Hello Huricaine!

In 2008 in the wake of hurricane Ike, Houston struggled to put the pieces back together again. As the Music Builds tour rolled across America they had lost their venue in Houston to hurricane Ike, so they renamed themselves the Music Re-builds tour... and Swithfoot was there. Through natures providence and Gods grace, Houston did not see another hurricane again...until Switchfoot was there.

On a rainy night fans lined the outside of the Wirehouse Live to catch Switchfoots Hello Hurricane tour that is literally taking the nation by storm. In a new approach Switchfoot is playing their new CD from start to finish in the CD track order, rounding out their show with fan favorites. It is a bold move to say the least but it also accentuates the flow of the CD that the band meticulously arranged. It also signifies the bands belief in their new songs, they know that you will love Hello Hurricane and are willing to prove it. The show works. The show flows. This is one of the best concert experiences of the year.

Even if you are not a “die-hard” Switchfoot fan you will enjoy this concert. The band uses a complete stage of showmanship mixed with their talent to capture and hold your interest and expectation. Judging from the “chatter” of those exiting the concert there were not disappointment mixed in the emotions of the evening.

As the band continues to take control of the forces of nature and ride their storm known as the Hurricane Tour allow yourself to get caught up in the whirlwind, if only for one night. The band is enjoying sold out shows across the country so don’t wait until the last minute to get your ticket.

When Heaven Meets Earth…

Last week during my church’s worship service the words to the song How He Loves were transcribed and projected as, “When heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss” when the lyrics are written as, “When heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss.” It, at first, made me smile/blush~ then giggle. It reminds me of that blog post I did a while back about who is hearing what. It amplifies to me that we can all be hearing the same heavens song yet interpret differently the word, sometimes without altering the meaning of the message. I can only speculate that in that audience on that day someone needed a sloppy wet kiss from God… As for me, I think all of my future kisses are unforeseen!

**See Dan's comments...apparently it was written as sloppy wet kiss!

NeedToBreathe's The Outsiders

We have all felt like the Outsider, either as the only Christian in a group of non-believers, or at a small group meeting having not studied the weekly lesion. Somewhere inside of each of us there is a rejected thread of life leading us to feel the sting of being an outsider.

"I've been wondering if we start sinking could we sand our ground? After everything we've learned we've finally come to terms…we are the outsiders" NeedToBreathe has done what to most would be impossible. They not only avoided the "sophomore slump" with their second CD, The Heat. They have came back with a third CD that will forever solidify them as one of the best bands recording CD's today, in any genre. If CCM were looking for new "darlings" to represent the Christian market in a secular arena NeedToBreathe would be their best bet. According to their fan site, The Breathers, NeedToBreathe will be the supporting band for Kings of Leon on a portion of their fall tour in addition to headlining their own tour. Very busy band for sure.

Every song on The Outsiders is a stand alone radio hit. There is not one that stands out or lags behind the rest, making it hard for a critic to single out highlights for a review. Lay `Em Down is the first radio offering that the band laid on the turn table. Opening with heavy drum/stomp track that reminds you of an 80's fist pumping arena rock song, Lay `Em Down "makes good on a promise" of a great CD.


If you think that you've heard These Hard Times before even though its your fist time hearing the CD, you are probably correct. The song is currently being used as the intro on NBC's fall show Mercy. If the secular market is confused as to whether these guys are truly a Christian band the words to These Hard Times, "Give me something sacred, something worth fighting for. Its clear enough to me the ugliness I see is evidence of who I need… give me the faith to believe in these hard times" should help clarify things.

For those in the Christian market who are confused as to whether these guys are truly a Christian band the words to Garden, "Let the songs I sing bring joy to you. Let the words I say profess my love, let the notes I chose be your favorite tune, Father let my heart be after you" should help to clarify things for them! Rarely, if ever, has there been a band that can write a CD of such diverse offerings that would honestly appeal to both Christian and secular music fans. I believe it is because this CD is full of GREAT music… no matter what genre you support you can appreciate that.

