I am totally digging these dudes with trucks.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
the list, resurrected
I officially stopped dating, or trying any semblance of that charade about 3 months ago.
But today I realized I'm making a little mental checklist of the cute boys I see as I go about my week.
It's nice...and reminds me that there might be a time when I'm ready to give Richmond men another chance.
the new cook
a few dudes at VCU
the coffee shop / non-profit guy
those grad students
a painter
the new guy at volleyball
the friend of a friend
I'm happy that they all seem a lot less douche-y than the dudes I've been into before.
I am practicing my sweet smile and my flirt-flirt.
It's pretty fun.
But today I realized I'm making a little mental checklist of the cute boys I see as I go about my week.
It's nice...and reminds me that there might be a time when I'm ready to give Richmond men another chance.
the new cook
a few dudes at VCU
the coffee shop / non-profit guy
those grad students
a painter
the new guy at volleyball
the friend of a friend
I'm happy that they all seem a lot less douche-y than the dudes I've been into before.
I am practicing my sweet smile and my flirt-flirt.
It's pretty fun.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
491
Dear Ms. Smithson,I am pleased to accept your painting of the girl in the blue room for publication in 491 Magazine.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
what's awesome...
is that I left my phone charger in Virginia Beach.
And my battery is dead.
And this happens all the time.
AND I'm totally okay with that.
And my battery is dead.
And this happens all the time.
AND I'm totally okay with that.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
so now I have a decision to make
Just got a call from the university.
They want to know if I'll teach another class.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 - 11:00.
That would be perfect, except it will cut down my jetting time to mainly the weekend.
Sigh...what to do...what to do.
The financials are suggesting that I accept.
It would help to have that income set for the next few months.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
i want to make art like...
...Radiohead.
Like Thom Yorke sings and writes lyrics.
Like the rest of the band that wraps around and builds him up and intertwines to make
music that I can listen to for days and never get tired of.
And songs that I can have on repeat for hours at a time.
It's like porn for my ears.
The bass lines are sick.
Everything is unified and pulling and layered and smooth all at once.
My obsession is renewed.
And supposedly they have a new album coming out soon?
Sigh....this could get ugly.
Like Thom Yorke sings and writes lyrics.
Like the rest of the band that wraps around and builds him up and intertwines to make
music that I can listen to for days and never get tired of.
And songs that I can have on repeat for hours at a time.
It's like porn for my ears.
The bass lines are sick.
Everything is unified and pulling and layered and smooth all at once.
My obsession is renewed.
And supposedly they have a new album coming out soon?
Sigh....this could get ugly.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
3rd, et al
I added a third to the list.
It was pretty decent.
One more to double the number before 30. My old roommate and I jokingly said that should be a goal of mine.
I only have 2 months until that milestone, so it's not likely.
But I'm okay with that.
I'm adding more potentials to the list...and scratching others off...every few days or so.
At least I'm not as much of a hater.
So that's a step in the right direction.
It was pretty decent.
One more to double the number before 30. My old roommate and I jokingly said that should be a goal of mine.
I only have 2 months until that milestone, so it's not likely.
But I'm okay with that.
I'm adding more potentials to the list...and scratching others off...every few days or so.
At least I'm not as much of a hater.
So that's a step in the right direction.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
letting stuff go
June 19, 2004 I got married.
On a Tuesday in May, 2006 I walked out of my house in Chesterfield County.
I never went back to live there.
September 12, 2007, my divorce was final.
(I just looked up this stuff because I had to submit paperwork to roll over some 401(k) moneys from my teaching job back when my last name was different.)
I am going to be 30 in 2 months.
I am the brokest I've ever been.
I have been single for the longest time in my life since before I liked boys.
I don't own a home.
I don't have kids.
And I'm not sure I want to ever get married again.
I don't do certain things very often that I used to feel obligated to....
church
exercise
brushing my hair
calling my mother
using an alarm clock
working 40+ hours every week
grocery shopping
I feel really selfish about my time and energy and emotions most of the time.
And I'm starting to be okay with that.
My compass used to be set based on my parents, or church, or career, or friends.
But now I mostly operate based on this question...
Do I want to?
Not:
Is it right?
Is it wrong?
What will "they" think?
How will "they" feel?
What am I supposed to do?
I still have a pretty strong internal voice that keeps me on track with my responsibilities and with big moral and ethical issues. And I'd like to think that I'm able to give adequate time and energy to the people I really care about.
But I'm trying to let go of the small stuff.
The things I'm hanging onto because someone else thought I should.
On a Tuesday in May, 2006 I walked out of my house in Chesterfield County.
I never went back to live there.
September 12, 2007, my divorce was final.
(I just looked up this stuff because I had to submit paperwork to roll over some 401(k) moneys from my teaching job back when my last name was different.)
I am going to be 30 in 2 months.
I am the brokest I've ever been.
I have been single for the longest time in my life since before I liked boys.
I don't own a home.
I don't have kids.
And I'm not sure I want to ever get married again.
I don't do certain things very often that I used to feel obligated to....
church
exercise
brushing my hair
calling my mother
using an alarm clock
working 40+ hours every week
grocery shopping
I feel really selfish about my time and energy and emotions most of the time.
And I'm starting to be okay with that.
My compass used to be set based on my parents, or church, or career, or friends.
But now I mostly operate based on this question...
Do I want to?
Not:
Is it right?
Is it wrong?
What will "they" think?
How will "they" feel?
What am I supposed to do?
I still have a pretty strong internal voice that keeps me on track with my responsibilities and with big moral and ethical issues. And I'd like to think that I'm able to give adequate time and energy to the people I really care about.
But I'm trying to let go of the small stuff.
The things I'm hanging onto because someone else thought I should.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Lists part 1: jobs
Jobs:
Red Orange - part-time now, ending at the end of this month
Hoople - per project, just got a few jobs last week with a few more coming this week
Captain Buzzy's - least-financially-lucrative but most stable
Cities for Small Towns - going SO SLOW, partly because of conflicting schedules, partly because of redirection / indecision
Potential jobs:
restaurant services logo - sent an estimate, business owner won't pull the trigger
music label - sent an estimate, business owner hasn't responded one way or the other
non-profit science teacher website - estimate sent, waiting for the project to start
financial company - estimate sent but one of the members ended up working with a buddy of his
Just applied for:
web designer for a financial company downtown - looks like near where I worked before, ugh, flashbacks
contract creative services support with Media General - could be interesting if it's not full-time
graphic artist with the state of va - looks like billboard animation and graphics, meh
graphic / web designer with state of va
web designer for comsys? - wtf
Red Orange - part-time now, ending at the end of this month
Hoople - per project, just got a few jobs last week with a few more coming this week
Captain Buzzy's - least-financially-lucrative but most stable
Cities for Small Towns - going SO SLOW, partly because of conflicting schedules, partly because of redirection / indecision
Potential jobs:
restaurant services logo - sent an estimate, business owner won't pull the trigger
music label - sent an estimate, business owner hasn't responded one way or the other
non-profit science teacher website - estimate sent, waiting for the project to start
financial company - estimate sent but one of the members ended up working with a buddy of his
Just applied for:
web designer for a financial company downtown - looks like near where I worked before, ugh, flashbacks
contract creative services support with Media General - could be interesting if it's not full-time
graphic artist with the state of va - looks like billboard animation and graphics, meh
graphic / web designer with state of va
web designer for comsys? - wtf
Monday, June 1, 2009
June 1 and I can't concentrate
George
Volleyball player.
