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Thursday, January 22nd, 2004
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11:33 pm - uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco de mayo
So there was an outing to Half Price Books awhile back and I came away with lots of dollar cds. One happened to be a two disc set by a (Japanese?) group made up of two guys called Snowman. When I opened it up there was no audio cd just a VCD. It was only a dollar afterall. So I downloaded a player and watched a live song and 4 videos. The last video featured the guys dancing and playing in the subway and on a mall escalator.
I don't know about you but I believe that to be money well spent. I especially liked the part where they are running through a big abandoned hallway singing my subject line. I can only guess that the scroll running along the bottom is for karaoke purposes. I'm just not sure it's a good thing to listen to more than once as they are catchy-as-hell songs. So if you hear me singing things like, "dung on the monkey" just chalk it up to my dirty interpretive phonetics.
contemplate the possibilities of 9 or whisper in the wind
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Wednesday, December 31st, 2003
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6:11 pm
I thought I'd make one last post for this year since I've been neglecting my journal as of late. A year end round up complete with pictures and unnecessary survey. Hey you rarely see me pop on your friends page, induldge me a little! I am currently battling my annual winter sickness. I only worked half of the day today as the fluorescent lights and bitching/moaning patients seem to go a long way in making me feel worse. However, I am resigned to the fact that this perennial phlegmfest only happens in this particular climate. You know the whole fluctuating weather bit. Damn it all though, I will have a good New Year's Eve/Day cause so far my New Year's Theory© (how you spend ringing in the new year summarizes how your year will go) has been pretty much on target. See here here.
( Pictures )
( end of year survey )
contemplate the possibilities of 4 or whisper in the wind
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Friday, December 19th, 2003
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3:52 pm - I'm not shy, I just hate people.
pssst...my text messaging is working again.
current mood: bored/brain fried current music: baby crying, typing on keyboard, phone chatter whisper in the wind
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Monday, December 15th, 2003
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1:47 am - Bienvenidos a McDonalds
blarghh...I must remember to forgo eating when I'm not hungry, but it's so easy when it's free and there. Damn you Rudy's!
So I've decided I'm going back to school next semester. That's the plan at least. Go back and re-read those sentences if you must. It's true. I will study languages and such fulfilling the prophecy of some fortune teller my mom talked to when I was but a wee pooper. I grew up with this knowledge that some strange woman believed my destiny involved a profession dealing with bi/multilingualism. I remember thinking I would never do such a thing because there were more fun jobs around involving stuff like dancing and painting. So now that I've been there and done those things and found that they are indeed much fun, but not so rewarding in a day-to-day fashion (let's not even consider the financial parameters), I've come around to the conclusion this gypsy lady was right. I must bow to livejournal for being a catalyst in such a way that (while I can't quite delve too deeply at the moment as my lunch break is over) has allowed me to foster a love for language and all its various forms. You will find my mood perched somewhere between excited and impatient. I have goals! Me?! Goals?! Why yes, my loftiest of loftiest involves a career path that would allow me to become a translator for the U.N. or some other prominent world organization. Enh...I'm determined. Please stay tuned for Kate's next post where we will return to our regularly scheduled programming. Good music and squinty drunken Kate eyes!
contemplate the possibilities of 4 or whisper in the wind
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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2003
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11:54 pm - blahbitty blah blah blah
The last week was made up of music and bars. The highlight being Arab Strap at Emo's. "Don't you want to go higher?," Jon motions to the top of the bleachers. "That would involve climbing..." I say with a turned up nose. We take a seat on the lowest bench and after a few minutes a man who is to my left and wearing what resembles a parka leans over and says in a thick Scottish accent, "Do you know of any bars or clubs here that stay open late?" Ladies and gentlemen it was Alan Barr, current cellist for Arab Strap. We talked for about thirty minutes on topics ranging from Irvine Welsh, touring, New Orleans, Bright Eyes, birds (bugs?), Texas, and other shtuff. Shite was shit, he wasn't just being cute like I try to be. Unfortunately it was the one night my camera was inoperable as I forgot my memory card back in my brand spankin' new photo printer (birthday gift from pops). So there are no pictures of me humping his leg which I'm sure I would've done all camera giddy and sober Scotsman talking about bird shite.
