I went sky diving

I went Rocky Mountain climbing

I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu

And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter

And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying

And he said someday I hope you get the chance

To live like you were dying.

In other words, knowing that his remaining time on earth was short, the man lived life to the full.

Mark 13.1–37 records Jesus’ prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem. New Testament scholars disagree as to whether the prophecy refers to the destruction of Jerusalem that actually occurred in A.D. 70 or to its destruction at some time in our future. Either way, Jesus offers his disciples a preview of the difficult future that lay ahead of them.

That future includes “false Christs” and “false prophets” (vv. 5, 6, 21, 22). It includes “wars and rumors of war” (vv. 7, 8a). Earthquakes, famines, and other natural disasters will multiply (vv. 8b, 24, 25). Christians will be persecuted for their faith (vv. 9–13). And false religion will take prominence over true faith (v. 14). Jesus litany of “signs” is unremittingly negative, full of danger and death.

How should we live? As Christians, we should live life to the full. And while that may include riding a bull named Fu Manchu—life is fun, after all—it also involves seriously pursuing our relationship with God.

The most important thing Jesus tells us to do is “Watch!” Jesus tells a parable about a homeowner who goes on a trip and leaves his servants in charge, but without telling them when he will return. “Therefore keep watch,” Jesus says, “because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (vv. 35–37). Life is short. Death comes quickly. Are we ready to stand in God’s presence?

The Apostles’ Creed tells us that Jesus will “come again to judge the living and the dead.” Jesus himself says the same thing in verses 26 and 27: “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” Are we ready?

As Christians, we should not fear the future. Christ’s second coming is a great and happy event after all. No, we should not fear; but we should prepare.

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The Seminole Hard Rock Casino – Weekend

5223 North Orient Rd. | Tampa, FL 33610
1-866-502-PLAY (7529) www.seminolehardrocktampa.com

Friday Night Pool Party
No Cover, 21 & up – Friday night pool party from 7 – 10 with poolside music, craft beer and booze samples. First 1,000 guests are FREE.

Saturday Night – $100,000 Money Mania
Wild Card members must swipe their card starting at 8 p.m. to be entered in the drawings. At 10 p.m., five lucky Wild Card members will win $500 in cash. At 11 p.m.,  five lucky Wild Card members will win $1,000 in cash. At midnight, five lucky Wild Card members will win $1,500 in cash. At 1 a.m., five lucky Wild Card members will win $2,000 in cash. Each winner will have until 2 a.m. on the night of the drawing to claim their prize at the Center Bar. Earn

Sunday – Mother’s Day Fresh Harvest Buffet
Hours: 10:30AM – 2PM | Adults – $30 | $15 Kids 12 & Under

With nearly 100 tables that offer Blackjack, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker and 2,500 slots the Seminole Hard Rock Casino could make your Mother’s Day the most exciting and tasty ever. The Fresh Harvest Buffet on Sunday will offer a Chef’s specialty omelet station, Belgian waffles and cheese blintzes, Spanish breakfast of “strata” Piquillo peppers and chorizo and all the traditional breakfast foods mama loves.  After she eats, set her lose on the slots while you and Dad head to the poker room for a hand of cards and a cigar.

For other great Mother’s Day Bunch Restaurants:  Best Mother’s Day Brunches & Buffets Around Tampa Bay

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Rays Vs Padres – Weekend At Tropicana Field

1 Tropicana Dr, St Petersburg, FL 33705
www.raysbaseball.com

Friday – Star Trek Dress Up Night  – 7PM
Rays fans are encouraged to dress up in costume, and the team is offering a special ticket package that includes press-level seats, a Rays-Star Trek t-shirt, take pictures with Star Trek characters, enjoy special trailers of the new movie, and participate in contests to win great prizes. For more details click HERE.   The promotion is a tie-in with the upcoming Star Trek movie, which hits theaters everywhere May 16th & in select IMAX theaters May 15th! Tix & showtimes: www.StarTrekMovie.com.

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Saturday – Post Game Kenny Loggins Concert
Saturday, May 11 vs. San Diego Padres at 6:10 p.m.
Buy Tickets     |    Buy Wristbands

Sunday – Mother’s Day Family Game – 1PM
Variety of activities for kids on the concourse: Rays Carnival,  Grand Slam Alley,  Power Alley Batting Cage, Speed Pitch, Coaches Corner, Raymond’s Art Studio, Pop Noggins Interactive Video & Topps and Make Your Own Baseball Card. Free parking for cars with four or more passengers. To buy tickets – which start at $1 – click HERE.

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Croc Encounters Sneak Peek & Cheap Saturdays
Saturday, May 10  | 11AM – 4PM
8611 Bowles Rd,  | Tampa, FL 33637
(813) 217-4400 | www.crocencounters.com

Meet giant crocodiles and alligators while on a $5 self-guided tour ($3 with Coupon from website) of a reptile rescue sanctuary called Croc Entcounters. Tour their renovated alligator and crocodile ponds, tortoise exhibits, many smaller reptile displays, a hands-on animal encounter and an alligator handling show.

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Concerts

FRIDAY -  LT. DAN BAND – Concert at 7PM
Curtis Hixon Park | 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa

Gary Sinise, who starred in the movie “Forrest Gump,” brings his Lt. Dan Band to Tampa to raise money to build “smart” homes for a dozen severely wounded warriors.  The band is named for the character he played in “Gump,” an Army platoon leader who loses his legs in an ambush.  Tickets: $35 and $75 for VIP seating, for information or to purchase tickets go to supportmikenicholson.com; tickets also will be sold at the gate

SATURDAY – Tim McGraw: Two Lanes Of Freedom Tour
Live Nation Amphitheatre | Florida State Fairgrounds
4802 US Highway 301 N. | Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 740-2446 | www.livenation.com

This concert will also spotlight Brantley Gilbert and Love and Theft as special guests. Concert starts at 7PM and tickets prices are $30.25 – $70.

