DILLO (not the grill)

I can confidently say that this year's Dillo Day went better than the last. But considering that last year ended with me vomiting an entire bottle of red wine between the hours of 4 and 5 am, that's not really saying much. I drove down by myself because Holly wasn't feeling well and I (surprisingly) didn't get lost on the way. Once I arrived in Evanston, I went to Whole Foods, hoping to pick up some "soup" (read: red wine) for posterity, but PBR was on sale, so I grabbed that and chugged a few before heading to Mike Posner. I met up with Mona (former resident, future party companion) and we sang every word to every song.

When the set ended, I went to check the time and the worst thing ever happened: My phone died.

This had three awful consequences:
1) I did not meet up with Katie Quinn
2) I did not meet up with Ankit Jain
3) I did not call Liz

But I decided to make the best of my buzz and wander around downtown Evanston, formulating a plan along the way. Around 7:30 I was thoroughly disappointed in American Apparell's "sale" and sober enough to drive home. But by the time my phone charged and I called Liz, she was still in Milwaukee helping her boyfriend move out of his apartment. Even if she had left that second, there was no way we were going to make it back down to Wilmette in time for Rocky Horror. I was too exhausted to even think about going back out, so we decided to take a rain check. So the day was a little disappointing; not exactly the "last hurrah" I wanted before entering internship hell. But! This is the summer of no-whining. So...

SILVER LINING TIME:

• There are two more screenings of RHPS in Wilmette before August, so this was NOT my last chance to see it this summer.
• When Liz and I do go in June/July, we'll be way more prepared, aka have better outfits.
• Posner's set was so fucking fun and totally worth the trip.
• I just got an ahhh-mazing drunk dial from AJ2.
• There are four leftover (16oz.) cans of PBR in my trunk right now!
• Once again, I've proven to myself that LDOC >>> Dillo Day (and by proxy, Duke >>> NU)

All in all, a successful excursion.

Live Action Tarantino

The Leiutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh
(At Northlight Theater through June 7)

I walked into this show with basically no idea of what I was in for. I knew it was a dark comedy by a playwright Amy loves and the whole thing was centered around the murder of a hitman's cat. Not necessarily the most enticing offer, but I agreed to go because this summer is about seizing little opportunities in hopes of finding the occasional gem.

And this show turned out to be a hilarious, raucous, blood-soaked gem.

The show worked so well as a whole, I am having trouble picking out the pieces that made it so successful. The script was an amazing starting point, so outlandish and satirical; it left a lot of room for fun. The acting was great (save for a little trouble with the Irish accents), with everyone exuding just the right amount of crazy. And the set and EFFECTS tied the show together so well. But beyond that, I just know I had a fucking great time. There was blood everywhere, bullets flying, and of course a few dismembered corpses for good measure. I laughed the whole way through.

The whole production reminded me of the scene in Pulp Fiction when Marvin gets shot in the face. I've seen that movie dozens of times and I still laugh every time the gun goes off. It's part shock, part disbelief, and part confusion that lead to my completely inappropriate response, but it seems to be the only way I can deal with something so ridiculous, even if guilt eats at me the whole time. And that's exactly what happened in this story; sure I felt bad when the female lead shot her new found boyfriend over a cat-related misunderstanding, but in that moment -like in all the others- you had to step back, realize this was all about a fucking cat, and laugh the horror away.

678-999-8212

I made my first driving mix of the summer yesterday just because I can't stand listening to my sister's music (read: Jonas Brothers) in the car anymore. And the only CD Andy listens to is the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack. Most of this is re-discovered because I'm trying to clean up my iTunes. Please forgive the bad hip-hop, especially Plies, most of them remind me of good parties or Joe.

This is the full playlist (it didn't all fit on one CD so I had to chop it down a bit)

Jamie Foxx f/ T-Pain :: Blame It
Asher Roth :: I Love College
Soulja Boy :: Kiss Me Thru The Phone
Plies :: Please Excuse My Hands
Sam Sparro :: Black and Gold
Lady Gaga :: Poker Face
MIMS :: Move (If You Wanna)
T-Pain :: Chopped and Skrewed
Head Automatica :: Beating Heart Baby
Ratatat :: Seventeen Years
Beck :: Loser
No Doubt :: Just A Girl
Ne-Yo :: Miss Independent
Goldfish :: Mbira Beat
The Bravery :: Tyrant
The Bravery :: Believe
Jeff Buckley :: I Want Someone Badly
The Beastie Boys :: Girls
The Dandy Warhols :: Bohemian Like You
The Dandy Warhols :: Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth
Does It Offend You, Yeah? :: Let's Make Out
Alphabeat :: Fascination
Alphabeat :: What Is Happening?
The Dodos :: Red And Purple
The Dodos :: Fools

I'm currently revamping the following playlists and will post when they are close to perfection: Adult Activities, ChillMaxRelax, Drunk Karaoke, Hipster Dance Party, pAArty, and Work Ittt.

V-A-L-L-I

I finally saw Jersey Boys (second Bucket List task accomplished)! It was technically a Christmas gift (accompanied by a dinner at The Ritz, fancy schmancy), but this week was this first time my schedule allowed for spending an entire day down town. At first, I was a little disappointed because Frankie Valli was played by the understudy, but the entire cast was fantastic. I liked the structure of the script, the dialogue was funny, and they worked in all musical numbers so seamlessly. I still can't believe how many songs I knew. "Big Girls Don't Cry," (not the Fergie version) "December 1963 (Oh What A Night)," "Workin' My Way Back To You," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You." are all originally by The Four Seasons.