I doubt I'll post again for awhile so here's a Happy (early) Birthday shoutout to senornacho. My boy is turning a big shining four years old on Thursday. They grow up so fast don't they. *sniff*
( Shut up and give us the drunken photos! )
current mood: blah current music: The A.M. contemplate the possibilities of 6 or whisper in the wind
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Monday, December 1st, 2003
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12:18 pm - WARNING: My most bitchiest, whiniest post ever
Man I started off in a bad mood yesterday cause Sunday's call for that sort of thing. It's why I didn't bother to update cause the week was chock full of sweet goodness, but I couldn't bring myself to recap in any sort of delightful mood as I would have most likely come off sounding less thankful and more relunctantly wizened. After all I'm another year older and it's the reason for the season...or something. I am thankful for a whole oompa loompa pantsful of things. It's especially easy when your birthday falls around the day of thanksgiving as people are doubly accommodating and gracious. There were even a handful of hours this weekend where I was struck dumbfounded sitting on my bed letting everyone's well-wishes sink in. I told my mom, "I am overwhelmed." I suppose there comes a point where you awaken back to the real world of going-it-alone and sometimes depending on how far gone you are into the upper reaches of emotion it may beg for a longer fall down. Well whatever...my car is in the shop for the 4th week in a row. As if it's not bad enough driving around missing the back right half of my car, (which I've been too lazy and empty-pocketed to fix since I've had the car) a few weeks ago it started making horrible noises akin to a cat being stuck somewhere beneath the mysterious underbelly. I'm starting to sincerely wonder about these people who are "taking care of it" as something new develops shortly after my picking it up "all fixed up and ready to go". However, it still runs and plays cds beautifully and that's all a girl could ask for. If a new problem arises next week though, I figure some grease monkey will be getting a nice beating from me. It's lunchtime and I have free food and an amazingly mindless job (which allows me to ponder these things all day), good friends, a loving family, and everything else I could ever want. Make no mistake, I am the happiest I have probably ever been. I guess it will just take some getting used to.
A better proper update will soon follow.
current mood: loved current music: people eating and chatting contemplate the possibilities of 3 or whisper in the wind
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Sunday, November 23rd, 2003
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4:30 pm - I cut my hair!
I'm wearing my fuzzy slippers and lamenting with another tired Sunday. Sunday is not the day for love, Abby Travis. It's the day that finds you cursing the obnoxious sun and wishing the winter would make its heralded arrival to a city that sleeps away from sweaty brows and stinky feet. It's cold today, but not cold enough. I am going to recap the last week in pictures instead of words because words would have us here all day...or at least me. Keep in mind that at all times I was accompanied by the fantabulous senornacho, my favorite lover bunny and very non-UT frat boy. Sweet heaven! Let me say before I get started here that I feel it is my life's mission to promote good music and I will start this week's submission by sharing with you two outstanding acts: Kazki (who performed at The Jeff Buckley Tribute Show at Cafe Mundi this past Monday) and Slow Motion Picture (fronted by none other than livejournal's own operator_error). They wowed the crowd at The Flamingo Cantina. Download their music or I will kiillll you. ( On with the eye candy )
current music: Abby Travis/Kazki/Slow Motion Picture contemplate the possibilities of 4 or whisper in the wind
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Sunday, November 16th, 2003
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9:02 pm - Dear Jesus, thank you for the bacon hot dogs. You loser!
