Day 6: Brush with Fame

I don't have any amazing stories of meeting anyone incredibly famous, but there have been a few awesome people I have met along the way, that for me, were just as fun to meet as anyone else.

I've seen Al Roker and Katie Couric from a short distance when I went to a taping of the Today Show in 2001. I've also come close to Troy Aikman and got the autograph of another Cowboy's player when we went to training camp back in 1995...but those don't exactly count. However, it's still cool to say I have been in the same room as them.

The night before my 19th birthday, I went to a Sister Hazel concert with my friend Andi. While we were waiting for them to hit the stage, the guy who had played the first set came up to us and started asking us about the concert. It was Gavin DeGraw!! He had just released his first CD and was trying to get his name out there. He must have hung out with us for at least 30 or more minutes. He was so nice and autographed a few things (which my dog later chewed up!) and even took pictures. I came home that night and downloaded all of his stuff and he instantly had a fan! You just never know who will be making it big so sometimes it's more fun to meet up with the openers...mainly because they are usually easier to get to. Like I said, it's not like I met the biggest star ever, but that meeting is something I will never forget. A few years later I saw him again and it was impossible to get to him...but I already had my memory...so I just stole his set list and a guitar pick. :)

Also, last year I went to Zieg Fest with my brother and sister-in-law Paige. Our main goal for that day was to listen to Bob Schneider. So we got there early and sat as close to the stage as possible. There were not a whole lot of people there because Corpus people do not always appreciate bad-ass musicians. Anyways, we got to watch him get ready off to the side and then have the best seat in the house for his show. Afterwards I made sure I got a chance to shake his hand and get a quick autograph. Mission accomplished...such a cool guy.

Day 5

Day 5 blog challenge: If you could live in any past decade, which would you choose?

I would, without a doubt, choose the Jazz Age...the Roaring 1920's. I would be a gutsy gal who ignored prohibition and did things like get a job and cut my hair short (gasp!)

The 1920's saw an economic upswing after World War I and people came alive! I can only imagine what the big cities were like with Jazz Clubs on every corner filled with flappers with their long cigarettes dancing with men in fedoras and rolled trousers. Like Roxie Hart in Chicago!

The 1920's gave birth to a group of writers known as the Lost Generation which included F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Cole Porter and many others. Of course, all of these famous writers were holed up in Europe...but I'd love to hear their stories and watch them live. It's no coincedence that my favorite book is The Great Gatsby..Daisy and her big hats and aristocratic life. And Jay Gatsby! Swoon...

I would definitely like to take a stab at several other generations, but I have always been attracted to the boldness of the 1920's. It's amazing how much a country can change decade by decade...from fashion to politics, music to technology.

Not too long from now we will be experiencing a new decade of 20's. The 2020's. I'll be in my mid-thirties by then...wonder if the flapper look will reemerge.

:)

Day 4: A favorite photo of myself

Today's challenge is to blog about a favorite picture of yourself from when you were a child. Well...I have two that I cannot decide between.

Picture #1:

This picture was taken outside of my grandparent's house when I was probably about three years old. This pretty much sums up my time spent with my grandma Linda when I was little. She always had a camera with her and loved to take pictures of us all. We would go into her closet and pick all sorts of things for me to model. I was pretty much a ham so I didn't have a problem with it at all. Even though I was very little here, I have vivid memories of doing this with her quite a bit. And let's face it...I'm pretty darn cute.

Picture #2:

This picture was probably taken around the same time as the one above, but this gives you a better idea of what I actually looked like....scraggly hair, busted chin and a devilish grin. I was almost four here and this is all the hair my little body could produce. What a mess. And I'm pretty sure that's a boy's shirt, but my mom would beg to differ. I hear I was quite the stinker when I was this age...and all ages after. I was sarcastic before I knew what it meant. I was voted "Mother Hen" at Kindergarten graduation...just a nice way of calling me bossy. Aren't you glad I've grown out of that? Aren't you?! Answer me...tell me I'm not bossy!!!

:)

Blog Challenge Day 3: Exciting Adventure

No one will ever call me a dare devil, or even a risk-taker for that matter. I slept with a night light until I was at least 13. My first plane ride at age 10 was spent holding the barf bag for 4 hours and a family trip to the Frio River still gives me nightmares. So, to tell people I went cave tubing in Belize always raises a few eyebrows.

