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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Clean

For some reason, I decided that today I would rearrange and clean my room. What started as a sort of fun project turned into me being literally stuck in my room, trying to move a shelf over my bed, while my dresser blocked the doorway out.

I got my bed, dresser, and large shelving unit situated and am now to the truly difficult part of this endeavor: the clothes.

I own a lot of clothes.


A lot.


A whole hell of a lot.

I am not sure if I trust you to not judge me if I really get into specifics so for now I will just leave you with the knowledge that this could take awhile. Wish me luck.


XO,
SVR

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Halloween

My brain is tired from two weeks of too much school work and not enough sleep. I need help decided what to be for Halloween! Every time I try to brainstorm my mind goes blank. I would like to work with what I have. So, buying a costume is not going to happen. I will not be changing the color of my hair. I will not spend more than about $15.

This is what I have been in past years:

I was trying to brainstorm for an idea by thinking about movies I like, but, like I said, my brain is not so much working right now. Anyone with dark hair and bangs? I am up for suggestions! Help!!!

XO,
SVR


*I sort of want to be her all day, every day.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Heavy Metal Machine

I was skeptically ecstatic when the Smashing Pumpkins reformed* and I heard they were working on a new album. Being my all-time favorite band** is an important spot to hold and I worried for a hott second that what they produced would not live up to my expectations.

And then I heard "Tarantula" and I knew things would be okay. Maybe you're not a fan, but I think the song kicks ass and it kept me satisfied until the full album came out. I was disappointed to once again miss the Smashing Pumpkins at the 930 Club. They played there in support of Adore, but for some reason, I was not there and then, once again, for this album my presence was not in the Billy Corgan vicinity.

Luckily, the band announced a ton more dates and Serena and I jumped all over them. Without getting into the crappy existence of reality, Serena ended up not being able to go:( She was with us in spirit, though, and we'll be seeing them again as soon as they're back on the East Coast.

The show was really good. I'm not sure how to compare it to the other two times I have seen them, but it was good. I always hate reviews of the SP's shows because the reviewer inevitably remarks on Billy Corgans voice and complains that it is too "nasily," which is beyond ridiculous. His voice is what makes the band what it is.

Ali and I had a good time in Philadelphia before getting to the venue. We hit up South Street, saw the Rocky steps, and got cheesesteaks from Pat's***. I've been to Philly quite a few times before, but this was Ali's first real time there****. The Tower was nice, although a little weird. It was a real theatre with stadium seating and no jumbo-tron monitors. Getting my mind off the aesthetics, though, was the awesome surprise that was the opening band: Explosions In The Sky! I had been wanting to see them for some time now and was beyond pleasantly surprised when they stepped on staged and introduced themselves. They played a good set and I was proud of the audience for accepting an instrumental band.

At about 9pm the Smashing Pumpkins took the stage and started with one of their newer songs before hitting on many of my older favorites including: Starla, Hummer, To Sheila, and Rocket (Set List To Below). They played something like 20 songs, which really surprised me. It was a long show, and we got a good encore of Heavy Metal Machine, which I have always liked. I also enjoyed the Joan Jett tribute of I Love Rock And Roll even though I realized I don't really know the words to that song.

One of my favorite moments of the show was leaning over to Ali during one of the Siamese Dream songs and remarking on how those songs are over 15 years old. She commented that I am old in response and we went back to enjoying the ancient songs of yore.

It was a good show and well worth the dinero and lack of sleep it took to get there and back. The only thing that would have made it better was if Serena had been able to go, but really, we'll be there front and center the next time they are anywhere close to town.

Anyway, here is the setlist:

Main Set :
Where Boys Fear to Tread
Rocket
Bleeding the Orchid
Neverlost
Today
Starz
Zero
Glass + The Ghost Children
Lucky 13
That's the Way (My Love Is)
Disarm
(w/ Lisa)1979 (acoustic)
To Sheila
Tonight, Tonight
Tarantula
Hummer
Bring the Light
Cherub Rock
United States


Encore :
Heavy Metal Machine
> On the Road Again [Canned Heat] (tease)
> I Love Rock N' Roll [Joan Jett] (tease)

<3,>*Shut it. Billy Corgan is the Smashing Pumpkins so don't even bring up James Iha or D'Arcy. Yes, he rules (she does not), but the Smashing Pumpkins=Billy Corgan.
**Tied with Muse and Radiohead. Please, let me have a 3-way tie or my head will explode.
***Whiz with-YUM!
****We saw Billy Corgan at the Electric Factory on his solo tour a couple years ago, but that was the time it took seven hours to get there and we didn't have time to do anything else.

Hurry Up And Wait

Things I must update you on asap:

  1. Harper's Ferry/Winchester with Ali.
  2. Smashing Pumpkins in Philly.

It looks very fall-like outside. The rain mixed with the fallen leaves makes it appear colder than it actually is. In addition to complaining about my schedule too much, I am sure you are also sick of me complaining about the weather. But holy hell, 24 October and it's not cold yet? I am actually debating wearing tights with my skirt today because I don't want to be hot. What???!!! That's just wrong.


