"And so, every fourth Thursday in November, American families sit down at a large table brimming with tasty dishes, and, for the only time during the year, eat better than the French do." -- Art Buchwald, "Explaining Thanksgiving Day to the French"

If you can't guess from this massive post void, I have been a very busy girl.

On Monday, November 22, I turned in my final paper for column writing class, which profiled the life and work of a Washington Post and former Herald-Tribune columnist, the late Art Buchwald. It was a treat to end the quarter writing a paper on a very fascinating and funny columnist who's career hay-day spanned from his expatriate, Parisian life in the '50s to Nixon's resignation. Out of all the books I've read so far, "Paris after Dark" and "Getting High in Government Circles" contain his best columns. For those who enjoy the tasteful cynicism of David Sedaris works, Buchwald's commentary on current events and human absurdities would be your cup of tea.

That paper sealed off a quarter that I don't believe was my best. I'm still venting out all the exhaustion and stress incurred from the past three months. On the bright side, it's the future I'm looking forward to - including a fantastic internship throughout the month of December, long-awaited reunion with some NYC denizens, and braving the last two quarters (plus one summer session) of my last year in college... that cannot come any sooner.

Starting December 2nd, I will be spending my month in New York City for a styling internship with, hold your breath, Opening Ceremony. Prior to my chat with Daria last week, I was certain that I wasn't going to get a spot due my short-term availability and my journalism-heavy background. But hey, I expressed my deep interest in styling, especially for a company/brand that has been completely inspiring through their artistic and fun approach to luxury retail.

I'm looking forward to flexing out my styling capabilities and working with the wonderful and youthful team behind OC. To help stretch my dollars to their max potential, my friend Jess and her man roommates have offered to house me in their Brooklyn loft for no cost whatsoever. (I'm in debt to her offer, so I'll be pitching in on groceries, domestic work, and maybe a housewarming gift or two.) I've been talking to some friends in the city who are looking forward to my arrival, I've been mapping out what I'm doing on the first day and destination spots I'll venture to before my departure, and I'm saving my night of clubbing and gay bar hopping for when Branka arrives to the city for a few days. But hey, I'll do that with anyone, any day - saving Netflix nights.

For all this, I deplete what weighs me down and lift my spirits up with opportunities I've scored and those who have helped me along the way. Here's to being thankful for it all. Yes, I had to wrap this entry up with a seasonal twist.

I currently have a food baby sloshing in my tummy as a result of a bread and cheese heavy meal. My single-self spent Thanksgiving at the Sormazs, my best friend's family, who treated me to Serbian delectables and Turkish coffee. We all gave a hand at reading fortunes from our coffee post-sipping, but none of us are experts at interpreting ground blots. Mine sketched out what looked like the movie poster for The Notebook. One could only hope.

PS, still unsure as to what direction this blog should take. More fashion? More music? Fashion and music? Daily dumps in the toilet? Eavesdropping daily?

Image source.

The Age of Quarrel

Amidst this hectic ten weeks, a miracle allowed my schedule and that of an upcoming Cleveland show to beautifully elope.

Accompanied by some young 'uns, I'll be heading up to Cleveland next Thursday to check out Cro-Mags, Ringworm, and two other bands at Now That's Class. It's been too long since my last visit to this venue, and that may have been the Crude show. I'll strive to arrive early enough to indulge in their limited-made, outsourced vegan entrees. The last time I went, the nachos I ordered came with a bowl of mango habanero salsa - and boy, was it delectable. On the bar-cum-venue floor lies two vert ramps, so you can image the madness that would entail when a band like Bones Brigade - let alone, Cro-Mags, rips it on stage. I made plans to see them perform on a boat last summer, but show lethargy took over and I got lost in Chelsea instead.

Two days prior, Japanese band Envy will be hitting up Now That's Class and some Pittsburgh venue the night after. Unfortunately for me, I'm chained to a night exam the night of the Pittsburgh stop. If anyone could somehow Skype chat this show for me, I'd gladly accept inquiries.

EDIT: my review of this show can be found here - enjoy!

The Return of Jen

Almost three years later, my girl arrives back in the US of A on the 25th. I hope she brings along Hello Kitty and some San-x characters. Me, I am elated.

An Absolute Catastrophe

We didn't talk on air. Tornado warning equated to harsh winds, which equated to having our power knocked out for a hot second. Therefore the soundboard got wonky and our mics were not in sync. A bummer because Branka and I were pretty stoked about this playlist and had plenty to say. Thanks to everyone who tuned in tonight.

Here's what we played during our September 16th show:

1. "RAISE THE DEAD" by BATHORY
2. "SHOT IN THE HEAD" by WEEKEND NACHOS
3. "INVADER" by JUDAS PRIEST
4. "SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENT" by REPULSION
5. "LOCK UP YOUR CHILDREN" by MORBID SAINT
6. "I HATE" by HATRED SURGE
7. "THE LIVING END (JESUS AND MARY CHAIN COVER)" by DAS OATH
8. "ANGELS OF DESTRUCTION" by SYPHILITIC VAGINAS
9. "CIRCLE OF THE TYRANTS" by CELTIC FROST
10. "REVENGE OF THE NERDS" by SCHOLASTIC DETH
11. "BLAP!" by KORO
12. "DEAD" AUTOPSY
13. "SYSTEM STAGNATES" by PISSCHRIST
14. "BURNING AWAY" by NUNSLAUGHTER
15. "SUBJECT" by SNUFF FILM
16. "ALL YOUR SINS" by PENTAGRAM
17. "AMONG THE LIVING" by ANTHRAX
18. "IRON SAVIOR" by IRON SAVIOR
19. "I HATE YOU" by VERBAL ABUSE
20. "THE SAW IS THE LAW" by SODOM
21. "NIH NIGHTMARE" by G.I.S.M.

