Nicole Neff

After our fun outing on Valentine’s Day outing at Walmart, Tyler had the new phone buzz. He was so excited at the possibility of getting a new phone that we decided to go to Sprint that next day and see what plans and phones Sprint had to offer. We were pleased to find out that not only did they have a selection of really cool phones, but we also were eligible for a $150 credit to upgrade!

Tyler got the Sanyo S1 in black. He was so excited that Sanyo came out with yet another slim bar phone that he had to have it. While it’s longer and wider than the old one that he used to have and love (he has compared every single phone to the one he used to have, and none have come close to measuring up), it has a lot of features that he missed after switching from Sanyo.

I, on the other hand, had to have a phone with texting capabilities. I decided to get the LG Rumor. I had never purchased an LG before so I didn’t know what to expect. But other than the poor photo qualities of the phone, I absolutely love it. It has great graphics, really cool ring tones, and it slodes to reveal a texting keyboard. And, it works at Ivy Tech in the classrooms whereas my Samsung didn’t receive good enough reception and was always on roam.

I can’t wait until next month when I actually have a texting plan. And, we also upgraded our plan to include no roaming. That means that from now on when I visit my parents up north (and when we visit Hawaii in May!), I won’t have to pay roaming charges because Sprint does not have a local tower. Although it’s a little more expensive than what we were paying, we think it will save us in the long run because we usually had texting and/or roaming charges tacked on every month.

I’m not one to get too excited about Valentine’s Day. After all, it’s just a consumer-driven holiday. But this year, for whatever reason, I was so excited about it. I think it was just the fact that it was one night that Tyler and I would definitely have together, just the two of us. We’ve been so busy and going in different directions lately that sometimes we only see each other before bed.

We decided to do something we wouldn’t normally do and go to a really fancy restaurant in town. We chose Madeleine’s Fusion Restuarant upon the suggestion of one of our friends who really, really loves the chic eatery in downtown Evansville. I made reservations for us about a month in advance so I wouldn’t forget and be too late to get a table. The more the night neared, the more excited I got. Their web site said there would be a fixed menu with certain items to choose from for an appetizer, second course appetizer, main dish, and dessert. The price was $90 a couple, but since we weren’t buying each other gifts and the food was supposed to be out of this world, we were okay with that.

We get there and we get one of the front tables by the window. Normally, I don’t like to be on display for everyone who passes by the restaurant, but it was okay because I was pretty proud to let everyone see I was with Tyler, who I have to say, is quite a catch. Yes, I am a very lucky girl.

We waited quite a while for the server to take our drink orders. He took about 10 minutes to dress the table behind us, but we were patient. The waiter then goes over the menu for us, although we can read. It was quite humorous and obvious that he didn’t know too much about the items on the menu, which I thought was probably understandable considering the menu changes weekly. We decide on the scallops for the first appetizer and the lobster bisque for the second. Then Tyler ordered the halibut for his main course and I got the Chicken Madeleine (chicken with artichokes and a sauce). All in all, we waited 45 minutes before we got our first appetizer. We were a little annoyed that the table behind us, which got there at least 15 minutes after we did, was served before we were. We think that it was because they ordered wine (think bigger tip). Nonetheless, the scallops were the best part of the meal. They came with a medley of different sweet potatoes that were melt-in-your-mouth good. I would never have thought to put the two items together. The lobster bisque was okay, but didn’t have a whole lot of taste to it. The temperature was perfect; not too hot, not too cool. Neither of us ended up finishing our bowl.

When the main course arrived, we each tried the other’s food. Tyler’s halibut had a really good flavor, almost woody since I’m assuming it was cooked on a wood plank and I think I detected a bit of honey, too. My chicken was good, but way too salty and peppery, which is one them that reoccured with many of their dishes. I like pepper, but I also prefer other flavors to be present. The vegetables that came with both meals were very, very yummy and different from anything I’d ever had before. I really don’t know what it was, but I may be doing some research so I can cook some at home.  We didn’t finish our main dishes, partly because we were getting full and also because we were awaiting the dessert. It was heart-shaped shortcakes with strawberry, sauce, and whipped cream. It was good, but the shortcake was not as fluffy as I would have liked and I would have liked more strawberries, as well.

