Lucky Seven

Kelly tagged me!

1. Go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript.
2. Go to line 7.
3. Post on your blog the next 7 lines or sentences - as they are.
4. Tag 7 other people to do the same. 

Unfortunately that whole tagging thing stops here, I don't know too many other people who write in their spare time, or are at least telling me about it.

The story currently known as Firestarter tells the story of a girl who discovers that she can start and control fires (natch) using just her brain. This little excerpt comes occurs in the middle of Aiden, a more experienced firestarter, explaining her abilities to her after she blows up a streetlight in a stressful situation.

“Are you kidding me? They didn’t tell me I was tracking an Ignorant! There’s an entirely different protocol to follow. Not to mention the fact that I could have been arrested, or pepper-sprayed for stalking! I told them that the last time that happened was THE LAST TIME. I actually had to go to the hospital, not just the eye wash in the lab like with the previous ones.”
I interrupted his ramblings and held my hands up in front of me to let him know that he should stop speaking. “EXCUSE ME? Did you just call me ignorant?” The nerve. I didn’t care if he was a psycho, this dude was getting a piece of my mind before he killed me.
“No, I actually called you AN Ignorant. Who isn’t paying attention to words now?”

Now, if I could only set aside time for writing this, it might actually have a coherent plot...

The One Where This House is a Circus, Berserk as Fuck

I walked into my house before work this afternoon to find it chaotic, as usual. My mother immediately asked me to help her unload shredded paper into a bag, the teapot was boiling vinegar without the lid on, and I could hear Na and my father talking loudly in our room.

Twenty minutes later, I have a headache and feel like I should never stop by the house before I go into work again. Mostly due to conversations involving transportation, a certain waitlist situation I have going on, and the reasons, or lack thereof, that my parents are driving my sister bananas.

I wish I was still driving around, blasting music. My plan for after work involves me stopping by my house, picking up my food, getting iced coffee/tea at dunkin, then driving back up to school with the music playing and windows open (weather permitting). Aaaaand then I have to return to my homework, especially the beast of a research paper waiting in the wings for me. Yaaaaay.

This weekend has clearly been filled with shenanigans, what with my constant paper obsessing and work.

The One Where I Wish I Was One of Those People Who Did Things Far in Advance

Because writing a thirty page paper in a single weekend is a little intense. At least I did the research for it ahead of time. Also, I don't really know if I would like splitting the work much more than this. I don't like unfinished projects hanging over my head. I'd rather just bang papers out like this. So really...go me?

I saw B.o.B. in concert last night. I'm pretty sure it was the first rap concert I've gone to. It was a lot of fun, one of the most fun concerts my school has provided.

The One With the Utter Laundry Frustration

I went back to the laundry room to pick up my clothes, but they were still soaking wet. I touched them and realized that they were sort of warm in some spots. This leads me to believe that the dryer is in fact working, but someone probably pulled the door open and then didn't properly close it. Now I'm thoroughly annoyed. I had no desire to go back there.

My life is so hard (overdramatic).

This has been a bunch of whining, hope you enjoyed it.

