as you know, this song has really meant a lot to me. it came out during a time in my life where i just really, really understood it. dug through some old photographs with the grandmothers last night and put this little thing together. maybe i'll show it to mama this mother's day.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
more one horse town tales...
let me tell you about my day yesterday. once again, i realize you won't be hanging off the edge of your seat to read about life in rural lubbock county, but hot damn...i forgot how good of writing material all of these characters were!
the day started with me visiting my 92-year-old great grandmother on 6th street. astonishingly, she still lives by herself in the same home she's owned for decades, but i was forewarned that her senility had rapidly increased since the last time i had seen her. sure enough, when i got to her house, she scolded me for letting the aliens come in and asked me how living in the mountains has been. i had lunch with her and then we got into bed and watched the news while i painted her toenails with opi "i'm not really a waitress." she tried to use the remote to place phone calls, she kept telling me that we needed to get the kids ready for school, and then she wanted me to listen to all of her gospel cassette tapes. when i announced that i had to leave, she shouted, "well don't you go up to the church dressed like a scallywag!" i smiled, same old mamaw...she never thought bare shoulders were becoming for chaste purity. (i'll have you know i was wearing a sky blue, strapless sundress from j. crew...but that woman is olllllllld school southern baptist.) i turned to walk out the door and when i looked over my shoulder, she winked and said, "don't stay gone so long next time." oh no, please don't let this be some kind of sign for the prophecy that i will make my prodigal return back to settle in this town...
after this encounter, i made my way just one block over to 7th street to see my maternal grandmother, susie q. she wanted to take me up to driscoll's pharmacy to look at "all the new homewares they had just gotten in!" after we shopped the 4 short aisles, meme insisted that i let her charge me something to her account since she never gets to buy me anything. we drove around town for a bit so she could show me the houses of the new families and then we went and got cokes at the dixie dog drivein. granddad tommy called while we were on our little venture and asked if we'd go to the grocery store to get some blackberry jam. when we walked through the swinging doors to two j's thriftway, meme whispered (rather loudly) "shannan, come here!!! they have beer in here now...CANNNN YOU BALEEEEEVE THAT? we have BEEEEEEEEER in the grocery store!" back history, lubbock county has been a dry county since the beginning of time and the alcohol prop. just passed last year...you should hear all the old timers talk about how the town is turning into pottersville, but then there are others (won't mention any names) who rather like the convenience of tj's liquor hut, rather than driving out to the strip.
after meme's i went three blocks further on 7th street to pay a visit to my paternal grandmother, frances. i'm sure you've heard stories about frances, she's legendary. before i could even sit down, she said, "get in the car! we're goin' down to the cemetery so that you can help me with a little project." you should know that my grandmother takes great pride in maintaining the nicest burial plot in the cemetery. both her young son and beloved husband are buried there in their own little garden and it's important to her that it always looks in tip-top shape. i helped her with the flowers and then we touched up the gold paint on the headstones...she very proudly showed me her own headstone which is already in place "frances catherine sowder. smithville, texas. april 3, 1933 - " as if that dash was just lingering there, i said, "doesn't that freak you out?" "heck no, i made peace with death a long time ago sugar."
continuing on from the cemetery, she filled up my car with gas at the coop gin (she still holds a membership to this very day!) and then she treated me to a blizzard at the dairy queen for all of my intensive labor. while we're sitting there reminiscing, she pulls out a hand-held tape recorder and says, "i've chosen you to record my oral history. you're the writer, i want you to do it." "well okay, grandmother, if you say so...but are you tryin' to say goodbye or somethin'?" "no shannan, i've just led a very interesting life and i want your kids to know about it!!" "well, yes ma'am" i pressed record on the tape recorder and started jotting down a few notes and in the middle of dairy queen, she just lays it all out there:
"well, the first thing i'd like to let everybody know is that even though you all think i'm a country housewife with six kids, i was once a very sophisticated lady. i fought your grandad tooth and nail to move out here on these dusty plains. of course you knew i grew up in smithville, texas. i was a smithville tiger! just like in hope floats, you remember? did i ever tell you my little girlfriend grew up in the house where that movie was filmed, they renovated the whole thing for her after the movie was finished...anyway back to the story. i was a hot young thang in smithville. lord have mercy, i went to the dancehalls and honkytonks every single night and always had a young man on my arm. and i want you to know, i don't regret any of it! i don't care who knows it, i wouldn't do anything differently. we loved the boys from the university of texas and bergstrom airforce base the best...especially the ones that could jitterbug. then, you know, i got a job as a telephone operator at southwestern bell with wilma. wilma was dating danny at the time and they were tryin to fix me up with danny's childhood best friend and ut law school buddy. i told them, "well, he can get in line, because i have a lot of suitors!" [my grandmother is not modest when it comes to being the object of pursuit in her heyday.] well would you know that after two weeks with your grandfather, i just cut everything off with every other young man...everything!" transcript to be continued...
