Stolen from renquestor

I've been pretty "meh" this weekend. I really don't feel as though I should complain...but I didn't get to really accomplish anything.

--I practiced my guitar for maybe 10 minutes all weekend. Will I know "Wild Thing" by Wednesday? Not when I have class on Monday and Tuesday. *sigh*

--I didn't read any of the 300 pages that I had in my book for class. This...is not good. Class is at 5:45 tomorrow night...and I bet Miss K will be in my office tomorrow.

--I didn't get to do my photo shoot. And this was something I've been looking forward to. Yesterday was shot. I mean, the entire day was shot. And today was cold and rainy outside which meant...no photo shoot. And this just puts me in a blah mood. As does the weather.

--I wanted to clean my room. I accomplished cleaning off the coffee table (but only because Maureen was over and she fixed the loose leg) and I did some culling of my greeting cards and letters that I've saved since, oh, 1994. Yeah, that took all day.

--I wanted to clean the apartment. I wasn't home long enough to even start on that.

--I wanted to draw. I mean, get out the sketch pad and draw. I didn't. But I did manage to create some LJ icons for ladystarblade...that she likes and will use. Well, two of them. One is already in use. The other has yet to be uploaded...but she likes it.

--I feel like an underachiever. As in what I've done in life thus far. Weird. I think it has to do with not owning slips of paper that document my successes. My memory is all I have to serve that purpose.

--San Francisco is going to be my big trip this year. I say this only because it's going to cost me everything I have to get out there. And, unfortunately, the trip falls at the same time my car payment is due, my college tuition needs to be paid, Dragon*Con needs to be attended (and paid for!), and my September birthday month of doom begins. It's going to be fun...as soon as all the logistics get worked out and I stop freaking out about the money situation. Come on economic stimulus check.

--My individual meeting is on Wednesday with JJW. I intend to voice my thoughts on the way I was treated last week. Because I'm still pissed off about it.

--I'm wondering if my job will be of any use in the near future. Special Events is being taken away from Alumni Affairs...and does the director of Alumni Affairs really need an assistant when Special Events are no longer involved? Things that make you go hmmmm...

--Laundry was pretty much the only thing on my list that needed to be done this weekend that I actually accomplished. That and baking banana bread.

Much sadness.

But tomorrow starts another week. Hopefully one that isn't as full of suckage.

I had a list of things I should have accomplished today.

As it is...I accomplished none of it.

I sort of expected this.

But now I have to try to cram it in tomorrow. And that isn't looking likely either.

*sigh*

I've blogged about this...sort of...before, but after today's trip to the grocery store, I felt the need to blog about it again.

FOOD PRICES!

WTF??!!

This is what ladystarblade and I bought this week during our grocery shopping:



24 pack of toilet paper
English muffins
Eazy Mac (4 pack)
Oyster crackers
Box of 100 calorie packs of Doritos
1 gallon water
1 gallon milk
Pack of AAA batteries
1 pack Ranch dressing
1 pack shredded cheddar cheese
1 pack shredded mozzarella cheeze
1 12 pack Diet Mt. Dew
Another item that we had to purchase...very necessary...is a gift...cannot say...

And this came to just about $45.00

You know...for $40.00, we used to be able to fill the cart. I mean, seriously fill the cart. And for $45, we are able to get 13 items. Does anyone else see something wrong with this?!

And this is the worst part...this is stuff that we needed for this week. We pretty much have what we can do for food this week in the cabinets and freezers. This was for lunches, snacks, and the usual items that we get every week. So...um...what the fuck gives?

I'm sorry, but this is beyond ridiculous. Granted, I told ladystarblade I might just cry again, I didn't. Because while the bills keep rolling in, and my bank account dwindles, the fact that we could buy so LITTLE food for what we'd normally spend and fill a cart pissed me off rather than upset me this time.

And this is at Wal-Mart!! God forbid if we had done our grocery shopping at Kroger! We'd have 6 items at most, I bet.

And why is it like this? Because as gas prices rise, so does everything else. Thank you inflation!! Thank you for making my paycheck so much harder to hold onto. I keep saying I need to save, I need to save. How the hell am I supposed to save when I can only get 13 items from Wal-Mart for grocery shopping?!

I just don't know how in the world the people in America are going to get through this recession. Because we have to go to work, and we have to go certain places...and we can't afford the gas, and we can't afford the items at places like grocery stores...so how are we going to climb out? Food prices rise as vegetable plants are wiped out by storms, heat, etc. Bread prices have skyrocketed because of the cost of wheat rising. Milk...Milk was $3.58/gal at Wal-Mart!!! That's almost double what we're used to spending on milk!

