An address and an elitist

Well, I travelled east on the 90 yesterday an found myself a homestead for the next year. 

It's roughly the size of a shoebox, a glorified dorm room as the woman who showed it to my mom and I pointed out. It's a studio and if you come to visit, I gladly allow you to sit on my bed seeing as there may not be other seating. I don't have a stove and there is one sink between the bathroom and the kitchen. I will be brushing my teeth next to dirty dishes, I suppose. However, it's right on campus and what would I need a living room for anyway? I do feel sad that my culinary masterpieces will be far more minimal, but I'm sure I will be able to work out some sort of toaster over or stove top piece. Signing the lease was really exciting. And, there is something so thrilling about signing checks (decorated with sunflowers) for a lot of money. Something powerful, I guess - yeah, until I write one for my first month's rent and start praying for my loan refund to appear. A glorious moment to be celebrated with the decadence that is Wegmans' Nature's Market I'm sure.

I've a confession: I started watching "Gossip Girl" on the CW Web site. I have seen two other episodes, once with the dear Terri Motraghi and our clan, the other in a hotel on my March trip to visit the University of Baltimore. Now, I am officially addicted and smitten with Chuck Bass, better known the to real world as Ed Westwick. Though, as in many cases, the actor's name doesn't matter. It's the character of Bass that has me so enamored. He's all mysterious, a bad boy type, with a softy love for pretty Blair. On the season finale, which I finally watched tonight, I got tears in my eyes when he told her he didn't love her. Oh, Chuck! Just go travel Europe and buy her some nice stockings and tell her you love her - ah, if only all men were able to do such things. 

The "Gossip Girl" fixation has drawn me to another neglected place: Blockbuster. Generally, if I rent a movie, which is not terribly often, I would use Red Box. It's so cheap! and easy! Thus it's appeal! Now, I rented season one, discs one and two last night. Total - $9.77. How in the world did that get so expensive? I suppose the actions I have been practicing, watching the shows online for one and using Red Box for another, have been a part of the downfall of video rental establishments. I remember going to Blockbuster and getting my rental card as soon as I had a credit (read: debit) card as a senior in high school. It was a rite of passage as far as my friends were concerned because now we could rent a bunch of chick flick and indie films, hit up the bulk foods sections at Wegmans or Tops and have an evening of it. Times have changed.

As for me? I'm moving. But tomorrow I go to Erie to see my favvvvvvvorite (I apologize for the repeated letter. These ladies deserve emphasis.) girls and some other friends and head to Chelsey's first bridal shower. Classy.

xoxo.

Kris Allen?

Can we get a recount? I feel like George W. Bush somehow stuffed the ballot box yet again. 

I happened to miss the actual broadcast because, silly me, I went and got sushi with some friends. So here I am, many hours after the fact, watching a VHS taped version of tonight's show. Is it just me or did they lower "No Boundries" for Kris tonight? It sounds way better. Still, his performance doesn't quite have the impact other "Idol" finales have had, for me. True, he's good. But, Adam is a better vocalist. Perhaps some critics (my astute Aunt Mary for instance :) ), say that his career would be better served without an "Idol" album weighing him down, and I agree with that. The principle of the matter is that the best singer lost. That doesn't jive with what at least Simon says the show is supposed to do - find a superstar.

A few weeks ago, Entertainment Weekly did an Adam Lambert cover and since my roommate let me read all her subscriptions, I immediately flipped to the accompanying story. To my disappointment, the story focused solely on the impact of a potentially gay idol. True, Adam's vocal chops were praised but at the time, I suppose I didn't realize what a widespread issue that posed. My dad, not really an "Idol" watcher but a pop culture follower in general, actually told me the other night that he thought that might affect some viewers. I guess I'm just voting for a good singer, not a political stance. Modern criticism is much the same way, my other roommate (the dude one that the gal one is marrying; another entry) rightly pointed out: it's always looking for the angle. Sometimes, and I've told teachers this even with my feminist arguments and historical leanings, I want to base my thoughts purely on the aesthetic. How beautiful is it? Or, how ugly is it? Ah, such is life.

