Odds and Ends

1. I must say that I am addicted to the power and what it does for me. I got home last night around 5:45 to find that I didn't have any power. I thought that surely it would be on soon. After all, I live in town, and, for the 3 years that I've lived here, my power hasn't stayed off long, even in a hurricane. Well, I was wrong. I cleaned some while there was still light, but after that I was bored. So...I tried to go to bed early because I was exhausted...no such luck. It was hot! I went to visit Daphne for a while, then came home to go to bed because the recording at Alabama Power said it would be back on by 11 pm....well I slept terrible because I was hot and I could hear everything that was going on outside! (Usually my fan drowns out all noise!) Finally at 8:15 this morning, my power returned...what a relief! Now I can cool down, eat and have something to do! How sad is that!!!

2. I went to see Carrie perform at the BJCC this past Tuesday. I took Stephanie, Mandy, and Sondra...3 past coworkers who are my friends. None of them had seen her since she became a performer....though I think they were excited to see how I acted! We had a blast! They all raved about how great it was and said they would go back. (If you've never seen her perform...you should go...I guarantee that you'll have fun!!)

Here we are


I also got to see a "Carrie friend." She and I met at my first Carrie concert in Huntsville. I saw her again when I went to North Carolina, but we text a lot about getting tickets and such. She also went to Auburn, so we have a lot to say during football season!

Here is my friend Kasey


I tried 10 different contacts, seriously, to try to get back stage passes...no such luck this time. WZZK tried...they just couldn't come through for me this time...nonetheless, I still think they are great. I guess I can't meet her every concert I go to! was talking to my friends before the show saying that I needed to do something memorable to get Carrie to know who I am. Well....if you've seen her perform recently, you know that she comes up out of the floor as an entrance. I was on the second row, and I wanted to know what it looked like in the "hole"....so I stood in my chair and looked down. I saw her run off to the back out of sight. As she came up, she looked at me straight in the eye and said "You saw me!" So here's to hoping she will remember me the next time I meet her....even if it's in December at the next concert I'm able to go to. Here's also to hoping I'm not in trouble with her!!

Carrie's entrance


I had great seats so I got some great pictures! I won't rave and gush in this blog...I'll just show a couple of pictures.












3. Last, but not least, I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD! Daphne wanted to go on a trip to get away from the hustle and bustle for a few days. She easily convinced me to go with her. We looked into going to NYC to see a Broadway play or to Boston, but plane tickets cost too much. So, we talked my sister into going with us, and we will be spending the 4th with Mickey Mouse!

Randomness

I have a few random comments I want to put out there!

1. WZZK is the best radio station in Birmingham...more to come on that one!

2. If you have a Wii, you should buy Wii Fit. It will work you out more than you think it will, and it's a lot of fun too!

3. If you drive a lot, buy AAA. I will be buying a membership after I get paid because without it, I would have been stranded at a patient's house yesterday!

4. I have NKOTB tickets....yes, I'm FINALLY getting to see New Kids on the Block...even if it is 20 years later. My tickets are great too!

I'm famous

DISCLAIMER: This post will be long and picture heavy, but worth checking out!

I have decided that, for at least this week, I'm famous. Yesterday, I attended the yearly Carrie Underwood fan club party. (I will review this in a moment because I know all of my readers are dying to know!) While waiting in line for 2 1/2 hours for the doors to open, one of my fellow Carrie fans showed me this weeks Country Weekly magazine. There was a 2 page spread of Carrie getting inducted into the Opry, and one of the pictures was the picture that she took with the fan club...which I am in! (Scroll down a couple of posts ago to see this picture.) If that alone doesn't make me famous then add on top of it the fact that I was on TV last night on GACs Grand Ole Opry Live. If you want to watch it, GAC is reairing it. I am on the end when Carrie is singing "The More Boys I Meet." Fast forward to where the credits are scrolling down the side and you will see a few seconds of me smiling and singing along with Carrie! I believe that being in the Country Weekly and on the Grand Ole Opry during the same week should allow me to claim I'm famous...at least for this week!

Here is a screen cap of my TV time!


So on to the real reason I wanted to post....the fan club party. I know many of you out there think I'm crazy for being such a big fan of Carrie, but I can't help it. I promise you that if you tried it, you would see that it is a lot of fun. My sister finally got it a little. She posted this on her blog titled some things I've learned:
that the sister's uncanny ability to make friends at carrie underwood events is quite like going to auburn games and making friends with the people sitting next to you. the only difference is that a ton of different people go to auburn games and unless you have season tickets, you probably aren't going to see the same folks again. with carrie stuff...she will. when it is framed like that...makes total sense to me...drawn together by a mutual love. i guess she's part of the "carrie family"....if there is such a thing yet.


I thought about not going to the party this year because I knew we wouldn't get to meet her, and I had to take a day off of work unpaid. However, I am so glad I did. It was so much fun, and I got to meet some really great people...other than Carrie! I have begun to make a few friends at these events because I see these people over and over like my sister referenced. I stood in line with some great people. Here are my 2 new friends:

After standing in line for 2 1/2 hours we were let into the Opry House. Carrie came out and did a 10 song ACOUSTIC set. Let me tell you...she sang all 10 songs sitting down...and it sounded amazing. I could only dream to have a fraction of the talent that she does. However, what made the day so awesome was the chattering in between the songs, the question and answer session, and the raffle. No, I didn't win anything, but I believe the 1200 of us that were there got to see some of how Carrie really is. She is so witty, dorky at times, and hilarious. Her mom came out with her for a while, and it was adorable! It's nice to have her on our level for a while to remind us that she really is a person and not just a celebrity. Ok...enough gushing. Here are a few pics from the event.






Carrie and her mom


She loves her mom. She kept reaching out for her mom's hand.


The raffle portion was pretty awesome. They gave away some meet and greets, a signed guitar, Ipod shuffles loaded with Carrie music, signed Nintendo DS, a basket of signed merchandise, free one year memberships to the fan club, signed CDs and 1 person won airfare, hotel, tickets, and meet and greet passes to an upcoming show. I didn't win anything, but the banter between she and Matt during this part was great!


I made the decision to stay for the Opry that night even though I had to work today. The Opry was over at 9. I didn't make it home until 12:30 this morning...and for those of you who know me know that 10:00 is my bedtime. However, if I hadn't stayed, I couldn't claim to be famous since I made it on the live TV show! Here are a few pictures from the Opry.

The Oak Ridge Boys...yes they sang "Elvira"!


Montgomery Gentry


The one and only Carrie Underwood




I am totally exhausted today because I only got 4 1/2 hours of sleep then worked all day. I still have notes sitting on the table waiting on me to finish. Would I do that day over again.....in a heartbeat! For those of you who think I'm crazy....give it a try...you might be having fun with me instead of making fun of me!

Vacation

I haven't been on a vacation since last September, and I have been itching to take a little time off work. This past weekend, I went to Fort Walton Beach with Daphne, Stephanie, Kate, Brenda, Denise, Lisa, Suzy, Carolyn, and Pam for a girls weekend. Unfortunately, Daphne and I had to leave earlier than everyone else because we both have to get back to work. However, it was nice to relax for a couple of days.

The weather was beautiful, the sand was white, and the water was great!


Kate playing in the ocean with her dolphin


Part of the group


Kate


Putt-Putt golf:
Helping Kate




Trying to get my hole-in-one


Me with Stephanie and Kate


Me and Daphne