worked out somewhat regularly, but even then I would basically just run a couple miles and lift a little bit. 

A friend of mine told me recently of an online personal trainer you can sign up for that works pretty well, and I decided to try it out.  When registering, it asks for your weight, if you want to tone up or bulk up, what days you want to workout, what equipment you’ll be using, etc.  It then lays out a training program for you based on your information.  I have mine set up to workout four days a week, taking days off on days I usually travel.  Last Wednesday was my first official day of the program, and I felt like my arms were going to fall off by the time I was done.  The very first thing it told me to do: incline bench press at 170 lbs. for 3 sets of 10 reps.  My jaw about dropped to the floor when I saw it.  That’s basically the equivalent to me lifting myself minus maybe an arm 30 times in one sitting.  By the time I was done with my day, I felt like a pretty big wuss because most of the weight they wanted me to lift was lowered by quite a bit.  Luckily, they’ve adjusted my workout based on my numbers so it should be a little more accurate from now on.

I had to do lifting with my legs a few days ago, and I thought I did just fine with that which I found surprising because I feel like I have twigs for legs.  I even felt fine the next day.  Yesterday, though, was a different story.  My hamstrings have been all cramped up since the moment I woke up and it hasn’t stopped.  After getting off my flight yesterday, I could have sworn rigormortis had somehow started to kick in while I was alive.

It’s kind of exciting to actually be on a disciplined little workout plan for a change.  I’m definitely not planning on getting ripped or anything, but I would like to tone up and lose some of the weight I’ve gained from eating out every single meal while on the road for the past year and a half.  Hopefully that I’ll be able to get rid of that cramping soon.  

I saw this picture earlier today and it made me want to punch Paris Hilton in the face.

After I found out it was just a Photoshopped image, it hit me that “The Aeroplane Over the Sea” is the one album, more than any other that I can think of, that serves as a litmus test for music hipsters.  In fact, I don’t even know if it’s the album itself.  The band name alone seems to be the one that shows others you know what’s up.  Sure, knowing other respectable bands can increase your indie street cred, but most everyone has heard of Pavement and The Pixies.  If someone can think of an album that tops “Aeroplane” please tell me.

I’m a big fan of eating places where they make salads in front of you.  Places like that aren’t uncommon in most of the cities I travel to, and I have always wondered why Kansas City doesn’t have more of them.  Well when I found out that a new restaurant called The Mixx opened by the Plaza Library, I was pretty anxious to check out the place.  And unless some things change, it’ll likely be the last time I ever eat there.

I drove out there at noon to meet up with a couple of coworkers before I had to be back by one.  It didn’t take long for me to realize I had made a mistake with my lunch choice.  For starters, it took me 10 minutes of sitting in front of the restaurant just to enter the parking ramp.  This definitely didn’t do much to help my mood before I entered the place.  It drives me crazy when people sit there and hold up traffic to wait for people to get to their car when there is an open spot in plain view just a few spaces down. It’s pretty ironic that people were driving to go eat healthy food yet went out of their way to ensure they wouldn’t have to walk an additional 20 feet.

When I finally got into the place, I was greeted with a line of people amidst the madhouse of lunchgoers.  From the time I was handed my salad to the time I finally reach the cashier, 20 minutes had passed.  The big reason for the long wait was due to the fact that people who had called in their order ahead of time were able to cut in line freely to pay.  They literally have a spot in the middle of the line specifically for call-ins.  As if that wasn’t ridiculous enough, they only had one cashier on duty for the majority of the time I was there.  As I approached the cashier, I told her that because of the long wait I was going to need a to-go box instead.  I ended up dumping my salad in the box while I paid for my $10 salad.  That’s right, I stood in line for 20 minutes so I could pay more for a salad in Kansas City than I would had I actually sat down and ordered one at a decent restaurant.  The friend of mine I was with not only waited in line to pay but had to wait another 15 minutes for them to bring her sandwich to her.

The good news about the experience is that the food itself is actually very tasty once you’re able to finally eat it.  The place has the potential to be really good.  They really need some work, though.  Until they get their act together I can safely say I won’t be returning any time soon.