Related: Biggest Concerts Coming To Tampa Bay This Summer

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WINE PARIES

Friday – Tosti’s Wine & Blues Party
5125 34th Street South | Saint Petersburg, FL.
(727) 867-7772 | www.facebook.com/pages/Tostis-Spirits-Fine-Wine

Wine & Blues to kick of the Mother’s Day weekend. Friday, May 10, 6:30-8:30pm. Lots of wine and spirits to taste, great appetizers and a LIVE Blues Band all for $10!! Don’ miss it!

UnCork Your Weekend
Keel and Curley Winery’s Tasting Room
5202 W. Thonotosassa Rd. |  Plant City, Florida 33565
(813) 752-9100 | www.keelandcurleywinery.com/

Fridays: Happy Hour 6-7pm: 1/2 off glasses of wine and bottles of beer. Hours  Friday 10AM – midnight.
Saturdays: 10AM – 6PM Regular hours no cover. Live Music: 6:30-10:30pm  $5 Cover Charge. $2 glasses of wine all night (no happy hour).

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FREE EVENTS:

Sunsets at Pier 60
10 Pier 60 Dr. | Clearwater Beach, Florida 33767
(727) 449-1036 | http://www.sunsetsatpier60.com/
Hours Daily 6-10pm

This nightly free family event features artisans, crafters, street performers and musical entertainment. There are free movies on Friday and Saturday nights weather permitting. FRIDAY – Sky Kids”/PG rating. SATURDAY – “Pride and Predudice” / PG Rating. Movies start at dusk. Bring a blanket or low sitting chair and watch a movie on the jumbo screen. Popcorn and soft drinks will be available.

FREE – National Train Day at Tampa’s Union Station
Saturday, May 11 | 10AM – 5PM
601 North Nebraska Avenue | Tampa, FL 33602
www.tampaunionstation.com

101-year-old Tampa Union Station is celebrating National Train Day and their 15th anniversary. The dual celebration includes live music tours of Amtrak equipment, operating model trains and exhibits, telegraph demonstrations, food trucks and a history program.  Admission is free.

Related articles

• Best Mother’s Day 2013 Brunches & Buffets Around Tampa Bay (tampa.cbslocal.com)
• Kid Rock’s Tampa Concert With ZZ Top Best Deal Of Summer: $20 (wqyk.cbslocal.com)

Highway Don’t Care- Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban

Bet your window’s rolled down and your hair’s pulled back
And I bet you got no idea you’re going way too fast
You’re trying not to think about what went wrong
Trying not to stop ’til you get where you goin’
You’re trying to stay awake so I bet you turn on the radio
And the song goes

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby
I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby, baby

The highway won’t hold you tonight
The highway don’t know you’re alive
The highway don’t care if you’re all alone
But I do, I do.
The highway won’t dry your tears
The highway don’t need you here
The highway don’t care if you’re coming home
But I do, I do.

I bet you got a dead cell phone in your shotgun seat
Yeah, I bet you’re bending God’s ear talking ’bout me.
You’re trying not to let the first tear fall out
Trying not to think about turning around
You’re trying not to get lost in the sound but that song is always on
So you sing along

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby
I can’t live without I can’t live without you baby, oh baby

The highway won’t hold you tonight
The highway don’t know you’re alive
The highway don’t care if you’re all alone
But I do, I do.
The highway won’t dry your tears
The highway don’t need you here
The highway don’t care if you’re coming home
But I do, I do.

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby
I can’t live without I can’t live without you, baby, oh baby

The highway don’t care
The highway don’t care
The highway don’t care
But I do, I do.

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby
I can’t live without I can’t live without you, baby, oh baby
(The highway don’t care
The highway don’t care
The highway don’t care
But I do, I do)

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby

Tay Tay is finally working with the man who sings her favorite song- Tim McGraw! Happy for you gurl! And your vocals get better every time we hear a new song!

In an interview with E! Online, The”Highway Don’t Care,” singer and country music crooner does not really seem to “care” what others say about Swift. He reportedly thinks that she is one talented singer with great songwriting skills: “She’s young and beautiful and she’s loaded,” McGraw stated, as told in the E! Online article.

McGraw who recently released the video for “Highway Don’t Care” has his “gal pal” Swift in the video. Keith Urban is also featured in the video as well.

Also in the E! Online article, McGraw adds that Swift is one of those artists who comes into the realms of music, once in a lifetime: “Taylor is one of those real artists that comes along every once in awhile that creates such a wave that everybody falls into it,” McGraw said. “She’s got a great sense of style, she’s a beautiful girl and she’s a great singer. But I think as much as anything, she is a really fantastic songwriter.”

McGraw is preparing for his “ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night” which is scheduled to air on May 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Click here to read the entire E!Online article and watch “Highway Don’t Care” below!

Do you care!?!?

[vevo]http://www.vevo.com/watch/tim-mcgraw/highway-dont-care/USCJY1318158[/vevo]

- 100.3 The Bull

In an interview with E! Online, The”Highway Don’t Care,” singer and country music crooner does not really seem to “care” what others say about Swift. He reportedly thinks that she is one talented singer with great songwriting skills: “She’s young and beautiful and she’s loaded,” McGraw stated, as told in the E! Online article.

McGraw who recently released the video for “Highway Don’t Care”  has his “gal pal” Swift in the video. Keith Urban is also featured in the video as well.

