'Wasted Youth and a Fistful of Ideals...'

So this entry is not going to be as giddy and happy as the previous. One good thing, however, is that the new Green Day album has comfortably slipped right in with the others, meaning that I absolutely love it. But, I'm not sure if I can continue to find reassurance in these songs without it reminding me of a ridiculous twist of fate.

There is a concert on July 14th. The band is coming to Detroit to play at the Palace of Auburn hills.

And I will not be going.

I figured I would start asking around about it, seeing as how the date is coming up, and all the answers I received were incredulous looks and a flat-out 'No.' You might be thinking, who cares, right? Who decides for you what you can and can't do? Well...unfortunately there is such a thing as living under the same roof with your parents, who therein decide what you can and cannot do. So you see my dilemma. It's times like these when I really hate being an optimistic teenager who sees everything falling into place so she can see her favorite band play on a Tuesday night. Unusually, my parents and I have gotten along fairly well these past couple of years, so for them to not understand this kind of thing really makes me mad. They hear me blasting the new album every other day, put up with me talking about it, not to mention the fact that the DVR is clogged with me recording their gigs on GMA, SNL and a few other spots where they've graced the television screen.

So...I don't understand why they would balk at something like this. The one explanation I've gotten made some sort of sense: that they wouldn't be comfortable with me running around Detroit by myself at 7:30 at night. I can understand that part, but I wouldn't go by myself; I would definitely take a friend with me. I even offered to take my father with me, but that didn't work. Of course.

I understand that they've done a lot for me this past month, what with Graduation and all... which is why I offered to buy the tickets myself. But that didn't work either!!! My last shot was my sister and her fiance, but my mother got to her before I could.

It really feels as though EVERYTHING is conspiring against me, like I'm not meant to see them. It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't' feel as though I was never going to get a chance to see them play again. It really feels that way! After they're done with America, they'll be in Europe for like, a year! And then when they comeback, I'll be in college, have a job, and I wont' get to see them AGAIN.

I admit it sounds stupid to those who can't understand how important this is to me, but....Jeezus. I've been wanting to see this band since I was thirteen. I've missed every chance I've ever gotten to see them, because I was 'too young,' too late, or it was too far away for me to go. So I just don't understand how when the absolutely perfect time comes, it-doesn't-come-to-fruition!!! It makes me feel like this is only the beginning of the next round of disappointments. And not to mention every time I listen to them, now it comes across as bittersweet. It drives me insane. I'm left hoping that I will soon 'grow' out of this phase, because I can't stand the thought of that emotion weighing me down EVERY time I listen to them!! *sigh* Where is that little ray of hope that I keep holding out for?! Did I bring all this stupidity on to myself????

Probably, as is usual.

...I guess I'll just have to keep listening to the live albums, close my eyes and pretend I'm there... At least they can never disappoint me.

Grammy Griping

Yesterday was the 51st Annual Grammy awards. Usually I like watching this kind of thing. I get to see all the artists and watch them perform. Sometimes I think it's a little bit corny, especially as far as jokes go (I'll get to that in a minute). But most of the time it's usually cool to see. I did like what I saw the first few minutes- U2 was playing their new song, "Get on Your Boots," which I ended up liking. Of course, the stupid L.A. crowd went absolutely mild.... About that... they must not know how to categorize something as cool. Not only was U2 ignored, so was Kid Rock, it seemed. Everyone else had cheers abound for the stupid Jonas Brothers (ugh!) and all the rappers and stuff. Which, yeah, I'm not a big fan of rap, and I suppose it was good or whatever...but come on. Plus, the 'jokes' that came about were the lamest dang things I'd ever heard. Thank God there was only a couple of them. I felt sorry for poor Dwayne Johnson (aka the Rock).... he got the worst of it. His joke didn't even fizzle out- it straight up DIED right there, like all the air was sucked out of the room. I kid you not.
COLDPLAY won best rock album and song of the year. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!!!! They were up against Metallica, the Raconteurs and Kid Rock, and they WON?!! Seriously. I was upset with that one... Something is not right with that. Even if you're a Coldplay fan, you know that they aren't rock. They're pop at the very least- Mope Rock is what I call it. I can imagine Metallica trashing Coldplay's dressing room roaring, 'where's my Grammy, you idiots!!' But maybe that's a tad over doing it... :)All the performances were good, though, except for Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, which I totally flipped the channel for. I have nothing against the former, but the latter I just can't stand. And Raidohead. Ugh- hate them, too. Thank God they didn't win album of the year... Robert Plant and Alison Krauss did, which I was happy about. I was happy to see a deserving artist get that award.

