No.216: with your feet on the air and you head on the ground...

new sensation of the day: missing the person you are when you're around certain people. 

finally got to target and picked up some more x-mas gifts. almost completely done now.  had lunch with jenny @ belvedere, which was delicious. going over there for dinner tomorrow night which should be good. aaand I got my watch back, so i feel balanced again. 

it's been a totally gross day. but the short story is done and the article analysis is done and now only the paper is left and my stupid 18th century lit final on the 18th. then it's done and break can start and i can begin to read things for pleasure again.

to finish:

• anthony bourdain's kitchen confidential
• mark danielewski's house of leaves
• jessica blau's summer of naked swim parties

and then there's the long list of books yet to be read. ah well. 

i might be getting an internship with Penguin for the summer. that means living in NYC! woo hoo. anyway, have a good night. 

hs.

No. 212: bloggin?

"Arianna Huffington: You know, 50 thousand blogs are started every day.

John Stewart: You make it sound like a sexually transmitted disease!!

Arianna Huffington: No, no. It's a lot more fun."

How did all of America not just die laughing? I love this woman. Her accent is the best thing since Zsa Zsa Gabor.

 

My nails are purple. 

I'm going to Andrew's class fashion show thing tonight.

I did NOT read House of Leaves for Glenn's class and I feel bad about it.

But oh well.

Have a nice Thursday.

Cheers.

H.

No. 201: the deeper damage is best.

Songs.
Halloween was alright.
It was a good weekend.
Watch the Grizzly Man.
I now have borrowed Season 3 of Deadwood and it is awesome.
Seeing Mom & Fred ROCKED.
Grandparents are coming for dinner on Friday.
I want to see Wilco in concert.
I need a new computer (macbook?)
No Country For Old Men was an AMAZING book.
Emma sucks, but watching Clueless was great.
Anyone want to sell me an HD TV for cheep?
Cheers.
H.

1. I Think I'll Disappear Now by Crash Test Dummies- It's just a good song. And adequately describes the feeling of running into one's exes unexpectedly.
   
2. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away by Pearl Jam- One of my favorite Beatles songs done by one of my favorite grunge rockers. Sigh.
   
3. Red Shoes by Kate Bush- so fun to listen to! and a great song for running. And i want red ballet flats.
4. Dramamine by Modest Mouse- Had never heard this and Andrew played it for me. SO goood.
5. Bustin' Surfboards by The Tornados- Pulp Fiction.
6. The Laws Have Changed by The New Pornographers- Just a fun song.
7. Smile by onelinedrawing- been a while, but for some reason landed on the album and this song, oh this lovely song, stood out. it's such a sweet expression. and the dude is just SO sad in other songs that it's happy. plus, you know... robots.
   

1. Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in my Hand by Primitive Radio Gods- Put this on a mix for Fox after I heard it on the radio. Sooo good.
   
2. No Regrets by Aesop Rock- "I'm busy, thank you much."
   
3. Like Today by Atmosphere- Drivin' around listening. MM.
   
4. Absolutely Sweet Marie by Bob Dylan- Had a seriously Dylan couple of days.
   
5. Halloween by Matt Pond PA- Well, you know.
   
6. Spoonman by Soundgarden- Andrew's fault
   
7. Anything by Third Day - heard this on Pandora the other day, it was GORGEOUS and I forgot how much I like them.
   

156b: An aside

I can't decide if this severely pisses me off or if it's really admirable. Either way, I'm glad old Scotty isn't the press sec any more. Anyone who looks like they're going to cry that often on camera and isn't Ingrid Bergman needs to move to an alternative career anyway.

I might have to buy that book.
Maybe.

H.

no. 129: music etc. and life, currently

So I've been reading:

• Oscar Wilde by Sheridan Morley which I bought at Daedalus on my class skipping book buying adventure with Joseph on Friday. I'm about a third of the way through it. The only reason I'm not done is that pesky class business that keeps interfering with my life.
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling because Geof had it, I haven't read it, and I'm tried of people looking at me like I'm nuts when I relate that fact to them.
  
• Groundings for the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant, because my philosophy teacher is sadistic and we have a test on Wednesday. I still haven't quite grasped all the concepts Kant puts forth. I also hate him.
  
