family

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 24, 2022 — Leave a comment

I hope all of you are enjoying your day, whatever it is you have chosen to do to celebrate. I myself am having lunch at my grandmother’s. I’m pretty sure we’re having barbecue instead of turkey or ham, but that’s okay: I got my fill of turkey and ham at work last week.

I guess I should do a things-I’m-thankful-for list, right? Hmm…

I’m thankful for family, both blood and otherwise, and my wonderful friends. I’m thankful for my amazing coworkers (even if I sometimes hate the job itself). I’m thankful that my brother and his wife are going to be able to visit in February; it’s been really hard since they moved to Colorado. I’m thankful for music and concerts and the fact that I get to see my favorites – Alter Bridge – for the ninth time in January.

I’m sure I could go on, but those are the things that top my list. If you’re reading this, tell me something you’re thankful for!!!!

Unproductive Week

July 24, 2022 — Leave a comment

I feel like I didn’t achieve much this week. I worked a lot, and attempted to discuss some issues with my superiors but got absolutely nowhere. I did laundry – even folded it and put it away within 24 hours! Lol.

My biggest achievement was probably getting my dad’s birthday gift taken care of. See, whenever possible, I like to take my parents to concerts for things such as birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s/Father’s Day, etc. Well, Brother Cane is coming to town two days before my dad’s birthday, and Dad has been a big fan of them for years. He and my brother have seen Damon Johnson, but Dad has never had the chance to see the full band. I’m not sure how many original members remain; however, now that they’ve reunited and decided to tour, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass. So Mom and I are taking him to the show.

On a personal high note: my employees gave me an award this week for “building strong relationships” and “always putting my employees first.” Normally the awards come from upper management, but two of my employees asked if they could personally present me with one. It’s the most meaningful thing I have received since I started working there a little over two years ago ❤️

I hope this post finds all of you well, and that your weeks are going better than mine. Surely next week will be an improvement. After all, I am going to stay with a friend in Georgia and we’re going to see Powerman 5000, Static-X, Mudvayne, and Rob Zombie!

Colorado (In Pictures)

April 7, 2022 — Leave a comment

We almost missed our first flight, our second one was delayed (because some genius put us on a plane that wasn’t equipped to fly/land in snowy conditions, despite the fact that we were headed to Colorado Springs), and my mom had a mild case of elevation sickness on our third day there. Other than that, the trip to visit my brother and his wife was an absolute success!!!! I had visited last year, but we didn’t get to do a lot of sightseeing, and this was Mom’s first trip – and first time flying. The whole area is so beautiful. (Raton, New Mexico, wasn’t that impressive, though. Lol.)

We’re both dying to go back already. I’m aiming for some time during the summer so we can get out and explore a little more. Below are pictures I took during our excursions, and one from the plane because I’m that person 🙂

This was captured about 10 minutes from DFW
Driving towards Trinidad
The Raton sign
Scenic overlook coming into Colorado from New Mexico
Their cat, Hanzo, who was sad because we wouldn’t allow him in the guest room

A Quick Hi From Colorado!

March 22, 2022 — Leave a comment

I will do a longer blog about my trip early next week, but for now I wanted to drop in and share some pictures. I just didn’t want to break my posting streak while on vacation (as lame as that is).

We fly back home tomorrow, which sucks. It has been a fantastic five days – complete with much needed family time, lots of snow, some exploring, and really, really good food. I can’t wait for our next trip out here!

Central Park
The view from 12
We took a drive down to Raton, New Mexico

It’s Been A While

March 12, 2022 — Leave a comment

Hello!

I fell off the face of the earth during Covid, but as some of you have surely noticed, I’m back! There has been so much to share – from new music to tour dates – that I am just now getting the chance to post a little personal blog and tell y’all what’s up with me.

Well, I honestly haven’t been doing much besides working. My best friend and her family moved to Kentucky last year, so I’ve driven up there twice to visit them. I had never been to Kentucky before, and they took me to the Indiana state line so now I can say I’ve been there as well. Ha!

I also flew out to Colorado in February 2021 to see my brother and his wife. They have lived there since 2017 and that was my first time going to them, and my first time flying. (They have flown home three times, once for a memorable weekend in Dauphin Island.) Colorado was beautiful! We knocked out a couple of other firsts: me gambling and both of them getting tattooed. It was so much fun, but a very short trip. No worries, though. Mom and I are heading out there next week!

Other than that, I’ve been to a few concerts. I saw A Killer’s Confession (and met Waylon Reavis and Church, both formerly of Mushroomhead). I went to a John 5 show and met him, which made my life as I’ve been a fan since I was 12. Small Town Titans came to town, as did Smith & Myers, Tommy Vext, South of Eden, and Blacktop Mojo. And I hung out a lot with Alabama’s very own Throne of Eden.

Now, I’m really just crossing my fingers that the Rammstein tour happens this year. I guess I would be satisfied with an Alter Bridge run in the fall/winter instead; they keep hinting that they’ve begun writing for a new album.

I hope this blog finds all of you well, and that your 2022 is going much better than the last two years! I’m gonna wrap this up with a few pictures. Until next time! 🙂

Small Town Titans
Colorado
My and my brother’s tattoos
My Rammstein tattoo
Blacktop Mojo
Mom with “Catt” (Blacktop Mojo)
John 5
Waylon Reavis
Church
With the besties at the haunted woods for Halloween
Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville
My newest tattoo

Too Busy For Blogging

December 11, 2019 — Leave a comment

I keep trying to get back into a regular posting schedule, but life has been determined to intervene. After my grandmother passed in October, my best friend’s mother-in-law died. I was there for her and her husband, and to be honest I was emotionally drained. My dad noticed and planned a spur-of-the-moment trip to the beach.

