Angry Man, Please Don't Kill Me.

I'm not quite sure how to begin telling this story, but this post may be the epitome of what I mean by feeling dumbfounded, asking myself, "Did that JUST HAPPEN?!"

I had just finished up with my clients for the day, and was heading to Target to pick up a few things. It was a nice, little afternoon, not a care in my world. On my way, I clearly ran into some trouble. As I'm driving across the parking lot towards Target (specifically, in front of a Hobby Lobby) I came up behind a car which was stopped in the road, directly out front of Hobby Lobby. Now, imagine with me: If you came up to a stopped car in a busy, trafficked, shopping area, you might wait a moment, assuming the car may be waiting for someone or letting someone out... Perhaps their car was stalled? Or maybe they just didn't realize they were holding up a long line of cars (including myself). I looked for any indication that they were stuck, but there were no signs at all. I took the assumption that they just were not paying attention, so I tapped my wimpy lil' horn. Remember! I'm in no hurry, I even tried to flash a smile, to prevent angering this person, as I know it is easy to be forgetful and hold up traffic at times. Within a mili-second, a dude (maybe in his 20's) jumps out of the passenger side of the car and starts screaming and cussing, calling me names, arms flailing, and roaring at me to "go arouuuunnd".

Uhhh.. Did I miss something? I don't mind going around you, DUDE, but:

a) You don't need to scream, have some control. And why are you calling me names?

b) If you have a problem, make it known! Turn on your flashers or wave people to pass! How am I supposed to know what you're up to? I didn't think I was being rude at all by beeping and in essence saying, "Hello, kind sir, but you are holding up traffic"

c) I couldn't "go arouuunnnnd" because there were 5 or 6 cars lined up behind me, also waiting for this inconsiderate car to move. I was stuck.

With my jaw dropped, I attempt to respond to his ridiculous behavior and rage. I try to say to him, "Sorry! [nervous smile] I can't! [Fearing for my life] Do you need help? Are you stuck? [I'm really scared of you]" No response. The car, which by the way was a Dodge Stratus (of course) continued to sit, and the cars beind me continued to pile up. I waited. And waited. Finally, after thinking about how rude this guy really was, I decided to tap my horn again. I suppose it was an "iffy" move on my part, but what else could I do? I couldn't go around.

As soon as this happens, angry rage-man flies out of the passenger door again, crosses to my side (I am alone in my car) and as this is happening, I impulsively lock my doors. Thank the Lord my windows were up, or I just might be dead. He began spitting, punching and pounding on my car and on my window. As this is happening, I am screaming and panicking, completely hopeless, praying he doesn't break the glass. It lasts for quite a while, with plenty of people watching and doing nothing. All of a sudden, a girl gets out of the driver side of the car, screaming at the guy to "stop!!" and he finally stops and gets back in the car and they speed off.

I really can't quite describe just HOW ridiculous all of this was, but it really does remind me of the time Britney Spears attacked that paparazzi's car with an umbrella..



So immediately, I speed my window down (which surprisingly still worked!) to ask a man, who witnessed the whole thing, "What do I do?!" I was shaking so bad. His was shocked himself! He's like, "GO!! Go get their plate number and call the police!!" So I did! I can't believe I caught up to them. Turns out I had even more witnesses than I thought, including a precious Salvation Army bell-ringer-lady who kept asking me if I was OK. I spoke to an officer who came out and I guess we'll see what happens...

Do these ridonkulous situations honestly happen to anyone else?? Sometimes I think I'm the only one. Well, since I've known Justin, it seems we have had our fair share of dumfounding moments together. Wow.

xo

Glittering Clouds

I am completely in love. I will never forget the first time I heard her sing - her voice, her style, her music is so incredibly unique and beautiful. I can't believe I get to see her perform - again - this coming Sunday. Oh Sunday, come quicker!



[Photos by Mark Owens]



[Performing at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival - Source]




[Photos by Milosh]


[My first time seeing Immi @ First Ave in Minneapolis - Here, she is explaining her "band" aka her equipment, her Mac, keyboards, "parrot" and other machines used to layer her music to create what makes her so amazing!]


[Barefoot ♥]


[Her piano is fascinating - completely see-though, covered in twinkle lights, flowers and butterflies]





Imogen's Website
Imogen's MySpace
Imogen's other work, Frou Frou

Just wanted to share some beautiful photos and beautiful music!

xo


LISTEN TO IMOGEN


[Lyrics - Imogen Heap]

X-Ray Art

I wanted to post some really cool art that Justin and I have been fascinated by for quite a while now..

X-Ray Art.


[This rad alarm clock is framed in our guest room - Photo by Jim Wehtje]




[Photos by Nick Veasey]





[Photos by Steven N. Meyers]

Other cool X-Ray prints of flowers, nature and sealife @ Skiagraphics

xo


What I'm Listening to:
Imogen Heap - First Train Home (Six more days...)

Miss You, Grandma!

Grandma's are amazing ladies! I wanted to write a little post, remembering my Grandma Dar, who passed a year ago today.



I miss her like crazy. This past year has been difficult for me - she was one of my closest friends. I miss not being able to share exciting news with her like I used to. I can have peace with this, because I know she is living again, with my grandpa again, in the greatest place of all. I smile, thinking of the lyrics to the song I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe.


[Grandma Dar & Me, Christmas 2007]

I will forever have memories from my childhood, teenhood and even adulthood. She was an incredible lady who loved Jesus with her whole heart. She lit up every room she walked into. She never complained. She was amazing at cooking (and I have recipes to prove it!). She was encouraging. She giggled constantly. She whistled in the kitchen and loved "I Love Lucy". She never forgot my birthday. She prayed for me and with me. She influenced me and many others! This world just isn't the same without her. I sure miss you, Grandma...

xo


What I'm listening to:
Louis Armstrong


['Miss You' Photo - weheartit.com]

Here We Go, Hold On Tight, and Don't Let Go.