So, here. This is why I love Lambert:

Glee

I've never been too into TV. OK, I do have my "Idol" obsession, and I enjoy "The Office," but those were just as much social events for my friends and I as they were story lines for me to follow.

But, I have found the perfect TV show. It's called "Glee" and it debuted after "Idol" (of which I missed most of. Silly job. Gotta watch it online tomorrow.) - it reaches out to all of those who did musicals and show choir in high school. Which I did. It also features Lea Michele, the powerhouse lead of "Spring Awakening" fame. From the first note of "On My Own," the girl oozes talent but plays such an awkward character, it hurts to hear her speak. The sympathy pains of teenage years gone by resurface in uncomfortable glory. Plus, the music arrangements are kickin'.

Then there is the goofy-cute motivational teacher, Mr. Schuster. All I want for him to do is leave his shrew of a wife and get with the OCD Emma. I think she was in "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and has this really interesting voice that's sort of stuck in her throat. That was a terrible movie. On "Glee," thought, she's adorable with her tidy wipes and Lysol.

And I have to wait until fall to see more episodes of it? 

Now, I finally watched the season finale of "House," actually while I was typing about "Glee." Man, House is in for it. Bringing Kutner in at the end was great, though watching House walk into that hospital made me rather sad, especially coupled with Cameron and Chase's wedding. By the by, loved Cameron's dress; it was so pretty and tasteful. I'm not sure I'll watch next season without Chelsey to prompt me, but this was a good one and I would like to know what becomes of Cuddy and House...

Spot on Main

I have a new favorite place. I've always been a fan of Spot Coffee on Elmwood. Heck, I'm a big fan of Elmwood in general. However, Spot has always held a special place in my heart. It has a vegetarian friendly menu, an awesome bohemian atmosphere and until recently was right next to New World Record, so you could get coffee, browse some music. It had such a great vibe.

Let's face it: Williamsville, in general, does not lend itself to the Birkenstock-wearing, hair-dreading, braless crowd. I wouldn't place myself in that category anyway. But, I think people who live that life are so interesting. They don't care about money or fame or success. They care about each other, about getting through the day with happiness etched into each inked body part, making music, and being altogether lovely human beings. I generalize - but you get the point. 

Bringing a place like Spot to Williamsville (and Clarence too, I hear) could be risky. If the new location didn't look so slick and new. The people behind the counter are clean, they serve that upper-middle-class ladies with their neon green pants and matching plaid bags with a smile. Spot is mainstream on Main Street. 

One of my other favorite Buffalo establishments is Amy's Place, also on Main but closer to UB South Campus than North Campus. Seeing that Spot can survive suburbia and its inhabitants, I wonder, what if Amy's, another joint supporting independent music and independent thinking, came to the North towns? Part of the charm at Amy's is the shaved head of your female waiter and the sleeves of tattoos dancing around your table. 

I guess my big thought revolved around this idea - is where a place is ideologically as important as where it is location-wise? I suppose it is. Any business model conforms to the location of a new outpost, it only makes sense to. In any case, I may still visit Spot on Elmwood if my Spot on Main starts to feel like to Starbucks down the street, though that is a venue I have enjoyed, especially in summer, for many years.

Til then, I'm going to drink a Cinco Shake with my hummus wrap. Take that Starbucks.

Pups and Moons

Man, I have a lot of things on my mind tonight. First of all, to set the scene, I'm sitting indian style on my bed with my 71-lb German Shepard Lab mix trying to lay on my lap with my laptop. She misses my dad who is away this week and is getting fed up with me typing instead of petting her - she just huffed at me in fact. I swear, she takes up more of the bed than I do! 

