Rainy Days

Rain is a fickle thing. Sometimes, the rumbling thunder in the afternoon sky can be the most soothing experience of the day. Others, you're cursing the heavens for having a hissy-fit. Today was one of those days.

Last week, I was talking to a friend of mine on Twitter and it eventually morphed into us planning a kickball game. We set the date for today, and of course as luck would have it, there was rain. I woke up, tweeted my friend, and then went back to sleep. I awakened two hours later and the rain had stopped. There were still clouds in the sky, but I assumed that due to this morning's downpour, it was done.

So I put my shoes on, packed up my ukulele, and was out the door. I heard about this witchcraft store that was only a 30 minute walk away, so I figured I would check it out. It was fine for the first half, I was listening to the Dresden Dolls, singing my heart out, scaring pedestrians, just a normal day. Then it started to drizzle. Then it started to sprinkle. Then it started to rain. Before I knew it, I was sitting under the shelter of a gas station, plucking meekly at my uke.

Remind me to buy an umbrella.

Eventually, I got tired of waiting for the rain to let up and pressed on. It was a miserable 15 minutes and I started to think that the universe was testing my determination. So I took that fucking challenge. I said, "Fuck you, universe. I'm going to make it to this store whether you like it or not."

Finally, I made to to the shop. It was called Hocus Pocus, and the moment I walked in the door, I was hit by a wall of heavy metal music about witches and magic. How typical. It was a cute shop, though, somewhat cramped, but it gave it a homey feel. The upstairs portion was a tattoo parlor, and the floor below was the actual witchcraft section. There was a giant pentacle painted in gold on the floor and herbs lining the wall behind the man behind the counter. I felt like I had stepped back in time with the dark wooden upholstery.

After inspecting their wares, I picked out a few stones from their selection(amethyst, labradorite, serpentine, and red jasper) as well as three candles. I approached the counter and had a conversation with the man over the blaring music. He was very knowledgeable about Wicca and most other forms of magic, and helped me out a great deal. I'm definitely going back.

When I exited the store, the sky was almost completely clear. I smiled to myself, victorious for making it through the sheets of rain. Challenge completed, universe. Better luck next time.

Coffee is Independence

Right now I am sitting in a crowded Starbucks, I had to elbow a bitch in the face for a spot with a power outlet. I'm here waiting for my appointment with the temp agency to begin. I have about 30 minutes before I have to get up and go. Last Monday I went downtown to make the appointment, thinking I was going to start then. Silly me...

Oh well, I wasn't prepared, anyway. I needed to print off copies of my birth certificate and social security card. All things work out the way they're supposed to! So now I'm sipping on my iced hazelnut latte awaiting the moment of truth. To be honest, I'm pretty nervous. They said I'm being tested on my knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel. Word, I can handle. It's the most basic program and I used the fuck out of it in the past. Excel, I haven't used since high school. I'm really good with technology, so I can figure it out easily, but it's been a while.

This is a big step for me, though. I've been lazy for the past few months, traveling around on my grandparent's dime, bumming off of friends. Or at least what I feel like I'm doing. They offer, I accept. I feel terrible every time I say yes to something, which is why I'm doing this temp job. Independence! Plus, I should probably have some money going into New York since it's such an expensive city. I leave in a month or so.

My drink is getting watery, it must be time to go.

An hour later....

Back in the same Starbucks, sipping on a hot hazelnut latte, rewarding myself for doing well at my appointment. That's my justification for getting coffee twice in the span of a few hours and I'm sticking to it! It's much less crowded this time. There are a few business men by the window doing business-type things, a blonde art student on a Mac doing blonde art-type things, and Ella Fitzgerald, the queen of jazz, is playing. I'm a fan.

As I said, the appointment went well. I scored a 3.25 out of 3.5 on the Word test and surprisingly, a 3.1 on the Excel portion. Oh, and 66 WPM on the typing test. I know I could have done better if I hadn't been so distracted, but meh... such is life. 66 isn't a bad score. I'm pleased with the outcome.

Hoo-ray! I am good enough to be a pawn for the corporate monster!

It was funny, in the middle of filling out the paperwork, the song, "Miss Independent" by Kelly Clarkson came on the radio. I smiled to myself and took a moment to appreciate how much life can resemble the cinema sometimes. My life seems to be resembling a romantic comedy, and I'm right at the beginning of my film. Waiting for that someone who is going to throw my life into disarray. Well, MORE disastrous than it already is, because we all know that's what happens.

I'm quite enjoying my time in Pittsburgh. The few people I know are great, the city is wonderful, but I'm looking forward to New York next month. The people there, the energy, everything about that city, I love. That's where my heart is.

