I'm only happy when it rains...

School is out and I have a month before classes start back up.
I have loads of things I could be doing---baking interfaith cookies, sewing my friends birthday present that is now 3 weeks late, looking up sources for my annotated bibliography, or cleaning the bathroom.
I am going to lay on the couch and do nothing for now.

G-L-O-R-I-A..Gloria..G-L-O-R-I-A

I am finishing my final paper for a class today. I have been working on it for a week and I am in the home stretch. My window faces a backyard where there is a wedding reception going on right now. The live band that is playing is very good, but I like to write in silence. Kind of difficult when the harmonica player's microphone is so loud. If they play "House of the Rising Sun" I might have to punch someone in the throat.

For those about to rock...

I haven't written in forever!!! The four day weekend will (hopefully) let me get some work done.
After some conversation (with my adviser and a few professors) and consideration (see parenthesis before) I have changed my thesis. Whew! Sure glad I have a bunch of sources (purchased) that I am not going to use... Ah! who am I kidding I wanted those books and DVDs and I had an "academic" reason to purchase them. So, yes, it is official I am not going to do a gender angle on punk rock, rather an examination of secular Christmas songs of the 1940/50s and tie them in somehow to capitalism. Yes at the moment a little vague, but I just got some books and articles and I will pour over them this weekend. After this is said and done I want to refer to my self as a Christmasologist. Wouldn't it be great if Frosty and Rudolph had a counterpart who did not stand the test of time. Maybe Gene Autry was the reason for their success. Stay tuned.

If I had a hammer...

Things at school are starting to get going-papers, presentations and grading assignments.
I am also feeling like a bit of a day laborer, because I have done some baby sitting, sorting e-bay "inventory" and cleaning for cash. No job is too small. Also, I have joined up with some rock and roll fellas, and I am strumming the 4 strings and I am on the mike. It is really fun to be playing in a rock band again. The guys are really easy going and I like the music they play. The camaraderie between musicians in a band, for me, is something I cherish. This includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. This just reminded me I should change my strings.

Losing My Religion...

So it looks like I will have to get part time job. I know, boo-hoo me, but I was hoping to not during my first semester at CSULB. The teachers aide pay is not going to cut it and I like Synergy drinks and they cost money so I will pound the pavement and find me some work.
The reason I titled this entry "Losing My Religion," is I applied for a part time job at a big corporation. I am not super PC and I like the store okay, but I feel as if I am truly co-opting with the man if I work there. But it is close to school and they are open hours which I could work---SO!!! what is a girl to do? I hope I don't have to turn in my Northern California Mentality Card.
What store is it? I ain't telling unless I get the gig! :)

How Soon is Now?

I am the sun and the air...Went to my 20 year high school reunion. I have a question, who in the hell are these people? I mean I was not popular, but I did have the reputation of good parent signature skills and in the morning you could find me sitting in front of the office with my pal, A.
I was pleased to hang out with a few folks.

Like a zero drowning in a sea of higher numbers...

Okay. So I have started school and I am really digging it at the moment-with that said today at school was a bit of a challenge for me.
I got my contract for my TA position and had to submit it to payroll to get paid.
The campus is big and sits on a hill. I was down at the music building and had to go to the library, and payroll. Great! I stepped into the library which is at the other end of campus and realized I had forgotten to go to payroll which is located in the middle of campus. So after I walked up and down the stairs at the library for an hour, I went back to payroll. Did everything there and they tell me I have to get a graduate assistant ID, SOOOO I walked back to the ID center which is on the way to the library. Then I remembered I needed to get a form to get keys and so I went back to Brotman, where the payroll office is....the line was ridiculous so I said forget it and went to take the bus home.
Now the funny thing about the bus is just yesterday I was telling my friend J in Nashville how the bus is WAY better than the KAT- Knoxville Transit. The buses were relatively on time, they were clean, the drivers appeared sober and knew the route. (Footnote: in Knoxville I was taking the bus home once and the driver made a turn and started going on a different bus route)
But the best part about the bus was there were very few undesirables on the bus. Now before you judge. If you know me then you know, I am all for public transportation and if you can pay the fare, you can ride.
With that said the hobo brigade was riding on my route home. We had Mr. Curseword at Students, Madame Smells-Alot, How many trash bags filled with recycling from garbage cans guy and my personal favorite large man with sweatpants with no elastic band. They all got on within 2 stops of eachother. It was madness! The bus was packed anyway-I had to leave the fun and get off 3 stops early and walk home, because I hadn't done enough walking today...

D'ant D'ant D'ant!

We have ants! Not bad and they are in the bathroom (I know, bathroom), but I really do dislike them immensely. Why are they in the shower? Are not ants opposed to water? Maybe California ants like to swim. I dunno. I have become obsessed with getting rid of them. The act of me busting into the bathroom every hour to see how many I can get prove I need to start school very soon.

