Mary and Michelle are sisters. Mary and Michelle live together, and have done so since 2009. Everyone we know is married, and has the typical "Mormon Mommy" blog where they share the joys of parenthood and coupon-ing. So we felt left out (and bored), and created our own "Mormon Mommy" blog, except neither of us is married and neither of us are mommies. But we are Mormon! Ahlan wisahlan bikum.
Today was the worst day EVER and I don't even have to energy to fully explain why.
I hate pretending to be an adult. If I had a real job aka MONEY things would be different. I would have just hopped on over to RC Willey to buy the damn bedroom set.
Instead I ventured on KSL and purchased the cheapest crap I could find. $150 worth of a dresser and chest of drawers and a "bed" if you can call it that was truly only worth $150. Sigh.
I am sitting here in my living room with a pile of dirty useless boards for a bed frame. I contacted the dude to see if I could perhaps get some money back for the piece of crap but I have yet to hear a response. And I'm thinkin that I likely won't.
I am still angry and my mind is still racing. $150 in the grand scheme of things is nothing. But right now.....it's a lot of hours at the Olive Garden. And it's a different perhaps better set of drawers.
The drawers actually aren't bad really. It's just been such a long day.
I have to stop thinking about this. I already know that I'm going to lose sleep over this. I'm so upset. I AM SO UPSET.
Also, moving is really lonely. I'm so grateful to have my sister/best friend with me still and also that I have awesome extended family more nearby than when I was in Provo, but still......it's lonely moving somewhere new. Even if it's just 40ish miles north.
And this is so cliche to say, but honestly.......guys are idiots. Not that I even personally have any recent examples to share as proof, but they are. Girls are crazy, and guys are idiot douchebags. Always and forever.
Mary still needs to blog about her conference in D.C. and her fun little trip there with my mom, and I still need to blog about the official graduation. So hopefully the next 2 posts won't be such downers! Unless of course something else pops up in my life that I feel the need to publicly complain about.......
It seems that all of my fellow blogger friends center their text in their blog posts. And I feel like their blogs look better than mine. That's partly because this one is still oh so hideous and needs a massive face-lift, but also because of my non-centering of my text! Look how much nicer this looks. Ok ok....the blog is still extremely ugly. Whatever.
Warning: this post is a big fat pity-me sob story. Continue at your own risk
Today I applied to what seemed like a million jobs. It was more like 15ish, in the following locations:
Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Iraq, Maryland, and D.C.
Believe it or not, this took me all day. I obviously had to cater my cover letters and resumes to each and every organization, which was so annoying. I sure hope I didn't send one out having forgotten to change the name of the position I was applying to as well as other important parts of the cover letter...
My eyes hurt so bad from staring at a computer screen all day freakin long. I feel fat because all I have done all day is sit here and eat food as I searched and applied. Food that is not good for me, by the way. I'm certain I won't hear back from a single one. I'm not just being cynical, I'm being realistic. Sad, but true. I apply so that at least I can say I'm trying.
I'm not ready to apply for grad schools yet. I want to go, but I want a job that will pay for it for me...which is looking real promising these days, ha. Also, I'm not even sure what I want out of grad school. The thought of a Thesis program makes me sick, having watched Mary suffer for 2 years in hers. I've bounced around the idea of an MBA, MPP, JD, or even that combined MBA/JD program. I don't feel like I'm cut out for a JD, but it does sound appealing, except for the part that no lawyer can get a freakin job these days, after earning themselves a fat pile of debt. I'm so lost and confused.
Someone PUH-LEASE hire this desperate college graduate!!! Preferably in the field in which I studied...and preferably something in that will allow me to use my Arabic skills....which by this point have dwindled to a pathetic low, but which can also be quickly and easily sharpened with even just minimal review.
I CAN'T WAIT TABLES AT OLIVE GARDEN OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE I WILL JUST GO CRAZYYYY!!!!!!!!
Not only do I have champagne tastes on a beer budget, but I would really like to do something where I feel like I'm making a difference, and where I feel like I'm using my brain, and learning something new everyday. I love to learn. And learning what new dish came to the Olive Garden this month just doesn't count, ok?
