There I can keep by your side.

I'll be up in the skies again tonight! Well, hopefully. I've been keeping track of the weather, and I was literally depressed all day Monday because thunderstorms were scheduled for today. But this morning it was clear! Woot! I'm flying Midwest this time, which I love because they serve warm chocolate chip cookies on their flights. Last year, Jesse's mom came to visit and her flight was six hours delayed and they gave her a free round-trip flight voucher. That I used. Good call, Midwest, good call. I got an email from JetBlue last night: I get $25 towards any JetBlue flights! That's great, considering I usually pay between $300-500 for flights. But, I'll take it.

I land in Milwaukee tonight (again, I say hopefully) and hanging with Emily & Evan into tomorrow when Warped arrives. Evan and I went to college together and they just got engaged, moved into a new place, are being adults, yadda yadda yadda. :) On Friday night Jesse and I are driving to Chicago and doing fun things like seeing Brand New! Srsly, Deja Entendu, seminal album of my college years. Forgive me, but I still can't get into their most recent. I tried many a time, and I know I'll try again in the future.

Anyway, I'll be seeing tons o peeps in Chicago Friday & Warped Tour on Saturday, so I'm stoked. I'm going to try to remember to bring my camera! I ALWAYS forget it. Oh, and I think we're forgetting the main reason I'm excited for this weekend: THE FIANZ!!!!! YAY! I'm doin' the happy dance.

I'll stop. And move on...

Last night, Erica and I (and an mtv camera dude) filmed some commentary for three FNmtv videos - new David Banner, Hawthorne Heights, and All Time Low. I was nice to two of them, and pretty mean to one of them. I'm actually surprised I wasn't mean to more of them because, honestly, I've been a bit music-angry lately. I don't know when it's airing, and they'll probably use like ONE soundbite, but whatevs. Oh, and then Erica and I danced for the camera, too.*

In Watchmen news (get used to it), the new issue of Empire magazine has two Watchmen covers and they're way better than Entertainment Weekly's!




*I should probably mention that Erica made us some lovely concoctions pre-taping, so that our nerves were settled. It's really weird talking into a camera and trying to be snarky. You'll probably see a lot of weird facial expressions and hand-talking from me. I already talk with my hands a lot, but when I feel loose, it gets out of control - breadstick claws - just saying. Oh, and yeah, we danced.

Broken down in bars and bathrooms.

So Damien Fahey hosted/fake DJ'd Trainwreck Tuesday last night, and premiered a video - for his own band...which I can't remember the name of. Anyway.

Damien: Here's our video, inspired by Fight Club.
Me (to Erica): How original!
[Pause]
Does he know there's a member of Taking Back Sunday here, who did that video concept a few years ago?
[Pause, look at Matt Rubano.]
Oh, wait, he wasn't even in the band then, I think...double awkward!
Erica: That's what Gaby just said!

Gaby and I were on opposite sides of Erica, so she must have been getting the same retorts in both ears. Gaby and I, we know the early 2000s pop punk. Two words: Yahoo Groups.

Man, I'm being quite the music cynicist lately, huh? Damien's band's (srsly too lazy to look it up) song was actually not bad. He's the drummer. There was a lot of lame (read: MTV) people there last night, who were all about the VIPness at AK. Listen, it's AK, you're not getting a velvet rope and a red carpet. Especially to the lady who came up to Erica in the DJ booth before the shindig even started - when the music was just relaxed and mellow, and goes, "So, we've been getting a lot of requests for 'cool' music, you know?" Quite. Lame.

Besides the general population of Damien Fahey TRL fans (no, really), I saw a lot of friends and had good times. My friends and I? We always have good times. Jiscilla will have lot of pics that I will inevitably post, as well.

On my way home, I looked up from my seat as the doors were closing on an early stop and got up quickly to take the following pic -

I got really excited because I'd heard about these "remix graffiti" posters before, but never saw one in person. I looked at the poster and was like, wait, that doesn't say Heroes! Also, if you click you can see it a little bigger (not much better, phone quality, sigh), and that corner says "Ho Time" instead of Showtime. Anyway, I was pretty happy to stumble upon it, especially after reading about the graffiti previously.

And okay, Damien's band is The Classic Futures.

