No. 120: "come away to neverland"

so i'm on a bit of a j.m. barrie/peter pan kick as of right now. i've always loved the story, since mom married fred and i met his brother glen who has an (unhealthy?) obsession with "the boy who wouldn't grow up", so much so that he first noticed his wife, robin, because she looks like tinker bell, and he named all his pets after the lost boys. plus, givens, who i was pretty much in love with for a year or so, is a lost boy. and j.m. barrie's whole psychosis is fascinating and attractive to me. no idea why. in any case-- found the coolest drawing of pan and am thinking of inking it. we'll see. have to pay of my ridiculous HOV ticket.

anyway-- went home this weekend. was nice, but too short. brian was all weird and i was busy and didn't get to hang out w/geofs as much. but i did get some decent chill time with me mum and worked junk out with fred for my apartment and the ticket and vail (still have to talk to kendall 'bout events). plus i got to see george and deb, which was great. now i have to finish unpacking the absurd amount of laundry i did, edit my spanish composition for tomorrow, and do my nails. i was gonna watch the oscars, but bah-- whatever. i hope juno wins best picture. just to spite 'em. and because michael cera rocks yer face. go diablo! good luck.

okay. and now: seven more songs to live to.

(A Super Eclectic List-- Aren't they all. Next week's will be themed, I think.)

1. "No Bad News" by Patty Griffin: Okay-- I love her, and I've been jonesing to hear her music for a while, but I kept forgetting to put her on my Ipod and my discman died and I hate playing cds on the computer b/c it's slow and my computer gets all stressed out. Long story made longer, I bought batteries for the discman and now I'm listening to her. I WANT HER VOICE! Song specifics: this song makes me sooo happy (it should, given the title). Doing a little Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club dancing to it earlier. Meh. Go have a listen.
   
2. "Lose It" by Cartel: Brian's fault. The Greek and I were discussing how Brian's been listening to the same genre of music since he started listening to music. This is sort of true (I mean, he knows the Beatles, etc) but sometimes he strikes gold. This song makes me kind of happy despite being really emo. Their new one is quite good, though, I think. Have it a listen. "Wasted" also a great song. Way more depressing. But epic.
   
3. "Put Your Hands Up" by Family Force 5: Another "Blame Brian". But seriously-- HILARIOUS! Any song that starts off with "Ugly people/put your hands down" has to be good for a listen. Great for a sing along, really. Kind of reminds me of Bobby's "I'm Thinking No", for some reason, but yeah. It's pretty good.
   
4. "For Nancy ('Cos It Already Is) by Pete Yorn: This song is one of his happier ones. I think it may be one of two. Someone needs to a) stop breaking up with and b) give a hug to that man, b/c all of his songs are either about being sad or about random things like burritos or cops. In any case... this is one of those songs you just feel good about listening to. Like-- it could actually be a good year afterall. Haha, good for you Pete, for instilling us all with momentary joy.
   
5. "Breathe" by Pearl Jam: How do more people not obsess over them? I do not know. Edddie Vedder's songs for Into the Wild were great, and his voice is so intoxicating. A lot of people overlook "Breathe" too. But it's flipping amazing. I'm just saying. "If I knew where it was/ I would take you there..." and oh, Eddie, I'd go.
   
6. "New Day" by The Robbie Seay Band: Mom got me into him. I love his music b/c despite being Christian based, he's still sort of musically conscious, which is rare amongst the recording artists of that realm. This song reminds me of Mom and I, dancing like idiots in our kitchen on summer mid mornings while we make our coffee. This weekend just totally brought home how much I love and admire my mother. She's an incredible lady, I must say. A punk who pushes me around sometimes, but the only person in the world worthy and valid in doing so. If you know Rika, you know what I'm talking about. Plus she's a total babe. And I gots her genetics!!!! (Yess!)
   
