you are what you love

see

2009-06-16T00:59:00.000-07:00

music videos are one of the most versatile, accessible and exciting art forms. outside of the mainstream exist videos made out of ice sculptures, paper and food fights. videos that restructure videos of the past, videos that feature costumed adults riding bikes choreographically and rarely used techniques that add to the unique-ity of the artist. enjoy. words above the vids are the key reasons that i love them.

Jenny Lewis - "Black Sand" - double exposure

Black Sand

Passion Pit - "The Reeling" - gritty torn paper

Bat For Lashes - "What's a Girl to Do?" - biking animals

WHY? - "A Sky for Shoeing Horses Under" - purple thunder clouds

Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks" - eyelids

Ratatat - "Shempi" - abba

Beirut - "In the Mausoleum" - watermelons

(this may or may not count as a music video)

Animal Collective - "My Girls" - color and texture

Lykke Li - "I'm Good, I'm Gone" - elderly joints

Justice - "D.A.N.C.E. (Justice Remix)" - tees (duh)

Matt and Kim - "Yea Yeah" - live food

Modest Mouse - "Little Motel" - backwards with a backwards ending

sneak

2009-06-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

my hero

(978): Last night i stole a disco ball from a frat house by pretending i was pregnant.

(photo by Hedi Slimane)

sketchy

2009-06-02T20:27:00.001-07:00

i love The Selby because it makes me excited about getting a real place and being my own interior decorator. it also caters to my love of penguins.

The Selby

movies i'm excited about: #1

2009-06-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

The Brothers Bloom

starring: Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo

"A globe-trotting comedy about the last great adventure of the world's best con men."

i saw this film at the San Diego Film Festival last fall and fell completely in LOVE. Adrien Brody is incredibly sexy, Rachel Weisz is adorable and Mark Ruffalo is quite the mastermind. it is easily in my top 5 favorite movies of all time and i HIGHLY recommend it. i saw it twice at the film festival and i am anxiously awaiting its arrival in Ventura.

coachella pt. 3

2009-06-01T23:22:00.001-07:00

soul food

silver lining + acid tongue

apple

2009-05-29T01:09:00.000-07:00

i thought i had seen movies that shook me to my core; that made me have realizations that i thought were monumental. i just finished Rachel Getting Married and my eyes are red and puffy, my head aches and my stomach is grumbling because it was a roller-coaster of sorts, but it was an incredible experience. i'm not going to go too deep into this, but this movie made me acknowledge things that i forgot were waiting to be acknowledged, and while it sucks, and while i feel a bit more weight on my shoulders, i feel good. it's a great movie for sisters and a great movie for people who have dealt with big things. it's not delicate, it's very honest and, despite everything i have said about the oscars and benjy b. and slumdawg, this movie should have been nominated, and it should have won. and i swear to god, had there been no scenes of a crying dad i would have been fine. crying dads get me everytime. and btw, i didn't know this before i saw it, but the guy from TV on the Radio plays the groom (and he does a REALLY good job). cooooool.

coachella pt. 2

2009-05-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

heaven.

glock got popped

2009-05-26T22:45:00.000-07:00

as badass as guns can look, when they get into the wrong hands they lose all coolness. nothing has happened recently in my life involving death by bullet, but this video i stumbled upon makes a pretty good statement. and it's fun to watch up to a point. you'll see.

Q

2009-05-25T12:43:00.001-07:00

i was taking the "which disney/pixar character are you?" quiz out loud yesterday and my dad chimes in "you're the balloons on the balloon house."

i felt like it was a rare moment, something special that usually would not happen in my household. my dad has been becoming more and more up to date on the outside world (meaning the world outside of hot rods and car shows) and he's also been becoming more outwardly thoughtful. he is aware that my two favorite pixar movies are Ratatouille and WALL E, yet he tells me i'm a bunch of balloons. it must mean something.

pengy

2009-05-22T02:48:00.000-07:00

this is why penguins are my favorite animals. they're so personable! and fast.

txt msg ing

2009-05-22T02:30:00.000-07:00

(607): I had a dream last night that I was the one that killed Biggie.

finally, one that's not grotesquely sexual. though those are pretty great.

and this one, so good: (614): The way white people respond to them, you'd think Journey was the president of Caucasia.

coachella pt. 1

2009-04-20T00:48:00.001-07:00

roll with it

The Bloody Beetroots feat. Steve Aoki - Warp from Francesco Calabrese on Vimeo.

pastel

2009-04-12T20:55:00.000-07:00

where can i get one (and this shit better be real):

Impressive Chameleon - watch more funny videos

500 days of summer

2009-04-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

i'm a sucker for films with joseph gordon-levitt, zooey deschanel and animation.

people tell me i talk like zooey. not sure if i can hear it.

ew/kewl

2009-04-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

ew: will eminem ever learn that songs about over-popularized celebrities aren't cool? they're fucking annoying.

kewl: on a brighter note, i got my jacket back!!! hard work pays off.

far too long

2009-03-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

i don't really know why i disappeared. i feel like as new people enter my life i have less time for random thoughts that i can share with other people. this month has been a big one though. i went to my first hip-hop show (besides Atmosphere) and i got my one and only prized possession stolen from me days after i received it as a gift. that happened like, two weeks ago and i still think about it all day every day. i really want my jacket back. i even blogged about wanting it a while ago. but maybe that's why someone stole it from me. i relied on a material thing too much. i loved it more than i should have? or maybe it's punishment for doing drugs? or maybe it's a lesson in losing.

to transition from the material world to the natural world i'll discuss my expectations for a weekend at lake arrowhead. i expect to get extremely dehydrated while drunkenly basking in the sun and to suffer a sever hangover on sunday, disabling me from completing my schoolwork, resulting in me getting a B or C in my art class (of all classes).

anyways, check out the vista website to read some of my newer articles, including a review of the T.I. show and an interview with Brett Dennen.

circus

2009-02-22T23:28:00.000-08:00

after a perfect night out, i returned to my empty apartment with one thought in my mind: i need to listen to iron and wine. what prompted this intense desire to listen to iron and wine i do not know, but i think smoking had a lot to do with it. folksy music is my element. and when i'm in a curious state of mind, all i want is my blanket and my folksy music.

the interesting thing is that i haven't listened to iron and wine in a very long time. he, Samuel Beam, is a poet and a great melody maker. his music flows in a way that i cannot compare; almost like lullabies. i'm happy to have rediscovered the music. it makes for a good sunday wind down.

a beautiful song (click the link to hear it, it's really a gorgeous consistent beat/melody/whatever. i'm obsessed).

and the lyrics are so honest and they make you feel like the event was something from your memory, not sam beam's:

THE TRAPEZE SWINGER
Please, remember me
Happily
By the rosebush laughing
With bruises on my chin
The time when
We counted every black car passing
Your house beneath the hill
And up until
Someone caught us in the kitchen
With maps, a mountain range
A piggy bank
A vision too removed to mention
But

Please, remember me
Fondly
I heard from someone you're still pretty
And then
They went on to say
That the pearly gates
Had some eloquent graffiti
Like "We'll meet again"
And "Fuck the man"
And "Tell my mother not to worry"
And angels with their great
Handshakes
Were always done in such a hurry
And

Please, remember me
At Halloween
Making fools of all the neighbors
Our faces painted white
By midnight
We'd forgotten one another
And when the morning came
I was ashamed
Only now it seems so silly
That season left the world
And then returned
And now you're lit up by the city
So

Please, remember me
Mistakenly
In the window of the tallest tower
Calling passers-by
But much too high
To see the empty road at happy hour
Gleam and resonate
Just like the gates
Around the holy kingdom
With words like "Lost and found"
And "Don't look down"
And "Someone save Temptation"
And

Please, remember me
As in the dream
We had as rug-burn babies
Among the fallen trees
And fast asleep
Aside the lions and the ladies
That called you what you like
And even might
Give a gift for your behavior
A fleeting chance to see
A trapeze
Swing as high as any savior
But

Please, remember me
My misery
And how it lost me all I wanted
Those dogs that love the rain
And chasing trains
The colored birds above their running
In circles around the well
And where it spells
On the wall behind St. Peter
So bright with cinder gray
And spray paint
"Who the hell can see forever?"
And

Please, remember me
Seldomly
In the car behind the carnival
My hand between your knees
You turned from me
And said, "The trapeze act was wonderful
But never meant to last"
The clown that passed
Saw me just come up with anger
When it filled with circus dogs
The parking lot
Had an element of danger
So

Please, remember me
Finally
And all my uphill clawing
My dear
But if I make
The pearly gates
Do my best to make a drawing
Of God and Lucifer
A boy and girl
An angel kissing on a sinner
A monkey and a man
A marching band
All around the frightened trapeze swingers

funnies

2009-02-19T22:50:00.001-08:00

if you've read The Vista recently, you know who The Lonely Island are. it's andy samberg and co.'s band. they have these super silly videos on their youtube channel thing. made me laugh out loud

safeties

2009-02-18T01:40:00.001-08:00

do you ever crave a safety? something to make you feel secure or comfortable; automatically at ease? i'm not talking people company. i'm talking objects.

once you get home after a night that a left a bad thought in the body of your many muddled thoughts, do you ever automatically crave a certain food? certain pair of socks? cerrtain hoodie?

i get these urges sometimes to clutch my blanket/shawl while watching late night tv. conan or jay, it doesn't matter. all that matters is that i am comfortable with my thoughts, curled on my couch and wearing my velour sweater top.

it's an interesting concept, that attitudes and memories that connect you to a certain object can make you feel safe or at home. or even a song, or tv show. it's fun to understand your senses.

sometimes i crave jewelry.

why?

