Living the dream, making the most of a rainy day, burritos at 3 a.m., writing, erasing, writing, crumpling, writing, deleting, breaking hearts, obsessively finding ways to launder my karma, Sunday Fundays with Katie, XM radio, aging British rockers like David Coverdale, Simon LeBon and Joe Elliot, racy jokes, shoe shopping, political arguments with strangers, dog eared book pages, not acting my age, being fiscally irresponsible, cashing in, paying my heart's outstanding bills, Thursday nights at Durkin's, being a good Democrat, voraciously scouring Barnes & Noble for books about the history of music, NPR morning drives, living slowly, flirting shamelessly, losing him, finding him, inhabiting the space of loneliness, wasting time, driving too fast, inventing new ways to call in sick, Philip Larkin, Robert Creeley, Mark Strand, stealing words and forever trying to find my Hollywood kiss.
Music
Anything with a good hook and a bass line I can shake my ass to. But beyond that: The Postal Service, Rilo Kiley, AC/DC, Duran Duran, Whitesnake, anything glam metal, Audioslave, Pearl Jam (seeing them live will change your life) Bill Withers, Blondie, Foo Fighters, Tori Amos, The Velvet Underground, Stevie Wonder, The Streets, Talking Heads, Kings of Leon, Television, Marvin Gaye, Sex Pistols, The Stones, Carole King, Muse, Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden, Otis Redding, Rachael Yamagata, The Roots, The Clash, Van Halen (Hagar Halen), Coldplay, Modern Lovers, Cheap Trick, CSNY, Bright Eyes, the Boss, 50 Cent, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, The Arcade Fire, Fiona Apple, De La Soul, and the colored girls go, do do do doo doo doo do...
Movies
I love, LOVE scary movies and consider myself to be somewhat of a connoisseur. Most recently obsessed with Rob Zombie's flicks, but always love a good Japanese horror movie. They do it better than anyone.
Other than scary movies, here are some staples: Mr. Mom, Old School, Big Lebowski, Bottle Rocket, The Burbs, Clue, Wet Hot American Summer, Kings of Comedy, Bridget Jones, Anchorman, The Warriors, Mallrats, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Love & Sex, Red Dawn (Avenge me boys, avenge me!!!), Love Actually, Reality Bites, What's Up Doc?, Shawshank, Indiana Jones (and yes, I am the only person who loves Temple of Doom the best), Bull Durham, Swingers, Party Girl, anything Bill Murray or Vince Vaughn and so on and so on.
Television
Arrested Development, West Wing, Six Feet Under, Bill Maher, Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Project Runway, The Office (BBC), anything FOOD NETWORK, Arliss reruns, The Daily Show, Family Guy, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Simpsons, Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network, Jeopardy, OhmygodallidoiswatchTV.
Books
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand is one of my favorite books. Or, anything by Chuck Palahniuk. Reading his books is like watching a train wreck. You don't want to look, but you can't look away. For the past year and a half I have not been able to stop reading books on the punk rock movement. I think it is just fascinating. I recommend "Punk" by Stephen Colegrave or "Please Kill Me" by Legs McNeil.
University Of Iowa
Iowa City,Iowa
Graduated: 2002
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: English -- Creative Writing
Minor: Art History
1998 to 2002
Palatine High School
Palatine,Illinois
Graduated: 1998
Student status: Alumni
Degree: High School Diploma
Clubs: Circus Volleyball Club
I live in Chicago and in between purging my demons through my writing or at the corner bar, I live a very productive life as an editor, drama queen and sometime fashionista. I like blueberry muffins but not blueberry pancakes. I drive fast but walk slowly. No cream, no sugar, because no coffee. No tea. Diet Coke. I love ridiculously sappy song lyrics, but am averse to reading romantic novels. I am happy, sad, proud, shameful, professional and improper. I drink Miller High Life in heels and Moet White Star in flip flops. I think too much and talk too little. I dont ever really say what is on my mind, but my hand can write it faster than I can think it. I choose hope over despair, always. My heart beats faster at the mention of your name, but the curve of your face is foggy in my memory. I wear purple nail polish with skirt suits. I can eat a whole jar of sweet pickles, but get nauseous at the idea of putting relish on a hot dog. I believe in true love, but not in other things intangible. I paint reproductions of the masters, but wont lay my brush down for a single, original stroke. I am moody, messy and seamlessly emotional, but I keep a militarily clean room. My heart is cluttered with words that Ill never say, but I wear them silently on my sleeve. I believe in past lives, but not in life after death. I want you to pick me instead of her, even though I would pick him instead of you. I love museums, but libraries make me nervous. I prefer closed spaces to open ones, but open roads to crowded highways. I cant nap, never could, but I look forward to crawling into bed at night more than any other time of day. I laugh louder than the rest of the room. Short stories over books and poetry over short stories. I crave the immediate gratification of a good, short sentence, but am myself long winded. I am pro-choice but anti-decision. I like rock over roll. Captain Morgan over Bacardi. I still believe in love at first sight, even though I have never experienced it. I find the punk rock movement fascinating, but I dont really like the music. I am overconfident in crowds, but reticent in private moments. I feel that you should choose honest moments to bare your soul, but never soul baring moments to finally be honest. And consequently, that life is yours to reel in, one hand over another, heels in the dirt, but will always, always win the tug of war.
oy, we've been SO busy lately that we still haven't posted those photos. i know em really wants to see them, and i really want her to as well - she looks so beautiful!
i just got back from ny and should have a little bit of downtime in the next few weeks (well, between making turkeys, buying gifts and getting ready to go to the caribbean...) so i swear they will be up soon!
Gates you still planning on rolling down on the bus for Purdue-Iowa? Also I havent seen you randomly at the bars in months, I am getting worried about you.
Too funny Meg -- sorry about the confusion. Well, I miss you crazy style and definitely want to get together when you come back. It has been way too long and I need some Meg and Mel time.
Well, I am moving to Lincoln and Diversey on Sunday morning so I would say the chances of running into me hammered at Durkins are definately increasing.
