Last Friday I went to Alton Towers with David, Krish and Toby. The first ride we went on, Oblivion, was most definitely one of the scariest rides I've ever been on. It's a roller coaster where you go up the hill, turn around the bend, it drops you a small bit over the edge (it's only 2 rows of 8 people, we were in the front row), and then it releases and drops you down (half the track is above ground, half is below, so you don't know how far down you are going.) Oh yeah, and it drops you face forward straight down. My eyes were tearing when it ended, which in retrospect is better than when snot was dripping down my face after Air (comparable to Superman at Great Adventure.) The best parts of the day were looking at our photos after the rides, soooo funny!
Saturday night started with predrinking at Rob and Simon's with Zoe, Louise, Kenny, and Jamie, then we went to the high cover-charged Electric Ballroom night called Shake which played too cheesy music (I'm talking Belinda Carlyle level here.) Some of it was okay since I hadn't heard that stuff in so long, but my attendance there shan't be repeated again.
Sunday was day o' TV fun. I watched the OC, all of the American Idol finale, and Lost which made me cry even though I knew what was gonna happen at the end of the episode. Kevin Covais so got laid after getting the boot from Idol, did anyone else notice how excited he looked? And what was the deal with Clay Aiken's hair?! He doesn't look like Thom Yorke anymore, now he looks like Pee Wee Herman.
That night was spent in similar company as the night before but it was more like + Laura - Louise/Kenny/Jamie. I didn't meet them in Camden till almost 1:00 am which I haven't done since living in NYC. Most things weren't open despite it being Bank Holiday weekend, so we went to Lock Tavern for a bit, then back to the boys' flat where Rob made the biggest 10-egg omelette I've ever seen. I stayed at Laura's and we ate some Peri Peri Chicken at Nando's for lunch the next day.
Monday was Memorial Day for me so I went to John's impromptu barbeque and snagged a hamburger before heading to Trash Palace with Ana and Fennse. The bar had a Lower East Side feel and played good music.
Tuesday was all about me scaring David's nephew Cameron into silence. Apparently he was excited and talkative at The Natural History Museum; when I got there he clammed right up. We went (with David's mom also) to The Rainforest Cafe, but poor Cameron was scared of the thunderstorm noises. We went to Build-a-Bear in Covent Garden after, which of course is AWESOME!!!!
Last night at about 9:00 pm, Dave's flatmate James's boss came over with free Editors tickets for Brixton Academy (score!) The new songs were better than the older ones, esp. the one that they dedicated to The National which I don't know the name of. I cooked a stir fry when we got back, and I had successfully managed to avoid watching the football, so overall it was a good day.
Zoe should be coming over later. I have about 4 Prison Breaks to catch up on, woohoo!
Current Music: The 88 - How Good It Can Be
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Ticket to Ride
I have not yet heard who won Idol so pleeease don't tell me! I'm going to miss it tomorrow night which means I'll have to wait until Sunday, although I can pretty much guarantee I'll hear the winner by accident before then.
I'm going to see Bell X1 tonight. The only thing I remember about seeing them at Mercury Lounge was that they were the shortest band I've ever seen barring the extremely tall lead singer (who Alex just told me was gay, I had no idea?!)
Tomorrow is Alton Towers! Yeah! Its like my annual trip to Great Adventure, but English style.
I have nothing exciting to say.
Current Music: DNA feat. Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner
I'm going to see Bell X1 tonight. The only thing I remember about seeing them at Mercury Lounge was that they were the shortest band I've ever seen barring the extremely tall lead singer (who Alex just told me was gay, I had no idea?!)
Tomorrow is Alton Towers! Yeah! Its like my annual trip to Great Adventure, but English style.
I have nothing exciting to say.
Current Music: DNA feat. Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner
Sunday, May 21, 2006
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
It's been another lovely week of putting off doing my dissertation. It went like this:
Tuesday
Miss Laura came over for a stir fry and The OC.
Wednesday
Ana and I went to Maristela's house in Greenwich. The day included shopping at Asda, kickass pasta, double kickass baklava, and the Barcelona v Arsenal game.
