Houston...There is no problem...

This weekend Grayson & I took a trip to Houston for the Free Press Summer Festival, this SOLDOUT music festival nestled in Downtown Houston's Eleanor Tinsley Park with 87 bands playing on 6 stages pretty much constantly over 2 days.

To say this was a concert is the understatement of the century. It was 10x the size of Rocklahoma from the weekend before.

We started the weekend off on Friday after work. I met Grayson at her loft and dropped off my car and we road tripped it down to Houston that night, arriving around 1a.m. to our hotel the Houston Marriott Downtown. We slept in until around 10, and got up and ate some lunch. Braving the Houston downtown traffic was a nightmare for two small town Oklahoma girls. We pretty much white knuckled our way a few miles down the road. We saw a cute little tattoo shop downtown and decided to go and have a look before we went to the festival, seeing as the first band we were really wanting to see wasn't until 5ish. We walked in and they told us they could tattoo us both for $20. We couldn't turn that down.

They mostly just wanted to flirt, and he wouldn't even take my tip. We promised next time we were in town we'd go by and see him. ;)
We valeted the car back at our hotel (everything is valet in fancy schmancy Houston) and walked the 8 blocks to the festival that day.

We moved across all 6 stages, and saw: Alabama Shakes, Arctic Monkeys, 2 Chainz, Passion Pit, and ended the night with Calvin Harris.

Day 2 started with me jumping on Grayson's bed to wake her up around 10. I was hoping to get in a little Houston culture other than the festival (ie The Space Center -cause I'm a science dork) but Gray was really dragging. I don't blame her, we'd already braved the whole afternoon in the 95° weather yesterday. Finally got her up and around and we checked out at noon. She wasn't really into the whole science geekery, but I managed to talk her into the aquarium, which was only a few blocks away. We had lunch at the restaurant there, and talked her into the shark tour.

Then walked back to the festival and saw some really great bands:
Mavis Staples, Cat Power (one of my faves), Of Monsters and Men, Macklemore, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (THE BEST), Social Distortion, and Bassnectar.

Have to say getting to see Cat Power was really awesome. Apparently she's had a rough year, usually cancels or doesn't show up to gigs. She looked cracked out on something, mumbling in between songs and almost crying at one point, but the way she sang was amazing. And I hate to say it, but I wouldn't be surprised if she passed soon, and I feel privileged to have seen her. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were the best of the whole weekend. She was energetic and amazing. They covered Black Sabbath's War Pigs, and the crowd was so into it, the energy was a literal buzzing. We drove back that night after Bassnectar's rave, and made it back to Pryor at 5 a.m. on Monday morning, jamming out in the car the whole way to keep each other awake. Poor Grayson had to work, but I took the day off, and spent it napping by the apt pool, reading, and had a late lunch with JEN.

Who's going with me next year?

***Caution***

I really shouldn't be allowed to leave the house without wearing a neon hunting vest over bubble wrap, knee & elbow pads, hockey gear, and a helmet.

And I wonder where I get all these bruises all the time, but really I'm a walking disaster zone.
My poor body has been through so much abuse these past few days.
So I've already mentioned my fall at Rocklahoma that resulted in a gigantic bruise covering one whole ass cheek. I've had to lean to the left in my office chair all week trying not to put too much of my weight on it.
Well today was worse.
I started off the day walking down my wet apartment stairs to get to my car. I almost dropped my purse in a puddle and scrambled to catch it and almost fell down a whole flight of stairs...narrowly catching myself and my purse. *Whew, crisis for the day averted*
Nope.
I get to work and munch on my apple. In the middle of one bite I chomp down on my tongue like there is no tomorrow. I guess it wasn't fast enough to dodge my bully teeth. That'll teach it!

Today was a co worker's birthday, so I drove a few of us to lunch. When we get in the parking lot, the rain just lightens up so we jump out and make a run for it, right as the wind picks up, blows my wall of hair right in my face, I'm blind at this point...and I run smack -elbow first- into my car mirror and ping off like a freaking pinball. *INSERT EXPLETIVE*

I walk/run it off to get inside the BBQ place and everyone laughs at my clumsiness. They don't even know the half of it.

Not an hour after we get back from lunch and I'm filing some papers in the PO filing cabinet and scratch my brow. *BAM* nail the other elbow on the way down. At this point I'm looking around wearily at everything within reach like they are rattlesnakes about to bite, walking gingerly and peeking around corners. What seemingly innate and safe but actually extremely dangerous object will attack me next!?!

