Employee of the month

I'm convinced that the only job which actually makes sense is being a musician. If you're working-you're playing. When you're not playing, you're listening to the other players and learning about the music you have to know. Everything you do has importance.
Every other job I've had, I'm amazed that companies actually pay you to just sit around and be a body in their office/store/whatever. Probably more than half the time, there's no work to do but you have to make something up and look busy. Most likely because otherwise companies would realize they are wasting their money. I think the whole idea of trying to look like you're working is rediculous and unnecessary. So what if i want to play on the internet, to take a seat, or to talk to my coworkers?
I guess I can't complain too much until I get my ass back into gear, start practicing, and start wanting to work towards being a professional oboe player.

Hip dude

I'm working the men's section yesterday and a middle aged fella comes up to me to ask if what he picked out matched. He said he was attending a hip club, and i said-well that maroon paisley button down does not match that yellow graphic tshirt, sorry sir. After stearing him in the right direction, he continued to ask me what some of our tshirts meant. Like "West side" with a hand m
aking a w as the beginning. he said "now is that a gang symbol? is this pop culture?" "uh, ya sir..whatever"
"what about 'this is where i lay my mac down?' i know that's from a rap song! but what's it mean?"
"i have no idea..i don't listen to rap"
"alright, what about this is for my ninjas?"
"um, maybe it's a play on this is for my bitches?"
"no no...it's this is for my something else that begins with an n. i know that rap song!"
well if he knows so many rap songs, why is he asking me?

Sexcapades

I admit it-i'm a horny girl. I love to make out and i like to do it. So I'm pretty ok with making out with a cute boy even if i don't know him that well, but i've never been down with having sex with someone i don't really like. I didn't grow up thinking "I'm going to wait until I'm married" and it's not that i think it's disrepectful of your body or that being a whore is a bad thing at all-it's just not me. I'm scared of getting pregnant or getting a std-but all in all, i just don't feel comfortable with everyone.
Most people don't have a problem with this; most people would enjoy waiting for the priveledge (haha), but perhaps that is all coming to an end. Making out is no longer just making out. As i get older, do I have to become Carrie and Samantha and my city life of Ratface is really just about sex? Every date means another lay? My guy friends say, "Well that's what guys expect when you go home with them-sex." Is it no longer possible to just cuddle and kiss a guy? Do i really have to say to them all "We're not having sex-if that's what you want, go find yourself someone else"? I was under the impression more people were like myself, but I'll start changing that opinion and be prepared.

Employed

Today is my first day of work as a cashier at Urban Outfitters. Yes, i get to be a hip-dressed, dancing, crazy girl at the unnecessarily overpriced but still cooler than most stores shop. But when doing my calculations, i realized this retail salary won't quite cut it, even if i live in the cheap ghetto apartment i'm planning to.
So I applied to Diesel. I thought i was perfect for this situation-I worked there before, at the huge flagship main store mind you, and have loads of customer service experience. Plus i'm cute and have good style that i figure the customers would totally love. But Las Vegas Diesel doesn't seem to agree-which really upsets me. I wasn't only looking forward to some awesome free clothes, a good paycheck, and working for a great company, but I really think i would enjoy selling clothes on commision-i like talking to people and recommending certain styles.
Oh well...i went another route: I have an interview for waitressing at the Hard Rock Cafe today. Amber's convinced they like crazy looking people because people come to Hard Rock in Vegas looking for some insane rocckkkeerrrrs. Afterall, they have a set of 4 Kiss costumes when you walk in.

Settling Down

Well, I've got a job-at Urban Outfitters. The people the people are awesome and friendly. I'm also hoping to hear back from Diesel today so somehow I can work out a 2-awesome-retail-job schedule and be a little bit above dirt poor. I'm also going to look at apartments today with my new roommate, Amber. We've agreed to rock out to Crass and Depeche Mode, have a house warming camo themed party, and hang posters galore all over our barely furnished home. We're trying to get a beautiful low income house by somehow proving that we work shitty jobs. At $8/hour part time, i most likely do qualify for these houses even without lying. And tonight i'm attending my first show in Sin City. With the most beautiful man-i'm going to see Jared Leto in 30 Seconds to Mars. Maybe he'll notice me, we'll make out, and then get married and my dreams will come true. But if that doesn't happen, i at least get to stare at him wearing eyeliner on stage.