Although...in other news, I have one week left here at the Provo Olive Garden before I officially transfer to the one in Murray (but I've officially moved to the Holladay apt!!). What an exciting life I lead.... :-/
Also, it's supposed to snow tomorrow. Great. Just great. I'm aware that it'll give a random snow shower here and there all the way up until June before the hot hot summer hits us square in the face. I've lived here long enough. I know. What I'm pissed about is the fact that we have had no warm weather at all!! It's freakin April 25th and I have yet to see that #@%& sun shine it's beautiful rays for more than a few hours in a random day every couple of weeks. This just isn't ok. I'm fixin to contact my local weatherman to tell him to make a call to the universe to kick it's butt in gear. I'm so pasty white, it's downright disgusting. I won't fakebake. I won't do it. I'm not saying I haven't, but it's such a terrible idea and so ugly and orange and obvious, not to mention a straight ticket to cancer, it's just not worth it. I don't care the rationalizations that you have - I've used them. You're still an idiot if you do it, not to mention uglier than when you started. Do you fakebake? Then yes. Yes I'm talking to you. (not that laying in the actual sun is healthy at all...still stupid...just not quite as bad as laying in a ruva (?) tanning bed for 15 min.)
Man I'm grumpy, huh?! Maybe I'm just bitter because I'm really not happy about my employment prospects right now, and how I took out student loans to study what used to be a critical language in a foreign country for apparently nothing other than a really fun 4 month vacation that was actually the most trying academic experience of my life, as of yet. Loans that I have to start paying in June. On a server's wage...which is next to nothing. Barely enough to live. I'd prefer to start paying them now, but I'm plum broke.
Have you ever wondered how your time will come to an end on this Earth? Well I know how I am going to die. And it'll probably be in a just few years, if that.
It's because of these darn Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs!!! They are the reason for the season! Okay, okay...not the right holiday for that phrase...and probably a tad sacrilegious.
Today, I brought one with me to work for my dessert on my lunch break. When I got home, I ate two more, and then realized that there were only two more left after that...so I figured heck I might as well! And I did. I ate 5 today, 4 of which were inhaled in one sitting. And I want more now. Like RIGHT NOW.
I have already gone through two bags in approximately one week!!! And all I can think about right now is how I need to get to Smith's to buy some more. There aren't enough spin classes in the world to counter how fast I'm devouring these little heart attacks.
Me and Mary had a lovely weekend. On Friday, we ate at Mama Chu's...some of the best for reals Mexican food you can find in the area. We redboxed the Hurt Locker and watched it as Mary cleaned to check out of the apt. Yes my dearest fellow Mormon friends *gasp* it's Rated R. I'm just gonna stop you right there and tell you to quit your hypocritical judgements :-)
Ok so anyway I saw the movie a year ago and really enjoyed it, so convinced Mary that it was about time she watched it.
Well she doesn't like sad movies. I really love depressing movies, as crazy as that sounds. It's just more real, and I tend to feel like I can relate more...not that I can relate to the Hurt Locker, obviously. I used to love chick flicks just like any other girl, but really can't stand most any of them anymore. They're usually all the same, and the acting always sucks, the plot always sucks, the dialogue always sucks, and chick flicks just always suck. Unless...it's like 500 Days of Summer and it's a tad more realistic with an ending where everything doesn't work out. And of course it doesn't hurt that the cutie-pie Zooey Deschanel is thrown in there :-)
Anyways, I think Mary did enjoy it, even though it was depressing.
On Saturday, we got our fat, jiggly behinds to gym for an awesome spin workout that always turns Mary into a tomato. I work just as hard as she does, but man her face turns so red and that girl needs to figure out how to get some oxygen when she's doing a tough cardio work-out. Then we came back and eventually got our hair cut, pretty much exactly the same because we have morphed into one human being. It's true. We ate at an awesome bbq place called Dickey's, and went to go see the movie The Conspirator.
That movie was really pretty great, and I would recommend it. Despite some of the poor casting calls, like a minor roll to that terrible pathetic excuse for an actress, I don't remember her name but she's that Gilmore Girls/Traveling Pants girl. The girl is so unconvincing in her roles, unless it's a stupid role that only someone as untalented as her would agree to take on....like a Gilmore Girl or someone who is crazy and wears magic pants that make Greek men fall in love with her. Anyway, it's pretty hard to miss and not appreciate how Robert Redford clearly made the script pretty applicable to today's atrocious suspension of the inconvenient parts of our constitution (*cough* GTMO situation *cough* .... oh and *cough* the recent caving by the Obama Administration on the issue of denying suspected terrorists trial by jury and instead issuing military tribunals *cough*). Even if you don't/prefer not to see the modern-day comparisons, I think you would appreciate the script for it's embracing of American constitutional values anyway.Oh and btw this is not a place to debate me, so don't try. These are just my thoughts out loud so shoot me an email if you must.
