So I am making a six hour-ish drive up to Boston on Friday afternoon. I need music! And since I still hope we'll go for that crazycakes endless setlist on expert one of these days (right right, Julia? ^_^ ), I am making a Rock Band playlist. Only problem is, uh. I have exactly nine of those songs.

So! Behold the endless setlist, minus the few I could scrounge up on my own hard drive. And if you have a couple of the tracks on here but are wondering how you would ever get them to me, may I direct you to sendspace? All you have to do is upload it (takes just a minute or two) and paste the link they give you into a comment here. Though email works too, it's this LJ username at gmail.

Danke! ^_^

The Konks- 29 Fingers
Weezer- Say It Ain't So
Nirvana- In Bloom
The Mother Hips- Time We Had
Mountain- Mississippi Queen
OK Go- Here It Goes Again
Anarchy Club- Blood Doll
The Pixies- Wave Of Mutilation
The Clash- Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Maps
The Rolling Stones- Gimme Shelter
Freezepop- Brainpower
Beastie Boys- Sabotage
Ramones- Blitzkrieg Bop
Hole- Celebrity Skin
Flyleaf- I'm So Sick
The Killers- When You Were Young
Bon Jovi- Wanted Dead Or Alive
Foo Fighters- Learn To Fly
Vagiant- Seven
R.E.M.- Orange Crush
The Hives- Main Offender
The Acro-Brats- Day Late, Dollar Short
Faith No More- Epic
Sweet- Ballroom Blitz
Fall Out Boy- Dead On Arrival
Bang Camaro- Pleasure (Pleasure)
Aerosmith- Train Kept A Rollin'
Jet- Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Black Sabbath- Paranoid
WTF- Timmy & The Lords Of The Underworld
Queens of the Stone Age- Go With The Flow
RHCP- Dani California
Crooked X- Nightmare
The Strokes- Reptilia
The New Pornographers- Electric Version
Stone Temple Pilots- Vasoline
Kiss- Detroit Rock City
Death of the Cool- Can't Let Go
The Police- Next To You
Smashing Pumpkins- Cherub Rock
Rush- Tom Sawyer
Metallica- Enter Sandman
The Outlaws- Green Grass And High Tides
Tribe- Outside
Deep Purple- Highway Star
Molly Hatchet- Flirtin' With Disaster
Honest Bob- I Get By
Iron Maiden- Run To The Hills

Oh yes, I moved the hell out of that life. Although I've had a nasty cold that's made me completely gross to live with and listen to, otherwise, things have gone downright weirdly well. I was only unemployed for a couple of weeks and change before picking up a job that's entirely acceptable except for the commute. I answer phones and (try to) solve problems for people recieving unemployment compensation; the day goes by but fast, and better yet, every problem is done (not necessarily solved, but at least over) as soon as the phone goes back in the cradle. My coworkers have been uniformly patient and great with me, and though, as one of the new hires, I was supposed to get stuck with the night shift (1pm to 9pm), my supervisors listened to my pleas and gave me nine to five. I even get weekends off! (As opposed to Saturdays and Wednesdays, which would kind of be hell on congoing.) Plus, as unprofessional as it is, I must admit that it is important to me that in my first job, I get to wear my combat boots, wallet chain, and jeans. No taking the high school out of the girl, I guess. And all this for $14.38 an hour, which is a damn sight more than anyone was prepared to pay me to type and do vaguely clerical things.

As for the commute, well. It's two and a half hours each way, on a good day. There's really no getting around that, but it is what it is. When there's sheets of ice and I have to trudge through sidewalk-less fields of snow to get home and cook dinner at eight at night, then I weep and gnash my teeth and swear on all that's unholy that I will obtain a car. Then the snow kind of melts, I find I actually enjoy riding the trains, the buses generally run on time (though even then there's never anything enjoyable about the buses), and I remember that I want to go to conventions this summer and Japan next year. So, well, you know how it goes.

