i'm so determined

hello my tiny babies -

and again, the week since my previous posting has been filled to the brim with situations that beg the question: How is this happening? Is it this city, like people around here say? and finally: Why aren't I asking more productive questions?

Matt Pond, PA
i went out there with steph and rudy. i was really freaking tired upon arrival, so asked the opening band (kevin devine) if i could sleep behind the merch table, to which he graciously obliged. sweet.

rudy, steph and i freaking hugged each other through the first two songs (new hampshire and closest - look out). i really really love matt pond pa and its nice that those two do as well. at one point, matt pond asks how "we" (the crowd) are doing - and i say, fairly loudly, "we're really happy right now." so he picks me out of the crowd, asking me why. and i got really nervous and could only come out with "i just really love you guys." his face turned bright red (he got shy!!) and then said that i made him feel wierd. STORY OF MY LIFE. eh - but i got to talk with him a bit afterward and it is official: i have my first band-guy crush in 4.3 years.


rudy's birthday
that fool rented a freaking uhaul and drove all of us around the city for four hours on wednesday night. inside the back of it were soccer balls, balloons, a futon, a couch, a couple of flashlights and 6 folks causing mischief. so freaking fun. we drove around nearly the entire night, each driver (one of us, i not included) taking us to another part of the city - then *rumble*rumble*whoosh* - the back of the uhaul opens up, and out we go to hang out in a new part of the city. yeeeees.


thanksgiving
the quintessential feast was had at brolin and rudy's. there were a lot of friends, and i was able to talk with a lot of my family - which i hadnt done in a while - i was really happy. and slept pretty much 14 of the 16 waking hours that day. awesome.


the dark kabaret
was awwwwwesome. jugglers. yo-yo masters. magicians. fancy 20s style clothes. dark ragtime music. bubble performers. the lead singer from the animals. fancy times with fancy sf people. words do it no justice. it was one of the greatest shows i have ever attended.


finally, the present
woke up this morning at 6:30am and watched the sun rise
still constantly listening to matt pond, pa
about to go grocery shopping
feeling the need to think about the future more than the present - and struggling with how to do it
still have a tiny crush on a stupid boy and it still hurts sometimes
looking for a new flat, with minimal success
still learning about physics
i want to learn how to play an instrument and am open to suggestions
and again, don't know what i want to do with my life, and again, am open to suggestions - ha
the sun goes down before 5pm here now and it's a little debilitating
it's really pretty here this morning - i hope it is for you too

jen

continu-ah-shee-ohn

* * *
RUDY EXTRAVAGANZA
* * *

rudy, steph, andrew / pepe (name dependant on andrew / pepe's mood) and kristine. these folks are fairly large players in my life now, so if you want to stay up with my silly little life, pay attention to the descriptions below:

rudy - c'mon now we all know rudy (but if you don't: went to college with rudy but he totally hated me. now he totally loves me)
steph - rudy's friend first. but now mine. yes! but she's moving out of the city soon, which makes me sad
andrew / pepe - a tiny little one from not sure where. met him at a pub. and he's trying to steal rudy's friendship from me
kristine - rudy's housemate who is AWESOME


rudy is the man, whether you like it or not


you ravers.


rudy and mike (his friend from high school) in front of the roxie movie theatre across the street


rudy and mike heeeeeaaaart each other


* * *
RIOTTT FESTIVALS ROCK. REAL RIOTS DO NOT.
* * *

this man gave me free ice cream while waiting for my ticket. thankyoufreeicecreamman.


backstage after two beers. one of the least respectable moments of my life. one must try to move their leg clockwise while making a six with the arm on the same side of body. IMPOSSIBLE. why are our brains so incapable?!!


seriously we were doing this all night long.


she's the happy one; i'm the hip one


new friends louise and justin who looooove each other. went to high school together and ran into each other at sxsw last year (austin incites looooove) and proceeded to loooove each other. it's a little sickening.

* * *
WORK-STYLE PHOTOS
* * *

work style photos: there are a few moments during which i am totally baffled as to how i arrived here, how i got such a great job, why i am so lucky. this lunch was one of them. the dyyyude above is andrew - co-worker extraordinaire. andrew and cory (see myspace) seriously save me while at work. they're turning into my work posse.


and this, THIS, is bill. one of two bosses. he kind of drives me crazy and puts more knots in my back than i know what to do with. but obviously from this photo, he's kind of endearing and a huuuuge heart. he means well, he just does a really poor job of not stressing out.


this is me with fancy new haircut. it's usually a bit bouncier, but it was windy and in the middle of a suuuuper long day at work. but no excuses.


* * *
EXTRANEOUS
* * *


this is my friend eric from seattle who cuts my hair whilst on the road. he is a hipster, as you can tell. which is why he loves posing in front of the sorority party behind him. (this was my first run-in with a sorority party since arriving here! i love this place!!)



SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. this took a lot of time. hopefully they will be enjoyed wholeheartedly.

love youz.

proof of existence

what up. photos from wedding. photos from austin. photos from latest san franciscan adventures. feel free to browse. to peruse. to copy and paste.

* * *

this is my sister, beth, and her boyfriend, mark. they're really cute. and mark is one of the nicest men in all the land, so that makes me happy.


"that's my dad"


how often can one go to a wedding where the ringbearer arrives via wagon?


my cousin lisa looks really happy in this photo, and i love that the photo caught my aunt dorothy watching on


uncle george and aunt marilyn. awesome.


the man who started the Sembera Electric Co. yeeeeees. (and i think he may be one of my most favorite uncles).


they abhor each other.


* * *

cory aching for a pretty lady.


with martha and i love her.


* * *


this is my housemate dave. dave is in chicken costume.


A CHICKEN COSTUME.


chicken at work.


chicken at play.


* * *

ok i have more photos but they come later. my photo-posting will power is petering out.

things are going well out here. i somehow weaseled my way into getting VIP tickets for the Riottt festival yesterday (whhhhhhaaaaa). rapture, xiu xiu, saul williams, explosions in the sky, and many many more. super fun, but i'm realizing that i am ungodly old and being backstage is really just ok. i kind of miss the days of illusionment, when i could imagine the kids on stage had great personalities and werent cocky and WERE super smart and i could just dance and hop around and enjoy the crap out of the music. and be tiny and not care. but i did have a lot of fun regardless. but i just tired easily or something - ha

* * *

more blogging soon. topics may include: riots in the streets, cashews, what the hell does goal mean anyway, a-socialism, The War between men and women and/or crosby, stills and nash records.

later dyyyudes

AND

i am really really happy about the election results!!

FI-nally. sheesh.

AND

i JUST found out that one of my dearest friends out here - teri from americorps (naacp woman of the year, mother of three, 44, no fancy degree) - was elected to school board in antioch (city in the east bay). MAN. her election gives me hope in the electoral system. she's in a place to do so much good in a place that needs it desperately.

i am so happy right now and feel so inspired (cheesy yes but true) -

jen