Headlines

1. As you can see (unless you're a Reader reader, in which case, come look!), I have a new header! And it's completely lovely! I am massively obsessed with it, and have been returning to my own blog every 15 minutes. I don't know why... To make sure it's still there? I guess I just want to admire it. LOVE it.

I have to say, Jess from Delicious Design Studio is pretty much a goddess. I highly recommend her for all your blog-design needs.

Check out the process...

First, I gave her some information about myself and my blog. I told her I wanted to go with greens and purples. I said I wanted the "i" to be dotted with something that wasn't a dot. And I showed her several images I liked, including this one and this one.


That was Jess's first try. As you can see, she took my ideas and ran with them. Isn't it neat? But we decided that the pattern was a little two busy when run next to my current plaid background. After debating just scraping the background I had and starting from scratch with it, she said she thought she could work with it. And I told her I had a new tagline I wanted to use. She came back with this:


Equally awesome, yes? I decided I really wanted purple over the pink, so I asked her to switch that back. I LOVE the way the words fit together. And I totally dig the squiggly flower in the background, but I sorta missed the purple blob from the first go-round. I told her I couldn't decide whether I preferred the squiggle flower or the purple blob... She said she'd try to find a way to make them work harmoniously. And then she brought me this!



I'm so happy with it! And Jess is a gem. She's delightful. And she and I are practically going to be neighbors when I move to Sarasota in the fall! So yes. Go to my new friend Jess and tell her what you want. She'll rock your socks off.

2. There is a winner from my tagline contest (as I'm sure you've noticed)!!!

Over-thinking is underrated.

Despite his massive internal debate about the ethics of accepting a prize, Barry has been sent an iTunes gift certificate. Congratulations Barry! And thank you! I LOVE it. So catchy, so concise, and so TRUE! Definitely a good way to prepare people for what they're about to get themselves into when they stumble across this little blog of mine.

The first runner-up was submitted by my metaphysical boyfriend Brian. Your solution to everyday hypoxia. It's an extraordinarily clever way of saying that my blog is "a breath of fresh air". And I love him for submitting it. If only it weren't so esoteric...

Other entries included:

- awestriking (Donna)
- The best damn nounverb you know. (Brian)
- Drama? You're soaking in it! (Clowncar)
- hysterical histrionic heroine (Kate)
- I'm awestriking you right this minute. (Brian)
- It is all about me, after all. (Nilsa)
- Life on the stage. (Eric)
- Me, yes, me. (Kate)
- Methinks she doth blog too much. (Eric)
- Six syllables of scintillating soliloquy. (Brian)
- Super fuck yeah! (Jenn)
- Take your time, it's just begun. (Kate)
- Think of me as ninety-nine on a dance break. (Brian)
- Welcome to the angelaboratory. (Nico)

Thank you to everyone who submitted! I love you all!


3. I have finally heard from the final member of my grad school class. It's a 32-year old married guy from Wyoming (there are people from Wyoming??? I was convinced that state didn't exist!) who listens to music I've never heard (Coheed and Cambria?), likes movies I've never seen (Waking Life?), and enjoys things I didn't know people liked (black silk suits?).

4. You may have noticed that my current playlist is completely new music... Because of my April Fooling, I completely forgot to write about my most recent blogger meet-up experience. I went to see the Hotel Cafe Tour with Jenn, Angie, and Jessi.

Jessi, Jenn, Angie, and me. 03/30/08

The performers were Meiko, Cary Brothers, Ingrid Michaelson, Joshua Radin, and Dan Wilson (formerly of Semisonic). I have put music that each of them played on my playlist, because they're all wonderful. Ingrid described them as "a bunch of sensitive singer-songwriters", but they're really so much more than that.

Unfortunately, as the concert began, I had a HORRIBLE stress stomachache. SUCH bad pain. I bought some Zantac 150 at a drugstore before going in to the concert, but I knew it wasn't going to be good. Luckily, I found a table next to a bar near the stage that I was able to sit on. I was worried that some venue authority was going to reprimand me for sitting on it and I'd end up in a fetal position on the floor of the bathroom for the remainder of the concert, but that didn't happen. Probably because they were worried I was drunk and going to vomit if they moved me. I was doubled over while seated through several of the songs. It sucked. Also, I felt incredibly guilty. Jenn and Angie kept asking if I was alright, and giving worried glances in my general direction. Awfully sweet of them. I felt bad for being a burden.

Some of the performers stories and jokes were really fantastic. Meiko told a great story about being in a student film and playing the role of a hot dog (and then sang a song about the experience), and also one about a trip to Hawaii that didn't end well (and included Jenn's new favorite phrase, "Super fuck yeah!"). Cary told a story about getting left behind a couple days before by the tour bus. And Ingrid staged her own impromptu Vagina Monologue when the placement of her ukulele's microphone was... awkward.

I was only vaguely familiar with all the performers going into the evening. I only knew one song of Meiko's going in, which was "How Lucky We Are" (turns out her most well-known song is actually "Reasons to Love You", since it was featured on Grey's Anatomy). With Cary, I only knew "Blue Eyes" (thanks to the movie Garden State). With Joshua I knew "Closer", "Winter", and "Paperweight" (all of which I believe have been on my blog playlist in the past). I knew several of Ingrid's songs (like the ubiquitous "The Way I Am", as well as "Keep Breathing", "Overboard", and my favorite, "Die Alone"). And Dan? I only knew his Semisonic work.

I have to say that I'm madly in love with Dan Wilson... Even though he's married... And has a daughter... And he's 47... Doesn't matter. I love him. Semisonic is one of my favorite bands ever, and Dan's solo work is equally good. He is, after all, a Grammy-winning songwriter (he cowrote the Dixie Chicks' hit "Not Ready to Make Nice"). At one point Dan Wilson sang a cover of "Annie's Song" that rocked my world. *sigh* I intended to buy his CD, but they sold out before I got to the front of the line!!! So I did something I've never done before: I bought it on iTunes when I got home. I needed it that badly. (I especially love "All Kinds" and "Baby Doll", both of which he performed at the show).

My favorite feature of this tour was how much the various performers utilized each other. Ingrid wrote a really amazing round called "The Chain" that she performed with Meiko and Allie Moss (a terrific singer in her own right who is just singing back-up on this tour). Cary had Dan, Ingrid, and Meiko sing back-up for him on "Blue Eyes". Dan invited everyone to sing on "All Kinds (of Beautiful)". Joshua and Ingrid did a duet of "Tonight You Belong to Me" from the movie The Jerk that was positively charming. It was all delightful.

After the concert, Jessi (who has the inside scoop on everything because she knows the music director/EmCee/guitarist for the tour) told us to stick around. We did, and we got to meet Cary and Meiko as a result. Awesome!





Sadly, my camera died... but if you want, you can see more of Angie's pictures here.


5. By the way, isn't Meiko's dress adorable? Yeah, I loved it, too. She said she got it at Urban Outfitters. I rushed out the next day and bought it.

Did I have any business buying it when I'm trying to save money?
No.

Do I have any occasion to wear it in the near future?
No.

Did I get a good deal on it?
No.

Do I have more clothing than is defensible for a non-celebrity to have?
Yes...

But I had to have it!
And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!








6. My friend Monica came into town this weekend. And I was super thrilled to see her. We stayed up half of last night venting and gossiping. I'd write more, but frankly, I'm tired of blogging right now (do you know how long it took to write this post??? Way long.)


Okay. I think I'm done for now.


May you start over-thinking on a regular basis. After all, it's underrated.

~A~


P.S. That awesome concert? Guess who else wrote about it?
- Angie
- Jenn
- Jessi