Arisia was great this year. I dragged Julia to Mike's Vampire larp, and it wound up being a murder mystery, totally and completely up her alley. XD I bought another collar for myself, which kicks off a pleasing Arisia tradition that I firmly intend to uphold in the future. I got to OD on Rock Band again, which I really do miss, and Saturday night was... well. "Drunk" is a word that comes to mind. "Awesome," another. And "lap dance," while not techinically a word, was indeed pivotoal to the entire affair. That and dancing with Ian and Julia Kirk at once. Bwahahahaha. Why do I rock so hard.

Drunken debauchery aside (not really), of course going up and visiting puts a fine point on missing Boston, and especially the people in it. Sometimes I do wish I had made a better attempt at building a post-graduation life there. But at the time-- May, I mean-- I definetely needed to get out, and I didn't have the strength to try and stay. So, you know. To everything its opportunity cost.

Next weekend, after I've been up to Hoboken to wish my mother a happy birthday (ayep, on Saturday), Matthew will be coming down to Philadelphia for the long weekend, the Monday I have off. We'll stay in city center, and maybe even hit up a tourist trap or two. I cannot wait at all.

---

dimmer

Let's go for opposites here. When I walk out the door in the morning, there's a fine sprinkling of light in the air, just a little rose seasoning the dark blue, and by the time I get to the train station, the horizon is almost red, reaching up and shading to orange, to yellow, just below an ever-bluer sky.

I just noticed that oneword is back!

---

sigh

Sighing is not something I particularly enjoy doing anymore. It puts me on the spot and it labels me as that one with "attitude." Well, no more. I'm reclaiming my right to breathe. Don't I have an obligation to supply myself with oxygen? And let out this exasperation that's bursting me at the seams?

No, I haven't found a job yet, but what the hell, there comes a time. For me, christ knows, that time has been and passed. I'll be moving down on Saturday, January 3rd, and if you'd like to be there, I would most certainly appreciate your presence and ability to lift and carry. ^_^ (Besides, I will ruthlessly guilt-trip those whom I helped move as necessary.) Those who have doctor's notes, I would appreciate your general awesomeness and fun.

Well, as Julia has been ever so fond of reminding me, Christmas decorations are up and radios are blaring seasonal music, despite my inability to cope with more than one holiday at a time. And I have questions for you all!

First, is anyone here a Leo?

Second, I have Christmas cards for people. For once, I know! Or Christmas postcards. Whatever. The point is, I need your address, so kindly submit it in the screened comments below. YES, THIS MEANS YOU.

Also, if you have a gentle suggestion as to what I could get you, that certainly wouldn't hurt.

I haven't mentioned Prop 8 yet. So let me mention it.



"I welcome supporters of gay rights to snap your own photo showing your wedding ring on your middle finger. Spread the word that this fight isn’t over. Whether you’re gay, straight, bi, white, blue or tan — show your support by letting freedom ring on your blog then go here to log it for everyone to see!" - eatingoutloud

Obviously, I am not married. But I can appreciate that it takes some real malice, some truly subhuman pettiness and spite to still deny gay marriage in this day and age and goddamned new millenium. You have to be truly backward, truly sick, truly filled with hatred and distrust for all humanity to be able to remorselessly single out regular people, people you don't know who have never done a thing to you, and write their disenfranchisement right into your goddamned constitution. So I donated money in September. So I went and marched down to Columbus Circle yesterday night. So I stuck a ring on my finger and took a picture. Still waiting for the day when what I can do is enough.

Why are all the people I don't want to discuss it with so preoccupied with my vote? I don't mind arguing politics with friends-- if I'm in the mood, I'll go for it, and if not, I'll refuse to be drawn in. But I hate arguing with my mother, so when she asks me who I voted for, what I hear is, "I know you're bisexual and strongly for gay marriage and abortion, so I'd like you to lie to me right now."

I also dislike having to have this conversation with strangers in person. The beauty of being online: I can vigorously exercise my right to click on another goddamn page. So do not pass by with a group of friends at half past ten at night of November 3rd and belligerently (drunkenly?) ask me if I am a Republican or Democrat. It's none of your goddamn business and I will ignore you, sir. But I give you the credit for not repeating the question or chasing me down the damn street.

...However, I am so in favor of people bribing me to vote. Not for a candidate, but this thing about giving me free stuff just to be there and do it? Hell yes. Babeland is still giving away free sex toys until November 11th to voters, and it's great.

