YouTube sensation, Noah, came into the office today to perform for us. He was amazing. I first heard of Noah during part of my morning ritual, watching The Today Show on NBC. Matt and Ann were interviewing him, and when I heard he was from South Carolina my ears perked up.
Learning he was a senior in High School and from Greer (10 minutes down the road), I really started paying attention. It doesn't take much. This kid is a real talent...'His voice is like a combination of Fergie and Jesus'. Follow Noah on Twitter @only1noah. Or check out his YouTube channel HERE. He posts a new video each week, usually a cover, but his debut album will come out shortly. Loved his originals! I wanted to share them but since they haven't debuted yet, Noah asked that we not share them. I guess I am lucky to have gotten a first glance. Anyway, check out his YouTube channel.
Where to start. Things got out of hand last night...and I guess I saw it coming. In fact, I probably encouraged it. I did encourage it. I'd say I'm not proud of that, but I am. It's a wedding weekend and of a couple that I merely know through friends, but aren't necessarily friends of mine. So this is one I am sitting out. Because of that though I have some super fun friends in town who are in for a quick visit. Specifically friends Dorthe and Kiira. An NYC implant, Dorthe, came into town and convinced me to skip my Crunk Cardio workout for happy hour at a new hot spot, Breakwater, located downtown. And by convinced I merely mean she asked me to join. I spoke with Kiira, who lives in Charleston, earlier that day and convinced her to come to town a day early because we were going to get crazy. Again, convinced = asked. Kiira is never one to turn down crazy. It was a nice happy hour. We were verrry happy. Glasses of wine turned into ordering a bottle which turned into beers, which led to dinner at Liberty, which took us to Fords for Karaoke. Our friends Chris and Scott I believe were the original happy hour go-ers but with facebook these days, 2 turns into a group of 10 pretty fast. Anyway, Fords was packed and with the liquid courage I consumed I decided to sign up for a song as soon as we walked in the place. 3 minutes later I am given the mic and began to sing, none other than lead vocals in Adele's recent hit, "Rumor Has It". I've seen one scene of one episode of NBC's "SMASH" and that's what they sang, and I guess it stuck. I wouldn't remember details about this performance if I hadn't been shown a video first thing when I came into work this morning. From a co-worker....who wasn't there. I've gone viral, wonderful. For some reason I put a twang at the end of the majority of the lyrics, maybe that's my vocal disguise. An hour later when the place was really packed I sang my go-to, "Total Eclipse of the Heart", with Bubba. Definite crowd pleaser. You'd think that song would get old to my friends, but the video footage they got would tell you different. You can't really hear us sing that well because the crowd is so clearly going nuts over our performance, but here is a clip of the gem for your listening pleasure.
The night continued and quickly turned into morning. This wasn't my first rodeo as they say, so heading to work at 8:30 am was bearable. Not enjoyable, but it was gonna happen. Luckily for me I work in a pretty great place and they know my alter ego pop star personality, so the stories from my night were regular water cooler talk. Par for the course. Also standard for the day after a big night - checking my online bank statement. Realizing that what I spent was respectable for the fun I had, also brought a realization that today was the day I wanted to by a new 40" flat screen. What? Your hangovers don't urge you to spend $400+ on something for yourself. I was a star, why not treat myself like one....right? YES! So I walked into Best Buy bought the TV I've been staring at for weeks, was commented on having HENNESSEY for a last name at check out (insert stereotype here), and was on my way. The bad news.....my head still feels like I was punched in the face last night. Maybe it was the Adele.
Do you ever notice how some songs can take you back? Back to a distinct moment or memory. You might remember an exact moment when it was playing. For me, most of those connections are correlated to a great time, some not so much, but overall they relate to a good time. I love hearing someone say, "Oh man, this song reminds me when....". For example:
Def Leppard "Pour Some Sugar On Me" takes me back to my high school days wanting to be in the movie "Coyote Ugly". What high hopes and dreams I had for myself. Reaalll classy. But seriously, it makes me want to dance on bars to this day. Vegas, should I ever meet you, I plan to destroy you.
"Danger Zone" - duh. Top Gun. College. Aviators. And my dying wish to have hot men sing to me in the middle of a bar. Still a karaoke favorite to this day.
Speaking of karaoke. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - my go to (the Old School movie version of course). I kill it. If you disagree, don't bother telling me. You're just lying to yourself. Trust.
Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up". This was my ring tone for a year in college. That ginger is a bad ass. Best worst music video, and that is exactly the reason it's so awesome. A classic in my opinion. Anyone that can rock denim on denim, red hair, and those dance moves deserves your attention.
