I saw this side of Raleigh today

At the Cardinal Club on the 28th floor. I tell ya... being part of the Chamber is like getting a year-long introduction to the city. It's great.



I got both of these from RaleighSkyline.com.

It's raining in...

I love rain outside an open window in the evening... at any time of night. Especially when you can feel the light breeze coming in and you're watching a movie or just being with people. Yeah... I like that.

And it makes me think of this song, which I have loved ever since I was about 11. Or something. Ever since I was little anyway.

The circus is falling down on its knees
The big top is crumbling down
It's raining in Baltimore, fifty miles east
Where you should be
No one's around

I need a phone call
I need a raincoat
I need a big love
I need a phone call...

These train conversations are passing me by
And I don't have nothing to say
You get what you paid for but I just had no
Intention of living this way.

I need a phone call
I need a plane ride
I need a sunburn
I need a raincoat.

And I get no answers
And I don't get no change
It's raining in Baltimore, baby
But everything else is the same.

There's things I'll remember
Things I'll forget
I MISS YOU. I guess that I should
Three thousand five hundred miles away
What would you change if you could?

I need a phone call
Maybe I should buy a new car?
I can always hear a freight train...
Baby if I listen real hard
And I wish, I wish it was a small world
Cause I'm lonely for the big towns
I like to hear a little guitar
I guess it's time to put the top down
I need a phone call
I need a raincoat
I really need a raincoat
Really, really need a raincoat... really really really need a raincoat
I really need a raincoat.

This is Counting Crows at their best. None of this Accidentally in Love crap. They do their best when singing out their lonely little hearts.

I've realized lately that I really like sad songs. I don't know why cause I'm not a sad person but I just really like sad songs.

Um yeah

Maybe you're not all as lucky to be able to say this as I am... but I will truly never again underestimate my ability to make a situation 10x more awkward than necessary.

Eeeeexcellent.

I also will never underestimate my ability to waste HOURS AND HOURS!! So not okay. I mean it is fine, whatever, but making up for it is rough.

Just feeling all around down on myself. Blah. Can I go on a vacation or something?

Summatime

It is crazy hot in North Carolina!

What concerns me is not so much the actual heat, but the fact that I seem to be the only person that feels this way.

I just discovered Pullen Park, which is downtown near NC State. I went down there today with a blanket, some music, and a book, all intended to induce a state of chill and a slight riiiiiiiiiise in melatonin. There were so many couples, children, picnic lunches, footballs, strollers, and on and on. What was especially cute is one whole park shelter was full of families (I think the requirement must have been to bring at least one young, happy child per adult.) I wasn't exactly sure what they were doing but it involved balloons and Easter baskets. So I'm lying on this hill reading my book, when something white and furry starts moving in my periphery... Yes, the Easter Bunny walked over the hill.

The children lost it.

They were soooo happy. It was a mass movement to run and embrace this lovable, if not scary, man-sized Easter bunny. Very cute and made me smile. I even tried to take a cameraphone picture but it was too far away... sorry.

Anyway, my whole point with this story is that tons of people at the park were in jeans and sneakers (and t-shirts lol). I was in a skirt, a tank top, and flip flops (we're talking maximum circulation) and STILL dying!!

I am afraid that I may have moved way too far south. The summer is going to be rough.

Survey of 4s

Four Jobs I've had:

concessions at a car race track (for 1 day! HA! We got fired I guess.)
news room assistant at city newspaper
waitress
communications director

Four movies I'd watch over and over again:

With Honors
You've Got Mail or Sleepless in Seattle (What's the difference really?)
The original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
LOTR: Return of the King

Four Places I've Lived:

Topeka, KS
Rapid City, SD
Moorhead, MN
Wheaton, IL

Four TV shows I love to watch:

The Apprentice
The Office
American Idol
A Wedding Story or A Baby Story

Four Websites I visit daily:

my personalized Google homepage
Wikipedia.com
Flickr's interestingness (not everyday but often)
Someone's blog or myspace

Four places I've been on Vacation:

Ozarks, Missouri
New England (MA, ME, Montreal, Canada, etc.)
New York
San Francisco

Four foods I love:

Chocolate
Chai and coffee (Yes I'm going to put them on one line.. what're you gonna do about it? :)
Spanakopita
My Dad's Shepherd's Pie (ground beef, peas, mashed potatoes, and lots of cheese)

Four places I'd rather be:

Sitting on a huge porch on Cape Cod overlooking the ocean
At a concert
In a swimming pool in the middle of summer
Italy, Ireland, or Greece

Tagging:

If the spirit moves ya, do this survey :)

Images of Human Trafficking

Here is an excellent photography exhibit showing the real faces of men, women, and children who have been trafficked for sexual or labor exploitation. My organization works with the State Department's TIP Office, the creators of this site.

Repetition

Little known Jenny facts... I can do a full 45 minute workout (treadmill, elliptical, whatever) with just 1 song on repeat. In fact, I kinda like it that way. Sometimes 2 songs. Lately it's been "Over My Head." Helps me focus, strangely. A lot of Rent tracks are excellent for this, too. Most notably Out Tonight, Rent, and Another Day.

Hot Air Balloon Ride in CA

Please somebody take me on a hot air balloon ride. Preferably male and preferably confess your love to me and propose while were are up there. lol This looks really magical.

Demonic Puppy

I also love this. Makes me laugh. Even puppies have bad days, apparently.

FREAKIN cute

Oh... my... gosh. Baby hedgehog? God is so creative and (can be so) cutesy. I love this!

Tangier, Morocco

I love this photo because it reminds me that there are people in this world (billions of them) who have a totally different perspective than I do. It helps me get less caught up in my own hysteria. As my Dad says, "Everything is important - Nothing is important."

Beautiful smoke / incense / love

This is coooooool. Yeah for art.