Bad day? This always cheers me up.

like, oh my god!

i wish you were here.

Even when he is on the other side of the country, when I least expect it but most need it, he makes my heart a flutter...

yum pt. 2.

Everybody has a secret world inside of them. All of the people of the world, I mean everybody. No matter how dull and boring they are on the outside, inside them they’ve all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid, amazing worlds. Not just one world. Hundreds of them. Thousands maybe.

All the pretty girls on a Saturday night.

So this weekend was very good and very stressful.

On Friday my mother and I watched Lost in Austen, which was an English television movie special. It is about a modern woman who is in love with the novel Pride and Prejudice, and specifically Mr. Darcy. Sound like anyone you know? Anyway! She finds Elizabeth in her bathtub one night, and discovers there is a secret portal leading into Austen's world of Pride and Prejudice. I won't give any more away, but it is a hilarious and endearing romp through the clash of modern ways and tradition. If you are obsessed with P&P (Ppsst! Jessica!), then I recommend it as I would recommend the zombie version of the book. It gives you a slightly different take on things (although some things in the special were intentionally very different from the book, but it worked) and gives you more from your favorite characters. I enjoyed it.

On Saturday morning, me, my mother, my sister, and my aunt left for Winona, MN in my aunt's Escalade (smoooooth rides) for the Motion City Soundtrack show. The trip was fun, and we even invited our little guest Chippie Guts with us on the trip (a stuffed chipmunk that my aunt likes to talk to). That was interesting. We arrived and my family dropped me off at the field house while they went to check into their hotel. I walked in just in time for sound check. Know what I got to hear a lot of? Nine Inch Nail covers! HOLY CATS! They are kicking those covers' asses! I am very impressed that MCS is pulling of NIN so well. Was very fun to hear it done. Then I swooped in, grabbed JP, and we headed to the hotel to get some much-needed food and watched a really good movie on HBO (although we never found out the title of it).

We then met up with my family, who was at the bar (yikes). And although my mother was keeping it together, my aunt and my sister were having a grand time laughing hysterically. We ended up getting a cab to head over to the show. They laughed the whole ride there... Poor, innocent cab driver. Unfortunately, he was the one who ended up picking them up at the end of the night too! But, really. They were a blast! Justin headed to his bus, because he was in so much back/throat pain. And we ended up running into 1] Matt (good college buddy) and his friend Bruce and 2] Schey [fun. guitarist] and Tony. My mom gave a huge hug to Schey, since it was the first time meeting him after years of me mentioning him. It was nice talks. And then it was time for me and my mom to go into the show to see fun. play (after a beer with Matt and Bruce at their cars), and time for my aunt and sister to go back to the bar.

The show was good for a college show. People seemed really into MCS, as usual. We met up with Brittany, Tommy, and Jared inside and we sang and did the "awkward/robot/weirdo" dance to all of the songs. I was tense the whole time worried for Justin, who was doing a wonderful job of hiding his pain. My mom was worried about my aunt and my sister. And my aunt and my sister were oblivious to anything except dancing and singing (which was good and the point, right?)!

Afterward I hopped on the bus to find a practically disabled Justin. Sadface. He eventually went out to say hi to people, and I hung out to talk with Tiffers, Claudio, Collin, and Jesse. Eventually I called a cab, and we headed back to the hotel. Justin was still dying. But we ordered food. Watched It's Always Sunny... but eventually he had to leave for his bus by 2AM. Bummer.

In any event, it was a great day/night. So many friends, great family who supports my boyfriend and myself, and much needed boy time.

We left and hurried back to the suburbs, where Heather's son, Whitney, was having his 1st birthday party! It was such a great party. So much food and such great decorations. It was at a park and the weather was gloriooouuuss! Whitney was a little ham, per usual, and was the perfect center of attention. Guest included, me, Heather's family, Lydia, Laura, Lin (in from Florida, woo!), Mike (the great videographer), Larissa (who I missed), Amy, Dan (who napped for half of it), and Jojo (adorable little girl). Was very good, and little Whitwhit is so loved and spoiled (in the best way possible)!

The next night my sister had to go to the hospital because she was found on the group unconscious for a few minutes in Mankato. YIKES. My mom was on her way down there when my sister called her and told her she was going to be okay. Apparently she was put on some type of blood pressure medicine that afternoon and it messed with her system. SO. SCARY.

This weekend it is supposed to rain, and I am TERRIBLY behind on my 52-books-in-a-year. So my goal is to read three books this weekend, three next weekend, and get back on track! Next weekend I am going up to my aunt's cabin with the girls, so it should be possible.

I also just found out that in May I will be taking a vacatttiiiooonnn! Details are set but not all set just yet. Haha. So I will divulge more in the future. Let's just say, I CANNOT WAIT.

MCS in Winona, MN.

Justin wanted to do the sad face, but my sister took it instead.
Pre-game shots with the sister and aunt.
Me and the sister.

Me and the mother.Sister, mom, and myself. Rodzina!

MCS!

Tommy posing with me and Brittany.

The ones who went to a lot of bars pre-show.Matt, Bruce, and myself post-show sweat.

"Maybe…you’ll fall in love with me all over again."

“Hell,” I said, “I love you enough now. What do you want to do? Ruin me?” 
“Yes. I want to ruin you.” 
“Good,” I said. “That’s what I want too."

Looking forward to:

Roadtrip to Winona, MN on Saturday to see MCS again with my mom, aunt, and sister. Times seeing the boyfriend and spending some deluxe quality hours (I am spoiled this tour).

Heather's Whitwhit's one year birthday party on Sunday. I think I found some perfect presents for the little tiger. <3

Desiderata.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Perfect teeth.

Blogging is hard work when you are trying to find time to:

Spend with friends

• Gabe and I watching the new The Weakerthans live DVD at his house and pretty much crying through it + porch night talks and beers + novel talks with his bandmates
  

And the boyfriend while he is in town

• Think: Lots of pizza for every meal
  
• Think: A LOT of Arrested Development (Marry me!)
• Trying to make him feel better while he was in so much pain
  

Running around to two Easters

• Jaminski: Chill hangout with lovely family and delicious food (cheesy potatoes) involved + Easter baskets for me and Justin
  
• Pierre: Easter egg hunt (Justin is QUITE competitive) + food (french silk!) + the treat of hearing Justin's Dr. Seuss narration

Going up to Duluth to see the MCS show

• "Music School" on the way up with Justin (Think: Unrest, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Promise Ring, and Farewell Continental)
• Early hangs with the guys: Soundcheck, Caribou, Green Mill, porch hangs with some old friends in other bands, bus laughs and stories
• Long line waited in by my devoted friends
• A LOT OF YELLOW
• Massive encore dancing for the hell of it (Really, dancing the whole time)
• A long and painfully dark and lonely drive home (Never again)
  

Watching delicious television things (All rated excellent)

• Alice (Thanks Heather)
  
• Moonlight (Thanks Heather)
• The whole series of Arrested Development

And looking for a job.

• Ugh
  
• Ugh
• Ugh
• Ugh

Forgive me.

One day I will have words for you.