This video made my day so much better. I love the 1980s and all of their cheese-tastic glory. I pretend to be a hipster and worship Arcade Fire, but at the end of the day my heart melts just as much when I hear the opening to "Don't You Want Me Baby" or "99 Luftballoons." Don't even get me started on music used in The Trifecta of Fiery Awesomeness--which would be Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink.
John Hughes, what the hell ever happened to you?
Emily and I were supposed to go out last night to see our boys Josh and Isaac in Pomegrantates on Fountain Square, but ended up not. Instead, we sat in her car and talked for about an hour and a half and had a talk that's got me thinking about a lot of things.
Things are changing at a break-neck speed for my friends and I. Actions have been committed that I never thought would come to pass--some have made me regain faith in those I had completely lost it from, others have made me doubt the very character of people I supposedly trusted.
A few weeks ago, Paul and I had a conversation that was months in the making. It was a talk like the one we used to have. At one point, he asked rhetorically: "Why are we doing this? It must be because high school's over and everything's ending." I agree wholeheartedly. People are doing the things they've wanted to do for a long time but never had the balls to, for better or worse.
I really do feel as if we're on the brink of adulthood. But on the brink, I still feel like a little kid playing "House," only instead of playing with dishes and laundry, we're playing with relationships, love, sex, parents, danger, drinking, and the bonds that've held us together for four years. I don't think this experimentation is necessarily a bad thing, but I do still feel like we're kids playing a game for grown-ups. It is weird for me to watch myself and people I've known since kindergarten tread so fast and fearlessly in to the ever-enticing realm of All Things Adult.
With that in mind, I already feel as if this summer, this petri dish of the real world and the future, has taught me a lot of things. Of course they aren't all good things, but as Aeschylus said, "Wisdom is won through suffering." Indeed.
Things I've Learned:
Things I've Realized:
It has been a whirlwind couple of days. I left for Chicago early on Tuesday with Mom for Orientation and right now is the first time I've been able to take a deep breath.
Tuesday- Got in tothe city around 3, checked in at the Congress Plaza Hotel, which is where we'll be staying for Lollapalooza in a month. It's a really cool old hotel with lots of Chicago history (Al Capone lived on the third floor.) The decor--red leather couches in the lobby, ornate banquet rooms, chandeliers, a brass-countered bar--makes the whole place feel like Capone and his girl could walk around the corner at any time. Mom and I toured the neighborhood around my dorm, which is incredibly cute. People were out with dogs and strollers, and there are a lot of family-owned eateries and bookstores. We ate amazing dinner at Trattoria Caterina, and I had the best gelato of my life.
2 East 8th, the new dwelling of our heroine. I'm third floor from the top. I can walk out the door to hop on the CTA line, eat Jimmy John's or go to Ace Hardware.
Wednesday- Orientation started early and the film building on Wabash wasn't a very long walk from the Congress. The day started with photo IDs being taken and breakfast. We met a nice mother and son from Colorado over breakfast and Mom was glad to have another kindred spirit to talk to. We then met up with Paul and his dad who ended up spending most of the day with us. The day's first lecture talked about Columbia's mission as an arts school, showed student work, and warned against Chicago winters. Class registry was next and a complete disaster for most. A couple film professors talked to us beforehand and essentially told us that the world doesn't need anymore filmmakers and that to succeed, we need to be our best advocate and create the best work possible. Our advisors took a quick survey over majors and were thrilled to learn that there were four female cinematography majors in the room. Luckily, I got to register for film classes first semester since I tested out of the prerequisite courses. My first semester schedule looks like this:
Monday: History of Cinema, 1-420
Tuesday: New Millenium Studies: The First Year Seminar, 1030-1150
Development and Preproduction, 330-620
Wednesday: Introduction to Creative Non-Fiction, 330-620
Thursday: New Millenium Studies, 1030-1150
Aesthetics of Cinema, 1-420
I am really happy with my 15-credit hour, no Friday class schedule and I will have at least 21 credit hours from AP/IB tests. I got a 4 on Bio, 6 on History, and 7 on English. After lunch I ran into one of my roommates, Kathleen, who is beyond cool. We are going to have a blast together. Despite Paul's goofy comments (more on that later) during small-group and the seminars that made me crack up, I met some cool people (and oh-so-cute boys) with good taste in film and culture. I really feel that I've picked the right school for me and everyone there has made me feel at home. I cannot wait for August 22.