That night, I moved some more stuff up into the apt in SLC, and Sunday morning I went to my first post-BYU singles ward for church, and decided after scoping out the scene that I will in fact die alone. And I'm beginning to be okay with that, as long as I'm compensated with a bangin, satisfactory career. Well I want that anyway, even once I'm married.
Anyway, so Sunday night, I'm on my way to my car to drive back to Provo, and I heard some guy in a car yell out to another guy a formal Arabic greeting, and I got so excited that I dropped my box and went running and yelled to him btihki Arabiiiiiiii???? meaning you speak Arabic???? of course he said yes, and I then met the man's whole family, who came from Iraq. They invited me to their home anytime, and even if they were just being polite, you better bet your bottom dollar I will go to their home!!! Lately I have yearned for even just a taste of the Middle East like no one's business, even if it just means being able to speak the language again. I miss it so much. I really want to live/work out there for a while. Like really really bad. I have applied to jobs in Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. I would maybe not actually work in Iraq, but the others I would in a heart beat. Aaahhhh I just want to go back soooooooo effing bad. Even if it means I go unaccompanied (meaning without a man/husband), and that by the time I get back I'll be too old for any decent Mormon guy who meets my loooooong list of qualifications.........and I will truly die alone. I just want me some Arab culture!! Is that too much to ask???
Anyway, as of right now, I will continue my job at the Olive Garden, where I serve fake Italian food to people who eat entirely too much alfredo sauce and make my life a living hell. Thank heavens for great co-workers, right??
Oh and...Jon Kyl contracted AIDS from having sexual relations with John Boehner [not intended to be a factual statement] <--- watch Mon and Tues episodes of the Colbert report from the week of April 11 to understand.
The title of this blog post is from the song "How the Days Sounds" from Greg Laswell's album Three Flights from Alto Nido. I love this music video. I love Greg Laswell.
I saw him perform live on Friday night in SLC at In the Venue, so I'm pretty much on a Greg Laswell high right now....and will be for at least the next week. You likely won't find me listening to anything else.
Another favorite song:
So here's the loooong story of my evening with the dashing Mr. Laswell:
He headlined a tour last year since he came out with a new album Take a Bow, which I didn't enjoy as much as his previous two, but that's only relative because I still really loved it. He came to SLC (I think with Sara Bareilles (?...I could be wrong) in the Fall, but I was overwhelmed with school, so like all the other amazing bands that visited Utah oh so conveniently when I had too much on my plate, I had to pass. So when I saw a few weeks ago that he was coming again, I got way excited and told my friend Sarabeth about it. I need to insert a little context here.
Sarabeth Klingman (formerly Shepherd) is my verrrrrrrry best friend. We grew up together and were inseparable since the year 1999 (though hated each other when we were young children...that's another story for another day though), and we lived together for a year before she got married. During the time that she was dating her now husband, and he introduced her to this talented musician, Greg Lasewell. Jordan (the husband) happens to also be extremely gifted when it comes to music and singing, and wooed Sarabeth by playing and singing to her the song "I'd be Lying."
They eventually fell in love and got married, and they couldn't be more perfect for each other. They also happened to choose this same song as their first dance as husband and wife. Sooo when I told Sarabeth that he was making another appearance in the area, she was way excited and was down to go.
Well, we both for whatever reason thought that he wasn't coming for at least another month, but earlier this week I went to Smithstix.com to check out what bands were coming up. Lo and behold, Greg Laswell was booked for April 8. I contacted Sarabeth and we quickly bought our tickets. Well, actually we bought them just the day before.
I decided to go up to my apt in SLC to stay the night there...another story for another day: I have 2 apts. One in Provo, one in Holladay. But I'll have fully moved by the end of April. And apparently Mary had not made arrangements for anyone to take her to the airport on Friday for her trip to D.C...silly girl. So it worked out perfectly. And I had to week off since my close friend Angie Rios was in town. It was a good night, very relaxing, although I slept in a sleeping bag on the floor since I'm broke and ghetto and don't yet have a bed.