the day started with me visiting my 92-year-old great grandmother on 6th street. astonishingly, she still lives by herself in the same home she's owned for decades, but i was forewarned that her senility had rapidly increased since the last time i had seen her. sure enough, when i got to her house, she scolded me for letting the aliens come in and asked me how living in the mountains has been. i had lunch with her and then we got into bed and watched the news while i painted her toenails with opi "i'm not really a waitress." she tried to use the remote to place phone calls, she kept telling me that we needed to get the kids ready for school, and then she wanted me to listen to all of her gospel cassette tapes. when i announced that i had to leave, she shouted, "well don't you go up to the church dressed like a scallywag!" i smiled, same old mamaw...she never thought bare shoulders were becoming for chaste purity. (i'll have you know i was wearing a sky blue, strapless sundress from j. crew...but that woman is olllllllld school southern baptist.) i turned to walk out the door and when i looked over my shoulder, she winked and said, "don't stay gone so long next time." oh no, please don't let this be some kind of sign for the prophecy that i will make my prodigal return back to settle in this town...
after this encounter, i made my way just one block over to 7th street to see my maternal grandmother, susie q. she wanted to take me up to driscoll's pharmacy to look at "all the new homewares they had just gotten in!" after we shopped the 4 short aisles, meme insisted that i let her charge me something to her account since she never gets to buy me anything. we drove around town for a bit so she could show me the houses of the new families and then we went and got cokes at the dixie dog drivein. granddad tommy called while we were on our little venture and asked if we'd go to the grocery store to get some blackberry jam. when we walked through the swinging doors to two j's thriftway, meme whispered (rather loudly) "shannan, come here!!! they have beer in here now...CANNNN YOU BALEEEEEVE THAT? we have BEEEEEEEEER in the grocery store!" back history, lubbock county has been a dry county since the beginning of time and the alcohol prop. just passed last year...you should hear all the old timers talk about how the town is turning into pottersville, but then there are others (won't mention any names) who rather like the convenience of tj's liquor hut, rather than driving out to the strip.
after meme's i went three blocks further on 7th street to pay a visit to my paternal grandmother, frances. i'm sure you've heard stories about frances, she's legendary. before i could even sit down, she said, "get in the car! we're goin' down to the cemetery so that you can help me with a little project." you should know that my grandmother takes great pride in maintaining the nicest burial plot in the cemetery. both her young son and beloved husband are buried there in their own little garden and it's important to her that it always looks in tip-top shape. i helped her with the flowers and then we touched up the gold paint on the headstones...she very proudly showed me her own headstone which is already in place "frances catherine sowder. smithville, texas. april 3, 1933 - " as if that dash was just lingering there, i said, "doesn't that freak you out?" "heck no, i made peace with death a long time ago sugar."
continuing on from the cemetery, she filled up my car with gas at the coop gin (she still holds a membership to this very day!) and then she treated me to a blizzard at the dairy queen for all of my intensive labor. while we're sitting there reminiscing, she pulls out a hand-held tape recorder and says, "i've chosen you to record my oral history. you're the writer, i want you to do it." "well okay, grandmother, if you say so...but are you tryin' to say goodbye or somethin'?" "no shannan, i've just led a very interesting life and i want your kids to know about it!!" "well, yes ma'am" i pressed record on the tape recorder and started jotting down a few notes and in the middle of dairy queen, she just lays it all out there:
"well, the first thing i'd like to let everybody know is that even though you all think i'm a country housewife with six kids, i was once a very sophisticated lady. i fought your grandad tooth and nail to move out here on these dusty plains. of course you knew i grew up in smithville, texas. i was a smithville tiger! just like in hope floats, you remember? did i ever tell you my little girlfriend grew up in the house where that movie was filmed, they renovated the whole thing for her after the movie was finished...anyway back to the story. i was a hot young thang in smithville. lord have mercy, i went to the dancehalls and honkytonks every single night and always had a young man on my arm. and i want you to know, i don't regret any of it! i don't care who knows it, i wouldn't do anything differently. we loved the boys from the university of texas and bergstrom airforce base the best...especially the ones that could jitterbug. then, you know, i got a job as a telephone operator at southwestern bell with wilma. wilma was dating danny at the time and they were tryin to fix me up with danny's childhood best friend and ut law school buddy. i told them, "well, he can get in line, because i have a lot of suitors!" [my grandmother is not modest when it comes to being the object of pursuit in her heyday.] well would you know that after two weeks with your grandfather, i just cut everything off with every other young man...everything!" transcript to be continued...
