inspiration in the weirdest places

Tonight I listened to a song 15 times in a row. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t think I could understand it.

Then it took a simple slap in the face for me to see that I really understood it all along. Even before I started listening.

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See a game at Yankee Stadium.
Make out with someone between moving subway cars.
Celebrate the 4th of July on a rooftop.
Visit MOMA (this summer).
Visit the Guggenheim (this summer).
Visit the Met (this summer).
See something on Broadway.
Visit the Natural History Museum and take polaroids.
Visit the Deitch Gallery on a non-business related visit.
Walk/bike the Williamsburg bridge.
Dance in a thunderstorm.

Find a group of friends that finally really mean something to me.

The weekend was splendiferous. I feel terrible knowing that my readership is going down due to lack of posting, but I am going to try WAY harder to update. I mean, I just sent my mom an email that was longer than most of the posts I write, so I really have no excuse.
It’s not like I don’t have the time. Honestly, it is too hot to write. I feel as if I could write on the west coast if it was that hot, I mean, 90 degrees of DRY heat is way different than 90 degrees of HUMIDITY. It makes me want to die. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m going to sell my soul in exchange for air conditioning. My roommate already has done that.

I honestly can’t justify an investment like an air conditioner for an apartment I’m going to live in for 2.5 more months. If I buy one, it’s not like I can put it in storage until I move in February - seriously, it would be a storage unit with an air conditioner, maybe some of my summer clothes, and quite possibly my new best friend, Mr. Box Fan.

To distract myself from the heat, I’ve been trying to keep busy in air conditioned places. And if I’m at the apartment, I sit in front of my fan in a swimsuit (seriously.) On Saturday, I spent most of the day in front of the fan, using my dove bronzing lotion and painting my fingernails while catching up on all the MTV I’ve missed during the week (AMERICAS BEST DANCE CREW AUDITIONS, YES PLEASE!) then went out for dinner with Stef and a coworker. We got Tapas (SO GOOD) and saw Sex and the City (SO LONG). It was fun, but I wouldn’t force any non-fan to sit through over 2 hours of outfit montages and carrie-isms. I certainly enjoyed it, but I have an annual SATC marathon where I watch every episode in order. You may call me a loser, but I see it as dedication.

Yesterday was fabulous, in the most fabulous sense of the word. Brunch was fabulous. The Murakami exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum was fabulous. Rob was fabulous (hah.) and dinner with Matt and Stef and Rob was delicious - seriously go to Momofuku. the pork will change your life. fo reals.

I am just so unmotivated to do anything now. Somebody give me a new blog to read… hopefully one that updates every 45 seconds plz. k thanks.

problem solved

I’m having a difficult time getting consistent internet.
So to keep you busy until my next post, here’s something that made my day:

this kid is my hero

enjoy.

Favorite person: My Mommy.

Favorite food: POTATOES. omg there is no way to make potatoes bad. i think Matt once said that if you put a dead baby on a potato, it would be gross, and i agree. but i still think there is no bad way to COOK a potato, ALRIGHT?

Quirks about you: I am terrible with driving directions. Sometimes I just want to get in a fist fight to know how it feels. I like sleeping with the windows open. When I finish a Sudoku, I feel INCREDIBLY accomplished.

How would the person who loves you most decribe you, in ten words or less? driven. smart. gifted. caring. emotional. intuitive. eccentric. hilarious.

Any regrets in life? a few, but i wouldnt be who i am without them. i make decisions really quickly and i have a tendency to be a bit dramatic. i regret those qualities.

Favorite charity/cause: Not For Sale Campaign. a lot of people dont know this, but ive been passionate about human trafficking for awhile.

Favorite blog recently: Alex’s. I wish he’d write more. Also, see this post

Something you can’t get enough of: coke zero. ungghhh

What job would you pay not to have? someone that deals with scraping mold. or first or second grade teacher. sweet jesus that shit is hard.

Guilty pleasure: Ding Dongs

If you had to spend $1000 on yourself, how would you spend it? new wardrobe. im slowly but surely changing my style, but its difficult to replace it in big chunks. deng i would get some more sweet levis and a-lifes and solid colored vnecks. Ah, the good life.

Favorite thing about your house: Oregon Houses: Mom’s balcony overlooking the park and the living room windows and the osprey that lives on the roof. Dad’s basement and limitless supply of my favorite foods that i shouldnt eat. Boston: my bed. and the fact i live by myself and dont have to share HEHEHEHHE

Least favorite thing about your house: Oregon Houses: Mom and Dad’s - I DONT ACTUALLY LIVE HERE: none of my personal belongings are here and i live out of a suitcase. Boston: windows. I wish i had huge windows and there wasnt so much dust. i feel like i non-stop dust sometimes.

One thing you’re good at: typing. im almost at 100 wpm. take that mavis beacon.

If you could change something about your circumstances, what would it be? less medical crap that isn’t really treatable.

Who would you like to meet someday? David Cross please be my second daddy.

What makes you feel sexy? feeling desired

Who is your real-life hero? madre, yo. she’s a tough lady.

What is the hardest part of your job? I mean, not having one, so not making any money? or doing a job that doesnt pay, so still not making money? but if you consider being a student a job, the stress that comes with studying and trying to do well.

