I'm a bit baffled. I think I'm getting taller. Or all of my pants are getting shorter. I have short legs and I'm too lazy to get my pants hemmed so I tend to invest in shoes that have a bit of a heel on them. This past week I've tried to wear my tall shoes with some of my pants and I couldn't. I looked like I was awaiting a flood. How is this possible? I don't understand. I don't think people get taller at 23. Do they? Could my pants spontaneously shorten themselves? Huh.
Have I mentioned yet that I LOVE living in Colorado? Because I love, love, LOVE it here. Here are some of my favorite things so far:
*The gorgeous skies. Everyday I walk out of my apartment and am amazed at the beautiful blue sky always dotted with lovely, puffy white clouds. After living in SLC where the skies are covered with inversion 50% of the time, I can't get enough of the blue.
*The constant breeze. I think Colorado Springs should take over Chicago's title of the "windy city" because it's always going. Maybe in the winter I won't love it so much but right now it's spring and the breeze is fantastic!
*There are bike trails everywhere. Not just bike lanes, but honest to goodness trails that twist through neighborhoods and connect the many, many parks. I'm in heaven. After this I don't know if I'll ever be able to live in a place that doesn't have a fabulous trail system.
*My scrabble groupies. Yes it's true, I already have scrabble friends and they are quite lovely. And they're good too. It's hard enough to find people who like to play, let alone people that will give me a challenge.
*The little children living in my apartment complex who have taken to calling me Miss Jennie. Of course it's extremely possible that they only love me because I let them play with my "Twister" & "Rockem' Sockem' Robots" set and read my children's books, but I'm okay with that.
*Palmer Park. This park is like a ski resort for mountain bikers. Each of the many trails in this park are labeled like ski runs would be: green, blue, black. And it's free!
*Manitou Springs. This neighboring town is like my own little Park City.
Did I mention that I love it here?
Okay, I'm officially done with my love fest...
I'm sitting in the library using their computers because, uh, they're free. Anyway, this poor kid's computer across the way just announced to the whole computer lab in a high squeaky voice "Hey everybody! I'm watching porno over here!" Which of course he wasn't (it is a public computer lab and all). Turned 5 shades of red while the rest of the patrons snickered. So cruel I know, but amusing nonetheless.
Yesterday I had a bit of extra time and decided to hit the large area on my map that said "Garden of the Gods." So glad I did! It's this large park on the outskirts of Colorado Springs that is southern Utah meets mountainous Colorado. All I can say is that I think I found my new favorite cycling location. Woohoo! Snapped a couple of pictures with my phone and mobile blogged them yesterday. Hence the pictures with very little explanation :)
My friends and I always joke about my lack of filter and how I need to obtain one for the purpose of screening some of the things I say. I am in the habit of saying what I think when I think it and that's not always a good thing. Sometimes I'll mull over things if I haven't formed a concrete opinion but as soon as I form one.... out it goes. But I don't think I'm the one in need of a filter overhaul. The past couple of days I've had the great fortune of encountering two male specimens who need a new filter.
First I'll give you creepy mattress boy. Here are just a few things that slipped out of his mouth while I tried to shop for a mattress and he tried to get a date and make a sale (neither happened by the way):
*If I were you I'd definitely go for the queen size bed because, if you don't mind me saying, you're a cute girl and you might be wanting to have a few "adult" sleepovers. If ya know what I mean. Wink wink.
*I can give you the best deal because I don't care about my commission. This isn't my real job. I'm really a news anchor in New York City.
*Don't get a firm mattress. I have two screws in my back and I'm telling you that soft mattresses are the way to go. I got injured when I saw a chiropractor for a news story I was doing.
*I used to be a world class runner. And I even did triathlons on the side!
*Do you like dogs? What are you doing tonight? Do you want to walk my dog with me at the Doggie Park? Here let me show you my dog's web page on MySpace.
*You've only been in town for a week? Then I'm really going to hit on you now! (Like you weren't doing a pretty good job of it already).
Seriously. You need a filter Creepy Mattress Dude. Get one now. No your lack of one did not get you a date. Instead I booked it out of there as fast as I could.
Now on the other end of the spectrum I give you Been Friends Forever And I'm Holding a Grudge Against You For Something You Said Three Years Ago That You Don't Remember But It Really Bothers Me And I Won't Address The Issue Guy.