2009-02-13T16:03:00.000-08:00

songwriting at its most provocative.

Good Friday

by WHY?

if you grew up with white boys
who only look at black and puerto rican porno
cause they want something that their dad don't got
then you know where you're at

mortaring your earholes shut in a rush with wet coke
in a starbucks bathroom with the door closed
on booze, i'm left in residue and confused
like the first time you used soft water
down on my luck, caught unaware
like houdini when the last fist struck

if i'm sinking in laughing at something sunken in, i am

sucking dick for drink tickets
at the free bar at my cousin's bat mitzvah
cutting the punch line and it ain't no joke
devoid of all hope circus mirrors and pot smoke
picking fights on dyke night
with shirlies and lokes and snatching purses

doing out on karaoke and forgetting all the verses
blowing kisses to disinterested bitches
playing lead lay in a bad way on broadway
sending sexy smses to my exes new man cause i can
on the road trying to break an old van
eating pussy for new fangs, i am what the hell
using purell till my hands bleed and swell
missing mail at a motel 6, i'm unwell

if i'm sinking in laughing at something sunken in, i am

it feels exciting touching your handwriting
getting horny by reading it and repeating poor me
intently staring at the picture of your feet on the sticker
at the r. crumb exhibit, i wonder who's sicker

jerking off in an art museum john till my dick hurts
the kind of shit i won't admit to my head shrinker
not even in a whisper to my own little sister
i just act like a dick and talk shit when i'm with her

aught six i'll say the friday before easter
this is not good i cried to myself in the pisser
and with you in the front row at the silver jews show
and you act like you didn't notice, my fear of the bear
at showbiz pizza when i was six was overwhelming and not dissimilar to this

if i'm sinking in laughting at something sunken in, i am

at jacob han's on tour i wake up
hung over on a hardwood floor
from a dream about how your dress
hangs off of your little breasts
i'd rather be dead than call this song
how i lost your respect but god bless or get neglected
and i'll see you when the sun sets east, don't forget me

koalalalala

2009-02-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

koalas are taking over the internet this week because of their love of water. but i think it's heartwarming to see a burly firefighter giving a koala a drink from a water bottle in the midst of the smoke and debris of the terrifying wildfires in Australia. i'm thankful that my cousins and at least one koala are safe.

photo courtesy Associated Press

a post yclept NEW

2009-02-06T00:24:00.001-08:00

i have a new favorite word:

yclept

whoever created this word is someone i wish could have been my best friend or related to me or something. i'd love to pick their brain.

it means "by the name of"

i don't care if it's archaic and humorous as my dictionary says. i think it's cool.

bodies

2009-02-05T22:56:00.000-08:00

there is something really NOT comforting about watching people die peacefully (on ER). it might have something to do with the fact that my chest has been tight all day and i can hardly breathe.

i've realized something odd. school is stressing me out. that's not too odd. but the reason it's stressing me out is because i WANT to do all the homework. i WANT to attend every single class. i WANT to learn as much as i can. i want to absorb every drop of knowledge collecting in my notebook. i want all of it, but i don't have enough time. i've learned so much about the world by reading two sections of the newspaper every day. it's a good feeling, feeling informed. my media and conflict class is extremely fulfilling. i feel passionate about the videos we're watching and the discussions we're having. i feel like i'm at the right place when i'm in that class. but as soon as i get home and i have to read for my philosophy and lit class AND another newspaper AND two selections for media and conflict, and it's 10 pm, it's overwhelming. i'm a born crammer, but i'm not a born slacker. i'm too motivated. i need to slow down. that's what my lungs are telling me.

all i want to do is watch the office online but USD's internet is a disappointment yet again. the one night i can actually semi relax (no class on fridays!!!!!) it just won't work out.

all of this is 10 times more stressful because i can't afford text books. tooooo muchhhh stressssss.

conan said it best

2009-02-03T00:40:00.000-08:00

in reference to Phelps taking a bong rip:

"kids, don't share your pot with someone who has the lung capacity of a dolphin"

irony

2009-02-02T22:31:00.001-08:00

how ironic is it that someone named Bertha was performing illegal abortions in l.a.?

sillzville

2009-02-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

"A 6-foot-high monument of a shoe in honor of the journalist who threw his footwear at the former President George W. Bush was unveiled in Tikrit yesterday, former dictator Saddam Hussein's hometown. The copper-coated shoe is filled with a large plastic bush."

this is true. i read it in the union-tribune. and it's silly.

photo courtesy REUTERS/Sabah al-Bazee

coachella 09

2009-01-29T22:02:00.000-08:00

did you know? if you can't afford to pay for a 3 day Coachella pass, you can pay for your tickets in installments! layaway systems are back! here's how it works:

After the indie-rock fest lineup is unveiled this week, fans will have two options besides money up front when buying a $269 three-day pass: pay half down and the rest April 1, or pay 10% followed by equal installments on March 1 and April 1 without interest or additional fees. The plans are sold only online and aren't available for $99 single-day admission.

that's right. Coachella somehow managed to become cooler. also note (and this info was published on their website today) the lineup will be "unveiled THIS WEEK"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

here is a collection of all past Coachella posters (courtesy of coachella.com). it's kinda funny

hope/hype = wtf

2009-01-22T20:41:00.000-08:00

i'm not a very political person. i don't claim to understand everything going on in the country right now. but i'm gonna vent. but please keep in mind that i have complete respect for republicans and what they believe, but i don't respect disrespect.

a girl's facebook status is "where you see hope, i see hype."

an old person's bumper sticker says "obama: not my president."

from what i've heard, many (not all) republicans don't want Obama as president because they don't think we need change, don't need to fix anything, except the economy of course because they need their money. but when i see stupid statements like the two above i get very angry. not only is it showing a lack of respect for our country, it is showing a lack of maturity.

Obama won the presidency for a reason. he is everything the country needs right now. if someone would like to be so pessimistic as to say that the hope the country feels is just hype, so be it. but please don't push that fucked up point of view on the rest of us. why promote negativity?

on this same girl's profile, in her about me thing nonetheless, she has this quote:

"In the spirit of reaching across the aisle, we owe it to the Democrats to show their president the exact same kind of respect and loyalty that they have shown our recent Republican president."

way to be an american. now you believe in equality, right?

if you were a true american, you wouldn't spew bullshit like that. Obama has done nothing to ruin america. bush, on the other hand, did a lot to put america in a bad place. the reason he isn't respected is because he said a lot of dumb things, didn't seem to connect with americans very well and made quite a few bad decisions. the economy is what it is because he did something wrong. problems CAN be prevented.

(ps: don't you see that the reason bush wasn't respected was because of HIM, not his political party? don't hate on Obama just because he's a democrat. )

did you not see the news on Jan. 20? the happiness that day was nearly tangible. finally the youth was excited. hope is what this country needs. can you imagine the country without it right now? with all of the issues slowly bringing america down, we need someone like Obama to take control. i'm excited for what the future holds and for the history i was able to be a part of, and you, facebook girl, should show respect for the country you claim to love so much.

fashionably late

2009-01-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

packing clothes.

there is no task more daunting.

but i'm excited/nervous/terrified to drive to san diego on my own on saturday. i'm hoping all my boxes fit and i'm hoping the comet makes it alive. fingers crossed.

also, doesn't the US feel different? it feels much more positive, hopeful and happy, despite the recession, which looms over me and my every move every fucking day.

what a pleasure it is to say President Barack Obama.

LOST nicknames

2009-01-21T20:18:00.000-08:00

i am a big fan of LOST because, like many of the things i like, it exercises my brain. and i love this link because i love sawyer and his silly nicknames

my online shopping life is complete

2009-01-18T20:04:00.000-08:00

thanks to O magazine, things have been simplified.

shoppingnotes.com is the website from heaven. paste the link of an item you'd like to purchase in the provided space. then place your e-mail address in the other provided space. then click "get alerts."

voila. you just signed up for a price alert. when the price of the item drops, you will be notified. you will stop worrying about missing a sale and are guaranteed to save money. now there is hope that i will get this hooded leather bomber by Silence & Noise for much less than $128, without torturing myself by checking the price daily. shoppingnotes.com does all the work for me. it's one step towards working on being a little less impulsive and indulgent.

space

2009-01-15T22:31:00.000-08:00

i'm so happy The Office is back.

i miss having a scheduled week and i miss my San Diego friends.

i'm going to miss my mom and walking my dogs.

i'm looking forward to getting a kitten this spring.

i'm also looking forward to cigarette breaks with matatat, and life with a car at USD.

"i don't trust children when they laugh at my jokes" John Steinbeck

yum

2009-01-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

i'm currently watching the Golden Globes red carpet thing on E! and i'm realizing how much i miss dressing up. while i still indulge in big jewelry on a day to day basis, i've yet to have a legitimate reason to wear a gorgeous dress. maybe i should have joined a sorority after all...

i've also realized how much i truly hate Anne Hathaway. she better not fucking win.

i saw a movie called Baghead the other night and reallllly liked it. it's about these 4 friends who go to a cabin to make a movie and they come up with the idea of a creeper wearing a bag on his head doing creepy things to terrorize a group of friends stuck in a cabin. the film seems to be pretty low-budget camera wise though i don't really know anything about cameras. the acting was good and believable, the film was scary and funny and the plot twist is a good one. highly recommended.

i found an AMAZING website called Fuck You, Penguin. it's a blog that takes a cute animal picture and rips it to shreds. it's a way of expressing that feeling you get when something is too cute. check it out.

finally, what do you think of these sunglasses? i'm newly obsessed and 90% positive that i will be spending my first paycheck on them.

simplicity

2009-01-07T23:26:00.000-08:00

i had a simple day today, and i valued it a lot. my mom is on a health kick so i had some simple food but i swear to god it was the best meal of my life. there's much to be said for rosemary and garlic and health. and there's also a lot to be said about rediscovering the truth that is Rilo Kiley on a simple drive through ojai.

