Day 8: Addiction-Free Day!

Today I had to give up all addictive substances. Now, I don't do drugs, don't drink, etc. But I can tell you that I am an avid coffee drinker and I go on the internet a little too much. So I gave up the morning coffee and stayed away from the computer...a little  more than I usually do. And pure I feel. Well, not really. I like me some Tumblr and lattes. But it was nice to do other things, and instead have a Dunkin Donut for breakfast. Okay, I tried! Until next time, DFTBA!

7/6/12: Perhaps it was a dream.

Last night I went to the Coldplay concert in Philly. Now, I should probably add that this was my first ever concert (Minot did not have a big music scene), and I was in a state of euphoria the entire night. Wolf Gang opened for Coldplay, and...ugh. No words. They were lively and wonderful. Next to take the stage was Robyn, "some shitty Euro-techno chick" in my mom's words. And how right she was. I have to admit that the instrumental, or more so synthesized, parts of her songs were a bit catchy. But her singing was not for me. All the while, I was talking to my friend Gaby, whom I met on YouTube, who was also at the concert. I finally got to meet the lovely lass and I couldn't have been happier.
Coldplay was transcendental. I wish I had the words to elaborate on the beauty of their performances. But there is nothing like being in that sea of people, singing along to beautiful melodies. AND THE WRISTBANDS. Imagine Christmas lights in July. Twinkling along to such beautiful music. And the unity and life that one feels only at such events. I really have never felt that way.
The first chord the guitar played in In My Place made me cry, and I couldn't even begin to tap into the emotional experience of it all. The night was such a buzzed blur of lights and beauty and harmony.
I've recently moved from my home of four years, Minot, to New Jersey. And since then my life has felt like a dissonant chord, out of harmony. But I found my major chord last night.
I found my melody.

Day 5:Out of Order-a mass social experiment

Today's adventure consisted of a Chipotle bathroom, a sign, and a mission to add some delightful chaos to the world.

The BOOK's challenge for the day was to create some mass hysteria by sticking an OUT OF ORDER sign on any infrastructure I encountered throughout the day. I chose a hand dryer in a restaurant. Now, much to my dismay, I did not get to personally see any of this freaking out, but I did see  a few kids come out of the ladies' bathroom with very wet hands.
On a side note, I will be attending a Coldplay concert tomorrow and I think I'll do a separate blog post for that all together as it will be a pretty monumental day for me: *in a whisper* first concert.
Ciao, followers! And don't be afraid to wreak a little havoc as well.

P.S. I went to the beach today for the first time in four years. It's been too long, old friend.

Day 4: Globetrotting Day

To begin, Happy 4th of July, you fellow Americans. In the words of my hero, Ron Swanson, “The whole point of this country is if you wanna eat garbage, balloon up to six hundred pounds, and die of a heart attack at forty-three, you can. You are free to do so. To me, that’s beautiful.” So, put in that context, America is a pretty cool place. Today my task was to catalogue a list of places that I've 1)Been there done that 2) Intend to go there this year 3) Intend to go there some time before I die and 4) Happy never to set foot there.

1) I've lived in Idaho (was born there), Alaska, South Carolina, Texas, North Dakota, and now reside in New Jersey. I've visited Seattle, WA (where I hope to someday live), Oregon, California (another place that I love), all along the south, Canada,and a number of other places that I don't feel are compelling enough to talk about. Tough luck. 

2) I plan on going to Philadelphia this Friday for a Coldplay concert ( w00t!). I also cannot wait to visit NYC before I leave NJ. I mean, who wouldn't? Communists. I also intend on traveling to the upper Northeast states and possibly the west coast depending on where the wind takes me next.

3) I have a large, and I mean fracking GARGANTUAN, list of places that I must see. Which includes, but is not limited to: Iceland, Brazil, all of Europe, India, Australia, Japan, and Russia (forgive me for the commie joke, even though you guys finally figured it out). I also have this dream of visiting all the places that I've lived when I'm college age. I'm young. Don't ask.

4) Though I like to keep an open mind I definitely do not want to be stepping into a patriarchal war zone, so you can scratch Afghanistan off the list, as well as Korea. 

So there you have it. I dream of becoming a writer, traveling the world (possibly with a lover [if such a thing will happen]), but my door is always open. I'm lookin' forward to wherever I get to see next. Until next time, allons-y!

Day 3: It's only when we've lost everything that we're free to do anything

My challenge today was to throw away something of mine that I like. Immediately, when I read this, I thought of Fight Club. How Tyler Durden said that "The things you own end up owning you." So, I was actually pretty eager to let go of some of the things have a suffocating grip on me. I ended up going with my certificate of Highest Honors.

Now, to begin, I have always been the pride in the family for academia. At school I can't live down this ultra smart but ice-cold persona. Elaboration: I suck at making friends. I'm painfully awkward among crowds of teenagers and so I usually come off as this aloof, snooty prick (which I'd like to think I'm not). Thus, it was immensely relieving to flush that certificate of 4.0 GPA perfection down the toilet. In school they always told us to hang on to such achievements, because it sure looks pretty on a resume. Today felt like a nice big "F U" to the colleges, jobs, and idyllic lives (that I fear most) that idealize perfection. 

If you haven't done something like this, just getting rid of things that are weighing you down, I encourage you to. There was something hugely relieving and liberating about not trying to attain perfection. 

Day 2: The Love of Your Life

Today my task was to gaze at everyone passing by, wondering whether they may be the love of my life. Now, the very thought of love walking around me without realizing it is completely flabbergasting.  Perhaps love is nearby. Perhaps love is halfway across the world. Perhaps love is in the wrong time zone. But the thought gets me all jazzed. For now I think I'll stick to music, chocolate, and movies. 

Day 1: Warming up

Here we are, folks. Day one of my ambitious little endeavor. Today, July 1st, my task was to just start warming up. Baby steps. So for round one, I learned two new songs on my ukulele. (Both are by Neutral Milk Hotel) And I decided to say "yo" to people in place of "hello".  At the moment, I'm over the moon. Not only because it is the birthday of someone really close to me, but I'm excited for this new project. Have a good one, guys. And DFTBA.