I recently found out through a mutual friend that I had said something really stupid and hurtful to this friend in jest. No I'm not proud of it. I don't remember saying it. It's not even true. But apparently it really hurt him. I wish that he would have addressed the issue with me. I was really dumb. I would apologize. Several times. If something is going to bother you for three years, you should say something!!! And now I can't even take up the issue with him because I was sworn to secrecy. Driving me crazy!
It really shouldn't be this hard to get a happy medium should it?
Tuesday I saw my first ever episode of American Idol. Amazing eh? I figured I should see what all the fuss is about while I actually have a tv in my possession. I have to say that I wasn't all that impressed. Although I have heard from the news people that Tuesday was a major let down for most fans as well. Apparently the boys weren't exactly up to snuff. All I know is that I'm not hooked and it's a good thing because I won't be able to watch it unless I decide to invest in a tv which isn't a likely situation. The tv in my hotel room is sucking my soul. When I get home I end up watching tv instead of reading books. Or other useful things. Lame.
In other news, I am moving into my just barely remodeled apartment tomorrow. And there was much rejoicing!
Listen carefully. Actually I guess it should be read carefully. Whatever. I'm going to share with you all some of my favorite bands/musicians that aren't extremely well known... yet. Some of them may actually be getting a bit of airplay (finally), but since I don't really listen to the radio, I don't know for sure. Anyway, they're fantastic and you should check them out.
Paolo Nutini: I've been listening to his cd These Streets almost non-stop for the last month or so and it is fantastic. His voice is a bit rough (like David Gray's) and most of his songs are upbeat without being annoyingly so. His music and lyrics are really fresh and different from most of the stuff that's out there right now.
Favorite Tracks: Jenny Don't Be Hasty (my theme song?), Last Request, Alloway Grove
Brandi Carlile: The first time I heard her on KCRW I was skeptical. Very much so. She has a really interesting, different sounding voice that is not necessarily easy on the ears at first. Don't stop there! The second time through I really started to love her and the third time listened I was completely hooked. Back in June I was lucky enough to see her in concert where she was freaking amazing. Her performance ties with Billy Joel for the best artists I've seen live. Her second "real" cd is set to be released on April 3rd (happy late birthday to me!) and since I've heard most of the songs on it, I can say with confidence that it's going to be fantastic.
Favorite Tracks: Fall Apart Again, Someday Never Comes, Happy, Late Morning Lullaby, Shadow on the Wall
Ray Lamontagne: Love, love, love Ray. He's got this super grainy voice that he sings so softly and soulfully. He's got two cds out, Trouble and Till the Sun Turns Black, and they are both really fantastic in different ways. Trouble is more upbeat and heavier on the acoustic guitar while Till the Sun Turns Black is softer but has such beautiful melodies.
Favorite Tracks: Hold You in My Arms, Forever My Friend, How Come, Empty, Can I Stay
The Feeling: This is an honest to goodness pop group. Purely fun music with a good beat and catchy hooks. You can't help listening to them without ending up singing along. It took them forever to release their album Twelve Stops and Home in the US, but it was worth the wait.
Favorite Tracks: Never Be Lonely, Sewn, Fill My Little World
Amos Lee: Just telling you that he was under the same record label as Norah Jones tells you a great deal about his sound. His voice is smooth as butter and his songs are extremely soulful, sometimes jazzy, and in the case of his second cd, fairly bluesy. His cds Amos Lee and Supply and Demand are both worthy buys. I've also had the privilege of seeing him perform live and he was just as good or better than his cds.
Favorite Tracks: Arms of a Woman, Black River, Sympathize, Night Train, Long Line of Pain
I have more people I could talk lovingly about, but I think I'll stop there before you get too bored. Seriously though, check these guys out if you haven't already heard their stuff.
All this road-tripping has given me ample time to think about a variety of things that I usually try to forget. For instance, during my 23 years of life I have seen a few movies that should never have been made in the first place and I certainly shouldn't have watched. You know the kind of movies I'm talking about. You're sitting in your living room/the movie theater and about ten minutes into it you think to yourself, "Why the hell am I watching this? This is awful. Incredibly awful. Walk out now. Just do it." But you keep watching it because you're with other people who want to see it, you spent the money on a theater ticket, you tell yourself it'll get better, etc. Afterwards, you can't believe you actually spent a couple of hours on that junk. I've compiled a list of the worst movies I've ever sat through instead of walking out of the theater; movies I've wasted money AND time on. So here goes:
10) Waterworld: This movie officially ended my celebrity crush on Kevin Costner. He was the love of my pre-adolescent life. Robin Hood? Break me off a piece of that! Ow Ow! (Can I have some Alan Rickman as a side dish?) But in Waterworld where he was posing as half fish/half man he needed some serious help.
