11.28.2003

the friday five

1. do you like to shop? why or why not?
i go through phases. at the moment, most definitely in a "yes" phase.

2. what was the last thing you purchased?
a bed for my apartment!!!!!!!!!!

3. do you prefer shopping online or at an actual store? why?
definitely at the store. i always think something will go wrong online - that is, something won't fit, will be broken, won't be what i expect. but i've gotten much better at online shopping. bwahaha.

4. did you get an allowance as a child? how much was it?
not really. every once in awhile we'd try the allowance thing, but mostly it was that if i wanted something that wasn't extreme, as long as i wasn't asking for things left and right, i'd get it eventually.

5. what was the last thing you regret purchasing?
regret? bjork's "homogenic." while i still think "unravel" is a gorgeous song, the album's not for me.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

11.26.2003

i love where i work.

after i finished that post, i turned to find an impromptu volleyball game in progress in the newsroom. i immediately joined in, assuming another point in our misshapen hexagon of desk positions to volley around the beachball. after a few hits against the ceiling, my near-take out of a sign with the number five suspended from the ceiling near my desk and the bounce of the ball off the back of a non-participating reporter's head, we heard "this is the strangest newsroom ever." turning, we see one of the editors standing in the doorway with an amused smile on his face.
file this under things you just don't need to know ...

... but i'm excited, so i'm going to talk about it anyway. at 3:47 p.m., i officially sent in lease and rent information, therefore securing my burlington residency. next week, baby ...

it's pathetic, but i'm absolutely giddy. it's probably mostly because i know there's a light at the end of my 90-minute commuting tunnel, but i'm also just looking forward to having a place to decorate, warm and otherwise make homey. i loved my apartment in d.c. and having the space to think and reflect or kick back with my roommates. having my own space, as opposed to sleeping in a room under my parent's roof. not that i don't adore my family, but after so much time visiting, actually coexisting on a daily basis can get grating. and i know my folks are looking forward to having to endure (read: revel in) empty nest syndrome again.

SPEAKING of syndromes ... i've been meaning to post this for ages. beth told me about the greatest syndrome to ever suffer from (keep in mind, this is relative, as no one ever wants a syndrome). foreign accent syndrome.

no, i'm not kidding. it often (relatively speaking) pops up after strokes. now i'm not down with strokes as a general rule, but can i skip that part and just wake up speaking with a british accent? i think i'd be content.

hmm ... i wonder if madonna suffered a temporary bout when she started speaking with a clipped accent?

doubtful.

regardless. i'm currently reveling in pre-holiday anxiousness, looking forward to being able to relax, curl up on a couch in massachusetts and read or watch movies tomorrow (after watching mraz's rendition of the national anthem, that is). i had expected to have to work tomorrow, as i hadn't heard anything about getting the day off, but i learned that i do in fact get the day off. so i'm hopping in the car after work and making the trip down to beverly to join the fam (including boston-boy brother) for turkey, carbs and the resulting sleepy feelings. ah ... good times. i have a suspicion that my uncle will have in his possession the new lord of the rings extended dvd (if he doesn't, i'll be so disappointed in him - he'd be slacking), so i can enjoy that before i actually pick it up for myself. cannot wait for "return of the king" ...

two great journalism-related notes to end on before i wish you the happiest of turkey days tomorrow ...

- nothing better than facing a story that appears utterly, wretchedly dull and suddenly discovering an angle that puts it in an entirely different, fascinating spin.
- well, i'm not sure what's better - that or receiving unsolicited email informing you that two tickets have been reserved under your name for opening night of an upcoming theater production. hurrah!

alright, boys and girls - have a very happy, safe, stuffed thanksgiving. drive safely if you're traveling, sit safely if you're not. i always hate those tragic holiday stories about people falling off chairs ... such an unfortunate waste.

;-)

11.25.2003

*sigh*

so. i've got a place to live, i'm hopefully going to have a full-time (permanent) gig at this little adventure i've been playing at for the past few weeks and i think i'll be planted in burlington before the weather gets too bad.

it's as if weeks of worrying that it wouldn't come together have been lifted off my shoulders. but i didn't fully realize that the worrying was there in the first place.

and, to add the joy of all joys to the mix, tomorrow morning i am reunited with a resurrected red (let's give a hand to alliteration, shall we?). my baby's well again ...

but i'm exhausted. i've been wearing myself out as of late. just need to push through this week, enjoy myself and see what's around the bend ...

and savor this ... please note the sneakers. remind you of anything? a pair of anything, to be precise?

in other quick news, i think today marked the most hits in one day this here space has ever received. most of them were referrals from web searches, "jonathan brandis hanged" typed in for the search ...

yes, i know adding that might trigger more, but what the hell. it's all good. i'll even be nice: go here. there's actual content about it, not just my ramblings.
thank you, apartment gods.

picking up the lease to the apartment after work today.

HURRAH!!!!!

as of next week, i will have a lil' place in burlington to call my own - and y'all will have a lil' place in burlington to visit (HINT HINT).

revelrevelrevelrevelrevelrevel ...
to wait or not to wait?

in one regard, i'm still waiting. i thought i was supposed to hear yesterday, but i haven't ... if i have to hear "you have twelve saved voice messages" on my cell phone one more time, i might scream.

if i don't hear during work today, i'm calling as soon as i get out. i want to know!!!

on an entirely different subject ... an answer to a question i posed a little over a week ago. was the internal debate over offering something as simple as a hello worth it?

no.

oh well - 'twas worth a shot. i just won't wait, that's all.

11.24.2003

FJEL:U%)(@*()%(@#JFKLEJFJ*#U(%@U(

waiting ... still ... i've been going nuts for over six and a half hours now ...

i hope they didn't track down my mile-long rap sheet.

that would suck.