Rilo Kiley has some of the most honest lyrics i've ever been exposed to (and i'm sure many of you can agree). i had a therapeutic 40 minute drive amongst the mountains singing really loud along to jenny's voice to cover up the whistling noise that was coming through my mom's broken passenger window. anyways, no need to blog about Rilo Kiley as if they were a new band. i just like to bring back the "classics" every once in a while.

Rilo Kiley - New Music - More Music Videos

movies

2009-01-05T22:21:00.001-08:00

whenever i'm home for any reason, whether it be a weekend to get away from idiots or month long breaks, i watch movie after movie and read book after book. had i been reading more recent books i would write mini reviews of those. but i've been catching up on the classics, and i highly recommend "The Winter of Our Discontent" by John Steinbeck. it's AMAZING. i think it's my new favorite book.

after i finished that book i read a few magazines, including Filter, whose offices are in L.A., which means i'm looking into a summer internship. after i finished the magazines i settled in and watched a movie called "Towelhead."

"Towelhead" is a movie about a 13 year old girl's sexual experimentations with her army reservist neighbor (played by Aaron Eckhart), a classmate and herself. it was graphic and uncomfortable and sometimes went a bit too far and included some unnecessary plot twists, but overall it held my interest and gave my insomniac mind something to do.

the other night i watched a movie called "Reprise." it's a french new wave film described as a "postmodern Norwegian coming-of-age story," starring some unknowns (in america at least). it starts off like "Amelie" with a narrator describing little stories of things that we could assume might happen in the lives of the two protagonists. the two protagonists are aspiring novelists. one has a few mental breakdowns and the other is kind of an observer. as an aspiring novelist myself i found the film to be interesting and thought-provoking. it inspired me to start the novel i've been planning on writing for the last year. so we'll see what happens. overall i would recommend it if you don't mind subtitles.

but my favorite movie of the week is "Marley and Me," of course. 1. it was about a dog. 2. it had owen wilson. 3. owen wilson and jennifer aniston's characters are a cute married couple that both write for newspapers. it was cute all around, made me laugh and made me cry. it was inspirational (because of the writing aspect) and it was different than the other movies in that it was based on a book/true story and wasn't trying to be super artsy. it had a great flow and a great story and didn't have to try very hard to get it's main point across. see it.

a birthday blog

2009-01-04T22:04:00.000-08:00

a friend of mine is celebrating his birthday in a giant cast, and that sucks. since it's not the safest thing to get shitfaced while popping prescribed vicodin pills i have decided to provide him with an equally satisfying form of entertainment, one that i would compare to the effects of ecstasy - cuteoverload.com.

cuteoverload is my website of choice when i am in severe need of a break from thinking or am just bored and missing my my cat. for my friend stuck in his room in a cast on this special day, cuteoverload will distract him from his pain and provide him with some much needed laughs. and i'm not speaking crazy, there was an article about how doctors "prescribe" the website to patients suffering from depression and other things that make you feel shitty. so, evan, check it out!

i remember when i met evan. he was in a cast then too. i don't remember the whole night but i do remember bonding over cigarettes and the dinner he provided me with (which was a bowl of special k, sans milk). and then there was that night where i was drunk off my ass and ended up being stranded at mission beach after a party turned sour and my friend got an MIP. he limped alongside me as we traveled down the boardwalk to his place where i sat on his couch and waited for my ride. so thanks, evan, for not leaving me alone and lost in mission beach that night and for helping me watch my weight with that special k. have a wonderful birthday! and look at cuteoverload, you'll feel much better.

winter house show

2009-01-03T17:50:00.000-08:00

i ventured out of my house today to attend Alexa's winter house show. it felt amazing to drive the Comet, listen to some Jenny and Band of Horses and wear a coat and boots; all of my favorite things at once. her backyard was set up very cutely, i had some of the best guacamole ever made and got to watch Dan and Stanley (wearing a wizard hat) jam, and they were really good! it was so nice to actually have some fresh air within my lungs and to be around some pretty genuine people. the air was intensely crisp, like the breaths of crunchy leaves swirling all over (seriously, that's what i envisioned while i tucked my hands into my coat). the combination of fruit trees, palm trees and trees with fall leaves was intriguing, as were the variety of people attending at the time that i left. had i not been sick i would have stayed the whole time. man...i miss going to live shows. i miss the troubadour and the bowl, even Mai's. and i miss being healthy. and i miss having money. i miss writing my column, i miss editing my A&C section. but i'm adapting to life at home with parents pretty nicely. me and my dad have been watching the sopranos again. i guess you could say it's a different kind of bonding experience. i lovvvve mafia shiz. i remember that show, The Black Donnellys. i don't know what happened to it, but it was really good, and the oldest brother was really hot. but i never did get to see the finale.

here's another weird dream i had: i was on a grassy hill next to a crowded auditorium. i saw a friend riding a horse while wearing a Daft Punk helmet. it fell off and he started to ride away but i was trying to have someone take a pic of him. so i put down the helmet next to my friend's cd and then a wave rolled over everything. but we were on a grassy hill...where did the wave come from? i wish i could look up Daft Punk helmets in my dream dictionary.

this pic is from way back when on the first day i got to drive the Comet to school, before the 3 accidents and subsequent repairs. gooood day.

let me see

2009-01-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

after having a tough few days, being home by myself feeling delirious and sick (yet again) has not been the perfect cure. i've felt lonely, bored, restless and lightheaded, and all i've been able to do is watch TV. yeah, i watched One Life to Live, General Hospital and Lifetime movies. but i also had way too much time to think. as i said to a good friend, being an insomniac and having a cold is the worst combination. all i had left was music, so i downloaded tons. i now have some more Panda Bear and PJ Harvey, as well as some more Grizzly Bear and the newly leaked Animal Collective. between my gigantic sneezes were interspersed songs and a few kitty attacks courtesy of my cat, Scout. i wish i could figure out how to put songs on my blog, but since i can't all i can do is provide titles:

Grizzly Bear "Colorado"

Animal Collective "Daily Routine"

Panda Bear "I'm Not"

PJ Harvey "When Under Ether"

BONUS! team9 vs. stereogum Ratatat vs. PJ Harvey "Ratatat Under Ether"

* it's a mashup of "Wildcat" and "When Under Ether" sooo good (thank you Mitch)

and a bonus picture of my crazy cat (this is how he likes to sleep)

the AC

2008-12-28T02:41:00.001-08:00

check out animal collective's album art for their new (leaked) album, "Merriweather Post Pavilion." set it as your desktop background and look at the screen from left to right over and over again. it's boggling.

treasure trove

2008-12-28T02:12:00.000-08:00

my room is cluttered, untidy and busy, but at the same time welcoming and exciting. have you ever realized how much shit you have in your room? besides necessities, which for me are books, hair things, makeup, ihome and perfume, there are all of the little things you've collected throughout your life.

i have quite an accumulation of concert tickets, as well as the "souvenirs" i've received at the shows. i have the signed cd from peter bjorn and john, the skull maraca from whispertown2000, the plastic flowers from tilly and the wall, the drum stick from death cab for cutie, a couple photo/press passes from music festivals and random shows like rilo kiley at soma and sondre lerche at the troubador, the handwritten set list from jenny lewis and the watson twins...etc.

i have a collection of books including used, new, coffee table, and collections of poems, essays and art, plus old text books, sat/act study books and 5 or 6 old diaries. none of them are filled completely. i tend to buy new ones when i think i'm gonna make a change in my life and i need a new journal in order to make my personal goals official. plus stacks of magazines and The Vista.

i have about 5 different perfume bottles, most empty. some i had to stop using because they reminded me of certain events or people. the one i've stuck with is ralph lauren rocks.

i have all kinds of posters from different concerts, drawings done by my sister, old pictures, old letters and records up on my walls. every single piece of art means something significant to me. my room is a visual haven.

tiny collectibles from grandparents, such as brooches, ceramic animals, a tiny carved giraffe...plus candles and their holders and little crystal bowls, new zealand money, a box of old awards and birthday cards, cds.

don't get me started on clothes, shoes or jewelry. one could get lost in the descriptions of such treasures.

being home and in my room has reminded me of better times, worse times and current times. but most of all it has reminded me of how lucky i am to be alive and happier and has made me grateful for all of the opportunities i've had. how many people get to say that they've met their favorite musician at their favorite concert venue? (jenny lewis at the troubadour.)

if room raiders were a real show and i was on it, the entire world would know every little detail about my life, just from what i'm surrounded by when i sleep.

fashion pit

2008-12-27T17:10:00.001-08:00

my heart used to belong to fashion. i would make my own jewelry, copying the styles i saw in Teen Vogue (remember those wooden bead necklaces? the big ones? i made 3 of those). i dog-eared countless pages in countless issues of Seventeen, Teen Vogue and Elle Girl (rest in peace). i would circle certain tops or dresses. months before homecoming or prom i knew the exact style of dress i wanted, but could never find it in any stores. i suppose you could say i was ahead of the trend. i always "settled" for betsey johnson because those dresses were the craziest and most unique that i could find. and then the next year, every macy*s would have the dress i wanted the year before in all kinds of colors. and then a bunch of girls would be wearing them at the dance, and i'd be wearing another crazy betsey johnson dress.

now, thanks to stores like urban outfitters and forever 21 (and magazines like NYLON), the latest fashions ARE available to everyday people as soon as they appear on the runways (in less extravagant materials of course). while urban is expensive and forever 21 affordable, i get the feeling that anything i buy there will be looked down upon in a way. urban outfitters' peacock jewelry is cute, but i know that by wearing it i'm basically screaming URBAN at everyone that sees it gracing my collarbone or earlobes.

