Always on my mind...

New Rule:

If you read the blog, follow it! It only takes a few seconds to set up a Google account, no need to add any info or a photo, just your name or a username will suffice. It just makes me feel better about myself and spending my time on this freaking thing. Sad, I know.  I've realized two things about myself with this whole blog thing that I think I already kind of new subconsciously, and those are:

a) for someone who doesn't even like herself that much, I am a bit egotistical.
b) I'm sooo needy. Not needy as some are in relationships, more so just needy in that I NEED to know that people are interested in what I am saying.

I know, I know, I have issues....for days. So help me with my confidence people...if you are going to read the blog, follow it! - even if you're a client :)

Weekend Recap

What an interesting weekend. Although I swore that I was going to take it easier on Fridays from now on (now being last Saturday) Meach and I managed to still get kind of retarded on Friday night. Fun night though after an awesome but emotional dinner. One of the greatest local eateries closed on Saturday, Friday night was our last dinner there. Not only was the food beyond delicious, it was run by some of the most amazing people I've known. I wish we took pictures at dinner. : (

Saturday was my dad's 60th birthday party at which not only did his band play, but he purposed to his girlfriend on stage after she player harmonica with him, and she said yes. That's all fine and dandy and I am more than happy for them. However, a heads up would have been nice as I served wine to a million drunk baby boomers. Did I say drunk? I meant slammered. I should have known it was going to happen, typical Frank...oops I mean Jim. : ) Photos from Friday:

Just for fun

Hehehe. So hip! 

If you haven't seen this video. It is a must. Sooo funny!

The Drums and Surfer Blood nailed it

Surfer Blood!

The Drums!

This one was my fave!

So the iPhone photos turned out kind of crappy and I can't get my camera settings right. If I am going to keep blogging about these shows, I need to figure something out. 

I knew this would be a great show, and it really was. Both groups totally nailed it. I LOVED The Drum's performance, both musically and the dance moves. Surfer Blood were very impressive as well, great performance and really stepped it up in the end. I honestly had way more fun at this show than the Black Keys and Kings of Leon show on Saturday. I agree with my brother, I am taking a break from the big shows, the smaller once definitely give you more bang for the buck.

The small shows I am pumped about coming up:

• Oct. 08 - Margot & the Nuclear So & Sos,  Crowbar in Ybor - check out the opening band The Lonely Forest 
• Oct. 12 - Vampire Weekend & Beach House at Jannus
• Oct. 15 - Matt & Kim at State Theatre
• Oct. 16 - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros with He's My Brother, She's My Sister at The Ritz - Soooo excited for this one. I even have chosen it over Built to Spill who is are playing the same night at State
• Oct. 27 - MGMT, Ruth Eckerd Hall - unfortunately I will not be attending
• Oct. 29 - JJ Grey and Mofro, The Ritz - I am going to do my very best to make this one, but have a huge work event the next day and highly doubt it. 
• Nov. 04 - La Roux at the Ritz

One problem is, I have not bought tickets to any of these shows yet. Yikes!

Weekend Recap

What a killer weekend. Probably could have skipped Friday night's rendezvous, but had a great time none-the-less at the Ray's game, followed by some bar hopping with Meach and her BF. Fit in a quick boat ride and lunch with big bro on a beautiful Saturday, actually catching some fresh air and finally got to see The Black Keys and Kings of Leon! A show I have been pumped for since March. Both bands put on a great show, however, I would really like to see The Black Keys in a smaller venue and playing a longer set. I was pleasantly surprised with Kings of Leon's performance, they played a lot of their older stuff, which I LOVE and was totally impressed with. More to come about tonight's Surfer Blood and The Drums show. Busy weekend, but I'm young - I'm supposed to stay this busy, right?

Oopsies...indulged in some retail therapy

So...I felt that I deserved a little bit of shopping. First of all because I have not done a real shopping trip in forever, second of all because I have been wearing super old clothes, third of all because there is nothing like taking a day off of the gym for some retail therapy. Only problem was that I spent a little bit too much money. Oh - how I miss the days of "back to school shopping." Who knows - I may even try to convince pops that he should help me back with my fall shopping for "old time sake." Ha - yah, right. Although I spent more than planned, because I went to Forever 21, I got a lot for what I paid. Of course, you get what you pay for and I must be diligent in hand washing everything I bought so it doesn't shrink.

Check out what I bought below. The two dresses may have to be returned, one may be too short one just not right, but I'm waiting for a second opinion, maybe third. I also bought one sweater that is definitely made for fall/winter and it is still in the high 90s here, but I will need it eventually, and could bring it to NYC in early November if I go (fingers crossed).I know there's a lot of denim here, but I loved both pieces. The skirt is my fave.

