U2

OH MY GOSH!!!! Miracle of miracles and God has blessed me greatly...yet again. I WENT TO A U2 CONCERT WEDNESDAY!!!!! My favorite band of all time...that's no secret if you've read my profile. As of Wednesday morning I was a lost little girl who had no idea what events would be unfolding before her in the following hours. A friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend sent out an email that she had 4 tickets to U2 but last minute couldn't go. So you know what? I crossed my fingers and sent out an email saying I would buy two of the tickets. I knew I could talk someone into going with me. I mean, it's U2!
You know what? It was worth every penny I spent. I would be happy to spend an arm and a leg on a U2 concert. How often does one get to go? Well twice. I attended the POP tour in 1998 just after college. This one was much better and much more intimate of a setting. Do I feel guilty that people are suffering and are homeless due to Hurricane Katrina and I spent $$ on a U2 concert? Yes! But I'm planning on giving more now. So everyone wins!
Picture this: you're sitting in the lower part of the second level directly behind the stage. Bono is only a stones throw away. The stage is circular so you get to see the entire concert from the view point of the band. Occasionally Bono will turn around and star directly up at you and sing "All I Want is You." Damn straight! A-MAZING! Let's just say that I had chills from the moment the concert began to the very end. I did not want it to end. I mean THREE ENCORES!!! THREE!!!! It couldn't get any better.
Well, maybe it could have been better. One lucky lady in the front row of the pit (so need to get those tickets next time) was pointed at by Bono and then was asked by him to join her on stage. She got to dance with Bono!!! (I love Bono but let's face it, the Edge is my favorite). I was filled with mixed emotions. One: Lucky girl that she gets to dirty dance with Bono and run her fingers through her hair in front of thousands of people. Two: What the heck would I have done if it was me? I had visions of myself doing something more like the white man's overbite and giggling nervously.
I've noticed something about Bono....if he wasn't a musician he would definitely be an interpretive dancer or into modern dance or poetry readings. It reminds me of an improv group I was in for a short time...couldn't handle the resemblance it had to interpretive/tribal dancing.
Are you jealous? Really? No...no, please don't be jealo...okay, you can be slightly jealous.

Big "A"

How is my day going? Funny you should ask. Let me just start by saying that my pants ripped. Ugh! Why does this always happen to me?!!!! I am wearing my cute new work pants that happen to fit me unlike the baggy ones I've been sporting since my Green Monster days. These are cute new ones from Anthropologie. They have a button flap front. Very nautical....or page boy...whichever you prefer. They look fabulous and you're feeling WAY cute. And then you sit down on the el and the pockets poke out to reveal that the pants are slightly pulling around the glutes area. Then you're feeling only semi-cute. You're walking around the office making copies, faxing things and finishing up an important mailing...only then do you realize after half of Chicago has seen you...your pants ripped....AGAIN! Seriously! It's just slightly at the hip. I'm only revealing an inkling of skin. Yet it's so unattractive. It says, "yes I did have ice cream 3 nights in a row this weekend!"
So at lunch (yes I continued to eat even after this incident), two co-workers and I walked through Nordstrom and one of them (who is tall) points out that it's unfair for there to be a petite section and not one for tall girls (oh, I'm so sorry you're so tall and skinny!). So I said, "It's unfair for there to be sections for long and lean women and not one for women with a BIG "A"!!!!!!

Peacemaking

I, Katy, have done what I thought would be impossible. I have brought together a Democrat and Republican in sweet harmony. Pat. On. The. Back. I always knew I was a peacemaker. Ever since I was little I've been unable to withstand conflict and tension. It eats at me and causes me to crawl into the deep recesses of my soul. Perhaps that's why I could never be a politician...nor would I want to be a politician. Just watch me marry a man who will enter into politics and be a great leader. The next thing you know his presidential hopes are shot because someone read this blog and saw that I didn't want to be a part of politics. Do I give myself too much credit? Perhaps so.
So maybe I was more of an instigator in this dramatic saga instead of a peacemaker. I faithfully read my friend, John's blog. He's one of the bestest (love that word) people out there. Here is the web address. Someday I'll figure out how to make a link...but I'm not so hot with technology...though I do know how to work an ipod (though not to its fullest potential). I digress. Save it on your favorites. I do. John gave a heartfelt, passionate and somewhat (to say the least) emotional opinion of the Gulf Coast tragedy. Of course being the conservative that I am and knowing how my best friend would feel about this blog emailed Becky and said, "Do you want to read something that will make you mad?" and attached the link. Little did I know that Beckles would make a comment....a very very long and passionate response. Please go read it so you can enjoy the tension.
I must say that John's public response to Becky's comment impressed me greatly. Kudos to you John! The next thing you know, Becky emails John to apologize and then John emails Becky. There were lots of "you made a good point" and "you're probably right about that" and it was just a huge love fest. A freakin' love fest between Democrats and Republicans. Y'all! There is hope for the world! It truly can happen! Let's drop the extreme's of everything and begin to look at people as individuals. Fear drives people to say and do crazy things (aka. politicians). Fear can bring out the best and the ugliest in everyone. Too often we see the ugly and the media is only too quick and happy to share those stories. What the heck did Barbara Bush say? Mercy! Blah, whatever.
So let's lift up our glasses and give three cheers for hope and peace!

Hurricane Katrina

The news and reality of Hurricane Katrina is more devastating than any of us can imagine. A good friend of mine's husband went down there to help with the rescue/relief effort. He said it was a living hell and that it's worse than it appears on television. But he also mentioned how amazing it is to see so many people pulling together and helping.
There's so much finger pointing and blaming going on that it makes me sick. How can we focus on that when there's so many people who need help at the moment? Let's get these people help and then we can disect the federal and local governments.
I'm going to choose to focus on the more positive stories. Going home to Texas this weekend I was blown away by all the Lousiana, Mississippi and Alabama license plates. People are relocating to Texas and other nearby states. Reunion Arena in Dallas has become a shelter for evacuees. Many of my friends were able to go through their churches to help feed, cloth and comfort those devastated by the Hurricane. They heard many stories of miracles, of tragedies and of hope. Those are stories that you have yet to hear on the news. I know people who are housing strangers in their homes because those people have no where else to go. There are stories of apartment complexes who are offering free shelter to families who have lost everything. Corporations and individuals are matching donations given to those who are in need. Yes, it is so tragic, it's devastating. BUT, there are so many people who are out there helping physically, financially, emotionally, etc. These are stories you won't hear about for a while.
Until then my heart, my prayers and my money are being sent for those who have been ravaged by the storm. There is a long road ahead. My prayer is that they are not forgotten once the news stories have stopped or a war between republicans and democrats insues.