Perhaps that's what this film is going to be about; My filthy romance New York City.

My drink is getting cold, it must be time to go.

Catching up to date...

A while ago, I said that I was going to kick-start this blog. It's been about two months and I still haven't done anything with it. In short, I've been travelling a lot and experiencing new things. Quite a bit has happened in the last few months and I guess I will catch you up to date.

Probably the last picture taken of me in Michigan!

I left my hometown on February 17th with high hopes of a new life, I had decided this about two weeks before I actually pulled through with it. Impulsive, I know. I was scared shitless, I'm not gonna lie. However, it was probably the best mistake I had ever made. I decided I was going to move to Pittsburgh, PA!

I actually didn't think it would work out for a moment. The plan was to catch a ride down to Pontiac, MI with my friends Meredith and Mary to see the Emilie Autumn concert. From there I would ride with another friend to Chicago and see the show there. It being my luck, that show got postponed due to Emilie's ill health. I was freaking the fuck out! I thought all of my plans were going to fall through and that I wasn't going to escape that small town. Luckily, my friend Jay who is an amazing fucking person, fronted the money for a bus ticket to Chicago.

So things were great! I was excited for the concert in the city and a bright future ahead of me. I was sitting in the Milwaukee station after a two hour layover, when I get a text from Veronica saying that this concert was also postponed. I was disappointed, yes, but you have to turn negative events into a positive! And we fucking did. Not wanting the influx of fans to go to waste, I organized an emergency meet-up. OVER TWITTER. Within a half hour, we already had a meeting time and place. Ah, the wonders of the internetz.

We met at the Chicago Bean and hung out, ice skated, went on a romantic date (all 20 of us), and had a gay ol' time. Here's a picture of our ROMANTIC date!

Sexy, right? I know. I'm making an ass of myself with the flag. And yes, I did wave it around like an idiot. I met some really awesome people, as usual. Emilie Autumn's fanbase is pretty fucking amazing. They be mah homiez!

From Chicago, it was finally time for me to head off to Pittsburgh! I hopped on a train and only a hop, skip, and a jump (AKA about 10 hours), I finally pulled into PGH where my friend Chelly picked me up from the station. I hugged the fuck out of her and then we went back to her and Julianna's apartment. There, I crashed on their couch and didn't wake until the sun was high in the sky.

I stayed in Pittsburgh for about a week and was then trucked myself up north to see my friend Chris in Erie for a few days before I bussed it back to Chicago for the rescheduled Emilie Autumn concert.

We had a pretty good time for the TWO days I was there, then it was off to Chi-town. It was was even more awesome this time! I stayed with my friend Bri and we had awesome times. We went to an awesome party at an awesome apartment with awesome people who had a FUCKING HOOKAH! I tried it for the first time and it was a lot of fun. Of course, I recited Jabberwocky because it's only customary that you recite Lewis Carroll while you're "feeling the world" as Bri called it. Or at least I thought it would be cool, but then again, I'm an asshole!

I make that face a lot, don't I?

And finally, it was the day of the concert! It was quite amazing, as usual. I was a VIP with an after-show meet and greet thanks to my good friend Jenn who gave me the extra ticket she won. We got to meet everyone, I hugged the fuck out of Emilie who proceeded to ride me like a cowgirl when I lifted her off the ground (LOLOLOLOLOL), I gave them all the little trinkets I gathered for them, made out with Veronica, and then I danced with Captain Maggots. All in all, it was a pretty amazing night. I'm pretty sure I STILL have glitter on my being. Glitter never goes away...

I look like a creep, but the girls look gorgeous!

After that, I stupidly missed my bus back to Cleveland the next day. My friend Lissy, out of the kindness of her heart bought a last-minute ticket. I really do have amazing friends. I am truly blessed. Then I stayed in Erie for a few more days and then went back to Pittsburgh. For... a day. Then it was time to go to Maryland!

Maryland was fun! I got to reconnect with some people, hang out, and be groovy. I visited three states while I was there! Maryland (obviously), Virginia, and DC. That's three to cross off my list! While there I started to teach myself how to play piano. Kinda. I can do a couple chords now, does that count? But it was really nice to meet new people, catch up with old friends, and just relax for a little while.

Now I'm back in Pittsburgh! I'm going to be living here for about two months and then will be going to leave for the Big Apple until August! I'm not sure what's going to happen after that. Depending on how I like it, I might stay there, I might also go over to Chicago and live there for a few months. Who knows? Such is the life of a gypsy...