spectacle

beer night

A night full of beer, pumpkin spice cake, banjo playing, TV watching, and talking about Eastern Europe. Things I normally do by myself, but thankfully my friend Seth shares my weird interests.

112711

look out, look out

Perfume Genius - Look Out, Look Out

gone, gone, the damage done

Laura Marling - The Needle and the Damage Done

no pantsgiving

My Thanksgiving was loads better than last year, and I might go as far to say that it's one of my best T-givings ever. I laid in bed, watched the parade while looking up vintage photos of said parade (they just don't make balloons like they used to), went over to Lindsey's, where we lounged in our pajamas and made (er, mostly Lindsey) made delish food. We watched the dog show, then made the superior decision to watch Best in Show, and ate like there was no tomorrow. Ah, the holidays.

the calm before the storm

Christmas is coming, y'all. Such a wonderful time in retail!

LOLz, jk.

you are my sunshine

On Saturday night I learned how to play You Are My Sunshine, and I was so excited about it. I woke up Sunday morning and grabbed my banjo, and took a strum or two and BOINNGGGGCHHH. My first string broke. I didn't know what to do, so I sat there and cried for about five minutes. Then I took her up to the Lincoln Square location of my school (which, PS, was the first time I had been there, and oh my God, it's gigantic. It's full of old hippies playing guitars and even has a cafe.) and decided to have all the strings replaced, due to the fact that I don't think they've been changed since about 1981. But I got her back tonight, and all is right in the world.

soup failure

I attempted to make real food tonight, and I failed. And now I have a sink full of dishes with no pay off.

life partner

It was a cold and blistery day in the city, so I did my favorite thing ever, sit inside all day with the thing that I love most....my bed.

festival of lights

Every year there is a Festival of Lights parade down Michigan Avenue. Long story short, Mickey Mouse is in it and he waves and all the Christmas lights come on. I saw it last year when I worked on Oak Street (from inside work, but I still got to see it). I was planning on actually going this year, but after working a busy day in a store on Michigan Avenue, I wasn't so much in the mood to keep hanging out with the crowds, so I went home and watched my own version of the city light up.

the unloved

guess who has the best bin at work?

This girl.

Thanks, Linds.

dorothy

kenmore

does that sparkle with all the ladies?

This is a love story. The minute we received this dress, I didn't want it, I craved it. We have a lot of velvet items (hotpants, leggings, skirts, blazers, you name it, it probably comes in velvet), but this one also sparkles. Business wear started earlier this month (where we can buy items at an extreme discount) and I knew I didn't have a lot of money to be spending on clothes, even with a discount. I tried it on, and fell in love. But, seeing as my hours were cut so badly that week, I did my best to restrain myself from buying it. I knew there were only a few left, so I told myself that the last one in my size would be bought soon anyway, so then I didn't have to look at it at work and know that it was still there for me to buy. Well, I guess I told myself this so much that I actually believed it. Until today. I was in the fits all day (fitting room, but I love it when the British call it 'the fits'), and a woman came in to try on this dress. She ended up not liking it, so I took it for her and realized she had grabbed the one in my size. I recall when I was servicing Deco (the trend where it currently resides) that there were only two left. So, I decided it was fate and I bought it. I guess it's not that much of a love story, but the point is, I have a fantastic dress for the holidays.

And just for the record, I kept thinking about you, Rob. Because I know how much you love glitter velvet.

useless sunday

My employer has such a talent for knowing when I actually go out on weekend nights by scheduling me for the wee hours of the morning the next day. Since I was out all night partying with British rock stars (okay, so maybe just waiting in a dark alleyway to meet them), I was in no mood to be at work on Sunday morning. Thankfully I didn't have to stay too long, and I spent the rest of my day lounging about and drinking delicious hot chocolate (with giant marshmallows to boot!).

the first days of spring

The hair. His hair!

111111

I've been seeing a lot of photos like these on Flickr, so I decided to just join in the trend. I wish I had something more exciting planned for such a momentous day. Alas...

john hartford

I was feeling pretty crummy about my financial situation (side note: I'm truly not one to complain about one's finances. I always heave a heavy sigh whenever people start talking about it, mainly because I know they make more than me and spend it on frivolous things. But now that I'm insanely poor, it kind of plagues my mind, so I can't help but talk about it sometimes. I'll try to keep it a rarity), however, today I found this marvelous quote by John Hartford:

“A banjo will get you through times of no money, but money won’t get you through times of no banjo.”

I have to say, it's true. I'm always happiest when I'm playing that darn thing.

PS I also got this new jazzy lens in the mail today. I was thinking of asking for one for Christmas, and then I remembered I already had one at home. 20mm 2.8. No big deal or anything. Get used to seeing it.

and flowers in your hair

As I sit here, drinking the last of my beer, my After the Storm playcount has finally topped 1,000. This is can only mean one thing: I'm sad. With my hours getting cut left and right, and the gloomy post-holiday retail ahead with no luck finding other work, I think I have to accept that my time here is coming to an end. I was trying to hold off until May 1, when my lease is actually up (and I thought I would have a plan and money by then! Oh naive little me), but I probably won't make it. I'll have to buck up and break my cardinal rule: never live in Ohio again. Alas, I shouldn't feel too sad. I'll make the most of what I can, and try to remember, "And what may seem like a series of unfortunate events, may in fact be the first steps of a journey".

sanctuary

peaceful, the world lays me down

15 minutes

It's not often I find myself alone in this room, but it's always amazing when I do.

table top study no. 1

Can you spot them all?
Calendar, idea book, 75% off Halloween Candy, crafting materials, remotes, The Call of England, Burt's, work junk, receipts, envelopes (both letter and bill form), beer, TJ's all natural cleaning solution, gift cards, spare change. This is what basically haunts my table 99% of the time. What never goes on my table? Dinner. I ate that tonight in bed while watching South Park, like any other adult does (right? oh, that's just me? Cool. I was totally joking anyway...).

with stars in his eyes

on my windowsill

I wonder how many times my outside neighbors have looked up and seen me hanging outside my window. I normally drink tea, listen to British folk music, and leisurely stick my head out the window. I guess it's my unconscious desire to have a balcony, but I know my windowsill will ultimately be one of the things I'll miss the most about this place when it's time to move on.

adventures

If I ever, in my entire life, put anything in front of my friends, please hit me so hard that I return to reality, because there is truly nothing else more important.

there's a whisper in the willow

I unfortunately had to work all weekend, so I decided to celebrate my favorite holiday in private by watching Dexter all day (side note: Seriously?! The Doomsday Killer is legit the scariest thing to come out of this show ever). I later made the trek up to Evanston (on my way to the train I saw a six-year-old dressed like Toad from Super Mario Brothers. Winner for best costume in my book) for Communion, which was a music organiztion turned music concert featuring a few different bands. Although I went for Matthew and the Atlas, who opened for Mum&Sons this summer, I was completely blown away by all the artists. My vantage point wasn't amazing for photos, until Matthew and the Atlas came on and I was mere feet away from their crazy gorgeous banjo player, Harry. Note, he was drinking a PBR tallboy and his strap has 'H DAWG' on the back. He also has the same banjo tattoo as Winston Marshall. I might be in love, folks.

On my hour long train ride home, the Lawrence stop had a crop full of costumed concert goers coming out from the Aragon. I normally hate hoards of drunken people getting on the train, but I make the exception for Halloween. I love this holiday.

Lauren Shera (educated at Old Town!)


The David Mayfield Parade. Please look them up. This guy's guitar skills are sick.


Matthew and the Atlas


Future husband.








The whole lot. Their last song was "I'll Fly Away". Swoon.