Thanks to my friend, Rachel, at Savvy Sheep, I decided to try my hand at a (short) list of things I'm thankful for this year.

Savvy Sheep: Six Things I'm Thankful For

These are just some of the specific things I'm thankful for.

Potatoes. Yes, that's right. I'm thankful for roots out of the ground. I'm thankful for how filling the food is, especially in the shifting fall and chilly winter weather. I'm grateful that potatoes can be prepared in a wide variety of manners and dishes. Potato soup is probably my favorite cold weather dish. Rib-stickin' good.

Owl City songs. In brief: they are encouraging and uplifting, even when there's a hint of sadness. They're honest. In not so brief: Dear Adam Young...Thanks

My jobs. I have about five jobs and will add a new one next semester. That's what you have when you go freelance. I appreciate the income, of course, but more than that, I love teaching and passing on what I know about writing to the next generation. (...That is almost weird to write.) I also love writing, which has yet to bring in money, but it's a passion nonetheless.

The couch. No kidding, this couch has been a constant companion this year. And many a needed nap and I have met here on this piece of furniture that's long enough for my six foot frame.

My rocking chair. Who woulda thunk I would eventually have a rocking chair in my room? Granted, it spends much of it's time as a shelf for things that need put away, but when I get it set up the way I want, I will have my very own, comfy reading and writing rocker. And this particular chair fits me well making it nice an' comfy on my back.

My "write your own story" coffee mug. A gift from a friend. I like mugs because they hold coffee and hot tea (tasty and soothing!), and I like this mug because it matches one my friend has and it inspires me to take action for the things I want (one of those things being writing).


What about you? What are you thankful for this year? Comment here or write your own blog and link back. I look forward to what you think of.

Dear Adam Young...Thanks

Nearly three weeks ago I went to the Owl City concert in Oklahoma City. As excited as I was about the performance, I wanted most to meet Adam Young, even though I didn't know what to say. During the performance by Days Difference, I spotted Adam off to the side by the merchandise desk. I was torn: I wanted to go over there but I didn't have the courage to overcome my shyness. In the end, I didn't meet Adam.

It took me a while, but I figured out what I would have wanted to say, if I had known the words at the time and had tried to say hi. Since I now know what I want to say, I will, even though he may never see this letter.

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Dear Adam,

Thank you so much for sharing your heart through song. Your whimsical and touching lyrics have been encouraging and uplifting to me countless times in the last few months. I love how your songs are hopeful, joyful, playful, and honest, and I love that some songs especially point back to God, the Hope and Creator of the galaxies. I've had many times that the sun went dark, yet, just as you sing, God is the only North Star I would follow this far and continue to trust, no matter what. Your eloquence repeatedly speaks volumes, often expressing either the thing I need to remember or that which I can't find the words for but want to.

Thank you so much for going beyond your comfort zone to share with this fellow shy person. And thousands of others.

Thank you for coming to Oklahoma City. It was a delight and honor to see you, hear you, and sing your songs with you in person.

Keep it real, Adam.

God bless,
Dorathea

{phfr} Owl City Concert

The day came! Or rather, Owl City came!

It was a great evening, much as I anticipated (the realistic part). We had a grand little group together.

Waiting in the chilly evening, God gave us a {pretty} sunset, though I admit I was fairly distracted with the surreality of the day of the concert upon us. I had cleared and charged my camera to have it ready for the evening, and nearly panicked when I thought I'd left it at home. I got a few (140) pictures (and silent videos) through the evening. But mostly, once we were inside, I enjoyed being in the moment.

Rebekah and Kelsey, the smart ones, keeping me warm.

We started out in the wrong line. We already had tickets, but we were in the line for people who didn't. So after we moved to the correct line, we realized we were now in the longer line! Once the doors opened, though, it moved pretty fast.

