I realized last night that all my friends have passed me up and are in relationships. How did I miss this memo? Did I drop it accidentially when I was going through all my Rolling Stone mags? Either way I missed it and here I am, single as usual. So all this realization comes to me at the Black Keys concert last night as I see my ex with his current girlfriend. Then I have my friend telling me how she's going to move in with her boyfriend, thinking of my other close girlfriends and how they are in serious relationships and I wonder how did I get this independence? I didn't ask for it, I too would like to bask in the giddiness of young love again but I think I just created this invisible wall around me. I don't let anyone in, at all. But then even if I am able to let someone "in", how do I even go about getting someone remotely interested in me?
I sound like I'm whinning now. Not what I wanted to do with this blog. I want to be able to live in that Sex and the City, New York, fast paced, and non-judging to the relationship challenged lifestyle that I see on T.V. I hate being that one girl in the group that will forever be the 5th wheel in everything. I hate the dreaded So are you seeing anyone question that I hear all the time. Man that's almost as bad as the so what do you plan on doing now question that I got when I graduated college. That question still sends chills down my spine.
I think I noticed a trend in the males that I've come faced with. They always perceive me as their alternate plan. For instance, the few that have shown a slight interest in me will like me untill they meet someone else. Then they decide to persue that girl, but if it doesn't work out they know good ol' single Val will be there. Ten times out of ten, their relationship lasts and I am slowly and surely erased out of their minds. Happens all the time. This is where you throw in your advice like, oh Val that guy wasn't worth it, your so much better than him. OH YEA!!! IF I'M SO MUCH BETTER.... WHY CAN'T I HAVE HIM!!!!
So now your looking at completely numb Val. I don't approach guys, and I can no longer tell if guys are even giving me the time of day or not. I just stopped noticing. But also I've become filled head to toe with this odd shyness towards the opposite sex now. I get ridicously insecure and I feel like I'm a moron. I hate this! I just want to meet someone where I can be my dorkish self. I can wear my glasses and retainer and he won't judge me. I want to be able to laugh so hard that I snort and he thinks it's cute. Ok I need to lay off the Lifetime Movie Network cause the liklihood of that happening is really slim. You know what's a good movie by the way, Bridget Jones Diary. Thank you! Thank you for making a movie where the girl is awkward but still has that sex appeal that every woman wants. She has meat on her but she will still wear that sheer top and mini skirt to work. She looks great in a dress but is wearing some massive granny panties underneath. Thank You for being a real woman with quirks and bad habits and still can get that guy. Alright, I think I just motivated myself.
Raise your martini glasses all you single ladies with character!!
Your pal,
-val-
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
What I dreamt in an hour.
My alarm goes off at it's usual time of 5:30am. I do my routine I jump up in a panic that I'm horribly late, then I see it's only 5:30 and of course... I fall back asleep. This time, I dream...
I dreamt that it was my senior year of college and I'm right back at OLLU. Only this time I have the "what I know now" knowledge under my belt when I return. I remeber walking to my class I was looking around and this time really appreciating my school, studying the old architecture, looking at all the old desks, as if I'm going antique shopping. Oh, this peice would look great next to my new sofa.
Anywho, I walk into my class room and I sit down. I see my old friend Darlene and you can tell she's in a panic about our empending graduation. I tell her, don't stress.. your gonna walk the stage, I know. I was there, or... I mean I just know you will. I didn't really see many people I knew, but there was a handful of faces that I hadn't seen in a while including this really nice guy that passed away a few years back. I didn't freak out when I saw him, I just kinda played it cool. I smiled, he smiled and it was left at that. The teacher walked in and gave us our lesson. The entire time though I was looking at my graduate plan and seeing how many hours I had, and what I was going to end with when I graduated.
I think in reality I actually ended with 133. I took a lot of 18/19 hour classes, not to mention those fun electives. Aerobic Kick Boxing!!! lol. Anywho, so in my dream I started to ask myself the question that I kinda fussed with back when I was getting ready to graduate. I remeber looking at the course book under the Theater section and noticed that I needed 2 theater classes, a Spanish class then I would of double majored in Psychology and Theater. At the time, I wanted out of school so bad that I opted not to take the extra semester. In my dream though, knowing what I know now I jumped at the chance.
My classmates were stunned by my decision but I didn't care, It was what I should of done from the get-go. So instead of going to the graduation rehearsal I walked to a little t-shirt shop and did what any girl who made a big decision would do... I shopped. lol. I met the store owner/DJ of some nightclub and he was giving me hints on how to make the t-shirt print that I'm designing. It was really helpful and I was able to incorperate this really awesome stich too. He had really awesome bag designs as well that he helped me with.
