Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes

This month I returned to the theater with my friend Cheryl to see the musical Rent.

We went to Theater Charlotte, a local community group that puts on several shows a year. It was amazing.

The theater itself is adorable. It only holds a small crowd and is a casual atmosphere. It felt like the performers were singing right to us.

Rent is about a lot of things: Love, friendship, poverty, AIDS. Most importantly, rent is about life and death. How do you live your best life? What does your life mean? How does your life impact others?

I don't think I am spoiling anything by saying one of the friends in the group, Angel, dies of AIDS. Angel, full of life and love, leaves behind a grieving, fractured group of friends who have to decide how to carry on and make the most of their lives.

This show made me laugh and made me cry. It is a bit provocative.

An interesting thing about the musical Rent is that it's writer Jonathan Larson died of a sudden heart attack before the show hit Broadway. So, how do you measure a life?

I do my best thinking by writing

Editor's Note: Once again, this has nothing to do with my resolution. But I lost my Nana last week, so this is something I have a therapeutic need to share.

Nana died on Tuesday, April 26. This is the eulogy I delivered on Thursday, April 27 at her grave site.

At Granddaddy’s funeral, almost nine years ago, I stood in front of most of you to talk just like I am doing today. I remember sitting in the pew, thinking there was no way I could talk in front of all those people. I was scared, just like I am today. Nana held my hand and told me that I could do it. Before I knew what was happening, I was standing up there, in front of everyone reading the words I’d written. Nana gave me courage.

Over the last 29 years, Nana held my hand a lot. When we went for walks. When she picked me up from school. When Granddaddy was in the hospital after his heart attack.

About eight years ago, Nana asked me if I would speak today. Even though she’s not here, I can almost feel her holding my hand and telling me I can do this.

Nana loved a lot of things. She loved her flowers. She loved coffee. She loved to cook. She loved naming the birds that flew in and out of her yard. But more than anything, she loved Willie. Nine years ago Nana’s heart was broken. The man that always held her hand and gave her courage was gone. A few weeks ago, she held my hand for the last time and told me that she would give anything in the world to feel Granddaddy’s arms around her again.

53 years is a very long time to hold someone’s hand. And nine years was a long time for her to live without him. She never really felt complete.

Nana used to tell me that when they were dating, Granddaddy would come and pick her up, against Grandma Parker’s wishes, and say, “Baby, let’s go.”

I believe that early Tuesday morning, finally, Willie stuck out that hand that she knew and loved so well and said, “Come on baby, let’s go.”

Why this white girl shouldn't dance

• I almost got kicked out of Howl at the Moon
• I have a random bruise, cause unknown, and extreme soreness in my left arm
• I wasted some good alcohol, committing a major party foul

However, the good things that happened on Friday night far outweigh the bad. I decided to mix things up a little bit for my April resolution event.

My friend Elizabeth (EE) came to Charlotte for a visit. I decided to do something with her that wouldn't cost either one of us a ton, but still count as my event for the month. We would go to Howl at the Moon , a dueling piano bar in uptown Charlotte.

I went to their website for more information and I registered to win a free party. I did. This got us some pretty good drink deals and free admission. Well, of course I needed to share those deals, so I invited some friends. The guests for the EE's Here party were: Jean, Mark, Alisa, Frank, Misty, Dan and Tasha.

We were on two separate, yet equally important missions: Show EE a good time and see a live performance.

Well, since we are winners, we completed both missions.

We were there for several hours listening to some good music and enjoying each other's company. They had some fantastic drink that came in a bucket. It was delicious.

Our group requested a song that is special to EE and me: "It wasn't me" by Shaggy. Of course, we were the only people in the room who enthusiastically cheered when it was played. Some other favorites included Kid Rock, Montell Jordan and Carrie Underwood. It was neat to watch the different performers switch gears and move from genre to genre.

Needless to say, when you drink out of a bucket, you may be moved to dance. I did the macarena. I also knocked over a couple of drinks, resulting in a near ousting from the bar management. I woke up with random bruises and blisters from my insane heels.