Even though I was chilly (my coat was in the car because I didn't want to haul it around once inside), I was very {happy} and the girls were cute and hugged me to keep me warm. Of course we got a picture. I'm sure you thought we were nuts, but thanks, Ty!


Inside was nicely warmer. And darker.

Once things got a-goin' we listened to Unwed Sailor play three of their instrumentals, and Days Difference set up after that.

Somewhere in there, Rebekah went to get water and found glowstick bracelets! That was also happy to this giddy girl.

Also happy and a little {funny}, between the Days Difference and Owl City performances, Rebekah and I scooted over to the merchandise table, where I bought a little owlet 'cuz it was soft, fluffy, squishy, and cute. I like dolls. I always will. Cain't he'p it. Won't try.

And because Owl City is sneaky, I was looking for him to be hanging around, maybe to take a picture of the crowd before he took the stage.

With Nathanael's help...I found him.

The pictures I took of him all came out blurry. The video was sharper, but my laptop won't open the video, nor can I currently figure out how to make Blogger upload it.

Forget Waldo, do you see Adam?

I should have gone over there, even if I wouldn't have gotten to say "Hi." Rebekah asked and encouraged...and I was too shy. (I knew it! I knew that would happen.)

The rest of the concert was really cool. It was both a bit surreal and super real that Adam Young was some thirty feet away from me. He looks nice in his pictures, but they don't do him justice. That is a good lookin' fella, there.

Here are a few of the better pictures. I plan to make an album on Facebook shortly with more pictures from the whole evening.

This was Lonely Lullaby. I think it made him cry, and I wanted to hug him to be happy again.

Sadly, the part of the evening I was hoping for most—to meet Adam Young—did not happen. After the encore, the band left...and never came back out. I suppose it's because they're performing tonight in Nebraska and had to get back in the air. But I really wanted a chance to at the very least say "Hi." And I didn't get that chance.

I guess that dream did turn to dust.

The bow.
Thank you for coming to OKC, Owl City.

Toothless Cars and Singing Owls

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Do you name your cars? My last one was a Chevy S-10 pickup, cute thing in a nice solid blue. Handy for helpin' people move and great for getting me to school and back. When I got it, there were some Tinkerbell tshirts in the store with the text "Ready to Fly". I loved it. I bought one for me and two more to act as seat covers for the pickup. It was either right before that or right after that, I named the pickup "Tinkerbell." Later, as I was driving some nearby Oklahoma hills (mountain folk would no doubt laugh at me), I was having some trouble getting the truck to climb...so I encouraged it (what, you don't talk to your cars?), "C'mon, Little Engine. You think you can, you think you can." And it was thereafter always in my mind "The Little Engine."

That was years ago. I now have a Jeep (and I'm silly, so I like to say "yeep") in a dark blackberry color. Of course, when I got it, I knew it had to have a name, too. Cars are something like boats, in that way. They just have to have names...though the name doesn't have to be painted onto the side. That might be a bit too odd. Anyway, after driving the peppy, small SUV, hearing the engine purr, and zipping it up to highway speed without trying, I had a name for my cute, dark traveling machine. "Toothless."

The yeep's full name is "Toothless the Night Fury," and that can be shortened however I want to at any given moment. Mostly I figure it'll be Toothless. My dad likes "Fury," especially when merging onto the highway.

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Do you remember my excitement at Owl City coming to town? That excitement hasn't died down. I've had my tickets for weeks, and one of my friends, Kelsey, whose musical style is influenced by Adam Young's, has been counting down the days with me since early October.

ADAM YOUNG WILL BE HERE ON FRIDAY.

If you want to help me, you could sign a petition that says, "Dear Adam Young, please find Dorathea Maynard at your Oklahoma City concert and ask her to dance. I promise she won't say 'no.'" and send that to him.

...At the very least, I hope I get to meet the shy Christian boy from Owatonna. :)

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And as one last aside on this mezcla post... My head fits in my purse. Yes, for the fun of it, I really tried it.

"I think I've found Narnia!"

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