Monday I won tickets to see Pete Yorn & Ben Kweller in concert. It kind of blew my mind when I realized it had been 9 years the last time I had seen either of them in concert.
Here is a picture of Pete Yorn I took at Coachella 2002
And a picture of the CD Jacket Ben Kweller singed when he came to Tempe in 2002.
Seeing these guys again brought back a lot of memories...Like driving & Lauren saying that she needed to Sha Sha again. Or being at the Porterhouse (yes I found the old website) and hearing Chris play Falling on the piano. Or when we bought Pete Yorn"s first CD (yes remember CD's) based on looks alone, no we are not shallow. Or when we were at the first Pete Yorn concert in Tempe not Coachella & Debbie coming up to me asking for money so she could buy the opening band's (Minibar) CD, convincing me by saying "come talk to them Connie they are British". Needless to say we bought their CD, being the suckers for accents that we are.
Listening to Ben was fun because his music has grown up as we have grown up, I just looked it up and we are in fact the same age. Both Pete & Ben look a lot the same did not seem to age much at all, the jerks :).
Also a year ago today Mimi, Chelsea & I embarked on our European adventure.
Today I was invited to go to Williams school as a "special guest" and have lunch with him in his class. It was so fun to see have him show me around his class room & I also got my very own one of these.
Guys where has the time gone, how did he get so big?
Time exists just on your wrist so don't panic - Travis Don't waste time or time will waste you - Muse Closing walls and ticking clocks - Coldplay All these places have their moments - The Beatles
Have you seen Breakfast at Tiffany's? I remember watching this with my sister Debbie & our neighbor and friend Jennie after we put on this old trench coat my mom had and walked down the street saying things like "step on it darling" & "I'm crazy about Tiffany's."
Lately I have been thinking about the "mean reds" and Holly's cure for the mean reds.
Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?
Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues? Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?
Paul Varjak: Sure.
Holly Golightly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!
When I went to New York back when I was a senior in High School I had my best friend Erika take a picture of me standing in front of Tiffany's.
But Tiffany's is not my cure for the mean reds my cure is Jane Austen & anything Austenesque. Although our cures are different the reasons for the cure are the same...
"The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there."
After having a really bad start to my new year I found myself tired & down and desperate for something to lift my spirits when I remembered that Elizabeth Eulberg's new book Prom & Prejudice had come out. I drove straight to Barnes & Noble & got myself a copy.
I read Elizabeth's Eulberg's first novel The Lonely Heart's Club before going to London last year and loved the message of girls staying true to themselves and not doing things because of guys. The Beatles references didn't hurt either. Reading Prom & Prejudice was extremely fun. I loved seeing how Elizabeth made Lizzy & Darcy fit into modern day high school and her twist on things. I only wish I could have gotten more.
Some of my other favorite Austenesque type books are Shannon Hale'sAustenland. I don't even know how many times I have read this book or listened to it, yep I also have the audio on my ipod. Not to mention how much I love what Shannon wrote when she signed it...
Another is Enthusiams by Polly Shulman which is a book I have never actually read. I have only listened to it on audio since the library only has it on audio, silly library. I am not one for ordering books online so I was so excited that I found it at Bookmans on Saturday! I gave it to Debbie the Enthusiast in my life. This isn't a modern re-telling it is just about two friend who love Jane Austen & long to find their Mr. Darcy and crash a dance to find one for themselves.
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier, I have not read that the 5 sisters in this fantasy/fairytale retelling are based of the Bennett sisters in Pride & Prejudice but it just seemed obvious. So if you like fairytale retelling & Pride & Prejudice I would check this out.
Ok this is not a Pride & Prejudice-esque book but if you like fantasy/fairytale Shannon Hale type books check out The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal.
Twenty Seven years ago Debbie came to our family, and although it is her birthday I fell like I am the one who got the present.
Some may not know this but after I was born my mom had decided to be done having children & with six children she certainly deserved to be done. But one day while she was at the Temple she received a strong impression that our family was not complete. How thankful I am for a mother who not only seeks guidance from the Lord but who follows it as well.
