Dream deferred

The word is in: Shatterbelt will not be advancing beyond the D.C. region in the Emergenza battle of the bands.

It was a fun run while it lasted and the guys were thrilled to have played the 9:30 Club. M says he now wants to form a new band to play his own songs. Rock on.

Shatterbelt shakes the 9:30 Club

Great show, great time tonight.

We don't know which band won yet and may not know for some time. M just called to say that the power went out at the club a little while ago (we've been having torrential rain tonight and lightning as well), and four bands didn't get a chance to perform.

But regardless, Shatterbelt was of course the best of those we saw. It was quite something to have them on a real stage in a real club with professional sound and lighting. The guys had a great time.

The four out front wore wrestling tights (there's a long and somewhat mysterious story behind that, we're sure). M declined to do that and chose instead to wear his tuxedo (left from his days in the high school jazz band). The emcee kidded him about not looking like the rest of the guys, and M promised the crowd that if Shatterbelt wins the D.C. competition he'll wear a wrestling outfit too at the Philadelphia show.

Here are a few shots taken during and after the show:



Mike (singer), M and Michael (bass) at the start.














Mike and M during the show


















Mike and Jayrol (rhythm guitar) during the show.





After the show, C and I stopped at a Lebanese restaurant that we hadn't been to in years. Really enjoyed the meal.

E is back from the beach. They arrived home while we were in D.C. She looks good - just a little sunburned. Says they had a good time.

Graduation!

E is an official high school graduate now.

The evening went well, though it was exhausting for everyone. Six hundred some kids, many speeches (though they were thankfully all on the short side), and lots of people at George Mason University's Patriot Center. Traffic and a thunderstorm slowed us down getting there, so we ended up very high in the seats. Some in the group were a bit nervous, but they held tough.

After E got her diploma, we broke for the cars. Came back to our house for cake, coffee and wine. Liz and Tom graciously came as well, though the night was getting late.

After graduation, E and Pat (photo above) went to the all-night party at the high school. It was scheduled to last until 5 a.m. She called about 3:30 a.m. to put a chaperone on the phone so C could give permission for the kids to leave and head home. Now, E's sleeping. Around lunch time, she heads to the beach in N.C. with some friends. They'll be staying at a home that one of the girls' families owns. They're taking two vehicles, one of them driven by a dad.

This morning, C's mom and dad hit the road first, then Martha. I'm wrapping up a few things before heading to W. Va. for the night. Tomorrow afternoon, some furniture's due to be delivered. I'll come back here after that, to get ready for flying to Buffalo on Thursday.

Racing to the finish ...

... of E's senior year, that is.

One week left. Graduation a week from tomorrow. She says she's ready. We're all looking forward to having Martha and E's grandparents down for much or all of the weekend.

Last night, C and I went to Wolftrap to see a band I really like - moe. The opening band was great as well - North Mississippi Allstars. I highly recommend them both.

M and a bunch of the guys were here for dinner tonight. Good thing we've got the big Weber grill.

I'll be on vacation starting after work on Friday and going through the Tuesday after the alumni dinner. Just talked to John, who's going to bring some equipment that should help me with my presentation.