BEST! NIGHT! EVER!

A few things you need to know about me before you can fathom the depth of my joy in this post:

1. We very rarely have an evening sitter for all 3 of our children. I can count on one hand the times we've been completely alone as a couple in the past year and a half. Simply eating at a restaurant together and not having children fighting, screaming, refusing to eat, needing food cut, etc. is a blessing in itself.

2. I've liked Jamey Johnson since 2008. I've been what you'd call a 'fan' since 2009, and by 2010 you could definitely call me a HUGE fan. Don't believe me? Look.

3. I started listening to Outlaw Country on Sirius XM this summer. A lot. It was there I first heard Whitey Morgan and subsequently bought his album.

4. Both Whitey Morgan and Jamey Johnson "starred" my tweet this summer, which was a pretty big deal.  

5. High Cost of Living is not only my favorite Jamey song, but probably my favorite song EVER of all time and all genres.  
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I'd had tickets for months. This was my redemption. I'd had tickets to see him on the very same day 4 years earlier, and the show was cancelled at the last minute. I tried to manage my excitement and not let myself get too over-enthused, for fear it could happen again.

I tweeted Cash on KTTS several times, trying to find out if they were going to do a meet and greet. I had plans to be the first one at the door, even if it meant leaving home at noon. Much to my dismay, they were not. I called the venue to find out if the standing-area in front of the stage would be open as it had in concerts past. It would not. It didn't matter when I arrived, I had an assigned seat and there was no way I was getting any closer than row 3 (which is a pretty great seat, I'm not saying it isn't!).

As the day approached, I knew it didn't matter. I had a hotel reservation and a night out planned with my husband. Even if the show were cancelled, I'd still have a great night. I knew it. I could feel it.

We had dinner at Big Whiskey's. We were out and about early, so we hit happy hour. Side note? Best BBQ wings I've ever had, and THE best Long Island anywhere. Hands down. I was beaming as we walked down the block to the Gillioz. Already a great night, and the doors were about to open.

We trickled inside with the crowd, and I stopped first at the merchandise table. I started scanning the shirts and noticed they weren't Jamey Johnson shirts. No. They were Whitey Morgan shirts! What?! Nowhere did anyone mention him! My thoughts quickly became words.

"Oh my gosh. What! If Whitey Morgan is here, I'll just..."

I was quickly interrupted by sales dude.

"Yeah, he is. It was a last minute thing, him and Chris Hennesse, but we're so excited!"

It was all I could do to contain my enthusiasm.

So I bought 2 shirts. I went to the bathroom right away to don my Jamey Johnson shirt, and folded up Whitey for another day.

Chris Hennessee was great. Whitey Morgan and the 78s did not disappoint. It was nearly 9 by the time they left the stage, and I made a run for the bathroom before it was time for the concert I'd waited six years for.

Pretty soon the lights went down, and finally Jamey came out on stage. To say I was excited would be like saying the North Pole is chilly. He got his guitar ready, and played two notes before I knew he was playing my song.

The crowd erupted. I sang EVERY. WORD. (much to the dismay of those around me, I'm sure!) He followed it with "Place Out on the Ocean" which is another of my favorites.

I sat down and told Bryan that was it. I was completely satisfied and happy, and we still had the whole concert to see.

He sang all the good ones. He sang some old songs, did some covers, and a little before 11:30 called it a night.

I've never had such a great night.

We walked outside and started talking about what to do from there. Should we go out for a while? Big Whiskey's was just two doors down. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw some of the guys from the 78s just hanging out in front of the theater. I asked them for a picture and they happily obliged!

The more we talked, the more my wheels started turning.

"What if we just hang around here a while?" I asked Hubby. I mean...maybe he'll come out, too.

He told me he was sure that stoic Jamey Johnson wasn't going to come waltzing out the front door to hang out. I decided he was right. I mean, he DOES have a bit of a reputation for being...well...quiet. And maybe introverted, and not always social.

"Wonder if there's a back-door?" I asked him with a sly smile.

"We can find out. C'mon," and that was the first and hopefully last time in my life a man led me down a dark alley :)

We snuck down the quiet alley and I jumped the gun as I saw a group of people in the distance.

"Oooh!" I started.

"Don't think Jamey Johnson's bunch are in hoodies looking at their phones....it's probably a gang..."

