Problem with downloading

My hour commute to and from work each day gives me plenty of time to think and today I started thinking about the problem with downloading music. It's not the usual problem that most people talk about when they talk about downloading. My thoughts involve the quantity. When people go buy a CD in the store it is unusual, but not unheard of however, to buy more than maybe 5 at a time. But for the sake of this argument lets say on average you buy 2 CDs at a time. When you buy those CDs you rip off the plastic and pop one in your car and listen to it over and over for several days maybe weeks. You learn all the lyrics and song names, flip through the booklet, discover every bass drum hit and guitar solo. You listen to it until you are sick of it (love it or hate it the first time around).

Now lets look at downloading, in the span of an hour or two (depending on your download speed) you can have 4 albums and many other single songs. Three minutes to pop those onto your iPod and off you go. However, with the thousands of other songs on your iPod those albums get lost. You are too easily distracted and skip to another song or shuffle the songs with everything else. That experience is lost when you download. This is not true for everyone, every time they download and I try my darnedest to appreciate the whole album but its easy for things to get lost.

So my advice, for myself and everyone: Try a little harder, don't download 500 just to say you have them. Appreciate the music...all of it.

Health Care Reform?

?? Well ??

I have kept myself glued to the news, read every article watched all the news casts I can about the proposed bill. But I am still clueless. I like the idea of the public option (woo hoo socialism)! But like many people, I don't know how it is going to happen without raising taxes.

I think people are over reacting and not contributing to a mature conversation. The screaming and shouting and accusing other people of being nazi's and having nazi policies.

curious

I think the higher powers have decided that my life should run in one giant circle. Seriously! Every couple years I seem to have the same experiences. The same people move in and out, and the same feelings come back. Then just as quickly they pass and I think its over. But then out of the blue things come back.

It's weird. I would say its nothing but I've had one of these circles now happen twice (the same thing each time). Once Sophomore year of college and now once again. I might be making a big deal out of nothing but lets see.

Wonderful

I'm so happy right now. I just got rid of my first car and bought a brand new one....I'll be paying it off for the next 6 years but it was worth it. Then to make things even better I got a phone call from a job I interviewed for and they offered it to me. I accepted! While the pay isn't amazing, it will do for now. It's at a law firm in Bellevue! I'll be a legal secretary/office assistant.

It seems that just when I thought I was screwed, things started looking up! I can officially become an adult. Granted I will miss the security of knowing I can still work at PLU, but I need to finally get rid of that last little bit of security I was holding on to!

unemployment sucks

Okay, technically I have a job but it is only part-time and barely pays for bills. I am getting very discouraged at the moment. I have been looking for jobs for months and I'm not having any luck at all. I need something.....I can't ask my parents for money anymore!!! I'm not religious but I feel like now is a time to pray.

It's not a lack of qualifications, I think i have plenty of job experience in a wide variety of fields. Any company would be lucky to have me!

Something in the air

I don't know what's gotten into people, but I sure haven't done anything differently. Weird....

Beautiful

I can't believe I haven't posted this before. But this is wonderful and it makes me smile.
After 4 years the boys are finally back together again. And even better than that, Mark posted a photo from his Twitter of the boys back in the studio rehearsing for tour!!!!!

Seriously?

When it rains it pours.....

To Twitter or not to Twitter

I don't usually jump on board with the social networking phenomena. I had myspace several years after it started, then I deleted it (then got it again for band updates). My friends freshman of college made me get facebook (i had no idea what i was when i came into college). I didn't start a blog until almost 2 years after they became big.
Now Twitter! Originally I thought the idea behind twitter was stupid. Who cares about what I did today or an currently doing. I had facebook status updates thats all i needed. But recently I've been warming up to the idea. It would be kind of cool to post little updates about what I'm doing. For example, when I was waiting in the rain for brand new I could have posted an update. Because even with facebook updates it doesn't compare to Twitter. Plus if you update your status more than once or twice a week, people get annoyed, and its just unnecessary.
Part of me feels like Twitter would be something I use for a couple months then get sick of it. Plus I don't need another distraction online....facebook and this blog is enough. So we will see what happens in the coming weeks. We will see if I cave or if I hold out.

