{I and Love and The Avett Brothers!}

One of the main reasons I stayed in Oklahoma longer {other than to be with my best friends} Was to attend the Avett Brothers concert

&
HOLY CRAP!!!!
It was AWESOME!!!

{Greg} Megan {Heather} & I all hit up the show...
We got there pretty early because we wanted to be up front during the concert.
& up front we were!!!!Heather & Greg were ecstatic!!!
Megan was super pumped
{Greg = photo-bombed}

Usually I don't try to get up close to the front @ concerts, but I had to for this show, since I had read reviews and watched plenty of YouTube videos of their live act and it looked amazing, and really~it is!
Plus I love me some Seth Avett and I wanted his sweat ALL over me.
The people up front were all really cool, you could tell we were all there to enjoy some music and we all loved the Avetts {BTW: those of you who don't know who the Avett Brothers are, you really need to check them out, they are seriously one of the best bands out there!} Everyone was really respectful of one another and were willing to help out a shorty like me take pictures & actually see the show...
Well everyone was cool except this super huge douche who is in the picture below behind Heather {he's in the orange shirt}...
I think he just wanted to get into a fight with ANYONE. Even Heather. He was stepping all over her and was SUPER loud and stupid. Then he tried to get right in front of and was yelling at everyone and getting in our faces. We didn't really get to enjoy the opening act because of his shenanigans.
Thankfully~ security kicked him out!

The opening band was Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
Who were actually AWESOME!
Even though we didn't really get to pay attention to them like afformentioned...
But they seriously rocked the HOUSE!
Grace was wicked impressive
&
I'm convinced that the guitarist totally wanted me!

Then it was time for the [AVETTS]
It was awesome from the beginning!
They opened with >> "Laundry Room":
Here is a little clip of mine {finally figured some things out!!!}
This is just the opening part of the song, the end half of it turns into a frickin awesome hoedown! LOVE IT!

The next song was >> "Paranoia in Bb Major"...
{don't have my own video of it, but I love it so much that I am inserting their music video}

>>"And it Spread" was next~ I fell in love with their "I and Love and You" album [it was my first introduction and their newest album; so I'm a bit partial to all the songs on it]

{my seth}
>> "Yardsale"
>>"Slight Figure of Speech" is one of their upbeat more rock-like songs; I cannot help but tap my feet to it! {and I do talk like I am 60}

Up next was a cover of >>"Rollin in my Sweet Baby's Arms" Here's a video of it:

Scott kicks some serious *what what* on that freaking banjo
>>"At the Beach" is a part of the Mignonette album
[Love it!]

>>"I would be Sad" came next, this song is super good, especially Seth's line "You know me, I've always been, the kind with easy confidence"...Yep, he should be confident because he is a sexy man.
Speaking of Seth he did his own little solo >>"In the Curve"
I was really speechless~ I really just love his voice and his lyrics. He's so sincere and I love him!

>>"Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" super good song from "I and Love and You">>"Die Than Grow" is an unreleased song, and it's just beautiful!!!

>>"The Fall" is from their "Four Thieves Gone" album is bluegrass at it's best! You've got to love any song that has a harmonica in it!
Here's a short clip:

>>"January Wedding" is Megan's favorite song! And I really like it as well. If I hadn't already gotten married; I would have totally decided to get married in January just because of this song. Pretty sure that is what Megan is going to do. I love the lyrics to this song, they are just so sweet! And that is what Seth is my favorite {if you couldn't tell}

>>"Open Ended Life" is an unrecorded song and if this is the new stuff they're coming out with...I cannot wait until they release another album!

>>"Shame" is from Emotionalism, which I think IS my favorite album. I think that pretty much every single song from this album is totally solid. I wish they would have done more songs from this album...
Here's a little taste:

>>"Tin Man" & "The Perfect Space" were their next two songs...both from "I and Love and You" [they pretty much did that whole album]
"The Perfect Space is definitely one of my favorites, and it has a special place in my heart for me and my friends. The line "I wanna have friends that I can trust, that love me for the man I become, not the man that I was..." Awesome.
>>"Pretty Girl from Cedar Lane" is a hoedown awesome song from Mignonette. They have this "Pretty Girl" collection that are all super fun, and they're all completely different from one another.
>>"Kick Drum Heart" is pretty much my favorite song on "I and Love and You" if it's not my all around favorite song...There is something about the beat, the "stuttering" of words and the idea of falling in love that makes me just LOVE this song. If I had some dance moves I would be dancing to this song ALL the time. I LOVE IT!
{in the video I really tried not to dance, clap, or scream...but sometimes I just can't help it}

>>"I and Love and You" obviously is from the "I&L&Y" album...If you're first getting into The Avett Brothers, this song is a good introduction. I've read and listened to interviews where they say that this song is basically an I love you to their fans. They use to be able to stay at their fans houses when they would go on tour and were really close to them...but once they got a little bit bigger they weren't able to spend that one on one time with their fans; so this was kind of like saying...thank you for everything, and we still love you.
I felt their love at this concert. They are really so sincere and humble.
Here's a clip of the song... I cut away from Scott right as he told the audience that he loved us...

