September Wrap Up

September has come to an end! All the signs point to Fall's arrival: leaves are changing, the morning air is crisp, squirrels are packing away their acorns and pumpkin ale has arrived. In order to celebrate the new season I'm adding two new lists to my monthly Top 5: things that must go and things that make me smile. 

Top 5 Days in September: 4, 9, 19, 20, 25

Top 5 Things That Must Go: 

• That terrible Kid Rock Sweet Home Alabama/Werewolf in London/Bob Seger rip off. Better yet, Kid Rock should just go away and stop ruining classic rock.  
• My tonsils
• Drinking champagne on a school night
• Grudges
• Jason Mraz. Like 5 years ago.

Top 5 Things That Make Me Smile: 

• Obama/Biden bumper stickers everywhere I look here in the reddest state in the Union
  
• Beaujolais Nouveaux
• Road trips
• The new Thievery Corporation album
• Choke: read the book first, then see the movie.  Beware neither are for the faint of heart. If you enjoy Palahniuk's writing be sure to read Invisible Monsters, my personal favorite.

Top 5 Songs:

1. Zero: Smashing Pumpkins

After the NIN concert I was still feeling a little bit nostalgic and busted out some Smashing Pumpkins. I still love this song and it's great one to listen to while running.

2. Boys Don't Cry: The Cure

Again with the nostalgia...I can't help it, I'm a very sentimental person!



3. Supermassive Black Hole: Muse

I love Muse and this is one of my favorite songs. If you haven't heard them before, check them out ASAP. Absolution is perfection!



4. Waiting in Vain: Bob Marley

I used to listen to this song over and over and over again in Chicago. Then again about 2 years ago when it got me through some tough times. 



5. Please Let That Be You: The Rentals

This song makes me happy and sometimes I dance around my house when it's on. Music nerd fact: The Rentals is fronted by the former bassist of Weezer. It's hard to believe this song came out in 1995, they sound very contemporary. Way ahead of their time and like other musical mavericks, unappreciated.  

Confessions Du Jour

I was tagged again. Seriously, I'm not making this up. I promise this is the last one I'll do for awhile. It's kind of exciting because it's all about secrets! Now I've already shared a few secrets here before and it is somewhat liberating. So here's the rule, 5 confessions for 5 people: Leslie, Scott, Becky, Audrey and Jessica.  

1. I really hate styrofoam. I hate the sound it makes when two pieces rub together, I hate the way it feels.  All of it: plates, cups, coolers, the stupid green craft blocks you stick fake flowers in. Gives me the chills just thinking about it. Plus it's just bad for the environment...get rid of it already!

2. I eat cereal for dinner all of the time. And not the good kind of cereal like Wheat Chex or Grape Nuts or even organic Kashi shit. No. My favorites are: Cocoa Pebbles, Cap'n Crunch with Crunchberries, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and for Halloween I include Count Chocula and Frankenberry.

3. I like some really embarrassing music as showcased in my iTunes Hall of Shame. I once wrote about that music in jest, but I really do like Air Supply.  Case in point: I even play Making Love Out of Nothing At All on the juke box at Murphy's. How embarrassing for me. Metra recently told me she enjoys a little Air Supply too, so now I don't have to feel alone in my shame.  

4. I saw the movie House when I was like 7 and there was this hand that comes out of the toilet to grab someone and it really freaked me out. I think about that movie almost every time I go to the bathroom. It has scarred me for life. I haven't seen the movie since; perhaps I should watch it again and reclaim my toilet.  

5. I have no idea what my natural hair color is. I mean, it's obviously some shade of blonde, but I've been coloring it for so long I wonder what it really looks like. 

PS: If you enjoy reading about other people's secrets check out the Post Secret blog. If you enjoy reading about other people's neuroses check out I Am Neurotic.

Tagged...Again

I don't normally do these things, but I don't want to go to bed yet. So you'll just have to suffer through it and maybe you'll learn something new.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, my great g-pa, g-pa and uncle were all named Jesse, hence Jessica.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Watching Biggest Loser...gets me every damn time!

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, it's quite unique.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Ham

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Not yet, but definitely some day.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would hope so...

7. GREATEST FEAR? Failure

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Today, yes. A week from now, no. Pre-op appointment tomorrow morning...

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Hell no!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cocoa Pebbles or Cap'n Crunch

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Not usually

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically: so-so. Emotionally: most of the time

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? I can't choose! Unfortunately, I like all ice cream.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Eyes. They are the window into the soul after all.

15. RED OR PINK? Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? I seem to be getting more neurotic and intolerant the older I get. I need to be nicer to people.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? I'm always missing someone...too many friends live far away. :(  I'd like to make it to New Orleans and Austin soon.  