In 2004, I went on a cruise with a couple of friends from work and cave tubing was one of our excursions. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I was not exactly excited. However, I had decided before the trip that I would just go with the flow and not let my fears stop me.

One bright morning, we docked in Belize and took a 30 minute speed boat ride to Belize Port and then took an hour long bus trip to the jungle. My stomach was in knots, but some people on the bus had done this excursion before and assured me that it was not all that bad. When we arrived, we were given a black inner-tube and a light to wear around our heads. It's never a good thing when its bright outside and someone hands you a headlight before you head out into a rain forest...or whatever type of tropical craziness we were immersed in.

So, with tubes over our shoulders, lights on our heads and water shoes on our feet, we trekked a good mile to the mouth of the cave...just in time to see some bats flutter off. Perfect.

As nervous as I was, I had to soak in where we were. Surrounded by every natural element imaginable; from rock formations to trees bearing the most exotic fruits. Our guide instructed us to get in the water and take a seat in our tubes. Lights on...we

eased in to the cave.

It was pitch black and filled with the sounds of creatures we never actually got to see. I do not recall how deep the water was, but we were oblivious to our surroundings due mainly to the fact that we could not see much and the fact that I just did not want to drown. Near the end of the cave there was a small whirlpool of water and naturally, I was the one who got pulled into it.

Thinking back on it now...I'm not exactly sure what the point was...but I did it. Floated through a long dark cave in the middle of Belize. But the best part of it all is when you exit the cave and you're in the middle of a wide river surrounded by the sights and smells of the trees and their fruits.

My words do not give this trip justice nor do the pictures, but it was exciting nonetheless. It was not as exhilarating as a sky dive, but it was definitely an adventure I will never forget.

Blog Challenge Day 2: Music

Today's challenge asked me to set my i-pod on shuffle and reveal the first 10 songs. This could be interesting as I have a schizophrenic taste in music. I don't judge music, so you should not judge me by my music. :)

 1. SKIN BY RASCAL FLATTS: Is there a sadder song? Well...yes, but not when you keep hearing part of your name in a song that is about a girl with cancer, when you've had cancer yourself. This song came out the year I was diagnosed and I remember listening to this song wile I was going through chemo in Houston. Talk about a punch in the stomach. "She dreams she's dancing, around and around, without any care...soft wind blowing her hair" That's basically all you dream about when you don't have hair.

 2. L.A. SONG BY BETH HART: Wow, I used to belt this song out in my room all the time. This is a classic one hit wonder from the 90's. This girl had some killer dreadlocks too. "She leaves a note by the phone that says don't leave no message 'cause this ain't no home...and she cried and she cried and she cried." I'm attracted to sad songs because they always tell an awesome story.

 3. WHERE IT'S AT BY BECK: I don't really have a specific memory associated with this song, but let's just admit that this is a bad-ass song. "I got two turntables and a microphone..." This is great driving music.

 4. BE MINE! BY ROBYN: Ok, if you have this song in your library...raise your hand. We just became best friends. This is a fun song and I don't care what this chick looks like with her bleached, half shaved head. She's awesome and I love her. The end.

 5. PAPERWEIGHT BY JOSHUA RADIN: If you do not have any music by Joshua Radin then you do not have a soul. That's right, you do not have a soul. "Mess up my bed with me...kick off the covers...and every word you say I think I should write down..." His voice is like butter and I want him to sing me to sleep every night.

 6. OH, TONIGHT BY JOSH ABBOTT BAND: This used to be a certain boy's ringtone and he's currently working to earn it back. Just a good ol' Texas Country love song. "Oh, tonight we're gonna set the world on fire...and I'm gonna set aside my pride and I'm not gonna be the one to say goodbye..."

 7. IT IS WHAT IT IS BY LIFEHOUSE: Lifehouse will forever be one of my favorite bands and this is one of their best songs. A good break-up song. Surprise, surprise...another sad song. "Too long we've been denying, now we're both tired of trying. We've hit a wall and we can't get over it. Nothing to relive, it's water under the bridge...you said it, I get it...I guess it is what it is..." Kills me.

