2016 Concert Review

After having my son in 2015, I attended few shows; I’ve more than made up for that in 2016. Here’s the lowdown:

What I Saw:
Again/Revolver, Pop’s, Sauget, IL, (5/14)
An Alice in Chains tribute band and a Velvet Revolver tribute band walk into a bar… and that bar is Pop’s. A joke within itself. The overarching joke was on me, though – this show was terrible. Irony made an appearance as well; the set list provided by a band covering a supergroup is wide-reaching and entertaining. The show was free thanks to my friend Dave who scored us free tickets, and we left when Again started butchering “Nutshell” to head to Flannery’s for nostalgia’s sake.

Mark Lanegan, Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL (6/17)
Imagine you’re about twenty feet from one of your favorite musicians, close enough to see the twinges of their limbs while they perform. Surreal? Yes. This is exactly how I felt watching the former Screaming Trees frontman perform with only a guitarist, in an intimate 250-seat venue. And then imagine you MEET THEM. I hardly remember shaking his hand, but have a photo recounting my experience. While my memory of the night is cloudy due to extreme excitement, I felt ALIVE that night. (I also slept away from the baby for the first time, and knowing I would have uninterrupted sleep that night probably helped.) Closing out a set list of mostly solo tracks was a cover of”Halo of Ashes,” a moderately popular Tree’s track. But it wouldn’t have mattered if you’d heard it before or not, because it stood independently just fine. Knowing it was just that.much.sweeter for audience members that night. This show might just be my favorite of the year. (Special thanks to my friend Brian who accompanied me and gave me a couch on which to crash.)

Chris Cornell, Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL (7/11)
If you know me, you know how sweet my heart is on grunge music. When I missed Cornell’s solo appearance in St. Louis in December of 2015, my cold heart hurt, and the sting was real. I vowed to catch him elsewhere when I could. Cashing in on a Monday in July, I worked an eight hour day, hopped in the car, and drove three hours for this show. When it was over, I drove three hours straight home, and then jumped out of bed at 5AM to go back to work. In a word: dedication. And it was worth it. While the venue was a bit larger than I would have liked, Cornell made the room smaller and more intimate though conversation. He was humble and funny. He was vulnerable and true. He was amazing. The set list missed just a few of my favorites. For Cornell-original work, my favorite song of the night was definitely Soundgarden’s “Fourth of July.” Cornell does a number of covers true to other artists. If you have, say, three hours, this live show gives the full picture. But, if you watch nothing else, listen to this mashup cover of “One,” melding Metallica and U2. This show is right up at the top with the Lanegan performance.

Violent Femmes, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO (7/14)
It’s been almost 35 years since the Femmes made it onto the scene, a fact their fan base showcases. Most of the show, the audience stayed seated or stood moderately still in the rarely quiet pit area. Perhaps that is just a reflection of the band themselves; they were not incredibly energetic,but that didn’t matter. There’s something satisfyingly sweet about hearing their hits live. While they didn’t perform my personal favorite song (“Country Death Song”), they did cover the gambit of the good. And I got to hang with one of my favorite gals for this show. Well worth the time, but not a favorite from the year.

The Doobie Brothers, Journey, & Dave Mason, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater RIVERPORT, St. Louis, MO (7/30)
This show was a Christmas gift to my father who loves the Doobies; he got a little misty-eyed opening the gift. After waiting several months to cash in on the gift, I do not think dad was the only one who was to benefit. This was the first show either of my parents had seen in decades – yes, DECADES! My mother claimed that the last show she saw might have been Debbie Gibson at the old arena when I was five. (Which, by the way, was probably a great show because Electric Youth was incredible.)
We arrived a bit late for a reason I cannot remember, and we heard Dave Mason play “We Just Disagree” as we wound around the back of the venue and “Feelin’ Alright” as we sat down on the lawn. Mason sounds incredible and I wish we had arrived just a little sooner. The Doobie Brothers might not sound as polished as Mason does, but they do bring the hits. We skipped out on Journey closing down the show, because I’ve already seen that one-armed drummer do his thing and there’s no Steve Perry to be found. One of the most fun shows of the year.