Thursday
Dave and I attempted to go on the Eye and of course ended up not because the weather turned to crap.
Laura and I got lost in Watford (shocker) but she finally managed to get tickets for today's playoff game in Cardiff (which Watford won, good job!)
Then we went for £3 pizza on Goodge Street, yum.
Friday
I had an interview to pull pints at concerts and festivals for a measly £5.20/hour. Who cares though, I'll hopefully be working at Take That and Robbie Williams shows!
I also said a sad goodbye to Elliott. Katherine's 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' and Taylor's 'Try a Little Tenderness' were grrreat.
Saturday
I worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Annual Conference at the Edgware Rd. Hilton. My job was to assist the Official Documents office with my friend (Argentinian/Italian Daniela) from uni and a French guy from LSE named Jerome. We have the most laid back boss ever. We collated folders by language and went home after 3 hours. Let's just say I wasn't paid £5.20/hr. for that; it was about 6x more.
An old man at the bus stop near the hotel asked me which bus he should take to some destination I didn't understand. Other people couldn't understand him either so he just waited. Then four nurses came down the street from St. Mary's hospital to retrieve him saying "I thought he was sleeping!"
I had the National Lottery on TV while I was making dinner. There was a guy running across the stage with a posterboard yelling something which I didn't catch. Then the lottery shut off its live feed saying they were sorry for the disruption which was pretty funny. The story is now mysteriously missing from the internet.
I stayed in and watched the Eurovision contest, which the ever so talented Maria Menounos co-hosted. I sat there in total
shock and then giggles at how the countries are completely biased (ex: Norway giving Finland, Denmark and Sweden the top votes; Armenia giving Lithuania, Russia, and Latvia the top votes.) I am still surprised that Serbia gave the greatest points to Bosnia, does that seem weird to anyone else? Also,
Finland won and they looked like monsters/boars/things nightmares are made of. The song was a bit soft for their heavy metal style, and it just looked weird when the lead monster, er singer, was holding their winning bouquet of flowers. The photo of them talking into mics during the press conference is priceless.
Tuesday
Miss Laura came over for a stir fry and The OC.
Wednesday
Ana and I went to Maristela's house in Greenwich. The day included shopping at Asda, kickass pasta, double kickass baklava, and the Barcelona v Arsenal game.
Thursday
Dave and I attempted to go on the Eye and of course ended up not because the weather turned to crap.
Laura and I got lost in Watford (shocker) but she finally managed to get tickets for today's playoff game in Cardiff (which Watford won, good job!)
Then we went for £3 pizza on Goodge Street, yum.
Friday
I had an interview to pull pints at concerts and festivals for a measly £5.20/hour. Who cares though, I'll hopefully be working at Take That and Robbie Williams shows!
I also said a sad goodbye to Elliott. Katherine's 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' and Taylor's 'Try a Little Tenderness' were grrreat.
Saturday
I worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Annual Conference at the Edgware Rd. Hilton. My job was to assist the Official Documents office with my friend (Argentinian/Italian Daniela) from uni and a French guy from LSE named Jerome. We have the most laid back boss ever. We collated folders by language and went home after 3 hours. Let's just say I wasn't paid £5.20/hr. for that; it was about 6x more.
An old man at the bus stop near the hotel asked me which bus he should take to some destination I didn't understand. Other people couldn't understand him either so he just waited. Then four nurses came down the street from St. Mary's hospital to retrieve him saying "I thought he was sleeping!"
I had the National Lottery on TV while I was making dinner. There was a guy running across the stage with a posterboard yelling something which I didn't catch. Then the lottery shut off its live feed saying they were sorry for the disruption which was pretty funny. The story is now mysteriously missing from the internet.
