and I’m *still* tired

Chris's parents came to visit this past weekend.  I don't know what they have to say about the whole thing, but I know they can't say they were bored.  Friday night, after work, we all had dinner at Whataburger and went to Six Flags.  We had coupons to get them in for $10.  Sweet!  Chris led the charge.  He has a far better sense of direction and familiarity with the park.  He took us from ride to ride to ride.  He was walking very fast and kept looking back at the rest of us and then looking at his watch.  The rest of us just weren't as motivated or energetic, but we tried not to fall too far behind.  We followed and rode more than people who had been there all day.  We got home after midnight.  Alex and Chris's dad stayed up and watched wrestling.  The rest of us crashed. 

The next day on the way to downtown Grapevine, Alex said, ""Hey dude..."" to Chris's dad.  I asked him since when we address adults as, ""hey dude"".  Chris's mom told Alex he could call her Brenda and her husband Wayne.  My son asks, ""Wayne?  Like Bruce Wayne?""  So he spent half the day saying, ""Bruce, I mean, Wayne...""  Then he gave up and it was, ""Bruce Wayne..."" and that was his name for the rest of the weekend.  Those two got along famously.  It was cute.  We went to the outdoor market and then got doughnuts.  Then we walked down to the lake.  Alex took his football and basketball.  They all played and looked at some wildflowers.  I lay there feeling like crap.  After that we went home and I took a nap. About half an hour later we went out to lunch, followed by the Art Show in Southlake. Then just for kicks, we went to the Rangers game.  They lost.  We once again got home around midnight.  This time everyone crashed.

Sunday morning Chris had to work from home so I got to talk to Chris's mom about a lot of stuff that morning in the kitchen.  She's sweet and funny.  We had peanut butter and tortillas for brunch.  We went out for dinner at Saltgrass, looked at the million dollar homes for sale (due to foreclosure, I'm sure) and then Alex and I had to go home.  Chris's parents left too.  It was a very full, fun weekend.  Chris's mom really misses him.  I told her the house down the street was for sale.  I promised not to borrow their lawnmower or park in their driveway.  I'm not sure she's ready to leave Iowa though.  Maybe she'll reconsider in time.

Lucky to be the one to be lucky

Last night was the Bon Jovi show...awesome as usual.  For a while I was worried that I wouldn't be able to go, but then I had hope again, then I was worried again and then I was relieved and then I was really happy.  See, what had happened was....

When the tickets originally went on sale, the available seats were crappy and it was Christmastime and I couldn't see spending the money for crappy seats.  Last month, I started looking around on Ebay.  I bid on several pairs only to be outbid time and time again by several hundred dollars.  I love Jon and the boys as much as the next person, probably more, but the prices were insane.  If I had an extra $2,000 laying around, I'd buy new bedroom furniture, not 3 hours of entertainment.  Last week I was bidding on two pairs of tickets, one went to $700, but somehow the pair I was bidding on went unnoticed by the masses and I won them for $242.50, including shipping on Wednesday.  Thursday, I check my email for confirmation and instead find an email saying that my payment didn't go through and to try it again.  I went to PayPal, saw it hadn't cleared and cancelled it and tried again and *that* didn't work so cancelled the second one,  too.  I had to go through PayPal and make a payment to the email address and noted what the payment was for and that one went through.  The guy's wife came to my job and delivered them in person on Friday afternoon.  Yay!  [Side note:  PayPal took money all three times so don't ask me to borrow money until my account is properly credited.]

Tickets in hand, Chris drove us to the show yesterday.  We arrived in time to look around at the various booths.  I signed up to win Dave Matthews tickets from the Mix, Stars tickets from Accuvue and then we were going to go inside, but I was distracted.  The Bone had Blaze of Glory, a Jovi cover band doing an accoustic set.  They were also doing a drawing for tickets in less than ten minutes.  Chris and I signed up and I won.  Chris says, ""Of course you won, honey.  You entered the drawing.""    After determining which set was better, we sold the other pair to a scalper.  It's easy to find the scalpers at the Jovi shows, they're black.  He paid me $100 after telling me that he'd give me $30 for both.  I said $100 cuz it was 7:15 and Daughtry started at 7:30.  He agreed to $80 and wouldn't budge.  I figured it was sunk cost and about to walk away with my tickets when we were approached by a second scalper, then suddenly the first guy had $100.  It was time to go inside so I didn't haggle further.

And then I got distracted again.  I think I have adult A.D.D.  This time it was the smell.  There was an exclusive Bon Jovi Experience party.  Basically, people who shelled out the big bucks got to sit around in a sectioned off area and act important.  I walked up to the back of the canopy where the food was being prepared and asked if I could get something to eat cuz it smelled so good.  The old guy told me in a thick accent that they were keeping the party seperate.  I said, ""but I didn't have a chance to eat.""  He smiled and said they want to keep it seperate.  I said, ""those rich white people don't appreaciate you and I'm hungry.""  He looked at me and said, ""You're hungry?  Just hold on, sweetheart.""  He came back with two skewers of fat shrimp.  They were fresh and hot.  Chris, who had enough sense to hang back, and I then walked out of view of the party staff/security so as not to get that nice man in trouble and had our snack.

Daughtry was okay.  I'm not a big fan and I think they're a little too impressed with themselves.  Bon Jovi was amazing, as I've come to expect.  They always go all out.  The screens were smaller, but moved during the show to face different ways or come together.  It made for a neat effect.  I was very disappointed with the crowd.  They were there, but kinda blah.  People left early.  I don't understand that.  The encores are always amazing and they come back as long as the energy is there.  Juana and I saw them at the Rosemont and they did five encores.  I guess people are used to substandard bands or they're dumb.  I'm not sure which.  Tony Romo was there though not in nearly as good a seat as I'd have if I had Tony-Romo money. 

