AMAZING Evening...

So, here's the back story first:

Monday, I was driving out to get Scotty from preschool. I was listening to my standard radio station, Angel95 FM. It's a local Christian radio station, and I don't get to listen often, unless I am alone in the car, because usually I have some kind of kid music on...all you parents out there KNOW what I'm talking about!

So, anyway...I hear the announcer mention something about "...if you've got Thursday night free, so check your calendar and call us for a free pair of tickets..." And he mentioned the "What Life Would Be Like" tour with Jason Gray, Rush of Fools and Big Daddy Weave.

Well now...I'd been listening to Big Daddy Weave since we lived in Va Beach (on KLOVE radio), so I recognized the name...the other two? Well, quite sure I'd heard ONE song from Rush of Fools, but nothing from Jason Gray. But still...free concert, right? In Salina....oh...that's an hour away....but still...FREE.

So I proceeded to take my cell phone out (yeah, yeah, I KNOW...I shouldn't be calling while driving...wait, it gets worse!)...but it's in my right pocket, which is blocked by the seatbelt. I still manage to wiggle it out, flip it open...gosh, WHAT was the NUMBER he said to dial? Was it 587-5959? No....maybe it was 935-9595....well, I tried another number, fully expecting NOT to get through, thinking the phone lines will be clogged with lots of people calling to win these tickets. Seriously...at least a minute had gone by before I'd even DIALED. But the phone rang....and the DJ picked up.

I said, "Hi, I'm calling about the Big Daddy Weave tickets. Did you give them away?"
He replied, "Yes, we did...to YOU!"

I was shocked...I really thought someone else would have won them; there were so many things going against me. The DJ told me the tickets would be available at the concert under my name. TWO tickets. So who to ask? Now, instinct might tell YOU "ask your husband"...but he doesn't like that kind of music and would not likely sit through an entire concert, free or not (and yes, this is how he feels). So...who next? First thought in my mind was my friend Jodi. She and I don't get to spend a lot of time together, but we make the most of the time we do. So I called her, knowing she was in school (she teaches middle school chorus in JC), leaving a message on her voice mail. She called later and said she'd LOVE to come.

Fast-forward to last night. I picked Jodi up in JC (on the way to Salina) and we stopped in Abilene to eat at the Brookville Hotel - FANTASTIC food there...it's a family-style fried chicken dinner, no menu. You get what they bring, but they bring a lot of food. I was STUFFED (and still brought home 2 pieces of chicken, because you get an entire HALF chicken!). After we left the Brookville, we headed to Salina, to the Stiefel Theater. I have NO idea where this theater is, except for the directions I got from Google. It's about 6:50 and the concert starts in 10 minutes. Based on what I had seen on the internet, we'll probably be stuck in a cruddy seat. Ah well, we had a good meal and good company, and did I mention the tickets were FREE? Parked at a free lot...very first spot is OPEN...that's a blessing! I grab the directions, thinking we'd be walking several blocks. When we step on the sidewalk, the theater is right there, in front of us!

We got our tix, they were general admission. Again, the thought of bad seats passed through my mind. But nope...this theater is small, and there are NO really bad seats. We chose the balcony. Sat in the last row of the lower balcony and waited.

The first act up was Jason Gray. Wow. That's all I can say. This tall, lanky guy comes up and just WOWS us. Jason has a speech impediment...a stutter. I didn't catch it at first. Then when he introduced his 2nd song, it was there. And how appropriate, because his song was called Blessed Be. As in the Beatitudes. The first line of the song - Losers....all the lovely losers.... - he talks about himself. The song just struck a chord.





Rush of Fools and Big Daddy Weave were really good too...but Jason's songs were just so good. Jodi and I ended up buying all three of his CD's...and listening to one on the way home - an acoustic one...and there is a HILARIOUS song on it called Curiosity Killed the Cat....I'll have to see if there's a video for that one.


All in all, it truly was an amazing show. I was surprised at the small turnout - the theater was not full. We ended up moving down to the front row of the balcony after Jason's performance, when several others left to go down to the main level. And I am upset at myself for forgetting my camera. I could have gotten some fantastic pictures.

Slow Fade

wow....have you ever heard a song and just hits you in the gut? I usually listen to Christian radio...but the only happens without kids in the car. That means that I RARELY have the radio on...and sometimes, after listening to kid tunes and Disney hits all the time, I just crave QUIET. But today, on the way home from picking up a prescription, this song came on...and it just got me...right there.

One of the things that struck me right away was the first line: Be careful little eyes what you see....

We have this song a few times on different childrens' CD music....and I've always loved it. I had to explain it to Hannah when she was younger...she wanted to know why hands and eyes and hearts had to be careful. Well, this song does it WAY better than I ever could. Listen to it....and read the words below.

Slow Fade - Casting Crowns




Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

300 posts

Can't believe I've done 300 posts....

I was hoping for something all profound and powerful for #300. It was suggested by Suzanne that I do "300 things about me"....but really, I don't think I could find the time to do all that! I thought about finding some HIGHLIGHT posts...but again, that's too time consuming.

