Chicago: Back Story and Day 1...

Yay!  Something HAPPY!

Okay, so here's the back story.  In list form.  

1.  The Midwest Clinic is a whole thing in the music world.  If I understand it correctly, the clinic began to give composers a place to showcase new music.  Apart from the know-it-all-ness of publishers.  Of course, that was a zillion years ago.  Now the conference does that, showcases new pieces, but also has clinics and workshops for teachers, booths for various vendors and music programs and the premier place for bands, choirs and orchestras to perform.  Being selected to perform at Midwest can be a once in a lifetime experience.  I've compared it to being nominated for an Oscar.  Once an ensemble has performed there, they can forevermore be introduced as 2015 Midwest performers.  

Our band found out they were selected sometime around the end of March.  

And there was much jubilation.  

Followed by some somber moments of, "Holy crap, this is gonna be a lot of work."

Obviously, the band performs in December at Midwest.  Which is about six weeks after the final marching band competition.  A competition they WON this year.  MAJOR DEAL.  

So the kids and directors worked like dogs during marching band and then had to just keep at it through Midwest.  

Yay.

2.  Once they found out they were performing, Chris told me I was going.  It wasn't so much of a question but more of a YOU ARE DOING THIS.  Which was fine with me.  Again, remember, once in a lifetime experience.  

Almost in the next breath, he suggested I see if Mrs. JT wanted to go with me.

The band would be rehearsing and exploring as a group.  Chris would need to be a chaperone and director.  He'd need to stay with the band.  I'd be by myself.  Better to bring a friend.  And my best friend, all the better.

Now, I should also tell you Chris and Mrs. JT knew each other before Chris and I did.  They met in high school at various concert band competitions.  They played the same instrument.  And Mrs. JT thought he was cute and funny.  (Oh, he's TOTALLY not her type but he IS cute and funny.)  They traded formals in college.  She went with him, he went with her.  I didn't meet him until I started dating his roommate my sophomore year.  

Anyway, she has an appreciation and understanding of band.  That's a big deal.  I could take a friend who didn't know and it wouldn't have meant as much to them.  

Not that I considered taking anyone else.

She's my person.

3.  So the planning of dual Girls' Trip and Once In a Lifetime Band Trip began.  The amount of texting back and forth to plan the trip is extreme.  Mrs. JT had a favorite hotel and restaurant.  We were gonna join the band for "The Lion King."  Tossed around the idea of a dinner cruise.  Shopping, of course.  AND SLEEPING.  You know, the usual stuff.

4.  Chris would need a new tux.  

No one stands on stage at the Oscars in their second-hand work suit.  And that's what his tux really was.  

We went with a Vera Wang.  Because MIDWEST.  He cleans up nice.

And someone in the family should wear Vera.  At least once.  

Okay, so there's the backstory.  Obviously, there's a great deal of work involved between selected to performing.  For Chris.  My "work" included having enough real-life clothes to wear on such a trip.  

I was up for the challenge.

Mrs. JT and I flew from Birmingham to Chicago on our 15th wedding anniversary.  Seemed totally appropriate to spend the day with her instead of Chris.  One, because that's pretty normal for us.  Midwest is always around our anniversary.  And two, she was with me the day we got married.  We had a 6 pm wedding so really, I spent more time with my bridesmaids that day than Chris.  

Please enjoy the really awful photos of photos.  Let's not forget, 2000 might as well have been the dark ages for wedding photography.  Our pictures were on FILM.  We waited SIX WEEKS to see the proofs.  

Back to Chicago, we flew up, took a taxi to our hotel, got settled in, I ran and then we got ready to go out for dinner.

Mrs. JT had selected RPM Italian.

It is owned, in part, by Guiliana and Bill Rancic.  I know them largely because they were infertile.  So I can say I followed along through her IVF's and her surrogacy.  Mrs. JT watches their reality show.  She's a fan.

We had early reservations.  Because we are not big city people who eat at 9 pm at night.  Although, we got to see lots of those metropolitan type people.  In their natural habitat.

The restaurant makes their own gluten-free pasta.  Yumm...  We ordered a ridiculous amount of food and ate every bite.

Their Pork Arrosti.  The BEST FOOD I'VE EVER PUT IN MY MOUTH.

Seriously.  

And I'd like to think I've had my fair share of amazing food.  

We ate very little for two solid days after that meal.  

We went to bed that night with nothing planned for Thursday other than sleeping in late, watching The Today Show and getting in a good run.

What a great day.

Day 2 coming soon!  I know you'll be holding your breath until then.