We picked up the pace and made it to the back side of the theater on the next street. There was a small group of people in a sort-of line. Some of them had guitars and albums. And then I saw them: trailers. And vans. And that's when it hit me. They were waiting for him.

We stood for what seemed like years. I kept telling myself he wouldn't be there. He'd probably already escaped in some bus and these were just his 'people' getting the stuff.

One of the 78s came out and said he didn't know what we were all waiting for.

I lost a little more hope.

Then there was a light.  A flashlight.

It was one of the 'people' and he was holding the light so Jamey could see to sign.

Yep he was RIGHT THERE!

I couldn't believe it.

Finally our turn came, and I got to meet the musician I've idolized for years. And guess what? He was NOTHING like his reputation. He wasn't grouchy or anti-social. He was also shorter than I thought he would be, but that's beside the point.

I introduced myself, and told him I'd waited six years to see him in concert, and how much I loved the show. He said to me, in his quiet, baritone voice, "Well I'd say that's long enough!" We took a picture, he met the husband, and thanked us for coming out.

I started walking away and suddenly realized in all the commotion I forgot to have him sign my shirt.

I stepped back up to the "guy" and told him the dilemma. He told me he was sure he'd be happy to sign it for me and told me to stand next to him. I stood and waited through the rest of the line, then the guy explained and he smiled, and happily signed my shirt.

I told the mister that I could just die happy now, and that's just how I felt. I've never had a better night or been happier than I was that night. I'm so thankful for a husband who lets me be a fan-girl and takes me on stalking adventures and always makes the best of the little time we get alone. I'm one very lucky girl.

Pandora's Music Box

I've talked a lot about how music moves me. I love music. It can alter my mood and heal my soul. It can take me back instantly to a place and time, to a feeling, to a person. It transcends space and time. With just a few notes from "Long December" I am suddenly sixteen (and skinny!), sitting in the driver's seat of my mom's Nova, at the 4-way stop with Lindsey, giggling and sipping Sonic chocolate Coke.

Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" sends me back to the bathroom at my mama's house. I'm standing in front of the sink, she's wrapping my hair in hot rollers. I can smell the limey steam coming from the set. I can feel my heart beat for little Isaac Gripka. I'm no more than twelve years old, if that.

"All My Life" once took me back to junior year prom, but after hearing it a thousand times on our Wyoming trip, and saying loudly, "Ohhhhh this reminds me of prom," so many times the other youth members could finish my sentence, it now reminds me of the church bus. Laying across the back seat with Jonna, trying to keep our sanity among the insane. Kevin's eyes in the rearview mirror, fuzzy gray carpet beneath our hands dangling off the seat.

There are hundreds thousands more songs that are associated with a distinct memory. Sometimes I think without music I'd have no memories.

Then there's "Seven Spanish Angels." (instert creepy/dramatic soap-opera music here)

If you'd ask me about the song, I'd just tell you I hate it. Why, you might ask? I don't know. All I know is how it makes me feel.

Now don't get me wrong. There are songs that make me sad ("Always on My Mind"), songs that make me cry ("Christmas Shoes"), songs that creep me out ("Riders on the Storm" anyone? Seriously creepy. And ICP). There are songs that evoke painful memories ("Who's that Man"). Then there's this song.

I can't even explain the feeling I have when I hear it. It makes me uneasy. It makes me feel anxious/sick to my stomach even. It makes me feel sad. I've come to the conclusion there is some repressed memory that is connected to this song, but I haven't found the memory. It's like my emotions know how to react, but my brain can't tell me why. I'm most confident it's an early childhood memory, because it vaguely reminds me of my grandma's old house, and I've hated it for as long as I can remember.

The human mind is an interesting thing. It's a Pandora's Box. Curiosity wants me to open it, but caution tells me not to. For now, I continue to avoid the song and wonder if one day I'll have the bravery to search the depths of my soul for the source of my emotion.

A Christmas Solo (and 5QF)

Well, the Christmas season is in full swing now! Chloe's little pre-school class sang in the elementary program last night, and I think I was more excited than she was. She complained for two days about being "a bit nervous", but she was great. She was the only child waving at her mother as they lined up, and I even got a "Hi, MOM!"  They sang "Where is Santa" (like where is Thumbkin), and when they finished, Ms. Sue told them to sing louder on the next one.

