All Right Now

It is day two of having a big kid job. Training has been... slow. I'm a very, very fast learner, but at the same time, I enjoy the time we have spent going over everything. It's not that hard of a job at all. It's just a lot of stuff to say and a lot to type on a computer. I think I'm doing everything so fast because I am so use to using a computer every day of my life since middle school. It really does make a difference having the Mac and Dell programs in high school. Training is two weeks, though, which means they want us to be so prepared. That's awesome. They are willing to pay us to train for two weeks. I'm cool with that. 9A-5P M-F for two weeks (except, thankfully, July 5th due to the holiday), $12 an hour, 1 hour lunch... the 1 hour lunch kind of kills it, though. A - That's way too much time in my opinion. B - No pay for an hour of your time. It switches to 30 minutes when I go to my Tues-Sat 8A-4P schedule. SRD. It's funny, though. When we're unemployed, we long for a job. When we achieve that employment status, all we think about is not working or weekends. I think I'll enjoy this job, yes, but I definitely look forward to this weekend haha.

By the way, if you haven't seen Now and Then lately, turn your TV on and watch it. It's been on Encore for a while, and it's still one of the best movies I've ever seen. Girly, whatever. GREAT movie.

So finally, I close another blog with my 30 Day Song Challenge answers. Tomorrow is the last day of June, last day of this little challenge. I'll recap tomorrow all my songs (sans album art so it's not a HUGE post). Also, I'm going to save today's for tomorrow just for the last two days. :)

Day 25 - A Song That Makes You Laugh

Of course, I chose "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler. Three words: literal video version. Look it up, it's hilarious. When Rachel sang this on Glee... wow. I couldn't help but pee myself laughing. Such a funny, cheesy, 80s video and song. :P

Day 26 - A Song You Can Play on an Instrument

So the voice IS an instrument, by the way. I chose a song I can sing. That song is "Being Alive" from Company. It's one of my songs that will probably be one of my signature songs, bitches. :) I think I sing it well, maybe.

Day 27 - A Song You Wish You Could Play

I chose "Married Life" from "Up" because, well, that score is one of the best scores to a film. Ever. It's the song that plays while they show clips of Ellie and Carl's life. It's happy, sad, and a great song I wish I could at least play on the piano..

Day 28 - A Song That Makes You Feel Guilty

When I chose "The Girls of Rock 'n' Roll" by the Chipmunks and Chipettes, I thought of guilty as in guilty pleasure. This song reminds me of my childhood and college. It's a huge guilty pleasure movie. Love it. I love how my explanations got so much shorter for these, haha.

Anyway You Want It

Alrighty folks. I GOT THE JOB. Yes, score one for this guy. I got the job. I got the job. I got the job. My regular schedule is beast: 8AM-4PM Tuesday-Saturday. I get Sundays and Mondays off, holla! I start Monday for training. I really hope this goes well. I'm pretty nervous, but I normally am before starting something new. I actually always feel nervous when I go to work, but maybe this will be different because I'm not working at Blockbuster or Things Remembered... I'm going to go with that. So yeah, $12 an hour, paid weekly, score one for this guy. I'm putting together a notebook for my finances, and wow. I'm already feeling the crunch. My rent is $525... not including utilities at my house. That's okay, $625 a month on my pay isn't horrible. But oh wait, deposit is one month's rent... so August is going to hit me HARD. Thank goodness I won't have to spend a lot of money in July because I'd be up a creek without a paddle. I'm still nervous about all of this. I know I could save about $600-$700 a month being at home, but really, I might lose my mind. Correction: I would lose my mind. I can't handle it at all. No privacy. No freedom. I'm 13 all over again, and I can't handle it. I don't like having everything I do questioned. After four years, I'm not resorting back to a high school level of living. I think this will be good for me. It's just for a year, then we'll see where the world takes me. I can't worry about anything. I mean, I have to, but right now it's killing me worrying about everything. One step at a time.

Day 21 - A Song That You Listen to When You're Happy

I chose "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. I'm obviously not in a relationship, but I just enjoy this song. It makes me think of the beach. It's a happy, fun song. No big story. :) Best cover art, by the way.

Day 22 - A Song That You Listen to When You're Sad

I chose "Hallelujah" by Rufus Wainwright. It's not a tragically sad song, but it brings my sorrow together so I can focus on it and get over it. It's a haunting song, especially when Imogen Heap sings it. I have always liked Rufus. His songs are pretty great without being whiny and over-dramatic.

Day 23 - A Song That You Want to Play at Your Wedding

I chose "Cradlesong" by Rob Thomas. I try not to choose the same artists, but I've thought about this song for a while now. I talked about this in my last blog, but it'll either be the first song to which we dance, my mother-son song (although I'd rather pick a different Matchbox/Rob song for Mom because I see the song differently), or something I'll sing during the wedding as a surprise... hopefully that person will never read my blog, haha.

