The Classical Mystery Tour

On Saturday night, Matt and I went to a really fun concert put on by the Ft Worth Symphony Orchestra as part of their Concerts in the Garden series. I'm sad we didn't know about this sooner because it is so fun and relaxing, but we did catch it for what was probably my favorite concert they were playing-- the Classical Mystery Tour! 


It was a full orchestra playing 30 of the best Beatles tunes, along with a fairly decent Beatles cover band (though come to find out the 4 guys are all from the states... psh, posers). It was a blast! After the hard week we just finished, it was so great to relax, listen to some good music, and just have quality time with my husband. Oh, and thousands of others.

So. Many. People.

Being summer time in Texas, we were concerned it was going to be very hot. Fortunately, the high that day was only 99 and there was a decent wind. The piece of lawn we picked for ourselves was in the shade, and with the gentle breeze blowing through it actually felt good. The fact that the concert didn't start until 8:15 definitely helped, but we definitely felt blessed to have such great weather!


The performers were great. The composer took great care to get every single note of those songs and transpose them to sound amazing with a full orchestra. Even though we were outside sitting hundreds of feet away from the stage, with the help of the speakers, the sound was amazing and really put me in the mood to go see Beatles LOVE again! Matt enjoyed himself too, and wasn't in the least bit embarrassed when I sang every word of every song. Mom & Paula- you would be so proud, I was the only one under the age of 40 to do so, I believe. 

The Beatles in the early years' black suits

And the Sergeant Pepper costumes! They changed into others, but there was no way of getting a good picture post-sundown!

Probably the best part was the encore-- playing Twist and Shout to a fireworks display! So fun! And yes, I did dance, just a little. How can you resist this song?

Anyway, this concert was so much fun and we will definitely have to remember the Concert in the Garden series next year! If you're in the DFW area, be sure to check it out in the future!
  
Did you do anything fun this weekend? Can you believe it's already July?? What?

Being a nerd does pay off!

I am so excited! Why??

Because I am going here (for purely academic reasons, too!):

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What for? Well, I'm glad you asked. My thesis advisor suggested I apply to present my research at the Southwestern Social Science Association's annual conference. So, I did that several week ago, and this past week I got the email saying I was accepted!! Awesome thing is it is held in Las Vegas over spring break, so I don't have to miss class (just had to include that so you KNOW I'm a nerd!).

Down side, I have to pay for it. But-- my advisor is amazing and has given me multiple ways to get that taken care of :) 

And, as much as I would LOVE for Matt to come with me, the trip would be at two months out from the wedding. We would be in Las Vegas, the wedding chapel capital of the world

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It just seems like a bad idea for us to go to Vegas by ourselves. I'm kind of looking forward to this whole wedding thing, that we've spent several months planning. Plus, all that money would kind of be wasted. Not the best idea.


So, instead-- my mom and my aunt are coming with me! I really didn't want to go by myself, that just seemed shady. When I was telling my mom about it, I mentioned that it would give us the chance to see this show:

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You see, we are BIG Beatles fans. How big? Well, my mom and aunt saw the Beatles live when they came to New Orleans in 1964. I was raised on the Beatles, especially my favorite (what I called) Dr Pepper Album (AKA Sergeant Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band). My aunt took me to England after I graduated high school, where we got these amazing pictures:

Yes. That is me walking across Abbey Road

This is John Lennon's army jacket we got to wear at the Hard Rock Vault in London.

CAVERN CLUB!

So, when we first heard Cirque was doing a Beatles-themed show, we knew we would have to go. Then we heard it was in Vegas, we were sad because we are not the biggest gambling types. Or strippers. You get the gist. Not that there aren't other things to do in Vegas, we would just rather go to Disney World.


Now that this opportunity popped up for me to go to Vegas, my mom and aunt are jumping at the chance to go see the show. We are so so so excited!!!!!!!! I'm slightly nervous about presenting my research at a professional conference, but that'll be fine. I hope!