So, as some of you may know, I just finished my first year of college. Overall, it was awesome. 8/10. I had a wonderful year and all was dandy and drunken (and educational, of course. DUH).
But in my second semester, things had kind of gone haywire and the ridiculous small size of my school/it's remote location started to get to my head and I broke down. I got stressed out easily and ended up yelling at a lot of people (read: I was a bitch to most of my friends about half the time). I felt like everything around me was just disappointing and miserable, and to help solace this fact, I started to write a lot of lists. Most specifically, I made lists of things that had disappointed me in the past. This is one such list. It is a list of albums that put me off the second they dropped. I listened, I cried, I broke something, then I wrote a shitty review on some inane music website.
Wolf Parade's At Mount Zoomer
Seriously, what the hell? My brother says he blames Spencer Krug, but I don't think the whole thing can be caused by one person. It was kind of one giant mess and what made it even worse was that their first album was absolutely fucking incredible. To place them next to each other is kind of horrendous. This is all without even touching upon the titles of the songs, the title of the album, the lyrics, and the cover. Oh man.
Beirut's March of the Zapotec
A friend of mine put this in such a good way. He said he was sick of Zach Condon "butchering" different culture's music into "stereotypes." While I did really enjoy his first two albums, and I adored Lon Gisland EP, this semi-retarded third album really pushed the envelope. It is just terrible. Really terrible. It sounds like a mariachi band hired by some crap business for their company picnic that no one wants to attend. I say Zach should have stuck to the gypsy folk tunes.
of Montreal's Skeletal Lamping
Bah. I can't even talk about this. After the incredible Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? I spent months and months waiting in anticipation for the follow up to a god-like album. Well, if Hissing Fauna was a god, Skeletal is some kind of poor mortal praying to be better. I did not enjoy it. In fact, I barely gave it a second listening before deleting it from my itunes (Itunes? iTunes? Whatever, Apple, suck it). You have to be kidding me, of Montreal. Lucky for you, I still bought a ticket to see your wonderful live show in July.
Swan Lake's Enemy Mine
Bad. Bad bad bad. It irks me that an indie super group like Swan Lake can't seem to make one solid album. "Beast Moans" had select tracks here and there that were very good but on a whole just couldn't seem to feel like a coherent set of songs. Not to mention some of the tracks were pretty terrible on their own. "Enemy Mine" is worse than this. Barely any of the songs stand on their own, however they don't work together either! There is no way out of this musical hell hole! You guys should be incredible! Sit down, stop trying to outdo each other in every track, and write a good song! I feel like Swan Lake's problem is that all the different members force feed their musical style and genres onto the other members. We've got some intense Sunset Rubdown references, mushed with New Pornographers barely making it in, finishing with a topping of Frog Eyes meets Destroyer. Not. A. Kosher. Mix.
Weezer's Green Album
Pinkerton to this? Oh god. They redeemed themselves a bit in the future, but...I miss really old school Weezer (and I was barely self aware for that period. Sad.)
Xiu Xiu's Women as Lovers
As someone who is not afraid to admit that Xiu Xiu is one of their absolute favorite bands (I own two shirts and every album), I was really upset when I heard this album. Even for Xiu Xiu it is pretty non-cohesive and nonsensical. This time it just doesn't happen in such a good way. I hope the next one, "Dear God, I Hate Myself", is much better. I already love that title. Jamie Stewart, make me proud.
Voxtrot's Voxtrot
I adored their EP and listened to it pretty regularly for a long time. I even saw them live and went backstage since a friend was dating the lead singer (score!). They were super nice guys and very down to earth. That's why I feel like this is a personal attack. So I will hold off on the insulting metaphors and similes and just say: this could have been much better. Besides "Kid Gloves", nothing hit me from this at all.
Architecture in Helsinki's Like It Or Not
I don't even really want to talk about this that much. Sorry. Just. Yeah. Fuck you AIH for courting me with your live show and then pulling this shit on me.
Bon Iver's Blood Bank
Okay, so, I'm not a huge Bon Iver fan to begin with. Sure, his music is pretty and ethereal, dreamy and haunting, but it's not that original. Nor is it overly gorgeous. I also find him to be kind of boring. But I liked the first album, "For Emma Forever Ago". I listen to it on occasion and if it comes up on shuffle, I won't skip it 8 times out of 10. But this Blood Bank crap? So awful. The songs are boring, without structure or purpose. It sounds like he was shooting for an experimental side but it just fell flat. "Woods" is the worst track. I can't even listen to the whole thing through.
The Beatles' Let It Be
Seriously, WHAT were The Beatles thinking? This badly written, messy, half assed album is an insult to musicians everywhere. When I first heard this after it came out, I was like, "Gimme a break Paul and John. Way to fuck things up at the last minute." I wrote them a strongly worded letter about how much they suck. A month later, they broke up. Sorry Beatles fans. Guess that was my bad.
(But I am kidding of course).
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
the curse of small breasts
From the title of this post, I really don't have to say this, but I'll say it anyway: I have small boobs. There. I said it. Happy? You know what, I am. I am happy. On most days I am excited and thrilled to not have monster breasts that weigh me down and require me to wear some bra size that sounds more like a rifle model or type of ammunition. With small boobs, I also avoid ogling on the bus, pervs copping a feel on the underground, and other unsightly difficult girl problems (and that's a whole 'nother 750 item list).
But there are downfalls, of course. And I was reminded of them today. I was cleaning out my drawers of clothes. Having not been at home for a while, there was a lot of useless crap I didn't wear at all any more (my jean skirt and Ron Weasley t-shirt definitely go under this category), and I wanted to feel productive on an otherwise morbidly dull day. I thought I could really just skip over my undergarments drawer, because, who really hangs onto a gross pair of underwear or a decrepit bra after two or three years? But as I pulled things out, I noticed, stuffed into the bottom under some socks, a white bra.
Then I remembered: this was THAT bra. That horrible bra that I had hid and refused to wear. Why? Because when I went bra shopping for the first time ever (yes, with my mom), they had measured me then taken me to a "special section" where a bunch of racks were marked "Nearly A!"