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
oh won't you please take me home!
had some time off, so i decided to go home to good 'ol shallowater, texas for a few days (and yes, the grass is green and the girls are pretty.) i don't ever go home except for a few days for thanksgiving/christmas, thus it's a pretty big deal. i've been really convicted lately that i need to start spending more time up here. for one thing, nobody's gettin' any younger and for another, life in this part of the world just runs at a completely different pace. there's nothing flashy or glamorous about it, (biggest thing to happen in town is that we just got our first dollar general yesterday!!!) but somehow, i think these people are on to something. it's as if they know a closely guarded secret that the rest of the world is desperately searching for...they know that life's not about chasin' the cash flow or being somebody "important"...it's about treating people with respect, lending a hand to your neighbor when he's in trouble, taking your grandkids out to the farm, living within your means, finding pleasure and contentment in simple things, just being satisfied with what you've been given.
i will be the first to admit that there have been times in my life when i've gotten away from that...stubbornly (and erroneously) thought i needed something more, something better. however, the 100% honest-to-God truth is, that lifestyle and that type of character (which is quickly eroding in our society) is something that i pine for. i just don't care about the world's measures of success anymore...i've played that game for so freakin' long. graduate in the top 10 percent (valedictorian or salutatorian if you really want to impress), join every club imaginable (and be the president of all of them!), go to college and graduate with honors, make the dean's list, join more organizations and acquire more leadership positions, build build build the resume, work for a senator, work the room, get the IRA, invest in the 401k, gain some equity, and dangit move on up!!!
most of you wiser, older souls already know this, but for those of you who don't...at the end of the day, all of that "stuff" amounts to absolutely nothing. funny (and lamentable) how long it takes for some of us to figure out that life isn't about what you do, but it's about who you are.
i'll leave you with some john cougar mellencamp lyrics and some photos from shooting with the cagles yesterday.
well i was born in a small town. and i live in a small town. probably die in a small town. oh those small communities.
all my friends are so small town. my parents live in the same small town. my job is so small town. provides little opportunity - hey!
educated in a small town. taught to fear Jesus in a small town. used to daydream in that small town. another born romantic that's me. but i've seen it all in a small town. had myself a ball in a small town.
no i cannot forget where it is that i come from. i cannot forget the people who love me. yeah, i can be myself here in this small town. and people let me be just what i want to be.
little jake...breakin' hearts and shootin' bbs...best mutton buster i've ever seen!!!
john gettin' our target ready...
best shot in the family right there.
oh i do love the feel of a 9mm semi-automatic!!!!
*note to readers, i do fire guns a lot, but we advocate for strong gun safety and as dad says, "make no assumptions about an unloaded gun."
i will be the first to admit that there have been times in my life when i've gotten away from that...stubbornly (and erroneously) thought i needed something more, something better. however, the 100% honest-to-God truth is, that lifestyle and that type of character (which is quickly eroding in our society) is something that i pine for. i just don't care about the world's measures of success anymore...i've played that game for so freakin' long. graduate in the top 10 percent (valedictorian or salutatorian if you really want to impress), join every club imaginable (and be the president of all of them!), go to college and graduate with honors, make the dean's list, join more organizations and acquire more leadership positions, build build build the resume, work for a senator, work the room, get the IRA, invest in the 401k, gain some equity, and dangit move on up!!!
most of you wiser, older souls already know this, but for those of you who don't...at the end of the day, all of that "stuff" amounts to absolutely nothing. funny (and lamentable) how long it takes for some of us to figure out that life isn't about what you do, but it's about who you are.
i'll leave you with some john cougar mellencamp lyrics and some photos from shooting with the cagles yesterday.
well i was born in a small town. and i live in a small town. probably die in a small town. oh those small communities.
all my friends are so small town. my parents live in the same small town. my job is so small town. provides little opportunity - hey!
educated in a small town. taught to fear Jesus in a small town. used to daydream in that small town. another born romantic that's me. but i've seen it all in a small town. had myself a ball in a small town.
no i cannot forget where it is that i come from. i cannot forget the people who love me. yeah, i can be myself here in this small town. and people let me be just what i want to be.
little jake...breakin' hearts and shootin' bbs...best mutton buster i've ever seen!!!
john gettin' our target ready...
best shot in the family right there.
oh i do love the feel of a 9mm semi-automatic!!!!
*note to readers, i do fire guns a lot, but we advocate for strong gun safety and as dad says, "make no assumptions about an unloaded gun."
Thursday, April 22, 2010
the perils of a single girl: part V
actual telephone conversation that took place between me & mother dearest last night:
mama 9:47 p.m.: what do you mean he was diagnosed a few years back with narcissistic personality disorder?!?!?!!!! did he come right out and tell you this?
shan 9:50 p.m.: well not exactly...
mama 9:52 p.m.: i'm confused.
shan 9:53 p.m.: well his mama called me and warned me about it.
mama 9:55 p.m.: WHAT?!?!??????
shan 9:57 p.m.: crazy right? she said i was the sweetest girl he'd ever brought home and she wasn't about to allow me to make a mistake with her son.
mama 9:59 p.m.: my word. well, what did you say to that?
shan 10:00 p.m.: i kindly thanked her and told her not to worry about me. although her son had the charm, i picked up on his dorian gray syndrome immediately and hospitably dismissed him when he told me what a curse his good looks had been on his life.
mama 10:03 p.m.: (laughing hysterically) oh shannan d'aun, never a dull moment with you. (long sigh) i think you'd be wise to stay away from these aspirin' musicians and those boys you meet at roadside bars and rodeos. will you please just meet a good wholesome christian boy at church?
shan 10:07 p.m.: yes ma'am.
