Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Green Day Awesomeness
Wow.
Went to the Green Day concert last night on the OnTap drunk bus. It was at Merriweather Post Pavilion, and we got there so late that we completely missed Jimmy Eat World. I was bummed about that for maybe five minutes... but then Green Day came on stage and rocked out.
I've been to some pretty sweet concerts in my young life - U2, Counting Crows, Weezer (twice!), Snow Patrol, The Killers, and pretty much any country music band/singer you can think of thanks to an ex and the white trashiest event in the history of the world called Country Concert. Green Day was easily one of the best I've ever experienced. They played almost every song from American Idiot and a ton from Dookie (including She, my favorite).
Every time they would start a new song I would shake Laurel and jump up and down - you know, to make sure she was paying attention.
The best part of the night was when Billie Joe announced that they were going to form a new band on stage and started asking people in the audience if anyone had experience playing drums, bass, and guitar. He then hand-picked three people to come up on stage and play. The drummer was this college guy wearing his frat letters. (And he wasn't too obnoxious, go figure!) The bass player was young, but he could play. Then Billie Joe picked a 13-year-old kid out of the crowd to play guitar. We were all holding our breath as he showed him the chords to play. The kid put on Billie Joe's guitar, took the pick and a deep breath, and played the chords perfectly! Everyone went nuts! The kids played as Green Day jumped around the stage singing.
Then Billie Joe gave his guitar to the kid. It was so awesome. I totally cried. Shut up.
Something strange though - during the ballads, instead of lighters, people now hold up their cell phones. It was a little eerie...
Didn't get home until past 1 a.m. Totally worth it.
Went to the Green Day concert last night on the OnTap drunk bus. It was at Merriweather Post Pavilion, and we got there so late that we completely missed Jimmy Eat World. I was bummed about that for maybe five minutes... but then Green Day came on stage and rocked out.
I've been to some pretty sweet concerts in my young life - U2, Counting Crows, Weezer (twice!), Snow Patrol, The Killers, and pretty much any country music band/singer you can think of thanks to an ex and the white trashiest event in the history of the world called Country Concert. Green Day was easily one of the best I've ever experienced. They played almost every song from American Idiot and a ton from Dookie (including She, my favorite).
Every time they would start a new song I would shake Laurel and jump up and down - you know, to make sure she was paying attention.
The best part of the night was when Billie Joe announced that they were going to form a new band on stage and started asking people in the audience if anyone had experience playing drums, bass, and guitar. He then hand-picked three people to come up on stage and play. The drummer was this college guy wearing his frat letters. (And he wasn't too obnoxious, go figure!) The bass player was young, but he could play. Then Billie Joe picked a 13-year-old kid out of the crowd to play guitar. We were all holding our breath as he showed him the chords to play. The kid put on Billie Joe's guitar, took the pick and a deep breath, and played the chords perfectly! Everyone went nuts! The kids played as Green Day jumped around the stage singing.
Then Billie Joe gave his guitar to the kid. It was so awesome. I totally cried. Shut up.
Something strange though - during the ballads, instead of lighters, people now hold up their cell phones. It was a little eerie...
Didn't get home until past 1 a.m. Totally worth it.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Birthday Party Pics - 8.20.05
Gen, Amanda, John
Waayers, Me, Amanda
Waayers, Gabester, Rhett, Maskulinski
Laurel, Me, and CAKE!
Tucker, his gf (I can't remember her name, I'm sorry!), Shane, MeI remember very few of these pictures being taken. On account of the drinkees. So many drinkees. I do remember the cake, though. Thanks, Laurel, that was volcanic!
(And if anyone remember's Tucker's gf's name, please let me know so I can fix it! -- In my defense, it was the first time any of us met her, so... nevermind that's just an excuse)
The VIBE Gets Around. Whore.
My plans to visit Great Falls this weekend in the VIBE were thwarted by the evil rainy weather. Stupid weatherpeople! They said no rain this weekend. NO RAIN. They are all LYING LIARS. But I got to do a bunch of other neat things!
Woke up at 7 in the a.m. on Saturday to go to Great Falls. Pouring down rain. Fantastic. So I had some Rice Krispies instead. Because THAT'S the same. When is the last time that you had Rice freaking Krispies, though? For me, it's been years since I had some snappy, cracky, poppily goodness. But that's mostly because I never buy milk. But I had some milk! AND, I had some apple juice. Man, I love apple juice. Especially in the morning. People who'd rather have orange juice with breakfast are weirdos.
Then I made the mistake of going to Tyson's Corner Mall. Right, so we've established that Virginians cannot drive. So because it was semi-sprinkling, it took me about an hour longer to get there than normal.