This is a time when companies aren't giving raises (they can't afford to), and paychecks are staying the same while the cost of living is rising. But the government insists that we're not in a recession...and we're not heading toward another depression.

I beg to differ.

*sigh*

And is there an end in sight for any of this? Nope. There isn't. And I doubt prices will drop anytime soon. Gas prices steadily climb each week. Everything else follows suit.

We've given up driving over to Louisville for things because we can't afford to use up the gas. Do you realize that Louisville is a simple drive over a bridge? Yet, we can't afford it.

And it sucks. And it won't get any better. So we have to learn how to deal with it...

Without putting ourselves into debt.

Wish us luck.

Okay...I think I've calmed down enough to talk about my guitar lesson now...

Yesterday, as you recall, I took my first guitar lesson. And I was really nervous going into it because I've never played an instrument with strings before. But I bought this beautiful acoustic guitar and I figured I best learn how to play it.

My instructor, Tim, is awesome. He came out to get me right on time. And he was in a Hendrix shirt, which should have tipped me off to his awesomeness right then. But, we went back to the room and he commented on my big guitar case and how it was almost as big as me. LOL! It's so true! But, he loved the stickers I've put on it to decorate it thus far. And said he used to do that too! Heee!

Okay...so Tim just moved into this room, and it's decorated with this awesome light-up guitar clock. Yes, ladystarblade...we need one of these for our apartment. It's $30 at Big Lots, he says! Hellz yeah! So, I get out the guitar and he asks me if I know anything about the insturment. I shake my head. And he promises me that I'll learn. So, he pointed out the different parts of the guitar. And then started to explain his teaching style.

In order to learn chords, he prefers to teach songs. The chords are all in the songs, so it's just a matter of learning the songs and what chords are used when. He's certain that it's a much easier to learn them that way, and while he will focus on some theory, he'll start off with songs.

And to prove his point...he began playing "Rockstar" by Nickelback on his electric guitar. AWESOME! And then showed me how the different chords worked in the song. Which led him to his next question...

What kind of music do I listen to?

Heh. I told him I wasn't lying when I said I listened to everything. Having worked in a CD store, I really did get exposed to everything and there is good stuff, even in rap music, my friends. Especially in the music...not so much the lyrics. He agreed.

I mentioned that I was going to go see a Snoop Dogg concert, but not for Snoop Dogg, but to see the opening act of the opening act. That would be Fiction Plane. He'd never heard of them, so I talked a little about them, mentioned the connection of Joe being Sting's son. Turns out, Tim's instructor has played with Sting. On many things. And is like this big-wig in the Hollywood scores now. He said he needed to get a poster of his instructor to put on the wall in his room to be like, "Yeah...this guy taught me." After which, I said I mostly listen to classic rock these days.

This made him happy.

So, the first song I'm learning is "Wild Thing." He showed me the different chords I need to learn...because there are only three throughout the whole song.

A, D, E

And you play each chord twice: A, A, D, D, E, E, D, D, A, A, D, D, E, E...etc.

Easy!

So, as soon as I get a little quicker on the chords, which he was impressed by how quickly I picked up the fingering and playing...I'll actually know the song. LOL!! WOOT!

Yeah...I think I'm really going to enjoy this teacher.

I also have a fingering exercise that I really need to work on. It's harder than it looks. And he showed me a riff he made up thanks to his fingering exercise. Awesome! He handed me my chord chart and we were done.

So, hopefully by next Wednesday, I'll be better with my fingering on the strings and actually be able to strum out "Wild Thing."

As my instructor told me: "The guitar is one of the easiest instruments to learn, but one of the most difficult to master."

I believe it. But I'm willing to try!

marcgunn shared this with me and it was just so brilliant I had to pass it on:



I ♥ this!

I want to send out big birthday wishes to after_lastnight!! I hope your day is full of tall, lanky men wearing glasses and serving you one of these:



Now, make a wish and blow...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GIRLIE! (((HUGS))) LOVE YOU!! ♥

I start guitar lessons tonight.

At 6:30.

For 30 minutes.

Yeah...I'm a little nervous. LOL!

Well...one class! Heh.

The History of Motion Pictures. And this means lots of reading. And lots of watching movies. And then discussing. We may even be watching This is Spinal Tap as one of the films. Am I loving this class? Yes...yes I am.

Best part...we do have to write a paper.

And this paper has to be on film. One of the subjects was The Cold War and the American Film Industry. And guess what falls into that category. Thats right friends...James Bond. So a paper gets reused. YES!!! I just need to rework it so that it doesn't include anything from the novels and focuses strictly on the films.

