Free Blake Shelton Concert

Well hello there, blog!  It’s been quite some time, eh?  That is likely because most of my time is spent working and my blog would look like this:

“I went to sporting events.”

Not that I’m complaining about that, because let’s be honest- my job rocks.  But I do on occasion like to do things that have nothing to do with sports.  Like attend an impromptu Blake Shelton concert on a Thursday night.

About two and a half weeks ago I was driving back from lunch and heard on the radio “Blake Shelton is playing a FREE concert tonight at the Blind Horse Saloon!”  No time.  No details.  I immediately texted my coworker, Julia, and was like “DID YOU HEAR FREE BLAKE SHELTON CONCERT?!?”  After a little debate we decided that we should at least TRY to get in- why not?!  Fortunately we had the next day off for Spring Break.

Immediately after work we hopped in the car and headed to Greenville, hoping that we weren’t too late.  We got there about 5:40pm and the. line. was. huge. The news even had a helicopter flying overhead.  After about an hour of waiting in line, we were finally in. And SO excited!

It was crowded, obviously, but not as bad as I expected.  It was a decent size bar but there wasn’t really a bad seat in the house!  We started out near the back

but slowly got closer

and closer

until we were finally only about 30 feet away.

Blake is a great singer and we loved all of his songs, but what made it so special was that it wasn’t like a concert at all.  Blake sang a lot of covers in addition to his own stuff- not everybody gets to see that!  And the man took only took one two song break!  It was incredible and I’m so glad we decided to go.

Mountains and Fresh Air

Last week I was admittedly in a funk.  I’m not sure if it was due to long hours at work, coming back from Idaho, four days of rain, or any combination of those. The fact of the matter is- I was in a bad mood.

I debated whether or not to go up to the North Carolina mountains this past weekend to visit my family.  A selfish part of me wanted to just lay in bed, sleep in, and not go anywhere for my first day off in 3 weeks.  Another part of me secretly knew that while that seemed appealing, it probably wasn’t going to help me feel any better.

So I threw some sweats in a bag, put on some boots and a flannel shirt, and headed up to the mountains.  It was already gorgeous outside- about 65 degrees when I left Clemson- and it felt so good to turn up the music and roll down the windows.

We spent most of the afternoon just sitting on the porch in the sunshine playing card games. (I lost.) And once the sun went down we moved inside to try out the new game I brought- Quelf.  It is the silliest game I’ve ever played but it elicited some much needed belly laughs as we did things like sit with straight arms and legs and yodel with one nostril plugged.  I suspect the game would be even more hilarious with adult beverages, but since 3/5ths of our players were under the age of 16 that wasn’t really an option.  We had a great time though.

Monday morning I slept until TEN and it was GLORIOUS.

After breakfast I asked if my aunt and cousins wanted to visit the Carl Sandburg Home with me since I had planned on stopping anyway on my way home.  It is in Flat Rock, North Carolina- which is seriously one of my most favorite places I’ve ever been. 

Since you can’t even see the house from the road I actually had no clue what to expect.  I just always see the sign when I drive by!  I was thrilled to see that the grounds were beautiful.

There is the house (of course), many walking trails, a pond, and much to my delight- a farm!  Apparently Carl Sandburg’s wife was a champion goat breeder and they still breed goats on the property.  Since they were doing free tours because it was MLK Jr. Day we did end up touring the house. It was like a little time capsule as when the Sandburg’s moved out they left nearly every single thing there. We were also able to walk all throughout the barn and straight into the goat pasture!  The goats were adorable and friendly and I could have stayed there all day playing with them. 

The sunshine, the wind in my hair, the fresh air, the farm- I was so happy and completely in my element.  I felt refreshed for the first time in weeks.

It was exactly what I needed.

A Whirlwind!

I flew out of Boise on Sunday.  I was obviously emotional from saying goodbye to my family.  Right after walking into the terminal and digging my ID out of my purse I hear, “This is the final boarding call for United Flight Whatever to Denver.”  Denver?  That couldn’t possibly be my flight.  My flight was at 6:30 and it was only 5:35.  After scrambling to look at my boarding pass my worst fear was confirmed- it WAS my flight. And it was leaving at 5:52.  I started booking it toward security and yanked off my boots and coat as fast as I possibly could.  I threw all my stuff on the conveyor and bounced impatiently as I waited for them to tell me it was okay to come through.  On the other side I threw on my coat, half zipped my boots, and grabbed my laptop.  I looked into the machine- where was my bag? All of a sudden I see the TSA agent pull it off the conveyor belt and my heart dropped. My bag had to be searched.

At this point I knew there was no hope for me making my flight.  All my sadness immediately turned to stress and anger.  I was so mad at myself for not double checking my flight time the night before.  I was CERTAIN it was 6:30.  Obviously wrong.

