John Mayer was flippin' amazing last night, it is amazing how much better his show is in an arena (I have mostly seen him play outdoors). Elyse and I had a great time dancing and singing even though I could not believe my (bad) luck. One of my students said he was going to the concert and I thought to myself, "No big deal, it is a crowd of a couple thousand, no way I will run in to you." Boy was I wrong...he sat DIRECTLY behind me with his entire family. Nothin like having to watch your language and behavior on your day off.
The setlist was fantastic, a mix of old and songs from his most recent album, "Battle Studies."
1. Heartbreak Warfare
2. Why Georgia > Message in a Bottle
3. Vultures
4. Something's Missing
5. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
6. Perfectly Lonely
7. Assassin
8. Wheel
9. Daughters
10. Crossroads
11. Waiting on the World to Change
12. Half of My Heart > Dreams
13. No Such Thing
Encore: Who Says, Gravity

Assassin, my favorite song off the new album was insane, he played on our side of stage for a majority of it and it sounded amazing. If you are looking for some new music to download, make "Assassin" a priority. Also the encore was enough to give you chills. Everyone took out their cell phones and the glow from them looked like stars in the middle of a summer night, he actually played most of Gravity with the lights out.

Last night we had a fun date night out with our friends Natalie and Joel, we went bowling at Flamingo Bowl on Washington St. It was a mix between a bowling alley and a lounge/bar, decorated like a joint out of the 1930s. I thought it was neat and not too badly priced either...we reserved one lane for $30/hour so it worked out to be about $5 a game (we played three games in two hours).

What do you say when someone dies? It's one of those things we hope we never have to think about, but when it happens we are automatically dumbfounded. For the last two weeks I have been speechless. A good friend of Chris and I's died unexpectedly two weeks ago in an unfortunate car accident. Tragedy doesn't even begin to describe the loss of his life. He was getting married in May, just graduated from college, and was just a fantastic man. I have known Matt for about 4 years now and he was a person I always enjoyed being around, he had a wonderful smile and like most of Chris' friends could make you laugh. I joked with Chris often that he reminded me of Sacha Baren Cohen when he played Ali G (but Matt was way more handsome.)

Chris, Mike, and Matt

I will never forget waking up to Chris answering the phone at 4:30am Saturday morning, I sat straight up on the futon as soon as I heard Chris say, "Borage? What?" We were supposed to attend his wedding shower that Saturday night, I had been planning on  getting up and going to get him and his fiance's present. What I can't even begin to imagine is the pain Becca, his fiance is going through. I felt like such an imbecile at the wake and funeral because I only had tears and hugs to offer her. There is nothing I could possibly say that would make things better and I don't think there ever will be. I still can't believe he is gone. I am sitting here staring at the program from his funeral with his bright, happy, smiling face and it just seems so surreal. At his wake, I kept thinking I was seeing him standing with our group of friends, or hearing his voice.

I tear up even now just writing this because it just didn't have to happen, but it did to a person who meant so much to so many people. We will spend a lifetime missing him. My friend Amy, who is much more eloquent than I, captured my thoughts exactly....read her blog here.

I just love the smell of a new car's interior....I have been getting a few good whiffs of that wonderful scent because I just bought 2009 Nissan Altima! Last Saturday I went out to test drive a few cars and lo and behold I made a purchase. I figured I might as well get it out of the way...Lindsey's car (the Sunfire I drove all through high school) is on its' last leg and it is just a matter of time before it bites the dust. I really am in love with my new car it just feels so luxurious, such a smooth ride, everything works like it should...just all around heavenly. I took a picture but due to the ridiculous amounts of snow St. Louis has been receiving lately it looks quite dirty, so here is a stock picture.

My first snow day of the year was today and I am thankful. However after only going to school for two days it wasn't really needed but hey no complaints here. I slept in, ate a nice breakfast, snuggled with the puppy, just relaxing before heading out into the blistering cold for a dr.'s appointment. I thought about rescheduling but I figured I needed to get my arthritis meds in because right hand swelled up a bit last night and it hurts pretty bad.

I should be grading a mountain of papers but I just can't get myself to do it...and I need to plan tomorrow's lesson. I should feel more motivated after coming back from a week and half break but I feel more sluggish than ever. Winter is a difficult season for me to get through, I really have to work to get myself to do just about anything. But I do try...I am in charge of my school's Biggest Loser competition this year and I am taking a workout break until Monday so I can make some progress during that actual competition. I have been working out with EA Sports Active for the Wii and let me tell you it is amazing! I keep calling it a game but it is an f'ing personal trainer kicking my ass. After the first workout my legs were so sore, but I always think that is a good feeling, makes me feel like I have a accomplished something.

New Year's Eve was a lot of fun, we went to our friends, Natalie and Joel's house for some low-key entertainment. It was nice not to have to battle any crowds or get all gussied up to go out and spend a bajillion dollars on warm beer and watered down drinks. However, the New Year's Eve tv shows were a huge letdown...they were so boring! Whatever happened to Dick Clarke's New Year's Rockin' Eve? Carson Daly was about as entertaining as dry toast. Can you spot the blooper in the picture above? Chris' mom had some leftover party hats from years past and so we totally rung in 2002 instead of 2010, hah!

Where in the world have I been? In a blink four months has flown by and I can't believe it. I want to say so much has happened in the past four months but really it has been pretty routine. I started my new job at West Middle and I loooooove it! It was a little bumpy at first but I got the kinks worked out pretty quick. I am amazed at how much I am learning while working in this district, they really do value their teachers and it shows. However with the start of the new year it also means ANOTHER job hunt. I knew going into this school year that I would have to look but I am really feeling downtrodden...I mean I love my job. It sucks that things like one-year contracts even exists but it got me some great experience to add to my resume. Here's hoping that another middle school in the district has a place for me. I am even adding another certification (Elementary....yikes!) just to widen some possibilities.

Chris and I are doing great, slowly but surely trying to make some progress in starting a life together. Hopefully he will finish school this May, even though it is just a piece of paper I will feel so much better once he is done. He only has 6 more hours and he will have his Bachelor's, he can not give up now. I am officially tired of being asked when we're getting engaged...it is a lovely thought but just because two people have been together for a somewhat lengthy amount of time does not mean they need to put a ring on it. My mantra simply is, "Slow and steady wins the race."

I am off work for the next week so I will try to get back in this swing of writing somewhat regularly because I really do enjoy it. I can't believe I have had this blog for a year...wow! It's going to be 2010...does anyone ever stop and think, "Where is my flying car?"

This is going to be short but I will surely write more later, this has been the fastest two weeks EVER! I am officially a 6th grade teacher at PWMS, contract signed and everything and school starts tomorrow! My classroom is set and I have met some of my students already and I think it is going to be an awesome year. I will add pictures when I get the chance. Also today was my 24th birthday...I almost don't believe it. Me? Twenty-four YEARS old? 24 used to be my scary age...but as my life has progressed I realize that at 24 I am right where I want to be, with an amazing man (who's birthday card brought me to tears because it was so sweet), in a good job, with a supportive family and great friends who are right there along with me, in the great (but sometimes scary) twenties.