Oh my dear sweet baby James! It's been a while... I still love this song!
I still love YOU!
You know, sometimes I don't know what the hello is going on. Other times, I'm sitting at a bar with Amanda and Jessica, drinking margaritas, and I'm thinking, hey, this is right where I need to be right now.
Please, remember me, happily, by the rosebush laughing.
- Grace
- Florence, Alabama, United States
- Dancing in both directions at once so everyone won't notice that she's never heard this song before.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Ya need never ever gotta go in your wallet, long as I got rubberband banks in my pocket...
So, I'm still not writing every day, although I'm getting better. I hope that it is at least somewhat apparent that I am using this journal as a means to hone my writing skills, in addition to its uses as a memory keeper and friend link. Granted, I rarely re-read the entries nowadays-- not before posting, that is-- so I'm sure there are misspelled words and grammatical faux pas terrorizing my fragile sentences, but that aside, I hope that you find some enjoyment in the reading aside from merely satisfying that aching hunger for news of my life.
Jessica and I went home late late Tuesday night, sneaking up to the old bedroom a bit before five Wednesday morning and sleeping a few hours before she went to her house. The absence of Meagan (and Abby) did not go unnoticed; they left for California Tuesday morning. (She is there safely now, in case you were curious, and she already has a part time job and a cute little apartment!) I got to spend some really good time with Gramma, and later Jessica came back over and we (along with Lindsey) headed out on some Africa errands. Jessica and I grabbed some cute skirts at the Salvation Army and I picked up a little set of flower speakers for my iPod at T.J. Max, then home again home again to visit with the parents and siblings. Thursday afternoon we said goodbye to Graham, who was off to Tuscaloosa, then Lindsey, Gramma, and I met Mom for a pedicure (which was oh-so-relaxing). Mom and I went to a doctor's appointment for moi, then I ran by the farmer's market to pick up a few veggies and some blackberry jalapeño jelly (delicious!). I met Jessica at Jonathan's apartment, where we got to see his loveliness and a few of his friends. We ducked in at Jeff's to say hello, then I headed to Outback to meet the fam for Dad's birthday celebration (with the parents, the grandmothers, the sibling, and the uncle).
We finished dinner, then had some cake at the house, then I packed up, Jessica arrived, and away we went!
The ride home was rather uneventful, aside from the considerable number of animals we saw on the way home. Mostly these animals were red splatters on the highway, although we did get to see a few deer and even a fox in the wee hours of the morning!
Here I spent the first paragraph babbling about my writing, practically begging for compliments, and what did I do? I spent the whole post listing, sentence after sentence summing up the day to day goings on of a very brief time in my recent life. Alas, it is necessary, for my memory already experiences daily failures, and I imagine the condition will only worsen as I age. So what's going on in your life? I'm dying to know, you know...
Jessica and I went home late late Tuesday night, sneaking up to the old bedroom a bit before five Wednesday morning and sleeping a few hours before she went to her house. The absence of Meagan (and Abby) did not go unnoticed; they left for California Tuesday morning. (She is there safely now, in case you were curious, and she already has a part time job and a cute little apartment!) I got to spend some really good time with Gramma, and later Jessica came back over and we (along with Lindsey) headed out on some Africa errands. Jessica and I grabbed some cute skirts at the Salvation Army and I picked up a little set of flower speakers for my iPod at T.J. Max, then home again home again to visit with the parents and siblings. Thursday afternoon we said goodbye to Graham, who was off to Tuscaloosa, then Lindsey, Gramma, and I met Mom for a pedicure (which was oh-so-relaxing). Mom and I went to a doctor's appointment for moi, then I ran by the farmer's market to pick up a few veggies and some blackberry jalapeño jelly (delicious!). I met Jessica at Jonathan's apartment, where we got to see his loveliness and a few of his friends. We ducked in at Jeff's to say hello, then I headed to Outback to meet the fam for Dad's birthday celebration (with the parents, the grandmothers, the sibling, and the uncle).
We finished dinner, then had some cake at the house, then I packed up, Jessica arrived, and away we went!
The ride home was rather uneventful, aside from the considerable number of animals we saw on the way home. Mostly these animals were red splatters on the highway, although we did get to see a few deer and even a fox in the wee hours of the morning!
Here I spent the first paragraph babbling about my writing, practically begging for compliments, and what did I do? I spent the whole post listing, sentence after sentence summing up the day to day goings on of a very brief time in my recent life. Alas, it is necessary, for my memory already experiences daily failures, and I imagine the condition will only worsen as I age. So what's going on in your life? I'm dying to know, you know...
Monday, May 18, 2009
Why, why, why, oh, why are you quick to kiss?