• The Floating Opera by John Barth. It's amazing and I wish I had more time to read it. Got a good bit through it the other day and then before the Nick whateverhislastnameis reading. About a quarter of the way. Going to Vail is going to be really good. Hopefully Kendall doesn't mind me just lazing around, drinking tea and reading, b/c that's exactly what I want to do. I will finish this book over break.
  

So that's what's up with that. I've also been playing a lot of Scrabulous, which is the new Text Twist and also has crack-like side effects. WKC is at this moment schooling my behind. It's embarrassing. In any case-- here are this week's Seven. Sorry I'm late again, but it was a crazy weekend.

1. "How It Ends" by DeVotchKa: God I love this band. I love them much much. They're coming to the area soon and while I don't have the mullah to purchase my tickets right now, have no doubt, kiddos-- they will be mine. They're haunting and strange and the new album comes out like... Saturday and I'm EXCITED! This was in Little Miss Sunshine, along with a few other of their songs. If you like them, the song "I Cried Like a Silly Boy" is my favorite. Ch-check-checkitout!
2. "Ghost of a Good Thing" by Dashboard Confessional: Now I know what you're going to say, and you're right. This is about as emo as it gets. And the lyrics are sort of repetitive. But really-- if you let yourself go, the first few lines get you. This just came up on shuffle and then it made me listen to the whole album all over again, and you know what-- it's still pretty emo. But sometimes, when I'm happy enough to withstand its effects, it's kind of awesome.
   
3. "Beautiful Mess" by The Cloud Room: Crazyface introduced me to this band and you know, hey thanks, McPsycho. They're actually great and super underrated, in my opinion. They sound like a mixture of a bunch of different post-punk pre-grunge bands, but more polished. In any case-- this is a song I love for a few reasons, but mostly because it's good to rock out to in the car.
4. "Very Loud" by The Shout Out Louds: Another mentalCase inspiration, but also I threw this on here b/c I found an artistic representation of the lyrics I drew/collaged for this song like... last year in a journal last week and have been thinking about doing another one for "Bag of Hammers" by Thao & the Get Up Stand up, which, coincidentally is the next song. Anyway-- I'm a sucker for eastern European breakthrough bands, I suppose.
5. "Bag of Hammers" by Thao & the Get Down, Stay Down: Thanks to Meredith for the recommendation and Michael for the provision of CD. It's a great album and I'm looking forward to more things from her. This song sticks in my head and makes me dance around all happy like. Check it out, yo.
6. "Aside" by The Weakerthans: We were listening to them while closing today b/c someone with taste played them on WTMD and Aaron wanted to hear them. I forgot how great they are, and how angsty but poetic and wonderful the lyrics are. Plus, you know, life applicable. "The Reasons" is another great song, as is "This is a Fire Door, Never Leave Open". But anyway-- have a listen.
   
7. "If Work Permits" by The Format: Okay-- yes, another pop-punk song by a band given to severe emo on occasion. But give Dog Problems another listen, I'm not even kidding you, it's brilliant in places. This is one of those places. I was listening to it by accident and didn't even remember putting it on my Itunes, but was intrigued and shocked to find it was in fact them. Seriously, though, who am I kidding. I'm a Format sucker, from "Porch" to "Snails". In any case-- this a great song and if you take issue with that, then okay-- I guess I lose music credibility points. But sometimes you just need guilty pleasures.
   

Okay good. Well that's that. And now I'm up past my intended sleep hour and I've still got Philosophy to study. Good night, boys and girls.

H.

No. 97: Notes from the passanger seat.

Occasionally, friends, the shooting stars and the satellites do indeed collide.
But it's okay.

Going back up to the Hop in the morning. Not all that jazzed about it, but ah well. Mostly because I have so much crap and it's going to suck hauling it upstairs and unpacking. Blah blah blah. Also because I have to start getting back into school mindset, and studying and such. Slightly gritchy about the whole thing.

Being in my house alone is a little freakish, actually. It's because it's too big. Being in 705 alone is in no way freaky, and is actually kind of nice. But my house is larger, drafty, and creaks funnily when the temperature changes. The rentals come home tomorrow, after I'll have left for the Hop, but it's nice to know they'll be around when I come home this weekend, or next week.