The One With a Conversation

I'm standing in the tutor center, trying to get a records sheet so I can help the girl that came in to learn stuff for her midterm. I'm stopped by a brunette in a sweatsuit.
"Do you know anything about that printer in there?" I had expected her to ask if I could help her with math that didn't fall under my job title. That happened all the time. This, at the time, seemed easier.
"Uh, only that there are two printers around here, and that they alternate being broken."
I had assumed that this would be the end of our conversation. I was incorrect. "So do you know if, since I printed something and didn't notice the giant 'Out of Order' sign, it will come out later when they fix it?"
"Uh..."
"Because I had already hit print, but then saw the sign."
"Well, it might...you could try deleting the print job, because it might print it when it gets back to working order."
"Even if I've already logged off I can do that?"
Seriously, I clearly had no idea about these printers. I'm a tutor, not a lab assistant (although to be honest, I don't think that the lab assistants know much about these printers. I've fixed them before but only by messing around with them until it prints my stuff). "Maybe. I really don't know. You could try." I have somebody who legitimately needs help, waiting for this girl to stop so I can do my job.
"Hmm...well okay. Are you going to be here for a long time?" At this point I'm hovering above my seat, about to sit down and tutor. I've even given the sheet to the girl to sign in.
"I'm here until one."
"Okay, well I'm going to the bathroom, so if Frank shows up, can you just tell him I'm here? I'll be right back, I'm just going to run there and run back."
"Sure, but I have no idea who that is."
"You don't know Frank?"
"Nope."
"Are you a tutor here?" As if knowing Frank is the measure of my legitimacy as a tutor in this establishment. Considering I've been tutoring for three plus years here, I bet I've been here longer than he has.
"Yes." Which would also explain as to why I wasn't of the utmost help with that printer problem I was being questioned about.
"Oh, well...I guess just oh well." And she left with this weird partially embarrassed look on her face.

This didn't have to be a weird conversation, but it was.

The One Where I Was Woken Up at 2 a.m. and I Didn't Even Get a Lousy T-Shirt

I probably should be more tired, but I'm not. My brain just isn't functioning at its normal pace. I ended up going to sleep at four, though it took me forever to fall asleep after that. Then I woke up at eight. I've only had one cup of coffee.

I'm sure that the exhaustion is going to come crashing down on me around six o'clock, when my history seminar starts. At least I only have it for an hour tonight. Then a meeting with the professor at eight and I can come back to the dorm and be entirely function and thought process deficient. Woooooooo.

The One Where I've Been Productive and Feel That I Can Just Do Nothing For a Bit

Although really, I should just keep doing work until I have to go to class for three hours.

I'm listening to the Redwalls right now. For some reason when I found them I thought they were an English band, but they are most definitely not (thank you Wikipedia). They're from Chicago. I can see why I'd confuse the two.

I was also under the impression that they were no longer together, but upon rereading this Wikipedia article I just found out that they are? It seems that a member left but they are still continuing with the whole music thing. Though their last CD came out four years ago...who knows. I'll have to look deeper into this. How was I so hopelessly misinformed? Maybe I'm thinking of a different band.

Last night I found that they had not one, but two daytrotter sessions available for download (this is what we call a score). I love daytrotter. I should also read up on why daytrotter exists, because having free acoustic recordings of songs by people like Rooney, the Young Veins and the Redwalls is awesome. I'd like to see what their purpose is, aside from supplying me with happiness.

The One Where I Tried Sushi

Yup, that was pretty much the day. We went out for sushi for dinner, but I'm not adventurous enough with my food to eat real sushi and I already know that I'm not a fan of California rolls. So I got a cucumber roll, which is just cucumber, rice and seaweed. It was good, although I still don't think I'm going to be eating it often, the seaweed texture is just weird.

Other than that, I sat outside on a bench this morning (early afternoon, whatever) and enjoyed a fresh bagel and a cup of coffee while Kt interviewed the bagel store owner's son for a project. That was lovely, considering how nice it was outside. That will not be the case tomorrow, when I'll have to swim up to the academic complex for tutoring and class at night due to the torrential downpour they are forecasting. I could be making this up, all I know is that the little weather thing on my mac's dashboard shows rain.

The One Where We Took Four and a Half Hour Road Trip

Today Kt and I ventured down to Rutgers for the second time this year. The first time was at the beginning of October to go see Donald Glover do stand up with some guy from The Office (who was clearly very important to me, considering I can't even remember who it was).

This time wasn't supposed to be as fun. For my history seminar we were supposed to go somewhere to access materials that we could not find at our local or school libraries, which is annoying and involved travel that I wasn't too keen on doing. I decided on Rutgers because I could drive there, rather than taking a train into the city, and could go to their library with Ben, who knows his way around the place.

