The Great Gatsby

After struggling to get through The Great Gatsby for almost a week, I finally finished it a few days ago. I don't know what the deal was- I think I read every page at least twice. I came across this quote while reading:

"Her voice is full of money," he said suddenly.

That was it. I'd never understood before. It was full of money- that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it...High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl....

Gatsby said it of Daisy (his love interest) to Nick (his neighbor and friend and the narrator of the story). I've been thinking about what a voice like that must sound like. I still don't have an answer.

I'm going home tomorrow to enjoy all that Southern Pines has to offer. So far, it's offering me two pool parties and that's just perfect.

A new computer and Dunkaroos

*I got a new computer today! A Macbook Pro. I felt just like Elle Woods when I was buying it (except I wasn't in a bunny outfit). My poor Thinkpad is sulking in a corner.

* While looking in the pantry, I found some Dunkaroos. Kids will eat anything a kangaroo endorses!

*My 365 project is back in action.

* A Cheerwine and Krispy Kreme collaboration!

BP Spills Coffee

Even though the situation isn't funny, this video is.

Tipsy Time.

I have the worst time titling these posts.

I have to admit coming back here from the mountains this weekend was hard. It was a perfect trip with a rambunctious and loving group of people. I woke up excited to be here though, which was a change!

Anyway, today I found/saw a couple of things in Greenville that increased (or began, really) my affection for the town.

The first being that there were people on campus today! As I got off the bus and walked around a bit after showing up early for class, there were swarms of people. That's something I haven't seen here in the past week.

Then this afternoon, I found the perfect most Chapel Hill-esque place downtown. The Tipsy Teapot that I mentioned last week was just what I wanted to find here and their black currant iced tea was much tastier than expected.

In between class and the Tipsy Teapot, I dropped by Target to get some spicy mustard (because no sandwich is complete without it) and left with a family sized bottle of shampoo, mustard, rain boots and a shirt. It's embarrassing how little willpower I have when I walk through those red doors.

I'm still waiting on my computer to get fixed. It crashed on the first day of classes so I've had a loaner since Friday but it's looking like I'm going to be getting a Mac in the near future!

Concert buddies.

Figures the year I left Chapel Hill that there would be a slew of concerts I would want to see.

Raleigh:
*Hanson and Rooney are coming July 31st to Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh. Yeah, I still like Hanson.

Chapel Hill/Carrboro:
*Sleigh Bells is (are?) coming to Cat's Cradle on July 6th. Too bad it's a Tuesday or else I'd totes be there.

*Miniature Tigers are playing at Local 506 on August 19th. Their video for "Cannibal Queen" was so ridiculous that I loved the song a little more.

*Chairlift is going to play at Local 506 on July 27th. Remember the commercial that used "Bruises"?

*Stars are going to be at Cat's Cradle on October 1st. "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" is one of my favorite songs.

*Matt and Kim are also coming to Cat's Cradle on October 20th!(!!!!!!!!!!!!) Even though it's a Wednesday, I will sacrifice sleep to see a musical married couple.

All this is to say that I'm probably going to need dates for all these shows. Auditions will be held immediately. Bonus points if you wear plaid, jorts (or skinny jeans) and Toms. And you'll need to go through this process.

P.S. Is anyone else impressed with how many links are in this post? Because I am.

The first day.

Today I did a lot of exploring and errand-running. I also made a list of things I want to do/see while I'm here. And I may even make some August resolutions early this year.

*The Tipsy Teapot is probably place I'm most excited to visit.

* Eating at Lemongrass Thai restaurant is a must, according to Vanessa. So when are you, Professor Shortley and I going?

* The Uptown Umbrella Market looks promising for tomorrow!

* I want to buy music at East Coast Music & Video. Except when I want to buy embarrassing stuff like Hanson, which I will continue to purchase at Best Buy.

I'm having a hard time finding non-chain places to go, so help me out if you know of any!

A new 208.

Well, I now live in Greenville. From here on out, I believe I will refer to myself as a Grenlin. Greenvillian looks too close to being a greenvillain and villains scare kids and I'm not partial to the color green...you can see where this is all going.

I got here today around 5 after running errands in Chapel Hill, getting lunch with Sydney and visiting Moriah. All in all, it's been a long but successful day. The drive down was mostly boring but there were several awesome water towers that redeemed the monotonous stretch of road.