Also in the E! Online article, McGraw adds that Swift is one of those artists who comes into the realms of music, once in a lifetime: “Taylor is one of those real artists that comes along every once in awhile that creates such a wave that everybody falls into it,” McGraw said. “She’s got a great sense of style, she’s a beautiful girl and she’s a great singer. But I think as much as anything, she is a really fantastic songwriter.”

McGraw is preparing for his “ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night” which is scheduled to air on May 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Click here to read the entire E!Online article and watch “Highway Don’t Care” below!

Do you care!?!?

Kenny Chesney can celebrate good times this week on the charts.

Chart Rewind: May 1,2013

Last week, Michael Bublé was certainly ‘loved’ as To Be Loved debuted at no. 1 with 195,000 copies.  Fantasia may have had her lowest numbers of her career (91,000 copies), but she managed a no. 2 debut, not too shabby for an R&B effort these days, believe it or not. Phoenix debuted at no. 5 with Bankrupt! selling a respectable 50,000 copies – the high water mark for the Parisian indie-rockers. I think I failed to mentioned that Rob Zombie debuted at no. 7 with Venomous Rat Regeneration. will.i.am also bowed in the top 10  (no. 9) with 29,000 copies sold of #willpower.

Catching Up With Notable Top 20 Debuts:  Snoop Lion‘s Reincarnated bowed a no. 16; Tate Stevens‘ debut album bowed at no. 18.

Kenny Chesney Rules The Roost

While ‘life may be on a rock’ for country singer Kenny Chesney, he celebrates yet another no. 1 album,

K.C.

which according to billboard.com is his 7th.  Life On Rock was the unopposed victor for the no. 1 spot in a relatively slow week, selling a respectable 153,000 copies.  153,000 is solid, but Chesney has had better weeks, much like many of his veteran country singer colleagues like Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, and Tim McGraw.

Jessica Sanchez misses the top 10.

Otherwise, the top 10 only had one other debut with Ready Rogers Band’s Trouble, which debuted at no. 9 with 26,000 copies.  I’m not familiar with this particular country band, so I don’t have much insight to provide.  But that tells you that a certain American Idol alum (Jessica Sanchez) missed the mark for a top 10 debut.  But that’s the business for you.

Everybody else was a holdover or reentered the top 10.  Michael Bublé didn’t fall too far, no. 2 with under 100,000 more copies sold (96,000).  Justin Timberlake continues to do his thing (no. 3 with The 20/20 Experience) while American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia finds herself inside the top five for a second week (no. 4 with Side Effects of You). With their popularity continuing to surge, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis find themselves at no. 5.  Overall, it was  a boring week.

Lady Antebellum should be in good position next week to top the charts.

Who’s Got Next?

This week was bigger, perhaps mostly because of Lady Antebellum‘s latest release, Golden, which will probably crown the charts like previous albums Need You Now and Own The Night did respectively.  Even with the star power of Lady Antebellum, they have some company who should be competitive. Rod Stewart should also get some love in the top 10 with Time, his new album of originals as opposed to covers. I haven’t personally listened yet, but I’m curious of the rock legend’s diminishing but still distinct voice can rival the power he had on say ”Hot Legs“.  If his standards sets are any indication, we know the answer to that – just being honest.   Also Now That’s What I Call Music, Vol. 46 arrives, usually good for a top five  bow. Among other albums  released was Pistol Annies’ Annie Up, Dixie Chicks front-woman Natalie Maines‘ solo effort Mother, The Piano Guys The Piano Guys 2, The soundtrack to The Great Gatsby, She & Him‘s Volume 3, and Fitz and the Tantrum‘s More Than Just A Dream. 

for more info about whats happening on the charts, check out Billboard.com, specifically article Kenny Chesney Logs Lucky Seventh No. 1 Album on Billboard…

Related articles

• Chart Moves, May 1, 2013: Michael Bublé, Fantasia (brentmusicreviews.com)
• Kenny Chesney Beats Michael Buble, Notches Seventh No. 1 (news.radio.com)
• Chart Moves, 4.24.13: Fall Out Boy, Kid Cudi, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Michael Bublé (brentmusicreviews.com)

I don’t know where it comes from (my fascination for sad stories? or the one for bad guys with guitars?) but I do love country, Americana and blues. I know most of the songs are about lost love and stuff, but this is my favourite soundtrack to picture the perfect (secret) life I dream of, usually consisting in a  house in the middle of nowhere (woods or mountains, I’m not too fussy) and a tattooed guy playing guitar on a sofa while I’m writing stories on a typewriter. Yes, I am a cliché.

I also dream of endless music nights in Nashville and Austin, of old bars in Kentucky…Country girl at heart?

Anyway, there’s a collection of songs I love and it’s an excellent excuse to feature the excellent Col. JD Wilkes, the ambassador of Americana, who also released my favourite documentary to date, 7 Signs (watch it, it’s a fascinating journey deep South).

Enjoy, be excellent to each other, and go sing a Whiskey song to the pretty gal outside.

Geek Pessimism #9 – Country Strong

xx

My effort to view as many Taylor Swift RED Tour concerts as possible taught me one basic thing: who my friends are. For the longest time I went without friends. Now that I have them it amazes me how much they care for me. It’s not one-sided as it was in middle school and high school.

Tim McGraw.

In Chicago on Monday, after completing my seemingly never-ending sleep, I awoke just in time to see the Tim McGraw Highway Don’t Care music video premiere. (The song starts at about the 12:40 mark.) It’s an AMAZING video, exactly how I’d visualized it when the song was released!

Then Ashley and James came home from work and James cooked again… this time Chicken Quesadillas and rice. Equally as good as Sunday’s pork chops.

I packed my stuff and we waited until it was time for us to head for the bus to take us to Louisville, KY. As I was still confused as to what time and day it was, taking a late-night bus served only to confuse me even further.

