We're going...where?

Umm...so...what exactly might one wear to a rap concert? I suppose cowboy boots are inappropriate? Or anything floral? And I guess twirling probably wouldn't be acceptable?

Of course these are the questions that we got hung up on as soon as Bethany and I realized what we had gotten ourselves into. I'm a Texas girl and I grew up on country music, cowboys and slow southern twang. That's the music I love best and those are the concerts I attend most often. Rocking the cowboy boots always.

But about 2 weeks ago, me and B attended our first ever rap concert. Jay Z and Eminem. At Yankee Stadium. The first ever concert in the new stadium. And ohhhhh, how shall I put this? It. Was. Epic.


Obviously we were completely out of our concert comfort zone. We know exactly what to expect from Pat Green, Reckless Kelly, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift. Those are our people. But Jay Z? Eminem? This was unknown territory. Does the crowd sing along? Do we even know enough of their songs to sing along? Wait, is it even possible to sing along to rap? Hmmm.

Well here's the thing about rap concerts. Or maybe it was just because it was Eminem and Jay Z in concert. Regardless. You don't have to sing along. No need. The energy is contagious. Everyone stands.

These guys are awesome.

Eminem. Back in action.

Oh and he brought 50 Cent.

And Dr. Dre. No big deal.

Then it was time for Jay Z. He is the most awesome.
Jay Z brought Kayne (who I regrettably have no pics of). Who rocked his red suit from the VMA's 2 nights before. He might love himself lots and might have been real mean to T-Swift, but he is a dang good performer.

Then Mary J!! Who is quite fantastic herself.

And surprise! Beyonce! In a sparkly sparkly dress. Eeee!

Dear Jay, you rocked Yankee Stadium. And I loved it.

For my very first ever rap concert, Eminem + Jay Z + all kinds of incredible special guests = really really really awesome. Even if there weren't cowboy boots involved.

Can't. Stop. Watching.

Friday Night Lights. In case you haven't heard, ABC Family is now airing all seasons of FNL. Daily. From the very beginning.

And in case you haven't ever watched Friday Night Lights for some ridiculous reason that I definitely wouldn't understand, I highly recommend you start watching now.

I love this show. So so much. Something about the combination of Texas high school football, teen angst, southern accents, Tim Riggins and Coach Taylor has me completely hooked. And now that I have an episode to watch on my DVR every single day? Weeeell, now I just can't stop watching.

And in my FNL obsession, I've stumbled upon this lil interview of Kyle Chandler (aka Coach Taylor) by Diablo Cody. Quite entertaining. You watch and then try to tell me you don't love him.

You're welcome.

this is why we're friends

a sunday night exchange with bethany.

translation as follows....

LJ: taylor swift on the VMAs right now!!!!

B: just got home and turned it onnn!!!

excitement expressed via text. and typos. brilliance.

followed by a facebook wall post exchange:

Ahhh!! I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again... What does it say about me that I feel like every. single. one. of a 20-year-old's songs was taken straight out of my diary?? Oh, T Swift. You are the best.

In semi-related news: I want to rock red lipstick just. like. her. Sigh.

dear taylor,

we're not sure how you manage to write the songs of our lives, but we thank you. and for rocking red lipstick like a pro. even us 20-somethings want to be you when we grow up.

xoxo,
lj & b

and then we went back to discussing party plans for our co-worker shannon's birthday on monday. we baked. minty brownies + rainbow chip cupcakes. a dessert buffet if you will.

this is why we are friends.

xoxo

Blissfully Happy

"I am blissfully happy right now. Is that a thing?"

I had such the lovely 4-day Labor Day holiday weekend. Filled with sunshine, Longhorn football, running in Riverside Park, karaoke, a very successful visit to Jersey Target, Eat Pray Love, and lots of much needed time with my friends.

Oh! And Michelle came to visit! We did brunch at 44 & X. To which Michelle texted..."Where are we meeting??" My response...."44th and um...10th" Hence the name, 44 & X. Crazy, I know.



We ended the last official weekend of summer with one more beachy day. And it was the perfect beachy day. Perfect weather. Perfect company. Perfectly perfect.

Ok...not totally perfect. In true form, I completely overslept my alarm. By an hour. Angie and Susan were calling / texting / ringing the buzzer at 9A. I heard nothing. Oops. When I finally did answer my phone...

LJ (disoriented, but still happy): Hi!
Angie: Lauren Johnson! Get down here right now! Beach! Susan is picking us up in 5 minutes.
LJ: K. I need 10....

I am impossible.

Approximately 10 minutes later I hopped downstairs into a car full of friends. Who immediately greeted me with a collective "FAIIIIIIIIIIL."