Cannot Wait...

I am going to two amazing shows this weekend and am sooo excited. Mostly for The Black Keys opening for Kings of Leon on Saturday and Surfer Blood and The Drums on Sunday. Check out these videos of The Black Keys and Surfer Blood. Enjoy!

Weekend Recap

 Pretty stellar weekend I had. Low-key Friday night with drinks with friends. Last minute trip to Gainesville with my oldest Bestie. Although both my teams lost that day - the Bulls and Seminoles - it was still a pretty good weekend. Had a great time chilling with her and her BF on Saturday night at Gator City - the name is disgusting but the bar is pretty freaking cool. It has three different parts - grungy, dance club, and regular "St. Pete style" bar. One photo from the night is above, us being very goofy in her BF's friend's bathroom making fun of all his hair products, more to come!How much do you love the crazy bun on the top of my head? I call it the I really need a haircut/had no time to get ready!

Yesterday I had the perfect Sunday - just what I needed. Although I usually like to spend my Sundays with friends and/or family, I took an evening to myself. Grocery shopped, actually cooked a real meal (pictured below), painted my nails, and watched the VMAs. Although I am anti-MTV for all of the obvious reasons (Um...MUSIC Television?!? pa-pa-please), I am a total sucker for award shows. So glad I got to see Florence + The Machine perform (love her!!), Eminem put on a great performance too and I must admit, Nicki Minaj is my most current guilty pleasure (La Roux being another recent one).

Had a great "family dinner" at GiGi's tonight (yummy) after a gym sess that was cut a bit too short. Going to try my very best to take it easy and exercise lots this week. My amazing boss bought both my co-worker and myself the "babycakes bakery" cookbook, so I may even bake some vegan cupcakes. Can't wait. Voted best cupcake in NYC! Getting ready for The Black Keys and the Kings of Leone show and Suerfer Blood and The Drums this weekend. Whoop whoop.

Show Announcement: MANDORiCO Clearwater Beach Sept. 23

Happy Saturday and game day to all of you! Go 'Noles and Bulls! Whoo. I will be escaping to G-ville today for some post-game fun. I will do my very best to stay out of trouble too ; ).

As most of you know - I love it when I learn about bands I have never heard of. Some of my favorite words to hear are "you have to check these guys out, I am sure you will be into them." The latest group brought to my attention: MANDORiCO. First off, I have a deep appreciation for anyone and anything that goes against society or conventional norms. And this group does just that. While the first thing you may hear when beginning to listen to MANDORiCO is their reggae vibes, you will soon discover that their depth goes much further than your basic bass line. Their sound has been described as, "the raw energy of punk, the fluid-groove of reggae, the undeniable beats and lyrical syncopation of hip hop, and the infused passion of Afro-Cuban rhythms make up the powerhouse that is MANDORiCO."  

I know I am pumped about seeing them live. MONDORiCO seems like one of those groups that you cannot fully appreciate until you have heard live. And now on a nation-wide tour, MONDORiCO is coming to party with Tampa Bay!

They will be at The Beach Bar on Mandalay in Clearwater Beach September 23.

Show starts at 8 p.m. I think I will be bringing my dancing shoes! Hollar if you will be going too.

Check out the group on their Myspace page.

Finally finished it: And The Hippos Were Boiled In Their Tanks

I first began reading And the Hippos were Boiled in their Tanks by Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs before either of them were famous. I was in the book store before a trip to Savannah in the beginning of August and could not resist, being a Jack Kerouac fan and On the Road being my favorite novel in high school. I need to attempt to read it again, I remember struggling to keep up with his stream of consciousness. Although I enjoyed it then, I have a feeling I would have a greater appreciation for it now.

I enjoyed Hippos, although it was totally random (as to be expected) and had a bit of an abrupt ending. I am absolutely fascinated with the 1940s beatnik culture, so it kept my attention. I am totally content reading the random and mostly meaningless conversations of 1940s beatniks. One of the coolest things about this book is that remained unpublished until sixty years after it was written! It should have only taken me a week to read, but I am awful with books. I either don't find the time to actually read them or read them so late at night that I fall asleep - hey, that's the reason I started reading books anyway. ; )

One very nerdy thing I do is mark the pages with quotes that I enjoy. Do I ever use them? Guess I am now! Here is one in one of William Burroughs' quotes (who writes as character William Dennison) that I found particularly interesting:

"I think the whole Phillip complex is like the Christian heaven, an illusion born of need, floating around in some nebulous misty Platonic nowhere, always just around the corner like prosperity, but never here and now."

