Don't let me enter my zone

The throne. It basically is. All my muuusssiiicccccccc~*

Bought a new stylus, needle, all that jazz, got a record cleaning kit, a brand new pair of beautiful speaker,  preamplifier, and six free albums just for being swervy. 

New additions are Sudanese beats and some German punk :]

Playlists and photos

My roommate done graduated and moved out to Chicago land with our other friend which means that the living room is a bit more empty now. My new roommate hooked us up with a fancy pants dorm chair that's bright blue and super comfortable. I spent Thursday on an epic journey across Madison fixing up my record player to be fit to play. Now that it is, I'm on a record listening binge! 

I'm in the process of making a mixed tape for the rest of my improv team, one for my brother's graduation and friend's birthday, and each playlist is personalized. It's difficult liking songs on so many different platforms- vinyl, spotify, iPod, computer. Difficult to compile it all, but they're shaping up to be awesome playlists. I've also got a random radio show tonight and am planning for two full ones this summer, so my head is basically swimming with playlists.

He was a hobo sharktopus?

Spaaaaace!

This view has become oddly comforting this semester. My hodge podge colored lakefront houses. 

Discovered Four Star. Discovered 1973's Jesus Christ Superstar. Rediscovered happiness.

 How about some miscellaneous pictures now while I clean out my desktop, yes?

As I was researching my German paper, I ran across a pretty basic typo on the German government's English translation website. This is the type of stuff only a German major would find I figure. 

The magnetic doorway of Paige's apartment. I noticed this leaving one had and had to snap a picture

The end of the semester computer cleaning! Feels good. (But seriously, I need a new computer. I ran out of room for photos today!)

You know that song that goes "Freeedommmm, freeeddooooommm, FREEEEEEEEEEDDDOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!" Because I have that part stuck in my head ;] I survived my 18 credit, 2 job semester at UW and I'm so proud and happy and excited for summer. I pulled an honest to goodness all-nighter to finish up a 13+ Seite German paper on Thursday night, but I'm planning on taking it mellow the next week to recoup. Working at the IMC a couple times this week, but I can't even explain how nice it is not having any other major commitments on the horizon. I do have a summer To-Do list, but I'm giving myself a couple days break first.

All this graduation talk got me thinking about another upcoming graduation...

I made Sam's pictures board!

I have been saving this picture for YEARS. Best $5 I ever spent.

Our future baby Buckeye :O

We're cute, I know

Today is my 22nd birthday :] I can already tell that 22 will be better than 21, and 21 was unbelievable fun! I'm still teaching at Leopold early on Mondays and Wednesday, so I did my main celebrating yesterday. Some sunning at Heller's Maharani with Haya, pre-game at Emilio's with Kate, then meeting up with all sorts of people on State. Going out would be 130% better if I could control the music. (Madhatter's was playing country ahbarf) but what can you do.

I promised my students I'd bring in some Germany-themed birthday treats tomorrow, so I made some German chocolate cake and gluten free brownies for them. I'm so proud of my horrible baking abilities, these rule.

Sometimes Captcha knows me too well

story of my lyfe

In defense of a Dave Matthews fan

I earnestly love Dave Matthews Band. Before you click away, give me a chance! I've never been a huge fan of jam bands or anything, but I've always liked Dave Matthew's music. In college, I found out that hating on DMB is kind of a big deal in the music world. It's fun to hate Dave, like it's fun to hate Creed and Nickelback. Stereotypes are that only air headed jocks listen to DMB and bro out with each other. I'm here to convince you to give them a try. Their discography is large enough that there's a sound for everyone, but they're fantastic enough that >90% of their music is awesome. Here's why:

Flat out- they're talented musicians. In the ages of auto-tune and shallowness in pop music, there's something about a mega popular band that's writing original material and can rock shorter and longer songs. It can be bumming to dig a band's studio work, and have them disappoint live. I saw DMB with my mom in Michigan a few years back and they blew me away. They were touring Big Whisky and gave such a high-energy show with the most perfect covers (Talking Heads, anyone?). Carter Beauford is a super diverse, charismatic, ambidextrous drummer and my fav :)

They have talented friends. Listen to absolutely anything Dave plays with biffle Tim Reynolds for some amazing amazing guitar work, especially Dancing Nancies and You Are My Sanity. Alanis Morisette sings on a track and one of the members played with Bela Fleck.