So aside from that lil early morning setback, we had quite the successful beachy day. There was no traffic getting out to Robert Moses state park. We were laid out on the beach by 11:15am. And I was blissfully happy.


I especially enjoyed riding in a car full of girls, westbound on the Long Island Expressway, windows down, radio up, singing at the top of our lungs. We continued into the city...

"Because when do you ever get to drive through the streets of Manhattan rockin' out to Taylor Swift?!"

Exactly, Susan, exactly.

Also. This conversation with Angie happened. It stemmed from a discussion about Eat Pray Love. And it was hilarious.

So long summertime!

the night we met mike eli

at bowery ballroom! in nyc! after a kickass Eli Young Band concert!


it was an awesome show. and just look how cute mike eli is! i heart EYB lots. i know almost every song by heart. and i particularly enjoy Guinevere. it's probably the most brilliant song ever written. caroline says..."oh just wait till they play Guinevere...." she knows. this ain't her first EYB concert with me. she knows how much i love.


julia may not world's biggest EYB fan, but will always find a way to sing along. "i've learned that with country music, you can pretty much guess what the words are going to be so i can still sing along." priceless my friend.

"i just want a boy who wears plaid shirts and tight jeans and boots. is that so much to ask?" now accepting applications.


julia's attempt to get all 3 of us in 1 photo...upside down. i could switch it around in iphoto of course, but look how much fun we are upside down. adds character, don't you think? so it stays.

you better believe i was rockin' my cowboy boots even though it was crazy hot out. EYB in nyc will always equal cowboy boots. keep coming up north for concerts boys, you'll always find a happy group of displaced texans who will show up wearin' their boots and ready to sing along!


oh yeah. it was also the night i was recognized for being leslee johnson's sister. yep. in new. york. city.

some cute boy who went to pre-school with my lil sis les (she no doubt broke his heart), approached me right around the start of Radio Waves. "this is going to sound really weird, but are you leslee's sister?" well yes, yes i am. and that is insane that you recognized me here in the middle of a texas country concert in nyc. who are you?

Manhattan

Saturday night movie in Central Park.

Arguably one of the coolest things I've ever done in this city.

After a full day at the beach, me and Susan got off the LIRR at Penn Station and headed immediately to Central Park to catch the last night of the Central Park Conservancy's free Film Festival. It was a spontaneous decision. One that I am so very glad we made!

It was the loveliest of summer evenings -- warm, but not hot, slightly chilly after the sun went down, very little humidity, a light breeze. Even though we arrived an hour and a half before the sun went down, Sheep's Meadow was already packed with movie-goers. We picked out a spot as close to the screen as we could find, spread out our beach towels. And waited.

Had we planned on attending, we obviously would have packed a movie-watching picnic. It was the perfect atmosphere for a lil wine, some cheese and crackers and fruit. But since we didn't quite plan this activity in advance, we weren't prepared with any of those treats.

Luckily for us, the good people at the Central Park Conservancy provided complimentary snacks. Or perhaps they were provided by the good people at Bloomberg? Regardless, free snacks, win.

Oh. And we had a giant big-as-your-head chocolate chip cookie + lemonade from La Pain Qui...you know, that French bakery I can never pronounce. Yum.


Neither Susan or I had ever seen Woody Allen's Manhattan and weren't quite sure what to except. So we certainly didn't expect to see these opening scenes to Mr. Allen's black and white love letter to this fair city of ours. A fitting and pleasant surprise.


Sitting there under the City lights, muted from the Central Park trees, with a few hundred fellow New Yorkers, watching a black and white movie, appropriately titled Manhattan, about a man who adores and over-romanticizes the same city that I adore and over-romanticize. It was a perfect New York evening. Definitely one to write about.

Guess I do still love you New York.

"Boy, this is really a great city, I don't care what anybody says...it's really a knock-out, you know?"
~Woody Allen, Manhattan

oh you...

this made me giggle last night. so much that i couldn't resist posting it today.

i missed a call from my sis on tuesday night at 12:15am because i was already alseep. which is quiiiite rare for me. i actually woke up wednesday morning and congratulated myself on getting 7 full hours of sleep. and then i realized how sad it was that i thought one night with more than 5 hours of sleep = rested. i am a mess.

but back to the story...

i worked late last night and didn't get a chance to call her back. i know from experience she gets cranky when i don't call her back. she thinks i don't make time for her or something silly like that. always time for you les. always. so i texted her when i got home to see if she was still up.

the results below --

"just chat wanted"
hahaha

"i'm asleeping"
BAHAHAHAHA

l-o-v-e you lil sis.