flashback friday

Back when I knew less than I do now edition:

Back in the day, graduating from school meant that we should take advantage of every single day. Go out with friends, play hookie once or twice, check something off your Bucket List every day.

Back when theme dressing was a way of life and you kept a closet full of ridiculous costumes just in case someone's birthday party required a Canadian tuxedo or a toga.

Back in 2008 when I had a job before graduating from college and I was naive enough to think my Life Plan would play out just as I planned it.

I am older and wiser now. Obviously.

flashback friday

Girltalk in The Red edition:

I learned about Girl Talk from my buddy CWJ (second from the right) who was a dj at WXYC while we were in college at UNC. His taste in music was impeccable and I wished I could be as cool and nonchalant about it as he was. He busted GT out on a road trip to Kentucky as we were headed to go climbing in the Red River Gorge.

Last night was Girl Talk's show in Raleigh at the Disco Rodeo. Imagine Top 40 hits from the past 20 years mashed with a thumping beat, glowsticks, confetti, and 2000 of your closest, sweatiest friends dancing in their favorite sequined spandex. Needless to say, it was amazing. It went a little something like this:

I got a little nostalgic for my days of being a climbing bum and heading to a destination crag somewhere in NC, WV, KY, or another distant land in search of rock. Of all the places I've climbed (and I've climbed in 7 states from Washington to New Hampshire, as well as Peru), The Red is my favorite.

Besides having really sweet people (who would drive 30 minutes to return your forgotten gear), great food (Ale-81), and a climber-friendly place to crash at Miguel's Pizza, the Red has the most variety of rock I have ever seen.

This is Miguel's:

There's slabby granite, sandstone, overhangs, huecos, and giant plates. It's been a while since I've climbed, due in part to an injury that I'm still recovering from and also to my busy life of grad schooling and living in Africa. This route was called Special K-- it was my first 5.10b lead.

Rock on.

flashback friday

First music videos addition:

I remember on my last day of 5th grade I came home to one of my friends' houses (whose parents actually allowed her to watch MTV). We grubbed on some snacks while celebrating our victory over elementary school and predicted the coolness of middle school that would come at the end of the summer (how wrong we were.). I ignored most of the conversation (which might explain how I turned out like I did) and watched the music videos playing in the background. I have loved them ever since.

These were the videos that played that day.

1. Glycerine by Bush

2. 1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins

3. Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai

...and...

4. Mmm bop by Hanson

After those pretty epic vids, maybe you can understand how the radio would never be the same again.

Now let's flash back to 1996/1997 when I looked like this:

And wore my brother's old umbros:

And these were popular:

Let's welcome the new decade with class... and no more hair clips...