And on the 7th day, I returned...

Last Friday, November 11, I sent myself on a social media hiatus. I’d been thinking about doing it for a while but just hadn’t found the motivation or willpower to make it happen. When a friend announced he was going to take some time away from social media I decided to follow suit.

I’m not sure why I decided that Friday would be the day I shut myself off from the social media world but it seemed like a good time since I was headed out of town for four days. I thought getting on a plane and being forced to be out of touch for a few hours would be a good start and I was mostly right about that.

It was the two hours between saying goodbye to Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr and the plane actually taking off that were hard. Those little icons on my phone were very inviting but I resisted. I turned off all the notifications so I wouldn’t be able to see if anyone posted something on my wall or sent me a personal tweet. That definitely helped. It also helped that my wireless connection once I got to my mom’s house was pretty weak.

I spent my weekend in Colorado seeing my mom and her husband, my dad and his wife and my grandparents (91 and 92 years of age!). I had to laugh when my mom asked me if I saw something on Facebook and again when my dad asked if I saw his post on Facebook. Normally I probably would have been the first to comment on either of their posts but I missed them completely.

I took several pictures while I was there and it was weird to not immediately post them for all the world to see. One of my favorite things about social media is the ability to share my pictures and see the pictures of my friends, especially those friends I don’t get to see very often. I feel more connected and like that we can share our lives even though we’re not in the same room, city, state or even country sometimes.

Staying away became harder once I got home on Monday afternoon and had all kinds of free time on my hands. And yet, I resisted. And it felt good. I hadn’t made any plans as to how long I’d stay away. I figured I’d know when the time was right to go back, and as I write this, I know that tomorrow is the day. I will have been away six days by then and for whatever reason, that seems like enough.

But I had another reason to step away from the silliness that social media so often is. After returning Monday from Colorado I flew out Tuesday night to San Diego so I could attend a funeral.

My dear friend Robyn’s husband Brian passed away 10 days ago after a short battle with brain cancer and I guess that’s really what started to put everything into perspective for me. When you get that sort of news, that someone not even 45 years old is gone, you realize that nothing else really matters; nothing that is except friends and family and while I connect with all my friends and most of my family via Twitter and/or Facebook on a regular basis, it just seemed like the time to step back and really focus on life for a minute.

Death is something we know is coming for each of us, but we assume it will come when we’re 80 years old or older. We assume those that will go first are grandparents, older relatives and even our parents. We don’t think we’re going to lose someone in the prime of his or her life but it happens every single day and basically, it sucks.

I lost my aunt when she was in her early 50s, and that was completely unexpected and horrible and yes, it sucked. It still sucks because she should still be here with us. Brian was my age and had a wife and a nearly-4-year-old son and wow does it ever suck. I’ve been crying off and on for the last week and a half and can’t help but wonder how much longer I have to walk on this earth. I can't even imagine what Robyn is going through.

I’ve also been thinking about what’s really important and how I should be spending my time. And yes I’m going back to my social media outlets because I think connecting with people is incredibly important and I realized today that what I missed most about Twitter and Facebook was the interaction I have with people all over the country, some that I know personally and some that I’ve never met; some that I’m related to and some that I count as my closest friends.

So while I haven’t completely figured out everything in my life, I think I least get this part, and I hope I never take anyone in my life for granted. Life is too precious and our time together is too short. Never was that more evident to me than right now.

3 Trips in 14 Days + 10 Days and 2 Concerts

That's right. 3 trips. 14 days. And if you make it 24 days, it also included 2 concerts. So yeah, let's go with that. 24 days. 3 trips. 2 concerts.

Trip One - Denver

I think I was out of town for a total of 36 hours for this trip - yeah, it was fast. I flew in to surprise my stepfather for his 75th birthday, and also got to see my mom, a good friend, 2 stepsisters and their significant others and Chick-fil-A. Yes. Chick-fil-A was definitely part of the agenda. It was fast and furious, but all good. 

