how do you measure a year in the life?

can you guess what show I saw by the title of this post?
yep, it was "rent"

my culture companion: danielle


the start of our evening: the paramount club
(complete with private bathrooms which was a super big score during intermission!)


the view from our seats

my review: AWESOME!
I sort of knew the premise of the show before going but wasn't familiar with much else. it was surprising how much I liked it, much more than I thought I would. there were even tears during portions...what? nothing of what I expected to feel.

a big thanks to shandel for passing along her season tickets for danielle and I to use. we truly appreciated it and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

remember this?

after our vacation to cannon beach this summer, I posted about a painting I had found in a gallery while there. alas, the artist's original piece exceeded my budget.

to my surprise, I received my very own reproduction as a birthday gift this year!


my mom's friend susan is a very talented artist and my mom asked her to recreate my beloved scene.

she did such a great job, I've forgotten what the original even looks like. susan's version is softer and even more beautiful.

thank you susan. I will treasure it.

me: raw and uncensored

below is an email that I sent to hailey last week in the middle of a meltdown. seeing as how I want to keep it real, I've not edited any of it. as raw as it still feels (at least some of it), I am able to laugh at parts of it. read at your own risk...


well, let me list everything that has happened since yesterday and how I am feeling (warning: it might not be pretty)...

• my company was "merged" (read: bought) by another company
• not sure how it affects me yet
• scared a little bit about the details
• I have four of the largest zits known to man on my chin and cheek
• maybe I eat too much cheese?
• I am hungry but have nothing to snack on
• don't want to spend money or make a bad choice
• so I just chugged a glass of water
• I think I might be a raving bitch at work
• but not sure how to fix it
• I react to things just like I would HATE someone to react towards me
• houston, we have a problem
• I am very disappointed in myself
• why does an extra nine minutes of sleep always win out over getting up for quiet time?
• how do I make changes I know I need to make but am just not motivated?
• have I mentioned that I'm hungry?
• because I am angry at myself, I want to eat EVERYTHING in sight
• so far, it's been two mini snickers and two mini kit kat
• now, bring on the salt
• guilt has me in a stronghold
• rebuke, guilt/satan, get away
• why is it that as soon as I start exercising, I feel fatter?
• how in the world do you have the time to get everything done...and have a child?
• I feel wholly unproductive every single day...and I only work.
• you are my hero
• and I wish I was there in the sun and the heat
• laying out by the pool (pretending there is no threat of cancer of course)
• I feel pasty white and nasty
• wanna go for islands burgers and cheese fries?
• please?
• I would love it if you came up next month to visit...wanna?
• phew, just remembered that you are
• thank you jesus
• I love you (hailey and jesus)


I am so thankful that I have friends that I can send emails like this too. there is no judgment, no condemnation, just support, love and commiserating. such as it should be.

things are never as bad as they seem when you are in a wallowing moment such as I was last week. of course not, right? they wouldn't call it wallowing then would they? and meltdown would only reference what an ice cream cone did in the sun.

don't judge me.

:-)

today was another notsogreatday at work but I will continue working on my attitude...and chose joy instead of anger. boy that's hard.

shawn mcdonald

I am a big fan of shawn mcdonald. his music got me through many a day while I was living in phoenix. I would encourage you to give his music a chance. this man is on fire for jesus and has an incredible story.

it pays to have friends in high places. my friend amy is the promotions director at spirit 105.3 here in seattle. they hosted shawn's concert.

what that meant for me and my friend margaret: tickets to the concert and {surprise} backstage passes.

oh, the horror of backstage awkward conversation. I used to work at the same radio station and have many experiences with artists and witnessed many backstage moments but it's been awhile and I'm out of practice. its that much worse when you don't know much about the opening bands (downhere, jason gray). what in the world do you talk about? guess I should have done more research. oh well, it turned out okay and we didn't make fools of ourselves...at least not too much...so I am pleased.

(note: we are really not giants, we were standing on a step/riser above our "receiving line" of musicians. also, I apologize for the cheesy giggle on my face. not sure what was so funny but I'm sure there was a reason for me to look so silly. really.)

the concert was really good and margaret and I enjoyed ourselves very much. shawn's sound is almost dave mathews-esque on some songs. I'm a sucker for a guy with a guitar. my favorite song of his is have you ever.

downhere was surprisingly good as well. my favorite song was how many kings. jason gray was equally talented and especially funny! my favorite song was you are mercy.

you can download all their songs on itunes. check them out.

thank you amy!

(hai: and I didn't call you on our way to the concert and rub it in, like we did for harry connick jr. aren't you proud of me?!)