Summerfest...and a crime next door

Yesterday Gaffer and I went to Summerfest, billed as the "world's largest music festival." It was Kidsfest Day, which meant there were many activities for children during the day before 3pm. It also meant free admission before 3pm. How's that for a bargain? We chose yesterday because we didn't have to work today, so we could stay late. The feature artists at the Marcus Amphitheater were George Strait, Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough, and neither of us are that deep into country music that we were interested in that show. However, classic women rockers Ann and Nancy Wilson, also known as Heart, were there at the Classic Rock stage, so that's the show I wanted to be sure I saw. We got there about 1pm: Ann and Nancy didn't take the stage until 9:30, so we thought (it was actually 9pm).

So, during the day we did what one usually does at a festival or fair; we wandered the grounds in search of merchandise, freebies, fun things to do, bands to see, and events to witness. We saw a guy called the Pogo Guy do tricks on a pogo stick (like doing backflips off the pogo stick). We visited the Target children's activity tent and I got to see chocolate-chip starfish and a slipper lobster courtesy of Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin (I want to go there someday!). We had snacks--I had a Kim and Scott's Bavarian pretzel (mmmm) and Gaffer had popcorn from Koepsell's (a well-known brand in these parts--they have wagons downtown and sell a small popcorn for $1.25). We visited the Sports Zone and saw members of the Milwaukee Wave (indoor soccer) and Independence First's Wheelchair Football teams. My friend and former co-worker Mike and his girlfriend Jenni came and met us there, we had a brief chat about work and life and how things are going back at the old store and how I am liking Milwaukee so far.

We then had supper. Gaffer got a burger and seasoned fries from Major Goolsby's, and I had a Village Platter from Greek Village (gyro, lamb kebab, and seasoned rice pilaf). This we ate under cover of a beer tent near the amphitheater because it had started to rain. I bought a large bag of candied almonds after supper, then we proceeded to find a place to sit at the Classic Rock stage. We had seats toward the back, but that was OK, I was there for the music more than being close. On stage at the time were Animation, a Rush tribute band. They were really, really good; they sounded like Rush, and though the lead singer looked nothing like Geddy Lee, he sure had the voice. Following them, Heart took the stage at 9, and though we thought it was a later show, we had already found seats, so this was not a problem. However, everyone decided to stand on the benches to see the band, so I had to as well. This was not really safe, as the people on the benches could not stand still and a couple of times, I felt like I was going to fall right off. However, the music was amazing! Ann and Nancy still have the rock in them. They did most of their best songs (missing was "Heartless," for sure, and "Dog and Butterfly" and "Dreamboat Annie") and a few from other bands ("Love Reign O'er Me" by the Who, and "Immigrant Song" and "Goin' to California" by Led Zeppelin), and played a couple of newer songs, including "Sand," which they dedicated to Michael Jackson. (The song was about a friend who had died, so the lyrics fit well. It isn't released yet, so no lyrics can be linked at this time.) It was an amazing show, and I had a great time. On the way out, we briefly listened to Spoon, and then Gaffer treated me to a Hawaiian Shave Ice (strawberry daquiri flavor) and bought himself a milkshake from Cedar Crest. We were dog tired by the time we got home, but it was worth it.

Country Mouse moment of the day: Today we were headed out to go send off our rent, and noticed some police cars parked on our street, in front of the house next door. I thought maybe there was a policeman living there, and others had visited (I've seen this before) so I thought nothing of it. We got back, one of the cars had left (a K-9 unit). I went to the kitchen to make lunch, and heard some voices; I look down, and there's two of Milwaukee's bravest standing in the driveway, talking to one of the next-door residents. And then they were doing a search of the backyard and the garage. So I go to the city's web site, where all recent police calls are posted. Come to find out there was an "entry" next door. I'm not exactly sure what that means, and I don't know if anything is missing, but they are looking through the backyard for something. Coming from a small town where people do not lock their doors at night, I'm glad I do lock my doors here. Obviously, Pumbaa is not an attack guinea pig and so we really don't have any other choice in the way of defense. I don't have control over the garage here, so that's not my concern unless I see suspicious activity, then it becomes my concern.

Yes, I've checked: all the doors are locked.