Sunday, September 11, 2011

Why ask "Where were you?"

Reading through my Facebook feed this weekend, it's obvious what's on people's mind. For starters, it's rare that a subject other than football has competition in the news feed on a Saturday in the South. Even though the excitement of the beginning of football season shows, this weekend is different. It is with heavy hearts we enjoy the freedoms we do while reflecting on what happened on that day ten years ago.

As I read people describe what they were doing when they heard the news, I noticed something. Of all the varying descriptions of what people had going on that morning, one thing is clear. No one was doing anything that was so "important" that they just went on with their day. Once it was clear that the first plane hitting the first tower was no accident, it seems like everyone was glued to the TV. School, careers, and leisure activities weren't important at that moment. Uneasy, scared, mad... these are the feelings that are described in the posts I read. There are only two events in my lifetime that I can remember so vividly where I was... one was watching the challenger explosion live from home as a kid with my parents because we were out of school for a snow day. The other was 9/11.

On September 11, 2001, I was in my second year of grad school at North Georgia. It must have been "work on your thesis" day, because otherwise I would have probably been in class by 8am. Instead I was asleep when the first plane hit the tower. I actually received a phone call from a classmate telling me that a plane flew into the WTC tower. Probably like most people, I assumed that a small plane crashed into the building and it was an accident. Nonetheless, I got up and turned on the news... just in time before the second plane hit. At that point I knew something was wrong. I don't even remember anything else that day after the towers fell. I have no idea if classes were cancelled. I don't remember if I did any work that day. All I know is that we were uneasy, upset, and mad.

I don't think a day goes by for most of us that we don't think about 9/11 because we listen to the news and we've been at war ever since. But I couldn't imagine what it's like for someone who lost a loved one that day. Just last year, I learned that a new coworker had lost her dad that day working in the WTC. She was the first person I knew of that lost someone that close. I couldn't imagine if that was me. I don't know how I would move on without having feeling of madness every day. But we have stood strong and fought back.

I am thankful for those in our armed services who are putting their lives at risk to protect our freedoms. Especially my friends from North Georgia College who graduated from our military program. I'm so proud to have gone to a school with so many brave people who were choosing a career in the Army. For those in my graduating class in 2000, I'm sure you weren't expecting to be at war the next year. But for those that continue to enlist or attend a military college or academy with hopes to commission, I commend your bravery.


Two years ago, I was walking down the isle. It's not that I chose to get married or wanted to get married on the date 9/11, but it was the only date left open for the remainder of the fall at the outdoor venue I fell in love with. I'm sure people were avoiding that date like the plague, but I decided I would turn this date into something positive for me. Although I will always remember what happened on this day on 2001, I will also never forget what happened on 09/11/09.

This photo was taken on 09/11/04. My buddy Jeff and I were in Columbia, SC, for the UGA/USC game. And yes, UGA won that day!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

To See or Not to See...

With so much going on with buying a new home, I have totally neglected getting excited about the Beale Street Music Festival this weekend. In fact, we don't even have a place to stay. Normally I've already researched the best food and must sees around town. I've never been to Memphis except to drive through it.  But for once, this master planner is going to wing it. But again, this trip is all about the music. I have my "must see" bands. But then comes the decision making. Who do I need to check out that I'm not totally familiar with? Who do I see when I like two bands playing in the same time slot? Any input is welcome!

Worth the price of admission: Mumford and Sons and The Avett Brothers. If there is a banjo player in the band, I will be a fan. I love bluegrass, but these bands are so much more. Mumford jumped to my elite group of fav bands after just one album. This British folk group has such a good sound and their style is hard to describe except for awesome. The Avett Bro are more traditional American folk music, and I love how their songs very from folk to country to rock to traditional bluegrass. I've seen them both live and can't wait to see them again!

Other must see acts on my list: Paul Thorn, Lucero, and Amos Lee. All very solid. Thorn is an amazing songwriter. Lucero is a perfect example of a great alt-country band. Lots of twang and reminds me a lot of Jay Farrar. I didn't see Amos Lee at the Ryman a few weeks ago because I knew I could see him this weekend. I haven't been a fan long but he won me over with his last song which sounded surprising like Ryan Adams.

The biggest dilemma: Friday night- The Flaming Lips or Stone Temple Pilots. Darn it. I was super excited about both bands, but they are playing the same time slot. I haven't seen either live. I really, really want to see Flaming Lips. But STP will take me back to my high school days. The tie breaker is going to be my date. I know Adam knows STP much better that the Flaming Lips. He's a good sport and likes most of the music I expose him too. But to be a good wife, we'll go rock out to STP :)

Other decisions (time slot conflicts)...
Cage the Elephant, Everclear, or Cake? Who puts these three bands in the same slot?? I like Cake but I can knock them off pretty easily. Everclear would be such a fun show. But I'm going with Cage the Elephant. I didn't like their first album at all. There new album has made me do a 180 and go back to album one again. Album two rocks, and that has me tolerating their older stuff better.

MGMT or Slightly Stoopid? Different sounds, but both pretty solid bands that I can listen to but not crazy about. I'm thinking I'll check out MGMT... A little more electronic and psychedelic than most bands I listen too but I can see them being a good show.