So I walk in with two bags. Both are shirts that need to be returned, because I am a stupid moron who never tries on clothes at the mall because I see it as a hassle. More of a hassle than going back and returning/exchanging said items of clothing, you ask? Well, there are a few stores where I am fairly confident of my size. Like The Limited. LOVE. But this XS shirt was a little big. And the XS shirt I got at NY & Company was a little small. Right, anyway, Limited there is closed for a month for renovations or something. Meh. At least I got one thing done. Wish I had remembered to get a smoothie or something...
Then I headed back to The Hill, but not before stopping at my favorite Thai place in Arlington to pick up a late lunch/early dinner. Fab. Also fab? How I still have their number in my phone.
Went to Old Town with Amanda and Waayers. Ended up at Murphy's, of course. The singers were, well... awful. How you can screw up both Irish classic songs and fun bar songs like Piano Man and Country Roads, I don't know. So we drank to numb the pain. Well, Amanda drank. I was driving.
Today, the VIBE was due back at 1 p.m. It was sad, really. It was the epitome of freedom - to me, anyway. It was a spectacularly stupid looking car, though! But it was a car, and it was MINE for the weekend.
And now I miss the 'Scort. :(
Woke up at 7 in the a.m. on Saturday to go to Great Falls. Pouring down rain. Fantastic. So I had some Rice Krispies instead. Because THAT'S the same. When is the last time that you had Rice freaking Krispies, though? For me, it's been years since I had some snappy, cracky, poppily goodness. But that's mostly because I never buy milk. But I had some milk! AND, I had some apple juice. Man, I love apple juice. Especially in the morning. People who'd rather have orange juice with breakfast are weirdos.
Then I made the mistake of going to Tyson's Corner Mall. Right, so we've established that Virginians cannot drive. So because it was semi-sprinkling, it took me about an hour longer to get there than normal.
So I walk in with two bags. Both are shirts that need to be returned, because I am a stupid moron who never tries on clothes at the mall because I see it as a hassle. More of a hassle than going back and returning/exchanging said items of clothing, you ask? Well, there are a few stores where I am fairly confident of my size. Like The Limited. LOVE. But this XS shirt was a little big. And the XS shirt I got at NY & Company was a little small. Right, anyway, Limited there is closed for a month for renovations or something. Meh. At least I got one thing done. Wish I had remembered to get a smoothie or something...
Then I headed back to The Hill, but not before stopping at my favorite Thai place in Arlington to pick up a late lunch/early dinner. Fab. Also fab? How I still have their number in my phone.
Went to Old Town with Amanda and Waayers. Ended up at Murphy's, of course. The singers were, well... awful. How you can screw up both Irish classic songs and fun bar songs like Piano Man and Country Roads, I don't know. So we drank to numb the pain. Well, Amanda drank. I was driving.
Today, the VIBE was due back at 1 p.m. It was sad, really. It was the epitome of freedom - to me, anyway. It was a spectacularly stupid looking car, though! But it was a car, and it was MINE for the weekend.
And now I miss the 'Scort. :(
Friday, August 26, 2005
Good Vibes
I have a Pontiac Vibe for the weekend. A what? A VIBE. What on EARTH would possess the good folks at Pontiac to name a car THAT?
It's cute, it's small, and it zips around like a hummingbird on crack. All I really ask for in my cars, really. Mine's red - just like this one.
I feel like a badass, having a car again. Well, as much of a badass as I can be in a VIBE. I really miss being able to go to a grocery store in which I can actually afford the merchandise. Because really, Martin's Market here on Capitol Hill hikes up the prices like we're being rationed. $2.50 for a two-liter of Coca Cola? Sure, that sounds reasonable! Let me go grab my giant sack of GOLD. One minute...
So I've been to Safeway, Trader Joe's, and Old Navy. I didn't get much - I went because I COULD. Although, every time I go to Old Navy, that place looks more and more like an overflowing Salvation Army warehouse. Can we get SOMEONE to fold the freakin' shirts? Anyone? Is it just that customers are so appalled by the choices of capri pants and "ironic" t-shirts that they THROW the clothes on the floor in disgust? I don't know. It's just a mess. All the time.
I'm supposed to go to a party tonight, and as it's in Falls Church, I didn't think that I was going to be able to make it. But now, thanks to the VIBE, I think I might. I also might get me some of that lovely food from Crystal Thai in Arlington. Or maybe save that for tomorrow.
OH! What about Jimmy John's? I should get that sometime, too! So much to do, so little time with the VIBE.
It's cute, it's small, and it zips around like a hummingbird on crack. All I really ask for in my cars, really. Mine's red - just like this one.