Watching the "real Italians" in the show made me really proud of my heritage, but it also made me wish that my family were a little louder and more closely connected with the mafia (note: I have absolutely no idea how closely connected we are, but my guess would be not at all). The men are smoother, the women are stronger, everyone is a little more honest and a little more complicated. The Italian side of my family is actually relatively small, polite, and soft-spoken. But I think I've started to grow into the stereotype the longer I live on my own.

The show also made me think where I would have been socially if I were alive in the 60's. I always claim that I would have been at Woodstock, a totally hippie-runaway. But every time I hear that feel-good music that seemed to be holding on to the ideals of the 50's and not quite ready to jump into the disco-crazed, polyester-covered 70's, I am just elated and can't help but do the twist. And if my parents were anywhere near as loving, supportive, or family-oriented as they are now, there's no way I'd be running away for California.

Ah, well. In another life.

Get Ready, CBOT

I OFFICIALLY HAVE A JOB.

After a week of leaving voicemails, I got a call from my contact (boss?) at the Chicago Board of Trade this morning to set a start date. My 8-week internship will begin next Monday at 8:00am, which gives me less than six days to 1) figure out exactly what the CBOT is, 2) brief myself on everything that's happening with the economy right now via WSJ online, and 3) squeeze in most of the day-long adventures on my bucket list.

I have absolutely no idea what to expect, but the little I do know sounds pretty sweet: I'll be working on LaSalle St. in the heart of the financial district, I will spend most of my time on the trading floor, and I will get out around 3:30 every day. Other than that, though, I'm completely clueless.

Usually, uncertainty makes me uneasy and this case is no exception. I feel completely under qualified for this job and am nervous about entering corporate America. I mean, I usually can't stomach the career fairs at Duke and the Board will probably be the BC on steroids. But I have resolved to go in there and kick some Wall Street ass. I am intelligent, talented, and more than capable of hanging with the big boys. I just have to go in prepared and put together and be extremely assertive and motivated.

It won't be a walk in the park, but it's not like I am climbing Everest either.
Let's do this.

Summer 2009 Bucket List

First thing's first. If you don't define your destination before you set out on a journey, you're shooting in the dark (mixed metaphor, sorry). Plus, making lists is what I do best.

• go to Mars Cheese Castle
  
• buy vintage cowboy boots
  
• visit the Art Institute (5/21), Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum
  
• see a Second City show
  
• finally see Jersey Boys (5/27)
  
• garage sale day
  
• attend a Cubs Game
  
• DILLO DAY (05/30)
  
• attend a midnight madness screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
  
• find a new perfume
  
• learn choreo from YouTube
  
• record choreo on YouTube
  
• bar crawl
  
• discover new music venues (06/22, 07/01)
  
• picnic
  
• take a bike ride along the shore
  
• bake more often
  
• take a free yoga class in Grant Park
  
• go back to that drive-in theater in Wisco
  
• watch the sunrise at the beach
  
• find another outdoor film festival
  
• attend Pitchfork, the Taste of Chicago (07/01), and Lolla
  
• draw and paint more often
  
• roadtrip somewhere
  
• finish Awaaz mix before school starts
  
• practice Italian
  
• make a really good impression at the Board of Trade
  
• TV show marathons (30 Rock, Arrested Development)
  
• take class from the Lou Conte Dance Studio (06/03), the Giordano Dance School, CultureShock @ Visceral Studio, and HipHop Connxion @ Dance Connxion Studio
  
  to be continued...

Domestic Blog #1

It seems that all of my Duke friends are away from home this summer. Most are in DC or New York City, living in subletted apartments for the duration of their internships with non-profit or consulting companies. Others are a bit further away: South America, Africa, Europe, either DukeEngaging or performing some other type of service. They are taking advantage of the opportunities and resources that only an elite university like Duke can offer and they are trying, in their own small way, to utilize their education and share their blessings in order to make the world a better place.

Where am I while all this world-changing is occurring? Good ole Lake Forest, Illinois.

By now I should be used to living at home all summer. I wasn't allowed to go to sleep-away camp; my family never takes vacations; even since moving to college, I have come home for almost every break during the school year (the two fall breaks I attended Common Ground are the only exceptions). I lived and worked at home the past two summers and, though it wasn't the most exciting couple of months, I survived just fine. But this year, living at home is really getting to me. I feel like I am passing up a lot of opportunities that I won't find again once I leave Duke. Everyone is going out an conquering the world while I'm practically back in high school again, living by my parents' rules and just trying to get a little extra spending cash.

But my pessimism is already starting to bug me more than the 'burbs are. This has the potential to be my best summer yet: I have a great job lined up and all of my high school friends are home. I'm old enough to really enjoy the beautiful city I live so close to and since I'm not paying rent, I'll actually be able to afford all the city has to offer. Chicago isn't any less valuable just because it happens to be close to my house. The city is full of cultural resources and learning opportunities, it just takes a little initiative to take advantage of them.

That is why I am going to blog this summer. I want to challenge myself to lead a life interesting enough to merit frequent electronic updates. When I sit down and think about it, plenty of my Duke friends are living at home and I want to prove that you don't have to be abroad to see something new or change someone's life. It's possible to have fun outside of NYC. It's just a matter of desire and action. If you want to do something badly enough, you will. Simple as that.

And I want to have a damn good summer.

So here it is: my summer of suburban survival. I hope I squeeze every last drop out of these three months. Hope the North Shore is ready, I sure am.