sweaterfest 08

Last friday I tagged along with Dani for the 4th Annual Sweaterfest.

Being cheap, I opted not to go searching through the neighborhood thrift stores for an amazingly hideous sweater… Instead, I rocked my new H&M star sweater.  I mean, bright green sweater with pink stars, it’s pretty sweet.

I was definitely not expecting sweaterfest to be as large of a turn out as it was… granted, I really didn’t know what to expect besides some amazingly ugly sweaters and taunting for the non-sweatered attendees.  I surprised myself with my shyness as I generally just hung around… talking with a few people, and basically sort of clinging on to Dani as inconspecuously as possible.  But towards the later hours of the night I opened up a bit more… took a shot of Jameson (after ditching my warm beer)… and danced around a bit… I met some enjoyable people whom I wouldn’t mind seeing again.  .. and I had an amazing 40 dedicated to me… and then it got stolen…. much sadness.  But overall the night was great and Dan and I had a good time.

a few of the ladies of sweaterfest

the personalized 40s - including mine on the left

in whence there was much face rocking…

I cannot say it enough: Mucca Pazza never fails to deliver.
They’re like the anti-fail… which for a large group of nerds is always an achievement.

Anyway, their show at the Bottom Lounge was amazing.  There was a really great crowd — a lot of people dancing and everyone was just having a good time.  As per usual with MP concerts, I squirmed my way towards the front, landing myself about 4 people back.  Close enough to see everything, but out of range to get hit by the band (which really, I’ve been right up on the stage before, and it’s still just as awesome there).  I don’t think you really can pick a bad spot in the crowd at a MP concert.. however, if you want to dance around you should really be up front.  That’s were the rest of us who love to dance around will be.

If you’ve never been to a MP show before, I highly suggest checking them out.  You can search youtube all you want, but you really won’t get a true feeling for them until you’ve seen them live.  I have yet to go to a live show as fun as one of theirs.   They’re great musicians, entertainers, and all-around great folk (as I’ve mentioned numerous times).  I mean, I still turn into a little fan girl at the shows.  So when they were marching in, and Mark put his hand on my head I seriously giggled with joy.  Hang around after the show and you’ll get a chance to chat with them — it was through doing that I was able to get to know a few of the members and then get involved in the reading band.  (Which reading band is happening tonight: more info at Mucca’s site; notice the circular reference back to Wench there.)

As always, I tried to drag a lot of people to the show… I got Jason to come out with me, and he brought his friend Scott… (We showed up early enough to have some pre-Mucca drinks… which I will say, coming in from outside, a shot of whiskey really does it.)   And since Sara was filming for Venus, Adam and Dan showed up too.  Dan, being Dan, was picked out to do a little solo on Moriya with student conductor Jeffrey Thomas (always a great song/performance).  Dan tends to get soloed out in a crowd.  It’s his nature.

Anyway.   It was an amazing show and I’m looking forward to Reading Band tonight — from the email list it should be a good turn out.  If you’re interested in joining, either contact Mark via the methods on MP’s site or leave a comment here with your email (all comments are monitored, so I’ll edit out your email before it posts if you’ve got more to say).

And now to leave you with some goodies!  Videos from the concert — a little bit from K12 and a full ensemble of one of my favorite songs (hell, I guess I love them all… but this one is quite enjoyable).

Mucca Pazza/K12 - The Centennial

Mucca Pazza - Peace Meal

i probably need a haircut…

awkward scrunchy face can't see

i heart xkcd

and here’s why: friends

kitten comfort

Last night I went home, and I don’t know if maybe my anti-anxiety meds wore off or something, but I just wasn’t in the best of moods.

We’re lacking antennae to watch basics in our apartment (they’re upstairs at jrosei & libby’s — though they belong to my roommate)… and we’re currently lacking internet until the 9th (had to switch from Mennogirl to Libby)… so that leaves these options: movies, reading, cleaning, or games.  Or the other option of just sleeping all evening until you finally decide to actually go to bed.

