Yesterday was AWESOME.

We got up wicked early for my 5k. We got up at 5:45 so we could leave by 6:30 for Burlington, got there around 8, parked, I registered and got my bib and went for a warm-up walk along the waterfront. We watched the kids fun run, which was cute. Then it was my turn. I was nervous, but I did okay. I put myself in the right place and paced myself pretty well to start out with. I won't lie--I did walk some of it, more than I wanted to. But I still finished in 40 minutes, and considering I do it in 35 when I run the whole thing on the treadmill, that's not too bad. I HATE running outside, but I'm making myself get better at it because I love the running and there aren't really treadmill races, so....I have to suck it up and deal. Here's me before the race:

And here's me coming across the finish line:
(And for the record, I'm not cheesing for the camera. I really do smile when I'm running. Not the whole time, for sure, but very often, even on the treadmill I'll grin like a freakin' idiot.)

After the race Matt and my friends ate my post-race food while I downed about 5 little bottles of water (cause I couldn't fathom eating but I was wicked thirsty). We went to a hotel and I took a shower and changed and we walked around Burlington for a bit. Got lunch. Did a little shopping. Later Matt and I went to see "UP" which is AMAZING. I laughed and I cried...sooo good. By the time that was done I was just about spent. Physically and emotionally drained. We got me some more coffee, and agreed we would just come home since I was about to crash, I might as well sleep in my own bed where Matt could stay up later and have more fun (we were planning to stay overnight originally, but I underestimated how tired I would be). Before we left for home, though, we stopped into a record store and I hit Elvis Costello gold--we found vinyl copies of King of America, Blood & Chocolate, Imperial Bedroom and My Aim Is True. Sweet Ass. And I got an old copy of Musician magazine with Elvis on the cover and a huge interview inside (which I was way too tired to read last night). I am so excited--we have cool Elvis schwag--and it only cost me $33, which is sweet!

I think that about covers my day. :o)

I’ve always had a thing for older men. I remember watching “Dallas” with my mom when I was a little kid and I always loved J.R. As a 3-year-old I had a thing for Larry Hagman. And Michael Landon, “Highway to Heaven” was one of my favorites. Then as a young teenager it became Dean Cain, who could have only technically been old enough to be my father. But again I’ve progressed—I adore Jon Stewart with his quick wit and salt & peppered hair, Keith Olbermann, with his sharp suits and sharper tongue, and most importantly and overwhelmingly—Elvis Costello—who has been making music since before my parents met. I love him. LOVE HIM.  Since Matt started introducing me to his music somewhere in my late college career I’ve become obsessed. I think he’s brilliant. Between Matt and I we have almost every album he’s released (though admittedly I’ve been reaping the benefits of Matt’s obsession with a certain set of Rhino double disc re-releases). He’s an amazing songwriter, and his lyrics are incredible. There’s Elvis for just about every occasion and mood. And his performances are spectacular. I would pay just about anything to see him because I know it will be money well spent—he’s extremely consistent and consistently good. His shows are always a solid 2 1/2 – 3 hours, and always better than good. He’s just always on. I’ve seen him 5 times now, and I’ve never been disappointed (and its not just because I’m a severe fan-girl).

So Tuesday, we pack up the car and head to Red Bank, New Jersey for the first concert on the tour for his new album “Secret, Profane and Sugarcane”. We were amped. It’s been about a year since we saw him on the Dylan tour, we took Tuesday and Wednesday off of work, booked a hotel room and headed to Jersey.

The concert was amazing. Really solid. Really different from any of the previous shows we’d been to, which is one of the things I LOVE about Elvis—he makes whatever music he wants to make. But I’m not really here to review the concert. This guy did a pretty good job of that.  I’m here to confess my undying love for the musical genius that is Elvis Costello, whom I met after that show on Tuesday night. That's right, in case you have somehow missed it--I MET ELVIS COSTELLO!!!!

