Sunday, June 29, 2014

what would my voice over say?

I just started watching Vampire Diaries tonight (Are you embarrassed for me? Don't be. From what I've seen so far, it has all the makings of the perfect kind of terrible television I like.) and as they were both voicing over their journal entries I, again, felt that longing to have a record of the humdrum of my life. I feel like personal blogging is so 2008 - if you don't have a child and aren't posting photos of what you're wearing each day, no one cares - but I'm attempting to rededicate myself.

Now that all of the drafts have been rescued from the Island of Misfit Posts, the next step is to start writing about the present. I should have plenty to say as 2014 has been a doozy so far.

blue-eyed girl. (2012)

Why can't I ever remember my eye color?
Blue. My eyes are blue.
But somehow I'm still always shocked when I notice them in photos.

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[2014: Another post where I can't imagine where I was going with it and completely understand why I never published it. BUT, this is still true. I'm 31 years old and I typically can't remember the color of my eyes. I should probably be worried.]

Too Cool For School (6.10.08)

Lately I've noticed that some people are just too cool for certain things. I know, I know...I'm always complaining about something, but I can't help it. I like to observe and I have strong opinions about things that don't matter.

A few examples....

1. Not using an umbrella when it's clearly raining hard enough to justify it.
2. Crossing the street 3 seconds before the sign changes to WALK.

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[2014: Now I know why I never posted this as it is possibly the most boring thing I've ever written. I blame it on 2008, however, I have no excuse for why I'm still choosing to post it now.]

seventy five and sunny. (11.1.11)

I talked to my parents this evening. They were in their car (roadtripping it.) and I was in my car on my way home from work (hands free, of course). I was asking about the weather conditions for their travel and they mentioned that it had been 75 degrees at dinner time. SEVENTY FIVE. For the record, I had to scrape my windshield this morning.

But that's not the point.

They talked about how it had been quite warm during the day. So warm, in fact, that my mom had to take her jacket off.
Over her head.
While driving.
And my dad had to take the wheel.

Seems simple enough, but I guarantee you it was not.

And the way I imagine it all going down in my head makes me laugh.

Cheers to fun parents.

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[2014: Another conversation I have no recollection of, but the mental image that description conjured up made me giggle out loud. I can only imagine. Also, my sunglasses in that picture? WHHHYYY?]

2.5.11

I left my house at 9:45am this morning and walked back through the door at 11:30pm. I was supposed to go to a social gathering tonight, but didn't, and was feeling a bit guilty about it. But I had just been at my office for 10 hours. On a Saturday. And I hadn't eaten in 11 hours. Not even Diet Coke!

tired + hungry = worst possible combo

I was chatting with a friend about why I didn't make it to the party and was told, "get some cereal and get in bed!"

I feel like I should be sad that it's common knowledge that I regularly eat cereal for dinner, but instead I was pleased.

status update. (12.13.10)

Eating cereal for dinner (at 10:30pm) using questionable milk. Bad idea or worst idea?

J.O.B. (8.14.10)

Being on a new team at work I've become the person that has zero answers. This is hard for me for a few reasons:

1. I hate to fail and this makes me feel like I'm constantly teetering on the edge of failure.
2. For the past two years I was the one that had all the answers. I had so much historical data stored in my brain that someone would ask a question and I didn't even have to look it up.
3. I'm no longer the catch-all for any and all random projects (which is a good thing) but I feel like I
I'm not working very hard.

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[2014: Fast forward four years and I'm now a veteran on the "new team" mentioned above. I'm once again the person that has "all" the answers and the historical knowledge and am, again, the catch-all for the random projects.

It's a good reminder to look back at something like this and realize that I'll always worry with change. But in the end, I'll always be okay. I just need to give myself time to get there.

Being on the verge of another big change job-wise, this was a super timely reminder. Sometimes it's hard to gain that perspective in the moment when all the feelings are at the surface, but things have a way of sorting themselves out.]

5.23.10

Miss C's gchat status: "Alright, let's focus. Let's try that."

Me: Did you just quote me in your chat status?
C: Sure did. You've been throwing out a lot of quote-worthy comments tonight.
Me: Have you been taking notes?
C: No. Not tonight at least.

3.6.2010

  • I'm still obsessed with all things Cayamo. I can't stop watching videos on YouTube not only of performances I missed on the boat, but more so of performances I saw with my own eyes. Kind of ridiculous.
  • I may or may not have purchased a Shawn Mullins song. Yes, the same Shawn Mullins who sang "Lullaby" (which you might think of as "Rockabye")
[2014: So much blogging about these cruises. But I do still love watching them sing this song. Every time I hear Shawn Mullins sing, I remember how much a love him. True story.]