I stayed in and watched the Eurovision contest, which the ever so talented Maria Menounos co-hosted. I sat there in total
shock and then giggles at how the countries are completely biased (ex: Norway giving Finland, Denmark and Sweden the top votes; Armenia giving Lithuania, Russia, and Latvia the top votes.) I am still surprised that Serbia gave the greatest points to Bosnia, does that seem weird to anyone else? Also,
Finland won and they looked like monsters/boars/things nightmares are made of. The song was a bit soft for their heavy metal style, and it just looked weird when the lead monster, er singer, was holding their winning bouquet of flowers. The photo of them talking into mics during the press conference is priceless.isjdf;ojsrg'pkmsrb'ms'vpjm
Sunday
I worked again for the bank today. I arrived at 10:30 am, did a minimal amount of work, was told to go to lunch at 11:45 am and not to return until 2:00 pm! The three of us went all the way to the Tate Britain instead, which was, uh, really random. Phil Collins filmed a dance marathon of Palestinian teenagers (I heard some Smiths and dancy stuff) and showed what happened in that period (how there was a power outage due to local problems and unrest, etc.) It was one of those things you couldn't stop watching even though it was just people dancing. Upon our return to work, we did some more minimal things and left at 3:30 pm. Keep in mind that I have friends working 12 hour shifts on their feet giving directions to attendees from 5:00 am on. Suckers!!!
Then was the pub quiz at The Black Sheep. I quite often get 40-45 questions out of 50 wrong on this quiz. But did you know that Jimmy Page's band pre-Led Zeppelin was The Yardbirds? Because I actually did!
~Back to our regularly scheduled post~
I forgot to mention that Guiding Light won four Emmys for Lead Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, and Younger Actor which is unheard of for GL. Also, Sandy Foster fell off a cliff and died, which is too bad because I met him in Grand Central Station when I was in a drunken state, I told him this and then explained to him that I had to run because I was late for a Met game, as if he really cared. Who knew that in a year's time he'd be stalking Tammy and consequently fall to his death?
RIP Sandy Foster (2003-2006)
My old company's annual Spring Convention started this weekend in Las Vegas. This would have been my fourth year going if I had stayed with them. Which I should have done considering they've got Bill Clinton as the speaker for the opening session!!!! Makes my job as Melissa Rivers' agent's escort from the airport to the hotel last year seem pretty insignificant right about now.
Current Music: Snow Patrol - Hands Open
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Deception At Its Worst (A Play in Three Parts)
I saw Noel Gallagher last night! I saw Noel Gallagher last night! OMG!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!
The anticipation for my story is probably killing you all, but unfortunately it was not as exciting as it sounds. Basically, I headed for the toilets after the Shack gig ended at King's College Student Union and I saw him standing at the back near the bar. There were a couple of people around him, and he was in quite a happy mood but as I passed I figured he would soon be moving himself through the venue towards either the band or the exit. Thinking that with my luck I would probably get shunned I just kept moving. I was right near him though, closer than I've ever been before so I was very thrilled anyway. I have to say, he's shockingly really good looking up close, and I'd expected him to look older than he did.
Shack were good, actually better than last time. I was a bit shocked and confused though when I saw them come onstage and the bass player was not the bass player who I'd met at The Social. I didn't understand how this had happened.
CAST
Act 1
Setting: Post-secret Shack gig at The Social, April 2006
The Scene: Refer to script written on Saturday, April 08, 2006
Act 2
Setting: Shack gig at King's College Student Union, May 15, 2006
The Scene: Opening act The Drella's play. The band are listenable but not great.
Jim "I want to be in the key of C" Noir perform as well and thankfully are talented, stimulative, and melodically refreshing.
Shack enter from stage left. Bass player from Act 1 is mysteriously absent; a different bass player is in attendance (as well as a brass section that are fun but are irrelevant to the play at the current time.)
Meredith seems confused (not just by the different bass player, but also by the massive excitement factor of the crowd and constant song requests shouted out by the audience.)
The band plays, exits, returns for one encore, the gig ends.
Noel Gallagher is spotted followed by Meredith hyperactivity overload. Dave quite possibly thinks she is weird.
