Back in October, the day before I left for my whirlwind visit to Chicago, my daughter took me to a concert for my birthday. We saw Mary Chapin Carpenter at the Infinity Theater in Hartford. The Infinity is a small venue with an attached Bistro where we had dinner before the concert.
I have always liked Mary Chapin Carpenter, and the first concert I ever took Faith to was when Mary Chapin Carpenter was playing in nearby Springfield, MA.
Mary establishes a very nice rapport with her audience. She tells stories, she makes jokes and she answers questions. At one point, she told a story, that I could relate to. She had been playing in a different city, when an audience member asked her:
“Is that a real song, or did you write it?”
You’re wondering how I can relate…
I’m going to share that next week. I know it’s not like me to be bound to the whole one-liner thing, but I think sharing that story here would tax Linda’s patience. Also, the pictures I would want to share with that story would blow up the gallery.
This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday. If you have a one-liner, I encourage you to join the circus! You can follow this link to participate and to see the one-liners from the other participants.
The gallery includes photos from a walk Faith and I took between dinner and the concert. I was reluctant to go as far as we did – I didn’t want to be late – but Faith said “the river’s pretty at night and you can get photos for a blog post.” She’s pretty smart, that Faith. Mary Chapin did not want us to take pictures, she asked nicely so I complied.
This just in: If you want to read a little more about Mary Chapin Carpenter, check out Thom’s post over at The Immortal Jukebox.
I want that sign! I think it is so nice that you and Faith do so many things together. Okay, so now I’m on pins and needles until next week! 🙈
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In my younger days, I would have nipped that sign for you. The best part of this was that she told me about the tickets after I had had a really bad day at work. The concert was before my birthday, so she had to tell me to block the day.
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That sounds like love at work with those tickets. Hubby is the same about that sign. Thanks. 😉
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Ooh, a cliff hanger. :-) Thank you for the Maddie photos because they always make me smile.
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I had to either leave you hanging or have your cerial get soggy reading a few hundred more words and a second one liner.
I was away these past few days, so I needed the Maddie photos too 🙂
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What an awkwardly worded question to ask a performer!
Looking forward to the next instalment in this story 🙂
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The reaction of the audience was like we all wanted to give her a hug. Why would someone say that?
I had to give you guys a break on the words today.
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I understand what the person was trying to ask, but they blurted out the first thing that came to mind rather than giving it a bit of thought first. Ugh.
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You’re probably right. I’m guessing, if they were attending with someone, that they haven’t stopped hearing about it.
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My Mom has a bad habit of doing this – it can be soooo embarrassing. #NoFilter
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I had the same mom. No Filter could have been her go-to hashtag.
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Oh dear. Even when you know what the intention was, a badly worded comment can still sting.
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Obviously, she still remembers it.
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I agree with Joanne. Awkward question and I’d love to hear how she answered it. Mary Chapin Carpenter is not on my playlist, but it sounds as if she gives her audience a good concert. Glad you were able to go and enjoy before your trip.
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She didn’t tell us how she answered. I’m sure it was awkward for her and I’m sure she didn’t answer the way we would want her to.
She is excellent in concert, her band is grest and the opening singer (Emily Barker) was wonderful and joined them for several songs.
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I remember in school going to CT to see a stage production of ‘Macbeth’, too bad the Science building wasn’t around the area, I was a science major.
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Ha ha ha, I love that. We are members of the Science Center. It really is a nice facility.
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Nice story, silly question. Beautiful Maddie.
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Thanks, Brenda. I’m guessing that since she can tell the story, she’s dealt with it well over time.
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The Science Center is an amazing building. Love all the photos….the lights and especially the reflections.
Maddie photos are always a treat. The way she’s looking at your laundry….You don’t expect ME to put that away, do you?
And where she’s using you as a pillow and a barrier. Lol. And here I thought you were good for nothing. Who knew?! Haha.
That stupid question reminds me of these stupid car ads where they clarify that these are “real people – not actors”. And all along I thought they were fake people.
•••Ginger•••
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Right, as if actors aren’t real people!
Thanks Ginger. Maddie has a few neurological issues, and one side-effect is that she really seems to have a need to be confined. Unless we’re playing with a ball, or if it has just snowed, she seems to prefer to be on a leash, even in our fenced in yard. She likes to cram herself into tight spaces that seem to offer protection, like under my desk, under a table, under a chair. She even goes in her crate a lot on her own.
At least laying behind me lets her stretch out. I only get a little miffed when she rearranged my legs and feet so she can get more comfortable.
The Science Center is my favorite building in Hartford. We have been members since it opened. We dn’t go often, but I like supporting them.
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The Science Center is beautiful. Is it attached to the hotel…or just real, real close? ‘A real song or did you write it?’ What a crazy question to ask. Gotta love the Maddie photos. She is such a beautiful girl.
