Phish in Chicago

Howdy folks, It is finally Thursday here in the big city. I am not sure what it is about Thursday's but they are one of my favorite days of the week. I know tomorrow is Friday and I get to relax and generally we don't cook on Thursday. So today I am a little tired from my whirlwind trip to Chicago on Tuesday to see Phish but nothing compared to my days of partying.

A rundown on the venue, the show, driving to the city from Merrillville where the hotel was and did I mention construction on I-294?

Since my wife Heather is 8 months pregnant she decided to stay home and not chance giving birth while at the show. So I took my buddy Andy, and we headed up towards the city around 1:30 in the afternoon after getting pee'd on by my 16 month old post nap. First stop Merrillville where our hotel was and about an hour from the venue. Got checked in and then headed west on US 30 instead of taking I-65 up to I-294 like we should have and rolled through Merrillville into Schererville where McDonalds messed up my order and up US 41 to I-294 which damn near took us 45 minutes. Next time stay on the Interstate. So we hit a couple of tolls and then realized that even though the GPS told us to exit, the barrier in the highway prevented us from doing so. So on we rolled, got off on the next exit with no where to go except take a U-turn back to the Highway. So we paid an additional toll and followed the annoying GPS ladies instructions and wound up right where we needed to be, only took us a few minutes out of the way.

So there we were at Toyota Park in Bridgeville IL. Home of the Chicago Fire and on August 11th the home of Phish. After paying $15 bucks to park, yeah you read that right. We heard the band soundchecking Time Turns Elastic, Funky Bitch, and a jam which could have been Paul and Silas. We did not want to hear Time Turns Elastic which is a new song I am not too found of and neither was Andy. So we parked and decided to chill for a bit and walk around the gigantic parking lot to find the elusive and ever shrinking Shakedown Street where there was barely a gathering of vendors and bad food. Note to self, never ever eat on the lot unless you brought it. Kinda like tailgating, either bring your own grub or starve. Even though McD's screwed up my order I still ate. So after checking out some kid T's which were overpriced on the parking lot we headed back to the ride to hang out and watch the people roll by. Good times seeing the different people from all over and what some thought would be a sleeper show without a lot of folks turned out to be a sellout with lots and lots of phans waiting on the show to start. After killing an hour or so we made our way to the gates to little security and found our seats. No harassment at this venue, None!

Got to our seats and Wow! I bought these tickets online just a few weeks ago and paid face value on ticketmaster and they were in the front row off the field and 30 yards from the stage. Grate view, good folks sitting near us and nobody in front of us, nobody. First set was very good, with some new songs and an opener of Kill Devil Falls which I have been overplaying in my car from St. Louis. Paul and Silas, first time since 1998! And a Curtain With, this was sick and a supreme highlight of the show for me. First set downer, Time Turns Elastic to close out the set. I utilized that front row seat to relax during the first 10 minutes of this song only to enjoy the jam at the end.

During Setbreak I found my way to the Phellowship table, a place for clean and sober fans, got a sticker and shared in the meeting. It was full of clean heads, and lots of sharing. As a group hug we said the Dude serenity prayer to end it, and I got chills and felt wonderful. I grabbed Catey and Holden (my son to be born in the next few weeks) a t-shirt and a sticker for Heather. And headed for my seat. Second set started up and it was a total smoker! Backwards Down the Number line, into a dark and dirty Carini the set featured great playing from the band, highlights included a 2001>Harry Hood>Squirming Coil with a very beautiful piano solo to end the second set by Page. The rest of the band left the stage as Page laid down the sweet melody stood to overwhelming applause and a huge smile on his face. Time for an encore, I thought we may hear Funky Bitch, but no it was better than that.
A cover of the Rolling Stones Loving Cup! Very very nice way to wrap up the night.

Well, we made our way to the parking lot with the masses, and found the car at the very inconvenient front of the parking lot and it took us all of 45 minutes to get the hell out there. Brought back memories of Deer Creek parking. Turned on our lovely GPS lady and found our way to the highway back to Merrillville for the night. We arrived at the hotel after missing one toll booth...DOH, at 2:30 in the morning and racked out in seperate Queen beds much to Andy's dismay, (better luck next time dude). Slept like a log and from Andy's snoring I think he did too, a morning text from Heather was rise and shine time to clean up and hit the road home. It was a quick trip but damn it was fun. Thanks to my sweet wife for letting me go.

John, you missed a hellava show!
Peace till next time.

Getting Ready for Baby number 2

Howdy folks. Well Heather and I are fast approaching the arrival of our second child. Mr. Holden James Costlow is due on October 8th, but Heather is sprouting a belly worth 9 months of pregnancy now! So we hope he waits for about another 6 weeks before coming into the world.