I'm sure there are a ton of people out there that would not appreciate such an analogy, me - I kind of get it.

Now I must decide what to read next - Eat, Pray, Love (skipping the pray) or Vodka, are You There? It's me Chelsea. Chelsea Handler is a bit of a role model for me. I loved her first book My Horizontal Life. Might actually go with Eat, Pray, Love for a more serious read.

Check out this photo of Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs in New York City in 1953. Kerouac is the handsome one of course.

P.S. Totally hip

A walk in the park is exactly what I needed

Are you fortunate to have one of those friends that can put you in a good mood no matter how crappy you are feeling? I am lucky enough to have a few of them, but got to spend forty minutes of my evening with one tonight. And she brought her dogs! Although one did try to commit suicide by jumping off the seawall as I was holding his leash. No worries, I saved his life by talking him down from the ledge. (Yes, I sang "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind to him - Google it). Anyway, I was in a horrible mood for whatever reasons, but walking out my door to see the skyline pictured above, going for one of my favorite walks downtown (that I used to run) and laughing with one of my best friends cheered me up. Main point of this post is to share the pretty picture that I took and hope that it cheers you up if you are feeling down.

New Season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Sept. 16!!

I can't begin to explain to you how pumped I am. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is hands down my favorite show on TV. If you don't know about it - well you're dumb. Just kidding, but you are missing out. It's nothing short of hilarious, but not mainstream humor. Mainstream humor is dumb anyway. I know there has to be millions of people who say this - but I'm pretty sure the characters Dennis & D are loosely based off of my brother and I. It is scary how many  similarities there are. Perhaps we've turned it up (it being our obnoxiousness) a notch or two since we first started watching the show, but I when I saw the show for the first time, I was like "holy crap that's us." Anyway, check out the trailer for season six below. I'm thinking it's going to be the best season yet. I'm just wondering if they wrote actress Kaitlin Olson's pregnancy into the show. In real life she is married to co-star Rob McElhenney (Mac). Awwee.

Current Obsession: Beautiful Bicycles

Ever since overcoming my fear of getting hit by a car when riding my bike by myself, I have been all about the beach rides. I have only found time/energy to go about once every other week, but plan to step it up when it gets cooler out. I would also like to start biking to work when it gets cooler out. Like I mentioned in my last post, one of the nicest parts of my long weekend was my bike ride to the beach with just me, my book and my iPod. But, my bike is not very pretty. It's a decent Schwinn and it's baby blue, but it's a mountain bike of sorts - or what I like to call a "Deb" bike. Not to mention the person that gave it to me as a graduation gift is the arch nemesis - the only person on Earth I can honestly say I hate.

Anyway, I stumbled upon this Web site - Republic Bike - that allows you to customize your own either Dutch or Aristotle bike for $400. I could die (I watched Rachel Zoe last night) for the Dutch in all white with the light brown leather seat and grips. However, my friend Becca bought a pretty killer retro beach cruiser in yellow for $150 at a local bike shop that is just as pretty. That would probably be a much smarter purchase. Any new bike will have to be put on hold for quite a time though. Definitely not a priority. But I want one soo bad!

Weekend Recap

So this weekend wasn't exactly what I planned, and I did miss out on one thing I really wanted to do (the art show), but I still really enjoyed myself. Got to catch up and have some fun with an old friend, Lisa - pictured above. I took my Saturday morning to myself (being a tad bit moody, I must admit) with a bike ride to Upom beach with my Jack Kerouac novel (which I left on my boat and only have 20 pages left - UHG), and Modest Mouse and The White Stripes on the iPod, followed up with an afternoon boat ride which was super nice. Couldn't think of a more hip way to spend my Saturday. Actually made it out for a bit that night. And managed to loose my debit card. Double UHG. Got to go on our friend's boat on Sunday which reminded me of the Bertram days when I was young. The memory made me a little emotional, but had a blast despite running aground in a storm - just adds to the excitement right? Finished up my weekend with a free show with The Supervillains and Less Than Jake. Somehow, I had never seen LTJ live, so I was very happy I made it despite being exhausted. Good times, great people. Check out the videos of the show, and late night entertainment we enjoyed at Jannus after the show. Ha-larious.

I had a couple of bombs dropped on me today and wish I made better use of my time  (like urathaining my hope chest) but oh well. I need to make some changes, maybe this week? Going to make the best of my evening and have din din with the fam now. And spend some quality time with me pup.