Here are my top 5 (in no particular order):

1. The Avett Brothers. So much energy and just incredibly talented. I have seen them once before as an opening act, but this time they killed it. (While waiting for this show we met some entertaining super fans from North Carolina. One of them told me her personal life story and the other told Jordan way more than he wanted to know about a number of topics.)

2. Weezer. This was a greatest hit show and it was perfect. They were so much fun to watch and I was reminded of just how much I really love that band. AND they played “Greatest Man That Ever Lived” so 100 points to Weezer.  

3. The Civil Wars. Amazing live and the most kind in person. We have officially become super fans. Just quiz me on my Civil Wars knowledge. I will get at least 3/4 of the questions correct.  (It felt like it was 10 billion degrees before this show so I was thankful to have an umbrella. When you are the keeper of the shade it is interesting to see who wants to be your friend. One boy became my best friend and chatted me up about oil until Jordan came back and quickly turned the conversation to zombies.)

4. The Roots. {I silently hoped that Jimmy Fallon would make a cameo, but alas it did not happen.} The Roots were freaking fantastic. The only time they would stop moving  was to “freeze” in various poses which was hilarious. Quest Love, you are precious. Just FYI.  (Prior to this show we got monsooned on for a solid 30 minutes. Our attempt at staying dry was very weak but we were determined to be as close to the stage as possible. One guy made it back to his group saying that he had never been so thankful to hangout in a port-a-potty before.)

5. Father John Misty. I have mentioned my love for FJM before but, people, seeing him dance, crawl, and lounge all over the place was more than I had hoped for. He was truly entertaining and I am putting him on my “Must See Again” list. (Side note: He would tell a short story between each song, kept it classy by tucking his shirt back in, and wore heart-shaped sunglasses. What a man)

Honorable Mention:

1. Jack White. I love Jack White and was so looking forward to seeing him perform. He is such an amazing musician and his band was made up of all girls {points there} but overall I was a little disappointed. So we were ready to leave…but then he went and played Seven Nation Army and totally redeemed himself.

2. The Baylor Choir. Talk about an uplifting experience for your Sunday morning! Such open hearts and beautiful voices. I had chills. And if I closed my eyes I felt like I was back in South Africa. It was an unexpectedly wonderful moment in the weekend.

3. M83. We were warned not to try to see M83 again…but we did not listen. Actually, I did not listen. The memory of seeing them a few months before was still with me and I wanted an equally as incredible show. Big bummer because that did not happen. They were great, but the sound where we were was terrible and there was a random girl shouting about how she was going to get a tattoo like Fiona Apple. When her friends asked her how she felt about being unoriginal she said, “A compliment is the highest form of flattery.”  At this statement I was done and we walked to M.Ward, who was very good live.

4. Gary Clark Jr. This guy. No words for his performance other than ridiculously good.

Favorite Moments:

1. Walking in and seeing all the people with the Austin sky-line in the background.

2. A girl was convinced that was walking in poop while making her way through the mud.

3. Meeting the Civil Wars.

4. The food. Oh mercy. Mighty Cone, you will always have a piece of my heart.

5. I have to give myself a pat on the back for not having to use the port-a-potty 1 time. Yay self!

6. That husband of mine was able to get us $50 3-day passes again! Cheers to next year!

Reading: Starting Mockingjay and just finished Catching Fire! It only took me forever. The only other time that it has taken me an obnoxiously long time to get through a book, that I really liked, was Harry Potter 5. It took 2 years! Just crazy. I constantly have Special Topics of Calamity Physics on stand by when I need something different and I hope to re-(re)-read The Perks of Being a Wallflower {So excited for that movie. I cried during the trailer.}

Watching: Now that the Olympics are over probably not much of anything with the exception of HGTV. That channel is like TV cocaine.

Anticipating: Ugh…probably more than I should. I feel like I am in a constant state of anticipation, specifically about work and running. Planning events for work, still being new to my job, and training for this half marathon in October have really gotten to me. Funny how, at times, the things that we enjoy can still stress us out.