Nearly. Thanks a lot jack-asses. The exclamation point after the A doesn't do anything for me, sorry. And the bra I purchased had a wonderful green tag on it that said the same thing. Mortified, I hid it and went without a bra for as long as I could. That bra still had the "Nearly A!" tag when I found it today. Unbelievable.
The thing is though, bra shopping has never been enjoyable for me at all. Not one bit. Seriously. What the fuck is up with Victoria's Secret? They honestly believe their customers look like their models. I feel great about myself when they tell me the only bras that come in my size are push up bras. Way to set back the feminist movement like, twenty years fucking bra companies. I also love the fact that when I do finally find a bra that is my size, after hours of tear jerking searches through miles of racks (haha, no pun intended), it only comes in fugly ass colors, like beige or tan. Whee. I look so fine in gray. Thanks.
Okay, so I don't really mind that much. I'm the last person you'll find putting on sexy lingerie or entering a Victoria's Secret at all. But I do think it gets to my friends when I call my boobs "inflamed mosquito bites" in front of them all the time. Might wanna ease up on that one a bit...
But there are downfalls, of course. And I was reminded of them today. I was cleaning out my drawers of clothes. Having not been at home for a while, there was a lot of useless crap I didn't wear at all any more (my jean skirt and Ron Weasley t-shirt definitely go under this category), and I wanted to feel productive on an otherwise morbidly dull day. I thought I could really just skip over my undergarments drawer, because, who really hangs onto a gross pair of underwear or a decrepit bra after two or three years? But as I pulled things out, I noticed, stuffed into the bottom under some socks, a white bra.
Then I remembered: this was THAT bra. That horrible bra that I had hid and refused to wear. Why? Because when I went bra shopping for the first time ever (yes, with my mom), they had measured me then taken me to a "special section" where a bunch of racks were marked "Nearly A!"
Nearly. Thanks a lot jack-asses. The exclamation point after the A doesn't do anything for me, sorry. And the bra I purchased had a wonderful green tag on it that said the same thing. Mortified, I hid it and went without a bra for as long as I could. That bra still had the "Nearly A!" tag when I found it today. Unbelievable.
The thing is though, bra shopping has never been enjoyable for me at all. Not one bit. Seriously. What the fuck is up with Victoria's Secret? They honestly believe their customers look like their models. I feel great about myself when they tell me the only bras that come in my size are push up bras. Way to set back the feminist movement like, twenty years fucking bra companies. I also love the fact that when I do finally find a bra that is my size, after hours of tear jerking searches through miles of racks (haha, no pun intended), it only comes in fugly ass colors, like beige or tan. Whee. I look so fine in gray. Thanks.
Okay, so I don't really mind that much. I'm the last person you'll find putting on sexy lingerie or entering a Victoria's Secret at all. But I do think it gets to my friends when I call my boobs "inflamed mosquito bites" in front of them all the time. Might wanna ease up on that one a bit...
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
apparently, i belong in the 1940s
This is interesting because it pertains to my last two posts. I took a quiz to see what decade I should live in (oh, lazy summer afternoons of low productivity).
Here I was expecting the usual outcome of the 1960s, harboring the secret desire of getting placed in the 1920s. But the quiz surprised me. Well, actually, first it really pissed me off. The 1940s? You have got to be kidding me. The war effort. Racism. Lame clothes. Too much pro-America bull shit. World War II in general, and an overwhelming sense of pending doom for the whole decade and beyond. Awesome. Thanks, quiz.
But then I read the response and was surprised by it's relative accuracy. However, I was also scandalized, obviously. Let's take a look at this sucker (and let's also make fun of it because that's ultimately what I do best).
You belong in the 1940s!
You are the ultimate romantic at heart(1). You put a high priority on true love, patriotism, and dedication to honor and duty. Whether it be serving your country or serving your family, you have a very hard work-ethic balanced out by your whimsical, dreamy heart(2). You are willing to take risks, go where no one has gone before, and you have a sense of pride in everything you do(3). Just as you are in touch with your inner beauty, you also give just the right amount of focus on your outer beauty-- standing out with the latest fashions and getting in touch with your sensual side(4). Your sexiness is not scandalous but rather classy and poised. You are the envy of those around you because no matter how much tough work you have to do, you keep a smile and look good while doing it(5).
(1) As much as I hate to admit it, this is too true. I totally fall for the sappy crap of flowers, or the "they get back together at the end!", or "he doesn't get on the plane!", or "she doesn't get on the train!", or whatever. I have ideals about love that I don't discuss very often with anyone. In fact, if you ask me, I'll probably tell you I don't believe in true love or soul mates. But I guess that's why it says "at heart", right? My heart is private.
(2) Also too true. Look, I have dreams and aspirations. I day dream and have crazy ideas about things I want to do or see. But that doesn't mean I can't sit at a desk and file 300 copies of contracts in less than two hours (done and done). I work damn hard! There's lots to do people! Hurry the fuck up! I move fast and often work through lunch. But at the end of the day, I'm still a photographer, I'm still an artist, and I'm still kind of crazy.
(3) I would say this is entirely true, except that I don't think anyone can ever say this. Yeah, I was super dee duper proud when I went to see Good Charlotte in 9th grade! Well, I'm not proud now. Thanks a lot.
(4) Excuse me while I go laugh until my guts spill onto my keyboard and I die. L. O. Fucking. L. I guess you could call me stylish since nowadays it seems to be cool to mismatch your clothes and wear baggy shirts (god I had been waiting for this. Thank you, American Apparel). But sensual? Yeah. Go talk to my non existent love life then observe me awkwardly initiating conversation about glue sticks with a guy I like.
(5) Sounds like a line from Sex and The City (bleh), but shit - I can live with that. However if I am ever employed on a horse ranch, I promise you - I will not look good. Same goes with a zoo or fish market.
So there you have it. If I had to sum up this quiz's results in one sentence, looks like it'd be "I am a hot office babe and people love me." Nothing could be further from the truth. But it's all in sport.
What is interesting to delve into, however, is the fact that upon sneakily stalking my friend's results on Facebook, they are all pretty good descriptions of the people in a nutshell (give or take a couple - like that girl who is a huge bitch yet somehow still gets the "You're wonderful!" result. That's why people should let other people take quizzes for them).
