My Night With the Plain White T's

 First, if you haven't heard of these guys... check them out.  They are pretty rockin awesome!  They sing "Hey There Delilah", :1,2,3,4" and "Rhythm of Love". 

Tonight they performed at the Hard Rock Live in Biloxi.  I scored some sweet free tickets (always an awesome thing)...bonus when we went in the guy at the door said go to the right and through the barricade.  I wasn't sure what he was talking about, but since he was kinda large like a bouncer, I followed his directions.  Well, to our surprise and delight, we got to stand in the section closest to the stage (and for future knowledge, I will arrive earlier so I can stand against the stage).  Regardless of not being right on the stage, we had a sweet spot.   So, I have liked them since Hey There Delilah came out a few years ago, but after tonight I am a total super fan.  I think I will buy an album on ITunes and not just listen to them on Pandora while I drive.  

Let me introduce you to the guys in the band

Tom - Lead Singer

Tim - Singer, but not lead singer - he is the lead voice in Rhythm of Love

Mike - bass guitar guy - kinda looks like the big ole teddy bear kinda guy

De'Mar - Drummer, which makes him automatically cool

Dave  - guitar player - pretty much my favorite

So, the show was ROCKIN tonight ( I think I mentioned that already)... but it was!  So I got some great photos. So here is some photo OVERLOAD... sorry I get a little camera happy at times!

Tracy and I ready for the show to start!

It was hard to get pics of Dave, he was on the other side of the stage

 

Hey There Biloxi... it's what you do to me!

Tom totally rockin out!

 

Oh yeah... I got the set list... Thanks Tracy for your help!!!

Ok, I have videos.. but they won't upload...but I will get them on there later.

I hope you enjoyed... I know I did!!!!

Love, Me

Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses

Ah, here are a few Destin beach pictures....more will come when I see Leanne this weekend and steal her pictures!  But I just couldn't resist these!  Inspiration from a sign I once saw and desire to have at my future beach home...hopefully soon if I get a job in the Gulf Shores, Alabama area  :)  

Sandy Toes

Salty Kisses

Crazy two months!

Getting ready for the beach in Destin!!!

It's me!  I know I feel like I fell off the face of the earth...sorry, I promise to keep in touch more often! Ok, so I last chatted with you at the beginning of May...gulp...total slacker!  Ok, where to begin.

My mom and Nana - both are doing FANTASTIC!

My Nana had part of her lung removed and she is doing great!  Still going strong at 83!  The lady doesn't let anything take her down!  She is leaving sometime this month to go back home to Canada to visit her sisters. 

My mom got her chemo port out last week and is doing great.  Her hair is starting to grow back and I think she looks like Cooper Anderson :)  She has to take a pill everyday for the next couple of years, but has a cancer free bill of health!  Right now she is preparing for reconstructive surgery.  Yesterday, she and her friend Elaine went zip lining.  My mom is a superstar!  To quote Leanne "Your mom is at least 8 different kinds of awesome!"  It's true, she is!

End of school/job hunt -  Well, school ended, I did not resign my contract, even though I was asked several times to stay by the Devil Principal.  I am sure she was nervous because 12 teachers were leaving (she talked Laura into staying) - do you think that is a sign of how bad it is there?  Plus I know several assistants are not coming back either.  That doesn't look good on her.  But I know not resigning was the right thing to do, now all I have to do is keep the faith that everything will work out the way it should.  But I am getting NERVOUS/STRESSED because tomorrow is the 1st of July and I still have NOTHING!  I have applied to almost every district from Jackson to New Orleans to Gulf Shores.  I have been emailing principals and still nothing.  Maybe I just need to relax, but it is hard to do.  I did interview with the assistant superintendent for one district, but he said they have no openings on the elementary level right now, but things can open up close to the beginning of school...keeping my fingers crossed.

