You'd Break Your Neck To Keep Your Chin Up

But I seriously LOVE making fun of all those people I knew from high school/wherever who applied to the UW and were too stupid to make it in. Back up schools are laughable. Unless you want to be a teacher or a vet no way was WSU your first choice for real. And no offense but how is Western ANY better than UW? I’m not saying UW is freaking great, I’m sure MIT would have turned me down, but I feel this proves there is small justice in the world. To everyone who was laughing at me for staying in and studying FUCKING HA! (not that any of them will read this but omg so great).

In other news I have some horrible stomach virus. I came home straight after PT on thursday and I’m glad my mommy still takes care of me =)

So previous obtained information told me FTSK tour was a short tour; however, newly obtained information says many dates have been added and it is a 6 or 7 week beast! While I’m not trying to get too stoked (as BLG tour is skipping us) this increases the likelihood of it coming to Seattle greatly!

First day of class was basically sitting around and talking about religion (btw, I’m taking a class called Perception and the Arts; apparently religion is artsy enough to spend 2 hours talking about[?] =/) with a bunch of drama major weirdos. Also I love how automatically because my opinion is different than yours it means there is no validity. Lies. We have like 3 big projects: a research paper (I think I’m going to try to do math in the arts because I fucking hate art—perhaps the math element will make it tolerable), a class project of some sort (boo, I hate group projects!), and an oral presentation. But you know what’s the BEST part of today? Our syllabus contains no schedule of when things are due or what our assignments are, awesome. Why even hand out a syllabus?! I was hoping we would be learning about the brain (perception), rather this class seems fairly hellish [also my engineering advisor told me I pretty much need a 4.0 to pad what will likely be my non perfect calc and chem grades, so no just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean I can slack even though it’s a non-major class]. In theory, this class would have gone okay and I wouldn’t dislike living here so much. Now I dislike it more (today is my first full day without my mom… I dislike this).

I did manage to make lunch on my own though, and it was real cooking with a pan and stove and everything. My brother also invited me to the A’s game (omg, my brother talking to me?!) but I said no since I hate going to bed late on school nights and I’m going out tomorrow. At least MFH tomorrow, hopefully I won’t cry when they ask me how school/living on my own is.

Yesterday I checked and my class which starts in approx 13.5 hours was in the basement of Mary Gates Hall. I walked and found said basement classroom. I just checked now and it’s in an entirely different buildling! It’s not even in/near Red Square (which is where Mary Gates is) and the building is surely locked up by now. While I’m sure I’ll be able to find it this just freaks me out. WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS?!

Tonight is the first night I’m sleeping in my apartment myself. I’m really glad/thankful my parents are renting this for me, but I just miss home. Everything will be different now. I’ll have to bring an overnight bag if I want to go home. I wont have a computer or clothes there (among other things). My mom just left and I just feel so alone. My best friend will be leaving for Pittsburgh in a few hours, and while it’s not like I saw her a ton before she just feels so much further away. And even though I’m not that far from home, it’s just so different. While I don’t miss my dad that much (he’s been a pilot my whole life and he was not a very good dad for a long time, so our relationship has just recently started), I miss my mommy so much. She’s been a stay at home mom my whole life. I was never in daycare of any kind. She always drove me and picked me up from school. I’ve never taken a bus to school. She was often classroom mom and volunteered to go on field trips. She drove me to damn near every practice and was at every meet in every sport I’ve ever done. My mom tucked me in every school night, she brought me breakfast every morning. And while we generally live separate lives we do these small things together like eat meals and watch baseball. I know it sounds like I’m whining about losing someone to do things for me, but I really just do miss her being around. It doesn’t help that I don’t know how to do just about anything on my own, but I just feel alone. I don’t think I’ve ever felt alone in my life before right now; I get down and bummed, but never just genuinely sad like this. I never went through the “I hate my mom” phase; we’ve always gotten along. Even when I have found no solace with my peers, she was always there. She believes in me more than I ever can or will in myself, and I don’t know how I’ll continue to have the drive to keep going without her here often.

I love my apartment, but I love my mom so much more.

Katie and I had our 2 year anniversary while she was here! She told me and I never would have remembered but as soon as she mentioned my brain was like “Oh yeah, at Quietdrive you numbskull!” I wish I was better with dates so I could remember awesome things like this. I work really hard to try to remember everyone’s birthday, but meeting days are almost more special, and being able to spend them together is the best =)

Thursday, August 13th

Went shopping for apartment stuff. Got a lot of stuff from Bed, Bath and Beyond and Ikea; I mean A LOT! Ate at some Thai place, they gave me an extra chicken satay skewer for free—I love free food. Katie’s flight was supposed to come in at 9. Got to the airport at 8:45. The interweb and the big arrivals board at the airport said her flight was on-time. We played Find Katie in the big crowd of people. We didn’t find her. Then it was 9:45 and I was freaking out. Then we talked to a lady at the counter and she said it was going to come in around 10. Bought some Bugels, played Find Katie again but this time we won.