There are a couple of tracks on The Outsiders that I am looking forward to see if they translate well into a live show. One being Let Us Love, again for the arena-anthem- rock style of the song, the other is Stones Under Rushing Water, a slower love song. A couple of fun sing along songs round out the CD, each deserving a spotlight of their own.

This CD is simply "Something Beautiful." If you have the opportunity to play music at work, where not everyone scribes to CCM, The Outsiders is the CD you need to bring along. "I can't figure out just how much air I will need to breathe, when your wave crashes over me." Let NeedToBreathe' s The Outsiders crash over you and become an Outsider. It will soon become a favorite in your play list.

The "Story" behind "Jant"

I recently sent someone the story behind why people call me Jant. He suggested I write a book. LOL It made me think...I wonder if all of my friends have heard the story...



Scene: Sophomore year: Georgia Southern College: 1987 (*Now Georgia Southern University): English Class: Front row student: Late to class.

The instructor is taking up the papers that we wrote. Mine was on the invention of a new and soon to be revolutionary HGTV! No one had heard of it, but me just coming off of two years studying film at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), had been studying how this was going to change everything we've ever seen in TV transmitting. I was so proud of that paper I had told all my friends how much it rocked. I had told the girls in the dorm how wonderful it was. I had bragged in study hall, how they needed to read it when I was done so they could learn something...

Late for class I hastily folded the paper in half long ways as instructed and scribbled my name on the side of the paper and handed it in.

Two days later ( M-W-F class) The instructor hands back all of the papers except mine... He holds it up in the air with a HUGE red F on the side of it written in thick-poster-marker and asks who's paper it was.... I raised my hand with tear filled eyes and whimpered it was mine... He (very loudly I might add) exclaimed, "Well, I had no idea who "Jant" was... so...seeing as how you could not manage to spell your own name right on the outside of the paper...I held out no hope that ANYTHING inside the paper was spelled correctly either..."

I was able to turn in a re-write to receive one letter grade less than what I would have originally received... and I forever became known to all of my college friends as Jant.

True story...

Tell me I'm forgiven and loved...

Jimmy Needham led worship at my church Sunday. He graduated from the same high school that Chance is attending. I didn't even know he was from Tomball! I've mentioned on twitter before how his lyrics to "Forgiven and Loved" struck me in a way, I'm sure he didn't intend. There is a line in that song that says, And my peace is almost past away. I have felt that since daddy died, my peace did pass away with him. I've had an incredibly hard time dealing with his death.

My pastor's series of sermons has been titled "Talking Donkeys" where we're exploring seemingly insignificant passages in the bible. This past Sunday we focused on 2 Kings 6. In a nut shell the sermon focused on how when the worker lost his ax head, he first had to admit that he needed help. There was a great illustration on how we lose our ax head and continue to strike the tree with just the handle, yet insist that there is nothing wrong, even though everyone around us can clearly see that there is.

The second key point is found in verse 6. Elisha asked the worker to show him exactly where the ax head was lost, "And the man of God said, Where fell it? and he shewed him the place." The lesson taught that when we lose something, we have to go back to the place where we first suffered the loss. That is where God is going to restore to us what is gone. It can be a physical place, or a place in our soul/heart/thinking.

Earlier in the week I was listening to the band The Listening. They have a EP called, The Rock&Roll Worship Circus is becoming The Listening. On that CD there is a song that's last line (is something like) "If you don't know where is you're going, you have to go back to where you started growing..."

So twice in one week I'm picking up on the theme of going back to where you started from if you've felt like your no longer growing or you have lost something.

Something I'll still ponder in the days ahead.

Dying social skills

I was listening to KSBJ this morning while they were talking about the amount of texting that people do. I had the opportunity several years ago to attend a gathering with a vibrant online community. There were moments of awkward silence, referred to as the 60 second rule. (At the online community you have to wait 60 seconds between posts.) Even though there were strong friendships made prior to the actual meeting.