Tall.
Dark.
Handsome.
Plays guitar.
Used to sing in his band.
Soft-spoken.
Loves great music.
Amazing thick Boston accent.
Sweet smile.
We became friends at Nationals.
He ditched his team to hang out with our friends the last night.
He said he didn't dance, but he danced with me a few times.
It feels like I've missed him for a month...even though I saw him less than 48 hours ago.
I want to write to him.
But he's got a gf so I won't.
I'm writing this instead.
One day I hope to find someone like you George!
Sigh....ok, back to work.
Volleyball player.
Tall.
Dark.
Handsome.
Plays guitar.
Used to sing in his band.
Soft-spoken.
Loves great music.
Amazing thick Boston accent.
Sweet smile.
We became friends at Nationals.
He ditched his team to hang out with our friends the last night.
He said he didn't dance, but he danced with me a few times.
It feels like I've missed him for a month...even though I saw him less than 48 hours ago.
I want to write to him.
But he's got a gf so I won't.
I'm writing this instead.
One day I hope to find someone like you George!
Sigh....ok, back to work.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Seattle, finale (Set adrift)
Day 2 in Seattle, I wake up at J's friend's house and we all watch some videos and drink some coffee before heading back to Capitol Hill.
We have amazing coffee (I got a latte) at The Bambino cafe near N's house in Bellevue? (can't remember the name of the area)
Driving back down 99, we cross from that section of Seattle into the downtown area, past Seattle Center and back up the hill. We walk to get breakfast and talk about life, and decisions, and dreams. It's awesome. And I remember why I was drawn to this person in the first place. That sense of passion for something. And that urgency to make your mark and have your art out there for people to see. When I mention wanting to go abroad, he says he can see me in Europe.
We climb out of his bedroom window onto the roof to hang out and I eat my breakfast sandwich while he plays his last two songs. He can't sing them because it's too noisy outside and they're quiet songs. But the music is awesome and seems to be telling a story even without the words. He has been doing a lot on acoustic guitar lately.
He takes a break and I play with the guitar. I know a couple of songs by now, that actually sound like what they're supposed to. But I can only practice until they sound okay...and it's taken me two years to get anywhere. I'm not at the level to write anything...or even be able to sing and play at the same time. Either my voice stops or my fingers do. I try something, but I'm so nervous that sounds don't even come out. I hum a little, and then just give up trying to sing. It's so hard to do this in front of someone that's so good at it.
It gets to hot on the roof, so we climb back inside and he sings in his room. I feel so fortunate to have this concert for 1. Of course I love every note and chord, but he's critical of all of it. And says it never quite sounds as good as he'd like it to.
We go outside on the front yard to sit, then he's hungry. We walk down to a Chinese restaurant where we are the only non-Chinese patrons. The waitress is super friendly and they bring carts around with food and he picks stuff for us to eat. We talk and eat and I'm enjoying this time. It doesn't seem like we got to do this back home. Walking back up the hill, we take a scenic route and he's picking flowers the whole way back. The colors here are so effing gorgeous!
The afternoon ends with a nap / book on a blanket in the front yard. The sun is really hot, but there's a cool breeze. We talk about trying to get on a ferry ride later, or meeting up, but then he's gotta go to work. By the time he leaves, he's in a foul mood and that pretty much continues the rest of the trip.
Thankfully, his friend and her cousin are extremely hospitable to me so I hang with them some the next day. We go to the Northwest Folklife festival, a free music, arts and crafts festival in Seattle Center. J's gotta work that night too. He tried to meet us downtown, but had a rough time getting stuff together that morning and before I meet up with him, he decides to leave. He can't take the crowd. N's worried, but I just call once to tell him where we are and to call if he wants. Late that night when he's rolling silverware, he calls us and explains how a waitress has walked out and the restaurant was slammed the whole time. Still in a foul mood.
I don't see him before I leave, but we chat on the phone before I fly out. He says it's the worst weekend ever for a friend to be there. And I try not to take it personally. I think he was stressed about trying to show me stuff while not having a lot of time before going to work. But I am glad that I got to see where he lives, and get to know N. and her cousin and friends. They have all been so awesome. He's still thinking too much, and worrying too much, and affected by the slightest things. But I see something good through the haze of all of the moodiness and awkwardness.
He reminds me of a friend I have in New York. And I love her to death. It's hard not to love a moody artist.
I see a lot of myself in them.
So he may be coming back east at the end of the year. I won't count on seeing him, but I will enjoy it if I do.
Seattle has been so amazing.
I call my daddy before the flight out and tell him I want us to take a family vacation out there so he and my mom can see what a beautiful place it is. I think they'd really enjoy it.
After a 4-hour flight to Milwaukee, a 2-hour layover and a 1-hour flight into Minneapolis, I'm at the hotel with my team.
I get sad for a little while, when I start looking through the pictures and the video I shot of J. playing that day. I wish I'd gotten to see him once more before I left. It will probably be a long time before I see him or talk to him again.
But, that's the way it goes.......I guess.
- - - - - - - - -
USAV Nationals. Our team is 1-3 after the first day.
We all have good moments, but we need to string some good moments together so we can win more.
All-in-all, though, it's a good day.
Hoping to seek out a good club tonight, start early, drink, dance my ass off, and then get to bed so I can be up in time to work the match tomorrow at 8am.
We have amazing coffee (I got a latte) at The Bambino cafe near N's house in Bellevue? (can't remember the name of the area)
Driving back down 99, we cross from that section of Seattle into the downtown area, past Seattle Center and back up the hill. We walk to get breakfast and talk about life, and decisions, and dreams. It's awesome. And I remember why I was drawn to this person in the first place. That sense of passion for something. And that urgency to make your mark and have your art out there for people to see. When I mention wanting to go abroad, he says he can see me in Europe.