Boys - I said that I had some dates...yes I did!  My friend Aimee and I had a blind date with some boys from Tupelo (birth place of Elvis).  It was a good time.  My date -boy #1- was a great guy and we are now facebook friends.  And you know what they say... you are only real friends if you are facebook friends.  I guess he wasn't that interested...I haven't really heard from him since.  But the other guy was very loud and honestly, obnoxious and B#1 really didn't get a chance to know me.  Maybe I should try for a second date...maybe not.  

Boy #2, I just don't know what to do about. Let me fill you in...the weekend before Easter (so mid April?) a group of us singles in the Jackson area went a played goofy golf (or mini golf - I think only people from the coast call it goofy golf).  Boy #2  was not supposed to go because he was going out of town for work, but thanks to a tornado hitting Clinton, he ended up not going and was able to come play with us.  B#2 was in my ward in Jackson and I had never really talked to him in the almost 2 years I had lived there.  Well, I should say we never had a conversation other than hey, how's it going?  Well, B#2 and I had a good time and were able to talk a bit and get to know each other.  I was told by a mutual friend that B#2 said he thought I was awesome.  This mutual friend told me B#2 and I need to hang out and get to know each other.  Well, B#2 went home for Easter and I did facebook him and he mentioned getting together when he got back...ok cool.  We made plans for dinner and a movie.  For the first Friday in May.  However, the Sunday before (last Sunday in April) I was invited to his house for Sunday dinner and he asked me to stay and watch a movie.  Anyways, things were going great, he came to a crawfish boil (mid May) with me at my friends (even though he is allergic) and that night he told me I was good for him, he hadn't felt this way about anyone in a long time (he is divorced), and I had him hooked.  Ok, I melted and fell for him hook,line and sinker.  At this point though I had less than 2 weeks in Jackson and then I was moving home, but he said we would make it work.  Things were going well...and then the night before I left for the coast, I went to watch a movie at his house and as I was leaving, he told me he couldn't make it work in his mind and he didn't want a relationship with me but still wanted to be friends...SERIOUSLY!!!  I went numb, I didn't know what to say, how to react, I think my mouth hit the ground.  What the heck just happened?  Earlier that day he called me 3 times as he was driving to job sites to talk and everything was normal...what happened in a couple of hours???  I agreed to be friends.  I liked him, he's a good guy (except for dropping a BOMB on me).  I don't know what happened, I haven't asked....should I?   Well, the thing is, things haven't changed.  We still talk on the phone all the time (at least 3-5 days a week and usually for an hour or so at a time).  I have been out with him when I went to Jackson two weeks ago (and after our outing, we sat in my car for 2 hours talking) and last night I met him in Slidell (he is working in Covington this week) for dinner.  When we go out, he pays for everything, but he is a good guy.  We flirt with each other.  I feel like nothing has changed...so can it work being friends?  I like him, but if he just wants to be friends, why waste time and energy on him right?  But part of me still does like him, I like spending time with him, talking with him and getting to know him.  Suggestions?  Advice?

So that is what is going on with me....Oh I did go to Destin, Florida last weekend with Leanne and Paula for our annual girls weekend.  So much fun... pictures to come in a blog post soon... I need to get some of Leanne's pictures!

Love ME!

Can a pair of shoes change your life?

"Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change a girls life"

Really? It worked for Cinderella, can it work for me? I need to find those glass slippers that have Prince Charming attached to them.   I love shoes, but with all the pairs I have bought, I haven't found a pair yet that has changed my life. However, while on vacation this past weekend, I did find these little beauties! I had fun trying them on, but sadly I had to leave them behind. Why you may ask...why they are Jimmy Choo's and Manolo Blahnik's...that's why! My teacher budget does not allow for these shoes...maybe I need a new profession. I don't think they would have completely changed my life, but when they were on my feet, they brought a smile to my face. Oh Jimmy, Oh Manolo, why can't you make shoes for a working girls budget? So, I am on the hunt now for a pair of shoes that will make me feel like Cinderella...but on my payless/clearance rack budget. In the meantime, I will have fun trying these on!

