Tuesday, July 28, 2009

my new iPod


In the tradition of Small Reviews, a blog I enjoy reading written by a friend of a friend of mine, I shall now impose my thoughts about something on you. Oh wait! That's the tradition of the internet.

Along with my new computer (you read that post, didn't you?!), I received a "free" iPod touch. I say "free", because they only give you a rebate for the smallest one, and really what am I supposed to do with 8gb of space? I ponied up the extra $100 and got the 32gb one, which doesn't really seem a logical correlation for price (1/3 more money for 3/4 more space? ....okay!), but I am passing my used iPod along to my Dad, so we split the cost of the iPod and you don't really care about this part anyway.

So. I kinda like it, but it's not my new favorite thing. It's not really that easy to operate, since you have to be looking at it the whole time you're using it, + I used to keep my iPod in my pocket and just feel around for the 'next' button when I felt like I wanted it. Having to fuss around with the touch screen also isn't so good while driving, but I guess there's a reason touchscreen computers never really took off for use outside of POS systems. It is a damn efficient way to do things, though, and I guess Apple is all about the sleek design. So neutral points there.

I don't really play any games on it. I guess I grew up not being allowed to have any video games, + so it's not really something I got into the habit of interacting with. I don't really have the patience to sit down + play a game, and get frustrated easily when I lose. So I have maybe three games on it.

I do have a whole lot of organizational apps- a to do list, a grocery list, a countdown clock, an IOU app, and of course my calendar. I really like having all of those different things parsed out into separate spaces on my iPod rather than on different sheets of paper floating around my notebooks. I miss being able to scrawl little notes in my calendar, or put pertinent phone numbers next to things I am doing in my planner. So the tactile aspect of my planner is something I miss, but I'm quite glad to have one less thing in my purse [Calendar + iPod consolidated]. Plus I always carry a tiny sketchbook anyway, so it's not like I have no place to doodle.

Overall? I like it. It reminds me of when I tried to get into using a PDA but failed because I was in 8th grade + had no way to write my homework in it. And it really, really makes me want to bet an iPhone, because that would be yet another thing not stuffing my poor little purse. But my Verizon contract isn't up until october '10, + it's not worth it to pay the early termination fee. So we'll see where I am then.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Bringing Home Baby


My Favorite Corner
Originally uploaded by chlorinebeach.
As some of you may know, I have been saving up all summer to buy a new iMac (after I saved money for the next few semesters, por supuesto). I was starting to get really, really tired of not being able to run Excel, viewer, iTunes, Word, + Safari all at the same time. Seriously, that is only five programs, and most of them aren't doing that well and OH MY GOD I'M JUST TRYING TO DO MY HOMEWORK, WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO END IN TEARS?

Well... the fateful day arrived early last week when I had saved up enough dollars to buy one + be debt-free, so I cajoled M.ton into joining me at driving me to the mac store.

I got the 24", least horse-power model available... I don't really plan on needing anything faster ever in my life, and the Mac Pro is just comically huge anyway. Seriously, playing around with those things in the store made me feel like checking my e-mail is not a significant enough event to warrant the use of that computer. I need to be video-editing live, silver-screen footage of my Oscar-winning PhD thesis or something to warrant use of such a monster.

At the store (in the Danbury mall), once I got somebody's attention everything went well. My advice is walk in there knowing exactly what you want, but then I guess that's kind of obvious advice for anybody trying to get anything done. But seriously, all of you about-to-be-freshmen wandering around with your whole extended family asking really obvious questions need to get with the 21st century and do some research before you show up. Shit's straight aggravating.

I would kind of rather it was white than silver (would go with the aesthetics of my desk better), but we can't have everything, right? At least it's not Dell-blackgrey.

At home, in between house-sitting episodes I set everything up with the power of THE INTERNET. What a great thing. No expensive wires, just tell Migration Assistant what to do + it does it.

But wait I didn't really want to write a Mac commercial. I mean, I don't mind but I'm not getting any promo dollars from this so why would I?

Anyway, the long + the short of it is that I look forward to being able to do my work much more efficiently next semester, with far fewer technologically-generated tears. And for now, my desk is kind of conveniently diagonal from the corner of my bed (the setup of my room is strange... I have a non-square room and a diagonal desk. Try not to think too much about it), so I pile up my pillows in the corner of my bed, lounge out and watch a movie on my BIG SCREEN TV. Oops I meant computer.
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Oh, + if I'm ever so rich that I need to start in on some Philanthropy, my first move is going to be giving supercomputers to my favorite bloggers. I'm looking at you, Violet Blue + Gala Darling! It is so much more fun to drive a shiny new Mazarati than that beat ole' station wagon you claim is so comfortable to drive. But maybe that's just because I'm kind of an absurd fangirl.

