Workout Plan

Go outside and start running with your iPod on. Listen to the Girl Talk album "Feed the Animals" and don't stop running until you hear the song end.

Guaranteed fitness.

Grizzly Bear @ Buskirk-Chumley Theater 6/9/09

Last week I went to a concert in Bloomington, IN.


I didn't actually take this picture -- my friend Eliza did. You can't see, but I'm standing next to her.




But I did take these two pictures. I was using my sister's "crappy" camera and clearly didn't have the right setting on. At least the foreground is in focus. All my pics turned out like this. Dang.

Anyways, I enjoyed the concert a lot. It marked the first concert I'd been to this year that wasn't held in the student union at my school. More importantly, this concert marked the first time (that I can remember at least) that I legitimately "flew solo" via road trip. Venturing to B-Town and finding the theater was completely all my doing. Dang, I'm independent now, aren't I? I guess -- but it's really a kinda pitiful situation. I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with me before the online tickets were sold out! I was lucky I got mine when I did; they sold out shortly after I heard.

Lots of lip/nose rings and forearm tattoos at this concert -- all of which are things I've contemplated getting this semester. No, seriously -- I have. Just thought I'd throw that out there...

Peace.

-Brent

Lack of motivation

The title says it all.

It's summer and I simply want to chill 24/7 until September rolls around. In between reminding myself I have an internship and an online class to worry about, I frequently dwell on how I really want to spend my summer months.




Have you ever wanted to kick around with Shia Leboeuf, wear over-sized Hawaiian shirts, and drive your sister crazy all summer long (via remote-controlled gadgets)?



Or go on an influential/authentic "human journey" with your family and learn an important life lesson (via tropical vacation)?



Or maybe do something so "epic" and "outta-this-world" during your summer that 40 years from now you're retelling your stories in a Dos Equis commercial...


He probably told Optimus Prime to "stay thirsty".

I'm going to live my summer the way Lois Stevens would have -- and maybe go see Transformers.

Just went uninvited to an old friend's 21st bday party

...and it was disappointing.



Somewhere between seeing a dude out cold on a sofa and having to remind myself for the third time to divert my eyes from a ringing iPhone lodged securely between a pair of breasts did I realize the "post-highschool/summer-home-from-college" party scene is about the worst experience ever. Especially when you never plan on drinking.

I turned 21 a month and a half ago. We went to a Thai restaurant and I drank water since it's free. Overall, my big "two-one" celebration lasted 2 hours. This girl's party had been going on for four days -- four days someone told me. But she's the type of girl that fits that bill -- prancing around her parent's basement in heels, white strapless dress and a plastic tiara. To be honest, she looked horrid -- clearly heavier than the last I saw her (which was graduation perhaps?) and practically spilling out the top of her dress. I slid past one of her "besties" as I went down the basement stairs -- her appearance almost identical to the birthday girl's (minus the tiara).

"Whoa...awkward. Did not expect you see you here."

She gave me one of those judgemental looks as though she just tasted something sour with her eyes.

"Uh, yeah. Good to see you too."

Amidst the cheap beer and even cheaper vodka I found a few familiar faces. But no one has changed. Even the damn playlist hasn't changed -- her iHome was still playing the same jams from two years ago (a bunch of old T-Pain and Akon songs -- reminded me of prom night 'o7 ).

"I don't belong here," I told myself.

I've gotten use to the reality of post-highschool summers. I chose not to go to the state university everyone from my high school goes to; I instead chose a small private college up north and I've not regretted my decision once. The friendships they have among themselves look pitiful. They don't look happy. They just look...wasted.

A very good short film

I usually make really big deals about things I like. If I come across something "noteworthy" on the internet, I don't hesitate to send around the link to all my friends.

Anyways, my summer job is to evaluate films submitted to a locale film festival and I'm pretty sure I stumbled across a winner today...

That's Magic! from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.

I think I forgot how much I love musicals. But seriously, this short film is top notch.

I think this will be my fourth time watching it today.

Naturally Modern (via the picture below)

Here's the best part of my day...

A fairly attractive girl in her early twenties asked me today in the Fossil store if I could get a watch out of the case for her. I could tell she was very embarrassed when I told her I didn't work there. Her mom was with her and she proceeded to say that I'd "fit the job perfectly" and that I should "be an employee".


I guess I kinda look like this guy?

I could tell that the girl felt like a moron. She apologized and blushed and hurried off with her mother to find a real employee. Only after did I realize I should have thanked her -- her embarrassment happened to be the most encouraging moment of the day. Apparently I could/should work at Fossil and sport blazers and graphic tees all day. I find this amusing because I applied to work there a couple years ago (with two of my friends as references) only to get shot down.

Yes, it's a lame story. Not much happens to me over the summer, so I consider this noteworthy.

-Brent