I've had an excellent weekend carousing about town with senornacho. He rocks my socks. Friday we attended the 3rd Annual Austin Creepout and saw among others The Upskirts. They were some hip cats with their dark sunglasses and surf music. You know you're at the place to be when a girl named Julie spends most of the night balancing her cocktail glass on the top of her head:
Saturday I saw Her Space Holiday (which I realized I had seen before in some form when they opened for Arab Strap/Bright Eyes) and American Analog Set. I didn't stay for all of American Analog Set's um...set. I was ready to pummel half the crowd as they felt the need to talk over the music the entire time. I left early so as to not involve myself in any hair pulling or fist fights. I was so close to it people! Next time you bitches ruin a show I won't be so casually accommodating. I will be casually ramming my beer bottle up your gabbing ass. Go to the back of the club, or outside or even better stay home! I promise you won't have to yell over anything except maybe your neighbors rising mental anguish over having to live next to the likes of you. Also, while I'm on the topic of annoying show stoppers...for all you playas who find that indie rock shows are the place to be to meet the next girl who will be slung about your dorm room, here's a tidbit. Just because you don't see anyone accompanying said girl doesn't mean it's an open invitation to try out your winning conversation skills. I'd just like to say publicly that no, I don't go to UT and if your opening line is going to be anything involving Austin's lovely university you can just side-step me and head on to your next prey. Okay, I feel better. Thanks LJ you're a good friend. Let's go out sometime.
current mood: bouncy current music: Ivy-Lately contemplate the possibilities of 13 or whisper in the wind
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2003
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11:08 pm
You know you're in Texas when you hear the familiar midi-like pings of an ice cream truck ringing through your neighborhood...in November. It's supposed to be 82 degrees tomorrow. Did someone forget to tell the sun to piss off?
I took this photo while waiting for The Scabs to come on. Everytime I go to Antone's I am transfixed by the two men who make their living shining shoes in the dimly lit hallway. One of these days I'll go and have them shine my pimpin' Anne Rice boots.
whisper in the wind
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Monday, November 10th, 2003
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10:00 pm - Let's all go to the H-E-B!
I saw The Scabs this weekend.
As you peruse through the pictures imagine me with me mouth wide open in absolute astoundment. In part from the *dirty* lyrics as well as the band's ability to make me dance the mambo by myself. I don't know who the Joaquin Phoenix look-alike is. Bob kept mumbling his name and I could never quite make it out. Es muy talentoso. The only conversation I had that night involved a brief encounter with a peculiar girl who pointed out the resemblance of said stranger to the handsomely hairlipped one.
There's no love like the sweet sweet love of Bob!
current mood: anxious contemplate the possibilities of 4 or whisper in the wind
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2003
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11:33 pm - Shameless Plug and Drunken Photos
I think I am now about 96% recovered from the weekend. Just one good night of sleep and all will be well. I've had some stomach virus and about 15 hours of sleep since Thursday. Aw, just like the good old days. Friday I met up with my best friend, violetpurr who drove down from Huntsville. She left New Orleans to move in and take care of her grandmother which I'm sure helped to boost the percentage of respectable citizens in Death Row City. We hung out with her cousin, James, and his roommate, Dustin. They live in South Austin in an apartment with a pretty view.
On Friday we went to some sports bar/pool hall and met some of the guys' friends. I played a game of pool with a guy named Michael/Andrew/Brian. God I can't remember his name, just that he is the lost twin of a guy Roxanne and I knew in New Orleans named Albert. So that's who he was to me all night. As far as I know it was him and I was really back in New Orleans playing a game of pool with him. Alkeehol is bad. While we were playing pool a bar brawl broke out.
It evolved from the following discourse: Ese1: You lookin' at my girl, man? Ese2: What?! Ese1: I said, you lookin' at my girl homes?! Ese2: What if I was?! Ese1 gets inches from Ese2's face Ese1: I don't think that's somethin' you should be doing. Ese2 pulls off shirt and Ese1 starts pushing Ese2 Drunken guy in the back of the room: Beat his ass! Hoochie mama runs out screaming as eses exit with much drama
If anyone knows of any other circumstance involving a bar and a fight that does not involve the above exchange let me know cause a girl needs some variety. Man, it was a classy place.
Dustin and Chase, another guy we hung out with that night, are members of an Austin band called Failsafe. I hadn't heard of them before but I saw their video and I was pleasantly surprised. They are very good. Check them out.
On Saturday Roxanne, James, and I saw Texas Chainsaw Massacre and I'm sure it could probably be much scarier...but only if you live and breathe in Travis County, people have said you look like the main character, and are under the extreme influence of [censored]. Feel free to fill in the blank with whatever you choose. It's more fun that way.