nevertheless i find myself overwhelmed by greed and lust every time i enter an urban outfitters. the jeans fit me perfectly, the tops are creative. but i'm not about to drop 40 on a top with a cute flower print. but on my first shopping trip in a real store (not a thrift store) with an intent to purchase rather than just look at all of the things i can't afford, i bought a somewhat overpriced top that i love love LOVE:

it's the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland and it's adorable. since i pretty much only wear black leggings and jeans, the $28 shirt was a perfect way to bring some excitement to my little torso.

and then i went to the american apparel outlet in camarillo. now, as someone that greatly admires the wild looks of runways and magazine spreads, the innovative placement of zippers and buttons, as well as zany prints and crazy textures, it would seem that american apparel would not appeal to my taste. but there's something about its simplicity that makes it unique. it allows space to experiment. some of the shiny stuff is actually pretty wearable and obviously eye catching. they are well-known for their leggings (though i personally prefer some that can be found in a little ventura fashion store) and their v-neck tees. however, they are expanding their collection to include materials that can't be found used in attractive ways in other places. for example, velour! never have i ever been drawn to this material. velour track suits were a disgrace to women's bodies everywhere. they made asses look bigger and fashion senses look cheaper. but american apparel has changed that for me with this particular velour sweater:

the sweater i bought is not this particular color. it's way cooler. it's tri-colored: white, light mint green and dusty denim blue. the mint green is on the stretchy cotton wrist part and the stretchy cotton bottom band, the sleeves and the bottom half of the sweater are a dusty blue velour, and the top half is white velour. hard to describe but also very easy on the eyes. because it was at the outlet it only cost $28 (rather than $38). it was my favorite purchase of the day. it made me feel confident in fashion again, as well as excited to start putting together innovative outfits and experiment with different combos as the chilly weather permits. it may just be american apparel, typical "hipster" wear as some might say, but it's fun and cute. and for someone that HAD to shop at thrift stores all summer (i didn't have a job, couldn't get a job and therefore didn't have money), being able to purchase a brand new sweater was priceless.

le break(ing point)

2008-12-26T23:40:00.000-08:00

i'm always excited to go home for break. i talk to my mom 20 times a day on the phone already so it's not like i'm going home to strangers as a stranger. i love animals more than anything and a chance to live with them for a month is priceless. the honeymoon phase (which lasts about three days) is always enjoyable. but after those three days, what happens? chaos. worse than chaos because you know exactly what's going to happen and how it's going to happen. predictable chaos is terrifying.

so why do i still get excited to go home? why is it something i look forward to, something i consider a much needed month of relaxation, when nothing relaxing ever takes place? catching up with old friends is amazing. sleeping with my cat by my side is precious. sunning in the yard with my dogs is calming. singing to pretty songs with my sister in the car is cool. but are all of these happenings worth the fighting that precedes them? i've made my mom cry two days in a row (not by being mean, just by getting into an argument with my sister and also by not going to church). i know for a fact that she is happier when i am not home. she talks to me when i'm in-between classes or walking home from work and is happy to know that i still need her in my life, at least as someone to converse with between responsibilities. but when i'm home i think she feels a disconnection and knows as well as i that the chaos will soon be taking over. we like it better when things are organized by time, not by emotion.

so a holiday break for me isn't necessarily a break. it's a change of pace and a change of dramatic incidents. no longer am i annoyed by dirty roommates. i am now annoyed by lack of alone time and cigarettes and a mom thats ready to get angry at any little thing. but it's okay. i love everyone in my family regardless of their anxiety levels, and i love hanging out with friends that stuck with me through the hellish year that was 2008.

it was christmas day

2008-12-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

christmas day was a day of wackness. i'll leave out the less enjoyable details involving tears (not mine) and comment on the sillz.

my mom's "my bitches" photo album
my dad saying that the sweater my mom got him was very "star trek"
my dad having my mom's gifts gift-wrapped in hanukkah paper (accidentally). but they were the gifts from the cat and dogs, so it was okay...
getting in a fight over whether or not we were seeing "marley and me" or "benjamin button." or should i say "benjamin mutton," as my dad refers to it.
downloading justice's "a cross the universe" for two hours only to watch it and realize it was the version without subtitles
all of the penguin gifts. seriously. i pretty much only got penguin gifts
not watching "a christmas story" for the first time ever. we usually watch it every christmas alllll day on tbs, but not this year, and i don't know why, and i'm sad about it
watching "dogs 101" on animal planet until 9:30, when i went to bed. if you've somehow angered your mom (like i did very early on in the day), shows with puppies are a sure cure.

while my christmas may have sucked, i still enjoyed it somewhat because i know the gifts i got people were much appreciated. finally that's the best part. i remember being 10 and hating that i had to go shopping for my parents. but this year i got them better things than they got me. and it felt kind of cool. kind of.

it's christmas eve right now

2008-12-24T19:43:00.000-08:00

as i progressively gain weight this week, i decided to do something productive and write while i continue to sit and wait for hors d'oeuvres. so far i've had an amazing week back. i went last minute shopping with my sister without ever feeling angry despite the crazies that surrounded me at the mall. i finished 280-something paged book in a day. i (along with my sister) made my mom a photo album with pictures of us and our (evil) cat. we decided we needed to put his paw print next to one of his pictures. and that was the worst idea. ever. my sister's carpet is covered in little green paw prints. she stated it best: "it looks like a leprechaun was running around in here!"

what's made my holiday most enjoyable is Fleet Foxes. their song "white winter hymnal" got me in the winteriest of moods without being overly santa-y or jesus-y. check it:

wo woah whoa

2008-12-19T01:59:00.000-08:00

this has to be one of the coolest late night performances i've ever seen. it reminds me of chuck e. cheese (for obvious reasons)

on dreams

2008-12-14T15:05:00.000-08:00

(Henri Rousseau's "To Dream")

i wrote my last column for The Vista about dreams and how weird mine have been ever since i went home. as an avid dream analyzer (i reference either glamour.com's dream dictionary or my own physical one that my creepy neighbor gave me), i have made an interesting and disturbing discovery. i will first begin with a description of the two dreams i've had that apply to this theory:

i had a dream that a guy i liked was taking candid pictures of me on a digital camera and that i was looking at the pictures and deleting the ones i didn't like and praising others. we were then laying in a barren field as thunder rolled all around us. we decided to wait till the thunder ended and then go to a party we apparently had planned to make an appearance at. an overall enjoyable dream.

the other dream consisted of me watching tv with my sister. we put on the news and heard screaming. it was a live shot of a mudslide happening at la conchita again. the mud knocked over a cement truck which then spilled a never-ending supply of cement. the news crew's helicopter cam zoomed in on the people being overtaken by the cement and then getting stuck and suffocating. it was absolutely terrible and resulted in me waking up terrified.

now here's the discovery. the first dream's meaning was extremely negative. dreaming of a camera is a warning dream signifying insincere friends around you and deception. to dream of thunder signifies that your suspicions of false friends are well-founded and portends great loss and disappointment. to dream of a field indicates dreary prospects for the future. as you could imagine, i was a little freaked out and mad that my cute dream had lost all levels of cuteness.

the second dream's meaning was extremely positive. to dream of mud predicts "glorious good luck" and to dream of cement signifies a rise in status/income. WTF

underestimation

2008-12-12T18:09:00.001-08:00

i feel completely underestimated as a person. not in what people think i can accomplish. i think people have a pretty good idea of how motivated i am. i am definitely a dreamer and definitely set super high goals for myself personally and professionally. but there is much more to me than high hopes and cuteness. sure, i talk about cute animals ALL THE TIME. but it's because they make me happy. why not surround yourself with something like that? i know that i come across as a silly, giggley girl that will try everything once and do what she feels like. but seriously? why would you ever think that's all i do and think about?

music is my soul. the weirder it is and the more sounds it incorporates, the more i can connect to it. that's why bands like why? and dntel are always on my many playlists (i make a new one every day).
i like more than electro music. my favorite genres are experimental hip hop and folk and some swedish pop. i also like dark rock music (not hard/metal/pop/punk rock). in every single band i listen to, the lead singer has an extremely unique and different voice. no one voice in my itunes library sounds alike.
i'm attracted to bright colors and sparkles because they are exciting.
i try very hard to never wear the same outfit twice. not because i'm obsessed with appearance but because i like experimentation.
i, like many people my age, have been conditioned to hate being alone. if i'm by myself i'll get online and chat away until i know it's absolutely necessary for me to go to sleep. but because i am an insomniac that usually takes hours anyway.
i love buying gifts for people. no matter how much i hate someone, if i see something i know they will like i will always contemplate getting it for them (but if i hate them i won't). it's more like ex-boyfriends. that's why i share music. i have a good sense for what people will like (even though some will never admit that they do, but their play count says otherwise).
when i'm stressed or just feel out of sorts i will immerse myself in a john steinbeck book. his is the only writing i can completely connect to. he writes eloquently and honestly.
my comfort channel is bravo. intelligent reality tv was made for me. i've never really been a cartoon person (minus rugrats and the like). that's probably why i love pixar movies. they're the smart versions of cartoons.
after all of the terrible things i've been through in my life (trust me, you have no idea), it is absolutley impossible for me to trust anyone. if you think i trust you, i don't. it's like a character trait that disappeared.
on that note, i'm the most trustworthy person you will ever meet. i'm the best at keeping secrets and even better at helping create them.
i always have to have my nails polished.
i have had countless hairstyles because i get bored with them after a few months. my hair will be long again soon.
my favorite thing to do is drive (yes, more than any other thing i could do). long drives are the best. i get to listen to my favorite music for hours. i made a playlist of my favorite songs ever and it contains over 1500 songs from all different kinds of artists and genres. i think that's pretty cool. i also like falling asleep in the passenger seat after shows in l.a.
why do i like penguins? it honestly stemmed from simply liking the word. how do you come up with a word like that?
my favorite movies are wes anderson movies because i love the "futura" font and the smoothness of the colors. i greatly admire symmetry. but i also like amelie because it has no symmetry whatsoever.
while i like writing articles and fun columns, serious writing is my favorite. i have a novel in the works (for real) but it's all in my head as of late.
try thinking about things without using words.
i smoke cigarettes because it's an excuse to move around.
i have a blog because it makes me feel productive. i think it's important to be exposed to different points of view because it further reaffirms your own.
i shop in thrift stores because it's all i can afford, not because it's the indie thing to do. and it's all i can afford because i spend too much money on shoes (when i have money and don't have to buy groceries).
i trip all the time, in all possible meanings of the word.
i write down every single quote that means something to me and when i go back and read over them it's an indescribable feeling.

