These Rides Aren't Working Anymore

Productive weekend all in all.

Friday night =

Rock Band

+

Three of Cups
+

Cheeseburger Deluxe
Saturday =

Dunkin Donuts Medium Coffee + Skim milk + 2 Sweet n Lows
+

Manicure/Pedicure +

Bagels (which H&H double-screwed up AGAIN) with Kat and Heather +

Kickboxing +

All of the above in a monsoon +

Adventureland

+

The Pub

Sunday =

Treadmill --> Busted Knee --> Elliptical

+

Topshop

+

Soho Park

I've been to a bunch of gigs lately (all at Bowery.) Ladyhawke was fab! Not amazing but I love that album so really good minus a few ommissions. The jam on the end of 'Paris is Burning' was the best.

White Lies were decent. It's amazing how deep the singer's voice is despite him looking about 18 years old. Good stuff, not in love with them but "Farewell to the Fairground" is still pretty ace.

Friendly Fires were highly entertaining and the singer can certainly shake his booty! Here's a sample (it was much more all over the place during other songs.)

I also saw The Rakes but wasn't feeling it. The singer looked like Melanie's husband which distracted me because I kept thinking it was Eric singing and dancing.

ksdjghushg

Now I plan to take my super slow computer and throw it at the wall. Goodnight.

Mmmango

I'm going to some ghetto dentist tomorrow for a cleaning, exam, and whitening for $1. I saw this ad on Facebook and clicked on it thinking a whitening for $1, WOW!! - and that's how I got this appointment. So, if I show up to work on Tuesday with no teeth, ya'll know why.

Just watched the final Flight of the Conchords, sad!! Speaking of that, Dave was here for a visit and we went to some of the show locations bc we are mega dorks.

Henry St. Apt. New Zealand Consulate (actually a disgusting "disbandoned" building) Dave's Pawn Shop I introduced Dave to Red Mango. We were appalled to find that the inside of the yogurt was hollow! I'm hungry after looking at that photo (that's kiwi and Golden Grahams on top in case you were wondering.)

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I went to a bridal event at Bed, Bath, and Beyond last week. They pretty much forced you to learn about china and other household products and tried to get you to register for them. The strange thing about this event is that you were contacted over email about it if you've already registered at BB and B. So, why were they trying to get everyone to register at this shindig if everyone there was already registered?! Anyway, they had 20 raffles for some kickass housewares and unfortunately I didn't win (I'm so good at winning things like that too, I was disappointed - they called #s 35, 36, and 38 and I was number 37.) We did get a goodie bag (actually, an extremely heavy bag that I barely got home) full of random fancy glass things which was fun. I also met Monique Lhuillier whose name I can never spell correctly. She explained her entire line of china to me which was kind of awkward but she was lovely.

Melanie wore one of her creations back in 2005

I am super excited to see Ladyhawke on Tuesday. Except that I heard she's really bad live. And I also heard that she has Asperger's Syndrome. Putting two and two together, well, I don't have high expectations but we'll see. I also have White Lies/Friendly Fires on Thursday. I only know 2 WL songs though, I'd better hop on that.

Highlight of the weekend:
Dancing with the girls to the Ronson/Winehouse version of "Valerie" all over the front of Fiddlesticks at 8 pm last night. Wedding "do" playlist please!

Rabbit in Your Headlights

I went to Scottsdale for work last week. The hotel was really nice, but the rabbits were a little scary. At night there'd be clusters of them in the dark waiting to jump me, it was super creepy.

I left the hotel at 4:30 am to go to the airport. Flight was fine, but when I landed the car never showed. I called and they said the flight didn't land till 4:45 pm. Well, actually, no dipshits, it landed at 1:45 pm as scheduled and I am standing in the freezing cold, ugh!!!

Saw the Bing girls for Sherri's birthday that night at Divine Bar, then went for food at Vinyl with Vicki and Thom. There was a Vanilla Ice doll on display hehe.

