Concert Tickets Have Arrived!

And with it, a new experience.

Kendrick Lamar marks my first official hip hop concert amongst a sea of alternative rock. He actually performed in Atlanta last month (for my school of all places), but his tickets sold out in 3 days and alas, I was left ticketless and Kendrick Lamarless. But when it was announced that he added an additional Atlanta date, I had to go.

Baby Sis is coming with me, this will be her first concert ever and my first hip hop one. I'm excited. June 20th here we come :)

GSU Commencement Ceremony 2013

This past Saturday, I played proud mama to friends who are now college graduates! The ceremony was interesting. My family and I got a little lost due to lack of organization. For example, my friends were graduating from the College of Arts & Sciences department, but we somehow landed in the section involving Policy Studies. And the graduates (all 2,000 it looked like) did not know where they had to go and took a half hour to be seated. But after that, everything was smooth sailing. The commencement speaker was amazing. He was Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and although young, I think given the subject matter he spoke of in his speech, he was the right person to deliver his message, which was how he felt the ME generation (as we've been called) is actually the exact opposite of who we are. I loved it. 

There was no walking on stage to get your degree, which I thanked God for, because there were an insane amount of people graduating. In fact, President Becker said they were the largest graduating class to leave our university in our almost 100 year history. 

I was so proud of my bestie. I can't wait until we celebrate her graduating the right way because Saturday left no opportunity. After the ceremony, everyone in the Dome piled out of the various gate exits and outside was absolute chaos. I couldn't find anyone. I was glad that before I gave up my search, Valerie spotted me in the crowd and got me because I really wanted to see at least one of them and congratulate them in person on their success. I was also pumped that I got to meet the infamous boyfriend I've been hearing so much about. 

All in all, it was a great experience. I'm happy for those who graduated, even the folks I don't know. It was a brief reminder that I should be in the midst of Class of 2013, but I'm focused with the track I'm on within my new major and a year and a half from now (4 semesters to be exact), that will be me donning a black robe with blue accents. I'm claiming it, I'm willing it, and it shall be.

Congratulations Class of 2013

Play: Paramore X Paramore

As I mentioned Monday, Paramore has been in constant rotation since purchasing it off iTunes and then re-purchasing it in physical form (I'm still debating whether or not I want in vinyl format too!). Upon listening, I feel like I've known them for years but for whatever reason we lost contact for a while, like we're meeting again and somehow after all this time, we're connected, we're vibing, as if there was never any distance. I think that was their intent with this album.

To entitle it Paramore is definitely making a statement, especially with the departure of the Farro brothers and for many of us, it was a devastating loss because we knew Paramore as the 4 for the most part, and then the 5. Now they're 3. But you know what, I love them this way and we sank back into our old patterns of headbanging and body rocking to their songs as if there was never any change. They aren't devastated, they aren't changed, they are growth, they are love, they are hurt, they are moved on, they are Paramore. And they are still one of my most favorite bands.

In honor of being able to see them again for a second time next week, here are some of my favorite listens off of the new album. I want to put all 17 tracks down here as my favorites, even the interludes, but I'll cut it down to my absolute favorite favorites off of the album. Here We Go Again...

01. Fast In My Car

Been through the ringer a couple times, I came out calloused and cruel...

03: Grow Up

We get along, for the most part, me and reality, it's a light in the dark

04: Daydreaming

I wanna get out and build my own home a street, where reality is not much different from dreams I've had

06: Ain't It Fun

So what are you gonna do when the world don't orbit around you? 

07: Part II

What a mess, what a mystery we've made, 

of love and other simple things, 

learning to forgive, 

even when it wasn't our mistake

08: Last Hope

It's just a spark, but it's enough to keep me going. When it's dark out, no one's around, it keeps going...

10: Anklebiters

You should fall in love with yourself, oh again

13: Hate to See Your Heart Break

For all the air that's in your lungs

For all the joy that is to come

For all the things that you're alive to feel

Just let the pain remind you hearts can heal

14: (One of Those) Crazy Girls

And now I’m standing at your doorstep

With Los Angeles behind me.

If you don’t answer I’ll just use the key

That I copied 'cause I really need to see you

17: Future

...don't get lost in the memories, keep your eyes on a new prize

Can't wait to see these guys again in 5 days! My brief summer concert series begins!
Any artists you're looking forward to seeing this summer?

Baby Sis Goes to Prom

Prom has been a bit of a whirlwind the second time around. The first was mine, my middle sister decided to skip out on hers, and the baby decided she wanted to glam out for a night on the town with her best friends, i.e. attend her prom. It was an amazing experience to join her on her journey of taking the steps of picking out a dress, trying it on at David's Bridal, completely foiling a makeup appointment with MAC, but finding a seamless alternative at the 11th hour, and seeing her completed look from top to bottom. There was rain, rain that would not stop at all from early morning to late night, but even still, we wanted to make sure that she had the time of her life, and looked absolutely stunning while doing it.

I say this as an outsider, but my favorite moment of the day was watching her sit in that makeup chair and getting to photograph her in those candid moments. She was beautiful before, even more beautiful after. I had to just think to myself, Wow, she is grown up. With her graduation day right around the corner, I can only assume that more sappiness is to follow. Here goes nothing.

 Ain't she gorge?

And related but somewhat unrelated....