#It's like the sister wife version of 'Night at the Roxbury'

The weirdest thing happened tonight.

I was at an open mic night with my sister wife, my FBF, my Garden of Eden, and........the prettiest hippy in all the land [tag to come] when this guy comes around the corner with his computer.

I've been to a few open mic nights in my time, and never have I ever seen someone pull out their mac before. (I wonder what his computer's name is..)

Because this was a DJ. At our open mic night. DJing. Kinda.

He defs just played some of his mixes that he had been working on....and walked off the stage while they were playing (I mean seriously?! At least fake it like you're doing it on the spot!!)

ANYWHAYYYYY!

What do you think I did??

Shimmey'ed obviously. And rolled the dice. Pulled out my special ed. dance moves. And then it happened.

Right there. I did it in broad daylight. 

With my sister wife joining in.

It. Happened.

We did hip hop abs.

We tilted. We tucked. We tightened.

We made Shaun T. proud.

Yep. That is my life.

Stay Tuned - Saturday night is the sequel to our hip hop abs adventure.

PS that is exactly what we look like when we do hip hop abs. You should be ultra super jealous.

#Open Mic Night

Have you ever been to an open mic night?

Yes? No?

Cause it's pretty much an amazing experience all around.

I haven't been to one in a while. And I forgot how much I absolutely love it.

It makes me feel weirdly poetic. Or something.

Sitting in a room full of people, all wanting to be heard, all willing to listen. A room full of acceptance, a room without judgement.

Just sitting there, legs crossed, defences up, outside my comfort zone. Knowing one person in a place filled with unfamiliar bodies. A decision to push myself. It was the best decision I've made in a long time. I could feel the worries and anxieties of my life melting away with the warm fruit tinged tea sliding down my throat. The decisions that loom in my near future were put on a back burner to a few hours of ease and music.

Feeling the guitars, the vocals, the keyboards pulsing through the air, the floor, the walls and seeping into and around my body in a warm blanket of pure happiness. Smiling at strangers and making new friends. Seeing a whole new side of people, and society.

Genuinely loving to watch the people genuinely loving to play. Enjoying the gifts given to others by God to give the world. It's something I could do all day everyday.

And what I love the most is the atmosphere. The way everyone is brought together by the supernatural tie of melodies. The low murmur of voices as people quietly socialize and appreciate the music. The intensity on the musician's faces as they get lost in a sea of notes and chords. The smiling barista's, the lively hosts, the buzz of an excited audience. It all gets my heart pumping and blood rushing.

It's a little piece of heaven.

It's why I'm going to go every week. And that's why you should come to open mic nights on Thursday evenings at The House with me.

#Expect the worst, hope for pie

It's a list kind of day. 4 top 10 lists. Wooooo!!

Top 10 things you learn when you hang out with teenage boys for an evening:

1. It has become socially acceptable for your younger brother to tell you you're "wheelin'"

2. Teenage girls are a lot more......outgoing than back in my day.

3. In pie we crust.

4. It doesn't matter how old you are, you always fear the wrath of the mom, even if she's not your mom. And hiding in the basement under the stairs is a never fail option for avoiding that wrath.

5. 3 teenage guys can down an extra large pizza in 8 minutes or less.

6.  I need approval from my brother AND his friends when I like a guy.

7. Teenage boys are another great distraction from annoying stupid things like homework.

8. TyTy-WyWy-Matt-RyRy

9. Listening to music you grew up on is the fastest thing to age you ever. That, and knowing who Mick Jagger is.

10. Teenage boys revert to young children when surprised with NFL tickets.

Top 10 things you learn when you're trying to write papers:

1. Everything is a distraction.

2. You can read a 3 text message conversation about 50 times and not get bored of it. *note - you must really like this person for this to be valid.

