Free Cheese

Sometimes, there’s no better word to sum up a week than fun. And for me, that’s what this week was all about. Let me weave ye a little tale….

It all started on Monday, when Stacey, Kelly and I put our momentary spurs on and decided to go to a concert. You may be saying to yourself, “This cat keeps saying he doesn’t make any money. How does he have the dough to go to a concert?” Well, my friend, being as that there is really nothing to spend money on during my day-to-day activities (unless I want a Big Texas cinnamon bun from the vending machine at work…and occasionally, I do), I was sitting pretty safe financially, so I decided to go for it.

It didn’t hurt that the headliner was Brett Dennen, of whom I am a big fan, as well as Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and Robert Francis. From the first note of the evening, I was sold. Francis and Potter both blew me away by the sheer power of their vocals, and Ms. Potter’s band just straight up ROCKED. I had already deemed the night a success by the time Mr. Dennen prowled on stage (quite literally, it seemed as if he was prowling like a grasshopper. Do grasshoppers prowl?). Not to be outdone by the preceding acts, Brett put on one heck of a show. He is a very gifted lyricist, and it is obvious how emotionally attached he is to his music. The girls and I managed to get front row for his set, and we were extremely pleased with his performance. Did I mention we got free samples of cheese? I went home a happy man, and all I kept thinking was, “Thank God for good music!”

Tuesday brought around a bit of a road trip, as Rachel and I drove up to St. Joseph’s University for a basketball game between our alma maters. Now, this being my first time on campus since I got my graduation slip in May, I was excited to see the new Fieldhouse, and hopefully run into some friends. Despite some traffic, Rachel and I were able to catch most of the game, and we sat with some of the Philadelphia JV’s who had secured us our free tickets. I saw some friends, the Hawks managed to fly to victory, and we were home by eleven. All in all, a good night.

Thursday night, our support person Steve had us all over for a pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving dinner, and as JV’s, it is our sworn duty to never turn down a free meal. We headed over to his house, and after shooting the breeze for a bit and playing with his 4-year old son and 3-month old daughter, we sat down to eat. Now, mind you, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so that would explain the fact that I was in my glory. Turkey! Gravy! Stuffing! Sweet Potatoes! Pumpkin Pie! And a dog to pet after I was done! In addition to the great food, I was thankful for the company, and for the amount of great people to whom I have been exposed during my time as a JV thus far. This really is a great time of the year.

Saturday was spent tooling around in our nation’s capitol with the housemates and my favorite Hawk. I had been to DC numerous times, but this was the first with my people from Baltimore, and I was excited to experience the monuments with them. Every time I walk around those memorials, I get chills (it was a bit breezy, but I did have my trusty denim jacket on, so I was fine weather-wise), and being with my JV compadres, the experience meant even more. Brett Dennen sings that he “was made for better things.” Walking around DC, seeing the history and testaments of greatness before my eyes, and being with people whom we have shared much together, I too believe that we “are made for better things.”

Now, I’m looking forward to a short week, my family spending Thanksgiving Day in Baltimore, and a trip home to New Jersey. How is it almost December already?