I think Chloe thought she wanted them to re-do the song. As all the other children sang "S-A-N-T-A" (like Bingo), Chloe was singing "Where is Santa" at the top of her lungs, never noticing the other kids were on another song. As they sang, "...and Santa was his name-o!" finishing the song, Chloe picked up, thinking it was the start of the song. They all stopped singing, and she continued the entire song solo. When she finished the whole audience cheered for her. It was unforgettable. So for everyone who thinks she's my clone, there's proof she's her own person. I NEVER would have been so brave or such a ham!

Ok. Now for five questions. Are you ready? I love these holiday ones!

1. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
As long as my brother lived at home, he and I always opened our gifts to each other on Christmas Eve. When we were younger and my dad lived alone, we also always spent Christmas Eve with him. I really loved those Christmas Eves. It started the Christmas celebration for us, and passed the time a little better than sitting at home.

Now days you just never know. It depends how the twenty seven Christmases schedule out. We don't typically open our home presents on Christmas Eve, but I'm thinking about doing so from now on just so we aren't under the tree for four hours on Christmas morning. Plus with such a busy Christmas schedule, it would give little Missy more time to play with her new toys before we tote her off somewhere else.

2. What is your favorite Christmas cookie (or candy)?
I have to go with the traditional sugar cookie. One of my favorite things (still) is making that delicous sugar cookie dough from scratch, cutting out all the festive shapes, baking them (they smell sooooo good!), and decorating them. I also love eating them, but I'm sure you guessed that ;)

My mom used to make fudge and cherry-coconut chocolate candies that were really good. She also makes a red-hot (the candy) cranberry hot punch that is delish!

3. What's the worst Christmas gift you've ever received?
I usually got great gifts. My grandma wasn't one of those "ugly Christmas sweater" people. She always took me shopping a few weeks before (to Maurices, Stage, or Penney's in Sedalia..or all three). I would be allowed to try on everything I wanted, then she would send me out to the car and pick a "few" things (she usually got it all). She would box them up at her house, then I would wrap them (and all her other gifts).

There was one time I got an awful gift, but I attribute it to Andrea's law. We had a gift-exchange at my youth group one night. We all had to bring a gift, probably a fifteen dollar limit. I bought the new Jars of Clay cd, and that was a big deal, because I wanted that cd SO badly! We did one of those games where you open something and then people can steal it. By the end of the game someone had stolen my gift, so I had to open the last present. It was one of those country mix cds. Not a good one. One that had weird artists and old songs. Oh. And it was all scratched up. Yep. A re-gift. It came from a kid in our group who was "exceptional" (is that the PC term now?) so he obviously wasn't scolded, and I, with all the Christmas spirit I could muster, didn't say a word. That's why I don't participate in those type of things anymore, becaues it ALWAYS happens. Always.


4. Christmas song that you love?
SongG as in one? Sorry can't tell you just one! I will tell you my favorites from four distinct categories, though :) I love Christmas music. I just love it. But these here songs, (intentional hickism and stretch of a reference to Christmas Story.."now this here's a tree!") these are the ones I'm STILL not tired of after listening to KGBX for four weeks :)

I LOVE contemporary Baby Jesus/True Meaning songs. Examples?
New Again by Brad Paisley
Strange Way to Save the World by 4Him
While You Were Sleeping by Casting Crowns

In the traditional category?
O Holy Night
Silent Night

Country, you ask?
Let it Be Christmas (Alan Jackson)
Baby It's Cold Outside (Lady A)
The Angels Cried (Alan Jackson with Allison Krauss)----AMAZING.

And upbeat?All Alone on Christmas (Darlene Love)
Baby Please Come Home (Mariah Carey version) (Oddly mentioned in All Alone on Christmas)
All I Want for Christmas is You (Also Mariah Carey)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Barenaked Ladies)

Also Wintersong and River from Sarah McLachlan


5. How many trees do you put up?
Just one, unless you count the bitty baby one that may be located anywhere from Chloe's room to the bathroom at any given time ;)

Question Five of Five Questions Has Five Answers!

Happy Friday!  Woooooohhoooooooooo! Did you know I love Fridays? Oh I sure do. It's been another busy week, but I'm super excited for the Halloween festivities coming up.  Sunday (I think) is trick-or-treat day, and I'm OFF all day!  Today is Chloe's class Halloween party, and I am a room mommy, pleased to help and be a part of her party. Oh yipes! That means I need to get all my stuff done before we leave for school in (gasp!) just over two hours. I have my sweats on and laundry/dishes/bleating goat waiting for me! If you're not my facebook friend, disregard the goat comment.  Anyway, I better type fast!!!!!!  Ok blah blah here we go. I have a party to get to, guys!


