I took Ella to the Crystal Ballroom free-for-all Sunday, thinking that she might like the music, and if not, she'd at least get a balloon. To be clear: Ella loves music, just not my music. She listens to Justin Roberts, They Might Be Giants, Harmonica Pocket and most recently the soundtrack to the old school version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. What I really wanted her to see on Sunday was the first band, a trio from the Rock and Roll Girls Camp. Ella, wearing her balloon butterfly wings, jumped around on the Crystal's bouncy wood floor. My daughters will have a choice in their future. She can choose their preferred activities, with one exception: Rock and Roll Girls Camp is mandatory. I'm only slightly kidding.

Unfortunately, Ella was the only real active audience member during the Girls Camp group. Ella then danced to the next band, Still Pending, a pre-pubescent version of Greenday, until jumping up into my arms to watch the rest of the show. She didn't focus completely on the music all the time but she and Mauren (after joining us after her nap) watched two marimba bands and a female bluegrass trio. When it was time to go, Ella was exhausted, but didn't want to go. She wanted to stay and listen to the Garcia Birthday Band and threw a minor fit. Ella has a hard time making it through dinner, yet somehow she managed to stay alert during 15-minute Dead jams -- something I cannot do.

After the kids and Sonya went home, I stuck around for Greensky Bluegrass, Blue Giant and Blitzen Trapper. I celebrated my evening of independence by promptly falling asleep in the balcony during Greensky Bluegrass. As noted in my last post, staying awake at shows is an ongoing issue. I'd wake up every time the audience clapped during Greensky, but after their set, I zoned out completely, only to wake up to suddenly notice that Blue Giant had come out on stage. So really, there were two small victories today: Ella rocking out and my staying awake during Blue Giant while sitting down. I stood up for Blitzen Trapper and I was well rested thanks to my Greensky snooze. That may end up being a winning formula: fall asleep during the opener and then perk up just in time to make it through the main event.