Carrie Underwood Concert

There are people who can sing and then there’s those who can sing.  Carrie Underwood can sing.   Even when sick with a man-talking-voice (as she was in concert), she still belted it out amazingly.

I love the environment and culture of country music.  And, its fans are fun.  Case in point: the couple seated behind us. The guy was way more into it than his lady friend.  He sang/yelled lovingly and unashamedly along with Carrie on most songs.  My favorite part was during the picture slideshow accompanying “Mama’s Song.”  At the end was a photo from Carrie’s wedding with her husband, NHL player Mike Fisher.  When that photo came on-screen, we heard an anguished, “Nooooooo!  I’m so jealous, I love yoooooouu, Carrrriiie!  Ugh, and I hate the Senators.”

And, Carrie herself– so sweet.  I like that we’ve been able to follow her story since getting to know her as a simple-girl-next-door during American Idol six years ago.  From Oklahoma, grew up on a farm, college girl, never been on a plane until flying to Hollywood Week.  And now, you can tell how grateful she is for all her success as she still constantly references her ordinary beginnings and AI breakthrough in interviews, accepting awards, in concert, etc.

One of my favorite AI moments was when Carrie didn’t understand she was being complimented.  “Hey little mama, you knocked it off the box?”  Hahaaa.  If you don’t want to watch the whole clip, fast forward to mark 1:10.

Carrie Underwood Set List | Vancouver, BC | December 16, 2010

Cowboy Casanova
Quitter
Wasted
I Know You Won’t
Some Hearts
Just a Dream
Temporary Home
Someday When I Stop Loving You
All-American Girl
So Small
Country Road (John Denver cover)
This Time
Undo It
Jesus, Take the Wheel
What Can I Say (ft. Sons of Sylvia)
Change
I Told You So
Mama’s Song
Last Name

Encore:
Before He Cheats
Songs Like This

Tags: concert, country, Music

A.C.T.S

Early on in my faith, I learned one way that could help me pray was A.C.T.S. Familiar to most Christians or most people exposed to church or the like at any point, it’s an acronym for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. I’ve been meeting up with a friend on campus who recently started her personal relationship and journey with Christ. When we talked about prayer, I encouraged her that it’s just talking with God and shared A.C.T.S with her as one place she could start.

Adoration – recognizing and praising God for who He is.
Confession – have I wronged others or God in some way? I need to acknowledge it, change, make it right as much as I can, being thankful that God forgives me.
Thanksgiving - as straightforward as it sounds. From turkey to health to people to provision and even difficulties cos we learn and grow from them.
Supplication – help.me/him/her/them/the world.God! In the small and big things. God loves to give good gifts so we are free to ask. For ourselves and on behalf of others.

As I was sharing how helpful and simple A.C.T.S could be, I realized I hadn’t been thinking through some of these things myself in a while. So I took some time this weekend,  spending just 15 minutes thinking about A.C.T.S and wow– i should do this more often. It was so refreshing. In the quiet when I’m open to him, I see God more for who he is rather than how I’ve made him to be.

I realize I’ve skirted off things as trivial when in fact I was selfish and prideful in certain situations. I realize there are many great things in my life that I hadn’t even explicitly thanked God for. I remember others and I want good for them. I want God to to bless and enable them and that they would more fully experience him.  I realize I want to more fully experience him!  It’s funny how I can consciously forget that sometimes. And, I’m reminded with confidence and assurance that the God of the universe is on my side– he is for me– so, I’m good to go even in uncertain or strenuous circumstances.  I understand the Gospel again and Jesus becomes more precious to me.

Tags: faith, prayer

Boys are Big

On the left, my shoe. On the right, my roommate’s boyfriend’s shoe. I wear size 6, he wears size 16. My shoe fits INSIDE his shoe. He’s 6’4, one of 6 boys in his family, and some brothers are bigger than him. Oh dear.