I can do that!

And my teacher and I totally geeked out on independent films. It was awesome.

I voted today. And by my icon, you can tell who I voted for.

You know...this has been a tough year, because there are parts of every campaign that I don't agree with. But when it all comes down to it...I can agree with more of what Barack Obama says as opposed to the others.

And he's brilliant. And I had the opporunity to voluteer for his campaign (read: he came to speak at the university I work for and I'm the special events guru at the moment...). And I can really stand behind him.

So...when your turn comes around. No matter who you vote for...VOTE!

In the entertainment industry, there is a distinct line between true fans and those who have other plans. The ones who have wedding dates and children's names all picked out for the future.

I have a name for these fans.

Über-fans.

When I think of these people a few words come to mind:

• Creepy
  
• Stalker
  
• Trying-to-hard
  
• Scary
  
• Delusional
  
• Future inmate
  

...among others.

And here's why I think it's an issue...

Everyone is a fan of someone. Be it a sports figure, an actor, a musician, an author...we all look up to someone. We all hold someone up as the pinnacle of something. And that's okay. Because we aren't the type of people to stand outside their homes in the middle of a downpour thinking that any moment they'll open up the door and let us inside and get us warm again. It's just not normal.

And über-fans are not super fans. Super fans are completely different. Super fans know their limits. They might come out to support their idols, but they aren't going to expect anything beyond a good play, a good story, a good movie, or a good show. They'll buy the merchandise. They'll learn the lyrics and sing along. They'll scream and shout. That's okay. That's showing support.

The über-fans do all this too. But somehow the wires get crossed and they misinterpret simple messages. When said famous (or semi-famous) person speaks to you after an event, this does not mean that you are immediately in their circle of friends. They don't really know who you are, but if you act all hyper and googly-eyed, or just plane scary...they will remember you. They'll remember why you now have a restraining order against you and why you can't come within fifty feet of them.

Okay...so, perhaps it hasn't reached that stage...yet.

The thing is, über-fans are completely capable of reaching that level of...creepiness. These are the people who expect a bit more. A personal message on the inside of a book cover or on a baseball, or a movie poster or glossy picture, or even a CD booklet. These are the people who expect the star to recognize them on sight, and whether it's invited or not, might even throw their arms around said star in greeting, expect to be known by name and recognized, and chatted up about...whatever bullshit they choose, and then follow said star around while they try to mingle and interact with others. Oh...they probably also prefer it if they are in the Top 10 on their MySpace page too...

So here's the thing:

Über-fans do make the band money. They promote. They buy merchadise (one of everything...and here's cash, bb!). They get word out. But here's what they don't do. They don't make people want to go to shows because they're destined to be there. They don't respect that other people are fans too. Like when a baseball, a t-shirt, a CD, a drum stick is tossed into the audience...if you already have nine...it's okay to let someone else get it. Really! Your useless little collection ain't impressing anyone but you and your little minions who think you really have an in with said famous (or semi-famous) person. They're as delusional as the über-fan and should also be destroyed...er...I mean dealt with in the same manner.

Pointing and laughing behind their backs.

No.

I'm kidding.

The thing is, there is little to be done about über-fans. Because they are everywhere. They're at sporting events, readings, at appearances and concerts. They are numerous. And they are unstoppable. But they tarnish the good name those of us who are TRUE fans like to give off. We're not wearing something to impress them. We're not throwing ourselves at them. And we sure as hell are not planning tea parties, sleep overs, and future weddings where they are the only other participant...in our minds. Nope.

Because of this wonderful thing called reality.

Stop making our time less enjoyable. And please...for the love of god...start acting your age.

Oh...and at the next event you're at...lay low. It will mean the world to not only us...but the people you stalk...er...worship...er...admire.

It's voting day in Indiana and North Carolina!

If you belong to either of these states...go vote!

I will be! :)

Tomorrow marks the day that my office has been hoping for and dreading. Commencement finally arrives. And I still have no clue what exactly I am to be doing...but I guess I'll figure it out at the meeting tomorrow morning. I'm still mad I have to dress in a cap and gown. GRRR!!

So...FINALLY! Maybe life will be a little more tolerable after that.

It ends...tomorrow.

Boy, oy! It's going to be a long day!

Whew. Do we know how to live it up on Saturday or what? Woke up this morning. Immediately decided to burn the Cleveland video to the DVD with menus. My computer didn't recognize my DVD burner. *sigh* Did yoga. Made breakfast. Gathered up the recyclables. Stepped out of the apartment only to discover that a dog did its business in the stairway and it was left there. *double sigh* Went to post office. Picked up two packages from out of the country. Went to drop off recyclables. Went to Best Buy. Had VERY HOT Geek Squad guy fix the problem. Took stuff home. ladystarblade took the laptop upstairs, as well as the two packages. I ran to main office to bitch about dog shit in the stairway. Leave apartments.