... two week progress report ...

one of my favorite times of day lately has been - and it shocks me to say this - the half hour before i walk into work. after parking the car and making the short walk to church street, i swing by brueger's (sp?) bagels to pick up a bagel and a nice, large cup of french vanilla coffee. besides the fact that i love to pull open the door and instantly be hit by an incredible wave of coffee-scented goodness, i enjoy looking about as i stand in the short line.

it's my daily opportunity to be reminded to do my best at work that day. as i stand there and look about, i see most of the patrons flipping through the paper, reading the stories and commenting to their companions on them.

when i'm reporting and writing, it's easy to focus so much on what i need to do and how i want to explain things that i can forget that there are others, people who don't know me in the least, who read the fruits of my labor. and i want them to know what i know.

i think it's good to be able to focus on the task at hand when i'm actually doing the reporting and writing, but it's important to take a look at the bigger picture as well.

which is why i love my morning routine so much.

i don't know - i guess right now i'm just feeling as if i'm doing what i'm supposed to be doing right now. working, writing, observing and living ... waiting to see if i got my apartment, thinking about decoration and the next six months of winter and spring fun ...

i don't know ... i guess this is just my rambling way of saying that things are going well. and, to quote the godfather of soul ...

i feel good.

in other news, in my half-conscious state saturday afternoon and evening (since i couldn't get to the office because my car was ... well ... dead ...), i paid homage to jgb. i found one of my many tapes of "seaQuest" and decided to see if they still worked.

yep - sure did. "fresh prince" and "blossom" ads and all. and the scary thing? i could still quote many of the lines. episodes a decade old and i could still quote them.

and ... it was brought yet again to my attention just how much a sucker i am for musicians (i know, this is the "captain obvious" section of this post). i stood outside a little while ago, enjoying the gorgeous sunshine and warmth and realizing just how fleeting such weather will soon be, when i saw a twenty-something man walking by. not unattractive, yet nothing to scream over, but my heart skipped a beat nonetheless. why? because he was a decent-looking man walking down the street carrying two guitar cases.

it's amazing how this post went from talking about my future to looking back upon my teeny-bopper past, then talking about my music-bopper present ... it amuses me.
almost makes waking up obscenely early worthwhile ...

the entire world outside my window has been cast in shades of glowing rose.

11.23.2003

"bleeeeeeeeeediiiiiiiiinnnnng!"

hahahaha.
if you don't mind ...

... think good thoughts for me at 6 p.m. continue to think those good thoughts until about 7.

thank you.

11.22.2003

i swear i'm going to bed now. but first, stolen from eliz ...

first kiss i enjoyed: oy. vinny.
first job: good ol' mickey dees.
first screen name: oh god, i don't remember ... no, wait. i do. fall, 1998. it was real original, too. vickieSMC.
First self purchased album: the first self purchased? that's tough ... i believe it was nkotb, self-titled.
First funeral: my paternal grandfather. i believe i was 10.
First pets: two family cats, blossom (technically my brother's) and ziggy (technically mine), as well as the customary goldfish and, for a period of a week, a baby chick (no, i didn't kill it - i cared for it while it hatched, gave it love for a couple of days and gave it to the farm).
First piercing: ears. 12th bithday present, i believe. traumatizing experience. Redone at 14.
First true love: it all started when i saw him in "lord of the rings" ...
First big trip: technically, road trip to texas when i was 2. our theme song was "on the road again."
First musician you remember hearing in your house: the beatles. white album.
Last big car ride: fucking car broke down twice. oh wait, besides the commute? could it be that northampton was my last "big" trip? i think so ... northampton for mraz.
Last kiss: ...
Last good cry: tonight. both times the car died.
Last movie seen: sylvia.
Last beverage drunk: coffee.
Last food consumed: a bowl of strawberry special k.
Last phone call: aaa.
Last TV show watched: uh ... i think that would be the bachelor.
Last shoes worn: black loafers.
Last CD played: i think they scanned ani second.
Last item bought: coffee and a blowpop.
Last disappointment: many.
Last soda drunk: pepsi.
Last ice cream eaten: vanilla. a little over a week ago.
Last shirt worn: i'm sporting it now. red long sleeved t. i know, i'm so cutting edge and badass.

this is terrifying.

hehehe - sweet dreams, my dears.
the fates strike again ...

oh.
my.
god.
today.
sucked.

i'm tired. i'm frustrated. i need to search for an apartment and i think i need to search for a new(er) car.

why? because the commute is wearing on me, not to mention trusty red, who decided to fight back this evening on my way home. how, you may ask? by dying. twice. let's give rounds of applause to the police and the random guy who jumpstarted my batteries as i fought back tears of exhaustion and frustration ...

during my millions of hours with nothing to do, i spontaneously decided to head to the roxy to watch "sylvia." i was disappointed. she wasn't always strictly crazy, suicidal or jealous. there was no real portrait of her present ... it was always more of what people saw of her or interpreted her as. for christ's sake, it's not as if there's a lack of her take on herself ...

but did see the trailer for "shattered glass," and i cannot WAIT to see it. must go soon. must find out where it's playing, actually ...

did some reading on her, too. she and i both use what she referred to as the "diary i."

oh and read mayer's feature in rolling stone if you get an opportunity - hilarious. i've yet to determine if this is a good or bad thing, in this case.

i'll write more about this ridiculous day after i get my sleep on, but til then, a dubious distinction and the friday five ...

1. list five things you'd like to accomplish by the end of the year.
all replies are listed in no particular order ...
1. apartment.
2. car.
3. permanent full-time job at paper.
4. apartment.
5. apartment.
honorary mention - see averi in concert again.

2. list five people you've lost contact with that you'd like to hear from again.
1. daniel.
2. jesse.
3. spencer.
4. dan s.
5. cortni.
honorable mention - i would say rhiannon, but she's off the list as i heard back from her yesterday! HURRAH!!!!!!!!

3. list five things you'd like to learn how to do.
1. play guitar.
2. write dialogue.
3. write poetry.
4. write plays.
5. rule the world.

4. list five things you'd do if you won the lottery (no limit).
1. new car.
2. london, baby, london!
3. establish stipend for college newspaper editor.
4. big get together for friends at some fun location.
5. see the pacific and my much-dreamed of california.

5. list five things you do that help you relax.
1. alcohol.
2. hard drugs.
3. beat people.
4. break hotel lamps.
5. dangle babies off balconies.

couldn't resist.
1. write.
2. listen to music.
3. talk to friends.
4. drive.
5. read.

oh yeah. new music. ani "so much shouting, so much laughter" (double disc set) and the 2003 bonoroo festival compilation.

in the jukebox of her memory
the list of names flips by and stops
and she closes her eyes
and smiles as the record drops
then she drinks herself up and out of her kitchen chair
and she dances out of time
as slow as she can sway
as long as she can say
this dance is mine ...

11.21.2003

huh?

there are rumors circulating that jonathan brandis is dead? actually, someone found this here little space for my rambling by doing a search on his death ...

***a few minutes later***

holy shit.

according to eonline ...