Day 24 - A Song That You Want to Play at Your Funeral

Shouldn't it say "you want played?" Anyway, I chose Joe Cocker's version of the Beatles classic "With a Little Help from My Friends." First of all, it reminds me of "The Wonder Years." Second, I chose this version because it's slower than the Beatles version. It brings a lot of emotions to the table. I enjoy it a lot. :) I want people to hear it and cry. As long as they don't look at this cover art... it's freaky.

Airplanes

It's funny and coincidental. As I was driving to a meeting with Jackie's mom on Friday, the song "Airplanes" by B.o.B., Haley Williams and Eminem came on the radio. I wouldn't say it was a sign since the song doesn't really point to anything. It was very coincidental, though, because I did need a wish. Robyn (Jackie's mom/my 2nd mother) works for AppleOne, a company that finds jobs for people and fills jobs for clients. She got in a listing for a Concierge at this place called Mondial Assistance Group. She thought I was perfect for the position, so she hooked me up with an interview that day. So Friday was busy for me. I went to AppleOne, filled out paperwork and became an official associate of theirs. I then went and had an interview with Mondial to get the job. It went very well! The lady interviewing me was laughing and really interested in my theater experience. I was very well spoken and said all the right things. She said I would find out within the next 24 hours the outcome of this process. Well it's Sunday, and I'm hoping it is just because yesterday was Saturday and today is Sunday... and they want to wait for a business day. I need this job. 8A-4P Tuesday-Saturday, $12 an hour, right in Innsbrook. I need this job. I'm afraid I won't get it, though, because I specifically said I wanted 8A-4P and not the other shift, 12P-8P. I know I need to be flexible, but sheesh, 12P-8P? No way. No freakin' way am I working noon until 8P every day. I need to get into theater, which normally starts rehearsal at 7P, so I can't do 8P. Eh I dunno, maybe I'm just being negative. I really need this job, though. Great pay for a pretty good job. I'll keep Blog Nation updated. :)

Addendum: I forgot to write about the most important thing I meant to mention. So it's almost the one year anniversary of my Uncle Mike passing away. My aunt posted a simple Facebook status: "Today is a sad day." It make me thing about a lot. I know I take my dad for granted sometimes... a lot of the time. I just don't know how to fix our relationship, and I don't think it will be fixed for a long, long time. I don't know what I'd do if I lost him, though. Losing my Uncle Mike was hard, really damn hard. He's always been like a father to me, even if he was strict as hell and yelled a lot. Haha. But he always did some great things for me. My family really took a big hit when Uncle Mike passed. He was my mom's brother-in-law, but that in-law part barely mattered. It's always been my Aunt Sue with Uncle Rick (who, by the way, are not married, but pretty much have common law because they've been together for so damn long), Barb with Gary (my parents), and Aunt Joyce with Uncle Mike. My family is so close, even all of the in-laws are pretty much apart of our core family. My family is insane, my family is out of their damn minds, but I couldn't have it any other way. Happy Fathers' Day to all, especially my dad and my Uncle Mike.

Day 18 - A Song That You Wish You Heard on the Radio

I chose KT Tunstall's "Suddenly I See." I really like this song, and I think it's the perfect cruising song on a nice sunny day. I don't have a CD player in the car I'm driving (aka my dad's... rwar), so sometimes I just want to listen to good songs on the radio. This is one they need to play more!

Day 19 - A Song from Your Favorite Album

from

I chose "Don't Speak" from No Doubt. The album is "Tragic Kingdom." This is, hands down, the best album ever recorded. My opinion, of course, but every song on this album is memorable and genius. Gwen and the boys were rockin' when this came out in 1995. Wow. 1995? Really. 15 years ago. Trife. I picked "Don't Speak" because it reminds me of the concert I went to in 8th grade in DC where I met No Doubt. Pretty bangin'. :D

Day 20 - A Song You Listen to When You're Angry

I chose "If You C Jordan" by Something Corporate. This song is pretty bitchy and full of spite. It's about this asshole who has spent so much time terrorizing the singer, but when they grow up... the singer is kick ass and Jordan is a big douche that no one likes. Something Corporate is pretty ballin' in the days of pre-Jack's Mannequin (same singer, fyi). This song just fuels my rage, and then lets it go. Haha.