I thought of some other song obsessions: You're My Flame by Zero 7, Be Still My Heart by the Postal Service, Umbrella by Rhianna, and Souls Like the Wheels by the Avett Brothers. Right now I cannot stop listening to Snails by The Format.
Lindsey's graduation was oh so much fun. I left several hours after work on Friday, called Graham upon my arrival in the wee hours of the morning, and grabbed a quick nap in the Gribbin House living room. I awoke with cheerful hellos to Lindsey and Lydia and Genevieve, then off to breakfast with the siblings and Aunt Alice and Uncle Jim. Back at the house we read some stories out of Pretty Little Things, which was appropriately entertaining.
Later I battled traffic to meet the Aunt and Uncle at Wal-mart/Sam's for some grocery fun, then a quick trip back to campus for the actual New College ceremony. There in a great long row were Aunt Dana, David, Grandmomma, Nancy, Katie, Morgan, Mom, Meagan, Gramma, Uncle Keith, Dad, and Graham! My oh my, but it was a beautiful sight. The event was short and sweet; the speakers were interesting and the graduates glowing. We ambushed Lindsey with celebratory confetti poppers in the lobby afterward, shared a few awkward minutes snapping pictures and not quite mixing with the crowd, then re-convened in the Canterbury for some delicious fun and exciting food.
Little things made that day so nice... Uncle Jim cutting limes for the Corona, Nancy turning cartwheels in the yard, Dad strumming his guitar... family is good. I wish Everyone could have stayed longer, although the night that followed was fun as well. The family trickled away, with an especially tearful goodbye to Meagan, who left for California on Tuesday. Those of us left- if my memory serves me, that was me, Lindsey, Graham, Alex (whose mother I was able to meet; she made a mean batch of turnip greens!), Lydia (whose family I got to see (including the elusive Henry!), although I didn't get to spend near enough time with them (can you ever spend enough time with Velma Atkins?)), Genevieve (after a brief hiatus in which she joined adventured out with her family), Drew (a new friend we (kinda) made that day) and... hmm. I think that was it at the time, although please forgive (and promptly correct) me if I've left anyone out. I've compiled that silly list just to say that we mostly scattered and took naps! Eventually we awoke to scavenge for left over beer and potato salad, began a game of Trivial Pursuit, and enjoyed the company of Ryan and Ben and Max and Nicole and various other kindred spirits.
Graham and Lindsey and Ryan and I late went to the Bear Trap to see Chris (who had also been at the afternoon's festivities) play and drink a few beers... that is to say, we drank beer and Chris played guitar. We did not go to watch Chris drink beer. ANYway, I played a lonesome game of quarters for the first part of the night, much to the annoyance of my companions, until Brock showed his smiling face and upped the stakes by... well, by playing, so it was an actual game and not just me throwing quarters at a cup of beer. Lindsey joined, and by the end of the night we were really very good, to the delight of the barkeep, I'm sure, as our intended one round became two and three and four. There toward the end the bar really filled up, and we visited with another friend, Boone, for a bit, and then it was home again for more scavenging, and perhaps a little bit of dancing amidst the glow of a light-switch rave.
Sunday morning, I eventually breakfasted with Ryan and Lydia and Lindsey at Sonic before Ryan and Lydia parted for the day. The afternoon involved another nap, if I'm not mistaken, some light reading and light showers. Graham and I had dinner at a Chinese place downtown, where we were served cripy fried "chips" and what appeared to be a bowl of warm ketchup before our meal. As we left I had a brief conversation with a young woman at an outdoor table, who was down on her luck and vomited in the middle of our conversation (although she continued talking immediately following said spewage without any acknowledgment of the abrupt eruption) and then I packed up the car and headed for home.
It was hard to leave, though. That is a fun group there. I think I will miss Lindsey's college experience as much as she will.
Not to far away from Montgomery I almost hit a deer, which led to the scariest incident in recent memory. She appeared very suddenly on 82, dark and beautiful and terrifying. I swerved left, missed her by inches I'm sure (although at the time the violent jerking of my car convinced me that she had, indeed, been hit), and fishtailed on the grass and gravel alongside the highway. Seconds later-- days, really, but time gets funny situations like these-- the back end of my car took a final swerve, sending me back on the road, perched in the same lane, facing north this time, and all I could think about was an episode of the Gilmore Girls where Rory gets hit by a deer and how I didn't die and how I should call my parents (which I did).
