SHARING THE SHOWS
So it’s 6:26 in the morning, and I’m sitting in a booth at the Bay Coffee & Tea Company in the complex that is Tampa International Airport, still feeling the energy of last night’s show. I was glad the last day of the AP reading fell on a Thursday, the night Uncle John’s Band has their weekly gig at Skipper’s. When I returned to the hotel from the reading, to say I was dragging was an understatement. Reading hundreds of essays over a period of seven days will do that to even the most sanguine of people. But, to miss a show on this occasion would be, well, not too timely. I met Charles, Jessica, and our new friend Kevin over at the Convention Center, where we Ubered to Skipper’s Smokehouse, which resembles a beach shack, my kind of place. It even has its own mini-Shakedown, where I bought a cool bracelet and ring to bust out for future shows (sadly, I forgot to take the picture, and at present, they’re in my suitcase). But the proprietor is named Ahna Clark, and she’s traveled several countries to find all kinds of jewelry from different cultures. The bracelet I brought came from a South American tree called the Palo Santo, and she even hooked me up with a cool stick (also in my suitcase). Anywho, we met up with fellow readers Brenda, Brenda’s college friend Lee, Mark, and a couple of people who read AP Psychology exams. It’s rare but nice to be able to talk pedagogy at a show (although I do that with Judy whenever we meet up at Phish shows). Of course, I did get distracted by a roaming cat, and had to text the picture to Heather and Christina, my fellow crazy cat people (see below for some ultra-cuteness). Anyway, the instant the music started, I was on the floor. The first set went as follows:
During the setbreak, we discussed some of the essays we read (which I can’t print here if I ever want to see this particular bad again). As an ambivert, I had to walk around solo and get some pictures of the cool stuff at the site. Definitely a beach shack. I wanted to see some of the second set, but the setbreak was dragging a bit, and through talking to Charles, Kevin, and Mark, we came to a consensus it was time to go. I was pretty wiped and am waiting for my early flight out of town. After we Ubered back and parted ways at the Convention Center (“see you next year”) I chilled out in the hotel room and ate a toffee bar, a very unique pastry from a place called Toffee to Go, a bakery that specializes in toffee-based treats (gotta love that repetition of the word “toffee”). Liddy, my friend from college, took me there, and it’s now a must-go on future trips back. The pic’s a little blurry, but I was craving it, so getting the perfect picture wasn’t a priority (points for alliteration). Getting up wasn’t rough as I thought it would be; I always feel good flow energy after a show, and I love having the excuse to write. But I’m sure I’ll sleep tonight. Those essays will do it to a person, especially when followed by vigorous dancing and gyrating.
Same time next year!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2024
Categories |