BROOKS OR BUST!

'g' stands for...

Garth Brooks, baby!

I've always wished that I had seen Garth Brooks in concert before he retired. So when he announced that he was doing one more concert in Kansas City, Rhett and I decided we had to see it. We tried to get tickets, but they sold out in minutes. Then they opened up 2 more concerts, and they sold out. Then they opened up six more concerts, for a grand total of NINE shows in one city. I was online for about 4 hours from start to finish, clicking and refreshing and clicking and refreshing, and I ended up with 3 tickets to the 1st concert. All 3 tickets were separate, and all 3 were "rear-view" seats. But we didn't care. So off to Kansas City we went. The concert tickets were $27 each, we flew out there on buddy passes, and we got a discount at the Marriott, so all in all, it was a fantastically affordable good time.

Rhett's cousin/best friend David came with us. He works at one of the radio stations in Salt Lake, so he did a call-in report on the concert that night after it got over, and then the next morning on the morning show. I told him he had to give me a shout out since I hooked him up with all my connections, but I'm pretty sure it slipped his mind. Silly boy.

The concert was absolutely AMAZING. Garth Brooks is a master performer. I loved every second of it. Oh, and my crappy "rear-view" seats were 2ND ROW, and actually SIDE VIEW, and awesome. Plus, there was one seat next to me that never filled up, so after Trisha Yearwood opened, Rhett came down and joined me so we got to sit by each other. It was perfect!

Below, Garth obviously pointing right at me. YOU TOO BUDDY!

Of course he jumped into a hole in the stage when it was over.

I LOVE YOU GARTH!

(However, my superfanhood ends there as I will not be purchasing his latest hits album since it is sold exclusively at Cesspool-mart. What does he have against Target anyway?)

Look it up first, people

One of the more entertaining aspects of working in the maternity ward is hearing all the new baby names that parents come up with. Today I came across one that just blew me away, and it was all I could do to keep my composure and appear supportive. This was not the name of the newborn baby girl born to mom and dad a day ago, but the name of the adorably outgoing big sister who was frolicking all around striking up conversations with adults, at only 5 years old. She had light brown hair parted in the middle with 2 long braids, each with a sparkly pink fuzzy hair bobble at the top, which of course matched her shiny pink coat, pink pants, and pink shoes. Just cute as a button. After she told me how old she is, I asked her her name.

"Purgatory."

I repeated it aloud in disbelief and sent a questioning gaze to the mom hoping she would correct her silly daughter and set the record straight. But she just smiled with a great deal of pride and nodded her head, repeating the sweet name. Purgatory.

What should we name him?

This is my new friend that lives in the backyard. He eats there, he sleeps there, he watches me through the window while I'm vacuuming, so he ought to have a name. He stayed there for hours. Rhett came home for lunch and he's the one who spotted him through the window. Mr. Deer stayed all through lunch, and then I cleaned all 3 bathrooms, vacuumed the bedrooms, stairs, and living room, and he was STILL there. This was no prance through the yard. He was getting comfortable. I started whipping up some cream to put on the slice of pumpkin pie I was about to serve him to welcome him to the neighborhood, but I guess I spooked him. Must be lactose intolerant.

So let's get this guy a name. I'm taking votes. So far I've come up with White-Butt or Peeping Tom. A little help please?

Shanna I implore you

Dear Shanna,

I am officially posting a blog for the one and only purpose of asking you to please update your blog. What can I do to help you? I'll do anything. Anything. Today is the 2 month anniversary of the last time you wrote anything. It's very sad indeed. And I am also very sad. Please don't make me sit through another graveyard shift with nothing to read about. It's depressing.

Anticipatingly yours,

Natalie

and the night shift drags on

Tonight I am working the first graveyard shift of my life. 7pm to 7am, and what a treat it is. I had things to do for about the first 2 hours, and now I am getting paid to browse the internet, clean out my inbox, do a little online window shopping, and now I blog. Almost worth it, I know, but I'd still rather be at home in my bed. Still 8 hours to go on my shift. One of the other girls here is making a Wendy's run as we speak, so that will be the uncontended highlight of the night. I'm really looking forward to it. 5-piece chicken nuggets with sweet & sour sauce and a sour cream and chives baked potato, my favorite Wendy's order. It used to cost me $1.13 but they went and hiked up the potato price by a couple dimes behind my back - scoundrels. But honestly I'd pay it any day. I can't get enough of those chicken nuggets. However, let it be stated that the best nuggets in all the world can be found right at your neighborhood food court at Chic-Fil-A. Rhett had chicken nuggets from Chic-Fil-A today, and I almost cried when I discovered he had called me from the food court to see if I wanted any, but I didn't answer because I was at a bridal shower. So he didn't get me any because he didn't know when I'd be home or if I'd already eaten. And those waffle fries!? With FRY SAUCE? It was truly a tragedy. And then add their deliciously pulpy lemonade, with free refills, and I'm a happy girl.

