Aerosmith Concert

A few months ago there was a groupon for the Houston Aerosmith tour and of course I snatched a ticket up.  My sister is a big fan so we both got them along with my friend Teri and Laura's friend Desiree.  We just had to wait until August came to check out the concert!  A few years ago we (me and Laura) went to the Aerosmith concert at the same place when they were touring with Kiss.

I had gotten off work that day and met Teri at the Wal-Mart in the Heights so we could ride together.  Laura and Desiree both live near the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion where the concert was held, so they just met there and had dinner.  I drove to the Woodlands and we found free parking!!!!  I am not sure if it is all free parking or not, but we found some at least! 

We found my sister and sat on the blanket with them to enjoy the concert. We sat on the lawn and had a blast!  The songs brought me back to my childhood where my parents would be listening to rock and roll music.  Now all they listen to is country!  What the heck happened to my rock and roll parents?! :)

At the end of the concert they came out to do an encore and also do the ALS bucket challenge.  Pretty cool. We had a blast and I highly recommend anyone go to the Aerosmith/Slash tour if it is coming to your area soon.

Kenya Day 4

Day #4 in Kenya was a Saturday and also my first full day at Into Abba’s Arms (IAA).  Into Abba’s Arms is a children’s home in Kinagop, Kenya that serves 42 children ranging in ages from 2 years to 19 years.  They do get babies from time to time too (read Jacob’s story).  They have about 5 acres of property that they utilize very well.  They are in the process of buying land down the road that they plan on building a school on.  I am actually in the process of planning a 5K/10K fundraiser to raise money for the school.

I woke up around 8 am and took a shower.  IAA has solar panels on the roof to help with heating water.  There is also an instant hot water switch that you can flip and just use the cold water from the tap.  The first few days I did the instant (the switch) and the water was lukewarm, but then I tried the solar hot water and I was hooked.  So hot, just like home!  Breakfast was plain eggs and toast with red plum jam (best jam ever! I bought some for home).  The eggs, milk, and butter are not kept in the refrigerator, they are just left on the countertop.  I don’t know if it was because they were so fresh and without chemicals and additives or it was because of the non refrigeration, but the eggs had the brightest yolk I have even seen.

My first morning at IAA was spent sorting out all the donations we had brought with us.  There were four of us that brought large U-Haul boxes with us that had to be unpacked.  Some of the items were for the King’s Feast; others were clothes donations and misc toys.  I also tried my best to organize the storage room that someone does each time they are there.  I put each of the donated items in their place (like the toothbrushes from the Dabel’s) and hopefully made it look a bit more organized.

For meals we had the choice of trying the Kenyan food (like the kids) or eating “western” food (American food).  For the most part I stuck with western food.  Some of the things just wasn’t appealing and I am not sure my stomach could have handled it.  For lunch I had a ham and cheese sandwich.

After organizing the storage room, I took a break and went downstairs to hangout with the staff and some people from another children’s home, Flying Kites.  I sorted beans for the first time in my life, in Kenya the beans don’t come pre bagged with good vs bad beans.  It was a neat experience to go back to the old days before supermarkets did the hard work for you. ;)

Flying Kites Children’s Home was at IAA for an abstinence training for the kids.  The kids were split up in younger and older children and taught the importance of abstaining from sex until marriage.  AIDS is very prevalent throughout Africa and so is teen pregnancy.  I heard that is stems from houses being so small and parents and children being so close together that kids hear and see sex all of the time.  If you parents were 5 feet away from you with no doors, you would probably see things that a lot of American kids wouldn’t see. 

I played some games with the kids on the playground for awhile.  I started with trying to play Red Rover, but the kids didn’t quite understand it and I think there was somewhat of a language barrier.  The kids are learning English, but sometimes the connection just isn’t there and they don’t know what you are talking about.  Plus, the kids from the other children’s home don’t know English very well either.  After the failed game of Red Rover, we played a very intense game of Duck Duck Goose; which they loved!  

For dinner I tried some Kenyan food made from potatoes, kale, and corn.  The consistency was like a baked potato that was crumbled and the corn was really tough, like feed corn that we would give livestock here.  There was also chicken, but it didn’t look too appealing so I didn’t eat it.

Around 8:30 I did a craft with the older kids that I had brought with me.  It was those black scratch off ones with colors underneath that you can make pictures with.  The ones I brought with me were crosses and then there were also some with words like Praise, Jesus, etc.  The kids loved them, even the boys!  I made a few examples and one boy sitting next to me did the exact same design on his as I did, multiple times.  It was cute. ;)  

As we were doing our craft, some of the kids were putting different movies in the DVD player.  One of them said “watch this, it’s part movie, part song”  I was confused and didn’t know what to expect, but then it came on and it was a music video from the US.  In Kenya the music videos are just some guys singing on the side of the road with cars whizzing by, but in the US they are mega staged productions.  So I guess it is part movie, part song. Haha

The Nutcracker Ballet

On Friday I fulfilled a dream of mine (and a Bucket List item) and went to the Nutcracker Ballet.  I always imagined the Nutcracker Ballet to be so elegant and fancy when I was a kid and wanted to go for years.  I asked a few friends if they wanted to go and my friend Amy said she wanted to go with me. 

