Carolina's 2011 Summer Comeback Tour (just a reminder to myself)

So from time to time you need to remind yourself that life IS good. Even when you think your life is less than savory. It was an early June 4th morning when I got a little kicked in the stomach by "life."

Yeah I cried and I pouted and I drank a bit and became a little irritating. But sometimes you just gotta get it all out of your system and rediscover the Sunshine & Rainbows and Tattoos that IS your life. :) (cue the Green Day) lol

Good, Great, Awesome things that have happened since then:

STOMP @ the Music Hall

Chris Hardwick @ the Granada

Dallas Mavericks become the 2011 NBA WORLD CHAMPS!!!!

Going to the Mavs Parade with a Great Friend From High School

Ben Folds @ The Meyerson

Billy Elliot @ The Wyly

Top Golf with amazing friends

Spamalot @ the Music Hall

NKOTBSB w/ the Bestest Friend Ever @ AAC

Hula Graduation

Awesome dinner with Mi Familia for my Sister's Birthday

Last Min Trip to VEGAS for 4th of July Weekend

NKOTBSB @ Mandalay Bay

Thanked some Marines for all they do

Saw Fireworks

Texas Rangers' Game w/ Good Friends

Greg Behrendt @ The Improv (he kinda inspired me to write this tonight as I re-watch He's Just Not Into You) "life is good because CAKE exists." (or something like that)

As you can see...

I am incredibly blessed even if I have those lapses of stupidty. (i.e. crying, drinking things I shouldn't, calling people I shouldn't, texting people I shouldn't, knocking on doors I shouldn't, venting to people I shouldn't) I regret nothing. But I am sorry to any of you I scared or offended along the way.

I am fine and good and on the road to "normal." HA! Who knows what that is anyways. :)

"Forgret Regret...Or LIfe is Yours to Miss." --Jonathan Larson

If it was his last game...

Working the game last night was tough...we couldn't really enjoy everything that was happening because we had so much crap we had to make sure made it to the screen. The tears were rough for sure but I didn't shed any.

Instead...A ton of things flashed through my head....The Mighty Ducks first introducing me to Mike (and wanting to dig hockey), my 13th birthday in '93 when I got tickets to my first Stars game at Reunion, the Mikey Mo posters on my walls, trying to watch the '99 Stanley Cup Finals while living in Florida, going with my Mom to the NYE games...and then getting paying to watch MY Dallas Stars for a living.

Yeah I got to witness a Mo Jerk moment or two at a media day, but those tears last night proved to me how much he really loves to play...and I'm good with that.

The game was crazy and as if we scripted it. Modano ties up the game.

Turco lets no goals in during the shootout. Lehtenin makes the final goal.

And the Stars WIN!!!

If it was his last game, it will be weird with no Modano in my 2011 Calendar.

Thanks Mike for being a STAR for all these years.

Girls, Graduation, Goals and Good Music

So last weekend was short but full.

Friday night I headed to the PM Nightlight Lounge at Dallas' Joule Hotel with Stephanie and Eric. There we saw Allison and her Burlesque Group perform. They did an excellent job and was had a good time as always. :)

Saturday morning was dreadfully rainy but we made our way 90 miles east of Dallas to Texas A&M Commerce where my Aunt Stephanie graduated Suma Cum Laude. This was a super cool moment for her and the rest of the family.

...shortly after the ceremony, I had to skip the celebration and head back towards Dallas (actually, past Dallas and all the way to Frisco) so that I could work the FC Dallas vs Seattle Sounders FC at Pizza Hut Park...which ended in a tie. But still fun to work.



Sunday, about 12 hours after being at Pizza Hut Park, I was back there with Momma as we attended the Kenny Chesney Make Up Concert for the one that ended up being washed away. It was GREATNESS!

This time around the tickets were all first come first serve. Because of this we ended up standing in line waiting for the gates to open for about an hour and a half. It was a beautifully awesome day that became more AWESOME when Kenny Chesney himself came out through the parking lot on a golf cart to say hey to everybody waiting and tailgating. Did I mention I touched his arm? Yep, after a little hustle through parking lot I got close enough and TOUCHED HIS ARM. lol Yeah, that kinda made my day.