sorry for those of you who looked forward to reading about my romantic woes, but mama is right. i've gotta stay away from the cowboy casanovas and the lyin', cheatin' cold dead beatin', two-timin', double dealin', mean, mistreatin', lovin' hearts. and therefore, i'm gonna have to halt this little series because i ain't datin' NO ONE for a long time!! (AND WHEN I DO, I'M NOT GONNA BE A GOOD HEARTED WOMAN IN LOVE WITH A GOOD TIMIN' MAN believe you me.) God bless y'all and happy earth day!
mama 9:47 p.m.: what do you mean he was diagnosed a few years back with narcissistic personality disorder?!?!?!!!! did he come right out and tell you this?
shan 9:50 p.m.: well not exactly...
mama 9:52 p.m.: i'm confused.
shan 9:53 p.m.: well his mama called me and warned me about it.
mama 9:55 p.m.: WHAT?!?!??????
shan 9:57 p.m.: crazy right? she said i was the sweetest girl he'd ever brought home and she wasn't about to allow me to make a mistake with her son.
mama 9:59 p.m.: my word. well, what did you say to that?
shan 10:00 p.m.: i kindly thanked her and told her not to worry about me. although her son had the charm, i picked up on his dorian gray syndrome immediately and hospitably dismissed him when he told me what a curse his good looks had been on his life.
mama 10:03 p.m.: (laughing hysterically) oh shannan d'aun, never a dull moment with you. (long sigh) i think you'd be wise to stay away from these aspirin' musicians and those boys you meet at roadside bars and rodeos. will you please just meet a good wholesome christian boy at church?
shan 10:07 p.m.: yes ma'am.
sorry for those of you who looked forward to reading about my romantic woes, but mama is right. i've gotta stay away from the cowboy casanovas and the lyin', cheatin' cold dead beatin', two-timin', double dealin', mean, mistreatin', lovin' hearts. and therefore, i'm gonna have to halt this little series because i ain't datin' NO ONE for a long time!! (AND WHEN I DO, I'M NOT GONNA BE A GOOD HEARTED WOMAN IN LOVE WITH A GOOD TIMIN' MAN believe you me.) God bless y'all and happy earth day!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
i'm painting again!
some of you may not know this, but once upon a time i used to paint signs/furniture/anything i could get my hands on really and i loved it. in fact, in college, i worked here for 3.5 years. i don't know what happened, i guess life happened, but i haven't picked up a paint brush in two years.
until last night. lexi "commissioned" me to make a sign for kira & sauer's wedding (more specifically kira's dressing room) this upcoming weekend and for some reason i agreed to do it. ha. i'm putting the finishing touches on it as we speak, so i'll show you a sneak peak:
i'm pretty pleased with the way the damask detailing came out, but i'm out of practice with my lettering. but i am happy to say that i use no markings, stencils, or rough drafts...i do all my stuff free hand. it's not me, the trick is the brush. you gotta use a really fine tipped brush. (i recommend a 20/0 multi-media liner.)
i think i will start painting on a regular basis. i'm havin' a lot of fun out here on my back porch. you should see me right now...covered in paint, bandana on my head, "airstream song" blaring...my neighbors think i'm crazy. they're probably right.
CONGRATULATIONS TO KIRA & SAUER who are getting married in miami this saturday!!!!! doesn't she look so happy? so pretty.
until last night. lexi "commissioned" me to make a sign for kira & sauer's wedding (more specifically kira's dressing room) this upcoming weekend and for some reason i agreed to do it. ha. i'm putting the finishing touches on it as we speak, so i'll show you a sneak peak:
i'm pretty pleased with the way the damask detailing came out, but i'm out of practice with my lettering. but i am happy to say that i use no markings, stencils, or rough drafts...i do all my stuff free hand. it's not me, the trick is the brush. you gotta use a really fine tipped brush. (i recommend a 20/0 multi-media liner.)
i think i will start painting on a regular basis. i'm havin' a lot of fun out here on my back porch. you should see me right now...covered in paint, bandana on my head, "airstream song" blaring...my neighbors think i'm crazy. they're probably right.
CONGRATULATIONS TO KIRA & SAUER who are getting married in miami this saturday!!!!! doesn't she look so happy? so pretty.
Monday, April 19, 2010
unbelievable
in reference to my previous post about the kindness of strangers and life's little things, i had to share this because i just think it's too cool. through a business card left with our check at las palapas, tabitha was able to contact the doers of goodwill and properly thank them. she received this response via email:
By the way,....I'd totally forgotten about that,.....If you hadn't of mentioned it in your Honestly Sincere & Respectful E-Mail containing the Thank You "Greeting" or "Heading",.....My Late Mother taught me to do things for strangers and never expect anything back. That's The Way That The Lord Worked His Wonderful Blessings,....Not that I'm even remotely considering myself "Christ-Like",....In any Way, Shape, Form or Manner,...But we Sinners can Aspire or rather, Commit To Being Better Human Beings (But still,...Sinners),.....Everyday.
rich
promise, i copied and pasted directly from the email. once again, it's not anything miraculous, but i'm so blown away by this unintentional concept of paying it forward. humanity is so good. God is even better.
pretty awesome day for a monday.
