Filed under: Life Goals, Other people, The New Deal | Tags: City Year, Miami, Stupid Boys
Week One of City Year Basic Training Academy (BTA) is over. The weekend would be ending its natural conclusion; however, for the second week in a row timing allows for an additional day to be mixed into what little is left of our free time here in Miami. After my last post, I feel the need to emphasize that I’m doing okay. I’m alright. Despite my little emotional setback, I don’t have anything to complain about. I’m still alive. I still have a house with good roommates. I still have friends and future friends. I’m still completely broke, but one day that won’t be such the case. (hopefully). I’m trying to eat and trying to sleep. Kinda failing at both, but I feel alright. I’m taking everything day by day. I’m rife with excitement for the potential City Year promises. On that note, a brief breakdown of this week in Laura’s City Year.
After eight hours of registration, my first day of City Year broke for a three-day weekend. When we recovened on the following Tuesday (Sept 1), the entire Corps was together for the first time. We were assigned into teams of approximately 8 Corps members and one senior Corps member who acted as our leader for the next week. My team called ourselves the “Team Na, Na, Na” (in the vien of Mr. Will Smith’s “Getting Jiggy With It” not Steams’ “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”). For the next week, whenever the Corps broke into smaller groups, be it for Physical Training (PT) or ice breakers or our service project, these were the kids I was paired with. We talked about our reasons for coming to City Year and our reasons for wanting to serve, our goals and our pasts. When I wasn’t paired with them, we sat through workshops and whole Corps ice breakers/games. I feel I’ve met every Corps member this week. I know most names and definitely all faces. Half of them have either rode in Tobey or hung out at my house. I’m amazed at how quickly I’ve left behind my slow-to-warm shell in favor of diving in head first. It helps, of course, that I’m living in the biggest CY house with a whole slew of extroverts.
On that note, a brief-ish overview of my housing situation. I’m living with 5 other Corps members. Aside from some loudness issues, we all mesh really well. I’m once again amazed at how quickly we’ve become an urban family. I’ve yet to have to leave the house in order to cool/have some quiet Laura time and I don’t imagine this will be an actual issue throughout the next 10 months. During our first Community Meeting at BTA, Tommy stood during the Appreciations section and told the whole Corps how much he appreciates living in our house and how he’s amazed at how well we as a whole, despite coming from literally every corner of America and every background possible have made our situation work. No other house seems to share the bond we’ve got going now. Not to mention, we’re clearly the most attractive house in all of the Corps. So that’s something, too. Although apparently that doesn’t mean the youngest Corps member wants me. But really, I think he’s fronting on that issue. We’ll see. While I was originally gonna request that he be my bus buddy for BTR, now I will not. Perhaps for the return trip, but I doubt it. I’m kinda (trying to be) over him. Once again though, we’ll see. He does have god awful taste in music, so that’s something to ease the transition.
Back to City Year, all the passion is contagious. With every moment that I’ve spent in BTA (and even PT, if you can believe it), I’ve grown more excited to actually get into the school, to step into my red jacket for the first time. I know that I’m going to be walking around from this year, a better person and at least one school in Miami will be better off for my service year. So woo, go me. And Basic Training Retreat is gonna rock.
Filed under: Life Goals, Música, Stupid Boys, The New Deal, Trips | Tags: Compulsive Gamblers, Elliott Smith, Elvis, moving again, Nolan Strong, PRODIGAL DRUNK SUMMER
I’m packing everything up again. This time I’m moving to Florida. I don’t want to go, but I guess that means I’m doing something bigger than myself (ha). Actually, I just don’t think it would be in line with my eventual fate as a boring suburban mom if I didn’t do this. So while part of me (that really big part called the “brain” and “spirit”) wants to stay and be officially plan free for the first time ever in my life, the small section (called “sensibility” and “pragmatism”) is making me go. After all, I have no job here (after Oaks ends), no house (after my sublet ends), etc. In Miami, I have a job and a house. But I have friends and romantic prospects here. And bars I love and places I will miss. In Miami, I will be drinking in Applebee’s, by myself. I guess it had to happen though. The Prodigal Drunken Summer has to come to an end, otherwise it’s just alcoholism. Boom.