After a while it was dark, and I knew I had to eat something but I didn't want to go alone. Suddenly I see this guy that I used to like in highschool, and he was really adament about taking me out. So I hopped in his Jeep and off we drove. As soon as I get in, I get a surge of all these old feeling for him all over. We immediately started to kiss and it was one of those really strong, you feel the earth move, planets align, an earthquake could happen cause our lips connected. It was amazing! No, sorry to dissapoint it didn't turn dirty or anything. He continued to give me sweet little kisses and told me "I just cant stop kissing you, I love you so much." My heart was on fire. We never really got food, just kinda drove around. He showed some great spots where you could see the whole skyline, I didn't want the night to end, much less the dream.
He took me back in the morning, I don't know where I slept but it was morning. I'm walking through the courtyard and I see him again, but this time I pretend I don't see him. I just keep walking and completely ignore him. WTF? Why would I do that? I saw him talking to his friends, and I could of easly just gone over gave a quick hello and left, but no. I choose to just walk away. I saw out of the corner of my eye that he looked up, but nothing. I walked inside this building and I didn't look back at him. He didn't ask me out after that. The end.
So I woke up, it was 6:45 and I jumped up and got ready for work. While driving over here I kept thinking about this dream and how it really reflected my life. I want to do so much, entirely to much. I want to continue acting, I want to start my own T-shirt business, I want to feel passion!! But it's me. I stop myself from doing so many things. I had the opportunity to double major and I didn't take it, I HAVE the opportunity to start my t-shirts but my own lack of motivation is holding me back. And of course, I've passed up some amazing guys in my life because of my own stupidity, and pride. Pride? What do I have to be so proud of? I'm nothing special, and I don't mean that in a I'm so depressed kind of way, no but seriously. I'm really nothing special. I'm just another dime a dozen here. But I think the fact that I can admit that, should say something right? Who knows?
I guess this is part of the ol' figuring myself out process. Oddly enough this is the same place I was my senior year in college. I wanted to do so much, but I held myself back. I was in a relationship that we both knew wasn't gonna go anywhere, but I didn't care. I held on to something that didn't exsist. I wanted to change but I didn't make the effort. At least this time I willing to do all the work that it takes to get myself to where I want to be. Where ever that is.
Don't you love it when your dreams make you question your entire reason for being?
I dreamt that it was my senior year of college and I'm right back at OLLU. Only this time I have the "what I know now" knowledge under my belt when I return. I remeber walking to my class I was looking around and this time really appreciating my school, studying the old architecture, looking at all the old desks, as if I'm going antique shopping. Oh, this peice would look great next to my new sofa.
Anywho, I walk into my class room and I sit down. I see my old friend Darlene and you can tell she's in a panic about our empending graduation. I tell her, don't stress.. your gonna walk the stage, I know. I was there, or... I mean I just know you will. I didn't really see many people I knew, but there was a handful of faces that I hadn't seen in a while including this really nice guy that passed away a few years back. I didn't freak out when I saw him, I just kinda played it cool. I smiled, he smiled and it was left at that. The teacher walked in and gave us our lesson. The entire time though I was looking at my graduate plan and seeing how many hours I had, and what I was going to end with when I graduated.
I think in reality I actually ended with 133. I took a lot of 18/19 hour classes, not to mention those fun electives. Aerobic Kick Boxing!!! lol. Anywho, so in my dream I started to ask myself the question that I kinda fussed with back when I was getting ready to graduate. I remeber looking at the course book under the Theater section and noticed that I needed 2 theater classes, a Spanish class then I would of double majored in Psychology and Theater. At the time, I wanted out of school so bad that I opted not to take the extra semester. In my dream though, knowing what I know now I jumped at the chance.
My classmates were stunned by my decision but I didn't care, It was what I should of done from the get-go. So instead of going to the graduation rehearsal I walked to a little t-shirt shop and did what any girl who made a big decision would do... I shopped. lol. I met the store owner/DJ of some nightclub and he was giving me hints on how to make the t-shirt print that I'm designing. It was really helpful and I was able to incorperate this really awesome stich too. He had really awesome bag designs as well that he helped me with.
After a while it was dark, and I knew I had to eat something but I didn't want to go alone. Suddenly I see this guy that I used to like in highschool, and he was really adament about taking me out. So I hopped in his Jeep and off we drove. As soon as I get in, I get a surge of all these old feeling for him all over. We immediately started to kiss and it was one of those really strong, you feel the earth move, planets align, an earthquake could happen cause our lips connected. It was amazing! No, sorry to dissapoint it didn't turn dirty or anything. He continued to give me sweet little kisses and told me "I just cant stop kissing you, I love you so much." My heart was on fire. We never really got food, just kinda drove around. He showed some great spots where you could see the whole skyline, I didn't want the night to end, much less the dream.
He took me back in the morning, I don't know where I slept but it was morning. I'm walking through the courtyard and I see him again, but this time I pretend I don't see him. I just keep walking and completely ignore him. WTF? Why would I do that? I saw him talking to his friends, and I could of easly just gone over gave a quick hello and left, but no. I choose to just walk away. I saw out of the corner of my eye that he looked up, but nothing. I walked inside this building and I didn't look back at him. He didn't ask me out after that. The end.
