(My 1st generation EnV is still pretty cool too.  It’s ok to be jealous of it.)

I, on the other hand, am now obsessed with my Netflix queue.  Yes, I know, obsessing over Netflix is so 2005, but I have been boycotting them so I have missed out.  See, they are seemingly the last reputable business that still uses pop-up advertising.  Given my career, I should be pleased they are so focused on digital media, but really it just pisses me off.

Anger aside, I finally joined last week.  It’s pretty much the greatest thing ever in the world.  I got the package that allows me to have two dvds at a time and I have unlimited “Watch Immediately” access.  Now all the money I’m saving on buying movies OnDemand is going to be spent buying cords to hook up my laptop to my TV for my “Watch Instantly” picks.  Why yes, I am a goober.

It has just now crossed my mind that I CAN HOOK UP MY IPOD TO MY TV TOO!  Must go.  I’m off to Amazon to buy a couple thousand dollars worth of cords.  Love ya.

*Kids seem to help make sure bloggers have material, though.  It’s just not the same with husbands.  “Oh look, DT is drinking milk from the carton again. My readers will find that hilarious!”

I’m a little rough around the edges
I didn’t come out of no GQ magazine
I don’t use a lot of big words
But I’m bent on love if you know what I mean
I ain’t in’trested in bein’ politically correct
I stand right up and say what I believe

I really don’t understand this stance.  Sure, maybe I’m not the target market because I kind of like it when my husband uses big words, but I can relate to not being into the “GQ” type.  What I mean is, I like people a little rough around the edges but, in my opinion, being politically correct just means being able to make statements about someone without the need to use prejorative terms.  Why does it feel so “restrictive” to be politically correct?  To me, it’s common decency. 

I’m sure I’ve not always said the perfect thing, but in general, I do actively try to NOT insult others.  Even if I disagree with someone, using demeaning or offensive language does nothing to help persuade my point or have an active discussion.  I just think there is a way to “stand right up and say what I believe” without losing the ability to be hurtful and disrespectful.

This is just completely inappropriate. What are we telling young people that there is a stripper pole at a KIDS SHOW!?  A CHILD dancing one a stripper pole.  My friend Katie pointed out that the young girls who are seeing this oversexualized message are then hit with the “Just Wait” campigns at school and church.  Both are incredibly extreme.  Ugh.  I’m glad I’m neither a tween/teen nor a parent of one.

I asked him if he would be my pen pal.

He said yes.

“I’d be honored to be your pen pal. You must understand at times I won’t be able to get back to you as quickly as I might want to. If you’ll agree to be patient, I’ll be your pen pal.”

DT and I were watching the reporting about Rickey Henderson and I mentioned a sweet article I remembered.  Turns out it wasn’t from the era that I had the free subscriptions but I’m glad I looked it up.  It’s sweeter than ever.

A Rickey Henderson Slide

In honor of Rickey Henderson’s Hall of Fame induction, is this illustration of his relationship with fans and more importantly, one special one.  I wish there were more articles showing the humanity of the athletes; that is one thing sorely missing today.

We weren’t able to go until Saturday early afternoon and that was a bummer but it was for a very special reason (one that I’ll share later when I have better pictures).  As soon as we walked up, Jenny Lewis was playing and we both love her so we stopped in and started to get the feeling that, “Wow, we’re really here!”.  No sooner had we looked at each other grinning and high fiving at the thought of finally making to the ‘Roo, did she say, “I’d like to welcome my friend Elvis Costello to the stage”.  Golly geez, what a welcome.  Thanks Jenny and Elvis. 

The highlight would definitely be The Boss.  DT is a HUGE fan so we already knew it was going to be something special.  Despite my usual reluctance to front row, we decided this was our chance to work our way to the front since many young folks were leaving.  They didn’t leave for long!  Bruce Springsteen showed everyone why he is one of the most famous and beloved rock and roll entertainers.  He rocked the crowd for over 3 hours.  DT’s comment was “For me to smile any bigger, I’d have to eat my ears!”

Not at all a complete list, but we saw/heard:

Jenny Lewis, Elvis Costello, Wilco, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Nine Inch Nails, AA Bondy, Mike Farris, Todd Snider, Erykah Badu, Robert Earl Keen, Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg, Neko, Case, and Phish.

Oh!  And Triumph the Insult Comic Dog!

This morning, as I stopped on VH1 and there was a familiar face!*  My friend Brent is the lead singer of the band Shinedown and as it turns out, they have the number one video in the country today!  Pretty neat.  They’ve got a few songs I like, but I”m not the biggest Shinedown fan, mostly because that’s not the type of music I listen to.  I have always tried to follow what’s going on with them and I have, of course, seen them in concert a few times.  It’s been interesting to see his rise to fame.

Brent went to high school here in Knoxville and was friends with my college roommate.  Often, when we would all be hanging out in our apartment, we’d sit in silence while Brent would sing acapella, making up lyrics as he went.  He really does have an amazing voice.  It’s almost unnaturally strong. 

My then-boyfriend and I had some friends who were trying to put a band together. They were a bassist, drummer and lead guitarist, but they didn’t have a lead singer.  When they told us, we immediately started raving about Brent and his amazing voice.  They called him and that was the beginning of a Knoxville band named Dreve.  They had some local success; I remember packed shows as the old Mercury Theater.  As wikipedia says:

Before Shinedown, Brent was the lead singer in a band called “Dreve”, which operated in the East Tennessee area.^[1] He was soon given a developmental contact by Atlantic Records, however, Brent left to find other musicians to form a new band which would become Shinedown.

 Myspace and facebook have helped me stay in contact with most of the Dreve guys, but lately, I can just watch TV to see what Brent’s doing.  He’s doing well and I’m glad.  He deserves it. 

And now without further adeiu, the number one video on vh1′s Top 20 Countdown:

Well maybe a little more adeiu, evidently you can’t just embed a Shinedown video to your little old blog.  Who do they think they are?  Prince?  (Kidding.)

Here’s the link: http://www.shinedown.com/videos  Enjoy.

*I do have to mention this though.  Wow.  Television really does add at LEAST 10 lbs!  Brent is in no way heavy but he almost looked it.  For a not so brief moment, I was very glad that my job doesn’t not require me to do television interviews.