Artists you should know... if you don't

If you know me, you know my obsession (not an understatement) with music - particularly Ten out of Tenn. haha (I know my family does!) lol -So if you DON'T know.... lemme just sit and tell you a little this secret that needs to be spread!...  Ten out of Tenn!- Its a group of 10 separate musicians from Nashville, TN who joined together for a tour across the U.S.  They decided that instead of waiting for America to hear about them,  that they would band together and prove that they are worth our listening time. And believe me - they are far beyond that! Firstly their ambition and passion is inspiring. Their music reaches far beyond the depths of just a "song".  Writing and composing all their own music and lyrics - its a symphony of bliss! :) Sometimes when im listening to their music I can't do anything else but listen and dream. The creativity and emotion evoked lyrics, the instrumentals, the passion and the purity of their sound is so unique that you can't help but be captivated. The songs are catchy, but they are so much more meaningful than the majority of the songs on the radio. If you get a chance to see them in concert - i would HIGHLY recommend it! Its a $10 concert - for 10 of the most amazing musicians you'll find on this side of the continental US! :) Just take my word. Im going to see them in Nashville on April 10th. And I can't wait!! 

So with out delay... Here are the Tempting Ten:

here is their tour lineup - and yes, i know im missing them here in colorado like the WEEK after i move. I'm still mending my broken heart... *sniff* lol 

Upcoming Shows ( view all )

Mar 12 2009 8:00P House of Blues New Orleans, Louisiana Mar 13 2009 10:15P Chelsea’s Baton Rouge, Louisiana Mar 14 2009 9:00P Speak Easy / Falling Whistles Benefit Austin, Texas Mar 15 2009 7:30P The Loft Dallas, Texas Mar 16 2009 8:30P Common Ground Waco, Texas Mar 18 2009 11:45P Maggie Mae’s Austin, Texas Mar 22 2009 8:30P Rhythm Room Phoenix, Arizona Mar 24 2009 9:00P Troubadour West Hollywood, California Mar 25 2009 9:00P The Independent San Francisco, California Mar 27 2009 8:00P The Triple Door Seattle, Washington Mar 28 2009 9:00P Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon Mar 29 2009 8:00P The Red Room Kennewick, Washington Mar 30 2009 8:00P Knitting Factory Spokane, Washington Mar 31 2009 8:00P Knitting Factory Boise, Idaho Apr 1 2009 7:30P Kilby Court Salt Lake City, Utah Apr 2 2009 8:00P Belly Up Aspen Aspen, Colorado Apr 3 2009 9:00P The Black Sheep Colorado Springs, Colorado Apr 4 2009 8:00P Bluebird Theatre Denver, Colorado Apr 5 2009 8:00P The Duck Room St. Louis, Missouri Apr 10 2009 9:00P Cannery Ballroom Nashville, Tennessee

I truly wish i could say - here are my top three favorite of the group.... but i can't pick - they are ALL so talented. Just check them out. you'll love them. and i'll love you.  ;)

In other news- i only have 2 more weeks here in ole Rocky Top! Its hard to believe time is ticking so quickly. I only have ONE more week of watching topher and then im a free agent! YIKES! I am excited to have Mom, Dad, Britt and Dill out here to visit VERY soon! Can't wait to show them around and take them hiking!! We just had some friends from Texas visit us here for the last week and they were great! I love having people here - just reminds you how much sweeter time passes when you have good people to share it with! :) 

Well i love you guys - i'll see you before i know it! xo

OH! - Bitty - you HAVE to come with me to TN ... (this is me begging) hehe. ;) xoxo!!

Now, Go LISTEN! :) 

*Nik 

Thinkin' Bout Granny... My Car, That Is.

So if you know me - you've probably seen or heard great stories about my car, "Granny".  She's a real beaut. haha (look no further, there she is in all her glory, below)

Well, Granny has fallen upon hard times. Its been ongoing for years, basically since before I ever inherited her. Recently she has been acting especially odd, though... dying at stoplights, clinking and dinging and leaking - but those are minor issues. I just fear her final days are at hand. So in honor (and possibly soon to be memory of) her I would like to share the quirkiness that makes Granny, Granny. 