I prattle on.  As soon as I get my picture from the Bone with me, Chris, Robert Miguel and Cindy Scull, I'll put that up.  I didn't sneak a camera in.  I think half the people there had BIG digital cameras.  Next time...

I'm all kinds of crazy

We went to Six Flags again today.  I rode the Titan.  I hate that ride and yet I go on it time and again.  I guess it's an adreneline thing or maybe a conquering my fears thing.  I'm not sure.  I have a dislike of heights and yet I'm alway going up somewhere that I don't need to be. 

I about had a fit Saturday at the Ranger's game.  We were up in section 325 and climbing the stairs, I was holding on to the rail like I'd fall backwards otherwise.  I thought all the happy smiling people were crazy.  I wanted to ask them all if they didn't realize that if the leaned too far forward that they would plummet to their deaths.  After the fifth inning, I settled down a little bit and I was able to enjoy the rest of the game more even though the Rangers lost.  It was pretty sad. 

Saturday morning Chris woke me up early (for me) and we went to a plant sale in Grapevine.  A gardening club was selling assorted plants they grew to raise money for college scholarships.  Chris bought plants for the two beds in his backyard.  Gardening in Texas is not like gardening in Indiana.  Down here you have to dig up the soil and mix it with compost and plant your plants and cover them with mulch.  In Indiana, you move the grass out of the way and toss seeds in the dirt.  The soil is black and you can grow just about anything when it stops being cold.  I'm considering tearing up a piece of the side yard and playing around, but I'm not sure.  It seems like an awful lot of work for tomatoes. 

We were supposed to plant the stuff on Saturday when we bought it, along with the mulch and manure from Home Depot, but it didn't happen that way.  The storm earlier this week knocked down a dead tree on the side of the house next to the street.  We broke it into pieces smaller than six feet and dragged it to the front curb so the city would haul it away.  There was another dead tree next to it so we tore it down and dragged it too.  Chris wanted to put it behind the fence.  The trash collection is on Wednesday and the neighbors don't like stuff to sit out.  But we both knew he wasn't coming home from work on Tuesday night and dragging it up there.  I should have kept my mouth shut.  Chris started sawing up the pieces of fence that the previous storm had blown down into 4' x 6' pieces.  We were out there for several hours and ended up with a pile of stuff 12' wide and at least 4' tall.  Gosh I hate physical labor.  Next time I'm hiring a Mexican.  Oh wait.  I am a Mexican...   But he weeded and mowed today and the yard looks really good.  I've got several projects in my head.  Does anyone know how to put up a retaining wall that won't fall over? 

We're at three months till the wedding.  I'm still not sure that my sisters have finalized the dress, but I'm not worried.  I've decided that if Chris and I are the only ones not wearing jeans, it's still gonna be great.  I've taken off the Friday before and the week after from work.  I'm still trying to get a committment from the photographer I want.  There are others available, but I really have my heart set on this guy.  Cross your fingers. 

Now that I'm branching out into my own family within the Family, I find I need to remember to look at things differently. My parents always told me that all I have is my sisters and them and that's all I'm ever going to have.  Life and losers have taught me that the old man knows his stuff.  That said, those who have stood the test of time know that they may as well change their last name because they've pretty much been adopted.  I'm embarrassed because I forgot that in adopting a new last name, I too am being adopted.

Normally, I consider myself a giving person, but I realize that when it comes to Alex, this is not the case.  Fortunately, My Honey has no problem calling me out when I'm wrong.  Not that I enjoy it, but I appreciate the honesty.  Honesty speaks volumes about the level of intimacy and comfort you share with someone.  I am humbled and I am sorry for saying that the repsonsibility of raising the boy can only be mine.  But in all fairness to me, I'm not used to being treated so well all the time.  I'm not used to a man standing up and being a man at all times.  I'm not used to having someone so wonderful think that I'm worth the hassle that is me.  And I'm definitely not used to someone saying they will be a provider, role model and father to my son and living up to that.   I am very fortunate and I will try to get used to having the Bestest Honey in the Universe. (oh the sacrifices I make.)

George or Jon?

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As you may know, I’ve desperately been trying to get my hands on some Bon Jovi Tickets.  I am currently bidding in two auctions.  I’m also watching a couple of solo seats to see how they go.  I’d be willing to go alone if the price stays low.

While flipping through the radio dial last week, I learned the George Michael will be coming to town July 13th.  (that’s the day after the wedding for those of you keeping track)  I love his voice.  It’s good stuff.  Regular tickets went on sale today and despite the hefty price tag, I purchased a pair.

SECTION 118        ROW G         SEATS 6 & 7

Are those good seats, or what?  I mean, even with all the presales that were going on and the high interest since the man hasn’t done a show in the US for 17 years.  Damn.  Those are aweome.  Just awesome. I rule.

Here’s my ""problem"".  I still want to see Jon and the boys.  I could prbably Ebay these tickets for a good five times what I paid for them EASILY... But!  I’ve never seen George Michael in concert.  I’m betting that show will be pretty fucking sweet.  Chris and I could go to the show and leave for the honeymoon a day later than planned.  -OR-  I could sell these and have enough money to buy mediocre seats to both shows. -OR- I could keep the money and use it to buy wedding stuff.  -OR- I could do something noble.  Carrie (Chris’s sister) and Kris (my sister) are both really big fans and they could go together.  I just don’t know.  I really have to think on this one.  Ideas?

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