It's 4:20

And i still hate stoners
i hate people acting like smoking weed is the coolest thing ever
i hate hearing about somebody i like smoking weed because it makes my stomach curdle enough to throw up
and i mostly hate that i think like this

seriously-just give me some bong hits!

Maybe some bullshit

I was reading Robert's latest column and thought about the numerous conversations i had with Hilary who has always been one of those "i don't need a man to be happy" girls, and as much as i'd like to be-i am not one of those girls. I really enjoy calling somebody everyday to tell about my day, i like it when a boy thinks my new haircut is pretty, and i like it when he's excited about a new job i have. A boy can just offer some sort of comfort a best friend can't.

My sister wonders how i find so many boys that i'm compatible with and can have fun with. i've always used the excuse that my type of guy is in such little quantity, i just have to know where to look. i go to a show or the punk rock bar, and i see someone i'm interested in. i don't have to weed through all the others at clubs, sports bars, or through online dating, because the kind of guy i like wouldn't be there. But then Todd says-maybe that pool is a lot bigger than you think, so you just put up with their rediculous qualities thinking another one won't come around. It's true-i looked past heroin addiction, unemployment, disregard for my friends and family-and thought that was a blessing because i could really see the other qualities that made that person an amazing human being. But, like Robert said, am i just being a doormat? Unlike him, i do believe in a soulmate and perhaps i'm so afraid of losing the one that's come along, i'll try to find any good reason to hold on to him to figure out if he is it.

Over burritos and beer, Todd and i talked about my adoration for a boy on the east coast. For some reason, i've always dated boys far away from me. I never liked anyone in my own school-they were at least 30 minutes away. The last one was 7 hours away. Perhaps it fulfills my independent side that hates boyfriends and also my dependent side that loves to talk to someone who likes me. I moved here trying to forget the past and not worry about the future, but i still spend every night thinking about someone who's 3000 miles away. Todd says i'm emotionally dragging him along through my life, so why not just forget about him and find someone here? It can't be that hard. He's right of course, i could find somebody where i am, but i know that could take a very long time. So i'll talk to this boy, ignore his bullshit, trying love the good points, and it's stupid-but i can't help it-i'm just one of those girls.

Guess what!?

It's Hilary's Birthday. yayayayayayayyyayay

Hollywood come and get me hollywood

Amber, Todd, and i took an adventure to Hollywood, California for the weekend. It was my first trip there! It wasn't all the glitz and glam that I thought, but there were still interesting things to see and we still had a great time.

We headed out and stopped by the Alien Beef Jerky store.

There was a taxi cab full of these outside


We saw the world's biggest thermometer


We didn't get into LA until there was about 10 minutes left to drink. On reccomendation from Amber's customers, we went to the Bigfoot Lounge. (The sign says Sasquatch)


We woke up and went to Hollywood Blvd and saw some of the stars. I bought myself a wig too


We went to what seems like the largest record store ever. I very much enjoy music but have never been one for buying a bunch of cds. But you can find anything you want here! Even sample anything



We went to Melrose and walked around some hip shops, we saw the Hollywood sign up on the hills, and we went to the Freddy Kreuger house


Then we headed toward some clubs and went to the Rainbow Bar and Grille for a drink. The Roxy had a show going on so we couldn't go and we went in the Whisky a Go-Go before things started. We saw the Viper Room but didn't go in so we ended up at the Cat Club. The best part is, we met the bass player from Fear! Look at all the metal hands!


Murder she Wrote!


We found these kids from Englad wandering the street and helped them get into the Beauty Bar.

They were hilarious-had Aerosmith and Whitesnake tattoos!


