[edit]

I’ve had a crazy weekend. Despite some major downfalls, it was still good. I worked at the Moxie on Friday and watched Brick for a second time (got a lot more out of it after a second viewing). Saturday I went to the James River to swim with my parents and step-siblings and Alicia. It was a late Father’s Day trip and we had lots of good food and floated the river a little in tubes and just had an overall good time. We were there all day long, so I got a slight sunburn, but it’s turning into a nice tan so I’m happy about that. That night I took Alicia to Rasta Grill to eat, which was great as usual, and then we went to my apartment and watched Runaway Jury. Sunday I slept in and then woke up to study for my astronomy test, which is tonight. I studied all afternoon and so around 4:00 I quit and went to Erin’s for dinner. She made broccoli chicken alfredo, ceasar salad, and garlic bread for like 8 people! It was so good. Then about half of us went to see The Devil and Daniel Johnston, which was simply brilliant and a really moving story. It’s one of the best documentaries I’ve seen in a long time and doesn’t use politics to throw its punches, so that’s a wonder unto itself. I think it definitely deserves the Oscar next year and deserves every bit of praise it has received. And that was my weekend.

Tonight I have a killer astronomy test plus I’ve got to talk to my landlord about getting a studio apartment if they have any available. The new apartments they’re building on my road also have some studio apartments with a really awesome layout (no deck though) so I’ll check those out too. I really like this area and I really like the TLC Properties apartments because of what they include in your rent. I know I could get a cheaper place closer to campus but not many of those include free internet and free cable, plus they usually make you pay more utilities than what I pay. It evens out in the end, but I get the bonus of having much nicer and newer apartments if I stay with TLC, so that’s what I really want to do. It is more expensive to get a studio apartment than split the cost of a 2 bedroom, but my mom said she might be able to help me out some to cover the extra that I will be paying. I would work more, but I am taking most all the available hours at both my jobs (MSU only allows me so many hours per year and the Moxie gives me what they can). That would mean either a third job or quitting one of the two, but the flexibility I have with them is perfect right now, plus the next two semesters are going to be KILLER for me because of the senior-level production classes I’m taking, which will add 15+ hours per week to my schedule when I’m shooting, which will probably be every other weekend. God I can’t wait until I graduate.

[..Update..]

Well I have an apartment squared away already. I talked to my landlord when I got off work today and while they don’t have any Sherwood Village studio apartments available, they do have some of the brand new Marion Park studio apartments available (the new ones they are building on the west side of Marion). It is on the bottom floor (no more stair climbing!) and will be facing some trees and a small pond (no more parking lot view!). Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a patio so I can’t grill on my electric grill anymore, but I think I can get by without it – especially now that I’ve been steaming everything I cook. One really cool thing is how it is laid out (see below) – I can put my bed or desk against the big window and then it has closets on both sides and a big area for either my bed or desk plus my entertainment center. I don’t know if I’ll be able to fit my dining room table or not though. Anyway, it’s a short move and a brand new apartment. This one has everything my current one has plus a movie theater! How cool is that? I’m wondering if they might need someone to run the night movie screenings? I think I have more experience than anyone else who will be living in that complex. It’d be a nice way to earn an extra buck now and then. I’m really excited, though a little disappointed to be leaving my current apartment. What can you do though, eh? Below is the floorplan for my new apartment, which I’ll be moving into at the end of August… Oh, and my nephew is the cutest little bugger this side of the moon. I can’t believe he’s almost a year old!

I’m down to my last lecture before my astronomy test on Monday night. This stuff is incredibly interesting. If I was a little smarter, ok a LOT smarter, I would want to be an astronomer. Since I was in junior high I have had an interest in black holes and the universe and all that jazz, and I’ve even read a couple of books by Stephen Hawking (A Brief History of Time). Anyway, this class has at least revived my interest in the subject, however short-lived it may be. And believe me, it helps me get through the droning voice of the professor (ok, he’s actually not that bad).

This Saturday I think my family and I are going tubing. We’re celebrating a late Father’s Day for my step-dad since his kids were busy last Sunday and that’s what we’re hoping to do. I can’t wait. I haven’t gone tubing in forever! That will be fun. Next Friday me and Alicia are going to a Springfield Cardinals game. I have been wanting to go to one for a long time so that will be fun. Then after the weekend it’s Independence Day. I don’t have a clue what my family is doing, I’ll just be happy to have a day off work. This summer is going waaaay too fast. I can’t believe I’ll be graduating a year from now. Weather permitting.