Intermission
Act 3
Setting: The day after the gig Meredith is still confused about events from the night before as she sits at her computer in her bedroom
The Scene: The heroine is left pondering post-gig how the so-called bass player from Act 1 could have deceived her in such a way (how could her excitement of the past two months based on this one meeting have come to such a crushing end?) The pieces just didn't fit. The "bass player" had introduced himself as such in front of the actual band. The "bass player" had introduced Meredith and Brother to the lead singer. The "bass player" had talked about bass guitars with Brother as well as his full experience with the band - including joining them and playing with them.
The protagonist figures there has to be an explanation for who this mysterious bass player was. She paces her room scratching her head in thought. (Could he be a replacement bass player? Could he be a guitar tech who made up lies to impress his fellow bar patrons? Could he be a drunk who had wormed his way into the Shack table via mysterious blackmail?) She knew there was only one way to solve the case.
This was naturally on MySpace.
The femme fatale (that's me bitches) heads over to Shack's MySpace page. After confirming the bass player is officially a one Pete Wilkinson who had performed the night before, she then searches the "Comments" section. It's there. In plain black writing. The imitation bass player from The Social . . . and what is he named? None other than Tufnell, as in Tufnell Park where he had told Meredith and Brother he lived!
Meredith reads the comment aloud in disbelief: "Legends. Can I just say that Butterfly is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Absolute genius. Cracking show tonight at King's College. Those stairs were shite though!"
Meredith's jaw drops - Shack's #1 groupie??
The star of the show has been duped (she displays her feelings of hurt at this betrayal by pouting for approximately 10 seconds.) She then resumes skipping around the flat at having had spotted Noel Gallagher the night before. (Spotlight dims, curtains close.)
(Cast bows.)
The anticipation for my story is probably killing you all, but unfortunately it was not as exciting as it sounds. Basically, I headed for the toilets after the Shack gig ended at King's College Student Union and I saw him standing at the back near the bar. There were a couple of people around him, and he was in quite a happy mood but as I passed I figured he would soon be moving himself through the venue towards either the band or the exit. Thinking that with my luck I would probably get shunned I just kept moving. I was right near him though, closer than I've ever been before so I was very thrilled anyway. I have to say, he's shockingly really good looking up close, and I'd expected him to look older than he did.
Shack were good, actually better than last time. I was a bit shocked and confused though when I saw them come onstage and the bass player was not the bass player who I'd met at The Social. I didn't understand how this had happened.
Deception At Its Worst
(A Play in Three Parts)
CAST
Shack - A band from Liverpool
Shack Roadies - Wannabe rock stars who assist the band with tour equipment
Meredith - 26 year old International Relations Student bumming around London
Brother (name has been removed for Googling reasons) - Aforementioned's brother visiting London
The Drella's - Opening act for second Shack gig
Jim Noir - Opening act for second Shack gig
Dave - Meredith's significant other in attendance at second Shack gig
Noel Gallagher - Mastermind of rock band Oasis
Annoying girl - Extra who dances in Meredith's way who she wants to punch in the face
Shack Gig-Goers
The Social Bar Patrons
Act 1
Setting: Post-secret Shack gig at The Social, April 2006
The Scene: Refer to script written on Saturday, April 08, 2006
Act 2
Setting: Shack gig at King's College Student Union, May 15, 2006
The Scene: Opening act The Drella's play. The band are listenable but not great.
Jim "I want to be in the key of C" Noir perform as well and thankfully are talented, stimulative, and melodically refreshing.
Shack enter from stage left. Bass player from Act 1 is mysteriously absent; a different bass player is in attendance (as well as a brass section that are fun but are irrelevant to the play at the current time.)
Meredith seems confused (not just by the different bass player, but also by the massive excitement factor of the crowd and constant song requests shouted out by the audience.)
The band plays, exits, returns for one encore, the gig ends.
Noel Gallagher is spotted followed by Meredith hyperactivity overload. Dave quite possibly thinks she is weird.
