The Nerdiest Nerdy Nerd

SO!

Last night, it was finally the night to go see Good Old War. I was excited, and realized that I never go to concerts anymore, and that is a bit sad. So anyway, Skylar and I go and we get seats because we're no longer "mosh pit chicks", in case that was even a possibility at this show. (It wasn't.)

They came out, and did a really great show. At one point, the drummer was playing an accordion and playing the drums AND singing. Very impressive. I was totally happy at this point- I wanted to see them, and there was only one more song I wished they had been able to do in their too-short set.

Then Guster comes out, and I like Guster. But I'm not any sort of die hard Guster fan. And the singer kept saying things, and then the crowd would go APESHIT, and Skylar and I were like, "Why are we missing all of the inside jokes?" So after we'd heard all of the songs we were interested in (except Amsterdam) we decided to take off. (I'm old. Shut up.)

I wanted to buy the Good Old War cds on my way out, so we stop at the merch table, but right when we're walking up, I realize that the lead singer is standing there selling the merchandise. So I try to catch Skylar's eye to make sure she's seeing that, and she's so not reading my mind, which is really frustrating.

(Side note: He looks like Charlie Day from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Skylar is in LUV with Charlie Day, and had called dibs on this singer earlier in the evening. She was BLOWING her chance!)

Anyway, so I walk up to the table, and immediately lose any bit of cool that I've ever had.

"Um...hi. Hi. I um, yeah, I want your cds. Yeah, both of them, can I have them? Huh huh. Cool, thanks." Then they couldn't take my credit card, so I hit up my Sugar Mama Skylar for some cash, right at the moment when she has figured out who I'm talking to, so she can't concentrate on the words coming out of my mouth at that moment. It's insanely awkward, then out of nowhere, she pulls out some cash and throws it on the table and says, "Bla-dow." At which point, I pretty much lose my shit, so we grabbed the cds, and walked out like we still had everything under control and got approximately 3 feet out the door before completely falling apart.

Note to self: You and Skylar are not ever to attempt to meet celebrities. You will fail miserably at talking.

It was awesome. I'm a huge nerd.

SOTD: We've Come A Long Way by Good Old War. This is for Skylar- we've come a long way, baby.

Bonus song for any other Pack fans living south of the border: The Bears Still Suck by the Happy Schnapps Combo. As I told my students this week, as far as I'm concerned, I have had my Super Bowl. Next week is just gravy.

#29- Sneak attack!

Just when you thought I had forgotten all about this list, I go and cross off another thing.

I went ice skating at Millennium Park last night. What should have been one of the easiest things turned out to be really hard due to the fact that most of my friends are apparently afraid of falling down. Losers.

But I went, and I didn't fall and I even tried to skate backwards. It was like being 7 again when I tried to learn the Moonwalk. Except less coordinated, and probably way funnier had I been watching me.

No pictures, but I have a witness. That's all I am going to say about that for now. Be proud of me!

SOTD: Running on Ice by Billy Joel. Not entirely related, but it says ice.

And because I've been doing it a lot, a Good Old War song- Weak Man. I just like it. I get to see them on the 29th! Stalker time!

Thankful

I'm home sick today, and to cheer myself up I decided to make a list of what I'm thankful for (since I didn't get around to it last week.) This is probably going to get sappy.

1. I'm thankful for my freedom and independence. Every time I get a bit down about the pathetic state of my love life, I remind myself that my single existence is what allows me to do things like take 4 big trips over the summer or take a sick day that means I can lay on the couch all day without bothering anyone or worrying about infecting others. So while I do get lonely sometimes, there are a lot of perks here, including the fact that I'm already looking into flights for another Europe trip this summer. Plus a trip to Martha's Vineyard in July.

2. I found a career that I love. This is not to say that I don't have rough days or days when I long for a break, but for the most part I love my time with the kids. I feel like it matters whether or not I show up for work. I feel like I'm good at what I do.

3. My family and friends. I've always liked that saying about your friends being the family you choose for yourself. I am so fortunate to be surrounded by people who love and support me unconditionally on a day-to-day basis and in a forever kind of way. I get to travel far and wide because I have people who want me around and welcome me into their homes. That is not a bad thing.

4. My bikes. It's a better way to see the world and work to keep my butt smaller. Win-win.

5. A re-found love of cooking. It makes life so much easier.

6. My DVR. Guess what I'm doing today!

SOTD: Tymps (Sick in the Head) by Fiona Apple. Because I'm a bit sick in the head at the moment. Sinuses, if you want to be specific.

Sacrilege

Yesterday, I went to see the Jim Henson exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry with ... hm, perhaps I should not name names on the internet when you see what I'm about to tell you. Let's just call them "Mylar" and "Skeryn."

(See, I'm sneaky. No one will break that code if they know my friends.)

So anyway, I'm reasonably certain that it is scientifically impossible to not feel happy when you're looking at anything Muppet related. They are just so awesome and they are there to teach you happy things. Then you remember that Kermit's eyeballs are ping pong balls and it only gets better from there.

Then Mylar says, "Damn, Jim Henson was HOT back in the day. I'd for sure hit that." And then the whole thing goes down the drain because then Skeryn is like, "Why is he on a sex sled in that picture?" and then it all goes porno from there and small children are being shielded from the weirdo perverts (one of which is a preschool teacher) and nothing is funnier than realizing other people can hear you when you are being a truly horrible human being. And that does nothing to clean up your language. The words pig's vagina were used more times than I care to count. You've got to watch out for that stuff.

