Finally Finished

About 2 years ago I was in Rome with my Mom and brother and I saw these outdoor lamps that were white and looked a little like boney trees. I have always had an odd fascination with lights so when I got home I decided to try to build my own version of one of those trees. Over time I gathered materials and worked on it bit by bit. But then I went to Italy and left it on my floor where it had been sitting for a few months already. The other day I decided to finish it and yesterday it happened. Now, it's just a "prototype", but I must say that it turned out pretty damn good. It is only vaguely like the one in Rome but I like that better because I turned it into what I needed. It seems like a small accomplishment, but I have come to realize that being able to conceptualize and design something and then actually build it is no small task- and not something that everyone can do. I had specific criteria that I needed the lamp to meet. One being that it needed to be assembled in pieces so that when I want to move I can take it with me. So the lamp detaches and becomes two pieces.
Anyway, that was my accomplishment yesterday and it looks great in my apartment. The picture doesn't really do it justice. I'm sure my neighbors are excited that I am finished also- as I was sitting in my living room drilling through aluminum and hammering away I bet they were wondering what the hell I was up to.

Rock Show

I love a good rock show. I don't get to go all the time, but I make a point of doing it as often as possible. I hadn't been to one in quite some time because of being away. My friend and I went to see "Breaking Benjamin" tonight. My mom always makes fun of the band's names. In fact, I spoke with her earlier and she said, "Which band are you seeing? 'Badly Shredded Tires?'"
I don't like heavy metal, but I do enjoy a good rock band. When you first walk into a full venue, there is almost a cloud of energy just hovering above the people. The band comes out, the lights go out, and the show begins. I love the loudness of it. The thumping of the subs and the strobing lights seem to just swallow you up. I always feel so drained afterwards, but in a good way. It's like the music sucks up all of the energy, both good and bad, and it just swirls around the room.
It was a great show, i've had my "music therapy", and now i'll be good for a while.

Repetitive Noises and Stupid People

I think there need to be revised rules regarding etiquette when in public and because I seem to be the only person who notices these things, I will volunteer myself to be the person for the job.

Rule #1- If you are clanking two solid objects together, they ARE making a noise. Just because you have your headphones on and can't hear it, doesn't mean it isn't happening in the reality of the real world. When people stare at you like they want to rip your face off, it means you are annoying them and can probably jump to the conclusion that it is due to the repetitive noise that you are making.

Rule #2- Talking to yourself is some situations is expected. Some of my very favorite people talk to themselves occasionally, and it is just fine. However, it is an entirely different animal if you choose to sit and talk to open space. If i'm sitting next to you and I don't know you, I don't care if you can see the chalkboard, if you did your reading for the class, or if you got a question right. These vocal outbursts only signify to me that you are of such little intelligence that you need someone with you to help you at all times and this certainly does not make me want to be the person sitting next to you. EVER.

Rule #3- Every time you clear your throat, someone hears you. To imagine that the sound of you clearing your throat is something that only you have to experience is more evidence of how self-centered people in today's society are. When you clear your throat every ten seconds or suck air through your teeth after you eat, people hear you-and it makes me want to stick my pen through my eye hole, into my brain, and jiggle it around until I can't hear you anymore. If you have to clear your throat more than once, you should just take the plunge and COUGH. I dare you to try it.

The moral of these rules is that if you are making a noise that isn't enclosed in your own head, people around you can hear it. Presuming that people want to hear you whistle, clear your throat, tap your pen, suck your teeth, or talk outloud to no one is the most blatant statement of self-centered idiocracy that a person can make.

How the hell am I expected to study Aristotle while the stupid people are making noises?

The Land Before Time and My Dog

This is a totally random blog post, but there are a couple of things I would like to discuss this evening. First off, the other morning I was watching "The Land Before Time". You know, the one about the dinosaurs and the big earthquake and all those little dinosaurs are looking for the "Great Valley" and their surviving relatives. Can you believe that film was made in 1988? Plus, I had no idea that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were producers. What really gets me is that I have aged probably ten years since I saw that movie last. I'll bet you money that I have cried every time I have seen that movie. I'm sure I cried in 1988, 1997, definately balled like a baby a couple days ago and I am sure I will cry every time I see it in the future. I mean, when Little Foot sees his own shadow and thinks it's his mother...if you don't shed a tear there you can't possibly be human. And little Ducky and Petre? they're so cute I want to go back in time, find them, and keep them in my apartment. There were so many valuable life lessons in that flick too. Anyway, I was touched and now I feel the urge to rent "The Brave Little Toaster". Seeing that movie as a child is probably the reason that I have written two previous posts about my couch, and why I made my brother hold his cell phone up to the steering wheel of my first car so I could say goodbye, (sorry about that James). But, good movie anyway...what's the harm in giving inanimate objects human characteristics? besides nerotic obsession with their feelings....

Second topic of the evening- I think my dog has restless leg syndrome or insomnia or something. I couldn't figure out why I have been so tired for the last couple weeks and then I figured it out this morning. I forget by morning, but every night my dog keeps tossing around and waking me up. She's usually a very sound sleeper, but lately she is restless. She'll be tossing around and I'll be like, "Isabelle! for Christ's sake lay down!" That's actually probably nicer than what I say, but she stops right away...

So, the moral of this pointless post (if you're still reading because it is so stupid I wouldn't blame you if you clicked the little X on the window...) is that at 24 "The Land Before Time" is still sad. Actually, to dig deeper, since I still cry at that movie it is probably a sign that like my mother, I am destined to cry at the "fabric of our lives" cotton commercials.
AND my dog is finding new ways to be a pain in my ass even though I love her and am glad she's around. That's it. Do you feel a little dumber for having read this?

Goodbye Green Polka Dot Couch

The Death of a Legend

I have done it.
I bought a new couch last week.
It has taken me a very long time to get to this point- just ask my family and friends. My Mom has been BEGGING me for years to get rid of the green couch or at least get it re-covered. I just never found anything that could take it's legendary place. Truthfully, I still haven't. The new couch is going to be great- but nothing could fill the shoes of the green couch. So, the junkman is picking up the green couch tomorrow morning. I mean, just look at it. Not a loose cushion left, big hole in the middle, and don't even flip the cushion over.....you're seeing the good side. Plus, sometimes when I get up the loose piping trips me and it rips just a little bit more...
Here is the obituary for the green couch:

GREEN POLKA DOT COUCH
1984-present

Green Polka Dot Couch sent to the junkman on Monday June 4, 2007. Couch survived by Kate Lindenbaum, Isabelle Lindenbaum and New Clean Couch (to be delivered Tuesday). Green Polka Dot Couch had lived a very long and fruitful life in Colorado and was used for entertaining, comfort and relaxation, and pillow forts. Green couch survived many rough incidents in its life- spilling, burning, ripping, the loss of all of its loose cushions, and the worst of all- The Isabelle vomiting incident (proof that Vitamic C goo does NOT come out and only looks like a giant blood stain once dried- Junkman, I did not murder someone on the couch). Although all these terrible things happened to green couch, it still pressed on providing comfort for the weary. Green couch will always be remembered for its perseverance and longevity as well as its committment to the relaxation of the people on it.
Thank you green couch and rest in peace.