Intermission
Act 3
Setting: The day after the gig Meredith is still confused about events from the night before as she sits at her computer in her bedroom
The Scene: The heroine is left pondering post-gig how the so-called bass player from Act 1 could have deceived her in such a way (how could her excitement of the past two months based on this one meeting have come to such a crushing end?) The pieces just didn't fit. The "bass player" had introduced himself as such in front of the actual band. The "bass player" had introduced Meredith and Brother to the lead singer. The "bass player" had talked about bass guitars with Brother as well as his full experience with the band - including joining them and playing with them.
The protagonist figures there has to be an explanation for who this mysterious bass player was. She paces her room scratching her head in thought. (Could he be a replacement bass player? Could he be a guitar tech who made up lies to impress his fellow bar patrons? Could he be a drunk who had wormed his way into the Shack table via mysterious blackmail?) She knew there was only one way to solve the case.
This was naturally on MySpace.
The femme fatale (that's me bitches) heads over to Shack's MySpace page. After confirming the bass player is officially a one Pete Wilkinson who had performed the night before, she then searches the "Comments" section. It's there. In plain black writing. The imitation bass player from The Social . . . and what is he named? None other than Tufnell, as in Tufnell Park where he had told Meredith and Brother he lived!
Meredith reads the comment aloud in disbelief: "Legends. Can I just say that Butterfly is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Absolute genius. Cracking show tonight at King's College. Those stairs were shite though!"
Meredith's jaw drops - Shack's #1 groupie??
The star of the show has been duped (she displays her feelings of hurt at this betrayal by pouting for approximately 10 seconds.) She then resumes skipping around the flat at having had spotted Noel Gallagher the night before. (Spotlight dims, curtains close.)
(Cast bows.)
The End
Monday, May 15, 2006
I'm in the Mood for...Butt?
I went to the gym at 9:30 am this morning. I didn't do anything too strenuous, plus I had a roll with butter afterwards so I guess that kind of canceled it out, oh wells me.
Saturday night was Joy's birthday at The Winchester. They played hip hop and I was happy. The only bad thing was that the DJ started repeating songs later in the night. If you are going to repeat a song, don't make it O.P.P. for God's sake.
Yesterday I went to Tinseltown in Farringdon (which basically looks like the Meatpacking District.) I had the grossest hamburger in the history of ever. After contemplating what the lingering taste in my mouth reminded me of for the next 6 hours, I finally realized that the flavor was probably that of what it would taste like if I had went into the diner's kitchen and licked the grease off the grill with my tongue. My "Lost in Shake-lation" Snickers milkshake was good though.
I'm taking Liz for a belated birthday lunch at Bodean's today. It looks like it has Brother Jimmy's type food. And they have Boston Butt Sandwiches, hahaha!
Current Music: Better Than Ezra - Our Finest Year
Saturday night was Joy's birthday at The Winchester. They played hip hop and I was happy. The only bad thing was that the DJ started repeating songs later in the night. If you are going to repeat a song, don't make it O.P.P. for God's sake.
Yesterday I went to Tinseltown in Farringdon (which basically looks like the Meatpacking District.) I had the grossest hamburger in the history of ever. After contemplating what the lingering taste in my mouth reminded me of for the next 6 hours, I finally realized that the flavor was probably that of what it would taste like if I had went into the diner's kitchen and licked the grease off the grill with my tongue. My "Lost in Shake-lation" Snickers milkshake was good though.
I'm taking Liz for a belated birthday lunch at Bodean's today. It looks like it has Brother Jimmy's type food. And they have Boston Butt Sandwiches, hahaha!
Current Music: Better Than Ezra - Our Finest Year
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Better than Idol?
If you are English and plan on watching American Idol on Sunday, then don't read this.
Fuel has offered Chris Daughtry a job as their new lead singer!!! Awesomeness.
I want Elliott to win, but I still think Katherine will.
Current Music: Marvelous 3 - Freak of the Week
Fuel has offered Chris Daughtry a job as their new lead singer!!! Awesomeness.
I want Elliott to win, but I still think Katherine will.
Current Music: Marvelous 3 - Freak of the Week
Friday, May 12, 2006
Return of the Mack
I'm back! How excited are you? Is anyone even reading this? Yeah, that's what I thought.
