Best. Weekend. Ever.

Or how I unintentionally became (according to my dad) a concert suck. For some strange reason, the powers that be have decided that my life isn't quite up to par with, say, the life of a pimp-ass rock star, therefore a few occasions to mix it up and have some fun have plopped themselves into my lap. Who am I to get in the way of destiny? Thursday I was told that a friend of a friend had two extra tickets to Sunday's ACL festival, wherein the Flaming Lips and Tom Petty were to perform, and I was asked if I could join in on the fun. So a sitter was arranged for my perrito, and the overnighter to Austin was planned. Friday I received a call from a former work-study student who really wanted to see The Shins in Austin at Stubbs, but didn't necessarily want to go alone. The question was posed: if tickets were bought, would I attend, and that question was answered with a resounding "YES". Lastly, about a month ago my cousin had a similar predicament, and though Chris Brown and Neyo are not in the top….oh, 50 concerts I'd want to see, I'm still pretty excited to go because I really love the energy of live entertainment.

The Shins show was really fun. Not only did we meet up with another friend from work, but we were able to stand on this rock on the side of the stage throughout the entire show, which was cool b/c I could see about 4 feet above everyone. I'm glad it wasn't too melancholy; the Shins really rocked the house, and I enjoyed the company.

Saturday I waited around for my new roomie to get her stuff in. She's a senior at the local university, is very involved in softball, and seems like she's a nice girl. After she got her stuff in, her mom and dad took me and a couple of her friends to eat Chinese food, and we all got along very well. That night I went to hang out w/my Dad because I hadn't seen him all week. We ended up eating some fish he had caught at the coast and had smoked. Then we trekked to New Braunfels to watch the late showing of Little Miss Sunshine, which is a very good movie and NOT a chick flick.

Sunday morning I woke up early, packed, made a breakfast casserole, and drove to Austin to meet up with Katie and Katie's friend Davey (the guy who gave us the tickets). ACL rocked. Most of the time the lines weren't heinously long, and besides getting rained on, sunburned, and sore calves (pretty much in that order) I am definitely better for the experience. It would have been cool to see a lot more bands, but when you're serious about getting a good spot to view a band you really want to see, you have to sacrifice and just camp out early until your pick comes on. This is when Katie graciously accommodated me and missed her opportunity to see Ben Harper in order to fulfill my deep desire to see The Flaming Lips, and that's not just wordplay. I soon found out just how excited I was to see them, as I clasped my hands to my chest, jumped up and down with my hands in the air, sang along, and must now ashamedly admit that apparently I'm a "Woo Girl". You know….those dumb bitches who stick their arms straight up and say "whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" ad nauseum. But I couldn't help it! I was just so excited when I saw Wayne (WAYNE!) and the fake blood, all the confetti, the huge balloon, and the aliens with the santas! How could you not lose your effin' mind at the sight of all that?!?!?!?!

And the road goes on forever and the party never ends! Tonight I'm off to see another friend play an early set at the Triple Crown, Thursday I go to the Chris Brown/Neyo concert in San Antonio, and Friday my cousin Michele and I leave for N. Padre for our weekend in the sun. This is the trip where we are NOT going to get in trouble thereby becoming even more fodder for Thanksgiving conversation, right Michele? :-) While I'm not wholly sure when this fantastic streak of fun will end, I do know that going to bed before 2am is on the immediate agenda. How does Paris Hilton do it? (ha ha!)