Freaky Dreams

This is going to be a weird post, so consider yourself warned!

Okay, I've had some weird dreams in my life, but never have I had a dream that was so real that it carried over into my life. Rarely do I dream about the details, or remember them, which is why this one upset me so much.

Last night I dreamed that a man came to our office building and started shooting people for the hell of it.

The dream opens, and I'm sitting in the conference room in a meeting. It was definitely our office building, though the layout of our office suite was different than it really is. But I specifically remember the people who were there...for example, our receptionist Jan was there at the front desk, but her hair was different. I remember what the spreadsheet looked like that we were going over. We had clients in the office going through some contracts with us, and our HR guy warned us of the shooter by printing out a memo and handing it out casually, like he shouldn't interrupt important business going on.

The shooter was on the 5th floor (I know, like why would I remember that?). I started to run, but I remember going back to my desk to get my purse so that I'd have my car keys. I could hear the elevator ding signaling its arrival on a floor below us, and heard yelling and gunshots.

I remember climbing out a window with a few other women in the office (even though we're on the 12th floor and our windows don't open), but anyway, we crawled out a window and down a brick wall that sloped down to the street. It was dark outside, even though it was mid-morning. Once we got to the sidewalk, you could hear this guy yelling from inside the building, and I turned and looked up at the building and could see the spark of the gunshots through the window because the lights were off in the building. We started running.

There were people laying face down in the grass and hiding all over the place right outside the building. I kept thinking, why are they still here, why don't they keep running? It's like it was a car accident, and everyone has to slow down to see what's going on. Everyone was glued to watching it unfold.

Then almost instantaneously, he was outside shooting those same people, and since we kept running, he came after us because he could hear Judy's heels hitting the sidewalk (remember, it's dark so he couldn't really see us). I kept trying to tell her to run quietly so he couldn't hear us, but she wouldn't listen so he kept following.

We got to my car and I was desperately trying to unlock it, but he was right behind us...then I woke up.

I laid awake for a long time, too scared to fall back asleep because I could still see him in my mind. He was ethnic, though I can't say if he was Asian, or Hispanic, or Middle Eastern, though he did not have an accent, but he was wearing a black ball cap and a yellow shirt and jeans.

After I started to drift off, I was back in the office again, frantically looking for a place to hide (it's like one of those books where you get to choose the ending...I got to choose a different reaction). I first thought that I need to turn the light off in my office so he thinks I'm not there to look for. Then I grab my purse for the same reason, and then debate which is the better hiding spot...the file room that has a lockable door and lots of boxes full of paper to hide behind, or underneath my desk. Then I woke up again.

I laid there a little longer, then drifted off again. This time I was back at my car, but not with my co-workers, rather girls I grew up with and haven't spoken to in years. The shooter hadn't come outside yet though. We were hiding behind my car because I was afraid that trying to drive away would just attract his attention. But Lindsey wasn't keeping quiet or hiding. She was sitting straight up trying to have a conversation with us, and he found us that way. I woke up again for the last time and stayed awake all night with scenarios running through my head.

I finally fell asleep at a little after 5:00, and DH's alarm went off at 5:30. I was so scared that it was a premonition, that I had a hard time coming in to work today. How do you call in for that? "Sorry, I can't come to work today because I'm pretty sure some dude is gonna shoot up the place, but y'all have a great day! Hope you survive and I see ya tomorrow!"

I had to call DH and ask him what I should do. Of course, he's my voice of reason and always has to remind me that God is in control. If it's my time to go, then it's my time to go, but I just have to trust Him to protect me. But it was very weird walking into the office this morning with my dream playing out in my head. Even more strange that as I sit here and type I can look across the hall and see that file room with the door standing wide open.

So far, so good, though. No maniacal killers on the loose as of yet.

See, I told you it was freaky.

Welcome to Wyoming!

It was great...not as good as the HAND concert, but great nonetheless. We arrived at about 6:45 and had to walk all the way around Frontier Park to the gate where "standing room only" was. There were already masses of people there, so we were off to the left of the stage and no where near the front. Not to mention is was all dirt and there were tons of people taller than me in front of me.

We got free glow in the dark bracelets to wear, and they were selling beer in the tall cans, WooHoo! The opening band was Oxygen from Omaha, NE, and they were actually pretty decent.

DH was pissed most of the time because not only did we have to stand the entire time, but we must've had signs on our foreheads that said "go ahead, squeeze by me to find your friends". We had a steady stream of people squeezing through right in front of us, or right behind us the ENTIRE concert. Honestly, after it got dark, I don't know how anyone found their group again. And really, why do people think that they MUST go get more beer right in the middle of a concert?

