Hair Cut Day! YES

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that my favorite book is Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Currently I'm reading his other novel, Everything Is Illuminated, which I started almost four years ago when I was a freshman in college. I still haven't finished it. I keep reading it in bits and pieces, then something happens and I start reading something else. Then, when I go to pick this book back up, I have to restart it because I've forgotten what happened in the parts I did read. But this time I'm determined to finish the whole thing. I'm almost halfway through.

Yesterday when I should've been reading Emily Dickinson poems for my American Romanticism class, I came across a passage in Everything is Illuminated that reminded me of why Jonathan Safran Foer is my favorite author: "...her journal--which she must have kept and kept with her at all times, not fearing that it would be lost, or discovered and read, but that she would one day stumble upon that thing which was finally worth writing about and remembering, only to find that she had no place to write it--". 

Another good one: "Brod's life was a slow realization that the world was not for her, and that for whatever reason, she would never be happy and honest at the same time."  Foer has a way of saying things that are so poignant, and they're things that maybe I've felt too, but could never formulate them into words or didn't realize I felt that way in the first place. I want people to feel that way about the things I write. Maybe one day.

"Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" by The Arcade Fire

Trojan Man

After 4 years of owning my trusty yet incredibly hideous Lenovo laptop, it got its first virus yesterday. 197 viruses, to be exact. I had been searching for a link to watch the latest episode of The Pacific, when I got a notification saying "File corrupted: would you like to activate your antivirus program?" (or something like that). Well, I didn't want a virus, so I clicked "ok." Stupid me didn't realize that that was the virus. Thankfully, the ITS (Information Technology Services) guys on staff at UNCG were able to fix it in under an hour, and my ugly computer is up and running again.

Tonight Amy, Missy, and I went to this new frozen yogurt bar in Greensboro called Feeney's. It works like a do-it-yourself assembly line. You get a Styrofoam cup at the beginning of the line, pick your favorite type of frozen yogurt, and put it in the cup yourself. There are at least 30 different choices of toppings to put on top, and when you've piled as many toppings on as desired, you take your dessert to the register. The register person weighs your yogurt cup, and you're charged $0.43 per ounce. It's a neat idea, and tastes delicious.

wtf

Is this for real?

"Yeah Yeah Yeah" by Jack Conte

Cover Songs

As a general rule, I am not a supporter of mainstream music. But when Indie bands do covers of mainstream songs, I usually approve (probably because it doesn't sound anything like the original version of the song). A local band here in Greensboro, Hope for AGoldenSummer, did a cover of Aaliyah's song "Are You That Somebody?" It was greaaaat. The band consists of two sisters, one of which plays a musical saw (like, that you use to cut wood) with a violin bow.

Pomplamoose is a fantastic Indie band duo (better than Hope for Agoldensummer) based in California. Their presence in the music world is mainly through their video songs on YouTube. The one I've embedded here is a cover of Lady Gaga's song "Telephone." Another good cover is the one you can find here by Pomplamoose of Beyonce's song "Single Ladies." If watching their cool video is not appealing to you, however, you can listen to it here on my blog :)

"Single Ladies" Beyonce cover by Pomplamoose

I'd Paint That

I like to paint my fingernails. So what?

"No Cars Go" by the Arcade Fire

Suicide Shower

The hot water heater in my apartment is broken. I think the water temperature of my shower this morning must have been below freezing, and I've never been so cold in my entire life. It took me two minutes just to make myself get in it, and when I did, I couldn't stop gasping for air or shaking. It wouldn't surprise me if I got hypothermia.

Hannah: I totally understand why you went without showers when the one in your dorm was broken.

"River Styx" by the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Please Do Not

Why is it that when you're in the bathroom at church, women feel like they have to talk to you, even if the two of you have never spoken before? It's weird and awkward, and should just not be done.

Also on the list of things that should not be done: posting pictures of your very naked pregnant belly. It's not cute--like a little alien parasite squirming around in there, making you disfigured and prompting you to say things like "you wanna know what happens to your boobs when you're pregnant?". Please refrain yourself.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 116

Perhaps this sonnet has become a bit cliched, but I love it all the same. Whenever I think of it, it reminds me of a part in the Jane Austen movie, Sense and Sensibility. Marianne is standing on the Palmer's hill in the rain, looking at Willoughby's mansion below and quoting it while tears and the rain are streaming down her face. I think it's my favorite part in the whole movie. It's so powerful.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
   If this be error and upon me proved,
   I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Best Bed Ever

Missy and I are in the process of dog-sitting this weekend. The couple whose house we're staying at have twin boys, and Missy babysits for them on a regular business. Last night we ordered pizza, watched a movie on their huge flat screen TV, and I think I may have had the best night's sleep I ever had in my life. I'm seriously contemplating stealing their guest bed. The room's windows are pretty big, so I don't think it'd be too much trouble. . . except that the next door neighbor is an FBI agent. That could cause some minor difficulties.

Early Mornings

My favorite things currently: cheerios, dandelion puff balls, and the color yellow.

My least favorite things currently: bird noises, leg tattoos, and zits.

"Hip Kids" by Sean Hayes

I'm loopy when I'm tired

I like the Beatles a lot, but I think they were wrong on one point. I would not like to be "in an Octopus's garden in the shade." Of course, that song was written by my least favorite Beatle, Ringo Starr. Nevertheless, I'd rather be "sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun." Thank you, Mr. Lennon.