I had lunch with Mary, came home and took a nap, then drove Mary to the airport. The doors to the show were set to open at 6pm, and I figured that since he's not the most well-known musician in the world, I could assume that getting there 1.5 hrs early would be wayyyyy more than enough time. So I got there between 4:30 and 4:45, with no make-up on, expecting that I would be able to do it in the car until I saw a line form around the building. Well when I showed up, there was already a line wrapped around and down a few stores!!! I was so shocked, and not prepared for this. I didn't even care that I didn't yet have make-up on, I was just sad because I didn't think I'd be able to get my favorite spot in the 21+ section, where there are only a few chairs and the perfect view. I don't like being around the sweaty, jumping bodies, and nor do Sarabeth and Jordan. Oh and by the way, it was like 35-40 degrees outside, really windy, and dumping snow....did I mention that the concert was on APRIL 8??? Yeah...I was not a happy camper.
So as I walked up, I was so confused by the crowd of people. Goths. Everywhere. And they all looked like they ranged between the ages of 15 and 18. Good for my seating arrangements in the 21+ section, I suppose, but I was still so confused. As I observed my surroundings littered with little girls wearing black tutus, tights, and ugly boots with those ugly buckles, standing with their little boyfriends with jet-black hair cut Bieber-style, wearing jeans so tight I think they must have been painted on, and with pink, green, purple, and black eyeshadow all over their faces (both boys and girls).....all I could think was ummm don't you people know what show this is??? I'm pretty sure Coheed and Cambria is not performing tonight so go back home!!
Sarabeth and Jordan arrived arrived around 5:20, equally as confused as myself. As we discussed the possibilities of why this kind of crowd decided to show up, some guy came over and asked if anyone was in line for the Lenka/Greg Laswell performance. We perked up, and he said Ha, I knew there was bound to be a few stragglers out there! He guided us to the front, and show us to a door different from the one I've only ever entered, and discovered a completely different room and with a small crowd of people that actually looked like they didn't think they were dead. And then we learned that crowd was indeed here for a different band...My Chemical Romance. Which just made oh so oh so much sense.
The room was tiny, but very quaint. Perfect, in my opinion. And it was still early, so I headed to the bathroom and dabbed on a bit of make-up :-)
Another surprise of the night, Greg Laswell was the opening performer, not the headliner. Which was disappointing, but fine. We were right up next to the stage, and Sarabeth kept trying to get his bandmate's attention in order to request I'd be Lying. No such luck, and finished his set without playing it. Another disappointment, but his other songs are incredible as well and his performance was very simple, yet beautiful. It was really cool because the room was so small, and we were all right up next to the stage, so he would look around at us and I definitely made eye contact with him and his bandmate more than a few times. And the stage isn't like your typical stage where if your looking at the audience you can't actually see anything. He could definitely see us. It just added a personal touch to his deep, moving lyrics and honey-smooth voice. Like it felt like I was personally being serenaded to...even though word on the street is that he's engaged to Ingrid Michaelson, and is to marry her this year. Anyone know if that's true...? If so...well they both scored big. Uh so jealous. I have the biggest crush on both them...hmph.
Anyway, the headlining show was this adorable little Australian girl who goes by Lenka, backed by an energetic band. I had never heard of her, and didn't recognize any songs until she started playing...
Don't tell me you haven't heard this song. But that wasn't until like the 2nd to last song of her set, or close to that. We thought that Greg was going to come by his merchandise table in between his and Lenka's set (since that's what we thought he said), but by the time that Lenka had started performing, and some other random guy was selling his merchandise, we realized that was not the case. So we asked someone, and he said that he would come out after Lenka's set was over. So Sarabeth and Jordan didn't love her, but I didn't mind her and while she's not the best out there, I did enjoy what I was hearing. So they took off, and I stayed. It was really pleasant, and really short, because apparently since My Chemical Romance was scheduled for the same night, the show had to end early. In fact, while Lenka was playing, an opening band for My Chemical Romance was screaming right next door. Not singing. No. Screaming. It was so obnoxious.
