nothing in life is free.

As you've probably noticed, I only blog when I'm irritated or upset about something so let me vent for a second.-

Topic of this rant: Freeloaders

We all know those people who are always expecting some sort of hand out. Whether it be needing a ride home EVERY time you see them, or the friend that you go out and drink with that always says "just start a tab and we'll settle up at the end", only to disappear before "the end" and stick you with the bill, or my absolute favorite, emotional freeloaders.

You know exactly who I'm talking about. Those friends who are ALWAYS up in arms about something and just HAVE to talk your ear off about it, who always need reassurance or advice from you that they are NEVER going to take, who are never, EVER happy about anything and want you to fix it, but the second you are in need of a shoulder or an ear, they are nowhere to be found. Yeah, those are emotional freeloaders and they are the ones that get under my skin the most.

I know my blogs are always interactive and I usually end up asking something from the people reading them. This one is no different. As you read this, stop for a second and assess yourself. If you are guilty of this even a little bit then STOP IT. It's frustrating, and you are going to find that the people who are always there to offer support (that you never say thank you for) and advice (that you never take) aren't going to be there if you don't start returning the favor. Friendship is a two way street, give and take, and I think a lot of people need to realize that. Nobody owes anyone else anything more than honesty, sincerity, and respect. Those are what truly make a friendship work, and if you aren't giving that back in a relationship then you aren't very deserving of it yourself, now are you? It's just something for everyone to think about. Rant finished. Goodnight, All.

Home, Sweet Nostalia.

I think I want to move back downtown.  I dropped Will off last night when I picked Nathan up from work and his house is right downtown, maybe 5 blocks from the old apartment.  It made me miss being able to walk to Waterloo, and Amy's, and Whole Foods, and Book People, and the hustle and bustle that IS Austin.  I wish I knew if Whitney was planning on staying after this lease is up, and I wish LeeAnn would move down and live with us.  I would like to BUY a house, but I'm afraid that as soon as I do I'll get some super wonderful offer for a job, or school somewhere else and then I'll be stuck with this house.  But at the same time, if I WERE going to buy a house downtown, right now would probably be the time to do it.  I'm stuck.  I love, love living in the suburbs, but I loved living downtown even more.  We moved down here because Scott was moving to town and now that he's not living with us it kind of makes me mad that we moved at all.  I'm glad to be out of the apartment, especially with the dogs and the cats, and I love having a yard, and room to move around, but I miss living in the middle  of everything.  I miss walking Freja to the dog park. And going to Zilker and just hanging out because it was right there.  Living this far south makes everything seem like such a chore.  I miss walking across the street to Mean Eyed Cat.  Man I miss living downtown. I'm going to start looking, just in case. Maybe I'll find a super wonderful place that we can actually afford.  Or maybe I'm destined to live in Suburbia forever. 

Music and such things.

For the past year or so I've been totally turned off to most of the new music that I've heard.  If it wasn't for the XM 60's station and Bob FM here in Austin playing 80's throwbacks I wouldn't have survived.  But, alas, I'm out of my music slump.  For those of you who know me well, I'm back, and for those who are reading this just because I posted the link on my Myspace, well, let me make some suggestions because that's what I do. 

Abbi's Must Have Albums for May 17, 2009:

1. Metric - Fantasies (you knew this was coming)

I'm sure everyone has heard Help, I'm Alive by now, but you HAVE to check out Gimme Sympathy and Collect Call.  I was skeptical of the album the first time I listened to it, but once again I'm in love with Emily Haines. 

2. Spinnerette - Ghetto Love EP (It's like 3 bucks on iTunes)

Now, Nathan is going to be mad because even I'm suggesting this, being as he thinks Brody Dalle is the next Courtney Love and all, but I'm infatuated with Ghetto Love. (It's my ringtone)  There's some very obvious Queens of the Stone Age influence going on there, but then again I do love some QUOTSA. (Should I remind Nathan that the only reason he liked The Distillers is because of their Rancid influence.  So what if the girl can't write her own music, at least she has the good sense to marry incredibly talented men that will write good stuff FOR her. We should all be so lucky.)

3. Band of Skulls - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

"I Know What I Am" is one of the best songs I've heard in MONTHS.  If Wolfmother and Karen O from the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs had a baby this is what it would sound like.  And for your viewing pleasure, at the bottom of this blog I have included a video. 

4. Jane Vain and the Dark Matter - Love Is Where The Smoke Is

Yes, friends, I finally broke down and bought the damn thing on iTunes after more than half a year of searching for the actual CD.  All I can say is I should have done it months ago.  Unfortunately this album came out in 2007 and the band has since broken up and reformed so if you go to their Myspace you won't find any of the music from this album on their playlist.  However, the demo that's up on their page is awesome, and if you DO get your hands on a copy of the album, "C'mon Baby Say Bang Bang" and "These Ghosts" are MY personal favorites. 

I think I'll make this a top 5 list...

5. Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart

101X started playing "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked" right before SXSW, and while I didn't get a chance to see her play at Buffalo Billiards during the festival, I couldn't get the song out of my head.  Nathan finally broke down and bought me the album yesterday and I bet I've listened to it 10 times all the way through today.  It's fantastic.  I really like "Stella" and "Oh My God".  Definitely one of the better investments he's made lately. 

oh, and a bonus:

Sheryl Crow - Saturday Night Music Club

yep, the first Sheryl Crow album.  Leaving Las Vegas is probably one of my all time favorite songs.  The album is still as good as it was when I first had it in 3rd grade on cassette. 

It seems that I'm on a female vocalist kick again.  I go through these phases.  At least I'm off of Canadian Indie for a while.  Well, probably not. Oh, and I mentioned the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs earlier in this post, their new album seems to kick a lot of ass, or at least what I've heard. Goodnight all.  Loves. 

Everybody's doin' it...

So, I saw where Vegas had posted on Myspace that he signed up for this thing, and it reminded me that mine even existed.  I always have things to say when I sit down to write a blog, but somewhere in the time it takes to figure out how to introduce my thoughts, they dissipate into this hazy fog in my head where I can only catch remnants of the things I was previously so passionate about blogging on.  That, in fact, is what just happened to me. I got a new job.  It's ok, and it pays well so I won't complain about corporate hell right now.  I haven't seen any good movies lately (or even any bad ones, I've been too busy), and I haven't read any good books either.  Although, I AM two chapters into Barack Obama's book about his dad.  We'll see where that goes.  I bought plane tickets to California the other day for July.  We are flying into San Diego on July 16th. Staying two nights there, driving to Anaheim and staying a night, then on to West Hollywood for two nights before flying back to Austin from LAX on July 21st.  I'm stoked. I've never been to California before so this should be fun.  I'll be selling merch at the ALL shows, and driving in a rented van for most of the time, but hopefully I'll get to see some sights. I'm mostly just going to hang out with Jason anyway.  And Melissa now that she's going.  Nathan's going for the music, and mostly for Scott, so we're all good.  I'm just looking forward to the beach.  It's been 2 years since I've seen real, blue water. Anyway, I have a meeting for work @ 10 am, and it's 5 am already so I'll cut this off.  Just another thing to keep up with...myspace, facebook, twitter, and now this.  Sometimes I think I'm a little TOO connected.  This seems fun though, so we shall see! Loves.