I had a fantastic time. It was wonderful to have so many of my friends be able to participate in this month's event, let go and have some fun.

Next month, I return to the theater for the musical Rent.

As always, it's about the accessories!

Concerts, sporting events and other resolution-eligible items are usually a blast to attend. Getting there sometimes can be another story.

Parking is almost always an issue. For my first event, The Lion King, my friend Quiz dropped Kelly and me off at the door. We had a long, cold walk back to the car after the event wasover. In Roanoke, my friend Misty and I boarded a shuttle bus to get a ride to the Civic Center.

At the Carolina game, my brother and I paid $10 for the privilege of leaving my car (which broke down) in a pot-hole filled lot and then hiking a mile.

Once you get to the event, there normally isn't a lot of leg room, or any kind of room. There definitely isn't room for the big purse that I usually carry. I've spent many an event awkwardly attempting to shove my bag under my seat or move it out of the way when someone stumbles drunkenly down the aisle.

I decided in Roanoke that this would not do. I took the essentials: license, debit card, lip gloss, phone and camera and put them in a small bag that fit on my wrist. That probably looked a little silly because this was a bag I bought to go with my bridesmaids dress for a friend’s wedding. This worked well at the concert. I could wear my bag on my wrist and not have to worry about a bulky bag, while carrying all the essentials.

I decided then that I needed a less formal bag. I got this from TJ Maxx. I just carry the essentials and it works great.

The only problem now is that I want to permanently downsize, but I just can’t seem to make myself do it!

Three months, six events: A resolution update

I am three months into my New Year’s resolution. In typical Type A fashion, I have actually attended six events when only three were required. And I have enjoyed every one of them.

A friend asked me a few weeks ago to really talk through why I chose this resolution. Why am I doing this? At the end of every year, I start to think of things I want to change about myself. What is wrong with me? How can I do better? I need to lose weight. I need to write more. I need to be a better person.

As 2010 drew to a close, I started to wonder why can’t I, for once, choose a resolution that is fun for me? Why can’t I do something that I enjoy?

I love concerts and musicals, plays and comedy shows (as long as they don’t make fun of me!). But in 2010, I only attended a couple of events all year. Why?

And so, a resolution for 2011 was born. So far, I've attended:

• The Lion King Musical

• Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker

• Bobcats vs. Sacramento Kings Basketball

• Sara Evans

• Cirque du Soleil: Totem

• NCAA Basketball: UNC vs. Long Island

How’s it going so far?

I can only find two real downsides to my resolution. The first con is all about the money! Three months in, I've spent almost $500. It takes an incredible amount of planning and budgeting to figure out what I am doing and budget accordingly.

The only other downside is time. I have had something going on almost every weekend so far this year, which is fun but it is also exhausting.

Luckily, the pros of this resolution far outweigh the cons. I have seen some excellent shows so far. I have yet to attend an event that wasn't worth every penny. Everything has been fun.

I have spent a lot of time with friends and family that I might not have otherwise. That’s been the absolute best part.

I am just having fun. And I am learning a lot: How to enjoy life and how to be nicer to myself. These perks are definitely worth the investment.

A weekend at the Big Dance and the Big Top

Friday Night:

My brother Michael and I, who were raised in the strict religion of Tar Heel, enjoyed the first round of NCAA Championship competition at Time Warner Cable Arena. We decided to go all out for great seats (with a nice partial sponsorship from our mom) and ended up being very, very close to the action.

How deep does our religion go? This was a post-game conversation we had.

Michael: "Someone said if Duke goes further, at least someone from the ACC will go forward. Forget that. I would root for the Taliban first."

Me: "Well, I hear they're putting together a really great team."

Our enemy Friday night was Long Island University, more specifically the Blackbirds. There were not a ton of Blackbird fans in the house, but the ones that were there were loud and proud. The Tar Heels played a good game, not a great one. I am a little worried about our future in the tournament based on some of the things I saw. The Daily Tar Heel sums it up here.

