World Tour, 2009

Paris

London

Madrid

Munich

Los Angeles

Tonight is the night! The day is mine! (a la SNL Celebrity Jeopardy Sean Connery) I head out to see my beloved stars in New Moon tonight. You should know that I have MAJOR movie theater anxiety, and the way I feel about crowds at a movie theater is something like what it must be like for an agoraphobic to go outside for the first time-obviously, I'm very committed to this franchise.

Here are my gratuitous photos of the whirlwind press tour-do you think much has changed in a year? My beloved sister and I are on our way as I post!

(credit for last photo: http://socialitelife.celebuzz.com/ Check out the moonstone! LOVE it!)

Paper Cut

I am proud to say that I restrained myself from posting this clip on my blog for over a week! Is the obsession waning, you ask? Not at all, my friends. Not at all.

autumn playlist

I've moved on. I've put aside my beloved summer playlist in a quest for greater musical horizons. I've decided that "taper jean girl" is so last summer and clearly indicative of my curious love for the movie Disturbia and its dashing young star, Shia LaBeouf (the song was prominently featured in the flim). I've opted to seek out newer, cooler, acts, the more hip and up-and-coming types that frequent Austin City Limits and Bonnaroo. I've turned to my musical guru, Pretty Cheap Dress, for assistance. I've...

Who am I kidding?! As IF I could turn away from my twin musical loves, Coldplay and Kings of Leon. That delectable summer playlist has continued to spin on my simple school stereo and comfortably blare from my Ipod each day on my drive to school. It just so happens that a few new favorites have emerged, warranting the creation of an autumn playlist.

I'll confess immediately that the New Moon soundtrack features heavily on my autumn playlist. Setting all Twi-obsession aside, it's AWESOME, and I highly recommend that you download it immediately.

meet me on the equinox-death cab for cutie. This song was the first release from the soundtrack, a hint at great things to come. It's not typical Death Cab fare, in my humble opinion, but still a very cool song. It's possible that I may be biased because of the gratuitous film clips in the video, but I actually think it's very fitting.

bang! bang!-the knux. One of the two songs from my free Austin City Limits 2009 download. I could not stop listening to it.

zero-yeah yeah yeahs. If I was a responsible, fit person, this song would definitely go on a "Workout" list on my Ipod. Right now, I use it to pump myself up when working on paperwork.

strawberry swing-coldplay, left right, left right (live album). No list I make will ever be devoid of Coldplay. This song is the epitome of sweetness. I feel overwhelmed with affection every time I hear the thunderous, yet subtle, opening strains.

the bucket-kings of leon. My playlist is, once again, very KOL-heavy. Part of the reason is that I would like to expose the general public to KOL's earlier stuff. I think this album (Aha Shake Heartbreak) is their best, even though I'm totally sucked in from the minute I hear Caleb Followill's voice. He could be singing about garbage, and I would still be enraptured.

song for you-alexi murdoch. A really sweet, simple song. I've been listening to Alexi Murdoch for year, and I'm always soothed.

lasso-phoenix. Pretty Cheap Dress was MOST impressed by Phoenix when she attended ACL this year. Of course, I immediately checked them out, and was pleasantly surprised, as usual, by her apt review.

monsters-hurricane bells. I can't wait until the release of the first Hurricane Bells album. Thank you, Chris Weitz, for finding Hurricane Bells, and spreading the love!

red morning light-kings of leon. An offering from the very first KOL album. I haven't been to a concert yet, but I hope when I finally get the chance that they play at least two or three from their first go-round.

i gotta feeling-black eyed peas. Is it lame that I heard this song for the first time at a wedding a few weeks ago and totally dug it? It's probably been playing on the radio for days, maybe even months. I'm so out of the proverbial loop.

sweet disposition-the temper trap. By far, the moodiest, coolest song on my autumn playlist. It's a discovery from the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack, and I can't wait to hear more from them.

a white demon love song-the killers. It's kind of quirky, but that's to be expected from The Killers. I'm into it. Plus, the Edward and Bella connection is so obvious!