Rocklahoma 2013

What a weekend.
Pretty much went straight from work to the Rocklahoma grounds on Friday, and didn't leave much but to sleep a few hours and go back out to Rock some more. Sorry mom, if you are reading, I promise I was responsible and didn't drive intoxicated.

Day 1 Started out with Papa Roach, a Pabst and a Jack n coke later and we took this pic. Bush came on shortly after, and another Jack n coke and half of Grayson's later, and I'm lit up. Guns n Roses came after two more beers, but they were about an hour late, so when it was 12:30-1:00 a.m. rolled around and they'd only played 1 of their hits, we called it quits for day 1.

Day 2 started with a few Keystone's. (These were free, so I can't complain.) After having spent entirely too much money on Friday, we brought a cooler with us, and chilled and drank in the parking lots/empty fields and only went in to watch the bands we liked. Halestorm was awesome, so was Bullet for my Valentine. It was freaking hot that day, so the drinking of beer got a little excessive to keep cool. - There was also a little honey whiskey in there... Mixing was a bad idea. I ended up flat on my behind while jumping up and down to Alice in Chains.  There may have been a kiss with one of Grayson's relations, but I feel too weird about going into depth about uncles, and older men. We ended the night with a bonfire at Gray's dad's house.

Day 3 I woke up with a Black and Blue behind. I would post a pic of it, but I'm trying to censor myself a little. ;) We look a little worse for wear at this point. I pretty much just rolled out of bed, tied a headband on my head, and met up with Gray. We talked a lot today over the sounds of Cheap Trick. I couldn't really help but give Gray the 3rd degree about her love life, and she took it like a champ. I just don't want her to have regrets like I do. We made some friends that day, and were challenged to weird dance-offs and wardrobe swaps. Korn finished up the festival and we went home and crashed.

Round two is this weekend in Houston at the FPSF.  More pics and play by plays to come!

Vikings

Sorry about not posting for a while.
Had a little incident with my ex.
Seems that his mother was checking up on me on facebook and found a link to my website.
I think this is funny, because even though I've had this for years now, I don't think my ex ever made the effort to read it. Anyway, she was offended by my post with the country song.
Even though there was nothing malicious in it, and was supposed to be silly, I guess it was misconstrued and he asked me to delete it or take the link from my facebook down.
I took the link down.
Because I'm nice, and I still care about her feelings.

Also my mother and sister discovered this too, so now I feel like I need to edit my language and content.
Hopefully everything is all cooled down now.

My mother was in town recently helping out with my nephew, who is still as adorable as ever:

She stayed with me for a few days and we watched a ton of episodes of VIKINGS, this new show on the History Channel.

We talked about how I wished I would have gone on the European vacation with her, but Joe wouldn't let me, and she brought up this Viking tour vacation. Its a cruise down the Rhine River, starting in Amsterdam.
I laughed a little at the thought of going to Amsterdam with my mother. But the more I thought about it, the better and better it sounded. I have no obligations right now to anyone other than myself. I am back in school, but we should be done by early December. What better way to celebrate my first Christmas alone, than with my mother on a cruise? I'm not sure if this is the exact cruise she had in mind, but this is the general itinerary.

I think I'm going to save up some money to do this. I have never been out of the country and I would like to before settling down again, if that is even in the cards for me. I've already gotten to experience so much in the few months I've been divorced. Been to some of the best concerts, had the most fun with my friends I've ever had.


I've got Rocklahoma coming up in two weeks, then the FPSMFestival in Houston the weekend after that. No time for dwelling on a wasted past, only looking forward to the future.

My Dorkiness Knows No Bounds

So I pretty much came to terms with my dorkiness a long time ago.
I joke with people and say I'm about at the 85th percentile on the scale of dorky.

The comics, the social awkwardness, my laugh (that everyone comments on), the poor eyesight, lack of fashion sense, love of Star Wars, the list goes on.....

Looks like lately I've jumped up to the 90th percentile.
I went to the dentist yesterday, my 6 mo. cleaning.
It was time for the x-rays.
Seems they noticed a bit of change in the surface of my teeth and he tells me I must be 'grinding' my teeth, most likely while I sleep.
This doesn't surprise me, my mom has mentioned several times how she does that. Probably hereditary, just like the horrid migraines and poor eyesight I got from her. "THANKS MOM" ;) I have been having nightmares lately, I wonder if its related?
But then it hits me....
and I bring my hands up to my face as I ask the dreaded question....
OH NO....
"I'm going to have to wear a mouth guard or something aren't I?"
"You need to give it some serious thought, probably have to wear it at night," He says, sealing my fate.
He grins at my crestfallen response.