A little random, but but thanks for listening

I find myself standing here with the only thought... "ok, what do I do now?"  and I have nothing, no answer, no clue what to do next. Part of me is scared, and part of me is ok with it. 


Let me catch yall up...


Last August, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was unexpected but it was caught early.  She had to have two surgeries and had four rounds of chemo and is now doing wonderful!  She is hoping her hair will come back in curly!  Through the whole ordeal, my mom was a rock.  She had the best attitude, which I feel, helped the outcome of the situation.  Needless to say, I have been home just about every weekend and for a week with each surgery.   It has been great getting to spend so much time with her over the past months.    We just found out that my Nana has lung cancer, she has had surgery and is doing well.  They are discussing the next step of what to do. 


As I traveled so much from Jackson to the coast and realized that I am working in a completely miserable place, I began to ponder if I should stay there next year or if I should find something new.  After much pondering and prayer, I know that leaving the school I am in is the right thing to do.  So, I gave my resignation letter and have signed all the papers and as of June 2, 2011, I am jobless.  But you know what?  I know resigning was the right thing to do and I know everything will be ok. 


I am a planner, I like having a plan.  And I think I do.  But through my life, I have found that my plans are not always Heavenly Father's plans for me.  I wanted to be a doctor, but I know being a teacher is what I should be doing.  I wanted to be married by 25 and here I am at 32 still single.  I never wanted to go to BYU, but I ended up at BYUI and LOVED every minute of it.  My plans never seem to go as I plan, but when I look back, the way they ended up is way better than my ending picture. 


Now, since I started thinking about quitting, I have always said, if I have a reason to stay in Jackson, I would.  Do I have a reason?  I don't know yet.  But here is my tentative plan:  I am moving home for the summer.  I don't know where I am going to work.  I have applied for several jobs and went to the St. Tammany job fair, but nothing.  I do know I will end up where Heavenly Father needs me to be.  Why I ended up in Jackson, I don't know yet.  I have made great friends.  I love my ward.  And since I have made the decision to quit my current job and move home, I have had a couple of dates with some really great guys. So, now I am completely drawing blanks about what to do.  The only thing I do know and when I pray about it is, everything will be ok.  Not the answer I want, I am more of a give me a flashing sign/do this kinda girl.   I would love to have the inspiration of exactly where to apply or where to move or what to do, but that is not the answer I am getting.  So, I am moving home for the summer and I will go from there and I know everything will work out. 




So, thanks for listening to me ramble about this and I will let you know where I end up.

I love the 610 Stompers, I really do

You might be asking...you love the who? what?  Well, I love the 610 Stompers.   They are a group of middle aged men that dress up in funky 1980s short man shorts (in blue), knee socks with the 2 stripes on top (my dad had these socks!), oh and the gold sparkly shoes are the best!  Now, you might be wondering, why are these guys dressed like this?  The answer...to dance!!!  I can't explain it, you have to see the video to understand.  Maybe it is just me, maybe it is because the are from the city I love, New Orleans, maybe they just make me smile.  I don't know... I just love the 610 Stompers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy the two videos...hope you get a chuckle or they make you smile too! :)

This is one is during the great Superbowl 2010!  At the Buddy D parade....

This was at the NO Hornets game the other day...

I am a guest blogger!

Ok yall go check out my friend Brittany's blog

House of Sorensens

to check out my guest blog spot

I am super excited!

I am a WINNER!

I have had the worst luck lately ... I have been trying to win a silhouette  and have had no luck.  However, yesterday that changed!  I won a contest!   No, it wasn't a silhouette.  But it is awesome none the less.  :)   

My friend Brittany at House of Sorensens, had a contest for a headband from Love Stitched.  And thanks to random.org....my number was picked!  So, now I am anxiously watching the mail for this to come....