Trip Two - Chicago

This trip was just slightly longer than my trip to Denver. I actually stayed two whole nights to celebrate the marriage of two very dear friends. The weekend started with an hour and a half trip from O'Hare to the W Hotel where, after I finally arrived, I got a lovely 75 minute massage at Bliss. I met my friend there and we were able to catch up a bit before all the festivities really got started. Celebrating their marriage was fantastic in itself, but I also got to meet several friends I'd only had via Facebook before that weekend. That was incredibly fun, and my circle of people and places has expanded greatly. I seriously love Chicago and enjoyed roaming about the city in cabs, and even a little on foot. Although, I did curse Bon Jovi when I was attempting to check into my hotel because their 8 million fans were also checking in at the same time. I love Bon Jovi, but I did not enjoy them having a concert at Soldier Field the night I arrived. They hindered my progress at every turn. But I'm over it now and managed to refrain from singing Have a Nice Day to all of them as I walked past all the cabs they were hogging. The wedding celebration was fantastic and included a healthy dose of Rick Bayless' guacamole. The weekend was topped off by a celebration of meat served at the newlywed's apartment. Two words: bacon explosion. Two more words: 14-pound briskit. Yum and yummier. All in all a fantastic and beautiful weekend, celebrating two of my favorite people!

Trip Three - Boise

Yes. Boise. That's in Idaho. Where they grow the taters. It's like my mother ship. I'd never actually been to Idaho despite living in a neighboring state for a good portion of my life. This was another two night trip to celebrate the wedding of some crazy kids about to embark on their senior year at Boise State. And oh yeah, it was HOT!!! It's like the desert there, but I enjoyed seeing the Boise State campus and catching up with a former CSU colleague. I toured around town in a ginormous Jeep Commander, apparently that's what they consider a compact car in Boise. Anyway...the wedding was beautiful and a lot of fun and I had a great Idahoan adventure, a final highlight of which was seeing one of my oldest and dearest friends who just happened to be in town at the same time. So Idaho? Thanks for rounding out my three trips with joy.

Concert One - Adam Lambert

Oh yes. The Glam Nation Tour. This was hands down the hardest I've ever had to work to get concert tickets. When they first went on sale, my friend and I went online right on time and got nothing. NOTHING. I've never had that happen before, and needless to say, we were less than pleased. But my friend would not be defeated. She started searching on Craigslist and StubHub and OMG! The prices people were asking for $30-35 seats was inSANE!! Seriously. Like $150. We laughed and scoffed and got further irritated. But we would not be defeated and finally, about 10 days before the concert, the prices started to dive. But, the only option was two seats not together - and $17 in FedEx fees. Her ticket came from Seattle and mine from New Mexico. Really? Anyway...the concert was totally worth it, and in the end we were able to sit by each other. If you have the chance, see this kid in concert, because he totally delivers!!

Concert Two - Rob Thomas

The Mountain Winery in Saratoga has to be one of the most beautiful concert venues I've ever been to. Seeing Rob there on Sunday night was my second time visiting this summer, and I now feel that all musicians I love should play there...at least once each summer. Are you listening Matt Nathanson? Before Rob took the stage we were exposed to a, um, comedienne?, from Mix 106.5. Wow. We were embarrassed for her and were so very thankful when she finished. But it was all forgotten once Rob took the stage. He's such a phenomenal musician that all he'd really need to do is play and sing, but he's also freaking hilarious! And even though he throws a few F-bombs down, he's just entertaining. I can't wait to see him again - although, I hope the next time he's standing in front of the MB20 guys. It's time!!

So there it is. 24 days. 3 trips. 2 concerts. 1 tired Carrie! What's next?

1 musical

4 concerts

1 conference

1 visit by the mother

And that's all before November! Guess I'd better get some rest...

Of friends, flying, music, books and VIP treatment

It really shouldn't have been that big of a deal for my alarm to go off at 4:01 a.m. today...that's only 20 minutes earlier than it goes off every other day. However, that extra 20 minutes at 4 in the morning is HUGE! It was made worse, of course, by the fact that I didn't get to bed until midnight. Ah, the joys of travel...

I actually thought I'd have to get up a little earlier as I anticipated I should leave around 4:45 to get the car parked and get to the airport, but was extremely thankful to have a friend offer to pick me up at 5 and take me...these are the best kind of friends to have!! It's not just anyone who will also crawl out of bed before 5 and fetch you. These friends deserve treats.

So, after an early morning and two flights, I'm now sitting in Hoover, Alabama. That's right. Alabama. And no, I do not currently have a banjo on my knee. In fact, I'm sitting in a lovely hotel room with a fabulously delicious basket of goodies and full VIP treatment. Oh yeah. I was that person that the driver waits for with the little sign. Nice.

