My brother-in-law Jeff turned 40 today, less than two weeks after my sister’s 50th birthday. I’m so glad we get to celebrate this milestone with him. We managed to escape the monsoons of Chicago last night and wing our way back to California. On Thursday it was warm and sunny when we entered the bunker-like Museum of Science & Industry but when we emerged four hours later, images of coal mines, hatching chicks, and Nazi submarines dancing in our heads, it looked like Armageddon had hit. A freakish thunderstorm had barreled in out of the blue with winds up to 75 mph and tornado sightings, and trees and power lines were downed all over the city. It took us hours to crawl home in the paralyzed traffic. As much of a cliché as it is, I have to say how much I prefer the boring climate of southern California to the wild meteorological mood swings of Chicago. As a kid I enjoyed the crazy weather which included everything from sudden 50-degree temperature drops to furnace-like temperatures that enabled me to literally fry eggs on the sidewalk in front of our house to dangerous arctic freezes that had me pulling tiny icicles out of my hair during morning classes. It’s fun to witness the ominous crackling of late summer electrical storms when I’m visiting but as a rule I prefer walking out of my house in L.A. and not having to worry about what extreme weather phenomena might hit before I get home. I’m sure my family members would laugh at that comment since they firmly believe that the imminent threat of a city-destroying earthquake we live with in southern California trumps anything they might face in the Midwest.
I do love Chicago, though. I always get defensive when Chicagoans (including my family members) trash Los Angeles, and there’s so much here that I enjoy, but overall I think Chicago has a lot more going for it than L.A. Its rich cultural life, stunning architecture, fantastic restaurants, beautiful parks, and diverse neighborhoods combine to create a kind of quality of life that I find extremely appealing. I won’t be moving back anytime soon, but I can imagine doing that some day in the future. That is, if the current spate of violent storms doesn’t wash the entire city into Lake Michigan.
My sister and nephews came back with us last night, thus violating my grandparents’ neurotic rule of too many relatives traveling on a single plane “in case something happens.” There were a few moments last night when we wondered whether they had the right idea. Just before takeoff, an irate and seemingly drunk passenger insisted that he be let off the plane. To my surprise, the crew allowed him to leave, but this set in motion an intense search around his seat and the necessity of removing ALL of the bags from the baggage compartment to make sure this guy didn’t plant anything. All a little jarring, especially when the flight attendants invoked the memory 9/11 in their supposedly calming explanations of why we were delayed.
Today we’re celebrating with my brother-in-law who has a day off from the current west coast Wilco tour. I’m so looking forward to the Santa Barbara, San Diego, and L.A. shows this week, and you can check out Wilco’s performance on Jay Leno on Thursday night. If any of you folks are at these shows, be sure to say hi. I met up with two bloggers while in Chicago. Leah Jones of Accidentally Jewish was nice enough to brave the downpour and come to my nephew Spencer’s Blisters gig at Millennium Park. Leah told me that she didn’t know how to find me because most of the photos I’ve put on my blog are over thirty years old. Is that a symptom of my arrested development? Just open those images in Photoshop, add a hundred pounds, delete the hair, and you should have a pretty good idea of what I look like. We also had a wonderful dinner at a lively kosher restaurant on Devon (only Jews could make that much noise while eating) with True Ancestor’s David Gottlieb and his very fun family. I’d already met David before but every time I see him I feel some kind of weird past-life connection between the Gottliebs and the Millers. Also current-life—his son Gabe and my nephew Spencer became close friends at their summer camp last month. What are the odds that they’d be at the same camp and in the same cabin?
I’m grateful for this time with Sue, Jeff, Spencer, and Sammy, and thrilled that Jeff’s 40th birthday coincides with the opportunity to hear him share his powerful music on four different California stages. If there’s one thing that my obsession with old photographs has taught me over the past two weeks, it’s how important family is and how much we should all value our loved ones while we have them near us. Happy Birthday, Jeff!
Long long time reader and Wilco fan -- Too bad you weren't in Portland. I love meeting bloggers. My husband and I drove three hours to Portland to see them on Wednesday and I have to say, it was one of the best shows we've seen this decade (and we travel for music all the time). We've seen Wilco a few times and it was just magical for us esp when he gave a shout out to Breedlove Guitars (built in our hometown of Bend, OR). Wish him happy birthday from his biggest fans in Bend.
Posted by: Shannon | August 25, 2007 at 03:35 PM
Danny: we loved seeing you guys -- I'll be posting pictures at True Ancestor as soon as Middle Daughter helps me understand the mysteries of our new digital camera.
Posted by: david | August 25, 2007 at 03:53 PM
It was well worth braving the downpour to meet the Miller Tribe last week! Can't wait to see you and Kendall on your next trip.
Posted by: Leah | August 25, 2007 at 05:54 PM
is this the same danny miller that went to peterson and von steuben h.s. if so contact mark peeples at [email protected] would love to hear from you
Posted by: mark peeples | August 25, 2007 at 07:16 PM
Danny - The show last night at the Greek in Berkeley was fabulous. We always get a great show in S.F., and we try to give the love right back. (In fact, Jeff declared from stage last night that S.F. has traditionally been the band's strongest supporter, although he probably tells that to all of the cities ;-)
In any case, I figured someone must be turning 40 this weekend because we got 40 "nothin's" to end "Misunderstood".