Yesterday I got woken up at 8:30 am by a hang up phone call. It was Saturday errand day and I did nothing but catch up on all of my DVRed shows after the gym. I also watched Eagle vs. Shark which was aiight.

Today I went to the West Village for brunch with Kat, Ryan, and Sanj because he's in town for the week. We went to Off the Wagon after for some pitchers. Yeah Sunday drinks in the pub!

Dave is coming for a visit on Thursday (woohoo!!) I'm looking for fun things to do. Ideas I am considering (that primarily include food):

- Peanut Butter Co.
- Long Island Day (show him wedding venue, hotel, etc.)
- Dinners with various peeps
- Possible football match (but prob on Fox Soccer Channel in the apt.)
- Ghetto 1st ave. Indian food
- Flight of the Conchords Season 2 marathon
- Scavenger hunt led by Ryan's dude
- Greenpoint warehouse giggage

Any other ideas?

If I hear about school snow days tomorrow one more time I'm going to throw the TV out the window.

Oscar Predictions 2009!

Lead Actor - Sean Penn
Lead Actress - Kate Winslet
Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger
Supporting Actress - Viola Davis
Animated - Wall-E
Foreign - Waltz with Bashir
Costume - Duchess
Make-Up - Benjamiun Button
Song - "Down to Earth"
Director - Slumdog
Screenplay - In Bruges
Adapted Screenplay - Slumdog
Best Picture - Slumdog

Everything's Coming Up Roses

I woke up at 9 again this morning. I don't like to sleep late because I feel like I'm wasting the day, but this is getting ridiculous.

So, I went to Bagel Express and had one of these:

But the dude forgot to put this on which mad me mad!

Now I'm watching this:

Which is kind of what I look like right now.

My favorite movie fight scene:

Though this one is pretty good too:

Hugh still has the best hair ever.

Just to show off my Martha Stewart skills, check out my Super Bowl spread:

I went here for the first time on Friday: I felt like such a fatass after devouring a bag full of crap that I went here afterwards:

Yesterday morning (again I had woken up at 9 am), I did a load of errands and when I came back there were a few bouquets in the lobby. There were lavender roses that were gorgeous and I was thinking I'd never seen roses that color and how I wish they were for me. About 2 hrs later I got a call that Meghan received flowers so I went down to get them for her, and they were actually for me - and it was the that same bouquet! I took a photo bc I love them so much:Last night, Heather, Liz, and I went to one of the Indian (well, Bangladeshi actually) restaurants on 1st Ave. in the East Village. I can't believe how ridiculous this place was - there were tacky chili pepper lights strung throughout the place, some weird dancy Happy Birthday song would play when people were celebrating, I had to shimmy sideways just to get to the table, and they practically ran us out of the restaurant for taking to long to drink our BYOB wine. When we left, the guy at the door was like bye thanks! and physically pushed me out the door! At least it was only $15 per person for the whole meal. Whatevs, I still need to take Dave to one of these places because they're so ridiculous.We went to 2nd on 2nd for karaoke which I hadn't done in almost a year. I was so excited, they actually had 2 of the 3 songs I've been dying to do at karaoke that I never thought I'd find anywhere. I did "Foundations" (Kate Nash) - not very good and kind of sounded like a Valentine's Day rage song, but at least it has a good beat for those who didn't know it. I can't do a "mockney" accent to save my life (not that I could do a proper one either.)

Then I did "Can't Get Along (Without You)" (Hard-Fi) which made me super excited because I've been wanting to belt that for months. And belt I did!! A guy in the crowd even gave me a rose after my performance.

I'm about to talk to Dave on this:

I'm planning on being lame and watch movies all day (10 Things I Hate About You is next.) Then step class, and later, I may be going to a party to celebrate this:

Give Me Your Glass, It's Your Last, You're Too Wasted

I keep playing the Ladyhawke CD on repeat, but as much as I like it, the music kind of creeps me out. Not in an impending doom kind of way, just like I'm-in-some-weird-time-warp-to-somewhere-I-don't-know, it's just weird. Doesn't she kind of sound like Aimee Mann a la "Voices Carry?"

