Sic 'Em

We beat some Techie ass. We beat some Techie ass pretty hard. 34 to 17 was the final score, I believe, which may not be as much of a beating as last year's game (51 to 7 I think it was; not that I cared about football at all last year), but is sufficient.
And Tennessee beat Kentucky (after scaring everybody in the first and second quarter by being behind Kentucky--yeah, thanks for keeping us calm, Vols). And you know what that means...
SEC Championship next Saturday night!
Of course, I won't be there. Well, I'll be there in spirit. Maybe. I don't know where I'll be in actuality but it's either Eddie's Attic in Decatur or my dorm room. But the point is, we'll exact our revenge on the horrible LSU, move up in the BSC rankings, and see what happens from there.
Ah, college football.

Deck The Halls

It's officially the Christmas season! I'm so excited! Now everyone can stop saying, "Amy, it's not even Thanksgiving yet, stop listening to Christmas music!" Because the day after Thanksgiving (which, in case you missed it, was today) marks Day One of the Christmas season! So of course, I set out to shop. Not the mall: that's too scary even for me. I just hit Target and fought the dueling shopping carts to get some Christmas decorations for the dorm, and then battled traffic over to Hallmark to buy my Christmas cards. They gave me some free stuff there just for buying two packs of cards, which was very exciting. I just gave it to my mom, but still, free stuff! And it's finally gotten kind of chilly here in the good old South! Finally. I mean, sure, I'm growing to hate Alpharetta more and more each day, but the cold really makes it not so bad. Now all we need is the 99Xmas Soundtrack Volume Four and a light dusting of snow and all will be well.
Does it ever snow in Athens? Anybody know?
But for now I'll just listen to my Christmas music and think about trimming my baby artificial Christmas tree and decorating my half of my dorm room (good old Jewish roommates). Twenty-seven more days!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Home Again

So it's back to Alpharetta and already I'm wondering how I lived here for so long. My parents spent all of dinner last night gossiping about the neighborhood tennis team, in that bitter suburban way. That's all they ever talked about before I went to college but now it annoys me even more. The whole "wanting to be back in Athens when you're in Alpharetta" disease is rearing its ugly head once again.
But at least this time there are friends in town! It's not like Fall Break when it was just us UGA kids; this time everybody's home! And I have enough plans to last me the week, providing people get in touch with me instead of sleeping all break. Today's plan? Possibly go to the Mall of GA, because it's cold and we have to go buy warm clothes and wear our winter gear in the car and blare Christmas music and, if the hottest guy in the world is still working at Hot Topic, return later on tonight bearing cookies for him. Let's hope.
Speaking of Christmas music, I am going to be very cross is 99X doesn't release the 4th annual 99Xmas Soundtrack this year. Three volumes of music is simply not enough!

A Fish You Can Catch, Part II

Don Dilego rocks.
Come to think of it, a lot of things rock.
Tonight primarily consisted of the Don Dilego/Trances Arc/The Whigs show at Tasty World, preceded by dinner at Transmet, and all culminating in a cameo appearance by none other than Billy Bennett himself, at the concert.
And that's not even why I'm in a good mood today.

A Fish You Can Catch

I got my computer back! And it works! No more "L"s! No more keys not working! Yay!
And that's not even why I'm in such a good mood today!
GO DAWGS!

Medicine

Well, you all know what this is going to be about.
I had so much fun last night. You know, no offense to any of you (seventeen or so) people who were at one point or another going to accompany me, but I am so glad that I went by myself. I never thought I'd hear myself say anything like that, since I'm terrified of going anywhere alone, but I really think it was good that I went to this alone (this being the Bain Mattox show at Tasty World for those of you who are a little out of it). I got to meet some really cool people, made some new friends, et cetera, which would never really have happened had I gone with somebody.
So the show itself was amazing, of course, as always. Bain was just opening for Chris McCarty band (none of us, not even any of the Bain guys, had ever heard of them), but the set was pretty long for an opener. We were right down in front, in the "kids who know all the words section" (all the big fans seemed to wind up together). They played a lot of songs, including a few new ones, which is always nice, and it was just a really great show. Especially since I'd heard that Tasty World was a really awful venue.
Darren and Sarah and I (remember when I said I made some new friends?) are now part of the band--Bain, Count, and Ash approved. We were afraid to ask Andy, because we thought he might think we were taking over his job. I'm hand-clapper, Darren's foot-stomper, and Sarah is finger-snapper, which might not sound essential to you but that's because you just don't know.
After the show, and after sticking around and talking to the band and the fans for awhile (we weren't too interested in Chris McCarty or his band), Darren and Sarah and I went to Barcode, some bar downtown that I'd never been to and don't think I was technically allowed to be in. I don't really like bars, but it was pretty cool--not too crowded or full of gyrating sorority sisters. So we stuck around there til about two, and then it was time to go home because downtown makes you sleepy. Yawn.
No more Bain Athens or Atlanta shows for awhile, but there is a new show in Charleston that we're talking about roadtripping up to even though it's during Finals week--Ash was trying to convince us, and I've never been to Charleston so it sounds like a good idea to me. Anyway, he said it's only about four hours, which is really nothing. So that may be in the works for early December.
And last but so very not least, I get my computer back tomorrow! Evidently they tried to deliver it (to my house) yesterday but my parents weren't home, so they're going to deliver it today, and tomorrow my parents are coming up because their friends got them tickets to the Georgia-Kentucky game, so they'll just bring it to me. And I'll have my computer back! Finally! But you know, it really hasn't been that bad after all.