Today Brian and I went on a quasi-adventure in Clarendon. Coffee and talk at Murky and then I went rampant with record buying at Orpheus. Hopefully Geof is gonna hook me up with some speaks for the record player, elsewise I'll have to fork over the green to get some, b/c there's no way I'm going to go any longer without vinyl. Seriously. Worst idea ever giving Matt back his. Ah well. Fair is fair. There's always Yesterday's Rose for some cheap speaker action.

We then proceeded to Hard Times to play/watch the homeboys play pool. Greg Lou is becoming a really amazing man. I swear, the next woman who breaks his heart will suffer punishment of getting run over with my car. That kid is too sweet for his own good and if someone ruins that... ooo. Anyway.

All my books and such came in the mail today. It was very exciting. No idea when I'll have time to get to them, but it's nice to know they're there if I want them.

Now bed, and perhaps I'll be awake enough to go surprise the BFF with some caffeine tomorrow, then I'm thinking breakfast with Geofs and up to the More for luncheon with the redhead.

I should really be writing my life down in a more narrative style. It's really might make an interesting three-act one day.

H.

No. 96: Gift

Okay, so both Joe and Shashi blogged about $50 book gift certificates, and I got one and also an Amazon one, both of which I blew almost instantly. Since I still cannot sleep after a blog, a journal scribbling, a rewatching of 28 Days (forgot how much I love that movie) and three chapters of Neither Here Nor There, I thought, hey-- there's a bandwagon I can jump on.

The things I ordered from Amazon should be waiting for me when I get home and I am extremely excited. This includes: Something Wicked This Way Comes and Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury because I'm going to reread Farenheit 451 and follow it with those two over intersession. I bought At Weddings and Wakes by Alice McDermott because I heard it was good and the possibility that she might one day teach me sort of implies I should have read something she wrote. I got Anne Lamott's latest, since I love her, Grace (Eventually): Further Thoughts on Faith. Also, finally made myself buy DVD copy of The Princess Bride, becauseI haven't watched it since my VHS broke five months ago. I was in the habit of watching it once a month and have been doing so since I was 7 or 8. Now I have that chance, and ample intersession time to rekindle my romance.

From Barnes and Noble I bought Neither Here nor There by Billy Bryson, which I'm almost done with, the complete Oscar Wilde collection (because I am in love with him, that crazy, long dead, gay delinquent), and Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down.

Lots of reading to do, and I know that despite my 2008 goal to read two books a month, I will never get 'round to all of it. But I shall try.

And now finally, bed. I have a long day of doing an absolute blissful nothing tomorrow. Bon soir.

H.

PS. Listen to "Set You Free" by the Black Keys. It is one of my favorite songs and (I just realized) incredibly applicable to my life. Mwah.

Carrousel

Yesterday, indeed, got fuller. But not in an entirely bad way. So I'm learning to be content with whatever happens. Not an easy feat, let me just say.

Today I have to work from 1 to close, even though I requested a month ago not to work on Mondays. It's okay. Kelly's been really great about all my other requests, so I'm letting it go. I did find out, though, that closing is at 6 tonight, b/c of Memorial Day. Fantas-tic!

Making myself go to the gym in about an hour. Not that I'm particularly jazzed about that. But I have a trainer session tomorrow with Bo (his name still cracks me up, b/c it is so perfect) and I want to do at least a little cardio to be warmed up after three days of non exercise.

At the moment I'm looking at my bottle of Tabasco that Dan and Wayland bought and colored green b/c they couldn't find the Green kind for me. It's making me all nostalgic for beginning of second semester. The pictures from OC are HYSTERICAL. Alanna and Mimi were there, and now I'm super depressed I wasn't. But it's okay-- had things to take care of at home.

Not much to report in the way of doing anything with my life. Writing has been scarce, and mostly journaling. Incredibly lame. Been taking a lot of pictures though, so that's something. Have gotten no farther in either of my novels. Maybe I'll take White Noise to the gym and read on an elyptical. That won't be difficult. Crying of Lot 49 and Phone Rings finally came on Saturday. I'm excited!

Go listen to Ottmar Liebert and feel Spanish.

H.

Basic Updates

I'll do this in bullet points, which are uniform and nice, I think.