The start of major issues in Colorado begun with that momentous picture above - the journey up  to Colorado, when Granny tried to take her own life by jumping off the Tow Dolly mid drive (and without our knowledge). Luckily, we caught her in the act and we able to rescue her from complete obliteration (of her or anyone behind us! Yikes!) She still has some pretty nasty scars from that day, but she's done me well and carried me from place to place, entertaining me with her latest antics - despite her own will to die. haha

So here is a pretty little list of quirks that only Granny can pull off with such grace:

-Transmission died (on the way to Benton with Britt jamming to Ashley Simpson) haha

-Alternator died (days before I left for Colorado - Thanks for fixing it Dad!)

-Passenger window rolls down, not UP. (therefore Granny's on window lock permanently!)

-Cracked windshield (rocks from a dump truck in front of me)

-Antenna replaced twice (no idea why- Dads doing)

-CD player just died one day - (cd's would jam and then it just stopped playing)

-Leak in the oil pan (fatal wound of falling off the tow dolly)

-Dent in transmission pan (same as above)

-Broken Axels on both front wheels (same as above, above)

-Dents in the side of the car (same as above, above, above) <- these issues actually cost more to fix than my car is worth!

-Serpentine belt is about to break (apparently)

-Interior dome light comes on and the car dings when i make right turns. (haha - NO idea why, but its now nicknamed the "cash cab")

-Battery died (from the Colorado cold)

-Front two tires dry rotted (?) causing one to go flat and both to be replaced. :(

-It honked at people randomly and then one day at work it honked continuously for about 3 minutes, causing lots of people to come out and see who was breaking in. haha (Granny has no voice now - Dad took out the horn- so look out!) 

-New Speakers cause they were blown out (I jam)

-You can't unlock the car with they key on the passenger side or else the alarm will go off. (the lights flash, and when she had a horn it would honk. ... No idea why she has an alarm anyways! They can take her!!)

-Something plastic underneath the front of the car hangs down - no idea what that is.

-When you open the hood, the bar that holds the hood up is no longer attached - we tried to tie it in with a zip tie with no luck ... one day its just gonna be gone and i'll have to hold it with one hand while i fill up the oil pan that leaks with the other. 

A few months ago, I filled up the oil tank before Topher and I went to run some errands. As we were driving I began to notice this huge cloud of smoke rising up behind and in front me. I looked around to see who it was coming from, when I realized it was GRANNY! I began to panic - not knowing what to expect. Were we about to blow up?! And what about Topher?! This was bad! I was freaking out and Topher was asking me what was wrong. I told him we were smoking really bad and I was scared and that we should pray. He kept saying "Its okay Nik, I'll take care of you!" (SO adorable!) We prayed out loud together as we hit EVERY stop light and watched as cars around us were backing up. haha When we finally got home I popped the hood and noticed I hadn't put the lid back on the oil pan!! It was splashing and spewing and burning up on the hot engine! It was a mess!! But miraculously - the lid was still resting on top! I cleaned it up and counted my blessing, and now NEVER forget to double check the lids! haha

So - I think my next mode of transportation should be a bike - no/low maintenance!

Donations welcome! ;)

*Nik

Peace out Colorado

Herman Gulch Snow Shoeing

(Where's Ryan?)

Zoomed in on the mountains from from one summit to the other

Ryan and I after our trecherous hike to the top! (31/2 hours up- 12000 ft)

Trying my best to make a Snow Angel at the top - but the snow was hard on top

snowshoes make it hard, too

Well, I have news, Sisters! Thats right! Im coming home to AR at the end of March!! Its been a work in progress, but its pretty much finalized. My oldest sister Jan called me one day and asked if I would consider moving back to watch Taylor a few times a week. Though I love this place with all my heart, it didn't take much convincing on her part to make me start preparing to head home. Things just clicked. Its been some of the best and the worst 6 months of my life. haha I've seen and done more than I ever dreamed I would before I came. 