The parents have left after a week and a bit here with a trip in between to Italy and Slovenia (that they somehow forgot to take me on.) We did the usual touristy things - Changing of the Guard, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Parliament, Greenwich, etc. I also brought them out to Zensai Bar for Mairead's birthday. My mom liked being out but my dad felt like everyone was staring at him and wanted to get out of there ASAP.
In the interim while they were off exploring caves and eating pasta, Thom visited for two days before staring his 48 day tour of Europe. It was the poor guy's birthday and he had to hang out with me and my friends. I also had to finish my final paper of the semester during most that day, so I can pretty much guarantee he had a crappy birthday. On top of that, I forced him to go to XFM's First Friday the next night. He was still deaf when I left him at Russell Square on Saturday, sorry man!
I haven't been up to too much over the past two weeks otherwise. Just been going out, finished my papers, got treated to my dad's yummy cooking, went to Ben's house for his birthday dinner, had end of course drinks, went to a comedy night, and did a pub crawl through which I remained sober.
I've also been bumping into lots of people which is weird because that never happens to me in London. About a month ago I bumped into Zoe and Louise in Hampstead. Then, on the day of Ben's birthday dinner, I got into the same tube car as him in the middle of the day which was really random. On Sunday I was eating lunch (broccoli & spinach pie, yum!) at The Big Chill and I saw the drummer from Razorlight who I'd met at a bar in L.A. last year. I didn't go up to him this time, but he was super nice last year. Then, the other day, all separately within about an hour, I bumped into Finnish Ana, Mexican Esmeralda, and Brazilian Ernesto. I wasn't even near school either.
This week's NME lists the Top 50 Music Heroes as voted by readers, which obviously means the order was changed by the editors. Somehow Pete Doherty ended up at #2. The part about his entry that caught my eye was this passage:
Hey! I never see junkies on the high street, just dealers, geez.
Current Music: The Beatles - No Reply
The parents have left after a week and a bit here with a trip in between to Italy and Slovenia (that they somehow forgot to take me on.) We did the usual touristy things - Changing of the Guard, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Parliament, Greenwich, etc. I also brought them out to Zensai Bar for Mairead's birthday. My mom liked being out but my dad felt like everyone was staring at him and wanted to get out of there ASAP.
In the interim while they were off exploring caves and eating pasta, Thom visited for two days before staring his 48 day tour of Europe. It was the poor guy's birthday and he had to hang out with me and my friends. I also had to finish my final paper of the semester during most that day, so I can pretty much guarantee he had a crappy birthday. On top of that, I forced him to go to XFM's First Friday the next night. He was still deaf when I left him at Russell Square on Saturday, sorry man!
I haven't been up to too much over the past two weeks otherwise. Just been going out, finished my papers, got treated to my dad's yummy cooking, went to Ben's house for his birthday dinner, had end of course drinks, went to a comedy night, and did a pub crawl through which I remained sober.
I've also been bumping into lots of people which is weird because that never happens to me in London. About a month ago I bumped into Zoe and Louise in Hampstead. Then, on the day of Ben's birthday dinner, I got into the same tube car as him in the middle of the day which was really random. On Sunday I was eating lunch (broccoli & spinach pie, yum!) at The Big Chill and I saw the drummer from Razorlight who I'd met at a bar in L.A. last year. I didn't go up to him this time, but he was super nice last year. Then, the other day, all separately within about an hour, I bumped into Finnish Ana, Mexican Esmeralda, and Brazilian Ernesto. I wasn't even near school either.
This week's NME lists the Top 50 Music Heroes as voted by readers, which obviously means the order was changed by the editors. Somehow Pete Doherty ended up at #2. The part about his entry that caught my eye was this passage:
"But is he really still your hero?...Now that he's spotted in the tabloids every other day looking no different to the junkies passed out on Kentish Town High Street?"
Hey! I never see junkies on the high street, just dealers, geez.
Current Music: The Beatles - No Reply
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