PASSING: Jonathan Brandis, star of the NBC series seaQuest DSV, found dead in his Los Angeles apartment on November 12 of an apparent suicide. He was 27.

the word is that he hanged himself.

wow. jonathan was my first real actor crush ... i was infatuated. i had (well, ok, still have) the seaQuest books. i had scrapbooks. i had tape upon tape of episodes. i bought "sidekicks," for christ's sake.

and i sent him the first real fan letter i ever wrote. and received my first autograph from him (whether he signed it or not will forever be up to debate, but i know it wasn't autopenned, as i made sure i could see the indent of a ballpoint pen. i told you, i was infatuated.).

i can't believe he died ...

11.20.2003

as promised ...

linking love to the new song. i can't find mp3 action for either the hall & oates cover or the mraz/tristan "shy that way" duet, but at least i can provide this ... i think it's gorgeous.

hmm. in other news. need to bust out one of the ol' suits for tomorrow morning, as i'm heading into work to finish up some things plus have my formal interview ... good times to be had, i'm sure ...

riiiiight. yes, this is an extremely nervous victoria.

and in other news, there are always people in your life that are supposed to stay in your past once you're well ... in a new present. you're not supposed to see them at any point, let alone in a completely different place than the two of you knew each other. i found the quasi-run-in (really more like a mutual sighting than anything else) hilarious yet unnerving at the same time. i don't want to be reminded of that foolish period of time - ever. is that so wrong of me?

i guess i'll just laugh about it instead.

and twice in the past two days, i have seen a colin farrell CLONE walking around church street. definitely delightful eye candy ... and i cannot believe how much resemblance he bears to c.f. is there a movie shooting in the area that i just don't know about?

and in a whole different kind of other news ... what can i say? i'm giving myself this one little day to delusionally think i'm somehow connected to it. rational thought will resume tomorrow. tee hee.

and finally (well, i lie. next to finally) - READ THE DA VINCI CODE. i finished it last night and absolutely adored it. if i ever wrote fan letters, dan brown would get one. but i don't, so he won't.

ok, really finally ... oh wait. i forgot what my real finally was. hmm ... rational thought ... nope, i flatout lost my train of thought. whoops.

eh, if it's important enough, it'll wait til tomorrow.
reminiscing.

the theme tonight is looking back on what's past and, for the most part, smiling.

everything old is new again.

the other day, i was on a search for simplesimon. i don't know what made me think of him, but i suddenly recalled the glee i would feel when realizing a new mailing had arrived in my inbox. something about seeing some brilliant writing from someone i know next to nothing about.

anyway. so i decided to play sleuth and find the simplesimon site again. here's what i find ...

hello, i dont do anything with this site anymore. it is a relic of times passed and i dont know what you're doing here.

pity. so instead, i found a bunch of the old mailings, still stored in my outlook inbox and have reminisced that way, discovering gems i had completely forgotten about.

you might not be writing for all of us as simplesimon anymore, but thank you ben.

so then i discover that mraz (i know, as if there could be a non-mraz-related post here as of late, eh?) has taken an old poem and transformed it into a new song. i find mp3 and download. i revel in new music. beautiful.

i'm enjoying the new collection of old tori songs.

and i am impressed by chad's latest posting on the averi site. i don't know why precisely, but it made me remember feeling giddy with excitement and buzzing from my nalgene of schmirnoff-sprite, playing flipcup with no worries the night of the benefit concert. reveling in the freedom that a finished project brings, enjoying the company of new faces and a fake british accent in conversation with my own.

it wasn't a cheerful post on the site, but the memory it conjured made me smile.

random post, i know. but my brain is fried. three stories today. it's justified. i don't have the energy for brilliance.

deal.

11.19.2003

snapped.

hi, my name is victoria and i used to be able to write. some even used to consider me talented - a little, at least.

i appear to have lost any ability i ever had.

that is all.

11.18.2003

oh good lord.

mraz and others to read nominations for 46th annual grammy awards.

which basically means he's at least nominated for something. which means i hope he plays around my area before early february ... aurgh. i'm not crazy about this.

he's done a good job of avoiding the mayer curse thus far, but i don't know ... besides, i didn't think "your body is a wonderland" was grammy-calibar material. and much i like mraz's music, i sure as hell don't think "the remedy" is. "you & i both" is great, but i don't even see that as the BEST. great for me, right at the top of my list, but for the entire music industry?

and i'm having a selfish moment anyway because i want to at least see one show where it's not huge, packed and full of pre-teen girls.

grrr.
new old music and judgment day

i now have the hot pink-accented, old hollywood-glammed tori "tales of a librarian" collection sitting in my desk. however, i have no means of playing it at the moment. which naturally causes infinite frustration, as i want to be able to hear if the songs are re-mastered, rerecorded or originals (yes, i know there are two new songs - i'm not that clueless). new tori days are good days - i recall the day when i picked up my limited edition of "scarlet's walk" at union station. i sat on a bench and opened the box, taking in the sight of tori "snapshots," stickers, my charm and the other bits of tori goodness inside. and then popping the disc into my discman for the metro ride home, following the songs on the map tori included. falling in love with "gold dust" and piecing together my connection with it - my location to charm to sticker to song.

i was looking up old archives to see if i'd posted about the experience when i came across these little bits, which i find too amusing for words, considering what i know now thirteen months later:

montag, oktober 28, 2002
i had the jason mraz sampler waiting for me when i got home...big, huge thank you goes out to tikki for sending it my way. it's fantastic--i think listening to it on the metro on my way in this morning helped contribute to my great start...it has "the remedy" (see above), "you & i both" and a live track of "i'm ok" that rocks the casbah. good times...


(editor's note: yes, i really did include the lyrics to "the remedy." and, yes, "i'm ok" is really "common pleasure." i was young. and foolish.)


and later that day:
the more i read about mraz, the more intriguing i find him. i think i will have to buy "waiting for my rocket to come" very soon--it's currently at No. 2 on my list of music i intend to buy (No. 1 being, obviously, tori's "scarlet's walk" TOMORROW!!!!). mraz seems to have the musical talent of a howie or john, but with a kickass attitude and still has a bit of the underground feel we all know i love (what can i say? i admit that i do get a slightly elitist kick out of knowing about a talented musician before the general public).