Such Great Heights

Just a mini-update today, kids. Today is my second day at home. Okay, so far it has been the same as always: stressful, annoying, and weird. This time, though, it has felt so much different than before. I know this time I will not be going back to CNU in August. I see all my stuff to the right of me on the floor... and it's literally ALL of my stuff. My entire life is in a corner of the room right now, and it's bizarre. I'm moving into my house (not my parents' house, my own house) on August 1st, it's just crazy to know it's not into James River or somewhere on campus. It feels good, too. This is chapter three. Chapter one was the years up until high school. Chapter two was college. Chapter three is the year after. Chapter four will be my decision after I take the year to figure out GREs, Grad Schools, theater schools, and money. Yeah, that thing called money is important. But I've figured out that I do want to go to either grad school or a theater training program next year. I'm going to apply to as many schools as I can, and we'll see where it goes from there. Good news, though! Jackie's mom, Robyn, also known as my other mother, is helping me get a job. She works for an agency that looks for jobs for people. Score. It pays to know people in the business. :)

Day 16 - A Song You Used to Love but Now Hate:

I chose "Higher" by Creed. I use to love Creed... now, they suck. Creed is just whiny and pretty much 2nd to Nickelback. Man I hate Creed now, haha.

Day 17 - A Song You Hear Often on the Radio:

I chose the trash queen, Ke$ha, and her song "Your Love is My Drug." She's trife, but this song is hilarious. Every time it comes on, I have to text my little, Greg, and say, "Maybe I need some rehab? Or maybe just need some sleep..." This song has no depth at all, and I think that Brittany on Glee should sing this song. :D

Bent

I know some people are wondering why I quit Summer RA. For those of you just tuning in, I quit Summer RA. I did not get fired, nothing bad happened to me. I quit for a few reasons. Mainly I quit because it was bringing me down. I have no car and no job in Newport News. I'm miserable, and I'm losing my mind. I feel so depressed being here. I need to get out. Residence Life has also never been my favorite. I enjoyed James River and the Hall Directors, but overall I could have done without the drama Residence Life creates and the melodramatic actions it takes just because one person thinks it should be his way or the highway. No way, Jose. One of my closest friends got fired as well. Now, I did not quit because she was fired. We all know she did something wrong, whatever. I'm leaving because someone on our staff decided to tell our boss instead of talk to Jess about it. So now I cannot trust any (save a few) of the people on the summer staff. I could be fired at any moment for simple things that have no significant meaning to my life. So no thanks. I choose not to be a part of a group that is only focused on the individual. Peace out CNU. It's been a good four years, and now I'm actually leaving. I will never live at CNU again... it's so weird to think that. I like having a degree, though. Granted, I don't have a job, but the degree is still cool!

Day 14 - A Song That No One Would Expect You to Love

I forgot how creepy this cover art was. This is the album cover for Underoath's "They're Only Chasing Safety" album. The song is called "Reinventing Your Exit." If you know Underoath... you know they aren't the typical band I like. They are more of a screaming band... and I hate screaming, but I LOVE Underoath. This song reminds me of high school when I saw their show. I really like it. The end. Haha.

Day 15 - A Song That Describes You

I chose Alanis Morissette's cover of Seal's "Crazy." Enough said. :)

We're never going to survive unless we get a little crazy.

Groove is in the Heart

Yes, my entry title comes from one of the campiest songs of the 1990s: "Groove is in the Heart" by Deee-Light. Lady Miss Kier was Lady Gaga before Gaga was cool, fyi. I really have discovered my inner campy side in college. Just look up this music video; it defines camp and 1990. Wonderful.

Another thing I've come to become obsessed with is MTV's "True Life" series. I first realized I had an obsession was a few weeks ago. I was watching it in my apartment while Bryan and Andrew watched in their apartments. We were all Tweeting and texting about the episode "True Life: I'm Polyamorous" which was stupid. The four guys were frustrating and really trashy. Anyway, Brandi pointed it out that I'm always watching this show. Well, it's true. I've been watching the marathon on MTV today. So far I've seen "I'm Living a Double Life" and "I'm Bisexual." I'm also in the process of watching "I'm Deaf" online during commercials. So yes, I am pretty much obsessed. The one thing that hit me was in "Double Life." There was a guy who was gay but living as both gay and straight. He had separate groups of friends and separate night life activities. The gay friends knew he was pretending to be straight, and pretty much most of his straight friends knew he was gay. When he came out to his best girl friend, she knew he was gay. She wasn't stupid, and she knew him better than he expected. I have a constant struggle with this concept. When I know someone pretty well, and I know they are gay when they do not admit it... I don't know what to do. I mean, I know I do not say anything or bully them about it. I come from such an accepting household where I cannot begin to comprehend someone hating their child or their friend because he or she is gay. It's a part of who you are, not the whole part. So I never want to tell the person I know they are gay; I wait for them to say it. Some people, though, really frustrate me. I guess it's people like this guy on "True Life" who chooses to have the two lives because he doesn't have to work as hard to appear straight or people who are gay act straight and can never be happy because they cannot be themselves. In addition to acting and singing, I really want to start a center for people in high school and college who have a hard time with this. No one should struggle with accepting themselves, but unfortunately shitty people inhabit this planet.