18. WHAT IS THE GREATEST THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF? I'm loyal

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW? No shoes, green pj pants with reindeer (Is reindeer plural?? It must be..you don't say deers)

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Cheese

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Boys Don't Cry: The Cure on repeat

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Cornflower

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Rain, cookies baking, laundry

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Paige

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO TAGGED THIS TO YOU? Of course! I've known her since 3rd grade.  

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH: Basketball, football, baseball

27. HAIR COLOR? Blonde

28. EYE COLOR? Blue!

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS OR GLASSES? Both. I'm blind, truly.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Sushi or Mexican food

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? There aren't many really scary movies anymore, but I love them. The last movie that made me scream out loud was The Orphanage.  

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Vicky Cristina Barcelona

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Cubs t-shirt

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer, but the first snowfall is always exciting and beautiful.  

35. HUGS OR KISSES? I tend to hug people a lot. Not everyone gets a kiss, however.   

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? I love dessert...I'll eat pretty much anything with sugar.

37. WHO IS YOUR HERO? My mom, Gandhi, Albert Schweitzer

38. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO? Talk on the phone, read Vanity Fair, gossip, watch movies, travel, drink beer, spend time with family and friends, text.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Just finished On the Road, going to start Tales of the City tonight.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? No mouse pad...I have a laptop.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Biggest Loser and Law and Order. It wasn't a very productive night for me.  

42. FAVORITE SOUND? Laughter

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? If I have to choose, I would say The Beatles. But I do have great appreciation for the Rolling Stones.  

44. WHERE IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? India

45. DO YOU HAVE A WEIRD TALENT? Not really. Unless being a predator counts. 

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Salt Lake City

47. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU LAUGHED? When Paige texted me that there was a mouse in my mom's house and they were freaking out. Apparently Damien caught it and they're safe now.  

48. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW? 12:22 am

49. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PRAYED? Been awhile...

50. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOU WHAT WOULD IT BE? Less impulsive

Musical Odds and Ends

I don't really feel like writing much. But I was cleaning out my closet tonight and I found a mystery cd with no label. I thought it might be an old relic from Chicago that would remind me of driving around the ghetto in Amy's car. Turns out it was just a mix I made last year, albeit an eclectic mix. Enjoy a few of my musical obsessions from late 2007.

Every Day I Write the Book: Elvis Costello  



The First Taste: Fiona Apple



Again and Again: The Bird and the Bee



Guilty: Matthew Ryan

Come to Me: Koop



Banquet: Bloc Party



Nobody Dances Anymore: Brandston



Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros: Flight of the Conchords



More Life in a Tramp's Vest: Stereophonics



Love Will Come Through: Travis

Weekend Update

When I woke up this morning I was kind of in a bad mood. It was raining really hard and it was cold outside. I had to go to the dentist first thing in the morning and I wasn't really excited about it based on my last visit. But when I got in the car I heard Bill Withers singing Lovely Day and my mood improved dramatically. Turns out rainy days and Mondays don't really get me down when there's good music on.  So here's a little Bill Withers for you; I hope it makes you smile.  (PS: The video is lame, just listen to the song)



My weekend involved a lot of girl on girl time. No pervs, not that kind of time but you can keep wishing. Friday was book club where we discussed On the Road by Jack Kerouac. It's considered a novel, but it's actually based on Kerouac's actual travels with people like Neal Cassady, Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs. I can't believe I didn't read this book when I was going through my teenage years trying to figure out who I was. I think I read Catcher in the Rye about 10 times in high school. I even had two fish named after the characters: Stratford and Holden. I used to carry a worn copy of the book in my backpack at all times until I found out Mark Chapman carried it around before he shot John Lennon and then I decided I didn't want to seem like a crazy killer. Anyway, I digress. Book club is always fun because we discuss the book for a short time, then we drink wine and talk shit for the rest of the night. 

Inspired by Kerouac, a group of book club girls headed out on the open road on Saturday to discover our own version of Beatnik freedom and wild abandon. We set out for Wendover, driving 90 miles west through the desert of Utah, eventually crossing the border into Nevada.  Loyal readers will remember my spontaneous trip to Wendover in February, which resulted in a $.39 profit. That's right, 39 cents straight from the penny slots. Obviously I'm not really a gambler. I don't take risks, I don't have any money. So this trip included some new Wendover sights, including an overnight stay at Montego Bay.

I tried to get all of us in the picture, but that didn't really work. Metra and Joshi are in the back and Lesley had taken the wheel. Mabe's behind me.

And there's Maberly

Last time I drove to Wendover, it was the dead of night in winter. So this time I tried to take a few pictures on the way while speeding along the freeway.