All of this got me thinking. Is the online social networking, killing social skills? Have we become so online driven that we are actually loosing face to face communication skills? (Have you ever used LOL or OMG in "Live" conversations?)

I have read other peoples blogs where they feel that blogs/journals are becoming a thing of the past due to the "What are you doing?" status update lines common to Twitter, or Facebook.

I do not have a solution to this. I merely see it as a trend in our social behavior. Any thoughts?

American Airlines (Why I will never fly with them again!)

I should just re-post my letter of complaint against American Airlines but I think that maybe I should give them some time to respond before I do. I know, its not like me to be so nice when dealing with a complaint, however I think that just the fact that I'm never flying with them again may prompt you to at least research airfares with another company prior to selecting AA. I know I say never, yet given the amount of time that I spend in the air, and my dislike of the drive to Houston's Hobby, there is a remote chance that I will consider AA again in the future. BUT when that day comes, as it may, I will have this blog post to refresh my memory.

Check back soon, I may spill my story here after all...

Miss California

I took a picture of Miss California.




This was taken at the Gospel Music Award show (The Doves.) She was there because of her Christian answer that she gave during the Miss USA pageant. Less than a month later TMZ posts topless pictures of her. Granted they were taken before she willingly, of her own accord, jumped into the spot light of fame but none the less not at a good time for her. I have read comments from people who think that TMZ has poor taste.

I think that the pictures themselves were in poor taste. I wonder, how they have helped her career? Why would anyone take nude/ simi-nude photos? If you are going to try and build your fame among the Christian community or use your morals as a high ground then you should live every day under the same standards.

If you have daughters, let them know that NOTHING GOOD WILL EVER COME OUT OF POSING NUDE! (For anyone, ever!) Never take a photo that you would not be embarrassed to show to your daddy, or have shown on the overhead in church.

Has she made a mistake? Yes. Should be forgiven? Yes. Should we all be praying for her? Yes. Should we be judging her? No. But should we be learning from her mistake? Yes.

If you are young enough for people to still want to see you nude, please, please, please DON'T GO DOWN THAT ROAD! NOTHING GOOD WILL EVER COME OUT OF IT! (It might get you in Maxium, or Playboy, or a commercial/movie... but at what cost? And do you really want to be famous that bad, or for that?)

Third Day on the third day finale

As the last of the Third Day on the third day approaches I'm perplexed on what to write about them. I last saw them GMA week in Nashville at a fundraiser sponsored by Big Kenny from the country band Big and Rich. The band played near the end of the evening, after a list of country music's finest artist, yet Third Day garnered the best crowd response! I don't know if everyone was just tired of sitting on their butts and wanted to be dancing or not, but it took very little encouragement from Mac Powell to get them up & at it! That "benefit crowd" really let their hair down and cut a rug!

It was only one song, but I pray that it left a lasting impression on them. It is very fitting that this is the finale of the 3D on the D3 blogs as it was probably my last time seeing Third Day for a while. (Until the Fall? maybe?)

Roll on Third Day and I will keep rockin'!

Third Day on the third Day

Yes I will once again gear up for a run of Third Day shows through Texas (its why I moved here right, right ;) ) In preparation for the shows I've been doing a bit of Third Day voting... Have you voted yet? First place to get your vote on is at the "Official" GMA web page by voting for Third Day as artist of the year!

Next up in your web tour with Third Day voters is to hit the Sophie Show and vote for Third Day to beat Depeche Mode (yes its a secular station and Third Day is in the top voting for their song Slow Down)

Join me next month when my shows are over and I'm getting ready for the whirlwind also known as GMA WEEK!!

Question for my fellow RN's

Recently I had a patient come down for surgery who had dementia and diabetes. The family had phoned in the surgery consent but were now bedside for the procedure. The patient was adamant that they had brought a breakfast tray into her, she had eaten eggs & bacon but they took it away from her before she could finish. The nurse had documented that the patient was NPO since MN the night before.