Best part of the night. Lenka announces that she isn't going to be able to do an encore, and that she only has 2 songs left. In my mind, what I heard her say was in just 2 songs Greg Laswell will stop by the merchandise table if you want to seduce take a picture with him. So you better believe I quickly jumped over to that table. And as I patiently waited...I saw him walking towards me the table! There were a few other girls standing behind me, sharing my motives, I'm pretty sure. So he eventually was standing right in front of me, like 5 inches away, but with his back turned. I mustered up the courage and tapped him on the shoulder and asked him Excuse me, Greg...would you mind if I was an annoying fan and snapped a picture with you? He smiled and said Of course! After getting the picture, I decided to be really nerdy, and informed him that even though he was just the opening musician, he was the reason me and my friends came...not for Lenka (although I worded it much more tactfully). And then complimented him on how talented he was. He got a huge grin on his face and sincerely thanked me. I'm such a star-struck loser fan, haha. Anyway, It had only been like 1-1.5 hrs since his set ended, and he already reeked of beer, and was a tad bit tipsy. But that's ok, because I got THIS!!
Sarabeth accurately described him as Ryan Gosling with a beard. Oh oh oh what a wonderful evening! (minus the crappy trek home on I-15....ugh I can't wait till they finish that stupid mess of crap)
Other pictures of the night:
My man, singing just to me ;-)
Had he proposed, I would have said yes.
This young lad was a member of Lenka's band. This is bad quality, but the best shot I could get. Basically, there isn't anyone more attractive on planet earth. He wasn't all big and muscley and nasty, perfect body, perfect outfit, perfect chiseled face, perfect olive-toned skin, perfect musical skills, perfect smile, and perfect dark hair. I wanted to throw myself on him.
Update: Watching this video on the blog, I realized that you can't actually see anything. For some reason the lighting was darkened after I uploaded it. Oh well. And same goes for the next video. This video is of a girl who was having a grand ol time dancing by herself at the concert. But you have tilt your neck to see. She reminds me of the strange folk who would come to my church youth dances...
And this is just more evidence that I touched Mr. Laswell. I accidentally still had the setting on video, so this is what happened. You can't even see anything, and it really wasn't even worth uploading. But I'm just that in love. In the words of Greg Laswell himself,
Okay I apologize for the hiatus...life has been CRAZY. Good, but crazy. I have officially made the move to Salt Lake and feel oh so good about it for many a reason. My room is all set up but there is much more to do starting with the empty living room and kitchen. Ah to be rich and hire someone to do these domesticated things for me. Sigh.
ANYWAYS...the real reason for the blog to today is to share a little secret about myself...anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE love love when animals behave as humans in commercials/movies/etc. For years the Kia commercials with the hamsters have been the source of happiness for me. Any time, any day, not matter how many times I have seen it. I have seen a number of these commercials in this genre, (the whole animals being humans genre), so I think it's fair to say I'm a good judge of this so TRUST me and watch this. Your life will never be the same. You're welcome. :)
It is 4 A.M., I'm exhausted....and I'm blogging. But this just couldn't wait. Plus my body has adjusted the worst sleep schedule ever in the world, and I'm quite the little night owl lately. It sucks.
Ok so I watch The Colbert Report religiously, and even go so far as to consider myself a committed member of Colbert Nation. Absolutely love love love that show. For oh so many reasons. Well, quite a while ago, Colbert had some famous artists come in and leave their mark on a painting of himself. Fast forward to this week where his painting was auctioned off for $26,000. He announced that his "BFF for 6 months" (referring to a previous episode), Jimmy Fallon, would personally match that money to go to DonorsChoose.Org for school supplies, or something like that. The next day, Jimmy Fallon said: "The thing is.....I didn't say that!" And he then proceeded to announce that if he could get people to donate $26,000, he'd do it. Oh and he also volunteered Stephen Colbert to perform Rebecca Black's hilariously pathetic hit, Friday (on Friday, ha!). Colbert responded by saying something like "I only volunteered his money! I can't believe he'd volunteer me to sing!!!" I could be off on some of the little details of this little story, but in general....that's what happened. Oh and I'm not dumb, I'm aware that they collaborated on this, but for the sake of humor, I'm going to continue pretending that they, in fact, did not.
And here is the marvelous performance. Watch it. It is so so worth it.