After spending a week and a half on the road, I returned home to Kansas City at 8:30 last Thursday night.  My time home gave me just enough time to do a couple loads of laundry and pack before driving 6 hours to northern Iowa at 7:30 the following morning.  Surprisingly, I woke up feeling rested and ended up meeting my grandfather and his wife for lunch on my way up.  He had just had a pacemaker put in the week before, and I was glad I was able to see him.  My grandpa is a stubborn old guy, and it was the first time in my life I’ve ever heard him admit he wasn’t feeling too great.  He goes in for an angioplasty tomorrow, and I really hope it goes well.  The thing I really love about my grandpa is how you really know he’s happy to see you when he looks at you.  It’s a very genuine quality that I believe is lacking with most people.

After saying my goodbyes, I drive another hour and a half to our place on West Lake.  It had been two years since I had been able to make it up there, and I really wish I was able to visit more often.  I was immediately greeted by my dad, stepmom, and little sister upon my arrival.  I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s really cute to see my seven year old sister get so excited to see her big brother.  Here’s a picture of her showing me the face they put on the tree next to the back patio.

The weather was mostly overcast and a little chilly for the majority of the weekend.  While I was hoping to spend a good portion of the weekend on the lake tanning my fluorescent hide, it allowed us time to hang out together more than we would have.  We also visited Arnold’s Park, an old amusement park along the lake.  They have season passes so they go there most weekends. Lora (my sister) loves to ride the big roller coaster, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, I’d never ridden it before.  This was partially due to the fact that I’d only been to the park a couple times before but mostly due to the fact that I’m a giant wuss and get freaked out by roller coasters.  I ended up riding it, though, and survived despite how thinking the entire time how I wish I had my feet planted on the ground.

The last day I was there, the weather was absolutely perfect.  It was sunny with temps in the 80s and a very light breeze.  We spent most of the day laying out and boating and, aside from a little burning on my legs, I managed to come out with a decent tan which surprised me quite a bit.

It was a much needed weekend of relaxation and solid family bonding.  It seems like most times I’m together with family it is focused around an event (i.e. Christmas, Thanksgiving, graduation, etc.) and it was really nice to spend some quality time with everyone without any added distractions.

I ended up stopping in Ankeny on my way back to have lunch with Ryan, Jeff, and Terra.  Ryan and his wife are proud new parents of a baby girl named Aubrey, and I wanted to see her while I was in the area.  Luckily, Ryan trusted me enough to let me hold her.

All four of our lunch crew have known each other since gradeschool, and it was hilarious joking around with each other and sharing memories from when we were younger.  It was a great coda to a great little vacation.

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m on a little vacation right now.  With no work or responsibilities to speak of, it also means blogging is going to cease for a couple more days.  I return from the lake on Tuesday night and will hopefully resume posting then.

I woke up this morning from the sound of my phone receiving a text message at 5:15.  I was pretty groggy but decided to see what it said anyway.  It was a text from someone I work with saying, “Are you traveling today?”  I was in San Francisco all week so they must not have known I was 2 hours behind Kansas City time.  Obviously something was wrong, but I just went back to sleep and figured I’d get a reply from the coworker telling me what was up.  When my alarm went off I immediately turned the TV on to find that U.S.- bound planes from the U.K. had been targeted to be blown up in the sky.  Pretty freaky stuff.

Even though there were terrorist problems that involved the U.S., I still figured I would be okay because only planes out of London were targeted.  Even though domestic flights didn’t seem to be at risk, airports across the country were banning all liquid substances from entering the plane.  Luckily, I don’t travel with lotions, hair products, or any other things that were banned so I was good to go. 

The scene at the airport was pretty insane, I must say.  There were mobs of people waiting in line, television cameras were all over the place, and there were even cops with bomb-sniffing dogs walking about.  I really wanted to take pictures of the scene at SFO, but I was afraid I’d end up getting in trouble.  Surprisingly, the lines moved along pretty well despite the intimidating crowd of people.  The thing that shocked me the most was that, even though alert levels were the highest they’ve been in 5 years, no one at security was checking IDs and boarding passes.  Now, I’ve gone through security at airports literally about 100 times in the past year and a half and never once has someone neglected to do that.  Sometimes they even have a person check your ID and pass before you enter the security line and then have another person check as you go through the metal detector.  This time, there wasn’t one person checking for those things.  Pretty shocking in my opinion.

