"Tara," i asked, "how would you feel about a little culture to kick-off the new year?"
"Sure," she readily replied.  She's such a good sport.
"Well, it's a Led Zeppelin cover band playing at The House of Blues."  i cringed a little as i typed my response, thinking she might laugh at me.
"I'd love to go!" she replied.  Such a good friend!
So i eagerly purchased tickets, and they've been pinned to my bulletin board since November.  Tonight i stuff them in my teensy cross-over purse with a few essentials, and pick Tara up for a trek downtown to The House.

i had no idea what to expect at a Led Zeppelin 2 concert.  Yes!  i love Led Zeppelin, but hadn't even looked up footage to see past concerts.  Oh sure, i've seen Dread Zepplin live.  But nothing really compares to that experience.


The Dallas HOB venue is a good one and we had pretty good seats in the balcony.  No "standing room only" for us... too old.  And all the geezers had the same idea.  But lemme tell ya.  Some of these old geezers could rock!  There was head-bangin' geezer with his silver bouffant standing up and rockin' out during all the important riffy moments.  We spotted youthful, but chubby, geezer lady in the mid-section standing up and rockin' out with whoever would throw dance moves her way.  On the far right, there was at one time high (if not tonight), geezer lady with long blond (Robert Plant-esque) hair swaying without rhythm to every song.  Then there were the 40ish-year old gents who were just gonna rock out cuz Led Zep, well, rocks.


The concert was great!  Loud, full of all the Led Zeppelin greats, Robert Plant hip-shakin and geezers who couldn't sit still without getting up for a beer or to head to the bathroom before buying another beer every other song.  It's maybe the most fun i've had since visiting Disney World last summer.  Definitely a tick on the happiness meter - loved experiencing something new and enjoying it immensely.

"Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there's still time to change the road you're on."
- Stairway to Heaven



"Huh? What?  Can't hear you.  My ears are closed up tight from all those long guitar solos."
"Oh, sorry.  Didn't mean to shout."

Soooo... Tara & i decided that we needed to begin our own Happiness Project.   Because really, can you really be happy enough?

Though, as i began formulating my happiness project goals, i'm realizing these are life betterment goals -- not necessarily happiness goals.  For example, my first set of goals is around losing weight.  Yes, i would be happier -- i think -- if i weighed 15 pounds less.  My confidence would go up, i would feel better, my clothes would fit better, etc, etc.  However, i really love to eat!  It makes me happy to dip that tasty seasoned chip in the fresh tomato salsa and give it a big crunch!  Chip #2, #3, #4...#25 taste just as good!  The question is, does losing weight make me happier than eating my weight in chips & salsa.  We shall see, i suppose.  

And as i'm writing down these goals to develop into a more fabulous me (hard to imagine, i know), i'm thinking what i really want to do is make some goals about being an uber gamer or giving myself permission to read all day or going to a decadent spa.  i mean, that's FUN (fun with a capital F!) -- nerdy (relaxing too!), but FUN!

“Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing.” -William Butler Yeats

Alas, i'm grudgingly agreeing with Mr. Yeats.  i find it's true at work, and i'm sure applies to personal endeavors.

So, how's it going so far you ask?  Today is week 1 in month 1.  And yeah, while i've not been gorging (minus the 5 oreos consumed today), i've neither been diligently tracking food, working out or even being more active.   i think i'm gonna need more accountability -- maybe some incentive.  /sigh

i'm just not grateful enough.

wonderful Hubbie, who is just what i need
close, loving, wonderfully quirky family
delightful BFF
amazing job
2 sweet dogs
faithful Coach, Ear, Strong Tower & Savior
warm home and plenty to eat
salary to allow Hubbie to start a new venture

i want to bring this list to mind when i find myself being cranky or prideful this week.










On the way home from church today my BFF mentioned that today, 5 years ago we met as she started a new job at the place where i worked at the time.  As i interviewed her for the position as a fellow training manager, i knew she'd be the perfect fit.  Little did i know i'd be gaining a kindred spirit.

Bon Jovi in MKE - May 2011

Halloween 2011

Phantom of the Opera - Feb 2010

Tara, i am so grateful for you.  You came along just when i needed a friend, and i'm thankful you've let me stick around.  We've had some grand adventures in the last 5 years!

• Bon Jovi - 3 times in a year -- Dallas, Gulf Shores, Milwaukee
• Lots of trips - New York, Naples (uh, Florida), Phoenix
• Scrapbook camp
• New jobs

*raising my teacup*  Here's to many more!  *gulp* -- wow, that chamomile sets in quickly

As far as weekends go, this has been a good one.  Being crafty, a message at church that i needed to hear, a restful Sunday.  Yep, it's been a good one.  And...  i just downloaded Spotify -- oooo, this is just more good stuff!

First, a shout out to Tara for completing her 2010 scrapbook album at our Crafturday:

Nicely done!







Just look at all that Crafturday goodness!

Yet Crafturday suffered from the same fate as all (ok, most) of my parties.  Few show up.  i'm just not a party kind of gal.  Every once in a while a get a wild hair and want to host a party of some sort.  The menu is planned and ready to go, house is sparkly clean, smile of greeting is ready to go... and no one shows.  It's not that i don't expect it, i just wonder why my party mojo is defunct.  Now, we had fun and got to watch the third Twilight, so no complaints.  Just more of a musing.  Remind me next time i get the wild party hair.  And it's not like they're wild or anything... maybe that's what i'm doing wrong.  More of those yum-o limeades with a slosh of vodka that Tara brought over (which she found on Pinterest; oh yes, and the crack popcorn recipe, and a gift idea for her Team, and house decor, and a new job--oh wait, that wasn't on Pinterest) might do it!

