Like sand through the hourglass...

I have been making observations and taking stock of the friends in my life recently. Everyone is busy with weddings, breakups, working, families, etc. The older I get, the more I realize that a lot of people are all about their own "show". I totally understand being consumed by one's world, I am totally engulfed in my own at times... but there seems to be a lot of one-world shows and not enough of a collective show. There's a lot of stuff in other people's worlds that are just as important as your own. I guess it's a new peeve of mine that the self-centered behavior continues well into adulthood, when in all actuality that is when one should become more selfless. There are certain personalities, that no matter what is going on they are more important than anyone else... some folks are just wired that way. I just hope that if my behavior ever gets like that, my friends will call me out and not sit idly as I have done. 

There is always drama ensuing, always some storm brewing, and always going to be scattered pieces after the sky has cleared. I have just come to realize that life is always throwing curve balls, just have to make sure your arm is warmed up enough to catch them. 

A day with Bret Michaels and crew!

So you'd pretty much have to live under a rock to not know of Bret Michaels.  Poison singer, Rock of Love star, Pittsburgh Steelers fan, basically cool dude.  Since moving to Alabama, we have had the pleasure of reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.   One of our "old friends", Caleb DuBerry, is an all-around bad-ass kinda dude and is bff's with our new friend, Chris Rambo - owner of Strange Days venue in Montgomery (some may know him as former owner of Off the Wagon).

                                                             www.strangedayslive.com

Strange Days just opened a few weeks ago and while they are a bar/awesomeness, they are also a concert venue with a huge focus on Live Music.  Caleb knows that neither David or me are gainfully employed at the moment (stupid economy) so he called and asked David for some help last Thursday for a concert they were promoting -  Bret Michaels Band.  He explained that he needed some "loaders" to help un/load equipment and setup and whatnot.  I offered to help too, because that's just how I am, and Caleb said I could be a "runner" assisting with whatever the band needed.  So he said for us to be at the venue by noon and see where they could throw us in to help.

We pull up and the whole place is bustling with activity... the buses are out back, trailers are open and things are getting setup.

So, David immediately begins unloading/snapping photos and I'm told to help with whatever anyone needs.  I meet some cool folks, Tattoo Tony, Chuckie, Bob, Pete... having no idea who anyone is and proceed to get lunch, run to home depot, get drinks, napkins, etc. all while Big Mike, David, and Caleb are running around moving equipment and such. 

So after a little while, Chris Rambo comes up to me and says "How clean is your truck?"   Well in a fortuitous turn of events, David and I had spent 3 hours the night before detailing my truck and I mean this thing is cleaner than when I bought it from the dealer.   So I say, "it's pretty clean, like cleaner than when I bought it, why?"  and Rambo says "I need you to pick up Bret Michaels from the airport, is that cool?"  and I'm all, "You're asking if I have a problem picking up BRET MICHAELS from the airport.... I think I'm good!"  So that was that.... it was decided that I would be picking up BM from the airport later that day.  So I have a minor internal freakout, call my parents, tell my sister and husband, and then I'm cool.    Well my sister tells her bff, who tells our friend Cassie who is a MEGAFAN, who calls me and cusses me out!   But crisis averted all things were fine.  

So after awhile, I go with Tattoo Tony and Pete to pick BM up on the runway at the airport from his private jet... so cool!  He gets in my truck and is the coolest, most down-to-earth person.... totally not what us civilians would expect from a mega-celebrity.  The entire crew was like that though... I hung out with Chuckie, Pete, Tattoo Tony, and Bob all day having no clue that Pete and Chuckie were IN THE BAND and Tattoo Tony is a celebrity/fabulous tattoo artist, and Bob was BM's cousin.  Seriously, they were soooo awesome.  

So everything is setup, the doors open, my hubby is bouncing during the show while I'm still running to get drinks and whatnot for the band... and afterwards we get to hang and take photos with the band and crew.  Tattoo Tony (my new buddy) let me sneak my sister backstage to meet Bret and the crew and take some photos.  After our photo, BM goes and autographs a photo to me that says "Thanks for the kick-ass ride!"  and I was so excited.  Here's some more photos from after the show.. 

So right as the band and crew are about to head out we get one more photo with Tattoo Tony...

and then the coolest thing happens.... Cousin Bob hugs/kisses my cheek upon leaving and says that any show I want to go to call him and we're on the list.   Like I said, coolest guys ever!   

Kittehs

Anyone who knows my little family knows our soft spot for animals.  That being said, we can't necessarily afford to feed a LOT of animals... so why is it that when money is tight, poor little hurt kittehs and doggehs seem to wander up to us.  Maybe it's because we're so bubbly and nearly always outside.  The sweetest little kitten with two hurt legs has made our porch a home.   We made the mistake of feeding it, however it was soooo malnourished and sad that we just couldn't help ourselves.  So for the last week, Porch Kitteh has been chilling out and relaxing with us.  

Porch Kitteh

Last night, we decided to see if Porch Kitteh wanted to come inside... you see she and Baby Kitteh "talk" through the screen door and touch noses and stuff...  so we let her in.  COLOSSAL MISTAKE! 


  

  Alesis (left) and Baby Kitteh

Baby Kitteh kept following Porch Kitteh around, mostly to keep her out of inside kittehs noms.  Alesis didn't really care that much, kind of looked up from a nap like "oh great!  another one... and this one kind of looks like me" and then went back to sleep, however Mackie was LIVID!!    She was snorting and hissing and growling and just MEAN KITTEH!    Now Porch Kitteh held her own for awhile and would meow and hiss back, but after a good 15 minutes of Mackie/Mean Kitteh's antics, Porch Kitteh was sitting by the door, just waiting to go back on the porch where it was calm and peaceful and safe.   

Mackie (sweet and innocent, right?)

So after all this kitteh drama went down we learned a very important lesson..... Mackie is a butthole.   the end. 

There's green everywhere!

Oh the joys of springtime in Alabama...                      

There's green everywhere!!from the growing grass, to the blooming trees, to the pollen all over our cars and porch (haha!)...












  

Too bad there couldn't be a little more green in my WALLET!!









Seriously, this economy has got to give!  We are soooo unbelievable tired of the "waiting game".  You send a BAZILLION resumes/applications out and maybe get 2 phone calls over the next 6 weeks.  You interview with them and pray that all is well while you are told "we have other candidates to meet with but will keep you updated", then you proceed to jump at every noise your phone or computer make in hopes that they are contacting you with an offer, only to be told 3 or 4 weeks later that the position has been filled with either or more-qualified candidate or as I have experienced as of late, you are OVERQUALIFIED.

Seriously?!  I just want a JOB... I don't care if I am over-qualified!   I spoke with my old HR manager this evening that said it is still rough at the company, 18 months after I was downsized they are still facing the same struggles as when I was employed there.  2 years into our new president's term and nothing has improved, other than congress' everyday socialist acts that are seriously starting to freak me out.  When will things improve?  

I think I'm just going to live in a Disney movie... the characters struggle for about 30 minutes and then live happily ever after and all the bad things go away...  who can I speak with that will make this happen?  Any suggestions, ya'll know where to find me!