My first flight was delayed a little as well as my connecting flight which was pretty much expected.  It was surprising to me how the media really hyped up the events, warning Americans to stay at home unless it was completely necessary, and most travelers didn’t really care all that much.  I’m just glad to finally be home again — actually, I’m home until 7:30 tomorrow morning when I take off for Okoboji with the family.  I can’t wait to relax a little bit after being on the go so much. 

The Frames

I’ve always liked about half the music The Frames put out.  Half of it is good rock and the other is just too lo-fi for me.  Their live shows, though, are excellent, and I really enjoyed seeing them through the majority of their set. 

Hot Chip

This was a buzz band that I kept hearing was great live so I made a point to check them out.  I’m normally not a big fan of music that is primarily electronic but these guys were a whole lot of fun.  They could have just stuck a guy in the background creating most of the music on his laptop while the band played.  Instead, they found a way to make their sounds organically while putting forth a lot of energy.  The crowd fed off of it and had a great time.

Andrew Bird

I liked his last album, The Mysterious Production of Eggs, but admit that I was skeptical about how his music would translate to a live setting.  He ended up being about what I expected.  It was impressive watching him switch from instrument to instrument.  He’s a pretty talented guy.  He also might be the best whistler I’ve ever heard.  If there was ever a Jimi Hendrix of whistling, he’d definitely be it.  Overall, though, the slow, mellow tempos of his songs just didn’t really cut it for me.

The Shins

I believe people’s reaction to seeing The Shins at Lolla depended on what their expectation was beforehand.  For those expecting a rockin’ show were left disappointed.  Those looking for a set of catchy, mid-tempo songs were likely satisfied.  I guess I kind of fell halfway in the middle as I was hoping they’d really go all out for such a big event.  They previewed a couple new songs, too, which sounded pretty Shins-y, and that’s not a bad thing. 

Wilco

This was my 4th time seeing Wilco, and they were, without question, the most inspired I’ve ever seen the band.  They sounded amazing.  Tweedy came out wearing a hat, green blazer, and an incredibly shaggy beard.  He looked like a crazy homeless guy that found his way on stage.  I loved it. 

They previewed a few new songs including “Walken” which they played at ACL last year.  The new songs sound really solid.  The Wilco show was one of my personal highlights of the festival, and it was one of only a few all weekend where I found myself wishing their one hour slot wouldn’t have to come to an end.

Mix Master Mike

When Nick and I saw the Mix Master Mike, the DJ for the Beastie Boys, was playing at the small kids tent, we knew we wanted to see him even for just a little bit.  It was surprisingly pretty boring, and we left after only a few minutes.

Broken Social Scene

I was only able to watch these guys for a little bit because we wanted to get a decent spot for the Chili Peppers.  From what I saw of BSS, they were absolutely stunning.  At one point, Stars and Feist joined them on stage along with the multiple instruments and two drum sets.  It was quite the spectacle, and I think it’s a shame they got wedged in at a 45 minute spot before the headliner closed everything out.  The whole crowd chanted, “One more song!” because such a short set was unfair for what everyone had just witnessed.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

When these guys came out, the crowd went completely bonkers.  Their setlist drew heavily from their new double-album, and I was hoping they’d make it more of a “best of” set.  The real stars of the show were John Frusciante and Flea as they jammed and soloed between almost every song.  As expected, Flea was dressed funny…this time he was wearing a funky, multicolored leotard.

At the end of the show, Anthony Kiedis just sat down on the speakers while his band makes just rocked out.  Regardless of if you like the Chili Peppers or not, there’s no way you could leave the show without being impressed at the level of talent in that band.  Even though I was hoping they’d play some more older material, I will still say they exceeded my expectations.