Even though the patient suffered from dementia her second proclamation of anger over her tray being taken away prior to her finishing the meal prompted the anesthesiologist to have the RN on the floor called to verify the NPO status.

When I called up to the unit, it was shift change and the new RN said that’s what she had been given in report but the other RN was still in the locker room. I asked her if she could please verify with me the NPO status. When the primary RN was being questioned I could hear her in the background, “NO the patient didn’t get a tray taken away! We did catch her with a couple of cookies from her own private stash but it was only one or two!... Tell them they were sugar free, good God.”

The anesthesiologist was livid! He wanted to know if that RN understood what NPO stands for. (To all OR nurses who have had to endure the brunt of misplaced frustration I know you can relate.) The surgeon came in, and because the surgery was for placement of a catheter for dialysis, it was late, and the patient needed to be dialyzed today went to the family and told them that we had to do the surgery or she could die…however she could die because she ate.

Anesthesia decided to do a rapid sequence intubation and continue on with the surgery. (At this point it had been 6 hours since the “cookies”) The MD wanted to make sure that a report of some kind was followed up on to make sure that some teaching was done to the RN on the floor. I asked if he wanted her “formally” written up or a verbal to my supervisor to take care of things. He stated that a verbal would be OK. I made a copy of the documentation and gave it to my supervisor. The next day, the anesthesiologist, went to her as well to follow up- prompting her to mandate that I do a formal incident report for teach only purposes.

I wonder if non-operating room nurses know/understand why it is so important that a patient be NPO prior to surgery? One anesthesiologist was talking to another one at the surgery desk and made the comment, “You know I heard a nurse tell a patient one time that the reason they were to be NPO is so that they don’t throw up after surgery… The patient drank thinking that it would be so bad to throw that up afterwards…”

Any thoughts? Any suggestions on teaching tools? Maybe I should make something…

Daddy's tribute

First of all let say that I am deeply honored that MercyMe allowed me to use their words when I was unable to reach inside to find my own. However, last night, around 3 AM God woke me up with this on my mind. I have to repent for not having a pen/paper around, so not all of it is here. This is only what I was able to capture after note pad opened up... This is what was read today at my daddy's funeral service. The honor guard was there for the 21 gun salute & played taps for him making it an altogether lovely service, fitting for a man who served his country, his family and his God with all he had until his last breath.

Daddy,

As you saw into heaven

and your praise began to rise

I felt so humbled and honored

to be at your side.

As God drew close to draw you near

You raised your hands in praise

As Hallelujah filled the air.

The legacy left by your good name

Is a blessing beyond all wealth or fame.

You knew how to love and live in His grace

You walked in His favor and His blessing

Always seeking His face.

In my heart you'll always be here

Your words will always resound in my ears

"I love you princess" you would say

And I've never doubted it- not even today

If you could come back

But for one brief hour

I know your words to me would be

"Hold on to Jesus, baby."

To say I'll miss you doesn't even reflect

The emotions I'm trying to keep in check

I'm SO HAPPY YOUR HOME!

Even though I am sad that you are gone.

I love you daddy, but I'll see you again

When its finally my turn to come home

And join you again.

Goodbye Daddy

On Thursday daddy went on his journey to heaven. Sometimes His breath of life is our last. There were moments sitting at his bedside when daddy would begin to sing. Words muffled, melody fading in and out but never the less a beautiful song of praise as I believe he was seeing into heaven. The last distinguishable words he uttered was when he raised his hands and said Hallelujah! Glory to God.

I can not even begin to think of a more beautiful way to pass from this journey to the next than praising the God of Glory. I am so much like him, and one way is my love for singing (constantly lol) I pray that when my day comes, I too raise my hands in praise and glory and honor to the creator of this universe, the lover of my soul.