The Tree of Life

Bonneville Salt Flats

The State Line cowboy welcomes you

We decided to make a liquor store run to stock up on beer and other provisions. Mabe went straight for the whiskey.

Once we got back to the hotel, we had to create a makeshift cooler for all of the beer. Note: sinks and garbage cans work well.

After thinking outside of the box with the sink cooler, we decided we also needed a cooler to take to the pool. We took a quick inventory and Lesley remembered she had a bag with a plastic liner.

Next we were off to the pool!

This perv kept staring at us for like 10 minutes straight. He came over to the hot tub and wanted to get in because it was "in the sun." No one really acknowledged him and he continued to stare, especially at Mabe. Luckily he got out soon, but the staring continued. He asked for a cigarette from Mabe and choked himself trying to smoke it. He was obviously a non-smoker trying to impress her. He was super creepy and looked like Jeffrey Dahmer's creepier twin. 

The ladies ready to hit the casino floor

No idea what Mabe is doing...but the lighting kind of makes it look like amateur porn

I never order sweet drinks, but I was living on the edge in Nevada so I ordered a daiquiri. Les got one too!

Joshi enjoyed the bread

My incredibly healthy meal of steak and eggs, with daiquiri

There was some more drinking involved

We took the shuttle from the Rainbow back to the Nugget. The driver wouldn't let us stand up so we had to sit on each other's laps. So much safer than standing. 

Mabe had a thing for the astroturf

Metra knew about a game room in the bottom of the Nugget with shuffleboard! I hadn't played shuffleboard since I lived in Chicago. My team won!

We headed back to our room around 3 am and crashed. At least three of did, Joshi and Mabe decided to go back out until 6:30. We woke up bleary eyed, but happy a few hours later and packed up our stuff. The drive back to Salt Lake was uneventful and we were back to reality. I guess that must have been how Kerouac felt when he had to return to New York after all of his adventures in Denver, San Francisco and Mexico. Ok, maybe our trip wasn't quite as historic or rebellious, but we still made some offbeat memories from our time on the road.

Political Fodder

I thought my readers might enjoy these little parodies. Especially those of you in Utah, since Les Miserables seems to be a state obsession. I love that McCain makes a little appearance. Thanks to Bob for passing these on.



This made me laugh. A lot.

Happy Birthday Amy!!

Another one bites the dust. Happy 30th Birthday to one of my very best friends, Ms. Amy L. Hurd!! I met Amy in grad school at the University of Chicago on a warm September day in 2001. We lived in the same building on the crazy South Side for two years and we've had quite a few adventures together.  

Some of my favorite memories, in no particular order:

• Watching Conan every night and talking on the phone for hours, even though we were only two floors apart
• Drinking all night at Jimmy's and eating cheeseburgers
• Cubs game Spring 2003: lots of Old Style beer, the red line, shots at Bar Louie, the 55 bus, peeing at Lucky Strike, asking Mr. God is all that and a bag of chips if I was too drunk to go to a student government meeting with Ginny Cooke
• Our mutual love for R. Kelly, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent "Girl, would you love me on a bus?" "Ooooh girl, I love you like a fat kid love cake!"
• Grocery shopping at the Dominick's on Canal Street and the time I accidentally left my meat and eggs in her trunk for a week in the summer. Took her all week to figure out where that smell was coming from.
• The way she says water with her cute Virginia accent. Kind of like "warter."
• Driving to Indiana to get some Taco Bell
• Our scenic trip to Coeur d'Alene where she almost died parasailing
• Pittsburgh: Kelly's, Ray's, our wine tour of the world (fuck South Africa!), air drums in the back of the Subaru, waiting for the pipes to unfreeze, almost flying to NY in a drunken moment, Toby Keith, Intervention
• Taking the green line in Chicago: "I'm not here to rob you!"
• Riding the alpine slide at Snowbird and picking up the pieces of my broken camera
• "I'm on vacation, don't judge me."

Happy Birthday Amy!  I love you girl!!

How do you have a luau without a pig?

I finally got the luau pictures from Allen now that he is feeling better. Somehow he convinced the doctor to say he had strep throat. Don't worry, he's really just a hypochondriac. Here are the pictures I promised from Allen's work luau.

I told Allen I wouldn't need to be his beard at work parties if he would just keep this picture on his desk.

 

Monty had been in Canada working and came straight from the airport to see us. Well let's be honest, he came for the free beer. 

Apparently this is how you say hello in Calgary

After a few drinks we decided to try some ice blocking down the hill

I tried to go down standing up in heels

And then I fell on my face

There was a hula hoop contest and I'm pretty sure I won

But Monty won in the limbo category

Allen just wanted to play with his lei boa

For some reason there was a lot of whipped cream around

I tried to do some whippets but there was too much cream for me to handle (insert pervy joke here)