Monday, July 23, 2007

Follow You, Follow Me [Genesis]

Stay with me, My love
I hope you'll always be
Right here by my side if ever I need you
Oh my love
In your arms,
I feel so safe and so secure
Everyday is such a perfect day to spend
Alone with you
I will follow you will you follow me
All the days and nights that we know will be
I will stay with you will you stay with me
Just one single tear in each passing year
With the dark,
Oh I see so very clearly now
All my fears are drifting by me so slowly now
Fading away
I can say
The night is long but you are here
Close at hand, oh
I'm better for the smile you give
And while I live
I will follow you will you follow me
All the days and nights that we know will be
I will stay with you will you stay with me
Just one single tear in each passing year there will be
I will follow you will you follow me
All the days and nights that we know will be
I will stay with you will you stay with me
Just one single tear in each passing year...

Crazy Weekend

Well, just as I had predicted it..."Its already Monday!" I'll try my best to recap the weekend.

Friday night: I stopped at my brother's house to pick up a tent and a video camera. I got home about 6-ish and had about a 15 minute window to get ready. By the time I got out of the shower, my Fiance's brother and sister-in-law were coming through the door. Then I heard his friends come in, too. So I got ready uber quickly and then we all headed out to a restaurant to have dinner. The show was to consist of 2 opening bands and then the main attraction: Run to the Hills. We finished up dinner and drove over to the little pizza place. We saw my fiance's brother in the parking lot and met up with him. He looked like he was ready to rock and I was excited to be there to listen and watch. We headed into the place and got a table. The 1st band was just wrapping up their set and then the 2nd band came on. WOW. Very LOUD. The lead singer was very...uh, different. Very low voice, and then it sounded like someone took a vice to his privates. But its OK. I think that is how they were supposed to sound. Also, they had a kid playing guitar who was very, VERY good! I had my little camera going, so I video taped a little of him playing. So then there was a break while the main band did set up. The lead singer for Run to the Hills was insistent that my fiance's brother wear a wig! He looked so funny with long, long black hair! I guess they had a disagreement in the parking lot about the wig, and I guess the lead singer won. It took them so long to start though. I guess one of the guitarist was taking a long, long time to tune up his instruments. SO they actually didn't start until 11pm! They had a set list of about 20 songs...SO...

They came on and I have to tell you, Johnny's Pizza draws a very "different" crowd. Very biker-y. And then there were the Iron Maiden fans mixed in there and that equals a very diverse crowd. I won't lie. I did feel a little out of my element. But I was overall very mesmerized at watching my fiance's brother play bass. He just looked so happy up there and very professional. I kept hearing about how good a bass player he was...but to witness it is a whole different story. You kind of feel like one of those giddy women who are like, "Omigawd!! I KNOW that guy!!!!!" I tried to tape as much as I could, but ended up only getting about 10 minutes worth. I tried to get close, but there were so many nutty fans and they were all so very close to the stage that I always had some shadow of some huge guy banging his head to nothing in particular. It couldn't have been top the music because he was off beat. And then there were the crazy women who were looking like they just came out of an Iron Maiden video shoot. And they were dancing to the same thing the guy who was banging his head to was...Not really to anything at all. There was a point where I tried going next to the speakers, but the music was SO loud, it shook my brain stem loose and I had a few moments of dizziness. LOL. So I backed off and tried standing on a chair. That may have been a mistake because when I turned the camera off to "stand-by," the lead singer for the 2nd band came over and was talking to the camera. He told me to shoot a picture of his shirt and then he lifted it to show a very skinny, very white stomach. BLEAH. He looked white as a ghost! But the band played on and soon enough, it was 1am. The pizza place closes at 1am, which is weird because I thought it closed at 2am. Oh, well. We all hung outside for a while, talking to my fiance's brother and just discussing the performance. It was really weird, but as people were coming out, I saw my fiance's OTHER brother (his younger one, who was in the Marines), yelling at some guy - calling him a Nazi...I at first thought that he was joking around with the guy because I thought maybe they had chatted while inside. But I guess at the beginning of the show, while the guys were tuning up, he grabbed the mike and was screaming Nazi things. So I guess this rubbed my fiance's brother the wrong way...I never saw him yell that way. And when I realized that he was not messing around, I thought it was kind of scary. I had never seen him raise his voice like. Suddenly I realized that he was not someone I would ever want to make upset! (^_~) Anyways...the night ended around 2am. We got dropped off and then chatted for a while before turning in. My fiance and I slept on the air mattress we purchased and my soon to be brother-in-law and his wife slept in our bedroom. A few hours later, my fiance got up so he could go to his eye appointment. I went next door to D & D and got some coffee for our guests, since we don't drink coffee! I was going to cook eggs and potatoes and realized that it may be too much for everyone to eat. So I went back to D & D and bought donuts and muffins. So, NOW...

