Not canceling has its rewards - Amythyst Kiah at the Kennedy Center

Sara and I wanted to go see Amythyst Kiah doing a free show at the Millennium stage at the Kennedy Center today. We started trying to get tickets 2 weeks ago and kept striking out. The website didn't work. And then by the time we got it to work, it was marked as sold out. 

We got word that day of show they release more of these free tickets and we said "let's just do it. Let's commit to going and if we get there and they do not have tickets we'll leave and go eat dinner somewhere." 

But we were nervous about schlepping all the way down there for naught. Sara called and the girl at the box office told her to for sure we should head down to the box office for 4:30pm, they release some more tickets, and she's "never seen people get turned away." 

"And, her voice is amazing. You really need to come see her," so box office girl assured us that it would all work out. We knew Amythyst was worth it. And as for it working out, she was right. 

We got there before 4:30 and got 3 tickets. Then we had time to kill. We knew that the line would start building up by 5:30 so we went to the cafe, got some snacks. Henry and I wrote a song called Bananas and Pringles, which I want to see if I can embed here because it's actually not bad. 

Henry beat-boxed and I freestyle sang. 

He wanted pringles, but Sara wanted him to eat something healthy and the only option was a banana. So. We had to write a song about it. It's a banger.

It was a magical evening, well worth the schlep and effort. And it was free. So you can't beat the shit out of that, right? 

What's really cool about this night is that there were dozens of little girls dressed up in their finest for their production of Disney's "Frozen." 

So of course you go to the show in your best Elsa or Anna get up. Of course you do. 

And of course your parents bring you early to a free show on the Millennium stage, which they can enjoy before getting sucked into the whole Disney thing.

There were several families there with their kids in their finest, watching Amythyst Kiah, and then leaving in time to get to their seats for Frozen. 

In so many ways, I sat there thinking that this is art, and some of the finest opportunity for people to see art in DC.  This is accessible and universal and amazing. To have the opportunity to come to DC, see about an hour of free performance by an amazing songwriting star like Amythyst Kiah or anyone else, and then go into the Opera Hall to watch the Frozen production. I mean. Wow. This is high-end fantastic world-class art enjoyment. 

And we're here for some of it. The better part of it, if you ask me. Not just because it was free but because of who Amythyst is.

Amythyst and her guitarist Chris did a fantastic presentation, Chris is just magical playing along with her. And her newer songs that are going to be on the new album are absolutely amazing. It was nice to hear some songs we'd not heard yet, and I am so looking forward to the release of the new material in the fall of this year. 

Henry and I have some magic connections (not just freestyle spinning up songs about bananas and pringles) and at one point he said to me "Let's do geometry hands for the music." I didn't know what he meant, but, he started doing things with his hands to kind of catch the notes, so I followed his lead. During her song covering "Trouble So Hard," and then "Black Myself" we were catching all the notes and setting them free and up to the sky. 

I was sitting there thinking "we could have bailed on tonight with the weather and the uncertainty, but hell yes here we are and this is amazing." 

After the show, we got a picture with Mr. Kennedy, and headed to the shuttle bus and out to dinner in Foggy Bottom. Thankfully no one was in the restaurant, I was worried that if we didn't have a reservation where we wanted to go we'd be shut out, but it was late enough that there were plenty of seats. Sara observed that "probably just an hour or so ago this place was filled with people going to see "Frozen," and here we are with the place to ourselves!"

The only thing that would have made this night better would have been if Amythyst came to the merch table at the end but no. And that's okay. We had an amazing night. And I'm super glad we went out.

Digits below. 

digits 

exercise: 12/12 hours of 250 steps.  Dedicated 10 a couple times; 8800+ by bedtime

blood glucose:

9am: 167
n/a no reading during the afternoon
11pm:  240

food:
coffee, water
11:30am ramekin of mac & cheese w/ hamburger & metformin
2pm: pbj on 647 bread
4:45pm: cappuccino 
5:00pm: white wine
8pm: tuna poke tacos; 1.5 meatball sliders; giant spinach salad w/ goat cheese fritter & blackened chicken. more white wine
9:30pm: metformin+jardiance
11pm: celery stalk w/pb