And, much to my ecstatic-ness (which is not a word) my lovely band GREEN DAY showed up to present the award for album of the year. How awesome! I get to see them again after a loooong time, and that's always nice. They don't look too bad, if you ask me. (pic via GDA). Of course, they were their endearingly strange selves. :) The new album is called "21st Century Breakdown," and it's coming out in May! Yay! Can't wait for it! Billie Joe had the last word before they all left the stage, hinting at what's to come, albeit with tongue in cheek, "Good bye, and we'll see ya next year."
I better.

Burnout

Ugh! The week back from Winter Break is definatley trying on my sanity. I have so much homework to do, especially with exams coming next week. Today I actually have some time to spare, so right now I'm going to gripe about crap to no one in particular....
First, a bunch of exam projects are to be had. English saw me furiously working to comprise my project on Jazz and tie that in with it's African Roots; not as easy as you might think. In Creative Writing, I have to make up a portfolio of all the work we've done this year and then a presentation. Not too hard, really, but it's just one more thing I've got to do. Spanish is what's really making me mad lately. We don't do anything in that class!! I swear to God I sleep with my eyes open. I zone out every day and nothing seems to grab my attention. I've been teaching myself vocab lately, or seeing if I can play a whole song in my head without being called on. (I can, by the way!!) That's how bad it is. I can usually get through two songs without my attention being diverted to something else. So today when we were suddenly dumped-trucked with a bunch of homework, I was like, "Seriously? You're giving us this much crap to do?" It probably won't even be checked in for a grade! And even if it is checked in, we won't get it back 'til freaking March anyway....
....whew. Rant over (for the most part). But it's seriously stupid at times. I know enough about Dia de los Muertos to fill up a book, but when a Spanish person talks to me, I stop and go, "Huh?" Okay.... so I got a little ranty there, but yeah. I'm done. Glad I could find something to blog about. I didn't blog over Winter Break because I was content doing nothing. ;)
But I'm back, for right now. We're getting closer to Inaguaration Day, so yay! I'm excited for that.
Isn't it great to start over at the beginning of the year and have a clean slate?
Yay Optimism!

All the World's a Stage for Disappointment

Okay, so...Now that you've read my promising title, I thought I'd explain. I was never a huge advocate of 'Going Green.' But, recently-today actually- I discovered that the Bush Administration is going behind our backs to sell land in a NATIONAL PARK for that scudsy stuff called oil. It's a bit ridiculous if you ask me. In fact, I'm pretty pissed about it. The land is going to oil and gas companies, and it's not like they need it. Everyone whines about not having enough oil and all this other crap, but in reality, I'm sure we have PLENTY left over. Yes, I agree we should look for alternative energies, but we have oil left. Just look at how much the stupid oil companies have made in the last year. Exxon Mobile was right the top, followed by another oil company and I dunno...Google or something. It's this kind of blatant arrogance I can't stand!!! It's almost like they think the American people are too stupid to realize what's going on. God- it makes me grind my teeth, this kind of thing.
It's the fact that they're auctioning off land in the Utah National Park. They're just giving it away to the highest bidder without even stopping to think about what it all means. What else can this administration do to us before we boot their worthless butts out of the White House?!!!!! (Boy, did I want to use a swear so bad...) It seriously makes me soooo freaking mad! This first came to my attention-and I know how stupid this sounds- off of the Myspace of NDRC+Green Day. Go ahead and roll your eyes, but this is serious business. The administration didn't even ask permission until just recently, after everything was already set in motion. God- Isn't it sickening? Doesn't that leave a bad taste in your mouth? Is anyone else pissed off about this?!!!
Most of my information came from a letter written to NRDC's website by Robert Redford. He makes some pretty good points as to why we shouldn't let this happen. He requests that we should all send in letters protesting the move, and I'm seriously thinking about doing it.
If anyone's interested, here's the link: http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/stop_wilderness_giveaway_nsb
The auction is on December 19th, and that scares the hell out of me. I don't know if my letter will make it in time.... I hope it does.
This needs to stop.