Dear Mr. Obama,

I voted for you without trusting you. It was pretty simple to do, as a bitter ex-Libertarian, ex-Objectivist. I'm still busy tearing down the structures of my early worldview, and along the way I've kept my mistrust of that party. That other party across the aisle. Except now, in some respects, they are both that other party to me, and neither is mine. So I watch the politicians of America with a gritted, furious apathy, with an absolute dedication not to care, and certainly not to hope.

I don't expect you not to disappoint me along the way. But I did vote for you, so be brave and be right often enough to make me trust you.

Pauline Arsenault

I owe Lan some memes! There are music memes, so download, motherfuckers. ^_^

( You may notice that some of these tracks are from Dean Gray's American Edit. That's because I rule. )

( Also, a characters and letter meme. )

Finally, I have a mess of Warren Zevon mp3s you need. Lan was doing another music meme, and assigned me Zevon. Don't really know what else she would've given me, really. XD;;

If anyone wants me to give them a band, either make sure you have a few in your interests or give me a list to pick from, please.

---

Comment on this post and I'll give you a band. Don't worry, I'll try to make it one you know and love. You put your ten favorite songs by that band on your LJ and in reply to the comment, challenge others to do the same.

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
Mohammed's Radio
Werewolves of London
Play it All Night Long
Lawyers, Guns, and Money
Boom Boom Mancini
Genius
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
I Was in the House When the House Burned Down
Keep Me in Your Heart

---

Also current in Pauline-world, I have finally started reading Loveless, and feel like an idiot for putting it off for so long.

The gate sale went well! I didn't sell everything-- in fact, there was so much stuff to begin with that even by the end of it I had five or six garbage bags full of jewelry boxes, old boardgames, videos, what-have-you. But the main drive was not even to make money so much as to just get rid of things, and in that respect, it was a complete success. Also, I sold an old and slightly grimy child's bike for $5. XD Seriously, this was a fire sale. It was really adorable though, this kid came up to me clutching a five dollar bill and asked me what the price was as though he could not trust the giant, bright red "FIVE DOLLARS" sign hanging off the bike.

All told, I made about $300 for the weekend, which would bring my moving funds to a respectable $700 or so, except for one minor snag. The courts job I was hoping for is completely gone, hiring freeze, no one gets in, no one (I imagine) comes out. (Somebody go save Lan!) So, uh. Guys in PA. If you know of anything, um, help? XD;;

The other thing is that I got my Roth statement today. I've been kind of mentally bracing for it, trying to be completely sanguine about the whole thing, but it's still a bit of a twist to see your investments a whole grand lower than what you put in, nevermind what you'd hoped to earn. I'm just going to keep repeating "long run returns, long run returns, the short run is not your problem" until I feel better.

Now I'm off to clear the cobwebs off my website and pray for a sudden dire shortage of web developers in Philadelphia.

So, I'm trying to move, and trying to do it with less stuff than I have space to put stuff in (somehow), so I'm also trying to put together a gate sale this Sunday. If it doesn't rain. T_T;; I also have anime figures I need to get rid of, to discourage me from collecting anime figures in the future. It's a slippery slope, and god knows CLAMP in 3D-Land isn't helping any. Care to shop? (Linda's got dibs on the FMA and Tsubasa stuff, if she wants it.)

( pictures of the stuff )

Speaking of anime merchandise, I vaguely remember someone saying they wanted a Hitsugaya zanpakuto? I know a site that often sells Bleach swords while trying very hard to pretend they are not Bleach swords; they've got an unlisted Hitsugaya zanpakuto up now. (Yay Star Warrior!) The color's a little off, but it's a whole lot cheaper than other listed ones out there.

The other thing that happened was that Marissa asked me for Muse albums, and Lan asked me for songs that are titled "_____ and _____" and as a result I uploaded a stupid amount of music. You want these Muse albums. Yes, you damn well do.