All I can think of now is that Katy Perry music video for "Last Friday Night." (YouTube it if you haven't seen it) She wears this hideous mouth guard/head gear in it. Ugh. I'm never going to get a date.

I also realized the dorkiness has gotten worse at work today.
Last night I made Spaghetti and meatballs, it was amazing, but I have a ton leftover (hard to cook for 1 person!) I brought it to work to eat for lunch since I'm swamped and wasn't going to take a lunch break.
I sit down at my desk, start to stir it up, look down at my PRISTINE white button-up shirt, and think, "The odds are never in your favor, this will end badly." I cross the room, close my door, and proceed to take off my shirt.
Yes, I ate my delicious leftover Spaghetti and Meatballs in my office with no shirt on.
I decided it was more ridiculous to walk around with sauce splatters on my nice shirt than just eat half-naked in my office.
Makes sense?
95th percentile it is...
\m/

People of Walmart

I really hope God is getting a kick out of my life.
I think I'm living out a great personal comedy right now.

I ordered a couch a few months ago from Mathis Brothers.
Went in and tried out pretty much every single couch that was available.
And by 'try out' I mean sit on, lay on, bounce on, put my feet up, etc.
The poor salesguy was probably rolling his eyes by the end of it.
Out of every model they had in the showroom I picked the one that they didn't have in stock in the warehouse.
So we had to order it.
Boy did they order it.
They had it in stock in Oklahoma City, but my salesman must not have known how to tranfer a model, because somehow he ended up placing a special order for it to be built from the factory.
So instead of having it delivered probably that weekend, I waited a month for it to arrive.
All the while I'm sitting on a bag chair in my new apartment looking like a bum.
Well it finally arrives and they call me the day its supposed to deliver and tell me that they are terribly sorry but there is a tear in the back of it.
They go ahead and bring it out to me but order a replacement, and will come back by to switch them out when the new one is finished.
The delivery guys are HOT! And I mean HOT HOT!
I'm so embarrassed they are coming in my poor little apartment with my sad little bag chair, all I can say is, "yes, and no, and thank you."
Well I'm prepared this time.
The new one comes in recently and I do my hair and fix my makeup all so I don't look so much like a loser, and when they arrive I'm not disappointed in the new crew.
Its going pretty well, we flirt a little, I show them where the tear is in the couch, and one notices my affinity for comics in the decor, and makes a joke about Wolverine getting a hold of it. They leave with the old and to bring up the new, and I immediately text Jen to tell her how hot they are. She texts back asking me to take a pic. I tell her 'no way'. She says just hold the phone up like you are looking at something and snap a little pic on the sly. So when they haul the new couch up, I take my phone and hold it up pensively, acting like I'm checking email and 'click'....my flash goes off....my really freakin bright ass flash.... Busted. They look over confused right as I'm bringing the phone down, and I get a whole lot of counter in my picture. I'm bright red and mortified. They politely ask for my signature on their document and leave.
Ugh.
I just keep getting dorkier.
At Walmart on Sunday I'm in line and notice this cute old couple in front of me wearing matching sweat suits. She's in a pink one, and he's in a grey one:

Its a little hard to see, but at least I remembered to turn off the flash when I creepily took this picture.
Thats when I look down at myself wearing men's sweat pants and a torn wife beater and suddenly realize I'm probably the one people are taking photos of for 'people of walmart' slideshows. Fail.
Either way, it makes me feel a little lonely.
I want someone to wear dorky matching sweatsuits with.
\m/

My life as a country song

Been talking to Jen about how my life feels a little like a country song.
Its been rough.
I surely wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.
And I don't even think mine has been as bad as most.

Was driving in my car, turned on the radio to country music and thought I could relate to the songs they played. My life sounds a little like a bad country song. Thought up a little bit in my head:

Husband for Sale


Back in the day I’d do just ‘bout anything for you;

Work hours in yard just so you wouldn’t have to.

I kept my hair the way you prefer;

My life before you was mostly a blur.

But in the end nothing mattered.

My heart was still the one that shattered.



You sold the boat my daddy gave me,

to increase our money flow.

But when you sold my Jeep,

I knew YOU had to go.



That Jeep was my baby since you wouldn’t give me any.

The lift and tires cost me a pretty penny.

She never left me high and dry,

or ever gave me a reason to cry.

She took me more places than you ever would,

I loved her more than any straight woman should.



You sold my motorcycle too,

That pain you didn’t have to know.

But when you sold my Jeep,

I knew YOU had to go.
~

LOL, you're welcome.
Picture it with a twang and some fiddles playing, and there you go.
\m/