If you are ever in the need of taking traffic school online in a very short amount of time, let me recommend I Drive Safely. Instead of 8 hours of traffic school, I finished in less than three hours (while messaging online with friends) with a score of 92%. If you saw the questions you'd understand, although having a strong grasp on the laws of driving and a short term photographic memory helps when remembering statistics.
Which of these motor vehicles would be most difficult to handle under windy conditions?
A mid-size car
A motor home
A small pickup truck
The space shuttle
A compact car
(For those of you who jokingly said space shuttle, Mr. Kohns would like to remind you: "space shuttle is a glider, designed to glide best with a headwind." The nerds have it.)
My mouse at work has seen better days. I'm not one prone to fits of anger, but today just wasn't a good day. Actually, it was just the later afternoon that was frustrating as hell. Nothing like going to get feedback from your boss on a project that should be done, only to be told that something needs changed. Needless to say I didn't get to work out (which would have alleviated some stress) and in the end the mouse paid the price.
Just for your future reference, don't repeatedly band the mouse against the desk. What started out as light taps a few months ago out of slight frustration turned into thunderous pounds our of complete aggrevation. I would have apologized to the guy on the other side of the cubicle wall but he spent a good hour trying to get his PDA to sync (this was a problem because the sound was turned WAY up and it kept beeping irritatingly. Disgruntled? Yes, I am.
Movin' on up. Hi. My name is Melissa and I live in BoxWorld.
Most of the weekend my fingers were stained black with the ink of the local paper and now my nose feels like it's lost the battle of filtering out the nasty crap in the air. Breakables wrapped, photos taken off the wall leaving only nails in their absence. Gone are the glow in the dark stars that lined the hallway - a holdover from the college days which probably won't make it back up in the new house (except maybe for the garage). Slowly but surely, the empty boxes stacked here and there are being filled, labeled, and stacked behind the couch.
Also this weekend attempted to purchase the major appliances. Fridge, washer and dryer. Two out of three ain't bad. The washer and dryer are set to be delivered and the fridge would have also but Andrew did us wrong at Home Depot. There were not another 75 of them in stock. Oh no, there was just the floor model and it got bought by the time Kathy and I returned to the store. It was just not meant to be much to Kathy's anguish (driving back and forth to stores, deliberations, hesitations...all with little complaint). She deserves much praise for her assistance in me spending money. Anyway, that's enough of that. I'm boring. I know this.
I've never been a geography wiz. I do well enough to get the states in the US (that would be sad if I couldn't), but when you get beyond the major countries I start to have some trouble. My roommate could surely educate me on locations throughout the world seeing as she's traveled all over it. This is what brought this thought about. Working in the oil industry and the barrage of maps of the area found on the news lately helped out but I still had problems pointing out where Turkmenistan is. Give it a go and see how you do.
Wanted to ditch out of work early today since I put in a few hours last Friday but luckily I didn't. Got hit up by a team leader to answer some questions on a project. He's one of these very serious/dry humored guys that I don't quite know how to take. But there I sat, with Princess Leia-esque buns in my hair and flip flops answering questions on a $5 million project. Yea, I'm very serious about my work...
buzzing and i’m flying everybody’s trying too hard
Just back from seeing Matt the Electrician rock (in that folky-country-rock way) Lengthwise. Really was impressed with the gig, despite the somewhat off sound during the first set and the fact that the stage is set up behind the bar. I admit, the concept is very cool to have, but some nights it doesn't work out all right. I admit though that I'm biased. I've spent the better part of 2 weeks listening to a live show a guy let me download from an intimate venue in Austin and Austin Bakersfield is not. We do what we can though, and I was happy to see so many familiar faces stick around to check out Matt and his band. Slightly embarrassed when Kathy pointed out that I was the reason she knew about "Valedictorian" after yelling out for the song (only to find out it had already been played) but it was one of the best moments of the night. I'm so not one to take credit for doing what I love, which is to talk about music to others...but I admit it was DAMN cool to have my name mentioned on stage and thanked for the work I did to promote the show. I could go on and on but I do have work in the morning and I've had a bit to drink...so off to sleep I go, with the lyrics to "Diaryland" rolling through my head. Oh, and Gina - I thought of Clyde McBiggins when "Little Hands" was played.
I just spent the better part of an hour researching refrigerators, washers, and dryers on the internet. So is this what being a homeowner entails? Actually, it'll be nice to be able to wash more than 2 pants in the mini stacked combo I've had here at the apartment and now I can have one of those side-by-side fridges with the built-in ice makers. Woo. I guess this means I'm settling down. I'll no longer be able to throw my things into the back of a truck and go. Granted, I wasn't able to do that much after my junior year of college when I inherited some lovely furniture from family friends. Roots are good to have, just never thought I'd be putting them down in Bakersfield. Then again, buying houses seem to be all the rage amongst my friends.
The ducks are out in full force again. In the mornings they are quacking around looking for bits of corn flakes or such. Unfortunately Richey moved and no longer feeds them on what was Chuck's doorstep. Occasionally as I rub the sleep from my eyes I hear a car honking in attempt to persuade the web footed ones to waddle just a little bit faster across the drive. The afternoons are usually a frisky time for the quakers - which means there will soon be little ducklings to contend with. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to miss them after the move. Too many a time walking (often barefooted) I've nearly stepped on a poopmine. Nearly...never have...yet.