We cased the joint before the show. Our hotel was two blocks from the venue, we walked over early to get dinner, check out the area and make a brief stop into Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash (where we met The Walt Flanagan). We found out where to go after the show—where we could hang around and hope to meet the man, the legend—Elvis. So after the show we joined the small crowd gathered with some amazing paraphanilia for him to sign. I mean, Elvis fans have some seriously cool stuff. I was jealous of the collections. The event staff simply said “Be cool. The cooler you guys are, the longer he’ll hang out and talk and all that. So be cool.” We waited patiently. And then, much sooner than we expected, he came out. He looked AMAZING. At first I thought they had a young Costello impersonator acting as a decoy, he looked so good. We’ve seen him pretty consistently in recent years, and had some good views (the first show we went to I was literally two people back from the stage), so we’ve always known him to be a pretty solid, kind of stocky guy. But seriously, all the time with Diana and their toddlers has been good to him because he looks AMAZING. Like I said, I momentarily thought there was a younger look-a-like acting as a decoy. Dapper as always in the requisite leather jacket, oversized glasses and hat, it took everything within me to remain upright. I could’ve passed out right there I was so excited. I finally got my turn, I handed him our poster and Matt’s brush pen (instead of the usual sharpie). He said (with his charming accent) “It’s like painting,” as he started to sign. I said “yeah, that’s what I get from dating an artist.” He said “well in that case,” and continued to doodle his little caricature of himself. We said thank you and asked for a picture. He kindly obliged, resting his hand on my shoulder and posing for what is now the background on my computer and my phone and will soon be printed and framed as one of my prize possessions:

( seriously? you thought I'd make this easy? )

I thanked him again and backed off so someone else could have their turn and I could get some air because I was beside myself. I could barely stand up, and I almost cried I was so excited. (For those who remember the Paul Rudd incident, note that I was able to have a conversation this time. However, like the last time, I would not have been able to find my way home without Matt’s guidance.)

Yeah. So that was my night with the AMAZING Elvis Costello. I will be framing the tickets with the picture of us and the shirt I was wearing because HE TOUCHED IT and I can never wash it or wear it again now. (Which is awesome because it was the shirt I made for our first ever Elvis concert.) And I’m going to frame the poster separately.

Here’s the picture of his signature and caricature.
( yes, I'm making you work for it )

And here’s the setlist from Tuesday’s show, for those who might care

( 6.9.09 Setlist )

I'm in love with Momofuku.

Elvis Costello's new album is AMAZING. I mean, I totally dug The Delivery Man when it came out. Listened to it all summer, saw 2 concerts on that tour. Bought just about every freakin' version of it he released (so I'd have all the extras). But this album, this Momofuku, is AWESOME. I love it. It's perfect for the weather. And I've found myself listening to very little else lately. After my running podcast ends, I move on to this album. Cleaning, packing, driving to work--this album accompanies it all. Brilliant lyrics (now that they've finally posted on elviscostello.com). And one of the best love songs I think he's ever written (and despite what you may have heard about Elvis Costello, there are some good love songs in his catalog).

I'm so glad he decided to go back to making records. (Quite literally as this was released on vinyl). He's outdone himself. This is up there with Imperial Bedroom (the Elvis album according to most fans. It is in my top three, but my favorite is still Brutal Youth, though this Momofuku is making me question that...). Brilliant album. For reals.

Okay. I need to go to bed now. I have to get up early and work all freakin' day tomorrow (open at the bank until 1030 tomorrow night at the store). And please, for the love of God, if you haven't bought your Mother's Day cards yet, shame on you, buy them tomorrow--don't make me hate you on Sunday when I'm working and you're bitching about the shitty selection. Thanks, love, Emily.

First off: the snow yesterday! Oh my gosh! I could hardly believe it. Glad it didn't stick, but man I wish it would warm back up already.

