You Wreck Me, Baby (aka Laura gets emotional and ridiculous over live Tom Petty music)

Last night, I went to the Pearl Jam and Tom Petty concert. I need to write about this.
Pearl Jam put on a great show – they were better than I thought they’d be.
Then Petty came out and blew them out of the water.
Seriously, it was amazing.

I was a bit late with my discovery of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, considering they’ve been around for 30 years.

Some time ago, (wow, yeah, it was a while ago now) I went through what I assumed to be hell. I went through a break up (after four years of rollercoaster young love dating).

I was lost and confused and temporarily insane.

The next weekend, I went to a little party hosted by some friends I hadn’t really hung out with before, trying to find some sense of normalcy in my new single life. At the party, one guy had his laptop set up and his iTunes blaring… Tom Petty. I loved it, asked what it was, and learned a few songs well enough to sing along for the rest of the night.

I had my fair share of fun nights while in college, but most of them are kind of fuzzy now (no, not always from alcohol)… but THIS night is still so clear in my mind. It gave me a wonderful, much-needed realization that I still had so much more to look forward to in life – good friends, good music, memorable nights… it was exactly what I needed at the time.

Now, almost two years later, I’m (finally) over that break up. It was actually the best thing that could have happened to me – I’m starting to learn how to live on my own (that never would have happened before) and appreciate the good things in my life. Still, whenever I’m down/sad/alone/scared… out comes my Tom Petty; the music not only makes me feel better, it also reminds me that I am OKAY and that my life is worth living. Interesting how music can have such an impact.

I’ll also throw in the CD when I’m feeling good… just because I love to sing “Freefalling” like a maniac in my car.

So the concert was a grand old time… the lights were dancing, the sound was full, the guitar solos were incredible, and I admit, I did shed a tear (just one) when I heard the beginning chords of “I Won’t Back Down.” They played every song I’d hoped to hear and even closed with “American Girl,” bringing back Eddie Vedder to sing the second verse.

It was a few dollars spent (okay, more than a few), a few hours of crazy, wonderful live music, and finally a few hours of sleep. This morning, I woke up hoarse and very tired, but I’d do it again tonight.

It’s always nice to be reminded of how amazing life is.

Donny, you're out of your element...

... Dude, the chinaman is NOT the issue here!

Watching The Big Lebowski - for the millionth time, probably.

I just had to tell everyone how amazingly funny this movie is. PLEASE, if you haven't seen it, go rent it NOW.

Thank you.

I will not be living in a cardboard box

Big news, people! I got a phone call last night from my future roommate. Yep, that's right - the amazing house I toured last weekend in Milwaukee apparently wants me to live in it.
I'm so happy! It's such a relief, too - I guess I hadn't realized how anxious I was about finding a decent living space. I had so many requirements - I'm broke, so rent has to be cheap. I'm worried about not knowing anyone and being lonely - so I was hoping for roommates... blah blah blah.

I'll be living with 2 med students who are both in their last year of med school. I met them both last weekend, and they are the coolest, most down-to-earth women I've ever met. Seriously.
The landlord and his family live on the top floor of the house, and us three girls get the bottom floor... completely furnished (except for the bedroom) - and these girls really know how to decorate. There's a real fireplace, a grill outside, a hammock, a GIANT organic garden and a massive rhubarb plant (I LOVE RHUBARB!), compost, a basement with free laundry, excersize equipment, a dart board.... fun stuff.
I think the two other women are a lot like me - they like to cook and try new things, they don't have cable (I told them I had an old TV with rabbit ears; they thought that was great).
And - it's CHEAP.

The only possible downfall is the size of the room I'm moving into - it's tiny. I'm hoping this won't actually be a problem, because I don't see myself hanging out in there all that much. I'd much rather be out exploring the city... and I'll most likely be studying and preparing lesson plans.

The neighborhood feels very alternative and fun. I'm really excited about moving to a city that isn't trying to impress anyone. Milwaukee just feels very real, it's "working class," it's diverse. It's a sociologist's dream, basically.

I'm pretty pumped.

In other news, yesterday I hit myself in the face with my car door, proving my long-held suspicion that I am, indeed, a dumbass. Seriously, my jaw hurts.

The truth is in the stars...

Everyday when I come into work, I turn on my computer and then waste about 15/20 minutes... I check e-mail, Facebook, the weather, the top stories on MSN, and of course, my MSN horoscope.

Here's today's:

June 14, 2006

Don't let other people's arguments of the facts get in the way of your own truth. Don't doubt yourself and stop worrying. Don't get disgruntled if you aren't fitting in with whatever is going on around you. This is an indication that you may need to take another route. If you don't like the music being played, start your own band. You have everything in your power to make it happen.


