Life of the Bored and Taskless.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

My mind is absolute muck right now. I suppose it doesn't help that I'm lounging in a comfortable chair and I smell like smoke from work. I just feel...ick. It's a mix of understimulation, antisocial behavior, and the lack of people or things in general that has placed me in a vacuum. I'm thinking, but nothing very notable.

Which is why I'm going to post. I need to flush the noodle; a mental oil change.

I shall ask you a question: are the certain songs that put you in a mood that is somehow contradictory to the intended tone of the song? For example, "Your Redneck Past," which is the least serious and personal song off of Ben Folds Five's "The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner" conjures up nostalgic feelings within me. If you don't know already, the song is about consumerism and hiding your true identity. What gives? It's the melody, I suppose. The piano part in the song, although upbeat, almost sounds lonely.

It shouldn't suprise me that things like this should happen. In most cases, when I listen to songs, I listen to the music first. Obviously, lyrics are important, but what about jazz or classical music? It's fairly easy when looking at someone to determine whether they're a lyrics or music first person, even though you and I know both that it's a little more grey than that.

Most likely, those who are reading this are chums of mine, and know (or have lived through, and for that I am so sorry) about my exhausting 9th grade Weezer obsession. If you don't know me, or somehow doubt the existence of this past era of delusion, look towards the beginning of my archives. It's sick.

For instance, my favorite Weezer song, "Only In Dreams," does not have the greatest lyrics. It includes the line "crush your pretty toenails into a thousand pieces." Yeah, I know. However, the drive, crescendo, dynamics, and overall atmosphere that the song creates is astounding. When the song climaxes, it feels, well...rewarding. As if the rock gods that you've been paying homage to with heavy air guitar for the past 6 minutes are paying you back ten-fold.

The mood is undeniably inviting and downright human. It's a blend of hunger, despair, hope, and inevitable dissapointment. Even though the journey of the narrator is made in vain, the journey is made nonetheless, and you can sense that the leap is still gratifying even if it leaves him with an empty stomach hinted by the final resolve.

The song still gives me chills whenever I listen to it, and I'm not even embarrassed to admit that...on this blog that no one reads...

Whelp, time for a movie viewing part for three: Me, Myself, and Ice cream. Cheers.

9:38 PM | Jacquie | 0 comments

Monday, June 26, 2006

Instead of posting today, I will share with you a song. Try and guess who wrote it (and furthermore, where the first line comes from):

"I Should Be Allowed To Think"

I saw the best minds of my generation
destroyed by madness, starving, hysterical.
I should be allowed to glue my poster.
I should be allowed to think,
and I should be allowed to blurt the merest idea
if by random whim, one occurs to me.
If necessary, leave paper stains on the grey utility pole.

I saw the worst bands of my generation
applied by magic marker to dry wall.
I should be allowed to shoot my mouth off.
I should have a call in show.
I am not allowed to come up with a single original thought.
I am not allowed to meet the criminal government agent who oppresses me.

I was the best hope of my generation
destroyed by madness, starving, hysterical.
I should be allowed to share my feelings.
I should be allowed to feel.

I should be allowed to glue my poster.
I should be allowed to think
and I should be allowed to blurt the merest idea
if by random whim, one occurs to me but sadly,
this can never be.
I am not allowed to think.

Answer: They Might Be Giants; the first line comes from the Allen Ginsberg poem "Howl, Part One."

They're not a joke band, really.

2:17 PM | Jacquie | 0 comments

Thursday, June 22, 2006

create your own personalized map of the USA

Ok, so I don't remember most of them, but I am still very fortunate to have an excellent great aunt and uncle. I can't wait to make it 42 in July!

create your personalized map of europe

Now this one needs a little work...study abroad perhaps?

8:13 PM | Jacquie | 0 comments

Dear Pennsylvania,
Today was a scorching one. Thanks a bunch.

Meanwhile, the Crossroads Tavern crew were just trying to get by. As my brain slowly melted as the day progressed, I thought of the following:

1) Catholicism and eschatology are both total bullshit. Both take advantage of vulnerability/fear, which leads people into purchasing spiritual (although not) afterlife insurance AKA church time. Let people first worry about this life rather than the next (?) It's just my opinion, however.