Slipknot & Marilyn Manson, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, St. Louis, MO (8/4)
There’s something deeply unsettling about seeing the goth king himself performing with the Midwest sun glaring in his eyes. I have wanted to catch a Manson show for years and this was my chance. I assumed (fairly) that I’d feel a sense of horror or doom or… zzzzzzzz. My apologies, I must have zoned out there momentarily. Manson was underwhelming. The concert crew I was with this night (my husband and superfriend Dave) commented on how old he appeared and I couldn’t disagree; he is aging at the same rate as the rest of us. His setlist was staccato. If I ever desire to see MM in the future, I’ll shoot for a show in an intimate venue, perhaps during the winter months.
Now, for the real portion of the show, with background.
In my youth, I regularly attended a St. Louis radio station’s (mostly) annual alternative music festival. (coughpointfestcough) One of those years, Slipknot was scheduled to appear with Mudvayne (you’re welcome for the flashback), however both bands cancelled the day of the show. I was not the most disappointed person in my group, but maybe just a little bummed.
In adulthood, I’ve fully embraced that I like metal music of all walks and promoted it on my sleeve this year. Slipknot was no exception. Respect for Corey Taylor comes naturally after seeing this band perform. I’ve sought out more of the band’s music and would love to see them perform again. The show consisted of two-plus hours of heavy-hitting drums and a lot of headbanging. Just thinking about the night energizes me. I can’t wait for their return.

Melvins, The Firebird, St. Louis, MO (8/17) **Bucket list item**
The notification for the Melvins came to me quickly and I was stoked that they’d be making their way to the hidden gem that is the Firebird. Dave an I both wanted to see this show, although we probably couldn’t name a Melvins song between us. And this show was AMAZING! King Buzzo is a complete dick, but he’s also a complete genius. If you didn’t know, the Melvins were one of the very first grunge bands out of Seattle in the early 80s. I’d definitely see them again. While I couldn’t find a set list for this show, you can see a live YouTube performance here. (I recommend listening to the second track, “The Water Glass” because of its chant-like ending.)

Prophets of Rage, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, St. Louis, MO (9/4)
Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, and Rage Against the Machine teamed up to create Prophets of Rage. For those of you who refused to see them because Zack de la Rocha wasn’t a part of the setup, you missed out on a fun night. I wouldn’t say this is the most talented group of musicians (especially if one were to remove Tom Morello). However, they were fun and mixed the setlist appropriately. They were a one-off and probably will not tour again, and I’m okay with that plan.

Fucking Slayer & Anthrax, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO (9/21)
Transition to metalhead complete. I’d attempt to give you a review of the Anthrax performance, but I can’t remember it, so I’ll skip straight to the good stuff.
I have heard stories of just how rough a Slayer crowd can be, which brought undue anxiety before the show. As much as I wanted to deny it, this show ROCKED. My concert partner recently told me that he was sure I would hate this show, but was glad that I enjoyed myself. I found myself purchasing Slayer songs on iTunes (personal favorite – “South of Heaven”)and recently added some vinyl to my wishlist… safe to say, I’ll most definitely go to a Slayer show the next time they roll through, with the same dudes who accompanied me to this show.

