woke to the sounds of rain. was just laying in bed thinking, I really should get up when i realized that once familar sound of rain pattering on the ground was coming from outside my window. That's always been one of my favorite things - to wake to the sound of softly falling rain. Don't get that too often here...although occasionally I can deceive myself into thinking the sprinklers are quick shower passing through.
Thursday I'll know something. Something more than today at least. Down comes the decision about the next level of jobs - reminds me of back in the day when we got PFO letters from companies. Thinking there is the need to continue in the tradition - but there's no Vu here but I'll make due.
This just in: ok, someone one door down was just blaring some Shania Twain...and although i don't like her, it was sort of funny. The guy on the other side of me goes down and says "Hey, what do you this is? A bar?" and then walks back to his office mumbling something.
Hey. HEY! It's Friday - lighten the fuck up. Of course this Speaker Phone Man, who just now made a phone call to his broker saying "...sell some Microsoft. I need $10,000 so sell that much in Microsoft." Maybe I'll start writing about all the conversations and phone messages I'm privy to. "How about some KFC? I can stop by and get some chicken for dinner."
It would seem every once in a while I fall into this funk that there seems to be no getting around. I usually notice it's onset by the fact that I come home from work and nap for a good hour. This is a different nap than the ones I have to take the day after one of my late night jaunts to LA for a show. So here it is Tuesday, and I've almost written off the week as being catagorized as shite (not shit...shite - there is a difference). I try to tell myself that I'm just letting the petty things in life eat away at my apple's core. Today happens to be the anniversary of one friend's "worst day ever" and that got me to thinking...to comparing my worst day ever to it. So here I am, with my mental grain of sand while he's living with a dune. But you know, it's all relative. And the internalized conflict I have. I'm not even sure where I'm going with this. Going to play frisbee - because sure as it doesn't rain in Bakersfield, there's nothing like chasing after a disc to make you feel like you are 12 again...and that's not such a bad thing.
Saturday marked my 31st concert of the year. What makes this such a milestone of a number, is for all of 2000, my total was 31. It's October folks, and I already know of a good 5 shows I'll be going to before the end of November. Who have I been seeing you ask? Here's the quick rundown - headliners and openers alike: John Mayer (5), Glen Phillips (4), Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers (3 +1 upcoming), Jack Johnson (3), Howie Day (3 +2 upcoming), Dispatch (3 +2 upcoming), Train, Shea Seger, Pat McGee Band, Will Hoge, David Gray, Chantal Kreviazuk, Flickerstick, Soulcraker, Harlow, G. Love & Special Sauce, Bob Schneider, Great Big Sea, Ben Kweller, Guster, Cake, Brent Babb, Barenaked Ladies, Macy Gray, Matt Nathanson, Nelly Furtado, Nickel Creek, Dave Matthews Band, PJ Harvey, Rockwell Church, Bottle of Justus, Cowboy Mouth, Counting Crows, and U2. Oh, and only one of these shows was actually in Bakersfield.
I think I might need a 12 step program here soon...
Kathy came across town to go check out the sidewalk art of Via ArtĂ at The Marketplace. It's this fundraiser for the Bakersfield Museum of Art where artists, chalk, and asphalt combust. See for yourself what it's all about.
We ran into a few people from work out there - including my old geologist. Old as in former, not as in...yea, digging it deeper eh? Anyway, it's always strange for me to run into people from work outside of the office. It's not that I live a double life or anything...although at times it feels like it. I know that tomorrow when I get to the office I'll be asked if I "went out of town again" which of course the answer is yes. And then the follow up question is always "for a concert?" which I will also answer yes to. While that isn't always the case, much of my travels revolve around music. Could be that beyond my friends at work, the people I've met are "concert people" and it doesn't help that Jenn keeps getting these great bands coming to play at USD. I guess I'm just taking advantage of the situation while I'm here. Which reminds me...I really need to get to Yosemite one of these weekends.
The Mutual Admiration Tour 2001 So part of me was ho-humming about making the drive down to Anaheim to see Glen and Nickel Creek. What can I say...I'm an idiot. I can't find the words at this hour, and this caffeinated state to give perspective on how "worth it" it was....I could have left a happy girl just seeing Glen and Chris Thile do "Fred Meyers" together. Seriously, if you get the chance to see both Glen and Nickel Creek play together you would be doing yourself a big disservice by not going. Beyond the fact that NC alone plays so tight...you throw Glen in the mix and you never know what will happen. Also, being in the midst of all that is Disney, there was Glen's Mickey impression as well as a song about Donald Duck (along with Chris Thile's impression of the duck with a speech impediment).
I could go on...but shit, it's 2am and I'm finally coming down off the Mountain Dew. My pillow beckons...
