1st Time in 7 Years

This is the first time I will not be attending the Tennesse game in 7 years. Yep, you read that correct, I even made the 8 hour drive to Tennessee for two away games and never missed it at home. The Swamp truly is an amazing venue to watch a college football game, but Neyland Stadium makes the Swamp look like a high school stadium. It is crazy to believe that I really think that I had a great time at both away games, because looking back at it...I don't know that I can say the same thing. Here are both scenarios, you be the judge!

The first time I went it was Tumbles, Buster, Frankie and I. We left at 4 in the morning from Gainesville it was an 8 hour drive. Frankie was hungover from too much partying the night before and some how had gotten poison ivy. We had made the decision to go to the game so late (literally happy hour on friday) that there was literally no chance of getting a hotel room. So we planned to drive up and drive back in the same day. What a brilliant idea that was. We couldn't get four tickets together so we took two and two. Tumbles and I were in the last row of the entire stadium. It is like no other stadium there is a chain link fence keeping everyone in, and being at the top petrified of heights I literally held the fence for every play. The gators were being coached by the terrible Ron Zook, and ended up blowing the game on the last possession. That was the longest ride home of my life!

The second time we made the journey to Knoxville, it was Werd, Buster, Scottie and I. We again left at 4 in the morning, but we had a hotel room...or at least we thought we did. Turns out we had a hotel room for the night before the game (gotta love when secretaries book your travel arrangements). We took Buster's car which happened to be a stick, and of course the 2 of the four people couldn't drive a stick so Buster and I made the entire trip. When we got into town and realized we didn't have a hotel room, we became scavengers and quickly found something on the out skirts of town (a real dive of a hotel room). We decided to take a taxi to the game so we didn't have to deal with parking. We went to the game, actually had four tickets together (so that was a plus) and relatively good seats. The were about 25 rows up on the 25 yard line...I was pretty content since I wasn't holding on to a chain link fence for dear life. The gators won, but that was to be expected this was the first season for Tennessee's problems. Unfortunately after the game, there wasn't a taxi to be had. What to do, well we will get a drink or two or 10 and wait, I am sure there are taxi's to be had eventually! No, no there wasn't. After waiting for 4 hours we decided we better start walking. The hotel was 5 miles from where we at downtown, luckily for us we only walked about 2 city blocks before a taxi shuttle spotted us. Back to the hotel room for a quick 2 hour nap and then hit the road. Of course, one of us had to be home, dressed and downtown for a presentation at like 5pm. We made but honestly I am glad my days of crazy 36 hour car trips have come to a close (or at least I have hope)!

I am a little sad, that I wont be at Neyland Stadium to watch the Gators stomp the Vols...but I will be amongst some great gator fans (they have been recruited), so I am pretty happy. Go Gators!

Vegetarian Lasagna

Relationship week recap...Its seems there is something in the water for both sexes. Last night we had 5 females sitting around the dinner table that are either struggling in the relationships they are in, questioning whether they are in a relationship or fresh out of a relationship (not by their choice). The ages ranged from 24-34, and there we sat talking about 1 relationship after the next. I really wasn't looking forward to the dinner. Two of the five are new vegetarians and Swallow wanted me to make vegetarian lasagna! This was beginning to sound more like a prison sentence then a dinner party. To keep me sane, I invited Ames to keep me entertained and on my best behavior. I have never made lasagna before, let alone vegetarian lasagna. I don't like mixed foods, and I hate casserole type dinners...so you can begin to feel my pain.

We sit down to dinner, and Swallow dishes out everyone a hardy portion. I wasn't looking forward to the heapy portion (which I swear looked bigger than everyone else's) that Swallow placed on my plate. Everyone digs in and really compliments the food. I have to admit it really turned out pretty good. Now, I don't like mixed food and I prefer to eat meat, BUT I'd actually end up making this again and eating it. I made way to much, so I was happy when they volunteered to take some home. I was happy that everyone raved about the food, but sad at the conversation we were having. It sucked to look around the table at 5 beautiful women all different but spectacular in their own way and wonder how they got into this situation. How they can allow the opposite sex to get into their heads and make them wonder why they haven't found that special someone. We all had extremely different backgrounds, but at the end of the day we could share a glass of wine and complain about men. I felt like we were in an episode of Sex in the City.

