Show me the meaning of being awesome...

The weather at the Minnesota State Fair was spectacular: sunny with a cool breeze. We decided to first check out the rides. Here is Amanda and my mom (Darla) before Mom and I jumped on the Fighter ride, which promptly made me want to vomit.

Then Amanda and I went on a ride called the Crazy Mouse, where I got a bruise on my right arm and she walked off with her pants unzipped. So, it was definitely an appropriately named ride. (That's me with wild hair sticking out of the top of the booth.)

Krista and I awaiting for the start of the concert.

Unfortunately, the first act was Girlicious, which they made sure we knew by repeating their names 42 times. Here are Amanda and Krista's reactions to the scantily clad, fake-haired, gyrating whores (pronounced Hoo-ers).

Cute pic of my sis as BSB time got nearer.



Sidenote: I made three random strangers laugh while at the fair. A fair (no pun intended) day's work, I must say.

The concert was pretty fun and wild. There was a great mix of guys and girls, and everyone screamed their hearts out and heads off. Aside from some jerky creeps in the section next to us who kept making comments to every girl who walked by, spilled their beer all over, and were obviously drunk and/or high, the crowd was awesome. The guys eventually were hauled out of the grandstand, to the delight of all around them.

I was too far away from the stage to take decent pictures, but here's one clip if you're interested.

BSB put on a very high-energy, exciting, and visually stunning performance, complete with several wardrobe changes and a solo by each group member. After the encore, fireworks burst in air to conclude the show.

Aaaaaand we're spent.

Also, today is Grandma's birthday. Happy 78th, Grandma!

"That reminds me of an episode of 'Reba.'"

Krista came for a visit this past weekend, and now I'm blue cuz my life is boring again.

On Saturday we played all three of my SingStar games, and Krista beat me at almost every song. Plus, my voice turned manly after all the strain. Hmph.

Later that night we met up with my friend Rachel and we went to the drive-in theater to see Get Smart. Rachel made fun of me for buying Backstreet Boys tickets. I made fun of her for liking Reba McIntyre and worse, the TV show Reba. Then she started relating every one of our jokes or stories by quipping, "You know, that reminds me of an episode of Reba." Funny, then annoying. And Krista kept it up for the rest of the weekend. Grrr.

Get Smart was okay. It had some decent laughs, but the movie was a little slow paced. Some quotable lines, though.

We went to a Methodist church near my house Sunday morning. As we were walking up to the building, the church bell suddenly rang, and I jumped, yelling, "Good Lord!" Oops!

The service was super boring because the pastor wasn't there to give the sermon. Instead, some lay person rambled on about some convention she'd gone to. And she paused after every other word or would repeat a phrase that she felt must have been really inspirational. For example, "This man I'd never met before preached about the passion of hospitality." *long pause* "The passion. Of hospitality." Also, she talked about the victims of flooding who'd seen their houses "go down the Kickapoo." I told Krista that at first I thought "Kickapoo" was just a church-friendly way of saying "the shitter." Then I was like, "Oh, yeah. The river. Dur."

We also had to hold hands with a neighbor during a prayer, but Krista ignored the person who tapped her shoulder, and I was forced into holding hands with an old man who steadily increased the pressure of his grip until I had to massage my hand to get the feeling back.

Then as we left, two older men I knew had to come up to me like a couple of kids vying for my attention. "Hey, April! Are you coming back again? I think you should come back again." "Hey, April! Remember Shannon? Guess what? She got married yesterday!" Goodie. Rub that in my face, why don't ya?

So after that we made our way down to Eau Claire for some lunch and shopping. I heart shopping. It's my favorite. Our first stop was at Red Lobster for cheesy garlic biscuits. Then on to Pier One Imports, where they had tons of clearanced items. I bought a red Japanese figurine for my future Japanese-inspired living room. Oh, living room of the future, how fancy you are. I also adored this lamp, but I have no place to currently keep it. :(
I tried to talk Krista into buying a hideous ceramic sandal-shaped tealight holder to give as a birthday present to Kristen, but she didn't go for it.

Next up was Borders, where I bought the newest CD by South. Pretty good. Especially liking the song "Wasted."

Target was our last stop and where I made the biggest haul: Becoming Jane, Flight of the Conchords, and Rihanna (which I'm LOVING), plus some fruit and scones (lemon poppyseed, of course) and birthday presents for a lawyerly friend. That night, Guitar Hero 3 was the name of the game. I think Krista's now hooked because she's determined to buy her own GH3. We'll have a chance to battle in August when she comes back up to GO TO THE BACKSTREET BOYS CONCERT WITH ME! That's right! I'm not alone! We're gonna rock it single 29-year-old style. She even brought a boy band cd up for me to include in the mix, but I can't tell you which boy band it is. It's an MMMSecret.

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back!

In case you haven't been paying attention to my Twitter sidebar, here's what you missed: my mom and sister and I are going to see the Backstreet Boys in concert at the Minnesota State Fair in August! And you know what? I could care less if you think that's lame. We're going to have an awesome time, while you'll sit home alone eating Hot Pockets.

So in preparation for the concert, I'm putting together a boy band mix CD, comprised of songs from NKOTB, BSB (obviously), N*Sync, 98*, and Five. Any other suggestions? I'd also offer to send you a copy, dear reader, but I doubt I'll get any requests for one anyway. Hmph.

Other funny and/or annoying things:

My co-worker at the newspaper was just walking into my work area (the break room) when a customer came into the front part of the office.
Co-Worker: Hey, Butch!
Me: I really hope you were talking to the guy who just walked in.

12-year-old at library, getting turned down from a high-five by Jersey.
Boy: I remember when she was little and she used to be my friend. But then--
Me: She matured and you stayed at the same level?
Boy: No!
Other Boy: Yeah, pretty much!

On the phone with Pennsylvania friend:
PF: I'm tellin' ya, you gotta come visit me one of these days. You have to check out the people.
Me: Why?
PF: Well, what do you imagine Connecticut or Boston people to be like? Kinda sophisticated?
Me: I guess so.
PF: Well, the people here are like a cross between Connecticut sophisticated and rednecks. It's so bizarre.
Me: Weird.
PF: I know. I'm really disappointed because one of my boobs is bigger than the other.
Me: Wha? How did we get to that subject?
PF: Cuz I'm checking out my boobs. And one is definitely bigger than the other. I think the kids must've sucked on the other one too hard when they were breastfeeding.
Me: Okay, gross. I'm done with this topic.

Jersey and Aaliyah coloring with BlendiPen markers:
Aaliyah: Cotter! Cotter!
Me: Yes, you can color, too.
Aaliyah: Cotter! Cotter! Cotter!
Me: I know! You're coloring. Quit saying "cotter!"
Aaliyah: *leans in closer* Cotter!
Me: Argh.
Aaliyah: Cotter! Cotter!
Me: Welcome back!
Aaliyah: Cotter!
Me: Jersey, what are you coloring?
Jersey: A color fusion rollercoaster.
Me: Wha??
Aaliyah: COTTER!

So, this guy at the CA library has been in every day that I work there, and he seems to have a bit of a crush on me. And he's ... slow. If you know what I mean. I have to help him on the computer every two seconds, where he tries to win me prizes from the Burger King web site's contest. And he keeps asking if I'm single. And he always likes my rings and wants to buy some for himself. And yesterday he pulled up the sleeve of his T-shirt, revealing on his pale upper arm a fake tattoo of a 1950s pin-up girl, half worn off. "Her name is April!" he says. "'Hi, April,'" he makes his tattoo say. I have no response.

Such is my life.