Albums I listen to all the way through

Albums I listen to all the way through

The Futureheads – s/t
Weezer – Blue Album
Sleater-Kinney – Dig Me Out / The Woods
Various Artists - The Once Soundtrack
Nirvana – Unplugged/Nevermind
The White Stripes – De Stijl
Violent Femmes – s/t
Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
The Postal Service – Give Up
Jay-Z – The Black Album
Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill
Beatles – The White Album
CSS – Cansei De Ser Sexy
Girl Talk – Night Ripper
Feist – The Reminder
The Gossip – That’s Not What I Heard/Standing in the Way of Control
Interpol – Turn on The Bright Lights
M.I.A. – Arular
Spoon – Gimme Fiction/Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Toots & The Maytals – The Very Best Of

Introvert/Extrovert

I recently read a book on introversion and it was pretty interesting, especially as I’ve always considered myself an introvert. I have all the classic signs, according to the book: spending lots of time alone voluntarily, a phone call phobia, a few deep but meaningful friendships, an avoidance of the spotlight. I’ve had those characteristics since childhood, so they’re not something that popped up during a life transition.

I was discussing long-distance commutes with my future roommate last night, specifically commutes where one works in a city in one state for the week and then returns to home in another state for the weekend. I was saying that I couldn’t do it, that work wouldn’t be enough to sustain me during those five days because I’d want to do something else and I’d miss interacting with my family and friends during those days. Future roommate, who asserted that such a situation wouldn’t be a problem for her, then looked at me and said, “So maybe you aren’t as introverted as you think, if you need to be around people like that.” This knocked me for a loop. Then we talked about solitary confinement, which is probably the ultimate test of an introvert/extrovert personality, and future roommate said she thought it’d be great. I was not so enthused.

So all of today I felt like a personality hypocrite. If I am an extrovert, which my book defined based on where one gets one’s energy from, whether it is from outside sources (extrovert) or inner ones (introvert), then I have been so totally dense as to never notice it or I’ve been lying to myself. And right as I was coming to terms with being an introvert. So much for that.

It does help explain why I’d get so horribly lonely and depressed during summers away from college, and last fall/winter. A truly introverted person would have been totally fine, and I fell apart.

This is really not cool. I was looking forward to a deep, meaningful relationship with my introversion, and now the honeymoon is over.

A Conversation With My Mother

Mom: "Emily, why do you want a polaroid camera? It's so OLD."
Me: "Well, I just want one. I've wanted one for a long time, and I finally decided to get one."
Mom, baffled: "Well...it's just so old and outdated. I mean, don't you want a digital camera? They take such better pictures, and everyone has them."
Me: "But I don't want one. I'll get one and they'll come out with a much better model within six months."
Mom, reasonably: "But Em, the film is expensive. And if you move the least little bit it comes out blurry. Digital pictures look so nice."
Me, exasperated: "This is just like the time I wanted a record player and you said it was a dead technology and a pain in the ass and records are unpractical in every way. And I didn't get one and I REALLY WANTED IT. And I would really like a polaroid camera."
Mom, mildly: "Allright, fine. It's just such a strange thing to want."
Me:"I don't care. I would like one."
Mom: "Ok. Here is your father."
Dad:"Hey! What's this I hear about you wanting a polaroid camera?"
Me:"Grumble grumble JUST LIKE THAT TIME WITH THE RECORD PLAYER grumble."
Dad, brightly:"Heck, turntables are great! They're really classic. Why didn't you say something?"
Me, dumbfounded:"What?"
Dad:"Find one you like and let us know!"
Me, still taken aback: "Sure...I saw this portable one in a suitcase...I'll email you the link."
Dad:"Sure. We can take a look at it, see how it sounds."

I had best be getting a LOT of oudated technology for my birthday. I am thinking about wanting eight-track players now, and slide rules.