I’m reading an extremely hilarious book right now, Apathy and Other Small Victories by Paul Neilan. No doubt it will be turned into a movie in the near future, but I think an even better choice would be if someone turned it into a television sitcom. I once again gave up on This Boy’s Life. I will read it someday, but I keep reading the first chapter thinking it’s nothing what I feel like reading right now. It feels more like a fall or winter book. And I refuse to see the movie before reading the book. After I finish Apathy, I plan on reading Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle. Ok, enough bookworm mumbo jumbo for one post. I just thought I oughta update with a real post – not political mumbo jumbo. Although there is plenty to rant about in the political world right now. I’m actually happy with the way Bush is handling Iran and North Korea, but I’m really hoping he doesn’t pull another Iraq and shoot first. Ok, I’m done.

P.S. the headline is from a really great song by Brandtson. It is fitting to my summer it seems.

Here’s an interesting story about a country with a king that President Bush likes to hold hands with and occasionally make out with. Ok, the smooch is a fake, but that doesn’t change the fact that our country’s leader and many other Republicans love this country, where they cut off your hands or feet if you steal something, and they flog you if you’re gay or a drunk.

Oh wait, Saudi Arabia has all the oil. No wonder Bush supports them so much. And many American oil companies are doing a lot more than holding hands and making out with the Saudi government, and making billions of dollars for doing it. But rather than put more money into alternative fuel studies, Bush would rather suck up to these bottom-feeders. Wait a minute, I have a great idea! Why don’t we just invade an oil-rich country, who we gave weapons to, based on weak evidence? Genius!

Top Ten

1. Are You Nervous? by Rock Kills Kid
2. The Life Pursuit by Belle & Sebastian
3. Duper Sessions by Sondre Lerche
4. Whatever People Say I Am by Arctic Monkeys
5. You In Reverse by Built to Spill
6. How We Operate by Gomez
7. Vision Valley by The Vines
8. Begin to Hope by Regina Spektor
9. Under the Iron Sea by Keane
10. Ganging Up on the Sun by Guster

Other Notables

• Without Feathers by The Stills
• Fox Confessor Brings the Flood by Neko Case
• Hello, Control by Brandston
• We Shall Overcome by Bruce Springsteen
• The Back Room by The Editors
• Meds by Placebo
• The Greatest by Cat Power
• Death by Sexy by Eagles of Death Metal
• Show Your Bones by Yeah Yeah Yeah’s
• Eyes Open by Snow Patrol
• The True False Identity by T Bone Burnett
• At War With the Mystics by The Flaming Lips
• A Piece of Strange by The Cunninlynguists
• The Little Willies by The Little Willies
• Foiled by Blue October
• Black Cadillac by Rosanne Cash
• Curious George Sing-A-Longs by Jack Johnson
• Eye to the Telescope by KT Tunstall
• Back to Bedlam by James Blunt
• I’m Not Dead by Pink
• Ways Not to Lose by The Wood Brothers
• A Blessing and a Curse by Drive-by Truckers
• You Don’t Know Me: Songs of Cindy Walker by Willie Nelson
• Both Sides of the Gun by Ben Harper
• Yes, Virginia… by The Dresden Dolls
• Timeless by Sergio Mendes
• Rabbit Fur Coat by Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
• Comfort of Strangers by Beth Orton
• Bitter Tea by Fiery Furnaces
• Yonder Mountain String Band by Yonder Mountain String Band
• Just Like the Fambly Cat by Grandaddy
• Broken Boy Soldiers by The Raconteurs
• Living With War by Neil Young
• All the Roadrunning by Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris
• Taking the Long Way by Dixie Chicks
• Moon Over the Freeway by Ditty Bops
• Fundamental by Pet Shop Boys
• Sun, Sun, Sun by The Elected

Upcoming Notable Albums

• Ben Kweller by Ben Kweller
• The Eraser by Thom Yorke
• The Avalanche by Sufjan Stevens
• Black Holes and Revelations by Muse
• Untitled by The Postal Service
• Slow Motion Addict by Carina Round