Devout reader. Teacher of the children. Lover of wine and marshmallows. A fan of the music. Excited about pull-through parking spaces and an extra snooze in the morning. Theater rat and car singer. Lucky wife and mom.
On Wednesday, Neil and I will be heading out to Nash-vegas for the CMA Festival, sponsored by is brand, Vault. I had a great time last year, but I was a bit uneasy in my role as the "corporate wife." That is what I choose to call it anyway. I found myself a bit out of my element...and not just musically.
You see, I teach high school. I hang out in a room full of sophomores for most of my days. I say things like, "Stop Tweeting in my classroom" and "Two half-shirts made out of handkerchiefs do not make one whole shirt." As a rule, I do not get asked if I'd prefer red or white by a guy in a tux, nor do I get tickets to suites and afterparties. Not my paradigm, baby.
However, I did enjoy myself last year once I figured out that everyone there was more like me than I thought. They just have a bigger shopping budget than I do. Oh, and about ten years more experience. Not that big a deal.
So, now I am planning for at least five days in Nashville as a corporate wife. At least I know what to expect. For those of you wondering, the answer is crazy fans in cut-offs, a very kind and smart suite staff, and a heat that makes the hot tin roof look like an easy-bake.
And now for what to pack- Lots of dress, some nice tops and shorts, and absolutely no fancy shmancy stuff. Oh, and shoes that are both comfy and cute. Perhaps the biggest challenge of the trip.
Today, I get to plan and pack for me. Tomorrow, I plan and pack for Neil. With the back surgery coming up, we will have to be ready to send him into surgery the day after we get back.
What a day it has been. And it isn't even 5pm yet. Wow.
First, Mom and Dad had to cancel their trip to see us. Mom is sick, and with Neil's back issues and everything else, she didn't want to risk getting him sick too. It's a good point, but I was more concerned with her being miserable during the drive. It's a long way from Wilmington to Atlanta.
So, now I have a fairly open weekend, right? Should be okay. Went out with the girls to get nails done, went to lunch with Lauren, and ran some other errands with her. Picked out Kate's birthday present. Good times. Then I head home to cuddle in empty apartment with Neil.
Well, he had some news. Neil has been scheduled for back surgery on June 16th. We are lucky because his amazing doctor was able to get him in so quickly and around our schedule. Now I need to plan ahead carefully because:
1. On Wednesday of next week we go to Nashville until the following Monday for the CMA festival. 2. On that Tuesday Neil goes into surgery.
So any grocery planning and preparations for the hospital need to be done this weekend or the beginning of next week. I will start my lists today. Oh, how I love a to-do list.
Oh, Brenda Walsh, where art thou? Through a complicated series of conversations with many friends, I decided to create the ultimate 90s ROCK playlist. Though rock is a bit broad as a category, the songs had to be released in the 90s, now more than 2 songs per artists, and the songs needed to be played on the radio- even if it was an "alternative" selection. The entire playlist idea came about from hearing Better than Ezra in the Jeep one day, so I started there.
I had lots of help, but here is the list as of now. I'll update the final song selections soon:
1.Better Than Ezra: Desperately Wanting and Good
2.Depeche Mode: Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence
3.Matchbox 20: Long Day and 3 am
4.Eve 6: Inside Out
5.Dexter Freebish: Leaving Town
6.Bush: Glycerine and Everything Zen
7.Harvey Danger: Flagpole Sitta
8.The Connells: ’74-‘75
9.Stone Temple Pilots: Interstate Love Song and Sex Type Thing
10.Goo Goo Dolls: Iris and Slide
11.Third Eye Blind: Semi-charmed Life and Jumper
12.REM: Nightswimming and Losing My Religion
13.Paul Westerberg: Waiting for Somebody (Singles soundtrack)
14.Cowboy Mouth: Jenny Says
15.Live: Lightening Crashes,
16.Pearl Jam: Porch and Jeremy
17.Nirvana: Smells and Lake of Fire (Meatpuppets cover from Unplugged)
18.Foo Fighters: Everlong
19.U2: Mysterious Ways, One
20.Gin Blossoms: Hey Jealousy and
21.Temple of the Dog: Hunger Strike
22.Soundgarden: Spoonman, BHS
23.Beck: Loser
24.Oasis: Wonderwall, Champagne Supernova
25.Hootie and the Blowfish: Hannah Jane and Hold my Hand
26.Pres. Of the US: Peaches
27.Smashing Pumpkins: 1979
28.Alanis: Jagged, You Oughtta Know
29.Blind Melon: No Rain
30.Cranberries: Linger and Dreams
31.The Cure: Friday, I’m in Love