Some songs that fit the way I feel right now:
[download "Say Yes" by, yes, Elliott Smith, I guess you should go ahead and kill my sad sack self now....] oooh bonus!! (download “Alameda” by him, too)
[download the Compulsive Gamblers' cover of Nolan Strong & The Diablos' "Your Happiness"]
Ta Da! Now I’ve gotta go to the carnival.
Filed under: Música, The New Deal | Tags: carnie, Gin Blossoms, hot hot hot, PRODIGAL DRUNK SUMMER
It’s a freaking heatwave here in Portland. It peaked at 106 today and tomorrow’s even hotter. So of course I’m working at the carnival. And as God intended it, I’m drenching myself to the bone at every possible opportunity, be it via the mister, a wet rag, or soaking in the tossed ice water. Whatever way you have it, I’m doing all I can to stay cool. Which means, today at work I listened to the Smashing Pumpkins, REM, Soundgarden, and the Gin Blossoms. On the ride sound system. FYI, “Disarm” is not a family friendly song. Just saying.
Filed under: Música, The New Deal | Tags: beating the cystem, PRODIGAL DRUNK SUMMER, The Replacements
Moving to Miami in less than a month. Finally got the roommate situation all settled, now we just have to find a house. Appropriately enough, the end of the summer soundtrack remains in line with the start of the summer soundtrack, i.e. heavy on the JoBros, Replacements and anything to do with Greg Cartwright.
[download "Kiss Me on the Bus"]
Since my hospital debt got written off, everything looks better and everything feels better. Life is good right now.
Filed under: Life Goals, Música, Other people, The New Deal | Tags: carnie, JoBros, PRODIGAL DRUNK SUMMER
Still the world’s worst updater. Ever. But I’ve been busy. And drunk. So those are my excuses. What are your’s?
Oh, and I was busy crossing yet another goal off my Life Goal list. This past Saturday, I took a day off from the carnival and went to the Portland stop of the Jonas Brothers 2009 World Tour. And it was epic. The most epic spectacle I’ve ever been to. And I was the tallest person there! So double win! And triple win: drunk. But OMG JOBROS!!!! We then walked home, got Whiffies, overheard the cute Whiffies owner saying he was supposed to go see the JoBros (omg!) but then something… I didn’t hear that part. But I swear, I’m starting to think I should just marry him. And eat Whiffies all day, every day. And call it a life. All in all, JoBros=love. Trulymadlydeeply. Best $20 ever spent.
The carnival’s been good. I’m essentially Queen of Kiddieland, meaning by night’s end I’m just walking from ride to ride talking to all the carnies. It’s a blast. And I have a school girl crush on so many random carnies that I’m never really bored. Tomorrow I’ll be carnie-ing while Emmylou Harris performs in the park which is dope. On the 4th, I’ll be carnie-ing to the sounds of (probably) the Frog Hopper and fireworks until midnight. I’m psyched.
I shot down the Movie Man which was an epic milestone. All to the soundtrack of George Michael. Yet another win.
The End.
Filed under: Música, Other people, Stupid Boys, The New Deal, Writing | Tags: PRODIGAL DRUNK SUMMER
I haven’t posted because:
- I was busy dying (not because of a hangover at the carnie job, mind you)
- I have 2 full-time jobs
- I’m a lazy beezy that just doesn’t care
- SO MUCH BAKING TO DO!
On my next day off (i.e. Monday, i.e. next week, i.e. my 1 day off a week), I’m making these bagels (click!)
And, dang, if Hayes Carll isn’t the dopest of dope alt-country dudes strumming/singing right now. AND Ryan Bingham’s new CD is mad growing on me. Look/wait with breath held, for a slightly updated review of Roadhouse Sun… it’s really kinda growing on me.
I gotta go to bed since job #2, i.e. autism day camp TA starts at 8am. everyday. In addition to my carnie job everyday, but at least I got hotties at Oaks Park to look at/think about (but not wanna bone, obvtron, cause eww, they are literally like 12, or 20, but still, really, my boss? at 20??? really???? and he mad owned you on the obscure-ish foreign dbag term? really?). Oh well.
FYI, been doing mad physical writing lately.