But, of course, for Taylor, it’s all worth it.

Yet another late-night bus ride

Megabuses leave from street corners and we waited with a vast crowd. Thankfully, other buses were also leaving from the same site and the whole swarm didn’t head for Louisville with us!

‘Insurgent,’ Veronica Roth.

We got on the bus and got comfy for the six-hour drive. Then it dawned upon me that sleeping all day had been a totally bad idea. Having excessively slept I wasn’t tired, couldn’t sleep and would arrive in Louisville exhausted. Again.

I finished reading Divergent, which ended very differently than I imagined it would, in a much “happier” place than I’d foreseen.

I can’t wait to get Insurgent. I should probably download it for my crazy-long Thursday bus ride back to New York, but I don’t think I have enough loot left on my Discover card (my non-Taylor card LOL). Oh well, I’ll just have to watch New Girl instead and prep myself for Taylor’s guest spot on the season finale next week!

Sight from the bus. (Photo: Sami.)

When we finally got to Louisville at around 6:30am we were stupid-tired. We plotted and breakfasted at the Galt House, a hotel near KFC Yum!, the concert venue. (Plus: “Official Host Hotel of the Kentucky Derby” which ran Sunday.)

Ashley had booked a hotel as their bus home wouldn’t leave until 4:30am and checked in early. I paid for half so I could crash before the concert. As soon as I hit the bed I was out.

Ashley left for the venue about 10am and James started getting ready to go around 2. I set my alarm for 3. When I woke up I panicked thinking I’d slept through the alarm… but it just hadn’t gone off yet. Waking early, a novel experience!

Meeting and greeting

Outside the KFC Yum! (Photo: Sami.)

My friend Amanda — whom I’d not yet met in person, had offered me her extra ticket for the Louisville show, and was graciously letting me stay at her house after the show — texted me while I was sleeping to say she’d won Florida Georgia Line Meet and Greets. Did I want to be her plus one?

Does a bear sleep in the woods? Yes, yes, yes! I replied, so excited I was flipping out!

Amanda met me at the hotel. I put my stuff in her car and we drove to the KFC Yum! Center, Taylor Swift’s venue in Louisville.

Outside KFC Yum! (Photo: Sami.)

We met up with Ashley, James, and Caylee outside the venue. They had just met Grant Mickelson and were waiting to see if anyone else from the tour team would appear.

Amanda and I went to collect our Meet and Greet passes from the box office. We got them and returned to our friends. Caylee wanted badly to go with us to the Meet and Greet and tagged along with us to see if there was any extra room. As always, I was ready to give her mine but she refused saying her plan would work.

Florida Georgia Line meet and greet passes. (Photo: Sami.)

The venue doors opened a little after 5:30, making us super-nervous as we had to be at section 109 at 5:35 for the Meet and Greet. We ran up the escalators.

Florida Georgia Line’s manager was there organizing the Meet and Greet so Caylee and I asked him if there was any way she could get in.

He said to wait until everyone had booked in and then he’d see if there was any space. So Amanda, Caylee and I headed to the back of the line which, as there were only twenty or so people on line, was no big deal. Five minutes later the manager came over and said Caylee could come in, Yaas…!

Sami and Florida Georgia Line.

We were taken behind a curtain near the dressing rooms. Then Florida Georgia Line appeared and we each got a few seconds with them.

Nothing fancy, but I told them that I’d seen them in New Jersey with Taylor, that I loved them, and that I would see them at CMA Fest…

It was very informal and they took photos with our cameras. Mine is blurry but it totally works, for me anyway.

Chicken — eating and dancing

We were in desperate need of food so after the Meet and Greet we got Kentucky Fried Chicken — after all, we were in the KFC Yum Center — and went and chilled around Caylee’s seat. Caylee seat was on the floor while ours weren’t. So every now and then we had to move? No big deal.

Shortly after we finished eating, Florida Georgia Line came onstage and we ran down to be by my co owner, Abby, who was sitting right by the stage with empty seats all around. So, we were able to stand and dance and sing during the set without being bothered or bothering.

After the set we left for the Keds and Wonderstruck booths as we didn’t want to sit through Ed Sheeran’s set.

Sami and Mason.

Before we got to the stairs we saw one of Taylor’s dancers, Mason, in the pit and chatted with him. He was so nice and amazed that I remembered him from his Demi Lovato dancing days. He was also amazed by the number of shows I have seen in the RED Tour.

Caylee then spotted another one of the dancers, Leah, and we chatted with her too. She, of course, was super sweet. My friends, chiming in on the number of shows I’ve attended, attempted to wow her too.

We found the Keds booth and tried our luck. Caylee and Amanda wanted the shoelaces while I hungered sunglasses. We all got exactly what we wanted.

(Photo: Sami.)

We got drinks and sat through the rest of Ed’s set. First we sat in the row in front of Caylee. But we were shunted and ended up in the last row, right by the mini stage — two rows behind Caylee!

I am pretty sure Caylee and I are the same person… several times I looked over at her and we both were about to sing to each other. At one point someone walked by with an All Access badge and we looked at each other and simultaneously mouthed, “Who is that!?” Separated at birth?

Touching

(Photo: Sami.)

During Stay Stay Stay, Caylee turned around beaming, almost in tears. She had gotten Club Red! I was so excited for her!

Caylee had promised Ashley that she would switch seats with her so Ashley could try and touch Taylor during 22. When Taylor came down for 22, I too, of course, stretched out my hand but I think I’m too short for Taylor because somehow she always misses me.

Amanda was at stage end and she reached out her hand to Taylor as well. Taylor’s mic was in her left hand and Taylor reached all the way across her body with her right arm to high-five Amanda. How cool is that?

(Photo: Sami.)