Roxanne was planning on going back on Sunday, but she decided against it so we went to the Elliott Smith tribute show at Trophy's. She didn't stay for long as she had to get up early to drive back. I decided against sound judgement and stayed until about midnight. Screw having to get up at 5am for work! Yeah I'm so hardcore. I really enjoyed it, and I think mollymolly sums up the night the best.
I recovered at work yesterday during my lunch break by curling up on one of the exam room beds. That lasted for as long as it took me to realize that passing out would probably involve me wrapping the butcher paper bed cover around my hungover body two or three times and in the process inflicting millions of tiny paper cuts. Now how would I explain that?
Ghost of Albert cops a feel from James. Oh the man love!
( +7 )
I gotta go to bed.
contemplate the possibilities of 10 or whisper in the wind
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Wednesday, October 29th, 2003
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10:30 pm
Hello new friends. I wanted more Austin people. You are special. -This LJ affirmation is sponsored by a pensive Steve Guttenberg.
contemplate the possibilities of 16 or whisper in the wind
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Sunday, October 26th, 2003
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12:53 am - 25th Hour
Friday's Geomagnetic Sunset from my window:
Today has been the longest day ever. I remember having plans at one point, but they seemed to disappear during the day. I've been half asleep for most of it, momentarily staring at my bedside alarm clock thinking the numbers shining back at me had to be wrong. Now some clocks are changed and some aren't and I have to stop and think which is the right time. It's always the lesser, which doesn't seem right. I actually have more time, but that awareness will last as long as the waking limbo lingers. In a day or two I will forget that the darkness is coming early and soon the days won't row back and forth between the summer heat and the winter chill. It will just be one steady crawl to frozen.
current mood: shadowed current music: The Salton Sea in the background contemplate the possibilities of 4 or whisper in the wind
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Tuesday, October 21st, 2003
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6:34 am
I refuse to believe it.
current mood: elliott smith contemplate the possibilities of 5 or whisper in the wind
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Sunday, October 19th, 2003
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10:32 pm - Yes it's a big post with a big picture. Get over it...
-The apartments where I am currently stationed had their Grand Re-Opening Party this weekend which included free food and beer, face painting, live music, a radio station feed, and one of those big jumpy inside balloon things. None of which I participated in except for the fireworks which I couldn't miss cause they were right outside my window on the tennis courts. It was a very surreal thing since I was asleep when the first boom occurred. Yeah I chose to have a very boring weekend spent in bed catching up on my magazines and baseball. So here are pictures of what little excitement I had.
After they finished a kid yelled, "These apartments rule!" That they do. However, I could think of less spectacular ways our rent money could be spent. Maybe an extra dumpster, but I suppose the one that's a mile away will have to do for now.
-Anyone reading this in Austin right now should tune to KEYE News as they are about to do a report featuring the doctor I work for. He was interviewed about osteoporosis.
-I apparently look a lot like Jessica Biel right now as practically every stranger I've come in contact with has said something about the resemblance. Proof that shaigirl, as I've always suspected, is way ahead of the game.