We climb out of his bedroom window onto the roof to hang out and I eat my breakfast sandwich while he plays his last two songs. He can't sing them because it's too noisy outside and they're quiet songs. But the music is awesome and seems to be telling a story even without the words. He has been doing a lot on acoustic guitar lately.
He takes a break and I play with the guitar. I know a couple of songs by now, that actually sound like what they're supposed to. But I can only practice until they sound okay...and it's taken me two years to get anywhere. I'm not at the level to write anything...or even be able to sing and play at the same time. Either my voice stops or my fingers do. I try something, but I'm so nervous that sounds don't even come out. I hum a little, and then just give up trying to sing. It's so hard to do this in front of someone that's so good at it.
It gets to hot on the roof, so we climb back inside and he sings in his room. I feel so fortunate to have this concert for 1. Of course I love every note and chord, but he's critical of all of it. And says it never quite sounds as good as he'd like it to.
We go outside on the front yard to sit, then he's hungry. We walk down to a Chinese restaurant where we are the only non-Chinese patrons. The waitress is super friendly and they bring carts around with food and he picks stuff for us to eat. We talk and eat and I'm enjoying this time. It doesn't seem like we got to do this back home. Walking back up the hill, we take a scenic route and he's picking flowers the whole way back. The colors here are so effing gorgeous!
The afternoon ends with a nap / book on a blanket in the front yard. The sun is really hot, but there's a cool breeze. We talk about trying to get on a ferry ride later, or meeting up, but then he's gotta go to work. By the time he leaves, he's in a foul mood and that pretty much continues the rest of the trip.
Thankfully, his friend and her cousin are extremely hospitable to me so I hang with them some the next day. We go to the Northwest Folklife festival, a free music, arts and crafts festival in Seattle Center. J's gotta work that night too. He tried to meet us downtown, but had a rough time getting stuff together that morning and before I meet up with him, he decides to leave. He can't take the crowd. N's worried, but I just call once to tell him where we are and to call if he wants. Late that night when he's rolling silverware, he calls us and explains how a waitress has walked out and the restaurant was slammed the whole time. Still in a foul mood.
I don't see him before I leave, but we chat on the phone before I fly out. He says it's the worst weekend ever for a friend to be there. And I try not to take it personally. I think he was stressed about trying to show me stuff while not having a lot of time before going to work. But I am glad that I got to see where he lives, and get to know N. and her cousin and friends. They have all been so awesome. He's still thinking too much, and worrying too much, and affected by the slightest things. But I see something good through the haze of all of the moodiness and awkwardness.
He reminds me of a friend I have in New York. And I love her to death. It's hard not to love a moody artist.
I see a lot of myself in them.
So he may be coming back east at the end of the year. I won't count on seeing him, but I will enjoy it if I do.
Seattle has been so amazing.
I call my daddy before the flight out and tell him I want us to take a family vacation out there so he and my mom can see what a beautiful place it is. I think they'd really enjoy it.
After a 4-hour flight to Milwaukee, a 2-hour layover and a 1-hour flight into Minneapolis, I'm at the hotel with my team.
I get sad for a little while, when I start looking through the pictures and the video I shot of J. playing that day. I wish I'd gotten to see him once more before I left. It will probably be a long time before I see him or talk to him again.
But, that's the way it goes.......I guess.
- - - - - - - - -
USAV Nationals. Our team is 1-3 after the first day.
We all have good moments, but we need to string some good moments together so we can win more.
All-in-all, though, it's a good day.
Hoping to seek out a good club tonight, start early, drink, dance my ass off, and then get to bed so I can be up in time to work the match tomorrow at 8am.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The trip to Seattle, p2
Started the day at a coffee shop in J's neighborhood called Soho.
Cute local place that started the day off right for me.
Reason #1: Radiohead on the Pandora every third or fourth song
Reason #2: Free wifi
Reason #3: Great coffee and egg, cheese and tomato english muffin
Everybody in the place seemed friendly and talkative, but not overly so. I'm wondering if it's the way people are here or if it's just that I seem more open and friendly to people since I'm on vacation and a bunch of my social walls get broken down when I'm traveling.
It could be because of the goofy grin on my face since I'm still in shock about being in Seattle.
I double check directions and leave Soho around 11, texting some people I'm supposed to meet up with.
I am completely unprepared for the total effing gorgeousness that I will see on the way from Seattle to The Gorge.
Water, sky, bridges, rocks, trees, flowers, snow-capped mountains, streams, farms, rolling hills.
EVERYTHING is so clear and beautiful. I'm taking tons of pictures and trying to drive at the same time. (I know, BAD BAD)
But I can't help it. I have never seen anything like this. I start to get a headache from changing focus so much. I can't stop looking around! I want to soak it all in. I am seeing the source of countless stock photography shots that I've used in marketing materials. And there really is no photoshop needed. These colors and textures....wow, speechless.
Once I get to the site, the traffic is pretty sparse since it's late in the day. I drive into the day parking lot, without having to pay? Ok, cool.
I get out of my car and it's pretty hot by this time so I grab my sunscreen and my bag and head off to find a ticket. I hear other people all around asking for tickets too, so I'm thinking this might not be as easy as I thought.
I walk up to the front gate, expecting to see people with stacks of tickets like at every other festival I've been to...but no. These scalpers are slick. They have signs saying THEY need tickets. It takes me a while to spot them because they look like people that are actually trying to attend the festival.
While I'm waiting around up front, I meet Tasha, a graphic designer from Portland who's there with her boyfriend, also trying to buy tickets.
A scalper offers to sell us his ticket for 175. Holy crap. No way.
Another one later in the day offers his for 150. At some point I hear 120. What the hell?
I'd rather just drive back to the river and hang out in nature...or chill at the gate for a bit and hear some of the bands for free.
I finally tell myself I'm okay with paying 100. So I tell some of the scalpers that, and they laugh at me and say that's what they paid. They have a system down and I'm finally figuring this out. They are shuttling each other back and forth from the entrance to parking down to the entrance for the show. I actually see a scalper buy a ticket from a girl for 100...he was agressive so I couldn't ask her first...and then in 10 seconds resell it to another person for 120. And he knew I'd been trying to actually get into the festival for about 2 hours at this point.
I started to get a little more aggressive and actually ask the people passing me if they have extra tickets. A girl walks by and says she might...but wait and she'd let me know. I figured she was just being polite.
She comes back from will call and doesn't have them, but she tells me good luck.
About 30 minutes later, I decide to give it one last try back out at the entrance to parking so I walk the half mile back up there and start asking people on the way. No luck. I walk down the row of cars arriving asking if people have extras they want to sell. It's humiliating doing this, but most people are pretty nice.
About the 5th car back, there are 4 girls in an SUV. And one of them is the girl I talked to before. She tells me they're going BACK up to will call to get their tickets and that if it's successful, I can get it. Awesome!
