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I'm getting terrific feedback from tons of influential people about my writing, I just bought new clothes for my upcoming trip, and Titanic just came on. Today is a good day.
Updated (many hours later):
-Found the other missing song from VS: It's called "Melt My Heart to Stone" by Adele.
-Absolutely bawled when I finished watching Titanic...when I confessed to my mother, she just looked at me pityingly and said, "But...you already know he dies in the end." So besides the point. That's not even the part that gets me.
Anyway, as promised, here are pictures from Warped Tour, along with a little bonus footage:
Enjoy!
I took a much-needed nap meant for two this afternoon. I was in a romantic mood today. I don't know why. At work I came across some massage oil with dice in them, one with a naughty verb and one with a body part. "KISS her BACK" and "NIBBLE his EARS," et al. And later I got some all over my hands. Occupational hazard, I suppose, along with testing perfumes and knocking over a shelf full of spare garter belt clips (true story).
I'm letting Youngest Sister watch a movie with a lesbian couple in it. In a house that still spells out "s-e-x." Is that wrong? I don't want to scar the child because I'm a hippie.
On Friday the interns from TV Station, along with Website Girl went to cover Cool Music Event, which, I'll tell you, was the Warped Tour, sponsored by Vans. Very hipster, "emo," punk, pop-rock, kind of deal. Lots of great bands have graced its stage, and I've kind of always wanted to do but never had the motive, means, or opportunity. Going as a part of the press (complete with super-cool press pass), was completely fun. I got to interview: Jimmy from Every Avenue-so nice, a shaggy blond sneaker-head, Sashi from Gym Class Heroes** (I was quite annoyed that frontman Travis didn't do any press)-cool guy but probably shy in real life, and had a side conversation with Derek, the drummer from Family Force Five. I didn't even know he was in a band, we'd just started chatting about the weather and ended up having a 15-minute conversation. I don't remember the rest of the bands I met. Most of them and lesser-known, and that's the great part about smaller venues and un-famous folks: once you're near them (credentials are the hard part) most of the members are refreshingly unpretentious-honored and lucky to have the chance to do what they love.
One of the more fun ones was a British band called TAT. A girl and two guys, all very fun (Tatiana, the lead singer, made me feel her boobs-during the interview). Even though I screwed up their names, we turned it into a joke and had a really fun on-camera interview. They got a kick out of me using the word "smidge," apparently it's a British saying as well. Afterwards, the band told me that ours was "better than some of the other ones we've had." So that was comforting; I have a phobia of being filmed. We ran into issues with band management and might not be able to use the video, just audio, so we shall see. I have to say, though, it was the hottest day of the week during WT, so I'm sure my sweaty brow looked darling. And the place was so filthy I was overdressed in my plaid frock and gladiator sandals. Hot as hell, but a good time. I went to say I went. [Pictures soon of GCH's set].
My sincerest apologizes, I seem to be exhausted. That nap for two wasn't as effective as I'd hoped. I've been running on close to E for the past week; you can probably tell on-sight that I've been burning the midnight oil...
***I will forgive Travis for our interview that wasn't because GCH's set was in-fucking-credible. Enough energy to power a stadium. They played songs from their upcoming album, The Quilt, but they finished with "Cupid's Chokehold." And at the end, Travis grabbed the mike, and asked the audience to do him a favor: "Have a nice fuckin' day!"
