ANTMAN & THE WASP
Antman & the Wasp hit theaters last week and of course I was there opening night! I went with my dad, my brother, and my neighbors. I sat next to Taylor, her tastes are different than mine, she spends a lot of time watching Jersey Shore and Friends. After the movie I asked "What did you think?"
"I didn't like it. I am getting sick of these super hero movies," was her response. I cannot relate. When I was a kid and Batman the Animated Series and X-men were on TV every day my dream was to be able to see super hero movies in the theaters like this. We are long past the days when all we had to look forward to was Batman Forever.
My family makes fun of me because they claim that every movie I see I love... but that being said. I loved it! It was so much fun. A cute lighthearted movie that was the perfect follow up to Avengers Infinity War.
I was extremely thrilled to see the Ghost on screen. Thunderbolts has been my favorite comic since it first came out and when Ghost joined the team he quickly became one of my favorite members. They made some pretty extreme changes between the Marvel Comics Ghost and the Antman and Wasp Ghost, more than just making him a woman. But she looked like the Ghost and had his powers so I am OK with it.
80/35
How do I say this? I don't care about Ke$ha. I am not a Ke$ha fan nor do I listen to her music...at least I wasn't. My friend Amy told me she was heading from Kansas City to Texas to see Ke$ha live and I informed her that she was going to be headlining at 80/35 and Amy responded with "Oh I know. I'll be there." I didn't now that she had such a rabid fan base but I can tall you something after seeing her live, I get it! I was floored by how much fun I had at Ke$ha.
But I am getting ahead of myself.
In case you don't know, 80/35 is a two day music festival in Des Moines and it has been picking up steam the past 11 years. It has sort of become an Iowa State Fair for Hipsters. There are about 5 stages, 4 of them free to watch and the city streets are lined with food trucks.
Friday night I go down there with my friend Amber. The two of us quickly grab a beer and begin checking out the area. I hadn't eaten so I stopped at Big City Burger for a bacon cheeseburger. It was spectacular. The burger was so juicy and the cheese all melted, if you have a chance to try Big City Burger I recommend it.
I destroyed that burger and then the two of us checked out fun pop punk band. They had some horns and xylophones and were a real treat to watch. I wish I knew the name of them so I could check out more of their stuff but that's the joy of 80/35. Just a ton of stuff going on.
It's also nice because you get a little reunion every year. This is my yearly visit with Nickelle Stevens, she helps set up 80/35 so every year I know I will bump into her. In high school we had a radio show together. Eddie Love and Nick on KDPS. We were quite a duo! She played classic rock and I played NOFX and Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies. This year I saw her as the headliners hit the stage and she was on her way out "I am going home. I am too old," she told me.
Next I saw an old comedy friend, David Melendez. I always thought this guy was hilarious and looked forward to sharing the stage with him whenever I could. He had moved to Chicago a couple years ago to make it as a comedian. Amber and I were walking down the street when I heard him yelling for me. He told me that he is now pursuing a culinary life which is kind of cool! This guy could be the next Anthony Bourdain trying to tell me why pigs balls are delicious and I'll just smile and eat my hamburger.
Sadly the pictures of Friday night seem to be lost to the anals of time. I don't know why you would doubt that I went there Friday night and ate a hamburger and saw David but trust me it did happen.
Saturday I get a text early morning from my brother Chad who wants to go get breakfast. I said I wasn't hungry and wanted to just stay in bed sipping coffee watching Scooby Doo. A few minutes later I get a knock on my door and it is Chad saying "Change your clothes. Let's go eat."
Well now I have to. Chad is from Kansas City and when he asked me what I thought would be a good breakfast spot I knew I had to pick something he wouldn't have access to every day.
And the Waveland is famous for their breakfast. Jason Momoa recently returned to Iowa and had to stop there. It's such a cool place. Like a small dinner you would see in the 1950s or something. Chad got the biscuits and gravy and I got the french toast! A great breakfast to start your day by making you want to take an amazing nap.
A little later I took Fonzie down to 80/35, we walked around the free area for a little bit and I told people "yeah you can pet my dog but you have to take a flyer for my Gofundme." (oh that reminds me https://www.gofundme.com/ahab-van-helsing-issue-3&rcid=r01-153140884491-1d59554d676949a8&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_w )
It worked in the sense that people took the flyers. Not in the sense that I got any donations. But it was nice. I bumped into my friend Felicia and we walked a little bit until finally Fonzie got pretty hot and laid down in the water. Then I had to take her home.
That night, Emily joined me for Ke$ha. Before the show I got a jerk chicken sandwich and I told people "the chicken said I was fat. I guess that's why it's a jerk." Andrew shook his head in disapproval and said I was better than that. But the sandwich was really good! It was spicy and had a pineapple or mango taste to it!
It was a blast. I would have never thought to see Ke$ha live but now I might pull an Amy and follow her tour bus around America!
Gin Blossoms and Walking in Des Moines
So Tuesday was a tough night for me and I needed to get out of the house. About 9:30 I took Fonzie downtown and we walked around. We made a path over the woman achievement bridge, then down to grand and passed the civic center. It's a good walk to let you appreciate Des Moines.
Also, earlier that night I found out Gin Blossoms were playing in Des Moines. I had no idea! I am not a huge fan of Gin Blossoms fan but would have gone if someone was able to get me a ticket. But I am a huge fan of the Angus soundtrack and I have listened to Hey Jealousy off it Ad nauseam and as luck would have it they started playing that right when we walked past.