I feel like a badass, having a car again. Well, as much of a badass as I can be in a VIBE. I really miss being able to go to a grocery store in which I can actually afford the merchandise. Because really, Martin's Market here on Capitol Hill hikes up the prices like we're being rationed. $2.50 for a two-liter of Coca Cola? Sure, that sounds reasonable! Let me go grab my giant sack of GOLD. One minute...
So I've been to Safeway, Trader Joe's, and Old Navy. I didn't get much - I went because I COULD. Although, every time I go to Old Navy, that place looks more and more like an overflowing Salvation Army warehouse. Can we get SOMEONE to fold the freakin' shirts? Anyone? Is it just that customers are so appalled by the choices of capri pants and "ironic" t-shirts that they THROW the clothes on the floor in disgust? I don't know. It's just a mess. All the time.
I'm supposed to go to a party tonight, and as it's in Falls Church, I didn't think that I was going to be able to make it. But now, thanks to the VIBE, I think I might. I also might get me some of that lovely food from Crystal Thai in Arlington. Or maybe save that for tomorrow.
OH! What about Jimmy John's? I should get that sometime, too! So much to do, so little time with the VIBE.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Launderiffic!
Today marked the start of my looooong weekend. How did I spend my day?
Woke up at 11:30 a.m. Washed face. Contacts. Mmmm, sight!
11:45 Walked to the mailbox to mail RSVP to Greg's wedding and Netflix DVD. 80 degrees! Only 35% humidity! Lovely!
11:55 Listened to The Killers CD.
12:07 Shun shower to do laundry.
12:08 Laundry, laundry, and more laundry. Launderiffic! When you cannot remember the last time you washed your sheets, it's probably about time.
1:13 Listened to Bob Dylan: Greatest Hits CD.
2:30 Spaghetti for lunch. No, it's not weird. Besides, it was homemade sauce. Mom's recipe. Comfort food goodness. Mmmmmm...
3:22 Reveled in lovely clean-laundry smell in bedroom after washing sheets, pillowcases, and duvet cover.
3:24 Created photoblog.
4:15 Still haven't showered. Yum!
5:00 Listened to Josh Kelley CD.
6:00 How am I not done doing laundry yet?
6:18 Listened to Coldplay CD - A Rush of Blood to the Head. Oooh, I need to get their new one...
6:49 Put in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
8:30 Made pizza rolls. Laundry still in dryer. Think I'll wash the bathmats.
9:29 Still watching HP3. Why am I such a nerd?
9:48 Shower!
10:56 Watched Indian Summer.
I suppose I'll go to sleep eventually. It was a nice, lazy day. Very much needed. Well done!
(Damn, this post was booooooooring.)
Woke up at 11:30 a.m. Washed face. Contacts. Mmmm, sight!
11:45 Walked to the mailbox to mail RSVP to Greg's wedding and Netflix DVD. 80 degrees! Only 35% humidity! Lovely!
11:55 Listened to The Killers CD.
12:07 Shun shower to do laundry.
12:08 Laundry, laundry, and more laundry. Launderiffic! When you cannot remember the last time you washed your sheets, it's probably about time.
1:13 Listened to Bob Dylan: Greatest Hits CD.
2:30 Spaghetti for lunch. No, it's not weird. Besides, it was homemade sauce. Mom's recipe. Comfort food goodness. Mmmmmm...
3:22 Reveled in lovely clean-laundry smell in bedroom after washing sheets, pillowcases, and duvet cover.
3:24 Created photoblog.
4:15 Still haven't showered. Yum!
5:00 Listened to Josh Kelley CD.
6:00 How am I not done doing laundry yet?
6:18 Listened to Coldplay CD - A Rush of Blood to the Head. Oooh, I need to get their new one...
6:49 Put in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
8:30 Made pizza rolls. Laundry still in dryer. Think I'll wash the bathmats.
9:29 Still watching HP3. Why am I such a nerd?
9:48 Shower!
10:56 Watched Indian Summer.
I suppose I'll go to sleep eventually. It was a nice, lazy day. Very much needed. Well done!
(Damn, this post was booooooooring.)
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Sick Leave? Sure, If That's What You Want to Call It
I have to use up my sick leave before the new job starts (11 days - but who's counting?) because the conversion to being a true federal employee allows for me to keep my annual leave - in the form of a nice, fat check - but not sick leave. Bastards.