Also bought new Franz. Not loving it but got Roseland tickets (giving them the benefit of the doubt.) Live Franz is always a good thing.
lkh

I've got tickets to see Flight of the Conchords in April at Radio City too. Thank flipping God! I really might have killed someone if I had failed this time round.

For something different and requiring much patience, I'm going to an Oscar movie showcase the day before the awards. It's an entire day's worth of the best picture films in a row starting at 10:30 am. I'm looking forward to it, especially since Slumdog is the only one I've seen. Not looking forward to the fact that everyone I'm going with already saw Benjamin Button and plan to ditch during it, and I haven't heard great things about it, AND it's like 12 hours long. I plan on sticking it out though. We'll be seeing...

On Friday night Jenn had a Fire Island-themed surprise for us at her apartment - custom made t-shirts with FI stuff on the front and our nicknames on each of the backs. LOVE IT!My nickname is based on this "gentleman":

We did make your own pizza w/ridiculous dessert and then went to see He's Just Not That Into You. Despite all the "trendy" celebrities in the film, it was pretty crap. The lead chick - I mean seriously? Are people really that oblivious in real life? I got so mad when that book came out because my motto prior to that was "Not Everyone Has To Like You." Total rip off!

Today I stuffed my face at Ali and Tarik's housewarming and then I did my taxes. A big win on the federal refund but only getting $6 back from the State. That won't even buy me lunch!!

I have to admit I've never heard TV On the Radio before and I'm watching them on SNL. The music sounded really good until the guy started singing, if that's what you'd call it. Not feeling this.

Does anyone want to come with me to (try to) see Lily Allen play Bowery for free on Tuesday? Matt & Kim are playing too if that helps?

luguug

I'm going to a friend's leaving party tomorrow where we're going to be "graffiti-ing" the walls of the apartment. Not sure yet what that means but I'm looking forward to that and my first venture into Park Slope.

Last weekend, Heather, Kristine, and I went to the 14th Street Y because Glenna's boyfriend was DJing a party there. This was the order of events:

1. Cook Pad Thai for Heather

2. Eat gross Pad Thai with mouth on fire/drink bottle of white wine

3. Kristine comes over, proceed to pound bottle of red wine4. Kristine puts on Meghan's blanket and acts like monster5. Arrive at the Y, realize party is in the dance studio, and remove shoes like everyone else6. Observe eclectic characters7. Drink free wine8. Spill wine all over myself9. Dance10. Drink more wine11. Pose with mannequin legs
12. Drink MORE wine

13. Stumble around

14. Wake up the next morning in make-up, underwear and socks

15. Find open plastic bag next to bed, prepared for upchuck situation/find chocolate mini-cake next to bed, obviously forgot to eat it and passed out

16. Think back and don't remember 2nd half of night

17. Eat chocolate cake

18. Check phone and find in/outgoing messages:

Jenn: What r u doing tonight?

Me to Jenn: At via W

Me to Jenn: Where you at@ what you/emingm

Me to Jenn: Wio what where and why?

Jenn: U r wasted!!!

Me to Meghan: Ink

Me to Meghan: A vom have fun

Lovely!

I haven't drank like that in forever and to be quite honest it was the most fun I'd had in ages. I wasn't sick the next day at all, I even made it to the gym! The bit about blacking out made me think about how I went through a new drunken phase each year of college:

Freshman: Passing Out

Sophomore: Not remembering what happened the night before

Junior: Throwing up

Senior: Hangovers

I think it's (possibly) safe to say that me staying in tonight evens out my behavior from last weekend.

