Monday, April 23, 2012

fun.

Last week was Spring Break for us. We didn't go away or do anything hugely monumental, but we did manage to do something fun. Literally and figuratively.

This past Saturday was Record Store Day, which I would never have known about if I didn't have a 16 year old hipster living in my house. Naturally, she knew what records stores were doing what and where she wanted to go. And that was to the Newbury Comics in Faniuel Hall in Boston to see the group fun. And also to buy records but seeing fun. play was the ultimate goal of the day.

Now, this was not an event where you could buy tickets. No no no. You had to get there early, stand in line and take your chances at being one of the lucky 125 people to get a special bracelet that would let you in to see the performance.

At first I thought "Ugh...drive into Boston early in the morning, stand outside to wait to see if we get in? I don't think so." But then I thought about it and came to the conclusion that maybe we'd get in, maybe we wouldn't, and either way we'd have fun. Besides, Newbury Comics was going to be selling a limited edition record of the Pretty In Pink soundtrack. On pink vinyl. There was no way I'd pass up the chance to get that.

So we got up early Saturday morning, headed into Boston and got to Faniuel Hall around 8:30 AM to find a line had already formed outside the store.


I'd love to tell you the entrance was right under the Newbury Comics sign, but it was not. It was further up.

Turns out we were around 80th in line, which assured us we would get it.


And we did. 



The show was scheduled to start at 1PM, and after we were given the bracelets we were told we had to be in line at the back entrance at noon. That's a lot of standing around in line for one day. Luckily, the people around us proved to be great entertainment. The girl with the iPad on the right said at one point in time "It's so hard to tell professional photographers from hipsters anymore." I think I might have that put on a t-shirt, it's that good.

A little after 1 PM they began to herd us into the store into what can only be described the world's smallest room. We were packed in like sardines which was extra fun for someone who has claustrophobic tendencies. Which is not me. I'm just saying I imagine it would be bad if you had them.

We finally got our spot and this was the view I had:


I never really think of myself as being short, but as you can see, apparently I am.

I was able to lift my camera (way above my head) and get a shot of the band:


Or at least a dozen heads and a blurry shot of the lead singer. 

Funny side story: everyone around us had their iPhones out recording the performance. This allowed me to use their phones like a Jumbotron so I could see the band.

I hate being short.

In the end? We had a great time. We saw (or in my case heard) a great band play and my daughter got to meet the band and have a couple of things signed which I know made her day.

And me? I got my Pretty In Pink soundtrack on pink vinyl. So worth it.





Wednesday, April 11, 2012

I'm Pretty Sure I Just Saw A Tumbleweed Blow Through Here...

A few weeks ago one of my friends on Facebook wrote on my wall "Do you have a new new blog, or have you not posted for two and a half months? I am asking because I'm not sure if I'm a really crappy friend or you're just busy having a life... :)". 


She's not a crappy friend. Not at all. The reason I haven't blogged in such a long time can be summed up best in the words of John Lennon: "Life is what happens while you're thinking about blogging." Okay, he didn't really say that, but for the sake of argument, let's say he did.


My life since I last posted (which was February 27th...yikes) has been, what one might call, involved. Allow me to break it down for you...


March


Was the month from Hell. On the last day of the month, I literally said, outloud, "Dear March...don't let the door hit you on the ass on you're way out." Besides it being the longest month of the year (I know there are other months with 31 days as well but for some reason March feels like it drags on forever) it was filled with various doctors appointments. For all of us. Most of them were fine, but several of them dealt with my daughter and what eventually turned out to be a sinus infection. A round of antibiotics cleared that right up, but I could have done without the weeks (yes, 3 to be exact) of her being sick and not feeling well. At all. Along with the sinus infection came the MCAS tests which every 10th grader has to pass in order to graduate. My daughter, who is a straight A student and does amazingly well in school considering who her mother is, lost her mind during these tests which, coupled with being sick, was too much fun for anyone person to handle. Best part? We get to do it all again in May when she takes the last part of the exams. Yay. Pass the wine please.



Pinterest

I fought the urge to get myself a Pinterest account for a long time. I had several of my online friends say to me "Oh, you have to get one and follow me!" I finally decided "I don't think I waste enough time online as it is, let's add Pinterest to that timesuck" and I haven't been up for air ever since. Honestly, if I could pin the entire internet I would. Pictures of houses, pictures of cats, pictures of Josh Hutcherson (more on that in a moment), it's bordering on insanity. And the recipes? They authorities are going to have to remove me from my house on a pallet if I'm not careful (but oh, what I could do with that pallet...the ideas on Pinterst are endless!). It's gotten so bad that, last night as I was sitting with my husband on the couch I said "Is something wrong? You seem distant tonight." He turned to me, gave me a sober look and said "You've been on Pinterest for over an hour, ignoring me." Alas, he has become a Pinterest Widower.

The Hunger Games

My brother and sister-in-law got the first book for my daughter a couple of years ago for Christmas, saying they had both read it, loved it and knew she would love it as well. Naturally she read it, loved it and tried to get me to read it. And try I did. But the first chapter was so slow and boring I just couldn't get involved in it. Fast forward to last week when I decided it was high time I read it because really, the movie was out and I wanted to see it, but not before I read the book (I'm anal like that). Long story short? I'm hooked. And by hooked I mean I'm neglecting my regular life so I can read these books constantly. I read the first book in a few days and now I'm half way through the second and it's like "If you're name isn't Katniss, Peeta or Haymitch, I'm just not interested." And the things about The Hunger Games on Pinterest? It makes my head spin. My daughter has forbidden me from going on and looking at any of the memes anymore because they give away things I haven't read. Doesn't stop me from looking at other items though, like the Katniss Barbie doll that comes out in September. Yes I want it. And don't judge me over that fact.

The best part of The Hunger Games? Peeta. I'm so in love with him I can't even stand it. And Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. Everyone has been teasing me about this, including my husband who wrote on my Facebook wall "What is Jen's favorite type of bread? Peeta." Yup. It is.

So yeah. That's just a little bit of what's been keeping me away from my blog low these many days. Hopefully I can make myself sit down on a somewhat regular basis and write about the oh so exciting moments of my life. Like when my Hunger Games pajamas get here. It will be like Christmas in April.

Seriously. Stop judging me.