#MyLifeIsAMusical

There is something about music that just speaks to me. It's always played a significant role in my life and always will.  I always have a song in my head, I love discovering recent songs and new artists, I'm constantly making playlists for friends, driving around with the windows down and music on full blast, going to live concerts, and I like to think most moments of my life have their own background music (#Mylifeisamusical).


As a child my dad used to tell me, "Katie, if you put all your classes and studies to music you would be a genius. Your ability to remember every song and artist is uncanny."  And yes, right now you are probably thinking to yourself "this comment totally reminds me of that scene in the Babysitter's Club movie from the early 90's where they make up a song about how the brain works so that she can pass her science class."  And even if you weren't thinking that here's the clip for your viewing pleasure...thank goodness for YouTube...




But seriously, he was probably right - I hear a song played once and more than likely I will know 95% of the words the next time I hear it played and will be singing along.

And then there was the time that music helped me get into college. Two of my college application essays began with song lyrics.

Essay #1 began with, and I quote "Popular artist, Eminem, once rapped 'They say music can alter moods and talk to you, but can it load a gun up for you and cock it too." Yeah, I'm not really sure how I thought that would help me get into college. I'm not sure college admissions people thinking HIGHLY of Eminem...but, somehow it worked! 

Essay #2 was based on the chorus of Billy Joel's "Only the Good Die Young" However, if I'm being entirely honest it wasn't until 10th grade or so that I learned it was actually a Billy Joel song. My 4th grade self was only familiar with the Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies version off of one of the many Punk-O-Rama Cd's I owned as a youngin'. And yes, it was during this SHORT phase of my life that I also wore JNCO jeans and a chain wallet. Don't deny you too didn't own one or both of these items at some point...everyone in the early 90's did and I was no exception. And no, there will be no pictures of me in either of these items...I'm not sure the world is/ever will be ready to see those pics.

However, the time of year I feel I appreciate music the most is...SUMMERTIME!!  Summertime means CONCERTS, CONCERTS, CONCERTS!!

This past weekend I knocked off two of my many summertime shows.

Saturday night was a country fest with Eric Church and Jason Aldean.  Best part of the concert - people watching. I never knew that handkerchiefs also doubled as shirts...apparently they do...and apparently I was the last one to know this.

Here are a couple pics from the lawn:

Sunday night was a wonderful evening with Sugarland and Matt Nathanson.  First of all, Jennifer Nettles vocals BLEW ME AWAY. And Matt Nathanson...well his voice can make anyone melt.  All in all a FANTASTIC night.  My current fave Sugarland song would have to be "Little Miss"  I think it adequately expresses how overwhelming life can get at times...and then it swoops in with a chorus full of hope.  You can check it out here:

Upcoming Summer Concerts:

NKOTBSB...Don't Judge.

Kenny Chesney featuring Zac Brown Band (potentially...still on the fence about this one)

Katy Perry

Tim McGraw

Brad Paisley w/ The Band Perry

Toby Keith

Rascal Flatts (Came part of a concert package...will most likely be selling it...not my all time fave)

and potentially more to add to the list

Garth Brooks in Vegas??? If I can convince anyone to go with me...Why are loyal Garth fans hard to find these days???

Traveling is my Drug of Choice

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley

I love to travel. And I feel as though these quotes capture many of my feelings towards travel.  Whether it be a road trip, day trip, trip abroad, trip home, or trip to a neighboring city...I embrace it all. In fact, some people think it's weird but I actually LOVE road trips. It doesn't take much to convince me to drop everything, hop in the car, and just drive to visit a place 2 hours away or 20 hours away. I plan on spending several weekends of my summer taking these mini weekend road trips...now the question is...where to?!  Only time will tell...

See, Do, and Meet.  These are my main reasons for loving to travel - there are always new things to see, exciting things to do, and wonderful people to meet that I don't think I shall ever get bored of traveling...just so long as I'm not doing it ALL the time. I love having a place to call "home" and come back to my own, cozy bed to rest my head.  Oh, and before I go on I should probably include eating too! One of the great perks of traveling - new foods. 

Although I am always ready to go anywhere, here are the places that have been on my mind recently that I'd like to discover:

Grand Canyon- Arizona  Yes, I know it's Un-American that I've never been here.  Just never had the chance.



Machu Picchu - Peru

Biking through Lancaster County, PA



Barcelona - Spain

Halifax - Nova Scotia

Rio de Janeiro - Brazil



AAA

IF I had an addiction. 

And I'm not saying that I do.

But IF I did and I needed to get help for said addiction I would probably name it "Anthropology Addicts Anonymous" That way if I said I was having a problem with "Triple AAA" people would think I was having a problem with my auto or something, not that I was placing myself on shopping probation from Anthro.

Like I said, that would only be IF I had a problem.  Which I don't.  