Wrap Up 2008

2008 was a weak year for music. No song came anywhere close to the favorites in my past lists (and nothing can touch 'Charlotte' by light years.) I decided to do a list this year because I was smart and started a Best of 2008 playlist on my iTunes from January and added music gradually, so I figured, why let that go to waste? Totally unenthusiastic about this list but nevertheless, here are my top tunes of '08 (well, of course, the tunes that either came out or I first heard in '08):

60. Kid Rock - All Summer Long
59. Panic at the Disco - Nine in the Afternoon
58. Duffy - Mercy
57. The Pigeon Detectives - Romantic Type
56. Jack Penate - Have I Been a Fool?
55. Madonna - 4 Minutes
54. REM - Supernatural Superserious
53. Panic at the Disco - That Green Gentleman
52. David Cook - Light On
51. Take That - Greatest Day
50. Scouting for Girls - Elvis Ain't Dead
49. Paramore - That's What You Get
48. Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Epic Last Song
47. M.I.A. - Paper Planes
46. Sam Sparro - Black and Gold
45. ADELE - Hometown Glory
44. We Are Scientists - Lethal Enforcer
43. Kevin Rudolf - Let it Rock
42. Ne-Yo - Miss Independent
41. Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry on Their Own
40. The Streets - Everything is Borrowed
39. The Kooks - Always Where I Need to Be
38. Jesse McCartney - Leavin'
37. Oasis - Bag It Up
36. Cherry Ghost - Thirst for Romance
35. Britney Spears - Piece of Me
34. Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You
33. The Fratellis - Mistress Mabel
32. Gavin DeGraw - In Love with a Girl
31. The Ting Tings - We Walk
30. Kaiser Chiefs - Always Happens Like That
29. Keane - The Lovers Are Losing
28. New Kids on the Block - Summertime
27. Coldplay - Violet Hill
26. Snow Patrol - Take Back the City
25. The Ting Tings - Shut Up and Let Me Go
24. Kate Nash - Pumpkin Soup
23. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
22. Glasvegas - Geraldine
21. Ray J - Sexy Can I
20. Justin Nozuka - After Tonight
19. David Archuleta - Crush
18. The Verve - Love Is Noise
17. The Streets - On the Edge of a Cliff
16. A.i. - Tell Me U Love Me
15. The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
14. Carolina Liar - Show Me What I'm Looking For
13. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
12. Oasis - Falling Down
11. The Answering Machine - Lightbulbs
10. Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye
9. Pigeon Detectives - This Is an Emergency
8. Beyonce - Single Ladies
7. The Ting Tings - Great DJ
6. The Enemy - This Song
5. MGMT - Electric Feel
4. Carolina Liar - I'm Not Over
3. The Wombats - Moving to New York
2. Keane - Spiralling
1. Ladyhawke - My Delirium

So much pop in there. I'm kind of grossed out by myself right now.

2008 Gigs (Band/Opening Act - Venue)
AC/DC - Wachovia Arena
Ash/Levy - Music Hall of Williamsburg
Augustana/Wild Sweet Orange/David Ford - Bowery Ballroom
Bell XI - Bowery Ballroom
Delays/Scouting for Girls - Bowery Ballroom
Editors/Louis XIV - Terminal 5
Elbow - Webster Hall
The Enemy - Bowery Ballroom
The Fratellis/Airborne Toxic Event - Webster Hall
George Michael - MSG
Jack Penate - Mercury Lounge
Longwave - Mercury Lounge
New Kids on the Block/Natasha Bedingfield - Nassau Coliseum
Oasis/The Cardinals - MSG
Panic at the Disco/Dashboard Confessional/Plain White T's/The Cab - Izod Center (it was free, alright??)
The Pigeon Detectives/Your Vegas - Bowery Ballroom
The Stills - Bowery Ballroom
The Ting Tings - Mercury Lounge
The Ting Tings - Bowery Ballroom
The Ting Tings - Webster Hall
The Verve - WAMU Theater
The Who - Orpheum Theater
The Wombats - Blender Theater

I'd have to say my fave gigs were:
#1) Ash - Music Hall of Williamsburg
#2) New Kids on the Block - Nassau Coliseum (I shit you not)
#3) George Michael - MSG (I double shit you not)
#4) The Who - Orpheum Theater
#5) Oasis - MSG

And for a final shit you not, Keane's 'Perfect Symmetry' was my favorite album of 2008. Really! I'm sooo not kidding!!