Friday, July 24, 2009

What to do on your Birthday (Inspired by Sarah Von)

No shoes?

The lovely Ms. Sarah Von, of Yes and Yes made a post about things to do on Birthdays (Her 30th is coming up... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARAH!), + at the end asked for suggestions. Well, my answer became so lengthy that I decided to do a post of my own, in honor of my upcoming 21st Birthday. [Interestingly enough, it was my other friend Sarah's Birthday the other day, and my middle name is Sara. Coincidence? I think not.]

Get Your Nails Done: Yes and Yes suggested this one, but it just seems like such a good idea. It's an excuse to get any color you want, with any additions you want- sparkly pink with rhinestones? Sure! Bring a friend or sister along with you for bonus points. [A long-lost-acquaintance of mine is actually getting her nails done for her bridal shower on my birthday, but I won't gate-crash: I like to think of it as a cross-continental, multi-purpose-multi-location party.]

Buy a really tacky, cheap tiara and wear it all day: I did this last year at the beach for Mary + I's birthday. We forgot we had them on as we walked into the water, + wondered why we were getting weird looks all up + down the beach. I still have it, + sometimes I put it on while I'm lying around the house + need to feel a bit more sparkly.

Go to a Museum: Birthdays, like New Year's celebrations, are a good time for contemplating the future, the meaning of life, + the rapid and irreversible rush of time towards our imminent demise. Oops, I'm sorry, what? Anyway, most art is about either sex or death, so what better place to contemplate your future than surrounded by visionary attempts at encapsulating time? I happen to really like going to MoMA [because it's free for SUNY students!], + after touring the exhibits/revisiting my favorites, I sit on the deck that overlooks the courtyard/skyline + treat myself to an insanely expensive ice cream sundae.

Volunteer: I think the best place to volunteer on your birthday is at an old folks home (see: recent meditation on death). Once they find out it's your birthday, get them to tell you interesting stories about what they did when they were your age. Seriously, it works. [I love old people!]

Get Somebody you Love to Make Dinner/Drinks: Admittedly, I am doing this one, and mostly because it's my 21st: I am going to go visit M.ton + demand Strawberry Daiquiris/Mojitos/Something similarly girly + annoying to make. I don't know if we'll watch movies, or put on music and dance, or sit around philosophizing. But I'm looking forward to it being a sillygoodtipsy time.

Make some Resolutions: I think Birthday resolutions are far more relevant than New Year ones, + I'm sure you've forgotten those by now anyway! It doesn't have to be anything huge, but maybe some attitude changes, something new to meditate on, or some style resolutions! Check out Soul Garden(Autoplay warning!) for what would be the most powerful for you to think about right now. And when you've decided what you want to do? Make yourself a new desktop background to help you remember them.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Who doesn't hate their job?

My creation

-Beth Notebook/Bath: journaling in some pink princess bubble bath on Monday night. I was going to do that last Sunday, but I went + had a rager with M.ton instead. [One of my resolutions this summer was to be as drunk as possible. "Never pass up an opportunity?" "More or less." It's been a lot of fun, but it also means I got to experience my first 1.5 day hangover.]

-Thirstea/Ginat Robot: Having fun in NY, I got some bubble tea (which I LOVE) around the corner from Obscura Antiques (Which Gala Darling reccomneded, and was actually kind of lame- like Cold Spring all compressed into one store, + somehow even more expensive), + then went to Giant Robot, which was SO COOL. I really want to go to their new gallery show as soon as I can, and also lust after everything in there simultaneously. I need more shelves to put my books on as it is, though (who doesn't have books stacked around their room?).

-Giant Hat/Conrad: Also while in NYC, I bought a GIANT HAT. It is so huge + happy-making. I must go to a polo game in it, or something. I have plans to make different hat-pins that I can put on it + match to various outfits. I think the first one will have to be hot pink. I stayed at Danielle's house and took pictures of her friends (conrad), + listened to Tom talk until 2 AM [He's one of those people who thinks that only stupid people are happy. He has many, many problems. I don't know him well enough to care about them.].