So I woke up, it was 6:45 and I jumped up and got ready for work. While driving over here I kept thinking about this dream and how it really reflected my life. I want to do so much, entirely to much. I want to continue acting, I want to start my own T-shirt business, I want to feel passion!! But it's me. I stop myself from doing so many things. I had the opportunity to double major and I didn't take it, I HAVE the opportunity to start my t-shirts but my own lack of motivation is holding me back. And of course, I've passed up some amazing guys in my life because of my own stupidity, and pride. Pride? What do I have to be so proud of? I'm nothing special, and I don't mean that in a I'm so depressed kind of way, no but seriously. I'm really nothing special. I'm just another dime a dozen here. But I think the fact that I can admit that, should say something right? Who knows?
I guess this is part of the ol' figuring myself out process. Oddly enough this is the same place I was my senior year in college. I wanted to do so much, but I held myself back. I was in a relationship that we both knew wasn't gonna go anywhere, but I didn't care. I held on to something that didn't exsist. I wanted to change but I didn't make the effort. At least this time I willing to do all the work that it takes to get myself to where I want to be. Where ever that is.
Don't you love it when your dreams make you question your entire reason for being?
Thursday, May 24, 2007
My diet updates and such.
I just got back from my weekly weigh in, and I offically lost 25lbs. WOW! It feels really great to be able to say that. I LOST 25LBS. Plus it's only been 2 months, and I was able to lose that much weight.
Well it came with a lot of hard work, as a few of have noticed and commented to me is that you don't see me out as often. Very true, I had to cut my drinking to practicaly non exisitant which means no going out for me. Yes, I had to stop going out cause I'm easily tempted to down 6 beers like nothing. Unfortunately it's not like that anymore. I hung out with Anabel on Monday and i started buzzing after 1 beer. 3 beers later little old me was drunk. But that's ok, as long as I don't have that beer gut to prove that I can drink I'm alright being a lightweight.
So I've noticed a dramatic change in the way my clothes fit me. You see i'm gauging my weight by what year I wore certain jeans. I was in my 2005 jean for quite a while, but I noticed that those were starting to look loose and like I took a crap in my pants so I tried on a pair of jeans I bought on Dec. 31, 2004 and guess what... they fit! I remember the date cause I needed dark jeans for my outfit that night New Years Eve. I tried on another pair of jeans that were my all time favorite of 2004 and those fit me as well. I looked a bit sausaged into them, but they fit. I think i'll wait a couple more weeks before I give them a go ahead. My ultimate goal is my all-time favorite jeans from 2003. Almost there kids, almost there.
So 25 lbs down and I want to lost about another 40 or so. I know, I know that sounds ridiculous, it really does. But people you don't realize how much weight i gained. I gained sooooo much weight after college, I would say an easy 70lbs. I guess once I finished school, I stopped being active all together. I didn't phathom that I could actually continue playing soccer after college. I'm a moron, I know. But that's changed dramatically, I'm on the treadmill everyday (except Friday and Sundays) I find myself wanting to do more. I told my dad that I wanted to buy a mountain bike and go bike riding somewhere in the wilderness. Of course I got that crazy look from him, then he said that we should have a bike somewhere. Excellent... my next venture. Bike riding.
I want to spend my weekends outside playing sports doing things more athletic. Did you know I played soccer for 8 years? Not many people know that about me, not many see me as athletic but I actually am. I think I felt like I needed to hide it or something casue my mom always told me that sports weren't for girls, I shouldn't be playing sports instead I should study. What? Are you serious!?! I played basketball too, oddly enough I was really good but I liked soccer too much eventually focused my time on that instead. I think I just let the lazy me take over, but no more! New and Improved Val from now on.
Wow I kinda went on a tangent with this blog. I think I'm just going through this whole turning point in my life. This weigh-in (I sound like I'm on celebrity fit club or something) really meant a lot. I looked at my pics from SXSW this year and I was just utterly disgusted with the way I looked and I told myself from that moment on I was going to change, and I did. I've improved myself economically when I got a different (so much better) job, now I'm really focusing on the physical part and up next... the dreaded emotion portion. Ha I kinda rhymed.
I'll diffenetly keep posting all my weight updates, what year jeans I'm wearing and such. Maybe we can go do something, outside, where we can get a tan. Let me know!
Well it came with a lot of hard work, as a few of have noticed and commented to me is that you don't see me out as often. Very true, I had to cut my drinking to practicaly non exisitant which means no going out for me. Yes, I had to stop going out cause I'm easily tempted to down 6 beers like nothing. Unfortunately it's not like that anymore. I hung out with Anabel on Monday and i started buzzing after 1 beer. 3 beers later little old me was drunk. But that's ok, as long as I don't have that beer gut to prove that I can drink I'm alright being a lightweight.
