Dr. Dog

On Saturday I was able to go to a concert at the Great American Music Hall. I went to see Dr. Dog, and it was quite awesome. The crowd was insane, the band was fantastic, and the company was too much fun. It was cool to be in a venue that was rather small and, although beautiful, seemed a bit understated. I had such a blast. And if you haven't heard of Dr. Dog, you should take a listen. They put on a fantastic show and their songs are absolutely perfect.

<3

Morning Walk

The other day, when I awoke and couldn't sleep, I went for an early morning walk around Lake Merced. It was so beautiful and so quiet around the city. Lots of runners with headphones in, families or couples on a bike ride, dogs getting an early morning walk.. I saw the cutest group of older women power-walking around Lake Merced. I wish I had a picture. I forgot how lovely mornings can be. It's hard to have insomnia, because mornings always arrive too soon or (after several "snooze alarm" hits) pass by so quickly. When the weather was fairly warm and the city was only speaking at a whisper, I remembered how nice it is to be up and awake in the morning. Too bad these last few weeks will be mostly spent with late nights of study and mornings spent half awake (that is, if you can bear to be up in the morning). When all of this is over, I'll be fairly excited to have my mornings back. Until then, here comes the end of the year crunch. 24 days and counting down..

Night Walk

Let’s go for a walk in the night!

Barefooted, stars bright,

Warm air and moonlight.
Let’s go for a walk tonight..

Vampire Weekend Video. You're Welcome.

My singing/screaming along is horrific, but I had a damn good time.

Vampire Weekend performing "A-Punk", LIVE at the Fox

Vampire Weekend (at the Fox)

I cannot believe the night I just had. Cannot cannot cannot. Little did I know when I bought my tickets for the Vampire Weekend concert months ago, that it would be the best concert I have ever been to thus far in my life. I knew they would be amazing, but this was incredible. I could not have been more caught up in that music, I was hypnotized. I went by myself, despite my family's concern about me venturing into downtown Oakland on my own.

Let me just say, first off, that the Fox is an amazingly beautiful and ultra-cool venue, and if you have the chance to see a show there, DO. There is not a bad spot in the house.

Now with that being said, I was in the front row. Oh hell yes. I met some super cool people around me, one girl who was also named Julia. Great stuff. Our opening act was Abe Vigoda who had a good energy and seemed pretty promising, but lacked a little charisma when it came to interacting with the audience. They could do well though. I'm keeping an eye on them.

(Abe Vigoda)

Then came Vampire Weekend. Oh lord, was this audience ready. They came out and started with a bang with "Holiday" of their new (and fabulous) album, Contra. I felt like I was going to explode out of my skin I was so happy. I had no awareness of much else around me. I listened to the music and let myself laugh and sing and dance and have absolutely no cares. The lead singer (Ezra Koenig) and I absolutely had a moment and I just about fainted from excitement. The guy standing next to me hit my arm laughing and telling me how cool it was. They were an incredibly gracious group, as it was their last night of their American tour, and they thanked their crew and the Fox for everything. What a class act. Also, Ezra Koenig, you can call me any day. I'll be here when you want me. 

"It struck me that the two of us could run!/Cause Honey, with you/It's the only honest way to go/And I could take two/But I really couldn’t ever know./Honey, with you/And a battered radio/We could try"

Just think about it, Ezra. <3

Video coming at you soon..

I still cannot believe it's over, which makes me sad, but I know now I will not pass up an opportunity to see them again. Now I have Dr. Dog at the Great American Music Hall. This is shaping up to be the best week...

Destination Unknown

I'm at the point in the year where, as the weather continues to be more and more beautiful, I feel the need to explore. And this time, I don't really mean my city. I want to be somewhere new. To just drive until I discover someplace yet to be discovered by my eyes. I want to hop on a plane and go somewhere where my customs are strange and where they could possibly speak an entirely different language. Someplace that has beauties which are different than anything I have seen at this point in my young life. I want new. I want travel. I want the destination unknown.

You Again

I haven't written of you in a while, but you are once again in my mind. I thought I saw you once, but I was wrong. It only looked like you from afar. Once I moved closer, I realized I had hoped so much for it to be you, that I ignored all signs that told me it couldn't be. Now I'm back at that place, between awkward and unsure. I will be back to normal soon enough, but you always seem to leave me spinning, even if it is just the idea of you. You've been showing up in my dreams again. I wish that wasn't the only way we ran into each other anymore.

Beautiful day outside. Feeling much better. What a good day for daydreaming.

Missing, Please Return

Things I miss

• letters/messages from old friends
• letters/messages from new friends, and the anticipation that goes along with getting to know someone new
• my sister and our complicated snuggletime
• my puppy and her adorable/hilariousness
• my dad making watching tv an interactive thing
• my mom making some typical mom joke and her sincere/full laugh, which I inherited
• (strangely enough) the old barn down the road from my house and how the sky looks around that piece of land
• my old job, because little kids are the greatest and I had the best job in the world
• having the time to read for pleasure
• making films
• theatre
• baking
• swimming
• hiking/camping
• ballet

I love this city, and all the opportunities I've had because I've lived here, but these are a few things I've been thinking about as of late and miss having in my life. I'm sure I'll have all of it back in good time.

The Plunge

Definitely sick. My body aches, it's strange to breathe, and fatigue hits me in large waves. Definitely sick.
I want out. Out of this body and into a healthier one. Out of this room, out of this weather, out. I need to be free of the ties that have bonded me to a person, because I am no longer comfortable with how they fit. I have kept myself inside for two days, and with that has come a lot of thinking. My thoughts have brought me to a place that I'm not comfortable staying in. I realized that someone who once made me happy, is now someone I view quite differently. I wish it would just take care of itself, but it won't. So here comes the plunge. Here comes the jump that I have to be strong enough to take, a leap of faith that I am doing what is best, and hope that the rush of the fall is met with cool water that soothes me. Wish me luck.

I Don't Want This

Knowing you are headed towards a cold is one thing, being forced to get up at 4 AM because some dumbass in your building pulled the fire alarm is a whole other deal. I have not been sleeping well, to say the least, and last night my throat had that kind of tickle that doesn't go away. I'm pretty sure I had a minor fever at some point since I woke up in cold sweat at 5. I preceded to wake up once every hour. Each time my body ached when I moved, as if I hadn't moved for the past hour. This was inevitable. Dorms have got to be how epidemics start, because once someone you know, or someone who lives on your floor becomes sick, it's just a matter of time before the whole floor/group of friends become sick. So thank you, dorm-life, for the cold. I'm sure I'll be re-gifting it to someone else. In the meantime, I hope to kick this cold's ass with meds, rest, and orange juice.

On a completely different note, the ghost in our building is really beginning to freak me out. Her name is Catherine and she was murdered on the floor below us in the early 90's. We always joke about her activity in our building, but lately my roommate and I can't help but feel like it's been a bit too close for comfort. We're finding mysterious chocolate stains on clothes that are brand new/never been worn. We've had the microwave that wouldn't turn off until we unplugged it and my computer telling me "Merry Christmas" several times while I was alone. She hides our necessary objects and puts them in plain site when we get back to the room. She might be pissed. We've made drawings and so many jokes that she might be fed up. Know that I'm serious when I say, what the hell! I normally don't believe in this sort of thing, so this is a bit freaky.

Catherine Cooperland, if you're reading, I'm sorry for my disrespect. Please stop haunting me; I don't want this.