Temple of the Dog, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA (11/11)**Bucket list item**
Woo. Buddy. There’s a lot to discuss here. First, travel. I believe, if my calculations are correct (and my memory serves me well), I spent about fifteen hours traveling over four days to get to San Francisco and back. I drove to Chicago late on Thursday, the same day that Leonard Cohen died, and cried in a gas station about an hour outside of the big city. The next morning, Brian and I flew to San Francisco at 8AM and eventually settled in our hotel room that afternoon. We stayed put until early Sunday, when we caught a 6AM flight back to Chicago, and I hopped into the car and drove the five hours back to St. Louis. I also had a toddler at home waiting for me, so I was all-around tired of traveling. Next, let’s chat about this venue. Accurately described as a warehouse with a balcony, this place holds 6,000 people. And ALL OF THEM were up in my business near the front of the stage. Yes, I’m exaggerating here. But that’s how it felt. Tall men stood in front of me and I repeatedly threatened throwing an elbow or two (sorry Brian). The crowd was suffocating and I blame the venue. I’m also spoiled by great places to see shows in St. Louis, which makes me bias and I’ll admit to it. Lastly, but most importantly, let’s talk about the music. I would categorize Temple as a band that is like a reverse supergroup, considering that it’s a blend of Chris Cornell and Pearl Jam, but before they were actually Pearl Jam. While I’d like to elaborate on how Temple of the Dog came to be, it’s doubtful that I’d ever stop and you can just read their Wikipedia page. The songs that came out of their only album are just simply incredible. They played them all. There’s a depth to the shallow Mother Love Bone catalog, and they chose a few bright spots to cover. But, my favorite song of the night was a hidden gem that resides on the Singles soundtrack, Chris Cornell’s “Seasons.” The song is beautiful, the man is beautiful, and although I spent way too much time traveling to see this band, I don’t regret it. A show that will be considered rare, I am glad to have been a part of this tour. You keep keepin’ on, brilliant Chris Cornell.

Henry Rollins’ Spoken Word, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO (11/16)
Henry has always been a favorite of mine. It’s the punk angst, no doubt; that the man gives zero fucks and calls it like he sees it. I can recall seeing him during the latter Bush Administration, and can hear his anger still. Henry calmed down during Obama’s time in office, presumably because he agreed with liberal policies much more than conservative ones. So, you can imagine my joy when this show was annouced, just days after what would be a shit show of an election. I hated the results, and knew that Henry would have something to say to boost the spirits of all of us hanging our heads lower than normal. We sat front how. The show was shorter than usual. I left feeling… uninspirired. Perhaps it was posing in a Calvin Klein ad that has softened him – who is to know for sure. The Misfits reunited at Riot Fest this past year, but my punk idol is dead.

What I Hope 2017 Brings
– The third installment of Coheed’s Neverender single album series, which would highlight the masterpiece Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. (And, this one is likely, because they’ve already hinted it.) Once I proclaimed that I’d travel to London to see it. That’s still true. (Update: THEY ANNOUNCED IT.)
– A Faith No More album and subsequent tour
– An extension of the already announced Less Than Jake tour, preferably at the Firebird

2015 Concert Review

You know the drill by now, right?!

Cowboy Mouth, 1.10.15, Old Rock House, St. Louis, MO – I felt as though I had to purchase a few tickets to this show in order to give my husband the Cowboy Mouth experience. I got a new CM experience, too. They were practically an hour late to a sold out crowd in a really shitty venue. (Sorry, Old Rock House, but you are no Pageant, and you are miserable when you are swollen to the brink with people.) When you show up to your own show an hour late (and you’re not Axl Rose), I assume you may feel as though you owe something to your audience. So, they played The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” They sounded better than The Who does today, but that is easily accomplished. CM uses a lot of the same concert themes they used years ago, and just swaps them out with new songs and setlists. This can work for a ton of bands, but the Mouth isn’t one of them, in my opinion.

Blues Traveler, 2.8.15, Beggin’ Pet Parade, Soulard, MO – There’s a whole lot of NOPE here, people. At least, when you’re like 25 weeks pregnant and there are too many children and dogs in extremely close quarters. John Popper sounds AMAZING, though, and can play the hell out of a harmonica. I’m just sad that he had to do it for this type of crowd. (Also, note to self: Repeat after me, “You never want to go to the Beggin’ Pet Parade again.”)

Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish, 2.10.15, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO – Duh. The most fun. Always. I made my husband go with me to this one. We danced in the balcony, because, again, when you’re pregnant, there’s no pit dancing allowed. (And that sucks, quite frankly.) Set list here.

Alice in Chains, 8.3.15, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO – YES, YES, YES. Fucking killer set list, fucking killer company. I cried, as I usually do when seeing these guys. “Nutshell” will do that to you, I suppose. Jerry Cantrell, if you’re reading this, please be my BFF.