So I've noticed a dramatic change in the way my clothes fit me. You see i'm gauging my weight by what year I wore certain jeans. I was in my 2005 jean for quite a while, but I noticed that those were starting to look loose and like I took a crap in my pants so I tried on a pair of jeans I bought on Dec. 31, 2004 and guess what... they fit! I remember the date cause I needed dark jeans for my outfit that night New Years Eve. I tried on another pair of jeans that were my all time favorite of 2004 and those fit me as well. I looked a bit sausaged into them, but they fit. I think i'll wait a couple more weeks before I give them a go ahead. My ultimate goal is my all-time favorite jeans from 2003. Almost there kids, almost there.
So 25 lbs down and I want to lost about another 40 or so. I know, I know that sounds ridiculous, it really does. But people you don't realize how much weight i gained. I gained sooooo much weight after college, I would say an easy 70lbs. I guess once I finished school, I stopped being active all together. I didn't phathom that I could actually continue playing soccer after college. I'm a moron, I know. But that's changed dramatically, I'm on the treadmill everyday (except Friday and Sundays) I find myself wanting to do more. I told my dad that I wanted to buy a mountain bike and go bike riding somewhere in the wilderness. Of course I got that crazy look from him, then he said that we should have a bike somewhere. Excellent... my next venture. Bike riding.
I want to spend my weekends outside playing sports doing things more athletic. Did you know I played soccer for 8 years? Not many people know that about me, not many see me as athletic but I actually am. I think I felt like I needed to hide it or something casue my mom always told me that sports weren't for girls, I shouldn't be playing sports instead I should study. What? Are you serious!?! I played basketball too, oddly enough I was really good but I liked soccer too much eventually focused my time on that instead. I think I just let the lazy me take over, but no more! New and Improved Val from now on.
Wow I kinda went on a tangent with this blog. I think I'm just going through this whole turning point in my life. This weigh-in (I sound like I'm on celebrity fit club or something) really meant a lot. I looked at my pics from SXSW this year and I was just utterly disgusted with the way I looked and I told myself from that moment on I was going to change, and I did. I've improved myself economically when I got a different (so much better) job, now I'm really focusing on the physical part and up next... the dreaded emotion portion. Ha I kinda rhymed.
I'll diffenetly keep posting all my weight updates, what year jeans I'm wearing and such. Maybe we can go do something, outside, where we can get a tan. Let me know!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
second-song-a-phobia
I think I'm a bit morbid. I assume the worst in situations at times. So i'm driving along, in my own world and I hear "Get Back" the Aerosmith version and i'm zoned out. Next thing you know they start playing "Dream On"... wait, why another Aerosmith song? What happened, did they die? Did they crash into the mountains and burn to a crisp somewhere? I think this way, everytime. I hate listening to the 5 o'clock Rock Blocks on KISS cause I automatically think the worst, even though I know that they are going to play more than 1 song from the same artist. It just freaks me out. I'll call this, double-song-a-phobia, second-song-a-phobia. Wait, I don't fear the two songs, I think I fear the outcome of two songs. I fear the reason why they play the two songs.
I remember being in the 8th grade and on the way home I kept hearing Nirvana being played on the radio. Not really listening to anything that the DJ had to say I spaced out just listening to every song singing along in my head. I got home and my friend Leslee called me and I could hear in her voice that something was wrong. Then she said, "Did you hear what happened?" I reply kinda in a little girl gossip mode, "No, what?" She answered almost feeding into the silly middle school drama that we were so ingrossed in, "Nirvana died!" I stopped. My first reaction was shock of course, the whole band was dead? (We obviously didn't have the whole story and learned shortly after that it was just Corbain who's life had ended). I imagined the entire band burning in a fiery plane crash along the Rocky Mountains. Wild imagination I suppose, so I check where any 13 year old would get music news, MTV. Sure enough Kurt Loder informs us of Cobains suicide. (But if you ever watch the Documentary Kurt and Courtney, you may think his suicide was anything but that).
Anywho, fast forward to the next year. My mom was driving me home again and I noticed that Selena is blowing up on the airwaves. I got this weird feeling in my stomach (no not gas) and listened to everything the DJ had to say. Sure enough, she was shot and died later in the hospital, hence the heavy airplay.
So no wonder why I get a little weirded out now by radio. Not that I was a huge Selena fan, Nirvana yes, and their deaths didn't have a major impact on my life or anything. I was still the same person that I was the next day. Tragic yes. But I guess it was the way I found out. Listening to their music, feeling at ease then boom. THIS JUST IN... THEY'RE DEAD. I just recently started listening to radio again and I still cringe everytime the dreaded second song comes on. And it's usualy the classic rock bands that get the double play songs, and I guess in my head since they are "classic" it makes me think even more that they croaked somewhere. I need to start listening to books on CD. Any recommendations?