Once in the city a black jeep pulled up behind me a cut off his lights for a spell before exiting, and at the well-lit gas station I was approached by a man asking for gas money. My dear frazzled nerves went on strike at that point, and remained in hiding for the better part of a week. As you can see though, dear sweet Reader, I made it home safe and sound, and I'm already so behind in my updates that this long rambly entry does does even begin to cover my most recent tales of joy and sorrow.
It is late. And I tire.
Until next time...
Lindsey's graduation was oh so much fun. I left several hours after work on Friday, called Graham upon my arrival in the wee hours of the morning, and grabbed a quick nap in the Gribbin House living room. I awoke with cheerful hellos to Lindsey and Lydia and Genevieve, then off to breakfast with the siblings and Aunt Alice and Uncle Jim. Back at the house we read some stories out of Pretty Little Things, which was appropriately entertaining.
Later I battled traffic to meet the Aunt and Uncle at Wal-mart/Sam's for some grocery fun, then a quick trip back to campus for the actual New College ceremony. There in a great long row were Aunt Dana, David, Grandmomma, Nancy, Katie, Morgan, Mom, Meagan, Gramma, Uncle Keith, Dad, and Graham! My oh my, but it was a beautiful sight. The event was short and sweet; the speakers were interesting and the graduates glowing. We ambushed Lindsey with celebratory confetti poppers in the lobby afterward, shared a few awkward minutes snapping pictures and not quite mixing with the crowd, then re-convened in the Canterbury for some delicious fun and exciting food.
Little things made that day so nice... Uncle Jim cutting limes for the Corona, Nancy turning cartwheels in the yard, Dad strumming his guitar... family is good. I wish Everyone could have stayed longer, although the night that followed was fun as well. The family trickled away, with an especially tearful goodbye to Meagan, who left for California on Tuesday. Those of us left- if my memory serves me, that was me, Lindsey, Graham, Alex (whose mother I was able to meet; she made a mean batch of turnip greens!), Lydia (whose family I got to see (including the elusive Henry!), although I didn't get to spend near enough time with them (can you ever spend enough time with Velma Atkins?)), Genevieve (after a brief hiatus in which she joined adventured out with her family), Drew (a new friend we (kinda) made that day) and... hmm. I think that was it at the time, although please forgive (and promptly correct) me if I've left anyone out. I've compiled that silly list just to say that we mostly scattered and took naps! Eventually we awoke to scavenge for left over beer and potato salad, began a game of Trivial Pursuit, and enjoyed the company of Ryan and Ben and Max and Nicole and various other kindred spirits.
Graham and Lindsey and Ryan and I late went to the Bear Trap to see Chris (who had also been at the afternoon's festivities) play and drink a few beers... that is to say, we drank beer and Chris played guitar. We did not go to watch Chris drink beer. ANYway, I played a lonesome game of quarters for the first part of the night, much to the annoyance of my companions, until Brock showed his smiling face and upped the stakes by... well, by playing, so it was an actual game and not just me throwing quarters at a cup of beer. Lindsey joined, and by the end of the night we were really very good, to the delight of the barkeep, I'm sure, as our intended one round became two and three and four. There toward the end the bar really filled up, and we visited with another friend, Boone, for a bit, and then it was home again for more scavenging, and perhaps a little bit of dancing amidst the glow of a light-switch rave.
Sunday morning, I eventually breakfasted with Ryan and Lydia and Lindsey at Sonic before Ryan and Lydia parted for the day. The afternoon involved another nap, if I'm not mistaken, some light reading and light showers. Graham and I had dinner at a Chinese place downtown, where we were served cripy fried "chips" and what appeared to be a bowl of warm ketchup before our meal. As we left I had a brief conversation with a young woman at an outdoor table, who was down on her luck and vomited in the middle of our conversation (although she continued talking immediately following said spewage without any acknowledgment of the abrupt eruption) and then I packed up the car and headed for home.
It was hard to leave, though. That is a fun group there. I think I will miss Lindsey's college experience as much as she will.
Not to far away from Montgomery I almost hit a deer, which led to the scariest incident in recent memory. She appeared very suddenly on 82, dark and beautiful and terrifying. I swerved left, missed her by inches I'm sure (although at the time the violent jerking of my car convinced me that she had, indeed, been hit), and fishtailed on the grass and gravel alongside the highway. Seconds later-- days, really, but time gets funny situations like these-- the back end of my car took a final swerve, sending me back on the road, perched in the same lane, facing north this time, and all I could think about was an episode of the Gilmore Girls where Rory gets hit by a deer and how I didn't die and how I should call my parents (which I did).
Once in the city a black jeep pulled up behind me a cut off his lights for a spell before exiting, and at the well-lit gas station I was approached by a man asking for gas money. My dear frazzled nerves went on strike at that point, and remained in hiding for the better part of a week. As you can see though, dear sweet Reader, I made it home safe and sound, and I'm already so behind in my updates that this long rambly entry does does even begin to cover my most recent tales of joy and sorrow.