Tamborines, Confetti, Treadmills

Part 2: OK GO at Chop Suey
Second concert of the day (March 28). After Brand New/Jesse & Vinnie I went up a few blocks to Chop Suey to see OK Go. It seems almost too perfect that Brand New scheduled a show the same day I was already going to one. Not only that, but it was early enough in the day that I was able to go to both shows.
There was a slight hitch in what I thought was my perfect plan. I thought doors for OK Go opened at 7 and I got up there after Brand New at 7. I thought I would be able to go right in, but as it turns out, doors didn't open until 8 (well more like 8:15) so I froze in the cold for an hour. But the wait was worth it because I got right up front between Damien's mike and Andy's mike (I've never been on Andy's side of the stage). Chop Suey is so tiny--I was surprised the boys were playing there.
The first opening band, IO Echo was alright. The singer was a little spastic but her voice seemed decent. The second band was dreadful. Jaguar Love--I'd never heard of them. But I was not impressed. They sold themselves as dance rockish but it was just noise. The band got the crowd pretty worked up...why I'm not really sure. They ended their set by leaping into the crowd which dissolved into chaos real quick, I almost got hit in the head with a guitar as the guitar player got pushed back onto the stage and fell. Sadly I think Damien likes them...poor boy has bad taste in music...I caught him watching the final shit show from the stage wings and he seemed to be enjoying it.
Finally the band everyone came to see took the stage. They were looking dashing, as usual, in their suits--which is a slight change--usually Damien just wears a paisley button-up with dress pants and a tie. I was sad to see they retired the Million Ways dance. But when they played Here It Goes Again, the screen behind them displayed paisley with little spinning treadmills. They probably killed a small forest to provide all the confetti throughout the show. It was so cool, it rained confetti multiple times throughout the show. It seemed like this time there were more "hardcore" fans. I put it in quotes, because the last time I saw them it didn't feel the same. But nonetheless the put on a great show. Damien is a sarcastic asshole (self admitted). They played some new songs that will be on the album and they sound great. Can't wait for the album. They played an entire song with just handbells (the hardcore kind churches use....Damien gave us a nice story about the church as a segway). There were cameras placed throughout the stage focused on the band....Damien had one on his mic...which was sort of creepy. As all concerts do, this one ended too soon! I didn't wait around to say hi, which I sort of wish I had, but I was exhausted and I'm met them all before. I hope the album is released soon and they come back to make us all dance and throw confetti!

Rain, Forgotten Lyrics, Acoustic Guitars

Part 1: Brand New aka Jesse and Vinnie
Thank you Infinite Productions!!!! The boys and my old internship put on a surprise show yesterday (March 28 @ Neumos) I was lucky enough to find out the night before. I just had to go obviously! I love Brand New and to be able to see them in a smaller venue acoustic is a chance that should never be passed up. I knew I had to get there early to ensure I got a ticket, because hello its Brand New, that shit sells out fast!
I got to Neumos around 1:15, there were a few people already standing there. The info on the show said tickets would be sold when the door opened at 4. However, the few of us that were standing there were taken pity on and we got tickets early. So by 1:30 I had my ticket. I had nothing else to do but wait. Two and a half hours in the rain is boring and cold but I knew it would be worth it. We got inside and I was second row in front of dear Jesse. I was excited because I hadn't seen him since the summer during my internship.
The boys took the stage around 5:15 and were super funny. I thought Jesse was laid back at the solo show over the summer, but this was even better. He forgot the lyrics a couple times and Vinnie struggled to remember his part. "I feel like this is my first show" Vinnie said. But it was fun. They laughed it off, although Jessie apologized profusely after the third song he messed up on. It was Brand New in a way I haven't ever seen them. They weren't taking anything super seriously and because we were having a good time no matter what, they were too. They played a few new songs, including one jesse played at the solo show and a song vinnie wrote. About halfway through vinnie left the stage and jesse played solo for the rest of the show. We got some classics like Moshi Moshi and Jude Law and Soco Amaretto Lime.
Unfortunately it ended too soon! But jesse promised the whole band would be back. I would have loved to wait around and see the boys again (although I doubt Jesse would have remembered me), but I had to shoot up the hill to Chop Suey to see OK Go (to be discussed in Part 2).

My ears are still ringing

Yesterday I did the best thing ever!! I saw Brand New (okay just Jessie and Vinnie, but half of the band) play an acoustic show then I went and saw OK Go!! I've been to all-day concerts, but never two concerts in one day. It was an experience, not one I'd ever trade. I love Brand New more then anything so getting to see them again (I just saw Jessie this summer) was fantastic. Plus OK Go always puts on a good show, so that was fun too. I'll be posting pictures and reviews/critiques/my thoughts/whatever from both shows later today!

Pretty Woman

I love that movie, probably one of my favorites. I want (as I'm sure every girl does) some handsome gentleman to come sweep me off my feet. I pretend to be all cynical and independent--not saying I need someone in my life, but I'm a sucker of a little romance. I act like I think that kind of stuff is stupid, because honestly a lot of it is. But some of the little things are cute.
Usually I hate romance movies, but I can always watch Pretty Woman without getting that icky, downer, I'm never gonna have that, kind of feeling. Its romantic without being over the top. Plus Richard Gere is very very attractive in his smooth businessman character.