I remember being in the 8th grade and on the way home I kept hearing Nirvana being played on the radio. Not really listening to anything that the DJ had to say I spaced out just listening to every song singing along in my head. I got home and my friend Leslee called me and I could hear in her voice that something was wrong. Then she said, "Did you hear what happened?" I reply kinda in a little girl gossip mode, "No, what?" She answered almost feeding into the silly middle school drama that we were so ingrossed in, "Nirvana died!" I stopped. My first reaction was shock of course, the whole band was dead? (We obviously didn't have the whole story and learned shortly after that it was just Corbain who's life had ended). I imagined the entire band burning in a fiery plane crash along the Rocky Mountains. Wild imagination I suppose, so I check where any 13 year old would get music news, MTV. Sure enough Kurt Loder informs us of Cobains suicide. (But if you ever watch the Documentary Kurt and Courtney, you may think his suicide was anything but that).
Anywho, fast forward to the next year. My mom was driving me home again and I noticed that Selena is blowing up on the airwaves. I got this weird feeling in my stomach (no not gas) and listened to everything the DJ had to say. Sure enough, she was shot and died later in the hospital, hence the heavy airplay.
So no wonder why I get a little weirded out now by radio. Not that I was a huge Selena fan, Nirvana yes, and their deaths didn't have a major impact on my life or anything. I was still the same person that I was the next day. Tragic yes. But I guess it was the way I found out. Listening to their music, feeling at ease then boom. THIS JUST IN... THEY'RE DEAD. I just recently started listening to radio again and I still cringe everytime the dreaded second song comes on. And it's usualy the classic rock bands that get the double play songs, and I guess in my head since they are "classic" it makes me think even more that they croaked somewhere. I need to start listening to books on CD. Any recommendations?
Monday, April 30, 2007
my night with Elvis Perkins NOT trippin' on shrooms.
Do you realize how long I have been waiting for this night? I'm sure you read my other blog about how excited I was. Anywho so Saturday had finally arrived. I get up remotely early just to get a head start on my day. But of course whenever I have something I need to do I have to do for my family first. Had to take my brother (or as I speak of him now, my son) to some school festival thingy to meet my mom (or as I call her now, my annoying younger sister). So I drop him off around noon and I head to Target for some retail therapy to get my day going wonderfuly. Stop off at Sally Beauty supply and purchase a new flat iron. The jury is still out whether I like it or not. But we'll see.
So I head back to the house, to shower and wash some clothes. I get home and instead I succomb to the comfort of my bed. I watch Elizabethtown for like the 10th billionth time. I enjoy all of Cameron Crowe's films, I guess cause of all the music. But I still don't like Kristin Dunst and this movie just makes me not like her more... but I digress. Next thing you know, my mom (annoying younger sister) reminds me that I need to take my brother (son) to work. Dang, I have like an hour to shower, get ready, wash clothes, take my brother to work. This wasn't going to happen. I hear my brother get into the shower. I'm screwed. You know what... this is the boring stuff. Let me fast forward to actually being in Austin.
Guillermo, I'm sure there's details in here that you had no idea but I felt like it would fall onto deaf ears if I tried to explain them to you that night.
I drive into Austin and call Guillermo over and over cause I don't know where I'm driving too. Luckily I still had his address on my phone when he gave it to me the week before. I've driven to Austin enough times and found his house with the quickness. But I couldn't seem to find his house though. Oh well, I was running low on gas so I stopped at a gas station to fill up. Around that time Guillermo texts me back to give me the address again, but I was already aware of where I was going. Finally he called me back and I swear as soon as I heard his voice I knew something was strange. I told him I couldn't find his house and he began to describe it to the best of his ability. Then shared with me the fact that he's on a bunch of mushrooms, and wasn't even at home. GRRREAT! Top it off, he didn't know where he was at. *sigh* A bit frustrated by this point cause I knew the show was going to start soon. I began my mission "Find Guillermo in Austin". He asked a random hippie and she told him that he was on N.Lamar and 24th. Fine, to N. Lamar i'll go!!
I drive down N.Lamar going down street by street... 40th, 39th, 38th... by this time he tells me that he's on 12th. And he keeps asking, do you know where Austin Java Shop is? ughhh... no. Come on, that's like asking someone not from San Antonio hey do you know where Thai Taste is? So I continue my quest on N.Lamar. Finally I find him! He hops into my car and we're off. He checks his GPS navigation system and we're .6 miles away from Elvis Perkins.
We park and we're off to Stubb's. I go through Will Call get out tickets and have to go through the security check. I hear the guy tell this girl, if you have a camera you have to take it to your car you can't bring it in. CRAP! I feel my camera in my bag so without anyone noticing I slip it into my pocket since they weren't patting anyone down and I put my big bag against my leg so when the guy checks my bag he doesn't see the buldge in my pocket, and no I was not happy to see him. He goes through my bag and sees an almost empty bottled water and screams "no water bottled waters allowed". I tell him "oh, no sweat" cause you don't know what I have in my pocket! And we're in!
First thing we hit up, like any red blooded American... the beer booth. Two Tecates each and it's time to find a spot amongst the crowd. We stand for a bit and share our last experiences of when we were at Stubb's when just at that moment... ELVIS PERKINS WALKS RIGHT PAST ME!!!!!!!! Holy Crap! I freeze as I watched him walk away. Oh my god, oh my god... he just walked past me. *take a deep breath* Guillermo senses my inner raging super fan-dom seep out of my pores. I don't care.. I'm geeking out by this point. A minute or so later, he's on stage and we move closer.