a john steinbeck quote that perfectly describes me and most likely many other people:

"i have always lived violently, drunk hugely, eaten too much or not at all, slept around the clock or missed two nights of sleeping, worked too hard and too long in glory, or slobbed for a time in utter laziness. i've lifted, pulled, chopped, climbed, made love with joy and taken my hangovers as a consequence, not as a punishment. i did not want to surreneder fierceness for a small gain in yardage."

what i like about his writing is that it takes some cliche ideas and strips them down to pure honesty with no embellishments. how many times have we read about people not sleeping and they make it sound so utterly terrible and depressing and artsy? when john steinbeck writes about it, you're not afraid to say "yeah, me too."

christmaschristmaschristmas

2008-12-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

i'm so so so excited for christmas this year. for once i don't hate my mom and i get to hang out with my puppies and my kitten. and of course, i'm super close to the SB zoo, at which otters and penguins swim (and that sweet lion puts his face against the glass and looks at me). here are the top 5 things on my christmas list this year, besides the usual Urban/AA gift cards (american apparel, not alcoholics anonymous) my hip mom gives me. and i hear some planned parenthoods have gift cards now. that might be cool to have.

WALL E DVD (or WALL E himself)

Hymie's Basement CD (with Yoni from WHY?)

CuteOverload Page a Day calendar

subscription to Under the Radar magazine

Justice "A Cross the Universe" live DVD/Album

And here's a Christmas gift from me to you ♥

my interview with Yo La Tengo

2008-12-09T00:35:00.000-08:00

i did this interview last year but Yo La Tengo has been brought up to me a few times this week soooo i'm re-releasing it to the public.

Yo La Tengo, one of the most well-known and respected names in the underground alternative rock world, graced San Diego with their presence this past Sunday, and were kind enough to give an interview to The Vista.

The Freewheeling Yo La Tengo Tour brought the band to San Diego’s Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, at which they held an exclusive engagement that brought together fans of all ages. Children, teenagers, middle-agers and elders sat in anticipation as they waited to see such an influential group take the stage. And once they took the stage, the music took hold of every single person in the room. All sat in silence as Georgia Hubley’s soothing voice covered the room like a blanket, and the guitar skills of Ira Kaplan kept all eyes centered on the strings.

Standouts of the show, besides the very funny comments of the band members, were crowd-pleasers “Autumn Sweater” and “You Can Have It All,” of course, as well as “Stockholm Syndrome,” “Alyda” and the purely instrumental songs that induced chills.

What makes this tour unique, according to Yo La Tengo’s bassist James McNew, is that “not a single thing is planned, it’s very spontaneous.”

The way the Freewheeling tour works is unlike anything most young adults have experienced in the concert scene of today. The band welcomes questions from their audience and tells stories about how they came up with song titles or about projects they have worked on (think VH1’s Storytellers) and then choose the next song they play according to what fits with the discussion that was just held. There is no set list, no agenda; just a show that, as McNew puts it, consists of the band “flying by the seats of [their] collective pants.”

Yo La Tengo has been around since 1984, the year their first album came out, though the three current members, husband and wife Kaplan (guitar/vocals) and Hubley (drums/vocals), and McNew (bass/vocals), have been together since 1991. The chemistry between the threesome is intriguing. It’s a perfect combination of talent, emotion, and comedy; it’s no surprise their music is so affecting and has become a staple of varying generations.

Yo La Tengo doesn’t just put out records either. They do movie scores too. Their compositions can be heard in “Shortbus,” “Old Joy,” and “Junebug” among many many others, as well as the surrealist undersea documentary shorts of French filmmaker Jean Painleve.

The band will soon be kicking off their eight-day set of Hanukkah shows in their hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey. They started doing the Hanukkah shows back in 2001, very soon after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York.

“It was a weird time to be an entertainer in New York,” said McNew. “People were kinda going out and getting together again.”

This year’s Hanukkah commemoration will be the fifth in the last seven years. The shows consist of an opening act, which the band books on their own, a little bit of comedy and then a set by Yo La Tengo. The shows are very intimate and fun and proceeds benefit charities yet to be named.

Here are some fun facts about Yo La Tengo, many of which were shared with the audience at Sunday’s show. The band portrayed the Velvet Underground in ‘96’s “I Shot Andy Warhol.” They got a lot of their song titles from messed up sentences that Kaplan and Hubley would come across when proofreading soft porn books (see “Mushroom Cloud of Hiss” off the album “May I Sing With Me” and ponder what it was supposed to be). Kaplan’s favorite color is green while McNew’s is orange. Their song arrangements are not set in stone, which makes them all favorites to perform. McNew is “bummed out by the second season of ‘Heroes’” and considers Nashville to be the “unsung hero of American cities.” Their favorite venue is Maxwell’s in Hoboken. Kaplan has been referred to as the Jewish Jimi Hendrix.

Yo La Tengo’s most recent album, “I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass” came out in September of 2006 and is the springboard for the ongoing Freewheeling Yo La Tengo Tour. If you already have that, check out “Yo La Tengo Is Murdering the Classics,” which is accompanied by an “order at your own risk” warning from the band, or “The Sounds of the Sounds of Science,” which is made up of the scores of those aforementioned undersea shorts.

Yo La Tengo is a band that has already made great waves in the music world, and will go down in history for their bravery in experimentation and their true talent. All 500 people that were able to attend the show at the Museum of Contemporary Art were very lucky, and if you are ever presented with the opportunity to see Yo La Tengo, do not let it pass you by.

nationally enjoyably good

2008-12-02T22:25:00.000-08:00

i love The National.

i listened to "Boxer" about 5 times in a row as i put together my Vista pages (which are stunning, by the way) because it makes me feel warm and cozy. the hazelnut latte that boss lady (liz biz) bought me certainly aided. but seriously, this band is classic. not in the way that means they are super good, but in the way that means their sound is timeless. with the help of Sufjan, the album is beautiful and has an amazing flow and vibe. songs to check out: "ada" (my top choice), "racing like a pro," and "start a war." i know that the album came out in oh seven, but i just gave it a good listen on a hazy day and it fit my comfy mood perfectly.

#40.4 - THE NATIONAL -Ada
by lablogotheque

speaking of which, isn't it annoying when you get a bunch of new music but you just don't have the patience or time or energy to give it a genuinely interested listen? it makes me so sad because i love to add to my wealth of music knowledge, but i know i have a ways to go. sure, my iPod has over 8000 songs on it, but how much of it have i really listened to? i'm almost embarrassed to say. but at least i know all of the names and at least one song per artist.

;asdjf fuck

2008-12-02T02:32:00.000-08:00

i am drunk. or at least buzzed. and had the most difficult time writing my articles for The Vista this week. as i slowly type this to avoid misspellings, i begin to think about the lyrics that WHY? is singing to me at this exact moment. something about "fucking grooving?" god damn i want to dance. i miss justice live. they're my friends (they told me). i miss listening to girl talk and playing beer pong with black mugs and glass cups. i miss ecstasy. i miss my big bed at home. i miss stability. i obviously miss being drunk without being depressing. i miss lewis, most of all. i miss being able to write sober, because until i had those glasses of champagne i was experiencing major writer's block, and it was shitty. but for real, i'm gonna start a magazine for USD solely about arts & culture. help a girl out.

time travel

2008-11-28T00:46:00.000-08:00

yes, i am extremely excited for christmas.

when i arrived home on tuesday, my family had completely decorated the house for christmas (minus the tree and the outside lights) and had a fire in the fireplace. it was a perfect way to be welcomed home, especially after a ridiculously stressful and draining week. the only odd thing was, thanksgiving still had not happened. i'm not one that gets overly angry when i see christmasy things before the month of december, let alone thanksgiving day, but i for sure thought it was silly. but, seriously, how could i complain when i was surrounded by an abundance of penguins? they bought a light up one especially for me:

nonetheless, this week has proven to be a family overload week. thanksgiving dinner involved my cousin and her new husband, an aunt that i haven't seen in probably 4 years and a surprising lack of other relatives that had never been absent before. i also discussed the upcoming "girl cousins' night" at my aunt's (another one that i haven't seen in years) house, which almost burned down in the recent santa barbara fires. i'm a tad overwhelmed by this upcoming night but it's a month away so whatevs for now. tomorrow i'm going to the zoo with my grandpa and step-grandma, renee, and my mom, dad and sister too. i get to see penguins in person, which easily makes this the best day of my week at home.

another benefit is the time i have to read.

not only do i get to fit in a few pages of "Travels With Charley" here and there, but my sister has the new NYLON (mine is waiting for me in my SD mailbox). though i was disappointed by the issue's lack of excitement about the new year, i was highly impressed by the holiday playlist created by SNL's newest addition, Casey Wilson. the song descriptions were genius and the humor refreshing. i greatly appreciated the Gremlins reference (and the accompanying picture of a gremlin holding a candy cane with dancing music notes floating above his furry head), as well as the Bruce Springsteen "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" recommendation. Check it out in the Dec/Jan 09 issue with Lily Allen on the cover. it's on page 142. (seriously, it made me LOL.)

a band that i'm getting into: The Welcome Wagon, whose album is produced and arranged by Sufjan Stevens and released on Asthmatic Kitty. very Sufjan-esque, featuring covers of The Smiths and old hymns, as well as original creations. check out the mp3 at stereogum.com. the album is released on Dec. 9.