50 Cents and Jeremih's "Down on Me" brings out the ghetto in me. At least I like to think so. I'm definitely no homegirl, but rapping to this song makes me want to jam, that, and ride around in Pamela's tricked out Mercedes. Picture a sweet Mercedes, unbelievably dark tinted windows, shiny rims, and verrry spacious leg room. Ballin! (could I be any more white?!?)
and what could make me think of riding through downtown Greenville with the windows down and music blaring more than one of our favs...."Look at Me Now" by Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, and Lil Wayne. Nothing makes me smile more than having people stare at us driving really slow in that car and having our friend Meredith duck down in the back in embarrassment. Man, the glory days.
"Lets Get Married" by Jagged Edge. This will always remind me of my sister Lindsay and her horrible dance move where she just points and shrugs her shoulders. But really its a gem that I now like to request at weddings. When a band knows it, I feel that I have struck gold. When it's a DJ you can count on them already having it and you know you become their favorite guest when you request it. Try it. This is just to name a few. I'm sure you have many of your own, too. Feel free to share.
Mustaches seem to be the new mullet. Everyone finds them outstanding, and even I respect someone in an odd way that can grow a gnarly stache. My brother and cousin Edward try to grow them during the Orioles baseball season and don't shave when they lose....since neither of them can really grow one, they end up looking ridiculous, but to them "it's glorious". A friend of mine throws a big fundraiser during the month of March. He calls it "Mustache March". David (the MC on the right) gets people to put money down and grow a mustache during the month. If you shave, you owe money. Then for those that can't grow one and want to see these works of art, he throws a big BBQ and Keg party at his home called the Stache Bash, fully equipped with live music, every tailgating game imaginable, and a trophy for the best mustache. He encourages people to raise money on their own as well. All proceeds go to benefit a local school's after school program, and its a good bit of money. Pictured below is the changing of hands of this years trophy. New winner and most money raised went to our friend Kemp (left), and of course the champion of all things mustache, Mitch, handing it over. David went for more of a Wizard of Oz theme this year with his stache curling at the ends.
All are welcome, and encouraged, to join the forces of Mustache March.
Mustache March info from previous years
Other reputable and recognizable staches of our time.
We have a wellness team at work. They encourage everyone to eat healthy and stay in shape. Our fearless leader, Keaira (pictured on the left), sent out an email to the entire company asking people to run theSwamp Rabbit 5Kas this months wellness activity. There were immediate responses to the calendar invite with "no, thanks", as if we were shocked. There were also a couple yes's. This seemed promising. This is what we ended up with....Team Entercom...3 of the 4,000+ people who came out to run. What a turnout! I did "OK", which is short for "Holy hell that hill kicked my ass". I finished. I'll leave it at that. It wasn't my best time, but it was OK. Seriously, in a normal race I like to scope out the course and even run it a few times to ensure I can actually do it, and do it well, but this was so last minute that I never had the time. The first incline, I looked at Keaira and said, "Oh this must be the hill they were talking about", we both agreed. To preface, the website where you register for the race even said, "Sorry the hill is still in it this year". Then we go down this monstrosity of a hill, running faster than my midget legs can almost keep up. And then, we saw it. A hill so steep I might hesitate to sled down it should this southern town ever see a hint of snow more than a wet sludge. It was horrible. I barely made it to the top. People were dropping left and right, like the scene in the end of Titanic, where several passengers start to give up. 1 by 1 they start to fall at the sides. What...a wake up call. At this point I start praying to God that I get the strength back in my shaking, aching legs. Thank goodness my sisterLindsay got the stomach flu and is back at square one with her training....sorry Lindz, but I just can't have you beat me :) At least if we struggle, we'll struggle together. The hill was the only real battle of the course. That, and an annoying high school female who's encouragement for her struggling friend was unbearable. I'd now recognize that voice anywhere. I should really thank her, for it actually turned into encouragement for me to run faster just to get away from her. Seriously this high pitched of a voice girl would not stop talking the entire time she ran.
"You can do it, oh my god, you are doing so great, keep it up, you got this, you totally got this, oh my god this is like the third race we've done together, see- you can do it, you're like half way there, remember that time in the cafeteria when I couldn't stop talking, its like that, only you can't stop running, you can so do it, you're amazing, I'm amazing, yay!"