Boo HP

So last night my parents drove up to Athens to retrieve my injured computer, and today they shipped it off to the good old HP factory to get fixed. This process, of course, will take ages, but I just couldn't wait any longer. This is the reason that I won't be on AIM for a couple of weeks (until Thanksgiving break, more than likely), and this is the reason that I will be bored beyond my imagination for the next couple of weeks as well. This'll be interesting. Let's see how long it takes me to go crazy.
In the meantime, these SLC computers are nice (and by nice, of course, I mean don't type letters uncontrollably). Of course, it's loud and crowded and I keep getting the sinking feeling that I'm in the Milton High School library and Ms. Enyeart (or Drew, whichever) is lurking over my shoulder ready to pounce if I so much as open Yahoo. It's a little nervewracking. But as I was saying, the SLC will have to do until I can get my computer back (Micah, I named him) and resume a halfway normal life.
In the 24 hours or so I've been computerless, though, I've realized that far too few of you update your blogs often enough for me to check them as often as I usually do. So maybe this technology free period will be a blessing in disguise, and I'll be able to cut the cord, so to speak, between myself and the internet.
But why bother?
My weekend was fun! How were your weekends? I hung out with Lindsey and her roommates and one of her roommates' out-of-town visitor (Auburnite! Boo!) the whole time, which involved a lot of eating, a tiny bit of drinking, a little Boneshaking, and a whole lot of sitting in the second row of the student section of the football game in which we kicked some War Eagle ass. (Georgia: 26, Auburn: 7, and in case you're keeping score, this keeps us in the running for the SEC Championship, so long as Tennessee beats both Vandy and Kentucky and we beat Kentucky--which shouldn't be too hard.) We made signs and got on the big screen (the jury is still out as to whether we got on the CBS broadcast of the game or not) and Billy Bennett waved at us!!! Highlight of my weekend. Seriously.
And so I'll muddle through the rest of the week until Thursday, Bain Mattox at Tasty World, for which Pennington is coming to visit! And then it's the weekend again. Nine days until Thanksgiving break!!!

Pours

Is it possible that I just shouldn't have gone to college? That I wouldn't be happy anywhere I went, or that higher learning and I just aren't meant to mix? Is that possible?
I very much wish I could just pull a Marla, but that's just not in my nature. I'll just have to stick it out for four years. Hey, at least I'm never at a loss for things to complain about this way.
I'm probably going to have to send my computer to get fixed as soon as possible, so I'll be sans internet, sans AIM, sans means of communicating with the outside world for two weeks. That is so exactly the opposite of what I need right now, but I cannot keep using this computer with it interjecting "L"s into every single word.
One more thing--the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I'll wake up and go to Anthropology to turn in the 8 page paper that's due that day, then I'm off to Astronomy to take another 20%-of-our-grade test, and then from there I go to Italian to take--what's that? You got it! Another test. And then maybe, maybe they'll let me go home. Sheesh.

Oh, and happy birthday, Butch Walker.