So, I curled up on the couch and had a minor little pity party for myself.  I had gotten it in my head that I had/have absolutely no chance with this really hot guy I like, and on top of that the last string of rejections had more to do with me then the guy or the situation.  So I buried myself under my blankets.

And as to be expected, my kittens have a fascination with many things, one of them being tunnelling under blankets.  So first Kaija joined me, climbed across my legs then over my back and then cuddled in by my belly.  Soon Tuija was in there too, and it was a little kitty spoonfest.  So we all cuddled and the kittens nuzzled me and each other.. purring loudly…   It wasn’t long before I relaxed and decided not to care about my lack of a chance or my singleness.

I don’t know.  I feel like I might be getting mixed signals from said attractive male (whom I may or may not have a chance with)… Maybe he’s flirting, maybe he’s just joking around as a friend… I don’t know.   Maybe I’m just dense, like many people in these situations, and need something a bit more obvious… Like “Hey, you’re cute.  I like you.  Let’s go out some time.”  Or the ever popular slightly random make-out sessions… Or if you still want to be subtle, physical touch isn’t always a bad thing — a quick back rub or pat that maybe lingers, a little squeeze on the arm, holding hands even…. hell, just smiling, making eye contact and maybe a little flirty wink or something… I don’t know.  But at this point I’m confused.

At least I have my kittens to come home to and cuddle with.
and they’re damn cute.  (just like me)

kaija v. the sink - round 1 take 2

an open letter to the male species:

I’d like to say that I’ve enjoyed our interactions in the past.  You’ve served as close friends, brothers (biological and otherwise), mentors, boyfriends, lovers and just general eye-candy.  I’ve appreciated that.  But can I just say, some of you are just damn frustratingly attractive.

It’s quite distracting.  My mind goes to goo, any connection I had from my brain to my mouth is practically destroyed, and I turn into an embarrassingly giggly mess.  If it seems like I’m not paying attention to you, it’s probably true.  I’m probably thinking about how much I’d rather just be making out with you — or sometimes more.  Even if it does seem like you have my full attention, there’s a good chance my mind is elsewhere.

Somewhere in history the idea that empowering women meant letting them make the moves and all that, so as not to force your masculinity on us and to show us that you think we’re equals… However, you send mixed signals when you run away with your tail between your legs after a girl shows interest.  I’m still not afraid to give out my number to someone I find attractive, but I wouldn’t mind having a guy take initiative and ask me to hang out or get drinks or whatever.  I’ve given you the means to contact me, so do it.  It’d be nice to be pursued every now and again.

To you attractive males, I shake my fist at your hotness.  You’ve tempted me with your attractive personalities and bodies to match.  I’m not necessarily looking for anything specific or grand or anything, but let’s just cut to the chase and have some fun and see where it goes.

Frustratingly yours,
Rini

PS- making out is fun, there should be more of that…  just a thought.

smote. in the face.

well damnit.  I’m smitten.  Again.

I think I must have just hit that phase of life where my just surrounded by enjoyable, awesome, and attractive males.  It’s like a plague.  Granted, with all this eye-candy, I’m not complaining.  Also, these are enjoyable people, so beyond just getting to look at them, I’m having fun spending time with them as well.
So far it’s just been in the win-win situations… I’m more looking forward to the win-win-win situation.  They’re hot, fun to hang out with, AND you get to make out with them; if it’s on a semi-regular basis then that’s just win.

But as has been noted, my dating life has sort of been on fail mode for a bit.  Not that it’s a big deal or that I’m all concerned about it.  I’m enjoying myself as it is.  But a little bit of win would be nice.

the boot saga comes to a close …. maybe

So this weekend while roaming around Funcie with my brother, I find the boots.

