When did getting older become a depressing hassle? Last year was a load of fun, from what I remember of it. And I figured having my first birthday abroad would be just as exciting, but in reality, it's looking pretty sad.
I'm expecting six people show up. No, I'm not kidding. You'd think that I have no friends. Well, at least I thought I had friends. But apparently the convenience of having your birthday fall on a Sat AND a bank holiday weekend only makes it inconvenient to everyone else.
So here comes my pity party. No presents to open. No mom around to buy me gifts and dad around to take me to my favorite steak house. No best friend to celebrate both of our birthdays with (Stef's birthday falls four days after mine). No ice cream cake. No beach (and come to think of it, no summer weather, either).
All said and done, 24 is the new 21, as my 21st birthday was pretty much the worst ever. So bring it on, bad birthday. I've learned to steer clear of beer and gin on bad birthdays, as they only seem to make it worse. I'm going to stick to champagne, wine, and I'm not bringing my wallet with me (other than ID for proof that I don't need to purchase anything myself).
And hopefully someone remembers to get me a cake. Because I can't imagine a sadder life than buying your own birthday cake.
So if you're bored Sat night, feel free to stop in at The Borderline near Tottenham Court Road, and look for a hot blonde wearing her birthday best. I'll probably be the drunkest girl at the party.
Tuesday 21 August 2007
Monday 20 August 2007
We partied like it was 1999
This post is dedicated to the Prince show I saw two days ago at the O2 Centre in London (North Greenwich to be exact). I've been reading reviews of the shows he's been putting on (if you're unaware, he's playing 21 shows in LDN)since starting 1 Aug. This being his ninth show in, you would think he'd be bored of us.
I'm not entirely sure bored would be the word. But he is Prince, and he knows he's a legend. So, he can act like a King. And that he did. He took the stage at 9:25 to a very antsy and excited crowd. Sold-out, of course. Wait, before I go on, the stage was amazing. I'll have to post pictures (which we illegally took) on my .mac website. It was shaped in his Prince symbol, which light up in different colors and prints throughout the performance - so much fun.
To see his complete set-list, I've found Housequake to be the best. I can't say that I was the most fanatical Prince fan upon entering the concert, however after the show I must get copies of as many CDs he's got (what, like 1,000?) ASAP.
Still, I was so excited when the third song in was 1999. Other favorites included: Cream, Purple Rain (I was SO happy to hear it), Raspberry Beret, and a rendition of Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World. Half way through the show he included a synth set of around eight of his songs, which was both a tease and a lot of fun. Of course, he kept telling us we weren't ready for them... Which made the crowd erupt in the loudest screaming I've ever experienced at any concert in my life - and I've been to hundreds. Do I need to remind you, I'm only 23?
His encore was immense - Kiss followed by Let's Go Crazy. He kept joking that he was out of hits and didn't know what else to play. Even though this would have been quite brazen and boasting coming from anyone else, it made him seem more human. Turns out, Prince can be funny. And I really like him. I thought beforehand (especially after Dave Chapelle's hilarious skit as him playing basketball in a purple velvet suit) he was a serious weirdo with a short-man complex. Well, I'm going to revamp my mindset of him. I really, really like him now.
So even though he only played for one hour and 20 minutes, I was sold. One of the best performances I've ever seen. And I don't think I've seen a more involved crowd in my life. They ate it up. With cream on top.
Maybe one of the best £31 I've ever spent. And now I can say, "Yeah, I saw Prince in London, baby."
I'm not entirely sure bored would be the word. But he is Prince, and he knows he's a legend. So, he can act like a King. And that he did. He took the stage at 9:25 to a very antsy and excited crowd. Sold-out, of course. Wait, before I go on, the stage was amazing. I'll have to post pictures (which we illegally took) on my .mac website. It was shaped in his Prince symbol, which light up in different colors and prints throughout the performance - so much fun.
To see his complete set-list, I've found Housequake to be the best. I can't say that I was the most fanatical Prince fan upon entering the concert, however after the show I must get copies of as many CDs he's got (what, like 1,000?) ASAP.
Still, I was so excited when the third song in was 1999. Other favorites included: Cream, Purple Rain (I was SO happy to hear it), Raspberry Beret, and a rendition of Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World. Half way through the show he included a synth set of around eight of his songs, which was both a tease and a lot of fun. Of course, he kept telling us we weren't ready for them... Which made the crowd erupt in the loudest screaming I've ever experienced at any concert in my life - and I've been to hundreds. Do I need to remind you, I'm only 23?