They ask me if I'd like to ride with them back up to the gate. Holy crap yes.
They are super friendly and offer me some goldfish and ask me how my day has gone. I tell them I'm about to just wander by the river instead of pay a fucking scalper 175 for a ticket. I'm hot and tired. And sad that people are so selfish and can keep actual fans of the music from attending a show just so they can make more money.
We get back to will call and hop out. One of the girls offers me a PBR. We get to talking about where we're from. The driver tells me she lived back east for a while. And works in the record industry. And knows people in DC and a girl in Richmond....who might be dating my friend?!?!? Such a small world.
Ticket girl gets back with 2 comps and I offer to buy one for 80 (the last ticket sales prices were 79) but am fully prepared to pay 100. The scalpers are following her and yelling in her ear that they'll pay 100 and 120 for her tickets. Driver girl and ticket girl look at each other. And driver girl says, "I really want this girl to have this ticket." So I think, sweet! At least I'll get first dibs at buying it.
But then they say, "yeah, thanks, but we'd like you to HAVE this ticket. We'll sell the other one to the scalper guy."
Holy.
Fucking.
Shit.
These girls have made my day. And have turned out to be some amazing people. Even before they gave me the ticket, they were taking care of me. But with the ticket. Whoa. I tell them how thankful I am and how much I appreciate what they've done. I'm still in shock, actually. Such kindness when they could've just made money.
------
So I get to see:
Animal Collective (for a few songs)
Sun Kil Moon (in passing)
Ra Ra Riot (awesome)
Mos Def (crappy start, but strong finish)
Bon Iver (words can't describe)
Kings of Leon (also awesome)
And the Bon Iver show was worth it alone.
I head back to Seattle at 11:30 and drive around the city with bad directions from 2:30 to around 4:00.
But finally find my friend. He's hanging out with some peeps, celebrating a birthday.
And we make a 4am grocery run.
Yeah, they have 24-hour grocery stores here.
Get back to the friend's house and I crash on the floor as they make food.
It's the best sleep I've had in a while and Justin Vernon sings to me again in my dream.
Cute local place that started the day off right for me.
Reason #1: Radiohead on the Pandora every third or fourth song
Reason #2: Free wifi
Reason #3: Great coffee and egg, cheese and tomato english muffin
Everybody in the place seemed friendly and talkative, but not overly so. I'm wondering if it's the way people are here or if it's just that I seem more open and friendly to people since I'm on vacation and a bunch of my social walls get broken down when I'm traveling.
It could be because of the goofy grin on my face since I'm still in shock about being in Seattle.
I double check directions and leave Soho around 11, texting some people I'm supposed to meet up with.
I am completely unprepared for the total effing gorgeousness that I will see on the way from Seattle to The Gorge.
Water, sky, bridges, rocks, trees, flowers, snow-capped mountains, streams, farms, rolling hills.
EVERYTHING is so clear and beautiful. I'm taking tons of pictures and trying to drive at the same time. (I know, BAD BAD)
But I can't help it. I have never seen anything like this. I start to get a headache from changing focus so much. I can't stop looking around! I want to soak it all in. I am seeing the source of countless stock photography shots that I've used in marketing materials. And there really is no photoshop needed. These colors and textures....wow, speechless.
Once I get to the site, the traffic is pretty sparse since it's late in the day. I drive into the day parking lot, without having to pay? Ok, cool.
I get out of my car and it's pretty hot by this time so I grab my sunscreen and my bag and head off to find a ticket. I hear other people all around asking for tickets too, so I'm thinking this might not be as easy as I thought.
I walk up to the front gate, expecting to see people with stacks of tickets like at every other festival I've been to...but no. These scalpers are slick. They have signs saying THEY need tickets. It takes me a while to spot them because they look like people that are actually trying to attend the festival.
While I'm waiting around up front, I meet Tasha, a graphic designer from Portland who's there with her boyfriend, also trying to buy tickets.
A scalper offers to sell us his ticket for 175. Holy crap. No way.
Another one later in the day offers his for 150. At some point I hear 120. What the hell?
I'd rather just drive back to the river and hang out in nature...or chill at the gate for a bit and hear some of the bands for free.
I finally tell myself I'm okay with paying 100. So I tell some of the scalpers that, and they laugh at me and say that's what they paid. They have a system down and I'm finally figuring this out. They are shuttling each other back and forth from the entrance to parking down to the entrance for the show. I actually see a scalper buy a ticket from a girl for 100...he was agressive so I couldn't ask her first...and then in 10 seconds resell it to another person for 120. And he knew I'd been trying to actually get into the festival for about 2 hours at this point.
I started to get a little more aggressive and actually ask the people passing me if they have extra tickets. A girl walks by and says she might...but wait and she'd let me know. I figured she was just being polite.
She comes back from will call and doesn't have them, but she tells me good luck.
About 30 minutes later, I decide to give it one last try back out at the entrance to parking so I walk the half mile back up there and start asking people on the way. No luck. I walk down the row of cars arriving asking if people have extras they want to sell. It's humiliating doing this, but most people are pretty nice.
About the 5th car back, there are 4 girls in an SUV. And one of them is the girl I talked to before. She tells me they're going BACK up to will call to get their tickets and that if it's successful, I can get it. Awesome!
They ask me if I'd like to ride with them back up to the gate. Holy crap yes.
They are super friendly and offer me some goldfish and ask me how my day has gone. I tell them I'm about to just wander by the river instead of pay a fucking scalper 175 for a ticket. I'm hot and tired. And sad that people are so selfish and can keep actual fans of the music from attending a show just so they can make more money.
We get back to will call and hop out. One of the girls offers me a PBR. We get to talking about where we're from. The driver tells me she lived back east for a while. And works in the record industry. And knows people in DC and a girl in Richmond....who might be dating my friend?!?!? Such a small world.
Ticket girl gets back with 2 comps and I offer to buy one for 80 (the last ticket sales prices were 79) but am fully prepared to pay 100. The scalpers are following her and yelling in her ear that they'll pay 100 and 120 for her tickets. Driver girl and ticket girl look at each other. And driver girl says, "I really want this girl to have this ticket." So I think, sweet! At least I'll get first dibs at buying it.
But then they say, "yeah, thanks, but we'd like you to HAVE this ticket. We'll sell the other one to the scalper guy."
Holy.
Fucking.
Shit.
These girls have made my day. And have turned out to be some amazing people. Even before they gave me the ticket, they were taking care of me. But with the ticket. Whoa. I tell them how thankful I am and how much I appreciate what they've done. I'm still in shock, actually. Such kindness when they could've just made money.