My Top Artists this Week (Jul 21 - Jul 27)

(via my last.fm)

I was a bit all over the place last week. I hadn't listened to Death Cab in a ridiculously long time and I was enjoying The National a lot, too. Towards the end of the week I started listening to Four Year Strong, something that's been on my "listen to" list for quite some time, but since it was released on the same day as another important album, I never got around to it. The album, Rise or Die Trying, actually helped me realize that I haven't heard a good, continual double-bass drum beat in a while. I think I used to be a little bit obsessed with just that sound, and now I'm stoked on seeing the band live at Warped this weekend, as I've heard good things about their live shows. Also, they're from Worcester? I'm so slow on this particular uptake (I know Gaby & Erica are rolling their eyes right now and going "duh!!!").

In other Warped news, why the eff am I seeing so much adoration for this duo Schwayze and particularly twitters, away messages, and posts regarding the supposed "hotness" of CISCO ADLER? Really? And I'm talking from people I thought had good taste - my dearest of friends, you know who you are, and I've seen your public giddiness for THIS MAN:

I can't - I simply can't - even attempt to understand why people dig Schwayze's song, "Corona and Lime," which besides describes girls going out and getting "messed up and shitty" (how endearing!), you know, actually wants a girl to be his refreshing beer. "Baby, will you be my corona and lime?" - there are many a horrid metaphor in music, I know, but this is a song that's making girls swoon?

Moving on, on Wednesday night The Dagger and I are being filmed for a certain short emo dude's tv show. More on this future embarassing-moment-caught-on-video later!

Tonight, MTV VJ Damien Fahey is DJing at Trainwreck Tuesday, and it starts a lil' early tonight, at nine, which I'm kinda glad about because I need my sleep. I hope to be dancing on that floor, so I expect good things out of the nerdy, clean-cut VJ. I already know I'm gonna prefer The Dagger's mix, but we'll see what he can pull. Come out if you're in New York! And early so we can haz dance partiez!

I leave Thursday night for Milwaukee, and am going to the Chicago and Minneapolis Warped dates as well. Also...just sayin', besides being beyond stoked to see The Fianz and a bunch of friends, this might be happening, too:

Just sayin'.

Technologinninininin & Home.

I made it home last night! Right after I published that post last night around 8PM, I also twittered my dismay, and called out JetBlue's twitter persona. And whoever was behind the desk at JetBlue central actually direct messaged me, which was pretty interesting, am I right?

Yes, it definitely provided a bit of comfort among the chaos at the desk at the gate. Like, at least somebody hears us, le stranded. Then, about half an hour after this exchange, we get word: "Ladies and gentlemen, we need everyone on the plane NOW, as we've just been told that if we don't take off by 855, we will be stuck here much longer."

Carla and I and much of the gate let out an appreciative "WOOOO!" And got into line. I'd been texting with Melissa, stuck out on another flight, just waiting on the tarmac for the go-ahead to take off. The flight now, eleven hours after I arrived at Rochester Airport, was a bit different: nearly everybody had been drinking, and there were a few empty seats due to people opting out of the long wait. A woman in my row, about sixty, barely said a peep in our three hours together in the morning - now she was so happy to be on a flight, and kept on repeating, "Jorge, oh, Jorge, you latin man, get me home!" - as our pilot's name was Jorge. It was kind of incredible, and I'm pretty sure it was due to vodka.

Everyone, including myself, was still anxious. We didn't know if we'd actually be able to take off. And then the pilot came on: "Folks, we're going to have to wait another 50 minutes..." LOUD GROANS. My head was in my hands, exhausted as there was NOWHERE to sleep or lay comfortably in the airport and I had still only slept about five hours the night before. Two minutes later: "We just got the go-ahead! We'll be taking off in a couple of minutes!" Seriously, there was excitement in his voice and the whole cabin clapped and cheered and there were many a drunken hollering.

It was 912 PM, as I shut my cell off - I had just texted Melissa telling her "I think we are taking off now?? XO" and her last text to me was - "We're heading back to the gate :("

As soon as the plane took off, I passed out. The next thing I know, the bumpy landing wakes me up as the plane's tires hit the tarmac at JFK. WOOOOO!

I text Melissa - she is still in Rochester. The airline has chartered a BUS for her and the rest of the passengers to take to JFK, which is an 8 hour drive. There are no flights to JFK out of Rochester for the next two days, as they've all been booked. Bum. Out.

I'm still exhausted today, and have a very busy week ahead of me at work. I do only have a four-day week. Guess where I'll be on Thursday night? ANOTHER AIRPORT! YAY!