Elvis Perkins starts off by himself on stage and begins his set with "While You Were Sleeping", one by one the rest of the guys from the group join him on stage and it's just magical. The entire show is set to that hazy purple lighting and for one song it's bright yellow. The guys from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah join them for "Doomsday", and make a song about such tragedy of Sept. 11th into an upbeat and melodic sing-a-long. Of course I'm a sucker for "All the Night Without Love". That was for sure the highlight of the show for me. I knew I was going to enjoy the show but I didn't realize just how much I would. *geeking out now* I felt literaly carried away by his voice, and when he would sing a bit higher and louder I was intranced. The upright bass was amazing, the keyboard/accordian (not to sure of the exact name) was a great touch, and the large bass drum that the drummer threw on his shoulders and danced around with was awesome. I couldn't of enjoyed a show anymore. Too bad all the younglings in the crowd were talking a lot and the crazy security searching the crowd for some random "hoodlums" kinda took away from it, but for the most part it was just me and him. *swoon*
During the last song though, Guillermo tells me that he's ready to go somewhere where he can let his hair down and dance. OK I added the "let his hair down" part for mere comedic purposes. But Clap Your Hands hadn't even gone on yet, I wasn't ready to go. At all. I tell him, I have two missions. Mission #1 Meet Elvis Perkins, Mission #2 Dance to "Satan Said Dance" come on, song is Satan said dance... I have to do what Satan says. Anywho, fairly simple missions if you ask me. But those were my conditions.
We grab another tasty beer beverage and we being Mission #1. I assumed Elvis would be by the merch booth, nope. We stand by the entrance to the band area. I see everyone in the group except him. Clap Your Hands goes on stage. (side note - the lead singer to Clap Your Hands is a lot shorter than what I thought he was) We walk all around Stubb's then like two lovers seeing each other from across a crowded room, I spot Elvis Perkins. Of course, he doesn't notice me.. at all. But I notice him, not noticing me.
So we're standing by him for a bit he has some friends talking to him, his girl friend keeps a watchful eye on him so I decide if I'm going to approach him it's going to have to be short, but sweet. Then Guillermo starts moving in to talk to him, I grab him with the quickness. No way Jose, I was not going to let him slur any words to my Elvis Perkins. But nothing could of perpared me for what was about to happen. A little after my "Satan Said Dance" song started, out of the corner of my eye I see Guillermo say something to Elvis Perkins. I stood in fear, shock, embarrassment. I heard Guillermo utter, I don't usualy like Folk type music slakdjlkjsd, but I like bassist.... blaksjdlf bassist. Elvis looked at him, and said "Up-right bass... we'll that's exactly what we were on stage". You could tell Elvis was annoyed with what Guillermo had to say, so I tried to be the best damn Damage Control out there and I extended my hand and I told him It was a great show, Elvis merely shook my hand and said Thank You. The damage was done, my entire plan of how I was going to tell him that Ash Wednesday was one of my favorite albums, how his sound was something that I had been searching for my whole life, gone as quickly as Guillermo could slur any alcohol/mushroom induced words. I hung my head. Guillermo, asked if I was ready to go. I just wanted to leave out of embarrassment.
The entire time we head to 6th street he kept saying how Elvis Perkins was a dickhead, but I understood where he was coming from. If you were a talented muscian and had some billigerent guy mumble stuff to you while your talking to your friends I would be annoyed too. I guess it just comes with the territory, but I saw how he was talking to other fans and he seemed really nice. I think I'm still bitter. Anywho, so we head to El Casino and I eat an Eggplant sandwich of some sort and some dos equis. Then we head to The Jackaloupe and grab more beers. By this time I'm totaly exhausted and a bit drunk and I just want to go to bed. So we head back to my car. On the way, we pass by Stubbs and we see that Men Women and Children played that night as well. FUCK! I missed them too. I get bummed all over again. What a night.
We get back to Guillermo's place to watch Science of Sleep and I just want to do just that... Sleep. After a few distractions, and without finishing the movie I finaly doze off. I still want to finish watching the movie though. I think I'm gonna buy the DVD. Anywho, how would I rate the evening...
The entire night minus Guillermo's intoxicated conversation with Elvis Perkins = A++
The entire night with Guillermo's intoxicated conversation with Elvis Perkins = D-
Till next time.
-val-
So I head back to the house, to shower and wash some clothes. I get home and instead I succomb to the comfort of my bed. I watch Elizabethtown for like the 10th billionth time. I enjoy all of Cameron Crowe's films, I guess cause of all the music. But I still don't like Kristin Dunst and this movie just makes me not like her more... but I digress. Next thing you know, my mom (annoying younger sister) reminds me that I need to take my brother (son) to work. Dang, I have like an hour to shower, get ready, wash clothes, take my brother to work. This wasn't going to happen. I hear my brother get into the shower. I'm screwed. You know what... this is the boring stuff. Let me fast forward to actually being in Austin.
