insecurities are funny. (a long entry)
well. i went. after much debate and silly nerves (i'm still at a loss for why i was so nervous) i decided to go to the sherwood concert at ucsb. and friends i'm glad i did! lemme give you a brief rundown of how this morning went. i left home around 10:40, which was good cause my departure goal was 10:30. i drove and drove and drove. okay so, it wasn't really that long but it was enjoyable. while driving i thought about how much i'd taken that exact drive for granted for so many years. i realized how much i missed and love the ocean. it's just beautiful. mighty, but beautiful. i also thought about how the bumpy roads of ventura and santa barbara counties hold so many memories. like when i was driving home from the santa barbara airport one morning and my dad told me to slow down because he felt i was taking a downhill turn too fast (i took it faster today, and it was fun). another dates back to my freshman or sophomore year of high school, when the kid i was carpooling with said that his stomach felt like he was going over a roller coaster when we drove over a hump in the road. i laughed and thought it was lame cause i didn't feel the same, but find it more amusing now to look back on. almost every time i go over that i think about it and smile. there are far more, but those are just a couple that came to mind immediately.
so, i eventually made it to ucsb, and had to find somewhere to park and get to where the show was going to be. i think this is what i was most nervous about. i've not spent a lot of time on that campus and i'd never driven myself (i'd only been driven by coaches for track). so i parked in lot 27, got my day parking thing (just to be on the safe side) and ventured off to find my way to storke plaza. yea, this is where i'm lame. REALLY lame. so, i start walking in what looks like a good direction (it was good, the lame is coming i promise), and i veer to the right at one point (bad move). for the next 10 minutes i wander around campus going in directions that appear to be correct until i spot the tower. from there i know that i can find my way. (i felt a little here like i was in lord of the rings or something and on a journey, and the tower was my goal. that's a little lame too but not the lame that i've been referring to.) so i sense that i'm close, and sure enough i am. it's just ahead of me, and i look to my left and see a building that i recognize as the building i started out at and turned right from. my head went "you've got to be kidding me." nope. instead of going right to begin with i should have looked around more and gone left, and i'd have been right there. (that was the lameness.) it was without a doubt silly of me, but it ended up being fine cause it was a time killer, and once i found where the place was there was still a good 15-20 minutes before they started playing.
once i'd arrived i wasn't entirely sure where to sit or anything, and it was too early for most people to have been there, so i scoped out the area. after taking it all in and wandering around (not in the same place twice as to not look funny), i decided that there was a bench that looked nice to sit in. i pulled out my book (yes, i brought a book to go to a concert), and began to read. the book that i'm currently reading (cause i just started it) is the hiding place by corrie ten boom. same spelling, funny huh? well actually i was named after her and since i've now shared a name with her for 21 years i decided that i should learn more about her and her story. but back to the concert. i sat and read for a while, trying not to stare at the guys as they set up. i enjoy people watching and observing what's going on, so to keep my attention on the book was difficult cause all i wanted to do was watch. eventually the time drew near for them to start playing so i made my way around to the steps where others had begun to gather.
after lots of sound checks, and being told that they had to turn down the amps, they began playing. i was not disappointed. i enjoyed the show and had some highlights that i will now share. a few songs into their set i was looking at dan's guitar and noticed that the strap had been duct taped to the guitar, and then looked over at nate's and his was the same way. just an interesting and funny thing. also, i noticed that mike stood on a little box. (or at least i'm almost positive he was) it was just a few inches but enough to raise his height a little. i didn't watch him as much as i'd have liked to but he was just far enough out of my line of sight that only when i made an attempt to watch him, did i actually notice him. dan was funny. wait, i should maybe correct that statement a little. dan was funny, but he was more funny because he was trying to be funny. a joke about the "squares" and turning down the music was amusing, but not laugh out loud. the "balls" acronym was funny. my favorite one was "servant heart." that was just funny. it reminded me that my church has one for mission trips. "atm;" attitude, teamwork, and maturing in Christ. brought me back to that. it was also, funny to hear dan and nate talk about the free ep, and how college students don't have money so no worries it's free, and the little "stay in school" pep talk type thing that dan gave before they began playing again.
