I hope everyone is having a fine Monday, and I *really* hope everyone got more sleep last night than I did; I was up until past 3 a.m. reading HP 7. I have fewer than 50 pages left, but I truly couldn't finish last night because my eyes kept closing and I was majorly losing track of the plot. Kip is antsy to have me get done with it so we can discuss it; he finished it last week. (I set aside this week's Entertainment Weekly so I can read it when I get done and refresh my memory on those various plot points.)

WHAT WE DID THIS WEEKEND

On Saturday night we went to a concert featuring the Gin Blossoms, the Pretenders, the Stray Cats and ZZ Top. And that is the order in which they performed. The Gin Blossoms were eh; I vaguely recognized one or two of the songs they performed, and the audience, including Kip and me, was fairly indifferent, although they sounded okay, I guess. Kip told me heard that they replaced REO Speedwagon, a group I kind of like if only because of a word that I insist they made up in "Time for Me to Fly": intoleration. (Really, every time I hear that song, I think, "Don't they mean 'intolerance'? Or am I just crazy?")

Anyway. The Pretenders were great. We saw them open for the Who in December, and they were great then, too. Chrissie Hynde is a scary woman whom I wouldn't want to cross, but she's lost none of her chops, and she looks just the same as she did in the 1980s. Which is: scary.

The absolute highlight of the concert was the Stray Cats. I've seen Brian Setzer with his neo-swing band twice, and they've never failed to bring down the house. The reunited Stray Cats were just as good. Brian is a resident of Minneapolis now (he's lived in the Twin Cities for the last few years, I believe), and Minnesota has taken him to its bosom (if a state has a bosom). I even bought a Stray Cats t-shirt for myself and one for my sister, who stayed with Andrew Saturday night, and willingly paid inflated concert prices for them. The band was called back for an encore and had everyone on their feet, dancing like fools.

ZZ Top were the apparent headliners, but don't ask me why. (Actually, you can ask me why, because I checked online later and found out on thesmokinggun.com; see below.) Kip and I amused ourselves during breaks by milling about on the arena concourses (and outside with the smokers) and attempting to identify fans of the various bands. The Stray Cats and ZZ Top fans were very easy to spot: There were many neo-rockabilly types with cigarettes rolled in shirt sleeves, and an equal number of biker types. Both groups were heavily tattooed. The Gin Blossoms and Pretenders fans were a little more generic.

I covered a ZZ Top concert years ago in Sioux Falls, SD, and I remember seeing the same kind of fans there, but I also remember the music being somewhat better. These guys are just *not* good in concert, and they insisted on playing a bunch of obscure stuff that only hardcore fans recognized. The only song *I* recognized was "Cheap Sunglasses." (They also played a charming ditty called "Pearl Necklace" which, I am told, is not about jewelry.) I was disappointed that their guitars didn't spin around 360 degrees every now and then, the way they do in the band's 1980s videos, and I have to say that their choreographer probably won't be working on Broadway any time soon. I did, however, pick up my mantra for the week from the chorus of one of their songs: I'm bad and nationwide (even though I have no tattoos).

We left early. I think I won't be seeking out any more ZZ Top concerts any time soon. I was amused later when I looked up the band on thesmokinggun.com and found this bit from their concert rider:

Promoter acknowledges that it is promoting a worldwide "superstar" artist and that each and every element of such promotion, production and other arrangements shall be first-class in nature and commensurate with the stature of a "superstar" in the best dressing rooms at the site of the engagement, equipped as available in accordance with the terms of the technical rider.

I think this falls under the classification of if you have to tell someone how great you are, perhaps you're not really that great.

I'm just saying.

WHAT WE'RE DOING NEXT WEEK

We leave Friday for Breezy Point resort in northern Minnesota, courtesy of my lovely stepfather-in-law, and we'll be there a week. Andrew has a new fishing pole and I have an ever-growing stack of books that I'm taking along.

WHAT I'M READING

Besides HP 7 ...

"Cabin Pressure" by Josh Wolk; this is a book written by a guy who went back to a camp he attended as a child and worked as a counselor. It's amusing.

"How to be Cool" by Johanna Edwards. This is mildly diverting, but I think Johanna is a little too self-conscious as a writer.

"One Hit Wonderland" by Tony Hawks. I really liked "Round Ireland with a Fridge," which is the story of what happened when Tony actually traveled around Ireland carrying a small refrigerator with him; I hope this one will be as good.

And "A Thousand Splendid Suns." I'm finding it hard to get into the book.

WHAT I'M WATCHING

I love, love, love "Hell's Kitchen," the same way I love "Bridezillas" and "Wife Swap." I believe it falls under the category of "horrified fascination." I think "Hell's Kitchen" is *so* much more entertaining than that well-mannered show on whatever the cable network is -- "Next Top Chef" or something like that? That one's really boring.

We took Andrew to see "Ratatouille" on Friday. It was okay. It seemed to me that the movie was too long (Kip told me he's read some reviews that agree with that assessment) and that the filmmakers didn't really know what story they wanted to tell; it was rather disjointed. But the animation was good.

We haven't seen "Hairspray" yet. I am greatly looking forward to it. I am also intrigued by the preview for J.J. Abrams' untitled movie, which comes out in January. Apparently this is a big thing online, with rampant speculation about what the movie's about.

And I am very tired of promotion for the Simpsons movie. We get it: You finally put them on the big screen. Yay you. Now shut up, please.

Have a good week, y'all.