After being sick so many times in the past few months, I only had 24.5 hours left. But, after some fast math in my head (divide by eight, uhhhhhhh), that's three days! Three whole lovely, sunny, tasty days. Determined not to forfeit hours that I had earned by working very, very diligently (hahaha! RIGHT.), I approached my supervisor tentatively:
Heather: After speaking with HR, I discovered that my unused annual leave will be converted, but I am going to lose my sick leave. I earned that leave, and I don't want the government to steal it. I gave three weeks notice, instead of the one week recommended by HR, so can I try and use it up?
Supervisor: Sure.
Heather: Uh, neat. Thanks!
And now I have tomorrow and Friday off, and my last day will now be September 1 instead of the 2nd. Fantastic!
In other news, I have discovered the perfect kind of underwear. Not bikini, not a full-on thong. Nope - somewhere in between coupled with lacy goodness. I'm not even sure if they have a name, but they are pretty damn sweet. I mean, pretty damn Swayze.
As I have tomorrow off, I finally got around to watching Casablanca. For the first time.
I KNOW.
As a World War II historian, I am kind of amazed that it took me this long to see it. Maybe I thought that I would have had to watch it for one of the many classes I took at UM (or GWU, for that matter). Yeah, if everyone else hadn't already seen it!
And so, I can finally give an informed review: LOVED IT! (oh, In Living Color flashback...). I can see why this film is consistently ranked in the top ten movies of all time - the acting alone was flawless. Sentimental, yes, but it captures the "Vichy" mentality prevalent in Casablanca at the time. One thing that I found interesting - that I would have missed had I not read an article about it - was the French girl who started dating a German soldier. French soldier gets pissed, etc. Women like her were treated like criminals once the war was over - many had their heads forcibly shaved. Right -- you didn't need to know that, but I felt like my entire expensive education was justified just because I picked up on that one minute scene.
I did quite enjoy hearing some of the most famous lines in cinema. I'll spare you.
But we'll always have Paris.
Sorry.
The National Zoo is allowing the public to choose the name of the panda cub. We all know that it should be named "Butterstick," yet it is not one of the choices. Here's a link to a site that somehow bypasses the zoo's voting form and *might* give Butterstick a chance. (Is "hacking" the correct word anymore?)
The adorable Butterstick.
(image courtesy of the Smithsonian National Zoo)
After being sick so many times in the past few months, I only had 24.5 hours left. But, after some fast math in my head (divide by eight, uhhhhhhh), that's three days! Three whole lovely, sunny, tasty days. Determined not to forfeit hours that I had earned by working very, very diligently (hahaha! RIGHT.), I approached my supervisor tentatively:
Heather: After speaking with HR, I discovered that my unused annual leave will be converted, but I am going to lose my sick leave. I earned that leave, and I don't want the government to steal it. I gave three weeks notice, instead of the one week recommended by HR, so can I try and use it up?
Supervisor: Sure.
Heather: Uh, neat. Thanks!
And now I have tomorrow and Friday off, and my last day will now be September 1 instead of the 2nd. Fantastic!
___________________________________________________
In other news, I have discovered the perfect kind of underwear. Not bikini, not a full-on thong. Nope - somewhere in between coupled with lacy goodness. I'm not even sure if they have a name, but they are pretty damn sweet. I mean, pretty damn Swayze.
___________________________________________________
As I have tomorrow off, I finally got around to watching Casablanca. For the first time.
I KNOW.
As a World War II historian, I am kind of amazed that it took me this long to see it. Maybe I thought that I would have had to watch it for one of the many classes I took at UM (or GWU, for that matter). Yeah, if everyone else hadn't already seen it!
And so, I can finally give an informed review: LOVED IT! (oh, In Living Color flashback...). I can see why this film is consistently ranked in the top ten movies of all time - the acting alone was flawless. Sentimental, yes, but it captures the "Vichy" mentality prevalent in Casablanca at the time. One thing that I found interesting - that I would have missed had I not read an article about it - was the French girl who started dating a German soldier. French soldier gets pissed, etc. Women like her were treated like criminals once the war was over - many had their heads forcibly shaved. Right -- you didn't need to know that, but I felt like my entire expensive education was justified just because I picked up on that one minute scene.
I did quite enjoy hearing some of the most famous lines in cinema. I'll spare you.
But we'll always have Paris.
Sorry.
___________________________________________________
The National Zoo is allowing the public to choose the name of the panda cub. We all know that it should be named "Butterstick," yet it is not one of the choices. Here's a link to a site that somehow bypasses the zoo's voting form and *might* give Butterstick a chance. (Is "hacking" the correct word anymore?)
The adorable Butterstick. (image courtesy of the Smithsonian National Zoo)
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
That's So Swayze
Right. So my friend really likes Patrick Swayze. I don't know. I don't know why! And he (yes, HE - didn't see that one coming, did ya?) uses the name as a freaking adjective.
