Well my friends, nearly a year after my last post on this blog I am back to make another post updating you about my life.
I’m moving back to Jersey for the summer of 2014.
“Why???” you might ask. Well there’s a lot of reasons. But these are not them.
The Things I Will Miss About California:
1) My baby apartment.
For those of you who have had the pleasure of stepping foot into my baby apartment and sleeping on an air mattress on the floor, then you know it’s got its charms and quirks about it. IT MAY BE SMALL, BUT IT BE MIGHTY aka it had walls and a roof and a kitchen and a bathroom and enough room for a bed so that was good enough for me.
THINGS I WILL NOT MISS ABOUT MY BABY APARTMENT:
Low ceilings, close proximity to a college aka loud drunken frat boys 5/7 nights a week, close proximity to a fire station aka sirens all the time, unbelievably sensitive fire alarm that goes off when my oven is preheating forcing me to run back and forth multiple times to stop the loud and obnoxious beeping, roommates (aka ants, spiders, fruit flies, occasional mice, etc)
2) The weather.
Fairly certain that there was ne’er a day the temperature went below 50 degrees during the day. And holy shit that is a modern marvel for a girl who grew up in the northeast. AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW IT’S POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE PLACES THAT HAVE LESS THAN 100% HUMIDITY IN THE SUMMER TIME? Cool breezes on hot days are the greatest thing. Suck on that, Jersey.
THINGS I WILL NOT MISS ABOUT THE WEATHER:
Nothing. Well ok actually I miss rain and thunderstorms so I guess I won’t miss NOT having rain and thunderstorms. And earthquakes. PEACE OUT MOTHERFUCKERS I DON’T NEED THE GROUND SHAKING FOR NO REASON OK.
3) The people I have met.
My friends from Disney who have allowed me to be crazy me and still want to be my friends (???? you are all weirdos why do you accept me I am a crazy person). You have made being homesick and not knowing a single thing about California before coming here a lot easier. If you ever need a place to crash in Jersey, or wherever I end up next, srsly send me a text. I got you.
THINGS I WILL NOT MISS ABOUT THE PEOPLE I HAVE MET:
My neighbor loudly having sex at 3 am. Nope. Won’t miss that a single bit.
4) The food.
Actual Mexican food is amazing???? And In n Out is amazing?????? AND THEY PUT SANDWICHES ON WAFFLES HERE (Bruxie) AND IT’S ONLY 3 BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY APARTMENT AND WHOEVER THOUGHT TO DO THAT IS AMAZING (except why so close to my apartment pls I want a banana chocolate milkshake and waffle fries every single day damn you)???????
THINGS I WILL NOT MISS ABOUT THE FOOD:
LACK OF DECENT PIZZA. LACK OF DECENT ITALIAN FOOD PERIOD. LACK OF DECENT BAGELS (#bagelsunday). LACK OF MOES. LACK OF WAWA/QUICK CHEK. LACK OF MOSTLY EVERYTHING GOOD (food) IN LIFE.
There are probably other things. Actually, I’m sure there are other things. But for now, I’m just going to try to focus on the positives of moving back to New Jersey aka sitting in my bed watching HGTV and Food Network and ABC Family and TLC (because my parents actually have cable television!!!) while eating greasy cheesy pizza and cuddling with Jackson. And what’s not to love about that?
PS Still haven't met Seth Cohen so p sure something is wrong???????
I love music a lot. I'd like to think I have a great taste in music. So I've decided for the first time to compile a list of what I consider to be the best albums of the year. Or at least, my favorite albums of 2013.
And also a disclaimer: I'm extremely into the idea of actually paying for music because, weirdly enough, I like to support the people that create the things that I enjoy. But for those of you who aren't as into spending money on things that can be easily found on the internet, all of these albums are available for listening on Spotify.
Days Are Gone, HAIM
I told myself I wasn't going to list these albums in a specific order (i.e. 1-10), but I can't resist disclosing that Days Are Gone by HAIM is my favorite album, and the best, of 2013. And this is saying a lot, because a LOT of great music came out this year, and I hadn't even heard this album until midway through December. But I have DEVOURED it. Listened to it on repeat for the last 2-3 weeks. Obsessed. So much so that I've decided my 2014 New Years resolution is to see HAIM live. Mostly this synopsis is a giant ramble and I really can't even coherently put into words how much I love HAIM, how catchy their songs are, how effortless they feel, and how cohesive the album is, so just listen to it already, ok? Ok.