Caylee, Amanda, and Caylee had talked to a little girl outside who was to have a Meet and Greet with Taylor. They begged her to ask Taylor to sing Mary’s Song on the mini stage. When we saw the girl after her Meet and Greet, she said Taylor said she’d think about it but was concerned that not everyone would know the words to Mary’s Song.

When it was time for the Secret Song we were waiting expectantly.

(Photo: Sami.)

I have a serious issue where I can hear three chords of any Taylor song and immediately know what’s coming. So when Taylor started strumming the chords to Enchanted, I knew Mary’s Song was a loss.

Enchanted was beautiful. Taylor revised it for the acoustic version — shortening the chorus but adding more riffs. Really awesome.

At the end of the show we brought Caylee to the second level for her entrance to Club Red and discovered that my co owner Abby’s group had also gotten Club Red!

I was so excited for them and couldn’t wait to hear their stories…

Tattoo shakes

KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY.

While we waited for the Club Redders, Amanda drove Ashley, James and me to a nearby Steak and Shake where we met up with more friends. We schmoozed and ordered shakes impatiently waiting for Abby and Caylee.

They arrived ninety minutes later with a multitude of amazing stories. The expressions on their faces reflected exactly why I go to so many Taylor concerts. The fact that one girl, Taylor, can make someone that happy in just two seconds is truly amazing.

(Lisa Sperling.)

Caylee had asked me if I wanted Taylor to write anything for me. Since RED was issued I’ve wanted Taylor to write, “Dream Impossible Dreams” for me, for a tattoo. But I felt bad asking Caylee to ask for it as I didn’t want her wasting her precious limited time with Taylor.

Caylee said she’d try and that, in and of itself, was enough for me to dream on.

When they got to the Steak and Shake, Abby showed us what Taylor had written for her tattoo: “I don’t know if you really know who you are til you lose who you are.”

‘Dream impossible dreams. Taylor <3′

Then Caylee tossed a piece of paper over to me and said I was getting a tattoo too. With tears in my eyes I looked at the paper and read: “Dream impossible dreams. Taylor <3”

The fact that Caylee had take the time to do that for me was among the most amazing moments of my life.

Caylee was very quiet about her Club Red experience, but I could tell it had been amazing. Abby, on the other hand, is very chatty and I knew I’d get more from her. I sat wide-eyed and bushy-tailed listening to her stories; of telling Taylor about dancing with her girlfriend to Ours in Detroit, of talking about TSwiftontour, and of how that, somehow, steered their conversation around to me.

I felt badly that my two friends had used their short time with Taylor to talk about me, but it was just so sweet.

Abby said she told Taylor about my traveling across the country to see the RED Tour and that I was aiming for a total of fifty shows. Taylor, said Abby, thought that was, “crazy amazing insane” and that she wants to meet me at the end of my attempt.

While I know the chances of that happening are zippo to zippo, it was so nice of Taylor to say it, and so amazing of Abby to tell me.

Abby could’ve just not said anything about me as it was her time to shine, or just forgotten to tell me what Taylor said in reply. But Abby chose to do that for me and chose to remember to tell me… I will never ever ever ever forget it.

Sami and Amanda @mrslion16

Amanda and I then made the two-hour drive to her house. Tomorrow morning/afternoon — preferably the latter LOL, Wednesday, we’ll commence the adventure again and head for Columbus, OH and the Taylor Swift concert tomorrow night!

Through this whole thing what seriously amazes me are the friends I have made along the way. I know what I’m doing is insane but they all have been there for me, one way or another.

I know that these are the people who will be with me until the bitter end. They’ve changed my life in ways I never would’ve imagined. I have no idea what I would do without them.

Not just because of the Taylor stuff. They’ve been there for me in times when I was at my lowest, darkest points. They’ve carried me through to the other side. Throughout this whole adventure they help me figure out who I am as a person. I hope they know how much I love, care and respect them.

Thank you to all of you.

Thanks for reading, thanks for caring.

“This isn’t flying, this is falling with style”

Sami

A reminder: I’ll be doing a FAQ: So, You Wanna Be a TSwiftontour Co Owner? this weekend. If you have any questions, please email or Tweet them to me!

I’ll be blogging all the way through the RED Tour, Facebooking, and Tweeting (or @tswiftontour).

Use the email account CCWTS13@gmail.com if you want to send stories and photos that you think will be of interest to Swifties. We could even open an album!

Here is a little taste of their first single, Downtown:

Country music in general is also my favourite driving music! There aren’t many radio stations where I live that play it, so my catalogue of country tunes is quite extensive!

When the sun is shining and the wind is blowing my favourite thing to do is put on some country tunes and go for a drive! (Or tanning session, or BBQ!)

Here are some NEW(ish) country songs that I ABSOLUTELY turn up in my car!

…and you should too

Florida Georgia Line – Cruise

Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

Miranda Lambert – Mama’s Broken Heart

Luke Bryan – Drunk On You

And there are soooo many more! What are you favourite driving songs?

xx.km

So, today I feel like talking music just because last night I watched the voice.. Side note: Adam Levine has to be one of the sexiest men alive. Period. There’s no doubt in my mind that if I ever had the option to do bad things to that man it would happen. Sorry, mind has a tough time not jumping into the gutter on that man. Blake Shelton as well, sorry Miranda, your man is sexy and that southern accent makes me want to move to Oklahoma and find myself a sexy southern man with an accent that can make me melt. Which speaking of, accents… An Australasian man came into my work Sunday and when he opened his mouth I just about died. Soo sexy. But back on track..

MUSIC.