The TSA agent who came to search my bag asked if I had any large metal objects in my suitcase.  I told her that I didn’t think so!  She searched my bag three times before pulling out this:

A cast iron alligator bottle opener I’d received for Christmas.  I totally forgot it was in my suitcase.  After the TSA agent laughed and then still proceeded to pat me down I was finally able to rush to my gate… just in time to see the plane pull away.

Luckily I was able to get on a flight to Chicago an hour and a half later and then flew to Greenville.  It cost me $75 but I was so happy to be home.  I was exhausted from all the emotions.  In fact, it felt like reverse jetlag.  I was ready for bed at 8pm!

The next day I headed down to Atlanta to cheer on Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl!  It was the first time I’d ever been to a bowl game or even an away game!  It was also the first time I got to watch a football game as a fan instead of working in almost 2 years.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl also had some fun little touches like dropping stuffed cows with parachutes from the ceiling and sending around a cow blimp called “Moo Force 1”.

Though it was a nerve-wracking game, Clemson scored a field goal as the final two seconds of the game ticked by to win it by 1!  Talk about a rush!  It was by far the most exciting game I’ve ever witnessed in person.

Yay!

By the time we’d watched the trophy ceremony it was nearly 11:30pm.  We rushed out of the Georgia Dome and walked back to our hotel to try and make it for New Years.  After rushing around the bar so we could the big screen TV we found out that we’d made it with 46 seconds to go.  After a good ole Cadence Count we were able to count down the final ten seconds to 2012 surrounded by happy Clemson fans and awesome coworkers!

The party clearly did not stop there because we were all wayyyy too hyped up to sleep.  A couple celebratory beverages and some dancing and singing later, I finally crashed at about 4am.

The next morning I rushed back to Clemson to be at a basketball game. Needless to say, I was asleep by 7:30pm.

It was the best New Year’s in a long time.  Maybe ever. 

Being in Idaho and Being Myself

Well I’ve been in Idaho for over a week now!  And honestly?  It feels like I never left.

I seriously feel like maybe South Carolina was a dream.  I came back and just dove right in where I left off.  It may be in part that my room still has most of my things in it.  When I went to South Carolina I didn’t take very many things because 1) it was a temporary job and I didn’t want to move it all again and 2) I couldn’t really afford to.  So my bed, my dresser, my nightstand, and even my table lamp are all right where I left them.  When I open my closet it still has a ton of my clothes in it.  Everything was right where I left it.

I didn’t really realize it until I got back to Boise but I haven’t been much of myself in South Carolina. I can’t even explain how really, but I think I’ve just been less social and less outgoing than normal.  It’s nice to be around people who really know me- my friends and my family.

Today I had the pleasure of having coffee with my dear friend Kendra.

[This is us from junior year (pretty sure) of high school. Unfortunately I don’t have an updated photo of us together!]

Kendra is that friend that no matter how long you go without talking, everything is exactly the same when you finally have time to chat.  We became friends in 4th grade and though we’ve had our ups and downs throughout the years, I still consider her one of my dearest friends.  She is the person that I know will always back up what I’m thinking because we think so much alike.  And of all the wonderful people I’ve met in the past decade, nobody clicked with me quite like she does.

I’ve told multiple people this, but being in your 20’s is such a difficult time to meet people and to maintain friendships. People are going through so many life changes during this decade.  They could be working, just finishing their masters, just finishing their undergrad, married, married with 2-3 kids!  They could still love to party, they can be starting to settle down, or they could have no clue what they really want.  And maybe I’m looking in the wrong places, but it is awfully hard to find people who are in the same place as you are.  Moving to a new state doesn’t help too much either. :)

But days like today when we can meet for coffee and talk for so long that I forget what time it even is?  Those are days that I truly cherish.  Because it’s so hard to find those kinds of friends.

After coffee with Kendra I came back home to play in the snow with Riley.  That dog just REALLY loves snow.

We had a great time and I know that we will have another really tough goodbye.  I can’t even believe that it’s close to time to go back to South Carolina.  I’m excited to get back to work and to be in the warm South!  I leave here the 30th, will head to Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Bowl on the 31st, and then back to Clemson to work a basketball game on the 1st!  The strangest part of leaving this time is that I don’t really know when I’ll be back.  That’s the first time that has ever happened.

Hopefully I’ll have more southern adventures to tell you about in 2013.  I’m trying to take advantage of all my time there because who knows where I’ll be next!

My Top Five

Because I’m watching movies.  Because I haven’t written in a while.  Just because I feel it…

I’m presenting you with my top 5 favorite movies of all time.

5. Beauty and the Beast

This is my favorite Disney movie ever. (Though Up and Tangled are darn close seconds.)  It’s something about Belle… she’s clearly the best Disney princess.  She’s smart and stands up for herself.  I love that she just tells Gaston where he can shove it.  But I’m also a sucker for the plot…seeing beauty on the inside!  Aww!