Well, I just got home from hanging out with a friend I was close with in high school. To be honest, I had the biggest crush on him when he played Perchick in "Fiddler on the Roof" and I was Golde. We've kept in touch intermittently throughout college and have met up a handful of times, always hoping to see each other more after each encounter. It's not a romantic thing, it's an innate feeling of connection with someone who knew you before you knew you. To this day he is able to say, "that's so like you to do that" or say that or whatnot. And he's right, which calls into question the nature of friendship. Are true friends those that have seen you from the beginning, who remind you of where you've come from? I always ask myself that after I see someone who I have known for many years. No, I then remind myself, friends are the people that accept that you've come from somewhere, whether they too remember it or not, and take that as part of you. I think that it might be easier for someone like my good friend of this evening to have that acceptance, but I think all good friends learn it. 

And so my worry begins. Today I found out that I have a bunch of reading to do before I start graduate classes in July. While I should have anticipated this, I didn't, and finding out about it shocked me a bit. I realized: This is going to be something challenging. There might be people who are better at this than I am. I thrive on competition, but do I search for it to make myself better? No. I've always been inwardly driven enough to have that motivation some get only from competition, for example, Paris from "Gilmore Girls." I'm more Rory-esque, or would like to fancy myself as such, that I learn because I like it and do well because working hard isn't a question, it's a certainty. 

All of this ties together, I swear. I'll say it. I'm worried that making friends in this program is going to be difficult because of our varying levels of education, professional experience and drive. Yeah, I worry someone might be better than me. Ok, I should prepare myself that someone will be better than me. That's more realistic. Suzanne Malveaux of CNN was the commencement speaker at my graduation last week and she commented that coming in first shouldn't always be the goal. Sometimes you don't learn from that. And so, I need to wrap my mind around other places. And with people, too, not just academically. I know that I get really overzealous when I meet new people and that can be a turn off. 

Be yourself, yeah?

Going...Gokey...Gone...

I'm glad I didn't make an predictions in my last blog. After last night's "American Idol," I think I was pretty convinced that Danny Gokey was going to be in the finale. Somehow, as I thought about it during the 45 minutes of not anything important on the results show, I decided Kris would be the one to go on. And so he is. Next week we'll have a serious battle - the 13 year old girls vs. the most talented contest Idol has ever seen. 

Even though I loved this last season...

...we'll see if I did that right.

One part of "Idol" I really have not enjoyed on this year is the performances on the results show. First of all, Kelly Clarkson, the supposed best Idol ever, was terrible. She looked pregnant and sang a song she is too old to sing - my life would SUCK without you? A grown woman does not express her feelings in those terms. I was just so disappointed with the performance, especially after Carrie Underwood rocked it with Randy Travis on "I Told You So" weeks before that. Phenomenal performance AND she goes to Africa to help lil babies with malaria. Take that Clarkson. But it wasn't just her; all the "Idol" returnees really did not impress. Jordin Sparks, however, did very well. Perhaps it's because she has a good song to sing? David Archuleta, David Cook, Jennifer Hudson - they all sang things that just sounded generic. Generic pop, rock, and r&b respectively. Lady Gaga was just ridiculous and while Katy Perry's song was cuter, I suppose, I think her performance proved that yeah, she's pretty, but as far as singing goes, Jasmine Murray could take her out pretty easily. 

Boxes

My mom made it clear to me today that though she is happy to store my belongings for the two months that I am here, the garage is not the place she wants those things to be. And so, my unpacking continues. I'm having a really hard time staying focused, though, because I keep checking Facebook to see if there are any new posts from my future classmates. Good thing I return to making pizzas tomorrow or I would lose my brain altogether.