Listening: The Hunger Games on CD and  Regina Spektor: What We Saw From The Cheap Seats. Such a good album. To me, this is one of those “push replay swiftly after you finish” albums. She could sing a song about a time-traveling goldfish and it would still be beautiful. I have also fallen in love with NPR. I listen to it non-stop in my car. {I also love that I have a 0% chance of hearing “Call Me Maybe” on this station. Sweet relief for the ears.}

Planning: Our next trip to Lubbock this week  to welcome home Jordan’s brother. He has spent the summer in Maine and will soon be on his way to Washington DC. Such an adventurous spirit, that brother-in-law of mine. I am also looking forward to all the August birthdays! {Mom, me, and brother!}

Working On: Finding some motivation to start getting up earlier in the morning. I have big dreams of coffee, bagels, journals, and morning yoga…but this is always replaced by a crazy rush of a morning where sitting down is only an option when driving to work. And I am always generally running late.

Wishing: That you are having a wonderful August so far and that you eat lots of snocones to help take an edge off the heat.

Jordan and I arrived in that beautiful city on Wednesday evening and were immediately welcomed by some of our favorites, Seth, Erin, and Tank.

Thursday we ate Torchy’s (please Midland open your arms to this place so I can have it in my life on a more consistent basis), ran around town, prepared our minds for Tenacious D, and stuffed ourselves with Homeslice.

{Hands down one of the best shows I have ever attended. Although, I feel like I say that each time I go to a new concert. One day I will rank them all, but for now The D is in my top 5. They did not disappoint, so *thank you Tenacious D}

Friday we set out for the Pedernales (one of my most favorite places in Austin) to swim and spend the day. Our day was cut short, however, due to Seth’s great fall on the rocks. The poor guy had a nasty gash in his elbow that required 4 stitches, a  much-needed trip to P. Terry’s, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Saturday was Batman day. This movie was amazing. Please go see it right away.

Sunday my lovely friend Cassie hosted brunch before we packed up to leave. {That girl can make a fritatta.} Jordan and I spent the rest of our time in Austin at Whole Foods where I tried convince myself that I could get a plant to travel safely back to Midland with me. No such luck.

We had such a wonderful 4 1/2 days and were so sad to leave. But we drove back to Midland ready for what was to come in this week…JORDAN’S FIRST WEEK OF WORK!!! Praise the Lord. I am just so proud of that husband

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*Continued thank you’s and other thoughts on the weekend:
-Thank you to Seth and Erin, as always, for opening your home to us.
-Thank you to Erin for running (and walking lots) with me and still wanting to be my friend in spite of my complaining.
-Thank you to Tank for being a very persistent peeping Tom while Jordan was showering. (And to be clear, Tank is a dog.)
-Thank you to Cassie and Andrew for making us yummy food and mimosas.
-Thank you to Hannah Love for working at a place with a rocking aquarium which made me feel like I was in Romeo and Juliet when I say you on the other side of the glass.
-My heart is broken for Colorado and all that the state has gone through this summer. Lots and lots of prayers for healing.
-Thank you UTPB for giving my husband a job so that we can live in the same town again. I mean really, this is just the best.

HAPPY JULY!

July holds a good amount of activity for the Parnell/Weaver family and I am so looking forward to it all. Here are my goals for the month and some highlights to look forward to:

Highlights:
–Tenacious D in Austin. (Thus fulfilling a life long goal of being in the same room as Jack Black.)
–The mother load of an estate sale at Ry and Samantha’s potential home. (The previous owners did not die they just had too much stuff, so I feel OK about anticipating this event.)
– “The Dark Knight Rises” at the IMAX in Austin with dear friends who we have missed so much. Holy cow, it will be incredible.
–Jordan will be that much closer to being in Midland. The heavens, and I, rejoice!
–The 4th of July with my family and friends. So blessed to have this time with them.

Goals:
–Finish Catching Fire.
–Wake up before 6 on work days.
–Start pre-pre-training for half marathon in October.
–Handwritten letters to people I love. (My friend Laurel got me some of the best stationary from an Anime-Con that I cannot wait to use.)
–Drink more water.

I hope you have a wonderful 4th,  that this month has been great to you so far, and that you come up with some great goals for this month as well!

(Well I am official and have an iphone quality badge to prove it. I do feel invincible with this pass though. You show me a door I can’t wave my way into and I will prove you wrong.)