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The Science Center is a separate building, but the buildings kinda-sorta share a parking garage. I knew people would appreciate the Maddie pics. I was getting ready to leave on a business trip. Sometimes, she cops an attitude after seeing the suitcase and she ignores me. Other times, she gets very clingy.
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I had a professor who once said “The only dumb/stupid question is the one you don’t ask.” While I know what he meant and agree, there certainly are dumb/stupid questions as you pointed out. Another d/s ? when I was teaching was anything I’d just answered and the questioner hadn’t heard. :-) Love that Corona shot on the bottom left.
janet
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I had a professor who liked to say “there are no stupid questions, but apparently there are stupid people. “It was harsh, but it was aimed at questions like you mentioned, which had already been answered, or (a pet peeve of his) that had been answered in yesterday’s reading assignment.
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I remember being stunned to learn that ordinary people — just like me — could write stories. I thought all the stories and books had already been written. So those were “real” books, and anything I made up were just stuff I made up. This was partly the result of our library being poor and having nothing but old books, mostly discarded from libraries with better funding. It was also partly the result of the fact that I was FRICKIN’ FIVE YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. An adult should know better.
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I was going to ask how old you were at the time, Marian. I mean who writes real songs? The Beatles? I actually took my phone out and wrote that down on the spot.
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Nice implied distinction of what is real and what we might have done.
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Thanks Frank – sometimes, I don’t understand people.
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“Is that a real song, or did you write it?” Ouch! That’s going to leave a mark…
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Especially since she’s such a talented songwriter!
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I remember seeing MCC in concert a long time ago. She was poised back then, and I imagine she still is. However, what a weird question…
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We saw her about 18 years ago, and she was good then and she’s still very good. I think she can handle anything, but that is a weird question.
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What a weird question…but that aside…yes the river is pretty at night and your pics do it justice!!
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Thanks Kirt. I like rivers at night. I guess it’s a consequence of having grown up in Pittsburgh.
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That would do it!! We had the Cedar River that ran through downtown Cedar Rapids…my favorite was the Mississippi at night with city lights reflecting off that wide expanse a slow moving water….
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Super photos, Dan. Mary Chapen Carpenter is one of my favorites. Her question reminded me of a question someone asked me. “Have you written anything I might have heard of?” Had to laugh.
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Ha – nice. Where’s Tiny when you need him?
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I know right?
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I’m shakin my head at that question, but I’ve said some pretty stupid things in my life so I won’t judge. :) Looking forward to next week’s story.
I really like Mary Chapin Carpenter. She hasn’t had anything new out in ages. :( I bet her concert was great.
The river is beautiful at night. Good call Faith! :)
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Thanks. MCC is very good in concert. I introduced Faith to her music when Faith was fairly young. I was very happy that Faith took me to he concert. She was right about the photos, too.
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That question really takes the cake. “Is it a real cake or did you bake it?” This question can only be followed by “How high are you?” Ugh.
Great photos — lights, bridges, ooh. That Science Center is fab. Modern, but not intrusive. I likey. Had you featured that before?
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That is a great analogy. I’ve included the science center before but I’ve never focused in it. Hmmm
Thanks!
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I haven’t been there, but I feel like I’ve seen that…
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One of those awkward moments:):) I regret choosing my current url, because some think everything I post is a painting, and have added more than once in the middle of the weekly post “this is a photo, not my painting!” I know I can change my url, but that’s a hassle too.
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At least I have a URL that doesn’t drive anyone’s expectations. Of course they have no clue either, but…
Changing, domain names and redirecting traffic is a hassle. I did that with my old technical blog, and it never really recovered.
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Exactly, that’s why I’ll stick with this url for a while. The upside is that it attracts less spam than the .com
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I forgot all about her! Now I have to go and have a listen to some of her music. I bet it was a great concert. Or did you really go? :)
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Ha ha – I did go, and it was very good. She’s such a good songwriter, singer and storyteller. And her opening act, Emily Barker, was a mazing.
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What a question! I know they likely meant well, but good grief — what terrible wording. Enjoying the pic of the city buildings reflected in the water, Dan …
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Thanks Paul. I am a sucker for reflections on water.
That question was badly worded, to say the least.
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Well now I’ll be taxing my brain over how you relate to that question. Kind of a cliff hanger. I’m glad you enjoyed the concert. Lovely doors photo!
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Thanks Jennie. My story might be a bit of a stretch, but her’s reminded me of an incident, many years ago. Hang on…
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I’m hangin’ on!
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I loved this collection of October concert, night out with Faith photographs, Dan. Such fun and special memories created, from the first time of hearing Mary Chapin Carpenter up to the most recent time! 💞 🎶
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Thanks Robin. She’s quite the talented lady.
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