More importantly, tomorrow's "American Idol" results show is going to be a doozy. I'll admit it, I spend a good chunk of time redialing to vote a few dozen times for Adam Lambert. However, I also can admit that Kris Allen and Danny Gokey did well tonight. I can't help having a weakness for theater guys and please, no one else is in Adam's vocal league. "One" was a phenomenal choice for Adam - and I say that meaning that the beginning, the low, controlled, untheatrical (yes, I said it) part was gorgeous. Yeah the man can see like a woman and it's crazy, but he also proves his talent when he stops all of that and shows vocals like that. Loved it. It's not quite as fun to watch "Idol" without my equally critical roommates, though. My mom is a great lady but I'm not sure she much cared what I had to say about the trio.

I'm just full of pop culture today. Saw "17 Again" last night with my best friend. I suppose if the economy has got you down, grab a date and spend $19 to see Zac Efron with his shirt off. Yeah, $19- you read that right. Maybe Buffalo is behind the times, but that much for two movies tickets? It strikes me as down right painful. Get yourself an Entertainment Book or six and rip out those $6 coupons. Regal Cinemas does not need my hard earned (or won!) money. 

As for the movie, I loved it. First of all, Efron has the right amount of nonchalance, confidence and charm to play a lead in a major motion picture. He even throws down some non-HSM dance moves that remind the audience that he has more talent than just a quick tongue (I mean in delivering his lines wittily you dirty-minded reader) and perfectly coiffed hair. Side note: I just Googled "coif" for the spelling - it's not even hair! It's a close fitting cap. So when I'm talking about Efron's coif, I am specifically praising his lovely locks. They certainly are the kind a girl would want to run her hands though. Thus why I dislike Vanessa Hudgens. Oh and her lack of singing talent, but I don't believe I'm discussing her. I'm discussing how well Efron delivers lines - except when he says "weiner" for the male genetalia, I mean come on dude, the movie is PG-13 isn't it? - that aren't sung. He must have stage training though. Every scene he is in, he is "on," constantly reacting, always staying with his character. There are no dead fish eyes on this guy. It's almost out of place next to his six-pack.

Was it better than "Star Trek?" Hell no. But I'm convinced that Zac Efron - or young Christian Bale, or a serious Ashton Kutcher-type - could have played James T. Kirk just as well as Chris Pine does. The man has the face of Apollo, no doubt, however, the troubled rogue part is not a difficult one to play. Spock, absolutely nailed by Zachary Quinto, on the other hand, much be terribly hard to play. Instead of flashing devilish smiles at the ladies and making sarcastic remarks, Quinto has to not smile. He has to keep his face and voice as expressionless as possible. It's staggering to even think about that and Quinto's ability to pull it off makes it even better when his Spock loses it. But I'll try not to ruin any more of the movie. It's great! JJ Abram's film takes a well-known mythology and challenges it while staying true to it. "Star Trek" forces die hard fans to think back on what they know and question it, compare it, hope that the newest installment is not found wanting because of some minutiae about the Romulans or Vulcans or the Federation.

I'm still sorry Data is dead. But it's good that Matthew Perry has come back to life.

Like how I tried to tie that all back together? Yeah, it doesn't do much for me either.  

Sophia II

I type to today on my brand-new, pristine MacBook, Sophia II. My PC (Sophia, the first) is jealous of how hot my new toy is. I think she'll cope with time, but she needs to get used to it as I don't plan on lugging her to Syracuse when I start class there in July. Sophia II and I will be making a lighter, more sophisticated trip than Sophia and I did four years ago when we headed to Erie, PA. And that's good.

If there is one thing I have thought about a lot this week is that moving on is a good thing. From a newly-minted college grad, I bet that's pretty trite. Wow, Krissy, you're sooo deep thinking that a person has to move on. Well, cynical voice in my head, I know. 

I haven't much else to say tonight except that Apple, your products are beautiful. I suppose the aesthetic might be as important as the way it works, for me. So now I'm going to go through and edit my photos from the last few weeks and feel satisfied, sitting at home, watching Ruby fall asleep on the couch and knowing that tomorrow, all I have to worry about is cashing a check.

Sweet.