Welcome to Floralida (Or, Movin' On Up)
Howdy gang! I haven't blogged in a while, so there's plenty to gab about (I just got through re-re-reading all my dog-eared copies of the entire series of The Babysitters' Club, so I'm feeling pretty talkative today).
On Monday morning I actually got out of bed with more than a half hour until I had to leave for work (very unusual), so I decided to check out some TV while eating breakfast. I flipped on the tube, saw that it was tuned to VH1, read in the lower left corner that the video that was about to start was "Beat It" by Fallout Boy featuring John Mayer, and immediately turned off the television and ate in silence. I've been developing a new theory that Monday morning sets the tone for the entire week ahead, so I wasn't about to risk screwing myself over for five days just for a little distraction while noshing on an eggwhite omelet (some people think I'm an egg racist for only eating the whites, but really I'm just trying to avoid the cholesterol)....
....On Sunday I accompanied world-renowned roommate and personal dimple coach Mitch "Smile for a While" Herz on a stroll a few blocks away from our bach pad to check out a potential new apartment (we're looking to move because our other roommate Terry is really starting to let himself go hygiene-wise, and I can barely breathe anywhere near the much-soiled futon mattress that he sleeps on in the living room). There were some pros and cons about this place, but way on the top of the pro list is that it includes a BIGGITY-BUMPIN' brand new porch, to which we would have exclusive access (I just had a vision of Mitch and me opening our own private members-only outdoor tanning salon/massage parlor). After a lot of thought and deliberation, Mitch and I had a pow-wow during lunch, and we decided that we're moving! It'll be a big change for us; our current building is the first place in New London that either of us has lived, plus we won't be right upstairs from Laura Brown anymore! Both of those were big considerations, but I think we've made the right choice (I might change my tune if in a few weeks I discover an ill-hidden rotting corpse in our new attic's storage space that I subsequently become responsible for disposing of without alerting the authorities or contracting a life-threatening strain of cooties; I would hate to have to go through that whole process again!). If anyone out there has any decoration tips, free furniture, or a desire to get absolutely buckwild on a badass private deck, just let me know.
The previous day was equally exciting, as it was Floralia here at Conn. Though I had played at the much-regaled day-long on-campus puke-tinged celebration of booze, music, and the human body three times before, this was the first time I was on the bill as a professional, as opposed to with MOBROC. I'm pleased to report that Welcome to Florida rocked the crowd's socks off (though most people were already just wearing flip-flops, so it wasn't that hard, really). We finished up at about 2:30 in the afternoon, so in theory there was still plenty of time left to party up, but in reality all of the deans and President Higdon were there, so I felt way too uncomfortable to stick around and drink. It worked out fine, however, because I ended up having a much-needed relaxing night downtown. Hopefully Conn will have WTF back again next year!
The night prior (I just realized I'm recounting my recent activities in reverse; I feel like a real-life, less handsome Guy Pearce!), I hung out in lovely New London with an assortment of Conn and non-Conn friends, including Welcome to Florida drummer JZ "Marches to the Beat of His Own Drummer, Which Is Himself" MacMartin, who was in town a night early for the Floralia show the next day. We had a pretty rippin' time, culminating in the last few songs of a rocking-as-always performance by Incognito Sofa Love at Oasis. It was nice to go out and have a fun, music-related night on the town since I figured I wouldn't be able to participate in the full Floralia festivities.
The night before that (hey, this format is working, so why bother changing it now?), I teamed up with fellow '07er-turned-Conn staffer Kyle Olson as well as Richard Schenk, musical director for the Dance Department, for a jazz trio gig in Cro for the first half of Fishbowl. For those of you who don't know, Fishbowl is an annual event where seniors get together for a dance late in the spring term at which they gradually get more and more naked. When the supply of, well, let's just say "refreshments" runs out, everyone doffs the reminder of their wardrobe and streaks down to Castle Court to bang the 10' gong located therein. Since I'm now an employee of the College, I was worried about having to play in front of students wearing little or no clothing because it would clearly jeopardize the level of professionalism that I've worked hard all year to build for myself (now that I think about it, this was actually the first time I've ever gotten nervous during a public performance and consequently tried to imagine the audience not in their underwear). Fortunately, we got to stop playing at around 12:15, so the vast majority of people in attendance still had plenty of clothing on. Kyle and I were so leery of accidentally viewing some undergraduate unmentionables that after the gig we stripped our own clothes off and streaked around campus just to blow off some steam (type "Kyle and Reilly's nude adventure" into Google if you don't believe me).
Well I could keep going back in time, but I think that's enough info from my life for one day. There are about million things coming up in the next few weeks, however, so be sure to check back in for more updates. Now get outside and enjoy this spring weather! Toodles, y'all!