Friday, August 14th

Mom made chocolate chip pancakes =). Went with Katie to see Ponyo. At first it was just us and some little kids, then some girls our age came in and we felt less dumb. Ponyo was awesome! After that left for Warped tour. Katie was amazed at the mountains. Stopped at Snoqualmie Falls. Got to the hotel in Moses Lake and they had lame keys. Decided to wake up at 8 the next morning, I hate waking up.

Saturday, August 15th

Woke up at 8. Got dressed. Texted Pat Brown like he asked me to, he didn’t text me back. Free breakfast was shitty, but the room was pretty good for like 60 bucks. Left for Warped tour. Got back and parked with the buses with no credentials or anything (super sketch). Katie thought she saw someone she knew (a photographer I think), it ended up being Anthony from VE. He told us where the bus was. Put stuff on their bus. Met a British guy who manages You Me At Six (they share a bus with Versa); Katie semi knew him somehow which was weird/hilar. Way too many hot pockets. Pretty much no one was up so we went to find SIL.

SIL’s bus is legit baby blue, how cute. PB just woke up—perfect timing! PBs bedhead was pretty hilarious. Katie and I decided he’s one of those people you have to call by his full name. Hung out there for a while. VH1 classics was on and everyone who woke up seemed pretty stoked about that. PB gave Katie and I laminates for the day, so awesome. Eventually left the bus to go get Katie’s photopass (although I don’t even know if she really needed it with the full access laminate?). That line took forever. We discussed the organ donor deal and how they wouldn’t let me, boo!

Watched WTK, Trav’s guitar wasn’t working (all 3) so it didn’t sound great but it didn’t sound that bad either. They covered The Middle by JEW and I thought it wasn’t bad. Saw Janelle and Sarah. Saw Samantha and Elishia and Kaila from gymnastics (when I was like 10). I probably haven’t seen them since I quit in 2004ish, so crazy. Saw Blake and Sierra from VE. Sierra wasn’t wearing boots with a heel so I forgot how short she was, I also always forget how tall Blake is… I need to work on that. Talked to Trav and Hunter briefly. I think then we ate; $14 meal—wallet rape! It was hot so we went to hang with PB on his bus which is air conditioned. I love air conditioning. Tried to get schooled in why Woodstock was awesome, still don’t get it.

Heard The White Tie Affair while walking back, was not impressed at all! At some point in the day I also heard Breathe Carolina (thank you Katie for identifying such bands for me); several people told me these bands were good and I wanted to gauge my ears out a little bit. This is why sometimes if you tell me to listen to a band I wont, because I know you like Cobra Starship and don’t have love for bands like Copeland and The Get Up Kids—just different tastes. Also heard a bit of Millionaires, obv no one was telling me they were good but wow they really weren’t. I was however impressed with how big their crowd was.

Watched half of TProv. Ran to catch part of FTSK. They played a new song and I liked it. Ran back to catch You Me At Six. They are also surprisingly good (says my first impression). I was being impressed then they played Lady Gaga and I was like “boo!” in my head. Pretty sure I was the only person standing in that crowd who didn’t know more than 2 words (poker face are the two words I know, clearly) to that song. They’re british; I had no idea what they were saying in between songs. Ran to try to catch some of Bad Religion so Katie could shoot them, failed. Then also failed at catching YM@6’s last song.

We saw all of ATL walking around and they legit each had like 2 security people around them. I know they’re big but seriously? Wow. Shouldn’t you be able to throw 13 year old girls off yourself? Point is it was very excessive as WTK was walking around by themselves just fine.

Watched The Maine. There were major skanks on sidestage. They didn’t know the  words, they were just grinding on each other (and a little bit on Max, who just stood there awkwardly), shaking their ass cheeks. Usually I try not to call people names like that, but that’s really the only descriptive word for it. John Oh doesn’t sing a lot. They need Kennedy to do the parts he doesn’t. Saw Janelle again. The Maine said they weren’t coming on the BLG tour; turns out that’s true. Went to the car to eat some cheeze its and drink some Capri Suns. Walked back. Talked to Jared; some girl came up and asked for a picture right in the middle of a sentence he was saying. Usually the guy would go take care of those fans and come back, even though interrupting like that is so rude. I am used to be putting aside. Jared didn’t do that though! He told the girl to wait for a minute and continued with his thought. Sounds insignificant but I really appreciated it.

Watched Sing It Loud from sidestage. Hung with Bean and Chrystle a bit. Nate owns that stage; pretty sure he can dance better than anyone I know. Pat Brown went off on this rant about how it’s bs that all the “groups” (indie/scene/punk/etc) make fun of each other. I lol’d at the thought of how many 11 yr olds were there with their parents and how inappropriate PBs language is.