We went and saw Ironman today. It was SO good. Just amazing. LOVED IT. I don't even know the history of Ironman...but the previews intrigued me. Glad I saw it. Can't wait for the sequal.

Went out to the mall in Louisville, despite it being Derby weekend. Not much traffic actually. Bought a few items and then left. Discovered that some jackass opened his door into my car door and left his white paint on my door as well as chipped away some of my red paint. *triple sigh* Yeah, that was enough to make me hateful for a good portion of the day.

Made a few more stops for some computer items and mailing envelopes and finally went home.

Spent most of the night working on a project. Got it done. WOOT!! Just now. LOL!! So, when I say most of the night, I mean from 4:30-11:45 p.m. Whew.

And the favorite won the Kentucky Derby. ladystarblade and I watched i just in case the filly won. Sadly, she came in second...and had to be euthanized because she broke both front ankles. Saddness.

And other than that...just making more plans to keep ourselves occupied. :)

The plan tonight was to leave work and head down to Fourth Street Live for a FREE Goo Goo Dolls concert. For those of you who know me...you know that the Goo Goo Dolls have been one of my favorite bands since...before they were popular! Part of being from Upstate NY. The problem today is...it's an outdoor concert. It's pouring. People are leaving Churchill Downs to come out and party instead. Free beer is being given out before 6:00. And I really don't want to deal with the drunks and the drama.

So...no Goo Goo Dolls tonight. ladystarblade and I have vowed that when they tour next, we're springing for amazing seats.

And...um...it's currently raining inside my office. Shit.

Can I get a giant WOOT??!! Please?

Because...I maintained my straight A's this semester!! Yep...even in the class of hell and doom. I think I may be the first A Dr. Evil has ever given!!! And dammit...I worked damn hard for that too and feel like I really, really earned it.

So...this has made my weekend start off rather well. I just need to get through the hell that is the Friday before Commencement...and make it through Commencement on Monday and then...classes again...my guitar lessons...and all the other stuff I do so that I don't go stir crazy and insane.

Like concerts.

HA!

Last night was the Jeff Dunham show in Louisville, KY! And I can honestly say that I haven't spent so much time laughing in my entire life. He's brilliant. He's funny when I watch his videos, but he's so off-the-cuff in person and just goes along with whatever is thrown at him. Just...an awesome show!

The part that had me laughing the most was when Achmed's feet turned around again. Achmed said, "Oh, not this shit again!" And Jeff went to go fix it and accidentally pulled off Achmed's arm. I died laughing there. I seriously couldn't breathe.

And it was like that through much of the evening!

I called after_lastnight (as is tradition) as Achmed sang "Jingle Bombs." Oh...so funny!

And "Guitar Guy" was there. And he's rather funny himself!!

If you ever get the chance to see Jeff Dunham...DO IT!! He's worth it!

And then I can go. I can get outta here. I can go home. Change. And head out to eat with ladystarblade, congoddess, and her boyfriend before we head out to see Jeff Dunham!! So excited!! :)

Achmed the Dead Terrorist...YES!

Been looking forward to this for awhile. So...it will be a nice escape.

Nothing is worse than coming into work to a laundry list of things that need to be done. Granted, we host Commencement on Monday, so, I understand. But ask me to do something. Don't tell me. And if things need to be delivered and I don't have a car today...deliver it yourself. Don't make me borrow your car. I don't want to.

*sigh*

I've checked off two things on my to-do list that was left by Miss K on my e-mail yesterday. This is my payback for leaving the Madeline Albright event...I just know it.

*double sigh*

And here I was going to do a blog I've been wanting to do since the weekend. Maybe later. Maybe.

So, this morning, while I was toasting up the English muffins for breakfast, ladystarblade and I began to have a very strange conversation. And it stemmed from when I handed her the plate with her English muffins on it and she said, "Sanka."

Me: If we were characters from "Cool Runnings" you would totally be Derice.
LSB: I hate to say it, Twin...but you'd be Junior.
Me: Hmmm...I guess I would be Junior. And your sister would totally be Yul Brenner.

*long pause*

Me: If we include "the girls" in this...then...
LSB: after_lastnight would totally be Sanka.
Me: She is Sanka. I'd still be Junior. And, I hate to say it, but indyjane would end up being Derice and you'd be Yul Brenner.

Yeah...it's one of those mornings. LOL!