Wormy Dog Spring Jam

I love Texas Country. Its like comparing high school football to the pros. You actually know those people on stage, know their hometown because its yours or you've been there and actually driven the streets and know exactly where they are playing on Friday night when you here the game on the radio. I could still to this day drive blindfolded to Shotwell Stadium in Abilene because we lost almost every game in that stinking stadium. I know it well. I don't know where Tony Romo or Jason Whitten live, I'd probably pee in my pants if I walked into their house. I don't know where they came from or if his mom or dad cheers the loudest, but I knew those things about my team. I knew their stats every week, knew why one player was terrible after he lost girl, knew who was over and under rated, and so did almost everybody else in the crowd. It's so personal you feel like one huge wave of people rooting for the same thing, victory. Agreed, that's what the pros want, but they get money for winning, way too much money if you ask me.
I've never been to Nashville, would like to one day, but its seems like a far off place where a lot of people who sing the music never lived it. These bands live what they write. They are broke. They love their fans and they love their music and they love where they came from and are not quick to forget it. You play me almost any TX country song and I can tell you a moment from Lubbock that it takes me back too. From high school, to college, to love, to hate, to loving my town, to wanting to leave, to actually leaving and not being able to see the road through my tears. I can't explain anymore than that, some music is just so true that certain songs become a part of you, a part of your story that describe your life better than you can. Shannan back me up on this!

That said, I was thrilled to be able to see some of my favorite bands yesterday. The Josh Abbott Band actually played at our wedding and are quickly rising, thanks to a fabulous new fiddle player Preston. We had the opportunity to meet Preston's family by coincidence yesterday and there are not a better group of people than these guys. He's parents drove from CO to see their son play and we got to hear his whole life story almost. I am so excited they have this new talent, he really adds to the chemistry and personality of the band on stage. Amazing musician, great at fiddle and electric guitar. Interesting tidbit- the fiddle he now plays belonged to Garth Brooks fiddler. I love that they are sticking to the country sound and basing themselves on pure talent. Anyways - love these Red Raiders and Lubbockites and wish them well! Favorite song Taste-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMCQ_NWfqCA


Blue Edmonson STOP SCREWING UP YOUR VOICE! Apparently Austin is creating a new southern rock sound characterized by singing through the throat for a very scratchy, hoarse sound. New songs are not good for sing-along. Disappointed.

Eli Young Band- rocking show and still love the classics! Mike Eli has one of the most distinctive voices I've ever heard, he really sets them apart from everyone else. It's almost a spiritual experience to hear them play "When it Rains" live. They know its the song that made them and still revere it as such. Great when you are in a bad mood-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztHNs_b_sy0

Randy Rogers- sorry to say we left after sitting in the sun for 6 hours to grab a bite to eat. Made it back in time for a few favorites. We didn't go back inside, we walked to the bridge that went up right behind the stage. By that time it was dark and we had this incredible view of downtown. Must be great to play the songs you love and see that background. Danced to "Kiss me in the Dark" on the bridge, utterly romantic! Brownie points to Brian! Beware Viewers! I didn't watch the whole video but I know it shows some skin, so just minimize your screen while its playing :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoBlryfjlCc

Contest

Ok so I am aware that only like 4 people read my blog, but I need your help. The commissary is having a contest for the best dog, all you have to do is turn in a picture for a gift card. Of course I love all of these but I am biased. I would greatly appreciate a vote!!


1. Taken at the lake this weekend, his alert pose.



2. His puppy, carefree, love life pose.



3. In the car, his I would travel the world with you pose.



4. At Granny's, his I am a Greek god pose.


5. First day we got him, looks puny after 4 but oh so sweet!


THANK YOU!

Memorial Day

Last weekend we spent a few days at the lake with our friends Daniel and Desi. They've known Brian since high school and are just a great couple we can relax and do nothing with. They brought down their boat so Brian was in heaven the whole time. The boys water skiied, after seeing them bust over and over we girls just went around on the tube. I tried to ski last summer and it didn't work out that well and I didn't feel like putting that much work into skiing, just my tan which thanks to sunscreen, didn't happen.




Ranger went swimming for the first time, if you can call standing on the shore swimming. At one point he put his front legs around my leg, it would have been really funny if he hadn't looked like he was seconds away from death. Lucky was swimming circles around him as if saying "look what I can do!" I never get tired of watching Lucky in the water, he is so awkward and goofy all the time but when he gets down to the lake he becomes a different bird. The picture below is old, they don't have the sailboat anymore but we took off one time thinking Lucky would stay by the shore but he followed us and ended up riding with us across the lake.







We stayed with my grandparents on the way back and they just loved him! Granny kept giving him bacon under the table so he licked her the whole time. Grandad just has this natural attraction for dogs, every dog we've had just worships him. Ranger gave him plenty of attention and his nap spot in their house is right by his chair. Here he is sitting by Granny cause she just made cookies and he was waiting for a taste of what he smelled. Oh funny Brian story- so they gave us a GPS that talks and has a screen and whatnot and Brian's comment was
"Good now instead of you telling me what to do it will tell you what to do." That will give you a hint of how well we travel together :)

How long before you look like your dog?

I took this on the way to DFW last weekend and love it because it captures them perfectly! Some times I feel like the third wheel, they are totally alike and love each other like nothing I've ever seen. While Ranger is Brian's shadow, he still minds me better. After I got on to some kid at school he leaned over to his friend and I quote "Dude she is gonna be a good mom, did you see that look she gave me?" So I guess Ranger (as well as Brian on occasion) has learned to obey "the Look."