3. You can't tickle your own toes.

4. Even things like working out don't sound so bad when you have to write a paper.

5. Having painted nails is vital to existence.

6. Same with toes.

7. Spoof rap battle videos on youtube are super entertaining...kinda.

8. You don't have to be hungry to eat lots of food.

9. It's fun to look up tattoo designs on the internet.

10. When you drink a lot of water in a short period of time, you have to pee lots.

Top 10 motivational quotes for the day:

1. Do not be afraid of tomorrow, God is already there.

2. The key to happiness is: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, give much. Fill your life with love. Do as you would be done by.
- Buddha

3. Every single person who's drifted in and out of your life is part of your divinely chosen experience. So, give thanks for all of these people, and take serious note of what they brought you.
- Dr. Wayne Dyer

4. What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
- Ralph Emerson

5. No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch.

6. Nothing's gonna change if we only rearrange the furniture and call it home.
- Andrew Allen

7. The difference is Jesus loves you, I don't.
- Danielle Peck

8. You're my silver medal.
-Peter Griffin

9. Reach for the stars, climb every mountain higher.
- S Club 7

10. ...You're pretty.
-Mama Marji

Top 10 songs of the day:

1. Come Together - The Beatles

2. Alone With You - Jake Owen

3. Hands Down - Dashboard Confessional

4. Two Worlds - Phil Collins

5. Barefoot Blue Jean Night - Jake Owen

6. Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

7. Let It Rain - David Nail

8. Strange Disease - Prozzak

9. I'd Rather Be With You - Joshua Radin

10. God Gave Me You - Blake Shelton

Another great way to put off doing papers? Watch Modern Family and write blog posts with lots of lists. Lists are my kryptonite.

#Dear Phil - Belarus Part 4

Dear Phil,

Where do I start Philly Phil? We have been through so much together. The good times, the bad times, the hurt, the joy, the challenges, the victories, the tears, the smiles.

You have words for everything in my life.

And LinGo camp was no exception.

Two Worlds – Tarzan Soundtrack

Put your faith in what you most believe in
Two worlds, one family
Trust your heart, Let fate decide
To guide these lives we see

A paradise untouched by man
Within this world blessed with love
A simple life, they live in peace

Softly tread the sand below your feet now
Two worlds, one family
Trust your heart, Let fate decide
To guide these lives we see
Beneath the shelter of the trees
Only love can enter here
A simple life, they live in peace

Raise your head up
Lift high the load
Take strength from those that need you
Build high the walls
Build strong the beams
A new life is waiting
But danger's no stranger here

No words describe a mother's tears
No words can heal a broken heart
A dream is gone, but where there's hope

Somewhere something is calling for you
Two worlds, one family
Trust your heart, Let fate decide
To guide these lives we see

Put your faith in what you most believe in; Softly tread the sand below your feet now; Somewhere something is calling for you - Put your faith in God, Go into the new world with awareness and sensitivity to the differences, Know that you are called to make a difference.

Two worlds, one family - the minute I stepped off that plane I felt like I was coming home. We are from two completely different cultures, societies, worlds. But we are all family under the Jesus umbrella.

Trust your heart, let fate decide, to guide these lives we see - Believe in yourself, trust what you know, you will lead people to salvation through the One who is using you.

Raise your head up, lift high the load, take strength from those that need you - Stay positive, keep going. You were sent there for a reason, and so was everyone else. Find blessings in all of them.

Within this world blessed with love; Only love can enter here; A dream is gone, but where there's hope - you know why you were sent. He loves you. He loves them. Show them His love through your love. Show them your love through your faith. Show them your faith through your hope. Love like He loves, it will all come together.

\

Do I read too much into it? Probably. But maybe I don't. Maybe you really do understand the innermost workings of my life, Phil. It doesn't matter. I love you and your music.

Keep writing. I'll keep listening.

Love,

Rye x

#Music to my ears

So I have a thing.

Just a little thing.

It's one of those things that can't be helped. 

Would you like to know what that thing is?

Musicians.

Guitar players especially.

That's my thing.

For some reason almost every guy I've ever liked has been a musician. And sometimes I don't even know that until after I start liking them. What is it about them??

I don't know. There's something completely captivating about knowing that a guy plays music. Even better when he writes his own. Because there's a very good chance that one day you'll be his inspiration. That you will be the only one in the audience, enthralled by the beauty of the sound coming from his  instrument, and that he's doing it for you. Only you. Because you're the only one there. 

Music brings people together. It's the universal language. Everyone understands it. 

Maybe I grew up on too many Disney movies where you need song to express the love you have for someone else. Maybe I live in a fantasy world thinking that there is someone out there who wants to play for me. OR maybe the guy God made for me is an extremely talented musician who will swoop in, take my heart, and love me through sweet melodies. 

sigh. My dreams will all come true the day I marry the man with the guitar.