Big Ass Show

Every year X96 a "local independent" radio station puts on a Big Ass Show. It's kind of like the Warped Tour only much smaller and usually more emo. It was today, I went, it was awesome. We didn't stay for all the bands- we left before Story of the Year, Our Lady Peace and The Used- but the ones we were there for rocked.

First one we saw was Morning Wood. It was the only chick (lead) band there. After that we sawKasibain, they were ok. Arrakis got bopped in the nose by some nasty little fat goth moshers. Then we sat at the edge of the crowd for Hawthorn Heights (not a big fan of them).

Then we saw 30 Seconds to Mars that was wicked good. Jared Leto is so freakin' hot. The music was good, the energy was good, the crowd was good. They were the best band we saw today. After them we got some food. The plan was then to see Rise Against, but they were missing two band mates and were doing an all acoustic performance. I love Rise Against, I saw them last time they came here, but they're much better plugged in. They sucked with just the two acoutic guitars, so we walked off. Next was The Bravery. They rocked.

After them, we were all very tired and felt like our arms were going to fall off. Funny how that happens at a concert. You get close enough to the stage and you either use all you muscles keeping people from collapsing your rib cage or you are unable to put your arms down. Good times.

Poetry Gods

If anyone reading this does not know who Billy Collins is, you should. Unless you have no reason to. He is, in my humble opinion, the greatest poet alive. He served two terms as the national poet lauriet and is simply brilliant. I met him on Saturday (yay!)

Billy Collins was at the main library on Saturday for a reading. I was so excited when I heard about it. Of course I went down. His reading changed much of the general feeling of a lot of his poetry. He has a brilliant sense of humor and it comes through much stronger when he reads his poes rather than when one just sees them on the page. It was, in a word, awesome.

After the reading he signed books. Of course, I had him sign mine. As often happens at these things, he chatted with me a bit when I got up to the table. I was so incredibly star struck. Isn't that odd? How much of a nerd am I that I get so giddy about meeting an old, bald, poet. I was seriously experiencing the kind of mania that normal girls would get if they met Brad Pitt or Jonny Depp or their favorite boy band (gag me with a spatula). Needless to say, it was super exciting and I'm still a little euphoric about it.

WTF mate!!

Last night I spent $40 on gas. Forty Fucking Dollars!!! What the hell is up with that? I'm never driving again. Or at least not often. I actually have only been driving a few times a week lately. I take the bus to school and usually walk to work (I can take the bus there too if I want). Gas prices are rediculous though, it's unbelievable.