Celebrity Sightings...UPDATED!

It is only 3:00 on Saturday afternoon and I have already had a very FULL day! Today has been long anticipated as it has been dedicated to having breakfast with Nicholas Sparks. Nothing else seemed to be any more important than hearing one of my favorite authors speak AND actually get to shake his hand. The signature on his newest book was just a bonus and lasting momento of this day. I learned a couple things about this author: First and foremost, he is a Christian. He spoke a little bit on how he believes that everyone has a "mission" or "purpose" in life. He believes that his is coaching track and field at New Bern High School in North Carolina. It's a high school full of "under-privaleged" kids who fall well within poverty by all weights and means. His team is #1 in the state and #1 in the region most years. That is a lot to be said of an ex-pharmaceutical rep turned book author who has a passion for track and field athletics. Second passion of his life is a small private school that his family started a few years ago. It is a christian school with AP subjects from 6th -12th grades. He started this school for those students who needed a more advanced education and could not get it in the area. Nichalas Sparks is quite a neat guy! He if well aware that God has gifted him with the opportunity to make his place in life better...for himself, his family and his community. He takes this seriously. Below are a few snapshots of the 4 of us who went to "Conversations with Nicholas Sparks" this morning (sponsored by Rogers Public Library Foundation). On a side-note, Heidi has been looking forward to this for a long while....this has completely made her year! (Thanks for the tickets, H!)

The second celebrity sighting today was Paula Deen and her husband, Michael. She was in town today for several reasons, but at 11:00 a.m. this morning, she was signing books at the Pleasang Grove Road Wal-Mart. To say the line was long, is the biggest understatement of the year! The line wrapped all the way around the store and then started widing within the "departments" of the store! Wow! There was NO hope of me getting her autograph in my cookbook, so I just snapped a couple of pictures and then went on my merry way. And just in case you were wondering, she has a limit on her signings: 1 book per person and only 600 books per event. I don't think the people in the line fully understood that or at least they were hopeful that she would have mercy on them?!?

The third celebrity sighting was Harrison Ford. Wal-Mart HQ had him come to the Saturday Morning meeting today. I am sure he was a more on his agenda that just that, but who cares! I physically did not lay eyes on him, but someone who went to the SMM today said he was there and briefly spoke...I couldn't be everywhere today, so 3 out of 4 isn't quite so bad!

The fourth, and final, celebrity sighting today Joe Nichols. On a whim, my friend Jen B and I decided to go see Joe in concert. He is a Rogers, AR native and was in town for a 25th anniversary celebration of a local radio station. For this concert, tickets were only $25 per person and general seating in the new Arvest Ballpark. We had no idea what to expect...and as my Dad often says, "Blessed is he who expecteth nothing for he shall not be decieved". This was a good practice for me as I had no expectations of this concert. I knew that I liked a few of Joe Nichols songs, but really couldn't name very many (and I listen to country most of the time). The opening act was a guy from Southern Arkansas and he was REALLY good. He kept the crowd informed of the Hogs score throughout his performance and that was VERY good crowd control. You should've seen all the people with headphones listening to the Arkansas/Auburn game during the concert. (SEC football here is a true religious experience). When the Hogs finally won, there were severals rounds of "Woo Pig Sooie" calls and, of course, the fight song lead by the opening act himself! Only in Arkansas.....Finally at about 8:45, Joe Nichols took the stage. He is absolutely CUTE and a wonderful performer! The radio does not do his voice justice at all. His voice is deep, strong, and amazing. I definitely like him better in person than on the radio!!! Because this concert was general seating, Jen and I decided to sit in the Handicap seats on the deck. It was the perfect place, too. Down below we could see all the walks of life sitting in the seats...and trust me, there were ALL walks of life. On the deck where we sat, the line dancers and two-steppers danced...most were very good! True entertainment all around....dancers, people-watching, and good music. Doesn't get much better for a Saturday night in Arkansas. Oh - the weather was absolutely perfect, too! It was breezy, a bit cool, and beautiful!

Hope that your day is jam-packed and full of fun!

Nicholas Sparks signing MY book!

Heidi, Steph, Shelley, and Kelly with freshly signed books in tow

Heidi having her book signed...this picture will surely go in a frame.

Paula Deen and her husband, Michael

Laughing all the time....