in the middle-mat kearney. I have a soft spot for this song, and I can't explain exactly why. Mat Kearney is an interesting guy, and his songs are always unusual. "No parachutes, or safety nets here..." Awesome refrain.

pistol of fire-kings of leon. A perfect example of why I was plunged into a dangerous KOL addiction. Is it pathetic that I know Caleb's first name is Anthony?

there is a light that never goes out-the smiths. "To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die..." Yes, I discovered this classic gem when watching 500 Days of Summer. I've listened to it over and over, so much that I can repeat each word longingly, and perform a perfect imitation of Zooey Deschanel in the elevator, sharing her affection for the Smiths with a soon-to-be-smitten Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

you belong with me-taylor swift. I love her. She's darling, a total gem. PLEASE DON'T CHANGE, TAYLOR!

slow life-grizzly bear. Give this one a chance. I know that you'll hear the opening strains and feel doubtful, but the chorus is so moody and delicious that you'll immediately know why I had to include the song on my list.

wavin' flag-k'naan. My second ACL discovery. I was attending the wedding of a dear friend during this year's festivities, but I continue to be impressed at the selection of unique acts. I wish I had been there to hear K'Naan-I'm sure I wouldn't have been disappointed.

mystery in the making-eli young band. Long ago, Pretty Cheap Dress told me that I would love this song. She is never wrong. It's the bit of country on my list.

forever-chris brown. Let it be noted that I do NOT endorse Chris Brown and his abusive ways. I simply could not leave it off the list, when the song "forever" is so permanently imprinted in my brain as a connection to Jim and Pam.

That's right. It's been two weeks, and this is what I post.

In my defense, it has been yet another crazy week in the world of work and school. It's only natural that after a whirlwind weekend attending a wedding in Long Island followed by pounding out an extremely challenging paper at 35,000 feet on my way home, the first post I might be able to compose would be related to my beloved vampire saga. "Meet Me on the Equinox" is the first released single of the highly-anticipated New Moon soundtrack, which is due to arrive on October 20, exactly one month before the movie's premiere. And I do not just mean highly-anticipated by me. The success of the Twilight soundtrack was unprecedented, and I'm SURE the response to New Moon will be even greater. I can't wait-exclusive, original songs from Bon Iver, Muse, and Thom Yorke...it's going to be awesome. Hard to believe that not quite a year ago, I was writing practically the same words.

Source
I solemnly swear that my next offering will not be all about vampires. Really.

Oh. My. Awesomeness.

Source: MTV Trailers (also available in HD)

"When I told you I didn't want you, it was the very blackest kind of blasphemy. "

Could this be from that very pivotal scene? I'm thinking it's a good guess. Don't expect me to let up on the posting, by the way. I'm documenting my obsession, via blog!

I think my heart just skipped a beat...

This movie might kill me. I don't know if I can handle all this intensely passionate chemistry. It's just too much.

(source)

The Girl in the Blue Dress

That's what I was today, as I officially re-entered the workforce and returned to an elementary school classroom. Which is, of course, the excuse I'm giving for my lack of blogging over the past few days. Lest you think my casual blog title implies that I was not completely familiar with the incoming students, parents, and staff, I must share that my official position is not as a classroom teacher, though I certainly have my own fair share of responsibilities! My youthful appearance obviously contributed to the epithet I heard in reference to me throughout the day. Some day, I'll be glad that I look barely a day over 20, but that day has not come!

In spite of the fact that I'm quite sure I'll sorely miss having the time to sit with a hot cup of coffee, luxuriously completing my reading for class, or being able to hang my clothes on the line to dry in the afternoon sun, or casually perusing the aisles of the grocery store in the quiet morning hours, I know that being home alone wasn't for me. As I've said over and over to all my nearest and dearest during the past year, I've discovered that it's not great for me to be "too much in my own mind." I thrive being around other people, with stimulating tasks and daily objectives at hand. It's going to be hard not having a lot of spare time, but I'll have to learn to manage! It's just like riding a bike, right?

