So.much.to.do!

So the days are a-flyin' by, and each day keeps getting more interesting than the next. I've been applying to tons of "real" jobs that actually require me to show up at work, in addition to editing an article for CrossCurrents magazine as well as writing a couple music reviews for HotIndieMedia.com. Btw, I absolutely LOVE writing music reviews...and definitely love the idea of doing journalism writing & creative writing, in life, in general. And apparently I chose the right major in college, since all the job listings for editing & proofreading lead me to believe that today's society is illiterate, and I lucked out by being good at grammar... who knows. So anyways, I have a couple interviews next week so cross your fingers that I can find a way to sustain my *necessary* concert-going way of life. :P

And onto the fun stuff: Thursday I scored big-time: free lunch from Tyler at NYU, a free beer from a Czech family that I met in the city while Matt Troy came to visit for a day, free view of the Hudson River as I took a nice afternoon stroll, and free observation of a fashion line at my friend's aunt's trunk show (where you can check out the line & try clothes on, while being entertained with free refreshments).

And after staying up till after 2 on Thursday, I got up at 5 am to go to the Today show to see Kenny Chesney (FYI, I am an equal music listener & will give any genre a shot...and I'm also a seasonal closeted country fan during the summer). Nonetheless, I learned today that I'm not ready for country before lunchtime. But I got some standard pics of Matt Lauer & Ann Curry and played push-and-shove with some rowdy, frizzy-haired tourists, as per usual. Then despite serious sleep deprivation, I wandered around 5th Ave & Midtown for a while before heading back downtown to do some mostly unsuccessful shopping. Also despite tiredness, I got to rock out to the Fratellis, a sweet UK band that performed at Virgin Records for free! And I had been bummed that their NYC show was sold out...so that was awesome.

Then tonight Carla came with me to check out this interpretative dance show/play based on Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, which my Uncle Paul's friend Christine choreographed, directed, & starred in. Not gonna lie, it was interesting & like nothing I'd ever seen before, but Christine's dance skills were pretty wicked... & I was definitely entertained. So then after the show I got to meet a fellow Milwaukee person who moved to NYC; she's been here 7 years, lives in Brooklyn, & mentioned hanging out sometime. Yay for new friends! :) Aaand Carla & I got Magnolia cupcakes, and were surprise-serenaded by an ambush La Bamba-er -- no joke, all of a sudden this guy with a guitar popped out of the dark and started singing & strumming "La Bamba." GOD, I love NY.

The awesome weekend has only begun, and I'm still SO EXCITED for the rest of the highly anticipated events: free Vampire Weekend concert hosted by Andrew W.K. in Central Park tomorrow, and THE BRIDGES, LOCKSLEY, AND ROONEY, the **amazing** lineup I saw in Madison, on Sunday. I.can't.even.WAIT. :D

So everything is finally starting to sink in, and I'm beginning to realize what it feels likes to have your dreams come true-- even if it's one at a time.


The beautiful, sparking, shining Hudson River:

View of NJ:
Hudson + NJ:
Empire State building view from the West Village:

Matt Lauer & Ann Curry:
Matt & Ann:
The stage of "Gobstopper Influence": clothes lines full of pictures & twigs. So crafty.