Tags: random

Goodbye Bose, Hello Dr. Dre

For a long time I didn’t understand why anyone would spend so much money on expensive headphones or sound systems.  Then… I heard the difference.  One of the criteria in my ultimate dream home (if cost was not applicable) is having a serious home theater system.  But because that is not likely to happen, I decided I would be willing to invest in nice earphones for my iPod instead.  But even so, I’d hunt down the best deal I could find.  I bought my Bose In-Ear Headphones a couple years ago.  They retail for $135 but I got a pair on eBay for $55.  For me, definitely worth it.  Oh, the difference.

Recently, a sad thing happened.  My left earphone started fraying and now it’s ka-putz.  Many, many nights of listening to my iPod in bed turned to waking up many, many mornings with earphones tangled and pulled across my face and neck.  It was bound to happen.

While searching and waiting to find a good deal on another pair of Bose earphones, I thought I’d look around to see what else is out there.  “Beats by Dr. Dre” is a line of headphones that I’ve listened to in-store and they’re pretty swanky– in sound and design.  The In-Ear headphone version (called “Tour”) retails for $179.

I bought a pair.  But not for $179!  eBay, friends. eBay.  Got them brand new, $34.  They look and sound puuuurty-ful.

Tags: Music

What’s your username?!

I’ve been taking classes in the US for the past 4 weeks and there I’ve been blessed to meet and make friends with new people. One late evening while we were all hunkered down in the lobby writing our papers, somehow the reminiscent time of Xanga and Livejournal came up.  Jill turns to me, “You had a Xanga!” and I threw it right back at her, “So did you!”  Cue new friends: they look up, “What’s your username?!”

Oh dear, here we go.

Everyone’s typing in the url as I shake my head, “Just remember, it was years ago!”  I often forget that there’s this whole history that still remains on the web.  Jill singles out an old post I wrote on how girls don’t like to be told they’re “one of the guys.” We read it aloud, talk about context and laugh hard.  Then, we read the comments and laugh-cry even harder.  Not because it’s all that funny at face-value but because of some other things we attached with it in the moment.

It was a great 20 min distraction, I love those moments.

Tags: laughs

Gleek

A few weeks ago I started on the Glee train and very quickly became a huge fan.  As I do with all my pop-culture joys, I googled like crazy to find out as much as i could about the show, actors, concept, music, etc.  I love what I found– refreshing, amusing, hilarious and even inspiring.  And while it’s tempting to lay out all the reasons as to why I get so excited about Glee right now, I’ll just say that in one car ride I preached it and left two unsuspecting and apathetic friends not only curious but wanting. Success. I love being a pop-culture evangelist.

I have been listening to the Vol. 1, 2, and 3 albums and other various tracks non stop– fun, endearing, amazing.  I find myself lip syncing/ singing under my breath with my iPod in public places. Full on with the head bobbing, dramatic facial expressions, shoulder shrugging, toe tapping, looking like a fool.  Of course, it’s much worse when i’m by myself in the car or at home.

And, Lea Michele… besides playing Rachel Berry so convincingly, oh, how I love Lea Michele’s INCREDIBLE voice.  As in, I actually have “moments” listening to her at certain times.  It’s like an unprecedented kind of appreciation and even awe that I’ve never had for any artist’s voice before. On occasion, I literally need a few seconds of silence after listening to her– that’s how affected I can be.  I know, sounds ridiculous.  No wonder she’s been on Broadway since age 8.  I would love to hear her live.  Not to mention, she is GORGEOUS.

Tags: Glee, Lea Michele, Music, tv

Does anyone have Taylor Swift tickets?!

Since I’m on a concert roll on my blog, I would like to throw it out there… shameless plea, really. I’ve already said it to tons of times but I would absolutely LOVE to go to Taylor Swift’s concert. She’ll be in Toronto and Ottawa in late May and if I can get my hands on affordable tickets, I would very possibly FLY THERE for her show.

So, if anyone out there has tickets they want to get rid of then look no further. Look here!  And, I’m totally going to play the birthday card. My birthday is May 22– just happens to be one of the Toronto show dates. No need to guess what I’d like for my birthday… just saying. HOLLLLAAAA!

Tags: concert, Music, taylor swift