You may have noticed a slight gap in my posting – and by slight I mean kind of gaping. My tardiness is warranted, I promise.  We’ve been on the road, Thursday through Monday – busy dancing and gallivanting around Grant Park in Chicago for Lollapalooza. But I don’t just say that as a casual fan – 2013 marked the SIXTH year for us.  I’m not exaggerating when I say I look forward to this all year. There really is no use in describing it, because it just ends up sounding like the corny, clichéd rants of a dreamy teen.  It’s definitely not for everybody – sweltering, nature-takes-all kind of weather, tons of people, tons of young people who think you are just an aging lady (am I projecting?), plenty of pushing and shoving, and slightly over-priced beer.  But oh, the music. There is nothing in the world that beats live music.  If you’ve never had a sing-a-long with 40,000 of your closest friends, or even a dance party with 15,000, then you’re missing out on one of life’s truly magical experiences.  And that’s all I’ll say about that.  Here’s a look back at a few photos I dug up from over the years – there are tons more, but there’s only so many crowd shots and stage pictures you can show people.  If you weren’t there, it really just looks like it was crowded, and you had bad seats.

Ryan and I in 2009 – oh yeah, sometimes it rains buckets – but that’s part of the excitement!

Shots like this are my favorite, when you can see just how many people are at a main stage – and this isn’t even for a headliner.  Normally huge crowds like this would be terrifying, but I’ve never felt unsafe at any point during our experiences there.  For the most part people are just there to enjoy the music and have a good time.

Ah, 2010.  You were a fun time.  What this picture doesn’t show are the incredible boots I’m wearing – known from then on as my “festival boots.”  (Think cognac-colored knee high, elfin-archery boots.)

The beautiful Chicago skyline isn’t bad, either.

…And, here’s 2013.  What this picture tells me is that Ryan is getting handsomer, and growing out a pixie cut is quite possibly the most painful thing a girl can endure.  Also, that we need to do a better job storing our photos.  (2011 and 2012 are around somewhere.)

This picture pretty much sums up part of why I love Lollapalooza so much.  Yes, we’re all getting older, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun like a bunch of kids – pure, unadulterated fun.