I can’t tell y’all how much I needed the three days of sun, sand, and sea. Despite the fact that it was November, the weather was gorgeous. I was able to wade in the water and bask in the sun (with a lightweight jacket on). I even got a touch of sunburn.

Since then, it’s just been…change. I’m searching for a new job and trying to get things ready for Christmas. Last week, I took a day trip to Cathedral Caverns with my parents, which was nice.

2019 has had its ups and downs. I won’t say the year has been bad, necessarily, but I am hoping 2020 is better. And it will certainly start that way — I’m going to see Alter Bridge again in February.

Anyway, for those who care, I wanted to give an update. I also wanted to let y’all know there will be some end-of-year posts, I’m just not sure I can keep up with the Playlist Challenge or a weekly featured band right now.

Here are more pictures from the beach and the expedition in Cathedral Caverns! I hope this blog finds you all well.

Gulf Shores

Cathedral Caverns

This is Goliath, one of the largest stalagmites in the world, 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference.

“The Improbable”: a 27-feet high stalagmite, growing on a 3-inch base and at a 45 degree angle to the stone below it.

Halloween 2019 [Photos]

November 4, 2019 — Leave a comment

I just wanted to share some pictures from our Halloween get-together ❤

I was Harley Quinn. Overdone, I know, but I already had the costume and I was lazy this year. Ha! My best friend did my makeup.

The bestie and her son/my nephew, Alex. He was Sub-Zero.

Tiff’s husband, aka my “husband-in-law”

Tiff’s daughter/my niece, Ivy. She was a dead kitty.

Home Tonight, So Here’s An Update

October 14, 2019 — Leave a comment

My mom and I spent the majority of the day at the nursing home with my grandmother. There has been no change, except her blood pressure has dropped slightly (no cause for concern, according to Hospice) and they are now having to suction out her throat and esophagus at least two or three times a day. So, please continue praying/sending us positive thoughts, if you would.

In other news, it’s October — my favorite time of the year! (I know we’re already 13 days in, but I’ve been distracted.) I have no idea what I’m going to be for Halloween. I’m leaning toward a variation on Harley Quinn, the girl on the cover of Mindless Self Indulgence’s Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy, or Tim Sköld. I haven’t had the chance to indulge in many horror movies so far; however, my best friend and I have binge-watched “Light as a Feather” on Hulu.

Other highlights of October: it’s finally below 1000 degrees here in Alabama, and my favorite college football team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, is undefeated. Oh, and Alter Bridge is playing a show within two hours of me on the 17th.

Given that this is a music blog, I guess I should mention something about music, huh? Ha! Okay. Here are a few upcoming releases:

  • Super Junior – Time Slip (10/14)
  • Shane Eagle – Dark Moon Flower (10/15)
  • Alex Vargas – EGO (10/18)
  • Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky (10/18)
  • Cody Jinks – The Wanting (10/18)
  • HXXS – Year of the Witch (10/18)
  • Jimmy Eat World – Surviving (10/18)
  • The Lacs – Rise and Shine (10/18)
  • Third Eye Blind – Screamer (10/18)
  • Cigarettes After Sex – Cry (10/25)
  • Fit For An Autopsy – The Sea of Tragic Beasts (10/25)
  • Jinjer – Macro (10/25)
  • Night Flowers – Fortune Teller (10/25)
  • Norma Jean – All Hail (10/25)
  • PVRIS – Hallucinations EP (10/25)
  • Scarlett Rose – Welcome to Wonderland (10/31)

I’m trying to schedule some posts in my free time so that my blog isn’t lacking content for consecutive days, or even a full week. I hope to resume the playlist challenge and choose a featured band on the 21st.

My Lack of Posts

October 11, 2019 — Leave a comment

I didn’t share a new music post on Sunday; there have been no updates to the playlist challenge and no featured band or album of the week. I’m pretty sure there won’t be any posts next week, either. I apologize to the followers who actually pay attention, but everything kinda went to hell recently.

My grandmother has been sick and in the nursing home for a while. She was diagnosed with COPD and congestive heart failure years ago. Otherwise, though, she was healthy.

She has had stomach issues her entire life, and for the last couple of years she’s been in and out of the hospital, complaining of nausea and pain. Well, last week she was once again in the hospital for those symptoms. Her doctor told her that there was nothing else he could do unless she allowed them to do an endoscopy and actually figure out why she had those symptoms. She refused the procedure. My mom asked her why and my grandmother said she didn’t want to know. If it was serious, she felt like they couldn’t help her anyway. (Bear in mind, she’s 89.)

My mom and I both talked to her last Wednesday, right after she was released from the hospital and sent back to the nursing home. The very next day, my great aunt called and told us that she was dying.

She is in the final stages of COPD and congestive heart failure. Her lungs are filled with fluid. She is no longer responsive, though that could be because they are keeping her dosed with morphine for the pain. She has a DNR in place, so basically they can do nothing but make sure she’s comfortable.

I ask that anyone who reads this send up a prayer, positive thoughts, or whatever it is you do. This is a very difficult time, especially for my mom, and we need all the comfort we can get.

Thank you.