Anyways, we finally got in and we got the most perfect seats. I could have stood against the stage but I really wasn't feeling standing in the sun for another couple of hours. The seats were just fine for me and Momma. :)

The curtain was raised and Kenny took the stage and said, "Now, where were we... ", the crowd went wild and he sang There's Something Sexy Bout the Rain...the song he stopped on 2 weeks ago. He then started the show over and played for the next THREE HOURS. Half the songs were his...half everyone else's. I always knew the man is an amazing entertainer. But now I know he's an amazing Person. Thanks Kenny for bringing the good times back to Dallas for a night. :)

much love


...headed back to Costa Rica for more adventure and stories...stay tuned :)

I Gave It My Best Shot!

So Wednesday night was kind of RIDICULOUS!!! ...in a good way. :)

As you may know (because I bugged you constantly about it) I was one of the five finalists for the Mavericks/Coca Cola/House of Blues Rock the House contest. Thanks to your votes...I won the opportunity to sing at the Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs Game on March 4th at the American Airlines Center.

*Interesting side note...it was Noche Latina, and therefore the teams were wearing jerseys that said Los Mavs y Los Spurs.


Anyways, roughly 24 hours before the game I was notified that I would be singing Pat Benatar's Hit Me With Your Best Shot. I've never sang this song...especially not in front of 21 THOUSAND people.

I had a brief rehearsal in my truck in the parking lot of Dave & Busters (that's where were had planned to have dinner) that consisted of my ipod, Momma and cousin Kellie...I learned the words and was ready to go. The next 24 hours of anticipation was kinda brutal. I wasn't really nervous just really excited. Yeah this sounds kinda silly and crazy...but you have to know that I grew up performing and have missed it a ton...so when i was given this opportunity I had to go for it. Carpe Diem!!!

Instead of my normal routine of trying to hacky sack it up with the guys after dinner...I was on the dock at the AAC, earphones in ears, playing the track over and over and over again. I work with AMAZING people and the amount of positivity, "break a leg," and "knock em dead," etc. wishes I heard made me feel super special. Thanks to all of you for that.

Before the game started I met my Momma and sister, Brenda, on the concourse for one last run through...yeah I have very little shame...or fear for that matter. :)

I'm quite certain that my heart rate was off the charts by the time tipoff came around. Oh yeah, did I mention I happened to also be working the game that night. I was running replays for the in-arena show. I would be singing at the end of the 1st quarter. There was approximately 3 minutes left on the clock so I RAN (I don't run) to the other side of the court and had about a minute to spare before it was "show time". The next 3 minutes were a complete blur.

This is what I know:
I know I got out on the court and saw some of my favorite familar faces.
I know there was a sea of Mavs and Spurs fans in front of me.
I know Chris Arnold introduced us both.
I know the other contestant sang.
I know I was handed the mic and at THAT moment there was this rush/high/something that went through my being.

I'm pretty sure I sang and I felt pretty good, great about it. :)

The crowd was deciding factor of who won. But you can judge for yourself if you'd like...

I did not win.

But that wasn't really the point of it all. I just wanted to get out there and "Rock it!" Mission Accomplished. (to me anyway...and as we know this is MY blog and really MY opinion is all that matters) ;)

The bit was over and off I RAN (I repeat, I don't run) back to the replay room, and with an awesome round of applause from my co-workers...we were back to work. The final score was Los Mavs 107 Los Spurs 102. Awesome game and most needed win!

It was a noche to remember.



*here is the entire contest if you're interested:

much love

ALOHA!... Part 3

February 1, 2009 Day 4:

First of I’d like to say I have the most amazing Momma and God Mother, Carol…due to me not having direct deposit, my funding during the trip went kinda haywire…but where there’s a will there’s a way…And man do we have so WILL!!!

I woke up to the sun shining…it’s warm and wonderful! It’s also SUPER BOWL SUNDAY! Whoo hoo?? HA! No, it’s cool.

*Quick back story…I tend to take vacation during either January or February due to the fact the NBA and NHL teams have their All-Star Breaks somewhere around then and therefore, I usually have a couple of more days where there’s no games. This was also the perfect excuse to boycott/leave the country during Valentine’s Day. (Which I am SUPER cool with.) But the last couple of years I’ve “escaped” during Super Bowl time…last year I had a blast watching it en espanol in Costa Rica!

So although our plan was to try surfing again, plans changed. Because of the time difference, the game would be starting right around lunch time. So we decided to head to Senor Frogs. Yes, once again we played tourist. It was fun. We had this Criss Angel-look-a-like waiter named Nick from Delaware.

