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So Last Friday
Dec. 22nd, 2011 09:16 pmSix days ago, I skipped out on choir practice. For shame on me, I know, but I had a fully legit reason. Two words and a picture:
If we got married, our initials would match. I'm just pointing out a fact that has no basis in reality. (If by some weird, cruel circumstance, he read this, I'd explode from embarrassment.)
Chris. August.
There was a Christmas concert on the 16th in Pascagoula, and he was there, so I had to go. I begged my sister weeks in advance to make sure that I did. He wasn't the only artist there though. There was Newsong, (this group of old men, but man, those grandpas can sing. Kidding. They're probably not that old...except for that one guy.) Kutless, and Jamie Grace.
I went with Risa, John, and Mama Deborah (John's mother aka sister's boyfriend's mama). It was really very wonderful. It was held at this Baptist church with a weird bathroom set-up but at least there were no port-a-potties this time. I don't remember the order of things, but the whole way, they had a great light show going on. One of the men from Newsong pulled a kid from the audience to dance along with 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'.
It was so much fun. Then they did 'Little Drummer Boy', and they were gettin' it on those drums. While everyone's watching the front, a drum line procession starts up at the back, and these boys in full band regalia are marching up the aisles, playing on their drums. It was awesome.
Mama Deborah really liked that part. She's nice.
(Kutless broke one of the pianos)
And Chris August...I have a crush on that man, I admit. I mean, he's adorable. And he plays guitar, sings beautifully, is a Christian, funny, and adorable. (Yes, I said it twice.) During intermission, I wandered to the back after taking pictures of all the instruments on stage and stuff. Apparently, no one cares if you wander 'backstage'. The musicians trunks were all over the place, and I took more pictures. Then I turn down a dark (no lights except the ones coming from one end and the doors beyond leading back out front) hallway that leads back out to the auditorium, and Chris August is at the end talking to someone.
I 'bout near fainted. Well, not fainted, but you know how you can get when you see someone you like who literally doesn't know you exist. I didn't even know I was gonna do that. Eventually, I pulled some nerve from somewhere and walked down there, and took some more pictures of a drum. I was so flippin' nervous because he was right behind me.
I very calmly introduced myself, shook his hand, said something stupid that probably revealed my nervousness, then blurted the question if he'd take a picture with me. He was about to say something about needing to get ready to go back on and he'd be doing pictures after, but then he conceded (D'aw, ain't he sweet!). I caught the attention of one of the old men from Newsong to take the picture but HE DIDN'T TAKE IT!
DUDE! WE'RE IN A DARK HALLWAY! WAIT FOR THE FLASH!
I don't know why it didn't occur to me that he hadn't taken the picture. Nerves from the fact that CHRIS AUGUST HUGGED ME! TWICE (I had to help the old man with the camera.) By the time I'd gotten the screen up to look at the picture, Chris was already walking away, and I'd already starting feeling bad about bugging him anyway when he was on break, so I didn't say "YO! IT DIDN'T WORK! REDO!" Instead, on cloud 9 and a half, I went back to my seat, smiling at everyone.
For me, this was better than that time Charles kissed me on the cheek. (Charles is my pastor's eldest son, who was grown when I was a baby, and used to be in love with since I was three to nine, which was when he got married. The jerk.)
He performed after that, absolutely perfect, and I know I had the stupidest smile on my face. Then Jamie Grace went after, and she's good, but her stage presence isn't that great. She's new though. She'll get better.
At the end, Newsong and everyone sang (and I mean, everyone -on stage and audience) 'Arise, My Love'. More pictures, and then Russ Lee led the people in a prayer - a call to Christ. They didn't even do that at Praise in the Park. (I assume they assumed that if the people bothered to drive out to Nowhere, MS with port-a-potties and sitting in the hot sun and on the ground to starry, cold night, standing, singing, screaming, jumping around like idiots, then they probably got somethin' in 'em already.) While most claimed salvation, some claimed that they got saved when he lead them in prayer.
And the church said "Amen!"
A singing preacher, he called himself. He's a sweet, old guy. I like him. After I took a picture with him (and I swear, I have never hugged so many total strangers in one day, except for at funerals, and who didn't smell drunk and smokey), Risa decided she did want to get a picture with him too. Even John approved of him, actually shaking the man's hand.
Then we were headed out from there. They had tables for all of the artists, but I was just interested in Chris. We stood in line to get a picture, and while there, I looked over the merchandise table. I had no money nor a job, (and having a job would be the only way I'd shell out $15 for a T-shirt, Chris August or no). However, Mama Deborah (or somebody) gave me $20 with which I bought his CD and Christmas EP, got them signed and took a picture with him and Risa. After we got back in line after taking a picture with him individually.
