Gun Powder & Lead

Long time, no see, essay.

I've been super busy. As in, work is sucking it up, what with all these end of year reports I've had to complete.  Then last week I had to head out of town for training from Tuesday to Friday. So that was pretty intense and left me no room to blog. I mean, I could have done it over the weekend, but I ain't down with computer time on my off time. I think it has something to do with sitting at a computer for like 8 hours a day. I'm just sayin.

So speaking of training... It was intense, but I met some great people that work in the same field as me. It's always great to get a fresh perspective on things.

I was particularly fond of two girls who both happened to be from Illinois. They were sweet and on my level (a little bit or as much as is to be expected).

They decided I was the quintessential southern bell...  In their opinion, I was your stereotypical southern girl. Blond hair, blue eyes, sweet as honey, with a THICK southern drawl.  I had those gals fooled (about being so sweet any way)!!

Well, as they were explaining to me that I was just the typical southern girl it hit them at the same time who I reminded them of...

MIRANDA LAMBERT!!

Now, this is nothing new for me. It's become quite the joke how many people have told me I look like Miranda. The first time I heard about this I was a young buck in a bar in Auburn and some guy was all... "You look just like Miranda Lambert. I think it's the cheek bones." I still haven't figured out where he was going with that... but he did not win my heart. (side note to any guys out there: do not comment on a girls cheek bones... that's weird. Go with something like "You have beautiful eyes" or "Your have the hottest bod." Don't go commenting on cheek bones or knees or anything else weird).

And so the  Miranda trend has continued. I don't know how much I agree, but I guess I should be flattered to be compared to any celebrity (unless it's Barbara Streisand, which happened one time too. I just plain ignored that)

So after my new friends referenced Miranda Lambert I got to thinking... What was it about me that causes people think of her?

Is it that we both have blond hair, blue eyes and apparently similar cheek bones?

Is it that people realize I am a natural performer just like Miranda?

Apparently we both have fans screaming, "You're number one!"

Or maybe it's that I favor her and my boo is tall, dark, and handsome just like hers?

I'm thinking if Ryan shaves his beard and slicks his hair back and we both tote around guitars... we have our next Halloween costume.

At the end of the day it may just be that she and I both have professional photo shoots in rustic settings? We even pose similarly- leaning to the left, showing no teeth, a bit cocky... If only I'd taken my damn guitar to my photo shoot.

Who knows exactly what it is, but Miranda is pretty, wild, and free... So I suppose I'll take it! 

It's just me and Charlie talkin'...

What's the low down with y'all? What celebrity have you been compared to?

Hometown Heros

Every time I turn around someone is attempting to make me famous. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not complaining at all.

As I mentioned earlier this week, my friends and I spent this past weekend at the Jazz Fest in my hometown.

We even ended up on stage for a song.... As documented in this photo:

Well, while we were minding our business and enjoying dancing on the stage a photographer for the local newspaper was snapping away.

Tuesday morning this was on the front page of the local paper:

 Please note the three girls on the far right. That's just Bess fixing her hair, me clapping and looking confused, and Lacey dancing and laughing.

Lacey and I also made the back page of the same paper. Take a look:

 

This photo cracks me up. I'm smiling and being innocent (typical) and Lacey has her mouth wide open (also typical).

So how's that for making it big in a small town?

My Celebrity Sightings

I am pretty obsessed with all things celebrity. I read US Weekly and People just about every week. I love knowing the latest trends, who's dating who, and even who's expecting a baby.

You can only imagine that I am always on the lookout for celebrities while traveling. I'm constantly thinking... Jessica Simpson could be in the airport right now, or maybe Bradley Cooper is on my flight. I realize that the chances are slim to none... but I always have a tiny bit of hope.

Two years ago I took a trip out to Steamboat, Colorado with my family. Before I left I joked with friends that I would probably see several celebrities, which I would harass for a picture (but in a cool... you're just [insert celebrity's name here] way).

Well, as the trip progressed, I hadn't even seen a person that looked vaguely familiar. Then we missed our flight home. It was a tough pill to swallow, as we would be stuck in the Denver Airport for several more hours. We decided to make the best of it and grab some food... and that's when it happened. I saw him out of the corner of my eye... scooting past us full speed.

It was this guy....



The dad from the TLC series, "Little People, Big World."

We harassed him for a picture and asked him how Amy and the kids were... and off he went.

That was my celebrity sighting. No, it wasn't Bradley Cooper or Jessica Simpson. But I've learned in life you take what you can get. I embraced it even.

Well, this past trip to Rhode Island... I hadn't even thought about seeing a celebrity.

I was just minding my own in Charlotte, NC, enjoying some pizza... when all of a sudden I see this guy:



I was all, Katie Beth, that is Wee Man. Are you kidding me? Wee Man from Jackass... right there. But it all happened so fast that he was gone before I could grab the camera for a picture with him.

It cracked me up... my second celebrity sighting in an airport... and it was my second celebrity little person.

On my next trip I am going to have my eyes peeled for this guy...



Because, at this point, why wouldn't I see Gary Coleman?


**My mom feels as though I should point out that this post was written prior to the passing of our dear little person Gary Coleman. My chances of running into him have deminished. RIP Gary.**