Second: Crazy Wednesday at the bank. It was a crazy Wednesday at the bank. I don't want to go into it too much, but I will tell you the best story--I was on the drive up and there was one lady who needed to cash a check. First she gave me the wrong check (it had been canceled by the grocery store). So she gives me the right check, but she hasn't endorsed it. I send that back, she signs it, but when she goes to put it back in the drawer it catches and falls on the ground. She's unable to get out of her car to get it. It's snow flurrying and I was kind of busy so I finish with the customer at the second lane and run outside to get the check. She's got her cane holding it against the building so it doesn't blow away. She felt so bad, but it was HILARIOUS. And it had just been that kind of day. A good story to tell, at any rate.

Third: Momofuku is the new album by Elvis Costello and the Imposters and it is AWESOME. The first release is VINYL--2 33 1/3 RPM records, with codes enclosed for MP3 downloads. Matt bought the records and we downloaded the MP3s first thing this morning. It is really good. I hear bits of 2 of my top 3 Elvis albums in it, which makes it awesome.

Fourth: I'm really getting into the communities and such on Spark People. I broke down and bought my heart rate monitor early because I wanted a new gadget. I love it. And I'm having fun posting goals and entering challenges and such on the SP site. Loving it.

Fifth: I didn't make my 100 miles goal, but that hasn't deterred me. I'm going about 3 miles a pop now, so my goal for May is 50 miles. Which admittedly sounds absurd considering I had trouble making 100 in 4 months let alone 50 in one. But the whole point is to push and challenge myself, what good is it if I make a goal that's too easy. I figure I've been doing roughly 3 miles per workout, I go to the gym about 4 times a week, that's 12 miles a week or 48 a month right there, I'm only pushing for 2 more miles than that. So here goes. And here's the new ticker:



Sixth: We looked at another apartment today and fell in love with it. It's a little more expensive than this place, but Matt will be working so we can afford it and it would be well worth the extra money. It's a little smaller than the place we have here, but as I said to Matt--"I love it! It's a great place! 2 closets! A real landlord! A real lease! We can get a kitty!"--and he agrees that getting away from Crazy McLandlord would be a great thing. So we're going for it. We're going to fill out the application tonight, fax it to the guy tomorrow and figure out how to scrape together the deposit by the end of the month. Everyone please keep your fingers crossed for us because we really want this place!

Seventh: I LOVE oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Love them. They are probably my favorite cookies ever and I made some today. Yum-O. :)

K. I think I'm done for now. (At least until I get back from the gym and the ticker gets an update.)

So, the concert last. Let's just start with the opening act. Amos Lee. Good stuff. Check him out. This is why I like being there for the opener--1) you paid for it and 2) you never know when you're going to see the next "it" performer or at least someone you might like as an opening act.

So Amos was good. Elvis was AWESOME. Yes, I'm slightly biased, but he's an amazing performer. The man is consistent--and consistently good. His voice doesn't fail. And he was amazing solo. Amazing. So much so, that I've decided that if he ever does his own solo tour I'm going to take a leave of absence from work and follow him around the country. It was that good.

Bob was...well...good for Bob. Dylan shows, so they say, can be hit or miss. But lets just say that out of an over an hour set, I only recognized two songs. Partially because he was playing new stuff I hadn't heard, but mostly because I just can't understand a goddamned word coming out of his mouth. Seriously. The two I picked out I got from knowing the intro music well enough. One was "Lay Lady Lay" (a personal favorite of mine) and the other was "Like A Rolling Stone". "Lay Lady Lay" while I'm so glad he did it because it is one of my faves, was disappointing because his voice just can't do it any more. The original version is so smooth and kinda hot, but last night he just kind of...spoke it. It was hard after Elvis, who is so consistently smooth and awesome. I'm a much bigger fan of recorded Bob because I at least have a fighting chance at understanding him. And that mush-mouth kills me because he's a lyrics guy and you can't understand a damn word. Just sad.

The company was okay. The people on one side were okay enough. The other side just shouldn't have bothered coming to the show. They spent half the concert coming in and out to get more food, drinks, souveniers and when they were in the concert they were talking. They should've gone to a restaraunt. And then, at the end, despite being on an end, they walked in front of the rest of the row to exit. Dumb asses. I made a snide remark as they passed me. Not good for my karma, but I don't care. It was rude and unneccesary.

