So I started a blog, posted two brief posts (“posted two brief posts”, hmmm, Strunk and White would be proud) then sort of disappeared. How lame of me. So here goes an honest to goodness new post.

Jamie and I secured a babysitter (Michelle, who lives down the street, “Yo, what up Michelle?”) and once nine o’clock rolled around we headed out to Neumo’s arriving around 9:15. Both of us were tired, and I was fighting a cold, but we were genuinely excited to be out together and about to see a show.

As we approached Neumo’s we were greeted with the old “who needs tickets” from a scruffy hipster looking to make some money. After all this was Vampire Weekend and the show was sold out. VM now eclipsing Artic Monkeys, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Yeasayer in hype factor.

As we moved through the front door, I stole a glance at the timings of when the bands would be performing – that’s when I saw it in bold ominous letters – “Vampire Weekend 10:45 PM”. My heart sank – not sure why I thought they would be going on earlier, but I did, and I surrendered. My fragile eggshell mind cracked – there was absolutely no way I could make it. “10:45 PM? Are you shitting me? I have work tomorrow, and two kids that rise with the roosters!” Jamie concurred – there is no way we would still be standing by the time the band took the stage. I suggested I sell the tickets and Jamie go get herself a drink at Moe, next door. I figured I would sell tickets then meet her over at Moe.

Selling the tickets was not a problem, and I was soon joining Jamie at Moe. The highlight of the evening was witnessing Jamie so excited to be out on a school night. She was beaming, bouncing around the bar, striking up little conversations with strangers here and there. Being happy, having fun. Good times.

I think two guys hit on her, one right while I was walking in asking her what she thought of Yacht (the opening band).

Guy: “What do you know about Yacht?”

Jamie: “Well, my grandmother used to have one, and as a child we would take it to Catalina Island for the weekend”.

Guy: (Furrowing brow, scratching head) “No, no the opening band !”

Jamie: (Almost a spit-take, then just doubled over laughing)

Just a hilarious moment that just cracked us all up.

All in all we missed the show but had a great time out at Moe, having a few drinks, mingling with the hipsters and grooving to the DJ – we need to do that more often. We both forgot about the children and parenting for a couple of hours and remembered what it was like to be out without a care in the world, just enjoying ourselves. Precisely the sort of things that we did back when we were dating; way before marriage and kids.