I admit it. I seem to have a problem getting rid of old t-shirts. Part of the reason is the memories attached to them I suppose, although tonight proved that my memory isn't want it used to be. Took me a while, breaking out the old yearbooks, and some little searching to remember that my Senior play was The Clumsy Custard Horror Show. I was Arnis Boheme, the narrator. Not sure if it's because I could remember all the lines for the extent of the play or because I couldn't act. I like to think that I was the string that held the story together. Something like that.
Luckily it wasn't until right now that the refrain from the theme to "Gilligan's Island" came into my head otherwise it would have been a long 3 mile hike (3 mile hike...). While part of my thoughts were that I should stay home and pack up some boxes, I was easily persuaded otherwise and spent the day up in the Kernville area watching kayak races and the aforementioned 3 mile hike. Problem is, now I'm going to have "Gilligan's Island" stuck in my head for the duration of the night. Oooh, wait.... Thanks to the goodness of television it's now replaced with the "woo woo" from the Fructis commerical which is ironically a song from The Transplants. The irony is I saw them open for Foo Fighters a couple weeks ago and didn't think any song really stood out to me as being something I liked yet the hook to this song was catchy. Catchy indeed.
Well, not really, but it was a bit freaky to open the paper yesterday and come across my name. Not under any headlines dealing with falling asleep at the wheel as previously mentioned, but in the entertainment section. Those who've heard my less than stellar performances in such venues as the Ryder truck on I-5 know it's not because of my vocal stylings. No, instead it had more to do with my grand schemes and impecable taste in music.
You see, after talking with a friend online who's put together house concerts down in the San Diego area I was inspired to help pull an event together. So I emailed friends to get some gauge on interest. "If you have it, we will come" was the response. Problem was timing. The end of last year brought on a flurry of activity from Cancer camp, recruiting, South America sojourning, and Christmas. In a sense though I have held two house concerts with a talented artist. Granted, he was a friend out visiting California but I'm still going to count it damnit.
As for my musical taste - yea, it's that good. It helps to have friends that drop names now and then of bands to check out. I just feel it's my duty to make sure you know about it - whether you like it or not.
The Kern County Library - last time I entered the Southwest Branch was when I first moved here and I slipped in try to check my email. They didn't seem to like that idea though, so I had to hit up the library at Cal State instead. But today I became a member of the Kern County Library - all official and shit. Being in this book club now means occasionally reading a book I may not want to purchase which reminds me I ought to sign up to Bookcrossing and clean out a few unwanteds. So far the "uh, can I borrow that after you" method has worked but this time around I'm trying to be a little proactive on the reading. Love in the Time of Cholera - sounds interesting enough.
I've gone to Vegas two times in as many months. Yea, I think I'm good for the next decade. Except for the Bellagio. While we didn't get to catch the fountains this time due to high winds, or at least what they deem as high winds( obviously they've never experienced the Gap wind blow back home). The consolation was getting to see the inside of the hoity hotel - the glass ceilings, indoor garden, butterfly zoo and a small water fountain that was mesmerizing in its own way.
Kazoo You! It may be the night talking, but there's really not enough songs out there with kazoo solos in them. Okay, maybe the fact that there is at least one song out there with a kazoo solo in it is enough. I just listened to one. Tonight while writing about cottage cheese I was listening to random mp3s that I've downloaded recently - oddly enough many with "unusual" instruments. Kazoo, accordian, banjo-lele, whistling. Okay, whistling also isn't all that unusual but I have whistle envy. I can squeak out about a note and a half only to sound much like a sick bird calling for their Nightingale (Florence) to nurse them back to health. Is this some sort of Karmic retribution? To be such an avid music afficianado yet can't sing, can't whistle but damn I'm a good listener.
Wipe the sleep from my eyes. Why is it even though I went to bed way early (we're talking 9pm here) that I'm still tired this morning? Hard time getting up? Yes indeed. Time will tell what the effects of coffee will have on my groggy ass this morning.
Put it on your calendar. April 24th - Matt the Electrician. Now you run the risk of seeing this and staying home thinking an electrician is stopping by but I tell you now that you'll regret not being present at Lengthwise.
Now, up until a few days ago I didn't know who Matt the Electrician was either. His name has floated around the Bob Schneider mailing list along with some other Austin-ites. So when I recognized the name on the poster in the bathroom of Lengthwise on Thursday night I knew I had some music to check out so I could give you an educated urging to go see him play. So here, I present to you reasons to come to Lengthwise at 8pm on April 24th.
1. Matt really is an electrician.
2. Evidently he is prone to telling elephant jokes on stage.
3. You like your pop folkie and country-tinged.
4. Curious what a cross between Paul Simon and a touch of Violent Femmes sounds like?
5. It's Lengthwise - there's beer there.
6. You are prone to catching songs sticking in your head.
7. He's a damn fine whistler.
8. Texas may suck overall, but Austin knows good music and Austin likes Matt.
9. He also rocks out on a "banjo-lele" (cross between a banjo and a ukelele).
10. If you haven't figured out, there's not that much to do in Bakersfield and when I tell you that there's good music playing somewhere you know I know you know damn well I know what I'm talking about.
