My breasts had a very rough day yesterday.
First, of course, there
was the erg workout, so they got all squished into a sports bra, but they're used
to that, so it doesn't really count. And this was one of the slightly looser ones
I can take off without surgery.
Next, though, there was the
mammogram. And yes, it hurt and all (they just don't go that flat, or sit
at those angles, and I think one of my ribs might be bruised. One on each side,
that is.), but I still think all those women who complain about how awful they are
should just being whiny. I mean, these are the same women who get yearly Pap
smears (one hopes) and in some cases, who have given birth. Mammograms hurt a bit,
but compared to those things, they're just not that bad. Heck, it wasn't even as
painful as rock climbing can be, and people do that for fun. Still, it's
definitely a spinach thing: totally sucky but for my own good. (I actually like
against spinach raw or slightly stir-fried, but when I was growing up, Mom used to
served frozen creamed spinach, so I still think of it as the epitome of really-
nasty-but-good-for-you.)
After the usual long day of work, there was
the Seven Nations/Great Big Sea concert. (Young Dubliners were playing too, but
it was around 11 by the time the first two bands were done, and we both had
morning meetings.) If I am ever lucky enough to go see GBS again, someoe, please,
remind me to wear a bra. I hadn't expect there to be quite so much pogoing
involved. Some of it was because the very nice but very tall people who had stood
behind us in line moved in front of us. (There were tables in back but the front
2/3 of the room was empty for people to stand.) Seemed like every time I'd move to
see the stage one of them would step in front of me. Some of the jumping, though,
was just in response to the music -- me and lots of other people.. GBS is even
better live then recorded.
The three bands (Young Dubliners, Seven
Nations, Great Big Sea) are touring together, and apparently switch spots as they
travel around. Each band played for an hour or so. YD are from LA, so that's
probably why they were last; evidently they were expected to be the best-known
here. From the sound of the audience, though, most of them had come to see GBS. I
was far from the only person there who knew all their songs. I think the next
largest contingent were affiliated with the AZ Irish Music group and just come out
to hear anything vaguely Celtic.
Seven Nations played first. The
band wasn't bad, but their sound mixing sucked. It was sometimes difficult to get
a sense of their melodies or understand the lyrics. The best part was when the
fiddler had a break where he wasn't playing in a song and started to dance. I
slipped up to the front so I could see whether he was clogging or just goofing
around (I couldn't see his legs from where I'd been standing) and he was clogging
all right. I've never seen anyone's legs move so fast. The band consisted of
drums, guitar, bass, fiddle, and bagpipes; their songs were modern ones with only
one instrumental traditional jig, but most of their songs incorporated wild reels,
played just on the feathered edge of control, moving in and out of harmonies, with
throbbing drum beats I could feel in my chest. I'd have to hear them with better
sound quality to tell if I like the band but I did love the wild taste to their
music.
After that, GBS came out. They played songs from all of their
recordings (at least, all of those releaseed in the US), and did do both originals
and trad music -- I had been afraid they'd skip the traditional songs in this
setting, since the other two bands don't seem to do much of it, but they did a
resonant a capella version of General Taylor is Dead and Gone that even
Rudder (who went more to keep me company than because he lies this stuff) said was
far better than the recorded version. They also did Lukey's Boat and
finished up with Mari Mac, which really is sung that fast. Amazing. The
only song they skipped that I'd have liked to hear was Boston to St.
John.
My breasts were a little sore afterward, though, from their
traumatic day. While we were waiting to get into the show, I laughed at a couple
girls running by, with arms crossed to support their large chests. Rudder told me
it wasn't all that funny but I don't think he understood how much I was laughing
with, not at, them. Anyway, they were laughing too -- they knew exactly how funny
they looked. It's underwires today for me.