 8. THIS IS WHY I'M HOT BY MIMS: Oh yeahhhhh, I'm ghetto too. I'm a sucker for anything with a deep bass, I don't care how hardcore it is. I miss my Eclipse because it had a sub in the back...I still need to pimp out my Mazda. Haha...yes, I just said that. "I'm hot 'cause I'm fly, you ain't 'cause you not." Oh, an English teacher's dream student.

 9. GRAVITY BY SARA BAREILLES: Good Lord, my shuffle must be depressed tonight. "I've never wanted anything so much than to drown in your love and not feel your rain..." She is the kind of artist I would want to be...just a girl and her piano.

 10. FLIGHTLESS BIRD, AMERICAN MOUTH BY IRON & WINE: Yes, this song is from Twilight...BUT, and this is a bigger butt than mine...I loved Iron & Wine BEFORE Twilight so do not call me a poser or a twi-hard. Well, maybe I am sort of a twi-hard, but I guess I just got lucky that such a great song was included in the first movie.

 Ok, so do you feel like you know me so much better now?? Ha, I didn't think so. But that was kinda fun...now it's your turn! Start blogging!

30-days of blogging

In an attempt to update my blog on a daily basis, I have decided to jump into a 30-day blog challenge. I found a list of 30 simple topics that I will try my best to elaborate on. This will either go well and make me feel accomplished, or it will frustrate me to no end. Either way, I hope you (my four readers) find it entertaining.

DAY 1: PICTURES OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS


Meet Sara Wills...or as I first met her...Sara Cortez. Sara and I met in first grade in room 14 and have been friends ever since. This is my absolute favorite picture of her and I even have it hanging on my refrigerator. Every time I see it I can hear the silly laugh that accompanies that look. Her wedding was so much fun and I was so happy to be her Maid of Honor. Even though we live a state's length apart, it doesn't stop us from keeping in touch and I know I can always count on her.



Meet Laura Jean White...soon to be Laura Jean Morrow. We have another wedding coming up and now it's sweet Laura's turn! We met in girl scouts in the third grade. She went to smarty pants school for elementary and junior high, but we were able to finally go to school together in high school. Laura, Sara and I always lived less than 2 minutes away, which made it convenient to hang out on the weekends and during the summers. I love this picture her...it's very "Laura." She has a heart of gold and finds joy in simple things. I can't wait to be a bride's maid at her wedding in May...even though she's making me wear purple. :)



I would be remissed not to mention my cousin and of course my mother, but that pretty much goes without saying. And in all honestly, the term 'best friend' is hard for me to use sometimes. I have so many favorite people in my life and I don't want to rank them in any sort of order. They each make me happy for very different reasons. But Sara and Laura are my life-long, non-related friends that I know will always be around no matter how long we go without seeing each other. They were my first best friends and shall always remain so.

A few too many

Caged up in the pressure of you
Trying to figure out what I did or did not do
Losing sleep over a month long dream
Fighting back a love sick scream

Its clear to me now that I fall too fast
But is that a reason to let a good thing pass?
All I've ever wanted is a chance to fly
But all I seem to hear is a different goodbye

"Hey baby, it's me not you..."
"Hey honey, its just something I cant do..."
"Maybe later we can try again..."

Just a few goodbyes from a few good men

My hands are tied as I look a head
I cant keep count of the tears I've shed
But every road is split and I stand confused
I seem to falter no matter which path I choose 

I'm not crazy but I do fall fast
Maybe that's why I'm getting passed
All I've ever wanted is a chance to fly 
But all I seem to hear is a different goodbye

"Hey baby, Its just not working out..."
"Hey honey, I can't quite figure us out..."
"Maybe later we can try again..."

Just a few goodbyes from a few good men

I have more remedies for broken hearts
Than the sky has room for falling stars
I revel in the days when I feel put together
And pray for a dose of something better

Falling fast is better than not taking chances
I'm a sucker for sly smiles and second glances
But they always seem to be from the wrong guy
And I'm left hearing a different goodbye

"Hey baby, I've found someone new..."
"Hey honey, she reminds me of you..."
"Maybe later we can try again..."

A few goodbyes from a few too many men