Muse- 01- Showbiz.zip
Muse- 02- Origin of Symmetry.zip
Muse- 03- Absolution.zip
Muse- 04- Black Holes and Revelations.zip

Muse- Butterflies and Hurricanes
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club- Red Eyes and Tears
Tool- Cold and Ugly
L'Arc~en~Ciel- Lies and Truth
Lacuna Coil- The Ghost Woman and the Hunter
Tommy James and the Shondells- Crimson and Clover
The Grateful Dead- Samson and Delilah
Warren Zevon- Lawyers, Guns, and Money
Salon Music- Our Love and Peace
Feist- Inside and Out
Utena- Rose and Release
Sweeney Todd- Green Finch and Linnet Bird
A Perfect Circle- Weak and Powerless
The Moody Blues- Watching and Waiting
Aerosmith- Round and Round
L'Arc~en~Ciel- Round and Round
David Dondero- The Living and the Dead
Warren Zevon- Dirty Life and Times
Tsubasa Chronicle- Storm and Fire
Elton John- Bennie and the Jets
Janis Joplin- Me and Bobby McGee
Portishead- Acid Jazz and Trip-hop
Robert Miles- One and One

If "I'm seeing someone else" rates as a "very indirect" rejection, then do not ever tell me that monogamy is natural, instinctive, and clearly superior.

They're releasing Silversun Pickups' "Lazy Eye" for Rock Band, and this is basically the one song I could be perfectly happy singing for the rest of my life. But it's going to be part of the setlist for Rock Band 2, so it'll never be downloadable content. T_T;;;;;

(Yes, this is the sort of thing I angst over, why do you ask?)

As far as I'm concerned, so_low started it and I must have it:

Go to my userpics and then pick:
01. Your favorite.
02. Your least favorite.
03. One that makes you automatically think of me.
04. One that you think I should TOTALLY use more often.
05. One that you don't get/needs more explanation/you have no idea why the hell I have it.

I only have fifteen, shouldn't be too hard.

Sometimes, Matthew says, he thinks I get too wrapped up in being part of a group, having a circle of friends, that I'm willing to sacrifice important things for that sense of belonging. That's fair; sometimes I tell him he's way too much of a hermit for his own good. Still, just getting more time between me and some of the friends I used to have, just going back and realizing major events in their lives have passed me by, forces me to second-guess myself. My instinct is always to try and rebuild, but lord knows I suck at the followup, particularly for friends I don't get a lot of (or hardly any) facetime with. Like I said, I always want to go back, strike up a conversation, send an email, and ask to be part of their circle again.

But, you know, to reopen that friendship is to promise that I'll do better this time, keep in touch properly, and be there more readily for someone who's actually miles and miles away. And when I and that friend are both slightly communications-impaired, maybe that's not a promise I should be making. I don't know that I wouldn't do better by everyone to let the friendship fade into pleasant memories.

...No, Marissa, not you. You're just stuck with me. You'd have to kill my dog or something, and I don't even have a dog. XP

So, uh. Hell of a spoilery, this link, but I think the Castle Heterodyne just became my new favorite character in the comic. Just... yay. So yay. XD

I just finished playing a few rounds of DDR with Mom.

XD

Also, went to NH and Boston and had a good time, spent my 22nd birthday mostly on a bus but also getting treated to a really good lunch, and then promptly went to Otakon, which was great fun despite looking like major problems were going to loom for a while. A bunch of us got Vongola rings and now by our powers combined we are the mafia. As for LARP, it was pretty great ballet fun, and I really need to play a villain again sometime.

I'm totally not kidding about playing a manipulative sexpot if everyone else is doing pervert year next year.

It's all uploaded anyway, so somebody make it worth my while and download stuff. Behold, the animal-themed edition, courtesy of so_low:

Garbage- Honeybee
Miles Davis- Bye Bye Blackbird
GLAY- Coyote, Colored Darkness
Max- Tora Tora Tora
Warren Zevon- Werewolves of London
Viva Voce- Faster Than a Dead Horse
The Grateful Dead- Dire Wolf
The Radiators- Meet Me Down in Birdland
Haibane Renmei- Free Bird (accoustic guitar ver.)
Utena- Confession Elevator - Daydreaming Troublesome Insects
Lain- Ballad of Silly Bird

BLEACH WHAT THE HELL END ONE OF YOUR GODDAMN BATTLES ALREADY

SERIOUSLY JUST KILL SOMEONE IS IT SO HARD

And you return and you wish that you could live in between.