And thus we were entertained for the never several hours! :)

*One of my favorite places in Nassau is Senor Frogs to Just. Have. Fun. The one in Waikiki is still in America…and therefore, under the laws of America. Watching “kids” between the ages of 18-21 have a crazy good time does not happen here. We made our own fun. And it was all good. Just warning ya…not every Senor Frogs is the same. :)

Anyways, we headed back to the hotel for a MUCH NEEDED nap.

We woke up around 8 p.m. and then mayhem ensued!!! My fabulous camera-chica, Stephanie, and I made a video. Not just any video though. I’m trying to win a trip to Vegas, courtesy of the Dallas Mavericks. The goal was to “Rock the House” (of Blues) by karaoke-ing it up. Here’s what was submitted. The song is Mr. Brightside by The Killers. Go ahead and laugh…I don’t mind in the least…especially if it gets me to Vegas Baby!!! ;)

*Someday I’ll post the “blooper reel”…it’s way more entertaining…well to me and Steph anyways. ;)

After a quick shower, we got all dolled up and headed back out on the town in search of dinner...with some cool stuff along the way.

Mosaic wall of the visitors center...

Pretty Hibiscus...

Probably the Coolest Apple Store Ever!...

We ended up at Doraku Sushi.

This place is owned by the son of Behinhana…so we thought hey, lets check it out.

After the awesome food, once again we were exhausted…so back to the room it was…good night! :)

Weekly Randomness

Gooodbye, Love
So last week was the week of the rock-opera. It began by seeing The Who's TOMMY twice. It ended last Thursday when I went and saw the final Broadway performance of RENT. (it was filmed and shown at a few movie theaters around the country) So many emotions went through me. After 12 years and 5,124 performances, the curtain closed for good.

This has been so much a part of my life for the last, well I guess TWELVE years. (doh) A honestly can't tell you how many times I've seen this show. I do, however, remember the first time...it was New Year's Eve 1997 and my mom and I went and saw on it ON BROADWAY. It couldn't have been more perfect. (thanks Momma) The story of how it came to be and the show's story itself inspired me (way back when) to not take a single moment of this life for granted.

Forgive me as I share my favorite lyrics from the show:

The Heart May Freeze Or It Can Burn
The Pain Will Ease If I Can Learn

There Is No Future
There Is No Past
I Live This Moment
As My Last

There's Only Us
There's Only This
Forget Regret
Or Life Is Yours To Miss

No Other Road
No Other Way
No Day But Today

This (to me anyways) is exactly what Seizin' the Day is all about.

Next...


Saturday...Stars played and won...hardly anyone was there to see it.
Sunday...Cowboys played and lost...to the REDSKINS (grr)...and a TON of people saw it.


Monday... Mavs Media day. I love this day. Why you ask? Because this means that the NBA season is just around the corner (hazah!)...and I get to put mics on "the boys" (as i like to call them). :)


Monday night...I ventured over to the Palladium (aka used to be Gilley's) and saw The Swell Season. This band is headed up by the two leads in the movie (one of my favorites of last year) Once. (see it if you haven't already)

Besides that, they were great live. Some people/groups/band touch you in such a way that you're heart (and soul) is filled with goodness. This happened tonight. Glen Hansard is just so passionate about what he sings and the violinist kinda made my heart melt. He is also a big fan of the sing-a-long, and hence the audience joined in on most of the songs. (we didn't sound too terribly awful either lol) Loved it all! (really dark in there and i was pretty far back so the picture is not the greatest)



The "added bonus" was near the end of the set when they broke into an acoustic version of Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River". Brilliant! lol (this wasn't from Monday, but from the night before at ACL in Austin)

Tuesday...was a pretty chill night for me...but my sister-in-law, Pam, was in a pretty bad car accident. She's still in the hospital with a broken arm and a fractured neck bone...but other than that, looks like she's gonna be ok. SOOO thankful!

Wednesday...got some pictures from Iraq. My brother-in-law, Mikey, is stationed there (for those who don't know) for the second time. I love hearing from him or hearing that my sister, Nena, has heard from him. Take a look ...he's the shortest Mexican :) Hopefully he (and the rest) will come home SOON! ...