By the way,....I'd totally forgotten about that,.....If you hadn't of mentioned it in your Honestly Sincere & Respectful E-Mail containing the Thank You "Greeting" or "Heading",.....My Late Mother taught me to do things for strangers and never expect anything back. That's The Way That The Lord Worked His Wonderful Blessings,....Not that I'm even remotely considering myself "Christ-Like",....In any Way, Shape, Form or Manner,...But we Sinners can Aspire or rather, Commit To Being Better Human Beings (But still,...Sinners),.....Everyday.
rich
promise, i copied and pasted directly from the email. once again, it's not anything miraculous, but i'm so blown away by this unintentional concept of paying it forward. humanity is so good. God is even better.
pretty awesome day for a monday.
it's the little things in life...
i am convinced they matter most. sometimes it's just a matter of noticing the little things. if you don't stop and consciously look around, you could miss it...and that would be a tragic thing.
i, for one, woke up this morning just as happy as a clam on cloud nine because i had a weekend comprised of these little things i'm referring to. to give you some idea of what i'm talking about, i'll give you an attempt at a consolidated run down:
friday night, my friend tabitha and i saw the new tyler perry film (which was great) and then we spontaneously decided to go to bodean's place to do some boot scooting (have i mentioned how much i love to dance? when i'm spinning around a dance floor, it's like nothing else in the world matters.) tab and i were famished after hours of dancing so we headed to las palapas for some greasy late night mexican food. we talked and talked and ate enough chips and salsa to feed a small country, but guess what happened when we asked for the check? our waitress announced that the people in the booth behind us had already taken care of it! when we turned around to graciously thank our philanthropists, the mysterious strangers had vanished. i don't know if this has ever happened to you, but wow, it's small, but so profound.
saturday morning i woke up to a symphonic thunderstorm and declared that this was a morning better spent under the covers. i had a wonderful morning sleeping in and waking in my perfect REM cycle (never underestimate this!) a few moments after waking up, i got an unexpected call asking to have lunch with my bud tyler. we went and had burgers @ momak's (home of texas monthly's #19 best burger!) and had the best conversation! at the end of lunch, tyler says, "miss sowder, i know you loooooooove them sad country songs, but i've been thinkin...we have GOT to break you of your keith whitley-gary stewart maudlin episodes." for the record, it is NOT that bad. tyler continued, "i have devised a list of songs for you that are going to do you a world of good." i went home with tyler's bent up index card and downloaded all the tracks and he was right - dierks & patty griffin's "beautiful world" and tenth avenue north's "by your side" are full of the best encouragement. tyler, you're a good friend...and it is always a pleasure to spend an afternoon with an aggie boy whose mama raised him right!
i spent saturday night with some great company tracing the path along the river walk and having the most excellent dinner at the iron cactus! if you haven't been, you need to check it out! remember, i never endorse anything unless i totally believe in it. i'm willing to put money down that this place has the best margarita on the river. after dinner, we went to see the critically acclaimed san antonio rose live at the historic aztec theatre. this show traces country music from the 1920s to the 1980s and while the whole thing screams branson and we were about 40 years younger than every single person in the audience, i LOVED every minute of it! what is not to love about a whole cast of characters wearing scully shirts and singing conway, tammy, george, hank, merle, and lefty? i admit, not everyone's idea of a rip roaring good time, but i was in hog heaven! i'm bound and determined to get my grandmother frances down here for this spectacle.
sunday, i woke up and went to my life group and service at the best church in the world (ok that's presumptuous)! i say "best church in the world" because this church has meant so much to me personally and it has really changed my life. i NEVER thought i would go to a mega church and the thought of attending the biggest church in san antonio frankly scared the hell out of me (is it ok to say "hell" when talking about church? well, sometimes i'm not PC, but i'm real and i think God knows my heart.) the point is, going to a church that looks like a small college campus can be quite daunting, but CBC is just the opposite. the people i have met here are the warmest, kindest, most joyful souls i have ever known. this sunday was just great because the legendary dennis jernigan recorded a live CD and chris' message on romans and the inseparability from the love of God was just what i needed. if you ever want to come to church with me, please let me know!!!
i capped off the weekend with an afternoon barbecue, visiting my old college room mate alexis, watching the acm's, and finding out that one of my best friends got engaged - CONGRATULATIONS TO JESSICA & BRANDON! we'll be getting ready for a big, beautiful wedding in st. louis, missouri!
nothing terribly exciting of course, but i've found a lot of happiness in the intricacy of the smallest things. i know you could care less about what i did for the weekend and you're right, it doesn't really matter. i'm just an ordinary girl trying to live life the best way that i know how, but i do know that life is full of goodness and it's too short to be wasted. i know it sounds incredibly delusional and like i must be popping prozac at an alarming rate, but my message is genuine: do not let your heart become embittered, resentful, scarred, or held captive because not only can you be set free from that, but quite frankly, why would you want to live like that anyway?