Enjoy your shows! To appreciate a tour, you really do have to see multiple shows, but it's not in the cards for us this year.
With much appreciation for your blog,
Mary Maguire in Sonoma County, CA
Posted by: M.K. Maguire | August 25, 2007 at 09:57 PM
Ah Danny - Timing's a fickle mistress, eh? I'm going to be in Chicago for a week right after Labor Day - first time in almost three years - funny thing was, I was watching the Cubs game the day of the storms/tornados (they were playing in San Francisco) on WGN and they kept breaking in for weather bulletins (Tom Skilling is STILL their weather guy, and, aside from a few extra pounds, looks EXACTLY the same as he did in the 70s, when he did those exact same weather bulletins). I called my folks to make sure they were ok, and my mom said it went from sunny and cloudless to black and raining buckets just a couple of minutes before I called.
But you're right about Chicago weather and mixed emotions. I've seen about as much snow, ice, and thunderstorms growing up in Chicago as I ever care to again, but living in the Seattle area now, it turns out that rain can in fact get a tad depressing when it approaches it's fourth consecutive month.
Two corresponding jokes: "Chicago has two seasons: 'Winter, and Construction.'" And,"How do you know when summer's coming in Seattle? The rain gets warmer."
Sorry for co-opting your brother-in-law's birthday message blog, but I'm severely focused on my Chicago trip, and was sorry to see that I will just have missed you guys there too. Happy Birthday Jeff (who I've never met), and to Sue too (who I have, but a long time before either of us was pushing fifty)
Posted by: Larry | August 26, 2007 at 12:05 AM
Happy Birthday to Jeff Tweedy!
I miss Chicago a lot too. Of course, it's only a 3 1/2 hour drive for me.
I'm glad you all made it safely back to California.
Posted by: churlita | August 26, 2007 at 08:57 PM
People survive past 30? Tell me more.
Posted by: Jexe | August 27, 2007 at 06:16 AM
Happy Birthday Jeff,
I also celebrated my birthday on August 25.
Next year we should get together with some other cool people who share our birthday.
Elvis Costello
Gene Simmons
Rob Halford
Sean Connery
Tim Burton
Rachel Bilson
and there are many others...
Posted by: 2nd Rick | August 27, 2007 at 07:36 PM
I just dicovered your blog via Pearlies Of Wisdom. She didn't mention the Jeff Tweedy connection. I am a fan. I came in a bit late, perhaps, at the time of YankeeHotel Foxtrot and the film I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, (both of which riveted and touched me).
Maybe I'll meet you at a concert one day.
Thanks for taking the time to blog. I enjoyed visiting your site!
Posted by: neil fleischmann | August 28, 2007 at 12:33 PM
We flight attendants slip in a 9-11 reference here and there in attempts to keep our passengers compliant. Commercial travel in general has everyone (including the crew) stressed out and misbehaving long before anyone boards the aircraft. It might be time for a new gig :-) Like you, I adore our So. Cal weather, but nowhere could ever beat out my beloved Chicago for "Best City Ever"! I'll be at the Greek Theater tomorrow and was lucky enough to get Leno Tickets for Thur. I'll keep an eye out for my favorite Slice of life, Bar Mitzvahed David Sederis-esque blogger and Happy 40th to one of my favorite singer/songwriters!
Posted by: Andrea | August 28, 2007 at 06:50 PM
What a beautiful blog entry about a beautiful man, his stunning wife and gorgeous kids.
I agree with Danny about Chicago having a lot more to offer than LA. I spent 4 days in Chicago in October 2004 for the 3 Auditorium Shows, and l-o-v-e-d every minute of the stay. The people, the buildings, the atmosphere, even the weather which changed exactly 78435687 times whilst I was there :p Spent some - luckily short - time in LA last year for our honeymoon, and loathed it. Just as artificial/superficial as I thought it would be.
San Francisco is my favorite place in the world though, and we're longtermn-planning to emigrate there/close by (please let green cards fall from heaven :(!).
Again, Happy Birthday Jeff, virgos are the best ;)
Posted by: Dunja | August 29, 2007 at 12:07 AM
Enjoy tonight! Expect an extra hug via Neil from me.
And Dunja is right, Virgos are the best. Ahem ...next Friday.
Posted by: scarlet hip | August 29, 2007 at 05:12 PM
Danny, somewhat off subject...
I'm now working on contract at an educational publisher, being a production editor for higher-ed books. I was double- checking permission rights, etc. for a book and spotted something in the last edition: a picture of your bro-in-law and a caption and description of Wilco's success in a non-traditional sort of way. It was interesting to read!
Posted by: Pearl | August 29, 2007 at 05:26 PM
Just started reading your blog (love it) and I came across this post randomly.
I remember that storm vividly! I live near Evanston and was trying to pick up my sister from swim practice. I only had to drive about a mile and it took me an hour to get to her...downed trees and flooded streets everywhere. Our power was out for two days. I had totally forgotten about that entire evening until I came across this post. As wild as that night was, I can't help but love the unpredictability of the Midwest's weather.
Posted by: Katherine | December 03, 2009 at 12:12 AM