Six on Saturday

Yes, I am again cribbing from the TGO's blog.

1. I ran 16 miles today. My legs were pretty much dead for the last two miles, and so I walked them (like... really slowly), but I got it done. Coach Ronnie asked how I was feeling, and I mentioned that I hadn't had a long run in three Saturdays, and my last run period was last Sunday (for the Carlsbad 5K). He told me that the lack of training this week just threw me off rhythm, and it's not a big deal and that I can shrug it off as a bad day. Although, 16 miles on a bad day is still cool -- because who does that on a regular day, right?

2. While on those 16 miles, I had to amuse myself. That's a long time that we're not allowed to wear headphones or have mp3 players. (This is because we're not in an official race, but training on the streets, so we need to be aware of our surroundings). I ended up making a Taylor Swift parody (?) to her hit "You Belong With Me", but from the perspective of a guy singing to a girl... (And no, I'm not a Taylor fan, but darnit, this song was all over the place and is catchy.)

You're at the bar with your boyfriend, you're upset

'Cause he ignores you for all his friends that you've met

He doesn't appreciate you like I do

You're dropping hints that you're ready to go home

But he's drunk and he is talking in loud tones

He doesn't think about you like I do

But he wears jerseys, I wear polos

He's into beer pong, and I play piano

Writing out a song that expresses exactly how I feel inside

So I'm singing out now

If you could see that I'm the one who'll be there for you

Do the things you like

So why don't you know

That your man's a schmo

That your man's a schmo

And when I got to that point, I thought that was enough ridiculousness for the day. And so I moved on to focusing on the cute girl running in front of me... (Just kidding.)

3. This is my medal and bib from the Carlsbad 5k. Pretty cool, yeah? I feel.

4. My delicious dinner at Hash House, where I was with The OSFs and some of Chris' family. This was a mashed potato and bacon burger. They know how to serve you up at this place, that's for sure. I ate half and saved the other for tomorrow. It was filling, and I didn't wanna stuff myself completely. Plus, Jordan's trying to get me to lose, and I gotta stay strong.

5. Apparently I have guns. Or am starting to have guns. As in my arms. I say this because I caught up with some friends tonight that I hadn't seen in a few months, and the three girls were all "whoa, you are looking buff!" Then they asked me to flex my biceps. And I did. And they felt them. And they said "oooooooh"... And then we moved on and chatted about real things... And then when our time was over and we had to split up, we all hugged and they asked me to flex one more time. I obliged, and they felt me up. It was just a funny moment to me, as this has never happened.

6. This video is one of the reasons I love Lea Michele. If only we had gone to see her at this cabaret before "Glee" had taken off! Now an intimate event like this with her there will never happen... But still, she amazes me, and this song from Spring Awakening reminds me and re-affirms my love of the show.

Happy Songs

I'm in a cranky mood right now because of UPS. I now refuse to ship anything through them, and if I can help it, I will try to choose alternative shipping options if I'm receiving a package.

So to curb my frustration, I'm listening to my happy song of the month. I was thinking about it, and I've had a different happy song each month. It's always a poppy song that I listen to over and over, that really has no solid meaning to me or any lyrical insight, but for whatever reason (the beat?) I get entranced by it. And I get happy. Not two beers happy, but it's good enough.

They're all guilty pleasures. January's song was especially guilty. "Anonymous Sex", performed by Phoebe Strole and Skylar Astin. Two original Broadway cast members of "Spring Awakening". I found it on YouTube, and thought it was fun. Not something I'd be singing in front of my parents, and clearly (hopefully) not something I believe in, but it was catchy. Although I'm sure the fact that it was SA related played a part.

February's song was "Go Your Own Way", as performed by David Cook and Carrie Underwood. Another YouTube find (although TWOP led me to this, really), the duo of American Idol winners performed the duet of this Fleetwood Mac song at the opening of Walt Disney World's "American Idol Experience". I really wish I was there because it looked like they were having so much fun in the video, and their vocals were great. Just like January's song, I'd sing this one on the way to work too... made the dread of another work day a little more bearable.

Which brings me to March's song: "Just Dance" by Lady GaGa. (Yes, I like pop music.) I'd heard of her before but paid no attention to what she sang. I also heard the song on the radio but didn't pay attention to it and treated it as background noise without knowing who sang it. But then this week, Suzy mentioned the song and the artist and how bummed she was that Lady GaGa's concert at HOB was sold out. And then she and some of the other girls from work started singing it, and I had that moment of "ohhhh that song!" At which point, because I really wanted to listen to it, I immediately bought the song on my iPhone (which went online to iTunes) and started rocking it... that was three days ago. I really have no idea what she's singing, but it makes me want to dance. So I guess Lady GaGa's mission has been accomplished...

Anyways - now I sit and wait for everyone else to get here so we can caravan down to that park just south of Cricket Wireless so that we can steal the Rascal Flatts concert. More on that later.

I'm on a high, on a high...

...there's nothing more to it. 

Song lyric: "On A High", by Duncan Sheik

And I choose it because today ended up on quite a high note! After being annoyed, bummed, and stressed out at work earlier, I was ready to hit up Anthology for my 2nd concert of the week. Jordan and I planned on going to Anthology to see Duncan Sheik. Now, I like Duncan and have wanted to see him live for awhile, but this wasn't just any ordinary show.

No. The stars were aligning (I feel)... because Lauren Pritchard, who played the original Ilse in some Broadway show, was performing with him.