We talked to some Rockabilly dude too


I finally found a star I cared about-Betty White


And Angeller and Co. came to hang out! I was starting to feel Pennsylvania homesick so I was so happy to see her and other IUP kids. We finished getting drunk, acted rediculous in the hotel, and then passed out.

The Base

Today, Mike took me to the Air Force base. I got to watch ladies give cheap haircuts, shop at the BX, and realize how weird it is to see a whole little town inside a base. I saw where they fix planes and how big everything is. This was a really lame update/livejournal post, so some good news: I'm going to dye my hair now.

Happy Easter

This is only the second time in my life I haven't been home for Easter. Over the years it has changed to my brother not being there, my sister not being there, my dad taking a gig elsewhere, to eventually me being the only one in the house in the morning because Mom is working. But eventually we'd all end up together for a really great dinner later in the night, maybe watch Ryon family videos, and tell stories about how every year we'd get water guns and start battles. I also love that when I would wake up, I would go down to the living room and look through my Easter basket equipped with a coconut egg, Reeses Peanut Butter cups, a Pez dispenser, and bowls of jelly beans. I'm dissapointed that I couldn't go downstairs this morning and see it, I'm dissapointed that I won't wear an easter outfit and bonnet to church, and I'm really missing living close to my favorite things about life.
But in an attempt to bring the Bunny here, Todd and I dyed eggs, and Mike ate some.

It says Easter in LV!

Las Vegans

So far I've figured out that...

The majority of cars have tinted windows
Little kids LOVE those roller skate/sneaker shoes
Cars drive around without liscense plates
The merging is bad, but not as bad as in Baltimore
I'm very happy I haven't come across an accent

My new life

During the last night of my trip and as i arrived on the strip in Vegas, i got more anxious and scared then i ever have from a move. I thought about how huge this city is and thought "how will i ever figure out how to get around? how will i find a cool place to live? how will i know what job will make me happy? what the hell did i just do?!?"
i don't know what i want to do in the future, and i'm working really hard to stop dwelling in and thinking about the past. So when i went out yesterday, my second day in town, my feelings switched to excitement about discovering the great joints, people, tourist attractions, and everything in between. I'm glad i'm not scared right now because being in a new place for the first time trying to figure everything out feels like nothing else. I'm going to start looking for jobs, and Todd and company have already taken me to the Art Bar, High Maintenance (where sandwiches are named after cars), DiveBar, Hammerheads, Double Down (not the Ottobar, but pretty close), and some others. Currently, we're looking up prices for getting married in Vegas.

From PA to NV

After 7 days, over 3,000 miles, a bottle of aleve for my back, and only one sunburned arm that hung outside the drivers window, i have made the treck across the grand United States. I passed through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahomo, New Mexico, and Arizona, to reach Sin City Nevada.
I suppose some would take that trip to figure out their life, decide what they're going to do, and get to know themself. I took the time to visit some of the most hilarious tourist attractions and listen to a large amount of my 300 cds.

JT says i had an exact square where i could sit and try to reach the doritos in the back seat. The car was pretty full.

I started out with a VERY long drive to Louisville, KY. After dirty WV, KY was so green and pretty. It started to get a little bit boring, but not when i got into the city! I stayed with Robert's-Sister's-Friend, Reem, and she took me to the hipster bar for karoake.


This guy totally looked like Robert. But looks more like a pyscho in this picture


Reem and Ben


Aside from knocking over people's beer cans all night, trying to tear some kids shirt off, and slapping somebody in the face, I called everyone Ben that night. Like this kid


Unfortunately, we didn't get to sing our duet of White Snake, but it was such a damn good time anyway!


Then it was onto route 65 on the way down to Tennessee. I pulled off to see the world's mammoth cave but stopped by Dinosaur World instead.

This is the entrance


There were more than 20 of these things with information on all of them


It's photosauras


mmm...I'm in his big crotch


Look, it's punk rock dinosaurs


Then i found the corvette museum, which is awesome because i love corvettes.


Steve said if i buy a cheap one, he'll restore it. I liked this one.


I headed into Nashville. It was very pretty-i saw a plethora of boot stores, blues clubs, old buildings and street performers that sang country.