His encore was immense - Kiss followed by Let's Go Crazy. He kept joking that he was out of hits and didn't know what else to play. Even though this would have been quite brazen and boasting coming from anyone else, it made him seem more human. Turns out, Prince can be funny. And I really like him. I thought beforehand (especially after Dave Chapelle's hilarious skit as him playing basketball in a purple velvet suit) he was a serious weirdo with a short-man complex. Well, I'm going to revamp my mindset of him. I really, really like him now.
So even though he only played for one hour and 20 minutes, I was sold. One of the best performances I've ever seen. And I don't think I've seen a more involved crowd in my life. They ate it up. With cream on top.
Maybe one of the best £31 I've ever spent. And now I can say, "Yeah, I saw Prince in London, baby."
Wednesday 1 August 2007
Amazingly bored
I've officially found the bottom of boredom. It hit me today. August the first. I could potentially scratch my eyeballs out, just for fun. Classes ended 5 April, and since then, I've had nothing to do, outside of finding stuff to do, on a daily basis. And in a week, all of that is going to change drastically.
I start work 1 week from today. Am I nervous? A bit. Am i sad my four month long vacation is going to end? Not at all. Not in the least. There is only so much you can do without making an income in this city. I've seen it all (not really). I'm so ready to join the daily office 'grind' and made new friends, and do things that don't involve eating breakfast at noon and commencing on the couch for a few hours staring at my computer screen. So excited.
As for today, I went to the park. It was a 'heat wave'. The quotes are for the fact there's a real heat wave in my hometown of Boston, where it's a gorgeous 90F/32C. Here, it was 75F/24C. That's not even real summer weather to me. It needs to at least be 80F/27C for it be summer. Anyways, I reveled in the fact it was a 'heat wave' and laid out at my local park. I may have even helped my fading tan a bit. No need to worry about my skin, though, I was protected with 30SPF. I fear skin cancer like the plague.
Bonus points for me, I finished No God But God by Reza Aslan. It took me a while to get through (started it in June, then left for Boston for 3 weeks, came back and wrote my final, so there's been a month gap). For someone who knew nothing about Islam beforehand, I have a much broader knowledge of it now. It makes me sad, after reading about it, how terrible of a view Christians and Jews have of Islam post-9/11. And a little tid-bit from the book, the Regan administration funded Osama bin Laden and the Taliban to help topple Communism. Not that I'm surprised, or anything.
Next up, I'm reading Watching the British by Kate Fox. And after that I'm going to buy The Glass Castle. I enjoy being literate and reading something other than the free tabloids on the tube.
I start work 1 week from today. Am I nervous? A bit. Am i sad my four month long vacation is going to end? Not at all. Not in the least. There is only so much you can do without making an income in this city. I've seen it all (not really). I'm so ready to join the daily office 'grind' and made new friends, and do things that don't involve eating breakfast at noon and commencing on the couch for a few hours staring at my computer screen. So excited.
As for today, I went to the park. It was a 'heat wave'. The quotes are for the fact there's a real heat wave in my hometown of Boston, where it's a gorgeous 90F/32C. Here, it was 75F/24C. That's not even real summer weather to me. It needs to at least be 80F/27C for it be summer. Anyways, I reveled in the fact it was a 'heat wave' and laid out at my local park. I may have even helped my fading tan a bit. No need to worry about my skin, though, I was protected with 30SPF. I fear skin cancer like the plague.
Bonus points for me, I finished No God But God by Reza Aslan. It took me a while to get through (started it in June, then left for Boston for 3 weeks, came back and wrote my final, so there's been a month gap). For someone who knew nothing about Islam beforehand, I have a much broader knowledge of it now. It makes me sad, after reading about it, how terrible of a view Christians and Jews have of Islam post-9/11. And a little tid-bit from the book, the Regan administration funded Osama bin Laden and the Taliban to help topple Communism. Not that I'm surprised, or anything.
Next up, I'm reading Watching the British by Kate Fox. And after that I'm going to buy The Glass Castle. I enjoy being literate and reading something other than the free tabloids on the tube.
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