You're so Vain, You Probably Think this LJ is About You

Ugh. Very bad week at work, making me feel like a loser of monumental proportions. I hate my fragile ego, for reals. I came home yesterday and had myself a good cry, which made today a little more bearable. I still feel like loser pie, but at least I can stand myself. Oh, well.

In good news, JP and I went to see Adventureland the other night. It was funny, but just missed being poignant. I am pretty much in love with Martin Starr, BTW. I am calling dibs on him and his thick-ass glasses...

We have been having the most gorgeous sunrises and bright/red moons lately. I know because I am up both too early and too late. Whaddaya gonna do?

I will say this about American Idol this season: they have sent me scurrying to iTunes to buy some fantastic music that I had completely forgot about, like Monica's Angel of Mine, The Search is Over by Survivor (I know, I'm old), and the Gary Jules version of Mad World. LOVE IT. The original songs, that is...the idols for the most part are kinda eh. If I could take the best parts of like four of them, THEN we would have a wicked cool Franken-idol. But alas, 'twas not meant to be...

( MOAR poetry...it's a short one but oy! Right between the eyes. )

Am still awake because I feel oogy. Something I ate, methinks.

I have purchased Canta en Espanol by Eydie Gorme & Trio Los Panchos and am having mega flashbacks. My parents used to fight a lot when I was small. I guess you could say they were both a little wild, hard drinkers, and each used to getting their own way. They loved each other and still do, but when they were younger they were fiery. So, playing this music brings it all back, the good and the bad. But I like remembering. Surprise, surprise.

So, me and my nostalgia now bring you a movie meme I picked up...somewhere.

( Have at it! )

Aw, my co-worker made me a CD that had Smile DK, Porno Graffitti, and the theme from Sailor Moon included on it. It is always nice to find fellow anime geeks, especially in my area where I am more likely to discuss the merits of spinning rims than I am of finding anyone who has even heard of Cowboy Bebop.

So, Big Web Auction huh? I am still kicking myself that I yet AGAIN missed out on another Lupin hanken last week. Here I have been worrying about the stupid economy instead of supporting it by spending money. Bad Mel!

Finally started watching Haruhi and while I find it cute, it is bordering on annoying. I do like the ending song, though. Watched all of the first season of Emma and loved it even though it was slower than a lame turtle. Just beautiful animation and actually pretty darn accurate. *hearts all things Victorian but damn glad I didn't live back then*

I know it will come as a shock, but I don't have any Cabo pictures ready; I've been busy with work and stalking The Swell Season in Austin.

I am knackered, to steal a British turn of phrase. Friday JP and I set out early to attend the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Pictures are here. We got there in good time, got great parking thanks to JP, and hunkered down to enjoy lots and lots of music we'd never heard. LOL! I actually had a good time. I've been wanting to attend a music festival and haven't had a chance since, er...the free Blockbuster one back in 1997? Don't remember exactly.

Anyhoo, the weather wasn't too bad. Hot, but not melt-your-face hot. The first couple of hours was pretty tame, but by 2pm the place was packed! I got to see Rodney Crowell (who was awesome), Jakob Dylan (who sounded great but had no patter to speak of), What Made Milwaukee Famous (meh), Gogol Bordello (THAT, my friends is how you put on a show!), and my all-time favorite, The Swell Season. I also caught a bit of the Mars Volta (eh) and Manu Chao (good stuff, but I was beyond exhausted and decided to bag it before he was done).

Awesome, but plagued with techinical difficulties, I was supremely impressed at how calm Glen Hansard remained, even though you could tell he was getting upset. Their set was way too short, but it was all fantastic anyway. More on them in a moment. Gogol Bordello was great, too. Not really my type of music, but JP and I agreed that we would go see another of their shows any day. High energy, theatrical, and just a lot of fun. Props to the well-endowed lady in the teeny bikini top who was hopping around next to us during their set. I bet her boobs are still sore...ouch!

The crowds got to be a little much, especially with all the cigarette and weed smoke. It all made me nauseous. The food wasn't bad, but nothing I'd write home about. The people who pushed their way in front of us 2 minutes before the The Swell Season came on can go to Hell. But for the most part everything was very chill. We were out there a good 8 hours so by 9:30pm, I was ready to go home. And buy lots of music, LOL!

Well, I was completely out of it, because I didn't realize until yesterday morning that The Swell Season was performing again in Austin that night. So, JP and I decided what the Hell. We bought tickets to their show at The Paramount, got back in the car, and went BACK to Austin to see them again. I am so glad we did! It was an unbelievable event - they sounded fantastic and the acoustics were great. JP sweet-talked an usher into letting us sneak into better seats (what did I do before him?) and we just kicked back and enjoyed it all.

I can't explain it very well, but listening to Glen Hansard affects me the way Sarah Mclachlan does. Sometimes it just seems like certain songwriters are ripping pages from your life and putting it out there for the world. It's an incredibly profound feeling about something incredibly private. And to have him infuse so much emotion into his performances on top of that...it just grabs me by the throat.

To cap off the evening, we walked around the back of the theater afterwards and got to meet Glen Hansard! He was very nice, posing for pictures and signing stuff. He took his time and talked to people. I never have anything original or brilliant to say in these situations, but it's okay. It was just nice to tell him how much I enjoyed their music. Photographic evidence here. Hurrah!