Literally last time I'm coming to Rochester.

So I've been stuck at the Rochester Airport since 930 AM this morning. Do you know what time it is right now? 8 PM. That's cool. Our flight ALMOST took off but all flights to JFK were grounded due to weather. And so they took us back to the gate, and now I've been in this very tiny airport for far too long. Melissa's flight got delayed as well, even though hers was three hours after mine, and oh, she's on the tarmac as I write. I have a friend here in Carla, another BU lady, who miraculously is on the same flight as me. We're at our wit's end, as we were supposed to board at 8 PM and they just said we've been pushed back again, we won't know until 815, and "the flight still has potential to be cancelled. "I'm sorry, you're going to cancel NOW? After we've been waiting for 10 hours? Really? I'm obviously frustrated. I miss home.

Fun times!

Ridiculously sweet ceremony & reception. Dawn was a gorgeous bride. We danced the whole night and it went by too fast. I'm hanging at the airport now reminiscing on the weekend.

-- via hip I can't wait to dance all night in my wedding dress too top

Last night.

Katy & Melissa...explain it all.

-- via hip they still know how to do debauchery right top

I wanna be the one to walk in the sun!

This weekend I'm having a mini-reunion of sorts with my college amigas! One of my besties, Dawn, is getting married in Rochester, NY!!! Last night I got all nostalgic and looked through my old college photos. Unfortch, most of those are hard copies, but maybe it's good there's only a copy or two of those, because we were pretty crazy kids. ANYWAY, the only digital copies I have are from senior week, when we were all graduating from Boston University in 2005. Craziness!

Me & the lovely bride!

Dawn, Marion, me, and Melissa - my college roommate,
whom I caught up with a couple of weeks ago.
Also, yeah white shirts and denim jackets, but it was NOT twin day?!

The infamous (haha) Katy, me, Marion.

We're all ridiculously excited, and Melissa, Katy, and I fly in tonight and are rooming together, so we're planning some extra-fun activities to remind us of dormlife. Besides Melissa, I really haven't seen any of these ladies for THREE YEARS! I miss them! I'm so excited!!

Better get back to work - I leave for the airport in a couple of hours!

I want you all over me like...

I spent about three hours in the past three days trying to get a package from DHL delivered. Sorry I'm not around my apartment on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday between the hours of 9-5! I have a job! Or else I couldn't afford what I ordered! Anyways, I'm over it, because I finally got it delivered (TO work) and I'm ecstatic!

Some backstory: since moving to New York, I've had to curb a lot of shopping expenses. There has hardly been a shopping splurge in the past two years. Before I moved to New York, when I was in college at BU and then for the year I lived in Rhode Island, I had an obsession with L.A.M.B. bags & clothing. Okay, the obsession remained well past the period I could afford it, but I tested my restraint and stayed away from L.A.M.B. online communities and didn't seek it out. The only time I acquired L.A.M.B. in the past two years was the amazing sample sales (once a year and items were up to 75% off!) and as gifts from le boyfs, who figured out what I dug.

Oh, by the way, you all know I love Gwen Stefani, right? Yeah, thus L.A.M.B.

I should get along with this story, no? So, I've been in a salaried job now for over a year, and I've become a great saver in all my frugality. I decided to take a look at some L.A.M.B. online last week, and I found an amazing hoodie that HAD TO BE MINE. The other reason excitement took over me was because it was 40% off! Take a looky look:

L.A.M.B. has always been about the details.

The rest of the hoodie: sweet, no?!

I'm pretty stoked, because it's unlike any other L.A.M.B. hoodies I have (I have a few!). I think it might be my favorite. And I have a cheetah print one, a red cashmere one, a victory hoodie, and I might - gasp - even adore it more than the free EXCLUSIVE hoodie that came in the goody bag at the first L.A.M.B. fashion show ever in 2005. (Yeah, I went to that!)

Too bad it's still about 80 degrees, not exactly hoodie weather. But it's made of a pretty lightweight fabric, so I'm ready to use it on some brisk summer nights and into the fall.

See? I got really excited.

Moving on, tonight I took Erica to get her first pedicure ever. It was the most hilarious experience for her. She went balls-out on that thing. She got the works, and her toes are beautifully neon orange. Not that I'm a pro - it was only my second adventure in pedicuring. But they're so relaxing, and I don't know what the crap it is, but I get a boost of self-confidence when I look down at my feet and see them all nice. I look down at my feet a lot on the commutes, otherwise I see creeps or get angry cause I'm witnessing creepy behavior.