Today was good. Got my hair chopped off again. Went to the gym and had lunch with Matt. Got a good nap in. And soon we'll start getting ready for the Fashion Extravaganza and after party. :o)

This is great (especially if you are a lover the permanantly stubbled bespectacled one as I am).

...because Elvis can't come this close without me seeing him.

I really can't afford to spend $60 bucks to see Elvis Costello and the Imposters at Blossom...but he's coming! And it's so hard to say no! I don't know if I can! I certainly don't want to...

Why Elvis...why?

*sighs*

I love this song. I love the way Elvis sings it. And I'm stuck on it right now, but I'm not sure why...

Poor Fractured Atlas
by Elvis Costello

He's out in the woods with his squirrel gun
To try to recapture his anger
He's screaming some words at the top of his lungs
Until he begins to feel younger
But back at his desk in the city we find
Our trembling punch-drunken fighter
Who can't find the strength now to punish the length
Of the ribbon in his little typewriter

Poor fractured Atlas
Threw himself across the mattress
Waving his withering pencil as if it were a pirate's cutlass
I'm almost certain he's trying to increase his burden
He said "That's how the child in me planned it
A woman wouldn't understand it"

I believe there was something that I wanted to say
Before I conclude this epistle
But you would forgive me for holding my tongue
'Cause man made the blade and the pistol
Yes man made the waterfall over the dam
To temper his tantrum with magic
Now you can't be sure of that tent of azure
Since he punched a hole in the fabric

Poor fractured Atlas
Threw himself across the mattress
Waving his withering pencil as if it were a pirate's cutlass
I'm almost certain he's trying to increase his burden
He said "That's how the child in me planned it
A woman wouldn't understand it"

Didn't get anything done on my essay (yet) today, but I did clean my room very well, come up with a list of cleaning related tasks I need to start since I will be moving this year (one way or another). And I downloaded a new browser because while I was okay with Safari, it did kind of suck. Firefox is seeming much better to me already. hoo ah. Had a good workout with my sister today. The only bad thing about having someone to work out with is that I'll talk instead of focusing and getting in the zone like I do when I'm alone so I don't work quite as hard, but it's nice to not go by myself all the time and it's quality time with my sister, which is always nice.

Been searching (to no avail) for Elvis Costello's cover of "Beautiful" that was featured on "House" a few months back. If anyone happens across it, in ANY FORM, let me know, I will download it or pay for it or whatever.

I should get going soon, Matt suggested I come over around 7, and it's already 6:15. I still have to stop home to pick up some stuff, then possibly at the store to pick up dinner.

Perhaps I'll call him and put away my stuff.

More later, hang tough, kids.

Emme out. :)

Elvis is doing an orchestra tour this year. The first half of the show is from his composition "Il Sogno" and the second half will be some of his popular stuff.

WHY IS HE NOT COMING TO CLEVELAND?!?!?!

He's killin' me.

And yes, I am that girl who paused one E.C. song on her iTunes to listen to the one on the muzak at Arabica.

Elvis Costello is on the Muzak at Arabica. This totally rocks my freakin' socks off! :)

I'm alive...I survived...more about that later...

hang tough, kids.

thanks, love, emily

So I feel like I've been fairly productive today--I worked for 4 hours this morning (giving me damn near 40 hours this week), uploaded about half of my Elvis Costello collection and a few other CDs to iTunes, found artwork to go with the Elvis I have uploaded, found a new background picture and requested a book from the library.