Wolf's Law, The Joy Formidable
If you know nothing about me, then you still probably would know that the Welsh band The Joy Formidable is my favorite band of recent past. They put on a heck of a live show (I would know, having seen them 5 times in the span of 13 months) and create music that should be more of what is on the radio today than what is actually on the radio today. Their first full-length album, The Big Roar, was exactly that--a loud burst of energy that summoned you to keep listening over and over and onto when Wolf's Law was released 2 years later. What is great about Wolf's Law, though, is the quiet moments that come along with the moments of power from Ritzy Bryan's voice, Rhydian Dafydd's bass, and Matt Thomas's drums, too--"Silent Treatment" and "Tendons" are 2 of my favorite tracks off the album. They are the perfect juxtaposition for the "Roar" in TJF, like "Maw Maw Song" and "Bats" on Wolf's Law. The album also rotates a lot around a breakup and dealing with it in your daily life, based specifically on the band's own Ritzy and Rhydian who split up and managed to stay together as a group and friends (thank God, for music lovers everywhere).
Yeezus, Kanye West
I've been a fan of Ye for a while, and Yeezus just further solidified that for me. I haven't had a rap album that I've been so passionately in love with to listen to over and over again since Tha Carter III, and Yeezus has done that. It's oh-so-very dark and will probably be Kanye's career lyrical masterwork for the rest of the time that he will be around. His albums have been up and down for me, but this one has staying power. Have you actually listened to the lyrics in "Black Skinhead" and "Blood on the Leaves"? It's some really powerful stuff. I don't personally care what your feelings are for Kanye West, who he is as a person or what he's done. If we all truly didn't listen to the music, watch the movies, or read the books that outspoken people we don't "like", do you even realize how much amazing media you would be missing out on? You're making a mistake if you don't listen to this album. It's severely well-crafted.
Lily & Madeleine, Lily & Madeleine
This is the debut full-length album of sisters Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz, who are SIXTEEN and EIGHTEEN FUCKING YEARS OLD and got a record deal after Mr. Christmas himself, the swoon-worthy Sufjan Stevens, discovered them on Reddit. If you're into self-loathing (because, really, what were you doing at sixteen and eighteen years old other than NOT being discovered by Sufjan Stevens?) and really good music, then you need to get these sisters' album. Their music is soft but soulful, unmatched by a lot of music out today. It's not everyday that the lyrics of teenagers can really get you, but these girls have done it with their self-titled debut.
Pure Heroine, Lorde
Adding another teenager to the list, recently-turned-seventeen year old Lorde has taken the world by storm with her top 40 hit "Royals." But it's not even "Royals" which is the real gold on her debut album. Have you checked out "Ribs", "Tennis Court", or my personal favorite, "Glory and Gore"? She writes about real-life experiences for teenagers, from being part of a clique to not having any money but not needing it to have any fun. It's a breath of fresh air from a society that places so much emphasis on money and status, and something about the melodies, beats, and words have really proven something about this Kiwi, self-described as from the wrong side of town.
The Bones of What You Believe, CHVRCHES
Do you like the 80s? Do you like synth pop? Do you like 80s synth pop? Then here's the 2013 album for you. Yet another debut album on this list comes from a Scottish band with a name that takes extra time to think about typing, CHVRCHES. Their fun pop sound is contrasted with vaguely sad, melodic lyrics and creates a sound that is not only catchy but fun in a slightly depressing way. And yet if you weren't listening to the words you could swear that it was some of the catchiest, most fun music you've heard in a while. I'm a sucker for some good lyrics, so take some time to listen to Lauren Mayberry sing some sweetly sad songs to you, bob your head along, and agree that, yeah, you've been there, too.
The Blessed Unrest, Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles is someone that sometimes I forget about, and then when I remember her I get really sad I ever forgot her. With previous songs like "Gravity", "Love Song", and "Fairytale", she's always been a favorite of mine, but never someone that I listened to regularly. This is where The Blessed Unrest has changed all of that for me. You've probably heard "Brave" and maybe even "I Choose You" off the album, which I've personally had on repeat for pretty much the entirety of the last week, but the song that really stuck out to me as the one to listen to is "Satellite Call". Bareilles has really created magic with this song. It's what Sara herself described as a love song for the lonely, and I think it's a song that a lot of people need in their lives. I think I've needed it myself, at multiple points in my life, and I'm glad that I have it along with the rest of the album in my life now. She has a very pretty voice with even prettier lyrics. So listen up to the girl with the not-so-little voice, because she's pretty amazing.