Now, astrology to me is, at best, a good form of entertainment.
However, I really do appreciate it when my daily paragraph actually seems to relate to my life.
This, for example, is right on the money.

Right now, I feel like everyone around me is finally settling in - to jobs, relationships, apartments... whatever - they're settling into SOMETHING.
I, on the other hand, am searching for a new place to live in a new town. I'm quitting my job in about 6 weeks. I'll be taking classes at a new school - one that's sure to bring me a very different experience than the one I had at dear old GAC.
I am unsettled. And I am worried. And I'm scared out of my mind, people. I'm terrified! And on top of all that, I feel very alone with all of these feelings.

Granted, I realize I am not the only one going through major life changes. I'm sure there are many people currently in existence that also feel unsettled and scared and worried.
However, I do not know any of these people, and that's where the "lonely" part comes in.

And of couse, since I'm me, I'm trying my damnedest (is that even a word?) to deal with this myself. (I'd just rather not annoy my friends by talking about it all the time - especially when they can't relate.) Last night, I realized that I am failing miserably at "dealing" with this... 'cause I'm not dealing at all. I'm avoiding. I'm feeling sorry for myself. The real part of me (the honest part) is pissed off that I don't have someone to care about me and hold me and tell me not to feel scared.

I'm pissed off that my life has been in limbo for the past year and will probably not leave limbo for at least two/three more years. (Spending two years studying in a city I don't plan on staying in after those two years certainly qualifies me for at least two more years of "transition," don't you think?)

So... last night... I granted myself ONE night of crying and feeling bad and mad at the world. I grabbed my orange kleenex box, Jack (my ipod), and my abnormally large headphones, and at 9pm, I crawled into bed and sobbed. At some point, I actually did try to call a few people and reached only voicemails (probably a good thing - I was way too ridiculous to actually TALK to anyone).

And now I'm done. I had my night of patheticness, and now I need to buck up. The rational part of my brain (however small that may be) understands that my life is not that bad, that I am not alone, and that I will get through this.

I think I'm going to take this horoscope to heart and sincerely attempt to STOP worrying. I'm going on my own adventure - and yeah, that's scary, but it's also exciting! I don't need to rely on other people to make me feel safe. I already know that I'll be just fine. I cannot let my ridiculous fear take over and keep me from following my instincts and living my life.

So that's that. I'm leaving in two months, people... get your "Mac" time in now - 'cause honestly... after Milwaukee, who knows where I'll end up.

I Hate KS95

I have 38 days left to go until I will never have to listen to KS95 again, but honestly, I'm not sure if I'll make it that long. I try to take it one day at a time... but sometimes - like right now when I'm completely alone in the office - I think I just might die.

Yeah, I could change the station, but my supervisor was supposed to be back a half hour ago, so it's really not worth it - because he'll be back any second, and he'd just yell at me and change the station back.

I used to be able to listen to this station every once in a while... when I needed a Michelle Branch fix? What? Yeah. Maybe not.

AHHH!! OHMYGOD! This goddamn "had a bad day" american idol song seriously makes my day worse. Yes! I AM having a bad day because of your horrible song!

Once last week, I heard a new song. Then again, I might have been hallucinating.

Stuff

This weekend I was down in Milwaukee searching for someplace to live this fall. We'll see if anything pans out from this trip. If not, I'll probably have to go back down there over the 4th - the only weekend I don't have real plans this summer (and that's only because the Georgia trip fell through).
I *did* get to go see the Brewers play at Miller Park - our seats were right behind home plate... 10 rows up! The Brewers beat the Cardinals 4-3. It was the most fun I've ever had watching baseball. I even bought a hat! (Wooo.)

It was a pretty long drive going down there (seven hours), thanks to non-stop rain and road construction. The trip back home today was much better. I'm very very thankful that I have Jack to hang out with me now. Ipod = best investment ever.

In other news, Fatboy Slim has a new single out... sort of. It's pretty sweet - and the video of the juggling dude that goes along with it is probably the coolest thing I've seen in a while.

In other news again, I've been trying (and failing?) to plan a trip out east for my dad and myself. It is SO frusterating!! With airline tickets, hotel, rental cars, and possibly even an amtrak ride, it's EXPENSIVO. (It's the peak tourist season in Cape May.) It's also a bad week for my DC people - read: some people I kind of know who live in DC - to hang out with me, I guess.
Buuuut, it's the ONLY week I can go. (Listen to me vent... vent vent vent.)
Oh well, I'll figure it out, and it will all be fine in the end, right?

The Tom Petty/Pearl Jam concierto is in TWO WEEKS.