4. Titanic

Like everybody else, I’ve seen this movie sooooo many times.  But somehow whenever it’s on I just can’t help but stop in watch.  I’m not ashamed that I saw it in 3D when it came out…

3. Elizabethtown

The first time I saw this movie I actually didn’t really know what to think.  I mean, it was kind of dark.  But for some reason I rented it again and sort of fell in love with it.  I think that maybe it’s because each of us all can relate to Drew and somewhere deep down a part of us wants to be like Claire. 

2. Finding Neverland

I don’t know about you, but the older I get the more enthralled with the idea of Peter Pan I become.  Nothing beats this twist on that classic tale- which actually tells the story of J.M. Barrie!

1. He’s Just Not That Into You

This is truly the one movie I can watch over and over and NEVER get sick of it.  Although it’s clearly hyperbole, I think it portrays the dynamics of romantic relationships so well.  Plus there’s just something about Ginnifer Goodwin- she’s so adorable.

Honorable Mentions

Stardust, Up, The King’s Speech, Tangled, The Proposal, Mamma Mia, all the Harry Potter movies

 

What are some movies that you can watch over and over?

Thanksgiving

Yesterday was the first Thanksgiving I have ever spent away from parents and childhood home. (Ironically enough I have spent Christmas away once when my sister was living in Portland and couldn’t get time off work to come home.) I made the trek up to North Carolina to spend the holiday with some family (my dad’s step-sister and her family).

Sidebar: North Carolina is like a COMPLETELY different state once the leaves fall.  Who knew there was all that stuff hiding in the woods?!

I am so so thankful that they welcomed me into their home and shared their meal with me but I did find myself becoming quite homesick throughout the day.  I am admittedly a person of habit and sometimes I am a little thrown off when I am not in my element.  Trying to cook in someone else’s kitchen is something that threw me off.  I found myself a little anxious over it but my aunt had the perfect wine to fix that! (Of course.)

We played games, drank tea and hot apple cider, and obviously ate ourselves into a coma.  I tried not to eat too much because I had to drive back to Clemson yesterday so that I could be at work today.  Who decided that football rivalry week should be the weekend after Thanksgiving?!  It seems like a good idea until you work in college athletics.

Anyhow, after dinner we Skyped with my parents and sister (and Riley)

and then played a game of reverse Apples to Apples, using the nouns to try to describe the adjectives (held the green cards in our hands).  It actually was pretty hilarious.  Then I had to pack up my car and drive back home.

(Drove by two Walmarts and a Kmart on the way home….HOLY COW.)

I’m glad that my family (also Westerners) at least cooked a meal that was similar to the one I would have had at home.  Here is a list of things I’ve learned about a Southern Thanksgiving:

• The most food EVER
• Turkey AND ham
• Sweet potato casserole
• Potato salad (isn’t that summer food?)
• Macaroni and cheese (or mac and cheese pie, depending on who you ask)
• Cornbread stuffing
• Stuffing is actually “dressing” (THAT had me confused for a while)

Every single time you think you’re getting acclimated to Southern culture they throw something else weird at you.

Now I’m gearing up for the last home football game of the season!  Hopefully I’ll find myself a little more inspired to write. :)

I Wonder

I’m being strangely reflective tonight.  Mostly it’s a lot of “I wonder”s. Not regret- just simple curiosity.

Maybe everyone has moods like this, but I’ve always been a person who’s been keenly aware to what I deemed as “crossroad moments”.  Moments like sitting with my fellow marketing majors at graduation, laughing together and reliving all the hours we’d spent together to work toward this goal.  And clapping and woohoo-ing for our classmates as they each received their diploma.  And when we finally stood up- graduates- and the row ahead of us filed out with a smile and a “See you later!” I knew as I uttered “Yeah, see you later!” that I would probably never see those people again.

Even more drastic- high school graduation.  People I had literally spent 13 years of my life with.  People I saw every. single. day.  Most of them turned into people I never saw again.

Old friends. Ex-boyfriends.  Past coworkers.  Classmates.  What happened to all of those people?  I find myself wondering about them every so often when a song, a scent, a photo, a place makes me think of them.  Are they happy?

And on nights like tonight I can’t help wonder about other moments.  The moment I decided to leave Denver.  The moment I decided not to go back.  The moment I left that job in the middle of the day because someone was being disrespectful in a way I couldn’t tolerate.  The moment I decided to switch my major to marketing.  The moment I quit my job to pursue an internship in LA.  The moment I packed all my things into a Dodge Stratus and drove across the country.

I don’t regret any of those moments.  But what would my life be like if any of those moments were different?

My life certainly didn’t follow my “master plan”.  Or even the plan that others had for me.  Did all those other people follow their master plan?

I just wonder.  I sometimes find myself wanting to reach out to people just to say “Are you okay?  I was thinking about you and I just wanted to make sure that you’re okay.”  But even if I should, I rarely do.

Instead I think up moody blog posts and contemplate whether I will hit “publish” on this- basically- journal entry.  But I just wanted to let you know that you crossed my mind.  And I hope you’re okay.