After watching the season premier of Pushing Daisies (still brilliant)...I headed out and did something pretty silly/dumb (which I won't go into here) but it did make things (that I already knew) quite clear. I also had a great phone conversation (pretty much venting about weird/stupid people) with a new friend. (what up Son of a Preacher Man!) :)

...life (in general) is still pretty good.

much love

This Week-ish...

Saturday: So last weekend was pretty darn rough for South Texas thanks to that force of nature called Ike. Most of Houston's power was knocked out and well Galveston was left under water. As far as my family and friends. Everyone was fine (physically). Lots of power lost. One roof lost. A tree on one house. And one house that was split in HALF by a tree. The main person I was concerned with was my great aunt Marlene. She recently had hip surgery and was moved to a hospital-ish type place during all of this. Luckily power was sustained by a generator. But it was so weak that she could not even move her bed up and down to get comfortable. I just glad every one's ok.

In Dallas we got some nasty rain Saturday but that's about it...and my mom and I had tickets to see Mamma Mia! the musical in Ft. Worth...so we went.

And it was pure fun and greatness! (as a musical based on the music of ABBA should be). Every time I go to see a show it makes me remember how much I LOVED doing theatre. The music, the dancing, the costumes, the cast that became family for a short period of time...I miss all of it. Unfortunately, the whole sports gig completely conflicts with me partaking in such greatness. (grr)

Moving on...

Sunday my mom and I and friends, Debbie and Monica, decided to try something different for lunch. We ended up at the House of Blues for their Gospel Brunch. The food was pretty great...but the massive amount of it was a bit overwhelming. The band and singers were excellent and Monica even got on stage with them at one point. Good times....but definitely a once a year thing. (like I said MASSIVE amounts of food)
Monday night I worked the last ever MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL game at Texas Stadium. It was a great game! Up until the very end you weren't sure who was gonna win. "How bout them Cowboys!" (Grandaddy would have been proud.)



Tuesday wasn't too special but it was new music and dvd Tuesday and that meant I took a trip to Best Buy during lunch and made a couple of purchases. (don't know that I've ever been in Best Buy without making a couple purchases lol)


I got the new Darius (don't call me Hootie) Rucker country album, Learn to Live. I really like it. I saw him (and the rest of the "don't call us Blowfish") not too long ago and loved them live. His voice is HIS voice and I don't think he's trying to BE country...there was most definitely country already in that guy. :)

Next up was the new Buckcherry CD, Black Butterfly. There last album, 15, was about my favorite Rock album of the last couple of years, Track 1 to Track 11. Yeah they're not really "kid" friendly...but as I have no kids...I'm good. ;) I was super excited when this hit the shelves (yeah it wasn't available on iTunes). And so far, so good. I dig it. I think it sounds best when driving down the highway with the windows down in this gorgeous weather we've been having. (You see here in Dallas, we only get about a week of actual "fall" weather.)


And last but not least, The Complete First Season of Pushing Daises on DVD. (yeah I'm not cool enough for Blu Ray yet). This by far was my favorite new show of last year. I can't wait to watch 'em again before the new season starts...I better get on that. ;)
Wednesday...see post below.

Thursday night was great fun. I went with Michael, Monica, Eric and a couple other chicas to play TopGolf. (go here if you care to know what it is www.topgolf.com) I had a great time. I was pretty awful at the beginning (as my golfing past consists of the miniature variety...again thoughts of Grandaddy) but I think my "swing" (hack) got slightly better by the end...sorta. :) They also had killer sweet potato fries and yummy blood orange sorbet. Can't wait to go back!



So yeah, it was another good week of living life ...and I leave you with this...idiot...

much love

Life, Death and Chihuahua...

So I began this posting yesterday but decided to go back and edit it quite a bit due to recent events.

Life:
Two old friends, one from high school and one from way back in elementary school became Mommies in the last week. (Congrats to Heather and Jennifer...and welcome Avery Elizabeth and Jonathan!) I'm still not sure if that's something that I'd ever want to take on. These days I'm way too self-centered. I want what I want when I want it. And I think dealing with my own life and schedule is all I need at the moment. (Of course this is all big talk and who knows maybe a year or FIVE from now i could want such a thing in my life <---but did ya see what just said? No (good) mother or someone wanting to be a good mother would ever say that. lol)

