"I'm spinning round the room in awe" ryan adams

Saturday, January 22, 2005

my going away party

This is almost a month overdue, but I have been crazy busy (obviously) so I am playing catchup.

Well, in short, I got a job in NYC and had two weeks to pack, find a place, and relocate. Naturally the only time I had aside from work, were shows. And what more fitting way to say goodbye than to rock out in style? Dec 28, 2004 - Akiva, The Jane Anchor, and Omnisoul at the Grape. Booyyyyaaaaaa!!!

This was no doubtedly going to be a hot show, but combine it with my going away party and the forces come out. It was great to have most of my good friends in attendence, and though it wasn't a goodbye, it was one hell of a way to say "see you later!". Epler drove me up there and en route I had told him that I was surprised that Akiva hadn't called me yet since I am his navigational system. Five minutes later I got the call. We all got there safely and for the most part timely.

It was kinda barren when Epler and I got to the venue, but it still was early. I saw Derek first and met some of his friends from home, then met up with John Faye in the green room before seeing Akiva own the acoustic room. His room was pretty full, which actually surprised me. I honestly thought we would have a low turnout, especially since most of my friends hadn't even arrived yet. I saw with Derek and his friends, with John and Jim Johnson behind me. I was really glad that they all got to see the kid I have been pushing on them perform live. Akiva mentioned Omnisoul before he left the stage and apologized for not knowing any of the other band names...Derek replied by saying, "it's ok, Omnisoul is the only band that matters!" I laughed...though I don't know if the room thought it was a joke or not because no one else laughed. Oh well, Derek's mostly right.

As always, we spent most of the night running around the Grape. Maryann got me a Wawa gift card (yay) and Aurora got me a bunch of fun stuff to take with me on the road. Including a metal lunch box (yay). Let's see....who was there....well, we said Epler, Derek, Jim, John, Akiva, Aurora, Jackman, Maryann, Steve, Michelle, Jason, Chris Morita & family, Matt, Tanya, Shaun, Dan, Matt LoPresto, I know I am forgetting people, but I have a headache.

I missed most of the Jane Anchor's set, but enough to hear my two favorites - Venus and Emily. Then I think I played erotic mega touch with Mike Tate in the green room. It was giving us free games, so we had to rock the 80's style soft core porn. I also videotape important Omnisoul gigs, so I grabbed the camera to film the backstage shenanigans...who knows how that turned out. Oh yeah, Ritchie Rubini (producer/drummer) and Terry Thompkins (Columbia) also came and gave me a lot of awesome industry advice for NYC. Terry told me to listen to every phone call and meeting that I can because I will learn so much from it.

Omnisoul came on and rocked the fucking house. I filmed it all and got some great shots of them performing in front of a solid packed crowd. I swear their live show is getting phenomenal and their new arrangements set them apart from the rest. I'm so very proud of the Omniguys.

Afterwards I was walking around with Akiva when I run into GLENN FUCKING MOBLEY. Glenn was the film director I worked with (along with Aurora, Marissa, Jen, and Epler) on the IKE music video. He was in from L.A. visiting family, got my email about the show and "party", and came out. Fantastic! It was definitely a highlight of the night.

I couldn't have asked for a better Tuesday complete with great friends, awesome music, and a fabulous way to officially say good-bye to Philadelphia.

bring on the snow!

I love the snow - it's fantastic and it should snow allllll night long! Woohoo!! We are covered with the white goodness and it's awesome. A good excuse to stay in and be semi productive. Let's see...today I slept in late (went to Maryellen's last night and watch girlie movies while downing our Amstel Lights - 2 each to be exact, we are so hardcore haha), woke up without my alarm, took a run to the post office, ran back, showered, sat in my pajamas all day afternoon while talking to Meaghan and watching MTV. I then proceeded to clean my room, talked online, then met up with Maryellen at 10th & Willow for dinner and drinks.

We stayed at 10th & Willow for about two hours discussing current male relations, mutual people we know, and stalker tendencies. Someday we will solve the world's problems, but until then it is focused on us. Also, we will never realize that we shouldn't put as much effort as we do into things. Her and I are so much alike when it comes to certain things that it's hilarious and it makes me feel better that I am slightly normal when it comes to society. Or maybe we are both deranged. Who knows.

But now my Saturday night is devoted to my beloved laptop, cable, and my flannel pants and sweatshirt. Hot, huh?

Thursday, January 20, 2005

mini nyc adventure

Maryellen is going to be sad...I am not writing about what she wants me to write about...because I am way too sleepy!
But I swear, tomorrow hopefully I will catch up on various events that have been going on up here...I blame the LDE boys for my lack of sleep and time during the past week.

Instead, I will tell you of my grocery shopping experience because it is chock full of fun...or at least, the only thing I did today aside from work. I stayed an hour later at the office then jetted a few blocks away to the grocery store. I had to keep reminding myself that I am in NYC and can only buy what I can carry. I spent about 20 minutes in the produce section because I didn't understand it. Apples, noth organic and conventional, were in three random places and I found tomatoes all throughout the store. Odd. I still forgot coffee creamer. Damn. I didn't even anticipate a city grocery store line, but hell, it was long and for being 8:35 on a Thursday night, I can't imagine how it is during the afternoon. I feel all urban and adult because I bought one of those reusable canvas grocery bags. It's now rolled up nicely next to the box of food that is sitting in my room that I haven't had the time to put away yet. Maybe sometime next week...because this weekend I will be in DC. Yay for DC and Jen and Hillary and Omnisoul and Wawa and Starbucks and roadtrips.

So then after my 11 hour work day (I count the commute in with that), and my joyous trip the the grocery store, I came home, ate, watched 15 minutes of the Apprentice with my roommates, showered, and now I am here using my 15 free minutes before bed to say hi. Actually, it's 11:09 and I wanted to be in bed by 11. I feel so old. No, wait, I don't have to get up till 8, I am just using this extra hour to compensate for my lack of sleep in the past few days. So I am not old, I am just refueling...