9) Flushed Away: I heard so many good things about this movie that I went to see it even though I don't like cartoons in general. I thought to myself, it has Kate Winslet and Hugh Jackman in it so it should be an exemplary cartoon. I was soooooo wrong.
8) Oklahoma!: This is my least favorite musical and I've had the great misfortune of seeing it plenty of times. My mother actually convinced me to sit down and watch the Hugh Jackman version because "Hugh Jackman is in it!" Nope, still didn't like it. Try again.
7) Full House: Yes I realize that this is a TV show but I'm putting it in here anyway. I loved this show when I was little! I have absolutely no idea how I could stand it. Now every time it comes on, I start forming a rash and my gag reflex goes out of control. I could have spent my time more wisely.... like watching more Saved By the Bell or something.
6) It's a Wonderful Life: I realize it's extremely probable that you all absolutely love this movie and it's not a proper Christmas without seeing it at least once. I still can't stand it and no one will ever be able to convince me of it's worth. And I'm a big Jimmy Stewart fan. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is I hate about it, but the entire movie just gives me the creeps.
5) Talladega Nights: I saw this movie with friends who REALLY wanted to see it but I knew I would hate it even before I was in the theater. Unfortunately I let myself be talked into seeing it anyway. And then spent the entire time wishing I hadn't carpooled to the theater.
4) The Land Before Time II, III, IV...: I think they must be up to The Land Before Time 14 by now. And no I haven't really seen them all but I've definitely seen a couple because my little sister had awful taste as a child. And I was forced to watch them.
3) My Super Ex-Girlfriend: I should have known. I really should have. I'm dumb and my love of Luke Wilson clouded my better judgement. No one should ever, ever, EVER watch this movie.
2) Billboard Dad: I don't really remember the entire premise of this movie (pretty sure I tried to block it), but I do know it involved the Olsen twins trying to hook their single dad up through a billboard advertisement. Again, my sister had really, REALLY awful taste as a child. Barf!
1) Little Nicky: Adam Sandler plays the son of an angel and a devil. He's stuck in the middle on earth. Need I say more?
Looking back on my list I realize that I should never watch anything with the Olsen twins and I'm more than a little surprised that nothing with Robin Williams is in my list. A bit shocking.
Now that I've shared the movies I've wasted my life on, it's your turn. Save someone from the awful fate of watching a horrible movie :)
The last few days have been insane. Our trip started out just lovely, but things went downhill after hitting the mountain passes near Vail, Colorado and a huge snowstorm. I'm not a fan of driving in the snow. Actually, that's not completely true. I grew up in Minnesota and learned to drive in massive snowstorms. But I did NOT learn how to drive in massive snowstorms involving mountainous terrain. I've had the great fortune of getting stuck in truly awful snowstorms while on massive inclines and let me tell you that I am soooo not a fan. This storm wasn't the worst I've ever been in, but the mountain seemed to keep on going forever. It tends to feel that way when you're going 20mph I suppose.
But we finally got off the mountain alive. At the bottom, we stopped at a deserted gas station to fill up with fuel and my sister says to me, "I'm going to run over to the starbucks across the street and see if I can use their restroom." So she goes over there and I followed after my car was full, but I couldn't find her. The store was locked and all the lights were off. There wasn't a soul in sight. I called out her name, but she was around. So I went back to the gas station thinking that maybe I missed her coming back. After shuttling between the two locations for about ten minutes and not being able to find her, I was officially in freak out mode. I now know that if I ever have children and ever lose them in a crowd, I will be the hysterical mother not thinking straight. Luckily as I was getting ready to call the cops, she came out of the Starbucks. Apparently the side door was open and she had broken into the closed store. After driving in hellish weather and losing my sister I was, to say the least, very shaken up.
I recovered. We made it to Colorado Springs and I think I found an apartment that'll be ready in a week after being remodeled. And until them I'm living in a hotel. I feel like I'm in monopoly. Can I be the thimble?
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