While I got three more books that I can use for my paper, the one that I really needed (a translation of a five hundred year old book by a Dutch physician that those accused of witchcraft were really just girls who had some mental problems) (I know, my life is so exciting) was still checked out. They had a German copy, which was hardly legible due to the intricate calligraphy in which it was written. Oh well, I guess I'm just going to have to beg my professor to let me use his copy...

Because I'm sure as hell not buying it.

Other than that, we had a lovely jaunt to Starbucks, which reminded me of my love for their iced passion tea. It's such a pretty color and it's delightful to boot.

The only negative part of today was when a beat up car with a Confederate flag bumper sticker attempted to merge into Judith's (the beetle's) passenger side. That was adrenaline rush inducing, in the terrified-your-car-is-about-to-be-crushed-because-bugs-crumble-like-aluminum-foil sort of way. Worry not, Judith is in one piece, and I'm exhausted so the adrenaline rush has faded from my system.

The One Where It's April Fool's Day

Not that April Fool's Day has ever made any sort of an impact on my life. The best April Fool's Day thing I've seen today (and in recent memory) is that Hulu tricked out its homepage so it looks like it's operating in the 90's.

It's a Friday night. I'm a senior in college. I'm clearly going to be taking part in chaotic, reckless debauchery tonight. Psshhhht. My big plans for the night include sitting on the couch in our common room, watching Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights with the rest of 19B. We're going to be wearing our jimjams and eating Cars sandwiches. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

That Time I Took a Giant Break...Again

Lame Explanation for Absence!

(For my future self, which is pretty much my only audience aside from Kt, although I have no idea if she checks hers anymore)

Social networking can be difficult. Don't let them tell you differently. I consistently fall behind on these newfangled websites (especially Facebook), due to my severe procrastination problem and the attitude that I don't owe the internet my time, I do what I want! (I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's more the former than the latter, however defiant I can be.)

I could pretend that the reason I stopped typing away on here is that the interview with Robert Schwartzman that I posted was simply too awesome, it couldn't be followed by anything else for awhile (and I mean, I suppose that's true) but I'd be lying. I will say that for awhile I'm sure I got distracted every time I looked at my blog because of that (fantastic) interview, but that isn't the reason I stopped writing. The last time I posted was the end of April of last year, meaning finals were just around the corner. While I didn't just constantly sit around doing my work, chances are I was actually hanging out with real people. Fancy that!

Now I Return

because I have no desire to take notes about China's government for class tomorrow night and I remembered that this existed.

Current Music

Anyway, I'm currently listening to Jimmy Eat World's Invented, because I just realized that I never actually listened to this the whole way through, even though I bought it a little after Christmas. For shame, self.

I just discovered that the band is going to be playing in New Jersey at the beginning of June, which is awesome because it involves less complicated transportation than going to the city. If I end up going to all of the concerts I want to attend in May/June, it's going to be a fantastic/slightly expensive month and a half. I have no doubt that it will be worth it.

INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT SCHWARTZMAN, LEAD SINGER OF ROONEY

1. What would you consider Rooney's biggest musical influences to be?

We're all influenced by different things, so it's hard to say what the overall main influences are for the band. I was attracted to song writing because it's way to create and communicate different emotions. I like songs that make me feel something, whether it's happy, sad, longing, excited, fun, etc. That's why my listening is diverse. I like visual music and movies with memorable musical cues. I don't listen to a lot of new artists cause I'm still learning about so many great artists and albums from years back. So much great music in the world, so little time. I just want to make music that satisfies me and excites the listener.