7. "I Believe (When I Fall In Love With You It Will Be Forever)" by Stevie Wonder: So---- this song is on here a) b/c it's awesome and b) b/c I watched High Fidelity with Mike last week and it was at the end and it makes me happy. So there. This is, with the exception of "Breathe" a list of songs that give me a joy-boost. Good for twirly dancing about and being a general romantic sap to, in my opinion. I dunno. Give it a whirl.
   

Okay-- so that's it for me, for tonight. Unless something fabulous and excellent happens that I find blog worthy. But as I said before-- unpacking, nails, spanish. Not really a Cloverfieldesque preview of excitement. Maybe read a little Virginia Woolf if I get crazy. Who knows. It's only 8:48.

H.

No. 89: Just ask the Axis

Movies to see:
- 3:10 To Yuma
- No Country for Old Men
- I'm Not There
- Juno
- Sweeney Todd
- Golden Compass

Things to do tomorrow:
- Fold laundry.
- Put gas in my car.
- Pack for Dad's.
- Caffeinate.
- Be thrilled by Rufus Wainwright's incredibility.

Things to do in general:

- Have heart to heart with father.

- Get Geof to get the extra turn table from Matt's.
- Rescue vinyl from Hopkins.
- Buy every available Hendrix vinyl.
- Buy every available Cream vinyl.
- Buy every available Dylan album.
- Buy every available Miles Davis album.
- Listen to all of them, over the period of a few days, with some good friends.

- Fill in Tess.

- Ink No. 3: Mum and Lena on shoulder.

- Be less crazy.

H.

No. 73: The Gut Grappling Haha Demon

Credit goes to the lovely and talented Jess Begans for the title of this blog.

Listening to Diamond's remix of Faces of the Earth by the D plan. It's gorgeous.

Despite loads and loads of reading to do, I went to the undergrad reading. Am so glad I did.
I felt like I actually could because of the following:

I freaked out a lot this morning when I realized that the paper for Art History was due tomorrow and I hadn't see either of the images I was supposed to write about. I talked to my art history professor after class, and without so much as batting an eyelash when she heard why I hadn't been to the museums yet (which was true and it was a stupid series of events that prevented me from doing so), granted me an extension until Friday. So then I was excited because that meant I could just go after Spanish to the Walters and look at the stuff I needed to and if I had to miss a few minutes of History of Africa, no worries. But it turns out the Walters is closed Monday and Tuesday. So I'm screwed because Wednesdays mean Fiction which I can't miss. So I talked to my Spanish professor after class and she told me it was no big deal if I was late or didn't show for Spanish since I'd already turned in my composition. In short: I'm going to get the images for the paper, have more than enough time to write it, and not be penalized for Spanish. Baller.

Anyway-- the reading. Beautiful poetry, some in French (there was no girl in that room who didn't want to sleep with that guy). Then Jess read some incredible short fiction-- funny, a little twisted, totally unexpected-- and Diamond closed with this gorgeous snippet from the perspective of someone with OCD. I have a copy in my possession for rainy and sad days. Totally mad about his stuff. Diamond, you have in me a fangirl. Sad, I know.

Greg is picking up Savannah from BWI tomorrow. I'm nervous about meeting her. The fiancee of one of the eight-- it's like I want to make a good impression, despite everything. I'm such a terrible Hop student, considering I'm never here. Class, work and then straight back to NoVa for Trifecta and Tess and Rika or to Jenny's for couch potato inaction and puppies. Gas is costing me a fortune. Ah well.

So tomorrow's plan is BMA, Psych, Walter's, Spanish (if I can make it), Carma's for the daily coffee fix, then Fiction for two hours. Come back go for a jog possibly, then homework for a while, bed. Carma's all day on Thursday. Work on Spanish, possibly some devicing with 705s, work all day on Friday, drive home. Poker. YES!

Third ink in two or three weeks (depending on the paycheck). Excited. By then the 2nd should be almost healed. Met a girl with gorgeous ink tonight at the reading. Didn't catch her name, have to ask Will.