Guillermo, I'm sure there's details in here that you had no idea but I felt like it would fall onto deaf ears if I tried to explain them to you that night.
I drive into Austin and call Guillermo over and over cause I don't know where I'm driving too. Luckily I still had his address on my phone when he gave it to me the week before. I've driven to Austin enough times and found his house with the quickness. But I couldn't seem to find his house though. Oh well, I was running low on gas so I stopped at a gas station to fill up. Around that time Guillermo texts me back to give me the address again, but I was already aware of where I was going. Finally he called me back and I swear as soon as I heard his voice I knew something was strange. I told him I couldn't find his house and he began to describe it to the best of his ability. Then shared with me the fact that he's on a bunch of mushrooms, and wasn't even at home. GRRREAT! Top it off, he didn't know where he was at. *sigh* A bit frustrated by this point cause I knew the show was going to start soon. I began my mission "Find Guillermo in Austin". He asked a random hippie and she told him that he was on N.Lamar and 24th. Fine, to N. Lamar i'll go!!
I drive down N.Lamar going down street by street... 40th, 39th, 38th... by this time he tells me that he's on 12th. And he keeps asking, do you know where Austin Java Shop is? ughhh... no. Come on, that's like asking someone not from San Antonio hey do you know where Thai Taste is? So I continue my quest on N.Lamar. Finally I find him! He hops into my car and we're off. He checks his GPS navigation system and we're .6 miles away from Elvis Perkins.
We park and we're off to Stubb's. I go through Will Call get out tickets and have to go through the security check. I hear the guy tell this girl, if you have a camera you have to take it to your car you can't bring it in. CRAP! I feel my camera in my bag so without anyone noticing I slip it into my pocket since they weren't patting anyone down and I put my big bag against my leg so when the guy checks my bag he doesn't see the buldge in my pocket, and no I was not happy to see him. He goes through my bag and sees an almost empty bottled water and screams "no water bottled waters allowed". I tell him "oh, no sweat" cause you don't know what I have in my pocket! And we're in!
First thing we hit up, like any red blooded American... the beer booth. Two Tecates each and it's time to find a spot amongst the crowd. We stand for a bit and share our last experiences of when we were at Stubb's when just at that moment... ELVIS PERKINS WALKS RIGHT PAST ME!!!!!!!! Holy Crap! I freeze as I watched him walk away. Oh my god, oh my god... he just walked past me. *take a deep breath* Guillermo senses my inner raging super fan-dom seep out of my pores. I don't care.. I'm geeking out by this point. A minute or so later, he's on stage and we move closer.
Elvis Perkins starts off by himself on stage and begins his set with "While You Were Sleeping", one by one the rest of the guys from the group join him on stage and it's just magical. The entire show is set to that hazy purple lighting and for one song it's bright yellow. The guys from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah join them for "Doomsday", and make a song about such tragedy of Sept. 11th into an upbeat and melodic sing-a-long. Of course I'm a sucker for "All the Night Without Love". That was for sure the highlight of the show for me. I knew I was going to enjoy the show but I didn't realize just how much I would. *geeking out now* I felt literaly carried away by his voice, and when he would sing a bit higher and louder I was intranced. The upright bass was amazing, the keyboard/accordian (not to sure of the exact name) was a great touch, and the large bass drum that the drummer threw on his shoulders and danced around with was awesome. I couldn't of enjoyed a show anymore. Too bad all the younglings in the crowd were talking a lot and the crazy security searching the crowd for some random "hoodlums" kinda took away from it, but for the most part it was just me and him. *swoon*
During the last song though, Guillermo tells me that he's ready to go somewhere where he can let his hair down and dance. OK I added the "let his hair down" part for mere comedic purposes. But Clap Your Hands hadn't even gone on yet, I wasn't ready to go. At all. I tell him, I have two missions. Mission #1 Meet Elvis Perkins, Mission #2 Dance to "Satan Said Dance" come on, song is Satan said dance... I have to do what Satan says. Anywho, fairly simple missions if you ask me. But those were my conditions.
We grab another tasty beer beverage and we being Mission #1. I assumed Elvis would be by the merch booth, nope. We stand by the entrance to the band area. I see everyone in the group except him. Clap Your Hands goes on stage. (side note - the lead singer to Clap Your Hands is a lot shorter than what I thought he was) We walk all around Stubb's then like two lovers seeing each other from across a crowded room, I spot Elvis Perkins. Of course, he doesn't notice me.. at all. But I notice him, not noticing me.
