Lady Antebellum Concert

A couple weeks ago the hubby and I were driving back from Wilmington where we went to get a bridesmaid's dress for me for my best's friend's wedding (19 DAYS SAMMY SAM!) when I heard on our radio station to call in for concert tickets. Ryan was asleep in the passenger seat as I started steathily dialing again and again. Suddenly it started ringing. I slammed the phone into his chest and yelled, "TALK TO THEM! IT'S RINGING!"

 

My poor husband was so confused when he heard "Sorry, you're caller six. Try again." Especially since I yelled at him to hit redial. To my surprise it rung again and we were caller nine! We won!! To quote Ryan's whispers as he covered the mouthpiece, "What did we win??"

 

Tickets to see Lady Antebellum, Billy Currington and Kasey Musgraves in Raleigh!

 

Poor Ryan didn't even know how to answer the DJ when he asked, "Ryan, how do you spell country?" He didn't even know what station I was listening to (the same country one we ALWAYS listen to) so he turned to me and said, "Sweetie, tell them how we spell country." to which I saved his behind and yelled out "WRNS!"

 

Smooth.

This would be our first country concert so I was pretty excited, as was he. The lawn tickets arrived in the mail a week or two before and had a spot of glory on our fridge until the big day. Naturally it was sunny every day up until the concert. The Friday of the concert it turned gray and green and tornado warnings blasted across the radio. Naturally. Did I mention we had lawn seats in an outdoor ampitheatre?

 

The entire two hour drive to Raleigh the sky got darker and greener and the rain poured until we hit our exit. Magically the skies cleared and we trudged through the mud to the ampitheatre.

We rented chairs (since, um, we forgot to bring some) and staked out decent seats as the sun began to set. Fate was on our side as the rain stayed away the entire concert! Victory!

We had a gorgeous sunset happen behind us too as some awesome music happened in front.

My iphone didn't take the best pictures (and the quality on my 11 or so videos is so so) but we heard and saw just fine. All the acts were brilliant. Even Ryan agreed. Sometimes when you hear someone on the radio versus a concert you can tell a lot of editing is done in the studio but all three of these acts sounded exactly like they did on the radio, glorious!

I am such a dork for the panorama setting on my iPhone. I seriously need help. All three acts sang some songs you didn't expect as well. Kasey Musgraves sang some Miranda Lambert (and nailed it, it was the This Ain't My Mama's Broken Heart song), Billy Currington sang Blurred Lines and Friends in Low Places, and Lady A sang When I'm Gone (the cups song).

It did get a little chilly as the sun went down but we were prepared with hoodies thankfully. I felt bad for all the girls walking around in short gauzy sundresses but I am sure their beer kept them warm. At $11 a can (for bud light) it better!

Concerts used to be lit up by lighters. Now they are lit up by flashlights from smart phones. The enitre ampitheatre was GLOWING when Lady A asked us for some light. It was crazy!

 

All five of them got together and sang "Sittin on the dock of the bay" which was awesome. Especially when they got to the whistling part and no one could keep a straight face to listen into the microphone.

So yes, the show was fantastic, I heard (and maybe recorded) all my favorites and had a wonderful time with Ryan. We sang and danced and paid way too much for drinks and food but certainly worth it. Even sitting with our gas tank empty light on for an hour in the parking lot trying to get out was an adventure in itself!

 

I will try to upload a video or two.... we shall see!

 

 

Weekend in Jersey

This past weekend my mom was going to be in New Jersey for a craft show at church. Knowing my mom was four hours away instead of eight I drove up Friday night to spend the weekend with her. It officially had been the longest time we have ever gone without seeing one another! July to November. I know it isn't a lot, but it was for us!

My drive up Friday was long. Lots of construction and accidents, so instead of an hour to get to my usual rest stop it took me two. Luckily. I still had my favorite radio station, country of course, 98.7 WMZQ playing a lot longer than I should have. I was about ten miles from the rest stop when the DJ said caller nine right now wins tickets to see Miranda Lambert. I always try so I thought, What the hell? I picked up my phone and got the number out of my contacts (I told you, I try a lot!) and it rang.

On the first try it rang.

AND I WON!

No usual hang up, redial, hang up, redial. One shot, boom I am through!!!!

I am going to my FIRST country concert in January... for free!!! SO pumped!



Anyway, I got into Jersey around 11:30pm. My mom was at my grandparents' house and she didn't tell them I was coming, so they had a nice surprise! I slept in my old room and it was strange... I don't even remember the last time I spent the night there. We used to live 45 minutes away, plenty of visiting... so it was cool. I felt like a little kid again in a way.