i, for one, woke up this morning just as happy as a clam on cloud nine because i had a weekend comprised of these little things i'm referring to. to give you some idea of what i'm talking about, i'll give you an attempt at a consolidated run down:
friday night, my friend tabitha and i saw the new tyler perry film (which was great) and then we spontaneously decided to go to bodean's place to do some boot scooting (have i mentioned how much i love to dance? when i'm spinning around a dance floor, it's like nothing else in the world matters.) tab and i were famished after hours of dancing so we headed to las palapas for some greasy late night mexican food. we talked and talked and ate enough chips and salsa to feed a small country, but guess what happened when we asked for the check? our waitress announced that the people in the booth behind us had already taken care of it! when we turned around to graciously thank our philanthropists, the mysterious strangers had vanished. i don't know if this has ever happened to you, but wow, it's small, but so profound.
saturday morning i woke up to a symphonic thunderstorm and declared that this was a morning better spent under the covers. i had a wonderful morning sleeping in and waking in my perfect REM cycle (never underestimate this!) a few moments after waking up, i got an unexpected call asking to have lunch with my bud tyler. we went and had burgers @ momak's (home of texas monthly's #19 best burger!) and had the best conversation! at the end of lunch, tyler says, "miss sowder, i know you loooooooove them sad country songs, but i've been thinkin...we have GOT to break you of your keith whitley-gary stewart maudlin episodes." for the record, it is NOT that bad. tyler continued, "i have devised a list of songs for you that are going to do you a world of good." i went home with tyler's bent up index card and downloaded all the tracks and he was right - dierks & patty griffin's "beautiful world" and tenth avenue north's "by your side" are full of the best encouragement. tyler, you're a good friend...and it is always a pleasure to spend an afternoon with an aggie boy whose mama raised him right!
i spent saturday night with some great company tracing the path along the river walk and having the most excellent dinner at the iron cactus! if you haven't been, you need to check it out! remember, i never endorse anything unless i totally believe in it. i'm willing to put money down that this place has the best margarita on the river. after dinner, we went to see the critically acclaimed san antonio rose live at the historic aztec theatre. this show traces country music from the 1920s to the 1980s and while the whole thing screams branson and we were about 40 years younger than every single person in the audience, i LOVED every minute of it! what is not to love about a whole cast of characters wearing scully shirts and singing conway, tammy, george, hank, merle, and lefty? i admit, not everyone's idea of a rip roaring good time, but i was in hog heaven! i'm bound and determined to get my grandmother frances down here for this spectacle.
sunday, i woke up and went to my life group and service at the best church in the world (ok that's presumptuous)! i say "best church in the world" because this church has meant so much to me personally and it has really changed my life. i NEVER thought i would go to a mega church and the thought of attending the biggest church in san antonio frankly scared the hell out of me (is it ok to say "hell" when talking about church? well, sometimes i'm not PC, but i'm real and i think God knows my heart.) the point is, going to a church that looks like a small college campus can be quite daunting, but CBC is just the opposite. the people i have met here are the warmest, kindest, most joyful souls i have ever known. this sunday was just great because the legendary dennis jernigan recorded a live CD and chris' message on romans and the inseparability from the love of God was just what i needed. if you ever want to come to church with me, please let me know!!!
i capped off the weekend with an afternoon barbecue, visiting my old college room mate alexis, watching the acm's, and finding out that one of my best friends got engaged - CONGRATULATIONS TO JESSICA & BRANDON! we'll be getting ready for a big, beautiful wedding in st. louis, missouri!
nothing terribly exciting of course, but i've found a lot of happiness in the intricacy of the smallest things. i know you could care less about what i did for the weekend and you're right, it doesn't really matter. i'm just an ordinary girl trying to live life the best way that i know how, but i do know that life is full of goodness and it's too short to be wasted. i know it sounds incredibly delusional and like i must be popping prozac at an alarming rate, but my message is genuine: do not let your heart become embittered, resentful, scarred, or held captive because not only can you be set free from that, but quite frankly, why would you want to live like that anyway?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
my acm stream of consciousness writing
in case you didn't know, the academy of country music awards telecast was tonight. in case you didn't know, i'm kindof freakishly into country music.
1. miranda & carrie opening the show was amazing! TWO HOT BLONDES! (carrie baby, thought your dress was a tad bit short, but i do love your rock...blinding!)
2. what is it about blake shelton?
3. thought laura bell bundy was dreadful. dear, perhaps you didn't get the memo that wearing fringe and having plastic chaps on DOES NOT MAKE YOU COUTRY! if this is the future of country radio, then i don't like it at all...
4. reba's hot. looks incredible for her age.
5. aw toby has a sensitive side.
6. zac brown band is so patriotic!
7. oh la la joe nichols.
8. i still think "people are crazy" should win an award. such a well-written country song.
9. lady antebellum is the real deal. they deserve everything they get. and "need you now" is a fantastic song. sometimes i jam out to it when it comes on the radio and it gets recorded on certain people's voicemail. ;) sorry lauren.