Went to ATL. Stayed for 3 songs. Was generally unimpressed. Missed the spitting fiasco? Went back to Hurley stage for A Day To Remember. That crowd is big and rough and scary. Just sat around for a while. Katie went to Hit The Lights while I went to VersaEmerge. VE was running late, technical difficulties or something. Saw some girl be a total bitch to security. She had a guest bracelet (which is basically just a ticket, no extra privileges) and she was whining because they wouldn’t let her sidestage or in the photopit. She was also whining because they wouldnt let her put her bag on the stage side of the barrier. She kept using words like “Well WHERE I’M FROM!” and “I DESERVE” which is such bullshit. Security handled her so well, I was impressed. Also there was like an 11 yr old girl standing next to me; her parents let her listen to VE? What does she get out of them? When I was 11 I was still all about unicorns and stuff. No way an 11 yr old gets the VE message.

VE played and they were great! They’re showing off Sierra’s vocals a lot more and she’s much better at comanding the audience. The general stage presence kills now. Also I love how she has like a split personality on stage; she’s got her tough girl stage act and sometimes she slips back into who she generally really is, a sweet girl, with her “thanks guys!” in the cute voice. IDK I find her endearing. Since VE ran late I didn’t get to catch any of TV/TV which is a bummer, but one of these days!

Went to watch part of Valenica. Ran into Nate, talked to him for a bit; he’s just so nice! Went to 3Oh!3 since Katie’s photos of them from NJ warped didn’t work out or something. Saw Kaylee FINALLY! Left partway through their set because 3Oh!3 makes me wanna blow my brains out. Talked to DBlaise; I don’t even know what about but somehow we always end up talking for a semi good chunk of time and it’s usually funny. The sun totally owned him.

Went to Versa’s bus. None of Versa was there haha. Hung with YM@6 for a bit, not that I had any idea what they were saying. Katie was being all quiet and cute, lol. Went to SILs bus. Nate was looking for the Twizzlers still (it had been an all day thing). He finally found them though; when his face lights up like that it’s so dang precious! Talked with PB about TML and The Cab and bands in general, that’s always fun/enlightening. Told him I got bit by a shark, he totally bought it. He was tipsy which meant hilarious story time. I love it when he tells stories about Nate being a badass, and then stories about him being stupid lol. Said bye and returned the laminates. Went back to Versa’s bus and said bye to them plus the British kids. Saw Megan on our way out. That means I saw basically everyone but Ashley, Rachelle, and Roya—not too bad for a no reception pit of doom.

Generally an awesome day. Katie shot all the bands I mentioned I’m pretty sure, so be looking out for those! I’m not going to lie though, I have no idea how everyone does it without a trip to an air conditioned place. I respect you all. I’m a weather wimp. Best quotes I can remember (Katie feel free to reblog and add some, lol):

“Don’t you worry about your liver?” “No, my liver likes it”

“What kind of sides do you want with your meal?” “You mean like medium, large?”

“Bananas are like giant hands!”

“We are VersaEmerge and yes that is a made up word!”

Sunday, August 16

Drove back at night and passed out. Katie got up the next morning at 8 to catch a flight back, even though she didn’t even end up leaving until 10 at night =( Sometime relatively soon I’m going to have to go east to visit her, seriously. Talked to Dave from MFH. Bobby isn’t going to be at our show so that means no Bad Habits, boo! However, I am not surprised as I generally have bad luck.

Monday, August 17

Decided not to go to the Tweet Up. Went and bought all my dishes and some other apartment stuff. Also got a little stuffed hedgehog. I went to BK and ordered the 6 piece chicken tender kids meal and I totally got 8 pieces, free food yesss!

Today I start moving into my apartment. Infact I queued this ahead of time so I’m probably there building some side tables or something right now, how exciting!

Dear Boys Like Girls booking person,

You suck largely. I do not care for BLG but how can you be doing a “National Tour” and skip a HUGE music city, aka Seattle? I mean it’s one thing to skip the whole PNW, but to play Idaho and not here? That’s just a slap in the face. [For those of you who don’t know I know it seems like Seattle and Boise are close but it’s about a 8+ hour drive [depends on how much you speed and how often you stop, also how the traffic on the pass is]; this tour isn’t in Boise either, it’s in Blackfoot which is probably another three hours so no it’s not really possible to just head to that show easily—it’s a flight.] Seriously, now I will not be seeing VE or Justin/Rocket (also The Maine, but less important). Also that is one less day for me to go have fun with the concert group, boo you! [I’m well aware this may be because BLG is doing a large radio thing soon after this tour but I’m still going to be a baby about it.]

However, the ATL/WTK/Hey Monday/FNB tour is here at Showbox [favorite!] on a Saturday, so that’s good. Hollywood Undead and Atreyu are here the same night too, that’ll be a really busy night for Seattle.