*Special note: We opted out of seeing both Fall Out Boy and the Foo Fighters this year, unfortunately.

Help Me Out!

Friends!

This semester I’m working on my senior research project – it’s about stressors and moral dilemmas. Please take this survey so that I can have plenty of data to analyze because I’m a huge nerd like that. Just click on the link below and do that thing. Thanks! (And don’t worry – all data is anonymous and secure.)

[Now, here’s a blurb I must list]

Good afternoon,

My name is Janelle Muehleisen and I am currently a senior at Maryville University studying Organizational Leadership. I am searching for participants to take part in my research study (IRB# PSYC 480-1M-S15-01). My objective is to explore the connection between high levels of stress and moral dilemmas. Participation in this study will involve the completion of an online questionnaire taking approximately 15 minutes. If you are not eligible to participate in this study, I would greatly appreciate if you would pass it on to others who might be interested. Thank you for your time and help.

In order to participate, individuals:
(1) Must be 18+ years of age
(2) Must have computer access
(3) Must be able to read and understand the English language
(4) Must be able to recall a time in which they have experienced a moral dilemma.

If you do experience any discomfort in relation to participating in this study, please feel free to contact NAMI’s National Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

To start the survey, participants may click on this link:

https://maryville.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bm6wp2N47QyGAzH

2014 Concert Review

Before this gets underway, I want to give a shout out to my friend Dave (who has two first names), because he looks forward to this review every year, and that’s cool.

Ben Folds, 4/12/14, Powell Opera House, St. Louis, MO – Somehow, some way, I stumbled across a presale that enabled me to purchase front row seats, so I did. How awesome was this? Pretty damn awesome. This man can pretty much do no wrong. He has his foot in multiple genres and wrote a concerto. Ben played with the symphony and “Army” closed out the encore (but only because I was screaming it from the front row, I’m sure). Plus, he seems like the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.
Setlist

Todd Snider, 4/17/14, The Sheldon, St. Louis, MO – Our friends Anna and Nate treated us to this show, which was a lot of fun. My first time at Sheldon, and it’s a pretty intimate setting. He played some acoustic music and also had a showing of a film he made, which wasn’t necessarily my taste. However, he played this song, which is now my favorite Todd Snider tune. Being at a Todd Snider show is a little unpredictable, I guess. You just never know what he may say or do.

Reel Big Fish, 6/7/14, Ballpark Village, St. Louis, MO – A last-minute concert decision that turned out to be a TON of fun. Yes, I know these guys just play pretty much all of the tracks from Turn the Radio Off, but at least they know when they were at their greatest. Also, my love for ska music will probably never die, which may annoy some or most of you. But I don’t care – bring on the horns!

The Doobie Brothers & Boston, 6/20/14, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Maryland Heights, MO – Summer concerts are the best, no? I am a sucker for the Doobies. So when a four pack of lawn seats is relatively inexpensive, I’ll sit there for a night. I am my father’s daughter, after all. Plus, I pretty much cry when I hear “Takin’ it to the Streets”. Hearing Boston play “Foreplay/Long Time” was also okay with me. But let’s face it – both bands are pretty old and beyond their prime. I guess I just needed to cross them off the bucket list.
Doobie Brothers Setlist
Boston Setlist

Bonus: The awesome company at this show. These people… love them! (And there was beer.)

James Taylor, 6/24/14, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Maryland Heights, MO – This show was stupid crowded, but worth it for the original JT. My only complaint about the actual show was that he played a not-so-great version of “Steamroller” and that disappointed me.
Setlist

Fall Out Boy & Paramore, 7/6/14, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Maryland Heights, MO – You can make fun of me all that you’d like about this one, but honestly – this may have been my favorite show this year! I got to meet the band, touched Patrick Stump twice, got some things signed, and met a guy in a Jerome Bettis jersey. THEN I got to see the show. And had great seats. While Paramore was fun, FOB just took everything up a notch in my book. I’d pay a lot of cash to see those guys again live.

Paramore Setlist
FOB Setlist

You guys probably want some photos from this day, no? Here you are.