Tara is still Team Jacob, by the way.  i'm still Team Edward.  Perhaps i can talk her into a late night showing of Breaking Dawn on Thursday.  Hearing the girls giggle and sigh is part of the fun!



And a couple of verses to wrap-up the weekend from church this morning:

• "And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then us to in keeping with God's will... But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving."  2 Corinthians 8:5-7
• "...They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.  And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:18-19

What resonated with me is that giving is an area i've been struggling with lately.  For a time, we gave a tithe every week, and JC blessed our lives.  In times of financial difficulty or job struggles, He has always provided.  i have complete faith in that last verse.  So, what's stopping me from giving regularly?  We aren't united in our philosophies at the moment and we're on one salary... and maybe, cuz i've just not prioritized making it happen.  But even more significant, as Tara and i were talking on the way home,  i'm frightened of what the Big Guy might ask of me.  i don't want to be a coward, but what if i'm not willing to do what he puts on my heart?  i truly believe he has put me where he wants me... His choices all the way... now i just need to let him do His work.

So, i'm heading to bed with this is my heart:  "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

So i'm preparing for a quick class on EI (emotional intelligence) tomorrow morning (one of my favorite topics), and this Bon Jovi song came on:



and because i'm tired and especially because i'm procrastinating, i thought i'd share it with you.  Hey! i've seen that shirt he's wearing before!  Oh wait - that's right, i've accompanied Tara to 3 shows in 18 months. Don't be jealous.

Layout of my dear BFF, Tara, for my 2010 album inspired by this PageMap:

Tara, member JBJ fanclub (sorry, can't just
not mention it) and dear BFF

Happy NSD 2011

Completed it yesterday during our National Scrapbooking Day pow-wow.

Love, love, love PageMaps.  Great idea starters for layouts of any kind.

Today is National Scrapbooking Day!  What a great day!

i confess that i did not realize it was NSD until my BFF texted me with an invite to be scrappy this evening.  Of course i want to be scrappy!

So... with a work in progress ready to go, let's get the par-tay started!

24 hours ago i was standing on a beach with my BFF and 34,948 other pushy women and 50 guys watching the age-defying band Bon Jovi perform on the lovely beach in Gulf Shores, AL. Jealous? *hee hee*

It was a marvelous adventure initiated by BFF, Tara.

"Hey Bon, have you read your email?

"Um, no. Haven't opened it yet. What's up?"

Well, i sent you something about an adventure to Gulf Shores, AL to see Bon Jovi in concert. I know we just went, but i got free tickets?"

"Sure, i would," i reply. The mention of an adventure sounds great, and who can turn down free tickets to see a hair band fav?

She speeds up, "They are offering free tickets and I thought you might like to take an adventure to Gulf Shores. Now if you don't want to go, it's fine, but I need to let the fan club know so that they can offer the tickets to someone else."

*cough* "Fan club?" i respond. i'm less curious about a trip to Gulf Shores or how we'll get there than i am about Tara's membership in a JBJ fan club. A fan club. Really? So, much as i don't want to be insensitive, i can't pass up this opportunity to mock her just a little. i mean really, a Bon Jovi fan club. Too much fun!

The adventure was awesome and we met some very, very "interesting" individuals. Personal space meant nothing at this Bon Jovi free-for-all. Women jockeyed for position as close to the stage as possible, because gosh, maybe JBJ will pick them out of the crowd, invite them on stage and propose his undying love. Talk about die hards. After running (huffing) across a football field-length of sand, we staked out maybe 4 feet of space with two old beach towels. That space became smaller and smaller as the Alabama Women's Representative took over our space. This was the one who had hair larger than our standing space, and told all of her new friends how she had been waiting in line since 4:45am and even though a fan club member didn't get her due ticket and waited in line with the commoners. So, she invited her entourage, including her twin sister, to fight their way through the crowd to our space. Hey - we were the VIPs (well, not really, the VIP tent informed me. We just got first right to the cattle run to get the primo spots.), they should have stayed back with the slightly less die hard fans.

Soooo much fun and so many good laughs. More pics coming soon.

Today, Friends, was a good day! Tara and i, despite being bone weary from a super busy couple of weeks at our respective places of business, got up early (ok, 8am is early on a Saturday), and ventured to Arlington (hidee ho big, giant monument to Jerry that's visible from miles around!) for the Great American Scrapbook Convention. Yes, a veritable scrapbooker's paradise -- thousands of square feet of booths of vendors selling every kind of scrapbook sticker, paper, glittered embellishment and glue imaginable. And women--soooo many women, in one building, vying for the same 2 foot space in front of a paper display of discounted, but outdated wares. But hey, i can shove and shimmy with the best of them.

So, in the effort to document all our exciting adventures this year, we asked one of the "security" type ladies who were busy (sitting) ensuring only paying customers entered the venue (i mean, really, they gonna body slam a mighty group of corn-fed heffers trying to get into the convention without paying the $10 entry fee? Don't think so.) to take our picture under the entry sign. Here's how it turned out...

fine if we print it teensy... oh well....

And what loot did i bring home? Well, well, well... not nearly as much as i desired (but while whiney about our new budget, i'm proud i was able to restrain myself). i mean, who really needs that very vintage, very cool new paper set and matching journaling tabs that would have made a most creative little bound book *sniff, sniff*?

Nonetheless, i brought home some very cool stuff, and have already started using some of it. Deelightful!

Thanks, Tar! Had a great time.