So I'm stopping now because I need a nap. I also need to clean this disaster of a house, but that will have to wait. Too much driving over the past couple of days...

Zzzzz.

So, I have been having computer problems lately. I'm not sure what's going on in the guts, but my own personal Geek Squad-er, JP, is investigating. As I am typing, the screen is pale blue. Don't know about that. It was also overheating, but JP fixed that. Huh. I am bummed and feel betrayed by Gateway, as I have always bought from them. This is how my loyalty is rewarded? A bum PC? I cry foul! Although, if I'm being honest, I am a little excited about possibly shopping for a new one. *evil smile*

So, how about some good news? The Kid is coming into town for about a week! He's coming to pay his respects to my uncle, of course, but it will be nice to have the familia back together again. Hurrah!

Also, we are going to see The Mummy 3 tomorrow!!! I can't wait! I don't care how cheesetastic it is...Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, AND Michelle Yeoh? I love it already.

And finally, for the first time ever, we are attending the Austin City Limits Music Festival in September. Financially speaking, we could only afford one day, so I chose the first day because I am dying to see The Swell Season and Jakob Dylan.

Here is the lineup for Friday. I have heard of a few of these acts, but are there any must-sees? I'd love to hear some feedback - I know ya'll have a more up-to-date grasp on the music scene than JP and me! LOL...

August is gearing up to be a very busy month. Once again. But I'm not complaining. ^________^

Okay, I am going to reveal what a total LAZY ASS I am by stealing one, count 'em, ONE question from a meme posted by the fab wordsthatfail.

List the three to five biggest things going on in your life:

- HAIR, HAIR, HAIR. My hair is driving me insane! First, the gray is coming in fast and furious. I have to color it every three weeks and even then, I still have a skunk stripe along my part in that third week. It's weird! And all the coloring plus blow dryer action is making my coarse hair even coarser. Also, I still haven't found a style or stylist I really love, so it's still all about experimenting (often with blah results).

I cannot believe one the biggest things in my life right now is HAIR.

- Writing. I have been dabbling in drabbles and poetry, mainly to keep my hand in. I don't know if I've ever been really serious about it, but it makes me happy to play with words and goodness knows I'll burn out soon enough and put it all aside again. Best to enjoy it while I can.

- Music. I have started (yet again) to move all my CDs to iTunes. It's fun, seriously! *stabs eyes out* Looking forward to various concerts and contemplating one or two more before the year is out as well. I tend to forget how much I enjoy music and how it cheers, consoles, and  makes our silly little selves feel understood.

- Exercise. Sort of. I belong to the gym at work and if  can get 150 visits in a year, I get a 100% refund of my monthly dues. Last year, I got a 50% refund, but I am going for the gold this time! Is it wrong that I want to kill the perky, orange girls who work there? Seriously, dude - no one needs that much tanner. Bronzer? Whatever. YOU ARE ORANGE.

- Family. Well, family is always important, but I was just thinking yesterday as we celebrated Father's Day together: my parents and my brother are not in the best health. I could probably afford to spend more time with them, particularly my bro. And I make excuses sometimes because I feel like I deserve my down time and mostly, I like being on my own or with JP. Going to visit usually includes planning an activity and putting on my happy face and sometimes the happy face just won't go on, you know? But I need to get the fuck over it and start acting like a grown up. So, this summer will be the resurgence of family time! Whether they like it or not, LOL!

Hmm, actually felt nice to get all that out. Hooray for catharsis!

Have been a very bad live journal reader of late. Overtime + David Cook detox (apparently I don't know the term "cold turkey") + searching for a new TV boyfriend + requisite emo-time = NO time for the LJ.

I only worked eight hours of OT this week and I am DUNZO! Gotta start, I dunno...taking vitamins or something. The new job function is about as exciting as watching grass grow. I can hear brain cells committing hara-kiri while I am doing it, for reals. Thus, with a kiss, I die...and all that jazz.

And speaking of "di" - thanks to everyone for the meme:



All I gotta say about that is...really? Hee! There are some components of my personality in there, I guess. I love my motto, "genius controls the chaos" because it is totally pretentious and that's how I roll. I guess it is me, then! Heh.

Anyone out there watching So You Think You Can Dance? I am such a sucker for this show, but noooo! They cut Leonidas, Potential TV Boyfriend #2! I love, love, love ballroom/Latin dancers and he was cute, Russian, and had an awesome Duck Bill 50's style hair 'do. And his name is Leonidas! Hubba, hubba.

And finally, I am completely entranced by Coldplay's latest single, Viva La Vida...and not just because the iTunes commercial plays every 5 minutes. Something about the song just makes me so very happy. Even when I don't want to be. ^____^

Dammit! I just found my Some Great Reward CD (after buying it on iTunes a few months back). But where oh where has The Company soundtrack gone???

Today, I will do the following:

1. Buy Deathly Hallows and devour it!
2. Find at least two new easy recipes to try out
3. Go grocery shopping
4. Stay away from any and all stores that sell smashbox, my new favorite high-priced makeup

That's it, I guess.