Ok, ok, I give. I was going to wait until I had an initial fun picture to post, but time has just not been on my side. So I will tell, rather than show:I FINALLY GOT THE BLACKBERRY CURVE! SHE IS ALL MINE! *maniacal laugh*I shan't bore you with the lo-o-o-ng setup process (we're talking hours), but just know that the lil' thing hasn't been too far from me ever since I picked it up on Monday. The only setback is that I wanted to sync it to my school email address but of course My College's DefCom 5 security made it impossible for even the guy at the Blackberry store couldn't hook it up! Which means I had to call the Help Desk, which of course was pointless because no one answered (you'd better believe I left a voicemail). But anyway. That minor blip aside, I am in gadget love.I had a refreshing conversation with Top Chef (via text, duh) about the turn blogging has taken. I was worried about my anonymity (or lack thereof) and the issues I had with it last year. TC took his regular stance to my everyday minidrama: providing commentary when necessary but allowing me to talk myself through it. A thousand thanks to you!I am watching Project Runway right now and am already taking issue (I fell asleep earlier today and missed the original airing) with something (don't get me started on some of the looks. My God):Austin, adorable though he was, was NOT the winner of Season 1. He didn't even make the Top 3...he totally should have been, though, in the place of that psycho soccer mom Wendy Pepper. In your face, though, WP: Austin is the creative director for Kenneth Pool. Why lie, Project Runway, and use Austin instead of the real winner, Jay? I mean, is one measurably more famous than the other? I had to Google both of them. Maybe it was a time thing. And yes, what would you refer to Austin as? Almost a runner up? Fourth best? Yeah, best to stick the misnomer of Winner of Season 1. I wonder if anyone noticed.Damn. I had a lot more things to say (don't I always?). But what were they? Let's see...I redid my underwear drawer to look like the drawers at VS? No, that wasn't it. This upcoming trip to Chicago is wearing me out? Eh, more on that later. I really, really want to go shopping? Well, what else is new?I'm sure I'll figure it out, and of course will let you know when I do. I am nothing if not meticulous.
Great things are ahead, people. I want to wait until I have a quirky picture to share, which will be up as soon as I have a minute or two. Hope all is well in the blogosphere!
Oh yeah, finally heard back from the previously MIA Bestest Friend Forever. Good thing, too. For awhile there I thought I was gonna have to put on my Haz-Mat suit and go down to Mississippi to hunt her down.
I'm a nice girl. That's always been my thing. I'm a "very nice girl." In this day and age of bitchiness being the equivalent of successful and the whole "nice guys finish last" syndrome, I'm starting to wonder if my "niceness" is misplaced. If niceness isn't another way of saying pushover, doormat or even weak.
At times it seems like I can play the speak first, think later, fiery loudmouth game. But I never feel like that's the real me. But at the same time, sometimes I feel as if I hold back or don't say what's on my mind so as not to tip the scale. I don't want to get walked on, though. Like, say someone did something a little rude or took advantage of me and I let it go. In the back of my mind I always think, could I ever do that to someone? Was I weak to give in and not stand my ground, even if it would have caused a commotion?
Generally, though, I think that I am considerate. I really don't like confrontation; I'd rather just let it go and not sweat the small stuff. But I fear that one day I will give into something not so small just because I'm too afraid to do anything otherwise.
Sigh. I just float along and then sometimes I get so angry about things that happened to me that I can't bring up again because it would cause a ruckus that took awhile to get through in the first place. I want to let it go; I feel like I'm not in control of my thoughts. Sometimes there's so much bubbling under the surface I don't know what to do. I think this year I really will get out of my own way and see a therapist. I kind of don't want to rip the Band-Aid off and explore what I really have going on, but I know I have to, even if there's crying to a complete stranger involved. I've been able to stem the tide thus far but I don't know how much longer I'll be able to. Once I get past these barriers I can figure out what I want in life and actually set out to achieve it.
That first step is the hardest. I've been going on and on about "starting over" and "letting go" but I have no earthly idea how to go about it. I need to kick my own ass and at least start taking baby steps to better myself and start living the life I know I deserve.
I was born by the river in a little tent Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will I go to the movie and I go downtown Somebody keep telling me don't hang around It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will Then I go to my brother And I say brother help me please But he winds up knocking me Back down on my knees Ohhhhhhhhh..... There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long But now I think I'm able to carry on It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
"A Change is Gonna Come"-Sam Cooke
So, yes, last night was the big birthday do.