What else to say? I feel like I should just ramble on and on for the sake of filling time, but I'll spare the rest of you.

And as for things to come here on this ol' blog, I should tell you that we officially have the internet at our home now, as of this week. It's very exciting. And I have many, MANY pictures to download and stories to share. So look forward to much blogging excitement and possibly overstimulation. It's gonna be rich. Halloween pictures posted on Thanksgiving? Yes, please.

I have a date tonight

In case there were any questions, I really love my husband. I'm sitting here at work, on the tail end of my 12-hour shift at the hospital, and the phone rings. The girl that usually answers the phones was busy, so I grabbed it. "2 North, this is Natalie." The guy on the other line answered, "Nataree?" That's what Rhett calls me when he's playing around. And I was so happy just to hear his voice on the other end of the line! And then that darling boy asked me on a date for tonight after I got off work. It made my day. (Week is more like it.) So we're going to the Jazz game tonight and Rhett's pretty excited to have some bonding time with LaBron James. And I loved that he officially asked me on a date. Even though we're married, even though we always spend time together, it still melts my heart. It makes me feel giddy like it's our second date or something. He even walked up into the closet and asked me what clothes I want him to bring because he knows I'd hate to show up to a Jazz game in my green scrubs. He's such a good man. Good thing I got ready this morning before work is all I can say. That's rarely something I do at 5:30 in the morning. For some reason, this morning was special. I even curled my hair! The stars aligned I guess.

So I have a date tonight. Now all I can do is stare at the clock and watch it tick tock the time away until I can go and meet this hot guy I'm going out with tonight. I think I have a crush on him.

Disclaimer

Dear everyone,

Good news: we moved into our new house a week ago- finally and officially, meaning we are actually sleeping there now, instead of just paying rent while they continue to paint and remodel the house. Frankly, I couldn't stand the terrible stench of the oil paint. It gives me a headache after 30 seconds. So we kept staying at my parents house until the painting stopped and the odor died down. The smell still lingers several weeks later, but at least it's not headache-inducing. Perhaps you've heard me vent about this before, but now it's in writing: I am so very annoyed that the landlord and her little remodel crew chose to delay their remodel projects until the very day that we moved our things in and started paying rent. (PS that was back in late September! ...grumble grumble) The house was vacant for MONTHS before we moved in. Talk about procrastination. In the first 3 weeks we were paying rent, we slept there a total of 2 nights. Count 'em: TWO. And when this darling landlord sent me an email asking for my thoughts on the remodeling matter, I went ahead and shared my honest thoughts, and suggested that perhaps a slight deduction in rent might be appropriate for the inconvenience. She shot back with such a heated email, accusing us of not fully disclosing our financial situation and asking for a handout, and that if we won't be able to come up with the rent then we should possibly consider looking elsewhere to live because their ability to subsidize our rent is not great, and we better get these things ironed out before it's to late because when this is all over she'd still like to be able to count my mother as a friend... and on and on and on... GEEZ LADY! Talk about misinterpretation. I don't believe that's what I said at all. And since when does our rental arrangement have anything to do with her relationship with my mother? I've personally never met my landlord, but I suspect she's slightly unstable, to put it kindly. She lives in Minnesota while her husband is doing his medical fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, and yet she still tries to micromanage everything that goes on from 10 states away. What a nut. She also sent me a list of things she expects from us. My favorite was "I would prefer that you not have any large parties or gatherings, and I would like you to let me know before you have guests over. Guests will do much more damage to your home that you would never do." So I'm supposed to call my landlord in Minnesota to get permission for every baby shower, movie night, and before the home teachers come over? I'll try to remember. Hopefully I can find her number.

{sigh} It's good to have that off my chest. Thanks guys.

On to the disclaimer: Now that we are in our new home, we are not currently set up with our chosen cable and internet package. Rhett is currently researching all providers to see who has the best HD options for all the games he wants. I couldn't care less as long as I can watch Prison Break and Survivor and update my blog now and then. But for now, no internet. Hence the lame wallpaper post stood strong for more than 2 weeks. I really apologize for that. But I now apologize for the near future of the blog. I cannot promise a regular update for the next few weeks. Confession~ I'm writing this blog from the computer lab at school. I don't intend to frequent this place for the sake of blogging.

So that's about it ladies and gents! You're all invited over for a tour once the fresh coats of oil paint stop stinking.