When I wasn't attempting to organize my classroom (I'm not a cutesy person, which makes the decoration and organization of an elementary classroom QUITE challenging), I dove into a riveting book,

scrutinized this pathetic excuse for an official trailer (What's with the Taylor Lautner interjections?!),

inwardly lamented about Hubert Keller's defeat, despite the lovely attitude of Rick Bayless,

and enjoyed every drop of homemade spinach artichoke sauce poured over the cheese tortellini that I made last night.

I'm on my way to a "new normal." Which is a good thing.

A tease indeed!

I'll be replacing this juicy little tidbit with the official trailer, due to land on Friday. Yes, I have an embarrassingly thorough knowledge of all news relating to my beloved vampire saga.

Oh my.

I told you I would keep these coming.

"I thought he looked more like a Carlos."

I have been wiling away the hours of this past week with my kindred spirit and best friend, Jessica, otherwise known as Pretty Cheap Dress. There are loads of things to post about, including my nothing-short-of-amazing-and-incredible FIFTH Coldplay concert, which I've already briefly teased, but for now, I'm just going to relax with my Sweet Husband (yes, the elusive meaning behind my frequent SH abbreviation). We devoured thick, juicy NY strip steaks for dinner, which I prepared for the grill with a light coating of olive oil and an EXTREMELY liberal shower and subsequent rubbing of coarsely ground pepper. Among my SH's many talents is a great grilling sense-not only were the steaks perfectly medium, with a crisp outer crust and a delightfully juicy, reddish-pink middle, but he also managed to give the side dish of grilled asparagus the exactly-right mild char. Accompanying our meal was a simple arugula salad that I livened up with chunks of pecan and crumbles of my new favorite find at Trader Joe's-white stilton with apricots. I've seen it many times as I longingly admired the cheeses, wishing desperately that they were somehow all made miraculously and simultaneously healthy and cheap, but I never actually thought of purchasing it until Jess and I were putting together a picnic for our trip to Napa. In three words: Best. Decision. Ever. I'll be buying this cheese as long as they sell it at my beloved TJ's.

In the name of being equitable about all information related to a certain franchise that I'm borderline obsessed with, I feel that I would be remiss in not sharing the latest New Moon still, despite the fact that I'm unequivocally, absolutely Team Edward, THROUGH AND THROUGH. Should there even be teams? If you've read the books, however, you'll recognize that this image is utterly legitimate and true to the story, teams or no. Which does make me happy.

In other pop culture news that I can't escape from, Jillian the Bachelorette has made the VERY poor decision (IMO) to eliminate quirky, adorable Reid, the ONE bachelor that (a)did not waffle between work and true reality love or (b)does not give a vacuous, glazed-over stare whenever hard questions arise or seems to think that his only flaw is that "ab number eight is not as defined as the other ones" (Had to steal that HILARIOUS line from Lincee). How could one not heart Reid, with such spoken gems as "Is this going to be in Spanish?"-said when receiving the infamous forego card whilst in Spain and "I have two wives."-tart response when Jill was pressing him for info about sleazy Wes's cheatin' past and present. I miss him already, and am already disappointed aboot the finale. I don't even know if Lincee's antics could make me watch it.

Finally, Jess came through YET AGAIN and inspired even more new musical fascinations. If you must know, I've been compulsively replaying "Death" by the White Lies over and over ever since she told me about them. Love it.

Coming up in the next few days: garage organizing, breathlessly racing through the hundreds of pages I have left in Little Dorrit, and hopefully catching Harry Potter. Clearly, my movie theater anxiety precludes any attending of a blockbuster like Harry Potter, which made $100 million in the span of 24 hours, until there has been an adequate amount of time for the lines and bedlam to settle down. I think I'll wait until Sunday. A hint from the hilariousness that I watched this week with Jess, a safe several weeks after its premiere? "I added 4 more wolves to my wolfpack...4 wolves, running around the dessert..."

Did you really think I wouldn't post about this?