No. 102: Updates and Seven More Songs to Live To

Hullo all.

Still haven't gone back to the Hop. Class doesn't start til the 28th, I think, but Red has a comedy show on Friday night that I'm seriously contemplating attending and then the DJ's birthday party is on Saturday night. Michael will of course be in attendance. I am hesitant. I need to stop second guessing myself and messing with that kid's heart. He's too good.
In anycase-- I've had this mad addiction to pancakes lately. I think the mother and I are going to Silver Diner later for some, which is nice. She has a day off, the first in a long time, and it's a little nerve wracking, but also quite nice to hang out with her a bit.
Paris Blues was on TV this morning. Paul Newman could not be more lovely. Jeez. But it made me think and revisit my "List of Movies to Have in my Place When I Move Out" list. It's not a short list, let me just say.
Had dinner with B last night @ Coastal. There was serious conversation, which wasn't all pleasant, but wasn't all bad either. I won't elaborate, but I will say this: I lived a lot of my life without being tight with Brian. We've honestly only been besties for about 6 months now, and I don't even think we've liked each other as people for more than a year or two, despite knowing each other since the 8th grade. Lord is my strength and I can survive w/out the B.E.M. It's more fun if I don't have to. And I know 7 of you just flipped out, but it's the same with Ka-tryn and Tess. That's the thing about Besties. You can function without them. But you don't want to. Plus B is the essential component in my being able to chill at Chez Morgenthaler, and thus w/the delightful Deb and George.

So blah blah blah. Here's 7 more songs to live to:

1. "Burning Love" by Elvis Presley- because I watched that stupid movie w/ the ROck on the plane from CO and the song was the fun, group dance-and-sing at the end. Plus I've always oved Elvis and this is one of his best post-fat songs.
   
2. "Slow Hands" by Interpol- The first Interpol song I ever loved, I think. Back when they were all fascinating and the rage. The newest album has been kind of a letdown, with a few exceptions, but Antics is well-- bella.
3. "88" by The Cool Kids- A big thanks to Mike N. for the intro to the Cool Kids. "Mikey Rocks" is definitely my favorite song but "88" gets on here b/c of the 1st line: "I do what I do like I do it for TV".
   
4. "Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley-This song was in Vanilla Sky where Tom meets/kisses/leaves Penelope. I've loved Jeff Buckley since I was a little girl and I'm glad people are rediscovering Grace because it's a phenomenal album. Either "Lover, You Should've Come OVer" or this song is my favorite from the album.
   
5. "It's Going" by John Gold-- I'll be straight with you-- I pulled this from the Weeds soundtrack, of which I am a HUGE fan. Sometimes when people ask you what's up, that's all you've got, "It's going alright....". Plus he does this adorable little deflated giggle that cinched it for me. Oh how I miss Weeds.
   
6. "Red Sails" by David Bowie-- bought Golden Years on vinyl (the records player is now up and running beautifully thanks to Geof and B) and listened to it the other morning while knitting. Never heard the song before then, I'll admit, but I loved it instantly. It's not completely devoid of his root influences, retains some of the late disco sound he was going with, and hints at eccentric kind of angry stuff that would show up on Heathen and Earthling. This album has completely reawakened my love for him.
   
7. "Misery Business" by Paramore-- Brian's fault. But seriously-- I fought liking this band since they came out. I think it has something to do with the fact that their hit album is called "Riot!" and looks like a No Doubt, Rock Steady rip-off. While the lyrics aren't exactly inspired by Proust, chick's got pipes and panache. Plus the video for this song is hilaaarious.
   

So there's that.
NoVas-- home for another week. Hit me up.
Hopkidds-- see you in a week.

--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. 58: Bloggety Blog Blog

There is no cure/ I am sure/ for this ten cent blues....

Except there is, Eisley! So take that.

Things, in bulleted form, for faster posting purposes, due to the fact that I'm exhausted and am going to bed and getting up absurdly early.

• I found out at 11 o clock today that I have a Psych midterm on Wednesday that I haven't studied for. I have yet to study for it because I also found out I have a Spanish composition due on Wednesday that I hadn't begun to write. I care more about Spanish (a requirement) than I do about Psychology (not), so I chose to write the entire composition tonight as opposed to study Psych.
  
