Stuff That's Going On

Little bits and pieces that don't warrant seperate blog entries...

Keen on Keane...Still.

So, it's been 2 months and three days since I saw Keane live in Oakland. I'm not sick of them yet. In fact, I've continued purchasing their music on iTunes, and 16 songs on my "Top 25 Songs Played" list on iTunes are by Keane.

I can't stress enough how awesome they are.

I've also watched a ton of YouTube videos of various interviews they've done, and I check their web site often. They are the most down-to-earth, adorable cheeky Brits. And it's obvious that they love and value each other--they've been friends all their lives.

Rich, the drummer, is much like me in that he takes pictures everywhere he goes--and GOOD ones. You can see his photoblogs on the official site. My favorite is from their recent North American tour.

Er...Oops.

A few days ago I came to the (DUH...) realization that I'd double-booked myself. I have a ticket to see Coldplay for Tuesday, and then I had tickets for Heather and I to see the new Harry Potter movie at midnight. Slight problem. The concert is in Wheatland...the movie is in Stockton.


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It's roughly 92 miles.

But Heather is awesome, and we both agreed that we're getting too old for midnight showings and such. Next thing you know we'll be sitting on our porches screaming "GET OFF MY LAWN!!" at passing children.

Wait, I already do that.

Coldplay!!

Summer threatened to disown me if I gave up my ticket, and even Heather said, "They're awesome. Go." So I am going, and I'm excited to see them. Here's the thing--oh, the sweet irony!--I know, based on listening to them, and my Keane stuff, that I'm going to walk out of there saying, "Yeah, that was awesome, but Keane are better."

Hell, they win just because Tom is a fabulous singer, and Chris Martin is a good singer.

It's sweet irony because countless critics have suggested that Keane are trying to be the next Coldplay.

Harry Potter!

I am almost unhealthily excited about this movie. I already know I'll see it in the theaters at least twice. Opening day with Heather, and again later with Mom.

Also in the works are plans, over the next couple of days, to have a Harry Potter Movie Marathon with Mom while working on my Snoopy quilt blocks. Because I'm going...

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety-Jig

I purposely bought my Coldplay ticket for their gig in Wheatland, which is within an hour of Mom and Dad's place, straight up Highway 65. Otherwise, I'd have to drive to San Jose (or Concord? Gah, can't remember). Anyway, Wheatland from the parents' house is much easier, and I have permanent crashing rights in their guest room. Hell, it's not a guest room. It's my room--I just let Mom and Dad's guests sleep there from time to time. :P

Anyway, I'm driving up there tomorrow so I can spend a couple of days sewing and watching Harry Potter movies with Mom. Also, I need to make a run to Scrapbook Station, my favorite scrapbook Mecca, to stock up on some embellishments for the scrapbook pages I've made in recent weeks. I've been on an absolute roll.

NASCAR

For the first time in weeks, I actually watched a race tonight. I admit, my interest has been really low this year, especially because Junior, when his cars don't suck, has the worst luck. It's been painful watching him this year. And when he's doing poorly, I lose interest. Does that make me a bad fan?

Neighbors

So, things have been quieter on the neighbor front. Well, the lady who lives across from me has a booming voice, and is constantly yelling at her kid (who cries back in a high-pitched, keening wail). But at least they don't wake me up.

Unlike my next-door neighbor tonight. I was dozing on the sofa, with the race on TV and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince open on my lap, when...

*Knock, knock, knock*

Huh? I came to with a start, then got up. On my way to the door, I closed the blinds on the living room window. Then I peered through the peephole on my door. I could see it was my neighbor, and I wasn't in the mood to chat. She knocked a few days ago and it turned into 15 minutes of conversation even though it was apparent that I was busy unpacking and getting my apartment in order.

She's a nice lady, she really is. She is disabled and recently had surgery on her foot, so she was on crutches. I don't think she works, and her daughter was visiting her dad, so I think Neighbor Lady (NL from here on out) was bored. She seems to enjoy being up on all the goings-on in the complex. The reason she came by in the first place was because "we all thought you'd moved out!"

Lady, I was out of town for five days...for the holiday weekend.

"No, I'm still here! Just unpacking now..."

That didn't deter her. I got an earful of all the apartment gossip--who appears to be smoking pot on their balcony, where the registered sex offenders might live, and where the kids all live and whether or not they have a single parent or both at home.

Finally, she left.

Anyway, to get back to tonight: I saw it was her, and I ignored the knocking. I am a nice person. But I'm also private and very jealous of my personal space and "me" time. I didn't feel like talking.

So I didn't answer.

*Knock, knock, knock*

At the second series of knocks, I wasn't too annoyed. After all, sometimes it takes a couple times for people to hear. Maybe she knew I was right there in my tiny living room/kitchen area, maybe not. The point is, I wasn't throwing the door open and inviting her in, so after this, you'd think she would go back home and leave well enough alone.

You'd be wrong.

She stood out there, repeatedly knocking, for at least 10 minutes. I'm not kidding. Yes, NL, the lights are on. The TV is going. I'm wandering around in here, not opening my door. And you know what? That's my right. I don't feel like talking. I don't open my door unless I want to, because this is my home and I want to preserve my privacy.

She finally gave up.

Now, if it was Keane out there...well, I'd not only let them in, I'd cook them dinner.