Then the chicks in front of us spent the whole concert text messaging and taking pictures, reviewing them, deleting them and taking more. That totally grated on his nerves. So since he was being poopy, I didn't have as much fun as I could have.

Saw some chicks go at each other because the one bumped into her while squeezing past. It's incredible how oblivious some people are, or intentionally rude they can be. Next time, I'll do whatever I have to to get seats.

I was surprised about the set list...they didn't play nearly as many songs from Lost Highway as I thought they would, which was actually cool, they played some great old stuff that everyone knew. I was shocked they didn't play You Wanna Make A Memory! I was really hoping Big & Rich would be there for We Got It Goin' On, but no such luck. They don't play until this Friday night with Cowboy Troy and Gretchen Wilson.

Cheyenne, WY Setlist - 7.20.07
You Give Love A Bad Name

Lost Highway

Whole Lot Of Leavin’ Going On

Born To Be My Baby

It’s My Life

Radio Saved My Life

Runaway

I Love This Town

We Got It Going On

Who Says You Can’t Go Home

Sleep When I’m Dead

Bad Medicine

Encore:

Wanted Dead Or Alive

Livin’ On A Prayer

Their set felt really short...they were on from 9:00 to 10:30. I'm guessing there's some noise ordinance and they had to be done by a certain time because there are literally thousands of houses that surround Frontier Park. It's like right in the middle of all these residential neighborhoods - bordered on 3 sides by houses, then by the Interstate on the west.

My pics didn't come out very good. I had so many people in front of me that were tall, or everyone had their arms up, that I couldn't get many clear shots. Plus, I put the ISO on 1600 and forgot to change my autofocus for moving objects, so lots of them are blurry. I tried to get some shots from the big screen on the side, but they kinda sucked too.

The rodeo was fun! Our seats were two rows up from the arena, just to the right of where the bull riders and bronc riders came out. We were in full sun the entire time, but they have misters installed over top of that entire section of seats. The calf roping and steer wrestling was at the far end from us, but we still got to see most of it. The announcers were hilarious and were dressed as clowns out in the middle of the arena all day. Bought my first cowgirl hat (after the rodeo so the top of my head is a little red), but I dig it and DHsaid I look hot in it, LOL! I'll have to take it to TX in December so I fit in ;)

I bet we'll go back next year, and maybe we'll get tickets to a REAL country music concert. I would have loved to have seen Reba McIntyre. I'm crossing my fingers for Carrie Underwood next year!

On the road to the rodeo

I'm taking tomorrow off in anticipation of heading to Cheyenne Frontier Days to see Bon Jovi perform and go to my very first rodeo!!! I'm not much of a cowgirl, but it's always fun to go somewhere new, try something new, and do it all with my best friend and love!

I've been rockin' out to Lost Highway for the past few weeks trying to learn all the words to all the songs so that I can act like my usual backup singer self for Jon and the boys. In all the recent interviews, Jon's been quick to say that it's not a country album, but that it's Nashville inspired. For the most part I think that's probably true, but you can hear a lot of country undertones in most, if not all the songs. Surprising enough, my favorite tune on the album is "We Got it Goin' On" with Big & Rich. It's reminiscent of the old Bon Jovi days...a little harder and heavier with lots of guitar. Otherwise, I love "You Wanna Make a Memory", "Summertime", and "Seat Next To You".

So, I've been wondering since LeeAnn Rimes and Big & Rich are scheduled to perform at CFD, will they make a special appearance with JBJ to sing their duets with him? Hmmm, one can only hope.

I've been debating on taking in my Rebel with my zoom lens. Since we're in the "standing room only" section, we could be close enough that I don't need it, but I could get some really amazing shots with it too. The website says that still cameras are okay, just no video cameras, but I'm still wondering if they'll pitch a fit when they see the size of my lens. And then there's the size and sheer weight of it. It's supposed to be quite warm tomorrow, and am I gonna wanna carry it around on my neck for the evening? (can't take the bag in, cause I'll have my purse, and you can only bring one bag in --- oh, wait, maybe I should just put my camera in my purse, duh!!!)

Concert begins at 8:00, doors open at 7, but the website says come early to get in line if you have "standing room only" tix. Wonder how I can convince DH to stand in line longer than he's going to want to? I think I'll tell him the concert starts at 7:00 then act like I didn't know! Is that bad? ;) So, since the concert begins as the sun will be setting and it will get dark, I must read up on my manual tomorrow to make sure I know how to keep the shutter open long enough for decent pics.

I'm gettin' pretty excited! I've been waiting for this day since March when I found out Bon Jovi was playing CFD! Sure wish my buddy Kris was going with me!!!