(editor's note: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)

needless to say, the fact that he's playing the higher ground show with howie on the 18th makes me want to scream with envy...st. michael's people should go to the show and call me from the venue--with mraz on the other line telling me that he wishes i was there...well, perhaps that would be a bit much, but it would make an amazing belated birthday present (hint hint, wink wink--and if you REALLY love me, you'd have mraz AND howie telling me they wish i was there). while he'll be here in d.c. right before then (i think he's actually here the day before), he's opening for jewel, and i don't feel like spending the money for a big show when he'll be playing an opening set. and besides, there's a "been there done that" feel to seeing jewel live (saw her at woodstock and, while she was fine, the set didn't exactly pull me in either).

and the part i was actually looking for in the first place from the following day:

tori's new album is a delight. i picked up the limited edition at sam goody's in union station on my way home from work ($15.99 for the limited edition? revelrevel) and listened to it on the metro ride and walk home. the rain that ws falling around me helped set the mood for the tori-enjoyment, and i loved it. each track has something special that i enjoy--the fact that i'm seeing her in less than two weeks is slowly dawning on me, and i'm getting incredibly excited! from the sound of beth's squeals over the phone last night, i get the impression that she's somewhat excited about the concert too... ;)

anyhoo. now that we have taken one loooong trip down memory lane ... i should also mention that i felt great satisfaction hearing about john allen muhamad's conviction yesterday. i'll never forget the night before (well, i suppose it was actually the actual night, if you want to get technical) the snipers were caught ... i was lying in bed, watching the special news reports about it, listening to the reporters read the suspects' descriptions and freaking (for the only time during my time in dc) about the fact that my window was on ground level. seeing muhammed's image on the television, i couldn't even get out of bed to turn off the tv (i'd dropped my remote or something so i needed to turn it off by crossing the room to the tv) because i was convinced something would happen. i turned over, listening to the sound of the news and ignoring the blue glow of the screen until i fell asleep.

i want this guy put away. not killed. put away for life with no chance for parole. ever.

11.17.2003

...

as i drove back south tonight, the sky behind me and to my right was that gorgeous burgandy again ... i didn't hear anything about more northern lights, plus the fact that i was on 22a made it difficult to cast glances behind. instead, i navigated the turns and caught occasional glimpses through my rear view and on straightaways ... probably not my now beloved aurora borealis again, but the sky is supposed to be lit up a bit tonight with the leonids - unforunately too late at night and not bright enough to justify staying up.

but as i drove with the rosy glow behind, i fumbled through the cd cases on my passenger seat and pulled out a burned cd from months upon months ago, popped it in, put it on a certain track and sang along ...

well here i am
i'm sitting all by myself again
i stare up at the sky
which at this moment is my only friend
say well, suddenly as i gazed upon the night
well i notice the stars
they began to shake and burst
oh it looks like they want to fight, no
they were dancing
they were romancing
oh, they were falling in love
they falling in love all over
falling in love all over
falling in love, falling in love, falling in love
i say falling in love, falling in love all over
falling in love, is my best friend
falling in love all over,
all over again
wants & needs

i have photographic needs.

i have decided that i want a polaroid one camera. polaroids seem fun and i want to play with them.

but i also want a digital camera. nothing too fancy, just something that'll work for me and all. i'm too lazy to do the whole film development thing. ;-)

which should i get first? offer guidance. leave comments.
give and take

keep it short. stretch it out a bit. keep it simple. give it more context. just sum up what was said. add some other voices.

it's a constant dance i'm engaged in - give a little, take some back, keep on my toes, ready to roll with the next set of notes waiting for me in the copy.

i was a little rusty for a bit, but i'm starting to ease back in and recall some of my dance steps. i don't quite look as if i have two left feet anymore ... but how i long to just feel the rhythm again and move with grace, rather than count out the time in my head.

keeping time, metro-style, but at least i'm moving along with some flair when i'm writing my column ...

ah ... column ...

ok, dance analogy has been beaten to within an inch of it's life, so i'll end that one. it's my way of saying that nothing is easy, especially not my job, but i'm loving the challenges, no matter how frustrating they may be.

new tori album. well, new tori album of mostly old tori music. but i'm still incredibly psyched.

dah dah dah ...

11.16.2003

official comment on the ama's:

courtesy of my mother, who happened to watch the awards with me this evening.

"that's jason? he looks small ... and on the slender side. no wonder he appeals to you ... wow, he looked drunk, that's what he gets for being last ... and may i just say, as a mother, the least he could have done for his own mother is tuck in his shirt and brush his hair!"

bwahahaha.

for me, however, a song lyric popped into my head ...

and what will happen to a face in the crowd when it finally gets too crowded?

11.15.2003

restoration of faith

... in myself, that is. last night found yours truly ready to beat my head against a wall, door - any flat object, really. i wasn't about to discriminate. all i knew was that the writing - my column, to be precise - wasn't happening. and i wasn't feeling it at all.

so what's a girl to do? in my case, write lede after lede, lame graf after lame graf. get angry, delete it all and start fresh. a vicious cycle that continued until 12:30 or so, at which point i determined that my little baby of a column was determined to remain in me for the night. rather than continue fighting a losing battle, i cursed the little fucker and went to bed, waking up around 5:30 to see what i could come up with.

still nothing. but i needed something to send to tim, so i came up with some gibberish and emailed it in, accompanied by a fearful apology for not having the whole thing done. after properly waking up, i hopped in the car and started heading up burlington and my spot in the newsroom, from where i type these words.

just before charlotte, an idea sparked, and i fought to keep the idea fresh in my mind as i got to work as quickly as possible (well, ok. i stopped for coffee. but it was necessary.) and sat down at my desk, assembling my laptop so i could listen to some music on my headphones (saturdays are my column days - i'm not supposed to think about anything else, so i consider the headphone music enjoyment a wise course of action - that is, as long as i don't sing along. that might not be such a grand idea.). a quick stretch of the arms, a musical selection made (averi) and i spent the next fifty minutes or so pounding out a review that, looking at it now, i am actually incredibly pleased with. i don't know what was holding it back, but it's out there now and looks good, believe it or not. almost as if i hadn't spent countless hours cursing it and whatnot.

so now i sit here, enjoying "grace" as i compile my notes for the interview i'm conducting this afternoon. i figure i'll do the interview, hop in the car and head back to southern vermont, where i'll finish the story tonight. or, depending, tomorrow afternoon. good times ...

i'm just relieved that i didn't totally freeze up with the column, as i really want to do my best work right now - prove my worth, if you will. i'm sure that the slight anxiety about showing everyone what i can do contributed to the writer's block ... just need to sit back, take a deep breath and do what i know i can do.

i know. easier said than done sometimes.

in other quick news - i went from chapter 6 to 70 in "the da vinci code" yesterday - a big reason why i didn't start writing my column until last night ... BRILLIANT. i'm totally hooked.

i want to finish it but at the same point don't want the reading experience to end.

i hate that about great books. no i don't. that's what i LOVE about great books.

but still.