Regardless, it was great to see the boys in blue in Charlotte. Our seats were fantastic (as pictured above) and we could see some of our favorite boys up close and personal. Getting to hear the Carolina fight song live from the band and shout TAR HEELS along with thousands of others was a great experience. I had a great time with Mike, my brother by DNA and the Church of Tarheel.*

*This will also forever be known as the night my car broke down eight times on the way home from the game. We should find out Monday what the damage will be.

Final Score: 102-87

Roy is angry and so is Ramses:

National Anthem

Zeller goes for a free throw

See all photos from the game here.

Saturday Night

I went to my first ever Cirque du Soleil show-TOTEM! The show was held at the big top, set up in Concord near Lowe's Motor Speedway. It was amazing. I really don't know how to describe this show.

The Totem website describes it as

"Tracing the fascinating journey of the human species from it's original amphibian state to it's ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient organizations. Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of the species."

I describe the show as, well, awesome. I know I should be able to use more words, since this is my writing project. These people are so athletic and talented. They can twirl, juggle, flip and spin. These things are almost always done while swinging and flipping in the air. Seriously, it is SO hard to describe.

Here's a little video I found on YouTube that might help

There were ring tossers, trapeze artists, unicyclists, jugglers, roller skaters and more. The show used all of these incredible talents to tell a story that was funny and through provoking. The best advice I have is go see it if you have a chance. If you're in Charlotte, you still do. They are here until March 27.

It was a fantastic event and is a perfect example of why I needed to do this as a resolution. I think the old Randi would never have made it to this event. And it was wonderful.

Note: All photos that don't include me are courtesy of the Totem website.

For all my Cirque pictures, click here

It's March. I am well into my resolution. Later next week, I'll share how things are going so far. Do you have any suggestions for events I should attend? How has my resolution changed my life so far?

Give me a comment, ya'll! I need your feedback.

And then I'll hug his neck....

Disclaimer: Today’s blog post has absolutely nothing to do with live events or New Year’s resolutions. But it is MY blog, so today I’ve made an executive editorial decision.

This is my favorite picture of me and my grandfather. Right before my aunt snapped the picture, I said, "Granddaddy, put your legs up like mine!" I've always been a big fan of awesome photo poses.

For the last nine years, St. Patrick’s Day has made me a little sad. I’ve always associated the celebration with Granddaddy’s birthday, which falls on March 18. Even though he’s been gone for nine years now, the day stays with me. It feels so strange not to be able to call him up and wish him a happy birthday or go order a cake with a big old John Deere tractor on it.

Tomorrow he would be 84 years old.

What would he think of the person I've become? He used to be so scared that my desire to be a journalist would send me to some war-torn country and he’d never see me again. I think he would be happy that I've stayed close by and created a good life for myself. I know he would've been thrilled to see me walk across the stage at Wingate University and get my degree, the first one in his family.

I know that no matter what, even if I dyed my hair purple and sold turnip greens by the side of the road, he would be proud of me. He loved me unconditionally, no matter what. I would still be his baby girl. And putting my arms around his neck would still be one of the best feelings on earth.

But he’s not here. I had 21 wonderful years with him and then cancer hit our lives and took him away from my family. Since he’s been gone, I would give anything to have just one more birthday with him, just one more talk, just more time.

It was too late for Granddaddy and he passed away peacefully at home the day after Father’s Day, surrounded with love from my mom and dad.

It’s not too late for others. Cancer is something that can be cured and it is something that can be stopped. The new American Cancer Society More Birthdays campaign wants you and your loved ones to have more birthdays. Go to their website, pay for one of your favorite artists to send a personalized birthday greeting and help fight cancer.

One of my favorite is Darius Rucker. You can see his greeting here. Make a donation today for those that you love. And yourself.

Happy Birthday, Granddaddy.

“I’m going to walk with my Granddaddy. And he’ll match me step for step. And I’ll tell him that I loved him every minute since he left. And then I’ll hug his neck.” –Brad Paisley