10. not a taylor swift hater, but i don't like her live. off pitch.
11. gloriana = see #3. terrible. "wild at heart" is unbearable to listen to in any format.
12. YAY LUKE BRYAN! tell me, do i have to go all the way over to georgia to find a boy like you?
13. joey + rory, so sweet and so authentic. i don't like them white trash hoes either!!!!!!
14. never been a fan of rascal flatts. for obvious reasons.
15. SO PROUD OF MIRANDA!!!!!!! texas girl done good. and so gracious. "house that built me" gets me every single time.
16. jack & dierks & barbie doll...it's a classic in the ingram canon. loved it.
17. carrie, you're a real life barbie doll! the most beautiful woman in country music today and you've got some of the best pipes in the business.
18. love how country people always thank Jesus Christ!
19. brad paisley, you never go out of style.
20. dear matthew mcconaughey...i would like a pair of your boots too. xoxo shan.
21. brooks 'n dunn, you shall live immortally in my heart forever. see you boys on the last rodeo tour!!
22. that reba slideshow of country love stories was just down right inspiring...ahhhh. johnny & june, waylon & jesse, george & norma, alan & denise...
23. I LOVE YOU CARRIE! GOD BLESS COUNTRY MUSIC!
b&d, i'm gonna miss you when you're gone...
1. miranda & carrie opening the show was amazing! TWO HOT BLONDES! (carrie baby, thought your dress was a tad bit short, but i do love your rock...blinding!)
2. what is it about blake shelton?
3. thought laura bell bundy was dreadful. dear, perhaps you didn't get the memo that wearing fringe and having plastic chaps on DOES NOT MAKE YOU COUTRY! if this is the future of country radio, then i don't like it at all...
4. reba's hot. looks incredible for her age.
5. aw toby has a sensitive side.
6. zac brown band is so patriotic!
7. oh la la joe nichols.
8. i still think "people are crazy" should win an award. such a well-written country song.
9. lady antebellum is the real deal. they deserve everything they get. and "need you now" is a fantastic song. sometimes i jam out to it when it comes on the radio and it gets recorded on certain people's voicemail. ;) sorry lauren.
10. not a taylor swift hater, but i don't like her live. off pitch.
11. gloriana = see #3. terrible. "wild at heart" is unbearable to listen to in any format.
12. YAY LUKE BRYAN! tell me, do i have to go all the way over to georgia to find a boy like you?
13. joey + rory, so sweet and so authentic. i don't like them white trash hoes either!!!!!!
14. never been a fan of rascal flatts. for obvious reasons.
15. SO PROUD OF MIRANDA!!!!!!! texas girl done good. and so gracious. "house that built me" gets me every single time.
16. jack & dierks & barbie doll...it's a classic in the ingram canon. loved it.
17. carrie, you're a real life barbie doll! the most beautiful woman in country music today and you've got some of the best pipes in the business.
18. love how country people always thank Jesus Christ!
19. brad paisley, you never go out of style.
20. dear matthew mcconaughey...i would like a pair of your boots too. xoxo shan.
21. brooks 'n dunn, you shall live immortally in my heart forever. see you boys on the last rodeo tour!!
22. that reba slideshow of country love stories was just down right inspiring...ahhhh. johnny & june, waylon & jesse, george & norma, alan & denise...
23. I LOVE YOU CARRIE! GOD BLESS COUNTRY MUSIC!
b&d, i'm gonna miss you when you're gone...
Thursday, April 15, 2010
this chick understands me
want to give a special shout out to my dear, dear friend megan koontz(ybear). she sent me the following card (proudly displayed on my fridge) in the mail and it warmed my heart to no end. never ever underestimate what a kind word can do for someone...it may make their day, week, or even month! seriously, if you send me a handwritten note via snail mail...i feel personally indebted to you forrrrrrrrever and i'm putty in your hands.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
thank heaven for little girls.
the most beautiful thing i've ever laid eyes on was born last week and i got to drive out to bandera tonight and see her! her name is olivia grace walker and she is precious. everything about her is absolute perfection. her mama happens to be one of my best friends...and since my best girlfriends are really like family, that makes little liv my niece.
she smells soooo good and she has the most lovely cupid bow little lips. she'll be a knockout someday!
aunt shan & liv
i'm gonna spoil this one rotten!
allison's a mom! can you believe it?
she smells soooo good and she has the most lovely cupid bow little lips. she'll be a knockout someday!
aunt shan & liv
i'm gonna spoil this one rotten!
allison's a mom! can you believe it?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
18 days until george!
