destination: leakycon

Class photo.
aka Terminus. Chicago. August 2008.

Since yesterday, most of my friends have been in Boston to attend LeakyCon 2009. Being a responsible, rent-paying, (workaholic) citizen, I'm not going until tomorrow afternoon.

Today, after a 9-hour shift at American Apparel (and a little retail-therapy that cost me virtually no money), I was able to pack. Do you know how hard it is to pack for one weekend trip? I'm used to at LEAST one week. Many times full months. I had to actually put on all possible outfits. I swear I'm turning into a girl. It's frightening. Listen, I even did my nails. That's when you know something is up.

I'm a little anxious about this weekend. Harry Potter conferences have been about being with the people we love and getting inebriated. I've separated myself (mostly) from that kind of lifestyle and plan to remain completely (mostly) sober the entire weekend. I know I have plenty of friends who won't be drinking, and I have faith in myself. There's still that whisper of doubt in the back of my head that says I'll be persuaded merely at the sight of people drinking and having fun. There are things (and people) that mean more to me than a drunken night though. So.

I can't wait to see everyone tomorrow. Some of my favorites won't be able to attend (ahem, Anna and Rosi and Hayley and Hannah, and I'm sure a few more). I miss their faces (although Hayley's has never been in front of mine IRL).

See you on the other side (of LeakyCon)!

feed us

Jessica: I want a burrito.
Me: I can't afford a burrito.
Jessica: Why is food so expensive?
Me: Because we aren't hunter-gatherers.
Jessica: Shit. I'll gather.
Me: In New York City.
Jessica: I'll gather berries. But... I'd also like to gather burritos.
Me: Haha yes.
Jessica: Screw the berries. Give me a burrito.


I'm officially living on a few free packets of crackers at work, and then $1 slice of pizza down the block from me. I only had $0.75 today, so Jessica gave me a quarter.

First day at the second job went well. I think I like Barnes & Noble more. I mean, I definitely do. They're my homies (...homies?).


Money spent today: 75 cents.
Hours put in at work: 9.

a real person's apartment

One of my flatmates, Jessica, and I, plus a glimpse into my previously unfinished bedroom. Sometimes, as the above picture proves, we put on dresses and dance.

Aside from some wall decorations, my bedroom is completely finished. It's furnished with a super comfortable bed, a dresser, 2 mirrors, curtains, and the most awesome desk (put together by Melissa, Angelo, and Rebecca)!

My parents came by today with my tv, stand, and DVD player. So. That's pretty sweet.

Money is so tight after having just bought all my furniture (I'm a real person!) and I have to pay rent in a couple of weeks. So. NO SPENDING MONEY. NONE. ZERO. That's right. It is NOT imperative that we get frozen yogurt at 11pm. Sigh. Life is so hard.

I start my second job on Monday. American Apparel. Yes, free clothes. Oh goodness, yes. I will be working 7-8 shifts per week, so, cue exhaustion. Also, cue money. :)

LeakyCon in 13 days, Texas in 32 days, Seattle in 39 days.

Cool.

the sweet taste of reality

Summer Tour 2007.

Every time I tell people who I've known for years that I can't understand the way I'm feeling right now, they all say the same thing: "You're growing up!"

Is that what this is? I like it.

So, as some may already know, this summer PotterCast, the Remus Lupins, and the Whomping Willows are going on a 6-week nation-wide tour. The initial plan was that I (as always) was going to be a part of this tour as "merch girl." Well, a couple of months ago I realized I was less enthusiastic at this prospect than usual. At first I decided I would join the tour two weeks late, so I would be with them the entire month of July. Soon after, I realized that the thought of going on another tour, living out of my suitcase, sleeping in hotels and friends' floors, eating whatever we passed on the highway... it all made my heart and mind race. Not a good feeling.

After I came to this conclusion, Jessica and Kelli and I began apartment-hunting in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. We had initially planned to move in August, but for many reasons, we're all ready now. We found a great apartment in our absolute favorite area of New York City, and we have officially moved in as of a week ago. We couldn't be happier with our living situation. Soon, our couch/tables/desks/chairs will be delivered for it to be truly complete!

I'm working full time, and will hear about a second part-time job within the next day or two. It's tiring, but having my own steady income with things I really want to spend it on, I'm quite happy with the way things are going in my life. I'm living in my favorite place in the world, with two amazing flatmates, as we call each other.

Long story short: I will not be going on tour this summer. And no Azkatraz either.

While I no longer crave the feeling of constantly being on the road, travel is not out of my system. NORTHWEST YOUTUBE GATHERING 2009 IN PORTLAND, OREGON. Heck yes! I'm going to SEATTLE a few days before to play with Kristina and Eia and our housemates (yes, I still consider them my housemates)!! We're all driving down with Katrina (miss walllofweird <3) and will spend the weekend in Portland. I'll get to see my brother in Seattle while I'm there too. I LOVE SEATTLE. I can't wait to be there again. VEGAN PIZZA AND THAI FOOD ALL THE WAY.

Before that, I'll probably be taking another trip to Texas. Don't judge me.