Bitter Rivals, Sleigh Bells
Sleigh Bells' first album, Treats, will forever be one of my favorites. So I was sad when Reign of Terror came out and didn't quite live up, as a whole, to the level of Treats. But then Bitter Rivals was released and re-instated my faith in Sleigh Bells as a two-person (now three, if you include their drummer) powerhouse with fun, sometimes non-sensical lyrics and strong beats and guitar. Songs "Sugarcane" and "To Hell With You" are standouts for me and really throw me back to "Kids" and "Crown on the Ground" from Treats.
(sidenote: The songs I'm posting as previews are my favorites off their respective albums, except for this one. For some reason, it's hard to find Sleigh Bells music on YouTube??? Either way, "To Hell With You" is my fave off Bitter Rivals so if this one hasn't grabbed you, give that one a listen on Spotify, too)
Music from Baz Lurhmann's The Great Gatsby
I didn't totally love Gatsby the movie. It was alright. I enjoyed it, but I'm not rushing out to buy the movie. HOWEVER, the music is really what made the film. So many nay-sayers were against a modernized soundtrack to a classic novel, but who the hell cares? This is who Baz is, and he really made it work. Also, how can I possibly hate an album that gave me my future wedding song? Lana 4eva <3
If You Leave, Daughter
The final album in my top 10 is the 4th debut album by an artist/group on this list. Big year for first-timers! This one's got all the emotions in it. The brilliance of the trio of Elena, Remi, and Igor comes from a dark place of broken hearts, and it's heavy. But it's beautiful, it's sincere, and it's just the sort of album your sadness needs to hear once in a while.
Also: The Honorable Mentions You Should Probably at Least Listen To
Bangerz, Miley Cyrus
You're kidding yourself if you haven't listened to this album yet. Twerking and Robin Thicke aside, good ol' Miley has created a really, really solid pop album. The songs are catchy, and they're full of innuendo (and slightly more in-your-face lyrics). Who doesn't love THAT? There, I've said it, I'm a fan of Miley Cyrus. But more than that, I think we can all put aside our differences and enjoy good music. There's been plenty of artists that you may not like who they are or what they've done but still make music that you can like and listen to and have fun dancing to. I can't stop and I won't stop loving this album.
OST from Spring Breakers
Mostly ironic because of my brother's and my love for the movie Spring Breakers. And because who doesn't love going wild for the night?
(This conversation
takes place between 2 idiots, standing outside of my bathroom window)
Idiot 1: Girls get this sentimental thing and it kicks in, I
don't mean to be a pig or anything, but that's Dylan's thing. He's got game and stuff too, but all he has
to do is start talking about his life.
And like if a girl has had something bad happen to her, then there's
that emotional connection and that's all women need for you to get in their
pants. They play it off, but the way I
see it now, it's only a matter of time.
And once it happens, I usually do a pretty good job and then it's
in. It's settled, it's there.
Idiot 2: Dude, when I was going to school, and my first
period class I went to there was this super hot chick. And the first day of school I show up to
class late as fuck, and I walk in and I got brand new black pants on and a nice
looking shirt and shit. And Dylan had
just like cut my hair. He had shaved my
head except for this right here.
Idiot 1: Nice.
Idiot 2: Which was about that long so I looked like fucking,
like, Tin-Tin or some shit, you know, and like I had just started working out
again. So I show up in like nice pants,
good shirt, and like my fucking biceps are like bulging out of like the shirt
and shit. And I show up and I sit down
like I don't give a fuck because I haven't been to school in 4 years, so I sit down
like I don't give a shit, you know? And
then like so this girl sits next to me and we're kind of talking or whatever,
you know, and the next class I got her number. And then I decided to get my hair for work to
be more professional and show up to school wearing this, dude, and she fucking
stops talking to me.
Idiot 1: Sometimes you gotta pay the price!
Idiot 2: Yeah dude,
no seriously. Like, I'm the same person
dude. I've gotten even buffer since
then.
(maybe she didn't stop
talking to you because of your haircut, though...)