A few of songs for you to check out in the privacy of your computer:
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In other music related rambling - I've come to enjoy The Decemberists in the past few days something just pulling me in. That something is probably Colin Meloy's voice since I just realized that he was in a band I listened to in college from Missoula, MT (Tarkio). Anyway, they are opening for Mason Jenning at the Troubadour Friday, April 18th....
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Also Ryan Adcock rocks softly. He's not coming to California but listen anyway.
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One last one: Stephen Kellogg. He's able to encorporate "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "This Old Man" into songs that are far beyond nursery rhymes.
I could go on and on (and on) but I'll spare you (for now).
Kathy told me I couldn't talk about it anymore but here I sit. Which sucks. I should be amongst college students in Claremont watching Guster rok. But no, here I am at home in Bakersfield being responsible. Granted, if I hadn't had a little too much of the margarita at yesterday's crawfish boil I might have felt in better condition to make the drive to catch the show. The numbers 140 burned on the screen and in my mind. The reason I'm not going is that driving 140 miles at 11pm with work on Monday morning really isn't the best of ideas. I don't want it written anytime soon that some driver crashed after falling asleep at the wheel returning from a Guster concert. And I was looking forward to catching Maroon5 open for them. One of those bands that I'd heard their name thrown around on mailing lists but never checked out. When I finally did I discovered a mix of Stevie Wonder and Remy Shand. Quite nice - one of those secret indulgences musically.
Laura tried to post this comment and I didn't work (too big maybe?) so I thought I would post it here. Pretty sad that there are people like and they let them into grocery stores even.
"So an interesting thing happened to me this afternoon at Albertson's... I arrived at the salad bar and began to fill my little plastic container with veggies and stuff. There is a woman already there on the other side of the counter fiddling with one of those tear-off plastic bags for fruits/vegetables. I finished picking out the stuff on the one side and walked around to the other side to see what else was available for lunch today. The woman started mumbling something to me about having trouble opening her plastic bag. I responded something along the lines of "yes, I sympathize. I think they are people-proof." Then this woman started walking around all the way to the other side of the salad bar and mumbled something like "Sorry,...[mumble] Asian...[mumble]..." I didn't hear her clearly so I just smiled and continued on with checking out the salad bar offerings. Then the woman asked me if I had been to Asia lately. Then it suddenly became clear to me what she was mumbling... She had walked all the way to the other side of the counter to avoid me because she was afraid I was infected with SARS, you know, that flu-like thing going on in Hong Kong and possibly S. China. I couldn't believe my ears! It had been a while since I've heard a stupid comment like that I've nearly forgotten how idiotic some people are. I cooly responded "I don't think so" as I glared at the contents of my lunch even though I felt like smacking her around and yell at her and tell her how lousy she was to say something like that... Instead, I closed up the little salad container and calmly walked away to the nearby bread aisle as my furiousness burned between my ears..."
A Hard Wind Blows It feels like a storm brewing outside. The window is cracked slightly to allow a "fresh" breeze to displace the stale apartment air. Closing my eyes the sound takes me back to home and the Gap wind blowing in an afternoon storm. Rain drenching the ground and thunder filling ears. But then I remember I'm in Bakersfield and if lucky the sprinkling will knock the particulates from the sky and clear the path to see the mountains.
Slipping in some suggestions for March just under the wire. Bought a lot of cds this month and have bounced around what I was listening to. Edwin McCain's new album "Austin Sessions" got a lot of spins on the drive to Vegas and back. First came across his music while I was living in Denver and he was one of the openers at a radio sponsored benefit concert. I went just to see Dog's Eye View play but came away a fan of Edwin's. I can remember all the mornings waking up at 3am to go to work and listening to "3am". Luckily times and jobs have changed - I'm more of a "Starfish and Coffee" person ("It was 7:45 we were all in line 2 greet the teacher Miss Cathleen...")
Also getting much headphone time at work was Jesse Malin, Mike Errico, and recently Emm Gryner. Her album "Girl Versions" is, um, girl versions of songs like Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me", Blur's "Song 2" (whoo hoo - when i feel heavy metal) and Ozzy's "Crazy Train". Anyway. Good stuff.
I've never been one that is proficient with the chop sticks. Growing up in the scrubbrush of Montana it's not like there was a Chinese restaurant down the road. Well, actually there was one in the next town over a whole 9 miles away. But still, I've never had the patience to get through an entire meal with the wooden utensils and tonight I was going to give it go. Nice in theory but the problem was with the quality of wood. See, I've got this issue with popscicle sticks. Can't lick them. To me it's a version of fingernails on a chalkboard or whatever your peeve is with. Creasing paper. Chewing on ice. Just thinking about it gives me the willies. Can I have a fork please? "An instrument used chiefly for the purpose of putting dead animals into the mouth." Um...okay.