Good bye for now daddy. I hope your still singing when I get there! I know that you've always loved the things that I write, but right now I can't wrap my mind around a goodbye letter to you, so if you don't mind I'm going to let MercyMe say it for me.


Bring the Rain MercyMe/ Coming up To Breathe/2006
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I’ve gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It’s never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you oh Lord
My only shelter from the storms
But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there’ll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to praise You
Jesus Bring the Rain

I am Yours regardless of
The clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what’s a little rain

So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there’ll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to praise You
Jesus Bring the Rain

I'm forever singing
Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Is the Lord God Almighty

Third Day on the third Day

As I laid in bed this morning, not wanting to start the day just yet, I spent a couple of moments staring at my hands. Remember the funny little thing we used to do as kids where we locked our fingers together and said, "Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and there's all the people."

For some strange reason that came to mind this cold morning as I tried to nestle in for a few moments of sleep. Using my hand to grasp the covers close I thought how cool it is that when we curl our hand all of our fingers are the same length. Yet when we stretch out our hands they are different lengths. So if we didn't smash our fingers together into the "church" but rather simply bowed down, we'd all be equal.

Christmas is here. Tragedies abound. Grace, Peace, Love, Hope and Joy abound too! I'm thankful that God can show us his glory and mercy today and everyday, in this season and in all of the seasons of our lives.

I will be packing up the computer this Saturday and won't be connected again for a little while. (Thank you Toshiba for not delivering my lap top in time to prevent the gap! *sarcasm duly noted?* ) Twitter will remain turned on to my phone, however I can not follow all of you in return. If I appear to be ignoring you... please forgive me!

Have yourself a merry Christmas!!

Renee is the best surgical tech ever!!!

If anyone wants to hire her and pay her more-money-than-a-tech-should make, just call me and I'll hook you guys up.

OK Renee, happy?

This is my last week working at TOPS surgical in Houston. I will be sad to go. I am glad that I get to go home to visit with the family for most of December and the Christmas holiday season.

AMN/ Preferred has finally gotten all of my payroll issues worked out. I can now testify that they have made good on my pay. Its almost scary to change companies right now. What if I start over with a new company and I have to start over with the same problems.

From all of the message boards that I've been keeping up with, all of the travel companies have these same problems. Once you know how to cover yourself, understand all the guidelines, deadlines and rules then you are set.

At this point I'm not sure that they even want to keep me on! LOL. I guess I can be a little "wordy" at times. Although, when communicating face to face, I am respectful and polite. Who knows where everything stands at this point.

Daddy is in a hospice hospital now. I'm not sure when he is going to be transferred to the house. I know Mom is looking forward to having me home when he makes the transfer. This will be one of those times when my home health care experience is handy.

My Dawgs lost to Ga.Tech. Texas Tech is being shut out from the BCS National Championship game... The Jags are currently losing to the Houston Texans. EVERYTHING on the sports front pretty much sucks for me! I wonder if UGA is even gonna get a bowl game this year :-( *Sigh* OH well... next year is only a couple of weeks away ;-)

Some Updates on my travel assignment with AMN Healthcare

If you are just joining my blog-o-thon regarding my wonderful new job as a travel nurse, please start here to read from the beginning to the current.

Now I have Craig helping Nick to work through my issues to get this resolved. On the phone, everyone sounds so nice, and appears as though they honestly want to help get this resolved.

However I got an email from Amy, after being told that my insurance forms with proof that they were faxed in the first 30days, were received and things were "taken care of." The email reads:

Hi Janet,

I have received your insurance enrollment form. However, at this time you are not able to enroll as you are past your eligibility period. All enrollment forms must be turned in within 30 days of your assignment start date and we are unable to accept late forms.

Please let me know if you have any questions!
Thanks!!

I want to scream!!

Moving on....