I love seeing college buildings throughout the South Loop. Columbia owns 14 of them. I love how everything is so colorful and non-pretentious.
Thursday- We had no agenda for Thursday, except for breakfast at Lou Mitchell's. The sign outside said the best breakfast on the planet, and I have to say I agree. It is no more than a neighborhood place with pretty basic breakfast fare--coffee, french toast, omelets. HOWEVER, it makes basic perfect. I had the best banana pancakes and coffee I've ever tasted, and it seems the restaurant has won "Best Cup of Coffee" several times. They serve lunch too, and I think that Lou's will become a tradition for us. After, we walked to Grant Park and the lake before heading home...to pipes leaking in the bathroom, kitchen, and basement!
Seriously. So freaking good.
I love Chicago. I cannot wait to live there and attend Columbia. The countdown is on.
I am often reluctant to declare favorites on things. I don't know that I can pick a favorite book or movie, holiday or photograph, and certainly not food or word. I do certainly have Top 5s, but it is just too hard to pick something that is the end-all-be-all for any one category.
I do however have a favorite album. Its one I've been listening to through osmosis since I was little, as my parents would listen to it.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Disintegration by The Cure.
I know what you're thinking: gloom, doom, fair skin, and excessive eyeliner. Granted, The Cure are one of the originators of the "Goth" movement of music, but this album is far from some English lads whining about how the world hates/doesn't understand them. I will say that The Cure do have some songs in which they very much personify whiny emo kids, but not on this album.
When I think of Disintegration, the first word that comes to mind is atmospheric. The entire album is full of sonic textures. Every time I listen to it, I hear something different--can pick out a new string section or irregularity in the drum beat. The music is so layered, so dense that it requires many listens to fully "get" all of the sections. The length of the songs, with several over six minutes, fully builds to the atmosphere. I think one of the most major problems with music today is that bands record singles not albums. While Disintegration certainly has many of The Cure's biggest hits on it ("Lovesong," "Pictures of You," "Fascination Street") it begs to be listened to in full.
I've read that Robert Smith wrote many of the songs on the album for his then fiancee, but the appeal is far more reaching than some simple love songs. I've also read that Smith was hitting the hallucinogens pretty regularly when the album was recorded in 1989 (a good year) and I can see where this would contribute to a song like "Lullaby." I guess I do have a favorite song on the album,"Fascination Street," which along with "Lullaby," are the two most commercial songs on the album. I find myself drawn to the long, slow burners like "The Same Deep Water as You" or "Prayers for the Rain" as time goes by.
I love this album. Every time I listen to it, I find it more appealing. It has always been a good detox for me from whatever's going on in the world, like IB commentaries. Music has and will always be an escape for me, and this album is perhaps my favorite way to escape.
But hey, don't listen to me, just watch these guys:
The 4th used to be a much bigger deal around this house. When Sharonville Elementary set off fireworks, we would always have a huge cookout with the entire family. Once people started getting older, we stopped and now don't do much of anything. I've worked the past 2 holidays and work tonight. It doesn't bother me that much, although I will say I miss the taste of asphalt-warmed penny candy and the chatter of our deck.
Instead here's a few songs about the day. I couldn't find my other favorite song about the day, "A Month of Sundays" by Don Henley, but "4th of July" by X is beyond outstanding.
SeeqPod - Playable Search
Happy 4th everyone.
Modest Mouse last night was kind of a letdown, I won't lie. The setlist was not nearly as good as Lollapalooza and focused more on the early MM albums which I didn't really like or listen to. But nonetheless it was still a good time, especially with Cassie. At least there was no moshing and minimal shoving, although two girls passed out and one guy jumped OVER the speakers to get on stage and try and punch Johnny Marr. Effing amateurs.
I get to go see one of my favorite bands tomorrow for the second time, Modest Mouse. Hopefully, Cassie and I will avoid getting trampled as we did at Lollapalooza and I'll get to hear "Oceans Breathe Salty." The only downside to the show is that it's at Bogarts, which is sold out and therefore guaranteed to reek of hippie, sweat, and draft beer. But the closer I am to Johnny Marr and the adorable Isaac Brock, the better life is.
Here's my favorite MM tune...
...And my favorite Johnny Marr riff that I won't get to hear because Morrissey is a big jerkface:
I'll be back on Thursday with pictures galore.