-Tower: And in the morning, after a nice sleep-in, it was subway->train->M.ton. We ate some delicious, bizarrely filling burgers and hung out at his house for a few hours, but I had to leave early to meet my mom... and hang out for the rest of the week.

I'm liking these three-day work-weeks, but not how tired they make me. The good news is, though, that I've met my savings goal for the summer, so now all of the rest of the money I save can go to off-setting the cost of my new computer (!!!), + saving for

THE FUTURE.

Whatever that is. People seem to be very interested in mine, though (it's all they can ever talk about when they make polite conversation with me), so maybe I should start selling shares in it.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Days of Accomplishing Small Things

Tent Dress

Maybe this is my inner virgo talking, but I love lists + crossing things off of them.

Related, but even better than that, are early mornings of many small accomplishments (which may add up to one or two big accomplishments), and afternoons of lying around and doing nothing, congratulating myself.

Small accomplishments for Thursday last:
-repaired the hooks on a dress I have been meaning to repair/wanting to wear since returning from London
-Scrapbooked 4 more pages
-Planned my trip to see Danielle on Tuesday
-Finished a book and two Magazines (TONY + The New Yorker).

Small accomplishments for Thursdau this:
-painted my fingernails
-Wrote a letter to one of my personal heroes, + invited him to dinner
-Worked more on my style concept for the next two seasons
-Did some emotional weed-pulling + re-planting

Saturday, July 11, 2009

And the Weekend is a Day Away

[written yesterday, Sat. July 11]

Clambered in to work on Thursday, refreshed and ready.

Woke up late yesterday, and, egged on by aggravating customers, my apathy level by the end of dinner was through the roof.

Today I woke up rather early (hello 4:30!) + went in to work, where I will continue to be until I go to an off-site event I am working at this evening (although, they are paying me about twice my normal wage, in cash, for 4 hours of work). Total work hours today: approx. 16.

Now, I could whine and snivel about all of this work I am doing (and certainly my sore body from not getting enough sleep last night calls out for me to do so), but you know what? My weekend starts again the day after tomorrow.

That's right kids. I may work quite hard for four days a week, but it means three days off (in a row, hello overnight trips!), and I STILL make overtime.

Don't you wish you were me?

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Blogged: 7/8

Well, I got the free time that I had been agitating for, + it's great. So great, in fact, that I have pretty much nothing to blog about.

Isn't that weird? I feel like if I blog when I'm feeling totally wonderful + blissed out, I shouldn't blog because it would be like rubbing my fortune in other people's faces. But if I have something to kvetch about, I hop right on here. Odd.

Anyway. I just got done with a long-ish stint of house sitting, + I can't say how happy I am to be done. The dogs were fine, and the money was fine, and everything was just FINE, but it made it so that I was always driving home to eat dinner, + sleeping by myself in a big scary house. I came home today + laid down on my bed and gazed around, happy that I had a place for each thing I needed to put down.

I sorted out my desk, too. Made the post-its easier to get to, put up a framed photo of the lover + I, put all of my postcards in a tin together (I am a collector, but I am starting to run out of space. Anybody want a postcard?). But we all know that I love cleaning and sorting and laundry and re-organizing. That's not news.

M.ton bought a gigantic new computer screen (peep it here: http://twitpic.com/9qb3a ), + it makes me super-duper excited to get MY new computer, in about a month! I'm totally gonna do the free iPod touch, because I've been playing with M.ton's iPhone so much that I am pretty much convinced I need one myself. Maybe I'll actually develop the kinds of fine motor skill required for video games? haha, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.

iFish

So at the moment, my life is going pretty much the way that the movies tell us Summer is supposed to. I have a swoon-a-riffic boyfriend, hilarious people to have drinks with, a few craft projects to be involved in, a funny new book to read, a floaty dress (coming in the mail), two bathing suits, and an amazing friend I can call up + impose myself on. I'm just waiting for the film cameras and the dramatic conflict to come ring my doorbell, but until then it's all shoot from the hip and headphones.
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And now, some links!

I'd like this to be my wedding, or maybe just a party I go to. Tomorrow.

these kinds of things are always good for a laugh. I particularly like the one about feelings + the one about el nino.

I think I should probably have a tumblr. But anyway, this is for anybody who has ever lost something in rock/paper/scissors.

YES I KNOW this show closed, but can y'all just stop making fun of me and enjoy this video? I really wanted to see it. I'm reading some Damon Runyon tonight to console myself.
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That is all. Time for a bath with the new Lush products. Move along.