• Went to Den. Caolen (whose name I will never spell correctly) and John read, so it was definitely worth going, but my stomach, for various reasons, turned on me and I felt MISERABLE by the time I got back to my room so....
• I dove into bed and pulled a blanket over my hair, which smelled like Den and called Mike, which did not go well, for not fault of his, and then tried to sleep. That didn't succeed so...
• I had a total rant session with Red. It was helpful, except that I went a little crazy in letting all my pent up emotional and physical stress out. Meh. Then I had chocolate ice cream and read some more James Joyce, which I'm actually getting into. Then...
• I made tea. It was really amazing organic Earl Gray. Joe called me back from when I called him earlier to complain he wasn't at the reading when I'd finally remembered his flipping cook book. We talked for a long time, and at the end of the conversation and the end of my mug of tea, I felt almost totally better. The shower following the end of the conversation did wonders as well.
  
• I've finished my Spanish composition and gathered notes for studying tomorrow. I'm getting up to study at Carma's hideously early until my 10 o clock, the exhilarating Art History of the Ancient Amerias, the reading for which I have yet to catch up on, and then Psych, which is a review session, I hope, and then more studying, probably at a table in Bloomberg, until Spanish, after which there will be more studying before the absolutely scintillating History of Africa class and its subsequent section where all we do is moan about how horrendous the reading was. But yes. The good news is that after this semester, I don't have to take any more history classes ever. So that's nice.
  
• Dinner with Mike tomorrow night, amidst tons of studying, and then I'm reading at the undergrad doo-dad at the Hop Deli at 8. And I retract my previous "don't" for coming. Come, it'll be hilarious.
  

In summation:
- Thanks Red, Joe, and Mike, who later called me back and was wonderful and kind and incredibly boyfriendly.
- PMS blows.
- Earl Grey.

Looking forward to Pittsburgh this weekend.

H.

Occasionally, Untitled = Gem

(I am of course referring to Interpol.)


And thus closed my week.
Last night Red and Nibs went out and I read art history, spoke with Matthew (it went fine, was friendly and probably won't happen again for a long while), and then went to bed, listening to Broken Social Scene (the soundtrack from Half Nelson) and Thurston Moore.

Thursday with Mike was a really good time. I was shocked at the tastiness of vegetarian "chicken" Parmesan. Surprisingly yummy. Frolic in Guilford tulip park, being barked at by Joey, the Australian shepherd. Then dance party. Fun times for all.

Yesterday was lazy. I had coffee with Heather and Rosa, which was so encouraging. I'm massively blessed by them, I can't even say. They've been at the "loving Jesus at a college that doesn't" thing a lot longer than I, and it's just nice to have friends who are older and women.

Today I had training for the Book Festival which is on the 28-30th and you should all come. Sat in North Park of Mt. Vernon for about an hour and read, then came back. Red and I had lunch at Carma's which was ever so nice. Then I went and watched the martial arts demo and read some more. Tolstoy's short story "Happy Ever After" is actually thus far pretty good, although I told Mike today that I get the terrible feeling that sometimes he's trying to be funny. Came back and took a nap that was way too long and am now behind on my Art History reading. If I don't get the African History book from Mimi tomorrow I'm basically screwed, since it's two long boring chapters. Oi. But at least I'll be done for the week with art history.

I'm (almost embarrassingly) excited for Tuesday and the Girl Talk show. Dan Deacon will also be there, and I'm praying he plays both Wham City and Lion with a Shark's Head. Also, Silence Like the Wind... b/c the video from Pitchfork is amazing and I want to recreate it.

I have to start writing something worthwhile. Soon. Tomorrow. (?)
Tomorrow is church @ 11-12, reading, Film society meeting @ 4, reading, dinner @ 7 for Nib's b-day. Then sleep, b/c Monday is absurd. Father wants to have dinner. Maybe.

Silence like the wind over takes me.... ooo oo-oo oooo.

H.

i have

- recently gotten to catch up with LP, which was so incredible.
- laid on my back and read novels listening to great music. finally.
- gotten a decent to incredible novella idea (depending on how it develops over the next few days)
- developed a new moderate obsession
- cooked (finally), to tasty results

aaand, next weekend will see me at least one if not all three of the following:
- in NY, Long Island w/ Red for a three day adventure
- pierced through the nose
- privileged enough to have viewed Transformers at least twice.

it was an interesting day, quiet, but not. and rainy in a strange intermittently sunny way.

and now? i'm going to listen to Ryan Adams' Easy Tiger, which I've been waiting for for quite some time, and write. mwah.

Love. H.