P.S. My baking has been lopsided, (ditto for one of my two roomies). I think our oven has turned on us. It now only cooks edges, then burns edges while cooking the innards of cakes/breads/etcs. WHACK ATTACK.
I will get one of the carnies into my bed. Oh, lord help me, but I will. Be it Pete and Pete, or my DBAG 20 year old boss, or the ohmygood so self-aware 19 year old. One of ‘em, or all of ‘em. That’s the plan.
AND P.P.S. JO BROS IN A WEEK + SOME DAYS!!!!!!!!!!! OMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!!
Guess what came out today (well yesterday by this point)? Ryan Bingham’s new cd! Unfortunately, I was busy running rides for the still Untitled Crowley Project, so I haven’t picked it up yet. But I did give Brendan Fraser a ride on my carousel! And had delicious craft service. In a few days I might not spend all day/night at the amusement park.
Filed under: Life Goals, School, Stupid Boys, The New Deal | Tags: good decisions, graduated, Greg Cartwright, real life, Reed
I’m all set up in my new subletted third of a basement. It’s the first real house I’ve lived in here in Portland and I’m quickly coming to the realization that this is the city I want to live in. Forever. I really don’t want to move to Miami. I really don’t want to do City Year. But I will and maybe I’ll come back and continue my love affair with this city. But for right now, I’m enjoying being an unemployed townie. While technically I have two jobs, neither has officially began yet, so I’m living up the unemployed status while it lasts. Thus far, I’ve done Tobey related maintenance/repair things, slept with someone right after I said the official goodbye to the boy I would’ve married (even though we joked, I would’ve mentioned him had the conversation not segued), walked a lot, drank a lot, and generally milled about. I also made a good awesome buttermilk blackberry cake.
In line with graduating and finishing everything Reed related, I started a new journal. A nice journal. A physical journal with acid-free, lightly lined paper, a leatherette cover, and matching bookmark. It has one entry so far. Ironically detailing my regression into my townie loving ways. Good decisions abound. Good covers don’t abound:
I found a beer I like a lot. A real beer, a ‘fancy’-ish (i.e. not dear old PBR or $1 Olys) beer. (Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve…. also Vanilla Creme is dope!). I guess I’m officially a hipster adult now. My only complaint is that this adds another thing to the ever-growing list of things “I atleast walk away with” from the Movie Man and all drama that is sure to ensue. Add Dennis Wilson and a push towards garage and you have a full-picture of our could-be, won’t-be, really don’t want it to be relationship. (But still Greg Cartwright seems to make the bad decisions a whole lot better–that and the junior high nature of it):
Everytime I look over to my new clothing storage unit/counter top and I see my Reed diploma (still in the little book thing since I haven’t bought a frame yet) I can’t help but feel really proud. Like I told the carnie boss today at my job interview (woo! I’m a carnie AND an autism school’s teacher’s assistant!), with each passing day, I’m realizing just how much I learned. I’m still waiting for the day when I wake up and feel smart again, though. I’m more proud of my laurels than my diploma though:
Every jackass gets a diploma, but the laurels (as douchey as I feel for saying it) are special. We all worked really hard, even if it didn’t always seem like it, to get those. And damn, I almost died getting mine. If that cyst wasn’t symbolic of my thesis, then I don’t know what the hell was going on with that!
I need to take the pictures from my family’s camera (and mine for that matter), but here’s the shot emailed to me by the photography company. I’m surprised that they managed a good shot since all I was thinking about was “don’t fall, remember to shake the Dive’s hand, don’t wipe your hand after you shake, etc.” I ain’t even glaring, rolling my eyes, yawning, or fidgeting!! Me in all my shining graduating glory:
Woohoo! Go me!
Who knew “American Girl” never charted? Not me. That’s for sure.
Filed under: The New Deal
Everyone’s calling it major surgery. But it doesn’t seem that way to me. Sure, they removed a 7cm cyst that was strangling my ovary; sure they took out one of my fallopian tubes. But it doesn’t seem that big.
A) The incisions are small, no stitches, just “steristrips” and bandaids.
B) They say I can still have babies without a problem.
C) It all happened so quick, maybe it just hasn’t had time to set it.