2) My musical knowledge is the bastard child of VH1, late night informercials, DTV (essentially Disney music videos...with non-Disney songs), my ever-changing musical obsessions (oldies to pop to alternative to indie to classic rock to all of the above), and my need to know who sang what song and when. Also, my friends and ex-boyfriends added snippets of stuff during the way, which I appreciate.

3) I thought of a commercial idea while wiping tables today. It would be in black and white, preferably, and it would be a play (not jab) off of the infamous "Will work for food" signs. I'm not sure exactly for what company or type of company the commercial would be made, but it would be humorous with a tinge of need. Perhaps it would be for loans. The gist would be people holding different signs depicting their reasons for working/why they need money. Ex) "Will work for flashy sports car" (cue angry wife and kids), "Will work for children," "Will work for Polka lessons" etc. And the tagline would be something that stated the company/group would see and attend to your individual needs...no matter how bizarre they are.
Maybe it's dumb, but I wouldn't mind watching it.

4) I really do need to fix this site up, meaning I have to do some HTML touchups. Gah. The reason why I get pre-made templates is so I do not have to do this, but it always ends up happening anyway. I'll get the comment box up too...hopefully.

So yeah. Weird day. Hot day. For this reason, Chef Todd made a delectable faux specials list today which included the following:

- Swampass chowder
- Ham and fromunda cheese sandwich
- Sweaty nipple...something

Yeah. I think a sense of humor, regardless of how extreme or...gross it is, is vital for working in the restaurant biz, especially when practically no people show up. We're thinking of having a beach party in the kitchen because it is so damn hot in there. Death Valley hot...but humid as well. I could go for some swampass chowder...

One more thing: I'm going to a charity event tonight. I'm not going to say what (especially WHERE) it is, but if it's anything that I expect it to be, it will be one hell of a post. Tune in next time!

~ Jacquie

7:06 PM | Jacquie | 0 comments

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

As you can probably see, LOTBAT is getting revamped for summer bloggage. Yes, I know that it's almost halfway through the summer (well, my summer), but I felt that a change would be appropriate. The site probably will not be 100% worked out for a couple days, hell, even a week, but because I am a perfectionist when I want to be, I'll make sure everything's peachy keen...eventually.

When I do have it all worked out, boy, will I have some stories to share...

Until then, have fun, and remember to wait at least a half an hour after eating babies to go swimming.

6:43 PM | Jacquie | 0 comments

Monday, June 05, 2006

Until recently, I have not been aware of just how glaringly petrified and intimidated I am by others and even deceptively hard tasks. I guess being a waitress does have a positive side, in that it allowed me to become a little more self-knowledgeable. Oh, and the money doesn't hurt either.

I also have become a little keyed into my mediocrity. I'm not saying this in a "WAAAA, I'm emo and no one likes me!" way, but matter-of-factly. I looked into the mirror the other day, and maybe it was the monument of inflamed skin protruding from my cheek that was speaking, but I noticed that my beauty was dull compared to the rave reviews others have given me. Ok, so I'm not the ugly duckling, but I'm certainly not a knockout. I'm just average.

And it's not just about looks (because it's not just about looks); I'm average through and through. Average intelligence. Average charm. Average ability when it comes to mostly anything. Average body fat composition (yeah, you think it would be below average, but it's not). Average health. Average routines. Average writing ability (you can attest to this).
I even got an average SAT score.

I think it's good that I've come to terms with how average I am, because I'm really not looking for much that is above average. I don't like being overwhelmed by new things, challenges, etc. Right now, I'm at a sort of plateau. Things are going well, but not too well. I'm making a decent amount of money, but not too much, at a job that I like but do not love with people who I like but am not incredibly fond of. I go to a school that I like but am not crazy about...on purpose. If I liked it too much, I'd never want to leave. Who wants college to be the "best years" of their life? Not I says the little white girl.

I had a lot more to say at many points in time during the past two weeks but I'm too lazy to write them down. This was just a bit of rambling to calm my fidgeting fingers. I guess my point is that I've reached my maximum level of comfort, which is complete average, and that I'm not altogether shameful of this, as you can tell.

Well, the library internet countdown is down the 6 minutes (my computer's not working), so I better go. I wish all of you out there a delightfully average day. I know I'll be enjoying mine.