Weighing the surreal...

This weekend was terrific!

Core 47 was back and better than ever. The sound at the Backroom was phenomenal, as were the new songs added to the set list. I must say though, I enjoyed the impromptu version of "Hollaback Girl" the most. I am excited about their gig at the beginning of the month at Rackdaddy's, though I can only make it to the one on the 6th, so I will be missing the fifth. So sad. They will return to the Backroom on the 26th and 27th, so you should all come out; it's a great way to spend an evening!

Several things this weekend were surreal. Although, I am not sure which one takes the cake.

#1- After the concert on Friday night, Trevor, one of his friends, and I went to IHOP. Now, our waitress takes us to the back section where I hear, "Ms. McFarland. Hey, Ms. McFarland". At first I don't respond to it, because I am not used to being called that...ever. So, finally I look up to see several of the students from my freshman writing course at HSU. I walk over to them and B- says, "Hey, what are you doing out Ms. McFarland?" To which D- says, "Come on, she has a life", and B- replies with, "Oh yeah...I forgot. I thought you'd be home grading our papers." I told them I had not yet even touched their papers and I didn't plan on it until Sunday evening. But seriously, this was just flat-out weird. I'm not "Ms. McFarland"...am I? I feel too young. I still feel like a kid. A kid teaching kids the basics of writing. It just doesn't seem right. It made me feel old. It made me think things like...this is what the rest of my life will be like. I will be out in public and I will run into my students who are forced to greet me formally. That is scary. Hopefully it won't always be "Ms. McFarland"...who knows. I think I could handle "Mrs. Pitt", or "Mrs. McConaughey", or "Mrs. (insert attractive, intelligent, and motivated man's name here)".

#2- I went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Miles, Eric, and Trevor. After seeing the previews I was a little leary and a little creeped out, but it turned out to be an incredible film. Surreal, but incredible. Any scene with the Oompa-Loompas... the term "surreal" doesn't even begin to cut it.

#3- Trevor and I went to Red Lobster for dinner. We were waiting for a table when an older couple entered the restaurant. I didn't give them a second glance until...and this is no lie...the woman passed in front of me and she was pregnant. Yes, pregnant. She must have been...I don't know...50ish, and her husband resembled Bob Barker. Surreal...I tell you.

So anyway, that was my weekend. I am getting ready to go running, and tonight I will be grading research papers. Hopefully I will get to take a break to see Scott later this evening. Maybe we will add to the growing number of movies this month. I will now refer to July as the "Month of Movie Madness". Hmm...that's kind of gay. If you think of a better title, let me know.