May

On Sunday, the 1st, we went over to the Norwoods and had a nice walk along Lake Anne over to Cafe Montmartre. We had a lovely brunch there, Jill and I both got eggs benedict, and helpful pregnancy tips and gifts from the Norwoods, who just had their second.

Sue and Dave came down for the week on Thursday the 5th and I grilled some steaks I’d picked up from the farmer’s market the day before. The next day we headed to Alexandria (after Jill and Sue went baby registry shopping), had some cajun appetizers at RT’s before heading over to the Birchmere and introducing them to Paul and Storm opening for Jonathan Coulton. We were in the mood for dessert afterwards and went to Old Town for cones at Scoop Grill.

Saturday the 7th we returned to Old Town where we had drinks at the Chart House in Old Town. Then Sue and Dave took the Washington by Water Monuments Cruise. We needed to end up in Georgetown, so they took the cruise one way and we drove over and met them at the dock. We had a huge dinner at 1789, and were too full to even consider dessert.

Mother’s Day Sue was not well and was out of commission for several days. I made Eggs Benedict and artichokes for us, Mom and Dad and Dave, then we Skyped my sister in Boston while she was babysitting an energetic 5 year old. During the week, Sue recovered and Dave fished, I went and saw My Chemical Romance at the 9:30 Club on Tuesday the 10th.

MCR

On Friday the 13th, we all went out for a giant breakfast at Eggspectation before Sue and Dave headed home.

Saturday the 14th I headed to Merriweather Post Pavilion for the M3 Rock Festival with a lot of 80s bands. Got to see the first ever performance from Gary Cherone’s Hurtsmile, Mr. Big for the first time in over 20 years, and knocked Joe Lynn Turner, Lita Ford and Whitesnake off the concert bucket list.

Hurtsmile

The next day Jill was supposed to join me to see Mom (with the Reston Chorale) and the FSO perform Mahler’s 2nd Symphony in Manassas, but was feeling under the weather. So I went, and they were pretty good (I’m a Mahler fan). Later she still wasn’t better, so I picked up some pho for dinner at Pho 99.

Wednesday the 18th I was back at the 9:30 Club to see Blackfield, always nice to see Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree. Not as fond of their third album as their second, but any chance to see Once live is worth it.

Blackfield

Friday the 20th I went to the Nebula Awards book signing in DC – got books signed by John Scalzi (met him for the first time) and Chris Claremont (the second time, but the first time was 25 years ago at the only Comic-Con I’ve been to – he said “I had more hair then”). I then headed straight to Herndon for Friday Night Live with Fools And Horses, had dinner at the Jimmy’s Old Tavern booth (Jambalaya and a hot dog).

Sunday the 22nd I was at Merriweather Post Pavilion again. Matt Nathanson was opening so of course Linda and Sue showed up, and after he finished I met them at the merch booth and we talked to his guitarist. Sue had to get up incredibly early the next day and needed to leave, but before they did Linda gave me her pass to the pit and walked me up to her spot in the front row. I like Little Big Town a lot and enjoyed the rest of their set, but the real revelation was Sugarland, they really put on a great show (and I could see how much they sweat to do it).

Sugarland

Monday the 23rd I crossed a big band off the concert bucket list as The Cars had reunited, and were playing the 9:30 Club (my third show there, and my fifth IMP one in three weeks). Stuart joined me, and the new songs were good, but the old ones were classics. I had my first meal at BGR before the show – damn good burgers.

Cars

The Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day we had painters in to strip the rest of the wallpaper from the dining room and mid-level bathroom, then paint them and the nursery. They did a good job, but the primer smell after the first day was intense. Memorial Day weekend was pretty hot, we mostly stayed inside except to visit the Norwoods as they had a cookout with their new baby.