I guess what I really believe though is this: you have a pretty good sense of yourself, at least on the subconscious side, and during a quiz, you are not actually actively participating in the quiz, but in fact, your subconscious is taking it for you. Thus, you know who you are, you know how to answer, and you know where you're headed for your results. It's all innate in the end. Like you really need a quiz to know which Hogwarts house you're in (sup, Ravenclaw, represent.)
Here I was expecting the usual outcome of the 1960s, harboring the secret desire of getting placed in the 1920s. But the quiz surprised me. Well, actually, first it really pissed me off. The 1940s? You have got to be kidding me. The war effort. Racism. Lame clothes. Too much pro-America bull shit. World War II in general, and an overwhelming sense of pending doom for the whole decade and beyond. Awesome. Thanks, quiz.
But then I read the response and was surprised by it's relative accuracy. However, I was also scandalized, obviously. Let's take a look at this sucker (and let's also make fun of it because that's ultimately what I do best).
You belong in the 1940s!
You are the ultimate romantic at heart(1). You put a high priority on true love, patriotism, and dedication to honor and duty. Whether it be serving your country or serving your family, you have a very hard work-ethic balanced out by your whimsical, dreamy heart(2). You are willing to take risks, go where no one has gone before, and you have a sense of pride in everything you do(3). Just as you are in touch with your inner beauty, you also give just the right amount of focus on your outer beauty-- standing out with the latest fashions and getting in touch with your sensual side(4). Your sexiness is not scandalous but rather classy and poised. You are the envy of those around you because no matter how much tough work you have to do, you keep a smile and look good while doing it(5).
(1) As much as I hate to admit it, this is too true. I totally fall for the sappy crap of flowers, or the "they get back together at the end!", or "he doesn't get on the plane!", or "she doesn't get on the train!", or whatever. I have ideals about love that I don't discuss very often with anyone. In fact, if you ask me, I'll probably tell you I don't believe in true love or soul mates. But I guess that's why it says "at heart", right? My heart is private.
(2) Also too true. Look, I have dreams and aspirations. I day dream and have crazy ideas about things I want to do or see. But that doesn't mean I can't sit at a desk and file 300 copies of contracts in less than two hours (done and done). I work damn hard! There's lots to do people! Hurry the fuck up! I move fast and often work through lunch. But at the end of the day, I'm still a photographer, I'm still an artist, and I'm still kind of crazy.
(3) I would say this is entirely true, except that I don't think anyone can ever say this. Yeah, I was super dee duper proud when I went to see Good Charlotte in 9th grade! Well, I'm not proud now. Thanks a lot.
(4) Excuse me while I go laugh until my guts spill onto my keyboard and I die. L. O. Fucking. L. I guess you could call me stylish since nowadays it seems to be cool to mismatch your clothes and wear baggy shirts (god I had been waiting for this. Thank you, American Apparel). But sensual? Yeah. Go talk to my non existent love life then observe me awkwardly initiating conversation about glue sticks with a guy I like.
(5) Sounds like a line from Sex and The City (bleh), but shit - I can live with that. However if I am ever employed on a horse ranch, I promise you - I will not look good. Same goes with a zoo or fish market.
So there you have it. If I had to sum up this quiz's results in one sentence, looks like it'd be "I am a hot office babe and people love me." Nothing could be further from the truth. But it's all in sport.
What is interesting to delve into, however, is the fact that upon sneakily stalking my friend's results on Facebook, they are all pretty good descriptions of the people in a nutshell (give or take a couple - like that girl who is a huge bitch yet somehow still gets the "You're wonderful!" result. That's why people should let other people take quizzes for them).
I guess what I really believe though is this: you have a pretty good sense of yourself, at least on the subconscious side, and during a quiz, you are not actually actively participating in the quiz, but in fact, your subconscious is taking it for you. Thus, you know who you are, you know how to answer, and you know where you're headed for your results. It's all innate in the end. Like you really need a quiz to know which Hogwarts house you're in (sup, Ravenclaw, represent.)
Monday, June 22, 2009
thing that really ticks me off #1
Welcome the first of many installments.
I thought that when I don't have anything in particular to rant/joke around/make lists about, I can pull out one of these and they basically provoke the same effect. Plus, I have bucket loads. Obviously.
Let's start off with a simple, yet tragic, one:
The realization that I will never live in another time period
Okay, so this may sound petty and spoiled and all around neurotic but honestly, it really does annoy me. I can't say I am a huge fan of this day and age; there are things I love but there are also things I really strongly dislike. And while other decades and eras had their downfalls as well (as an example, no modern medicine in the Dark Ages was pretty bad) I've always thought it would be amazing to just live for a day in a world like that. Part of me would do absolutely anything to spend one afternoon in Victorian London (yeah, that's right: I'd risk the rib breaking corsets and diseases in the streets for one true period tea time crumpet). I also of course would love to hang out at Woodstock in the 1960s, or fight my way into a Beatles concert, screaming my guts out like all those insane girls you see in old footage.
Top three periods I would travel back to:
1) The 1960s
2) The 1920s
3) Louis XIV France, provided I could be a noble in court
Yes, I will change my gender to make it back there. Can time machines do that? It should be a function or a button you press.
I would totally skip over Napoleon France and Woodraw Wilson America. They were annoying, in office for too long, and racist. And we liberal San Franciscans will not stand for that.
Until later, my friends. What era would you return to?
I thought that when I don't have anything in particular to rant/joke around/make lists about, I can pull out one of these and they basically provoke the same effect. Plus, I have bucket loads. Obviously.
Let's start off with a simple, yet tragic, one:
The realization that I will never live in another time period
Okay, so this may sound petty and spoiled and all around neurotic but honestly, it really does annoy me. I can't say I am a huge fan of this day and age; there are things I love but there are also things I really strongly dislike. And while other decades and eras had their downfalls as well (as an example, no modern medicine in the Dark Ages was pretty bad) I've always thought it would be amazing to just live for a day in a world like that. Part of me would do absolutely anything to spend one afternoon in Victorian London (yeah, that's right: I'd risk the rib breaking corsets and diseases in the streets for one true period tea time crumpet). I also of course would love to hang out at Woodstock in the 1960s, or fight my way into a Beatles concert, screaming my guts out like all those insane girls you see in old footage.