Woah!

2008-11-27T03:08:00.000-08:00

some excitement:

the track thing to the right (you can sample the songs by clicking on the little play buttons)

5 rolls of film developed for $3.21

here are some of my favez:

BOSTON

2008-11-27T01:36:00.000-08:00

with the realization that i do NOT miss usd at all while being away for tg break, i delved into the emerson website to reignite an old flame and an old hope.

i got into emerson with a $16,000 scholarship my senior year of high school. it was my top choice. and my parents wouldn't let me go solely because of the distance. usd seemed like a pretty good option so, because i had a zero percent chance of my parents giving in to my bostonian dreams, i decided to go.

but now i regret giving in (the one time i've ever done so in my life) and truly do not feel that usd is MY school. i know that i am doing some pretty cool things with the paper and my job as a marketing assistant. i know that the school is ranked pretty well (for business), but i just don't feel any strong connection.

i don't connect well with the people and i don't connect well with the beach party lifestyle. emerson, on the other hand, is my style in every way possible:

1. big city

2. real weather

3. a million more journalistic opportunities

4. a program designed specifically for magazine production and writing

5. more serious and genuine media studies students

this school was made specifically for media studies, and the writing/publishing program was made specifically for magazine production. ahem, my life goal is to create my own magazine, and emerson offers a course in which you CREATE YOUR OWN MAGAZINE. ENOUGH SAID.

the people at usd generally suck and i don't think i've had very many real connections. i think my self and my talents would be better appreciated and put to use and allowed to grow in boston. i'm in talks with my parents again. i'm gonna apply and see what kind of scholarship and financial aid i might receive. as unreligious as i am, i will definitely be praying that i am able to transfer to emerson next year. if you know me, that's a pretty big deal.

shponder

2008-11-22T16:36:00.000-08:00

when i woke up today at 12:30 to a wonderful phone call about what drank i would like to have purchased for me tonight, i looked out my window and saw gray skies. not sure what's wrong with me but seeing gray skies made me the happiest i've been all week. i was feeling a bit more healthy after being plagued with a cold for the duration of the week and i decided to treat myself to a day off doing what i do best, watching movies.

the darjeeling limited has to be one of the best movies to wake up to. vivid colors, an exciting culture, adrien brody and jason schwartzman and natalie portman, a highly enjoyable soundtrack and lots of prescription drug abuse. but what got me most were the colors. bright colors and sparkly things are like magnets. i'm automatically drawn to them and, if they are buyable, i will buy them. with this film though, wes anderson's style is extremely attractive to me. especially with the indian colors. i could go on and on about colors but they are beyond describable. i wouldn't do them justice.

tonight consists of $3 chamapagne and daft punk slow jams. i'm pretty excited.

the history i'm witnessing

2008-11-20T22:01:00.000-08:00

have you ever thought about all of the things we grew up with in the media, and the fact that they're all disappearing before our very eyes? trl has been cancelled, a show that i used to watch every day in middle school. jay leno is retiring, i've been watching that with my dad for years. oprah will soon be retiring too, enough said. and ER, a tv classic that has been on for countless years is in its last season! i'm not huge on tv (i am only dedicated to bravo and the office) but all of these things are a huge part of my generation's development. where would our shitty music taste be without trl's repetitive daily music video countdown? where would my relationship with my parents be without jay leno and oprah? and had there been no ER, would i still be a hypochondriac? this all saddens me a great deal. there are definitely amazing talents in the running to take over jay leno and oprah's respective positons (conan and ellen anybody?), but thanks to all of these wonderful media outlets and personalities, i am who i am today. i will miss all of the above a great deal. maybe not trl so much, but definitely jay and ER (the cast is very attractive).

vista view

2008-11-18T23:43:00.000-08:00

waiting for my ride in The Vista office here on campus, i began to ponder weekend plans which then digressed into life plans. i plan on having a studio apartment next year since half of my friends are graduating and almost the entire other half are studying abroad or having children. living by myself (along with a cat and/or dog) is going to be like living in a heaven, a "kaitlin" heaven. the idea of having my own place with my own kitchen-ware, couch, tv programming, netflix subscription, throw pillows, candles, curtains, rugs, coffee table, decorative disco balls, lucky penguins...the list goes on. i won't have to worry about who did the dishes last, who wants the blinds closed or the heater on. all i will have to worry about is if i'm gonna be done with The Vista in time to catch Chelsea Lately on E! or if i'm running low on method dish soap. please don't get me wrong, i completely love my roommate. but there is something wonderful to be said about quiet time and having your own belongings. while reading "Travels With Charley" by John Steinbeck, i've become envious of the time Steinbeck (and even Charley) have with their own thoughts. when i think about the things i could write if i took a trip with just myself and my dog...i get somewhat overwhelmed, but it's an empowering feeling at the same time? not sure how that works, but it might be that i accept that i CAN be a good writer if i just allow myself the time and mindset. i tend to fight my writing urges because i'm afraid i can't live up to expectations, especially when it's creative writing. i have that brilliant idea for a novel just sitting up on a shelf in my mind, waiting to be put within the front and back covers that make up a book (hard copy of course). we'll seeeee what happens this summer. hopefully i'll have my own place in san diego, accompanied by a job, money, a car and a dog (or cat). those will be the daze. penguin of the week? conductor penguin:

problems

2008-11-15T22:59:00.000-08:00

friends dealing with p. safe, friends dealing with bi guys, friends dealing with missing the person they were in the summer and family dealing with fire evacuations. this week has been full of worry for so many people i know. and when the people i care about stress out, i stress out. this week has been very long. and the weather is really hot now. i miss the hope and excitement i felt when the temperature dropped. i'm back to getting iced drinks and wearing flip flops. back to taking the tram everywhere because i can't breathe. (but maybe that's because of smoking rather than the semi-humid weather). and now with these fires threatening the homes of my relatives...things just suck for so many people right now. i'm worried about my aunt and uncle who are trapped in the middle of the fire while housesitting their neighbor's house. i'm worried about...every other person in my family. all of them are dealing with some kind of issue, whether it be health or money or relationships. and then i think about my life and how lucky i am but how stupid i am at the same time. i have my health but i destroy it with cigarettes and being too exhausted to go to the gym. i have my smarts but am destroying them with persistent drug abuse. i have my humor but i'm destroying that by being bitchy. i could go on but i'm destroying my easy-going nature by complaining about things i do to myself. so i have decided to slowly but surely quit smoking and cut back on my bitchiness. i know i'm not the meanest girl ever, especially at usd or in ventura county, but i hate feeling like a bitch. i've been told that i'm a confrontational little one...not exactly how i want to be known, but it's definitely not a bad character trait. i'm proud of my confidence and "strong will." but i'm even more proud of my idea to have a "daft penguin" created for me. ^

ME

2008-11-09T16:58:00.001-08:00

with a school year full of election craziness (yaaayyyy obama!), art projects, speeches, latin tests (open-book thank GOD) and weekly issues of The Vista, i rarely ever have time for me. hence why there are never any posts on this supercute blog. i'm pretty sure the main reason i write on it, besides my love of writing, is because of the pink and purple. but last night, on a rare saturday night in, i allowed myself to eat chocolate and read an entire issue of Nylon front to back (the most recent one at that). though i have two past issues sitting on my table under a stack of newspapers and receipts, i was so SO happy to be able to take a (healthy) break from thinking and read about fashion and music. it reminded me why i do everything i do. why i wear the same 4 pieces of crazy jewelry every day, why i write about m.i.a.'s fashion line, why i want to start my own magazine. in the midst of reading i was asked to join a friend in the courtyard to have a cig. that very enjoyable cig break lasted 2 and a half hours and was intermittently freckled with drunken stories from friends arriving home from frat parties and ended with rain sprinkles and gusts of wind, and maybe a raccoon or two, or three. it made me kind of re-fall in in love with usd. i've been contemplating my decision to attend this university, like many of my friends, and i realized that i'm here for a reason, and it's not to appease the many crazy guys i come in contact with, or to talk shit with the cool girls. i'm here because i've already learned so much about myself through so many challenges AND i get to edit The Vista! where else would i have been able to get an editing position that early in my college career? superlucky.

anyways. the weather in sd is FINALLY cold and there are leaves blowing everywhere and i get to drink hot chocolate with cinnamon and have Campbell's soup at hands on a regular basis (meaning the last 3 days). while i wish there was snow everywhere and i could bundle up with a cutie (whether it be a cat or a guy), i'm happy just typing up a blog post and listening to Beach House (how ironic?).

check out this coolness that my paint created by itself:

so much too much

2008-09-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

i have no time to breathe. i can't even find time to pick up my paycheck :(. this is terrible. on the bright side, at least i HAVE a paycheck. the economy is really shitty, as i experienced first hand over the summer, but working on campus helps to shield me from that sad sad fact.

