I saw the craziest thing happen when I was walking down Fairfax this afternoon. I’m not sure what happened before I got to the scene, but it looked like two women were exchanging numbers because of an obvious fender-bender. One woman then drives away and the other, utterly peeved, walks back to her car and pulls her car door open with the strength of 1,000 men. Unfortunately for her, she opened it right into the back of a tow truck. Oof!
I’m not sure why I felt like sharing that pointless anecdote but it’s was definitely a signature L.A. moment. Shit like that happens all the time here. I’m just lucky—knock on wood—that it hasn’t happened to me. Yet. As long as I can stay out of automobile trouble for the next three weeks, I think I’m set.
“Why the next three weeks,” you ask, puzzled.
Because I’m going to have no use for my car when I MOVE TO NEW YORK CITY, bishes!!!!!! Yes, ma’am, I’m absolutely tickled to finally share the incredible news that I will be returning to my beloved Eastern Standard Time in order to take a position at MTV.com.
[Does the running man in place.]
Ever since I was a lil’ tot—sneaking peeks at Just Say Julie when my mom wasn’t watching—I’ve always wanted to work for MTV. In fact, it’s been kind of a life-long dream. I interned at the 1515 studios when I was in college and it was the most amazing summer of my life. Just being in the brain-center of pop culture was enough to send me into daily fits where I often pinched myself and asked, “Is this really my life? Did I just see Carson Daly on the escalator? I wonder if I just passed Jesse Camp begging for change out front?”
I can’t even wrap my head around how crazybrains the next three weeks are going to be but I think I’m up to the task. (I mean, I kinda have to be, right?) In addition to handling all the necessary pre-move activities, I’ll also be dutifully working away on my book. Big ups to all of my kindred geek-girl spirits who have joined the revolution and helped me out with their inspiring input. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, check out the Geek Girls Unite web site, follow @geekgirlsunite on Twitter and/or join the Geek Girls Guild group on Facebook.
Can you tell I’m completely obsessed with Passion Pit right now? It’s a sickness. Every time I’ve felt down in the past month, if I can somehow manage to stumble my way to the stereo to put on Manners, my body/mind/spirit starts to perk up and I erupt into an impromptu dance party that immediately lifts my mood. It’s the weirdest thing. Passion Pit? More like Passion Prozac! Passion Paxil! Passion Wellbutrin! (Okay, so that one doesn’t exactly roll of the tongue, but you get the picture.)
Before I inevitably embark on a million tangents, let me get some work-related announcements out of the way. I just posted a new “Music Is My Boyfriend” column on YourItList.com. This month, it’s about the drool-worthy loveliness of actress/singer combo-packs like Zooey Deschanel, Jenny Lewis and Scarlett Johansson. As much as I want to hate them for being illegally beautiful and stupidly talented, I simply can’t. One listen to the new She & Him album, for example, and I turn into a puddle of Zooey-loving goo. Blerg!
When I’m not scribbling about ScarJo & Co., I’ve been busy with two very special writing projects:
1.) I spent much of the last six weeks blogging for the amazing peeps over at MTV Buzzworthy. Although my time there was only temporary—because I was filling in for the lovely and sassy Tamar while she got married and stuff—I had a total blast! Working for MTV (in any capacity) has been a complete dream come true and something that I’ve dreamt of since I was 11, sneaking episodes of Just Say Julie in the living room while my mom cooked dinner in the kitchen. (In case you don’t know the show, NO 11-year-old should watch it. I wonder if that’s why I turned out the way I did… Hmmm…) Good news, though! I’ll be back on Bieber watch next week while Tamar attends another wedding (though, this time, not her own). I’m stoked!