------
So I get to see:
Animal Collective (for a few songs)
Sun Kil Moon (in passing)
Ra Ra Riot (awesome)
Mos Def (crappy start, but strong finish)
Bon Iver (words can't describe)
Kings of Leon (also awesome)
And the Bon Iver show was worth it alone.
I head back to Seattle at 11:30 and drive around the city with bad directions from 2:30 to around 4:00.
But finally find my friend. He's hanging out with some peeps, celebrating a birthday.
And we make a 4am grocery run.
Yeah, they have 24-hour grocery stores here.
Get back to the friend's house and I crash on the floor as they make food.
It's the best sleep I've had in a while and Justin Vernon sings to me again in my dream.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
The trip to Seattle
I can't believe I'm even here yet.
I've done work this morning, so it doesn't feel different from when I'm in Richmond, and I drive to a coffee shop and freelance.
I got in last night after a 2 hour flight from Richmond to Atlanta, a sprint through the airport (since we landed 15 minute before the next flight took off), and a freezing 5 1/2 hour flight into Seattle.
On the first flight, I start reading a book that I think was recommended by the friend I'm going to see (and I later confirm this). It's called "the perks of being a wallflower." I can only get through chapter 1 because I tear up about 3 times and it gets harder not to cry with each paragraph...so I have to put it away. One of the lines that I remember is: "we accept the love we think we deserve"
It's a coming-of-age story about a teen boy in high school, but I feel like the author has cracked open my head and is writing things from my subconscious. So much has struck a chord with me in this book. It's a little scary.
I land and drive from the airport to the Irish Pub where my friend works. It took maybe 10 minutes. He told me to come there first and he'd buy me a drink before last call. I stopped to get a couple 6-packs at a convenience store, and got "hollered at" by about 5 dudes in the parking lot and in the store. Not sure what they'd call that out here, but I'd been in the city for 15 minutes and already got more attention than I ever get in Richmond....not that it's the type of attention I'm looking for, but still.
Someone told me Seattle was full of single dudes and the ladies are outnumbered...maybe that's true.
I got to the bar and he came outside to make sure I got to the right place and then ran back in to make my drink. Long hair and a thick beard. All black still. Red shoes. Makes me smile.
When I'm waiting for him to get off work, two dudes in the bar befriend me and ask me about Sasquatch. It's fun. Talking to strangers like I'm used to it. The bouncer yells for us all to leave, but then says that "Miss Virginia" can stay.
"Do you have one of those cute Virginia accents?" he asks me.
"I do"
"Oh, yeah, you do!"
Two words and they can tell.
I take my friend to the car he's borrowing, and on the way he notices I'm not listening to any music. He offers his CD's. I can choose the new Animal Collective, a jazz cd or Explosions in the Sky. I'll take Explosions in the Sky, since I've never actually heard it.
We drive east toward the house but on the way, he pulls over at an overlook so we can check out the view of the city at night from West Seattle. It's lovely. And reminds me of a time in Libby Hill Park, when we walked and talked and looked at the skyline in Richmond. He tells me how beautiful this place is and how he can't wait to show me around over the next couple of days. He says the view goes on forever.
His house is a decent size. He's got several roommates, but a proper room and a proper bed. We sit up and talk for a bit and listen to jazz and sinatra. He's a gentleman and offers me the bed and makes a palette on the floor for himself. He lights a candle and then puts on celestial harmonies as we fall asleep.
Seattle has been awesome so far.
I've done work this morning, so it doesn't feel different from when I'm in Richmond, and I drive to a coffee shop and freelance.
I got in last night after a 2 hour flight from Richmond to Atlanta, a sprint through the airport (since we landed 15 minute before the next flight took off), and a freezing 5 1/2 hour flight into Seattle.
On the first flight, I start reading a book that I think was recommended by the friend I'm going to see (and I later confirm this). It's called "the perks of being a wallflower." I can only get through chapter 1 because I tear up about 3 times and it gets harder not to cry with each paragraph...so I have to put it away. One of the lines that I remember is: "we accept the love we think we deserve"
It's a coming-of-age story about a teen boy in high school, but I feel like the author has cracked open my head and is writing things from my subconscious. So much has struck a chord with me in this book. It's a little scary.
I land and drive from the airport to the Irish Pub where my friend works. It took maybe 10 minutes. He told me to come there first and he'd buy me a drink before last call. I stopped to get a couple 6-packs at a convenience store, and got "hollered at" by about 5 dudes in the parking lot and in the store. Not sure what they'd call that out here, but I'd been in the city for 15 minutes and already got more attention than I ever get in Richmond....not that it's the type of attention I'm looking for, but still.
Someone told me Seattle was full of single dudes and the ladies are outnumbered...maybe that's true.
I got to the bar and he came outside to make sure I got to the right place and then ran back in to make my drink. Long hair and a thick beard. All black still. Red shoes. Makes me smile.
When I'm waiting for him to get off work, two dudes in the bar befriend me and ask me about Sasquatch. It's fun. Talking to strangers like I'm used to it. The bouncer yells for us all to leave, but then says that "Miss Virginia" can stay.
"Do you have one of those cute Virginia accents?" he asks me.
"I do"
"Oh, yeah, you do!"
Two words and they can tell.
I take my friend to the car he's borrowing, and on the way he notices I'm not listening to any music. He offers his CD's. I can choose the new Animal Collective, a jazz cd or Explosions in the Sky. I'll take Explosions in the Sky, since I've never actually heard it.
We drive east toward the house but on the way, he pulls over at an overlook so we can check out the view of the city at night from West Seattle. It's lovely. And reminds me of a time in Libby Hill Park, when we walked and talked and looked at the skyline in Richmond. He tells me how beautiful this place is and how he can't wait to show me around over the next couple of days. He says the view goes on forever.
His house is a decent size. He's got several roommates, but a proper room and a proper bed. We sit up and talk for a bit and listen to jazz and sinatra. He's a gentleman and offers me the bed and makes a palette on the floor for himself. He lights a candle and then puts on celestial harmonies as we fall asleep.
Seattle has been awesome so far.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
it's official
Bon Iver albums...or anything sung by Justin Vernon...are my 2009 makeout soundtrack.
SEA and MSP, don't let me down!
SEA and MSP, don't let me down!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tax day!
I start the day with a bit of an afterglow from yesterday.
With butterflies in my stomach, I write to a cute boy to ask if he'd like to chuck a discus sometime.
But that quickly disintegrates into a low level panic.
Tax day.
I don't know where my W2's are.
I need to file an extension.
Don't know how.
And numbers and me have not been cool since 8th grade.
Can't worry about this yet.
My second client meeting with an amazing band is at 2pm.
I need to assemble my portfolio and samples.
Trying to decide what to bring.
Need to go get things printed out.
Running out of time.