Now for the real substance:
contemplate the possibilities of 2 or whisper in the wind
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Sunday, October 12th, 2003
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3:47 pm
I don't think I've listened to the studio versions of the songs off Grace in probably two years. I have lost my Grace cd which had some guitar picks and a letter from Mary that were stashed in the case. I still have the envelope which has a sticker of Albert Einstein on it. The picks had stickers of lady bugs on them. I'm pretty sure I haven't had it since Memphis. So my father bought me the Grace EPs Box Set on a whim last week. He was at a used cd place where a set had just arrived that day. He called me and asked me if I had it yet. It has been sitting pretty on my wishlist for awhile because I don't have the money for it. Well I have it now, and it has become an elaborate invitation. I think your life has a better chance of opening up if you allow yourself to care about the things that are most important to you. These EPs may be my stepping stones back because only two or three of the songs are new to me. It's not overwhelming because I've been there before. God, this all sounds crazy but these songs are the soundtrack to my life. I know that some of the cds I have which I dare not listen to for very long are my future. I stopped altogether because I needed a break. If the music stops you just have a silent movie and silence is what I needed. Days away from the incessant murmuring of my own life's singular plotline. I'm not ready, but there comes a time. I knew it was now when I was in the car with my sister and niece a few weeks ago. She popped in one of her mix cds and track three was "Lover, You Should've Come Over". It had been years and there I was with my head turned looking out the window wiping away tears. We got about halfway through the cd and my niece said, "Whatever you do don't play track number three." As if we hadn't already heard it. As if the things a person loves the most should be avoided. I didn't want for her to play it again. I wanted that moment of when I first heard the organ and recognized it before it could even be comprehended to be etched inside my steamy breath against her car window forever. Life is not about the daily grinding of commerce or finding the probable outcomes before they find you. It's the surreal nudges and taps on the shoulder. The vague inklings of familiarity that come with a person's face, voice, and words. These are my guiding ships, and I've gone to hell and back with them. In truth, when the music starts I've already packed my bags. It takes just one lingering moment to listen and I'm soon out the door carrying nothing but a dream.
current mood: public current music: Jeff Buckley-"Grace"/"Tongue" whisper in the wind
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Wednesday, October 8th, 2003
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12:26 am
is that the truth he says
too many words, too many words
current music: Ulan Bator-"Soeur Violence"/Low-"Words" whisper in the wind
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Saturday, October 4th, 2003
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7:16 pm - Make a wish!
I have a lot of LJ friends with birthdays in October. I was going to wish a Happy Birthday (belatedly) to starfire103 and post this picture of my niece, Amy, blowing out candles from an early birthday party we had for her last weekend.
Her birthday is Monday. Then I remembered there was a certain ljer by the name of mquigley that shares her birthday. Today I was out and about with my cousin and we ended up at Sephora. I sampled some of Very Irresistible Givenchy, the perfume that Liv Tyler is surely sporting as I type. I thought about bellezzarubata, and lo and behold today is her birthday. Then we have spacenymph on the 9th, blustocking on the 17th and modestmuse on the 24th. If I forgot anyone it's because you didn't post your birthdate.
P.S.-The rest of the Austin City Limits photos are now up at Breaking Song. You can see them here. Be sure to look at the spontaneous Leslie Cochran photos. He was definitely the star of the festival.
whisper in the wind
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Saturday, September 27th, 2003
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12:23 pm - Sun came up, it was another day
When the sun went down you were blown away
Attention Family! Lucinda Williams looks like a rock 'n' roll Jacel. That's all I could think about while watching her. I wondered if this might be what I would look like when I'm older...at least in the face. One could only hope to have a hot bod.
I thought Lucinda looked really good for her age, despite what the guy next to me was saying. I was expecting a lot worse. She came out in such a cute outfit with an attitude to match. At one point during the middle of a song, the lyrics (which she was singing from a book on a stand next to her) ended on the page she was on. She turned the page to find the rest of the lyrics weren't there. She frantically searched through the book, but couldn't find them. The stage manager came out and started looking. The book was apparently his responsibility as she started yelling at him. She backed away from the mic and started throwing whatever she could get her hands on. She eventually told the band just to end the song. Then she walked back to the mic and said, "You'll just have to come to another show to hear the rest of that song. It sucks that I can't even remember the lyrics to my own damn songs. I guess I've just done too many drugs in my lifetime." It was cute. If The Austin Music Network decides to air the performances of the festival as they did last year, be sure to catch Lucinda's set. You will most likely see me singing along at the top of my lungs and sobbing like a baby. Hey, it was a good show.
whisper in the wind
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Thursday, September 25th, 2003
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7:54 pm - Ma Boys!
For shaigirl:
It's Bob Schneider, the man who has been the topic of countless posts of mine! The other scruffy guy is Billy Harvey, the yummy guitarist who I felt I was destined for until I was standing next to him and he was much shorter than me. He lost brownie points on that, but gained them back that day at the ACL Festival because (yeeeeee!) he has tattoos!
See more of these not-quite-mountain men
contemplate the possibilities of 3 or whisper in the wind
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