My apartment number is 208 here and the irony is killing me. Oh, the memories. And speaking of memories, you know what I don't remember? Having enough closet space. All that has changed because I now have a HUGE closet. But as you can tell from the picture, I didn't bring enough clothes to fill it. Look how lonely those dresses are!

The Process

It's been a taxing weekend, what with all the packing and general stress that comes with moving and people saying goodbye to me as if I'm dying and/or moving to Narnia. If I'm being honest though, it's only made me more excited to finally get to Greenville- I've been talking about it so long that now I actually want to go and start a life there.

Monday is the big day that I finish cramming my car with too many clothes, shoes and books and then regret it all when I have to unpack too many boxes at the apartment. I've been driving around for the past two days with somewhat randomly assorted belongings that I failed to organize well blocking me from seeing out of my back wndow. Yeah, I know that sounds dangerous but I like to live on the edge.

I came to home to Carthage today to spend a couple of days at home before grad school begins. So far, I've watched Home Alone with my nephew and found a dog bone suspiciously close to my bed.

Sometimes I like the seclusion I have at home: no cell phone service, dial-up internet (...seriously) and absence of cable tv. Other times, like today, it drives me crazy. As a result, I drove half an hour to the nearest place with wireless internet (Panera) and decided to get a head start on work for grad school. And maybe to start a coffee shop closer to my house that isn't a chain.

Funny how it works, isn't it? At the beginning of May, I would have given anything to have the freedom to do nothing. Today, I would give anything to just have a couple of assignments to think about. Not hard assignments, mind you. Just something to keep me occupied.

Mostly I want my school-year handwriting back. When I was a kid, I never physically wrote anything over the summer. So in August as things started up again, my handwriting looked elementary and disheveled. I wrote an "s" the other day that just wasn't up to par, reminding me of how much I secretly love being a student.

May the force be with you.

Love,
Courtney

A tattoo?

Kate Moss and I don't have much in common from what I can tell but we do both love anchor tattoos! Some days I want one, just a tiny one, on my wrist but just can't quite commit to that permanent ink. And white tattoos look like mutilated scars, so that's out.

While we're not on the subject, what is a good Father's Day present for a farming-motorcycling-mail delivering type of dad?

Nothing much.

A few weeks ago, I decided to copy Abby and do "a picture a day" for everyday of being a postgrad. About 3 days in, I gave up. As it turns out, I don't think people want to see pictures of me in my pajamas watching Friends on dvd.

This week is a bit different though. It's my last week living in Chapel Hill before moving to Greenville this weekend and I'm busy trying to fit in (or maximize, as Meller says) QCT (quality chill time) with folks that I might not see again for a while. Apparently Anoop Desai heard I was leaving and wanted to hang out because I saw him twice today while out on the town.

All that being said, I would like to resume the picture a day project in Greenville...which is coming up soon!

P.S. If anyone REALLY wants to come help me pack, I would love you (more) forever.

Klonkers.

This guy would make the perfect Klonkers (with the exception of that drippy little beard).

If you love dogs, you might want to take a peek at my friend Meredith's dog portraits.

Where the Boys Are

July's Marie Claire showed up today and flipping through it, I saw an article titled "Where the Boys Are." (I couldn't find the whole article online but this is a taste of it.) Basically it gives a rundown of different areas in the US where women may have an easier time getting a date. Not so shockingly, the Southeast is the worst for us single ladies.

It made me laugh and reminded me of the NY Times article that caused a ruckus at UNC last semester about the depths women will go to get/keep a man. Let's just say it didn't shine the best light on college girls.

The MC article is full of good stereotypes...well, if there is such a thing. Anyone interested in L.A., Denver, Boston or Austin should probably check this one out.

Unfortunate.

This is terribly sad.

(Sorry the picture is blurry, best I could find.)

A broken vow.

Yesterday I made a vow not to buy any new clothes for a month. Today I went to Target for groceries and left with these. Rules were made to be broken?

I don't know what overcame me in the shoe section that would have suggested these were practical. I have a feeling they will be going back very soon.

My new bedroom.

I'm moving into a condo in August and will have my first room all to myself since beginning college. The landlord has offered to go ahead and paint before we move in but I'm having trouble choosing a color.

I love the grayish purple but it might be too dark and my room in my parent's house is similar. I fell in love with electric blue when Carrie had a bedroom this color in the movie Sex and the City. I'm also digging the idea of a white room and making it funky with all kinds of knick-knacks.

Any suggestions?