But while we are on the subject of Anthro here's a list of items that would currently be on my wishlist...if I cared about such things.  And it's not like I'm going to buy any of these things...really...cause like I said before I don't have an addiction...

 

 

     

Oh Happy Day!

Today is a special day people. It's my older brother's birthday.  On this very joyous occassion, I can't help but remenesce about all the fond memories we share...such as (cue super sentimental "Full House" style music):

• Coming home for the holidays and hearing the words " Seasons Beatings" in place of "Seasons Greetings" followed by "Angel bites" (pinching) and noogies.
• Going on Easter Egg Hunts as a child only to find an egg with my name on it hidden in a pile of dog poop.
• Being welcomed home by my brother with 10 steak knives taped to his fingers pretending to be Freddy Krueger because apparentlyI must have been afraid of Freddy at some point in my life...
• Screaming because my brother was lurking in the shadows with a wrestling mask on when my friends and I would arrive at the house.
•  Receiving 10 phone calls in a row if I don't answer the first time.

Ok, ok all jokes aside and in all seriousness, my life wouldn't be the same without this jokester in my life.  I have the GREATEST family around and am absolutely OBSESSED with my siblings - they are the BEST. And while my brother may pick on my sister and I NONSTOP, I also know he would do absolutely ANYTHING for us and we'd do anything for him too. 

Happy Birthday Tombo!  Love you!

Here's a throwback photo from our childhood

What? I'm Watering a Shoe.

Motivational Posters. They are supposed to motivate us.  But, let's be honest.  Sometimes I don't want to be motivated by the traditional, typical kitten "Hang in There" poster:

I mean I like kittens just as much as the next person...But...sometimes, this is the kind of "motivational" poster I'd rather see. Cause sometimes I think it's more realistic:

There are so many things I love about this.

 Mostly, I love that she's doing exactly what she wants to be doing at that moment. And she doesn't want to be bothered or have to explain what's she's doing or why she's doing it to anyone.

Also, that expression is priceless.



It makes me laugh.

Do You Smell What THE ROCK is Cooking?

Ok...Blogger has been screwy lately. It's deleted this post and had errors so many times.  Hopefully this time it sticks! I'm trying it again...

On some very rare occassions, it's as if moments of greatness just fall into my lap. You know what I'm talking about right? Those moments that are so genius you couldn't have planned for it. They just happen.   I had one such moment last week.

It was one of my breast friends birthday.  And no, you didn't read that wrong. No. It's not a typo.  She really is one of my breast friends.

What exactly is a "breast friend"?  Well...you know how if someone sees a group of guys hanging out together, without women, they're often called a "Sausage Fest."  Well...I decided that a group of girls hanging out, sans men, should be called a "Chest Fest"...and so...the Breast Friends began.

(Some of...although not all BrFF's pictured below)

About now, I should probably also mention that part of the criteria of being "BrFF's" (Breast Friends Forever) is loving #FASTFIVE...oops so used to hashtagging it...I mean...Fast Five. Gauranteed it's currently playing at a movie theater near you.   See it.   Trust me.

I mean, really, what's not to love?      Paul Walker? Yes please.      Fast Cars? Yes please.    Vin Diesel? Yes Please.   Tyrese? Yes Please.     Luda?  Yes Please.     Classic Quotes such as "I'm Hongry" and "I hope you brought your Thunderpants"?  Yes Please.     Ridiculous Action? Yes Please.    Extrememly buff bald man fighting other extremely buff bald man? Yes Please.   I could go on and on...but most importantly...

THE ROCK?  DUH. Absolutely ridiculous whilst being insanely amazing at the same time.

Ok so, we've already established it's Stephanie's birthday. So, I decided to youtube "The Rock + Happy Birthday" and literally, as if it was just sitting there waiting for me to find it, this little gem magically appears on the screen...IT COULD NOT BE MORE PERFECT.

But wait!!! Let's have a quick review before viewing so that you can really appreciate the greatness of this find.  Her name is Stephanie. She is one of my breast friends.  And we love The Rock...mostly because of #FASTFIVE

There are two sides to every story...apparently

Today I went on a walk with my dad. I realized I didn't really know how he met my mom...so, naturally, I asked him.

"well, you know Doug Rogers, that guy that started Cheddars? Well, he had a friend Jim who was dating your mom and I met her when she was with him. We were on a lake."

Next question: "what was your first date?"

"I'm not sure if it was our first, but one of our first dates was to a
Little Richard concert."

Several hours later...

My mom and I are eating cupcakes with some friends. She asks what I've been up to today. I inform her that I went on a walk with dad and found out how they first met on a lake and had their first date at a little Richard concert.

Her response: "What are you talking about? We met at a medical party. He was on stage singing and playing a song he wrote and our first date was to an Ike and Tina turner concert."

And so it goes...Men remember it one way and women remember it a whole other way...And who ever knows who is really right?!

-Live with passion