AND AGAIN. AND AGAIN. AND AGAIN. AND AGAIN. AND AGAIN.

New blog title...

I've been wanting to change my blog and title for awhile. I guess all I needed was a certain, recent experience to inspire me. SHOUTING OUT LOUD... I believe there are both good and bad, positive and negative reasons to shout out loud. So, I felt it would be an appropriate title for my blog, since life is full of it all...you know, the good, the bad, and everything in between. I apologize for the upcoming randomness of this post. I don't get frusterated, angry, stressed out, overwhelmed, very often. I try to live my life with the least amount of drama. Truthfully, calm and quiet is usually how I roll. But, don't get me wrong, I'm always up for adventure, crazy randomness, a good time, laughter. I've recently learned to embrace great moments of spontaneity. You'd be surprised! Something happened to me very recently, which has made me want to "shout out loud." In dealing with the negative things life throws my way, it's usually quite easy for me to just throw them behind me, forget about them and move on. In fact, that's really how I always deal with things. However, on rare occasion something happens that really affects me and fills me with the need to "shout out loud." Now, if you even know me at all, then you know that I'm not really the shouting type. So, when I am filled with this need to shout out, you won't hear me in the street, or anywhere for that matter, yelling at the top of my lungs. Rather, I shout out in a more inward sort of way. Anyway, none of this is really important. I'm pretty sure the world wide web is not the appropriate place to vent feelings of frusteration, confusion, and so many other human emotions, so I'll spare you the brutal details. Shouting out Loud... My new blog title. Just curious, when something happens in your life that you can't control, but the effects of the event affect you deeper than can be explained, what is your way of shouting out loud, in other words, dealing with it?

I've been tagged.....

So, I've had to ponder this for a bit. 7 random things about myself, hmmmmm..... - I alphabetize everything (movies, books, CD's, magazines, letters, bills). - My clothes are all organized by color. - For a few months now, I have been dealing with a relentless case of insomnia. This makes life pretty interesting. Lots of thinking time. - I don't like going barefoot. Either flip flops or socks are necessary. - I am always reading, I don't know, maybe 10 books at a time. I love to read and even though I am involved in one book doesn't stop me from being interested in several others, all at the same time. - I hate getting my hair cut. Hate it! But, I also like my hair to be healthy, and realize that a regular trim is necessary. - I love school. I would spend the rest of my years being educated, learning new things always. One day I will go back to school for maybe a second and third bachelors degree. Choosing what to study is my problem. That's me!

Drive 1300 miles for what, where?

This weekend I drove 1300 miles to witness a world renowned event. I bet you can't guess what kind of event it was. Albuquergue, New Mexico was the destination. Balloon Fiesta was the event. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is the largest balloon festival in the world. Over 700 balloons participated. I can't even begin to express what a thing of beauty this was. Yes, I have a thing for hot air balloons. But, even if you don't, you couldn't help but be fascinated by such a site. True, it may seem like an awful long way to drive to see balloons enter the skies for a couple of hours. Trust me, you can't understand how worthy it is of such a drive until you've witnessed it yourself, in person. I think I am going to make it an annual thing. I've already got that weekend marked on my 2009 calendar. I apologize now for the overwhelming amount of photos. I just want you to feel like you were part of the experience. Other noteworthy parts of the trip -Eating at Cracker Barrel -Discovering Candelerria -The picture show -Coming to know the use of what now are several abondened factories in downtown Albuquerque. Really!? -Realizing that I apparently have 2 jobs I didn't know about. One at the Hobby Lobby and the other at Sephora. Seriously, I'm sure that everyone reading this knows me at least well enough to know that it isn't likely I would/could get a job at Sephora. My roommate said that people maybe hoped that I worked at these places because I'm an approachable person, which I took to be a great compliment. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!

CROSS VEGAS

Last night I went to Cross Vegas, which was right here in my Vegas backyard (Desert Breeze Park). My roommate and I walked up there to check it. There were thousands of people in attendance. I haven't ever been much in to bicycle racing, but this event was a lot of fun. Lance Armstrong was there racing. I snapped a few photos of him, which I will post. My roommate got some better pictures, so I will upload those when I get them. Anyway, it was an exciting night with the cow bells ringing. Crazy that this great event was just right here in Vegas. I mean, it's not everyday that you get to see Lance Armstrong do a full on cross race within momentary walking distance of your house.

Every now and then it happens, I can be spontaneous!

Last night I did do something spontaneous. I went to a concert. Now, I realize that concert going is not usually a spontaneous act. That is, unless you only heard about it the night before. Then there was the question of who to go with. I bought a ticket online, with less than 24 hours til the concert. I went by myself, which many thought was a stupid idea. But worth it, with the alternative being to not go at all. To describe them in one word, Rodrigo y Gabriela are, GENIUS!!!!! Their unique sound and talent make them brilliant. I've never seen or heard anything like it. And their live performance was great. They were having so much fun up on that stage. She even played barefoot, which I thought was awesome. I've had their CD for, I don't know, it seems like maybe a year now. I listen to it on a daily basis, almost. The experience was incredible, to say the least. It made me want to come home, get out my guitar, start playing, and never ever stop. But, even if I did that, I still wouldn't be able to pull that sort of genius off. Check it out! Rodrigo/Insane + Gabriela/Brilliant = "Insanely Brilliant"

Good times with the brother...

So, I've been spending a fairly good amount of time in my hometown lately, which is a bit unusual (at least for weeks at a time - but, I'll explain later). Anyway, I did manage to do some fun stuff while I was there and was able to spend lots of time with my brother and sister, which is ALWAYS the Best. My brother and I went to this cave (Magnesite, for all you Moapa Valley readers), a few times, actually. It took some four-wheel drive to get there, which was exciting. The first time we went, we got there just as the sun was going down, so it was pretty dark in the cave. We went in anyway, with only the headlights of the truck shining. The second, only a few days later, my mom decided to come with us. It had rained some earlier in the day and when we got there, the wash was filled with water, covering the road. So, we couldn't get to the cave. But it was a pretty cool sight to see that dirty, muddy, water coming off the hills. The third time, it was a bit before sundown, the water was all gone, therefore, allowing me to get some pictures and video. It's pretty cool. Love hanging with my brother, doing anything and everything. My brother and I also went shooting. I'll admit, I was a little nervous. I shoot pistols a decent amount, but I haven't shot a shotgun in over 15 years. I could just remember getting this huge bruise on my shoulder every time I did. But, my brother kept telling me I was acting like a girl, which of course made me determined to do it. Well, I did it - even shot a whole box of shells and hit over half of the clay pigeons (it was my first time attempting such). Anyway, something new and a lot of fun. I don't know how soon I will try it again, but at least I won't be nervous when the time does come. I told my brother I was good for another 15 years, but he wasn't having it. So we'll see.