Top three periods I would travel back to:
1) The 1960s
2) The 1920s
3) Louis XIV France, provided I could be a noble in court
Yes, I will change my gender to make it back there. Can time machines do that? It should be a function or a button you press.
I would totally skip over Napoleon France and Woodraw Wilson America. They were annoying, in office for too long, and racist. And we liberal San Franciscans will not stand for that.
Until later, my friends. What era would you return to?
Friday, June 19, 2009
this is what I call "the slow death of Facebook"
Whenever I log onto Facebook, I have at least three notifications. Can you guess what all three usually are?
a) Someone posting something on my wall or commenting on a photo of me, etc
b) The Heroes application telling me I just acquired a new super power
c) People commenting on my hilarious, witty, or beautiful status
d) Quizzes telling me my dumb ass friend just took a quiz that is totally retarded and that I should totally take it because it will waste my time and piss me off
A lot of the time, it's can be a, b, or c (yes I have the Heroes application. Shut up.) But guess what? More than half the time it is the answer d. Yes. Fucking quizzes.
Okay, so maybe I was little harsh in my description, but seriously? I get so many of these that I'm starting to hate logging into Facebook. Plus they are constantly in my news feed as well: "Random person you went to high school with and barely know just found out they are Princess Belle! Which princess are you?" Frankly, my dear, I don't give a flying fuck.
And it's not like I can just click "Hide" next to the news story and then automatically hide all quizzes forever. Nope. You have to hide each individual quiz as they show up. And I'm willing to bet there are a lot of quizzes on Facebook right now. Hence, there is no way I will ever hide them all. Ergo, I will continue getting quiz notifications and news stories for the rest of my life (or whatever).
I'll be honest: I've taken a few. You know, "Are you a true San Franciscan?" "What state do you belong in?" "Which Gilmore Girls character are you?" (wait, what?). But you don't see my results up in other people's faces. Why? Because I don't click "Publish." You also don't get notifications from me because, drum roll please, I DON'T INVITE ANYONE. Do people not get this? You don't HAVE to invite people to the quiz to get your results. They just make it seem that way. But if you look above the invite box, there is a link that says "continue to results." Click it. Please. In the name of everything holy, please click it.
Maybe some day I'll stop being asked what kind of drunk I am. Honestly, if you have to take a quiz to know that, I can tell you: you're a super drunk.
Please good people, unless the result is out of this world funny, keep it to yourself.
And thus ends another pointless rant by me. I guess, in the end, I do this for the humor.
a) Someone posting something on my wall or commenting on a photo of me, etc
b) The Heroes application telling me I just acquired a new super power
c) People commenting on my hilarious, witty, or beautiful status
d) Quizzes telling me my dumb ass friend just took a quiz that is totally retarded and that I should totally take it because it will waste my time and piss me off
A lot of the time, it's can be a, b, or c (yes I have the Heroes application. Shut up.) But guess what? More than half the time it is the answer d. Yes. Fucking quizzes.
Okay, so maybe I was little harsh in my description, but seriously? I get so many of these that I'm starting to hate logging into Facebook. Plus they are constantly in my news feed as well: "Random person you went to high school with and barely know just found out they are Princess Belle! Which princess are you?" Frankly, my dear, I don't give a flying fuck.
And it's not like I can just click "Hide" next to the news story and then automatically hide all quizzes forever. Nope. You have to hide each individual quiz as they show up. And I'm willing to bet there are a lot of quizzes on Facebook right now. Hence, there is no way I will ever hide them all. Ergo, I will continue getting quiz notifications and news stories for the rest of my life (or whatever).
I'll be honest: I've taken a few. You know, "Are you a true San Franciscan?" "What state do you belong in?" "Which Gilmore Girls character are you?" (wait, what?). But you don't see my results up in other people's faces. Why? Because I don't click "Publish." You also don't get notifications from me because, drum roll please, I DON'T INVITE ANYONE. Do people not get this? You don't HAVE to invite people to the quiz to get your results. They just make it seem that way. But if you look above the invite box, there is a link that says "continue to results." Click it. Please. In the name of everything holy, please click it.
Maybe some day I'll stop being asked what kind of drunk I am. Honestly, if you have to take a quiz to know that, I can tell you: you're a super drunk.
Please good people, unless the result is out of this world funny, keep it to yourself.
And thus ends another pointless rant by me. I guess, in the end, I do this for the humor.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
I remembered something!
Add this to my last rant about Ben and Jerry's and their ludicrous prices!
I was bragging today to my brother about how awesome Price Chopper is when you have a Price Chopper card. "It's great!" I swooned. "The Price Chopper in Bennington is open 24 hours a day and we go there for midnight munchies."
I continued with this: "You know how a pint of Ben and Jerry's is normally 5 bucks? Well with a Pchops card, it's only 2 bucks! Awesome, right?!?"
Needless to say, my brother was pretty impressed. At least, as impressed as you can get about a discount, cheap, seedy grocery store card. But I didnt' even realize at the time what I was saying: a whole pint of Ben and Jerry's cost 5 bucks, but one scoop in a cup at a Ben and Jerry's outlet is $4.50?!
No I will never get over it. Next time I'm buying a whole pint.
I was bragging today to my brother about how awesome Price Chopper is when you have a Price Chopper card. "It's great!" I swooned. "The Price Chopper in Bennington is open 24 hours a day and we go there for midnight munchies."
I continued with this: "You know how a pint of Ben and Jerry's is normally 5 bucks? Well with a Pchops card, it's only 2 bucks! Awesome, right?!?"
Needless to say, my brother was pretty impressed. At least, as impressed as you can get about a discount, cheap, seedy grocery store card. But I didnt' even realize at the time what I was saying: a whole pint of Ben and Jerry's cost 5 bucks, but one scoop in a cup at a Ben and Jerry's outlet is $4.50?!