The magic wristband and lanyard that gives me all the power.

My new friend.

We had great seats!

And finally, the beginning of our “you guys act excited to meet us!” photos, which are a hit. This one is especially hilarious to me.

Tori Amos, 8/1/14, Peabody Opera House, St. Louis, MO – Just. Get. Out. I love Tori. She is this unstoppable force of beauty and talent and admiration. Her music and lyrics are raw and unfiltered, and I love that about her. While this particular show was great, it also had some elements that were quirky and distracting, but I think that is just Tori’s style. She had a portion of her setlist dedicated to covers, and played different covers in every city. We got some weird ones, which you can see in the link below. I would totally see her again, hoping she’d revive some of her older catalog and approach the show with more angst.
Setlist

El Monstero, 8/23/14, Art Hill, St. Louis, MO – Let’s just say that I’m pretty much over El Monstero right now. Maybe it was the location of this show, as I much prefer hitting up Riverport (now Hollywood Casino Amphitheater). Maybe I’ve seen them too often. I have no idea what the answer and/or solution is here, but I am taking a break from these guys for a bit.
Setlist

Pearl Jam, 10/3/14, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO – Third time is not a charm for my seeing the Vedder clan. First and foremost, I love Eddie. And Eddie doesn’t know me. But Eddie knows (and loves) baseball. And it was October, and baseball playoffs were happening. Our tickets said that there was a prompt start time for the show, which was moved back a good hour because THERE WAS BASEBALL. Maybe I would have been better if we were watching a Sunday Night Football Steelers/Ravens showdown. But it was baseball. I like PJ more than baseball. It was also Octoberfest, so many of those around us had been partaking in drinking a lot, and that was annoying. Then they played John Lennon’s “Imagine” and it was all over for me. I love you, Mr. Vedder. But I think I’ll probably skip the next show, as much as that breaks my cold, cold heart.
Setlist

Coheed & Cambria, 10/4/14, Skyway Theater, Minneapolis, MN – Remember in like 2006 or 2007 when Coheed played four nights in three or four different cities, each night playing one of their albums? You probably don’t. It was called “Nevereneder” and I was super poor and sad back in those days, so I couldn’t go. To the joy of my soul, when Second Stage turned ten, they resurrected Neverender in a way. They picked a hell of a lot more cities and played their first album in its entirety. We saw that show a few years ago at a sub-par venue in Chicago, but those tunes made me happy. Fast forward to 2014, when they, again, brought back this setup for their second (and probably most popular) album, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, celebrated a decade of wonderment. We picked a weekend to make this happen, and ended up in Minneapolis for one night only. I was not at my best physically, so the drive was tough. The show itself? Not my favorite Coheed show for sure. For the VIP acoustic opener, however, they played Jimmy Eat World’s “A Praise Chorus” which melts my heart. And we got to take a photo with these guys and have a chat with them, which went much better than the first time I met them and basically put my foot in my own ass a bunch. This year, the majestic Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness turns ten… I’d travel across a country to hear this album, so dudes in Coheed – Let’s make this happen, okay?
Setlist

And finally, a shot from our Coheed convention.

2015 will be a totally different year, so be prepared for this review to be shorter and probably not as super exciting…

 

2013 Concert Review

I’m posting before the end of this year, but considering we don’t have any free time between now and the 31st, I’m running with it.

Another year in the books, another set of concerts down! Here’s the 2013 list:

They Might Be Giants, 3/15, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO – These guys come around pretty often (in St. Louis terms), and, for various reasons, I never got around to seeing them live. Immediately I regretted not seeing them sooner. Great music splashed with laughter and sprinkled with truth. Loved this show and would totally see them on the next go-round. See the setlist.

New Kids on the Block, 98*, and Boyz II Men, 6/30, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO – Let’s set the record straight: I am NOT a boy band girl. But one of my best girlfriends had free tickets, and I don’t miss a chance to hang with her. 98* was horrible, but I expected that. As a child, I knew of NKOTB, but I was a tad bit young to get into them. That said, who doesn’t like Donny Wahlberg? That man is awesome. And Jordan Knight still looks okay. The best part was probably taking in that a huge arena full of middle-aged women were screaming like teenagers while Boyz II Men sang “I’ll Make Love to You.” 