Probably the best creation on this Earth if I do say so myself. Unfortunately I am musically tone deaf and have no musical ability with an instrument but I commend the people that have the patience to learn and master one. Considering that patience has never been a virtue I possess. But anyways, it’s amazing to me how music has the ability to touch the soul of a person so deep that it is possible for one song to change someone’s thought process completely. At least I believe it’s possible. Music, in my life, makes me feel better knowing I’m not the only person who has experienced heart ache, falling in love, hard times, and just fun. For example: Taylor Swift. Yes yes I’m talking about Taylor Swift. Her song writing ability in my opinion is mind blowing, at least from the ones she has produced. I’m sure she has a million songs stashed somewhere that no one is yet to hear. And advice to every man, don’t break that woman’s heart or you’ll have a song written about you. But screw that if I were a man I’d break her heart just to get one written about me. Anyways, on her newest CD Red, there’s one song that personally hits home for me: “All Too Well.” It’s a song about a breakup, surprise surprise right? But it’s about how the problem with a broken heart is that afterwards we don’t forget anything and that we remember everything “all too well”. Hence the title. I can relate there. Definitely one to listen.

The toughest part about music is that if you listen to most of it, it mainly all relates to love and relationships. Yet, when that’s the absolute LAST thing you want to hear about it’s all over the radio and everywhere. I work at a family owned Mexican restaurant and do understand Spanish to an extent.. much better at spanglish but I can somewhat understand a conversation. You know when a song has a specific sound you know exactly what it means and it still hits home? That’s this song that comes on at work. I have absolutely no idea what the song is saying usually because I’m too busy to try to sit and listen carefully to understand but it has the ability to break my heart each time I hear it. I wouldn’t say that I much enjoy the song but that to me is music, where as soon as it hits you, you can feel everything that person wants you to feel. You relive what they felt the moment this was written whether it was the singer that wrote it or someone else. You connect with that person and to me that’s beautiful. The ability to connect with people through words has always been something that excites me. Sure they say “actions speak louder than words” and yes one look from another person can make you connect but words are what piece people together. That’s why I love music and it’s ability to let anyone relate to it in whatever way they need to.

I’m sure most people have heard “What Hurts the Most” by Rascal Flatts. This just came on Pandora so this is the perfect example of music and it’s ability to connect with people. This song to me is one of the most versatile songs that deal with loss. This song can connect with anyone who just broke up, lost a friend, lost a family member, or just feel a sense of losing themselves. I believe at least once in every person’s life they lose themselves and forget who they are. This is when you have two options: you can either lose that person completely or find the person you used to be. Personally, I believe that you lose that person for a reason and you forget who you’re meant to be because the person you were is not how you are suppose to end up. Which is a crossroad I ran into recently. I chose to forget that person completely and I don’t regret one bit of it. But when you do leave that person behind you do have to create a new you which is what I’m struggling with lately although I know it’s a part of growing up. When that song came out years ago I definitely related it to a broken relationship and today I relate it to myself. This year I lost myself & I’m now seeing it was the best blessing in disguise.

Music was meant to speak to people and no one can tell you how it speaks to you. If it does, let it. It can heal you and it can surge through you. Let it. Here’s my top 20 songs (in no particular order).

1. What Hurts the Most – Rascal Flatts
2. All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
3. Kiss Me – Ed Sheeran
4. Shake It Out – Florence & The Machines
5. Wanted – Hunter Hayes
6. More Than a Feeling – Boston
7. I Don’t Wanna Be – Gavin DeGraw
8. Somebody Like You – Keith Urban
9. ‘Till I Collapse – Eminem
10. Doing It Wrong – Drake
11. Knee Deep – Zac Brown Band
12. Blue and Yellow – The Used
13. Drunk On You- Luke Bryan
14. All Back – Chris Brown
15. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds – The Beatles
16. Sunday Morning – Maroon 5
17. She’s Everything – Brad Paisley
18. Live Like You’re Dying – Tim McGraw
19. Over- Blake Shelton
20. Mean – Taylor Swift

Chance McKinney releases “Think About That” on iTunes
$5 off Pre-Sale until June 1st, 2013
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/think-about-that/id641836235

$5 Off on iTunes Pre-Sale link to Chance McKinney’s Think About That: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/think-about-that/id641836235

We, here at Chance McKinney Music, are excited to announce the long-awaited release of “Think About That”.  Chance’s sophomore effort (the follow-up album to CMT Award Winning, “Be Real”) has already received thousands of positive reviews from fans who have picked up a physical copy at “live” shows which came out May 2nd during the CD Release Series throughout Washington State.

Of the 11 tracks on the CD, 3 were written by Chance McKinney (and co-write, Kevin Ray Lawson).  The other 8 were submitted by multi-platinum writers Frank Myers (12 #1′s on Chris Young, Lonestar, John Michael Montgomery), Craig Wiseman (17 #1′s on Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Faith Hill, Brooks and Dunn), Brett James (11 #1′s on Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Gary Allan, Jason Aldean), David Lee, David Frasier, James LeBlanc, Craig Boyd, Bobby Pinson, Brad Crisler and more.

“It was 11 of the top 500 songs pitched for this project, including the songs I written or co-written on” says McKinney.  ”See, I wasn’t bull-headed enough to think all my stuff was going to be better than everything out there so I put a majority of the decision-making process in Kevin Ray Lawson’s (Producer) hands.  When he came back to me with his Top 20 and we compared it to my Top 20… There were 13 songs in common.  And in those 13, I was nothin’ short of amazed to find 3 of mine!  From that point on, it was a 2-man brawl to narrow it down to 11 and get the album cut.  But, after we both got out of the hospital with my severe hangnail and a bruise to Kevin’s shin, we got it done.”