The start of 2012 wedding season has been a huge success. Perfect days, matched with crazy nights, and a little less traveling then last year. I started off 2012 with a bang! The Eikenberg - Pallia wedding was a 6 day affair for me. I flew into BWI in Maryland after work on a Wednesday and left Monday morning early enough to head straight to work. It was amazing. The Eikenberg family is like my own and growing up mine and Whitney's parents would have to pry us away from each others houses. We both grew up in similar families - 3 girls, 1 boy, same birth order, same neighborhood, same schools, and even dogs from the same litter. Two peas in a pod, that's for sure. Our humor and inside jokes are truly something of their own, and Tony, Whit's husband can testify for that. Sometimes I wonder if he was second guessing what he was getting himself into. Tony is the perfect match for Whitney and his family is just as amazing. Whitney and Tony had a rowdy wedding party, one I was delighted to be part of. They got married at the Tidewater Inn in Easton, MD. It was gorgeous!
The following weekend I got to head to another amazing party, the joining of Lauren and Mills Maxwell. I met Lauren in Clemson and Mills through Lauren, and have become really close with them while living in Greenville. Their wedding brought a new experience, and the most amazing DJ/Band experience I've seen. It was different and ridiculously entertaining. It was a DJ service, but they had a drummer and once the party got started they had multiple dancers, costume changes, props, etc. It was really fun and different. Check out the Electric Company. Props to Lauren and Mills for bringing something new to the table. I knew it was coming, but to most it was a surprise. I started to video tape the entrance but of course, just when you need a camera it's full, and I didn't want to miss any of the party so I put my camera down. A huge shock to those who know me well. Lauren and Mills had their reception at the Westin Poinsett Hotel in Greenville. It was goregous and a hot spot for weddings in this area. The food was amazing!
Lisa and Stephen tied the knot a few weeks later on April 21st at the Ryan Nicholas Inn in Simpsonville. This was the second wedding I had been to there and it was just as pretty as the last! A great place for a reception with an indoor/outdoor feel. Lisa and Stephen also had a DJ and the party got started very quickly :) Not a huge shock for the two of them are a blast! Lisa and Stephen are my soon-to-be neighbors, and I am pumped about that! Since the reception was a little bit away from downtown Greenville I took the liberty of ordering a bus for us "drinkers" to get back downtown safely. I had done this for a wedding before and its amazingly cheap for everyone and always works out well. If you ever need to do the same in the Upstate of SC, call up Bowers Signature Services. They are amazing to work with and super flexible! They have everything from small cars, to huge party buses, SUV's and/or passengers vans. Call them.
Next up to take the plunge is Carolyn and Randy. This one is a long time coming and I cannot wait to party in Clemson with them! It's going to be crazy!
For those that love Hollywood gossip, humor poking fun of celebs, or for anyone else that finds themselves staying up until 11 pm just to catch an episode of Chelsea Lately....this site is for you - http://surisburnbook.tumblr.com/
Suri Cruise, daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, is set as the host of the site. She mocks and jokes about the daily ridiculousness of Hollywood....scroll and scroll and scroll some more through the site. It's hilarious. Well done, "Suri".
My mom was here this past weekend and a pigeon committed suicide on my windshield while we were driving down busy, hwy 85. We were heading to Home Depot and Target, just having a normal conversation, when out of my peripheral comes what appeared to be a large pigeon. This bird looked like it was in full mayday and before I knew it, it landed on my windshield directly in front of me, exploded, and the majority of its body bounced over the car landing in the middle lane of 85. Emotions hit immediately.
Let me start by saying I saw this bird coming, my mother did not. I ducked (no pun intended) when the bird hit the windshield. The impact was so loud that my mom and I both screamed, leaving me to swerve a little. I really thought at that second that when I looked back up the glass would be covered in blood, but instead it was a puff of feathers and a slightly cracked windshield. My immediate glance to the rear view mirror left me looking at a murdered pigeon in the middle lane of 85 just ready to be run over. I looked forward again, at this point balling. Why? I have been hunting, it’s a pigeon, and it happens. I guess the tragic death of this bird, added with the scare and the sound of the impact had me shaking. My mom started to rub my back and said “Do we need to pull over? Are you ok?”…. I said “It committed suicide and is now in the middle of the highway!” (whaling and crying) and she responded, “Well his body is in the road, but I’m sure his soul is in heaven”, at that point I thought what the hell are we talking about? Her response had me in tears…but tears of laughter. I instantly turned from crying to laughing hysterically. Uncontrollably really. There wasn’t even sound coming out, I was laughing so hard. I just exploded a pigeon. It was like a scene out of a movie. It went something like this…only it was a real bird, not tinfoil filled with old leftovers. Go to 1:28.