My tutoring session got canceled this morning because my Italian tutor went to the spa instead. Last night he called me and asked if we could meet earlier than usual. . .at the unsightly hour of 8:45 a.m. I acquiesced but warned him that I would probably be grumpy and in need of some coffee. WELL, this morning he calls me at 7:45ish and cancels tutoring because he had to be at the spa earlier than he thought. So now I've been sitting here, awake and ready to go, for the past hour. My first class isn't for another hour and a half. Also, Amy's alarm clock has been beeping for 30 minutes straight. I think if I had a marching band play outside her door, she still wouldn't wake up.

Oh For Shame

First of all, let me say that I thought I looked really cute today. I wore my vintage vest with a tapestry-type-patterned purple scarf, and jeans. My make-up looked nice and my hair was curly and in a swoopy ponytail to the side. Let me also say, that the wind was blowing in full-force for the greater part of the day.

So, I was walking down the hall to get to class, and there was a really cute guy walking towards me from the opposite end of the hall. When he got close enough, I saw that he was staring at me. We locked eyes as he passed me, continuing down the hall, and I thought to myself, "Yup, good choice of outfit today." I confess I was rather pleased with myself. 

When I got to my end of the hall, I stopped off at the bathroom. As I passed the mirror, I looked at my reflection. I did a double take. Something wasn't right. What the fuck was in my hair?! [At this point, I would  also like to point out that the pollen this spring has been excessive.] I had oak tree catkins stuck all in my hair. I could see my reflection blush crimson in the mirror as I realized the guy in the hall hadn't been admiring me at all. He had been staring at the ungodly sight of pollen grains adorning my hair, like I was a wood nymph or something. Oh the shame.

chain[links]

Finally! J.Crew hasn't failed me yet, with their propensity for coming out with clothes I love.  Why was I not born with a body capable of wearing clothes like these?

I want one of these soooo bad! One day I will be the "vintage-bike fashion gal" . . . as soon as I make more money.

Jamie Oliver is back again, and his newest show looks pretty interesting. This is the website for it, but if you don't want to read all about it, here is a preview for the show.

Have a great weekend!

Zombie Brain

My brain feels fried, yet I didn't have any exams or serious papers due this week.

I'm definitely ready for summer vacation.

Should I be worried that I have no idea what to do with my life after college graduation? . . .shiiiiit

"Superfast Jellyfish" by the Gorillaz

Feel your thoughts, don't think them.

I felt ethereal today. 

In a place of knowing and not knowing.

I was anyone and everyone,

yet none of them at all.

 I had the answer to all questions,

only waiting for the right moment to unleash them.

No one understood it, but I didn't want them to.

I wanted to feel the breeze lace its fingers through my hair,

and tell me all its secrets then listen to mine in return.

Who said the wind has no feelings?

Have you ever asked it what it thinks about the rain, 

or the leaves it carries across borders?

It's looking for something.

A connection.

An understanding.

Not love, just peace.

Anarchy in Walmart

Doesn't it seem that, no matter what time of day, week, or year, Walmart never has more than 4 or 5 registers open? Two of those are for the moms who buy 3 weeks worth of groceries at a time, and the other two are for  people (like me) who have maybe 3 small items. However, it never fails that I get stuck in the line that takes the longest. Either the register lady is 85 years old and doesn't know what she's doing, or the person in front of me has an item without a price tag, or some high-school-aged kid takes 15 minutes to find the exact change that they're sure is hiding somewhere in the black hole of their pockets or purse.  Also,  for those of you who think "ten items or less" is just a friendly suggestion: it's not. If you have 25 items, please go to the appropriate check out with the soccer moms. 

I empathize with those unlucky people who always get the grocery cart with the obnoxiously loud, lazy wheel, and the people who never get the parking spot they want because they're too nice to fight the bitchy people for it. They're not alone.

Yes, you people without the lucky gene for shopping--I identify with you.

New Album: yesssss

My favorite band in the whole world,  the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, just came out with a new cd last month, and I LOVE it. I got to see them in concert about two years ago, and I still think it was the best show I've ever seen. 

"Half-State" by BRMC

"Hannah (easter bunnie) Nystrom"

Today was Easter Sunday, which means Lent is over. I must confess though, it's a good thing I'm not Catholic because I didn't last more than a week and a half without having some chocolate. Ah it's good to be protestant. 

I'm a little confused why people decide to go to church on Easter Sunday and at Christmas, when they don't go any other time of the year. Doesn't that seem a little hypocritical?

I forgot to mention earlier in the week that I attended my first Reading put on by the English Society of UNCG. There were several professors who participated, as well as students. Anyone who wanted to could read--whether they wrote it themselves or recited something of someone else's that they enjoyed or thought was particularly meaningful. My Literary Study of the Bible professor was there as well. He's very good at mimicking voices (Peter O'Toole, Jimmy Stewart,  Billy Crystal's "Miracle Max" voice from The Princess Bride, etc...). He read a Jimmy Stewart poem that night, and everyone thought he was great.

Well, well, well, Mr. Sunshine. You were far too hot today.

"Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines." 

Mr. Shakespeare, you know your shit.

 

"Beat the Devil's Tattoo" by the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club