soooo i went to street scene. for free with press passes. such a good weekend. i went with amazing people that like to have fun and drink and dance as much as i do. first night is a leettle hazy, but i definitely remember Justice. ohhhh my. they were amazing. absolutely amazing. the pulsating bass put to the flashing cross in the center of the stage was serotonin upping. the next night i enjoyed the beats of ghostland observatory. as i said that night, experiencing their music made me feel like i was having sex. period. and god bless devo! how many people in my generation can say that they saw devo live? not very many. and they kicked ASS.

my second day of street scene got a little dimmer when i heard the sad news that DJ AM and Travis Barker were in a fatal plane crash. they were the only survivors. someone said to me that if that had happened to them they would believe in god 100%. what must that mean to be one of two survivors? that's some heavy shit. but i am deeply glad that they are okay.

i am very much enjoying working on the vista. i've had some amazing opportunities given to me because of this little newspaper, including an interview with Michael Cera and Kat Dennings and all access passes to the upcoming San Diego Film Festival. check out my shit at The Vista.

another sad thing that i heard is that TRL has been cancelled! that show was my favorite thing to watch when i was...younger...and i think it helped to define my generation. remember eminem? britney v. christina v. jessica simpson (who didn't really count)? i loved all that drama! it was so exciting! but thankfully MTV has introduced FNMTV. that show kicks ass. Pete Wentz is the host and he's surprisingly not annoying. i've only seen it a few times since i don't really have time to enjoy anything on tv anymore, but one episode that really stood out was one that featured She & Him and their music video for "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?", and they had some rapper give his opinion on it. and he said that he liked the fake blood. it was so cool! i love the mixing of genres and the acknowledgment of music outside of pop. check it.

some final thoughts since i feel as though i am rambling:

i hate keira knightley. can she do anything besides a period piece?

getting a new Nylon in the mail is the most exciting way to pre-start a month.

JENNY LEWIS' NEW ALBUM MAKES ME WANT TO DROP ACID

bitchez

2008-09-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

while i am certainly planning on writing a ridiculous amount of exciting things, i'm only going to write a teazer right now since i'm studying for logic (though i don't think i really need that much help with logistical thinking):

someone thought that i didn't know who JUSTICE was. seriously. me. arts & culture editor Kaitlin Perry. i was blindsided!

i'm busy beyond belief and i love it.

katy goddamn perry

2008-09-07T22:35:00.000-07:00

her song may be catchy, but she has ruined my name! whenever people think of me, they think of her. and then they tell me that because of her they thought of me. at leasssttt she was cool enough to be on the cobrasnake right? haaa

photo courtesy of theee cobrasnake

U S D

2008-09-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

USD could stand for many things considering how many sluts go here. overall though i'm having a pretty good time being back. the weather is absolutely gorgeous. i walk everywhere so my legs are quite toned and i'm no longer out of breath when i climb stairs, i've met some really cool people simply by sitting in the center of my little apartment area (The Vistasssss) and having a cig or two. my roommate is the coolest person ever and our apartment is super cute. the only downside is how quickly people change for the worse. it's disappointing how easily people lose their coolness and respect value just by changing who they are depending on who they are around. i thought that was high school shit but i guess nott.

on a nicer note, i saw Why? the other night at The Echoplex. they are one of the most talented bands i've ever seen. the drummer plays the drums and a xylophone at the same time, while singing, and the lead singer plays the drums and maracas and keyboard at the same time while singing some very complex lyrics. i was stunned and blown away. AND me and my friend were able to weave our way through the crowd from the back row to the 3rd row by going up to all the tall people and telling them we couldn't see. easy peasy. tonight i'm seeing the legendary Bob Dylan in SD and i'm very excited. it feels like i'm becoming a part of history, just because he has had such a big impact on the music industry and, dare i say, the world. ANDDDD i got press tix for STREET SCENE. I AM SO EXCITED AND HAPPY. check out the line-up at http://street-scene.com. it's like a mini coachella that's like 10 minutes from my apartment. The Vista will be starting up again soon and you can check out my writing and other people's writing on http://sandiego.edu/vista.

rainbow brite

2008-08-29T00:51:00.000-07:00

tonight i completed my life by seeing Radiohead live at the Santa Barbara Bowl. i obviously was aware that such a great band would put on an exceptional life show, but i was not fully aware of how amazing the lights would be. not only were they bright and colorful and fast and completely synchronized with the music, but they enhanced the music. it almost felt like the lights were reflecting what was going on in my body as i felt every beat of the bass or heard every electronic sound manipulation. the band opened with Reckoner, proceeded to play all of my other favorite songs, and then closed with Idioteque (mind-blowing). way better than any rave i will ever go to. the reason i compare the two is because of the light shows and the electronic-ness. there's something about the combination of electronic music with legitimate rock and soulful/mindful lyrics that brings about a different kind of pasison within a person, something more than ecstasy or any other drug could do. when you're sober (as i was because i had to visit with my grandparents after the show), you are more in tune with your day to day person, therefore an amazing experience such as a light show put to brilliant music, has a more "intelligent" effect on you. but i am fully aware that had i been rolling i would have been even happier. i just feel that i am more conscious of what i experienced, and that it was ME that experienced it, not me on a narcotic.

woahhh

2008-08-28T01:21:00.000-07:00

i have astonished myself by writing a 6 page paper in one night. i haven't written a paper since last week, but before that it had been about 4 or 5 months. it's such a relief to know that i can still write scholarly things. this semester won't be as hard as i thought. woo!

gacebook

2008-08-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

things i hate that happen on facebook:

when people put entire albums up that contain only tagged pictures of themselves. god damn photobooth
when people put up depressing statuses
when people have a kazillion tagged pics of themselves but added the majority on their own
when people insult b.obama
when people leave bitchy comments
when people change their relationship status every day

Barack the Vote

2008-08-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

this article about the death of McCain's campaign is one that every American should read. after reading it, i felt anger towards the people that will actually still vote for McCain, even though he is hypocritical and almost childish in the way he does politics. click it: McIdiot

OBAMA/BIDEN '08 bitchesss

pic courtesy of soleredemption.com

puppy games 08

2008-08-23T23:40:00.000-07:00

i remember on the day of the superbowl, my mom called me to tell me that the puppy bowl was on. and to my enjoyment, animal planet was presenting a puppy version of the superbowl, in which puppies of all shapes sizes and breeds were put into a mini arena to play with all kinds of toys.

lo and behold, there also exists a puppy games, a puppy version of the olympics that includes soccer and puppy gymnastics (a balance beam). they do profiles of the competitors (like Zim, a gymnast puppy) and show replays. but it's not real sports. it's just a dog chewing on a soccer ball toy and a dog walking on a straight beam thing.

it's the weirdest thing i've ever seen. but super cute nonetheless.

THE music scene

2008-08-23T00:43:00.000-07:00

after watching the last Mai's Cafe show of my summer, i realized how fucking amazing local ventura county bands are. Hindu Kush kind of blew my mind. it was the first time i had ever heard them live and i was VERY impressed. and my all-time fave local band, besides the ones with record deals, would have to be Dreamcolour. they are creative, innovative, and even a little provocative depending on how many saxophones Rob is playing at once. props to alexa, alex, ted and danny too. had i been drunker and more energized i would have danced with all of those crazies in front of the stage.

takeover

2008-08-22T02:05:00.000-07:00

because i am completely addicted to Bravo, i watched Tabatha's Salon Takeover. it's absolutely ridculous, but i love watching interior design things so i sat through it. she's so unnecessarily mean, but she does know what she's talking about. my sister puts it perfectly: she's not a bitch, she just acts like one. there is a huge difference between being a bitch and acting like one, obviously. Tabatha never sounds genuinely mean. she's putting on a show, for her show.

i wish USD had Bravo.

ac/trip

2008-08-21T17:23:00.000-07:00

acid tongue, acid wash - even acid betty on Project Runway. i'm surrounded by acid and it's making me want to take a trip around the color spectrum.

as a side note, i am completely in love with Bela Karolyi, the gymnastics guy who comments on the fucked up judging throughout the olympic games. he's so passionate about the "sport" and is so worried about the hearts (meaning emotions) of the girls competing. he also has an amazing accent and hair do.

courtesy of Mark Stehle, AP

scout and about

2008-08-21T02:18:00.000-07:00

scout watches more tv than i do. put on a tiger documentary and he starts jumping around. cutest thing EVER.

wiggidy wack

2008-08-02T01:12:00.000-07:00

a movie that i highly recommend is The Wackness. it's extremely relatable, wonderful cinematography, kick ass soundtrack and impressive acting. it's sad to me, though, that i can predict the future and hear kids saying "eh, it was okay. it was cliche blah blah blah." truth be told, every movie at this point is cliche. every love story, every drug story, every depression story. they're all the same deep down. but this film puts little spins on old topics, and they're funny. so don't hate on it just to be different, let yourself actually watch it without automatically judging it. i did it, and i had a wonderful night at the movies.

on another note, my mind has recently clarified certain goings on for me, and i can't decide if it makes my life easier or more confusing, or both. i've realized that everybody thinks they are right all the time. if they are wrong, their mind convinces them that they are right, no matter what. people will twist stories around to make themselves appear to be in the right. people will talk shit to make themselves look intelligent and will try to insult you by projecting themselves onto you. but the part that helped to clarify it is this: that little part of your mind that always knows the truth, it grows and grows and grows the more you lie lie lie. the more you exaggerate, the more exhausted and dirty you will feel, because that little part of your brain that knows the truth has too many truths to hold inside, because you won't be expressing the truths on the outside. i realized this a long time ago. yeah, i used to exaggerate stories to make myself look better, but i was 14. not 19. i realized that i was happier when i told the truth, even if it got me in trouble. i had less headaches and felt less depressed. the more honesty you bring into your life the more happiness and respect you will bring into your life. everyone can see through the lying manipulative person. those types of people aren't very good with common sense. and who wants to be called "crazyface" behind their back by the people they think are their friends? embrace honesty and reap the benefits.

