2 Concerts, 3 Days

I know everyone has hardly been able to hide the anticipation for finding out how my concerts were. Garth Brooks was AMAZING. I had so much fun!! The Sprint Center was packed. We didn't have the greatest seats in the world, but we were in the same building as Garth Brooks and that is all that matters. His concert would definitely have to be on the best times in my life. Any of you that have been to a Garth Brooks show knows he puts on a great show. He did have a pretty simple set up, but he is undoubtable one of the best entertainers I know. He started off with The Fever. Trisha Yearwood opened for him, but we missed most of that because I had practice and the boys had a test, so we got inside just as she went on stage. (I went with 2 other ga athletic trainrs Matt & Shane and one of the equipment managers Borts.) She sounded great though. He sang for about 45 minutes to an hour, then left the stage. He came back for encore #1 and opened with Ain't Goin' Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up. Of course we also go to hear the 3rd verse to Friends in Low Places, always a Garth must. It was his ultimate hits concert, so if it is a hit, he sang it. Of course Garth & Trisha sang In Another's Eyes and Garth played the guitar while Trisha sang Walkaway Joe. Then for the 2nd encore Garth came out with just his guitar. He played and sang all kinds of different songs starting way back in the good ol' days to present day. I am not sure which part of the show I liked better. He sang Merle Haggard, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Seiger, James Taylor, Don McLean, George Strait--one of my favorites, Amarillo by Morning, and his fiddle player came out for this one...it was incredible, a little Billy Joel's Piano Man thrown in and then he closed with American Pie. His first concert ever was at the Kansas City Opry and that night he closed with American Pie, so he only thought it was fitting to close with it again that night. I was on cloud nine the whole night and not really sure if I have actually come off of it yet. I've posted a slideshow below. They do no justice for the show though. Thursday none of us had our true voices. We sang so loud the entire time that we all became hoarse. Definitely worth every bit of it! I was finally getting over my cold, but singing all that time didn't help, so I am on round 2 which is much worse than round 1 of the cold.

Friday night Matt & I went to see Jack Ingram & Dierks Bentley at the Hearnes Center. The nice thing about working for the athletic department is that if they don't sell out of shows, we can get comp tickets. Our seats were in about the same place relative to the stage at the Garth concert, only TONS closer. Of course the crowd wasn't near as big or fun, but we had a good time. It was a good concert and any time I can hear live Texas Country music...you know I am there! I think I would have enjoyed it more if I would have seen this concert first then the Garth Brooks concert, because the two just don't compare. Garth definitely has the upper hand and in my opinion always will.

I guess I should throw in a volleyball update as well. We are down to our last 4 games of the regular season. Saturday we played in Lubbock and swept Tech 30-28, 30-26, 30-26. This definitely wasn't one of greatest matches, but a win is a win and that is all that matters. We host Iowa State on Wednesday, go to A&M on Saturday, go to OU next Wednesday and finish up with Colorado at home next Saturday. We are all alone in 6th place right now in conference and have a good shot of making the NCAA tournament. I had a great time of hanging out with my parents and enjoyed seeing Pam & Robert as well. Robert is getting so big and turning into a little man. Dad, Mom & I ate lunch at Abuelos and it was wonderful. We sat in the bar area so we could watch the Mizzou football game and I am very proud of the fact that they are now ranked #5 in the nation with a 9-1 record. Hopefully we get to avenge that loss to Oklahoma in December, but must first beat K-State & Kansas. After Abuelos we stopped by Chicken Express for some sweet tea & by Rosa's to get sopapillas and chips and salsa. Apparently sopapillas aren't popular up here and several of the girls had them for the first time when I took them to the arena. I know, it's amazing I shared with them, but only a few bites. I can't wait until December when I get to come home and see everyone. Emily & Kyle are supposed to start painting their house the Sunday after Thanksgiving so the parents are coming up to help, so I will get to see them then. My Thanksgiving will be spent with my "Missouri" family, the Hairstons' & Shaufflers'. They have requested that I bring my Aunt Pat's corn so at least I will have a little touch of home at Thanksgiving.