2.) Now that the ink is FINALLY dry on the contracts, I’m absolutely tickled to announce that I’m currently working on my third book! (Cue applause, fireworks and cannons exploding.) I can’t spill too much about it but it’s going to be somewhat of a departure from my last two offerings. First of all, I’m going 100% solo on this one. Secondly, it’s going to be less about music (although there is a music chapter hidden in there somewhere) and more about different facets of pop-culture pertaining to a specific group of underdogs. Third, it’s primarily written for all my sisters-from-another-misters out there. I don’t want to alienate all my bros, of course, but my lady loves are totally going to eat this poop up—at least that’s the goal! Stay tuned because I’m actually going to need your help with this book. I’ll explain later. Swears!
I am tickled pink to announce that I will be guest blogging on MTV Buzzworthy for the next three weeks or so. If you haven’t already bookmarked the site, be sure to add it to your favorites so you can read all my hilarious musings on Gaga, Ke$ha and a poop-ton of your pop-tastic guilty pleasures. Woo-hoo!!
It’s one of the most often-asked question in rock ‘n’ roll: Why do hot chicks always fall for the most fugly band dudes? Oh, right… they’re dudes in bands, which trumps any potential facial or body deformity that he may have. (Plus, don’t even get me started on how guys think having a musician pedigree somehow gives them permission to have THE worst personality on the planet. Oh, the stories I could tell and the names I could drop…)
Check out my latest gallery for Metromix.com to see who I consider to be the hottest/grossest couples in recent history*.
* For those with weak stomachs, please wait 30 minutes after eating in order to view this gallery. Some pairings may induce vomiting—or at least a wicked case of acid reflux. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
The first time I talked to Chris Carrabba, I think I was still the office manager at Alternative Press. Most of my days were spent sorting mail, cleaning up after our gastrointestinally challenged cat Ogre and dreaming of writing pieces for the magazine that were more than 50 words. It must’ve been late 2001 or early 2002, and the whole editorial staff was prepping for AP’s “100 Bands You Need To Know” issue. I had been trumpeting Dashboard Confessional’s awesomeness for months and I’m pretty positive that I got the assignment mostly because Jason Pettigrew was tired of me nagging him everyday.
Me: “Hey, Jason! I’ve seen the future of music and it’s all about a lil’ punim named Chris Carrabba!”
Jason: [Growl.]*
Me: “No, really! I saw him play with his band Dashboard Confessional a couple weeks ago at the Beachland Ballroom and the place was packed. Plus, all the kids were singing along. It was like Children Of The Corn—but in a good way.”
Jason: [Annoyed snort.]
Me: “C’mon… I can do this! Let me do this!”
Jason: [Snarl.]
Me: “Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it.”
Jason: “Fine.”
And… Scene.
(Note to future journalists: Never give up when you believe in your pitch! Just make sure your pitch is on-the-money.)
I remember Jason let me borrow his office for the interview and I sat perched on a wobbly stool—which, if I’m not mistaken, Jason still uses to this day—and waited for Chris to call from his Florida HQ. He had just stopped teaching full-time but had gone back to school to visit his former students for a holiday pageant or something. (Swoon, right?) I had what felt like a million butterflies swirling around my stomach and about 30 seconds into the interview, I knew the convo would change the course of my professional life. It sounds hokey, but I just knew in my gut that Dashboard Confessional was on the verge of exploding and I was about to capture the swell before the storm.
I’ve been lucky enough to talk to Chris a bunch over the years and the two of us have even become bros, which still causes me to pinch myself on a regular basis. Now, any good writer knows that you shouldn’t write for anyone else but you—not your editor, not your audience and especially not your subject. I try to live by that guideline as much as humanly possible but I have to admit, I squealed just a smidge when I got the following text from the beau of the boulevard:
Here’s the interview Chris is talking about. Let me know if you agree!
* Oh, it should also be noted that despite the above depiction, Jason has always been my biggest cheerleader. He’s been a mentor, a bestie and a constant source of wisdom and unfathomable humor. So what’s with the ‘tude? Oh, he just hates “pussy emo music.” For a man raised on Revolting Cocks, can you blame him?