It is late. And I tire.
Until next time...
Thursday, May 07, 2009
But me, myself, I got nothing to prove...
Jessica and I celebrated cinco de mayo in style-o. READ: We sat on the porch and drank beer until odd hours, then went to bed. It was really nice, though.
I think I have a crush on a guy at work, but it's not really a justified crush. He doesn't speak English, and my Spanish is terrible. He is very attractive. His name is Daniel. I don't think it is his real name.
Tomorrow after work I'm headed to Tuscaloosa. I'm not looking forward to the drive or the gas bill, but I am very much looking forward to hanging out with my family and friends on Saturday. It's going to be fantastic.
Speaking of money... I gotta find another job. I haven't been looking in earnest, yet, so no complaints in that department. I did go ahead and move to part time at Goodwill so I have a set schedule there and some free time to actually look.
I don't think I wrote about the wine festival. It was really nice! I had to work Saturday when Amanda and Jessica and Chelsea went, and then I volunteered with Jessica and Chelsea Sunday. We handed out wine glasses, and then at the end we got to do a little wine tasting. Since they had been yesterday, they had some excellent recommendations. The weather was really nice.
We also celebrated dos de mayo! Amanda and Chelsea went out to the celebration and had a hook-up at the margarita stand; I met them later, and Jessica came once she got off work. There's a big fountain in the park area that just shoots up from the sidewalk, and Jessica and I ran through it toward the end. It was very perfect.
Not so perfect? I then lost my keys... I'm still not sure how it happened, although we think that I may have set them down when I was getting my tickets and then the ladies at the table turned them in to Cantina Loredo (where I finally tracked them down the next day). That day ended up being really good, actually, because I went to see Amanda at work, and they had puppies and I played with them. I also went grocery shopping, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I think I have a crush on a guy at work, but it's not really a justified crush. He doesn't speak English, and my Spanish is terrible. He is very attractive. His name is Daniel. I don't think it is his real name.
Tomorrow after work I'm headed to Tuscaloosa. I'm not looking forward to the drive or the gas bill, but I am very much looking forward to hanging out with my family and friends on Saturday. It's going to be fantastic.
Speaking of money... I gotta find another job. I haven't been looking in earnest, yet, so no complaints in that department. I did go ahead and move to part time at Goodwill so I have a set schedule there and some free time to actually look.
I don't think I wrote about the wine festival. It was really nice! I had to work Saturday when Amanda and Jessica and Chelsea went, and then I volunteered with Jessica and Chelsea Sunday. We handed out wine glasses, and then at the end we got to do a little wine tasting. Since they had been yesterday, they had some excellent recommendations. The weather was really nice.
We also celebrated dos de mayo! Amanda and Chelsea went out to the celebration and had a hook-up at the margarita stand; I met them later, and Jessica came once she got off work. There's a big fountain in the park area that just shoots up from the sidewalk, and Jessica and I ran through it toward the end. It was very perfect.
Not so perfect? I then lost my keys... I'm still not sure how it happened, although we think that I may have set them down when I was getting my tickets and then the ladies at the table turned them in to Cantina Loredo (where I finally tracked them down the next day). That day ended up being really good, actually, because I went to see Amanda at work, and they had puppies and I played with them. I also went grocery shopping, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Saturday, May 02, 2009
You still ain't got a job, and I work in a market as a check-out girl...
I've watched some movies recently. Here is what I think about what I have seen:
1. American History X - I watched this over Easter weekend at Jonathan's with him and a few of his friends. It was good, although violent. I remember Micah and his friends talking about it a lot in high school. I guess it lived up to expectations, though. I like Edward Norton.
2. High School Musical (I, II, and III)- Zac Efron? More like Zac, what the EF is wRONg with you?! But seriously... I would watch them again.
3. Seven Pounds- I really liked this one, although it was sad. Will Smith continues to impress. I did not know he was actually that talented. Well... he is.
4. Twilight- I thought the movie was worse than the books, which is surprising, considering how terrible the books are. I read them all, so I can say that. I thought the movie was going to be good. I was wrong.
5. Bride Wars- Cute, funny, nothing bad, nothing special.
6. Slumdog Millionaire- Another violent flick, but still very good. I can see why the movie won so many awards. The little boys were adorable. The acting was great. The story was interesting. I just watched this one a few minutes ago. I'm still not sure what feeling one is supposed to be left feeling.
So, there are some movies I have been watching. I have also been listening to a lot of This American Life and a few episodes of Radio Lab.