I love you Scott, Bob, Joe & mostly Seth
**encore**
>>"Telling Time/Pretty Girl from Michigan" this is another unreleased song...super good!
>>"November Blue is from "Country Was" and is a ballad, which I think is what the Avetts do best....a GREAT way to end the show.

This really was the best concert I have been to...I know I really say that after every concert, but really I think that for me, in this time in my life....it was just what I needed. It was made even better to be with Greg, my original concert buddy...Megan, my new concert buddy, and Heather, who hopefully will go to more than just one concert with me.
It was such a fun night to end my time in Oklahoma.

Heather made this video of our night...
Set to "The Perfect Space"

She did a really good job and had a WAY better camera that I did.
Thanks Ya'll!
These words for me aren't hard to say...
I Love You!

Hey Brother...

My brother Greg came out to Okie!!!

It was a bittersweet trip because it meant that I was actually going to be leaving soon {he came out to help me move}
I was NOT excited to head back to Utah, and really if I could~ I would still probably still be living out in Oklahoma...

[i don't think that megan would like me as a roommate though]
Greg and I had a good time.We went to see Scott Pilgrim [yep~ for the third time!]
and then had a little running out of gas experience...Greg had to push my car to the gas station so I could spend $10 to buy three gallons of gas...Yep- it was awesome.

The next day was my last day at Allegiance...
SUPER SAD!!!!
Thanks to Allegiance I was blessed with all of my good friends. It really was like a family to me. I loved the people I got to work with, and I've never worked for a company that cared so much for its employees. I was so fortunate to work there for two years & to meet the people that I did.
They had a little going away lunch for me...
Heather made me BALLS!
Michelle kissed my window...It was hard to say good-bye.

But Greg helped to take my mind off my sadness.
We hit up *Pops* of course
Where I discovered Hipstamatic:

{took a lot of pictures}& took some video
{where I am annoying as crap= Holly would appreciate it}

We also hit up the Oklahoma City Federal Building Memorial Museum
It still has the same affect on you no matter how many times you've been there...


{this is actually the symbol for FECU which is what Allegiance use to be, if you re-read my Nov. 17, 2008 post where I talked more about the significance of things...
But a few of my co-workers were in the building the day of the bombing. They have amazing stories & I really admire their strength}

Greg and I had a fun time getting to hang out again. I sure missed him!
And he was a TON of help with all the moving and driving. I would have gone CRAZY on the drive home without him!

Supplies!!!!

One last girl's night!

It was a SURPRISE for me

I kind of figured that they would do something for me, but I really didn't see it happening this night...I was super surprised!

Heather invited me out for a night of sushi; since both of our husbands were busy that night...So I didn't really think much of everyone else being there {I even felt bad cause Megan wasn't doing anything that night and I was like...we should invite her...}
I was actually late...after finding out it was a surprise I felt really bad.
BUT!!!
It was still super fun!

{ambyloohoo}

{doesn't christin look SO happy?}

{we made megan try some sushi...she looks scared}{yummy???}

{i don't think she liked it very much...
but we all enjoyed watching her eat it...HAHA}


After dinner we went to go see *Easy A* which was really funny!
It was a really fun surprise and again, another reason why I have the BEST friends!

{the flash is really bright on my camera}
{i look horrible and huge!!! but ho is so cute}

FuddRuck YourSelf**

So...We had a girl's night up in Tulsa {to visit Mander} as one of my last hoorays out there. It was a ton of fun! More than a ton of fun.
Heather was the winner of the best conversation piece of the night...I will never think of Fuddruckers the same again! {and I can't fail to mention Michelle's classic quote: "He failed Mormon school...???"}
It was super good to see Amanda again, since for me it had been since like May. I've really missed her! She's been really busy teaching Pre-K~ She had lots of stories of her kids. It sounds really interesting, especially since her first or second day she had to clean up a kid's poop, which was all over her as well as the kid. I could NEVER do it! I am so proud of how strong she is and these kids are so lucky!

