Trying to stay big.

This makes Tuesday better. "I got Fight Club for 6.98 at walmart." "I am Jack's low price guarantee."

CRAP I had a long weekend. I worked nine hours at the El Rey on Saturday. And I spent most of that time looking at this:


Oy, quinceañeras. You're such a cruel mistress. I love them for their $100 bar guarantee, but hate them for the fact I am forced to use what little Spanish I've retained after 4 years of schoolin for it. This one wasn't so bad, especially since the girl's dress was GREEN and she had a GREEN and BLACK theme. Thank baby Jesus. The girl always wears white and her colors are always red and white. Booooring. So thanks Veronica, for spicing it up a bit.

I ended the night really grumpy. It was weird seeing the Launchpad open again, talking to the staff, watching everything get back to normal there. It just made me sad, knowing that I'll never get my bar back. It didn't help when the El Rey's roof started leaking like mad with that crazy downpour we had at about 1:30 on Saturday night. We had to construct an elaborate system of trash bins and beer coolers to catch it all. Historical buildings never get all the way fixed, if I've learned anything, it's that.

And yeah, I'm getting used to it by now. But, I'm starting to feel like I have to justify my grief (mostly to myself...). I guess it's okay to still be sad. I've never really experienced loss like that before.

On a lighter note, Kyle said the funniest thing this weekend about selling fireworks. "I'm going to make it magical next year. Like going to Narnia. I'll wear fairy wings if I have to."

Speaking of, he joined a new band. Perhaps you've heard of Flood the Sun? Well, their new bass player is fantastically tall and awkward. By this happening, it means that 3 out of my top 5 favorite men in Albuquerque are in a band together. Success!

I swear you're on.

Albuquerque, you looked beautiful on the 4th. All these bright bulbs of color shooting up all over the city. Really, the best way to see it is some kind of bird's eye view, from the crest or from the interstate. Lovely, lovely, lovely. In fact, you looked so lovely that I might have forgiven you a little bit. You can still eat it for G-Dub backlash, but you won back some pretty points.

(And don't worry, I am well aware of my irrationally-placed anger. Yep.)

Somewhat legal firework activity. Somewhat.

This is what Ashley will look like when she watches the end of the world. Safety goggles and all.

This is what it looks like when you put a roman candle in a recliner.

This is what Casey does to action figures he doesn't want anymore.

This is sparkler dancing.

This is pretty.

This is too.

Sure, what do you have?

Don't worry, I understand. You're better than everyone else.

This weekend was work-blur. I volunteered for an event that ate up most of Friday afternoon and Saturday, but I managed to see friends a lot and probably the best movie of the year.


I probably can't express how amazing Wall-e was. Easily, one of the sweetest and romantic films I've ever seen, and considering the suject matter, that's amazing. And it's beautiful. The animation is just stunning. I honestly think the adults in the room enjoyed it more than the kids. I was worried about the lack of dialouge, I thought kids would get lost by it. But, I think everyone in that theater was just so infatuated by what was going on in front of them, it didn't matter.

I think it takes mountains for the best and most believable love story of the year to come from robots who don't speak. Cheers, Pixar.

I am cautious of Holga-use, as I want to treasure it. But here's digital treats from the weekend.


Ashley powdering/chalking her nose.


Marky supporting local entertainment.


And haggered boyfriend & his BFF Sean looking like they're ready for the invasion. My boyfriend hasn't showered in 5 days in that photo.

But most importantly,


MEET BRUCE!


Kyle found Bruce at the Las Lunas fireworks tent, he was just hanging out around the lot, and has really taken a liking to him. And I think it's mutual.


He's still a pretty wild puppy, so Kyle's worried about how hard it's going to be to get him home and adjusted to apartment living. Who knows how it'll go, but I do think Kyle will take him and at the least, try it.

I think you have a song left to play.

I CAN'T BLOG ABOUT MY JOB. But I can blog about how much I hate that static cling has become something I have to deal with on a regular basis. Sure, it's annoying, but just the fact I must wear things to work that are of a nylon-blend material drives me batty. Absolutely batty.

Marky blogged about how annoying that "What are you going to do now?" question is. I really can't help but agree. I knew the job I took would be temporary, but comments from my big boss has sent the office a'flutter with everyone filling out job applications as quickly as they can type. One of the ladies I work with tells me that I'm so young and the world is limitless and I can do whatever I want to. Is it so wrong of me to want to just sort of drift and see where I end up? Maybe my fear of the future makes me completely reluctant to talk about it. I'm trying to finalize some kind of plan for where I'll end up when this gig is done, but I just DON'T WANNA. I think part of it is financial fear. I'm still new to financial independance and the thought of taking a job that can't pay my bills or living without a job while looking for a good one for a while are equally scary.

I think this frontier in life is the biggest, scariest thing I've faced in a long time. And I really do resent it. Get me back into school so I can prolong adulthood as long as possible, thanks.

I'll be north this weekend. Friday night, Marky and me are staying in Raton, where I'm hoping to indulge in the grand Raton rite of passage known as getting plastered on Coors Light at Schwedes Saloon. Small town bars are the scariest places in America, mostly because it's somewhat likely you'll end drinking with the last person you ever wanted to drink with, like your fifth grade teacher or the high school quarterback. It is a DAMN shame I can't make this trip next weekend. Oh. Rodeo.

Saturday night, we'll head to Springs for the Mad Caddies and stay the night there and come back home on Sunday. Somewhere in there, we're going to Urban Outfitters in south Denver, where I am determined to find a maxi dress that won't make me look like Kathy Zimmer.

If you plan on buying fireworks this year, go to the tent at the Eubank Walmart. All proceeds from that tent go to recording a Made In Bangladesh album. If you want things that make bigger bang, there's also a tent in Las Lunes, but I'm not sure where yet. I just know my boyfriend will be spending the next two weeks of his life sleeping there. I told me he wants to just let himself go the entire time he's down there. His goal is to look like the bulk of the people he'll be selling fireworks to. His hair is already way too long, and he won't be trimming his beard or showering on a regular basis. He really only has one decent pair of jeans, so he'll probably wear them the whole time, too. I think it's adorable. This is why I win girlfriend awards.