Sometimes I will want to just listen to one song over and over and over and over. Most recently, this song has been Fast Car. Some other songs that I remember becoming obsessive over include, but are not limited to: We Both Go Down Together by the Decemberists; Fluresent Adolescent by Kate Nash; The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson; Paper Planes by M.I.A.; Though Shall Always Kill by Scroobius Pip vs. Dan le Sac; Irreplaceable by Beyonce; Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens; Foundations by Kate Nash; Walcott by Vampire Weekend; The Trapeze Swinger by Iron and Wine; Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie; Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend; and Whatever You Like by T.I. These songs have been listed in no particular order. They are just the ones that I can remember at the moment. I just listen to them over and over...
1. American History X - I watched this over Easter weekend at Jonathan's with him and a few of his friends. It was good, although violent. I remember Micah and his friends talking about it a lot in high school. I guess it lived up to expectations, though. I like Edward Norton.
2. High School Musical (I, II, and III)- Zac Efron? More like Zac, what the EF is wRONg with you?! But seriously... I would watch them again.
3. Seven Pounds- I really liked this one, although it was sad. Will Smith continues to impress. I did not know he was actually that talented. Well... he is.
4. Twilight- I thought the movie was worse than the books, which is surprising, considering how terrible the books are. I read them all, so I can say that. I thought the movie was going to be good. I was wrong.
5. Bride Wars- Cute, funny, nothing bad, nothing special.
6. Slumdog Millionaire- Another violent flick, but still very good. I can see why the movie won so many awards. The little boys were adorable. The acting was great. The story was interesting. I just watched this one a few minutes ago. I'm still not sure what feeling one is supposed to be left feeling.
So, there are some movies I have been watching. I have also been listening to a lot of This American Life and a few episodes of Radio Lab.
Sometimes I will want to just listen to one song over and over and over and over. Most recently, this song has been Fast Car. Some other songs that I remember becoming obsessive over include, but are not limited to: We Both Go Down Together by the Decemberists; Fluresent Adolescent by Kate Nash; The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson; Paper Planes by M.I.A.; Though Shall Always Kill by Scroobius Pip vs. Dan le Sac; Irreplaceable by Beyonce; Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens; Foundations by Kate Nash; Walcott by Vampire Weekend; The Trapeze Swinger by Iron and Wine; Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie; Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend; and Whatever You Like by T.I. These songs have been listed in no particular order. They are just the ones that I can remember at the moment. I just listen to them over and over...
Friday, May 01, 2009
I've seen those English dramas, too... they're cruel...
Every day I come to this site, and every day I stare at the blinking cursor, punch the space bar a few times, refresh the page, and close the browser. Perhaps not at poetic as the shutting of a blank journal, but significant nonetheless. I am deciding, right now, to write more. Lots and lots of people recommend writing every day, although I can't recall the famous author who advised such, even if it's just to write what you had for breakfast this morning.
This morning, I had an apple for breakfast. And last Tuesday, Jesse Hill was killed in a dirt biking accident. The last time I saw Jesse was on Easter Sunday; the last actual conversation I had with him was probably when I was 13 and he was 10. He was one of Graham's closest friends from middle school. I talked to my mom about the service last night; all these names kept coming up, little boys who are not little boys any more, boy scouts who are college-age men, doing college-age things, not thinking about the pinewood derby or working on homework while my mom teaches a bunch of 8 year-old kids how to tie knots.
Wednesday I went to a banquet in Tuscaloosa, where I got to see my family and many friends. I got there late and enjoyed the dinner and the speakers and the South African Ballet troupe. I missed the drummers. I showed everyone my quilt and drank a Red Stripe and stayed up really late talking about scotch tape and smart cars and I ate Taco Bell with Ryan Spain.
This morning, I had an apple for breakfast. And last Tuesday, Jesse Hill was killed in a dirt biking accident. The last time I saw Jesse was on Easter Sunday; the last actual conversation I had with him was probably when I was 13 and he was 10. He was one of Graham's closest friends from middle school. I talked to my mom about the service last night; all these names kept coming up, little boys who are not little boys any more, boy scouts who are college-age men, doing college-age things, not thinking about the pinewood derby or working on homework while my mom teaches a bunch of 8 year-old kids how to tie knots.
Wednesday I went to a banquet in Tuscaloosa, where I got to see my family and many friends. I got there late and enjoyed the dinner and the speakers and the South African Ballet troupe. I missed the drummers. I showed everyone my quilt and drank a Red Stripe and stayed up really late talking about scotch tape and smart cars and I ate Taco Bell with Ryan Spain.
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