Worried about how the meeting will go.
And this dang rain!
I get there early but I feel sick and can't eat. And I take a few deep breaths.
And they all come in. And it feels like I'm about to be judged or picked apart.
But we start talking and it goes well.
And I think the portfolio looks pretty good despite all the faults I see in it.
I'm feeling better about this now.
We trade ideas and vision and a deposit is made.
And we move forward with the project. EEEEeeeee!!!!!
First independent client ever. Whoa.
Still in shock.
Go to another meeting and pick up some missing tax paperwork.
And a nice boy sends sweet texts to me and encouraging words when he finds out I had a successful day.
And then I can't do ANY real work the rest of the day I am so distracted.
I call my mom.
I come home and dance off some of that energy while listening to The Kills.
And the boy tells me he's had a lovely day because of a song. A cover of "Where is my Mind" by the Pixies.
He sounds awesome already.
I try to settle down and attend to my taxes finally.
I know I'm in trouble, but I try to fill out what I can.
I wonder if I just make up numbers for an extension if that's punishable by fines or jail time.
In the midst of thinking about my possible criminal record, my phone rings.
It's my accountant calling to say she filed an extension for me on Monday.
Holy effing yes.
Trying to get back to work and I find an email from a hometown friend who wants me to meet with her boss next week about redesigning their business logo and identity. Another potential client.
Tonight a different boy calls my voicemail to say he's sorry we can't hang out because he's got too much work.
He says he wants to hear my voice so I call him back and it's a nice talk.
He says he misses me and wishes he could see me.
And I don't know if that's true but it's nice of him to say in any case.
But jobs are more important to him than people. And I don't feel that way. So it probably won't work.
And I have a ton of work to do now. While listening to Ray LaMontagne.
It has been a surprisingly amazing though rainy and dreary tax day.
Still holding out hope that the discus boy will say yes....
With butterflies in my stomach, I write to a cute boy to ask if he'd like to chuck a discus sometime.
But that quickly disintegrates into a low level panic.
Tax day.
I don't know where my W2's are.
I need to file an extension.
Don't know how.
And numbers and me have not been cool since 8th grade.
Can't worry about this yet.
My second client meeting with an amazing band is at 2pm.
I need to assemble my portfolio and samples.
Trying to decide what to bring.
Need to go get things printed out.
Running out of time.
Worried about how the meeting will go.
And this dang rain!
I get there early but I feel sick and can't eat. And I take a few deep breaths.
And they all come in. And it feels like I'm about to be judged or picked apart.
But we start talking and it goes well.
And I think the portfolio looks pretty good despite all the faults I see in it.
I'm feeling better about this now.
We trade ideas and vision and a deposit is made.
And we move forward with the project. EEEEeeeee!!!!!
First independent client ever. Whoa.
Still in shock.
Go to another meeting and pick up some missing tax paperwork.
And a nice boy sends sweet texts to me and encouraging words when he finds out I had a successful day.
And then I can't do ANY real work the rest of the day I am so distracted.
I call my mom.
I come home and dance off some of that energy while listening to The Kills.
And the boy tells me he's had a lovely day because of a song. A cover of "Where is my Mind" by the Pixies.
He sounds awesome already.
I try to settle down and attend to my taxes finally.
I know I'm in trouble, but I try to fill out what I can.
I wonder if I just make up numbers for an extension if that's punishable by fines or jail time.
In the midst of thinking about my possible criminal record, my phone rings.
It's my accountant calling to say she filed an extension for me on Monday.
Holy effing yes.
Trying to get back to work and I find an email from a hometown friend who wants me to meet with her boss next week about redesigning their business logo and identity. Another potential client.
Tonight a different boy calls my voicemail to say he's sorry we can't hang out because he's got too much work.
He says he wants to hear my voice so I call him back and it's a nice talk.
He says he misses me and wishes he could see me.
And I don't know if that's true but it's nice of him to say in any case.
But jobs are more important to him than people. And I don't feel that way. So it probably won't work.
And I have a ton of work to do now. While listening to Ray LaMontagne.
It has been a surprisingly amazing though rainy and dreary tax day.
Still holding out hope that the discus boy will say yes....
what i should have done and what i did
I should have:
stayed home to clean
done my taxes
prepped my portfolio for a meeting tomorrow
worked on getting some more jobs
However, instead, I:
went to the show
talked to my crush
drank a bit too much
looked him in the eye and crushed a bit harder
had an amazing night
Cambodia, you're so lucky.
stayed home to clean
done my taxes
prepped my portfolio for a meeting tomorrow
worked on getting some more jobs
However, instead, I:
went to the show
talked to my crush
drank a bit too much
looked him in the eye and crushed a bit harder
had an amazing night
Cambodia, you're so lucky.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
don't waste your time
My friends today have advised against patience.
They have told me to not waste time on someone who doesn't seem to have a genuine interest or who is sending mixed signals.
If you are interested in someone you make time for them. Period.
I'm tired of feeling confused.
So I will try to devote energy elsewhere.
And that makes me sad.
They have told me to not waste time on someone who doesn't seem to have a genuine interest or who is sending mixed signals.
If you are interested in someone you make time for them. Period.
I'm tired of feeling confused.
So I will try to devote energy elsewhere.
And that makes me sad.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
I have happiness in my heart
Drawing and painting over the last few days has really refreshed my spirit.
I am supposed to be doing this.
But I've let so much other crap get in the way.
I have started a project just drawing and painting close friends.
After that, who knows what's next.
2 down, 9 to go.
I am supposed to be doing this.
But I've let so much other crap get in the way.
I have started a project just drawing and painting close friends.
After that, who knows what's next.
2 down, 9 to go.
Friday, March 27, 2009
patience
My tendency is to want to know or project the outcome of a situation as soon as it begins. I have no patience. And I'm a very black and white person. It is what it is. I'm either all in, or heading out the door.
I want to know how I relate to a person or a situation and I envision how the future looks between myself and the person or situation. I've had encounters with people where I knew instantly that we would be great friends. I have also walked into situations that I knew would be awful and left as quickly as possible.
I don't kid myself that I have any sort of futuristic vision or anything like that...I just notice lots of details.
The change in a tone of voice. The pause on the other end of the phone line. The wording in a letter...or the missing words when someone's just not saying certain things.
I guess I'm pretty perceptive when it comes to my everyday dealings with people. And I have an excellent memory.
So I'm constantly seeing, and gathering, and analyzing, and remembering how the current situation or person reminds me in some way of a previous one I've encountered. I have a pretty good bullshit meter most of the time and when my instincts tell me someone is not being honest with me or genuine in their dealings, I usually write them off.
But not everything is black and white all the time.
And people have shades of gray.
I do...though I want to pretend like I don't.