McKinney goes on to say “I realistically never thought it’d get finished.  There’s so much to the process, especially when done right.  And all the while, we’re testing songs at ‘live’ shows to get audience reaction to make sure we were on the right track.  I guess it all came to a head (emotionally) for me when I finished a show in Wenatchee, WA and I sat down to sign some stuff for the first little girl in line.  When I held the CD, and told her, it was the first time I’d held (or signed it, for that matter) the Think About That CD… we both began to cry.”

“I’ve gone through things nobody should have to go through or know about in the music industry to make sure I honor those (my fans, former students and family) who put me in this position just 3 years ago with the CMT Win.  I truly hope Think About That is a step in the direction they want to see me go.”

It’s now a matter of setting the Music Industry on its ear with a strong showing at iTunes.  How many of you are still with us here at Chance McKinney Music?

iTunes Pre-Sale link to Chance McKinney’s Think About That: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/think-about-that/id641836235

Track Listing & Writer Credits Below:

Track Listings and Writer Credits

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Remember to join in with all the NOMing and VOMing via Twitter and Facebook!

Need a new song to cry to while driving? You’re in luck! Taylor Swift lends her airy vocals to Tim McGraw‘s single “Highway Don’t Care,” and the trio — Keith Urban is also along for the ‘ride’ — just released an emotional new music video! There’s an awkward age gap between Taylor and the boys, so I’m not totally sure which person is singing to whom, but that doesn’t even matter. It’s just a nice video.

WATCH: Tim McGraw’s ‘Highway Don’t Care,’ Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

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— Andy Swift
Follow @AndySwift

More On Taylor Swift’s Music:

1. CMT Awards 2013 Nominees: Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood & More
2. Taylor Swift’s Gorgeous Beauty In ‘Highway Don’t Care’ — Watch
3. Billboard Music Award Nominees: Taylor Swift & More — Full List

Well, it is National Teachers Appreciation Day today and Tim teaches a powerful lesson through the power of music in his new video.

The story in the video warns of the dangers of driving and texting and Tim tells us what inspired the storyline: “The first impetus of this idea actually came from my daughter who is 16 years old she got her driver’s license today. We didn’t’ set out to really turn it in to this sort of public service announcement we don’t want to do that but as it developed and as the idea came more and more to fruition it certainly became an issue to me and I didn’t mind being preachy.”

There’s a surprise twist in the role Tim plays in the video. Taylor Swift and Keith urban are also in the clip.

Here’s the actual whole video premiere special event:

I’ve been passionate with my opinions about texting and driving on many occasions.

People lose their loved ones EVERY DAY because they drive distracted.

Honestly, the video goes way deeper than just texting.

People don’t think twice about hoping in the car and peeling out in an emotional moment, and driving when your upset is JUST as dangerous.

This video sent a chill through me and there’s one moment where I practically burst into tears.

I applaud Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and EVERYONE involved with making this video.

They are all huge stars and their fans will get this message LOUD AND CLEAR.

Watch the video, re-post this to your Facebook accounts, show it to your children and please…stay safe on the roads.

Much love…Ally =)

Love the new @TheTimMcGraw video. Important message not just for teens but for us all. #dontdrivedistracted—
Martina McBride (@martinamcbride) May 07, 2013

Here’s the brand new video of Tim McGraw together with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.

It’s not just a great country music video but it’s about the danger of texting and driving distracted. We have one life guys..ONLY one..please drive carefully because highways don’t care about us but you are important to your family, love, friends and God.

Lyrics

Bet your window’s rolled down and your hair’s pulled back

And I bet you got no idea you’re going way too fast

You’re trying not to think about what went wrong

Trying not to stop ’til you get where you goin’

You’re trying to stay awake so I bet you turn on the radio

And the song goes

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby, baby

The highway won’t hold you tonight

The highway don’t know you’re alive

The highway don’t care if you’re all alone

But I do, I do.

The highway won’t dry your tears

The highway don’t need you here

The highway don’t care if you’re coming home

But I do, I do.

I bet you got a dead cell phone in your shotgun seat

Yeah, I bet you’re bending God’s ear talking ’bout me.

You’re trying not to let the first tear fall out

Trying not to think about turning around

You’re trying not to get lost in the sound but that song is always on

So you sing along

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby

I can’t live without I can’t live without you baby, oh baby

The highway won’t hold you tonight

The highway don’t know you’re alive

The highway don’t care if you’re all alone

But I do, I do.

The highway won’t dry your tears

The highway don’t need you here

The highway don’t care if you’re coming home

But I do, I do.

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby

I can’t live without I can’t live without you, baby, oh baby

The highway don’t care

The highway don’t care

The highway don’t care

But I do, I do.

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby

I can’t live without I can’t live without you, baby, oh baby

The highway don’t care

The highway don’t care

The highway don’t care

But I do, I do

I can’t live without you, I can’t live without you, baby

The video premiered Monday (May 6) during a Google+ Hangout session that took place live in front of a studio audience in Nashville. McGraw appeared in person alongside director Shane Drake (the man behind Little Big Town’s spooky “Tornado” video, among many others) to talk about the video and to answer questions from fans.

lining up for the #highwaydontcare premiere outside the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville! twitter.com/TheTimMcGraw/s…

— Tim McGraw (@TheTimMcGraw) May 6, 2013

While the song talks about love lost, the video tells a sad story about the dangers of texting while driving and the heartache that can come as a result. Outside of the tragic story, the images are lovely to look at, from the scenes shot out the windshield of a moving car to the melancholy moments of Tim standing amidst the misty morning fog on a lonely Tennessee highway.

Shane admits that he and Tim had both recently “fallen in love with Terrence Malick films,” which helps explain the video’s thoughtful imagery:

[vevo]http://www.vevo.com/watch/tim-mcgraw/highway-dont-care/USCJY1318158[/vevo]

McGraw said that he first learned about the song “Highway Don’t Care” through the Warren Brothers who are friends of his and writers on the song. The song is a collaboration between McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban, which were natural choices, according to McGraw.

