Concert? I think I'll pass, but thanks.

Last night, I went to a concert with a good friend.

And I decided I am done with going to concerts for a loooong time.

Since I was young, it has been widely known that I hate loud noises, so you would think I would take that into account when deciding whether to go to a concert or not. But, no, I decided to defy the voice of reason once again, and go stand amongst 200 (+) Emo loving children, aged 15-26, wearing black t-shirts, skinny jeans, and skateboard sneakers, bobbing their heads, as if to say "I totally feel what you are singing about, it's like you really get me," and then screaming everytime the lead singer, with hair longer than I have, clad in what I will admit was a pretty sweet vintage t-shirt, leaned with the mic near the audience.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for having a passion, and if your passion is for music or concerts or the arts in general, more power to you. However, I have come to realize over the past year that music/concerts/the like, are definitley NOT my passion. It's sad that I think I would fit in better with the 30 & 40-year olds at a Norah Jones concert. You know, they're all very quiet, calm, sitting in their seats and listening to some soft, soothing music. That I could handle. But standing for 3 hours, listening to bands pump out indie-rock tracks, sweating up a storm, while getting my ass grabbed, my ear screamed in by a pre-pubescent fan, has lost whatever appeal it ever had. Instead of leaving high off an awesome set, followed by an awesome encore, I leave with sore legs, smelly clothes, and a headache.

I guess at this point in my life, I am more content to just sit and listen to an actual CD. I mean, the songs sound just fine, and you don't have people shoving in your way to see the artist, or screaming in your ear for them to play their favorite tune. I don't really need the visual of the artist, just the music will do.

Perhaps this will all change, when I finally turn 21 and a beer (or 4) will take that edge off for me at a concert, but until then, I am staying away. So, keep that in mind next time you ask me to go to a concert. Unless it's Norah Jones.

God Bless the WB...

Every morning at 9:00, my roommate and I watch Dawson's Creek on TBS while we get ready for work. Go ahead. Call us shallow. Call us immature losers. Call us superficial girly-girls.

Let's be honest, watching high school troubles is a way better way to start your morning than hearing about the death toll in Iraq.

So, after rekindling our love for watching other "teenagers" struggle through those awkward years, we decided to purchase seasons one and two of that wonderful show this weekend. Seventy dollars later, we now sit, watching episode after episode (COMMERCIAL FREE -- WHAT A GODSEND), talking about Pacey and Joey as if we are all the best of friends. And since we have been watching it, I realize, although the actors playing the 15 year-olds are really in their late 20s...still, their situations make me miss high school.

I know, who would have thought, right? By the end of senior year, I was more than ready to get out of little Wilmette...to get away from that tiny all-girls' school, to meet new people in a new city. And I don't regret it one bit. But there is something about high school that I really do miss.

I think I really miss knowing exactly what was going to happen each day, you know? Wake up at 6:30, throw on the uniform, go to class, listen to morning prayer, have lunch, cross country practice after school from exactly 3:30-6:00...everything was so scheduled, which is something I need. I freaked out at the beginning of freshman year here in DC because I had so much free time. Who would have ever thought free time could make someone so frustrated? I hated the surprise element of college, and no matter how hard you try to create a routine in college, you know you can't stick to it. You know..."Yeah, I'll wake up every morning before my 9:35, go to the gym, shower, go to class, grab lunch, go to my next 2 classes, come home, do homework, eat dinner, then go to the library, study, and then hang out with my friends until I go to bed at a reasonable hour." Sounds like the mind of a loser, right? Sounds like my mind the first week of freshman year. But as soon as I could say "Thurston", my anal-retentive routine was diminished to nothing more than a neurotic trait. My roommates would stay up for hours on end, never once going to bed at the same time, while I was "that girl" who went to bed every night at 11:00. I was the girl that got to class 20 minutes before anyone else, and would freak out if I was anywhere near missing that deadline.

Luckily, I have come to accept, and to an extent, embrace the randomness of college nights. I love the spontaneous decision to go hang out by the monuments, or stay up way past when I should to talk with my roommate. I like being able to decide whether or not I really need to go to class, or what classes I even want to take. In a way, it is nice to have so much undecided...although we all have to figure stuff out eventually.

I think a part of me will always miss high school. Looking back, everything seemed so easy and black-and-white; there was no real room for a gray area. You go to class, you make good grades, you get involved, you graduate, and then it's on to college. College is where that gray area rears its (sometimes ugly) head and smacks us in the face with reality: time to make decisions for ourselves.

If only those decisions were simple, like on Dawson's Creek...which pair of yachting shoes should I wear? Whose window should I sneak into tonight? Which boy should I kiss at Capeside High's dance on Friday?

Oh, TBS...

Welcome to Orr...

This summer has been great. Really, it has been. I've gotten to spend the summer in a city I love, with awesome people, at an awesome job. I've gotten to live with one of my closest friends in a perfect location, work at a job where I actually like my coworkers and don't dread going to work, I haven't had to work on the weekends, AND, of course, I've made more money this summer than the past 5 combined.


However, there is one thing about this summer that is totally lacking, and it's getting to me right about now.


What, you might ask? No car? No, I hate driving so that can't be it. Oh, so it must be my dog. No, sorry,l wrong again. I mean, Bo, you're great and all, but not enough to fill a certain void. So, what, then is lacking in summer 2006?


Orr, Minnesota.


"Minnesota?" you might be saying, "Minnesota sucks. There is nothign to do there. It's in the middle of nowhere."


EXACTLY. Right now, two of my best friends are at Pelican Lake, in Orr, Minnesota. And as of yet, Orr, Minnesota is my favorite place in the world.


Freshman year, whenever I got frustrated with the fact that I couldn't stand 2 of my 3 roommates (sorry if you are those girls...but I have a feeling you feel the same way...), I would picture myself on Pelican Lake, sitting on the Raspberry Boat, reading with Becky and Emily D, without a care in the world. You would think that a person like me would go crazy in a place like Pelican Lake. No TV, no internet...how can I live without AIM or Facebook?? For some reason, that doesn't matter.

Granted, I think we all know that I am not exactly cut out for living outdoors. Bugs? No thanks. Cob webs? Kiss my ass. Yet, I have managed to survive two trips to Pelican Lake to date. I am so calm when I am there. I think being cut-off from the real world plays a huge role in that; if I can't check my email, I don't have to worry about what people have to say; if I can't watch the news, I don't have to worry about whatever is going on in the world. The only thing I have to worry about at Pelican Lake is which bathing suit is dry enought to wear; whether I put sunscreen on or not; which side of Bald Island I want to watch the sun set on. I have never been so at peace with everything than when I am at Pelican Lake.


So, unfortunately, I will not get to go to Pelican Lake this summer. While Becky and Emily D are diving off the dock, swimming around the island, and kayaking to Frying Pan for dinner, I will be in an office working, or sweating in the city.

But, in some insanely, Hallmark-Movie-Channel-End-Of-Movie-Scene-That-Makes-You-Want-To-Vomit way, the fact that maybe I will get to go next summer, is good enough for now.

To get the Hallmark Movie Channel, please contact your cable provider. And then, really think twice about the awful decision you are making.