My throat still hurts from an amazing show we saw Monday night at The Fillmore in Charlotte. Charlotte is just a little over an hour and a half away for us, so it's not bad at all. We had the honor of getting to see Thrice & Brand New - Two very "sentimental" bands to both Justin and me!

Let me explain something first. Justin LOVES Thrice. His ultimate. Number one. Favorite band/slash/artist. I knew he loved them a lot but the first time I actually found out they were his "favorite band", was at one of my bridal/lingerie showers - My sisters had organized a massive "do-you-know-your-husband-to-be game" and I got that one wrong. I knew he loved them, I just didn't realize they were his Ultimate. I can totally see why - Thrice is amazing. Justin and I are obsessed with music. We would die if we could never listen to music or find new things. We are constantly dumbfounded by how riduculous of a weight we place on MUSIC when others could simply care less. It blows our minds! AH! Anyways...



Back when Justin and I first started dating (Fall 2003), we listened to a TON of Brand New. We have loved them since. So you can imagine what happened when I found tickets for Brand New performing with Thrice. The world exploded. I didn't know whether to tell him, surprise him, or scream it from a mountain top, but it came out of my mouth in the fastest run-on-sentance before I could think twice... "Baby, guess what?! THRICEANDBRANDNEWWW!!!"

One of Justin's brothers came down from VA to visit and go to the show too! We had a great weekend, and waited impatiently for Monday to come. We headed up early to Charlotte, assuming we would wait in line for the doors to open. Waiting felt like an eternity. We made it in, and posted ourselves nice and close to the stage. We didn't know the opener, and as it began to get more crowded, elbows began to dig and the opening band still had a while before coming out. Augh. We decided to get out until Thrice came on - and for that, we had a plan.


[Ready To Rock OUT!]

Of course at any rock show, the plan is to get to the front. Well, when you have Justin's bro, Levi, who is a brick wall and can make things happen, we had no worries. Finally, the gag-me opener finishes, Thrice sets up and begins. And so does our mission. We start from the side and cut in to the front in one, swift motion. It all happened so fast. I think I made some girl mad, because her solution was to try to steal my bag. WHAT!? She starts yanking on my purse as I am moving in the opposite direction toward our glorious finish line. Are you kidding me right now? I turn to her and try to yell over the music, asking her to stop. At first, I actually thought I was just caught on someone or something. I think she was trying to steal it maybe? It is a pretty cute bag. The purse she had on her shoulder was TINY and had Looney Tunes on it or something. When I told her to stop, she just looks at me and goes, "Yeah. Yeah. That's right. Uh." Umm? Wow. Dear girl with an insufficient bag, We're at a show. If you're mad you're in the back, maybe you should be moving to the front too. And go buy a new bag.


[Dustin Kensrue, Thrice]

We made some good distance, aside from the girl and the bag debacle. Mind you, elbows are flailing and everyone is soaked in sweat, pushing and shoving. Little did I know, we were only moving closer to The Pit. I forgot to mention one, very tiny detail. I wore flip flops. In my defense - I knew people would spill beer, and I knew I would be hot. I didn't wanna ruin any of my shoes and I figured flips would be the most comfortable anyway. Besides, I wasn't planning on chillin' in the Pit. Trying to enjoy the amazing show and not suffocate, I'm holding onto Levi in front and Justin is deflecting people around and behind me. It seriously reminded me of the time I saw Chevelle with my sister, Vanessa, a few years ago. At one point during that show, she and I were comepletely horizontal, looking up into the "eye of the devil" as I like to refer to this Pit business. How do people enjoy moshing?! I think it feels like a huge buffet of death! I want to listen to bands and watch and just feel it! Not fear that my kidneys will be punctured or that my poor, exposed feet will be trampled into stumps by the end of the night. By the 4th song, it happened. In the midst of moshing and praying for survival, some dude creams my innocent foot and my flip flop completely BUSTS. I am crying out, hoping no one stomps on my bare foot. I'm trying not to panic. I have to get out. I plow my way out of the mosh pit, out of the crowd and I am dragging my flip as my mom calls it, "a wounded animal behind me" (haha!). I make it to the side, where I can examine the damage and I couldn't believe it - It didn't rip or break, but just popped out! I was able to pop it back it and I was no longer flipless! Good grief.

I felt kind of bad for Justin. I feel like I let him down. His FAVORITE band, and he's watching from further back, because I'm a wimp who can't take a mosh beating. I know he wasn't exactly enjoying the beating either. We both really wanted to be close, front and center... It just wasn't going to happen, unless we wanted to lose a limb. Levi was still in the Pit. We saw him even make his way out and I met him on the "sidelines" and he holds up a flip flop and smiles! He yells, "I found it!" Bless his heart!! I told him I still had mine, and I even fixed it, and still looking at me, he whips the newly discovered, flip flop back into the crowd! Ohh, what a night.

Brand New was incredible. The whole night was incredible. We missed having another one of Justin's brothers there - Jason, who is a HUGE fan of Thrice and Brand New, as well. We knew he felt pretty bad he couldn't be there.


[Garrett Tierney & Jesse Lacey, Brand New]

I said my throat is killing me still, but I call it my souvenir from an amazing show. Can't wait to see them again.



LISTEN to THRICE
LISTEN to BRAND NEW

xo


[Photo of Headphones - weheartit.com]
[Lyrics: Thrice - Song For Milly Michaelson]