All hail the Egg and life in the "fast lane"

Okay. Today I went to the DMV to get CA plates for the Egg. B had to go to work so I drove him and did laundry, blah, blah...At 1pm I left to go to the DMV. This by the way is the 4th time I have been there since we moved. In Tennessee DMV dealings are very easy-first it is located in the mall so you can get a drivers license, buy some underwear and have a get a slice from Sbarro.
Not so for California.
I had an appointment but I had to take the TN plate off and surrender it so I could get new plates.
The plate screws are a little bit stripped is an understatement.
I am not kidding when I say I was using my whole body trying to get it off- I am sweating, I cut my thumb and last night I pulled my neck so there is a pinch making me curse every time I tried to lefty loosey. I looked across the parking lot and saw a 20ish guy, so I said, "Excuse me can you help me get my license plate off my car?" The dude replied, "No, I promised my girlfriend I wouldn't."
WHAT??
Was I speaking some kind of sex code? I mean I am sure I looked pretty good with my brown teeshirt and over sized black shorts and let us not forget my bleeding thumb and sweat pouring down my neck.
Thanks dick. I decided to see if I could still get the plates anyway.
I went to window 13 and spoke to my new best friend Richie. He saw my sweaty face, filthy hands and said he would give me the plates, but I had to turn in my TN plate by 4pm.
Another DMV worker and said there was a Pep Boys at the circle and they would probably help me. I set off...
I wanted some music to calm my nerves and I kid you not three channels on the radio were playing "Life in the Fast Lane" by the Eagles. Wasn't that song popular 30 years ago? I am not a hater of the Eagles, but I would have settled for Kansas, Boston, Journey, hell I would have settled for an early Aerosmith or Linkin Park. Alas, Eagles took me to the Pep Boys-the guys were busy. So I set off to the Goodyear nearby.
Dave gave me faith in humanity again.
He took off the plate and put offered to put the new ones on... Thanks Dave.

Namaste...

So I am doing my best to exercise every other day. My bike is in full working order so I am riding some and doing yoga at home. I was doing yoga the other day and I am in shavasna (deep relaxation) and I hear outside of the window. "That shit will give you diarrhea!" Guess I need to close the windows when I practice.

San Francisco

Me and B were in SF for the past few days and it was lovely. Lots of good food and friends.
I do miss it and I think I will always think of it as home. It was true summer weather in SF, 2 days of picture perfect and two days of 55 degrees and foggy. I loved it!!!
We are back now and B is hitting the work pavement- After I figure out how to make a work area I need to start studying for a music theory test.
YIKES.

Rock This Town

These were the two highlights of the Orange County Fair, the pigs and the Stray Cats.
B was fully introduced into the LBC life on Tuesday. We went to the fair and saw the Stray Cats-there is a pretty big rockabilly scene in Long Beach and the king is Mike Ness. WELL! He came out during the Stray Cats encore and played "I Fought the Law" with Brian, Jim and Lee.
Afterwards we went to Shorehouse on 2nd for a bite! I mean come on!!
It was really fun.
Today, however, OC and LB were not as kind and the Egg didn't want to start while we were at my dad's work. Then it didn't want to start in the Trader Joe's parking lot. I guess we will have to not ignore the problem any longer.
Totally off the subject-LB doesn't have as many mailboxes as I would prefer.

Settings, settings-whos got the settings?

I did not realize...
A. Someone would want to comment on my blog.
B. Someone tried and could not due to a setting.
I think after some edits to my settings anyone can comment on my blog.
Now, who will be the first? I wonder...

Living for a zip code.

Went to my step brother's house on Sunday. He has a lovely child, but I am not going to talk that I want to talk about his condo. First, I toyed with not writing about it, because who am I to judge?! But whatever, he would think where I lived is crappy.
It is part of a gated community which is very Orange County-and it is shaped kind of funky. The kitchen is the size of an elevator and the living room is really small. There are two "master bedrooms" which is kind of strange and does not seem very family friendly. But he does live in Newport Beach, which if you care about those such things is the important part. His little one will probably be able to go to a top-notch school and I am sure his car insurance is higher. Whatever floats your boat, I guess.
Today me and B, and A/R painted A/R's kids room...It was fun, but a word of caution to anyone who is thinking about putting up a "wallpaper mural" IT IS NOT EASY. Three capable adults had a hell of a time-we did punk it up and not follow the directions on which panel we put up first. Take that establishment! I love their kids--they are awfully cute.

My friend's birthday...

My buddy A- birthday is today and I want to hug her very bad. She has had a rough couple of weeks and I am sad I can't be with her. She is truly a rock and roll star. It is late in her time zone and she wakes up early so I don't want to call... I think I will take down my box of wigs and send her a picture through the googles and internets (Henry Rollins joke).

I thought this had posted last week when I was borrowing the internet from a neighbor...Sink from a Days Inn in Arizona and me, B and my pals in the new apartment before we filled it full of shit.

PST

Back on the west coast. The weather is nice, but I miss the space of a two bedroom house. Our travels on I-40 were for the most part uneventful with the exception of the U-Haul swaying anytime it hit a bump in the road. We "ate fresh" often at Subway and it was cozy with 4 adults and 2 cats in one motel room every night, but we survived and now it is time to start living in southern California.
So, I lost my social security card. I know--me! I never lose anything, but I did and I went to the SS office. Things have changed since 1986 which was the last time I had stepped foot in one of their offices. B and I also got CA drivers licenses yesterday. Again, not so painful as I had remembered it. I think technology has really helped out agencies that are usually wrapped in red tape.
A week from today B and I are going to the Orange County Fair to see the Stray Cats.
That is right baby, Rock This Town!

No need for an angle.

Meet Lotus.

Creating a new persona?

Creative writing is something I want to be more disciplined about... I mean I like making up stories about people who don't exist so why can't I write a full length story. Maybe it is all the television...

Moving

Moving is a pain. We have a lot of stuff, a car, and two cats.
What is the best course of action? Movers? Fly the cats?
Pack everything together and take the cats with us?
Movers, send the car and drive a rental with the cats?
There are way tooooo many actions and none that really make it "easy."
I need a drink.

I just want to copy Pippin

This whole blog thing has been mildly interesting to me, but now that my pal Pip has made one I have decided to totally copy and make one. I am not a follower by nature, but maybe this can be a way for people that I like to check in and see how it is going even with me though they don't call me back.
Nothing interesting to say, yet.