Our daughter Cate will be 16 months old in just a week and is such a sweet child. She is on the move and watch out she moves at lightning speed. She loves to sing and dance and play with her doggie and wrestle with the kitties. What a joy and she had Tubes placed in her ears last week and a difference a day makes. She is back to being happy and can hear and talk better.

It only took me 36 years to realize this is what life is all about, it's about raising children and being a responsible member of society helping your fellow man and teaching your kids compassion and about the world around them.

I am still on the hunt for a better job, but soon to pursue school again to get a 2nd B.S. in Education. I gotta be honest, man was not meant to sit in cubicle 8 hours a day. Hell NO!
But it does give me time to update the blog and mess around on Facebook and pull up directions to Toyota Park in Chicago. Did someone say Chicago?
Heading to Chicago on Tuesday of this week to see Phish! Gonna have a good time, a damn good time.

Be good out there.
Coz

I found my blog

Holy Crap folks, I found my blog once again. It only took me 8 months to get around to a new post. I was inspired to write this morning. July 14th finds Indianapolis in the middle of May like temps. This morning I awoke to find it a bit chilly outside at the comfy temp of 60 degrees. High around 83 and well for my Bartending gig this weekend it will be a balmy 78!

Some former customers from my days at Ambrosia hosted a holiday party back in December and I got a call from Melanie to work the party. It was a great time and good honest folks, with a band. I am in retirement from the restaurant biz but I do work on the side from time to time. This Saturday I will be the barman at a Tiki Bar Party. Even picked up a new Hawaiian shirt at Walmart for less than $5! Should be a good time and fairly easy as the host informed me the drinks will consist of Beer, Wine and a Margarita machine.

November Sun is felt by None

A chilly breeze has warmed my thoughts to what's to come. November is here and the Holiday Season is fast approaching. Baby Catey is now 7 months old and growing like a weed. She is not yet crawling, but can roll and spin around. She enjoys trying to sit up, but this becomes a bit tiring and a good flop on her back to look up is more exciting. Drool and slobber are all the rage as she chews on just about anything within reach. Teeth will soon arrive!

She is a very happy baby, not fussy and she hardly ever cries! Just a sweety. She will be traveling with Mommy this weekend to Ft. Myers, Florida to visit and celebrate Great Aunt Jo Eileen's 90th birthday. Jo is very active, still lives on her own and enjoys life as much as she can. Heather will be flying with her Mom and Grannie out of the new Indianapolis Airport. This will be Catey's first trip on a plane and a trip without Daddy. I must admit I am a little nervous about my baby flying but she will be in excellent hands and well cared for with the ladies. Sure will miss my girls while they are away.

Since the girls will be out of town, I will be traveling to Sheridan to watch some High School Football Semistate Action and working at Moma Corolla's on Saturday night. I plan on sleeping past 7am this weekend as well!

On a side note, Heather and I saw a grate Widespread Panic show at the Murat Theatre on November 5th. We had a good time seeing the show with Julie Fuller (Hopper) and her brother Doug and his friend Brad as well as brother John. I got to meet Steve Z, the Z-man who is a magnificient taper at the show. What a treat! The sound was good and loud, and the band was tight. Some highlights from the show were the I'm not alone, a huge Driving Song Sandwich and out of nowhere, Time is Free! The boys just finished there Fall tour and have some dates coming up at the end of the year in Denver we are looking forward to seeing since we will be in Breckenridge for New Years Eve.

Soon it will be all Christmas Music all the time, can you dig it?

Hello World

Good Morning, this week is Jerry Week on Sirius's Grateful Dead Channel. Turn it on, turn it up and listen.
It began with Jerry's birthday on August 2nd, the old man would have been 66! And it runs through the 13th anniversary of his death on August 9th. If you get a chance, sign up for a 3 day free account and start rockin! http://www.sirius.com/

Catey is now 3 months and 3 weeks old and growing like a weed. We think she is beginning a teething process as she wants to jam just about anything in her chompers. She is doing well on eating and we are stepping her up to Level 2 Nipples for her Bottles and the little pooper keeps sucking em down!

Did we tell you that Catey is a spit up kid now, she joined the club about a week ago with some dribble and drool all day long.

Mark has an interview today for a promotion at Wiley. Wish him luck, if all goes well he may get to go work from home again from 4pm to midnight.

My foot is in a walking cast as of the result of too many bodies in a small bedroom, and Lucy playing chase with Nathan. (my dog and nephew) I rolled the ankle over and sprained it only to realize a week later the lateral ligaments were torn. Oh, what fun! Think a guy with a boot on his foot can't drive?

Zoom Zoom Zoom Zoom