This week I have stuff to do though, seriously. It's been fun to play with my computer, but I need to start using it for its intended purpose as well--school shizzle. I've been a slacker with all of that lately (and a lot of other things) so here is the list for the week--if I tell you all, then I have to do it. So here goes:

*Download information from Loyola U Chicago by October 1
*Download information from 3 other schools by October 1
*Finish reading Quarter-Life Crisis
*finish reading Overcoming Anxiety
*take one practice GRE psych test
*review 3 chapters from GRE study guide
*outline for Loyola entrance essay

So how glad am I that I don't have to work at the buttcrack of dawn next week? I'll tell you, I'm extremely happy. I'm something of a morning person, but I hate getting up that early. I don't like to be in bed still at noon, I start getting edgy somewhere after 10, but I don't like seeing 5 or 6 a.m. unless I'm seeing it from behind.

So yeah, not sure what's on the agenda for tonight, but I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening, one way or another. Perhaps Elyria's Parade of Bands, perhaps no, we'll see what the boyfriend is up for.

Well, I'm going to attempt to do some other stuff on here...more soon. Hang tough, kids...

at the most recent Elvis concert I went to he changed the words to "The Scarlet Tide" to better suit the situation in Iraq. I thought it was beautiful, and while I wish that I could have a recording of him singing this version, at least now I have the text. (P.S. The concert I was at was the one where someone apparently walked out because of the lyrical change--not that we noticed or cared.)

"The original text adapted an arcane idiom:

I thought I heard a black bell toll
A little bird did sing;
‘Man has no choice when he wants everything’

Little birds are always telling you something in old folk songs.

At 5.15am, we were on stage at the “Today” show rehearing the new lyrics, the
repeated verse of which reads:

I thought I heard a black bell toll upon the highest dome
Admit you lied
And bring the boys back home"

Is there any doubt why I love him?

"Chapter One..."
I've had that song stuck in my head since Friday--where he played it at the freakin' concert!!!! BTW...Elvis rocks sooo much--he played a solid THREE HOUR CONCERT on Friday. He started 5 minutes early and took only 5 minutes break when he had to leave the stage before the encore--which lasted almost an hour. It was INCREDIBLE!! Even better than the first one I went to...I love him. Can't wait for him to come back, but glad he's getting a rest--I'm sure he'd like to see his wife (especially since he likes this one).

"Chapter Two..."
Trying to get stuff sorted out in my physical reality. Tonight will be a good time since Matt has to work both jobs. And tomorrow, since I'm off. Oy. I have soo much junk to go through and things to figure out yet. I seriously need to make a big list of stuff to accomplish tomorrow (since we all know I do better when my time is structured). Not to mention that I really need to finish that 50 things list about me.

"Chapter Three..."
I'm so with merry_agnostic on this--I'm SOOOO glad that Anna on "Average Joe: The Joes Strike Back" chose a real guy (though she chose a remodeled average guy and not one of the ones I was rooting for--still, he was an average Joe). I had faith that if there was a woman to choose an average guy it would be Anna and she did not mislead me. I love it.

"Chapter Four..."
I really should get off the computer and do something productive. More later...

...but I wouldn't know what to do with myself if it weren't. Here's the list...not all of it is going to happen, but I'm gonna see how much I can make happen...here goes...

*2 enormous loads of laundry (second load is in the washer now)
*watch Dawn's kids
*call Erin
*call Drea
*call Katie
*call Elvis-Jim Re: his shirt
*get letters for/make my shrit for tomorrow
*clean up around the apartment
*go to gym
*update calendar for August
*make to-do list for friday
*filing
*get cards in the mail
*finish lj 100 things list
*get bills ready to mail
*make more construction paper pages
*manicure
*call Manager Mike

these must be done today partially because I only have so much time tomorrow morning before we leave to see...

Elvis Costello & Emmylou Harris

How excited am I that I get to see Elvis again? I'm psyched. Btw, I'm in love with my new Elvis icon. Hehehe...the Elvis-fish. Just don't mention Bruce Thomas or the Backstreet Boys--he might attack. Hehehe.

Well, as you can all see, I have a ton to do, so I should go do it. More lata...:) Hang tough, kids. :)

Behind the cut is the set list for the Elvis Costello concert I went to last week.

God, it was soooo awesome!

( some damn good tunes )