Music and Nachos

The last few days have been filled with so many exciting adventures, I don't even know where to begin!  It seems that as the semester winds down (last day of classes was Wednesday!), life seems to realize that I only have a few short days left on this campus, and it is determined to make the most of every single moment.  Bittersweet is decidedly the word of the week - as much fun as this time is, it is tinged with sadness knowing that we'll all soon leave to go home for the summer, and not be here for three long months. 

Back to the adventures though - Wednesday night was the University Spring Concert!  I couldn't have thought of a better way to celebrate the last day of classes (there is nothing bittersweet about never having to go to public speaking again... that is all the sweet without the bitter).  The night started two hours early, when we lined up to get floor passes; always the way to go if possible.  Then after another hour of waiting once we got inside the arena, the show opened up with Ben Rector.

(sorry for the poor quality!)

 To be quite honest, I'm a little bit blasé about Ben... He's certainly talented, but I have never found anything particularly special about him.  Please don't let me deter you from checking him out, however- I have a huge group of friends who think that he is absolutely wonderful.  If you're looking for some happy, sunshine, driving-to-the-beach music, he's your man.  

Next up on the docket was Young the Giant. 

  
YTG could not have been any further on the spectrum from Ben Rector (which made for an interesting mix of fans at the show).  I'd heard of them before the concert, but never really listened to much of their music.  I'm much more inclined to start listening now though- they're a little similar to Freelance Whales (maybe even Cloud Cult?).  And p.s. I have never seen such passionate tambourine playing.  


Finally came the reason that I was excited for the show- Needtobreathe.

Their's was such an unbelievably good show.  They've got this stellar southern rock sound, great for dancing and soulful singing and feeling like you're reaching back to your roots.  Love the banjo, love the harmonica, love the energy. 

The crème de la crème of the evening came after the show, when we decided to wait outside the tour buses so we could shake their hands, tell them it was a great show, etc.  One of the band members, Bo Rinehart, came out and talked to us for a few minutes, then agreed to go get some nachos with us for a post-show snack.  It was very cool, he was a great guy, and it made for such a memorable evening.  

Stay tuned to read soon about an evening spent in Braves Country!


 

Mystic Pizza

Let me begin by saying that I am no movie connoisseur.  I don't hold a love for watching movies, often times I would rather be doing something else, and to be honest, I tend to fall asleep during most films (yes, even at the theater).  However, last night had me in a strange mood.  Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that I was avoiding studying for finals (they start next week!), but I was dying to snuggle up in bed and watch a good movie.  So after searching through countless Netflix archives, I finally picked a movie that I'd never heard of - Mystic Pizza.

At this point, I'd like to advise you to stop whatever you are doing and go watch this movie IMMEDIATELY.  You may be skeptical.  The title doesn't exactly hold a ton of promise.  It was made in 1988.  You probably didn't even know it existed.  But I promise, this is one of the best movies I've seen it a long time.  It's the perfect mix of friendship, love, laughter, and tears- what else does the quintessential feel-good movie need?  Not to mention, it has Julia Roberts, whom I love with all my heart.  A young, heartthrob Matt Damon also makes a quick appearance, if you need a little bit more enticement. 

 So go.  Watch it.  Thank me later.

A few other quick points to be made:
1.  I should have grown up in the eighties.  I can do big hair like no other.
2.  A surprisingly awesome alternative to the giant bags of candy that normally accompany movies is cereal - eat it dry, with no milk and a smaller amount of your favorite candy mixed in.  I did honey nut cheerios with peanut m&ms.  You can snack on it forever, and it's better for you than eating an entire bowl of straight candy.
3.  Also start watching Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations on the Travel Channel.  Funny, interesting, educational way to expand those horizons and see the world from your very own living room.

Notable Moments

Here's the thing about posting photographs from everyday life in a blog- they can be incredibly misleading.  

Of course, they will be full of all the happy moments- cheery smiles, macaroons, bright red lipstick, dancing, adventures, stars.  But the important part to remember is that no one is going to post the bits that aren't so wonderful.  Tout le monde has a bad day; don't let yourself be deceived by the sparkle of Instagram and carefully selected snapshots.  

With that being said, I'm happy to announce that as of my birthday two weeks ago, I am finally an iphone (and therefore, Instagram) user. This means that I will henceforth be posting a few pictures now and again, to share some of the more notable moments of life.  Please, however, remember that life is so much more (and so different!) than the sum of these pictures.

Found this beautiful hidden gem on campus a few days ago

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge on a weekend visit to New York last month

Possibly my favorite birthday present (thanks, sisters!)

The most wonderful college in the world

Remember that lipstick mentioned earlier - D wears it fabulously

Summer is so impossibly close

RAVE RAVE RAVE

Late night coffee run - love the wood beam ceiling

 I'm loving how simple it is to take pictures now- but I am still the first person to complain about the ridiculous amounts of photographing that seem popular with all of my friends.

After all, if we spend all of our time capturing moments, when are we going to be able to actually enjoy them?

Beautiful Scripture

Alright, confession time:  I do not actually read every scripture that I see quoted or written somewhere.  I normally just scan it, and assume that I am getting the gist of it.  This is not my greatest practice.  How could that possibly allow me to understand the full glory of the Word?  I would definitely suggest not taking after me, and instead reading the following scriptures in this post.  There are just a few, but I think that they are absolutely beautiful. 

As the rain and the snow
   come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
   without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,  

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55: 10-11

Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
   and the light become night around me,”

even the darkness will not be dark to you;
   the night will shine like the day,
   for darkness is as light to you. 

Psalm 139: 7-12

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, 

   for I have put my trust in you. 

Show me the way I should go, 

   for to you I lift up my soul.

Psalm 143: 8

Thank you Lord, for your Word.  Let me be reminded that only by taking the time to read and meditate on your Word can I be fully blessed by its beauty.

(All passages taken from the New International Version)