So, I'll write about my show. Yeah, me....I'm doing a show. A MUSICAL. I need an outlet. Those who know me even a little teeny-tiny bit KNOW I'm musical. I sing, play instruments, and yes, I ACT. Haven't done a lot of it lately. Last time I did anything, it was dinner theatre, and I was 21! A LONG time ago, quite frankly (we're pushing 20 years ago!!!). So when my friend Shannon (who has sung with the 1ID band and attends the same church as us and shares my birthday, only she's 10 years younger, and .... well, you GET the picture - lots in common)...anyway, when Shannon called me last minute and asked if I was interested in auditioning, I said, "why not?" I wasn't sure I'd get ANY part, so I figured there'd be no commitment, really. I didn't even know what the show was about.

The show title? For Our Boys: A USO Tribute

The premise? Pretty easy...a history of USO shows....lots of "famous" people, lots of singing, a bit of dancing (I just do some swaying and snapping of fingers, thankfully!)

The following week, I got a call, asking if I'd be interested in the part of Dolores Hope. It wasn't a speaking part, but there was a singing duet to Silver Bells. And of course, I'd be a part of the chorus for the rest of the show. So I said, "SURE!" (for the record, Shannon was offered the part of Judy Garland - she SO has the voice for it, too!). We've been in rehearsal since mid-October, and it's starting to pull together nicely. We've had a few stumbles, like people not showing up for several days and then expecting to continue their solo part. But so far, it's been a lot of fun. I've gotten to know a lot of new people. Some rub me the wrong way, but that's what life is like anyway! Most of the people in the show are just so nice, and talented to boot! I like being a part of this again, this up on stage and entertaining thing.

The show runs at Junction City Little Theater from November 30 to December 2. The evening shows on the 30th and the 1st are at 8:00 p.m., and the matinee on the 2nd is at 2:00 p.m. If you're in the area (or a local reader), do come! If you're military, and you bring a guest, your ticket is FREE! Tickets are really reasonable too.

Here's the cast photo. IF you can guess where I am, I'll send you a little goodie. (there are some of you who REALLY know where I'm at in this photo, so I don't think you qualify, lol!)


Here's to THREE HUNDRED! And hey, let's shoot for 300 more!

Thriller!

How many of you remember this song, from the pinnacle of Michael Jackson's success?

My niece, Alex is 16...wasn't even around when this song came out. Heck, I think I was close to 16 at that time!!! But her high school in PA did the song as part of their 80's Show. And someone was kind enough to YouTube it....this is FANTASTIC! Oh...did I mention that Alex is one of the twirlers for her school? She's REALLY good!

Although we can't really find Alex in the "ghoul line", I think at the very beginning when the girls running across the field, she is one of the very first. Very tall, long blonde/brown hair.

I have to say, they did a GREAT job with the choreography on this. Watch it. Share it. Enjoy!

There are no words to describe this....I actually cried when I saw it. I'm hoping the PAO girl who took this will share the hi-res jpeg so that I can print and scrapbook it!

Dad may be the conductor....

but the boy stole the show!


Scott put on his first concert in the CG's (Commanding General) Summer Concert Series on Thursday the 24th. The crowd was light, but appreciative of the good music, a break in the cruddy weather (which caused yet another round of flooding in the area) and everyone had a good time. But in particular was one little boy - you can tell he is a genetic copy of his father!



"hey mommy...see dis fwower? Betcha don't know wat I can do!!!"


Crescendo....that means LOUDER, guys!!!



Check out my conductor's hip dance moves!



I can conduct daddy's band on my HEAD...and they FOLLOW me!!!


Needless to say, I was dying and wishing I had a video camera. Scotty entertained the crowd for the better part of the show. The crowd behind us was laughing, as were the band members who could actually see him. The general and his wife (far right corner of the first picture with Scotty) thought it was fantastic. MG Ham said Scotty had better hip movement than his daddy did, lol! And most people wondered whose little boy was having a blast. But there was no question - he marched in time, he conducted with the proper hand (albeit with a pretty purple flower) and he stole the show when he turned around after every song (and the ensuing applause) and said, "Tank yew...Tank YEW...tank you berry mush!!!"

Ah...to be young and innocent!

OMG!!!!!

OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!!

OMG!!!!!

I can not believe it!!!! You know awhile back, I won a contest at SpouseBUZZ, for "What's Your Story"

Well, a few weeks ago, I got a prize for that. I was THRILLED with my prize, which included an awesome fleece zip up jacket (with the Military.com logo on it), a sweet t-shirt with awesome graphics on the back, a "support our troops" bracelet (a la LiveStrong style) and a pen. I was MORE than pleased with my prize. I emailed the SpouseBUZZ blog owner, Andi, and thanked her profusely for the prize. She told me there was more on the way. Okay...that's cool.

Well, I got my "other" prize today. Check it out:



YUPPERS! I got a BRAND NEW IPOD!!!! A 2 gig iPod Nano! SOOOO totally cool! I have been wanting and wanting and wanting one of these for FOREVER and a day or even longer! And all I had to do was tell my story. I am SOOOO psyched!!!!

Off to play with my Nano now!!!