Also, LEAKYCON! I can't believe how soon it is. It's like, 3 weeks away or something ludicrous like that. I GET TO SEE KRISTINA AND EIA. I will scream.


I need to stop typing. I was going to make a video, but A. I'm tired B. I'm lazy and C. I look pretty terrible. This is the one time my flatmates aren't home, but I'm not in the mood to turn on the camera.

The three of us have the most ridiculous idea for a video though, that will either lose subscribers or lose respect. So. That will be interesting. I'm super excited for it anyway.

As always, I genuinely hope all is well with everyone!! <3

[5 months and counting]


Summer Tour 2008.


Side note: I just realized that friends from work may see this. They have twitter. And they are aware of my YouTube account. It's WEIRD. I'm getting over it though. If this is the case, HI BRADY AND RAINY AND LUIS. They're the ones with twitter, I don't think the others will see this!

keep on keeping on

Santa Monica beach with Jacob, Kimberly, Cade, and myself. It's been six days since I've returned from Texas, and I've worked each of these six days. It's been difficult, to say the least.

It could be worse. I'm working a mediocre full-time job with good people, keeping busy, doing what I really do love (though not enough to make a career out of it): making coffee. Sounds lame. Don't care. It's paying me.

Though I enjoy my job, I'd rather not be working. I'd rather be enjoying a steady flow of substantial income while I enjoy a lavish lifestyle of travel, shopping, new and exciting adventures, etc. I want a lot of things right now. A lot of things I can't have. Some of which I can have, but I lack the motivation, focus, and control to grasp.

Sometimes I feel out of control. This week, I've done nothing but work, eat, bite my nails more than anyone ever should, stress, avoid sleep, and all for what? No reason. I need to snap out of it. I can be the person I want to be. I can be the happy go-getter who doesn't become a lifeless unmotivated person at the turn of the hour. I'm riding a roller coaster when I'd rather just be soaring down an open highway (mmm sounds like a road trip. Is that why I go on so many? Have I just figured out the core of my existence?)

So our road trip took us from Houston, TX to Dallas, TX to Amarillo, TX to Albuquerque, NM to Flagstaff, AZ to Las Vegas, NV to Fullerton/Hollywood/Los Angeles/Santa Monica, California, to San Antonio, TX back to Houston. I'm sure I missed a few cities, but you get the gist.



My first time at the Grand Canyon. It looks like we're in front of a blue screen and not actually at the Canyon. It was beautiful.

I miss Texas and I miss Cade and Jacob and Kimberly and I miss Cade's parents and his house and his dorm and his friends and his dog and his family and his trampoline that Kimberly and I so gracefully jumped on the night before we left for our trip.

Sigh.

The below picture was drawn using the Facebook graffiti application by my friend Anthony, who felt it appropriate to (rightfully) compare me to Carmen Sandiego. It was a great comparison, if you ask me.




I am essentially sneaking out of my house to go to Texas this afternoon.

That's right. I'm returning to Texas. Sure, I left there less than a month ago. DON'T JUDGE ME. This time the trip is for 11 days, just 2 days more than the previous trip of 9 days. This time, a road trip is involved. Texas to LA to Texas. Pretty solid, eh? I'll definitely be calling some Potter friends along the way. It'll be weird to bring Cade and his 2 friends to the John/Andrew/Matt/Bre apartment (where we're staying for a night), but hopefully it'll be really fun :).

I hope everyone is well!!


Follow our trip, because we all know I'll twitter along the way!

oh hi

Oh how things have changed in the past 2.5 months.


(Yes, this photo cuts me out of it. That's fine. Molly and Melissa are the pretty ones anyway!)

Because several of my friends begin blog posts with a photo, I'm jumping on that clever little bandwagon. The lovely Molly (mememolly) came to New York City this past week and stayed with me at Melissa's (pottercast and/or melissaanelli) in Brooklyn for a night. We spent a few days together in the city, including a delightful mini-tour of vegan cafes in the Village. Always a good time with Molly.

Since I last posted, I moved back home to Pennsylvania, continued my days/week-long stays with Melissa in Brooklyn, went on a 3-week tour with my friends Matt and Justin throughout the entire east side of the country, went to Texas to see my best friend for 9 days, and have just returned home to start settling down.

Or so I thought. It's a possibility I'm leaving again in 2 weeks. When will I sit still? Oh well. I can sit still when I start school again in the Fall, right?

Yes, school starts again for me in the Fall. Slow transcripts have caused me to miss deadlines to go to school this semester, so I'm off for now. Next year, I'll be in my last year of college in New York City, hopefully living with my friends Jessica and Kelli. They are always a good time. AND Jessica is the first person in the Harry Potter fandom who I met in real life (yes, in my mind I said "IRL" before typing out "in real life").

Pretty lame update. Because it's been so long, I'm going to end with a photo as well. The below photo was taken with Cade (cadegoestocollege) when I visited in Texas about a week and a half ago (even though it feels like a year).



I hope everyone is doing well!! <3 Oh, and happy new year!


PS. Toootally got partnered on YouTube last week. It doesn't mean anything, really, but it's fun to play around with.