See a Linkin Park concert...CHECK!

In the summer of 2001, Christine (my older sister) introduced me to Linkin Park's first album, Hybrid Theory. I was on a twelve hour drive to New York City with the rest of the family, and I remember her playing "Crawling" for the first time. It was different. It was hard rock. It was awesome! Once in the Big Apple, I found a street vender selling burned CD's for $5 (this was a new business at the time, and we didn't have a CD burner at home. Yes, I realize purchasing this CD was illegal. Yes, I'm criminal). I found the Hybrid Theory amongst the music selection, paid the vender, and played that CD till it broke. Literally. I physically played it so much that it started skipping even though it was scratch-free. This actually happened again, and I'm now on my third copy of Hybrid Theory. Linkin Park's second released album, Meteora, was even better. It was an awesome compilation of songs and I'm probably on my third copy of that as well. The third Linkin Park CD released was a remixed collection of the first two hits and was titled Reanimation. It was like rediscovering my favorite songs all over again. Pure genius. The fourth CD released was Minutes to Midnight with the hit "New Divide" featuring in the Transformers movie. It was a great CD where they also experimented with some slower beats and new topics. The fifth CD, A Thousand Suns, was released in September 2010, and I remembering counting down the days to its release. The overall theme of the newest CD was very different from the previous ones. The first CD contained songs about built up pressures, expectations, and anger surrounding these issues. This newest released CD is politically and historically based. Just as I have grown and matured, so have Linkin Park and their choice of lyrical topics. I love them more than any band on the planet. So, when the 2011 tour dates were released I jumped on the chance to finally see them in concert. See, when I started liking Linkin Park they had already toured for Hybrid Theory. When Meteora came out, I couldn't get off work to go see them in Nashville because all my other coworkers had asked off. When Minutes to Midnight was released, I was dirt poor. I couldn't afford a slushy at sonic. So, I missed my chance yet again. Now, there were no excuses and nothing was holding me back. Rob bought us tickets to the Atlanta concert on January 23rd for my birthday. I was ESTATIC, and that's an understatement. The concert was everything I had hoped it would be. I had wanted to see Linkin Park in concert so bad that I thought I might cry at the concert (which would be hilarious while watching a rock show). Rob said he'd leave me if I cried ;-) So, I kept it together, sang my heart out, cheered till my teeth hurt (seriously!), and had the time of my life. I'm taking that memory to the grave. Last night was one of the greatest nights of my life, and I don't care if that makes me a dork. Mark it off the bucket list.

Moving On Up...or In

For the last several months I had been pondering my living situation. I slept at Rob's condo six nights a week, but I didn't officially "live" there. All the necessities were present: hair products, flat iron, makeup, and some clothes, and on occasion I caught myself calling his place my "home," but I still didn't technically live there. So, after much discussion with Rob I have finally moved in!! Yippie! Hooray! And as some others had said, "Finally!"

The best part is not having to carry around an overnight bag every day. I used to have to prepack my clothes for the next day and then after work would repack it again for the following day. It was the most annoying thing in the world and I practically lived out of that bag for two years. I think Rob wanted me to move in because he hates doing laundry, and he knows I don't mind doing it. Anyways, now I have easy access to my stuff and don't have to make so many trips around town. I consider this a big step for Rob and I, and I know he thought I would just come in and redecorate his bachelor pad. I've been good though, I've only got new bedding...and curtains...so far ;-)

The Duvet set (I knew we'd both agree on this neutral one)

It's Just Allergies...

Since Rob and I have returned from paradise, I've had some kind of a mystery sickness. I knew it was allergy related because I had congestion, headache, sore throat, and occasional cough. How did I know it was allergies and not some deadly disease I caught while cruising the islands?? Well, simple. I didn't have a fever, body aches, or chills. I felt completely fine, if you excluded my entire head. See, whenever I return from a vacation in a very different environment from Knoxville's current state I get sick. I always have. I should just start taking off a week for vacay and the subsequent week for recovery of the vacay. It's like clockwork, very predictable. Anyways, something I didn't know was that I've had this "sickness" since before I left on vacation. That's different. I starting getting the sore throat 3 days BEFORE we starting heading back to the U.S. Once I got home, the headaches starting getting pretty bad, the sore throat was horrible (because of my nose draining), my face felt like someone ran it over and then dropped it from a 10-story building, and the cough started. During all this, my teeth were sore to the touch, and I was so worried I had cavities that I made an appointment with my dentist. Long story short (too late, HAHA!), turns out I have a severe sinus infection. The tooth soreness is from drainage of the maxillary sinuses behind the molars (I never knew this). Anyways, so I've had this infection for over 10 days by this point, and it's gotten so bad that I have developed a cough. Many people don't know that if you have a sinus infection you need antibiotics. It's not just something that goes away on it's own, it'll just get worse if you don't treat it. So, I'm on antibiotics and some severe sinus congestion pain meds, and I'm definitely starting to feel better. If you run into me on the street, you'll see that I am blowing my nose every two seconds, coughing a lot, and look like I've been to Hell and back. But, don't be afraid, I'm not sick or contagious. It's just allergies.

A New Beginning....

Happy belated-New Year! I know I’m a bit late, but this year has already been extremely busy. Rob and I went to Lauren and TJ’s New Years party, and actually were awake to watch the ball drop. This was a first for us. I know that’s sad… ;-)

Sunday, we left for our cruise and had an absolute blast!! Here’s the quick run-down of our trip.

Itinerary: seven day cruise to the Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Maartan.

Cruise Specifics: Freedom of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

Weather: low 80s during the day, high-60s at night ;-)

Planned Excursions: Snorkeling and Ziplining

Most Anticipated Activity: the couples massage

Cruise Highlight: bringing $100 to the craps table and a couple hours later leaving with over $500! Boo-Yah! I walked away!

Cruise Downer: post-Zipline muscle aches and pain (I couldn’t walk for 2 days!)

Best Souvenir Bought: Nikon D3100 kit (and saved over $100!)

Scariest Moment: Hmmm, probably the taxi ride in St. Maartan to Loterie Farms Zipline

Best Moment: Spending seven days with Rob (and his cell phone was off!)

Worst Moment(s): Missing our kitties at home

Funniest Moment: a Q&A session with the captain of the ship

Best show onboard: Drew Thomas’s Magic Show (the guy from America’s Got Talent!)

Best Money Spent: the massage ;-)

Worst Money Spent: a $120 Bingo T-Shirt (hope you like it, Dad).

I only included a few photos from the cruise, because most are posted on Facebook. Enjoy!

St. Thomas

St. John

Enjoying our formal dinner

St. Maartan sunset

Cococay, Bahamas

Snorkeling off the coast of St. James and St. John

Dressed up for dinner and a show

Rob, the master zipliner