I've hiked my share of mountains, shopped in a plethera of hippie stores, seen monster truck rallys, shared a coffee or 10 downtown, rode the train, met some interesting people on my plane rides to and from Arkansas to Denver (long stories), been snowed in overnight, alone in the Atlanta airport (kinda cool), hiked a 14er, snowshoed and un-snowshoed, actually seen/felt the temperature drop to -16, made lots of snow angels, shared a 3 bedroom apartment with 5 people, gotten to stay in picturesque downtown mountain villages with friends who came to visit, road tripped from AR to CO and then back again, witnessed my car falling off the tow dolly (poor granny still has some fatal wounds), been shocked and awed by the grandeur and beauty of the mountains outside my window, cried my eyes out every single time i talked to Mom (she's the best! - haha Poor thing!), never been so stressed, worn out and alone in my life (made me a little tougher, i'd like to think), i've battled the mind and will of a spirited 3 year old (thought I might lose MY mind a few times), spent hours at parks, watching Diego and Dora the Explorer, and making up to 5-6 pb&j's a day, molding play-dough, wiping tears, giving timeouts and being filled with joy when i hear Topher say "Nik, I love you!",  jammed at loads of awesome concerts (Katie Hertzig, Griffin House, tons of random local bands, Facing Sunday, Matt Wertz, and I was looking forward to Ten out of Tenn...*sniff* , saw some friends on tour (Green River Ordinance - but it on iTunes today!), missed a concert or two because I waited to get tickets (still sad about City & Colour), got asked out by a guy at Marshalls clothing store (haha), read all 4 Twilight books (ok ok -I still have like 100 more pages, then i'll be done!) bought a bed for the first time, cooked homemade spaghetti, apple butter and some other random things, gained a ton of weight, cut my own bangs really horribly, cut a sleeping childs hair, - actually cut every persons hair in this house (minus ryan), been to heights and depths emotionally and physically that i've never been to before, and just lived. 

I know that is a lot to read, i don't expect anyone to get through that one (but bravo if you did!) - its just fun to realize how much I really have accomplished and experienced...And thats only touching the tip of the iceburg. I have learned and grown so much; through frustrating times of not finding a job, and being crammed into a tiny apartment with too many people and too many opinions, and just having life test my limits in a lot of areas that haven't been tested much before. I hope my character is stronger from all of this. I know i'll never regret coming. And for now, I am just looking forward to enjoying each day I have left here with great hope and anticipation for the future!  

Speaking of - i'll be looking for jobs when i get back, because i'll only be watching Taylor 2 days a week - so if anyone knows of ANYTHING, or can guide me in a direction, OR to a person who may need someone- please let me know!! I will be forever grateful! :) 

I love you guys - miss you all and can't wait to see you! (Suzan - i'll be home when Brian is and we are planning on a KF ambush around that time!) - lets make a plan! Brian doesn't mind getting kicked out of KF, but I do! haha

 

Peace out Colorado!

MUAH - much love

*Nik

It hasn't been the easiest 6 months of my life - but its definitely been nothing short of an adventure and some good life expriences! 

<3 My Funny Valentine <3

Ok - so i meant to put these pics at the bottom, but anyways.. 

This is my friend Joshua Wilkerson from the band Green River Ordinance. They came to Arkadelphia a few years ago and I met him there. They came to Denver the day after V-day and played a concert. They were the best band of the night - the rest were just odd. And Ryan and I were pretty much the only two "fans" there. It was really funny! But we had a good time.

Ryan and I in between concerts. 

The next band was REALLY strange. They had a clarinet, a bass, a snare drum, and a guitar player whose pants were about 4 inches too short. lol And there were literally 6 of us in the audience... we couldnt walk out. It was a priceless concert.

This is the bracelet Toph bought me for Vaentines day. 

Im no buddhist, but i like what the tag says

 - i could use a little of this luck in my life. 

;)

My Valentine :) 

yea, these were the cookies we made together. lol - the accidentally melted into one big cookie that we decorated together.

He is a cutie!

These are the Tulips he gave me for Valentines - my my heart melt!

Aren't they beautiful!! Tulips are my favorite.

I must say, this was one of the best valentines ever. Topher was the best date a girl could ask for. He surprised me with my favorite flower, without even knowing. He got me jewelry (and a little hope.) haha And then we made cookies together. He smiled and laughed all night. I had gotten him a balloon that says "I Love You" and a Diego paddle ball and some ring pops. All night randomly he would tell me it was the best present he had ever gotten! (and this kid has a LOT of toys!) haha He double fisted the ring pops and is still playing with the balloon! 

That night we had a "slumber party" cause I had to babysit him over night. As we lay in bed, we told each other jokes and stories and then randomly he would stop,  and be quiet. Then all of a sudden he would turn to me and say "Nik, I love you! Im sorry I didn't behave." haha (he gets timeouts when he misbehaves). It warmed my heart that a 3 year old would say something like that. I assured him it was ok, and that I loved him too. Then a little while later he says "Nik, Thank you SO much for my ballon, and toy and ring pops!!" I couldn't believe it! He was so thankful for the smallest gift. My heart was full! He grabbed my hand and kissed it!! HAHA! It was the cutest thing i've ever had happen to me! And by a 3 year old of all people!