Saturday: We all headed over to my fiance's best friend's parent's house around 11:45am. We were the first ones there! I wish I could go into some elaborate story about all the things that happened, but to tell you the truth, it was just your typical cookout. Lots of friends, lots of people you didn't know, lots of food and lots of fun. I genuinely like all of my fiance's friends and family. I think they're all pretty great - I can only hope that they think the same of me and that my fiance things the same of my friends and family. It was just one of those rare occasions where friends and family collide. Both sets of my fiance's parents showed up, and his 3 brothers. Typically, it is one or the other - all friends or all family. We also had great weather. I have a very weird burn. Some on the back of my neck, and some on my arm. One arm is now darker than the other. I'm hoping that next weekend, I can take care of that (but that'll be another post). Anywho. We actually didn't leave until a little before nine. I like the fact that we stayed outside the entire time. Those days are great because that's what summer is supposed to be! So in retrospect, I had a really good time. One guy we know went to Alaska and he showed me some pictures. I swear, it is so beautiful there that every picture you take is worthy of a screen saver. =] He stayed there for 3 weeks, visiting his brother. Some day, I'd like to go to Alaska. Just to see what it is like. The mountains are just so beautiful and huge! And the water there looks so clean and refreshing - cold, I'm sure, but also refreshing. So we got home about 9-ish and settled in to watch "Blood and Chocolate." We only got to watch 1/2 of it though - we were a little too tired to make it through...

Then came Sunday: Just your typical lazy Sunday. We went to the Rockingham Mall and then food shopping. How exciting, right? =]

So that brings us back here to Monday. Bleah. Hope this week goes by fast, even though it is a 4 day week! =]

Friday, July 20, 2007

Finally Friday

Well, its finally Friday. *Whew* Made it through another week. But I can guarantee you that come Monday, I'll be asking myself, "where the heck did the weekend go?" Eh, its OK. That's just how it goes, right? Anyways. Last night driving on the way home from work, it was pouring rain (by the way, I drive a Saturn VUE (http://www.saturn.com/saturn/vehicles/vue/overview.jsp). And it was one of those soaking rains that keep you from ever feeling dry. I woke up this morning and it was all foggy outside. I can only hope that it doesn't rain tonight. But as I was saying, it was pouring rain and I couldn't exactly see if there was any lighting. But I was using my blue tooth headset (http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/details.jsp?globalObjectId=111) talking on the phone with my best friend...when there was this weird beeping noise. I said, "did you hear that??" and she said, "no!" So I said, "uh, I think I better end this conversation..." and she said, "no, I think you'll be fine. You're using your headset, right?" Now, I love and trust my best friend very much. But you know, I just didn't feel like getting electrocuted at that point in time. So if you are reading this right now, let me say: I'm sorry. =] Anyways. I don't think that I've really mentioned my friend, have I? Well...

We met when we were at UMass Amherst (http://umass.edu/umhome/index.php). *sigh* The good 'ol days. We were both staying at Knowlton Hall in Northeast, which is the engineering, nerds and dorks section of UMass. Knowlton is also an all girls dorm. When I filled out my application to live on campus, I don't remember checking off that box. So I don't know how the heck I landed in that dorm. To top it off, I was on the 4th floor and had TWO other room mates. Yes, that's right, I was in a triple. One of them was Japanese and the other was Vietnamese (she was from Worcester). Both talked really loud, too. Don't get me wrong. They were really nice people. Its just that I was hoping to get a quiet room mate, you know? So anyways.

One night, I went down to the lounge area and saw my friend sitting there watching television. I think it was either the Monday night or Tuesday night line up...So we ended up talking and I was discussing my room mate issue. And she told me about her room mate issue (which was worse compared to mine). From there, we became friends. She actually took me back to Worcester to stay with her for a few weekends. She had relatives/friends that would come and pick her up, so she often asked me to come along, as well. Her parents are so very nice. I am sure that they thought I was weird because all I would eat was white rice...You see, my friend is Vietnamese and therefore, her mom cooked Vietnamese food - or Asian food. I'm just not a very adventurous person when it comes to food and can sometimes be scared of trying new things...So in saying this, I hope all those times I was not actually insulting them. =T Anyways. For the first time in my life, I was introduced to the Asian lifestyle. I never knew many Asian people - most of the people in my high school were either white or adopted Asians like me. It was pretty cool to be in a different environment. Her parents were so welcoming and so nice. It was like having a 2nd pair of parents! =] So anyways.