32.Toad the Wet Sprocket: Walk on the Ocean
33.7 Mary 3: Cumbersome
34.Butthole Surfers: Pepper
35.Weezer: Buddy Holly and Undone
36.Green Day: Longview and Basket Case
37.Toadies: Possum Kingdom
38.EMF: Unbelievable
39.Everclear: Santa Monica
40.Alana Davis: 32 flavors
41.The Breeders: Last Splash
42.Blues Traveler: Hook and Run Around
43.Garbage: Only Happy When It Rains, Stupid Girl
44.Joan Osbourne: St. Teresa
45.Lemonheads: Mrs. Robinson
46.Lisa Loeb: Stay and Do You Sleep
47.No Doubt: Just a Girl and Spiderwebs
48.Sheryl Crow: All I Wanna Do
49.Dead Eye Dick: New Aged Girl
50.Sublime: Santeria
51.311:Down and Al Mixed Up
52.Squirrel Nut Zippers: Hell
53.Tom Petty: Mary Jane’s Last Dance and American Girl
54.Black Crowes: Hard to Handle and Jealous Again
55.Jane’s Addiction: Been Caught Stealing
56.Ben Folds Five: Song for the Dumped and Battle of Who Could Care Less
57.Red Hot Chili Peppers: Soul to Squeeze and Californication
58.Ugly Kid Joe: Hate Everything about You
59.Faith No More: Epic
60.Mr. Big: To be with You
61.Mighty, Mighty Bosstones: Knock on Wood
62.Marcy’s Playground: Sex and Candy
63.Cake: The Distance and Stickshifts and Safetybelts
So, I did get a little tipsy- during the daytime. I went to Lauren's pool, and we were joined by Don-Michael, Susan, and Jackie for some sun and wine fun. Maybe we should not have started as early as we did. Or maybe I shouldn't have opened the third bottle. Any way it goes, I had to have Reece pick me up on his way over to our place. Not sure if this story is more lame or more awesome. I think a bit of both.
Now, I have to get up with Neil in the morning to go get my car. Le sigh.
But, to the title of the post, today I am thinking of books. I need more to read for the summer- way more. I decided I am going to keep a list of what I have been reading, as well as my favorites, on the blog. May take me a day or so to get it complied- it'll be a long one.
Today I finished Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. I never finished the book when I picked it up after DiVinci; however, I had to finish it before I watched the movie. Now comes the great book picking adventure. Again. Damn.
Why do I have to wait until September for Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabladon? I need more Jaime and Claire. NOW. The newest Sookie Stackhouse novel, Dead and Gone was released just last month. And, of course, I finished it in two days. Why does nothing last?
I have a few rereads for school next year- They are novels I have read before, but I either haven't read them in a long time or need to read them from a teacher's point-of-view. Siddartha, Frankenstein, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Importance of Being Earnest... None of them sparkley enough to entice me quiet yet.
Well, off to audible.com to browse some new titles and then to the shelf to start the list of "recently read by me."
Well, Neil is doing well. He woke up in the early afternoon and seems to get better every hour. I, on the other hand, need some serious sleep tonight. Think I will turn in soon to prepare for tomorrow's festivities.
Goals for tomorrow: Must call Comcast about DVR. I forgot how much daytime TV stinks. Hang out at pool for as long as possible. Enjoy freedom until it sinks in, finally.
Not even sure that is a word, but as my fellow M.Ed. graduates agreed, with a Master's in English you earn the right to coin your own terms.
Today, Neil had his injection for his back. His doctors wanted to try the injections again since the herniation moved when he fell on Mother's Day weekend. We are trying to avoid surgery so I am constantly keeping fingers, toes and anything else I can bend crossed in hopes that the steroids work some kind of magic for him.
Neither of us could seem to fall asleep last night, and we both hated getting up early for the 8 am appointment. But, we made it with time to spare, and Neil was only with the doctor's for a little over an hour. The injection is technically outpatient surgery, with an IV and drugs to help the process. He did well and is now sleeping off the meds while I keep watch in the living room.
I have one or two errands to run; however, my cautious side won't let me leave until he has woken up from this slumber. I don't want him to need some help and have to wait for me to get back. Wii Fit is also in my plans for today, but I think I will wait to do that too. I make too much noise jumping around... I managed to complete one of the errands online- I ordered the 30 day Shred DVD from Amazon. While sitting on my ass on the couch. Ironic, I know.
I'll update later I'm sure. Now, off to hunt and gather some lunch :)
