Ivana's got some expenive knickers.

Today is the first time in 6 days I've checked my email. I'm proud of myself! Fighting internet addiction is a hard, hard battle, as there are just SO MANY excuses to give yourself for using the net. Really, there's this fantastic wealth of information and knowledge, just waiting for me! But, it's no secret, I spend most of the time I could be bettering myself on myspace.

I'm probably about to join the ranks of the mall employee. I've been quite the hermit lately, I'm almost excited about some intense human contact (even though, yes, I know, that'll wear off in about 3 minutes after I start working). Also, let's all hope that the Vans store DOESN'T hire me. Because if it does, I'll spend about 5 million dollars there. Shoes.

Still no set date for departure. At this point, Labor Day-ish? The good news I started my application for the Peace Corps. I'm setting aside Tuesday to finish it. Tomorrow is all about applying for other jobs and cleanign out my truck. Baby steps. Today, I spent recovering from the show, sleeping in til 2:30 (impressive!). Then, I took Kyle to Lucky Paws and tried to make him buy a puppy. He distracted me by buying me dinner at Buca di Beppos.

Dolphin calling.

First off, I LOVE VICTORIA BECKHAM.



She's probably the most fabulous person in the world, married to the prettiest man in the world, and manages to not really really take herself seriously at all. After watching the Coming to America special, yes, I would love to be her personal assistant. And her best friend, really.



MAJOR!

In other news, I decided that the reason I wrecked my truck was so I could go to Jimmy Eat World. That experience was, by far, one of the best concerts of my life, something I did not see coming.

I’ve seen Jimmy Eat World a few times, and I’ve never really been too impressed. However, both times were in arena settings and perhaps they’re better enjoyed in a more intimate environment. And for the first time EVER, I was okay with how it sounded in the Sunshine. That’s a hard room to sound and I understand that, but geez, it normally blows. I guess JEW’s sound crew spent a while sound checking.

When they first came out, one of the things Jim Adkins said was that they’d been a “rock band” on tour for some time now and they wanted to do something different. So, they placed such precious jewels like “A Sunday”, an acoustic version of “Claire” that had me near tears, “My Sundown”, my personal favorite “Disintegration” and they closed with “Hear You Me”. Honestly, a lot of people were pissed about it, because they played nothing really fast or poppy. People were literally yelling at them. But, they didn’t care. And good for them! I think it was the kind of experience you really had to work to appreciate, if you’ve only followed the band via the radio, as pretentious as that makes me sound.

During “23”, all these people started clearing room for this couple to slow dance. It was kinda ridiculous and it really kinda made me upset. It was hot enough on the floor and no one needed to be anymore cramped. In fact, I remember making the comment “This is not freaking prom” to one of the people holding the barrier (which I feel really bad about now…). Then, the guy dancing gets down on one knee and asks the girl to marry him. I kinda hated it, but moreso just because of how precious it was.

I left the concert with a singing heart. LaLaLa!

And I could not have asked for a better concert buddy than Casey. We had ourselves a grand ol’ time, despite “that guy”, the one drunk asshole at the show that Casey almost punched in the face. He deserved it.

I guess the real important news is that I have a functioning car again! ZOMG! The bodywork’s not perfect and it kinda looks like my truck’s a little retawded, but more importantly, it runs and it runs well. However, I am stuck here for a little while longer working back the money I spent on a new radiator. PLEASE. Someone employ me.

I spent most of my weekend preparing for the big ol Burlesque show that’s happening on July 28th and visiting my mom, since she hasn’t gotten to see me in a while.

They put Yen in a handbag.

Still stuck. Dear old truck is sitting at Casa Chervolet, waiting for the car whisperer to install a new radiator. It won't be long.

I'm debating the option of getting a second job before I leave, as random hours at the Golden West just won't cut it. However, most of the work I could get would involve mall retail, and might not even be worth it for just a few weeks. Sooo, I don't knooow.

Right now, I'm feeling pretty stagnant. But, I will be in town for a few very good things, including a BN show and a Jimmy Eat World concert. I've been giving pretty serious thought to joining the Peace Corps, just to feel like I have some kind of purpose til I'm 24 and can get to graduate school. It seems all pretty appealing right now.

I spent a rather interesting night with Paul and Sara, watching him create the most intense balloon designs I have ever seen.

I got an alien hat.


Then, we took to the lawn for playing around with light sticks and such.




But, the best part of my week was Kenneth making a helmet for my bear.

Just in case I decide to wreck again.

I got my diploma in the mail today, which means everything cleared and I'm officially a graduate of UNM. Well, that's exciting! Kyle bought me seafood to celebrate.

When it hails...

To make this week EVEN better, Kyle's dog Clyde was put down today. Poor pup had bone cancer. I'm sure he's frolicking in canine afterworld, where his leg doesn't hurt and there's an endless supply of bones and belly rubs. <3

Man, freaking red lights.

In grand tradition of the land of Entrapment, I got stuck here. I'm sure, partially, because I said I was allowing for any kind of unexpectedness, the very unexpected happened yesterday, as I rear ended some lady from Oklahoma.

For the most part, it appears the organs of my car are okay. It is driveable. I seem to be leaking a decent amount of coolent, so it might be a radiator issue, or just a coolent tank issue (PLEASE be the later). This is the second most important thing. As my parents say (everytime I eff up my car) "You're okay, that's the most important thing". And I'm fine. A little bit shocked, but physically, everything's a-okay. I'm not even sore. So, that tells you about how fast I was going. Comestically, oh, my truck's hurtin. But, that's really not THAT important. I mean, my like my truck and she's a classy dame, but she's getting older and I think she understands that it's okay to have a few little dings.

Kyle's dad just happens to be one of the best mechanics in the city. So, that's pretty convienent. Last week, my mom started hearing rattling when her car was in drive or reverse, so automatically, we assumed the transmission. I took for Kyle's dad to look at it, he drove it down the road and said, "That's wierd. It sounds like something's sitting on top of the exhaust system." WHO WOULD KNOW THAT!?! Especially after just driving it down the road. Turns out it was a dirt claud, thanks to my mom's AWESOME roads. But, the real point here is that he's been nicknamed the "car whisperer" and he'll be surveying the damage later today.

I kinda like the idea of just banging out the damage as good as I can and calling it good, since I really don't want to sell her anytime soon and Kenneth brought up the VERY good point of what happens if this happens again, as I'll be driving A LOT in places I don't know. I don't need to spend all this insurance deductable-money and time and hassle to just have to go through it again in a few months.

I guess I'll weigh all the options and see what makes sense. Either way, it's dollars that I was saving for Quebec. DID I MENTION I WAS LEAVING IN 9 FREAKING DAYS?!?! So, I'll be here for a while. I guess the good news is I'll be stepping into the BN show in July, doing a solo and filling in a spot for the finale. Nice, relaxing, performance time.

I'm trying to not get frustrated, trying to stay positive, look at all the options I have available to me. And I guess I should feel pretty lucky that I wasn't hurt and that it happened here, where I've got a fantastic network of people willing to help out. Kathy already offered me a car. I think she likes me.

But, still, this blows.

I guess I'm not supossed to leave New Mexico right now.

Today sucks.



A whole lot.

It's pretty much official.

I try to leave room for at least a little bit of uncertainty and sporadicness in my current life, but it appears I'm leaving for Canada, oh Canada on the 20th.

Anyone wanna go donate plasma with me?