He is so flippin' adorable!
Mama Deborah wanted to meet Jamie Grace so we went and got in her line afterward. The doors of the church were opened...and it was cold and windy outside all of a sudden so I used Risa as a human wind shield; she had her jacket so it was ok. John kept pacing around because he didn't really like Jamie, but she was really sweet. I like her. I bought her CD and EP with the remaining 10, and she signed it, adding my name for that personal touch ( I can't help wondering how long that'll last). Risa and I both got a picture with her too.
After that, we went to the Waffle House right up the rode. John wanted five eggs and grits, but we made him just get four and he complained about it. He also ordered coffee, and kept sniffing it like it was crack or something. We talked about stuff I don't remember. Risa ordered for me, and we were going to half whatever it was because it came with a lot of food. One of those things was a waffle, but that took longer to cook than the rest of our food so went ahead and ate that. In the middle of that, the waitress placed the waffles between us.
By the time I finished, I was pretty full so I figured we'd take it home and eat it later. I was done before anyone else, and had nothing to do so I looked at the waffle. Then I noticed something. They always put those little things of butter with the waffle, yes? In this case, they put it in the center of the waffle. (I hate when they do that. I mean, where have those things been?) What I saw when I looked at it: a little, black speck on the butter tub. Picking it up and looking closer, what I saw: a little, black bug - looked like a roach.
I showed it to the others, and everyone kinda just...stopped...eating. John pushed his coffee away.
When I said that I may have to pull a 'Mary Johnson' (that's my mommy), Mama Deborah was interested in what exactly that was. John and I both did an impression of that. His was pretty good, considering he'd never seen Mom in action.
I didn't have to though. A cook saw our faces and asked if everything was all right. Mama Deborah told him no and I showed him the bug. He apologized and then got our waitress and took her in the back. She came out and apologized too, and it was fine: she told us we didn't have to pay for it.
We talked about more stuff I don't remember, but it was pretty funny.
John was being a little grumpy since he'd been up a long time and had to go to work at 3. In the morning. Or was it 5? Whatever. We left after he face-planted on the table.
I went with Risa, John, and Mama Deborah (John's mother aka sister's boyfriend's mama). It was really very wonderful. It was held at this Baptist church with a weird bathroom set-up but at least there were no port-a-potties this time. I don't remember the order of things, but the whole way, they had a great light show going on. One of the men from Newsong pulled a kid from the audience to dance along with 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'.
It was so much fun. Then they did 'Little Drummer Boy', and they were gettin' it on those drums. While everyone's watching the front, a drum line procession starts up at the back, and these boys in full band regalia are marching up the aisles, playing on their drums. It was awesome.
Mama Deborah really liked that part. She's nice.
(Kutless broke one of the pianos)
And Chris August...I have a crush on that man, I admit. I mean, he's adorable. And he plays guitar, sings beautifully, is a Christian, funny, and adorable. (Yes, I said it twice.) During intermission, I wandered to the back after taking pictures of all the instruments on stage and stuff. Apparently, no one cares if you wander 'backstage'. The musicians trunks were all over the place, and I took more pictures. Then I turn down a dark (no lights except the ones coming from one end and the doors beyond leading back out front) hallway that leads back out to the auditorium, and Chris August is at the end talking to someone.
I 'bout near fainted. Well, not fainted, but you know how you can get when you see someone you like who literally doesn't know you exist. I didn't even know I was gonna do that. Eventually, I pulled some nerve from somewhere and walked down there, and took some more pictures of a drum. I was so flippin' nervous because he was right behind me.
I very calmly introduced myself, shook his hand, said something stupid that probably revealed my nervousness, then blurted the question if he'd take a picture with me. He was about to say something about needing to get ready to go back on and he'd be doing pictures after, but then he conceded (D'aw, ain't he sweet!). I caught the attention of one of the old men from Newsong to take the picture but HE DIDN'T TAKE IT!
DUDE! WE'RE IN A DARK HALLWAY! WAIT FOR THE FLASH!
I don't know why it didn't occur to me that he hadn't taken the picture. Nerves from the fact that CHRIS AUGUST HUGGED ME! TWICE (I had to help the old man with the camera.) By the time I'd gotten the screen up to look at the picture, Chris was already walking away, and I'd already starting feeling bad about bugging him anyway when he was on break, so I didn't say "YO! IT DIDN'T WORK! REDO!" Instead, on cloud 9 and a half, I went back to my seat, smiling at everyone.