"How was the movie?"
"Oh, it was so Swayze."
"What did you make for dinner?"
"I made some Swayze chicken and some zesty Swayze pasta."
I AM NOT KIDDING.
OH, it gets better.
He has a Patrick Swayze poster over his living room couch. Not some artsy framed poster. Nope. It's from a magazine. Which? TEEN BEAT. Did he do a search on eBay for "Patrick Swayze 1986?" Because I can't imagine that there are many teeny bopper magazines including posters of Patrick Fucking Swayze in 2005.
Patrick Swayze. I swear...
The poster in question:
Just kidding, the one above his couch is a headshot. But still, this one made me snort apple juice out my nose. I mean, because seriously, guys? It's so Swayze.
"How was the movie?"
"Oh, it was so Swayze."
"What did you make for dinner?"
"I made some Swayze chicken and some zesty Swayze pasta."
I AM NOT KIDDING.
OH, it gets better.
He has a Patrick Swayze poster over his living room couch. Not some artsy framed poster. Nope. It's from a magazine. Which? TEEN BEAT. Did he do a search on eBay for "Patrick Swayze 1986?" Because I can't imagine that there are many teeny bopper magazines including posters of Patrick Fucking Swayze in 2005.
Patrick Swayze. I swear...
The poster in question:
Just kidding, the one above his couch is a headshot. But still, this one made me snort apple juice out my nose. I mean, because seriously, guys? It's so Swayze.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Great Dane
Okay, so if you haven't heard of Dane Cook, get ready. He's out-of-control hilarious and I LOVE HIM.
I remember my first time with Dane. It was a magical night. December 31, 2000. I was at this massive house party in Ann Arbor, everyone was dressed to the nines, it was 11:30 p.m., and we were all massively drunk and waiting for the GD ball to drop. Impatience. So someone pops in a VHS. Dane's Comedy Central Special. I thought that maybe it was the alcohol that made me laugh that hard. I mean, I had just giggled like an idiot when I heard someone fell into the toilet at the party... When I caught him on CC a few days later, I realized it wasn't liquor. He's just THAT funny.
I remember my first time with Dane. It was a magical night. December 31, 2000. I was at this massive house party in Ann Arbor, everyone was dressed to the nines, it was 11:30 p.m., and we were all massively drunk and waiting for the GD ball to drop. Impatience. So someone pops in a VHS. Dane's Comedy Central Special. I thought that maybe it was the alcohol that made me laugh that hard. I mean, I had just giggled like an idiot when I heard someone fell into the toilet at the party... When I caught him on CC a few days later, I realized it wasn't liquor. He's just THAT funny.
If you haven't seen this, you NEED to get to your favorite Best Buy, Circuit City, or back alley crack dealer and get his first CD, Harmful if Swallowed. It's a CD/DVD combo, and the CC special is included - UNEDITED. Bonus! You will not be disappointed. That is, unless you are a humorless automaton. In which case, bummer. You can just "SUCK MY BACK!" Hehe. You'll see. Oh, you'll see.
While you're there, I strongly recommend picking up his newest CD/DVD combo: Retaliation. It's scrumtrulescent. Tonks and I listened to it in all its glory while driving to Howell, MI. Almost had to pull over as she swerved to miss hitting another car. All from laughing too hard.
I mean, just LOOK at him. He makes me want to laugh!
"Don't you wish you were a snake? Yeah, you do!"
"Pick a number please, pick a number. Four? One, two, three, four. Pick a color please, pick a color. Purple? P-U-R-P-L-E... Heh heh heh... You are a faggot!"
"Naughty, naughty Kool-Aid. Yeah, coming through the wall is real cool - using the front door is cool! Don't touch me, you drink! I will kick you in the tights and you will go over, you're very top-heavy."
Ahhhhh... just get his CDs! Now!
Friday, August 19, 2005
Thank You!
I had such a wonderful birthday! Thanks to Amanda, Betsy, Laurel, Merrick, and Waayers for a super fun day. Chris, the guest bartender at Ella's, was fantastic, too! The amazing sangria, the awesome free shots (three different ones - hey girls, anyone remember what they were?), the fab-u-lous companions... I rang in the big two-five in style.
I think that the funniest part of the night was when I was trying to give Merrick directions to the bar. "Merrick, it's on 9th between F and G... No, F... Right, F and G... No! It's on 9th, niner, between F as in FART and G as in GIANT. FART GIANT! GIANT FART! HAHAHAHAHA!"
Wow, was I drunk.
Coming to the cocktail party on Saturday? The more the merrier, you know...
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