In other news, I have leftover pizza and that is exciting.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Panic

I don't mean to keep posting lists about what I need to do and how stressed I am...but with another week of deadlines upon us, that is what you will get. Deal with it:

To Do:
  1. Research paper due Saturday. This is one of those awesome, "I'm not going to give a length requirement. Just write "enough" to present both sides and "thoroughly" research everything. Help!
  2. Rewrite part of a paper and resubmit for Saturday class. This is a bit lower on the priority list, but I do have to do it. I have to add in some stuff to resubmit it.
  3. Research topic for Thursday night class. There are only seven of us in this class so there is no way I can hide.
  4. Fix annotated bibliography for Thursday night class (on a previous topic).
  5. Complete two peer reviews by Friday of classmates' literature reviews. One motherfucker wrote 17 pages. Are you kidding me?? I almost cried when I saw that.
  6. Presentation for Saturday (on #1 paper topic).
I am fine when in denial, but if I think about the list in relation to my upcoming week, I get a little anxious.

XO,
SVR

Like Spinning Plates

For awhile I felt like I was getting in a lot of home time. Time to catch up on tv, movies, magazines, and books. Time to kind of lounge around and relax. But now? I feel like I am never home. I come home to sleep. And change. And grab a bottle of water. And then I am out the door again.

It's fun being a busy girl, but tiring...and some times stressful*.



XO,
SVR


*Like when stuff is due and it can't be completed while out.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

How To Disappear Completely

Things are worse when tired.
Things are worse when tired.
Things are worse when tired.
Things are worse when tired.
Things are worse when tired.
Things are worse when tired.


Things are not that bad. Not in any way, shape, or form. I just need a little freak out moment. Thank you.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Pressure Zone

I considered calling out of work today, but I didn't. I thought about going into work late tomorrow, but I am not going to. Apparently, I am still not feeling the crunch of my due dates. I have a paper due tomorrow night that is about 90% done and then one due Friday by 6pm that is maybe halfway there and that is if I am kind to myself.

Now, helping my stress levels is that the one due Friday is a rough draft of sorts, but I am not a lame-ass who turns in a mediocre job just because it is not the final draft. 1) I don't do things halfway and 2) If I do a half-assed job now, then that's just more work to do later when the final draft is due. Oh, and also, we have to have these effing papers be peer reviewed and I don't want someone wondering how and why I ever made it to my last semester of grad school.

So here is my schedule pre due date:

Thursday:

430am: First alarm
445am: Second alarm. Get up and get ready.
545am: Leave for work.
600am: Stop at Starbucks even though I don't have the time or money.
700am: Work blah blah blah
330pm: Leave work.
400pm: Sit in traffic.
600pm: Class. Kill me.
900pm: (At the latest, I hope) Home to work on paper #2.
???am: Sleep

Friday:

700am: Wake up. Curse the world. Send paper to professor because I must wait until the last possible moment.
900am: Work. Sorta.
530pm: Clock out.
630pm: *FALL FUN CELEBRATION STARTS!


Anyway, the point of all of that is I have a lot due quite soon and not enough time to complete it all. And I didn't even procrastinate with this stuff. I did research weeks ago and really, some people do their best work all at once instead of working on it a little bit at a time. With that said, I need to go to sleep. 4am is oh, FOUR HOURS AWAY! GOOD NIGHT.



XO,
SVR

*What is Fall Fun Celebration you ask? Oh, just wait...

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Road Trippin'


Slow Men Working
Originally uploaded by scarls17
I am surprised they advertise this fact. Seen on Rt. 29 in NOVA.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Bad Day*

I wore two different shoes to work today.


That about sums it up.


*R.E.M., not that other guy who makes me want to be deaf after hearing his song.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Videotape

I have been on the quest recently for the scariest movie I can find. When I was little nothing phased me, but as I got older I found myself being more affected by horror movies. The recent ones released in the movie theaters have been scary at the time, but once the lights turn on, I have been unaffected. Last night B and I watched The Descent. While this is a movie I knew would not be in the same realm as a classic horror movie, I did expect to be scared if only because I freak out when seeing people in claustrophobic situations.

I warned B that I would not be able to watch the movie unless my feet were not on the floor. I also told him that seeing people in extremely tight spaces would make me anxious. The intro to the movie is long. So long, in fact, that I started to wonder if they would ever make it to the caves. At the same time, though, I was suspicious that the lack of suspense was a reverse psychology type of thing or something and that all of a sudden something scary would happen and I would be so startled I would bite my tongue or something. Luckily, that did not happen, but there was one moment that caused me to get my feet up off of the floor...and I spent the rest of the movie like that.

The Descent is not one of my favorite movies, but I think my expectations for being scared were too high. Does anyone have any recommendations of super scary films?? Rosemary's Baby is a Top 10 movie of all time for me, but also, Scream had me almost in the fetal position while watching it in the theatre. So, combining those two movies would be ideal. I need suspense, and creepiness, but also just the right amount of startling action.

