Sunday, August 4, 2013

SWIFT-ly Posting This Week's Ten Things Of Thankful

I may win the prize for being the last one to enter my post for Ten Things of Thankful this week! What a whirlwind weekend, and plenty of things for which to be thankful:

1. I'm thankful I was able to get our family tickets to see the Taylor Swift Red Tour in Kansas City. Pre-sale tickets went on sale on November 13 for the August 3 show. Yes, you heard me right. November 13. Aaaaaand, to be able to buy the tickets on the pre-sale date, I had to become a member of Taylor Nation (shut up). But I did it, and nine months later (I could have grown a baby in that amount a time [okay, technically I could NOT have, but in theory, I could have]), we finally got to enjoy the show.

In the car, on our way to KC.


2. I'm thankful my daughter's dance injury, which had her on crutches all week, was healed enough that she was able to walk to the Sprint Center for the concert. Because I, in a fit of wisdom, decided we should stay downtown, within walking distance of the venue, rather than stay out in the suburbs and drive in and have to deal with parking. I found a great rate, but the catch was that the room had to be pre-paid with no cancellations allowed. Then my daughter fell coming out of a leap in dance class, landing on the outside of her foot, causing it to swell and bruise, and I thought we might have to take turns carrying her piggy-back to the arena. A week of stumping around on crutches and icing her foot did the trick, and all was good.

3. I am thankful for a beautiful city view.


The view from the Marriott.


4. I am thankful the e-tickets we printed worked just fine, because I've gotta say, I was a little apprehensive that they would. 

5. I had no idea that attendees often dress up in costumes at Taylor Swift concerts until we were on the way to the Sprint Center. Lots of red clothes and red lipstick. Signs, some of which lit up with Christmas lights and battery packs. Flowered headbands. Cowboy boots and skirts. Hand decorated t-shirts with such things as Taylor's name, song lyrics, 13, and any number of other things written on them. I am so, so, SO thankful that my daughter wouldn't have done something like that on a bet.

6. I am thankful that Ed Sheeran was the opening act. He was A.MAZ.ING. 


7. I am thankful that the officials at the Sprint Center realized with a female to male ratio of about 1000:1, the number of bathrooms was not going to be sufficient, and they converted most of the men's restrooms to women's restrooms. 



A little disconcerting to walk into the women's
restroom and be faced with these....

8. I am thankful that, even though the Red Tour is sponsored by Diet Coke, you could not buy one in the entire venue. It was a Pepsi only place, and nothing makes me happier. (You know this is actually a BIG FAT LIE and I was thirsty all evening for lack of Diet Coke.)

9. I am thankful that no one sitting near us insisted on loudly singing along with Taylor. 

10. I am thankful for the opportunity to see such a magnificent show. Concerts have come a long, long way since I first started attending them in high school. Taylor Swift, you put on one heckuva show!

Nothing short of spectacular.




34 comments:

  1. It sounds like you had a fantastic time!

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    1. We did, thanks! It lived up to our expectations and then some!

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  2. My daughter went to the red tour with friends (no adults. Can you believe it?) and thought it was fantastic. Glad you had a similar experience.

    Very glad your daughter healed up and could walk and didn't have to go to the doctor. (Although, I wouldn't mind if she had to come all the way to see OrthoIndy specialists.)

    I just have one question. Did you use the urinal? I bet if your 13 year old wouldn't have died from embarrassment, you would have at least pretended to.

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    1. I have to say I'm a little surprised you let her go without adults! Although if I lived in the same city as the concert, I would probably let my daughter do it, too.

      Since OrthoIndy comes so highly recommended, I would probably have driven there if her foot really was broken :)

      I did not use the urinal, because I never once (believe it or not) had to wait in line to use a stall. I will say, although it WAS NOT ME and I SWEAR I am not thinly veiling that it was, I know two women who actually did this at a Beth Moore conference in a large arena with not nearly enough bathrooms. One of them might possibly read this blog (or she at least knows others who do) so I don't want to say her name was Debbie, but apparently it IS POSSIBLE in dire circumstances for a woman to use a urinal.

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    2. LOL I wanted to ask if she used it too.. Lol Dyanne way to not call Debbie out...

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    3. I know a lot of Debbies, so it won't be obvious to a soul. And I didn't even mention that the other one was Cindy, so their secret is still mum.

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  3. Tsk tsk tsk... not quite last place I'm afraid... Muhahahahahaha!

    I was supposed to have mine written Friday and up right away, but I totally failed (just now completing it).

    Sounds like the two of you had a great time! I'm really glad your duaghter's foot was healed enough so that she didn't have to hobble along or require piggyback rides! I'm a little shocked you were situated between people not bellowing out all the lyrics to their favorite songs. That's impressive (lucky) to say the least.

    Kind of hilarious about the restrooms, but makes complete sense!

    I think solo shows like this are way more extravagant than most concerts I've been to. This is probably because they were outdoor festivals and multiple bands use the same stage. I think the final (headliner) acts get to put on a decent show, though, but nothing like the looks of that picture you provided!

    Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink

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    1. DAMMIT, JAK! I thought I had it!

      The two males in our family also went on the trip, but they prefer to be left out of all pictures (and all blog references, but I don't always honor that). They enjoyed the show, too. It was something else!

      My husband complained that he had to hike miles before he found a men's restroom that was actually for men.

      I saw Bon Jovi in March, and while they had an extravagant light show, it was not a production spectacular like this one was. Unbelievable!