2009 In Review (1.3.2010)

January: You'll Laugh, You'll Cry: Because people falling down is still funny
February: Puking at salon, Bienvenido a Miami
March: Cruise: And I still never wrote that recap., On This Day Last Year
April: Dancing Fool, SLC!, Laying It All Out There
May: Mom and Dad in Seattle, Golden Girls
June: Seattle Dog Incident, Muscle Tees
July: Skinny Love on Repeat: This song still hurts my heart
August: Goals; Rhythm take you over;
September: What's Going On
October: Inside Out...if I have to pick one
November: Lists: Better Than Eating Disorder
December: Christmas Crazy

Look What I Found (2010)

 2014: Tonight I found a draft from 2010 about finding a draft from 2009. Confused yet?

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2010: Tonight I found an unfinished 2009 recap in my drafts. It's still unfinished, but I figure since it's late May that it's as good as it's ever going to get.

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2009: I've been avoiding a 2009 recap because it's just too hard. And I would be confused when I looked in the mirror if I didn't try to avoid the hard things in life.
[2010 Comment: Good thing I built a new year's resolution around this.]

Alas, I've convinced myself to give it a go. But they are not rank-ordered because that would have just sent me over the edge.

Concerts:
1. The Swell Season. I didn't want it to end. Ever.
2. Brandi Carlile. Too many to choose from, but probably SLC with my ladies.
3. New Kids on the Block. Seriously. So much fun.
4. Brandi Carlile. Portland.

Songs
1. Skinny Love, Bon Iver
2. Warm Whispers, Missy Higgins
3. I Will, Brandi Carlile
4. Virginia May, Gregory Alan Isakov


Books
1.
2.
3.
4.

[2010 Comment: Apparently I don't know how to read because I didn't even have a single book listed.]

TV Shows
1. Friday Night Lights
2. Flipping Out
3. 30 Rock
4. Grey's Anatomy
5. Veronica Mars (3 seasons on DVD in 2 weeks)

Moments
1. Babies
2. Cayamo
3. Michigan in August
4. Sunday night Skip Bo with the girls
5. June

Sunday (12.7.09)

Sunday was good. Nothing special happened, just lots of little things that made me appreciate the day.

In the first hour of church a girl was sharing some of her thoughts and she talked about how one day last week when she was on the bus, instead of "silently judging" those around her, she felt a deeper appreciation for those that share her space.

I liked the way she phrased it. And it made me think about those people that share my space.

My bus driver that could be Andy Dick's twin.
The woman that sells me Vitamin Water every morning.
The man on the corner of 1st and Marion with the SMILE sign.

All of these people share my space. They are part of my world.

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[2014: I don't know exactly where I was going with this post, but I started to think about who I share my space with now...

My neighbors who appear on their porch the minute anyone is coming or going from our house.
Demetrius, the security guard in my building who says good night to me every evening.
The guy working the drive-thru at McDonald's that takes my "large Diet Coke" order on the regular.
The guy in my building that I worked with several years ago, but is always so happy to see me.

I think what I wanted to say was, these people are a part of my world so instead of looking for the fault in others, I should just embrace them and the fact that we are sharing this weird, awesome life.]


If you have something to say... (11.24.09)

...say it to me now.

I saw The Swell Season this weekend and I think my mind may have been blown. It was one of the best shows I've been to...possibly ever. I felt like I just sat and stared with my mouth hanging open for two hours.




Earlier in the weekend I had the chance to go to a free Brandi Carlile show at Easy Street Records. I was tired after a very long week and I think time actually slowed down for the 90 minutes we waited for the show to start, but it ended up being a good time. Below is a video of my favorite song off her new record. The beginning is cut off and it's better with percussion, but you get the idea.


[2014: I was so delighted to find this post in my drafts because I've recently been telling people about The Swell Season show from 2009 and how I think it's still my favorite to date. I just remember sitting in Benaroya Hall on the edge of my seat, hardly able to wait for what was coming next. There were times when the crowd would sing along and I could feel it in my soul. Sounds dramatic, but is true.

Last month I re-watched ONCE and then saw the musical version a few days later at the Paramount. I will admit that I prefer the movie - Glen Hansard cannot be topped in my book - but the way they put the show together and had everyone actually playing the instruments on stage was great.

My obsession has continued and, just this week, I watched the documentary The Swell Season. For some reason, I can't get enough of those two.]

Dedication (10.20.09)

In order to get to the gym last night I nearly had to run over a man.

[2014 Stephanie was thinking, "Man, I really wish I had finished this story because I don't remember it at all" when lo and behold there was a link to Lindsay's blog for more details. Turns out, I still have zero recollection of that ever happening but sounds about right. The strangest things used to happen to me when I first moved here.]

Things I Know (2008)

I don't know much, but these are the things I do know.
  • I should never be allowed in Target unsupervised. Or with any form of payment.
  • Getting up early does not get any easier. People who tell you it does are lying.
  • Riding the bus isn't as bad as I tell myself it is.
  • Musicians can be less attractive in real life, but because they can sing and/or play a musical instrument they become attractive.
 [For the record, all of these things are still true in 2014. Except the bus thing. Riding the bus IS terrible and I've long since given up on it.]

Draft.

I have a million draft posts dating back to 2008 that I've long-since forgotten. Despite being incomplete thoughts, I think I may post a few.

Get ready for a seven year brain dump.