In the meantime, we're stuck in our studio because building administration is not letting anyone out under the warning. We're going to take a nap before hopping over to the Union for a well-needed glass of Magic Hat #9.

A Blast of the Past

I'm not going to be alive for the next nine weeks.

Thank the reading/analysis intensive 18-hour class schedule, my valiant decision to be lady lord of this student-run radio station, and frantic efforts to raise some money for my anticipated winter return to NYC.

I'm looking forward to reuniting with my summer roommates, the ever-so-critical (in fashion) Justin Fenner, the Baltimore/DC boys, and Jess Blumenshied - who although arrived a week shy of my departure, quickly became my partner-in-crime for TMI discussions and expressing boner moments over the ugliest of music.

Also including in this list are the Ohio-turned-NYC residents, including Jill Mapes and Kelly Kettering, who have been the backbone to my life in the past three years. Now if only Erin Schroettinger considers declining her California girl ways.

But for now I'll enjoy my questionably lesbian relationship with bestie Branka Sormaz - that is, when I'm not knee-deep in work at the library or in my ACRN office. Here's to the next nine weeks, and what better way to clear the mind than get a nice blast of the past.



Including this gem.

The Comeback of Scum

A new year means the resurrection of scum chic - at least for the girls of Absolute Catastrophe radio show, and at least until we meet this generation's answer to Paul Newman (Edit: who was an Ohio University dropout. Too beautiful for college, naturally)... or just getting out of Athens, really. We are eye candy to the max, as you can tell from the photo above.



You can listen to it here. Feel free to join us in your physical form - it's usually a party. Show premieres next Thursday.

Edit: We now have a Facebook page.

Ro-ro-ro Robot Rock

I will pay whatever amount of money needed to fund the electricity bill of Daft Punk's nearest tour stop - DURING THE SLATED 2011/2012 WORLD TOUR.

You cannot watch this and not dance.

The Perfect Fit

Looks like it's a little too late for me to release a clothing line under my own name. My narcissistic self, however, is considering starting a personal collection of pieces from the Rika brand. Irony, much?

Image pulled from Who What Wear

This Happened: Lady Gaga Concert in Pittsburgh

It has been too long since I've gone cross-state from Ohio to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (with a minor dip into the panhandle of West Virginia). The familiar interstates that winds along the Appalachian hillsides, infiltrated with picturesque forestry, made visual love to the bright blue skies - a true depiction of landscape porn, in my opinion. Aside from the occasional wiff of roadside carcasses and animal dung, my nostrils did not once flare in a way they did on the streets of Brooklyn. Oh do I love fresh air.

Branka and I drove up I-77 to whatever interstate shot us through Fort Pitt Tunnel - a major pleasure of visiting Pittsburgh - and into the city. We made a quick stop in Parkersburg, West Virginia for my overdue trip to Gabriel Brothers, at which I bought a pair of Betsey Johnson stockings for $3.00. Afterward, a Taco Bell billboard in Marietta, Ohio had us frantically scoping out for the fast food chain's closest location. Ten McDonalds and three Arbys later, we found one located just 20 minutes from our destination. Let's just say my stomach later cowered over my entrée choice of a KFC biscuit, a baja chalupa, and a crunchy taco. I'm good with Taco Bell for another seven months.






The Gaga concert was apparently the perfect venue for everyone to let their freak flag fly. Pittsburgh's translation of being a "free bitch" composed of tutus, replicas of Gaga's most infamous outfits and accessories - which after a while was a bore to look at, towering heels adorned by those who couldn't handle them in the first place, and DIY costumes made with supplies from the kids' crafts department of Jo-Ann Fabrics. Granted, a small handful took extreme to a more tasteful level. I took a sneak shot of an attendee who dressed to the nines in her Gaga outfit, even having a countenance eerily similar to hers.

Gaga took the stage after a string of peculiar incidents challenged how much "wtf moments" I could handle in the given hour. Photographer Terry Richardson burst out of the doors of the Consol Stadium with two teenage photographers. Gaga's longtime friend and rock and roll DJ Lady Starlight played Pantera's "Walk" (lol) and "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest, during which Branka and I couldn't help but burst out in a sing-along. A dance-off erupted between two people located on OPPOSITE SIDES of the gargantuan stadium, and the wave circulated at least six times through the balcony crowd.

I would go into depths about Gaga's set in general, but it's an experience best felt in person. For some, it was a religious experience in the context that Gaga was surprisingly zealous over the subject of Jesus and his unbiased love for the children of the world - regardless of size, shape, ethnicity, sexual preference, etc.

Personally, I was baptized in the house-heavy interludes that made me jive like there was no tomorrow.






Couldn't help myself: obligatory "dat ass" moment.









Sheetz is the oasis of Midwest road travels. Not only do I admire the gas station's clean, cinnamon-scented bathrooms, but I also enjoy the fact that their selection gives me the option of avoiding unsavory bowel movements. After the near-fatal Taco Bell incident, that was the last thing I wanted. I was able to get my daily fix of coconut water here, though Foco brand surpasses in quality and taste over Naked.

Branka's GPS took us through I-70 into Zanesville, in which we were forced to take the back roads to get to Athens. The Sisters of Mercy provided the perfect soundtrack to the silenced countryside.

School Bag Surgery

The best thing to do to a bland shopper-turned-school-bag: make it evil.

Used: 100% organic cotton shopper's bag gifted from a summer's party, cut-out White Mice t-shirt.

The Kawaii Detour

Originals by Originals Jeremy Scott Teddy Bear sneakers.

Image via High Snobiety

NYC :: July, August 2010

All photos courtesy of a Fuijifilm disposable camera.