Other albums I enjoyed (I did not hear much new music this year as you can tell by both my song list and albums):
Carolina Liar - Coming to Terms, The Wombats - A Guide to Love, Loss, and Desperation, Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns, The Enemy - We'll Live and Die in These Towns, The Streets - Everything is Borrowed

People I enjoyed in 2008: Chuck Bass, Rhet Butler, my Weight Watchers leader, Danny Boyle, Desmond, the casts of Spring Awakening and 13, my new fave football team "Dumb," and the chick from The Ting Tings.
uguiug
People I wanted to punch in the face in 2008: Katy Perry and Secondhand Serenade for making two of the worst songs I have EVER heard, Piers Morgan, Sarah Palin, whoever was in charge of the ticker announcing the Stephen Gerrard incident every three seconds, Ogden Cap Properties, Nanny Carrie, Obama supporters, Led Zeppelin for waking me up every morning, the step teacher Monday nights at the 91st St. NYSC, Deanna Pappas, the asshead who attacked Noel Gallagher forcing the cancellation of the Terminal 5 show, and finally, anybody involved with the film Nights in Rodanthe.

2008 was a mega year for me. A few downers - job hunt was still on for the first quarter of the year, my grandfather passed away in December. But, a lot of amazing things happened as well - in April I was offered a job as a manger in my department (which came as a complete surprise to me.) By May I had lost 15 lbs. In June I moved back to the city into ahhhh a luxury building. Fire Island was spread out through the summer. In July our dept. had a great E3 including sitting in the 3rd row of a 1000 person theater for a private concert by The Who. A few weeks later I went to London on a work trip (for something unimaginable) and on that trip I got engaged. In August, Dave and I had a small civil ceremony in order to get the visa paperwork going. We did it at the last minute on a sunny day in the conservatory gardens in Central Park and spent our wedding night celebrating with pints in the pub watching the Olympics. I went on a couple of work trips in the Summer/Fall (I'm all for traveling for work) including LA, Vegas, Dallas, and San Francisco. In October we announced our Beatles video game. The end of the year saw us book our wedding venue and I took two trips to London with the GBP down to less than $1.50. 2008 was one of the best years I have had in a loooong time. 2009 has been uneventful thusfar but that's okay, it's only halfway through January. I did get a load of stuff on mega discount today including a pair of $25 workout pants for $2.99. I hope the recession goes away but not the sales!

Vampire Weekend

Heather and I are heading to Jenn's apt later on so I thought I'd blog while I'm waiting. Watching What a Girl Wants for the tenth time. Amanda Bynes, will you switch bodies with me? Thanks!

Speaking of that, I decided to rejoin Weight Watchers today. I've gained back 6 lbs. since July, and with this being the year I'm getting married, I need to take care of flab sooner rather than later.

I also went errand psycho today. First to Dunkin Donuts for coffee, to WW, the bank, food shopping, back to the apt and cleaned, kickboxing, bought a birthday gift, CVS, did laundry, and cooked a low-fat Shepherd's Pie (suck that Gordon Ramsey.)

I saw Twilight last night. It was um...hmm how to describe it. Well, Meghan and I (and the entire theater) laughed at all of the parts where it was inappropriate to laugh, to give you an idea. Some things were just bizarre, like Edward's stares were intense (as they should have been), but they were overly creepy. I know he's a vampire, but something about him did not look right throughout the film. Some of the running bits looked totally ridiculous too. This will still probably be a movie I end up buying on DVD in the end just because.

Tomorrow I'm going for brunch to meet Kat's parents who are visiting. Then I've got a surprise party for a former co-worker in Port Washington. I'm going to try to go to step aerobics at 9 am but I doubt that will happen.

There's a song my kickboxing teacher always plays for the cool down which I really like. I just looked it up and it's Kelly Clarkson, I can't believe it! She shocks me every time, I never think it's her when it is and it's usually great. Oh, song is "Sober."