El Monstero, 7/20, Verizon Wireless, St. Louis, MO – Much better than seeing them at The Pageant for sure. Helicopters overhead. Enough said.

X-Fest featuring Alice in Chains, Jane’s Addiction, Coheed and Cambria, and Circa Survive, 8/23, Klipsch Music Center, Noblesville, IN – I should just get straight to the important info with this one. Dave Navarro hits on anything that breathes, and it is the best thing ever to watch. The only way the Alice portion of the show could have been better would be if they would have played “Don’t Follow.” But they did play “Nutshell,” and we were front row, so obviously I cried. The best show I’ve seen this year.

Coheed and Cambria, 8/26, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO – We sat in the balcony. As much as I love this band, I’ve had enough for a while. But, they rocked the beginning of the night with NWFT. Setlist here.

Celebration Day, 9/14, Veterans Memorial, JB Park, St. Louis, MO – Basically, the guys that do El Monstero also do an LZ cover band. It’s not as good as Floyd, or maybe I just like Floyd way more.

Nine Inch Nails, 10/1, Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, MO – This show almost beat out AIC for best show of the year. Insane setlist, insane light show, lots of beer.

Less Than Jake, 11/17, The Firebird, St. Louis, MO – The most FUN I’ve had at a show this year for sure, and probably in many years. I felt like a teenager again. My girlfriend Erica decided to go with me even though she’d never heard of their music. We made friends with an awesome gay couple. I moshed and jumped and drank Schlafly Christmas Ale while singing very loudly. Everything was just perfect on this night, no joke.

Elton John, 11/26, Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, MO – This one checked off a name on my husband’s concert bucket list, so we went for super cheap. Not my favorite show, but definitely not a horrible show either. Just something to see.

El Monstero, 12/22, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO – We ended up at a benefit show instead of the regular show because that was the only way we were able to sit in the balcony. It was too short-lived, with only one hour worth of music. I don’t know if I’m willing to see them at The Pageant again – I think that KSHE holds onto balcony seats and I’m an old lady.

There it is! The only show on the calendar for 2014 is Ben Folds, where we have front row seats!

Not a Forgotten Blog

I promise that I have not forgotten about this blog! I’ve got a personal domain set up that hubby has promised to renew and then I’ll be setting up there.

However, I think there will be some new focus areas and thoughts, in part based on a conversation with a friend who has a background in counseling. It went something like:
friend: “Have you ever thought about being a counselor?”
me: “Yes. Approximately five hundred times. But, I don’t want to be in school forever. Why do you ask?”
friend: “You’d be really good at it. And, it won’t take you that long…”
*Friend begins to create educational outline*
me: “That actually doesn’t sound too bad!”
friend: “You could be practicing by the time you’re 36 or so, and I’ll help you.”

Needless to say, I’m exploring getting a Master’s degree now.

You’ll be seeing a lot of posts exploring psychology in the future. Also, budget stuff, recipes and the like. Stay tuned, I feel like this is going to rev up quickly.

Also, you’ll see that Grey Owl Designs will be integrated into the site. Cool, right?

Here’s some updated info about what’s happening:

– I’ve made it to Maryville University and have completed one class. (Ben likes to brag, so maybe I should own up – I received 173/175 points for the class. I worked pretty damn hard.) I’ve got a different outlook than I’ve had previously on completing my degree, which is helpful.

– Currently, I’m seeking a new gig, but have been keeping really busy with school and volunteer activities. It’s imperative that I find the right fit this time around. Send good vibes.

– Today marks 30 days until I’m 30. It’s a good day to start a countdown.

This house is a mess and I need to clean it, so I’m out!

Going old school

This is my first guest post here on Janelle’s blog. I am so happy to be a part of the Blissful Randomness team. Two things I tend to be most of the time. But to the point of why I’m blogging here.