Okay off of my soap box. Onto the music.

Day 12: A Song from a Band You Hate

I chose "Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Bublé. I chose this song because I cannot, CANNOT stand Bublé. I hate his voice, I hate his music, and I hate his personality from what I've seen on TV. So yeah, the personality thing is kind of overdone, but anyway. I think he's a huge copy cat, and he tries way too hard to be like Frank Sinatra, and he's failing. I'm big into Harry Connick, Jr., and one can argue he does the same thing. I HIGHLY disagree, though. I love the crooner, jazzy style of music. I just think Bublé is a cheap knock off of Sinatra. I chose this song because it was an original song he wrote. I think it's a little creepy, and I do not care for it at all. Overall, I cannot stand him. He's not talented. He should never have made it farther than a Vegas review of Sinatra.

Day 13 - A Song That is a Guilty Please

Okay, okay, okay. I get judged so hard for loving Glambert, but I love Glambert. I love his shock value and theatricality. I think he's fantastic, so call him a guilty pleasure if you wish. I am guilty, and I am not afraid to admit it. I love this song "Fever" because it's really gritty and sexual. Lady Gaga wrote it, by the way, so it makes total sense. I listened to her demo of the song, and Adam just adds this entire new level to the song. I love me some Adam Lambert, and I am so sad I cannot see him Tuesday at the NorVa. I do, however, get to see him in August in Richmond :D

Groove is in the heart, lovers.

Bust a Move

It's been a few days, I apologize. I haven't had too much to blog about in the past few days. I can give you a few updates, though. I have been emailing this guy in Richmond about renting a room in the house he currently inhabits. I may have discussed this, but he's been waiting on roommate #3 to move out (roommate #2 just moved in). Well, I officially got the word that roommate #3 is moving out in July. I can start moving in as soon as that guy is gone. I cannot freakin' wait! I have a house. I am living in a house next year. I cannot wait. It feels so exciting and scary at the same time. This just means I need a job now, haha. I'm still searching and interviewing, but being here at CNU is seriously killing my shots at jobs. It sucks. If it weren't for the free housing, I'd leave. I know, I could live at home... I'd rather live here for another month and a half. I'll keep everyone posted on when I get a job and a car. Okay, I have to catch up on my song challenge.

Day 07

- A Song That Reminds You of a Certain Event:

I chose "Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin. Most of my songs remind me of Jackie. When you've been friends with someone as long as we have (going on our ninth year), a lot of things remind you of that person. So okay. The summer right before I went to college, Jackie and I went to this festival called Somerland. It was put on by my ex's band. I didn't go for my ex, I went for Jackie. Okay anyway, so we were out in the sun all day, dancing and having fun. This was a summer to remember for me, but this event always stands out in my mind. One of the bands played "Me and Bobby McGee" that day, and Jackie and I immediately ran over to the stage area and danced. It's one of our songs because of this day, and I always think of Somerland 2006 when I hear it. :)

Day 08 - A Song That You Know All the Words to:

I picked "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen for two reasons. One: yes, I know all the words to this song because of reason two. Two: Jackie and I would ride home together pretty much every day my freshman and sophomore year. Every day we'd pop in a CD to rock out to in the car. I think pretty much every day we would listen to "Bohemian Rhapsody" regardless of the CD. We would rock out, and we never got sick of the song. Literally, we listened to that song every single day. It's a classic, and it has a lot of special meaning to me. Yes, another Jackie song :P When Vocal Adrenaline did this on Glee, I peed myself in joy. Haha.

Day 09 - A Song That You Can Dance To:

I had a hard time trying to find this song. I was thinking about Show Choir songs we did in high school, but I couldn't think of the perfect song. Then "God is a DJ" by Pink came on my iTunes, and a light bulb went off. This song is another one Jackie introduced to me (and yes, it was also in Mean Girls), and I've been really into Pink ever since. This song is just a lot of fun and easy rocking out qualities. :)

Day 10 - A Song That Makes You Fall Asleep:

This was another tough decision. I chose "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap, though, because I can always put it on my iPod and fall asleep. It's so relaxing and passionate. That's about all of the explanation I have for this haha.

Day 11 - A Song From Your Favorite Band:

I picked "Just Let Go" by Mae off their album "Singularity." The premise behind the song is the singer is telling someone to let go of their insecurities and doubts and just take a walk with him. Something good could come out of this. Well, when I listen to this song, I kind of take it in a different direction. When I was down or something was bothering me, this song would usually pop up on my iPod on shuffle. I took it as just let go of what is bothering you. Just let go of people who are bringing you down. Just let go of all the b/s that is making you upset. And I did. Thanks Mae. I could have picked any song because I love Mae, but this one was appropriate.