It's Differently Similar

We've all had moments where we've felt like we've "been there before", even though we know we haven't.

Or we feel like we've met someone before, though again, we know we haven't.

Even situations can feel similar, and yet, we know the current situation is a new experience from any other we've had.

I'm not an expert, so I don't have any idea what causes a person's brain to make these types of connections.  What I do know is, recently I've had one of these experiences, and the feeling has stayed with me from the beginning.  So much so, that I'm writing this post about it, to share with others.

That last paragraph kind of sounds like my experience is life changing, or at least dramatic in some way.  It's not.  It's just a simple observance that I found interesting enough to want to share.

It all began when I heard country singer, Luke Combs' song, "Even Though I'm Leaving", on the radio.

I fell in love with this song the minute I heard it.  At the same time, even though it was brand new, I felt like I'd heard the song before.

Then I realized why it felt so familiar, and yet, wasn't.  

Back in the late 80's, early 90's, country band, Sawyer Brown put out a string of hit songs.  

In 1991 they released a song, "The Walk", which would become one of the group's signature songs.

"The Walk" follows the life of a boy, who becomes a young adult, and man, all while taking walks with his dad down a dirt road where they live.

"Even Though I'm Leaving" has no dirt road walks mentioned in it anywhere, but it does have a dad and son sharing moments, and growing together.

That really is the only similarity between the two songs; yet I still can't help but think of Sawyer Brown every time I hear Luke Combs's song on the radio.  And thus this post has been written about my experience.

I'd love to hear what others think when they hear these two songs, so I've posted the videos for each below.  Let me know what you think, and feel free to tell me if I've completely missed the mark.  

A Weekend in Las Vegas

June 28th through 30th my friend, Patty, and I took a trip to Las Vegas to see Reba with Brooks & Dunn.

At my new job, there's a sock monkey named Noodles that employees can take with them on their various adventures, and photograph the fun Noodles is having with them.

I'll be honest, I do NOT like sock monkeys.  They've always creeped me out, and I want nothing to do with them.  However, I love to write, be creative and silly, so I kind of wanted to take Noodles with me to Las Vegas.  I thought maybe it would also help me get over my loathing of these creatures.

 I decided to just go with it, and got Noodles from the coat rack he hangs out on, and took him to my desk.  That way I wouldn't forget to take him with me when I left work that day to head to the airport.

Well, it seems while hanging around my desk, Noodles made friends with my 98.7 The Bull, bull I got from my favorite radio station.  And thus, my journaling of Noodles' adventures in Las Vegas began even before I left work.

A co-worker, Karla, asked me to post my pics to Facebook, so I did, with captions for each, and also tagging my friend, Patty, so she'd be able to have them as well.

I have another wonderful co-worker, Michelle B. who doesn't have Facebook though.  Since it's Michelle who's encouraged me to start making blog posts again, (it's been over a year), I felt that posting all my captions and pics of Noodles' adventures in one blog post would be a good place to start; and Michelle would be able to see what Noodles had been up to in Las Vegas.

Below are my pics of Noodles, with the captions that accompanied each.  Read on to see Noodles' adventures in Las Vegas:

This is Noodles, the traveling sock monkey who lives at the office where I work.  Noodles goes anywhere an employee wants to take him.  This weekend Noodles will be going to Las Vegas.

While hanging out at my desk, Noodles made a new friend, the bull from my favorite radio station, 98.7 The Bull.  The bull was sad that he was stuck at my desk, and unable to be with his other Bull co-horts, Jake Byron, Danny Dwyer, Jenn Hays, Tony Russell, and MoJoe Roberts, in Eugene this weekend for Garth Brooks.

Noodles was quick to respond that the bull could come along on his adventure in Vegas, to see another Brooks:  Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn, as well as Ronnie Dunn AND Reba McEntire.

This made the bull very happy as he loves country music.  Noodles is happy because he won't be traveling alone in a bag with just a bunch of clothes and stuff.

As you can see, the two have become fast friends.  More posts will be made as these two begin their new adventure.  :)

Made it to the airport in record time.  (Go figure, the one time traffic *isn't* bad, and on a Friday no less!)

Noodles and the bull are relaxing and stretching their legs a bit, while we wait for Patty Pittman to get here.  :)

Well, after a slight delay, we're through security and at our gate.

Noodles and the bull let Patty and I know they were a bit peckish; so we're enjoying some delicious Mo's fish and chips while we wait for our flight.  Yum!

And the traditional "PDX Carpet" pic with Patty, Noodles, the 98.7 The Bull bull, and myself, (please forgive my ugly toes!), before boarding our flight.  Next stop, Las Vegas!

Seems the Las Vegas luck has already started for Noodles and the bull.  An empty seat in Patty's and my row means they can enjoy the flight in a comfy seat, instead of cooped up in a carry-on bag under a seat.

Finally made it to the hotel.  As you can see, we have one very tired Noodles and bull.  One very tired Patty and Nola also.  Nighty night everyone!

Noodles and the bull met a friendly Las Vegas native today, Burney the monkey, who volunteered to show them around town.

No real pics to show, as they were rushing here and there.  Burney also didn't want others to know where he's from, as it lacks the glitz Vegas is known for.  Noodles and the bull did convince Burney to let them take this one photo together, high above where Burney called home.

That's not a typo.  Seems Burney has been wanting to go places and see things for awhile, so Noodles and the bull invited him to spend the rest of the trip with them, Patty, and me, then go back to Washington and live with them.  Burney happily accepted.

After a warm, (95 degrees), day sightseeing, Noodles, the bull and Burney wanted to go swimming.

Patty and I *tried* to tell them this fountain in Caesar's Palace was NOT a pool.  As you can see, they didn't listen.  :)

Noodles, the bull and Burney wanted their pic with a Reba/Brooks & Dunn poster, but needed some help doing so, so Patty and I helped them out a bit.  Burney was a bit camera shy, sitting on Patty's shoulder.  One of the nice security people snapped the pic for us.

Noodles wasn't sure if he'd ever been to a country concert; Burney was sure he hadn't been; and of course the bull has been to many of them.  By the end of the night, all three agreed, they had a fantastic time.  They even got some confetti streamers as souvenirs.

Now it's time for bed as they're up early tomorrow to head back to Portland.

Noodles, the bull, and Burney sitting at McCarran airport awaiting their flight to Portland.  Three tired, but happy travelers; five if you count Patty and me.  :)










And there you have it, Noodles the sock monkey's adventure in Las Vegas.  Though there isn't a pic of it, Noodles, the bull, and Burney all made it back home safe and sound.  :)

I'm still not too keen on sock monkeys, but I'll admit, Noodles is kind of cool.  :)