I have always been happy to stay at home and watch a movie or read a book. Debbie on the other hand is an enthusiast and helped me to have some great adventures. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious & having Debbie around always making things more fun!
When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us? ~Pam Brown
I really love this quote because I feel it is true & I thank my Heavenly Father for Debbie because she makes me a stronger person. I know we were meant to be sisters & I know we were suppose to be apart of our family. Happy Birthday Debbie I love you more than words can say.
This is my google home page besides being able to check my email (gmail) & weather I get to check my google reader. I was shocked to find not everyone uses google reader.
Maybe you do not know what you are missing, let me explain. Google reader allows you to to check all your favorite blogs & websites in one place. You simply add the web sites you want to follow & when the sites update or posts the reader will show you. For example I know some people do not want to twitter or get twitter but might want to follow a band, celebrity, author, or company you can add their twitter to your feed, no need to sign up for twitter.
Here is a picture of my Google reader in list form, you can also show expanded and see the full post. No more having to go to your blog and click on the links that you follow, or signing into blogger to check only the blogs you follow there. Best of all you can blog stalk, no committing to blogger that you are following them. It is easy to remove feeds & no one is the wiser. You can follow yourself to see how many subscribers you have but it does not tell you who is following. No pressure you can try following a blog but if you get tired of it you can unsubscribe with no one being the wiser. You can learn more about Google reader or sign up for it here. Go my friends who do not already use this go and have your world changed, you will love it.
Speaking of blog stalking I would just like to say, following a strangers blog is not stalking. That is what blogging is for, putting yourself out there & finding others like you. Don't be afraid to comment on other people's blogs, because maybe they would love to blog stalk you as well. How glad I am that after meeting Stephanie Perkins at Project Book Babe I stumbled upon her blog & commented. I not only have made one new friend but others as well. Remember
"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one." ~ C. S. Lewis
Don't let the friendship just be one sided chances are they want to know they are not the only ones who love something as well.
I would have loved this movie just based on the fact that it has a bunch of good looking boys in it (Joe Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy & Tom Hardy) who are doing a heist. I love heist movies with a bunch of boys and one girl, Oceans Eleven, Newton Boys, The Italian Job & The Brothers Bloom. But Inception was so much more, the amazing details like the waredrobe. How each character had a unique style that fit their personality, especially how Dom (Leo) dressed like an old man, because in his mind he was. Am I the only one who was swooning over Arthur's (Joe) suits, because dang he looked good!
You know how movies about books are never as good, because in a movie you can't easily feel the emotions going on with the main character. Inception makes you walk out feeling exactly like Dom, is it reality isn't it. And for those who say the whole thing was a dream, that is a bunch of hooey.
True Grit
When I saw the Coen brothers were remaking True Grit I was very excited because my dad is a big Coen brothers fan. My brother Mark is as well, he forced me to watch No Country For Old Men edited of course. The movie was dark, funny & intense a good receipe for the Coen brothers. I saw it with my dad, four of my brothers, a sister in law & brother in law after we just kept talking about the movie over and over.
The Young Victoria
This technically came out in 2009 but I did not see it till 2010. If you are reading this chances are I already made you watch this movie with me.
As for 2011 here are some movies I am excited about.
Jane Eyre
I loved that they cast people age appropriate & what can I say I am a sucker for pretty movies. Doesn't it look pretty?
The Conspirator
I have been missing James, so I am very excited that he has two movies coming out!
X-Men First Class
Is that Mr. Rochester I spy as Magneto? James McAvoy will be playing Professor Xavier & look at Nicolas Hoult in the back (I am so happy how tall & handom the akward little boy Marcus from About A Boy turned out) will be playing Beast.
Debbie & Russ invited my parents, my little brother & myself over for Christmas eve & Christmas morning. We had a nice dinner & after the kids got to open one present. They both got games, William got Star Wars Trouble & Gracie got Bed Bugs. William & I played Trouble while Gracie & Russ played Bed Bugs, but once they were done Gracie came to help me play Trouble. It was pretty much the sweetest thing because after she would move our guys she would turn and give me a hug. Here is a little slide show I made of some of the pictures of us hugging.