All in all, the dinner was good, but not worth what we paid for it. I’m definitely glad we tried it because I had been hearing really good things about it. Maybe if we didn’t have to choose from a fixed menu, it would be different, though.

I have to say that the best part was the company. Tyler and I were able to talk about things and just relax. It was so nice to be with him and laugh and just have a good time. We don’t get to do enough of any of those. After our dinner, we topped off our romantic night with a trip to Walmart. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but we have fun just browsing. We looked at tv’s (we’re finally considering getting cable and Internet, and we’ll probably put one in the bedroom) and cell phones (we’re either switching providers or getting new phones). I love how Tyler laughs and smiles when he sees new technology that he just HAS to have. His eyes light up. And you should have seen him when he found that Sprint carries a slim phone almost the size of the old one that he used to really love. He’s so cute!

When we got home, we exchanged our cards. It’s funny how similar our cards were. He gets kudos, though, for finding one that played music. When you open it, it plays “My Girl.” I always look forward to reading what he writes, though, even moreso than what the card actually says.

It all goes to show that it’s the little things in life that impress me. You can fine-dine me and buy me nice things, but it’s the things that come from the heart that mean the most.

This past Thursday, I had the opportunity to attend a really great concert. Winter Jam, featuring several Christian artists, came to Evansville’s Roberts Stadium. Since I have sort of taken on the youth program at my church, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get our kids out to hear some really great music with a solid message and at a price they could afford. Tickets were only $10 at the door but no one would be turned away if they didn’t have the ability to pay.We were under a winter storm warning with the threat of ice and snow for the evening, so the crowd was not too big. Tyler got to the stadium to wait in line at 5 p.m. so we could be one of the first in and get the best seats. I joined him after work and after I grabbed a quick meal for us from Mickey D’s. To say it was frigid would be an understatement, but Tyler was such a trooper even though he’d been waiting in line much longer than I had. Luckily, the sleet stopped not long after 5, so at least we weren’t soaked AND cold.

They finally let us in at 6 p.m. and I paid my money so I could go in and save all of our seats. Tyler waited at the door to give the kids their money (they had paid ahead since we weren’t sure how the ticket/seat situation would be handled). They were only letting a small number of people on the floor, and I nearly had to fight off several people for the seats I was saving…I had my purse, coat, scarf, camera case, program and several other things strewn across 12 seats. Some people were not happy, to say the least, but our kiddos had some of the best seats in the house! We were only about 15 rows back, so not bad at all.

First up was PureNRG. They were three young kids who did more gymnastics than singing. It will be interesting to see if they change their style or just stop performing once they get older. After that was Group1Crew. This trio was a hip hop group, and the female singer was AMAZING! I’ve heard them on XM 32, but they were so much better in person.

Then they had a youth leader reception, so while Tyler and I were at that, Mandisa sang. From what I was told, she was amazing. I was pretty upset that we had to miss it. But at the reception, we got to be up close to the lead singer of Skillet and also Barlow Girl. I think Tyler was a bit starstruck to be that close since Skillet is one of his favorite bands.

NewSong, who I wasn’t too impressed with, played a few songs. They were more praise and worship, which isn’t too energizing for a concert in my opinion. But to each their own.

Skillet’s show was absolutely amazing. They had some amazing pyrotechnics that shot really high in the air and even caught a towel on fire on stage. We could feel the heat at our seats, so I can only imagine how hot it was on stage. Most of all, I was impressed with the band’s stage presence. The lead singer was so energetic. And I loved that his wife sang, played keyboard and guitar, and they also had a new female drummer to replace Tyler’s favorite dummer, Lori. I definitely became a huge fan after this show. I got their CD from Tyler to listen to on Friday and I couldn’t get enough of it!

Steven Curtis Chapman ended the show. He was really great, too, and I can see why my mother in law is a big fan of his. The entire band, which now includes his two sons on guitar and drums, was really solid.

If Winter Jam comes to your area, it’s definitely worth your $10. If you want to read about the concert in more depth, read about it at the Courier & Press.