I love bands with 'unconventional' instruments. DMB uses violin, saxophone, and trumpet. They've released both fantastic acoustic and studio albums. They've got beautiful songs (Crash Into Me, Proudest Monkey, Baby), angry songs (Halloween, Don't Drink the Water, You Might Die Trying), funky songs (I Did It, Cornbread, What Would You Say, True Reflections), and great covers (No Rain,  Sweet Caroline). DMB is quintessential summer music. Go give them a shot. Try something new, try something old.

Their music will always make me happier, and that's why no matter the hate, I'll always be a huge Dave Matthews Band fan.

Favorite DM pic

Carpe Diem, boys. Seize the day

The great thing about living in the moment is that your plans are never ruined, you just enjoy different experiences than you expected.

It's my hometown college's graduation this weekend and I needed a break from the madness that is end of the semester in Madison, so I'm taking a weekend visit to Toledo. Had a quick EPCS session Friday morning to update my electronic teaching portfolio with student work, then brainstormed WUD Film Superlatives to give as awards at our last meeting on Monday, then caught the Van Galder to Chicago as usual. This was one of my first arbitrarily chosen weekends travelling. Usually I'm in transit on Thanksgiving or the winter holidays and we fill up at the Dutch Park 'n' Ride and Union Station is a zoo. But was actually quite nice leaving cold and rainy Madison to the tune of some Tom Waits and coming to Chicago.

I was supposed to catch the Toledo Megabus at 4:15. Flash forward to 7 pm, four phone calls, a flight check, and a memorized Amtrak schedule later and I figured this bus wasn't going to show. Turns out my dad's in town for a Psychology conference, so I walked over to his place at the Plamer House and we're driving back later this afternoon after he's finished presenting his poster! (It's titled: Consistent-handedness is Associated with Greater Negative Affect Toward Out-groups).

Since my mother's entire side of her family is from and lives in Chicago, I rarely had typical tourist experiences growing up. We went to museums (and planetariums and aquariums) of course, but always had people to visit and places to stay. So I'm really getting a kick of having the city free to myself for a couple of hours. First of all, the Palmer House is gorgeous and I want to stay with my dad every year for this conference because I feel very fancy pants here. This city isn't supposed to be viewed from a car. I spent a few hours in Starbucks writing a poem about my Beziehung mit der Muttersprache und ivrit and some extra credit papers, then just roamed around in my sick ass snake eye earrings from Haya from JAS and listening to old Soul Coughing recordings.

I stopped being WUD Film Director on Thursday day. The Union held a lovely transition banquet where we passed the torch (figuratively) and the Beefeaters (literally) onto the new Directorate. We partied hardy afterwards at Diegos (me gusta) and the KK (cannot believe I went in there, oy).  I have a major project left for each of my classes so I need to stay somewhat focused for these next two weeks. But then it's Farmers Markets, Henry Vilas Zoo, Comedy Clubbing, CotS, Adult Swim, Lakeside Cinemas, and sunshine. Yass.

Oh wow, just saw a girl with a really interesting tattoo placement- it's wrapped around her lef, but above the ankle, below the knee. Hmm, I kind of like that..

I've got some changes/updates to my bucket list!

1. Float in the Dead Sea
2. Go skydiving
3. Run a 10k
4. Become a licensed German teacher
5. Learn how to juggle
6. See the Grand Canyon
7. Attend a MMoCA rooftop film
8. Live in Berlin
9. Be in The Satorialist
10. Have a panda sit on my lap