good decision...

I got home from my quick trip to Dallas a few hours ago. I got to see Heather, Sarah, Jessica and Dawn...and Charlie, Mando Saenz, and Todd Snider. It will be the last show I see in 2008, and I can't think of a better one to round it out with. Sarah and I looked at each other during "Alright Guy" and both said that's the moment of the show tonight. Closing out the second encore with "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" wasn't a bad moment either. I said the same thing last year, and I'm saying it again this year... Todd Snider - probably the best show I saw all year. (That link takes you to the Flickr account of the photographer at the show...go straight to page 2 for the pics)

Hearing Todd Snider sing Alright Guy/I Believe You last night...the closest I can equate it to is hearing Walt Wilkins sing Songs About Texas/Poetry. Hearing the covers isn't quite the same...Todd Snider and Walt Wilkins take you some place completely different.

It was just a bonus getting to see Mando Saenz and Charlie open. I think the crowd had a positive reaction to Charlie's set, and it looks like he picked up a show before the night was over. LOL

I'm ready to leave to Colorado next week, but haven't even begun to gather my things to pack. I just want to be at the Tugboat already...

what I thought would be a slow week...

What I thought would be a slow week is now, apparently, going to be filled with drafting documents. I am working today, tomorrow...and Wednesday is somewhat up in the air. (I'm thinking no...and I'll continue to press the issue.) Wednesday is the big family day for us. Most of the the family gatherings don't happen until the evening, but the office doesn't really have to know that. At least I'm working on an adoption. There are no ill-feelings involved in this one, and everyone involved will be better off in the end.

Recap of Saturday night:

I was to meet up with everyone at Fox & Hound to watch the Cowboys game. Just FYI: I hate NFL games. I have no interest in the Cowboys, or any other team for that matter. The only reason I have any sort of insight as to the team records and players is based on who I watched play in college and listening to my PTI podcasts and reading Deadspin. So, as you can imagine, I really didn't want to sit in a bar for four hours watching a game in which I had no interest. I could just flip back and forth on the tv at home for score updates, and to see how much longer it would be before I needed to head out to Wild West.

Instead of Fox & Hound, I watched Hockey Night in Canada...much more interesting. I saw the Penguins get slaughtered, but somehow manage to come away looking like a good team.

Finally, it was time to head to Wild West to see Jason Boland & the Stragglers!

The plan was to meet up for the show after the Dallas game. Yeah. I was alone at the bar for a good hour/ninety minutes. Oh well, I don't really mind. I brought in a few toys for the annual toy drive and waited for the band to take the stage. They were fantastic. I don't remember Jason ever sounding or looking better. I really missed seeing/hearing him. This was the first show I'd been to since the acoustic run last Christmas season. I think I heard everything I could have asked for, save for "Mary". The crowd was into the show, too. I wasn't sure what to expect with school out. The only drawback? No Brad f-ing Rice... I hope he has a speedy recovery. I can't wait to see them again at Steamboat. I believe mP said they're playing the Grand. That makes me happy. I'll take the Grand over the Tent any day.

* I forgot about the greatness that is "Big Shot Rich Man" live. It always reminds me of Becky's imitation of Jason. LOL

* Attending the show Saturday night was a bridal party. Nothing unusual there... Oh, wait. The bride and groom are here, too! I just wish I'd heard the conversation between them when plans for the wedding night were discussed.

I'm looking forward to celebrating Christmas and then taking a small trip to Dallas to see Heather, Charlie and Todd Snider. Should be a good one!

I hope you have a great holiday! Merry Christmas!

Working on Sunday...

I'm finishing up some files that I have been pushing back for about ten days now. I wasn't helped by attending that hearing on Wednesday (edit - yeah, I meant Tuesday...). (Which has taken an even more disturbing turn, if you can believe that...) I'm playing catch up now, and hope to finish it by tomorrow afternoon.

Things that entertained/horrified me this week:

Story #1 (of my nightmares)

Story #2 (adding fuel to nightmares)

#3 (to balance out the above 2 clips)


#4 (a classic)

#5 Hi, I have a problem and can't stop reading Leitch's posts.

#6 I've also been watching Jimmy Fallon's prep for taking over Late Night in a few months. He still makes me laugh...especially Day 2, reading viewer comments.

I hope this week flies by. I have a Jason Boland & the Stragglers show to go to! I cannot wait to see them again.

exhausted

Today wore me out, plain and simple. I found out yesterday that I would be going to a hearing this afternoon out of town. Fine. Whatever. The rest of the day I spent reviewing the case file, going over financial docs and calling the client to go over some details I was unsure about after going over the file.

The client came in this morning to go over the basics and to bring in verification of income, assets, and liabilities. Already, the details of the case were more muddled than I was initially led to believe. However, it came as no surprise. Whenever someone tells me "everything's agreed upon," I never trust it...because nothing is ever that simple! There's always just one. more. thing.

I spent the first chunk of the afternoon trying to work out an agreement. I knew it was unlikely, but I really wasn't looking forward to being in the courtroom with the opposing party. Unstable, to say the least. There had already been several outbursts and just generally erratic behavior, and I had no desire to subject myself, my client, or the court to the same.