11.14.2003

whoa ... creepy.

i want my live averi cds to arrive.

ok, apparently today is a day of "ask and ye shall receive."

let's try this again.

i want mraz to show up at my doorstep.

i'll keep you posted on whether or not the pattern continues.

you've been there too, i know - you write something, you feel good about it, you position your cursor over the "send" button. one click and it's done. but you hesitate - you don't know if it's a good idea anymore and you wonder what good it'll do at all.

so you sit there for a good minute or two, contemplating whether or not to apply that tiny bit of pressure before you finally decide to. or your finger gets antsy and jumps the gun - whatever. and there's nothing you can do to take back the words written, no matter how casually superficial they may be.

but your mind still hesitates, wondering if you'll regret it. and you have a sinking suspicion that you will.

melodrama over, now superficiality. i'm determined to keep the scissors away from my hair. those well-versed in vickie history know this is more difficult than one might otherwise believe.

but that doesn't mean i can't play ... hehehehehe.
friday five

1. using one adjective, describe your current living space.
transitional.

2. using two adjectives, describe your current employer.
expectant, driven.

3. using three adjectives, describe your favorite hobby/pasttime.
melodic, energizing, interactive.

4. using four adjectives, describe your typical day.
early, varied, wide-reaching, late.

5. using five adjectives, describe your ideal life.
musical, creative, literary, lovely, comfortable.

i have undertaken the seemingly insurmountable task of cleaning out my car, which has been an absolute disaster as of late because i think i've been living in it, with all the driving i've been doing for the past couple of months. i'm almost there, but good god.

meant to mention the other night that the anticipated apartment gallery gained a new piece - ani concert poster lovin. the apartment will need a lot of walls. ;-) ani, mraz (2), howie (3), miller print, tim reynolds, my paris cafe at night print, vintage-y french poster and the other expected framed photos and collages. oh, and guster (2). i heart my "art" collection.

bah. need to get my winter tires on my car. the distribution of fundage is focused on the apartment right now, but i'm keeping my eyes open for a new(er) car, as i think red will make it through this winter and then be traded in ...

anyway. must go prepare for the day and then lug tires out to my car. i think shopping is also on today's agenda - i'm finally going to track down the "mystery white boy" dvd.

and read.

and write review.

and call apartments.

i want my live averi cds to arrive.

good times.
striking similarities

i love coming across a reference or other form of fleeting phrase in the writing of someone i admire and realizing that i thought the same thing. or noticed something just like that. or appreciated it too.

therefore, i was psyched to see a couple of fun tidbits in the recent musings of my favorite blogger-turned-ljer, eliz. i've been following her writing for awhile now - since my junior year in college, perhaps? i remember being at a show back in the day at paradise ... i believe it might have been the 6.18.01 day/mayer show, actually ... and i turned to look at michelle and eliz was there, taking photographs, i believe. surreal moment because i'd been reading her stuff, so i felt like i should say hello, but knew that wait - i didn't know her at all. funny how the internet can provide such random sensations ...

adding my own bit to some of her interactive fun, i present this ...

strike out those that do not apply to you.

Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Abiding. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

anyway. i tried posting about this a few days ago, but the post ran away (bastard). this site provides far too much amusement.

why, you ask?

bwahaha - let me show you.

"got a victoria? you're in luck."
"we'll leave the beth on for you."
"things go better with paul."
"the best part of waking up is chloe in your cup."
"double the pleasure, double the becca."
"come one, come all to mraz."
"unzip a howie."
"shake the bottle, wake the averi."

nevertheless. my book beckons, the thoughts in my mind about "metamorphoses" are waiting to piece themselves together in my soon-to-be-unconscious state. i will now curl up in bed, safely away from the winds that pushed my car towards home this evening, after nearly blowing me over as i left the theater tonight and hurried to my car. i should note - twas another good evening, although much lower-key than last night. met up with phil, went to the pool play, headed home and was able to hear the ever-missed voice of one paul-like person (sorry about the last time the phone cut out - lost signal right before my house and mom was chatting about things - looked at the clock before preparing to call back and realized you were probably asleep.).

two final notes - 1) there's nothing better than having a great night with a group of people and hearing another member of the group talk about what a great time he had. the smiles last night were contagious.
2) i received one of the nicest compliments i've received in ages while on the phone this evening. it's true - i didn't necessarily agree with the sentiments, but to even think of including any of my stuff in that category is an honor. thank you!!!

alright, dan brown, let me at your book some more ... this time the words shouldn't twirl off the page ...

old school "the cosby show" on behind me. with the eldest sister. i suddenly flash back to dancing on the edith stage, under the stars and the branches of the tree, speckled with spotlights. "love shack." i'm laughing, singing along with justin and look to my side, and the eldest cosby daughter is singing along too.

11.13.2003

sangria-soaked nights infested by monkeys

it was not a pleasant sensation, waking up to the talk radio discuss the local television station's recent "undercover report." head pounding, mind cloudy, i got out of my paid-per-night bed, showered and then climbed back into bed, hair and body wrapped in towels, for another twenty minutes of half-conscious release.

my own damn fault, but as i sit here now, brain still keeping time with faint throbs of pain, i smile because it was worth it.

went to "prometheus" last night as planned. got there early, as i wanted to be sure i could get a seat on opening night and all, wound up running into kirk and - hurrah! - mary! much catching up ensues. house opens, we walk in and find our seats, gaping at the sublime beauty of devlin's set and the lovely lighting. arcadia mini-reuinion #1 takes place when gwideyon comes over to say hello and reminisce with us about what a kickass experience our kirk play was. good times.

mary joked that she was sitting with a celebrity when the college pr woman chats with me from her seat a couple rows behind (i got to know her quite well from actf experiences). i laughed. it was definitely cool to be able to see people, but i definitely preferred chatting with friends about what had been going on in my absence than talking about my writing.

anyway. show begins and the next 90 minutes or so are filled with absolute beauty. what a kickass show for k. to go out on - it's totally him. costumes - gorgeous. sound - great (special props to mic sound - eerie and wonderful). lights & mulimedia - rock on. acting - very solid and impressive. ashleigh rocked. i didn't even recognize matt. joe's grace was mesmerizing. i wanted to be one of the daughters of ocean.