2. How is Eureka different from Rooney and Calling the World?

Eureka shows the many sides of the band and also is a more accurate representation of our musicality and maturity. We've grown up in the music business, signed right out of high school and hit the road at an early age. We dealt with unfair pressures and many obstacles that would've killed some artists. I like the pressure of having to deliver the goods, but I didn't feel appreciated by the company we were bonded to. Eureka is the beginning of a new phase in our career. Things are in our hands more than ever and I think it had a strong positive affect on the writing process of Eureka. It's hard to be in a band and have to appease your mates, but it's part of the journey. I feel the album is our best sounding album to date. We produced and engineered the album and were the only people in the studio. We had to be critical of our own ideas and edit ourselves, which is difficult, but I feel we make something unique and exciting. We've maintained the "Rooney" sound that our fans like and we've shown a fresh side to the music we create.

3. What is your favorite song from Eureka and why?

I really like Only Friend. I would sit at the piano every night and play the chords over and over, making up the melody as I went. I didn't have any words and didn't know what to say. Eventually, the words just came out...I like when that happens. I like that the words are less literal, but still tell a story. They compliment the music well. I really like show tunes and this one has some of that old show tune feel.

4. What is your favorite song out of all of the albums and why?

It's hard to pick one, they all have something I like. It's nice to have reached our third album. The live shows will be mixed with different material and will be fun to piece together. Playing I'm Shakin and When Did Your Heart Go Missing are always a good time on stage and make me proud of be the writer of those songs. They're crowd pleaser and I love crowd pleasers.

5. How do you choose which songs become singles from the albums? Why did you pick "I Can't Get Enough" to be the first single off of Eureka?

We've had success with more rhythmic songs, especially internationally. We're still in the music business, trying to sell albums and make new fans and grow our world. I Can't Get Enough is upbeat and fun and I hope it excited people.

6. What is your favorite Rooney video? Why?

Our new video for I Can't Get Enough is one of my favorites. We've always done straight performance videos or videos with performances built into the plot. The I Can't Get Enough video uses a lot of visual effects and animation, which is something I've always wanted in our videos, but never had a chance to use. I also like the video for Tell Me Soon, which was banned from TV. Apparently the girl was too young and I don't come off well in it. But, it's a really cool video and an original concept.

7. How did you decide on Eureka for an album title?

We sat around throwing names into the hat. Nothing stuck and no one was happy. The artist who did the album artwork found an image of the Great Seal of California and on it it said EUREKA. We loved the image cause it fit our California vibe and the name was already a part of the image.

8. I recently saw the behind the scenes footage of the "I Can't Get Enough" video. How difficult was it to work on roller skates? How did the band decide on a roller rink?

The idea of roller skating in the video came to me while listening to the song a thousand times in the studio. The verse has a smooth, sliding around rhythm and I thought it would be cool to sing while skating. I worked with the director, Marcus Herring, on a few SOLOBOB videos and I knew he would be able to make a lot happen on a small budget. He's great with post effects and has a dense knowledge of film and music, so his references we spot on. I used to rollerblade in elementary school and I'm pretty good on ice skates. Ned is also a good skater and Taylor and Louie picked it up fast. No one fell and everyone looks pretty comfortable on skates. It was amazing to watch the real skaters in the video, the professional. I also went to check out the roller rink the night before the shoot and was exposed to the fabulous world of roller skating. It's coming back, big time!

(and one last question unrelated the the album--what's your favorite book? I love reading and I'm always interested to hear what other people like.)

Check out:

This is Your Brain on Music

Henderson the rain king

Plays by Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams

Check out the writer Henning Mankell

Okay, Robert Schwartzman is beyond awesome for this. How many bands will encourage fans who write for blogs to conduct email interviews with them? Not too many. The fact that he goes through the emails and answers all of the questions BECAUSE HE WANTS TO makes him a fantastic human being. I'll stop freaking out now.

He also sent this

http://ilgrock.com/rooney/mp3-signup/

which you can get in several different places, but still cool that I have the direct link for this site now.

I really want their new album, Eureka, to come out. I've already preordered and will be waiting for it until June 8th when it comes out (and hopefully I get it on that day). And I'm waiting for them to post tour dates. And for their new video "I Can't Get Enough" to come out. Have I been obsessing over this band for weeks? You bet. Are they worth it? Hell fucking yeah.