When are you most relaxed? in a cold room, under the covers, in bed.

What stresses you out? HAH. well for starters, studying. feeling unprepared. spontaneity.

What can you not live without? hair thingies. i would die if i couldnt put my hair in a ponytail. id shave it off.

Do you agree or disagree with the recent article that stated blog authors are narcissists? Aren’t we all? I would say we’re just as much attention-seekers as narcissists. we want people to respond to what we write so we put it in a public place to be seen… not to necessarily hear/see our own voice.

Why do you blog? communication feels good to me. rambling/ranting on the phone for long periods of time makes me anxious, so this is a good outlet.

In no particular order…

Weezer’s “Pork and Beans”

Not only is Weezer going back to the sound that made them kickass in the first place, but this video is brilliant, utilizing v-video that is still in everyone’s minds. The only thing missing is a Rick Roll.

The Grouch’s “Artsy”

In a surprisingly similar vain, The Grouch’s “Artsy” pulls from contemporary music video and commercials to make a pretty interesting video. I feel like Talib Kweli or Swiss Beatz or Lupe Fiasco already did something making fun of the HP commercials (how those three are in a group, I don’t know) but somebody did. I still like this video.

We Are Scientists’ “After Hours”

Not only do I love We Are Scientists more after this video, but I’ve always loved Akiva Schaffer (YES, of AKIVA, JORMA AND ANDY OF LONELY ISLAND!!!) This video is simple, the budget probably went to hiring the actress (who is on 30 Rock or something? What’s with 30 Rock kids getting cast in music videos lately?) and paying the dog’s SAG fees or something.

Flight of the Conchords’ “Ladies of the World”

If I have to explain why this is great, you either have absolutely no idea who I am or are as boring as a brick. Fo seriously.

Foo Fighters’ “Pretender”

Dave Grohl gives me a boner and the simplicity of the idea and killer effects and imagery is like a sweet sweet orgasm for the eyes. Seriously, somebody was like “Here: run around with this steady cam for like four minutes. By the way, wear a poncho.” (better res is available on youtubes, just not embedded)

Girls Aloud’s “Don’t Speak French”

Guilty pleasure. I’m sorry. Whoever picked these girls out of an audition line was a genius. The song sucks, the idea sucks, but dear God, where did these creatures come from? Way to put out there the only thing these girls have got goin for them… Bravo hair/makeup/costume. (P.S. I’m sorry I made you watch that.)

Herman Dunes’ “1-2-3-Apple-Tree”

There’s just something about well done contemporary puppetry that really makes my day. And I dig the song. It just makes me feel good. I think.

Tokyo Police Clubs’ “Tesselate”

My boy Miguel came up with the concept and co-directed it (fo seriously) and I love it. I think it’s an adorable concept, and kind of takes me back to that Disney World thing, Body Worlds or whatever they’ve got, where you go through that journey of the body to help this guy out and there’s all these other guys living inside this guy trying to help him get through the day. (I’m pretty sure it has to do with reproduction too, but I probably blocked that from my 9 year-old memory.) This, however, has nothing to do with reproduction, and is probably cooler.

I’m sure I have tons of more videos to say I love, but these were the ones I found easily. I hope you like them too, and maybe see something you haven’t seen yet. There’s a lot of crap out there, but luckily there’s some select groups of artists floating around…

Natalie’s Regular Online Reads

1. wearemjr blog - my boys Mattaboo, Jules, Mumu, Robbykins, and Sean (sorry Sean, no nickname yet because we haven’t met in person yet.) They also have their regular site wearemjr. i love those boys and they work hard for good stuff.

2. Gawker. I loves the Gawker. It makes me feel like I’m one step closer to my New York life. Sometimes they have stuff I really don’t care about (see #4) but sometimes they have really hilarious stuff.

3. Perez Hilton. Bitch please. You know I have to read it. I’m getting annoyed though because all he’s been writing about lately is that girl at Yale that is talking about doing her art installation on miscarriages she had. EW gross. But I seriously can’t read about it that much.

4. Emily Brill’s blog “Confessions of a 5th Avenue Misfit” is a sometimes-read. Quite honestly I’m not sure who she is, but Gawker keeps giving her shit for being born into a wealthy New York family. I wasn’t raised in the East, so I’m not familiar with “everyone” in New York, but I hope to learn them all soon

5. Cute Overload and I Can Has Cheezburger. Brilliant shit that makes you die every 24 hours. I just love baby animals and animals with bukkits and lols. Sorry.

6. Videostatic. Gots to keep myself updated on my industry T-minus 40 days till I’m back in the game.

7. Sensible Erection. It’s a community blog that’s absolutely amazing. The things people post can either be absolutely funny, rediculous, disgusting, or just straight up Porn. I mean, you can skip the porn (I most certainly do) but the other stuff is great. I’ve posted a few times.

8. The Sartoralist. Amazing clothes. Makes me wish I had more money so I could just spend it on fabulous clothes and have him take pictures of me. I’m secretly hoping to get photographed… bwahah. I’d have to look consistently fabulous though, and I get whiney about heels.