This week, three of my friends have advised me to be patient about a situation / person.
I don't know what will happen. And it makes me squirm.
I want to take control of it in some way. Either by moving it forward or ending it.
But I won't.
This crap is really hard.
But I'm going to try to be...
patient.
I want to know how I relate to a person or a situation and I envision how the future looks between myself and the person or situation. I've had encounters with people where I knew instantly that we would be great friends. I have also walked into situations that I knew would be awful and left as quickly as possible.
I don't kid myself that I have any sort of futuristic vision or anything like that...I just notice lots of details.
The change in a tone of voice. The pause on the other end of the phone line. The wording in a letter...or the missing words when someone's just not saying certain things.
I guess I'm pretty perceptive when it comes to my everyday dealings with people. And I have an excellent memory.
So I'm constantly seeing, and gathering, and analyzing, and remembering how the current situation or person reminds me in some way of a previous one I've encountered. I have a pretty good bullshit meter most of the time and when my instincts tell me someone is not being honest with me or genuine in their dealings, I usually write them off.
But not everything is black and white all the time.
And people have shades of gray.
I do...though I want to pretend like I don't.
This week, three of my friends have advised me to be patient about a situation / person.
I don't know what will happen. And it makes me squirm.
I want to take control of it in some way. Either by moving it forward or ending it.
But I won't.
This crap is really hard.
But I'm going to try to be...
patient.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
i have rage in my heart
I really shouldn't.
But I do.
Rain.
Missing car.
Stupidfuckingcityofrichmondstreetcleaningbullshit.
Plans out the window.
Callous neighbor.
"That's what they put the signs up for"
Get a ride to the southside through stupid rush hour traffic.
Parkish cunt at the tow place.
Rude.
Nasty.
Power trip.
Walk through the rain to get the car.
Drive back to work out.
Gym is too crowded.
One goddamn squat rack, really?
Dudes upon dudes trying to get at it.
I wait...and wait...and wait.
Tripping over people trying to get to things.
Why are they all here NOW?
Need a weight.
Can I grab one of these? No?
That's why there's a 25 and a 5 that add up to 30, so you don't have to use 3 fucking 10's when other people need them you selfish asshole.
Really?
Get home late.
Too much due.
Deadlines missed.
Files jacked up.
Work flow disrupted.
AND THE MOTHERFUCKING RAIN DRIPS DOWN FROM MY LEAKING PIECE OF SHIT ROOF ONTO MY DESK WHERE MY COMPUTER IS.
My landlord has known about this for months upon months.
Rage.
Pure and simple.
But I do.
Rain.
Missing car.
Stupidfuckingcityofrichmondstreetcleaningbullshit.
Plans out the window.
Callous neighbor.
"That's what they put the signs up for"
Get a ride to the southside through stupid rush hour traffic.
Parkish cunt at the tow place.
Rude.
Nasty.
Power trip.
Walk through the rain to get the car.
Drive back to work out.
Gym is too crowded.
One goddamn squat rack, really?
Dudes upon dudes trying to get at it.
I wait...and wait...and wait.
Tripping over people trying to get to things.
Why are they all here NOW?
Need a weight.
Can I grab one of these? No?
That's why there's a 25 and a 5 that add up to 30, so you don't have to use 3 fucking 10's when other people need them you selfish asshole.
Really?
Get home late.
Too much due.
Deadlines missed.
Files jacked up.
Work flow disrupted.
AND THE MOTHERFUCKING RAIN DRIPS DOWN FROM MY LEAKING PIECE OF SHIT ROOF ONTO MY DESK WHERE MY COMPUTER IS.
My landlord has known about this for months upon months.
Rage.
Pure and simple.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Things I do / have done because of boys
I wear my watch on my right wrist even though I'm right-handed.
(I had a crush on a boy in my middle school science class who was left-handed and wore his watch on his right wrist. It's become a habit now.)
I run with my fists clenched a certain way because of a boy I had a crush on in high school who I thought had a sexy run.
I play guitar.
(someone I fell in love with played and when we stopped talking I started playing so I could play for myself instead of hoping someone else would play for me)
My sheets have squares on them because a boy I liked said that was his favorite shape. I was thinking of him when I bought new sheets.
I still have a soft spot for R & B music because my first boyfriend was WAY into it and used to sing it to me.
I drink coffee every morning.
(My dad always had coffee in the morning and let me sip it)
As a kid, I took karate and played baseball with my brother.
(The karate was more for Ralph Macchio than my brother)
I listen to Radiohead.
(A boy I liked played it for me when we were in a class together and I was hooked)
I lost confidence in myself and distrusted men I felt close to.
(EN, DV)
I regained confidence and remembered how amazing it is to have great guy friends.
(JC, JS, TP, TW, CC, CF, BS)
(I had a crush on a boy in my middle school science class who was left-handed and wore his watch on his right wrist. It's become a habit now.)
I run with my fists clenched a certain way because of a boy I had a crush on in high school who I thought had a sexy run.
I play guitar.
(someone I fell in love with played and when we stopped talking I started playing so I could play for myself instead of hoping someone else would play for me)
My sheets have squares on them because a boy I liked said that was his favorite shape. I was thinking of him when I bought new sheets.
I still have a soft spot for R & B music because my first boyfriend was WAY into it and used to sing it to me.
I drink coffee every morning.
(My dad always had coffee in the morning and let me sip it)
As a kid, I took karate and played baseball with my brother.
(The karate was more for Ralph Macchio than my brother)
I listen to Radiohead.
(A boy I liked played it for me when we were in a class together and I was hooked)
I lost confidence in myself and distrusted men I felt close to.
(EN, DV)
I regained confidence and remembered how amazing it is to have great guy friends.
(JC, JS, TP, TW, CC, CF, BS)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
9...i'm sorta obsessed
09 Missy.mp3 - song sent to me today from a boy i haven't heard from in forever
9.9.79 - my bday
9.9.09 - my 30th
9th of October - my parents' anniversary
9 Jolinda Smithson - player number on the list from my new touch football team captain, sent today as well
9th track - many times my favorite song of the album
more later....
9.9.79 - my bday
9.9.09 - my 30th
9th of October - my parents' anniversary
9 Jolinda Smithson - player number on the list from my new touch football team captain, sent today as well
9th track - many times my favorite song of the album
more later....
Thursday, February 5, 2009
why can't i?
do the things on my list
like update my website
or apply for new jobs
or look for new clients
give up or cut back on
muffins and scones
coffee
thinkin about dudes
make more art
draw
sculpt
paint
wake up before 9
10
11
12
go to bed before 11
12
1
2
i'm not fighting it anymore
but it would be nice
to make progress
sometimes
like update my website
or apply for new jobs
or look for new clients
give up or cut back on
muffins and scones
coffee
thinkin about dudes
make more art
draw
sculpt
paint
wake up before 9
10
11
12
go to bed before 11
12
1
2
i'm not fighting it anymore
but it would be nice
to make progress
sometimes
Friday, January 30, 2009
It's been a while...
since I've had one of those days. I'm very thankful they don't come often.