Ooooh you're askin' for trouble, don't come around again

Hmm...having conversations with someone who doesn't really seem to care what you have to say about your own life easily contributes to a defeatist attitude in regards to them.

But here's a Rooney picture!

Here, they all have shades.

Booth: You know, you're a smart ass. You know that?

Brennan: Objectively, I'd say I'm very smart, although it has nothing to do with my ass.

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite."

It's starting to seem like infinity's over

"Your resentment is delicious."

I feel restless.

Not only that, but I actually feel stressed because of how restless I feel. How about that one. I have a whole lot of work I have to do, but I feel like I don't just because I got past yesterday's hell. I have to study for history, being as I have work and I'm seeing K tomorrow. I can't ditch Children's Lit on Thursday, because we're visiting the children's room at the Mahwah Public Library (such an opportunity, I clearly haven't spoken to a children's librarian, oh since last week I'd say). That means I have tonight after the Irish poets coffee house business and tomorrow night after I get back from Fair Lawn, which, as all of you know, isn't exactly the most productive time in my week.

Ack.

I almost picked up the most recent Augusten Burroughs book today to read for fun, but luckily I stopped myself from breaking my fun reading fast. That has to hold strong at least until I'm done reading The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. So, never.

Ireland = bust. So, we're taking a road trip to somewhere in the northeast instead. Candidates right now include Salem, Boston, and Providence.

We are very committed to the cause of having a rocking good time, even though our other plans sucked out.




"Let me be the one to break the silence. That was the most offensive thing I've seen in twenty years of teaching. And that includes an elementary school production of Hair."

This boy will be famous. There won't be a child in our world that won't know his name. There will be books about him, he will be a legend.'

I want to read the Harry Potter books so badly right now.

I don't have the time to do such a thing.

That is all.




Harry: "And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?"
Ron: "Throw it away and punch him on the nose."

"Nobody likes a blonde in a hamster ball."

I'm aware that this is the second title quote that has to do with blondes within the span of a couple of hours, but it was too good. No one can say they don't enjoy that quote if they know Veronica Mars at all.

Aw. I want to watch Veronica Mars. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS.

From the sounds of my plans for the next couple of days, that's certainly not going to happen. Especially with my other TV plans (see previous post, in which I tvgeek out) that I am in the middle of.

Oh. Yes. And that whole homework deal. I'm totally not forgetting that at all.

And I didn't choose to watch an old episode of Gossip Girl on my lunch break instead of do any sort of necessary reading. That definitely wasn't me.

Anyway, the major goal of today: FIGURE OUT PLANS FOR IRELAND. IT WILL HAPPEN.

Please let it happen?

Also, note to self: you have a camera, use it every once in awhile. Especially because campus looks so pretty right now with all of the snow. I'd upload the really cool picture I have on my phone right now and post it, however I do not have my computer and therefore I lack the bluetooth capability to do so.

Damn.




Vanessa: "You're sick!"
Chuck: "You're welcome!"

"There's nothing I hate more then perky blondes who want to take over the world."

Time is moving by so slowly. It may be the whole exhaustion thing. Getting less than five hours of sleep and then going to work for eight is not ideal. I had planned on going to sleep earlier, but an intense game night broke out, and there was no way I could walk away from Catchphrase. My team needed me, especially because we made a three game comeback to tie it up with the other team, finally taking victory. There was no way I could justify walking away to shower and get to bed early.

Success.

I also thought that I could get some work done while I was at work. Clearly, I am mistaken. I've read one chapter of The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte and one page of the next Age of Napoleon reading. This does not bode well. Especially because I kind of really need to read all of Inferno, being as the midterm for my Dante class is in about a week and I cannot keep anything about The Divine Comedy in my brain. There's just not enough room.

Hello, viciously screwed.

