In case you missed it...

We got kittens. They're super cute. They chase each other at full speed back and forth through the apartment, occasionally running into things. They also make a rather amusing chirping sound. If you care to visit them, let me know, I'm sure something can be arranged.

Yes We Can

The 2008 election has been a long one with plenty of drama. But regardless of who you voted for, or whether you agree, it's a wonderful, beautiful thing to watch history made and to have participated in it. 

The 44th President of the United States of America and the first African American President of the US, President Elect Barack Obama.

Dreadmullet

I am restless, generally speaking. Much of the time I get to a place and find myself wishing I was somewhere else. When I was home I wished I was back at school. When I was at school I wished I was in a city. When I was in some city, I wished I was in Europe. When I was at the Canyon, I wished I was HOME because of my allergies. Now, I'm in Chicago. And I like it. A lot. And I really don't want to leave. Granted I've only been here two months, and I always have this slight craving for England, but I'm good here.

In other news, there was a guy that got on the bus and he looked very attractive and clean cut with nice short hair.... until he turned his head and behold, finger-like dreadlocks of hair growing out of the back of his head!!!!!!!! I'm not kidding you, the man had a DREADMULLET! It looked like a spider cracking it's way out through the back of his skull. I tell you folks, it's not the way to go, avoid it.

The Rebirth of Rock n Roll

I like many bands which come in many forms and many genres. But when it comes to basic rock, it's been a long time since anyone blew me away with their wit and talent and overall aura. Now don't get me wrong, I have many favourites when it comes to music. There is Travis, wonderful and Scottish and just cute, but way too mellow when it comes to this category. The Hives are crazy and awesome to watch, but I wouldn't call them rock either, more pop/grunge/punk or something... and Conor Oberst and his little project called Bright Eyes, well, doesn't get more honest than that. But rock he is not. More of a "the way emo should have turned out but no one was as good as him" kind of situation. Coldplay, again too mellow. Fantastic, but on the good side of pop, not really rock. Death Cab... well they aren't really rock either, they're kinda in with Coldplay. Radiohead is trippy and experimental, but not just simple rock 'n roll. 

Enter The Strokes. True rock sound. Simple sounding melodies that have extremely complicated guitar parts (Reptilia anyone?!). Intriguing lyrics that are not necessarily clear, but not entirely uninterpretable. And an "I don't care what you think" fashion sense. Plus, they have good sense when it comes to finding people to deal with their music videos. Just take a gander at Heart in a Cage or You Only Live Once, or again, Reptilia. Or hey, The End Has No End for that matter. And who could deny the 80s neon beauty of 12:51. Ok I could go on and on. 

Then you have to consider the personalities. The drummer, Fabrizio Moretti (the name is enough) who dated Drew Barrymore or the singer, Julian Casablancas, former wacked out pothead who married a girl named Juliet and quit weed for good. Seriously. And what could be less intriguing than their affinity for white shoes? All of them! And the fact that they all grew up as spoiled rich kids in New York City. So they decided to become musicians and bless us with this beautiful... well, rock! Yes, they bring much needed hope to a genre I thought was lost forever. 

Inspiration

Where does it say you gotta live and die here

Where does it say a guy can't catch a break

Why should you only take what you're given

Why should you spend your whole life livin'

Trapped where there ain't no future

Even at 17 (or 22)

Breaking your back for someone else's sake

If the life don't seem to suit 'ya

How 'bout a change of scene

Far from the lousy headlines and the deadlines in between...

Macy's Rewards

I don't know what to write at the moment. I'm a little all over the place. I don't much enjoy my job. It's retail on speed. And yet boring at the very same time. I don't know many people. I don't really have much money just yet. Or a life, really. And I'm convinced my boss is bent on making me a workaholic, so no life in the future I guess. Really I'm just complaining, but at this moment of this day, I'm not feeling positive. I might as well get to bed. I have 7 hours of work again tomorrow. 

Here come the brides

A week from today I will be driving to South Carolina to watch one of my best friends get married. Three weeks from tomorrow I will be driving to Indiana for the same reason. Different friend, naturally. Because of the impending involvement in weddings that will result in a slight loss of best friendedness, I have been thinking. Thinking about how almost everyone I know is in a somewhat serious relationship, how they're all going to go off and get married and things will be lost in the process. Inside jokes will be forgotten, keeping in contact will lose importance and slowly but surely they'll all drift away. I won't always have roommates, I won't always live here in this apartment, someday I'll be by myself in some studio apartment trying to pay the bills and juggle 2 or 3 jobs or something ridiculous like that, while still maintaining hopes and dreams and college loans. This is the very beginning of the biggest and hardest transition. To be honest, leaving home was never super hard, going to college was nothing to me, no big change. Graduating was just a day, it made no great impact on me. Working at the Grand Canyon was a challenge, but only temporary, and moving to Chicago felt perfectly natural. Even the first few weddings didn't change much for me (although I'm sure it's very different for them). But when October rolls around.....