At the GYM

yesterday they were playing pump it up music, as usual, and I being the anti-trend person / idiot who forgot my ipod was able to enjoy some greats. Namely R.E.S.P.E.C.T., to which I literally could not not move to a little bit. That song just calls for some booty-movin'. And I looked around, and NO ONE else seemed the least bit affected. Seriously, fellow gym goers, how are we ever going to act out my musical fantasies if no one is even listening? Such as the one in which everyone jumps off their machine at the exact same time (on the downbeat of the R on the second chorus, to be exact) and does a little dance? That song just longs for group participation.

Ever since seeing the T-Mobile commercial I have wanted to see such things. And participate. Lead them, even. If I had had a partner in crime yesterday we just might have started a literal movement.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

One of the greatest things I love about traveling, or being on vacation, is being able to relax and do the things I never get time to do anymore, like read and watch movies and shows.

I read, this weekend, The Life of Pi, and The Beautiful and Damned, and The Second Assistant. The first was entertaining with a reflective end, the third was frivolous and fun, and the second was DEPRESSING for pretty much the last half. I know, I know, what else do I expect from reading a long Fitzgerald novel? It was a really good book, but the last half just made me cringe because they kept going, and going, and didn't know how to stop. It was awful.

On the plane back (from first-class, cheers to love causing a man with a first-class ticket wanting to sit in steerage with his girlfriend and thus switch me seats) I watched Last Chance Harvey. It made me smile. A lot. It made me want to cry, but I didn't of course. And you know how you have those conversations, usually while waiting in line for something or on a long car ride, about who would play you in the movie of your life? Mine would definitely be Emma Thompson. Hands down. Not just from this movie - I've been a fan since she did Sense and Sensibility. In movies she plays the understated character, supporting in the beginning but often in the end the strongest character. In real life she is quite normal and funny, if you believe imbd at all, and is the only person ever to have won an oscar both for acting and for writing. Emma Thompson is my new fav, yo.

Oh and Ash and I watched the newlyweds on tv which is incredibly funny, the asian couple is my favorite. Definitely my main show this summer.

Hey there Girlfriend.*

So like two weeks ago we had this amazing girls' night where we went to see the Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages in Hollywood. It was a gorgeous evening - perfect temperature in the seventies, lovely sunset, fun dresses, and best of all we saw the Phantom! The Music of the Night is my favorite song and my favorite scene - the boat floating through the fog and then the Phantom sings to Christine as she wavers between Raoul (yeck) and letting herself fall under the Phantom's spell. It was beautiful.

...where should we eat?yummy italian!
please, no catcalls.

dutifully reading the playbill. while in line for the ladies'.

*to be read with sass. I don't really talk like that.

Fast Car

Obviously my car does not like driving as much as I do. Friday it decided to just, oh, not start for several hours. My car was nice enough to let me drive to the gas station on the way to work so that I could receive the caffine required to put up with it's shennanigans for the rest of the day. But then it wouldn't start to get me to work. Wait twenty minutes; still won't start. Call a coworker for a ride, come back before lunch; STILL won't start. I had it towed to the shop and then it graciously decided to wake up and start.* It's been starting ever since. Tricky.

So it was not a pretty day. I felt ugly and I reacted ugly. Still... (hellooo Emery), the music seemed to continue to follow me. Tiny Dancer on the radio at the end of the day, and while waiting (for ever and ever) for a work contact, Tracy Chapman's Fast Car on in the lobby. Amazing. When that song was over I gave up on the work contact and went home.

Many great and wonderous emotions poured through me (but not on my face, jeez, a girl can't change overnight) during this trial at the end of a very long, trying week. Their story will have to wait another day to be told, as it is wrapped up in it's own story and will require a separate post.

Otherwise this weekend was phenomenal. Satuday was spent in a heady combination of getting to know a new friend better, hours on my own in a bookstore, and girl's night in with old friends. Holly and Sam, you lifted my spirits more than you know. Thanks. Sunday was spent with churchy people and an evening of service. I literally spent all day (9am-11pm) with one or more of my big kids. It was pretty rad, yo.

More to come this weekend with Sarah and Jill and Naph coming to town! I feel like I won the lottery!


*For which I am very greatful as funds for repairs would not be so easy to find at the moment.

let it be / let the music find me

I love taking a drive late at night.  That alert, heightened sense of awareness that overpowers any tired in me.  The radio stuck on whatever station my finger paused over when I lost interest in the music.  Distracted, perhaps, by the city lights spread out before me.  My thoughts wander in and out with no desire to settle on any one thing.  Clear but carefree.  As I head home I can barely hear the strains of Let it Be beginning, so the knob is turned clockwise and the words start coming out.  When the electric guitar enters I'm beginning to grin.  The person in the car next to me, what are they pondering while this city sleeps?  And while I so crazily gesture, opera-like, at the neon lights?  I pull in to park just as the song ends-  daa-dadadaa-dada-daa--daa---daa.  Perfection.

shine on 'til tomorrow, let it be.

Love Story

Darn you, Taylor Swift. I shake my fist at you. Just when I think I've got the me myself and I all under control, you write a song like this. It's like a trick, because at first you just roll your eyes so you let yourself listen, and by the end you're singin' along at the top of your lungs all hopeful like. Darn you again, just for good measure.