18 days until george! EIGHTEEN DAYS UNTIL GEORGE!
that's right. he's making the last stop of the tour in his hometown and we are oh so grateful. mind you, reba, lee ann, and randy rogers will be there too...but really, who are we kidding? my heart only belongs to one.
would you believe that king george hasn't played in san antonio in over five years...this town is going to go crazy! don't worry, a detailed post-concert report will follow!!!!!! i know y'all think i'm crazy, but i haven't been this excited about something since...shoot, i don't know when?! :)
my dear friends from wacko, thank you for the sign...i hang it in my hallway with a tremendous amount of pride.
that's right. he's making the last stop of the tour in his hometown and we are oh so grateful. mind you, reba, lee ann, and randy rogers will be there too...but really, who are we kidding? my heart only belongs to one.
would you believe that king george hasn't played in san antonio in over five years...this town is going to go crazy! don't worry, a detailed post-concert report will follow!!!!!! i know y'all think i'm crazy, but i haven't been this excited about something since...shoot, i don't know when?! :)
my dear friends from wacko, thank you for the sign...i hang it in my hallway with a tremendous amount of pride.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
a little video i made
i've been wanting to play around with my mac so i finally wasted some time putting together a little photo montage. in honor of the opening of tejas rodeo season, hope you enjoy!
you'll have to check out THIS LINK to watch it...couldn't get the dimensions right to post it directly to the blog.
warning: very amateur, but it was fun! and you get the main idea, which is: MAMAS, PLEASE LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS! :)
you'll have to check out THIS LINK to watch it...couldn't get the dimensions right to post it directly to the blog.
warning: very amateur, but it was fun! and you get the main idea, which is: MAMAS, PLEASE LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS! :)
Thursday, April 8, 2010
neiman marcus, why do you torture me so?
beauty queen alexis suggested that i meet her at neiman's yesterday for lunch and who am i to turn that invitation down?! fabulous company and great life advice, that infamous cream cheese spread, and feeling like you're the creme de la creme of old san antonio society...it's delightfully fun for an afternoon.
oh sure i'm like any other girl and i do love to get dressed up, but if you couldn't tell from reading this blog; by and large, i'm a jeans and boots gal. you'll never find me holding a handbag (i hate carrying baggage - ha!) or wearing stilletos all night long. i didn't take classes at baylor called "fashion forecasting" like several of my friends and i don't really give too much of a damn about designers. what do i get excited about? when a new line of double d ranchwear comes out, when the king ranch saddle shop catalog arrives, when i find something amazing at bass pro or cabela's, when i get to go out wearing a white tank and a baseball cap!!!!! (just don't mistake me for gretchen wilson.)
however, when a girl walks into neiman's everything changes. it's like a hazy, intoxicating dream. one minute you're being offered a glass of champagne and the next you're fingering the prolific artistry of an oscar de la renta ball gown or a missoni knit top. the next thing you know, i turn into holly golightly and i imagine a life where i have movie premieres and fantastic dinner parties to wear all of these gorgeous clothes. then reality hits and i longingly pull myself away from staring at the tory burch tunic and michael kors sandals.
then my pre-prepared track plays in my head, "shannan, you chose to save the world and cultivate social change. that was a conscious decision that you made and with that comes the obvious fact that social workers cannot live like the housewives of orange county dear!!!!! remember that the clothes do not make the woman and you must always know the difference between NEED and WANT - because you know there's a difference."
i agree that my subconscious angel on my shoulder is right and that while my life may not be filled with tangible signs of wealth, i am rich with the things you can't see and that's all that matters to me.
as i walk out of the hallowed doors of nieman's, i smile and laugh at myself. oh the joys of being a girl...
Monday, April 5, 2010
take me to the lake...
because that place soothes my soul. it always has and it always will. peace and tranquility abound in marble falls, texas. the sound of rain on a tin roof with the mixture of cleansing fresh air, the music of van morrison and not a billboard in sight is pure bliss. not to mention those gorgeous, gorgeous bluebonnets...everyone swears this is the finest bluebonnet season we've seen in years.
i love you hank williams jr., but i think i'm gonna change the words to your song: if heaven ain't a lot like THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY, then i don't wanna go. ;)
uncle tom (field & stream's archetypical protagonist) and one of his catches for the day. would you believe that those buffalo fish were swarming all around our boat?!
another cat we caught. oh my lanta, i do love to fish. i have NEVER ever understood that brad paisley song, "i'm gonna miss her." heck, my man better like to fish as much as i do!!!
told you it was pretty.
i'm sorry i'm like a toddler and i like to take cheesy pics in bluebonnet fields...it's just what i do.
hope you had a fantastic easter weekend surrounded by your friends and family, but more importantly, hope you were able to see that God is so good and we are so unbelievably blessed to receive His sacrificial love and unmerited favor.
i love you hank williams jr., but i think i'm gonna change the words to your song: if heaven ain't a lot like THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY, then i don't wanna go. ;)
uncle tom (field & stream's archetypical protagonist) and one of his catches for the day. would you believe that those buffalo fish were swarming all around our boat?!
another cat we caught. oh my lanta, i do love to fish. i have NEVER ever understood that brad paisley song, "i'm gonna miss her." heck, my man better like to fish as much as i do!!!
told you it was pretty.
i'm sorry i'm like a toddler and i like to take cheesy pics in bluebonnet fields...it's just what i do.
hope you had a fantastic easter weekend surrounded by your friends and family, but more importantly, hope you were able to see that God is so good and we are so unbelievably blessed to receive His sacrificial love and unmerited favor.
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