Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Trip to the Big City :)


Saturday morning, I got up around 730 and ran around the house trying to do all the last minute things before I left for my trip to Vancouver. Around 10am Ashleigh arrived, we put her stuff in the car, and off we went. I was slightly nervous about driving into Vancouver, but I figured, I had map quested the directions so I should be fine. The first stop was going to be at the Olive Garden in Langley. Well we got off the highway no problem, but within a couple minutes we were lost. Its amazing how if you miss one turn, you mess up everything! Anyway I was able to fix the mistake quickly and we got to the Olive Garden, where we met up with the girls friend Leah, and we had lunch. I had never been to an Olive Garden, and food was amazing. So after lunch we got back in the car, where I again got lost (oops) but once I figured out where we were going we were back on the freeway. We experienced a bit of the rush hour traffic but it wasn't too bad. Finding the hotel turned out to be not so bad. So we pulled into the Blue Horizon on Robson just after 5, checked in and took our bags to our room. We had a really nice room, with a view of Robson street so that was cool. So we decided that we should go for a walk. Bad idea. We didn't think to grab the umbrella out of the trunk of my car, so within a few min we were pretty wet. We tried to stay undercover as much as possible though. So we gave up on Shopping, went to Moxies for dinner and called it a night.

Day 2
On Sunday we slept in, took our time getting ready and walked down to the skytrain station, where we caught the train to Metrotown. However along the way we bought some umbrellas because there was no way we were going to spend a second day looking like drowned rats! I was able to meet up with Tammy and Tom, and then later on our cousin Kelsey met up with us as well. It was good to see everyone. And I got to go to Old Navy so it was a win win situation!! When we finished up at metrotown we got back on the sky train, and went back to the hotel to rest, and drop off our stuff. Then that night we went to Red Robins for dinner (another highlight for me) and had a fairly early night.

Day 3

Once again we slept in. We woke up to see the sun shining and I couldn't have been any happier. We decided to walk down to Pacific Centre, and wander around that mall for a bit, but there wasn't as much in it as I remembered. So then we just walked back up Robson and hit a few more stores that we wanted to. Then we came back to the hotel room to rest up and freshen up for the big night!! We met Kelsey for dinner at Milestones, and then she walked with us to GM Place... where I got to see the Pussycat Dolls and Christina Aguilera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Pussycat Dolls were pretty much exactly what I expected. They were originally show girls, so I sort of felt like I was at a strip club with a couple of girls singing haha... Then there was a short intermission and then the real show began.
The concert was unbelievable. Christina is amazing. Plus it was such a cool experience to see a concert at GM Place, I have never seen so many people in my life.. She performed for about an hour and a half, and I was seriously in my glory the whole night. After the show, we just went back to the hotel room and began to pack and talked about how much fun we had!


Day 4
Well this was sort of a sad day. I was so excited for this little road trip so when it came to an end I was disappointed. It all came so fast. But we got up fairly early and checked out by 930. Then we drove to IKEA and shopped for two hours (once again I was in my glory). I seriously love that place. I picked up a few things, and mentally added at least a hundred things to my wish list!!! Then we drove to Chilliwack and stopped at the Best Western for lunch, where we met up with my mom and my Aunt Kim. So that was really nice. Then we followed mom back to Grandma's and had a short visit with her before we were back on the road. The trip home took a lot longer than it should have though because there had been a rock slide near hope, so there was a detour. And then lucky for me I hit some snow at the tollbooth and fog... always so much fun. So we finally got home around 630!! It was a long day but it was worth it.
This trip was one so much fun... I am so glad I got to see Christina live.. and I am am hoping to go to another concert at GM place soon :)

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Countrify My Soul!



Well last night I attended the Emerson Drive concert, and I had so much fun. Since August when a country radio station started up here again in Kamloops, I have sort of crossed over, and I have begun to really enjoy country music. I was always a fan, but not as much as I am now. So when I first heard that Emerson Drive was coming to town, I was excited, but didn't think anyone would go with me.. Well in the middle of February when I heard there were still tickets (perhaps not always a good sign) I figured what the heck. So Julia and I bought tickets for Paula's birthday. So last night the three of us went for dinner at Kelly O's (such good food) and then made our way to the Interior Savings Building. The first act was a girl named Jessie Ferrall who is sort of just breaking out into the scene. I thought she was pretty good, but she only sang 5 songs. Out next was Shane Yellowbird... Appearantly I don't listen to the country station enough because I was sort of unsure who he was too.. But it turns out he has only been around this last year, and only really has one single out (which once I heard I recognized.).. Finally around 9pm it was the moment we were all waiting for... Emerson Drive on stage. The energy the lead singer Brad Mates had was absolutly amazing. He kept going for an hour and a half. They have a fiddle player who was also amazing, and the keyboard player is from kamloops which is an added bonus. The first few songs they sang, I recognzied (since I do have their new album Countrfied Soul) but I didn't really know the words so I sort of just sat back and enjoyed. Then they sang a couple of their older songs, including I think one of my favorite songs "If you were my girl". They ended the show with their newest hit "Countrfied Soul" which was done really well, and it was amazing to see it live... however as all bands do, I knew they were coming back for an encore, since I know they do a cover of that song "Devil down in Georgia" (or whatever it is called) which showed off once again the amazing talents of the fiddle player. And then last song of the encore was another great song by them "Still got Yesterday".
One thing I found interesting about this concert was that instead of a mosh pit at the front of the stage where everyone pushes and shoves, and the back half of the floor (where there were no seats) there were many of the country fans, two stepping and just having a great time which was nice to see.. And I think one of the highlights for us 3 girls audience wise, was watching the little girl in front of us. She had to have been only about 8 years old, but she was singing along to every song, clapping her hands, and just really enjoying the show. So it was a show for all ages :) Emerson Drive is coming back for Merritt Mountain Music fest, and I am now kind of kicking myself, I wish I had gotten tickets.. Oh well in the meantime I can continue to enjoy the album, and the memories of a great evening!!