anyway, good time had by all. post-show, all are reveling in feel-good vibes, i get to freak out saying hi to a bunch of friends from theater. joe, jonathan, matt, james, ashleigh, etc. etc. very awesome. mini-arcadia reuinion #2 includes photo of k., mary, collin and myself. yahoo ...

anyway, the night is young, the happiness is infectious and people want to celebrate. so k., collin, phil, mary and i head down to the monkey in winooski. never been there - definitely plan on going back soon. very, very chill vibe. we slide into a round booth that made me feel very swank. a pitcher of sangria is ordered. and another (food for thought: was the delightful 2002 p-day fruity poison a ghetto-ized version of sangria or is sangria just a classy version of 2002 p-day fruity poison? ponder ...). then we switch to beer or, in my case, a couple v&cs.

we all talk, laugh, joke, reminisce, curse, whatever the case may be. a grand time is had by all. one of the best nights o' debauchery i've had in eons. i even got a green plastic monkey that hangs from my pint glass out of the deal. score!

i form tentative plans to meet up with phil for tonight's show and am told that my days - well, nights, rather - of hotel living must cease to be. score. we toast prometheus. we toast art carney. we drink to phil's graduation.

i return to my hotel room shortly after 2 a.m. i contentedly crawl into bed, read a page of my book and promptly fall asleep.

hells yeah.

11.12.2003

a spare couple of minutes

well, not exactly. since this morning marked my first official commute from down south to burlington, i decided to give myself some extra time. breathing room, if you will. however, i gave myself so much breathing room that i stolled into the newsroom, coffee in hand (bless you, java gods), a full hour before i was scheduled to arrive.

whoops. c'est la vie - gives me time to enjoy my coffee, pour through today's issue of the paper and organize my thoughts and assignments before systematically tackling them (i'm being optimistic here. "systematically tackling them" is vickie jargon for "making calls, waiting for people to call back and then sorting through my notes for each story so i pull up the right ones for the right calls." but i thought the jargon sounded better.)

anyhoo. i drove home last night and enjoyed a little down time at the house, seeing my parents and playing around online to write email and whatnot. i also had the opportunity to return to mraz-mania to slowly read his journal entries, as the reading experience at work consisted more of skimming and shaking my head in disbelief at his skill.

having read the entries again, i continue to be impressed, but also thank his management for scheduling a nice break from touring. the guy sounds exhausted and overwhelmed, capable a job of handling it all he is doing. the entry about the dvd shoot ... damn. i guess the nerves and pressure hit everyone. it was odd - i won't say that i felt badly that people want to see him perform, that people want to meet him. because really, whether he responds enthusiastically each day to that or not, that's what he wanted and what he's been working to do. but it does feel as if this has come suddenly - and i think he's still wondering when the hell this all happened. he came close to it before and he backed away for a bit ... now here it is again. inevitable, considering how talented he is.

i suppose i just felt compassion for him as i was reading. my schedule might be nuts, i might be running or driving up and down the state and figuring out what i'm doing, but at least i had those few hours last night to do whatever - to talk and laugh with family, write email, curl up with "the da vinci code" (which i'm enjoying at the moment, for the record). and i didn't have to worry about being seen or answering question after question ... i had some peace.

i think the month or however long he's taking off will be good for him - as i hope he is able to find some peace as well.

on a less dramatic note - the bit about howie in montana rocked. i'm still bitter about being in dc when mraz opened for howie at higher ground back in ... what was it, december of last year? that would be a dream show - only i'd switch the billing. howie open for mraz. sorry, hd.

anyway. time to return to my copy of the paper and laugh as i read sally's story (love it), prepare to call the police and go from there. tonight takes me to st. mike's to see "prometheus bound," tomorrow finds me at groovy uv for "metamorphoses" - otherwise known as "the pool play."

two plays in two nights?

i can deal with this, thank you!

11.11.2003

yet another coinky-dink

i've been taking a few minutes to check my email and see if i had any column-related goodness (or more hatemail, whichever the case may be), and along the way i happened to stop by the world of mraz (big shock, i know). three bits of journal goodness to enjoy - but, as always, it meant three opportunities for me to turn shades of envious green, as even his simple journal writing demonstrates capabilities i aspire to in my normal (non-journaled, non-blogged) writing.

but nevertheless, learn from a gifted one, right? so now i sit here, waiting for some calls, dying to be able to devote some time to try applying the stream-of-consciousness style to an entry here. but i have not the time - or, i should say, i should not afford the time at the moment. other projects on which i should - and want to - focus my time and energy.

but that's not the point of why i decided to make a quick (quick in theory, rambling in execution) post ... i found it amusing to read about his exploits pouring through his latest literary conquest. "the da vinci code," by dan brown. the very book i bought about a week and a half ago and currently sits in my car, anxiously waiting the moment at which i can pick it up, run my hand over the raised surface of the book jacket and open it to lose myself in the world presented.

i've been looking to it from time to time since i bought it, wanting to have at least a few minutes to glance at page one, but the only opportunity i had was last night as i relaxed in the hotel room, watching letterman. at that point, however, i was curled up in my rented bed, unwilling to brave the elements that would be faced with the short dash to my car.

now, reading about how someone with an even crazier schedule than my own devoted god knows how many hours to reading it, i know the time has come. i think there will be at least a half hour devoted to mr. brown's little book before i drift off to sleep in my normal, hopefully-soon-to-be-considered-abnormal bed tonight.

thanks for giving me a kick in the arse to get me reading, mr. mraz. you and your agonizing brilliant way with words.

i wonder how good he is at dialogue ... hmm ... care to teach me?
lois lane livin

last year around this time (actually, exactly one year ago tomorrow), i was sitting in my seat at george mason university's arena, listening to tori sing "gold dust" with tears trickling down my face.

my lyric was "i was here."

a year later, it is "i AM here."

i type this in the midst of my first full day on the job. i had a half day yesterday, as i guided young impressionable minds yesterday morning (HA!).

i love it.

storytime ...

and ani last night to boot. last row of the balcony at the flynn, amazing view, KILLER show. she played "second intermission." she played "serpentine."

her two encore songs were "both ands" and "shameless."

it doesn't get much better than that, now does it?

such a fun night, such a good day and such a good day to follow up such a good day. hurrah ...