For me, this was better than that time Charles kissed me on the cheek. (Charles is my pastor's eldest son, who was grown when I was a baby, and used to be in love with since I was three to nine, which was when he got married. The jerk.)
He performed after that, absolutely perfect, and I know I had the stupidest smile on my face. Then Jamie Grace went after, and she's good, but her stage presence isn't that great. She's new though. She'll get better.
At the end, Newsong and everyone sang (and I mean, everyone -on stage and audience) 'Arise, My Love'. More pictures, and then Russ Lee led the people in a prayer - a call to Christ. They didn't even do that at Praise in the Park. (I assume they assumed that if the people bothered to drive out to Nowhere, MS with port-a-potties and sitting in the hot sun and on the ground to starry, cold night, standing, singing, screaming, jumping around like idiots, then they probably got somethin' in 'em already.) While most claimed salvation, some claimed that they got saved when he lead them in prayer.
And the church said "Amen!"
A singing preacher, he called himself. He's a sweet, old guy. I like him. After I took a picture with him (and I swear, I have never hugged so many total strangers in one day, except for at funerals, and who didn't smell drunk and smokey), Risa decided she did want to get a picture with him too. Even John approved of him, actually shaking the man's hand.
Then we were headed out from there. They had tables for all of the artists, but I was just interested in Chris. We stood in line to get a picture, and while there, I looked over the merchandise table. I had no money nor a job, (and having a job would be the only way I'd shell out $15 for a T-shirt, Chris August or no). However, Mama Deborah (or somebody) gave me $20 with which I bought his CD and Christmas EP, got them signed and took a picture with him and Risa. After we got back in line after taking a picture with him individually.
He is so flippin' adorable!
Mama Deborah wanted to meet Jamie Grace so we went and got in her line afterward. The doors of the church were opened...and it was cold and windy outside all of a sudden so I used Risa as a human wind shield; she had her jacket so it was ok. John kept pacing around because he didn't really like Jamie, but she was really sweet. I like her. I bought her CD and EP with the remaining 10, and she signed it, adding my name for that personal touch ( I can't help wondering how long that'll last). Risa and I both got a picture with her too.
After that, we went to the Waffle House right up the rode. John wanted five eggs and grits, but we made him just get four and he complained about it. He also ordered coffee, and kept sniffing it like it was crack or something. We talked about stuff I don't remember. Risa ordered for me, and we were going to half whatever it was because it came with a lot of food. One of those things was a waffle, but that took longer to cook than the rest of our food so went ahead and ate that. In the middle of that, the waitress placed the waffles between us.
By the time I finished, I was pretty full so I figured we'd take it home and eat it later. I was done before anyone else, and had nothing to do so I looked at the waffle. Then I noticed something. They always put those little things of butter with the waffle, yes? In this case, they put it in the center of the waffle. (I hate when they do that. I mean, where have those things been?) What I saw when I looked at it: a little, black speck on the butter tub. Picking it up and looking closer, what I saw: a little, black bug - looked like a roach.
I showed it to the others, and everyone kinda just...stopped...eating. John pushed his coffee away.
When I said that I may have to pull a 'Mary Johnson' (that's my mommy), Mama Deborah was interested in what exactly that was. John and I both did an impression of that. His was pretty good, considering he'd never seen Mom in action.
I didn't have to though. A cook saw our faces and asked if everything was all right. Mama Deborah told him no and I showed him the bug. He apologized and then got our waitress and took her in the back. She came out and apologized too, and it was fine: she told us we didn't have to pay for it.
We talked about more stuff I don't remember, but it was pretty funny.
John was being a little grumpy since he'd been up a long time and had to go to work at 3. In the morning. Or was it 5? Whatever. We left after he face-planted on the table.
I'm just getting around to posting about it now because...I'm really, really lazy. I've got to stop that. It was too late to do it when we got home, near 12. Also, when I get a job, I need to check out that Holt International thing. For $30 a month, you can sponsor a child in need of food, medicine, diapers, and care who is in the process of being adopted. I want to do that.
If we're gonna make these concerts a regular thing, we should invest in one of those little flip camcorders. And since this Christmas concert thing has been going on for 8 or 9 years (HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?), we really, really should.
If we're gonna make these concerts a regular thing, we should invest in one of those little flip camcorders. And since this Christmas concert thing has been going on for 8 or 9 years (HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?), we really, really should.
Royal Tailor, Building 429, Leeland, Jeremy Camp and introducing Hanover Dr (who didn't suck, surprisingly). I went half-deaf after Royal Tailor's perfomance (Note to self: don't get right up on the speakers) and so did my sister. After the whole thing was over, my ears were ringing for hours.