No I will never get over it. Next time I'm buying a whole pint.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
thing that kind of irks me number 278
I spent the whole day strolling around the Haight Street fair. I live quite near it so I just walked down and saw the sights. I bought a book of Sylvia Plath poems, listened to a few bands, chatted with a local poet who wrote a poem for me, danced, checked out drug paraphernalia, and generally had a really great time. I even loved what I was wearing, and since I was wearing a skirt, this is rare (I generally hate skirts). I had a hippie band around my head and my favorite tshirt on (a Sunset Rubdown band shirt). So as you can see, it was a pretty wonderful day.
However, one aspect to the day really ticked me off. Halfway down my walk of Haight street, I passed Ben and Jerry's on the corner of Haight & Ashbury. Prime business location, especially for an ice cream company that claims to be as independent and free loving as the hippie man himself, Jerry Garcia (they even have a flavor for him). Going to college in Vermont, people often ask me if I've been to the Ben and Jerry's factory or if I eat it all the time. The answer to both questions is no, but this is besides the point. The point is that today, I really wanted a cup of my favorite flavor "Imagine Whirled Peace." So I went in. And almost immediately, my heart sunk. Why? This is why:
"Regular cup: $4.50".
What the flying FUCK?
$4.50 for one minuscule cup of ice cream? Look, I know Ben and Jerry's is good and all but...seriously?
Ben and Jerry's claims, through advertising and the general conduct of their company and employees, that they are a essentially a liberal industry of Vermont hippies who just want to make some ice cream. The use of the images of John Lennon and Jerry Garcia plus all the peace signs that adorn their locations make us no stranger to this fact. We get it. You're hippies. Ben and Jerry were nature loving hippies. Awesome. Then why, you alternative thinking vegetarians, are your prices at ridiculous highs? Ones that a normal, mid income American would probably not splurge for on most days, especially in this economy.
I understand we're in a recession. Everyone is dying to make money and prices have soared overall. But out of all the price rises I've seen, this one is the most ridiculous. Worse than Mel's Diner (and that one was bad). I bought a regular cup of ice cream and I got one scoop of one flavor. One scoop for $4.50. It seems like the only way Ben and Jerry's can make money off of this is through the fact that their flavors are so obscure and copyrighted that sometimes you can't get that one you crave anywhere else (see flavors "Phish Food", "Chunky Monkey", "Cherry Garcia", and "Half Baked").
I just can't understand how such a cute, honest, wonderful company like Ben and Jerry's could turn into such a corporate frenzy fest, even if they've been bought out by Nestle (evil evil people). I don't see Ben or Jerry standing for this kind of thing. A shake for $6.50? Oh my god, no way. Even just a chocolate shake? Not to mention Ben and Jerry's have totally bought into the stupid trend of fruit smoothies; they have, like, 15 flavors. Just like Starbucks and Tullys have done. Let the smoothie places handle it people (ahem, Jamba Juice). They know what they're doing. See, this is where I think communism could almost work: you make this and stick to that, and they'll make that and stick to that and you won't worry about competition.
I hate thinking about Ben and Jerry's having ridiculously high prices because it makes me think more and more about this: if rebellion is now "cool" and "in", and everyone is doing it together, mutually enjoying it, then how is it rebellion at all now? If Ben and Jerry's are charging us four bucks for a small thing of ice cream, how are we fighting back the man? By paying a lot for ice cream, just because their walls are painted with cute cows in green rolling fields (OH VERMONT HOW I MISS YOU.) ? In the end it all goes back to that big bad wolf of a corporation, Nestle.
Thank God for the Ben and Jerry's Foundation (http://www.benjerry.com/company/foundation/). At least I know now and then they are reaching out. But Ben, Jerry...come on guys. Please don't let this happen entirely to you too. Or else Naked Juice or Timbuk2 bags could be next.
However, one aspect to the day really ticked me off. Halfway down my walk of Haight street, I passed Ben and Jerry's on the corner of Haight & Ashbury. Prime business location, especially for an ice cream company that claims to be as independent and free loving as the hippie man himself, Jerry Garcia (they even have a flavor for him). Going to college in Vermont, people often ask me if I've been to the Ben and Jerry's factory or if I eat it all the time. The answer to both questions is no, but this is besides the point. The point is that today, I really wanted a cup of my favorite flavor "Imagine Whirled Peace." So I went in. And almost immediately, my heart sunk. Why? This is why:
"Regular cup: $4.50".
What the flying FUCK?
$4.50 for one minuscule cup of ice cream? Look, I know Ben and Jerry's is good and all but...seriously?
Ben and Jerry's claims, through advertising and the general conduct of their company and employees, that they are a essentially a liberal industry of Vermont hippies who just want to make some ice cream. The use of the images of John Lennon and Jerry Garcia plus all the peace signs that adorn their locations make us no stranger to this fact. We get it. You're hippies. Ben and Jerry were nature loving hippies. Awesome. Then why, you alternative thinking vegetarians, are your prices at ridiculous highs? Ones that a normal, mid income American would probably not splurge for on most days, especially in this economy.
I understand we're in a recession. Everyone is dying to make money and prices have soared overall. But out of all the price rises I've seen, this one is the most ridiculous. Worse than Mel's Diner (and that one was bad). I bought a regular cup of ice cream and I got one scoop of one flavor. One scoop for $4.50. It seems like the only way Ben and Jerry's can make money off of this is through the fact that their flavors are so obscure and copyrighted that sometimes you can't get that one you crave anywhere else (see flavors "Phish Food", "Chunky Monkey", "Cherry Garcia", and "Half Baked").
I just can't understand how such a cute, honest, wonderful company like Ben and Jerry's could turn into such a corporate frenzy fest, even if they've been bought out by Nestle (evil evil people). I don't see Ben or Jerry standing for this kind of thing. A shake for $6.50? Oh my god, no way. Even just a chocolate shake? Not to mention Ben and Jerry's have totally bought into the stupid trend of fruit smoothies; they have, like, 15 flavors. Just like Starbucks and Tullys have done. Let the smoothie places handle it people (ahem, Jamba Juice). They know what they're doing. See, this is where I think communism could almost work: you make this and stick to that, and they'll make that and stick to that and you won't worry about competition.