probably my favorite part of the whole thing was when the played "middle of the night." it's my favorite of the new songs, and i was anxious to see it live. dan encouraged people to dance, what was it, physically or metaphorically? i think those were the words he used. i danced metaphorically. i'd have actually danced, but only if it was more than just me. i'd have been far too embarrassed to do it. then at the end the rowdy part of the crowd wanted them to play one more song. so they did. it was "lake tahoe" and always enjoy hearing that song. after the show was over i sat where i'd been sitting for the duration of the show wanting to go and introduce myself and say hi and how much i liked it and all that stuff that they hear from everyone who comes up to talk to them. instead of actually doing it i continued to sit there because i was too much of a chicken. it's so much easier for me to be bold and step out of my comfort zone when there is someone else with me to be the chicken, and it seems like i'm pushing them more than myself. i have a friend who loves celebrities (mostly musicians and supercross riders), and i've gone to a number of supercross races with her and been the one who wasn't afraid to push my way up and meet someone, but she was there to be the chicken. also, i think i cared less about meeting those people, and just wanted to meet these guys and make a good impression. (yea... i think about this stuff. lemme just scream insecurities!) anyways, so i never ended up going and introducing myself but continued to make a few observations. (duh)
well, first, the majority of the people who made a direct beeline for the merch table were ladies. there were a few guys spattered here and there but it was mostly the fairer sex. then i began thinking about the people who were asking for autographs. items were kindly signed by the band, but i wonder what was the use of getting them to autograph "my new tote bag." (i didn't actually get a tote bag or have them sign anything, but i did like the tote bag. maybe another time.) nothing against those people who did, but for me i would have been less likely to use something that was signed, which would have then been a waste of my money, and it puts a value (tho i'm not sure exactly) on the band. don't get me wrong i love this band (if you know me you know this), but i don't need to have them sign any of my stuff. it's nicer to just meet them. (yes yes yes, i know i didn't even do that.) so, anyways, i eventually made my way to the merch table and picked up sing but keep going, which i didn't have in compact disc for, and wanted to get. (especially since my itrip wasn't working in the santa barbara area.) the girl who was selling merch was very nice, and a good person to do that. well, i think that is all. after i got my cd i left, and was so happy that i went. my comfort zone is now a bit bigger than it was yesterday, and it was a good time. part of me is tempted to go down to their show in azusa tomorrow, but that might be a little over the top. i am however trying to get a decent number of people to go to the show in slo next week. i'm looking forward to my friends seeing them too. i'll for sure be there.
well... that was my first sherwood experience, and i hope that this wasn't too insanely long to read. (it is insanely long tho.) one last thing. for those of you out there reading this (or at least the few who i hope read this) you should go to absolutepunk.net and get sherwood's summer ep. yea, that's the free download. FREE. as if free weren't good enough it is very good. ("very good" isn't even and adequate description.) okay. that's all. please take my advice and go download that.
so happy.
- corrie
so, i eventually made it to ucsb, and had to find somewhere to park and get to where the show was going to be. i think this is what i was most nervous about. i've not spent a lot of time on that campus and i'd never driven myself (i'd only been driven by coaches for track). so i parked in lot 27, got my day parking thing (just to be on the safe side) and ventured off to find my way to storke plaza. yea, this is where i'm lame. REALLY lame. so, i start walking in what looks like a good direction (it was good, the lame is coming i promise), and i veer to the right at one point (bad move). for the next 10 minutes i wander around campus going in directions that appear to be correct until i spot the tower. from there i know that i can find my way. (i felt a little here like i was in lord of the rings or something and on a journey, and the tower was my goal. that's a little lame too but not the lame that i've been referring to.) so i sense that i'm close, and sure enough i am. it's just ahead of me, and i look to my left and see a building that i recognize as the building i started out at and turned right from. my head went "you've got to be kidding me." nope. instead of going right to begin with i should have looked around more and gone left, and i'd have been right there. (that was the lameness.) it was without a doubt silly of me, but it ended up being fine cause it was a time killer, and once i found where the place was there was still a good 15-20 minutes before they started playing.
once i'd arrived i wasn't entirely sure where to sit or anything, and it was too early for most people to have been there, so i scoped out the area. after taking it all in and wandering around (not in the same place twice as to not look funny), i decided that there was a bench that looked nice to sit in. i pulled out my book (yes, i brought a book to go to a concert), and began to read. the book that i'm currently reading (cause i just started it) is the hiding place by corrie ten boom. same spelling, funny huh? well actually i was named after her and since i've now shared a name with her for 21 years i decided that i should learn more about her and her story. but back to the concert. i sat and read for a while, trying not to stare at the guys as they set up. i enjoy people watching and observing what's going on, so to keep my attention on the book was difficult cause all i wanted to do was watch. eventually the time drew near for them to start playing so i made my way around to the steps where others had begun to gather.