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Tonight I attended the Young Democrats vs. College Republicans vs. UGA libertarians debate, and I have to say, it was quite entertaining. The issues debated were the Economy, War on Drugs, Heathcare, Gay Marriage, the Patriot Act, and some other issues that I can't quite remember (you've all heard them many times before, anyway). And if any of you recall me ever saying that libertarians frighten me, then I take that back. Libertarians scare me way, way, way less than Republicans scare me. Oh, and my very favorite parts of the debate were the speeches in which the Republicans made up facts and said things that were complete lies. Those were great.
In other news, my computer is possessed. My laptop keyboard started having problems last weekend, and after discovering that there was nothing we could do short of shipping it off for two weeks to have the keyboard replaced, I got an old keyboard from home to hook up to my laptop. So for the past week I've been typing on a keyboard sitting on top of my keyboard. This was working out fine--until this afternoon, when all of a sudden my computer started typing the letter "L" repeatedly, without any sort of provocation. It's just typing "L" at almost regular intervals, and it will not stop. I don't know why--I've restarted, I've unplugged the separate keyboard, I've done everything I could come up with, to no avail. So first of all, if you have any idea what's going on or how I can fix it, HELP ME, and second of all, if you notice any words in this blog misspelled because of stay "L"s, please excuse them. Totally not my fault.l

A Return

I would love for you all to believe that the reason I haven't written in several days is because I've been off on many fun and exciting adventures, but sadly, that's not the case. Just the opposite, in fact. It's one dull day after another here in sunny Athens. Tests, papers, yadda yadda yadda. Today's a busy day, but busy does not always equate to exciting. I did go to Wal-Mart this morning, and as every UGA student knows, trips to Wal-Mart are pretty big deals. Later (in fifteen minutes or so) I'm going down to the good old SLC for an orientation/informational meeting for the Journalism school, and then even later, Young Democrats, and then even later than that, Ramsey with Michelle. We were going to start going to Ramsey often--at least on a regular basis. And wouldn't you know it, this'll mark the second time I've been, ever. Alas.
Much like everyone else, I am quite excited about Thanksgiving break. I'm not worried like Ashleigh is about everyone being different, though. Of course everyone is going to be a little different, but I don't think I've changed very much at all, and so I doubt I'll be coming home to friends who are completely different people than when I last saw them. I guess I'm not as worried as Ashleigh or someone else might be because I'm here at UGA, surrounded by people from high school, whereas she and others are at schools where they've made almost all new friends. I see Miltonites on a daily basis and haven't noticed a change in any of them, and therefore don't believe anyone will have changed. Maybe I'm wrong and you're all different. Maybe.
I went to Barnes & Noble Monday on my break between English and Italian (I did not see Brynnlee there this time--she told me she was there later that afternoon) and bought Tommy's Tale, by Alan Cumming. I'd never heard of it, but I have sort of a crush on Alan Cumming so I figured I was obligated to at least try anything he writes. I'm a little over halfway through it, and I don't really know what to make of it. I like it, I know that much. It's fun and it's quick and I like Cumming's style, but I don't know that any of you would really like it. Who knows, maybe you'd love it. Who am I to say? It's good, though.
And if anyone is interested, I posted the answers to the remaining lyrics on the post below. Eh, I didn't expect those to be gotten, anyway.

The Song Lyrics Game, November Edition

Some might say this is what I do instead of actually writing blogs, but I just say it's been too long. Haha, yeah, good luck with this one.

1. "I know somebody must have gave you hell; maybe you went running as the sky just sort of fell."
--Rhett Miller, "Your Nervous Heart"

2. "If I could consume you down, I would, then you would always be around, you would, you would, you would."
--Bain Mattox, "Rice Paper Heart"

3. "I'm insofar to know, the measure of love ain't loss; love'll never ever be lost on me."
--Jason Mraz, "On Love, In Sadness"

4. "Here's the time we didn't speak, it seemed for years and years. Here's a secret no one will ever know the reasons for the tears."
--Ben Folds Five, "Smoke"

5. "Don't ever tell anyone anything, or else you'll wind up missing everybody. Don't ever tell anyone anything."
--The Ataris, "If You Really Want To Hear About It..."

6. "That may be all I need, in darkness she is all I see."
--Maroon 5, "Sunday Morning"

7. "I've got dirty hands and I've got a dream to match. I've got a pocket full of government issue cures for poverty."
--Angie Aparo, "The American"

8. "Your day breaks, your mind aches, there will be time when all the things she said will fill your head; you won't forget her."
--The Beatles, "For No One"

9. "Remember the only things we need sometimes are chilly nights and warmer thighs."
--Saves The Day, "Hold"

10. "After all this time, you were waiting on the ride to stop at the place where they slowly misplaced your life; go on get it right."
--Butch Walker, "Joan"

Alright. Get to guessing.