After the first year, I think, we got to share a room in Knowlton. The following semester, Hanh stayed home, so I was left on my own. I never got a new room mate, so I was actually living in a single. It was lonely and weird because...well, I'll leave that alone in case some people were to ever read this. But the following Fall, we moved to a different dorm, Johnson. We got a corner room, which was actually quite large. And at the time, I had gotten myself a boyfriend. So all of his friends started hanging out in our room. Seems our room was the place to be and soon enough, people were coming in without knocking! Sheesh! So needless to say, after one year of living in that room, I didn't come back. I was too wrapped up in having a boyfriend and having a good time that I let my studies slip. Its no ones fault but my own and if anyone ever asked me what I wanted to change in my life, I have to say that's the only thing. So that was the end of my UMass Amherst life. I went on to UMass Lowell and eventually got my degree, but you know, if it weren't for UMass Amherst, I wouldn't have met my friend.

And she is one of the greatest people you could ever meet. Funny, beautiful, thoughtful, caring, and smart. She has since moved away, though, and you know what? I miss her. We talk on the phone and chat and email, but you know, nothing quite fills the void of those nights sharing a room when you can just turn your head and start talking about whatever. Or go to dinner at 4pm at the dining commons and talk about EVERYTHING. Or walk to the campus center and get an ice cream on a warm fall night or a warm spring day (you notice how that doesn't happen in the cold of the summer or frost of the fall?) *sigh* There are times when I really miss those days. I think mainly it is because I tend to keep only a few very special people in my life. So when one of them moves away, the void is impossible to fill...

So there you have it. An introduction (brief, I know) of my best friend. Why don't you pop in on her and say hello? (http://dyshanhics.blogspot.com)

Ta Ta for Now!

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Hang Over

Ugh. I have a hang over and I didn't even get the joy of being drunk. I have the symptoms of a hangover: headache, sloth-like movements, no motivation, sleepy...Its weird. I slept really well last night, too. My fiance and I bought an air mattress to use tommorow night, as we are having guests over and we are going to offer our bed to them. We blew up the mattress last night to test it out and its very comfortable. We're also going to use it when we go camping in one week - the only thing is that the mattress my fiance bought (notice how I took myself out of the equation as soon as I want to say something negative) the mattress is like, double thick! So I don't know if it will fit in the small tent I will be borrowing from my brother! I can only hope, eh? Anyways. I slept really well in it, so I don't know what the deal is. The worst part is that when I get home, we have to clean...So hopefully my hangover symptoms will clear up by then.

ANYways. I can't wait for the weekend. Actually, I can't wait for tommorow night! My fiance's brother is playing bass at Johnny's Pizza in Hudson, NH and everyone is going! (http://www.johnnys-pizzeria.com/about/index.html) We're all going out to dinner at T-Bones before the show and then heading over to see him play bass. I have never seen him play. All I keep hearing about is how awesome he is (which, I am SURE he is) but I need to see the legend for myself, you know? He's playing in an Iron Maiden Tribute band (http://runtothehillsusa.com/home.htm). My fiance loves Iron Maiden (http://www.ironmaiden.com/), so he is pretty siked about the whole thing. His OTHER brother is coming up from Douglas, MA (that is who is staying with us). Then the next day, we are heading to a yearly cookout at my fiance's best friend's parents house. I've been to one before - everyone is so nice. I can't wait! Its going to be a hoot of a weekend! (wow, did I say "hoot?")

So after the events occur, I'll have to post again and tell you all about it~!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Television Recommendation



If you have never seen it, check out "Dirty Jobs" on the Discovery Channel. I know - whats a person like me watching educational television for? Well, to be honest, the show is very interesting and very cool. I mean, have you ever driven down a dirty a-- street and been like, "man, I wonder how they clean the streets of all the trash!" Well, this show will show you how they do it! Mike Rowe is the host and he goes along and does the jobs that most people turn their nose up at. He meets up with the trash removal guy, the sewer cleaner guy, the fish head masher guy...etc. and works along side them so you can get an idea of how you can earn a living being dirty all day long. The show airs every Tuesday night at 9pm - and there are always re-runs on the weekends. If you get a chance, check out one episode and I swear you will be hooked for life.

