Ames Progressive Office, First Show on the Road

After I picked up Liz and made it to Justin's place this morning, we had to put the back seat in the van. So Justin got in the car and started trying to loosen the little clasps for the legs. After a half hour he couldn't get it, but there was this weird creaking or grinding noise every time he heaved, so I crawled underneath to see what was up. I looked around and couldn't see anything, until Justin started turning the wrench again, and what to my wondering eyes should appear but an old rusty wrench hanging oddly in the air! That thing had been hitching a ride for the last 75,000 miles on the dark side of the bench seat. I think we'll frame it and hang it above the tape deck. It would be a good conversation piece and another good target for Liz to bump her head.

There is no segue that could do justice to that bit, so let's just keep going. Here we are in the van, tottering down the road from Aldi to Ames in a pretty strong wind. I have taken a lot of family trips in this car, so it feels familiar, sort of a comfort thing. Except I've never experienced anything like this tour, so there is also a slight feeling of hurtling headfirst into a cloudy abyss. I have no idea what to expect, except that good or bad it will be really, really big. Along with the van Justin got a pair of Dad's old sunglasses, and that just took the whole "family trip" vibe a little too far. He's been wearing them the entire time, and I am afraid I might go Freudian on him.

It wasn't long before Ames showed up on the GPS. The Ames Progressive office feels like home, with Kate, Nate, and Isaac hosting us. The office is an intimate venue, and it felt great to sit elbow-to-elbow with the people there. Adam Hawkins (another personal favorite) played a solo act that even furthered my respect for him. Kate Kennedy has a beautiful, smooth tone -- and she pulled off her set wearing my plastic combat helmet. I recommend "Wrestler" on her myspace page. Kate also sang and saxed with the Longshadowmen, a bluesy sounding band with great motion, founded on Isaac's storytelling mastery (see "Big Joe and the Phantom 309"). That band is SUCH a group of characters; in the middle of a song detailing a boozey walk home in hilarious detail, a random-sounding "Your mom!" shot down from the stage. Isaac, if you're reading, is that really part of the song? On top of all that musical goodness Nic's parents showed up. Their impressions were that musicians are a different, beautiful breed, and everyone has interesting stories to tell. Right on.

I forgot to mention that we showed up right in the middle of Husker vs. Iowa State football ridiculousness. Matt explained the way Husker fans find each other in foreign territory by yelling "Goooo Biiiiig Reeeeeed" and responding "Go. Big. Red." Liz didn't really get what he was talking about until she heard it later. She wanted to participate but refrained because someone across the street was yelling Douchebag.

Other random memories from the bar and the way home:

• Jokes too lewd to tell here, so I'll just give some of the setups. You can look up the punch lines, if you think you can stomach them! How long does it take to cook a baby in the microwave? What do Princess Di and Pink Floyd have in common? What are Mario and Luigi's overalls made of?
• Matt The Doctor Arbeiter pulled out the backgammon board and taught Liz.
• Ben pulled out the origami book and taught Jackie.
• Ben and Matt taught the band to play fooseball. Ben didn't have teach Matt how to play; he just had to school him. Twice. Snap!