I hate thinking about Ben and Jerry's having ridiculously high prices because it makes me think more and more about this: if rebellion is now "cool" and "in", and everyone is doing it together, mutually enjoying it, then how is it rebellion at all now? If Ben and Jerry's are charging us four bucks for a small thing of ice cream, how are we fighting back the man? By paying a lot for ice cream, just because their walls are painted with cute cows in green rolling fields (OH VERMONT HOW I MISS YOU.) ? In the end it all goes back to that big bad wolf of a corporation, Nestle.
Thank God for the Ben and Jerry's Foundation (http://www.benjerry.com/company/foundation/). At least I know now and then they are reaching out. But Ben, Jerry...come on guys. Please don't let this happen entirely to you too. Or else Naked Juice or Timbuk2 bags could be next.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
My favorite things about being at home and not having to live in a dorm
Home always has it's perks because, well, it's home! And I missed it dearly (especially the part where I'm not stuck in the middle of nowhere). Anyway, I was thinking about home and Vermont and San Francisco and all the little in betweens, and as much as I love college and everything to do with it, I have to say that...college kind of feels like a Motel 6 and home is more of a...Presidential Suite at the Hilton. Ya know? And I know that Bennington has some of the nicest dorms in the country so I would hate to deal with anything else ever.
So I wrote a list! Like always. It's a favorite hobby of mine.
My favorite things about being at home and not having to live in a dorm
1) Walking around nekkid!
Typical home thing; everyone always says "God I can't wait to get home and dance around naked!" (you don't say that? Well everyone else does, so...) It's been liberating not to have to be covered up every second, like I'm some kind of ancient relic being transported from one museum to another, and if I see the light of day, I'll shatter or break. Walking from the bathroom to my room has been way more relaxing since getting home. At school it always some kind of huge event.
2) Bathrooms that don't have peeling ceilings (woo! rhyming!), clogged drains, and unidentifiable hairs (probs pubes?) on the floor
Yeah. This speaks for itself. When you're sharing a bathroom with six other people (some times seven, with one of my hallmates' occasional squatter), it gets pretty gnarly.
3) Singing really loudly and not being afraid of the fantastic singer who lives next door to you judging your ass of
Yep! This fantastic singer actually happens to be one of my best friends, so I doubt he'd really guffaw at me raucously through the walls, but, I still feel quite timid. And I do love to sing. Good thing my nearest neighbor here is about 20 feet away and through a thick brick wall! Alright!
4) A mattress that doesn't feel like two planks of wood against my back with a couple nails here and there, poking out to destroy my life
Seriously, the mattresses=ouch. My mattress pad does a pretty good job at evening out the kinks, but some times, when it's mid year and I've pretty much flattened the pad, things get nasty and I hate it. I had forgotten what a good expensive mattress felt like till I flopped into my bed here at home.
5) I CAN LISTEN TO LUPE FIASCO AND NO ONES LIKE "OMGG DIS IS NOT INDIE!!!!11 WE H8 CHUU"
Bennington is kind of elitist about music. That is all.
6) Farting openly. Thank goodness.
Yeah.
7) Not being deprived of concerts again
In fact I have about 8 lined up for this summer already. Yeees. Last night I saw Patrick Wolf and this Saturday is Bat For Lashes. So wonderful. Bennington gets concerts, but it's like, one a month. In high school, I went to an average of about three to four concerts a month if I could, so I've been going through withdrawal, needless to say.
8) Ethnic food
Like sushi and burritos, instead of just chicken and sandwiches every night for dinner. Sorry but Vermont...it really doesn't get more white. Well maybe it does. In fact, I'm sure it does, but that's besides the point. The point is, I don't quite trust the "China Wok" across from Walmart in Bennington, while I do definitley trust, say, some little mom and pop restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown (the first and largest Chinatown in the US). The comparison is kind of ridiculous.
9) Being able to "SHUT UP ASSHOLES"
...at the people making noise in the house without stimulating a house intervention meeting about courtesy. Okay, so that never happened, but mostly because I never yelled "Shut up!". Maybe once. And people thought I was a huge bitch. So I never did it again.
10) My room
Plain and simple. The old photos, the posters, the loft bed, the stuffed animals...aah childhood, adolescence, and adulthood all wrapped into one.
So I wrote a list! Like always. It's a favorite hobby of mine.
My favorite things about being at home and not having to live in a dorm
1) Walking around nekkid!
Typical home thing; everyone always says "God I can't wait to get home and dance around naked!" (you don't say that? Well everyone else does, so...) It's been liberating not to have to be covered up every second, like I'm some kind of ancient relic being transported from one museum to another, and if I see the light of day, I'll shatter or break. Walking from the bathroom to my room has been way more relaxing since getting home. At school it always some kind of huge event.
2) Bathrooms that don't have peeling ceilings (woo! rhyming!), clogged drains, and unidentifiable hairs (probs pubes?) on the floor
Yeah. This speaks for itself. When you're sharing a bathroom with six other people (some times seven, with one of my hallmates' occasional squatter), it gets pretty gnarly.
3) Singing really loudly and not being afraid of the fantastic singer who lives next door to you judging your ass of
Yep! This fantastic singer actually happens to be one of my best friends, so I doubt he'd really guffaw at me raucously through the walls, but, I still feel quite timid. And I do love to sing. Good thing my nearest neighbor here is about 20 feet away and through a thick brick wall! Alright!
4) A mattress that doesn't feel like two planks of wood against my back with a couple nails here and there, poking out to destroy my life
Seriously, the mattresses=ouch. My mattress pad does a pretty good job at evening out the kinks, but some times, when it's mid year and I've pretty much flattened the pad, things get nasty and I hate it. I had forgotten what a good expensive mattress felt like till I flopped into my bed here at home.
5) I CAN LISTEN TO LUPE FIASCO AND NO ONES LIKE "OMGG DIS IS NOT INDIE!!!!11 WE H8 CHUU"
Bennington is kind of elitist about music. That is all.
6) Farting openly. Thank goodness.
Yeah.