Sunday afternoon Jordan and I drove our little cars to Midland so I could start my new job the next morning…and then he went back to Lubbock. We are learning to master the living apart thing, as well as the moving a lot…thing. (I need to work on my vocabulary skills.)

At the moment our home dynamic is rare consisting of my parents, brother, sister-in-law, unborn niece, 4 dogs and me. We, and many other people who we told of this living arrangement, were worried. Luckily, E! or A&E would be disappointed if they came to record our reality and for that I am so thankful. Normal is perfect. On a note of thankfulness, Ry and Samantha are finally having luck in the home market! So fingers crossed and prayers said for them.

As for me, I will be squatting with my parents until Jordan and Lemon get here…so thank you Midland for the welcome back. You have been good to me so far.

Happy Wednesday and may your towns be treating you pretty nice as well.

Our trip was short but perfect:

•  we out smarted a wasp the size of a Tracker Jacker
•  paddle boated like champs
•  went antiquing
• spent a few hours out on Alan Henry on the way back to Lubbock
•  I have officially made the switch from tanning oil to SPF 80. Thanks to Tanis’ little niece for unknowingly sharing her Coppertone with me.
• sat outside and read without the pages blowing all over the place. I don’t need a kindle for outdoor reading, I just need to live in a less windy environment.
• all things The Hunger Games and discovering that there is a direct correlation between my obsession with these books and my new-found love for “arrow” jewelry.
• I seriously could not have asked for better friends than these three and I miss you already and have not even left yet.

It was a long day but such a wonderful experience to get to share with Jordan.

Also: a couple of weeks ago Jordan, Shelley and Jacob all graduated from LCU! Congrats to my sweet family!

 
I leave you with Father John Misty… My new favorite who will be at ACL this year and I am so ready to see him live. Happy Tuesday!

A million-billion-trillion congrats to my brother and sister-in-law! They are having a baby girl!! Madisyn Rylee, you will look fetching in this onesie and we love you already.

I have always loved April (Easter, Reese’s Eggs, pastels, best friend and family birthdays…)and have come up with a few goals for the month:

–Celebrate my sweet cousin Bill’s 5th birthday (mind blown at this fact!) and Uncle Forrest’s 50th! They have the same birthday and I can think of no better way to celebrate the lives of these top-notch Weavers. It is also my best friend, Letice’s birthday! Cake all around!

–Spring cleaning. Nothing in particular, just cleaning. Maybe I will even paint a chair or two in the dining area. I would also love to get a few things hung in the bedroom.

–This may sound selfish, but I want to try to take more time for myself. Whether that is training for a half marathon (My cousin and I are shooting for one in October), doing yoga in the morning, or just taking Lemon on more walks I have been really needing time to just clear my head and unwind the constant questions surrounding the future.

–Read the Hunger Games. Cliche` but yes.

–Figure out what to do with the danged vase and apothecary jars on my fire-place. We are in a love hate relationship at the moment.

I hope you are having a wonderful monday! In honor of Jordan getting us tickets to see Tenacious D this summer I leave you with Jack Black:

–Am thinking of my time in Florida, that wonderful place. The water is full or gators and manatees and the tap water smells like rotten eggs. It made this girl so relaxed  for 7 days and that was too nice.

–am still on an emotional high from Harry Potter World/Universal. Jordan received the Best Husband Ever award (see picture above) he made my inner  7-year-old self  happy, including roller coasters, chocolate frogs, Luna Lovegood’s wand, a new coffee mug from Zonkos, sweets from Honeydukes, and butterbeer just to name a few. That husband, just the greatest.

–am still feeling very brave from my Gator/Manatee Boat Tour. We did not see any manatees, sadly, but we did see enough gators to make you feel pretty uncomfortable to be in a boat. However, I have watched a lot of Swamp People in my day so I think I would have been alright if the boat had gone down.

–am beyond thankful for the time I got to spend with Jordan’s grandparents. They are some of the funniest and greatest people I have been around.

–also so thankful for my in-laws. I had such a great time with them in Florida and could not be more lucky to have married into such a kickin family.

–will be in Austin. This is trip number 1 of 2 this month to that beautiful place. Young the Giant…here we come.

–am listening to a awesome 90s Smash Hits playlist on Spotify.

Have a great weekend one and all!