Also, did you know that the Fraggles were invented to teach kids about respecting diversity? Can you believe that we were learning that stuff without even knowing it? Damn, that Henson was smooooooth. I never even saw that coming.

You should go if you can. I'm sorry to everyone I offended with that, but it was amazingly funny.

Other side note: you know how sometimes one random line in a tv show will make you laugh for hours and hours and it's just not as funny to everyone else? My shout out goes to 30 Rock this week for the line, "Be bad at snapping. Got it." I almost peed, then I said it all day when it doesn't make any sense to any conversation I was having. Because I'm topical like that.

SOTD: Stay By My Side by Good Old War. Because I'm obsessed, in case you missed it.

Also, Split Screen Sadness by John Mayer because it was stuck in my head for like 3 days this week, and I don't know why. I mean, I love that song, but John Mayer has just been so douchey lately that I feel like I should really be giving him the cold shoulder but I just can't.

Procrastination station

Someone on this blog is supposed to be writing progress reports.

That same person just doesn't waaaaaanna. But they are due on Friday, and if I *ahem*, if SHE doesn't get them done now, this week is going to suck huge donkey balls.

So...what did you guys do all weekend?

Ok, fine. I'll get to work. But first, I will share two things:

1- the movie Due Date is even worse than you think it will be, even if you were just looking for a way to kill time.

2- I'm newly obsessed with the band Good Old War. I want everything they've got, but this is my work computer and it doesn't have iTunes. The one that does is being fixed so I can't download and listen obsessively. My life is really hard you guys.

Oh, and if you want a blogger who is much funnier than I am and posts way more regularly, check out www.hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com. I don't know her or anything, but my friend sent me the link and it made tears come out of my eyes because I was laughing almost as hard as I did when one of my kids peed on his own face last week. (That is a true story.)

Happy Daylight Savings End!

SOTD: That's Some Dream by Good Old War. I'm gonna live, I'm alright, I'm gonna die, it's alright, I'm okay.

Checking in

Jay had some comments for me about the fact that I haven't updated this in awhile.

You know that saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"? That's sort of where I'm at these days. I'm fine, just stuck in my cranky pants. But I'm trying to get those cranky pants off, so here are a few good things I have to share:

1- I've officially lost the 30 pounds I said I would when I started this. You know, 2 1/2 years ago.
2- I did a breast cancer walk this morning, and it was a beautiful day and it made me feel better than I thought it would. Yay inspiration.
3- Congrats on finishing the marathon, Jay!
4- I get to go home this coming weekend for the first time since June. I'm so excited- it'll be a girls only thing with my friends, PLUS I'll get to see my mom and the way things have been going, I've just sorted of needed some Mom Time. I know for a fact her freezer is full of delicious baked goods. I know how much I was gone this summer, but I'm ready for a break from here again.

To make up for my lack of posts lately, I will offer you the three songs that I've been listening to all day. None of these are really new or exciting but I have my reasons.

My Own Sinking Ship by Good Old War. "Why can't I just be alright? Why can't I invade your mind?"

Miles Behind Me by Hotel Lights. "Nobody saw you fall- miles behind me." Honestly, this is because it's in the movie Baby Mama, which I watched this week while I was home sick from school.

Two Weeks by Grizzly Bear. Really, you should watch this one because it's amazing and this guy just did it in his spare time- he didn't get paid for it! Some people have too much talent and too much time on their hands.

Jay, are you happy? T-rel, you're up.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation Parts 3-5

Ok, so it's Labor Day, which means that summer vacation is officially over tomorrow, and I figure I should wrap this up so I can start something new.

So I got back from Europe and spent two weeks at home visiting my family and local friends and doing some school stuff. (And obviously, a lot of couch time. That's how I roll, yo.) Then it was off to Lake Placid for a week to visit my friend Ali and have some good hiking time and seeing a new part of the world. Can't say I've ever spent much time in the Adirondacks, but I like 'em.


This is the actual Lake Placid. It's beautiful and clear and COLD. The mountain in the background is called Whiteface. Did I make all sorts of racist mountain jokes about that? Yes. Yes I did.


This is me, in front of the sight of the Miracle on Ice. (You know, the hockey game where the US beat Russia and ended communism or something close to that.) I'm blatantly talking to someone in this picture. Good stuff. Lake Placid, as a town, is all about the Olympics.

After Lake Placid, I came home for 10 days. Stocked my fridge, hung out with my neighbors and friends, hit the Wisconsin State Fair with my folks, then packed up again and headed out to CO for Jaden's first birthday. As you can see above, I'm the best auntie ever. Not only do I show up, I day drink while I'm "watching" the kid, and make sure that we toast. Jaden needs to learn such things early.

While I was there, we may or may not have borrowed a canoe near a lake completely legally and went for a spin around the lake. It was beautiful. I also did some amazing mountain biking, but forgot the camera, so the lake picture is all you get.

After CO, I was home for a day and a half (seriously) before I headed to NYC!


And finally, on this, my 5th (ish?) trip to NYC, I went to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. I have been so many times and never done any of the touristy stuff other than wandering Central Park. I also went to see American Idiot on Broadway, which was amazing. Still glad I never lived there, but I do like to visit that city.

But now I'm broke and tired and ready to start school. I wasn't ready until the other day when I met some of my new students, and now I feel like I just want to get this party STARTED. I've got some new ideas to write about here, so we'll see if I can make myself do it. I hope everyone else's summer was fabulous and now that I'm home, we should catch up. No seriously.

SOTD: Airplanes by Local Natives. Because I feel like I spent a disproportionate amount of time on airplanes this summer, and this song has been stuck in my head for about a week now.