11.10.2003

was i on crack at the time?

i just stumbled across this as i was doing a search for some stuff in my archives ... i'm embarrassed and amused to provide the link, but nevertheless. this is from ... junior year ... april of junior year.

what can i say? i was finishing up my first semester of defender, plus the play plus other things - i'd gotten like no sleep for eons and i was loopy.

ack - heading up to burlington shortly and "nervous" can hardly to justice to how i'm feeling at the moment ...

11.09.2003

friday five and other goodness

1. what food do you like that most people hate?
hmm ... i love salsa to a ridulous degree. now while this may not be considered something most people hate, the pairing of salsa with some of my other foods may prove somewhat surprising. for example - salsa and bread. salsa and celery. salsa and carrots. salsa and salad. and the hotter, the better. give me salsa where my face flushes at the first taste. mmm ...

2. what food do you hate that most people love?
i wish i could get into the whole sushi craze, because it's supposedly so good for you ... but as someone who's just barely getting into eating cooked fish, the idea of raw fish is just too horrible for words. pity.

3. What famous person, whom many people may find attractive, is most unappealing to you?
i'm not into th e whole gangsta look, so that rules out a lot of the bad boy types people find so appealing. on the other end of the spectrum, there are a lot of incredibly pretty boys who get on my nerves (nick lachey is attractive, i suppose, but definitely not my type). give me the quirky, almost a bit of scruffiness or wildness (whether it's howie hair, jason dorkiness, orlando british-ness, etc.). someone who's attractive but doesn't take his look too seriously.

4. what famous person, whom many people may find unappealing, do you find attractive?
this one's tough - i would have said chris martin, but now everyone's all up on him ... i'm not sure. need to ponder this one. my problem now is that society is embracing the slight, sensitive artsy angsty guys i generally find myself attracted to. so they're not considered unattractive by society anymore.

5. what popular trend baffles you?
WHY IS IT SUCH A STRUGGLE TO FIND SIMPLE, CLASSIC (albeit bootcut and low-waisted), NON-DIRTY LOOK, FREE OF PINK THREADING, BEADING OR PRINT JEANS AND NICE, TAILORED FITTED BUTTON-DOWN SHIRTS????

my packrat ways have reached the point of absurdity. while going through boxes of belongings tonight, looking for some critic information i plan on passing out tomorrow in class (HA!), i stumbled across years' worth of acquisitions, including the following:

- academic course catelogue from last semester of college
- orientation information from '98
- advertisements for defender
- old mail for defender
- prom pictures
- sweet sixteen birthday card from then-boyfriend
- picture of matt damon from my freshman year closet collage
- high school journals
- more defenders than i care to admit
- clippings from newspapers about the uvm hockey scandal
- a copy of my birthday email from clint (FROM THREE YEARS AGO - god i'm old), as well as his contact information for when he moved to d.c. two and a half years ago ...
- binder upon binder of classwork from throughout college
- my midsummer binder - containing three copies of the script - all annotated for the smc production, a list of cast member conflicts and at least thirty copies of the contact sheet.

as well as notes, photos, clippings, etc. from random moments in vickie history. someone's going to have fun sorting through everything when i move ... yet i know i can't get rid of any of it ... for some reason, i always feel like i'll need it someday. for scrapbooks or whatnot. or i'll just have to become famous quickly so someone else goes through it all for some huge archive somewhere.
nervous anticipation

tomorrow marks a big day. it begins with my stint as a guest lecturer at smc ... i have no idea of what i'm going to say. i was never big on being responsible for leading discussion in class as a student (with the exception being kirk classes, as i just found myself talking and talking), let alone lead students in discussion as a non-student ... but it'll be fun. i think. i hope. i've got to dig out some of my old actf information ... i think i'll be utilizing some of the information i received from dan (considering i have at least three copies of the stuff, since he used them at both national festivals and at the o'neill) and then kind of just talking about how i started writing reviews and whatnot. and then let them (hopefully) ask questions.

and then tomorrow afternoon marks my first official day at the paper. i want to make a good first impression, i want the next two months to go well so we can see what happens from there. i just need to do well, work hard and enjoy it. that's really all there is to it - i can definitely do that. i just want to do it well.

but then tomorrow night brings ani to town ... so psyched. i last saw ani during the winter of my freshman year of college ... i saw her at memorial with lexi and her sister and had a great time. at that point, i knew next to nothing about her - it was one of those deals where lexi said, "hey, she's great, i think you'd like her, wanna come?" now that i actually know her music (and, as a result, love her music), i'm really looking forward to it. but i'll definitely be thinking of lex, which will be hard, but good at the same time. and, depending on how exhausted i am, i have the thumbs up to review the concert - if i'd like to. if i'm too tired, i don't have to. but i think i will - i'm playing around with the idea of getting a hotel room tomorrow night, as it'll be a late night at the show and i can just get a good nght's sleep before work tuesday morning.

it's a Big Day. and i'm looking forward to it. but looking forward to it does nothing to tame the butterflies that are racing around my stomach ...

11.08.2003

those dorks always find ways to amuse me

i love toca. i was disappointed to see that he wasn't sporting the percussion (as that's a key element of jason mraz music goodness), but LOVED the fact that he stood there, holding the little hand maracca thing in one hand, the gnome in the other. that ruled. he brings a smile to my face.

speaking of smiling - actually, all out laughter - what the hell was the deal with the wink in the later half of the song? that was absolutely hilarious - so cheesy and ridiculous.

know what? i have all morning to write this review. screw it - i'm curling up and watching part of a movie until i fall asleep.

:-)
the definition of a good day

... heading to burlington, conducting an extremely interesting interview. sitting in muddy's shortly thereafter, writing part of story based on interview before deciding to put that on hold and write a much-neglected email to chloe (how neglected? three pages in word worth of catching up ... i suck). shopping for both the body (clothes) and the soul (music). finding as close the closest subsititue for panera's mesa soup yet (courtesy of liquid energy cafe). heading to "jesus christ superstar," receiving my comp ticket for the show (eighth row, no less), enjoying musical revelry. seeing a friend from college perform, see another friend from college following the show. head home, enjoying new musical purchases (ryan adams 2-for deal : i like "rock n roll," i LOVE "love is hell part 1"), letting jcs thoughts sift through my brain, settling into some coherent thoughts i will be putting on paper shortly - that is, after i see jason mraz on leno.

this is a good day.