Tucked away in a corner display at a sports footware store that I had ignored the day before… There were the boots.  They met my criteria: near-knee high, warm, at least a little fake fur (if I wasn’t going for the popcorn boots by rocket dog), and had some traction.  And well, I wanted them to be under $100… preferably around $50… On sale for $80.  I could deal with that, I liked them.

But there was fail.  They only had one pair left, and it was a 6.5 … I need a 7.5 … with winter socks and all, there was no way of squeezing my foot into those boots.  So, rather than looking at the other colors, I decided to check out other locations of this store… a quick trip online would help.

Online I was faced with major fail… as in the only way to purchase these boots in the Lakes area I had available to me would be to order them online and wait for them to arrive… and pay shipping.  These boots were just sold out.  Apparently I’m not the only one who enjoys decent style.  I was okay with my lack of originality in my choice — so what if half of the other girls were wearing them… okay, half of the other girls are still wearing Uggs… only like, an eighth would be wearing these… I still wanted them.   Gray and Pink, with fuzzies.  What could be better?

So, in one last effort… while waiting with my mom to meet my dad for the grand trip back north (aka home), we decided to check out the local mall, since we had time.  With luck, they had the right store…. but fail.  No gray and pink.  So, I ate my pride and my dismay and went with my second choice:
White, gray and silver.  With Fuzzies.  I can live with this.  The only big fear is that here in the city, well, snow around the roads and sidewalks turn brown… occasionally black… so I’ve come to terms that these will as well by the end of the season.

The Nike Hi 3 boots are decent.  Definitely warm.  But well, not amazingly comfortable.  I’ve already lost some skin thanks to their design in back.  The sneaker style back piece is firm… and well, it just rubs off the skin on my ankle.  It was actually really painful the first day — and there is a nice little red stain inside one of the boots now.  But I’ve wrapped my ankles, and I’m still trying them.   If my feet get worse, if I loose more skin, well, then that will be the sad end to my boots.  I’m not looking forward to that.  (Too bad my little sister has out grown me in shoes, otherwise I could just pass them down… )

Anyway.  This is the first time I’ve had Nike’s since about 8th grade… maybe even 5th grade… But they were the first boots I found that actually stopped me and grabbed my attention.  We’ll see how they hold up.

what are you doing saturday?

you should totally be here: Bottom Lounge
.. I suggest showing up sometime around 8ish…

just a suggestion.

… I’ll be there.

iPossibilities

So… as I just mentioned (see: post-thanks) I’m selling my iPod to my sister for Christmas.

Basically, the thought behind this is:  I’d spend about $25-30 on my sister for her gift.  I thought about getting her an iPod or other mp3 player for a while. I want a pink iPod (I have blue).  I can offer my sister my blue iPod minus what I’d spend on her for Christmas, rather than giving her a gift card and letting her pick one out herself.  I offer my sister my iPod for $20.

That was it.  I mean, mine works fine and I’ve got the box and everything… as long as she likes blue why not go for it?  So, she took me up on it.  I mean, our 7 year old sister already has one (in green).  She won it at church.  So of course the 13 year old will want one.

Now here’s the big debate for me… which iPod do I buy?
Just replace mine like I originally planned: 1GB pink shuffle. ($50)
Or do I upgrade? 2GB pink shuffle… 8GB pink nano… or 16GB pink nano… ($70, $150, and $200 respectively)
…. I actually really liked the 3rd gen nanos… but those lasted about a year…. you can find them for $100 now though…

	+	-
shuffle	I can clip it holds the amount of songs I need cheap (if it gets stolen, I’m not as upset)	no screen
nano 4	video I can see what is playing genius feature it’s newer, so I kinda want it based on that	no clip more expensive fewer accessories right now not sure if it will fit in my radio/charger not sure if I like the shake to shuffle feature
nano 3	video it’s small I like this design price has gone down decent accessories (aka clips)	no clip can’t get the pink one through apple (no guarantee on condition)

Then, after all of that… how many gigs do I get?
It seems the only thing I know is that I want a pink one.

Your thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated here.