7) Not being deprived of concerts again
In fact I have about 8 lined up for this summer already. Yeees. Last night I saw Patrick Wolf and this Saturday is Bat For Lashes. So wonderful. Bennington gets concerts, but it's like, one a month. In high school, I went to an average of about three to four concerts a month if I could, so I've been going through withdrawal, needless to say.
8) Ethnic food
Like sushi and burritos, instead of just chicken and sandwiches every night for dinner. Sorry but Vermont...it really doesn't get more white. Well maybe it does. In fact, I'm sure it does, but that's besides the point. The point is, I don't quite trust the "China Wok" across from Walmart in Bennington, while I do definitley trust, say, some little mom and pop restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown (the first and largest Chinatown in the US). The comparison is kind of ridiculous.
9) Being able to "SHUT UP ASSHOLES"
...at the people making noise in the house without stimulating a house intervention meeting about courtesy. Okay, so that never happened, but mostly because I never yelled "Shut up!". Maybe once. And people thought I was a huge bitch. So I never did it again.
10) My room
Plain and simple. The old photos, the posters, the loft bed, the stuffed animals...aah childhood, adolescence, and adulthood all wrapped into one.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Albany airport ponderings
As I sit here in this uncomfortable leather chair (my butt really hurts) in Albany, NY airport, I have begun pondering my life. Patrick Wolf croons in the back of my ear and people sip their 20 dollar mochas from Starbucks (god damn airport inflation), and I'm formulating in my head some of the best decisions I made and some of the best things I have done with my life. Because this is my blog and it is an outlet to the world (in a twisted way), I want to share my musings. One, because I want to inspire all of you. Two, I am bored as hell. Three, it's important to know what parts of your life you value. Four, did I mention Albany airport is tiny and has like, maybe two cafes and a McDonalds? Fuck. Way to go "capital" of New York state.
In any case, here I go.
Some of the best things I will have ever done with my life
(so far, being as I am only 19)
(in no particular order)
1. Deciding to continue studying everything in French in high school
Come 8th grade, I had a choice: stop taking French Baccalaureate courses and continue on a path with all my courses in English. My whole life, I had been taught in French and it was exhausting since French isn't even my first language. But I knew I couldn't stop after 10 years of French (pre school to 8th grade). So I contineud and chose to do the French Baccalaureate in high school. I had to sit my parents down and talk to them and explain it in detail to persuade them that it was the right choice. I don't regret it. I am fluent in French and German and took some amazing classes mos tpeople don't even take till college, like philosophy and sociology. High school was a wonderful experience because of it, albeit stressful as hell. But still wonderful.
2. Going to Coachella 2007
You may laugh at this one, but I am dead serious. I wasn't sure if it was going to work out but I convinced my parents and made it there in an afternoon before the festival started. And I loved it. I also consider this a valuable life experience; at only 17 I was wandering around with my friend, drugged out hippies and hispters everywhere, in the middle of the desert. The music was amazing and I could not have had a better time.
3. Immersing myself in theater and exchange programs in high school
High school is very fomulative for everyone; and even though the theater program at my high school was intense and time consuming, I am so glad I did it. I acted, stage managed, built sets, directed...I did everything I could. I feel more self assured and confident now in almost every other area of my life, which seems impossible, but it happened. The late nights in the theater working and slaving and crying became worth it. Plus, directing "Museum" by Tina Howe was just wonderful. I love that play and still feel attached to it.
My school also had amazing trip oppurtunities because we were an International high school. I went to Germany and Tahiti on trips with my classmates and had correspondents who I stayed with there. It's like high school taught me how to travel, take care of myself on the road, and meet new cultures. Plus, I now have this unquenchable thirst to travel.
4. Applying early decision to Bennington College
Hands down best thing ever. I remember sitting in my college counselors office with my list of 10 schools and her saying "Even if you got into all these schools, would you still go to Bennington?" and I said yes. She said "Then go for it." I did, I got in, and all my college stuff was done in December. It felt great and I was so happy to be accpeted on a more rigorous circumstance. So great. Now I am at Bennington and adoring it. It's the only place I want to be.
5. Traveling Europe for a month with just a backpack and my best friend
Mia, my best friend, and I had been planning a trip like this our whole lives, but when we finally deicded to just go for it and actually DO THIS THING, we planned it all ourselves. My dad looked for airline tickets to get us to Europe, but once we were there, it was all us. We found inter-country flights, hostels, train tickets; we created an intinerary and decided what we wanted to see and how we could see it. We saved up all year until the trip arrived in July. It was incredible and I am so happy I did it. I think about it every day, and that's not even an understatement.
6. Working for St. Anthony's Soup Kitchen
I guess this one kind of speaks for itself. I love St. Anthony's and think it's wonderful. Plus talkign to the people who eat there is always amazingly interesting.
7. Starting to take photography seriously while simultaneously quitting violin and ballet
This is a tough one, because some times I still cringe and cry when I think about how I just let ten years of ballet and eight of violin fall down the well. Telling my parents I wanted to quit performance arts and pursue visual arts was like coming out of the closet (they both work for the symphony). But then I remember why I quit: I didn't enjoy either one and it was time consuming to the max; spending 4 days a week and five hours a day on something I didn't even like was absurd to me. Around the same time I started taking a photography class at the Academy of Art University that used film and not digital cameras. I fell in love. Now I am studying photography and fine arts in college and really pursuing it. I often pine for past passions, but really, what is a passion that feels like a chore? I take my camera everywhere with me and have not stopped taking pictures since the day I picked it up. Plus now and then I can still jam on an instrument with friends at school.
8. Working at SFMOMA
I took an internship at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art almost on a whim and am so glad I did. I had never thought about the inner workings of a museum before or why they intrigued me, but after spending a week in the Exhibitions department I felt attached and drawn to it. The process of displaying art, archiving art, and working with art every day was so wonderful to me and I loved it. Because of this internship, I discovered museums are something I really do what to do when I am out of college; I love working with things from the past or present and preserving them for the future. I feel like it's my calling.
9. Voting for Barack Obama
Enough said, really. I will live to tell that one many times.