We were running out of time and decided we'd reached an impasse. The actual hearing was fairly smooth. The reading of the judgment was another matter. I have never felt the need to ask a bailiff to escort me out of the courthouse before. I have had a bailiff and a judge impose such actions themselves, but I've never felt the need for it...before today. Holy cow! To say the opposing party was unhappy with the judgment would be an understatement. I couldn't wait to get out of there.

The day was mentally exhaustive and I was so glad to be home. Now, I'm winding down by finishing up The Shack (as Lori recommended) and listening to some Evan Dando. Just think, I get to wake up and do it all over again!

confession

When it came to evidence questions in school, we would always ask ourselves the following: What would they do on Law & Order?

Seriously.

I'm watching this week's episode and it's one of those classic Jack McCoy story lines. Jack (Sam Waterston) takes everyone to task and the future role of his character is up in the air... I still love this show, 19 seasons in.

Yes. This is my Saturday night/early Sunday morning. I spent the rest of the day finishing half of my Christmas shopping and watching football games galore. It was a good day. :)

A Friday at home. Nice, but not when I could be seeing MMC... *sigh*

If I had a little bit more notice, I am sure I would be standing at Woody's right now. I knew about the show, but I didn't know of anyone choosing MMC over RK/Jack video shoot in the Stockyards. The invitation came a little too late...

Oh, well. It's all for the best. I need to get my Christmas shopping done. I have 3 gifts. Only 1 is actually in my possession, the others are yet to be delivered. I stopped by the independent toy shop today to take a look around. I would blow my entire paycheck there if I could. I am going back tomorrow or some time next week to buy a few toys for The Stragglers' annual toy drive. I ask Monty the same question every year...what is the age range for the kids? Is it 5 and up? I'm not joking, I think I've asked him every year for the last five or six years. Anyone know?

I'm feeling much better and the head cold is almost completely cleared up. I'm sure it helped tons being in the bar Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Wednesday was entertaining, no doubt. The crowd was about 1/8 of the previous night's, but 100% more annoying. How is that even possible? Anyway, the setlist was great from RK. There were some awkward moments that had me laughing much of the night. I just don't think this person realizes how ridiculous their actions were...

Goal for the remainder of the month - get Sarah to speak to CS! Hahaha!

I had a good time last night. Packed doesn't begin to describe the venue. People on the railings on the staircases, behind the glass... I can't even remember all the songs played, but a few things stick out in my memory:

* Randy covering Keith Whitley's "When You Say Nothing at All"
* Cody singing "Back Around" - never. gets. old.
* Cody singing "Broken" - just haven't heard it in a while
* Wade singing just about anything/everything requested of him
* STP
* Some dancing that cannot be described
* Finishing out the night with Merle Haggard's "Silver Wings"
* What's that guy's name? Brady? Hahahaha
* It's your job tonight to keep him OFF stage
* FAIL

I am ready to head right back up there tonight to see RK. Since I couldn't make the acoustic show Sunday, there's no way I'm missing the show tonight.

stupid sore throat

I'm sitting at home when I thought I'd be in Denton seeing two Brauns and Stoney. Not exactly the ending to the weekend I'd wished for...

The holiday "break" was just a series of one thing after another, not much of a break. We had a great time Saturday at the Tech/Baylor game. However, I'm sure that's why I'm sitting here now instead of being at the show with everyone. The weather was fantastic the first half and was bone-chilling at the beginning of the 3rd.

The game was much better than I thought it would be. I was positive it would be a blowout by the half. Good for Baylor. Robert Griffin was amazing. The runs he made, the tackles he was able to evade...it was a joy to watch. Admittedly, it was so much fun to watch because I really didn't have a rooting interest in the game. I was more worried about the game later that night. (And, yes, I wore my OU shirt to the Tech game.)

We hit the anniversary party for a few hours. I made two trays of jello shots and didn't get to have a single one! I made up for that at the next party stop. We arrived at the house and the drinking began immediately. The game was in the 3rd, card games in the dining room, a lotto/drinking game for everyone in the house, and seeing friends and family...it was a good time. I am fairly sure I cleared at minimum a dozen jello shots. The number of beers consumed is unclear. I stayed away from my vodka sours, so no pain this morning. Well, no paid aside from a mildly irritating scratchy throat.

That scratchy throat escalated by the early afternoon to a low-grade fever and just feeling crappy. I made the hard decision to not make the drive to the show. I didn't want it to get worse or infect anyone else. I have a hearing set for Wednesday that I'd really like to dispose of without delay. Plus, Tuesday night Randy/Wade/Cody are in town for the More Acoustic Healing Tour and Wednesday RK is in town. I am crossing my fingers that I will be feeling better by then.

Originally, I'd planned for half a day off tomorrow but I think I'll take the entire day and rest up. Aside from a few calls, I don't have anything I need to go in to the office to complete.

I hope everyone had a great holiday and has a great week ahead.

OH YEAH - YAY for the Sooners! Thanks to their great play late in the season, they are headed to the Big 12 Championship game this coming weekend against Missouri.