Bless Me

If anyone's interested, false hangover of this morning has developed in to sniffly, stuffy, shivery cold. Yeuch. I hear everybody is sick lately but since I never, ever get sick I figured that didn't apply to me. Eh well, it'll pass.
And another annoyance of today: my Astronomy test. It was just as bad as I expected and worse. Worse because since our professor is out of town he was having a graduate assistant proctor it (which we knew), and the grad student was twenty minutes late to class (which we did not know), thus subtracting twenty minutes from our testing time. Yeuch.

Inequality For All

When I woke up this morning, I felt all hungover. Right down to the dry, scratchy throat and sensitivity to light. Last night, I went to Young Democrats, went to Walmart to buy Finding Nemo and blank VHS tapes, and studied for Astronomy. Did you hear me mention "did shots," "funnelled beer," or "had fun" at all? No. Not remotely. So I don't think this is quite fair. At least when you wake up hungover after a night of debauchery you can say, "Well, I feel awful, but at least I got to have fun." Now I just feel awful. Methinks the universe is out of whack.
And I think I've reached the point of diminishing returns with this whole studying for Astronomy thing. I skipped Anthropology this morning so I could study, and I just feel like the more and more I read about emission line spectra and the Twin Paradox, the less prepared I am for the test. I'd rather just go ahead and get it done with, whether I get a good grade or not. You all know the feeling.
There's a play I want to go see tonight--a collection of short plays, actually--at the Cellar Door theater in the Fine Arts building. It's only five dollars if anybody is interested. One of the guys who came with us flyer-hanging last weekend wrote and directed and is starring in one of the short plays and he said that it's going to be really good and interesting. I can't quite remember all the things he said about it but I remember it involved lots of audience involvment, breaking-the-fourth-wall type stuff, and I figure if it works on Moonlighting it'll work in real life, right? Right.

Bizarro

I'm trying to study for tomorrow's dreaded Astronomy test, and I realized that I have no quiet, slow, study music. None. Nor do I know what to download in order to have slow quiet study music. So if anybody would be so, so, so kind as to make me a study mix, I would be forever indebted. I promise. I'm not above indentured servitude.

And PS to those of you who I promised mixes to a week or so ago: I am working on them. They will come. I get busy but they'll get done.

I Want My MTV

Shotgun Pageant by Bain Mattox was played on tonight's episode of The Real World!!! Alright, my day is officially made.

Edited to add: How could anyone's day not be made by Bain on MTV and Two-For-One Poky Stick Tuesday at Gumby's? Mmmm...Poky Stix. They are on their way as we speak.

Athens Warming

A year ago, it was cold. Like, cold cold. Hoodie weather, at least, if not jacket and mitten weather. It was the kind of weather that you expect in November, even in the South. Do you know what yesterday's high was here in sunny Athens? Do you? Eighty two degrees. Eighty. Two. Degrees. Eighty. Two. Degrees.
I emphasize this because...well, I think you know why I emphasize this! People aren't supposed to sweat in November. T-shirts aren't supposed to be worn in November. November is for the new pea coat I bought, and the matching scarf and hat and mittens I brought from home over Fall Break. November is for shivering and thick socks and curling up in blankets and wishing that there were fireplaces in the dorm rooms. November is not for Eighty. Two. Degrees. Ever.

Go Go Group Bain!

Flyer-hanging in downtown Athens with Bain and Count this afternoon. It was fun! Not quite like the flyer-hanging pizzarty in the Atl, but fun all the same. No Ash because he lives in another state; no Andy because Andy is elusive. I was in Bain's group (aptly named Group Bain), which kicked the flyer-hanging ass of Count's group (cleverly named Group Count). It didn't take very long--downtown Athens is relatively tiny. For coming to help, we're all going to be put on the guest list for the Tasty World show on November 20th (how cool is that?), and oh, I got the inside scoop on the Better Than Ezra show, which the band will probably be opening for this Thursday. The inside scoop being, of course, that the band is probably going to be opening. Anybody want to come? Brynnlee? It's $15 but Better Than Ezra is good live, as Laura and I discovered when we saw them at Music Midtown awhile back.
So now I've got a paper to write, and then later I have a Treehouse of Horror to watch, and then that's about it for the day. Tomorrow's more school, so I'm sure that'll be wonderful. Gee golly I'm excited.

Boooooooo.

I hate football.
I hate Florida. I hate Gainesville; I hate Jacksonville. I hate the beach, the ocean, and palm trees. I hate Disney World, the Keyes, and every kind of swampland imaginable. Hate orange. Hate that really ugly bluey color. And I hope that all the coastal erosion that we learned about in APES last year starts to get a move on and completely erodes the state of Florida into a tiny stump jutting out into the sea. That's the only thing that's going to work.