Notable: my beef chow mein was delicious, my dad got my mom this ridiculously huge diamond (an update of her engagement ring I think), and my uncle, who moved to Kansas City and hasn't been back for six years, showed up and surprised everyone (well, me at least). That part was really nice. The best party guest goes to my mom's dreadlocked, Afro-centric, self-titled "renegade" teacher friend. She quit her teaching job and is working on her dissertation about the use of "Black language" (aka ebonics) and is seriously awesome. She and Top Chef would have a field day together--I told her she needs to come and teach at My College. Actually, I think she would have a better time at Brother College, but either way she'd turn the campus on its ear.
When it rains, it pours: at first, today's VS shift was turned into an on-call, for which they didn't need me. Not that I wasn't glad to get back to sleep, but, um, I need the money. Wait a minute. What if I get laid off?! It's not like I'm not expendable; I suck at the organizational part of putting the store back together (I had to give this one rude-ass bitch the side-eye last time because she snapped at me like I was incompetent when I was really just confused and a tiny bit EXHAUSTED), and I've only opened one store credit card. IF I GET FIRED FROM THIS JOB I WILL DIE OF MORTIFICATION. Not to mention destitution. Let's change the subject and hope for the best.
All day, since I didn't have to work (insert nervous whimper), I made an ass-shaped groove in the couch in front of the TV because there were all these specials about Diana, Princess of Wales on Oxygen. Quite fascinating stuff, actually, and just not because I like reading about her. A little while later I watched a documentary about the Titanic. Maybe I am a total nerd...
Speaking of the Ship Formerly Known as Unsinkable, I can only watch my Three Disc Special Collector's Edition DVD of Titanic every few years because I bawl every time I do. I can't help it. I'm totally fine up until the part at the end where Rose climbs up the stairs to meet Jack under that "Make it count" clock and everyone applauds as they kiss. That's when I lose it. I even tear up at the opening bars of "My Heart Will Go On." Oh, God, I'm getting sappy just posting that link. This is just pitiful. And yet, I'm considering unearthing my DVD as we speak. Do not disturb.
This morning, I just said, "nope. Uh-huh, no way, Jose." After a phone call to Intern Easy E and a voice message to Intern Director #1, I officially played hooky from TV Station today. It's always a crap shoot whether or not I actually do work, so I took a chance and paid it. I mean, Website Girl's launch party was tonight, downtown, but it's not that deep. Well, there was a fashion show, no cover, and free cupcakes, but--hold on. What the hell was I thinking?! Shouldn't I have gone? No, no, today was a much-needed personal day. Yes, I went back to sleep after I canceled and didn't wake up until 1:30pm. Duh.
Tomorrow's my mother and her twin sister's (Lil' Cousin's mom) birthday. I won't tell you how old she is 'cause a proper lady never tells her age (I'm 19, by the way), but it is a big one. Tomorrow night will be a big dinner at Fancy Chinese Restaurant--Chicken Chow Mein, here I come!
God, today was laid-back fab. I shopped for Mom's present (shit, I forgot to get Aunt Twin's gift) and okay, bought a few lil' things for myself, took Precious the Dog for a walk, and watched the fifth Harry Potter movie and Big Momma's House (better than this atrocity and abomination). Can I just predict that the sixth and seventh movies will be hotfire? I will be front and center at both midnight premiers. Speaking of, I haven't seen any of the summer blockbusters. Iron Man, Hancock, the Incredible Hulk, not even Wall-E for crimity's sake. Maybe I will watch them online, I do have a penchant for superhero movies. I will not, however, miss The Dark Knight. Point blank period.
I have a question that has been on my mind since I spent the day on Blackcollegewire.com: How much do you know about Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs)? Can you name three? How about seven? I get the feeling that the general public doesn't understand or know anything about them, which often leads to misinterpretation of their intent when and if a Black College actually does make the national stage. So, anyone out there have at least trivial knowledge of HBCUs? Have a question about them? I really am just curious.