The pedicure was in preparation for a wedding I'm going to this weekend, which I'm fully stoked about - more on that tomorrow probably...and all weekend. The hotel in Rochester has free wifi, so I'm bringing my computer and probably detailing you on some lovely ladies and our weekend pre-wedding debauchery.

In other news, last week I saw this picture of Penelope Cruz, and I totes dig her new bangs. So much so that I imagined myself with them. They remind me of Audrey Hepburn, and I love Audrey - and Penelope. I'm going back and forth on whether I should get them. I mean, no craziness with the hair before the wedding is always a rule, but I'm not getting hitched for a while. They'd definitely grow out by then. And they're kind of innocent and demure and cute. Still deciding. What do you think?

Also, I used to have regular to-the-eyebrows bangs:

(Also, that was taken the first week we lived here!)

So there's that. I'm gonna weigh that decision a little more longer before diving in. As I do with most decisions. Speaking of - that whole maybe-another-life-folder thing? Yeah...it's a go. And yeah, Sarah & I are stoked. Can't say much quite yet...but things are brewing, and it feels good.

Smile.

Nicky Digital got some great pics from Erica's Trainwreck birthday party back in June! Yay Curbsiders :) My friends? Yeah, they're pretty awesome.

Erica, she's a funny gal.

False.

No, Erica, you won't be designing your own bridesmaids dress. Also, don't forget, I'm putting you in a bonnet!

A few screengrabs of my computer life.

Why I need (and have) an unlimited texting plan.

My little pet.

Desktop folder currently ruling my life.
Another life-folder may be coming soon. Stay tuned...

The categorical buddy list.

My Google Reader, on a good day.
As in, I feel a bit caught up. Oof.

TONIGHT!

The Dagger & Rob Hitt are having a Black Kids Partie Traumatic listening party at TRAINWRECK TUESDAY! I've already heard great things about the album through Rick, but have yet to listen. SPIN also recently gave the album four stars. Get stoked on it & dance dance dance!

Angels & Kings: 500 E 11th At Ave A, NYC. 10:30 PM - 4 AM !

PS there's also something about free shots when the gong goes off...just sayin.

My Top Artists this Week (14 Jul - 20 Jul)

(via my last.fm)

So, last.fm decided to change the way it looked approximately a month and a half after I started using it, whatever. Unlike previous screencaps, it won't show how much the artist moved up or down each week (i.e., last week Empires was my #3 artist). Also, last.fm doesn't seem to recognize when I play certain Beatles songs on my iPod, which I did a lot of last week, so it should be in the #3-4 range. Again, whatever. And finally, no little artist icons to make it graphically prettier. Fail, last.fm.

She&Him's album top top tops it. I'm still obsessed. I also had little time or want to listen to new music last week, save for She&Him and Valencia. I have much more waiting in the wings.

This is what Rick & I talk about.

Yesterday...

We came, we saw...we conquered that boutique in New Jersey.

-- via hip mission: accomplished top

Going to see The Dark Knight in New York.

I'm not going to write about The Dark Knight. At least, not yet. I mean, I've only seen it once! :) There are no spoilers. I will talk about the general experience of seeing it...

James and I waited in line from 5pm for the 830pm show. I'm glad we did. Our friends met up with us and joined the sweatfest, and we were able to get some really great seats. There's something to be said for having to do this for a big opening to a movie in New York. It can seem annoying, but I think it's all part of the fun.

I also love geeking out (obvs) and the fact that we were in a giant theater full of other people who had also bought their tickets a month ahead of time, who also waited in a line that stretched from 42nd Street around the block onto 8th Avenue, and who had to see it opening night - well, it was fun. It was a room of nerds who clapped mightily after the Watchmen preview (AMAZING on the big screen, eagerly anticipating it on IMAX). I usually don't like clapping during the movie, but this was THE DARK KNIGHT. Everybody was silent when the movie started: this is what we'd been waiting for. And when something amazing happened: a plot twist, a great line, an unbelievable stunt - we all clapped.

Afterwards, my friends and I stumbled out onto the streets of Times Square New York, feeling a little like we had just walked out onto Gotham (though I know it was filmed in Chicago), but for all intents and purposes, seeing it in New York, the way we did, was just about perfect.