Ranger hiked his leg for the first time the other night. Brian was celebrating and I was crying that he wasn't my little puppy anymore. We think he's about 45 pounds now, growing like a weed, but looks pretty funny because he's got a real long tummy and gangly legs. He pretty much looks like a big wiener dog.

Who am I to judge?

I normally don't watch "political" tv, speeches, debates, etc. I figure I vote, I can't do much else to change what they do once they get to DC. One little letter doesn't speak much anymore in my opinion. I love our country with all my heart, but understand its not what it was meant to be when laid out by the founding fathers. That said, I don't exactly see eye to with our President. On a lot of things. I don't know if any of you saw coverage on his Notre Dame commencement speech on 5-17, but I found some very disturbing parts to the speech.

First of all, he should have stuck with congrats and good luck. No, he spends the majority of his speech on the abortion debate. I understand that not everyone who attends ND is a devout Catholic, but that's not what I would want to hear on my graduation day. He pretty much said Let's agree to disagree, "So let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion...and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women." Glad you're not one of those Sir. He says he will make some good things happen, but words are not actions.

Second, at the beginning of his speech he talks about the changing world and times. "Your class has come of age at a moment of great consequence for our nation and the world - a rare inflection point in history where the size and scope of the challenges before us require that we remake our world to renew its promise; that we align our deepest values and commitments to the demands of a new age."

ALIGN –verb (used with object)

1.	to arrange in a straight line; adjust according to a line.

2.	to bring into a line or alignment.

3.	to bring into cooperation or agreement with a particular group, party, cause, etc.

Ok Mr. President, you want these students to adjust (conform, make suitable) our "deepest values and commitments" to the current world, which is always changing, so really you want our "deepest values and commitments" to be exactly the opposite. Our values and commiments should be flexible and maleable to what society tells us it they should be...ok...

IN THE SAME SPEECH, just a little later - "In this world of competing claims about what is right and what is true, have confidence in the values with which you've been raised and educated. Be unafraid to speak your mind when those values are at stake. Hold firm to your faith and allow it to guide you on your journey. Stand as a lighthouse."

?

I'll let you form your own opinions on that.

Third, in the speech he refers to Christian practices and teachings; "I said a prayer that night," "I was brought to Christ," "remember the lessons of Cardinal Bernardin, of Father Hesburgh," "Open hearts. Open minds," (First United Methodist slogan is open hearts, open minds, open doors) "Part of the problem, of course, lies in the imperfections of man - our selfishness, our pride, our stubbornness, our acquisitiveness, our insecurities, our egos; all the cruelties large and small that those of us in the Christian tradition understand to be rooted in original sin." Fine and dandy I suppose when you are speaking at a traditionally Catholic University. But wait..

IN THE SAME SPEECH - just a little later - "But remember too that the ultimate irony of faith is that it necessarily admits doubt...this doubt should remind us to persuade through reason, through an appeal whenever we can to universal rather than parochial principles..."

FAITH–noun

1.	confidence or trust in a person or thing

2.	unquestioning belief that is not based on proof

I'm pretty sure that's the opposite of doubt, but if any of you have any thoughts on that first line, let me know.

Now if universal means "applicable everywhere in all cases" and parochial means "of or pertaining to parochial schools or the education they provide, very limited or narrow in scope or outlook" and according to the dictionary, they do...the students are not to remember the lessons of their Catholic seniority and take the pansy way out and agree with everyone. I wonder what these Catholics are thinking now...

Time

A little background info: My first job was with my dad at age 15. My second job was at the age of 16 at my dance studio. During college I added a third job on campus. With 3 jobs and school full-time, me and Brian did most of our dating between 10 and midnight. The hours between 4pm and 9pm were non-existent, never watched prime-time tv, didn't get to sleep in on Saturdays, and if I had a dollar for every time I had to say "Sorry, can't make it because I have to work" I would be filthy rich. Florida was the first time I only had to work. I am telling you this because I have always been told what to do with my time and where I would be. I remember calling in to work when we got Lucky, I seriously could not even buy a stinking duck without missing work. So really, time was a precious thing NOT to be wasted.

Fast forward to 2009. Go to ASBC with Brian and move to OK. Out of work for a total of 3 1/2 months. That may not sound like much but it felt like an eternity. ASBC was like a 6 week vacation, my life revolved around Jon and Kate Plus Eight and surfing the internet for addicting little games like Bejeweled. (secret internet game junkie) I forced myself to sleep in past 9 every day, maybe got out of my pajamas after lunch, was a total bum. I loved every minute of it!! Of course some days I felt like I had wasted my day just like the one before but hey, there are worse problems to have...

I love substituting. I mean seriously, I'm done by 3. That's early afternoon in my book. Plenty of time to sit on the couch and get a good 2 hours of sewing in before I even think about dinner! Needless to say I have been soaking up this glorious feeling of freedom. Until...
"It's still not your time. It's Mine." Are you kidding me? I wake up to this? God burst my beautifully colored hot-air balloon I was flying away in and drops me to earth with a heart-wrenching THUD. And I realize He's right. I have been doing the most selfish and useless things with this gift of time and when I look back I realize I am completely stagnant. "Where ever you go, there you are."

So it's been a challenge for me to wake up in the morning (a challenge in itself) and give up my day to His purpose. But it has completely changed my perspective, I feel like just that quick acknowledgment turns my focus for the whole day. Whenever I have any kind of situation with a choice of some consequence, I immediately throw up a quick "help me through this." Trust me- that happens a lot when your stuck in a room of 30 teenagers :) It's a difficult thing for me to give it up when I barely got a taste for it, but I know He will make that time I give Him one thousand times more productive than I could even think about.

"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord..." Hosea 10:12

Easier said than done.