I spent some of the time that I absolutely wasn't doing my homework reading TWoP's "Brilliant but Canceled" blog, which is at the same time the perfect and worst place for me. It made me even more ambitious in my TV want. At the present time, I want to finish the entire series of Dawson's Creek that I started last year, watch my first season of 21 Jump Street, finish watching Freaks and Geeks, and possibly watch selected episodes from My So-Called Life. All of this in addition to watching Friday Night Lights, Being Human, and The O.C. with Kt, of course. Accomplishing all of this in a timely fashion would require me to stop going to school, work and partaking in any of my responsibilities.

So, not going to happen, unfortunately.

On the bright side, curling tomorrow!! No, I'm not kidding.

"I will join the synchronized swim team, do rhythmic gymnastics, shot-put, collect stamps, march for women's rights, free animals from laboratories. You know, I will even read comic books with Cohen and his wack pack of social maladjusts. But, drama club: no."

"The big deal is, that it's part of my job to make sure that you don't grow up stupid...it's bad for the world."

Today sucked.

The weather outside is disgusting. Normally I'm cool with snow/sleet/hail/rain/combination of all of the above, however I had to drive today and almost died three different times. Speaking of, I'm over being self sufficient for the time being. I need to take a little while to act like I'm a small child, because today's experience has convinced me that doing things on my own only leads to danger and life crippling stress.

I may be a tad overdramatic, but DID I MENTION THAT I ALMOST DIED?

Complaints about today's trip to the doctor:

1. Their offices are not accessible via GPS. As in, my GPS brought me to the same wrong area. TWICE.

2. For this reason, I ended up standing out in the sleet/hail, trying to talk to my father who had to explain to me how to get there. Then I actually had to restart my trip there for the THIRD TIME.

3. I couldn't actually see out of my windows very well, due to them being fogged up and the constant battery of hail and snow being chucked at them. At some point I had to roll down my window so I could see to accelerate onto the highway without ending my life.

4. The people in my town drive like jackasses in the rain. So many people slowed to ten miles an hour in town for no reason.

5. My car, deciding that it had been traumatized enough for one day, started spinning out a bit, I'm sure in an attempt to stop me from traveling any more on that highway. I ignored it, and apologize to Judith for putting her through the hellish weather.

6. This entire thing ended up being a pretty big waste of time. The doctor had to be convinced that something was actually wrong, rather than the health center people at school who immediately could tell that there was something wrong. That's Ramapo: 1, Private Practice located in their ridiculous spot on 208 behind a fire station: 0. At least I got a prescription I suppose.

Boo today booooooooooooooo. After that I went back to my house where I drank coffee, ate some twizzlers, and watched Friday Night Lights until I had to go to work. I plan on repeating that exact plan, substituting the coffee and twizzlers for dinner. Oh hell, I'll take the twizzlers again.




Tami: It was medieval; you know it was like The Scarlet Letter or something watching that girl walk across the cafeteria and everybody just glared at her.
Coach Taylor: That’s high school; at least they didn’t burn her at the goal post.

(845): mondays should just be called 'national damage control day'

It's not Monday, but the tfln reminded me of the Monday after senior prom, which made me chuckle a bit.

I'm back in the tutor center at the moment. It finally got quiet, so now should be the time where I do my homework, but instead I'm typing away. It's just how I do. I spent the time in which people were having very loud conversations within the center stalking cafepress to figure out which bag to replace my Veronica Mars bag (and by replace, I just mean in the carrying sense, as the strap is starting to become unattached to the bag itself. I would never actually throw away that bag. I'd sooner die than give that up voluntarily). I'm really leaning towards the "University of Gallifrey" bag, greatly because not much looks good on the special brand of marigold yellow they use for the bags and in greater part because of how awesome it is.

I know I've said this before, and I'll say it again: it's fucking freezing in this place. I'm going to get frostbite here one day. I'm also very dramatic.

(407):

sober me hid the cigs from drunk me. sober me is a tricky bitch.