We had to get up early the next day to get my mom to the church, but we did enjoy breakfast together first.

I dropped my mom off at church then went and got my oil changed. You get a free exterior car wash with an oil change so I went to watch my car go through and I saw these...



Guns to shoot water at your car! You bet your bottom dollar I used them all. I don't care if they were for kids, it was fun!!!

I then went to our friend Fran's house and took a much needed shower before napping on their couch. Pretty much all afternoon. I then drove and met my mom at the church and on my way I saw these!




It was a little chilly, I am sure especially out there, but I love seeing them in Jersey. Also there were tons of trees down from the freak snow storm last week. No snow, but plenty of damage.



Anyway we went to mass and then out to Fridays. I had a gift card for Kohls and we went there and I ended up getting early Christmas treatment from Mom (: I spent more than my gift card for sure but I really needed sweaters and stockings for work! I love them all.

We then went back to Fran's and had the night talking to her, her husband Rob, and their kids Chris and Nicole. Chris is my brother Stefan's best friend and I cannot believe how big he got! Freshman boys are huge. Dear Lord. Nicole grew too! We watched some football (Sad day Gamecocks, but woohoo Tigers!) and then went to bed.

The next morning I went to the church again and mom told me we had to go look at the house.



My parents couldn't sell the house so we have renters for at least a year before trying again. I was aprehensive, I didn't want to go see the house I grew up in from six years old on with other people in it. But I am glad I did... it was definitely closure. It wasn't my house anymore. It is definitely a country house and they have all this modern furniture in it that just does not work. And they totally were smoking in there. It kind of upset me to see the house in such a way as we checked the hot tub and furnace, but it definitely made me realize that is not my home anymore.

Back at the church Craft Fair I sold raffle tickets and walked around. I got an awesome wine purse (giraffe pattern) as well as a delicious sausage and pepper sandwich. And a meatball sandwich for good measure. Man I miss Jersey food! My two aunts came to the show too with one of my cousins and it was great to see them as well.

Then it was back on the road for me. Gas was SO cheap I had to take a picture...



Luckily the drive home was quicker and I got to see the Giants win! GO BIG BLUE!

I am glad I had the time with my mom. It has been a long time since it was just us two and I really miss her. We talk on the phone daily but it is so much better to be together in person.



Totally worth eight hours in the car (:

Camouflauge

I heard this song for the first time this weekend and I loved it. Have to share it for the link up with Goodnight Moon.

Camouflage by Brad Paisley




Back to the regular blogging soon!

What's Your Song? - 19

I first heard this song a few days ago. The Country Station around here (98.7) does what they call "The 5:30 Future File" where they play a new (or not often played) song on the radio and people call in to rotate it or recycle it. When they first played the song Michael J (the DJ) did not say who sang it.

As I was driving home I definitely got teary. I can't help it, these kinds of songs always tear me up. So I actually called in, for the first time, to vote for rotate. Michael J thanked Ryan for his service, which my husband got a kick out of when I told him over the phone later! Most people wanted to rotate it, a few did want to recycle because "Billy Ray is just trying to make a buck on a sensitive subject" and one who said that was former military even. To each their own.

I liked the song. Hope you do too.



Link up with Goodnight Moon.




PS - A lot of people are saying they cannot comment on blogger blogs... now I can't either! Anyone have a fix?

Soldier Comin' Home Contest

I was recently sent an email about this great website and contest and I had to share it with you all! I know some of you have men deployed so maybe this is something that will interest you!

If you visit the website Soldier Coming Home Contest all you have to do is upload a video of your loved one coming home! Ten favorites will be featured in a music video for the song "Soldier Coming Home" by Jamie O'Neal, the video will be played on music channels like GAC and CMT!!

Here's the even more awesome part, the person who has the best video will win a trip to Nashville, TN and they'll introduce the video with Jamie O'Neal on TV on GAC!

For all those of you who don't wish to enter or cannot, the single "Soldier Coming Home" is featured on My Country Smash Hits 2, which is available in select markets now and will be available nationwide towards the end of Fall. The CD also features songs by Kenny Chesney, Blak Shelton, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, and more.

On youtube I found this video from Jamie O'Neal herself explaining the contest, feel free to watch and enjoy.




Thank you!!!

Thursday Song Link Up

I have heard this song a LOT this week, and it always makes me a little teary! Ever since the first time I heard it I thought it was terrific, but it has been playing on the radio almost every time I've gotten in the car this week. So here you go...



Join in the fun with Goodnight Moon.

More to come later!