Here's the website: http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/dirtyjobs/dirtyjobs.html

You can check out the crazy posts that people leave. Since Mike Rowe is a fairly attractive man, and single, there are ALOT of crazies out there just day dreaming and drooling over him. Its kind of freaky, actually. But the site is fun and it gives you the general idea of what its all about!

Harry Potter

Last night it was "date night" with me and my Fiance. We had some errands to run and opted to stop for dinner and then to see a movie. We saw, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." I have to say, I was impressed yet again. I am glad that as the movies go on, they are actually getting darker. The kids are getting older and the magic is getting more serious. I like how they kept all of the characters in the movies - you can see how they are getting older and more grown up. Even Harry's cousin, Dudley, is getting to look more like a football player than a butterball these days. I have been thinking that the character with the most changes is Malfoy. He has really changed over the course of the movies - especially in the face area. He's thinned out and becoming more of a man - less of a bratty boy. He is really starting to look more like his father, Lucious (?) Malfoy. The best scenes come from the end, of course, where Dumbledore and Lord Voldermont face off. You can tell that this is not kid's magic here. You can see it is dark vs. light, evil vs. good. That's the stuff I like to see!

So if anyone is wondering - go check it out.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Red Sox - Yankees

I've got a problem with the Yankees and the love affair the media seems to have with them. Its not because I am a Boston Red Sox fan, but I think a lot of fans around the league must feel the same way. I'm getting tired of always hearing about the Yankees. So what if they are 4-1 since the break? Who cares if A-Rod hits another home run? These things happen during a season, and believe it or not, other teams DO EXIST. Take for example the Colorado Rockies. They have been doing rather well, beating teams that are difficult to win against and no one says anything. Its all about the Yankees, the Giambi issue, and now the Sheffield issue. The Red Sox are currently 9 games out front of the Yankees. They have good pitching, excellent defense and look like a legitimate team to take the pennent (hope that doesn't jinx anything). Kason Gabbard, a pitcher who has been filling in for the injured Curt Schilling, pitched a 3 hit, 8 strike out, complete game last night and whats on the front page of ESPN? "The Yankees are 4-1 since the break..." I mean, honestly, sometimes I think George Steinbrenner has the media in his money pocket. This summer's baseball news only runs on 3 cycles: Yankees, Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi. No one cares, no one wants to hear about it and no one can do anything about it. I'm tired of watching a national league game and having the announcers somehow turn it over to the Yankees. Its not even in the same league, for Pete's sake!

I'm tired of the same news, the same topics. I want to hear about other teams, how they are dealing with their injuries, their team chemistry. I want to hear about good players doing off the field activities to help their community. I don't want to hear about the latest A-Rod incident, players calling managers racists just to get the lime light, and I don't care if Jason Giambi used steroids. If he were really going to do something useful about it, he would have already done it.

Bleah. Baseball media needs to take a long look at itself and realize that no one cares about the Yankees, no one cares about Barry Bonds and no one cares about Gary Sheffield. I certainly don't.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Life Begins...Or Ends

I find it hard to believe at times that I am going to be married in just over 1 year. I know that 2008 is a long time in advance, but you know what? Time really flies when you want it to slow down the most. I just received some STDs...No, not THOSE stds. They are little Save-the-Date cards to send to people so that they can...well, save the date. Since our wedding will be on a Sunday (the Sunday before Labor Day), we thought it would be a good idea to make sure people knew to not plan a vacation for the long weekend. But hey, if they want to go away and just send us money, I'm OK with that. HA-HA. I am only kidding. I am seriously hoping to have a good, fun crowd. I'm not looking to do the extravagant wedding thing - I'm looking to celebrate the fact that I am no longer single and can start paying the marriage tax.

Anywho. I'm not a big blogger, so this could be one of those, "what, she only has one post in the last two years" things. I'm actually not even sure where to start. I mean, since this is on the web, there is a large chance that Sketchy McWeirdo will see this and start stalking me. Although, in order for that to happen, I will have to have a somewhat exciting life - which I do not. As a matter of fact, one of my good friends is always asking me, "when did life get so boring?" I always tell her, "its when we became adults." But you know what? I'd rather a quiet life of dullness than a life filled to the brim with drama. Drama ages you and streaks your hair with gray. So for now, until things start happening, this is all I have. =]