We kicked off our first round of shows this Friday with Mr. A-Z Jason Mraz. We were essentially three rows back in a relatively intimate concert hall.  And it was beautiful!

I have been a huge fan of Jason’s since I heard his first popular single (The Remedy) when I was a freshman in high school. Since then, I’ve followed his work and have found more and more to love about him. I hadn’t seen him live before and it’s safe to say, it was well worth the $225 ticket price (sure, I could’ve gotten $43 tickets and enjoyed the same musical experience fHrom the nosebleed seats, but the Mister gave me the ok to spend significantly more than that–I think he was just as excited to see the show as I was and with the presale code, we couldn’t pass on 3rd row seats).

The man is just as quirky and goofy as his songs suggest and his live music does not disappoint. He joked throughout the entire show and it was pretty clear that he loves playing with Raining Jane. They’re an amazingly talented group as well. I’m glad to have found out about them! He is so vocally talented, it kills me! He broke out Mr. Curiosity–which has an operatic showcase of his voice at the end–and it was magical. I wish I could show you all, but sadly WordPress won’t allow me to upload it.

Sadly, we missed the first 15 minutes of the show. The Army kept the Mister late at work and traffic to Honolulu on a Friday night was not the most ideal (it’s never ideal really at any time of the day). But, we got there in time for 90% of the show and I’d love to see him again!

I got grumped at by security for using a flash on my camera. To be fair, there were no signs posted about flash photography and I know he has done huge arenas  with more flash than humanly conceivable. But whatever. Being that close, I was able to capture a few relatively great shots with just my new point and shoot (my old one did not like the sand at Lanikai Beach and refused to be cleaned so Black Friday blessed me with a new one with better megapixels).  Still, you’d think there’d be a sign. Hawaii, I tell ya.

Up next (assuming I can’t get the Mister out of the house before then–he’s on leave and is content not to leave the loveseat in front of his tv) is the Diamond Head Classic basketball tournament on the 22nd. Wichita State v. Loyola Marymount and Nebraska v. Hawai’i. Gonna be a great time (at least for me).

I start training for H&R Block on Monday for 9 hours (3 hours/day) so I’ll probably fall off the grid again. I’m not sure what could possibly require so much training for a receptionist gig, but it’s paid, so I’ll take it.  But after the 18th, I’m free until January 5 at the earliest.  Plenty of time to squeeze in a few more day trips out of 2014.

Until then!

-A. xoxo