I've been SO lucky to have gotten to know Amanda...I was amazed at how easily we ended up getting along. She's so honest, funny, independent, strong~willed, and proud to be who she is...So many characteristics that I want to have myself. She knows what she wants with her life and goes out and gets it. Truly, I was so lucky to get to know ManderPuddin!


The first time I met Michelle I was honestly a bit intimidated... She's just so perfect, and cute, and little. But I am so happy that I got to know her better. She came into our American Idol Nights and definitely livened it up. She's got the cutest little boy...Carter Buck and is a wonderful mother, friend and woman. Right before I left she found out that she's pregnant again!!! Another cute little Buck in the world! Michelle reminded me of my sister and so she was like my own little Erin in Oklahoma, which made me feel so much more at home.

I knew I would get along with Christin before I actually met her. She's dating Megan's brother so Megan talked about her before I met her, and so I knew that we had a lot in common. We like a lot of the same music, movies, and many different things. Bay Bay makes me laugh so hard, she goes a hundred miles a minute and she's so FUN! She's got a good sense of humor and she's so kind and sincere. I am so thankful for the genuine people I got to meet out in Oklahoma.

Heather~ she was one of the first people I met out there...and she's been such a wonderful friend. She's always been there for me, she's one of the most compassionate and thoughtful people I know. I really love her awkward smiles, and laughs, and I know it is going to be rough not being able to be around her everyday. Also, it's rare to find couples to hang out with but Holt and I LOVED to hang out with Heather and Chad, and we're going to miss being able to chill with them.

My Megan...where to begin. I knew that we would become friends the first time I talked to her. We really have SO much in common, the exact same taste in pretty much everything. She's really a wonderful person. It's really so hard to talk about her and I's friendship without sounding super lame, but really I have been so blessed to have her as my friend. I know that she'll always make me happy and laugh when I talk to her. I really don't want to go into it...people won't understand, but she's the BEST!

This was such a fun weekend!!!! And it's so hard knowing that I am not going to be able to just call these ladies up to hang out with them whenever.
I've never been one to have a large group of friends, so this was a new experience for me. These girls were like my family and really helped me through a lot. I really was so fortunate to have each and every one of them in my life. I know that we will still be friends, but it's just different now. But I will always be grateful and cherish the memories and good times we had together. Thank you ladies...you are the best!!!!

The Party Continues

My birthday continued on into the weekend.
Holt was heading back to Utah~ so I spent the rest of the time with my girls!

*Heather, Megan & I went to the Melting Pot*

*The sun is shining on our friendship*

*She has to bend down so far to be my height~ so sad*

*My pretty bff's*

Our waitress was so lucky to hear all my wonderful stories of how Holt & I have fondue parties all the time...I wasn't even aware of this fact, but apparently my mouth just decided to spew out all sorts of rubbish*Yummy leftovers!**I got to sit across from this loveliness*
The rest of the night it was JAMM {Jane Austen Movie Marathon}
We watched
*Pride & Prejudice*
*Sense & Sensibility*
and
*Emma*The next morning Megan & I headed up to Stillwater to hit up Eskimo Joe's
It was so delicious and so much fun!
The wait was actually pretty long [game weekend]
but it went by quickly*You get to keep the cups*
Then later that day we headed down to Moore to go to The Warren to sit in the balcony area {for those of you who don't recall check out my May 2009 post}
We got to see Going the Distance...It was really funny!It was such a fun birthday weekend with my ladies. I love them all! They've been the perfect replacement family.

Go Shorty...

My birthday was pretty awesome this year.
I had to work of course ~ but it wasn't that bad.
Holt won "Husband of the Year" again by bringing cake batter ice cream for me to share with the entire building {6 cartons of ice cream*bowls*spoons*Sprinkles}
Everyone was just like...You have the best husband!!!
Yes I know.
He also brought me one of my gifts~

I loved the wrap job!
The gift was Elbow's Seldom Seen Kid Live from Abby Road cd/dvd!
LOVE IT!

My parents sent me some flowers as well...They were beautiful!

I got to leave work early, so Holt and I went to see Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
[yes I know I've already seen it~ but I love it!]

Holt also took me out to dinner to Charlestons...I LOVE IT!
It was a good night, an excellent birthday

Here's another excellent wrapping job from my darling man
My last gift were my AWESOME Tom's! I love them!
Good job Holty! You always spoil me