Traditions?

We've picked up a few family traditions over the years. The Nutcracker ballet, the Trans Siberian Orchestra... the Nutcracker... okay maybe we've only got 2 but it's a start. Oh wait... the Prescott Santa Claus parade makes 3. And I've always wanted to make venturing into the woods to cut down our own Christmas tree a family tradition so eventually we'll have 4. This year I couldn't help but buy a tropical indoor evergreen tree from Canadian Tire that we decorated on the weekend. It's small but it's cool. It'll definitely do the job.... and the kids even like it. We still might go traipsing through the forest in search of a bigger tree... or stop on the side of some deserted country road and hack one down. We'll just have to see. It's still only November.

Last week was the Trans Siberian Orchestra. This marks our third year going and by next year I should know the whole story by heart because the show never changes. It's still worth it. Besides putting on an AMAZING show worth more than the $60 price tag... we've found joy in bringing someone different with us every year and watching their reaction. It's not everyday you experience rock opera.

This year was great although I do feel they rocked it a little better last year. I can't imagine what goes in to a production like the TSO and have them charge only $60. Any celebrity show... Madonna, Britney Spears, Rolling Stones, can't possibly cost as much yet their tickets are 6 times the price. Greedy celebrities. "I love my fans" my ass. I love you now pay $350+ to come see my show. Nonsense.

Every year at the show there is someone in the audience to make us laugh. The TSO also does a fine job of that themselves. It's really quite funny to see them with their long hair.. rocking out to Beethoven's Fifth. It's great... but funny. They remind me of rock stars that just couldn't make the cut for a band like Def Leopard or White Snake or something and attain that celebrity status. So besides their hilarious, genuine rock antics there is also some fan putting on an embarrassing, genuine show of their own. Last year there were 2 teenagers right in front of us head-banging to every song. This year it was a grown man who rocked his air guitar the ENTIRE show.

Rock on.