recapitulate 2008: april, may, june

The series continues.
This is 2008, in four parts.
Here is Part 2.


APRIL

Drowned in a constant stream of papers, projects, exams, and BGR commitments throughout the month. Practicially lived in the BGR office. Rejoiced at the arrival of spring weather. Went to Urbana, IL to see Cavashawn, thus going to a show totally alone for the first time ever. Co-led a work site for the Boiler Blast community clean-up day. Consumed entirely too much chicken at Chik-fil-A Nugget Night. Watched two fellow BGR Supers battle to eat 50+ nugs apiece, and succeed. Was awakened by, and "survived", my first earthquake. Toured hospital pharmacies in Indianapolis. Received certification in CPR. Learned to make chocolate-covered gummi bears. Went to Butler to see We The Living play. Witnessed a child ask WTL if they were the Jonas Brothers. Borrowed a vest. Wandered downtown Indy after midnight, settled for hot wings, and drove home extremely late. Went to Rose Hulman the next day to see WTL and Cavashawn play a frat party, in a tent, in a thunderstorm. Nearly got crushed by a wasted frat boy falling off the stage, and observed Ama get burned by a cigarette. Vowed to never again see anyone play at a frat party, ever. Saw Five Times August play an acoustic set at Borders the next day. Realized I'd gone to a show three days in a row, and had not yet studied for finals. Started studying for finals. Took some finals. Struggled to retain the will to live. Eagerly awaited the evening of May 1st.

[I had my own mailbox in the office! I think I got 2 papers in it all semester...]

[Urbana. I bought the hoodie because we stood outside talking forever and I was freezing. Good selling ploy, guys.]

[Nugget night. Our group actually consumed more boxes than what is pictured here.]

[Earthquake damage. My CDs fell down! Hah. Excuse the mess.]

[Clearly the classiest group to wander around Indianapolis late at night.]

[Show at a frat party in the rain? Never again, thanks.]

[Brad from Five Times August at Borders... with giant Brad.]


MAY

Took my last final of my fourth year of college. Celebrated at the Cactus. Packed minimally and drove to Ohio with my mom to see Cavashawn in Columbus at a venue with White Castle inside. Drove to Cincinnati the next day, met up with Ama, and saw Cavashawn again at their old high school. Treated them to milkshakes afterward, thus beginning a tradition where we feed them and they are happy. Returned to Purdue to take a load of stuff home from the apartment. Went back to get another vanload. Couldn't believe how much stuff still wouldn't fit in the van. Started work at Wabash County Hospital pharmacy for the fourth summer in a row. Observed the third anniversary of seeing Lifehouse for the first time. Worked, worked, worked. Went to Ohio with Ama and my mom to see WTL and Cavashawn play a show in Columbus. Developed an appreciation for beer in order to survive a crowd of fratties and skanks. Somehow got talked into driving over to Chicago the next day to see Cavashawn. Passed the Cavashawn van on the highway and laughed. Discovered the joy of Red Hot Chili Peppers on vinyl. Realized I put 800 miles on my car that weekend. Worked. Packed. Flew back to California for the annual May LA trip/ Monica's birthday party. Had tea at the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. Saw Prince Caspian at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. Saw Everybody Else and We Shot the Moon at Chain Reaction in Anaheim. Pondered what bands could be playing at Monica's party. Laughed hysterically upon arrival at the party when I saw the We The Living van. Squealed internally when I saw headParade was also playing. Drank amaretto sours and accidentally insulted someone's girlfriend. Thoroughly enjoyed what was probably the best party ever. Spent too much money at Amoeba Records on Sunset. Enjoyed Jamba Juice and Swingers Diner. Went to Disneyland and had a blast. Did not want to fly home. Flew home and recovered for a day. Went to Indianapolis to see Matt Nathanson and The Spill Canvas. Crashed for a few days in total exhaustion.


["Oh, so THIS is a UDF. It looks like a gas station?" "Yeah, they sell ice cream too."]

[Oh hey Chicago. This is the weekend I put 800 miles on my car.]

[Huntington Gardens in Pasadena with Brigitte and Monica. It was raining... in LA. Go figure.]

[We Shot the Moon at Chain Reaction. The venue's sound was so loud that my teeth hurt.]

[Monica's birthday party in LA. My worlds collided and it was trippy.]

[Amoeba Records on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. A-ma-zing.]

[Hanging out with Mickey and Walt at Disneyland]

[With Matt Nathanson in Indianapolis]


JUNE

Worked for two weeks. Signed up for Twitter. Drove to Covington, KY (Cincinnati) to see Cavashawn play a show with HaHaTonka and Treaty of Paris. Fell madly in platonic music-related love with ToP, talked with them for half an hour, ran from Phil's digital camera videoing, and vowed to see them again. Drove home that night and went to work the next day on two hours of sleep. Went up to northern Michigan for the wedding of a good high school friend who happened to be a junior high boyfriend. Worked. Packed. Flew to Las Vegas with the fam for my Aunt Val's wedding. Marveled at the excessive and enormous nature of Vegas. Wandered hotels up and down the strip and were total tourists. Watched the Bellagio fountains for ages. Saw a Cirque du Soleil show (Mystere) and geeked out like the circus freak I am. Vowed to only play nickel slots, won 18 dollars, and lost it all. Ate too much food. Spent too much money. Flew home. Unpacked, repacked. Went to three days of the Summerfest music festival in Milwaukee with Ama and Devon and had more fun than we thought possible. Stayed in the most hideous Motel 6 ever. Promoted Cavashawn to strangers all over the Summerfest grounds. Took up residence at the Chipotle Rhythm Kitchen Stage and grew accustomed to seeing the same few bands wandering the area every day. Spent far too much money on admission, parking, and beer. Survived daily monsoon-like thunderstorms. Saw two rainbows. Hid from the rain on the stage with Ari Herstand and others, recognized Chelsey from a Treaty of Paris video blog, and bonded over band stories. Played with Ari's insane hair. Finally met Addy. Saw or heard so many bands. Saw Jack's Mannequin for the first time! Drank wine in the motel from plastic cups. Headed to Illinois from Milwaukee for a Lifehouse show, only to find out the day of the show that it was canceled. Cursed our luck and Jason's health, drove to my aunt's house instead, and slept all day. Realized we were going to another show on July 1st, then leaving 2 days later for a Lifehouse roadtrip. Laughed. Went back to sleep, because it was the last we'd be getting for awhile.


[First Treaty of Paris show! Also Nick Fonzi's first show as a ToP member. Cute.]

[Peru High School alumni at David and Melissa's wedding in Traverse City]

[Fountain of Bellagio in Las Vegas. I could have watched these all day, every day.]

[This would have been better if I'd been wearing a Treaty of Paris shirt. Oh well.]

[SUMMERFEST 2008! Get your smile on.]

[Probably the coolest group of people you'll ever be lucky enough to meet]

[Hiding from the rain, on the stage... next to pile of electrical cords in a puddle. COOL!]

[Summerfest warriors]

[Our Rhythm Kitchen Stage home, complete with nice trees. I really miss this place.]


Half done, half to go...
I'm not sure when I'll be able to get the rest done.
They'll be coming soon(ish).