XO,
SVR

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar But I Feel Like A Millionaire

"I wish it was $1!" has come out of my mouth more times than I can count. Recently, when I was in San Francisco, I stumbled upon a sparkly skirt that was....$1! It felt meant to be and so I bought it. On Monday I had another run-in with something that cost $1. Beer. I went to a bar after work with some coworkers for what is maybe the best deal in happy hours that I have ever experienced. Everything was $1! I think I had six. And with no dinner, I am surprised I didn't end up dancing on a table. I also ended up not paying for any of them, which made them taste even sweeter. And now, since I owe someone beer, we get to go back. I love beer so this works out well.

XO,
SVR

Thursday, October 04, 2007

She

My new obsession is songs with the word "she".


There is something about voice and guitar and that word that makes up something very special. As was pointed out to and realized by me, "she" is often used in break up songs. Songs that obviously came from pain and emotion and by using just the pronoun, it covers so much. It's like the singer/writer can't bring themselves to say her name, yet, at the same time, referring to someone as "she" is almost more personal. I'm not sure I can explain it, it may just be one of those weird things I like. You know, like clapping in songs, or the use of whistles (Axl Rose, I'm looking at you.)

Some favorites that come to mind...Please suggest any you can think of, I want to make a mix:

"She Says"- Howie Day

"Hang"- Matchbox Twenty

"Say Yes"- Elliott Smith

"Thinking About You"- Radiohead

and maybe my absolute favorite:

"Black" by Pearl Jam

XO,
SVR

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

I Am The Killer

I watched the Season 2 premiere of Dexter earlier this evening and I have to say that this show is so awesome. I had actually only previously seen the first four episodes on Netflix and was worried that skipping ahead would cause me to miss too much, but it's so good that it doesn't matter. I love Michael C. Hall in this part. His voice overs are perfection and I find myself laughing at the most inopportune times (you know, like when he kills someone.) I don't even know where to begin with analyzing it so I don't think I will. This season, based on the previews, looks to be effing amazing, though.

Does anyone else watch?


XO,
SVR

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Trash

Apparently I will do anything in order to not do my annotated bibliography that is due this week. There are many things I loathe doing:
  1. Cleaning out my car.
  2. Doing laundry.
  3. Anything having to do with APA.
So, in order to avoid #3, I did #1 and #2. Repeat: I cleaned out my car and started laundry in order to not have to start writing my annotated bibliography. This disturbs me on a certain level. Especially since it's warm outside and I hate the warm, so to voluntarily go out in it seems just wrong. But now the washer is spinning and my car is clean so the time has come to start this damn assignment.

But first, I noticed a few things while cleaning out my car. You know, like if I pretended to be one of those anthropologists who analyzes people based on their trash and possessions, what would I conclude.

  1. I drink a lot of water. (There were roughly 10 empty water bottles in there!)
  2. I do not like shoes. (There were about six pairs in my backseat. I get in my car after work and the first thing I do is put on flip flops.)
  3. I listen to, and own (and borrow), a lot of CDs. (Radiohead, Foo Fighters, a bag from Amoeba, Kyuss, Nick Drake, Pink Floyd, two small CD cases, etc.)
  4. I read magazines while driving. (Just kidding, I do not, but there are four in my backseat.)
  5. I want it to be cold. (Scarf there, just waiting to be worn.)
*sigh* I really have to go write this damn thing. I HATE YOU, APA!!!!


XO,
SVR

Asking For It

I like to steal other people's ideas. No, I kid. I'm a kidder. But I am going to steal an idea from Kristabella today (who, I think, borrowed it from someone else). So anyway, people sometimes get to my blog via random google searches, right? Well, until now these keywords were only known by me. Today, though, I am going to share....I can tell you're excited.

  • "You-tell-me-that-you-love-me, but you never wa"- Hmmm? Cake? Now I have that song in my head. Thanks a lot.
  • "dawson's creek quotes art imitates life"- Awesome because I am always saying how my life either is, or I want it to be just like Dawson's Creek. Love me some Pacey!
  • "where's the party techno"- Sounds like you lost your DJ. Might I suggest one?
  • "it's too late to apologize dances"- You should never apologize for how you dance. Work it! Own it!
  • "vanessa crazy cunt"- This one makes sense. She is crazy. In the best possible way.
  • "crowd surf boobs"- This is why I do NOT crowd surf!
  • "witty comebacks innuendos"- Why don't you just email me.
Well, sorta fun. I dunno.

XO,
SVR

Monday, October 01, 2007

Shiver

Dear Mother Nature,

It is now not only officially Autumn, but it is now October and highs of 86 degrees are not going to work for me. I demand cooler weather.

XO,
SVR



Dear October,

Don't be a pansy ass pushover. Stand up for yourself and get cold!!!

XO,
SVR


Dear Pumpkin Spice Latte,

Stop being so good.

XO,
SVR


Dear Traffic,

From where did you come? Where are you all going? Weird.

XO,
SVR