Janelle is constantly looking for ways to make us healthier, more efficient, more fit, more globally conscious, or all around better people. This particular project fits in the efficient, globally conscious, better people category. In an effort to be more hippie conserve electricity, she suggests we start using a clothesline to dry our clothes. Plenty of good reasons for it, and it gives me a great opportunity to do something I really like doing, building things. Here are some photos of my last project, a new front closet:

Our New Front Closet

Unlike that project, I did not take pictures throughout the process, just the finished product, it was just too hot.

Our original idea was to put 4″x4″ posts in concrete with a T cross piece on top, then string clothesline between them. We were going to place it on our back deck, as we tend to use the patio more than the deck, and it is one of the few places in our yard that we don’t have trees covering, because we obviously don’t want trees dropping berries or whirlybirds or anything else on our fresh clean clothes, right? So, we’re in Home Depot, and I’m talking with a really nice older employee, explaining our project and my idea to make sure it will work. We go back and forth a little, then Janelle suggests just bolting it to the deck, since we aren’t likely to need to or want to move the entire setup. Well, that makes things easier since they make a 4″x4″ sleeve thing that you can bolt down, which is way easier than mixing and pouring concrete.

We bought two of those sleeve things, a 12′ pressure-treated 4″x4″ which they kindly cut in half for us, an 8′ 2″x4″ which I kindly cut in half myself, some 7″ bolts with nuts and washers to connect the wood, some bolts and washers to fasten the sleeves to the deck, 12 eyelets, and of course, clothesline. Then this morning before it got too hot, I started assembling this thing.

It went together exactly like I hoped it would. I had all the necessary hardware and nothing leftover! BOOM! It took me about 45 minutes start to finish, and it did get hot and I did sweat. Here is proof:

Ignore the sweaty mess, look at the thing behind me.

Of course, I had to tie up the clothesline, and I remembered two key things from my days as a boy Eagle Scout, how to fuse the end of the rope to prevent fraying, and how to tie appropriate knots (I used a two half-hitches knot, so it can be tightened as we go)! Everything worked like a charm, and I only have two blisters on my hand from burning myself on melted nylon!

Here is another photo of the clothesline in use with the dog towels after they got a bath today:

It’s working so far!

So that was the project of the day, and I think it turned our pretty good. Here is where we could use some help though. When you dry things on a clothesline, they tend to get stiff and aren’t as soft as we are used to. We could use liquid fabric softener in the washer, which I think we’ll try, but I’m not sure how that will turn out. Any other ideas? How can we keep things soft and comfortable while saving electricity and using our new clothesline?

The Luscious Road to 30

In exactly four-and-a-half months, I’ll be hitting a new, important (in society) age – the big 3-0.

For some, it seems as though it’s a daunting age, one where insidious villains steal away the spotlight-filled 20-something moments and replace them with lackluster days turned evenings turned nights. It could be all of the superhero and horror movies that we’re all watching today, where the youngest, prettiest characters save the day and get the guy (or girl) in the end. The oldies are left to ponder the awfulness of the world while their leg is an entree for a zombie family.

For me, this opinion wasn’t so. My early twenties were filled with misconceptions and self-doubt, living in pure survival mode. My mid and late twenties proved to be a bit better, with more awareness of who I am and who I want to be. I stood up for myself in new ways, more kindly and gently than before. Still, the emotional roller coaster that was most of my twenties is almost over – and I’m not lamenting one bit. 

The last few months have brought many changes, both positive and negative. Those changes are paving the way to the road ahead, which is looking green, leafy, and level. Of course, leafy areas can conceal hiding places for zombies, but I think I have watched enough movies to be trained properly for survival.

Follow me as I walk down this path, won’t you?

What’s Happening?!

You guys.

I haven’t blogged in over two months. Again. Terrible. Feeling as though things can be boring may be a leading cause. Overall, things really AREN’T boring… I also won’t say they are busy, because I am trying to not glorify that word.