after lots of sound checks, and being told that they had to turn down the amps, they began playing. i was not disappointed. i enjoyed the show and had some highlights that i will now share. a few songs into their set i was looking at dan's guitar and noticed that the strap had been duct taped to the guitar, and then looked over at nate's and his was the same way. just an interesting and funny thing. also, i noticed that mike stood on a little box. (or at least i'm almost positive he was) it was just a few inches but enough to raise his height a little. i didn't watch him as much as i'd have liked to but he was just far enough out of my line of sight that only when i made an attempt to watch him, did i actually notice him. dan was funny. wait, i should maybe correct that statement a little. dan was funny, but he was more funny because he was trying to be funny. a joke about the "squares" and turning down the music was amusing, but not laugh out loud. the "balls" acronym was funny. my favorite one was "servant heart." that was just funny. it reminded me that my church has one for mission trips. "atm;" attitude, teamwork, and maturing in Christ. brought me back to that. it was also, funny to hear dan and nate talk about the free ep, and how college students don't have money so no worries it's free, and the little "stay in school" pep talk type thing that dan gave before they began playing again.
probably my favorite part of the whole thing was when the played "middle of the night." it's my favorite of the new songs, and i was anxious to see it live. dan encouraged people to dance, what was it, physically or metaphorically? i think those were the words he used. i danced metaphorically. i'd have actually danced, but only if it was more than just me. i'd have been far too embarrassed to do it. then at the end the rowdy part of the crowd wanted them to play one more song. so they did. it was "lake tahoe" and always enjoy hearing that song. after the show was over i sat where i'd been sitting for the duration of the show wanting to go and introduce myself and say hi and how much i liked it and all that stuff that they hear from everyone who comes up to talk to them. instead of actually doing it i continued to sit there because i was too much of a chicken. it's so much easier for me to be bold and step out of my comfort zone when there is someone else with me to be the chicken, and it seems like i'm pushing them more than myself. i have a friend who loves celebrities (mostly musicians and supercross riders), and i've gone to a number of supercross races with her and been the one who wasn't afraid to push my way up and meet someone, but she was there to be the chicken. also, i think i cared less about meeting those people, and just wanted to meet these guys and make a good impression. (yea... i think about this stuff. lemme just scream insecurities!) anyways, so i never ended up going and introducing myself but continued to make a few observations. (duh)
well, first, the majority of the people who made a direct beeline for the merch table were ladies. there were a few guys spattered here and there but it was mostly the fairer sex. then i began thinking about the people who were asking for autographs. items were kindly signed by the band, but i wonder what was the use of getting them to autograph "my new tote bag." (i didn't actually get a tote bag or have them sign anything, but i did like the tote bag. maybe another time.) nothing against those people who did, but for me i would have been less likely to use something that was signed, which would have then been a waste of my money, and it puts a value (tho i'm not sure exactly) on the band. don't get me wrong i love this band (if you know me you know this), but i don't need to have them sign any of my stuff. it's nicer to just meet them. (yes yes yes, i know i didn't even do that.) so, anyways, i eventually made my way to the merch table and picked up sing but keep going, which i didn't have in compact disc for, and wanted to get. (especially since my itrip wasn't working in the santa barbara area.) the girl who was selling merch was very nice, and a good person to do that. well, i think that is all. after i got my cd i left, and was so happy that i went. my comfort zone is now a bit bigger than it was yesterday, and it was a good time. part of me is tempted to go down to their show in azusa tomorrow, but that might be a little over the top. i am however trying to get a decent number of people to go to the show in slo next week. i'm looking forward to my friends seeing them too. i'll for sure be there.
well... that was my first sherwood experience, and i hope that this wasn't too insanely long to read. (it is insanely long tho.) one last thing. for those of you out there reading this (or at least the few who i hope read this) you should go to absolutepunk.net and get sherwood's summer ep. yea, that's the free download. FREE. as if free weren't good enough it is very good. ("very good" isn't even and adequate description.) okay. that's all. please take my advice and go download that.
so happy.
- corrie
posted by corrie at
2:10 PM
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