Massive update.

So it's a long and boring Saturday night. I was supposed to go to a Phillies game with the family, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it did not happen. And since my awesome, athletic little sister has a double header of super important softball games tomorrow, it also did not make sense for me to make the trip back to Lancaster. So thus, I'm in my room. I just finished watching Bridget Jones' Diary, which is of course, a single girl's reassurance that she will not die unfulfilled and unloved - thus also explaining its extreme popularity. All I can say really, is Colin Colin Colin Colin Firth. That reminds me of a conversation I had with Tom the other night about my few and far between celebrity crushes. Typically it takes more than good looks and on-screen charm for me to fantasize about these surreal personalities but I usually have about a handful in reserve. My current ones are (in no particular order):
Ewan McGregor - bonus points for being Scottish and having a gorgeous voice
Dylan Moran - Irish, hilarious, with shaggy hair - plus is a total chain smoking, wine-drinking scoundrel in Black Books - how can one resist? (Actually I did steal this one from Paul, but we've agreed to share him - I get him nights and every other weekend).
Johnny Depp - a little more typical answer (although Ewan McGregor isn't exactly obscure), but his acting is phenomenal, so ridiculously talented and for some reason, he can make everyone from Edward Scissorhands to (yummmmm) Captain Jack Sparrow extremely sexy
Stuart Murdoch - lead singer of Belle and Sebastian, boyish charming Scottish... clearly one can see a pattern here....

That's it for now anyway. Those are my boys in reserve for when the real world doesn't cut it. Which, right now anyway, it doesn't. *Super duper quadruple sigh*

Anyhow... so I haven't written for awhile. Sorry about that. I've had things, but haven't been exactly what I would call terribly busy. Just haven't been in the mood for writing. But now, at 11:58 Saturday evening, I have both an abundance of time and a desire to exercise my fingertips. God, that could be taken in a really wrong way. Ah well.

Let's start from the last thing I remember not writing in here. Tash and I (see picture below) decided to have a ladies' night out. We got all dolled up and went down to Olde City, only to be a bit disappointed in the insane crowds and lack of proper dancing. So where to head? The gayborhood, of course, the sight of Tash's new apartment! We had a few gorgeous drinks (and one gorgeous and fabulous waiter) in Bump (which is also, by the way, famous for its happy hours - $3 martinis!) and then were directed to find some Euro-style dancing in a club called Pure. So we went to Pure, only to find an outrageous cover and a members-only bar. So, naturally, what did we do? Became members, my dear readers, naturally! The dancing was fabulous though, and due to the location of T.'s apartment (right across the street), I have a feeling the membership will pay itself off quite quickly.

*Side note: Although it was a great evening and I truly enjoyed Tash's company, I missed Paul like mad!*

The weeks generally sort of pass, so let's skip on to the next weekend, which was quite exciting - Live 8! There were a million people in the house, but they were all pleasant and it was really nice to have some new faces around. We started the morning with a breakfast consisting mainly of Peach Schnapps and headed down to the Parkway. We got there to find a truly MASSIVE crowd and opening remarks by Will Smith. We edged our way into a decent position and continued to enjoy the show. We lost Tom and Adam pretty much straight away, but the rest of us (Tash, myself, Kate, Jeff, Dave, Cathy and four of Kate's friends - including one girl from N. Carolina named Jessica who I really got on with) managed to stay together for the rest of the day. Tash and I danced pretty much throughout. Everyone there was very nice and even the heat wasn't too bad (although I did acquire an awesome sunburn, I'll post a picture so you can really imagine the experience).

Highlights:
Black-eyed Peas doing Bob Marley's Stand Up For Your Rights (at least I think that's title, I mostly just remember singing Marley around a campfire - you can imagine the circumstances...)
Jay-Z's set was actually a lot of fun - Tash and I went to work making each and every passerby dance with us
Will Smith doing the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song was CLASSIC
Josh Groban just being Josh Groban and letting me look upon his beautiful face
Stevie Wonder - Superstition was great! Dancing to the max!

So an all together enjoyable day and memorable! Then, as you do, I had an after party to go to at the boys' house. Sunburn comparing and lots of liquor later, a handful of us ended up on the front porch taking many many ridiculous pictures of eachother - it was great (I'm a total narcissist so pictures of myself really get me off). I'll post a few of those too.

Next day = recovery.

Monday was July 4th, so no work and all the essential ingredients to a proper American Independence Day --- beer, a barbeque and fireworks. Oh, and an Elton John concert. It was fabulous, good friends, good food, and all the other cliches. Rufus Wainwright also played too, which I really enjoyed. Elton was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC though. Highlights: Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, Philadelphia Freedom (duh!). Good fireworks display too, right behind the Art Museum - I'll post a pic of that as well.

I just got a drunk phone call from Tom and the others in Lancaster. Absolutely hilarious. Especially when they all tried to do Boston accents. Brilliant guys. =)

Actually the next week was a bit exciting because JOHANNA CAME BACK!!! I was so excited, due to opposite Study Abroad schedules, I hadn't seen her in almost a year. We had a cute little wine and cheese party (where J. and I actually ended the night smashed and dancing in my room) and it was just SO NICE to be able to see/talk to/dance with her again. I really did miss her a lot, but soon the whole family will be together again - hip hip hooray!

Alright so last weekend... my adorable little athletic sister Katie came down for the weekend. My mom dropped her off on Friday and we went with Brigit, Deanna and Deanna's little sister Chelsea to see March of the Penguins - this absolutely ridiculously good documentary on penguins narrated by Morgan Freeman. Honestly, I laughed, I cried, see this film.

Then Saturday, we had a big barbeque at our house to celebrate Kate's 21st which was chill, but fun. The rest of the gang went out to party, but I was obliged to stay home, so me and Katie watched Edward Scissorhands and then played a rousing game of Cranium with Daniel, Deanna and Chelsea. Very charming night - very home-feeling.

Sunday Katie and I walked all the way to the Philadelphia Zoo and spent all day viewing the various animals. It was actually a lot of fun - Katie's such a great kid. She's hilarious and I would adore her even if she weren't my sister. We were comtemplating getting our faces painted (I was going to be a leopard and she was going to be a tiger) but we decided against it because it would be a little awkward trying to get on a Philadelphia bus with that getup (ie. I'd get my ass kicked, or at the very least, harassed).

We actually ended up walking back though because I couldn't figure out Philly public transportation. Katie wanted to murder me. Then I made dinner for us and for my mom who came to pick Katie up. Once they left - I shouted I'm footless and family-free - let's get drunk! We got some wine and relished in Moran's charismatic glow ("Which one of you bitches wants to dance?") for a Black Books / Melinda's Pub session.

This week and weekend has been fairly tame. We all went to see Wedding Crashers last night which I felt was quite good - in the way that you would expect. Funny, charming, a little raunchy at times. Vince Vaughan is amazing though.

Oh shit, I put White Rabbit on this playlist? God, it just makes me feel like watching Fear and Loathing. If I ever go to Vegas... hahaha, nevermind.

Well I think that's about enough for now anyway. I always have things I want to put in here, you know, like deep thoughts, revelations, theories etc. but I always forget them before I get to it. I'll try and do better in the future. Well I suppose that's good night, gentle readers, hope you enjoyed the little update and are having more fun than I right now.

Oh and if you're bored, I would highly recommend reading Dylan Moran's articles for the Irish Times.