Nothing good happens at 2am

The title says it all! Nothing good can possibly happen at 2 am. Oh wait, I lied...friends become closer or so they think!

I got off work late last night and met up with KK and Ames for a drink. I should have known better than to meet up with "the sisters" for a drink, because inevitably 1 drink turns in 3 and then a different bar. We started at the Tavern for what was their last call, so I guess it really isn't KK and Ames fault that we ended up at another bar, but I think they had an funny idea because they immediately knew where they wanted to go next. If you knew these girls you would know that they never make up their mind about anything. I offer to drive because I am not drinking anymore and they have already been drinking. We walk into the RoBusto room and KK goes and sits next to Buckeye. She looked really familiar but hell, the industry I work in everyone looks familiar. She makes eye contact and asks KK if it is me and runs around the table to give me a hug. Absolutely hysterical!

KK and Ames are totally in shock, a) that I am actually hugging someone by choice and b) that I randomly know someone that they know. We stand around chatting for a few minutes catching up and then KK walks over and says "how do you two know each other?" We both immediately respond with "on the diamond." KK laughs and walks away. I hadn't seen her since a one day softball tournament 4 months ago. We exchanged digits and swore that we would hangout again, and the chances are pretty good that we will hang out again. Besides the fact that she is a Buckeye and detests the Gators we can still be friends. As she put it so nicely yesterday "she hates the gators with a passion but will make sweet love to a gator before she even considers having a drink with a wolverine!" We all laughed. Okay so at this point, I have caught up with an old friend and no one is ordering a drink, so we decide that it is a good idea to take off. On the way home, Ames gets the brilliant idea that she wants to have another drink...let the shit show begin.

We stroll into Darcy's that has already done last call so we walk across the street to Baker's. Lovely, just lovely. At least we know everyone in there so the drinks are super cheap. The sister sit and I stand (it seems to be my new thing)...and the drinks start coming (oh not 1 round, or 2 but 3)! Ames didn't order a drink she just kept drinking mine, and it just so happens that every time my drink is empty my favorite bartender brings me another one. Funny Funny! It didn't take me long to figure out that Ames didn't order a drink because she doesn't get the hook up that I do...so instead it makes me look like an alcoholic. She also enjoys watching others faces as they see me actually "sharing a drink." The alcohol kills everything, at least that is what I tell myself.

Bakers finally closes and we decide were hungry for fried food...great plan! We just happen to have a fryer with oil on the kitchen counter. Oh, and we endless amounts of frozen bar food that we got from the lovely Moon (gotta love having friends in the food industry). We come up and we fry jalapeno poppers, egg rolls, pizza rolls, pickles, and olives. We each have another drink, this time extra dirty martini's up w/ 3 olives (Ames is rather picky). Keep in mind this like 3 am, and none of us really anything more to drink. Ames has another brilliant idea that she wants to smoke, me to the rescue...into Swallow's room dig through her purse and pull out the cigarettes. In the process I did wake up Swallow (she wasn't overly thrilled, but she loves me regardless). Ames has a cigarette or 4 while KK and I are chatting. We actually have alot in common (probably more than her sister and I do), but we never hangout just the two of us. We laughed, we debated (she won), she cried (I hugged her), and Ames passed out with Camden on her lap.

All in all it was a great night OR a great morning since it ended at 5am, with wonderful people that I am privileged to call my friends. I am also happy to report that I can still stay up until 5 am, but I am glad that I only do it like 2 times a year. :)

Face w/ a Name...Change

Recently, I had a conversation with Delegate about not wanting to ever put a face with a name? I was puzzled and amused at the same time. I had a) never heard anyone say that and b) never considered it as an option. Everyone has their own wants, needs, and desires...but honestly I never thought that people preferred not to know what or who other people are.

I'll give you a little background to help with the story. I am of the idea that I would like to know who the people are when I hear about them. For instance I have lived in Denver about 10 months and have told my family numerous stories since moving here, when they came out to visit the first thing I wanted to do was to introduce my family to my friends so they could get a name to go with a face. I thought everyone did that. Apparently, that isn't the case. Yes, I agree that the example I just portrayed is extremely elementary, but it is still a valid point.