So we're standing by him for a bit he has some friends talking to him, his girl friend keeps a watchful eye on him so I decide if I'm going to approach him it's going to have to be short, but sweet. Then Guillermo starts moving in to talk to him, I grab him with the quickness. No way Jose, I was not going to let him slur any words to my Elvis Perkins. But nothing could of perpared me for what was about to happen. A little after my "Satan Said Dance" song started, out of the corner of my eye I see Guillermo say something to Elvis Perkins. I stood in fear, shock, embarrassment. I heard Guillermo utter, I don't usualy like Folk type music slakdjlkjsd, but I like bassist.... blaksjdlf bassist. Elvis looked at him, and said "Up-right bass... we'll that's exactly what we were on stage". You could tell Elvis was annoyed with what Guillermo had to say, so I tried to be the best damn Damage Control out there and I extended my hand and I told him It was a great show, Elvis merely shook my hand and said Thank You. The damage was done, my entire plan of how I was going to tell him that Ash Wednesday was one of my favorite albums, how his sound was something that I had been searching for my whole life, gone as quickly as Guillermo could slur any alcohol/mushroom induced words. I hung my head. Guillermo, asked if I was ready to go. I just wanted to leave out of embarrassment.
The entire time we head to 6th street he kept saying how Elvis Perkins was a dickhead, but I understood where he was coming from. If you were a talented muscian and had some billigerent guy mumble stuff to you while your talking to your friends I would be annoyed too. I guess it just comes with the territory, but I saw how he was talking to other fans and he seemed really nice. I think I'm still bitter. Anywho, so we head to El Casino and I eat an Eggplant sandwich of some sort and some dos equis. Then we head to The Jackaloupe and grab more beers. By this time I'm totaly exhausted and a bit drunk and I just want to go to bed. So we head back to my car. On the way, we pass by Stubbs and we see that Men Women and Children played that night as well. FUCK! I missed them too. I get bummed all over again. What a night.
We get back to Guillermo's place to watch Science of Sleep and I just want to do just that... Sleep. After a few distractions, and without finishing the movie I finaly doze off. I still want to finish watching the movie though. I think I'm gonna buy the DVD. Anywho, how would I rate the evening...
The entire night minus Guillermo's intoxicated conversation with Elvis Perkins = A++
The entire night with Guillermo's intoxicated conversation with Elvis Perkins = D-
Till next time.
-val-
Friday, April 27, 2007
server shmerver!!
Our server was down for the past 3 days here at work. Dang, I was out-of-my-mind bored! 10 years ago I never wen't on this thing called internet. I never owned a computer till I was a freshman in college, and when I got on the internet for the first time it was mearly to chat on all the yahoo chat rooms. Lame right? Yea, we'll I guess Myspace is my new Yahoo chat room. It's the first thing I log onto when I get on the internet, and probably the last thing I check before I turn of my computer. Sad, I know.
Anywho, so It's Friday and pretty much everyone is gone from the office except yours truly. *sigh* A receptionist job is never over. I hardly get any calls on Friday though, especially on the day of the Battle of Flowers Parade. God forbid if they make someone in San Antonio actually work on this day! Yea so I think I've only answered a total of maybe 6 calls. It's 1:30 and I've been here since 8am. I don't get my next bombardment of calls till 2-3pm but that only lasts about a 10 min period. O.K. I think i'm starting to sound like an SAT question, given this information how much free time do I have today? Just Kidding.
I'm boring myself with this blog. I'll write more when I have something more meaningful and worth reading.
Anywho, so It's Friday and pretty much everyone is gone from the office except yours truly. *sigh* A receptionist job is never over. I hardly get any calls on Friday though, especially on the day of the Battle of Flowers Parade. God forbid if they make someone in San Antonio actually work on this day! Yea so I think I've only answered a total of maybe 6 calls. It's 1:30 and I've been here since 8am. I don't get my next bombardment of calls till 2-3pm but that only lasts about a 10 min period. O.K. I think i'm starting to sound like an SAT question, given this information how much free time do I have today? Just Kidding.
I'm boring myself with this blog. I'll write more when I have something more meaningful and worth reading.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Elvis Perkins in Dearland...
is magnificent. period.
I think I'm officaly in the "freak-out" mode, because I'm going to see him on Saturday. You have no idea how long i've been waiting for this moment. I couldn't see him at SXSW cause his day show was on Thursday and I had to work, and well I didn't have a badge/wristband to see him at La Zona Rosa that night. So here we are.... it's Monday and I'm gonna see him at Stubb's on Saturday.
Is there a raging super fan code that I need to follow? I don't have that memo or read that article yet, I don't want to go up to him like a pre-pubscent teen going up to manufactured singer in a boy band who's posters cover my walls. I want to be cool, hip and smart. How does this sound... "Hey Elvis. Good show man!" I don't say man, I never say man. How about... "ELVIIIIIISSS!!!!" Nah, that's too Elvis-has-just-left-the-building crazy. See how I'm over analyzing all this.
Seriously if you don't own Ash Wednesday by now, you need to hurry up and go get it. This album as seriously changed my life. I'm a big Bobby Dylan fan, can I call him that? And Perkins really does remind me of Dylan's younger days in a strange way. I will definetly post more about him, especially after the show because I have a feeling i'm going to come back in love him music and want him to sing to me every night before we fall asleep. What? I know, I'll stop.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
