Before The Expiration Date.

I need to post my top 10 albums of 2007.
Since reading Ethan Luck's list, I thought what a good idea and thought I should make one for myself. Then I couldnt decide if I would rather just list the albums I listened to the most this year, regardless of release date. But Ive finally decided that that list could be for anytime so for now I will just make one highlighting my favorite albums of the year. Do keep in mind, these are not the albums I listened to the most, because a majority of the albums I listened to the most came out in previous years.

Ready.
Set.

10. The Secret Handshake "One Full Year"


9. The Starting Line "Direction"


8. Jon Foreman "Fall EP"


7. The Almost "Southern Weather"


6. Eleventyseven "Galactic Conquest"


5. Anberlin "Cities" (Deluxe Edition)


4. Sherwood "A Different Light"


3. Relient K "Five Score and Seven Years Ago"


2. Paramore "Riot!"


1. The Rocket Summer "Do You Feel"




Honorable Mention(s):
-tobyMac "Portable Sounds"
-Ruth "Secondhand Dreaming"
-Relient K "Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer"
-Cobra Starship "!Viva La Cobra!"

Special Recognition Awards:
-Jack's Mannequin "Eveything in Transit"
-Jonezetta "Popularity"
-Relient K "Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...But Three Do"
(These are albums I just can't stop listening to.....)


Whether you agree or not, I hope you enjoyed it.

Relapse and Inconsistency.

By the way...
If you want to know more about my days with April and Kelly.
You should go here.
http://aprilkummrow.blogspot.com/

She seems to remember every detail of every minute.
I do not.

Im going to construct my top 10 albums list soon...meaning in the next few days.
I cant decide if im doing the top 10 that came out this year...or the top 10 i listened to this year (meaning they could have come out whenever). I guess I'll decide while opening presents.

Here's to my hopes of getting Rock Band.....

It's Usually Worth the Wait.

FINALLY.

The trip to Minnesota is complete.
It felt like it was never going to come.
I'll recap the main events as I am in the Chicago O'Hare airport at 549 in the morning facing extreme sleep deprivation.

Monday, I got on my flight from charlotte to chicago. Everything was good until the connecting flight in Chicago, of which I completely missed. This airport is larger than my county. Anyway, after arriving an hour and a half late, I finally met up with April and Kelly and we headed off to the Mall of America. The mall itself was incredible. But I was expecting more from the amusement park. It looked...bigger...in the pictures. Anyway, after the mall we drove 3 hours to Morris, where their apartment is. After cooking some supper we watched the 4th Star Wars and finally fell asleep. The next two days we more or less hung around the apartment, went "sight-seeing" in Morris (that is, acknowledging that there is stuff to see), and a had a few snowball fights here and there. The scenery was beautiful but I'm not sure I like to be cold all the time. While I was there, I also began to appreciate the 9 inches of snow less and less as it was there day after day. On Thursday, we got up to drive to Minneapolis for our first show of the Punk the Halls tour. This is the original reason I decided to come to Minnesota (and to hang with A & K, of course) so I was pretty stoked. The venue was one of the best Ive been to, a medium sized club in downtown Minneapolis.

After sneaking in the stage side door, we quickly spotted Jonathan and went up to say hello. He gave me a hug for flying from SC and bragged me up to everyone. While waiting, Matt finally came out and also hugged me for my efforts. I felt quite a bit of male bonding in those few short minutes. Lastly, Caleb came out and he was just as excited to see us as the Optimus Prime helmet that I got for Christmas. (it alters youre voice and is pretty radddd) After goofing off for a few hours, the show began and we sold merch for Elevntyseven. We did get to watch them play and even though it was only 5 songs it was still such a blast. I always love to dance with them.

After the show, we drove 6 hrs to Kellys house. I, of course, did not stay awake as we didnt get there until 7 in the morning. We slept until 10 and then drove 2 hours to Bensenville, IL for the second show. We got there early but the guys had went to the mall so we went to see National Treasure 2. One word. BUMMER. Being a huge fan of the first i was expecting alot and it just wasnt a well made movie. I would recommend you go see I Am Legend, instead. After getting back to the venue, we met up with the guys and hung around until showtime. We decided to sell merch again but when Eleventyseven came on we once again went out to party. This venue was so much smaller though. Smaller than most youth rooms, in fact. But still, a lot of fun. Afterwards we talked to the guys for an hour or so until they had to go. Caleb gave me a kiss on the cheek. twice. And im still not sure how its supposed to make me feel. For a reason Ive forgotten, Matt said he was and i quote "going to kill me". I said i would blog that he made such a threat so if the circumstances ever arose and I did what he said, I would have proof that i am not suicidial.