The Delegate was referring more to past relationships, which I again didn't seem to understand. I am guessing that it is based on comparison the new vs the old...but I am not really sure. I have dated a few people in my short tenure in the dating world. A couple of which I didn't know the ex's but I did come across pictures of them eventually. I could honestly careless who the person dated before me...the past is the past for a reason. I strive extremely hard to leave the past as a past and move forward. Yes, the past helps mold you into who you are today, but it does not keep you in the past.

Keeping that mind set, I made a comment about liking who I am as a person and not willing to change. Shannnnnnnnnnnnon and I have had numerous conversations about how we have been around for X number of years and people can't change us over night. I agreed with her until last night when the Delegate explained change, altering or adjusting. I didn't realize that I actually had changed over the past for certain situations. I didn't understand why until it was explained...there I sat, listening and trying to grasp the concept and then the light bulb went off.

Who am I to sit there and say that I am not willing to change. That I must be so high and mighty that I do not need to adjust or change in any way. Well in my defense I viewed the word change to the enth degree! I took that as completely and totally alter myself, and it doesn't mean that...I mean it could essentially mean that but it does not have too. Instead it is meant to alter or adjust for the given relationship, usually small things sometimes large things, but the idea is willing to adjust for the positives. Yes, when people get together things do change amongst each other. When I lived with my best friend in college, she didn't eat any vegetables...if I was cooking she most certainly was going to start eating them, not all of them but at least some of them. To this day she still thanks me for that!

I am not being asked to change drastically, and nothing has really be set in stone that I will change, but I need to be open to the idea that I can and will alter or adjust for the right situation. Please keep in mind that I am still an overly stubborn and strong willed person, but a little change might be a good thing. It can only make me a better more well rounded individual. I can't knock things I don't know nor will I can continue to stand on my pedistol and swear that I will not change.

Secret Shopper

Back in college, I was a secret shopper on the odd occasion for retail stores and small restaurants. It was always fun, and extremely easy to do. The company I use to secret shop for seemed to track me down and asked if I would be interested in doing it again. I told them that I had moved but if they had anything in Denver area, I'd be happy to help out.

I had the pleasure of shopping Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard. What a disaster of an experience that was! Good lord it was bad. The service was atrocious! To start, I am suppose to order a specific thing from the menu. I tried to order and the rude order taker wasn't having it. She was basically forcing me to get a combo, but lucky for her I can't get a combo. As I tried to order, I was interrupted 3 times. I finally make my order get up to the window to pay. I am greeted by an African American female in her early 20's. She is about 5'5" and maybe 280 lbs, she had a weave in her hair and tattoos all up and down her arms. Majority of them were tattoos of names, but I couldn't see the partial sleeve that was on her left arm. She really wouldn't be the person I'd like customers to see, but I don't own the Good Times Burgers and Frozen Custard shop, so I can't really make the rules. Swallow and Ames nicknamed her Shaneqwa.

I ask for a receipt the first time, didn't get one. As I am handed half of my order, I ask for a second receipt...I don't get it again! The order taker is standing by the window and yelling about how stupid the group behind us are. Talk about the worst customer service ever. After we sitting there for a few minutes (literally 3, I was timing them), the 15 year old working the frier came to the window and asked if I could pull ahead and he would bring the food out to me. Sure, I have no problem doing that. I pull ahead and park...but he food doesn't come, so I get out and stand in the window waiting on my food. The manager sees me and asks what am I waiting on? I explain the rest of my food and a receipt. The order taker then says to me "why do you need a receipt you paid cash." At that point I thought my meal should have been free, but the manager replied and got me a receipt. The rest of my order was finally ready (fast food that took 11 minutes), I am not so sure it should really be considered fast food!

Needless to say, I wrote a 790 word review on how poor the service of the order taker was, and a 200 word review on the cleanliness of the restaurant. Ames and Swallow were in the car, hysterically laughing. As I get back to the car, they ask what the order taker's name was. I respond that I have no idea because she wasn't wearing a name tag." Swallow then reminds me that they are usually on the receipt. Oh yes, there it was...Shaquana! Ames and Swallow laughed the rest of the way home...Good times I tell you! As for if Shaquana is still employeed is yet to be determined.

