concerting

After much deliberation, Aaron decided he'd better not attempt the concert.  It was probably the best choice, but a little sad.

So, I went with Beka.  It was really fun.  We got snowed on a lot, but not while we were driving, just while we were running across the parking lot to and from the concert.

It was really fun when we got to the concert.  We went to our seats, and I was a little confused because there were people sitting there.  Hmmm, what are they doing in my seats that I bought last December the day they went on sale?  I figured they were just opportunistic people looking to find a better seat that hadn't been claimed. We were a little late (the opening act was in full swing, but Muse was still a little while off).  So we went to tell the usher.  That's when the fun began.  We were informed that somehow some of the seats had been sold twice.  Not kidding.  We were told to go to customer service, and they would try to sort it out.  I was starting to feel more than a little bit angry.  As it turns out there was one section wherein seven rows of seats had been sold twice (all in all around 100 seats).  They were offering most of the people a general admission floor pass and a possible refund.  I didn't really like that idea though: I'm short.  General admission doesn't really work for people of my stature.  We can't see the stage at all, and we are at armpit level with a bunch of people that are hot and sweaty and excited.  That was not the concert experience I wanted to have.

So I told the guy I was too old for general admission, and that we had just driven five hours, etc.  I think they tried to be nice about it.  They had the displaced people list our names and phone numbers, and tried to find a spot for us to sit that was too our liking.  They found us a place to sit in the section adjacent to where our original seats were, in an area called the press booth.  It was alright.  We had a pretty good view, but not as good as it would have been.  But it was okay, and we were seated in time for the beginning of Muse.    I was really impressed when I got a phone call this morning from the E Center.  I figured it would take them at least a couple of days to get back to us.  They are sending me a full refund for my tickets tomorrow.  (I think local people ended up getting complementary tickets to another E Center event instead of a refund.)  How cool is that?  I got to see the concert for free!  I guess I'll have to save that money to buy Aaron a ticket the next time Muse tours.  I did at least buy him a lousy T shirt.  It was the least I could do.

The concert was really amazing.  If you like Muse at all, you really need to make an effort to see them live, because they are such great performers.  They go all out with lasers and moving stages and giant eyeball balloons dropping from the ceiling, really cool entrances, etc...  It might not sound all that cool but it is epic.  There was an old couple sitting behind us, and I really hope that's me and Aaron in 40 years, still going to rock concerts.  I guess at that age, the noise level might be more appropriate.  You can just turn off the hearing aids and enjoy the music at a reasonable sound level.

Now I am insanely happy to settle into a mostly normal week at home.  It will be sooooooo nice.