Pictures to come when I get it!!!

It's Fat Tuesday, Yall!

Happy Mardi  Gras!!!

Ok, yall it's the last day of one of my favorite holidays.  Yes, Mardi Gras is a holiday, well down here in South Mississippi, Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans it is!
It truly is one of the best holidays ever! 

I know many of you have only heard the negative aspects of Mardi Gras. (The news is always reporting the negative) It is true, the traffic is horrible, parking for parades can be a beast, you sometimes have to walk forever from your car to the parade route, there are drunk people, sometimes a shooting (yet I have never seen or heard one - and I have been going to Mardi Gras since I was little!!), "there ain't no place to pee on Mardi Gras Day" - sang by Benny Grunch -  bathrooms are hard to come by at times, and yes when you go to the French Quarter you do see exposed body parts at times.

However, there are many positives to the Mardi Gras season...

first, Mardi Gras can be family friendly!  You have to know where to watch the parades and you just don't go down to the French Quarter.   Where I like to go for parades, if very family friendly...lots of them gathered together to watch the parades.  Little kids are put into boxes on top of ladders so they can see better and be seen better by those on the floats!

Ladder seats for kids!

Also, this year I was able to get in some cousin bonding time with my two little cousins Sofia (the blonde) and Anna (the brunette).  They are 14 and 16 and were super stoked to be able to go to parades with me!  Also, Sof told me her friends were jealous that she got to go with her cool older cousin and not her parents.  :) 

Sof, Anna and I waiting for the Krewe of  Troth to begin

Another awesome thing about Mardi Gras is ... Parades!!!  The floats are spectacularly decorated (each Krewe has a different theme for the year...Throth was 'Throth goes to college', each float was a different subject; Bacchus had a wonderful theme 'Bacchus salutes WWII Veterans' - each float was a different branch of the military or a different war effort... one float had war vets on it!).  The floats in the night parades are all lit up, you have gotta love a little glitter and sparkle in life! 

Oh and when the floats are passing you have to stick your hands in the air and yell 'THROW ME SOMTHIN MISTER'  and grab for the flying plastic bead necklaces, plastic go cups (cups you can put your drink in so you can take it to go), and whatever things for flying through the air

Throw Me Somethin Mister!!!!

Gotta get those hands up!

Some of my loot!

Many people love to dress up in costume and others get creative with their transportation

This was a marching group..I forget their name...but look how fun!

Transforming a wagon into a famous New Orleans street car...way to travel in style!

These guys start the Endymion parade!

How could I forget the costumes that the king, queens, dukes, maids, and riders wear??  The royalty of the parades are decked out is fabulousness!

A Duke in Bacchus

King of Endymion waves Happy Mardi Gras to all!

All riders wear mask to hide their identity ... a Mardi Gras tradition!

Oh how can one forget the celebrities that ride in the big parades!

This year in Endymion...Kelly Rippa, Mark Consuelos and Anderson Cooper!

The marching bands are always a treat to watch!

Marine Corps Band! 

How can one forget the flambeau?  (pronounced flam bo)

These guys carry the flambeaus with real fire and people throw change at them...or if they are nice they hand the money to them...one family next to us gave all the guys a black and mild cigar!  That is one I haven't seen before!

There are other great things about Mardi Gras - for kids on the coast and the New Orleans area, you get days off school (some places get the whole week off!), Mardi Gras balls, parties, KING CAKE!, the music,  the traditions that go along with it, the food, the gathering of family and friends for a day of fun, the debate of whether you are a sidewalk side or neutral ground side person (this is where you watch the parades from -- I personally am a sidewalk side girl).  

So as you can see from my pictures of this years Mardi Gras celebration, it really is a fun and exciting time!  And my offer stands, if you have never been, come down next year and see me, we will have a BLAST!!!   Jackomo fe no nan e'! 

So until next year, Laissez les bons temps rouler!