Today, Ben’s off to a meeting and I am sitting here with the laptop open, TV off, and the new Daft Punk streaming from iTunes. Seriously, what IS happening?! This, I suppose: there are times that my body forces me to just stop. Sometimes I push through it, but as I get older, I find that option is not always the easier, or the best. So, here I am- almost 9AM on a Sunday, in my pajamas, scouring Pinterest for paleo recipes (something I know nothing about), fashion advice (also, clueless), and staring at this cup of coffee thinking, “Should I be drinking this?”

Oh, and texting with one of my favorite people, Anna. I guess this is where I can give you a life update, no?

The spring semester wrapped up my first week at CHMO, which added a bit of exhaustion to my plate! I worked my rear off, though- got an A in the class and ended my time at StLCC with a 3.67 GPA. For that, I am patting myself on the back. I’ll be transferring to Maryville University this fall to finish out a bachelor’s in organizational leadership, as long as I can hang on tight! (The next three years will be fun!)

Personally, our plate has been full, too. Because Ben traveled a fair bit throughout the first quarter of the year, we haven’t done a lot at the new house. This summer will be a prime time to finish off some things that we’ve been meaning to do. Our weekends are booked far out at some points- we are getting our city house ready to rent, and have numerous weddings, showers, parties, and get-togethers already on the calendar. It’s nice to be full.

Day-to-day, I am just trying to stay organized. On Friday nights, no matter how exhausted I may feel, we go to the grocery store. This means that Thursday evenings or Fridays right after work are meal planning times, which leaves the weekend for all of our aforementioned calendared times, and things like cleaning the house, laundry, and prepping for the week- ironing, making lunches, getting a jump start on dinners.

For all of you awesome people out there reading this- do you know anything about switching to a paleo diet? I find myself seeking a better way to feed my family constantly! Always searching recipes or ingredient substitutes that make meals just a bit healthier generally. It’s easy to get lost in all of the vast information that is at our fingertips! If you do have tips, please let me know.

I’ve been meaning to update you on all of my Pinterest trials, so be alert for that! (And, tell me when I need to get off my ass and post a blog, okay? Thanks!)

I’ll leave you with a good photo of my new sweet haircut, by Sarah at True Colours Salon. She gets an A+. Go see her if you want to look awesome.

I’ve got a handsome hubby, too.

Also, check out the reasons I love to stay home. This saves money, people!

I guess it’s good that I wasn’t doing anything important?

Have a good week, friends!

Three Years Ago

I am NOT a mushy, romantic person, much to my very romantic husband’s dismay. I don’t remember much about my wedding day, because it all went by too fast and I was overwhelmed. (With love, really.) However, I do remember some of the silly things that happened and there are memories that were associated with music, so I’ll share some of that with you all today.

During our rehearsal, the one piece of advice the wedding planner at the church had for me was, “Don’t hold your flowers so high- you want everyone to see your face and dress.”

And this is what I did.

I obviously didn’t listen.

When we lit the unity candle, I’m sure that when Ben leaned in, he wanted to say something profoundly romantic and sweet, but instead he said something like, “I really want to kiss you right now,” which we couldn’t do until after Kevin pronounced us as husband and wife. I distracted him by telling him how I had to pee right before the ceremony and how I made that happen in my fancy dress.

We probably high-fived after the ceremony, but I don’t remember that.

Everyone knows that you need a sweet song to walk into the reception hall, and this is what we chose:

 

This song started our dinner service:

 

I played this song TWICE because I didn’t get to dance to it the first time. (Or the second time, but I’m not bitter…)

 

We danced to this sappy number, and then broke out (immediately) into one of the best Outkast songs ever.

Mama Halliburton get in between the bride and groom to dance when “Hey Ya!” came on. I love her!

 

There were, like, three people on the dance floor when this song played, but if I didn’t play it, it wouldn’t have been my wedding.  (WARNING: this is probably the worst song ever made, and the lyrics are filthy, but seriously, someone let them write and record it.)

 

We played this song as we successfully snuck out of the reception around 8:40… I was NOT going to get caught talking to everyone once the music ended.

 

And now for the best memory. This is the speech that our best friend Brian made as a toast. While Ben is my number one dude, Brian is a definite second.