Sometimes People Surprise You

And you know what....its nice when they do!.....

And sometimes it's the same old thing.....

The 5 Stages

The final semester of my senior year has begun. What a weird feeling. I'm excited to be done. Last semester I had mixed feelings. I would be excited then the next minute I would be nervous and scared to death to graduate. I compare it to the 5 stages of grief, I see this in myself and in the people around me. Some deal with it differently then others, but we all go through it.

1. Denial: When summer rolled around, I didn't want to think about graduating. If I didn't hear or think about it, it wasn't happening.
2. Anger: This one I didn't experience all that much. I can't pinpoint any exact moments, but there were times in the fall when I got upset about things that I didn't need to get upset about. I know I did display anger around people and I normally keep that stuff to myself.
3. Bargaining: There wasn't much bargaining I could do, I either graduate in Dec or May or not at all.
4. Depression: This wasn't as severe as I think it could have been. I know there were times when I got very down about things.
5. Acceptance: And we have finally arrived. Three and a half months before the big day and I have finally realized I can't put it off. I like thinking back on the last 4 years and seeing how I have changed and all the things I have accomplished and all the things I will accomplish after I graduate.

the world keeps turning

Vacation is over, soon real life is gonna start. Well as real as a final semester of college can be. I've been back from DC for less than a week. It was a wonderful experience, I know for sure that DC i the city I want to live in. I want to work for a Senator and take the Metro into DC everyday. I've been applying for jobs like crazy-okay maybe not like crazy, but I've applied for roughly 10.

I'm scared that I won't find a job. Some of the people around me are having more luck than I am, however these same people are content to find a job here in Tacoma. I don't want to do that, I want to move away from Tacoma. I would prefer DC or somewhere else on the East Coast, but I could settle for Seattle.

Before my trip, I didn't want to graduate, I didn't want to be a part of the "adult" world. Now, upon my return, I can't wait to graduate. I want to be a part of the world I spent a week wandering through. I want to wear a power suit (or maybe a nice skirt suit) and be all important and walk past all the monuments.

Prepare for Take-off

T-minus 6 days until I leave for my trip to Washington DC. I have to admit I'm a little nervous. I'm really excited, but nervous. This is a big trip for me, not big in the sense of an exotic place, but this is my first trip alone all by myself. I get to make my schedule, where I want to go somewhere, what I want to see.

I'm scared arriving and departing, all the in between stuff is exciting. That might sound weird, but once I'm in DC I know what I want to do. When I arrive I'll be lost and alone-when I depart I will be lost. I have been having the most mixed emotions this week. I'm excited because on Sunday when I arrive I am going to haul my jet-lagged (hopefully not) butt to the Lincoln Memorial for an afternoon pre-inauguration event that consists of a concert, which I just learned might include Josh Groban (weeee.....I need an outfit that makes me look hot/keeps me warm/gets me noticed/etc.....) and President Obama and Vice President Biden (wow that sounds good to say) will be in attendance. So theoretically if luck is really on my side, I could meet Josh and the leader of our country in the same afternoon. And of course Josh will fall head over heels in love with me and we will get married and have beautiful babies...............okay so that is a stretch to say the least.

I am excited to see all the history. Once I figure out the transporation system in DC it will be easier, however-that is what I am worried about. I think/hope I'll figure it out relativly quickly but who knows.

I leave on Saturday and arrive in DC on Sunday at 7am-wish me luck!

Resolutions

Now that it's a new year, wow 2009 that seems weird, its time to make resolutions. However, I don't know if I have any. I have ones that work seem appropriate but I don't know if I could keep them or if I would want to. In some ways I feel like making resolutions is like saying "well I kind of fucked up last year so this year if I say these things out loud, I won't do it again." I don't ever want to live with regrets, granted I do have a few, but nothing that I feel really warrants repenting (which is kind of what a resolution is in a way).

I do have a few commitments and goals I want to achieve. I want to start exercising more (how cliche is that one) and since I'm graduating this year, I want to find a good job. I guess those could count as resolutions, however, I feel like calling them resolutions is setting myself up for failure. Because honestly, how many people keep their resolutions.

It feels weird that it's a new year. So much happened in my life last year. The month of January was amazing, wandering through the streets of London, finding our way on the Tube. When I got back to the US and campus, things got turned on its head a little. I got really sick and just had a really crappy semester, probably my worst all over semester-personally and academically. Around the end of April/beginning of May things began to get better and that momentum continued through the summer and into the present. I don't have too many complaints about this semester, there were some ups and there were some downs, but overall I think I will look back on this semester and be grateful it happened.

I'm entering this new year with no expectations of what it will bring, only that I want to make the most of every single day!