Death:
Sadly yesterday LeRoi Moore, one of the founding members of Dave Matthews Band, passed away at the age of 46. This man artist, whether he knew it or not, has been a happy part of my life for over 10 years. Since 1997 I have seen at least one DMB concert every year, wherever I happen to be living (Dallas,Orlando..), by way of a road trip (Vegas 2001, The Woodlands 2004 & 2005), or plane (NYC birthday @ Madison Square Garden 2003 w/surprise guest James Brown R.I.P.). Each one of these times were great times, with both good friends or solo, meeting (but most likely dancing along with) new "friends". DMB was in Dallas this past weekend and I had my tickets already to go...but ended up selling them to my cousin, as I, alas, would not be in town. I find this coincidence slightly eerie. But that's just how I look at things sometimes. 46. 46 is so young. Once again that's why I urge everyone to take risks, do all that you can and love all that you can right now...as we don't know what tomorrow brings...He will be is already missed by sooo many.


Chihuahua:
So the reason that I missed the show was because this week I was working for Versus (doing tape) for the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) 2008 World Cup. So while everyone else watched the Olympics and this guy:

...five teams of guys were also competing for their own countries south of the border in Chihuahua Mexico.

I gotta be honest. I am digging this sport. These guys (and the bulls) are crazy nuts but I think it rocks! Just watching gets your heart racing...sorry baseball...you are boring! lol Afterwatching all these crazy (and just plain lame) "sports" in the Olympics, I so don't get why bull riding is not an event. I mean guys from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Australia all compteted this weekend. I'm sure there's other riders, cowboys, vaqueros all across the world that work hard and train, etc...just as much as freakin' ribbon & hoop wavers, laser fencing, handball, indoor cycling and badmitten players. ( no offense to all you out there that do these sports and happen to be reading this lol)
But down from the soap box I come. :)

In addition to work, it was just a pretty good weekend all around. Friday I landed in Chihuahua and the others on the plane and I headed to the Governor's Ball...the place was fabulous, and there were tons of people...but unfortunately we got there just in time to leave. Oh well. Crazy fact: the Electric Slide and Achy Breaky Heart is universal. Oh yes, you read that right. We even got the pleasure of hearing it en español.

We headed back to the hotel (got to listen to a couple of the Australian riders talk to each other...yeah I'm a sucker for accents, but what chica isn't? lol) and after a stop at Wendy's (yep) we arrived back at the hotel/hotel bar where the rest of the crew was...yeah they had been partying for awhile. :) It was definitively cool seeing people I haven't seen in a year.

The next morning was excellent. I had a great breakfast then head to the pool for the next 3 hours. I wish everyday before work could be spent I this. *Sidenote: It was also an excellent ipod day...every song that came through the shuffle rotation was pure gold (to me anyways)...and it was freaky but Dave Matthews Band came through several times...it's like it knew I would be missing the concert that night...yes I'm a dork...I we know this. ;)

On to work...The show went great and Team Canada dominated the competition on day one. It was pouring super hard when it was over...and we took what seemed like the longest route possible back to the hotel...but we did arrive to the hotel safely so that's really all that matters. :)
The call for the morning was early the next day so I didn't hang all that long afterwards but we did get to see what I like to call "the agony of defeat" montage of the Olympics...this was a Mexican broadcast we were seeing mind you...I don't think NBC would ever show such pain. It was wicked. Day two went well also. And after the Brazilians fought hard to keep their title from last year, the Americans came from behind to defeat the Canadians. It was a very cool event.

Back to the hotel (wait isn't that a song) anyways, we hung at the bar for a bit and Ben (cool camera guy from Idaho) suggested that we should go try out the hot tub since it was kind of a cool night. So Ben, Kevin (another cool camera guy from Idaho..who knew? lol) and I went in search of the hot tub. Well the Westin Soberano is a nice hotel with tons of amenities...except a hot tub. Well we were already dressed for the occasion so we said, "What the Heck," and got in the pool. This didn't last very long. Afterwards, we headed back to the bar where the rest of the crew was (soaking wet). *Fact: The Westin Soberano DOES in fact serve hot chocolate...in August. The night ended pretty early, as the first bus was at 4 AM and the second at 530 AM. I set the alarm for 445. I woke up at 5:09!!! I packed and dressed and made it down stairs by 519. I think that's pretty darn impressive. Got to the airport and head back to Dallas...I was super thankful that I was only having to travel under 2 hours...many others were not so lucky. End of that story. :)

Now that I am back from Chihuahua, I leave you with this one:

much love