The Price of Free!

So, we have all heard that saying that nothing is free, or that there is no such thing as a free lunch...Well I don't believe that! Free stuff happens all the time, well to me at least...but that really shouldn't surprise anyone, since my sister has always stated that "everything always works out for me!" Last weekend, I got a text message from muscles asking if I wanted tickets to the 3 Doors Down, Finger 11, Hinder concert at Red Rocks. Sure, I'll take four free tickets! Swallow, Amos, Tuesday, and I would have had a kick butt time, but unfortunately, it turned out to only be 2 tickets. Hey in my eyes, two is better than none. I felt bad that the other two decided not to come, but we still had a great time. There ended up being 7 of us that started the evening together, and ended up with 8. We had a great group of 8 drama free girls. I couldn't have asked for a much better group thrown together last minute.

Growing up tone-deaf, music was the furthest from my mind. I could honestly care less.! I still to this day never hear music until someone starts singing or points out that music is actually playing. During college my boyfriend dragged me to a four day music festival in Manchester Tennessee in the middle of June. I went like the good girlfriend that I was suppose to, but I was literally miserable. Had it not been for a frisbee and great people watching I might not have survived. Before that festival, I hadn't been to a concert since Bare Naked Ladies which was 10 years ago. I am just not a music buff, however, I see that changing. It must be I have been to two concerts in 5 days...something must be wrong with me!

Red Rocks was an absolutely amazing venue! People have always said that it really is one the best places in the country to take in a concert. That kind of went in one ear and out the other, since I had never witnessed it first hand, and didn't care much for concerts. I am now one of those people that will go around and tell everyone how wonderful the place is!

We got there and Finger 11 were playing. They were very good, or at least that is what everyone we were with said, so I'll go along with them. The sun was just starting to set, the lights from downtown Denver still in sight. I sat down for a minute and realized that my life is pretty freaking amazing! As I sat there I was reflecting as to what a wonderful place I get to call home. My moment of reflection didn't last long when I got texts from K-dawg to stand up. Apparently she could see me, but I couldn't see her. She told me where she was sitting, so I counted the rows down and then over to the right as she was standing there hysterically laughing at me. She came up to sit with Swallow and I for what we thought was gonna be a few songs, but ended up being the rest of the concert. As soon as she gets to the seats, she proceeds to make fun of me for taking so long to count, and then counting out-loud (or at least moving my lips), and then watching the light bulb go off when I finally found her. She was already pretty intoxicated, so she was rambling on quite a bit, but then again I wasn't too far behind her. Hey its a long ride from the house to concert and since I didn't have to drive I am all up for drinking cheaply at home before the concert starts. That way I only needed to have a beer or two to continue my buzz.

Hinder was second in the rotation, and they were amazing! They had the crowd on on their feet and really into the music. I was pretty impressed when I recognized two of the songs. I still don't know the names of them, but I knew most of the words. Funny how I could hear a song, not know who is singing it, when I would have actually listened to the words and then I happen to know some of it. Hinder really talked to the audience and got them involved. They even played two new songs from their new album that is suppose to be released on November 4th. I have never been a big fan of bands singing new songs at concerts, because typically people like to go and hear what they already know and love. That way they can sing alone, but Hinder did a great job teaching people the new songs and really getting the crowd involved. Mad props to Hinder!


Next up was 3 doors down. They opened with Kryptonite. They had fire works and great special effects throughout the entire concert. I again new a couple of the songs but I have two complaints. One the show seems really short and two I thought Hinder's performance and crowd interaction was better than 3 doors down Swallow and K-dawg agreed with me.

After the concert we all made the long trek back to the path finder. Surprisingly the walk was so long that we ended up missing all the traffic. Funny how that happens :) Sam I am, Shannnnnnnnnnnnnon, and Heater made it down to the 5th row. Gotta love those giggly girls that bust into other people's seats and crash the party. I guess I can't really say much thats what the rest of the group did to our seats. HAHAHA. Anyways all in all it was a fantastic evening...even if I had to ride in the trunk! :) Hey it could have been worse, I could have not gotten a ride home at all. Swallow did point out that she enjoyed that I was in the trunk because I was finally being a well behaved passenger.