So Seth decided that there was "housework" to be done, and that leaves me to make the trip south solo. I usually don't have a problem with the sojourns, but I'm not looking forward to this one all. Just too much going on, and as loud as the music pumps from my speakers, it isn't loud enough to drown out the thoughts flowing in my head. Much too much going on right now...who knows, maybe I'll get it all figured out as the mileposts pass me by. Do they even have mileposts on I-5...I can't recall now.
i've got the hazies of the morning still floating around in my head. i've been running up and down the state of california for the last 3 weekends that it felt good to wake up in my own bed this morning. we'll see if that happens tomorrow. oh, behave yourself - if seth doesn't go with me to Glen Phillips and Nickel Creek in Anaheim then I'm probably going to get a hotel. i know how i get on the drive home from West Hollywood, and i'm not sure i want to pull it off from even further south.
Kathy - came to the conclusion today that the Falafel House must be making money as they are redecorating. Got this mural thing going on and arches. Have to see it to understand. And yes...I went without you again.
Can you say condo? I'm thinking about it. Seems that Sara's pretty serious this time around, so it looks like I'm back in the market to move. Not that rent is relatively that wallet wrenching, but it's an option to check out. We'll see soon enough. Same goes with work. "They" were talking about us today. "They" would be the higher ups that are choosing their minions. Imagine being a fly on that wall.
"Ok, I'll take the engineer from Montana even though she wears Birkenstocks to work and sits behind her computer most of the day, but you have to take the biker looking dude from AMT 1 and that wanderlusting freak - it's a packaged deal."
So I probably deserved it. On two occasions now I’ve told my roommate that I was looking to move out – and both times I’ve decided not to because I hate the thought of moving that much. Why? I have a lot of shit. A lot. Ask Belk…she’ll tell you. Well last night a bomb was dropped. It was more of a grenade really. Sara’s goes through these depressions and what-the-hell-am-I-doing-with-my-life’s on occasion and she’s thinking about quitting work to go back to college next semester. We have until Friday to give a decision on a short term lease or month to month rent. I should know about my job here soon too…as in if or where I’ll be at. Yea, welcome to the real world.
For your reading pleasure - and excerpt of the IM conversation "Dueling Flounder"
Belk: I'm against you by the way
me: you are my arch enemy
Belk: yesh
me: should we schedule our epic battle?
Belk: yesh
Belk: and it must be epic I tell you,
EPIC
me: duel to the death...or at least mild rash?
Belk: welts definitely
me: weapons of choice?
Belk: I will choose a rapid fire gumball machine
me: that should leave nice welts
me: i will be armed with a spork
Belk: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh, not a spork
me: yes. i've been trained in the deadly art of ...uh,
sporking
Belk: oh really?
me: no, not really. you caught my bluff. i'm a spork
novice
Belk: I practice with my gumball machine like Tiger Woods with
his bouncing golf balls on golf clubs, I am afraid you are sorely
outmatched here!
me: can i chose i different weapon then?
Belk: yes, I will be fair
me: then i chose a 10 pound flounder.
Belk: nice choice
me: thanks.
The last two days after work I've taken naps. This is really not conducive to going to bed at a somewhat reasonable time. Like now, it's after midnight and I could stay up longer. I shouldn't though - have work in the morning and headed to LA for the weekend. Hitting up a couple of John Mayer shows down south. Should be a good time...
Day One.Yea, so it's official and I now work for an even bigger oil company. Some changes are subtle, some not so. Missing Star logos and the flags came down. Logging into work the homepage is now has a longer acronym instead of old one representing our business unit. My email address came back in a reply to me with the new company's name. The one that got me is they went as far as to rename T-co Freeway (a road that cuts through the field) to CVX Way. Just waiting to see how long it takes them to paint over the big star logo on the side of the large tank on top of the hill - which is lit at night. Things are going to change. A lot.
Decided the only good thing about today (is it a sign that i'm stating this while the day is only half over?) is that I've got cool socks on. That's pretty much it in the little universe that revolves around me.
What am I doing Saturday? Up until 5 minutes ago I was just driving to San Diego to catch the concert a friend of mine put together at USD - Jack Johnson with Glen Phillips opening. Well, now I'm also selling merch for Glen. That rocks. I can remember how I first discovered Toad the Wet Sprocket. My best friend at the time was living in Florida and told me about them and how I should check them out. I also remember seeing the video for "All I Want" and thinking that Glen looked like Steve Tesarek...my brother didn't think so though. My what random things I am remembering tonight. Oh, and that once best friend just had her second son about two weeks ago, and I didn't even know she was pregnant. That's so bad of me...really it is.