Nerdfest.

Okay, we all know I'm a giant geek who bought her tickets to the Dark Knight a month ago, and I'm eagerly anticipating tonight's viewing and avoiding any opinions on it or spoilers (srsly, if I see "I saw the Dark Knight!" on any blogs, I skip it). But right now I'm geeking out about the trailer that will be showing before the move tonight - WATCHMEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've written about this before, and I truly love the graphic novel (thankyourick). Apparently, the cast is also this week's Entertainment Weekly cover stars (thanksjason)! It has something to do with Comic-Con, because the movie isn't out until next year.

If you can't wait for your viewing of the Dark Knight (um, who isn't seeing this movie?) you MUST check out the trailer HERE. (I can't embed it!) I can't wait to see it tonight on the big screen.

And, the EW article is pretty interesting as well. Here are some choice quotes from Jeff Jensen's article and my thoughts -

• "The movie is no kid-safe funny-book flick. It's an R-rated, $100 million adaptation of the smartest, most subversive superhero story ever created."
  
  There's no way this film could be anything but R-rated. Also, if you haven't read it, it's almost an anti-superhero book.
  
  

• "Many in Hollywood have tried to get Watchmen on the screen and failed, including directors Terry Gilliam (Brazil), Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain), and, most recently, Bourne Supremacy director Paul Greengrass. In 2005, Greengrass was deep into preproduction on a present-day, war-on-terror-themed adaptation by David Hayter (X-Men), when a regime change at Paramount Pictures led to its demise."
  
  I am so utterly glad that Greengrass/Hayter's version never panned out. Present day?! War-on-Terror?! The novel is amazing because it takes a time and place (Cold War/1980s/America), places "superheroes" in it, and it becomes a commentary. This same commentary should not be applied to today. Stick to the script: it's what made it so great. Also, I find it really pretentious when director's "update" older political texts as if they're revealing something to the world we didn't know. Yeah, Bush sucks, I don't need another allegory from a completely unrelated comic book story to tell me that (see: V for Vendetta).
  

• "Over many months, and many meetings, Snyder persuaded Warner Bros. to abandon the Greengrass/Hayter script and hew as faithfully as possible to the comic. The key battles: retaining the '80s milieu, keeping Richard Nixon (Moore did consider using an era-appropriate Ronald Reagan, but worried it would alienate American readers), and preserving the villain-doesn't-pay-for-his-crimes climax."
  
  Thank you, Snyder!
  

• "Provocative bits, like a timely subplot about alternative fuels, have been added."
  
  Oh well, can't win it all.

Yeah, this cover is also supes awkward, but whatevs. I'll stop ranting now. Also, I have a feeling this post will only hold interest for Rick, Jason, Adam, Sean, and James. Hey dudes. We're getting our tickets for March 6, 2009 soon, right?

Life would be a ding-a-derry.

Erin put some great pictures up of our Coney Island trip! I shall share:

Jesse, Jason, and I are on that thing. The Cyclone!

Erin in front of Nathan's with her hot dog and beer!

Just take a look at these faces! Except for mine. That's what happens to my eyes when I smile REAL big.

The roommates, my faves. For obvious reasons.

Scene: one of us yells HOT DOG! and we all look behind us to see a giant, walking hot dog. Without hesitation, we all run up next to it and say PHOTO! We made him late for the on-field race he was doing, and he got disqualified. Woops.

Erica and I posing, and me falling over the chair mid-snap. Typical klutzy Jessica.

Erin & Jason. Though it may not look it here, Jason actually had a good time.

We've either a) had some beer, b) celebrating the Brooklyn Cyclones victory, c) practicing our jazz hands for the boardwalk musical auditions or d) all of the above. Who wants to punch those two?

I can has kitty now?

So after I lost disastrously at poker, Adam texted me on his way out that there was a cat roaming our floor's hallways. Immediately, Erica, Lauren and I ran towards the door to see the kitty. It was rubbing up against our neighbor's wall, totally cute, totally purred while I pet it, and I totally wanted to take it home. However, we found it's home...but check out how creepily cat-nappy I look in the picture above (thanks Lauren). Either that, or I'm Gollum or somebody walked into an abandoned insane asylum, flashed a light and found me and le kitteh. Whatever.

Speaking of asylums...Arkham...whatever...I'm a nerd:

Goodnight!