a busy Friday on tap...

Friday is going to be a very full day for all of us. My favorite "snowbirds" (my Mom, Dad and Grandma) are leaving very early Friday morning (really, Thursday night) to go back to the great frozen North until next winter. We've already told them all goodnight and goodbye. I'm not good at all with goodbyes, but I avoided major hysterics this time. (Last year they left later in the day and I told them goodbye right before leaving for work. I ended up being late for work because I had to pull over and compose myself at a gas station. I'm such a sap!) They are going to stop in Atlanta to see my cousin and his wife, they have a new baby that none of them have met so they're going to spend an hour or two with them on their way North.
Tomorrow, Joey's class is going on a field trip to The Florida Aquarium in Tampa and John is going along as a chaperone. We haven't been there in a few years, they should have a lot of fun.
In the evening, Joey is going to the youth group at church and John is catering a wedding rehearsal dinner for Joey's teacher from last year. I'm going to see Todd Rundgren in concert in Clearwater tomorrow night, mainly because I'm a big fan of a member of his band, Kasim Sulton. I was thrilled to find out that there is going to be a street festival event in downtown Clearwater to coincide with the concert. They are going to have vendors, food, and live music. One of the bands that is having a free concert tomorrow (two hours before the Todd Rundgren show, so I can catch both) is The Greg Billings Band. Back in the late 80's/early 90's, that band was known as "Stranger" and they were my very favorite local band. I used to see them often around Clearwater. I would foolishly stand right against the stage in front of the speakers, I remember many, many days going to my job at a bookstore with tremendously limited hearing from the Stranger show the night before- those shows were so loud, it took a good 12 hours for my hearing to get back to normal. Here's a video from their glory days.

They've mellowed and lowered the volume a bit (but not much!) now. Not only are they having a free outdoor show, they are also the opening act for Todd Rundgren- so I'll get to see them twice tomorrow! Between seeing them and seeing Kasim Sulton with Todd Rundgren, it should be a tremendous night of music for me. Hopefully I will have some pictures to post on Saturday.