Since I've had nothing to do but sit around, I figured it's probably about time to do some laundry. You know, clean the clothes that I've worn over the last couple of weeks, wash the sheets for my new bed when I move into my apartment this weekend. Basically just get my act together, maybe.
The other day, when "the angel" came to my rescue, she showed me how to purchase a laundry card so that I could do my laundry. I thought I had it all figured out.
I was wrong.
Now, I've been doing my laundry for about 10 years. I'm a pro now. But my college didn't make us pay for laundry. It was great! Free laundry. I knew how to work the machines. The machines here are actually the exact same as at school, except here they cost $1.25 to wash a load of clothes. Alright. And the dryers cost $1 to dry. Fine. I'm an adult now. I can do this.
So I go to the laundry card dispensing machine and put $5 in for my card. That'll cover 2 loads of laundry and I'll have some spare change left on the card. Perfect. I grab my clothes and sheets and head to the laundry room.
I throw my clothes in one washer and my sheets in the other. I put the laundry card into the first machine and it says "Low Balance - $0." What????? I just put $5 on this card!!! So I try again. "Low Balance - $0." The stupid laundry card dispensing machine ate my money!!!
I knock on "the angel's" door. No answer, except for the yaps of what I can presume is her tiny and adorable dog. I wander down to the building office. There is a nice girl there.
Me, pointing to the machine: Hello, the machine ate my money. It ate my $5.
Nice girl: Oh. Um.
Me: I put my $5 in and the washing machine says I have no money on it.
Nice girl: Oh, you have to pay $5 for the card and then put money on it.
Me: Oh. What.
Nice girl: Yeah, the card costs $5 and then you can put money on it for the laundry.
Me: Oh. Thanks.
I go back to my room to retrieve another $5 bill, mutter "What a rip-off" under my breath, and head back to the laundry card dispensing machine with my $5 in hand. I get the $5 balance on my card, finally, and go back to the laundry room.
I pay the machines and they start. 28 minutes later, my clothes and sheets are clean. I think to myself, "Hey, I'll save some money and put both my clothes AND my sheets into one dryer. Bargain!!!" I put everything into one dryer and go back to my room for the 45 minutes that it will take to dry my things.
Yet when I get back, naturally, my things are not dry. Because probably I had too many things in the dryer. I think I can actually hear the dryer saying, "HAHAHA GOOD ONE LINDSAY." I sneer at it. For a moment we're at at standoff. I separate my clothes and sheets and, thanks to the remaining $1.50 on the card, I start up the dryer with just the clothes in it. I then retreat back to my room again to get another $1 to put on the laundry card for the dryer full of sheets.
But SURPRISE!!! The money machine only takes bills higher than $5. Does that shock anyone? Nope? Me neither. So I go back to my room yet again to get my debit card. I put my debit card into the credit card machine and SURPRISE!!! The lowest denomination of money you can put on a card with a credit card is $10. Anyone shocked now? Nope? Alright cool we're still on the same page.
And that's how I spent $20 to do 2 freaking loads of laundry in this stupid place.
(Also, fun fact: I went to the television that "the angel" showed me and OF COURSE they don't have ABC Family. You'd think that "the angel" would've mentioned this to me the other day when I said that I wanted to watch Pretty Little Liars on Tuesday night. But nope. So back to sitting in my room, alone, waiting for it to post at midnight tonight on Hulu.
Which, fun fact, I found that out last night: shows are posted at exactly midnight PST from that night. I guess I can't complain too much.
Oh and, fun fact: I'm putting my pride away after "the angel" failed to mention that ABC Family isn't part of their cable program and I'm going to try to be friends with her. She does have a dog, after all.)
I'm at this weird place in my life right now. Like, literally. Physically, I'm at a real weird place. You see, we arrived in California last Friday, my mom and I. Got an apartment for myself on Saturday. Stayed in a hotel with my mom until Tuesday, when she left to go back to New Jersey. But I don't actually get to move into my apartment until later this week. Hence why I'm at a weird place.
It's what I'd like to call a kind of purgatory.
You see, I've been staying at a local college since Tuesday. It's a nice place. I have an entire suite to myself, so that's been fun. The internet is free, and it's wireless. So for the last three days, I've basically just sat in bed, watching the final season of Friday Night Lights, eating Oreos, and being a bum. I don't start work until later this week. So it's just this until Thursday.