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  4. So glad to hear that you enjoyed it... The thought of having to buy a ticket 9 months in advance is blowing my mind...(obviously it doesn't take a lot to blow my mind :P)
    You and your daughter both look gorgeous as does your view from your hotel but y'all are winning.

    Unforunately I must inform you that Jak won the last to post prize....

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    1. Yeah, it's kind of hard to get excited about buying tickets for a show, then having to wait and wait and wait. I didn't realize it was 9 months until I wrote the post and counted on my fingers!

      Thank you so much for the compliment! We have fun taking selfies.

      I will get even with Jak later....

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  5. I love Taylor Swift! I've never seen her in concert but I think she's talented and thus far hasn't lost her mind and become a horrific role model for young girls like SO many other young female stars.
    Converting the Men's restrooms was a brilliant idea!
    So glad everything worked out for you to go.

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    1. If you ever get a chance to see her in concert, go! (Take a teenage or pre-teen girl with you if you don't have one; you'll feel better.) She is so professional. And extremely talented.

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  6. Thank goodness her foot healed in time!

    Glad you had such an awesome time together (and that no-one near you sang along). The photos are awesome - it looks as though you had really good seats. I assume the 9 month wait was worth it for that :)

    Thankful for Pepsi?! We have a winner on this week's snarkiest Thing ;) :p

    Well done for skidding in second-to-last. I'm still *quite* sure there is no prize...yet!

    And Ms Swift herself. I guess I still like her best being scared off her feet by Ellen, but I'm so glad you had an awesomerockin' time :D

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    1. It was worth the wait! And the *cough* money. It was a LOT of money!

      You knew I was lying when I said I was thankful for Pepsi, didn't you?

      Jak's gonna get it for taking my last place prize.

      I love when Taylor is on Ellen, too. She is darling! And we did, indeed, have an awesomerockin' time at the concert!

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  7. Way to get your list in. Sounds like a great time with your daughter...and yes, you TOTALLY scored by virtue of the fact that she's not a "face-painter" (Seinfeld reference).

    So sorry about the Pepsi...I am a Coke Zero gal myself, so I feel your pain. Pepsi is G.R.O.S.S.

    I love that you took a picture of the urinals...clearly they were unused as they appeared all sparkley...don't ask how I know the difference.

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    1. Someone went to work in that place with bleach and a toothbrush, because the urinals were not only clean and sparkly, they also didn't SMELL like urinals.

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  8. Yes, e-tickets always make me SO nervous too. I always doubt they will work and I'll be turned away.
    ..and I love "Sarcastic #8" ...
    and last but not least, your daughter is so cute--braces and all! My 13 yr old son has braces (and apparatuses, rubber bands, screws in the roof of his mouth and I don't know what all) but he doesn't give us big ole smiles like your daughter in this picture. ;)

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    1. Screws in the roof of his mouth? Yowch! And I thought my daughter had been through the wringer, orthodontically speaking. After a little over three years in braces, she is getting them off tomorrow!

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  9. Sounds like you and your daughter had a wonderful time - great memories are the best gifts. The bathroom thing was genius. I am still trying to process the Pepsi-only venue and the event being sponsored by Diet Coke. How's that for ironic? I, too, would be crying about the lack of Diet Coke. Pepsi is just...wrong.

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    1. Pepsi is gross. Diet Dr Pepper is tolerable. But only barely so.

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  10. This looked amazing and so glad you got to attend. Crazy though that you had to pre-order so long ago, but sounds like it was definitely worth the wait!! :)

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    1. It was worth it! Rolling Stone just voted her show one of the top 5 to see.

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  11. I am a Taylor Swift fan too! Used to teach the songs to my choir. Thanks Dyanne! Glad to connect.

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  12. I had no idea we are so close! When my daughter went to college in Memphis and got dropped from a cheer stunt breaking her knee and requiring surgery I went back and forth through your neck of the woods every week for a semester.....the semester I became an old woman!

    And speaking of old....I am still not too old to love Taylor Swift! That looks like so much fun. And you guys look so dang happy (and beautiful) in the car. Looks like Making Memories to me!

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    1. Okay, that's why I'm glad my daughter quit cheerleading. She was a flyer and I HATED it. Where do you live? How close are we?

      And thanks for the compliment! We had such a great time!

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  13. Nice! You win the best mom award. Looks like you even had good seats!

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    1. That's thanks to me sucking it up and joining Taylor Nation.

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  14. I'm glad you enjoyed the show! I swear half our town went when she toured here. Allie was beyond jealous. Me, not so much when I learned it took over 4 hours to get out of the parking lot after the concert.

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    1. Now, that's why I had the brilliant idea to stay in a downtown hotel within walking distance! We were back at the hotel before some people had even gotten TO their parking garage!

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  15. Love your photos!! It would be a bit unsettling to walk into a restroom lined with urinals. No Diet Coke? wow. I bet she was amazing in concert. I am not a huge, huge fan but my daughter adores her. Glad you had a wonderful time.

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    1. Thanks! It was really tempting to act like I was going to use a urinal, but my daughter would not have found it as hilarious as I would have, so I didn't.

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  16. Obviously, the best part is that the men's room was converted for their female guests. Once, at Red Rocks at a concert, my friend and I went to the real men's room b/c the line for the women's room was like eight times longer. A policeman threatened to kick us out. Glad the e-tickets worked out!

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    1. For crying out loud, did you SEE how many urinals were in that bathroom? And there was another wall of them! And stalls! No wonder men can get in and out so quickly!

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