For some reason it came yesterday.
There is still some gunk left in my soul from old situations.
Maybe it was a combination of things...
that poem from J yesterday
the conversation with A. about art and drawing again
and my dreams of having a show based on the experiences I've had
seeing my friends who have a relationship that's amazing
exposing my frustration about being single and never being asked out
repeatedly seeing women line up dude after dude...sometimes with no breaks in between them
I don't get it. But it all came flooding in yesterday.
For a little while I didn't want to wake up this morning.
Today is better.
For some reason it came yesterday.
There is still some gunk left in my soul from old situations.
Maybe it was a combination of things...
that poem from J yesterday
the conversation with A. about art and drawing again
and my dreams of having a show based on the experiences I've had
seeing my friends who have a relationship that's amazing
exposing my frustration about being single and never being asked out
repeatedly seeing women line up dude after dude...sometimes with no breaks in between them
I don't get it. But it all came flooding in yesterday.
For a little while I didn't want to wake up this morning.
Today is better.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
my list
This has come up several times with different people so I'm just going to throw this out there.
Things I know I like and I'd choose in a person if I had a choice:
(in no particular order)
certifiably single (common law and reality law)
chill personality (no neat-freaks or punctuality nuts)
artistic or musical in some way
has a steady job / career / something he's passionate about
doesn't live with parents
doesn't need me to be his mom
independent
has his own friends
can stay up late
will sleep in sometimes
is respectful of women and doesn't mind a woman being in charge from time to time
IS ABLE TO BE IN CHARGE AND MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT FLIP FLOPPING
handy
open-minded, but conservative acting
doesn't have a list of exes (casual or serious) a mile long
athletic
nice butt
can run 3 miles
strong hands
will be patient with my forgetfulness / clumsiness / messiness
is able to hold a conversation with me and my friends
is nice to strangers and children
likes to travel
has been or is a teacher or coach
no smoking
light to no drinking
no drugs
no surprise kids / exes that he doesn't claim
no pets
nice lips
curly hair
will help people in need
is respectful of older people
is not homophobic or racist
can make plans and carry them out (personally and professionally)
likes the ocean and the country
won't make fun of my accent
is confident but not a pompous jerk about it
somewhat stylish (but not metro or femme)
is okay with getting dirty and working hard
at least my height unless he's 110% okay with dating a taller girl (shorter dudes seem to have issues sometimes)
(Plus all the other obvious stuff...has all his teeth, treats me nice, pays his bills, won't be unfaithful, etc. etc.)
Some are more important than others...not all are absolutes.
Things I know I like and I'd choose in a person if I had a choice:
(in no particular order)
certifiably single (common law and reality law)
chill personality (no neat-freaks or punctuality nuts)
artistic or musical in some way
has a steady job / career / something he's passionate about
doesn't live with parents
doesn't need me to be his mom
independent
has his own friends
can stay up late
will sleep in sometimes
is respectful of women and doesn't mind a woman being in charge from time to time
IS ABLE TO BE IN CHARGE AND MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT FLIP FLOPPING
handy
open-minded, but conservative acting
doesn't have a list of exes (casual or serious) a mile long
athletic
nice butt
can run 3 miles
strong hands
will be patient with my forgetfulness / clumsiness / messiness
is able to hold a conversation with me and my friends
is nice to strangers and children
likes to travel
has been or is a teacher or coach
no smoking
light to no drinking
no drugs
no surprise kids / exes that he doesn't claim
no pets
nice lips
curly hair
will help people in need
is respectful of older people
is not homophobic or racist
can make plans and carry them out (personally and professionally)
likes the ocean and the country
won't make fun of my accent
is confident but not a pompous jerk about it
somewhat stylish (but not metro or femme)
is okay with getting dirty and working hard
at least my height unless he's 110% okay with dating a taller girl (shorter dudes seem to have issues sometimes)
(Plus all the other obvious stuff...has all his teeth, treats me nice, pays his bills, won't be unfaithful, etc. etc.)
Some are more important than others...not all are absolutes.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I was wrong.
Snap shirts and plaid both suck.
As do indie glasses runner boys.
Not even a fucking week. Wow.
As do indie glasses runner boys.
Not even a fucking week. Wow.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
A first date
...with a bearded, indie glasses runner boy in a snap shirt.
Plaid maybe isn't so bad afterall.
Plaid maybe isn't so bad afterall.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
online crap, Mr. Intentional
When you stumble upon words that people have written.
Who once meant something to you...or you meant something to them.
It's hard not to take meaning from their words.
So I wonder if mentioning volleyball, and bump, set, spike and throwing each other off of our game was intentional.
Was it Mr.?
Who once meant something to you...or you meant something to them.
It's hard not to take meaning from their words.
So I wonder if mentioning volleyball, and bump, set, spike and throwing each other off of our game was intentional.
Was it Mr.?
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Shows in 2008
Someone asked me tonight what shows I went to this past year...and that made me want to make a list.
April 1 - Kimya Dawson
April 11 - Ben Folds
June 22 - The National
May 11 - Radiohead in VA
May 14 - Radiohead in St. Louis
May 15 - Basia Bulat & DeVotchka
June 19 - Marionette & Calpurnia
July 29 - MGMT
September 16 - Mogwai
September 24 - Sigur Rós in Chicago
September 25 - Hayden in St. Louis
October 8 - Atmosphere
October 21 - Broken Social Scene
October 28 - Get Out and Vote '08 (Jack Johnson, Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones)
November 1 - Of Montreal
November 7 - Mos Def
November 8 - Mark Kozelek in Carrboro
November 12 - Conor Oberst
December 11 - Mills Family Band & David Shultz
April 1 - Kimya Dawson
April 11 - Ben Folds
June 22 - The National
May 11 - Radiohead in VA
May 14 - Radiohead in St. Louis
May 15 - Basia Bulat & DeVotchka
June 19 - Marionette & Calpurnia
July 29 - MGMT
September 16 - Mogwai
September 24 - Sigur Rós in Chicago
September 25 - Hayden in St. Louis
October 8 - Atmosphere
October 21 - Broken Social Scene
October 28 - Get Out and Vote '08 (Jack Johnson, Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones)
November 1 - Of Montreal
November 7 - Mos Def
November 8 - Mark Kozelek in Carrboro
November 12 - Conor Oberst
December 11 - Mills Family Band & David Shultz