We met at the Hard Rock Cafe to have dinner and cocktails before the show.  The good thing about the Hard Rock (besides cocktails) is that it is directly beside the Wortham Center so we could just walk directly there after dinner. 

Our tickets were at will call so we got in line to get them and then took pictures in front of the tree.   Amy asked me “Have you seen the ballet on TV or something before?” and I said “No, but I know there is a mouse involved”  She cracked up and posted it on Facebook. Haha.  I really had no idea what it was about!

We got some champagne (because when you mark off a fancy bucket list item you have to have champagne) and hung out for awhile while waiting for the ballet to start.  I had seen one ballet (Marie Antoinette with Nicky) before but we sat in a different section of the theater this time.  My favorite part of the first half was the Snow Queen and her snow people.  So beautiful with all of the white!  The second part was in the Sugar Plum Fairies land with all of her people showing the little girl different dance routines.  It was ok, but my favorite part was the Snow Queen from the first act.  I also thought the Nutcracker/Prince thought of himself as a pimp because he was all dancing with the Snow Queen like she was the only girl in his life, and then he was all up on the Sugar Plum Fairy like she was his everything.  Men!

During the Intermission Amy got us champagne and then she bought some Nutcrackers.  The guy that checked her out had just got done dancing in the ballet and was done for the night.  So fun!  I have no idea what part he played, but he danced!  I guess all of the workers were the ones who were people in the play because the girls hair was pulled back really tight and they had makeup on.  Then I also got to see the mouse costume up front and it is beautiful!  It looks ugly from where we were sitting (because it’s a mouse!) but close up it is so pretty.  It’s a lot of layers of this delicate looking silky fabric. 

I did like the Nutcracker, but I am not sure I would see it again anytime soon.  Maybe when I have kids I will take them one day. 

Way to cold to be outside

Last night in the Woodlands Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean played a concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion.  My friend Sallie won a set of tickets on the radio, but couldn't go to the concert so she gave them to me!  I wasn't sure who I wanted to invite, but then I thought it would be fun to ask my Mom to see if she wanted to go since I don't get to spend much time with her since I live so far away.

I left work at noon so I could run errands and not be in traffic at 5 pm on a Friday sitting on I-45N.  Sallie couldn't pick up the tickets until about 1:45 so I went to Memorial Park to run for a bit while I was waiting for her.  I had planned on running 6 miles (per my marathon training plan), but by the time I got there and changed clothes I only had time to do 3 miles.  Oh well, at least I ran something!  I knew that I would be getting home late and I wouldn't run then.

I met Sallie for the tickets and headed to Spring (with mild traffic) to my parents house to pick up my Mom.  We went to Chili's in the Woodlands for dinner and drinks.  Before going I told myself that I would not drink anything so I could be good for my race in the morning (Monster Mash 15K), but what did I do?  Had TWO drinks!  Sigh.  When will I learn?

Me and my Mom at the concert!  She was my hot date. ;)

We parked and started walking to the concert but it was FREEZING!  O. M. G. So. Flippin'. Cold.    There is a reason I do no live in cold places! We thought that if you won tickets on a radio show they would be good seats, but they were lawn seats.  That's ok, I don't mind lawn seats!  We got some lawn chairs and settled in for a long, chilly concert.  We went to the concession stand and there was hot chocolate!!!!!!!!!  With marshmallows!!!!!!!!!  I <3 marshmallows!!!!!!  It definitely warmed me up.

Some girl played first, then a DJ came on and played a random remix of songs, then finally Luke Bryan came out.  Let me tell ya, he is really funny!  He commented on it being so cold saying 'Houston, when did it become so cold, Lord!  My nipples are showing!'  haha.  Then later in his set he was playing the piano and started doing the Justin Bieber "Boyfriend" song. He didn't sing much of it thought thank goodness! :) I really think Luke Bryan puts on a great concert.

After Luke Bryan finished his set they started setting up for Jason Aldean.  I swear, it took about 25 minutes at least for them to set everything up.  Then, for a while they weren't doing anything on the stage at all, it was like he wasn't ready to perform or there was some sort of problem.  I don't know, but it took forever.  Jason Aldean came on and we listened to 2 songs, and then we left.  We wanted to beat the rush out and honestly, Jason Aldean does not sound very good live.  I had never heard him live, but my Mom said he sounded really slow and his voice was off. 

We could hear him playing while walking to the parking lot and it didn't sound good.  I didn't realize that so many people tailgated right outside the gates by the pond.  Apparently it's a big deal to hang out right there and listen to the show because you could hear it perfectly.  Some couples seem to be making a date night out of it with wine and dinner. haha.  Cute!

We had a great time and I am glad I got to spend some time with my Mom.  Thanks Lyndsey and Sallie for giving us the tickets!!!!