1. If you could be a fly on any wall, which would you choose?
Hmm. I'm a firm believer in the whole "ignorance is bliss" concept. I don't think I'd WANT to know what all goes on in government. I think it would be more information than my nervous system could handle. And other than government or business, there isn't anything or anyone that I feel I need to spy on. Call me crazy. Maybe it would be fun to be a fly on the wall in Chloe's classroom. I'd like to observe her for a whole day without her knowing I'm there, just so I can see how she interacts in the real world.

2. Do you budget your Christmas shopping or just get it done without budgeting?
I usually have money set back, a list of who I need to shop for, and a rough estimate of what I plan to spend on those people. I stick to it with extended family (sometimes shorting them if I find something I just have to get Chloe he he). When it comes to Chloe, though, I am never done. I LOVE shopping for her. I usually spend my budget on her, then spend all my "free spending" money for the month on her as well. I just LOVE Christmas, and I LOVE shopping, so a one-day 500.00 limit for the family just doesn't cut it.

3. What is the craziest fad diet you have ever done?
The ONLY fad diet I did was Suzanne Sommers variation of Atkins. I lost six pounds the first week, and by Wednesday of the second week I had lost ten. I loved it. Looked great. But on that Wednesday my carb deprivation got the best of me. I made a pot of spaghetti like you've never seen and I DEVOURED it. To me that diet was like substituting an alcoholic's alcohol for crack. It didn't work. And I ate more horribly than I ever have. That's where I learned to love real butter. I was eating bacon and buttered green beans in portions that should've put me into cardiac arrest! Crazy.

4. Is there a TV show that you have seen every episode/season of?
Friends, mostly because it's still on all the time. Grey's Anatomy. ER. And please don't laugh at me....Teen Mom. Gah! Did I just admit that? Shhhh. It's now our little world-wide secret.

5. What one song always pulls at your heart?
Just one??? I can't pick just one. So I will tell you my top five, all for different reasons. I have to mention runners up, "How Can I Help You (to Say Goodbye)" by Patty Loveless and "Who's that Man" by Toby Keith. Both came along at a difficult time in my childhood and still bring back haunting memories.

5. "Chances Are" by Bob Seger (preferrably with Martina McBride, as seen on Hope Floats)
This song takes me instantly back to summer 1998. Hope Floats had just come to theaters (I saw it three times I think, and had the soundtrack). That summer I fell hard for, dated, and was heart-broken by the first boy to really break my heart. It reminds me of all the stages of that summer, good and bad, and always pulls at my heart just a little.

4. "I Don't Love You Anymore" by Travis Tritt.
This song has always been heartbreaking to me, even when I was a little girl. It's a very powerful love/loss song that somehow has always really got to me. "I can't hide the way I feel about you, anymore. I can't hold the hurt inside keep the pain out of my eyes anymore..." It's just a great song, lyrically and musically.

3. "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" by Alan Jackson.
I've talked about this one several times. It's such a powerful song with such a striking melody. It always brings up a lot of feelings in regard to 9/11 and mortality in general. It still gives me chills every time.

2. "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman
"She spins and she sways to whatever song plays, without a care in the world. And I'm sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders..." that first line was me and Chloe (NOT "Chloe and I" because I'm using the objective form, not subjective for the grammar haters who think they know grammar but don't)  for quite some time, and this song always brought me to tears. It's more about a dad watching his daughter grow, but I just related to it so much. It's sound is haunting, and beautiful at the same time. I love it.

1. "Then" by Brad Paisley
It's "our" song. The first time I heard it on the radio I text Bryan and asked if he'd heard it. We both agreed it was us. We had just started seeing each other, but we knew. "...and three weeks later in the front porch light, taking 45 minutes to kiss goodnight; I hadn't told you yet, but I thought I loved you then. Now you're my whole life, now you're my whole world, I just can't believe the way I feel about you [girl]. Like a river meets the sea, stronger than it's ever been, we've come so far since that day, and I thought I loved you then..." I love it. It pulls at my heart in a really good way, and makes me feel all warm and happy :)

You should've known if I was asked about music I'd be writing a book ;)