Single Ladies: The Garden State Pt. 2

Why go to New Jersey you ask? To see these awesome people of course:
Ian Axel, Allie Moss, and Lauren Zettler

If you're really really, really lucky, Chad Vaccarino will be there and he'll sing with Ian. Poolside.


You could hear new songs, like You'll Be Okay.


Ian might do a cover of Greg Holden's Are We Wasted. Not a song you're likely to ever hear him perform live ever again. Solo at least. (he, he, he)


Then if the stars have completely aligned, Allie will join Ian and Chad in singing Shorty Don't Wait.


If you want, sit by the pool and discuss the future of Ian's career, the similarities between your belief systems, aliens, and tips on moving to NYC. If Ian and/or Chad happen to mention going to lunch next time you're in NYC, you will know they don't think you're completely crazy.

Observations:
-The look on someone's face when you completely and utterly surprise them is still among my favorite things ever.
-Allie Moss' mom makes delicious food, including homemade marshmallows.
-If you see an artist 3 times at 3 different house shows in 3 different states, all in one month, she might greet you with a kiss on the cheek.

Post-game analysis:
-Bring a sweater in case you get the opportunity to experience your first dose of fall weather.

Single Ladies: The Garden State Pt. 1

Get in the car and drive to New Jersey. That's right, New Jersey. It helps if it's the weekend after Labor Day. Still warm and less crowded. Also, bring your soul twin.

Stay in a slightly creepy, yet charming, old hotel with the slowest elevator on the planet.

Opt for an ocean-side room.

Do awesome things that I will post about tomorrow . . . ;)

The next morning take a stroll down the boardwalk. People watch, it's awesome.

When you see signs that tell you there's an Oysterfest in the area, follow them.

If you've never eaten oysters, try them. After all, you are at Oysterfest.

When you've taken part of enough of the festivities, stock up on kettle corn and start the somewhat long drive home.

Observations:
-Oysters are slimy, even when fried. The buffalo sauce and blue cheese do help though.
-Not all of Jersey is bad, in fact some of it is magical.
-Sometimes hotels only give you shampoo and lotion, no conditioner. Lame, I know.
-Lotion is not a good substitute for conditioner. Check bottle before using.

Post-Game Analysis:
-Bring blankets, sometimes the AC in your hotel room only has 2 settings: perma-freeze and off.
-Go with the peanut butter balls instead of the chocolate covered cheesecake-on-a-stick.

Single Ladies: Handsome AND Talented

Go to concerts for bands you've never really heard of as well as for the bands you absolutely love. Enjoy the show, rock out if and when it's appropriate. However if you want to make the most of your experience, you should probably stick around after and meet the rather attractive rock stars. For example:

Mikel Jollett from The Airborne Toxic Event.

Or Noah Harmon, also from The Airborne Toxic Event.

Andrew Belle is super nice and will blow your mind with his talent.

Chatting with Joshua Radin post show is always must. Duh.


Observations:
-Waiting until the crowd dies down to talk to an artist can be the best idea you've ever had or it can mean not meeting the artist at all. It's a gamble, so go with your gut.
- Paying 50 bucks to hear Joshua Radin play 2 songs from a 30 minute set is totally worth it.
-If I weren't already secure in my beliefs, I'd probably opt to become Jewish because of the magical experiences I've had at the Sixth and I Synagogue.

Post-game analysis:
-When going to a show, take the route you think is best, even in Garmin tells you to go another way. Otherwise it could end up taking you almost 2 hours to make a 20 minute drive. (Josh was still worth it).
-Bring a working sharpie.
-Think, then speak.

Single Ladies: Good Old PA

Decide at midnight to go to Pennsylvania with your soul twin. Leave by 7am. Drive around, take in the beauty, then go to Hershey.

Observations:
-Hershey really does smell like chocolate.
-Chocolate Peanut Butter milkshakes must be the nectar of the gods.

Post-game analysis (what I would do to make the trip even better next time):
-Take more pictures!!!
-See what movies are playing at the drive-in so you can plan that into your trip if you'd like.
-Bring a lawyer who loves to fish so he can go fishing in a magical stream while you read a book and wait for your soul twin to be done with a bridal shower. Eat dinner at Texas Roadhouse with said lawyer and soul twin.

Single Ladies: Introduction

I can count on one hand the number of weekends I've spent at home over the past 4 months. It seems life has been one fun adventure after the next. Sometimes I wonder how long this can possibly last or if this is actually the new "normal" for my life. Either way, I feel extremely blessed for the opportunities that have been presented to me and for the friends that I've been able to share these good times with.

I was sitting outside eating a more than delicious meal in Park Slope this summer when the friend I was with made an observation. She said, "If you have to be single, this is how to do it!" This is something that's stuck with me ever since and seems appropriate more these days than ever. I was discussing this attitude (I guess you could call it) with another friend and he told me to watch a particular clip from the TV show Brothers and Sisters where Sally Fields' character is giving advice on a call-in radio show. She said, "You have to give up the life you've planned to find the life that's waiting for you." I am definitely not living the life I thought I would be at 29, but the life that I am living sure is amazing!! At least to me. :)

Now you might be asking what the point in telling you all that is? Well, it's because is the theme of my next several posts is going to be "if you have to be single, this is how to do it." Check back over the next week to see what I've been doing instead of blogging! ;)

P.S. I put a new playlist up of songs I've been loving lately. It's right over here ------------------>

Keeping Warm

Welcome back dear friends, I've missed you!