“I never thought about anybody else being involved,” he said of Swift and Urban. “And the prize was they agreed to do it.”

McGraw said he heard a “cinematic quality” in the song and wanted to bring that vision to to life with a video. The clip uses the song’s tale of heartbreak as a starting point, but spins a new message that expands on the song’s lyrics.

“We didn’t set out to turn it into this public service announcement,” McGraw said. But because he has teenage daughters, including one who recently received her license, he said,  he was happy to send a message. He choked back a few tears in a brief emotional moment, when explaining his choice to highlight the pitfalls of driving and texting.

Considering what is at stake, he said, “I didn’t mind being preachy.”

- Radio.com

The video premiered Monday (May 6) during a Google+ Hangout session that took place live in front of a studio audience in Nashville. McGraw appeared in person alongside director Shane Drake (the man behind Little Big Town’s spooky “Tornado” video, among many others) to talk about the video and to answer questions from fans.

lining up for the #highwaydontcare premiere outside the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville! twitter.com/TheTimMcGraw/s…

— Tim McGraw (@TheTimMcGraw) May 6, 2013

While the song talks about love lost, the video tells a sad story about the dangers of texting while driving and the heartache that can come as a result. Outside of the tragic story, the images are lovely to look at, from the scenes shot out the windshield of a moving car to the melancholy moments of Tim standing amidst the misty morning fog on a lonely Tennessee highway.

Shane admits that he and Tim had both recently “fallen in love with Terrence Malick films,” which helps explain the video’s thoughtful imagery.

[vevo]http://www.vevo.com/watch/tim-mcgraw/highway-dont-care/USCJY1318158[/vevo]

McGraw said that he first learned about the song “Highway Don’t Care” through the Warren Brothers who are friends of his and writers on the song. The song is a collaboration between McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban, which were natural choices, according to McGraw.

Read more about “Highway Don’t Care” on Radio.com

[listicle id=80363]

The video premiered Monday (May 6) during a Google+ Hangout session that took place live in front of a studio audience in Nashville. McGraw appeared in person alongside director Shane Drake (the man behind Little Big Town’s spooky “Tornado” video, among many others) to talk about the video and to answer questions from fans.

lining up for the #highwaydontcare premiere outside the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville! twitter.com/TheTimMcGraw/s…

— Tim McGraw (@TheTimMcGraw) May 6, 2013

While the song talks about love lost, the video tells a sad story about the dangers of texting while driving and the heartache that can come as a result. Outside of the tragic story, the images are lovely to look at, from the scenes shot out the windshield of a moving car to the melancholy moments of Tim standing amidst the misty morning fog on a lonely Tennessee highway.

Shane admits that he and Tim had both recently “fallen in love with Terrence Malick films,” which helps explain the video’s thoughtful imagery.

[vevo]http://www.vevo.com/watch/tim-mcgraw/highway-dont-care/USCJY1318158[/vevo]

McGraw said that he first learned about the song “Highway Don’t Care” through the Warren Brothers who are friends of his and writers on the song. The song is a collaboration between McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban, which were natural choices, according to McGraw.

Read more about “Highway Don’t Care” on Radio.com

The video premiered Monday (May 6) during a Google+ Hangout session that took place live in front of a studio audience in Nashville. McGraw appeared in person alongside director Shane Drake (the man behind Little Big Town’s spooky “Tornado” video, among many others) to talk about the video and to answer questions from fans.

lining up for the #highwaydontcare premiere outside the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville! twitter.com/TheTimMcGraw/s…

— Tim McGraw (@TheTimMcGraw) May 6, 2013

While the song talks about love lost, the video tells a sad story about the dangers of texting while driving and the heartache that can come as a result. Outside of the tragic story, the images are lovely to look at, from the scenes shot out the windshield of a moving car to the melancholy moments of Tim standing amidst the misty morning fog on a lonely Tennessee highway.

Shane admits that he and Tim had both recently “fallen in love with Terrence Malick films,” which helps explain the video’s thoughtful imagery.

[vevo]http://www.vevo.com/watch/tim-mcgraw/highway-dont-care/USCJY1318158[/vevo]

McGraw said that he first learned about the song “Highway Don’t Care” through the Warren Brothers who are friends of his and writers on the song. The song is a collaboration between McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban, which were natural choices, according to McGraw.

Read more about “Highway Don’t Care” on Radio.com

The video premiered Monday (May 6) during a Google+ Hangout session that took place live in front of a studio audience in Nashville. McGraw appeared in person alongside director Shane Drake (the man behind Little Big Town’s spooky “Tornado” video, among many others) to talk about the video and to answer questions from fans.

lining up for the #highwaydontcare premiere outside the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville! twitter.com/TheTimMcGraw/s…

— Tim McGraw (@TheTimMcGraw) May 6, 2013

While the song talks about love lost, the video tells a sad story about the dangers of texting while driving and the heartache that can come as a result. Outside of the tragic story, the images are lovely to look at, from the scenes shot out the windshield of a moving car to the melancholy moments of Tim standing amidst the misty morning fog on a lonely Tennessee highway.

Shane admits that he and Tim had both recently “fallen in love with Terrence Malick films,” which helps explain the video’s thoughtful imagery.

[vevo]http://www.vevo.com/watch/tim-mcgraw/highway-dont-care/USCJY1318158[/vevo]

McGraw said that he first learned about the song “Highway Don’t Care” through the Warren Brothers who are friends of his and writers on the song. The song is a collaboration between McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban, which were natural choices, according to McGraw.

Read more about “Highway Don’t Care” on Radio.com