It was a very close game and William ended up winning but I told Gracie we won the cutest award.
Later that night my brother Ryan came by & brought with him these ginormous sparklers they got the kids out of bed and had some Christmas Eve magic.
Gracie saw my Dad wrapped up in a green blanket & said look it is the Grinch. This is my dad doing his Grinch impression, it is also his ghost, monster or pretty much anything that is scary impression.
CHRISTMAS MORNING
William got me I Heart London socks.
Gracie got me an Eiffel Tower necklace
Later the rest of the family came for breakfast and our family gift exchange.
I was really upset that I couldn't think of anything good for Russ when I very last minuet found this cool Abe Lincoln t-shirt. Russ is an Abe fan.
I also had Russ open Joseph's present since his shirt inspired the onesie I made for Joseph.
Joseph's middle name is Lincoln, it was so perfect & I am extremely proud & was singing that girl is crafty like ice is cold when I finished it.
Gracie hugging her Cinderella barbie doll I got her.
I have mentioned before how much William loves Harry Potter so you can tell he was happy about getting his gear from Santa. He also loved that I got him Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets the movie along with some Harry Potter Lego's.
The rest of the day was spent watching Harry Potter & Newsies or maybe....
Gracie came up to me and said she was tired a few minuets later we were like this.
I got some great gifts from Mark I got a camo snuggie perfect for when I go hunting & fishing, also it has pockets the perfect size to hold books. Ashley made me this awesome book holder that hangs from my bed. So much great stuff!!
Do you watch video blogs or vlogs as they are called? Yeah I haven't really either, mostly because I don't know any vloggers. For some reason I have become fascinated with them recently and after watching something else on youtube I saw a recommended video and ended up watching several different vlogs. Watching this little community of vloggers made my heart grow as it always does when I see people find their people & come together.
A very popular vlogger (who I had no idea who he was until a few months ago when he made a music video for Ben Folds) Charlie McDonnell made a video to his 30 year old self. If you can't tell from the video below Charlie is 20, oh and British so he has girls swooning all over. He does fall into the 9 year limit, but it still feels wrong so I told Britt (Mimi's little sister) that she had to have a crush on him for me. Oh and in case you don't know what my nine year rule is let me explain. I found our a female friend had dated a guy 9 years younger than her & was a little grossed out by it. Until I realized I was being sexiest, it never bothered me when my girl friends either married or dated guys 9 years older than them. Equality! Anyway here is Charlie's video...
Now I realize that I probably should make a video response but that just seems like a lot of work & I hate hearing myself on videos. So I am blogging instead advice of what I would say to my 20 year old self if I could.
It is me almost 30 year old Connie, I am writing to share some wisdom with you. First off I would like to tell you that you are not as sentimental as you use to be. It is alright if you go ahead and start throwing away cards, notes & other things you won't want to move around with you for the rest of your life. Also some of the people who you thought you were going to be friends with forever, some you are still friends with, maybe not as close as you thought you would be and some you are not friends with at all (these are mostly boys). Also some who are not really your friends now become really good friends later. I know some of this sounds really sad, but it really is not as sad as you think. Yes the first friendships lost do hurt but soon you realize that people change including you and as your life moves you onto different paths you each find new friends who are traveling the same path as you.
Second trust yourself, in the end you always stay true to yourself but you do spend a lot of time listening to others who think they know what is best for you. They don't mean any harm but listen to you, you know yourself best.
Third sometime you can get your way by being nice. I know who knew you don't have to be a witch to get what you want.
Fourth & last (it is late & I am tired) thirty is not old (so what if I just said I am tired and it is only 10:30), just start telling yourself that now. Maybe then you won't freak out when you turn 25.
Also it is to bad that youtube was not around because Lindsey & Lauren would have rocked it!
*Notice my red highlights (this note is for Charlie who will never read this or Stephanie Perkins)
