my 'candyiality'

Even though I've been trying to eat healthier (or less unhealthily), I couldn't help but stop at candyiality on our way to the comic book store today. They have the best selection of sour chewy candy ... my favorite kind. After I made a ridiculous mix of sour patch kids, sour watermelon, chewy army men, sour belts, sour cherry balls, swedish fish and some other assorted goodies, I was asked if this was my first time. When I informed the cashier that this was in fact, my second candyiality experience, she inquired if I had been previously given my 'candyiality' by the previous cashier. I assumed this was some sort of punchcard and after twelve pounds of sour sugar balls I would get a free airhead. But, this is a sort of horoscope, in which your personality is analyzed via your purchase. According to the astrology of candyiality, my predilection for sour candy means I am a risk taker. My penchant for chewy candy means I'm durable. She kept swirling the bag looking for more to tell me, after repeating the durable part, she smiled and said "I guess that's it." I decided that means I'm well equipped to survive the risks I take because of my durability! Cool, yeah?

In other news, I saw Pineapple Express today. Funny parts, but definitely not on the upper Apatow eschelon.

Lolla wrap up

It's hard to really reflect accurately, last year I had the week after the festival to reflect and lounge around my apartment. Today I had to drag my sunburned self to work. But I need to stop with the 'last year' schtick. 

That said, there were some noticeable differences this year. Most obvious was the crowd. Perry definitely oversold it ... I'm not one to have to be up front near the band, so the stage crowds didn't bother me all that much (except for at Brand New, but that's another story). It was more with the other parts....lines for water, walking between stages, going through security, all twice as long. It made for less of a city within a city feel, and more like a farm animal corral at times. Also, the heat was worse this year, and I'm no desert flower. Seriously, I almost bit it on Saturday.

All complaining aside, there were definite highlights. Friday morning was slow going after Butch Walker. The Kills and Yeasayer were not the better choice, but we sat it out in the shade. Bloc Party and CSS saved it for me. I remembered why I really liked Bloc Party in the first place. When the sun went down and they went into "This Modern Love", the mood instantly lightened. And then it was time for Radiohead .... but I guess you don't question Radiohead, nor do you hope for Barack Obama's long rumored appearance. You don't say it's boring, you just bask in the glow of Thom Yorke and murmur along, and then pray your boyfriend won't mind leaving after Fake Plastic Trees so that you can beat the train rush. 

Saturday. Last year was my favorite day....but I must must must stop doing that. Saturday morning started off with well with The Ting Tings. Then we headed North to Foals. I was probably most excited for this show and most at risk for setting my hopes to high. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed. Good show, I danced, neglected to keep drinking water as the sun beat in the center of the sky onto the blacktop upon which we stood. Yannis didn't dance as much, but they were all so into it that it was hard not to enjoy all of it. I didn't notice the building sweat and the sunburn until we stood up from our pre Brand New resting spot in the shade. All of a sudden I was in the middle of a tornado, swirling with drunk 20 year olds and Jessie Lacey's ever so abrasive voice and annoying non-clever stage banter. The sides of the stage blurred, I started to sway and thought I was going down, taking singing guy next to me down to the dried grass on my way down. I managed to collect myself, before telling Rob "I don't really like this,"agreeing with my distaste we relocated to some shade and caught the end of Explosions in the Sky, which was actually quite beautiful so perhaps my flirting with heat stroke was kismet. I felt lame and weak for almost passing out and for contemplating leaving, but after more water, contraband snacks and shade later, I felt like I could stick around. We listened to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings while waiting out Wilco. Much to our friends' and parent's (or parent) chagrin, we chose Jeff Tweedy over Rage. Seeing as I was annoyed when a girl with a muddy shoe bumped me before Wilco, it is probably a good thing I wasn't in the Melee that was the Rage audience. 

Sunday began with a 'pleasant' morning. Tally Hall had a few nice moments and they were really earnest in their efforts, which was refreshing. They seemed to have a lot of hometown fans out for the show, and the BMI stage has an awesome canopy of shade, so it almost took away from their lame cover of Fatboy Slim's "Praise You," but not quite. Black Kids were kind of a bust, but we did get to sing along to their one hit before making our way to Flogging Molly. Say what you will, but they put on a show. I was dancing, Dave King dedicated Whistle on the Wind to redheads and for a second I felt like a high schooler singing along, being part of a crowd and getting carried away .... until a fat sweaty guy spilled beer on me. Still, they sounded good and it was probably the most fun (tied with Foals), I'd had all weekend. Rob grossly miscalculated our transit time, so we left Flogging Molly early so we could sit and endure Gnarls Barkley's entire set. However, this left us in prime seating for Mark Ronson ... a festival highlight. This is why I like Lollapalooza in the first place -- surprise guests, singalongs, quirky covers. The audience really got into and the whole band seemed to be genuinely having a good time and seemed genuinely appreciative of the crowd (not in the overblown Butch Walker no one knows who I am sense of the phrase). We totally made the right call in sticking for the entire set and arriving late to NIN. 

Nine Inch Nails closed the weekend for us. To be honest, it felt a little like nostalgic throwback territory, like I was doing karaoke. I guess the new stuff is good .... but they just don't feel relevant like they used to. Still, I was glad our group (smaller this year) had a jumping around ridiculous moment before the weekend ended and it was back to real life. 

So while Rob and I both threatened to make this our last year, the few high points on Friday and Saturday, combined with an awesome Sunday, make our chances a little better for a three-peat (in my case). 

Sorry Sorry Sorry

I let the ball drop on the backdating germany thing .....

anywhoo, I'm headed to Lollapalooza, if I don't melt or die of heat stroke, I'll be back to update and bullet point the interim time.