Monday, April 30, 2012

Revelations

I have noticed many things about myself during my NZ trip these past two weeks:

  • I can go over a week without watching new episodes of Gossip Girl, but the minute you put me in front of a wifi-enabled computer, I lose all restraint. Also, the same seems to occur with Twitter and Pinterest. Catch up TV watching this weekend with less demanding shows like Eureka was actually pretty fun (also, Joinks! to last week's episode). 
  • These work-free weeks had a funny effect on me. The first week was so filled with activity that I often found the prospect of home the real vacation. The second week brought the serenity I was after. I did everything I set out to do and now that I'm home, I'm happy to be back. 
  • New Zealand motion sickness pills have no effect on me. Xanax and prayer seem to do the job. 
  • Being with family and trading stories made me really nostalgic, just as I thought it would. What I didn't anticipate was how it would provoke so much self-reflection. So many times, I asked myself, am I where I want to be? Am I doing what I want to be doing? Am I the person that I was supposed to be? The answers haven't been too forthcoming, but, surprisingly, the hesitation doesn't make me nervous. 
  • My goals are not yet all achieved. I can be happier, accumulate more wealth, become more successful. I can also let the excitement build, revel in hope not the fear of the unknown. Treasure the presents that I have now. 
Pretty cool, huh?

Friday, April 13, 2012

My Friday the 13th

I watched a series of videos from Jason Silva, a guy with a lot of thoughts bursting forth, spilling out. He reminds me of a kid I knew in college that was just so excited by life that he couldn't wait to share any particular thought that came into it. An almost, non-New York Woody Allen with lots of things to say, but with less complaining.



I have always been a ready listener of free flowing ideas. Especially when there's sincerity and not boisterous affectation behind it. More so when there's excitement. Plus he relays the plot points of Before Sunset in his Love video. Can't hate the whole "My Dinner with Andre" schtick when we bring into one of my favorite movies.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Tunes

I'm not sure where the magical age range occurs when it comes to being the cool, music kid. I floated through 90's R&B, mainstream rock, hip hop, indie darlings and alt-country and whatever played on KRCL, I Guess I'm Floating and Alexandra Patsavas's radar.

Although I can't be sure, I've lost myself somewhere and been catching myself saying things out loud what can only be described as "old people mutterings". Things like, "So that's what Justin Beiber sounds like!" and "Wait, UK One Direction is a boy band and not just one kid singing?" and, and, well, I'm blaming senility, but those are the two worst offenders.

I guess I should be glad that my obvious lameness comes out mostly with mainstream music, but what happens when certain favorite Arizona-bred bands form different, less fun bands and I have no idea? What if James Mercer kicks out the only girl in his band right when I'm really getting the feel for her? What if I missed The Mynabirds play at Kilby Court last month? Oh, wait I DID do that!

I'm going to be catching The Civil Wars in May and make a little more of an effort here.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Chuck Bass


Woah, kids. Last night's Gossip Girl was awesome. I can't tell you any plot points because I was blinded in the first few minutes with Chuck Bass's awesome tracksuit. Awesome is an understatement. The proper description would give a withering stare to "awesome" and tell it to GTFO. There was a mixture of laughter and shrieking. Delightful shrieking. Thank goodness for the internet.

I mean sartorially Chuck has always been aces, but the red tracksuit, man. THE RED TRACKSUIT. I am buying this for my husband so that he can just leisurely walk around in it. You know, like you do. His reaction to the pictures I showed him were less than excited, but I'll wear him down.

I seriously haven't been this amused by an article of clothing since...have I ever been this amused? Oh, gifs. How you've become my new favorite. (GIFS)

Monday, April 9, 2012

Skins


I finished watching the first season of Skins and I can't quite decide where I stand. It kind of started out like watching the Christopher Eccleston era of Doctor Who. It took me up until The Doctor Dances to really get a feel for the show and I find myself watching the finale and listening to "Wild World" and wondering if that moment is just around the corner.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Beautiful Idiots

There's a line that a character in the Doctor Who episode "The Doctor's Wife" says as she tries to think of a word. A word so sad and complicated and big. "Alive"

"Alive isn't sad," the Doctor says. And she replies, "It's sad when it's over."

Grieving is hard partly because the expectation is that it is something one eventually gets over. But the part I like best are the moments when the sorrow makes room for the joy. When reminisces still laced with pain carries happiness alongside.

My mom and I were talking at lunch and the thought struck me how the people that are gone are still very much alive. How we carry them in pockets of our memories and bring them out when we need them. I'm not speaking of the here after or the next phase. I mean the right now. Keeping them. Holding on to loved ones so that we find their presence soothing.

I know that this coming NZ trip will be difficult in many ways, but I hope that I come through it okay.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Hungry


I went to see Hunger Games over the weekend with my sisters and mom. My mom had never read the books and apart from having to whisper/explain what the Reaping was at the beginning, she was able to follow the story pretty well.

Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire. The girl whose brought into focus by her own accord when she volunteers her name in the Hunger Games in lieu of her sister's. One boy and one girl from twelve districts. Competing to the death on live television.

The movie followed the basic plot points of the book. This felt like a beginning as little attention was paid to a lot of the characters. In fact, the only person I felt had their character fleshed out was Haymitch played by Woody Harrelson. I'm hoping the other movies will provide that for Katniss, Peeta and Gale. But until then, it was a good start.

Also, I'm hopelessly fixated on The Secret Sisters' "Tomorrow Will Be Kinder" from the Hunger Games soundtrack.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Fool


Pretty sure the SECOND after I told someone that I'm generally a skeptical person, I have fallen for every single April's Fool's Day prank I have ever encountered. Having a baby? Fooled. Gotten engaged? Fooled. Favorite tv show's cancelled? Fooled. Phone hacked leaking embarrassing pictures of you and poo? Fooled. Someday my gullibility will wan enough so that I can have the presence of mind to know what day it is before accepting a story that my two favorite celebs are fighting/hooking up/pregnant/murder/suicide pact or whatever, but until then maybe I should take comfort in knowing that I'm trusting. Either way, Hunger Games reaction tomorrow!