The buildings were awesome. Like this tattoo shop.


I stopped to see the exact built-to-size replica of the Parthenon.




It's a good thing i didn't stick around long because tornados hit that area hard! I headed down to Memphis to stay with Jerry and Yvonne. He had some absolutely hilarious stories and was such a great tourguide.

He also had this fatass cat that i was allergic too. But that's ok


This is the closest we could get to Graceland without spending $30.


So we bought a sharpie and wrote on the wall outside




The gate outside


We then drove to Mississippi to this rediculous place called Graceland Too. Basically, it's a man who has so much Elvis shit in his house, including every movie, picture, record, and wine bottle that has ever existed. While his dentures were falling out, we deciphered that he was recreating Jail House Rock in his backyard, his son named Elvis Aron Presley McCloud is single and looking, and his collection is worth millions.




Jerry and I among the walls of Elvis


Here he is!


We also had southern BBQ and came across some weird abandoned building that smelled like urine


I figured since i was in the south, I would really like a pair of cowboy boots. I usually hate them, but these were so pretty i couldn't pass them up.


I saw some of the downtown, the skyline, and the Mississippi River.



They figured it would be real southern and confederate to not only show me a park with a statue of the founder of the KKK, but to go to some real redneck bars.





We sang karaoke too. And Jerry did a very convincing version of Beat It


The south reaaaaally loves their Sonic and Brauns ice cream, or however it is spelled. We don't get these up north, so Steve was pretty jealous that I got to go.



I drove into Oklahoma City and called Robert to see if there was anything to do besides see the memorial. Southern cities were pretty weird to me-it was a Saturday and it was completely dead. I was pretty much the only car on the road-not anything like what i am used too. It made the memorial feel even more creepy. I felt a little weird standing on that ground.





I was driving for about 13-14 hours into Texas so I was getting really tired. But I was greeted into the state by the world's largest cross! I also found the VW Bug Ranch where I painted my name



See it on the door?


The best photo opportunites in Amarillo were at The Big Texan-home of the free 70oz steak dinner...if you can eat it in under an hour.


I'd like a ride in this


I'd like a ride on this too


The free dinner!


Man, everything is bigger in Texas


My friends and i stopping for a meal


Right outside of the city is the Cadillac Ranch-10 old cadillacs buried into the ground. It felt like i was walking 5 miles to reach them, but it was really cool to see



I wrote my name on the side this time


And Steve's so he could be near Cadillacs in spirit




Then I saw this weird sign. Crreeeepppyyy


New Mexico was an ugly desert and was completely boring. But once I got into the Rocky Mountains it was pretty.



I stopped in Albuquerqe and asked some kid what was worthwhile to see. He showed me the way to the mall-works for me. All through NM and AZ there were indian trading posts with turqoise jewelry and leather products.

I thought this was bad, but evetually i paid $3.09!!


I tried to see the really random ostrich farm/petrified wood but it was dark and not open. Then i noticed there were dinosaur statues along the highway. So finally i reached my Wig Wam! I was considering going to some townie bars, but opted on a six pack of Schlitz for myself in my Wig Wam.



There were also old cars parked at the motel. I think when it was first opened, the owner really loved his impalas


I pulled off the highway to see the biggest meteor crater. Then i realized it was $15 to see! What a ripoff! It's not like Arizona built it. I headed to Sedona, AZ, home of the red rocks. It was the most gorgeous scenery I've ever seen. I'm pretty sure I saw the Grand Canyon-and it was the biggest thing i've ever seen. After 25 curving miles down into a canyon and not being allowed on the tourbus, i went around and took pictures myself.





I drove through the Hoover Dam and there were lookout points everywhere. It was really cool to see



I finally got to Vegas! Riding down the strip I had no idea this city is so big. I passed a wedding chapel with an old couple getting their picture taken. Some adult stores, strip joints, and lots of casinos.

I didn't know there would be palm trees here


But thank god there's a Nascar themed place


FINALLY! I met up with Todd and we went to The Art Bar to enjoy my first drink in my new city.