I turned in a time card that had the correct hours listed in the right column and they all matched the column at the bottom. However, when I entered them individually I had a number wrong. Yes they went with the one wrong number and not the other 3 correct ones. Now I have to go back and re-do my time card for this week. I corrected it and turn it in but I need my OR manager to refill out and sign the corrected form. She wasn't happy Monday when I had her re-do the form from week one that Craig said they never received. She sighed, reached into a drawer, and pulled out the already completed and turned in form.

Speaking of time cards. The facility that I'm working out is aghast that I have to go through and fill out the "call off" form each week, and then still not get paid correctly. They have agreed that I can stay by myself every evening just to watch the time pass to reach 8 hours everyday to avoid the hassle.

I have not discussed with them yet the fact that IF I don't get the full 80 hours, and I don't fill out the "call off" form...then I OWE THE COMPANY I WORK FOR $8 an hour for every hour short.

So, follow me here, if I work 30 hours and don't fill out the form properly, get my double signatures and then fax it off to a different number than the number that I fax my time cards too, I will owe $8 an hour for the additional 10 hours that I'm not getting paid for.

I'll let that sink in. Not only am I not getting paid... I'll owe money not to work.

I'm still in shock and disbelief that I negotiated days off into my contract. Prior to being hired, during the initial interview, at Nick's encouragement of full disclosure, I requested 3 days off in October. All were in agreement. Then I get this lovely email:

Thank you for traveling with Preferred Healthcare Staffing. In an effort to keep you informed of your paycheck status and funds, we want to inform you that there will be an unearned housing benefit deduction of $182.00 from your next paycheck. As disclosed in your Professional Services Agreement, the deduction for the unearned housing benefit is calculated based on the Minimum Hours in your contract: 80 hours required each pay period, with 22.75 missed hours deducted from your next paycheck.

This is for the "vacation" days everyone agreed upon prior to the start of the contract. But what did I honestly expect, full disclosure? That I could just take days off without getting paid and not owe somebody?

I think a portion of my whole "misunderstanding" is that prior to this job, I worked in a position that was salaried, with benefits. Part of my benefits were vacation days. I was allowed so many hours per pay cycle that I could save and use later. I had the understanding that I was not going to accrue those days anymore. But coming from a background of being salaried, I didn't expect "guaranteed work week" to be much different. Paid for 40 hours a week. Not, paid for 40 hours a week if I get a separate form faxed to a different number signed by me and my supervisor.

I'm going to request my travel assignment to verify for me if they are paying AMN Healthcare dba Preferred Healthcare Staffing for 40 hours of work a week. Or are they paying a different amount each week based on hours actually worked.

I'm just curious if THEY are getting guaranteed pay, paid correctly each pay cycle, regardless of MY actual work hours!!

AGAIN if you are a travel health care professional, either RN, ST, PT, or CRNA. I'd love to hear YOUR stories. Are all agencies the same? Have YOU gone through anything like this before? Any advice for future travel?

Third Day on the third day

I have never finished my Texas trio Music Builds reviews... San Antonio is the only one left to go...

I've know for years that the last will be first and the first will be last but... Trying to beat the Houston show I knew was going to be a hard thing to accomplish. To make matters worse my seats were in Row M, going against the "If we ain't front row we don't go" Gomer motto. For Jars Of Clay, I knew the crowd weren't going to be in their seats yet so I did snag an empty front row seat for that. Chance and I left to go stand in the meet & greet line for Jars but did not make it to the front before the band was whisked away. We missed most of Robert Randolphs set in an effort to rehydrate before taking our place in the back of the front section for Switchfoot. Everything I've ever heard about the acoustics being better from the back, and the view of the entire stage & crowd response jargon was TOTALLY DISPROVED by these seats. My camera was dead, and I really didn't want pictures from back there anyway.

After the "Friends of the Foot" took off for their meet & greet I snagged a second row seat. One "legal" seat that was to belong to Tim, and 3 illegal-empty-seats that did have very young energetic kids. I will never understand why people come to a show (late at that) holding second row seats and then want to SIT DOWN for a show, but that is what happened~ half way through Third Day's set. (They also picked a slow song when everyone is praising to try and get to their seats... if anything else was moving on that song...they totally distracted it) I always wonder about the arms-crossed-sitting-people too. I wondered why they even came to the show. Then I decided to just praise anyway. They decided to remain seated.