10. Being named India
Okay, this is not my choice. Obviously my parents chose this. But I could choose to embrace it or ignore it. I could have said "Call me Lizzy, my middle name is Elizabeth" or "Just call me Angela, its my other middle name" but no! I totally adore and love my name and believe it makes me who I am. I feel unique and different. Plus, people rarely forget me. Which is conceited in it's own special way but hey. Deal with it. I freaking love this name.
The end!
I'm glad I typed this out actually, that felt really good.
Although now that I am out of my blog trance, I realize my butt is numb and that fucking sucks. I hate these chairs so much. And I kind of hate airports a lot but I guess I should have thought about that before I decided to go to school across the country. Brilliant.
In half an hour I get to walk to my gate and sit in an equally uncomfortable chair until they call my boarding section. UGH. My bags are super heavy and my shoulders are screaming for mercy. JESUS SAVE US they're saying TAKE YOUR BAG OFF. Oh well. I'll be home by tonight. Yes!
Until next time, keep it real please. The world needs more reality.
In any case, here I go.
Some of the best things I will have ever done with my life
(so far, being as I am only 19)
(in no particular order)
1. Deciding to continue studying everything in French in high school
Come 8th grade, I had a choice: stop taking French Baccalaureate courses and continue on a path with all my courses in English. My whole life, I had been taught in French and it was exhausting since French isn't even my first language. But I knew I couldn't stop after 10 years of French (pre school to 8th grade). So I contineud and chose to do the French Baccalaureate in high school. I had to sit my parents down and talk to them and explain it in detail to persuade them that it was the right choice. I don't regret it. I am fluent in French and German and took some amazing classes mos tpeople don't even take till college, like philosophy and sociology. High school was a wonderful experience because of it, albeit stressful as hell. But still wonderful.
2. Going to Coachella 2007
You may laugh at this one, but I am dead serious. I wasn't sure if it was going to work out but I convinced my parents and made it there in an afternoon before the festival started. And I loved it. I also consider this a valuable life experience; at only 17 I was wandering around with my friend, drugged out hippies and hispters everywhere, in the middle of the desert. The music was amazing and I could not have had a better time.
3. Immersing myself in theater and exchange programs in high school
High school is very fomulative for everyone; and even though the theater program at my high school was intense and time consuming, I am so glad I did it. I acted, stage managed, built sets, directed...I did everything I could. I feel more self assured and confident now in almost every other area of my life, which seems impossible, but it happened. The late nights in the theater working and slaving and crying became worth it. Plus, directing "Museum" by Tina Howe was just wonderful. I love that play and still feel attached to it.
My school also had amazing trip oppurtunities because we were an International high school. I went to Germany and Tahiti on trips with my classmates and had correspondents who I stayed with there. It's like high school taught me how to travel, take care of myself on the road, and meet new cultures. Plus, I now have this unquenchable thirst to travel.
4. Applying early decision to Bennington College
Hands down best thing ever. I remember sitting in my college counselors office with my list of 10 schools and her saying "Even if you got into all these schools, would you still go to Bennington?" and I said yes. She said "Then go for it." I did, I got in, and all my college stuff was done in December. It felt great and I was so happy to be accpeted on a more rigorous circumstance. So great. Now I am at Bennington and adoring it. It's the only place I want to be.
5. Traveling Europe for a month with just a backpack and my best friend
Mia, my best friend, and I had been planning a trip like this our whole lives, but when we finally deicded to just go for it and actually DO THIS THING, we planned it all ourselves. My dad looked for airline tickets to get us to Europe, but once we were there, it was all us. We found inter-country flights, hostels, train tickets; we created an intinerary and decided what we wanted to see and how we could see it. We saved up all year until the trip arrived in July. It was incredible and I am so happy I did it. I think about it every day, and that's not even an understatement.
6. Working for St. Anthony's Soup Kitchen
I guess this one kind of speaks for itself. I love St. Anthony's and think it's wonderful. Plus talkign to the people who eat there is always amazingly interesting.
7. Starting to take photography seriously while simultaneously quitting violin and ballet
This is a tough one, because some times I still cringe and cry when I think about how I just let ten years of ballet and eight of violin fall down the well. Telling my parents I wanted to quit performance arts and pursue visual arts was like coming out of the closet (they both work for the symphony). But then I remember why I quit: I didn't enjoy either one and it was time consuming to the max; spending 4 days a week and five hours a day on something I didn't even like was absurd to me. Around the same time I started taking a photography class at the Academy of Art University that used film and not digital cameras. I fell in love. Now I am studying photography and fine arts in college and really pursuing it. I often pine for past passions, but really, what is a passion that feels like a chore? I take my camera everywhere with me and have not stopped taking pictures since the day I picked it up. Plus now and then I can still jam on an instrument with friends at school.
8. Working at SFMOMA
I took an internship at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art almost on a whim and am so glad I did. I had never thought about the inner workings of a museum before or why they intrigued me, but after spending a week in the Exhibitions department I felt attached and drawn to it. The process of displaying art, archiving art, and working with art every day was so wonderful to me and I loved it. Because of this internship, I discovered museums are something I really do what to do when I am out of college; I love working with things from the past or present and preserving them for the future. I feel like it's my calling.
9. Voting for Barack Obama
Enough said, really. I will live to tell that one many times.
10. Being named India
Okay, this is not my choice. Obviously my parents chose this. But I could choose to embrace it or ignore it. I could have said "Call me Lizzy, my middle name is Elizabeth" or "Just call me Angela, its my other middle name" but no! I totally adore and love my name and believe it makes me who I am. I feel unique and different. Plus, people rarely forget me. Which is conceited in it's own special way but hey. Deal with it. I freaking love this name.
The end!
I'm glad I typed this out actually, that felt really good.
Although now that I am out of my blog trance, I realize my butt is numb and that fucking sucks. I hate these chairs so much. And I kind of hate airports a lot but I guess I should have thought about that before I decided to go to school across the country. Brilliant.
In half an hour I get to walk to my gate and sit in an equally uncomfortable chair until they call my boarding section. UGH. My bags are super heavy and my shoulders are screaming for mercy. JESUS SAVE US they're saying TAKE YOUR BAG OFF. Oh well. I'll be home by tonight. Yes!
Until next time, keep it real please. The world needs more reality.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