that's my life lesson for the day haha. after movies i feel philosophical, even though most of what i say isn't that impressive.

rejuvenation

2008-07-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

out with old, out with the new, and in with those who've never been old or new. they were just always there.

living in a film

2008-07-19T00:27:00.000-07:00

it is true, my life is a movie. maybe even a best-selling novel. it's fun to have blackmail material. maybe i SHOULD write an autobiography. on a lighter and less time-consuming note, the premiere of Project Runway was beautifully exciting and Jenny Lewis will be releasing her new album, "Acid Tongue" in september. i see sunnier days ahead with some melodic music in the background of my every action. 43 days till san diego and i can leave this psych ward that is ventura county.

think about it

2008-07-16T03:21:00.000-07:00

am i controlling? or are YOU weak?

it's an interesting concept. in order for one to feel as though they are being controlled, they do not feel they are strong enough to stand up for what they believe in, want, or feel. why is that the problem of the so-called "controller"? unless you like to play the victim role, don't be weak. stand up for your point of view, otherwise the person that you claim is controlling you has no idea they are doing such a thing, they just think you agree. it's not flattering to claim you've been controlled, it just makes you look like an idiot.

print journalism

2008-07-07T23:12:00.000-07:00

i'd give anything to live in new york and be able to intern at my favorite magazine. unfortunately money controls my every move and i must stay in california and hone my skills by working on the vista. how nice would it be, though, to just up and quit college and get an entry level job at a paper or magazine and work my way up to a position in which i make a salary to live off of? i'm too scared to quit college though, as expensive as it costs to remain at usd. what if i were to ruin my future by not finishing school? sometimes i think it's too hard, but then i get a flash of intelligence and realize that it will all be worth it and i will be able to get much farther in the world of journalism with a degree from a good university. in the meantime, i'll begin designing my own magazine so i can work for myself and have the best life ever writing and organizing layouts as i please.

frames

2008-07-07T01:32:00.001-07:00

I hate the glasses with no lenses trend.

Courtesy of thecobrasnake.com

Beirut

2008-06-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

the most beautiful thing i've ever seen is a flying tambourine.

never in my life have i been so in awe of a musician. Zach Condon's modest mastery of the french horn was inspiring, as were his tattoos of the same instrument. opening with Nantes, the band captivated the audience immediately, resulting in an abundance of applause that lasted minutes - the sound of clapping hands overpowering the music, causing the band to pause and smile. the show got better and better, easily surpassing any expectations i had preceding the performance. my favorite song was easily Forks and Knives. i felt like i was in a winter wonderland, though the month was may and the song has nothing to do with christmas. overall the experience was fantastical, but even with the two additional encores my want for more has not disappeared.

photo courtesy of Samuel Kirszenbaum

laughing

2008-05-26T03:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.someecards.com

no website has ever put my sarcastic and/or unique-ish thoughts into words as well as this one

phenomena

2008-05-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

i don't know if this happens to other people but i have experienced this so many times that i now need to express my confusion.

every time i party, i go to bed super late and just pass out. when i awake it is 8:30 am and i don't feel tired. i actually feel motivated and make an actual breakfast and accomplish things i have been meaning to do for weeks. i really really don't understand why this happens. but i'm not complaining. it actually makes me feel like i'm living life.

i also have discovered some amazing and inspirational art. the artist's name is David Ellis and his swirly colorful creative pieces of beauty amaze me. look him up.

color

2008-05-05T18:49:00.000-07:00

today i purchased my ticket to the electric daisy carnival and i am inexpressibly excited. not only will i be going with my closest friends, but the sights and sounds will enhance my "ecstatic" state of mind to a point that i may not be able to take in. i realized, though, that the experience is most exciting to me because of the freedom i will have to express myself. my friend and i were discussing what we should wear because, after all, there will be an incredible amount of dancing and walking going on for at least 5 hours. we don't want to be super casual though, we want to be bright and get noticed. we want to have as much fun as possible and that will only be possible if we dress in eye-catching and dj dance worthy clothes and colors. i'm thinking electric blue leggings, multi-colored flats, and a shirt my friend found that changes color with heat. and don't forget the makeup possibilities. green eyeliner and glitter eyeshadow are my best friends. i have high expectations for this night...but i have to wait till the end of june.

i love l.a.

2008-04-29T03:05:00.000-07:00

i went to see hot chip tonight at the mayan theater in l.a. and the experience was wild to put it mildly.

before i left i was approached by my mother about the incriminating photos in my camera - enough said.

driving on the way to the show i dropped my cell down the side of my seat and it took me 15 minutes to try and get it out, thoroughly irritating my knuckles.

got off the freeway to look for a sketchy liquor store to use my friend's friend's fake, found one, used it to buy andre's, and proceeded to drop my phone again, this time cracking the mirrored flip screen thing.

get back on the freeway and think we are lost because we didn't realize we were supposed to get on the 110 but luckily it was just coming up on our left. as this is happening i checked to see if the andre's was a cork or twist top, and when i twisted it the top flew into the back seat leaving the foaming bottle in my hands.

once we reached the area in which the theater was located the roads were so ridiculously confusing that we almost began to panic, but then we saw the theater and automatically pulled into a parking lot, which led to us overpaying for parking.

we then realized we needed cash, cups, and food so we talked the parking lot guy into letting us out but back in without having to pay again.

we find a starbucks down the road but they said they didn't do cashback and were closing in half an hour! so we asked to buy food and they gave it to us for free since they were throwing it out anyway...yessssss. and they gave us cups. they also directed us to a bank of america.

we get lost trying to find the theater again but eventually do, the daylight now gone, and prepare ourselves to pre-party before the show.

with the bass and volume at the optimum level we party in the car in the expensive parking lot, listening to some mickey here, some girl talk there, and some dj feli fel everywhere. plus some vampire weekend and snoop doggggggg.

after we finish way too much drank we stumble on over to will call, cigs in tow and meet a guy from london.

we start talking about reality shows and he tells us we would be good on rock of love.........

we get into the venue, sit down in front of the stage and have the most beautiful alcohol induced heart to heart ever.

i go to have another cig and london guy is out there too, so he calls me over and we start talking about what we do, and he works for dancing with the stars. then we start talking about stds and the bachelor, because of course he knows a guy who works on that show.

when i meet up with my friend again, we stand in anticipation of hot chip setting foot on the stage, and a really hot guy stands next to me and uses my shoulder as an armrest, because i'm that short. we make friends with him and his friends and they save our spots while some of us go and have some more cigs (i talk like a man now).

the show is amazing, though mostly new stuff was played.

we try to find a place to pee and get some water/food but every drive thru place that says "drive thru open" is actually closed. we go to a subway but there is a cockroach in the bathroom so we decided it was best to not get food there. we then drive through a taco bell but some homeless guy comes up to our open window begging for a taco so my friend panicked and drove fast to the closest mcdonalds, where more homeless men beg us to buy them burgers and start cleaning our windows. they were coming up from every direction. i thought it was funny. no worries though, the guys who worked at mcdonalds kept us safe.

the rest of the night was a peaceful drive home, and now i sleep with throbbing knees and much stronger calves.

spicy

2008-04-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

there is nothing more peaceful than spending an hour in the sun listening to sufjan and the black keys on my ipod, as well as birds chirping and my dogs walking on the grass and crawling through the agapanthuses. feeling the warmth of the sun beating down on my skin while i read about separating my self from my ego was quite empowering. i always wonder though, would the peacefulness remain if there was someone next to me, especially someone i had feelings for? i have decided that the answer is no. if i were to be lying next to a person whose opinion i cared about, i would be much more conscious of my appearance, my positioning, and my book choice. it is times like these, when i am surrounded by nature, that i realize how valuable solitude can be.

mickey avalon, dick thick as a baton

2008-04-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

when drunk, mickey avalon lyrics are extremely intriguing. the man is a genius, serving up lyrics that please everyone that wants to shock everyone else. lots of coke, gay, and prostitution references. i love it all. as disgusting as he looks, "even with leather panties" he keeps it manly.

jenny lewis' new album

2008-04-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

the more i think about it, the more my excitement grows for jenny lewis to release her second solo effort. "rabbit fur coat" has been my background music since the day it came out, and i can only expect the same effect to be had on me by jenny's next release. her music has been described as "timeless," and i could not agree more. it doesn't match the sound of a certain decade, nor does it conform to the sounds blaring on today's radiowaves. she has invented a new style that has yet to be named, one that i enjoy more than any other style on my beloved ipod. i can only imagine how beautifully creative and inspiring each song will be with all of the collaborations rumored to be happening on the production of this album. wooo!

a perfect day

2008-04-23T18:27:00.001-07:00

i have been asked many times how i would describe my perfect day, and i finally know the answer.

wake up and have a breakfast consisting of chai tea and mangos.

watch The View.

get dressed and take my dogs on a walk on c. street.

meet a friend for lunch at Zoey's Cafe.

go home and write for a while, maybe take a photo walk, maybe buy some shoes online.

go see a movie, play, or concert with someone who can discuss the said entertainment intelligently afterward.

sleeeeep for hours and hopefully enjoy a crazy dream.

realizing how simple it is to make your life simple is key. then every day can be perfect for you. but why The View you may ask...i enjoy watching those women argue. it gets my urge to debate with people out of my system. i just nod my head in agreement with whoopi. it's kind of a form of meditation you could say in that it destresses me.