After the show I got to meet some more Gomers who I had talked to, but never met face-to-face. Very lovely people! If it weren't for meeting them I'd probably list this as one of my least favorite Third Day shows.

I'm looking forward to the fall tour dates because NEEDTOBREATHE is our on tour with Third Day. My "Dream Line-Up" would be: DecembeRadio, NeedToBreathe, and Third Day.... ahhhhhh two out of three ain't bad!!

DAY TWO: HOUSTON TEXAS/ The Music Re-Builds Tour

The original venue was the Cynthia Woods amphitheater. All of the MBT shows were set in outdoor arena type venues. Due to Hurricane IKE, there was a last minute venue change. There were a lot of last minute changes making this show one of the special evenings of the tour. First, instead of rising money for Habit for Humanity, ALL proceeds for this show went to rebuilding the Houston/Galveston area. This show was broadcast live on KSBJ and filmed for later TV viewing audience. RED had turned things down a bit. My seats for this show were front row, and since it was indoor arena the seats were closer to the stage than the ones for Dallas.

I was able to get some great photos of all of the bands for this night! This is a picture of Stephen Mason from Jars of Clay.




During the show Tai Anderson began to give his, bass-player-with-a-mic routine that he starts off with, “Earlier this year we had the chance to tour Iraq.” Only tonight it too was different. No sooner had he gotten the words out, he was given (what the band later has stated as) the longest standing ovation of the tour! It was very moving, to witness the gratitude of the crowd towards the men and women of the armed services, no matter what side of the election you are on.

This show had the largest amount of Gomers than any other on the entire tour. Gomers are THE main reason I attend so many Third Day shows each year. As a member of the Third Day “Wired” club, I got backstage passes for the meet & greet. As it turns out it was more about meeting up with fellow Gomers than spending time with the band members. Occasionally they would interject into our conversations, as if we would/could leave them out!


Again I ended up being one of the first to get to the venue, and one of the last to leave. (Hence the Gomer motto: Come early, stay late & WEAR ORANGE!) Of all three days of living-like-a-rock-star this was my favorite! Seeing old friends makes for time well spent! I got to sleep in my own bed this evening for another whopping 4 hours then…Off to San Antonio!!!

Safe to Land by Jars of Clay~ Lyrics

I have a tracker that compiles stats for me from this blog. The number one search engine request that directs people to this blog, after the two years or so that I've been up is: Safe to Land by Jars of Clay~ Lyrics

Let me say that I have interviewed Jars Of Clay. And I have written a review of their new EP CLOSER. However I am in no way affiliated with the band, their management, promotion team (even though I'd love to do that for a living!).

This is what I believe the lyrics to Safe to Land are (feel free to leave me a comment if you feel as though I have gotten any of them incorrect and I will edit) :

Getting tired from all this circling
Not much grace left on a broken wing
I feel the wind trying to push me down
It happens every time I get to town

I search for shelter near the mines we swept
I guess forgiveness hasn’t happened yet
There are no words that I can say to you
That turn this careless sky from black to blue
So I’m asking you is it safe? Is it safe to land?
‘Cuz I’m not going far on an empty heart
Is it safe? Is it safe to land? It’s the long fall back to earth is the hardest part

I’m in no weather for apologies
I need your runway lights to burn for me
And if you say that I can come around
I’ll love you right, yea I won’t let you down, I won’t let you down

‘Cuz I’m coming home, if these wheels touch down
I’m coming home I’m waking you up in the middle of the night I’m not giving up
I’m gonna stay ‘til we make it work
We’re not going down even if it gets worse
We’ll work it out. Yeah we’ll work it out.
I need light to guide me in
Oh, Yeah is it safe?