The first (and pretty much only) thing I remember after coming out of the operation was being really surprised when they told me I’d just had surgery. Really? 17 hours before I’d been finishing my thesis when suddenly a massive sharp pain took over my lower abdomen. And it just didn’t stop. The pain just got worse and I started vomiting. I jokingly worried I had swine flu, but secretly thought it was something serious. I tried to sleep, to take a bath, anything to stop the pain. But it wouldn’t. So I made my friend take to me the health center and they made me go in the ambulance to OHSU and they did a bunch of tests, gave me a lot of morphine, and eventually told me that I’d just about died. Then they said I had to have emergency surgery. I signed a waiver saying they could keep whatever they pulled from my body, and yes, I’d accept blood in an emergency. I understood I could end up being on the receiving end of a different procedure if the situation changed, and, yes, I understand you might end up performing a full hysterectomy. Sign here. Initial and date here.
They said I might have to wait a few hours or a full day before they could fit me in. I said okay. And my friends came to visit. Then the doctor said it was time to go. Then I went. Then I woke up. And it was all over.
Now here I sit, sober during my last Renn Fayre, but alive. I lost a fallopian tube and an invasive cyst. But I’m alright. I feel okay. And I’m real glad I went to the doctor this time around.
Filed under: Música, Television, The New Deal | Tags: baking, garage, Greg Cartwright, Lifter Puller, Lost, no-knead bread, Patsy Cline, The Oblivians, The Ship, Valentine's Day, Youtube Clip of the Day
So, I’m not really into anything right now (or really, that should read, I don’t have time to be into anything right now, but since I’m a god awful student and I have no self-control, I’m actually really into some random things right now. And because I’m awesome, I’m letting everyone now (for lack of will to do my homework now). So without further delay, I present The Things I’m Into Right Now (version 2.0, I think).
Watch through the fiddle scene (a classic in and of itself!) and ignore the shoddy VHS quality and you’ll see the Man’s a king. (See #2).
[Download The Oblivians' "What's the Matter Now"]
2) Punk?
Dude, you read that right. I guess I’m falling back into high school when I spent far too much time in a condemned warehouse called “the Cess Pool” (or maybe it was just “Cess Pool”?), or I don’t even know what, but for whatever reason, I’m all about the punk, or actually garage or even just straight up lo-fi, thing right now. All the proto stuff and revival era awesomeness is what’s been bumping in my laptop for the past few weeks and I don’t think that’s changing anytime soon, but who knows. Cause really, when does GBV go outta style? Never.
The reminds me of my most memorable Valentine’s Day ever. It was sophomore year. Freezing cold, I believe an ice storm had just hit (but really, it’s Missouri, so one’s always hitting that time of year…) I had just developed a crush on the guy who’d eventually become my “high school boyfriend” and knew he was planning on being at the aforementioned Cess Pool, so I planned on going that night despite my lack of interest in whatever shitty local band was “headlining” that night. We sat together on a ramshackle quarter pipe ramp. It was freezing. It was icey. The music was shitty. We weren’t dating yet. Still I don’t think I’ve topped it yet. (I don’t know if that’s good or bad, cause at least my story’s kinda hardcore, but still. Who knows.)
Who doesn’t love a straight-to-the-point fan video?:
[Download Compulsive Gamblers "Stop & Think It Over"]
(technically this fits in category #1)
OR
[Download Lifter Puller's "11th Avenue Freezeout"]
3) Lost
I really, really shouldn’t have started watching it. Especially now. But I did. And now I can’t/don’t want to stop. I’m only 12 episodes into season 1 (+the one random half an episode I saw a few months back), so don’t spoil anything. And Josh Holloway goes from being crazy hot to real ugly in the course of a scene. Which is something I’ve always appreciated. Not to mention they have some hardcore Patsy Cline love, which I’ll always support.
4) The Ship
But that goes without saying. I’ve always loved the Ship. Always will.
5) Easy Homemade Bread
Shamelessly lifted from the New York Times now two-year old revolutionary no-knead bread recipe, then modified without permission (but with success!) to fit my lack of cast-iron cookware. I guess this can connect with baking in general. I’m real into that right now.