So needless to say, I felt SO loved on Valentines day. I probably won't have one to top that for a LONG, long time ... if ever. It was perfect!

Love you guys!

xo

*Nik 

Monster Jaaaams!!

Last weekend my friend Mike and I wanted to hang out, but we didn't have anything to do. Until Mike looked up the Pepsi Center and found out that the Monster Jams truck rally was in town!! lol Now, i've never been one to do much redneck stuff, but I was not about to pass up such an opportunity. We assumed we could buy tickets at the show, but when we got there it was SOLD OUT! lol We ended up buying shady tickets from a guy on the street that miraculously got us in. We had the sweetest seats ever! Like 8 rows up and it was the most fun night ever! Here are some of the pics... including the most ridiculously sweet mullet i've ever seen, and one decked out redneck Monster Mutt fan! ;) 

El Toro Loco rampin the cars

Major Monster Mutt Fan - wow.

Hands down, sweetest mullet on earth. 3 haircuts in 1. 

The set up

Donkey Kong and Monster Mutt racing

Mike and I - not the best pic of me, but the only one of us that night. 

For kicks

I feel like writing something today, but i don't know what...

So to start out -im going to put a clip up of some of my fav musicians, -10 out of Tenn-  who are coming to CO in April. Its a few artists from Tennessee traveling together and singing each others songs. I want to be a part of their group... if only i knew how to play an instrument or sing....*dreams*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1kwy-7z6VY

Tyler James - my dream man.

I feel like i have so many little things flying around in my head, sending butterflies into my stomach, and scattering my thoughts out like a kaleidascope - just fragments of emotions and frustrations and interests and dreams and goals. And yet, i feel so... helpless with them all. 

Im told if you write down your goals, they'll be more likely to happen.

But i can't tell you how many journals are filled with pages of goals and dreams and lists of pros and cons. And at the end of everyday i wonder what im doing with my life... 

Yea, i am loving being here in Colorado, and getting to wake up late and not have a job to really go to.  I love this "gap" year, and for the rest of my life, i won't regret taking it... but what really gets under my skin is that i can't FULLY enjoy it, because im so worried about what im going to do next. .. about wasting time, and about not being fully independent. It bothers me. 

Mostly, im bothered that my decisions don't make me fully happy. I want independence, but im sad because im alone. 

I want to take a year off, but im worried about wasting time.

I want to do something different, move states, but i've been here for 5 months and am still "nannying", with no prospects of a "real" job. 

I don't know if i should stay or move and if i move, will i be happy? and will i be able to live on my own, or will i be stuck living in the room down the hall from my parents? (love the rents, but im getting a little old for that... if you know what i mean..)

I don't aspire to be some great scientist or doctor or a nobel peace prize winner. I just want peace in my own heart, with my own life. And most of all, i want to share it with someone. I realized that being alone is lonely. Sounds obvious, right? Well, its a whole nother reality when you actually live it and find out. But not to put a damper on things - cause a lot of me IS happy. I just feel like my life is in fragments right now, and im just ready for a piece or two to link up and give me some direction and motivation. 

Its not that i expect all of life to come together in perfect unison and for all the stars to align and my life be complete. Thats something I will always be striving for, and what makes life interesting. I would be bored if it was all together. But im just asking God for ONE or TWO things to work out in a certain direction. 

Anywho - enough of the pity party - its upward and onward!! And lots of good music to listen to while i continue my quest!! 

Peace 

Its Cold walk to Hells Hole

So this is the hike Ryan and I decided to do last weekend! He found it and read that it was a good "snowshoeing trail". But instead of renting showshoes like normal people, we trecked it out in just plain ol un-waterproofed hiking shoes! haha- we are dumb. It was so cold i was frozen almost the whole time - all 10 toes were at one point, i am sure, on the verge of frostbite. I couldn't feel any of them. We were above our knees in snow towards the top and i didn't get any pics of that because i was too concerned about surviving. haha - but here are some pics of just how beautiful it was! The carvings on the trees lined the trail for most of the way and were the sweetest things. 

I love that this sign says: Mandatory: Shovel, Axe and Bucket. ??? like anyone could hike with that?! 

Just a glimpse of the beauty of hiking in the snowy woods

There were definitely bullet holes in this sign. Kinda weird. haha

We ended up stopping here and turning around after 2 1/2 hours of uphill hiking. I was exhausted and frozen solid! But it was worth the view!

We had to ice skate part of the trail! haha

Man, i love Colorado. But i am missing my family. Love you guys!

toodles

*Nik