Life's great, right? Why am I complaining?
Because Purgatory.
Now, I've kept as busy as I could. I had friends in town that I hung out with until Thursday. I had errands to run on Friday and I went to a movie at night. Even yesterday, now that I'm alone and have no friends out here, I was content with watching a few episodes of Weeds and, like, 8 episodes of FNL. Content! I was content!
But then, tonight, the Tony's were on. "Why not?" I said. "Neil Patrick Harris is hosting," I said. "Let me hook up my television and... What the?" I said, as I looked around my room and discovered there is NO CABLE HOOKUP IN MY ROOM. Alright, fine. I won't watch the Tony's. I won't watch GSN. I won't watch anything but Netflix, and I still have a couple episodes of FNL left to watch. I'll be alright.
But then, I thought to myself, what about... Tuesday? Oh my god, what about Tuesday? Tuesday! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO TUESDAY?!
Guys, Tuesday is when Pretty Little Liars comes back. And I don't have a cable hookup in my room.
So today I sat in bed, wallowing, crying, dying (not really) that I won't be able to watch PLL Tuesday night, my one night the entire summer I'll actually be able to watch it live because I am too poor to pay for cable once I move into my apartment. Just one night of getting to live-see Caleb and Toby and Ezra and Ian and now Sean Faris is going to be on the show and I guess finding out who red coat is and I can't even do that.
UNTIL: An angel came and knocked on my door. She called herself "The RA." She told me she didn't even know anyone was staying in this building. She asked me if I needed anything. I questioned where I could watch television. She took me down the pathway to the building next door and showed me the most glorious of things: a giant, flat screen TV. That no one uses. Because basically nobody is on campus in the summer.
All. Mine.
This angel also showed me where to to my laundry. Because I have a lot now. And now I know where I can do it.
Maybe I'll even go out into the quad and join the shirtless boys playing bocce ball one day this week? Or maybe I'll ask the guys who walked past my room bouncing a basketball, who stopped outside my door to announce that "Someone is here" before walking on, if I can bounce a basketball with them sometime this week?? Maybe I'll have a posse of college friends/minions by the time I leave here???
Maybe purgatory isn't such a bad place after all??????
All my life, I've been waiting to find Seth Cohen. Well, alright, since 2003 I've been waiting to find Seth Cohen. For those of you COMPLETELY OUT OF THE LOOP, Seth Cohen is the perfect human. He's smart, witty, artistic, talented, sarcastic, and basically all-around amazing.
Seth Cohen is from The OC.
Now imagine me as a 12 year old girl, watching Seth Cohen sweep the beautiful (and utterly annoying) Summer Roberts off her feet in Newport Beach, California. He even managed to get her, as popular as she was, despite:
his attitude and sarcasm.
his intelligence level. Not because Summer Roberts is dumb (she's not) but because Seth Cohen knows he's smart and rubs your face in it.
his lack of friends.
his cooler-than-himself parents.
his love of comic books.
Captain Oats, his toy horse.
Like, come on, I'm as nerdy as it gets and this is my perfection. I swooned. America swooned. We all swooned for Seth Cohen.
I bought a Seth Cohen poster. Seth Cohen hung above my bed for several years. I slept with Seth Cohen every night from the time I was about 13 until I was 16 and I thought I was cool and re-did my room to look like a French hotel room (actually I am cool, it's a very cool room). I removed Seth Cohen from my wall, but I did not discard him. No, he remained hidden in my room, safe and sound, for when I needed a little Seth Cohen in my life.
Now, 10 years later, imagine me as a 22 year old girl aka right now, having JUST MOVED TO THE OC IRL. Sure, I'm a lot more realistic at this point. I know Seth Cohen's not real. But come on. It's SETH COHEN, people. The perfect human? I would be lying if I said that my eyes didn't sweep through the crowds on Sunday as I strolled through Newport with my mom.
Seth Cohen, Seth Cohen, wherefore art thou Seth Cohen? Is it his hair? Maybe. Is it his body? Probably. Is it his nerdiness? Definitely.
I'm on a quest to find Seth Cohen. Wish me luck, friends. I won't rest until I have Seth Cohen in my life again.
(This is the infamous Seth Cohen poster. This poster is still somewhere in my bedroom in New Jersey. Who knows, maybe this Seth Cohen will come back to the real OC with me, in my suitcase, at some point in the very near future.)
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