I'm not really the VIP, but I'm VIP adjacent, and apparently, that's just as good! My lovely friend Tasha is a featured author at a very cool event this weekend called Southern Voices. She's the real VIP, but this group covers her and a companion for this trip...I'm delighted she asked me to join her and be part of her VIP world. I could get used to it!

So, I'm lounging in my swanky hotel room awaiting her arrival...listening to the new U2 album streaming on their MySpace page...I LOVE IT!! I can't wait to have it for real and then to see it live and in person on their tour. Give it already!!

One thing I love about flying is listening to music and really having a chance to focus on it. Sometimes I hear a song for what seems like the first time, even though I've listened to it hundreds of times before. Something about having the headphones on, focusing on listening and not being distracted by driving or roaming about the house...you really hear the words and the meaning of the songs. I love that.

The other thing I love about flying is being able to just sit and read. I rarely make time to do that in my life on the ground, so I relish the opportunity. I finished one book (Cancer is a Bitch) and got half-way through another (Second Chance) today.

Okay. Reading on the plane is great. Unless you're reading a book that makes you cry. Then you just feel like an idiot. You can imagine that there were parts of Cancer that brought tears...I was half-way through before I got on the plane, so I was well into the story and knew what was going on...I definitely shed a few tears, but the book was great and I'm so glad I read it! I highly recommend it. Thanks Gail!

The second book is written by Jane Green, an author who I have really enjoyed reading over the years...good Chick Lit. I was expecting a fun, beachy sort of read. Within two minutes, I was totally crying!! Cried through each chapter I read on the flight. Man. It took a lot out of me. I know people were looking at me like I was losing it...even though they could clearly see I was reading and reacting to the words leaping off the pages. I was going to wait to finish reading it on my flight home, but now I'm thinking I'll finish in the confines of my hotel room. Crying on the plane is not interesting.

I think the only time I've cried more on the plane was reading Marley and Me...and that went from equal parts laughing out loud to outright sobbing. I really think people thought I was having a nervous breakdown at that point.

So, my advice to you? Only read things on the plane that won't put you on an emotional rollercoaster. This also goes for watching movies on the plane. I've gotten caught in that trap too.

Well, I've just heard from Tasha, and she is en route to the hotel. I'll sign off now and wish you all a fabulous weekend! Happy flying, reading and musicing (my blog...my word).

Clubhouses, Secret Knocks and Cherry-Flavored Pez

Ya know, when you're home sick, you watch a lot of TV, a lot of movies and well, a lot of everything. Well, at least I do...and I've been home for the better part of the last 5 days. Thankfully, I'm feeling better, but am still lounging through most of this Sunday afternoon.

I have watched more cheesy holiday movies than I care to count this week, but have also caught a few classics and actually went to a movie on Friday evening.

I watched one of my favorites earlier today, Stand by Me. Classic. I loved the story when I read it in high school and get sucked into it every time it's on TV. It always makes me a little sad thinking that River Phoenix would have been one of our greatest actors but like so many others, he died way too young...living an out-of-control life.

Do kids still hang out like the Stand by Me kids today? And have clubhouses and secret knocks and cherry-flavored Pez? I never had any of those things...mostly I played by myself, or with one friend at a time. And occasionally with my imaginary friends. To this day, I'm more comfortable hanging out with just one or two friends (real, not imaginary) as opposed to a group of people.

Yes. I had two imaginary friends. Kathy and Ritney. Ritney had a motorcycle. We played tennis and random other games...I mainly remember the tennis. My dad had imaginary friends too, as did my aunt. It's typically an only child thing, but I think my aunt still had hers after my mom came along. I remember Kathy and Ritney in San Antonio, and remember them moving to Laramie with us. I'm not sure when they left, but they've been gone a very long time. The main thing I remember is playing tennis with them in Laramie. Well, truth be told, I actually ran a tennis school that they belonged to and we played in the backyard. Wow. I haven't played tennis for years! I guess that ended when I started playing racquetball...haven't played that for years either. I need to get out more...

Okay, this post has really been all over the place today...guess that's where my brain's been the last few days. Hope you had a lovely holiday, whatever you did. I better get back to resting so I can focus tomorrow at work. See ya next time!