Afterwards, Kelly, April and I went to IHOP for our last meal together and around 3 AM they dropped me off at the airport. Thats where I have been ever sice and my flight leaves at 745 CT. Even though I had a BLASSSSTTT and needed this vacation more than I can put into words, I am anxious to get home for the holidays and see the family. Im a sucker for Christmas and I dont just mean the gift giving. I love being blessed even if i do complain and think I'm not well off. The truth of the matter is I am immersed and consumed by a God that is incomparable to anything else I will ever know. And im so thankful for that.

To anyone who reads this drivel.
Dont forget what it is exactly that you're celebrating.....

Merry Christmas.

Seven Days.

If Samara from The Ring called me right now she probably wouldnt get the horrified response she was looking for. In fact, I would just scream in utter excitement because I am seven days away from a week with Kelly and April, places I've never been and music I love to dance to.

So call me Samara.
I dare you.

Seven days.
Seven long days.

This is the correlation of salvation and love.

Give thanks.
Today. Tomorrow. Every day.
Its sad as a culture we have to set aside one day. ONE day to say what were thankful for. Most of the time. Im unhappy with so much and get so stuck on me. It makes me sick. Whether we admit it or not, theres something we can all be thankful for. Our health. Our relationships. For me, my God. Ive never known love like that. For once. Lets quit complaining. About our situations. Our lives. (or lack of having one). And just appreciate things for once.
Things could be so much worse.
I cant even fathom.
This blog says "our" alot because i don't want to face myself and replace every other word with the pronoun "my".
It's sad.
But true.
Thankfully there's more than this life.

DanceBlogDance

Tuesday, the DanceRawrDance crew rolled into Charlotte to make a quick stop at Amos'.
I was ever so delighted.
The Secret Handshake.
Jonezetta.
Family Force 5.
All in one show. Say what?

Needless to say or describe or inform you this show was incredible.
The best show Ive been to this year only behind The Appetite for Construction Show in Atlanta (but really, come on).

We got to the venue 6 hours early because Amos' usually fills up quick but apparently things are different on a school day. We got there at 145. The next people in line behind us arrived at 6. Obviously, during those 4 hours, I had to do my best as line monitor and keep the kids from pushing and/or breaking.
Needless to say we were front and center. The show started with Luis and Co. (tsh for those of you who dont know...) and I'm about 98 percent positive Im the only person there that knew any lyrics he had ever written. I sang as loud as possible. Ask the girl who was beside me. She gave me the wtf! look many, many times.
Next was Jonezetta and I knew they were going to be great. In my opinion, their cd is nearly flawless (minus communicate). In the middle of their set, my friend passed out so I had to get out for a minute but quickly made my way back to the front after reviving her with my water throwing abilities.
Finally, FF5 came on and it was INSANE. Everyone pushed up to the front and I was crammed against the barrier. I always feel at home when i cant move well, am sweating uncontrolably, have one arm in the air to stabilize myself and dance and the other snapping as many pictures as my batteries will allow. Check em out at flickr.com because some of them are pretty sickkkk.
I would post them here but I dont know how yet and Chris isnt online so i have no means of finding out anytime soon. FF5 lineup was the best Ive seen as they played Business Up Front, Party in the Back almost in its entirety.
After the show, I talked to Luis and Jonezetta but the line for FF5 was wayyyyy too long and we had to be back by 12.

Pathetically, I can't quit pre-planning next year and all the shows I'm going to.
As all of you (or maybe none of you) know, next year is The Year of Relient K as deemed by me. My goal is 20 shows for the entire year. Including spring tour, summer festivals and random shows, and fall tour. The least I will settle for is 10 (this being if they choose to not do a spring tour or fall tour.) However, there are a ton of other bands I want to see including, but not limited to FF5, Jonezetta, TSH, The Rocket Summer, Eleventyseven, Sherwood, and a few others.
But I should probably get back to the present and immediate future.
School. Work. Boring.
However, Minnesota is almost exactly one month away and I think we can all agree thats something to look forward to.

Certainly.

Right Now

My faith is being tested.
Maybe more than ever.
Its nothing in my life.
But internally, im going through some pretty pivotal things.
Encouragement is keeping me going.
Its everywhere I turn.
Dont give up. Dont give in.
Thats how I know its real.
Thats how I know He's real.