• Fred is an AWESOME stepdaddy and got me the gym hookup. I now have four trainer sessions and a summer membership to the gym (complete with membership parking sticker) for way less than previously thought of, due to my student status.
• I'm having a comma splicing issue of late.
• I had a complete writerly meltdown today. It was ugly. Mom laughed me out of it. She's good at that. Also: I read bits of Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, which consistently has the power to make me feel better about being a) a human and b) a writer c) a woman d) completely neurotic.
• Working a lot this week, but still one hour less than last week. Woop-eee. Come visit, please!
• Went back to reading On Writing by Stephen King today. I don't care what anyone says: he can write the hell out of a story. Not that I've read any of his novels ever, or ever intend to. It's just a good book and I highly recommend it.
• Last night's sleep over at Kathryn's was much needed. We made popcorn and talked and talked and prayed and she read me some sweet verses and I felt better about my life and about being home. Then we ate, or attempted to, mango in her kitchen. I ended up exploding the mango everywhere. It was high comedy, followed by English muffins and cheese. Then Elizabeth town on folded out sleeping bags in the living room.
• Church this morning was absurdly applicable. If I didn't already believe it, Kathryn and I today confirmed that God is hysterical and probably a little sarcastic. Especially because I was sitting next to Matt.
  
• Matt, Mike Holmes and I had lunch at Panera today. Everyone is asking me if this is a good idea, considering my state at present. Answer: I haven't a galloping clue. I'm thinking "no", though. "Guard your heart..." and all that. Never really been my strong suit with M.C. Peterman. We'll see.
  
• There are people I haven't heard from lately and I'm missing them. But there's also people mising me I don't particularly want to get in touch with and so I'm faced with a little hypocrisy.
  
• I saw the Ward parentals today and was so delighted I *squeed*. Sami comes home in two weeks and I couldn't be more please. I miss her so much. I read her blog and it's like "Today I climbed a pyramid", "Today I rode a stallion through the desert", "Today I created peace in the Middle East", "Today I defeated the flaming lion of eternal doom in an oasis in Agrabah and saved a thousand virgins from brutal death" and I'm thinking the whole time "SHE USED TO BE AFRAID OF DIRT AND SPIDERS!" My friends are so cool that it makes me feel lamer by comparison.
  
• Don't work til 5 tomorrow. I'm thinking of a late morning, a good time of Bible readin' and tea. Then probably cracking open one of the novels I've got going now, or if I've gotten up the courage, I'll make myself write something real, possibly based on the short assignment sketch I made myself do today. Maybe.
  

SO. That's that.
H.

Maintenant...

... or "right now" .

Finished The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde. Started reading Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner and White Noise by Don DeLillo. Both are suprisingly good.

Been listening to some new stuff. Some Illinois rock (on recommendation, of course), Smog, and a band I randomly found on Myspace (sad, I know) called Marie Antoinette.

Spent WAY too much money WAY too quickly this month and am now freaking out b/c my checking account is going to overdraw when the charge for the Smog cd I bought goes through. So as a result, I'm going to have to leave early for work, drive to CFCU in Vienna, deposit the $40 I had to borrow from Fred, and then hightail it back to Tysons. Ugh. Not excited. Next month the money is going to be spent MUCH better. $40 back to Fred, $20 to Chris for the jeans, and then the rest that's not being used for gas is going to NYC Summer "07.

But I did get some good stuff. Mostly books. No clothes (I'm proud of me). Bought Phone Rings by Stephen Dixon, The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon, Ulyssess by James Joyce, some Fitzgerald stories, Shogun, a Sommerset Maughm book. Some other things. A few frames from Yesterday's Rose (thank you thrift shopping!-- that's how I afforded all the books). And also the Tears for Fears record Songs from the Big Chair. Picked that one up for a buck at the used record store in Hampden. It's good. Lane, my former Pop Music TA and I discussed briefly how amazing it is. Worth it, if you're into 80s music at all.

So: tomorrow I have off. I plan to make some iced tea, take my books and my journal and my ipod out side and read all day. Should be EXCELLENT. Unless of course someone calls me and wants to do something, in which case-- I'll do that. Haven't seen Lauren/Kathryn/Sarah/Emmett... anyone in forever. Maybe Wing Night. Haven't done that in a while. Wee.

Saw Matt last night..... oh life.

Hopkidds, call me. I miss you.

-h