Letters and Soda

The past few days, I've been really busy. Well, not too busy to go to the pool, anyway. That's what I did Monday afternoon instead of getting actual work done. Monday night was our first game against Venus Zine in the Saucony league and of course we lost. I kinda hate whiffle ball. The rules don't make any sense. I did enjoy the after party even though it entailed splitting a limited bar tab amongst four teams. I'm not an athlete at all and would rather not play organized sports, but maybe it'll be a good experience. Yesterday, I worked part of a boat cruise event. I had to leave early to go to the Liz Phair show, so I didn't actually get to take the cruise. Oh well, there's another event in a couple weeks so hopefully then I'll get to ride on the boat.

So, overall, I liked Liz Phair even though I read some scathing reviews of the show. Sure, she seemed to just phone it in and has lost a lot of that initial, twenty-something raw sexual energy, but it was cool to see her in her hometown. I like the fact she wrote the entire album in Wicker Park 15 years ago. What was Wicker like back then? I'm sure being a 25 year old then was quite different than it is now. I wonder where she lived. I'll admit I didn't hear Guyville until a few years ago. It wasn't some sort of record that changed my life, but it's a great record especially songs like "Fuck and Run" and "Divorce Song." The only other time I've seen her in concert was in NYC a few years ago. For free. I really like Whip Smart, too and enough people don't give her credit for that. I have a lot of friends who are really into her so that's what drew me in a few years ago. And I will admit, I like "Why Can't I?" even though it was overused in every single movie trailer and tv show back in 2003. But the more I listen to Guyville, the more I like it. I can relate to a lot of it.

July will be here in a week and I feel like there's so much going on it's ridiculous. I have to move soon, everybody I know seems to have a b-day in July, Pitchfork and Wicker Park fests are creeping up, there are a ton of events to work, etc, etc. I still need to finish a big project by Friday. I'm unsure about whether or not I'll get a press pass to Lolla. I really want to go, but it's up in the air right now. There are so many things I want to do this summer like go to the Indiana Dunes, beaches in MI, Ravinia, East Bank Club, bars and shows and a Cubs game, damnit. I want to take advantage of everything Chicago has to offer.

On Friday, I have a job interview for a full-time, temp-hire office job. I'm really torn about what to do. I need money to support myself, but I feel it's stupid to have interned for a year at a magazine and then end up where I started working a less than ideal job. If it was part time, okay, but full time, not so much. I'll still freelance and everything, but probably won't have as much time and freedom to do so. Part of me wants to just work events this summer and freelance and then buckle down in the fall or just see what materializes. Yeah, having a lot of money is nice, but having my soul die a little everyday isn't cool. What to do, what to do. I think I'm always going to have that push/pull of art vs commerce.

As of right now, I don't have any plans for the Fourth. I want to go home for a few days but gas is ridic. I'd like to go somewhere, though. I want to waste the summer away at the pool and beach but I know I can't do that. Maybe once a week, though.

I only have a few weeks to find a place to live. I'm considering moving into my friend's place because the rent it cheap, but it'd entail living with two people I don't know. I'd get to stay in my neighborhood, but I'd rather not live with strangers or anyone for that matter. My other option involves living in an area not central to anything but with the possibility of living alone come September. So, yeah, gotta figure some stuff out. Hopefully everything will fall into place.