Deck the Halls with Fire, Lights, and Lasers

It's beginning to look and sound a lot like Christmas already. If you count electric violins, guitars, and drums as sounds of the season. And, after last night, I sure do!

Finally got to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert. And if you don't know anything about TSO, they aren't your grandmother's orchestra. Unless Grandma likes progressive rock and symphonic metal -- and is into pyro, light, lasers, and the occasional fog machine. Then I'd like to meet her!

The 4 p.m. show in Green Bay yesterday was the kickoff to TSO's 20th year on the road. More than cool to be a part of it!

I had the afternoon off and picked up neighbor Cindy and my friend Carmen and her two teenage daughters. We were parked and getting in line in plenty of time to see the show. But the super long line in the super cold weather was moving super slow and we were lucky to get inside in time! In fact, the music had just started when we were taking our seats.

Was it worth the wait? Heck, yeah! (10 thumbs up from our five-some!)

The first half of the show was their all-new production of "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve" while the second half featured the best of TSO and more.

I don't even know if spectacular is a big enough word to describe it. Pictures and contraband video clips don't do it justice. It has to take a brilliant mind (or team of minds) to coordinate all the moving parts – the lights, the gigantic video screens, the moving pedestals "floating" band members above the crowd, the flashes of fire, and those lasers. So many lasers.

A few pictures...

The fans in the back got a show once in awhile, too!

Just swinging by to say "hi."

Just an incredibly amazing and unique experience! And that's what it is. Not just a show or concert, but an experience! If you ever get a chance to see them, do it. You won't regret it.

And it will rock you right into the holiday spirit if you aren't there already!

Just in case you need help, a video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/sx96VRwpgpjStNXRA

If Everything Could Rebound

Yes, the Assumption Middle School basketball season has tipped off already. Got to shoot, er photograph, two games tonight since the 7th- and 8th-graders each have a team. The game above was part of an exciting 8th-grade win. Exciting for real. And it's a sign of good things to come for the high school team next year.

I didn't even get a chance to look through the hundreds of pictures I took because we were getting furniture moved out of the living room in advance of our carpet cleaner visit tomorrow. Plus I had to watch The Voice first. And I can't stay up late.

One more sleep until Tran-Siberian Orchestra concert! So excited!

Speaking of Siberia...

Our wake-up temps were flippin' freezing this morning! Almost single digits. Yikes. Don't need that quite yet.

If anything, Mother Nature could take a cue from our young hoopsters and rebound that temperature back up to above freezing anyway. Doesn't she realize I still haven't put my golf clubs away?

Maybe I'll do that after the Christmas concert because that just seems to be the order of things these days.