Still thinking about Mason. Thinking about other things, too. Like London this summer, and California, and Pittsburgh, and either Maine or Montreal with Dad. And things like denial and calm. The weather is making me wistful. Sigh.

Finally: The Dismemberment Plan. Amazing. Not kidding. Listen.

H.

No.68: Ugg- a vestment of the foot and a gutteral sound

I wore Uggs today. And leggings. And felt preppy and self conscious about it. Changed immediately after class into something appropriately "hipster" and went to see Josh about some ink. Took the red head with me, which was nice. All went well and I'm pleased. The car ride home was a bit ridiculous A) because traffic was horrific on 83 and B) because there was a creepy pale spider on Lauren's window and she would periodically freak out about it and I would follow suit. Because spiders, no matter how good they are for the consumption of nasty bugs, are gross and terrible. I have a giant welt on my foot-- evidence of the common spider bite. I'm just glad it wasn't a brown recluse and my flesh is now falling off, or something. Doesn't that happen? I should wiki that.

Mike and I broke up last night, officially. This is in no way awesome. But it's for the best, 9 out of 10 friends and family agree. I'm not exactly a stable table for fine china. No good. But I think eventually we'll be alright. He's a good guy.

Also, thankfully, (though right now it's more one less concern than a real comfort) I think Diamond, Will and possibly also John (though I think he's, sort of surreally, more indignant than the rest), as well as Nicci (thank God) are alright with me. Not that I deserve it. But I'm thankful, b/c they're good people.

I'm going home tomorrow. Only two classes (noticed an hour ago that Drigotas canceled psych!) and then home. That'll be nice. I have to find a way to copy the stupid African History reading, though. Or just not do it. But I think that would set me up to fail pretty hard for the final. Blah.

I haven't been writing a lot, but there's been a general flow. I've got two stories going at the same time, three if you count the one I started this summer, but nothing looks particularly promising or appealing right now. I could follow the one I feel strongest about, but the characters are a little close to home, and it could be a while before I get some distance and perspective on them. Joe and I talked once about how eventually in a story, most of my characters tend to start looking like people I know. With the exception of the stripper story. I have NO idea where those people came from. Bad movie stereotypes is my general reflection.

Exhausted. Ready for a break.
Happy Turkey Day.

-H.

No. 53: Full Communication with You

You smile/shine a little light/alright...


It's about time for a blog. Here goes.

Got my hair cut. It's not super short, but I have Beatle-esque bangs. Should be enough fodder for John to use to tease me. "Hipster scum"... so I've become, it seems.

Being home is interesting. I was sort of dreading it, that whole inevitable scary moment wherein I might run into Case. Hasn't happened yet, and because I'm sure he's sort of not psyched about the prospect of that occurrence either, it probably won't happen.

Had a nice talk with Mum this morning. No yelling, just love. I'm really glad she's taking off work Monday so we can bruncheon. Tomorrow I will see my beloved Tess. Seriously-- being without my best friend for so long is just NOT cools.

Have seen a lot of Greg and Brian, though. Which is terrific, b/c I hadn't realized quite how much I missed them until I saw them again. Brian has this delicious looking coat that I've forbidden him from wearing. I've been forbidden from wearing glasses with this hair. I look like Natalie Portman, apparently, which is ABSOLUTE CRAP! But it was a nice compliment anyway. Was going to get more ink tonight, but decided to wait til I get A) another pay check and B) back to MD. But at least I've decided on what I want for reals.

I miss Michael. Strange. We haven't been dating that long, but I like being around him. Not being around him is sort of... I don't know... less interesting? I feel, to steal Interpol's words, "colder than myself" not being around him. Being home is a little surreal, honestly. I'm waiting to wake up.

Church tomorrow should be nice, though. I miss MBC.
But going to Tyson's today to get my hair cut reminded me afresh how utterly narcissistic NoVa is. It needs reminding that it's still Virginia and not, in fact, NYC.

-H.