11.06.2003

file this under "hatemail" with the "who IS vicky?" open letter

received my first "hi, just wanted to tell you you SUCK" response to my writing this evening - and what a doozy it was.

i think this marks the first time the word "doozy" has ever appeared in any post - let's share this moment.

*pause*

ok. now onward ...

11.05.2003

... the answer to one of life's burning questions ...

the question came up this evening and i was shocked to be without the proper answer.

what were the names of strawberry shortcake's band of sweet friends?

i had to do research to find out ... i hang my 1980s-born head in shame as i shamelessly cut and paste the answer.

but, nevertheless, here they are (the crew and their pets):

blueberry muffin & cheesecake
huckleberry pie & pupcake
raspberry tart & rhubarb
lemon meringue & frappe
orange blossom & marmalade
apple dumpling & tea time
lime chiffon & parfait
apricot & hopsalot
angel cake & souffle
cherry cuddler & gooseberry
butter cookie & jelly
lem-n-ada & sugar woofer
crepe suzette & eclair
mint tulip & marsh
cafe ole' & burrito
almond tea & marza
plum puddin & elderberry
peach blush & melonie bell
banana twirl
baby needs a name
berry princess

and the baddies ...

purple pieman & captain cackle
sour grapes & dreggs

i was always a fan of lemon meringue, myself - i think mostly because i was narcissistic even then (before i knew what being narcissistic was) and i thought she was closest to me. i even had my lemon meringue dress - a pale yellow easter number that made me feel like her whenever i wore it.

ah - bless the '80s ... i think i want to be rainbow brite for halloween next year.


11.04.2003

... bloodied noses and cracked crowns ...

review = done. and i hope hope hope it runs within the next day or two - as i'm really quite proud of it. it felt great to write and i'm so pleased with the result.

11.03.2003

curses!!!

VomitDestroy: My name is vickie. I'm 23. OOO look at me...La-dee da dee dee

Auto response from magdalena281: what a lovely way to celebrate the birthday ... in burlington taking care of job paperwork (!!!!!!!), followed by shenandoah at uvm, followed by filing my review of said performance. leave love - find me at the show
!

hehehehe.

six and a half hours from my next shift in hell - i mean, work - and a review to write. but i just want to write responses to email love - i must put it off til tomorrow. but thought i'd jot a note here with the hopes that y'all would see it before then - i miss you guys!

best birthday present - parking permit and paperwork for my new job, which starts monday at 1. would have been earlier, but i'll be guest lecturing in the morning hours. bwahahaha ...

next monday will be great. the intro class, first day of work, night of ani. can all mondays have such an appealing itinerary?

i write review now. sleep soon. work way too soon. and enjoy the chance to catch up with the dc crew in the afternoon!
and this picture provides my laughter for the day.
hahahaha

becca, that e-card was absolutely traumatizing.

and perfect. i loved it.

thanks!

busy, busy day. after rocking it, work-style, with my work peeps and my fellow partner in birthday crime, the always-delightful dan (celebrating the big 2-1), i've raced home, put my flowers (yay!) in water, and am now dashing back to the car to race (well, drive) up to burlington for job paperwork (!!!!!!) and a performance by shenandoah shakespeare, for which i will write a review i plan on filing immediately after.

whew. i haven't had this busy a birthday in years ...

special thanks to those who sent well-wishes and the millers for a fabulous pre-birthday (or the "hey, since 2 p.m. on friday it's been your birthday in bank time!") dinner.

y'all are too good to me. :-)

11.02.2003

the fact that i now have a clip with "revelry" in the title brings me great joy.

time for stories - three in today's paper (well, two combined under one headline), which is why the brain was fried yesterday.

the revelry-headed column turned out pretty well for a "hey, just go and do whatever" assignment - such a fun night to cover.

had a homecoming of sorts yesterday while covering proctor/wilmington soccer championships, as i naturally watched the games with three quarters of proctor's residents ... it was fun, though. got to catch up with some teachers and people i haven't seen in ages as well as touch base with old friends from the phs days. i ran into a guy i had a crush on in high school and we wound up talking for eons ... i think yesterday's coversation was longer than any conversation we ever had as students (hell, probably longer than all conversations combined - i was a bit shy back in the day) and it was so fun.

the father of a guy i graduated with was there, as he's the self-appointed king of school events, particularly athletic ones - i never particularly liked the man, as he had severly distorted versions of himself as being above 99.99% of the rest of the town's residents.

as i passed by, notebook in hand, to interview the victorious proctor coach, he did a doubletake. i smiled politely and said hello, and he replied with, "oh woah! vickie! i didn't even recognize you - you look so old now!"

yeah, well i'm not the only one, if you know what i'm sayin, buddy.

both the boys and girls were playing in the championships, so i was able to watch my fomer team battle it out for the title, under the coaching of my favorite coach ever. i'd only seen one other girls game since graduating (the championship they won my freshman year of college- they were playing at smc and i had to be there to have the salt rubbed in the wound personally), and it was bizarre to stand on the sidelines, watching the girls i never played with responding to the shouts coach hollered from the sidelines, calls for plays that were the same as when i'd played. i felt like i needed to get out there and do it myself ...

the moment that got me, though, was right before the game started, with the traditional proctor oobie cheer.

same deep, primal shout.

"oobie!"

same chorus of female adolescent shrieks.

"cha!"

"oobie!"
"cha!"
"oobieoobieoobie!"
"chachacha - HA!"

oobie was my favorite moment of a soccer game - besides playing, that is. the cheer makes no sense to anyone else - a bunch of gibberish, really. but it's a way of showing that all of the messed-up logic of everyday life is out of the team's mind. just focusing on the job at hand and the game to be played. and it shows that the team is in sync with the coach - all are fired up and ready to dominate.

for some reason in the back of my mind, i'd almost hoped that coach had retired oobie once i graduated.

it's the one moment during the game that i felt tears start to well up in my eyes.

11.01.2003

...

brain fried. original commentary is not possible this evening, so instead, i leave you with this gem, courtesy of "west side story."

hahahaha ...

Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke,
Ya gotta understand--
It’s just our bringin’ upke
That gets us outta hand.
Our mothers all are junkies,
Our fathers all are drunks.
Golly Moses -- natcherly we’re punks.

Gee, Officer Krupke, we’re very upset;
We never had the love that every
Child oughta get.
We ain’t no delinquents,
We’re misunderstood.
Deep down inside us there is good!

There is good!

There is good, there is good,
There is untapped good.
Like inside, the worse of us is good.