The New Pornographers or Jerry Lee Lewis? This kinda sucks. I'm a huge indie rock fan and the Canadian group The New Pornographers is right up my alley. But how do you compete with Jerry Lee Lewis? He's legend. Plus if I see JLL that will keep me at the same stage for three consecutive acts... Paul Thorn, JLL, and Mumford. Which means I will eventually inch my way up to front stage by Mumford :)

So now there's extra slots that I'm not sure what I'll do. I'd like to see at least one blues act. I'm thinking maybe Magic Slim and the Teardrops. That will fill some time if I decide to stay late for the last show Saturday which is John Mellencamp. He's definitely an act you can sing along to most of the songs. I'm just trying to determine if he's worth staying up for...

Other reputable acts I'd like to see but got ousted by someone I like better... Jason Mraz, Jimmie Vaughan, JJ Grey and Mofro, and Ziggy Marley, and Ludacris. I'd say Wilco, but I'll admit it now... I've never been a fan of Jeff Tweedy since the split of Uncle Tupelo. Jay Farrar was the better half of that duo.

One last thought... you couldn't pay me to sit through... Ke$ha. Hinder, Drowning Pool, and Saving Abel.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Let the Madness Begin!

We've been watching basketball all season. We've listened to the experts.  We've made our picks.  Now, here's how I feel about the brackets... and how I think things are going to go.

First, about the SEC teams in the brackets.

UK fans are upset. They don't like their seed, their bracket, or that Florida got a 2 seed. My opinion: They deserved the 4 seed. They dropped a few games they shouldn't have but ended the season very strong. They probably should have gotten in the bracket that fellow 4 seed Wisconsin or Louisville is in. Texas is also a good 4 seed. UK just can't make it past Ohio State in my opinion.

Florida is a good team... balanced and well coached. I have them in my final 4. I think a 2 or 3 seed is well deserved.

UT. I don't understand UT. They lost every other game for the last month of the season. I think they are a talented team, just not well coached. I thought they should have been on the bubble a little more than they were, but I'm not complaining they got in. That one win over Pitt helped. They did have the #2 SOS going for them. They can put it on Michigan or they can be one and done depending on which UT team shows up. They could play with Duke, but I think Duke will move on.

Vanderbilt. This is one pick I keep going back and forth on. I have them in the Sweet Sixteen. But no team can disappoint in the dance like Vandy. They are either hot or they're not. And Brad Tinsley just isn't a great point guard. I see Louisville putting them out, but yet I've picked Vandy for some reason.

Georgia (the unbiased version). They deserved to be in the dance although I thought the two loses at the end of the season to Bama almost killed us. We did not have a single bad loss until Bama, and even Bama had a pretty good year, although their SOS was poor pre-conference and in the SEC west. UGA lost to Notre Dame (2 seed), Xavier (6 seed), and Temple (7 seed). We played everyone close. But UGA has a problem (a big one)... choking. Of our loses, we blew double digit leads in almost all of them. UGA can play with all 64 teams in this bracket because they are athletic and well coached. They can hold teams to fewer points. But UGA's offense has to kick in on all cylinders. We can struggle on the perimeter. I guarantee Washington will be playing zone defense. UGA can win that game. And they can give UNC a run. But I've watched the Dawgs too many times this season and that's why I only went as far to pick them to win against Washington and go out against UNC.

Ok... on to the rest of the teams.

Overrated teams. The entire Big East. Good teams, yes. Great teams, not convinced. All eleven teams with 20+ wins deserved to get in? No way. Virginia tech and Colorado got screwed because of the selection committee's love affair with that conference. Sorry, but I don't have a Big East team in the Final Four.

Other flops: BYU, SDSU.

Surprises. Usually, i'm good at picking upsets in the first round. I'm not excited about round one this year because I don't see much of that happening. My only picks where the lower seed moves on (an none of them would be bracket busters)... Villanova over George Mason, UGA over Washington (biased pick), UT over Michigan, Missouri over Cincy (biggest upset per seeding), Old Dominion over Butler, and Gonzaga over St Johns. As much as all of Nashville would like to see Belmont be that sleeper team, I think Wisconsin is going to prove to be a little too much for them.

Teams I think could really make some noise and make the final 4 but I didn't have the balls to pick them for my one bracket (because I didn't want to break down and make multiple brackets): Missouri as an 11 seed, Arizona (5 seed), Texas (4 seed), Purdue (3 seed), Kansas St (5 seed).

So, who are my final four: OSU, Duke, Kansas, and Florida. And as much as I hate it, I have OSU winning it all over Kansas.

Oh, and I really don't like Joe Lunardi.

Good luck picking your brackets. And GO DAWGS.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Welcome to my blog!

Well, here it goes. I never thought of myself as a blogger, but after years of reading my friends' blogs, I've decided to create my own. Unlike most of my friends, I won't be blogging about the joys and frustrations of being a mom. That day will come eventually. But in the meantime, there is never a shortage of things on my mind.  From sports commentary to travel adventures. From my cats to music. It will probably all be covered here... at some point... probably starting in April. Because at the moment, I'm procrastinating creating this blog and watching Saturday Night Live instead of working on my huge annual report due April 1st for the Nashville Kappa Delta Alumnae Chapter. For those who don't know, I am the president of my sorority's alumnae chapter here in town. It's a lot of work, but it's very rewarding, and I have developed many wonderful friendships by staying involved with Kappa Delta after college.

And if you can't figure out why my blog is called "Two Dawgs and Two Cats," well, here you go. Everyone knows that I'm a Georgia girl and I bleed red. Adam graduated from Mississippi State. So there you have it... we're the two dawgs. And thank God for that, because "A Dawg, a Vol, and Two Cats" just doesn't sound right. Not to mention my mom would have had a fit if I married a UT, Florida, or GA Tech fan!

Happy reading!