Yeah. That's right. "Spring Awakening". Original cast member AND the composer of the music that I practically listen to everyday? (Okay, not practicallly... I really do listen to some portion of the soundtrack on a daily basis. Love it.) But to have them both together, in San Diego, when I am able to go see them with my fellow Guilty One... it was so meant to be. Especially as neither Jordan or I were super committed to going initially and only just bought our tickets online the day of the show. 

I'd been to Anthology one other time before, with Chris and his friend Mike and my friend Ria. We had dinner and wine while seeing Matt Nathanson perform, and that was a good time, so I had high hopes for tonight. And it did not disappoint! We were on the third floor but with a prime view of the stage as we were directly above stage left and could still see everyone. We ordered food while we waited, and the food was fine (not legendary status, but I enjoyed it). But then the show began... 

Lauren came out with a girl named Holly Brook - who my friend Sarah (Chris' sister) introduced me to her music back in the day. They had some other guys with them too, and they all performed as a band - taking turns playing their own music. Lauren really impressed me, and I really wish Holly played the songs I know of hers, but she was still great.

Then came Duncan, who I had no idea what to expect of him as a live performer, but I felt his vocals were top notch. CD quality vocals but his arrangements (both vocal and music) were different, so it wasn't like just listening to a CD. He opened the show with songs I already enjoyed and one that I really love now ("For You" - which I think is a great song to serenade a girl with, if I could play guitar)... and then he brought Lauren back out (as she was the only member from the previous opening band's set that wasn't on stage) and they went into the "Spring Awakening" portion of the evening. Songs as follows:

Mama Who Bore Me

Touch Me

The Dark I Know Well

Don't Do Sadness / Blue Wind

As a fan of the show, it was such an amazing treat to hear these songs performed live by the composer and one of the original Broadway cast members. How often does that happen?!? And they all sounded spectacular. I kinda wanna learn the cello now, so I can play "Don't Do Sadness"... anyways, after that short part of the set, Duncan then launched into his "Whisper House" songs. Guess this is the next musical project of his, and it'll premiere at The Old Globe next January. So far away... but now we can get to say we heard it here first. I don't remember too much of the premise, but the music was fun and the story sounded interesting... needless to say, I'll be "acquiring" the CD. (Oh heck. I'll legally download it off iTunes with my gift card. Especially since Duncan is my current mancrush now.) 

We were determined to meet Duncan and Lauren, and get our "Spring Awakening" official companion books signed. So we parked ourselves by the merch table and first saw Duncan. We had him sign our books, and then we were hoping to find Lauren. I moved away from Jordan and towards the other side of the merch table, since I wanted to take a better look at the shirts. I stood there for about a minute, and turned around and there was Lauren - and I was so startled, and said "ohhh!" And she said "ohhh!" And it was confusing, until I realized I had my book and pen in my hand and managed to spit out something to the effect of "you're awesome, can you please sign my book?" And she did. I tried to motion over to Jordan to come over too, but she didn't see Lauren until she started walking away.

Anyways - with our books signed, it kinda felt like "mission accomplished". But then there was a shirt I really liked since it said "Don't Do Sadness" on the front, so I bought it... we started to leave and noticed Duncan was still around, and then realized we didn't take pictures with them. And I really wanted a pic with my new mancrush, so I worked up the nerve to get back to greet him again and get a pic with him, which Jordan took. And I felt glad. I thanked him, shook his hand, and we moved towards the exit. And as we're about to exit, Lauren was just coming back inside, and so with Jordan's camera still out anyway, we asked her if she could spare a moment to take pics with us, and she kindly obliged. We finally stepped outside, took final pics with the marquee, and went back to the car, singing along to the soundtrack on the drive to the apartment. And at the end of all that, it really did truly feel like "mission accomplished".

What a fun day... I'll just put pictures in another blog entry... since Blogger here isn't as cool as I'd like it to be.

Seven for Saturday

Seven random comments (idea cribbed off Jordan's blog):

1. I'm moving! Finally. In one week, I'll be relocating to an apartment in Serra Mesa. It may not be the condo I'd been hoping for since I moved back home in July (although the condo could still happen later in the year), but I'm excited. Andy will be my roommate, we'll be in the same complex as my good friend Kasey, and friends can finally come over to hang, watch TV, have dinner, or play Rock Band/Halo/Wii... Oh, how I've missed having my own place. 

2. I'm ready and waiting for Phase 2. What is this "Phase 2"? There's a possible job promotion at work, and Phase 1 (interview with the hiring manager) went pretty well. I was told Phase 2 is forthcoming, and I already received a call from the HR Recruiter regarding their need to prep a salary offer... still, nothing is guaranteed and I feel like thinking about the position too much will cause it all to backfire... but I really want the job. 

3. I do not think Hilary Swank is hot. Attractive? Yes. Hot? No. Although it kinda pains me that I am not on the same side as Jim and Pam... heh. 

4. Lea Michele (from the original Broadway cast of "Spring Awakening")? Hot.

5. "3hree 6ixty 5ive" Resolution #2 for 2009 - Act in another production / go on an actual audition. I miss theatre, I miss performing, and even if I don't actually get cast in something, I still want to say that I went on a legitimate theatrical audition. Been doing some research, should get in touch with my old HS drama teacher and see if she has any tips as well... 

6. The Beach Boys' song "Kokomo" has been given a brand new life (in my mind), all thanks to "How I Met Your Mother" and Neil Patrick Harris's dancing eyebrows.

7. If you've never tried it, peppermint schnapps mixed with Bailey's is like Christmas in your mouth.