Summer in the city

I removed a few posts because they were too work-centric. Since then, I haven't written much because I've been busy procrastinating whenever I sit at my computer.

Somehow the winter of record precipitation levels has become the summer of record precipitation levels. Weird that I don't really feel like there's been much rain.

I was reminiscing today about the first rock concert I ever attended. It was David Bowie's "Heroes" tour. I saw him at the Ottawa Civic Centre. It was before general admission seating was abolished at concerts (which eventually happened due to some people getting crushed to death at a Who concert, I seem to remember). I went with a friend . . . have no idea where he is now.



I had a weird general admission experience when I went to see Graham Parker and the Rumour at the Civic Centre a couple of years after the Bowie concert. Parker was opening for Cheap Trick. I wasn't interested in seeing Cheap Trick, but most people there were. I got there early with some friends and we made it onto the floor right up to the edge of the stage.



It was a fabulous place to see the show, but what happened was not fabulous. It was very crowded and hot at the front among the crush of fans.

Some people wanted to get up to the front for the Cheap Trick part of the evening. They asked a great hulk of a guy standing next to me if he would trade spots with them. I can't remember what they gave him to help them to the front.



His way of making space for them was to ram me to the side by slamming me in the chest. I was winded and blacked out as I fell.

Fortunately, a friend I was with had the presence of mind to grab onto me and pull me to my feet as she shouted out: "This girl will die if you don't get out of the way for her."



The crowd parted for me and I was back at the front again gasping for breath. It was very weird.

Great concert and we left after Parker finished playing.