A silent sleeper, you won't hear a peep.

Tonight I saw Kid Cudi live with Chip tha Ripper and Consequence. Not only were the openers actually good (like Consequence from Tribe isn't good...) Kid Cudi was one of the best live performers I've seen in a LONG time. He's so good live, plus his personality on stage (and I'm assuming off) is awesome. I was very impressed. We were in VIP so I got to take some photos and videos (it was PACKED downstairs, I wouldn't have been able to even see the stage!). I took a video of the entire Day 'N Nite performance (just realized how close that is to my blog name!) only to come home, upload it and find that it recorded with no sound. SO mad. I have one of Poke Her Face and Pursuit of Happiness, but I'd much rather post this video I DIDN'T take, of my most favorite Kid Cudi song (and unfortunately one he didn't play tonight):

OK and I'll post one I took tonight, too...here's Poke Her Face (sorry for quality, iPhone!)

EDIT: Apparently the real name of that song is Make Her Say. Whatever. Poke Her Face is better.

Tick Tock

Time. It seems like no matter who you ask, people always want more time. I constantly hope that tomorrow I will wake up and there are suddenly more hours in the day.

I am blessed with the fact that my job doesn't "officially" start until 11am, but not so blessed because that means absolutely nothing. I usually either have a ton of paperwork to take care of before we open, or a customer calls me and asks me to come in early. Which is, in and of itself, ridiculous...much like the majority of my customers.

I work 6 days a week just so I am available for everyone. I figure our hours have a wide enough range that everyone, regardless of their schedule, can find time to come and purchase their goods. This doesn't stop them from, at least 4 out of the 6 days per week, calling and asking me to stay late/come in early for them. Depending on how much I like them and how good of a mood they catch me in, I will probably say yes. But if you're a pain in the ass or I've had a shitty day, forget it. "These are my hours, Monday-Saturday. You can't make it, too bad."

My favorite is when they call my cell after hours to have me COME BACK to the store after I've already gone home for the day. Case in point: last week one day I worked about an hour and a half late. After work I went to Staples to pick up some supplies to bring with me to the store the next day. I was in the parking lot and my Nextel started going off (yes, I actually had to cheat on my iPhone and get a cheap work phone just so I could turn it off on the weekends/vacation), it was a guy asking me to come back to the store so he could pick up an order. It was already 8:30pm at this point, I had just spent more time than necessary there, I just wanted to go home, eat dinner with Brian and sit on my couch. So...I lied to him. I told him his order was in the warehouse which gets locked up at 7pm so he couldn't get his stuff even if I said yes, which I assured him I would have. I seem like the good guy and I don't have to go back to work...win, win. Anyway, this happens often. Absolutely insane. I think anyone else would be a lot meaner than I am about it.

Oh! Another favorite: they call me on Sundays asking me to come in. Sundays are sacred to me and not in the religious sense. It's my day for: peace, quiet, chores, fun, family, etc...everything BUT work. I would have to REALLY like you or feel totally compassionate to come in to work on a Sunday, or if you want to spend a lot of money...maybe. It would take a lot.

I'm learning to say no more. It was another New Years' resolution of mine, to put myself before the business more. What good is running a successful business if you can't take the time to live, breathe and enjoy yourself? Or at least do laundry, cook meals and return phone calls?

The Wire

Brian and I started watching the HBO show, The Wire, from the beginning. Apparently it first premiered in 2002 and, depending on who you ask, was one of the best TV shows of all time. I don't know how I never saw it, I was up on all of those HBO shows, The Sopranos, Sex in the City, OZ, etc. Somehow this one flew under my radar, which is actually better because now I don't have to wait every week for a new episode, I can watch is straight through whenever I want. The first time I heard of The Wire was when I was watching The Office with Brian and they had Charles come and watch over the Scranton branch. When they introduced him Brian said, "Oh shit, Stringer Bell," which made no sense to me so he had to explain about the Wire a little bit. It sounded good but I never really had the motivation to watch it. Now that we're on Season 2, I see why the whole Stringer Bell thing was funny.


In The Wire he's the brains behind every operation and a total bad-ass, it's hilarious to see him pushing pencils in a shirt and tie in the Office.

So, 2010, huh?

It is January 3rd so, in true Lindsey fashion, I'm already a few days late making this blog entry. There goes one resolution (to be more punctual). Brian and I spent our annual Christmas-New Years vacation in Miami Beach (recap to come soon) which was much less relaxing than our last vacation to Staniel Cay, Bahamas. The two can't even be compared, though. Staniel is a true tropical paradise while Miami is still part of the hustle-and-bustle of the States.

While in Miami we reflected on the past year and any improvements we can make in the coming year. There are plenty of things we can do differently, it's honestly just a matter of making changes within ourselves, which neither of us are very good at. Here is our list-in-progress:

1. Cook dinner more

2. Move to a new, bigger apartment

3. Start yoga in order to de-stress, learn to breathe, have more time to think and get in shape (mine)

4. Stay late at work if I have things I need to finish (mine)

5. Eat healthier

6. Eat at a new restaurant in the city at least once a week

7. Keep our apartment clean

8. Do laundry more often

9. Make more us-time and date nights

10. Go to the MoMA with Jaime and Dave for the Tim Burton exhibit

11. Have more follow-through (this was originally B's, but I could benefit from it, too)

12. Be nicer and have less of an attitude (another one of his that I could also do)

13. Do dishes more often (B's)

14. Start getting ready for bed early so we can clean up after ourselves before going to bed

15. Wake up earlier for work

16. Put shelfguards in Davis and Junior's cage (B's)

17. Take down the Christmas tree and decorations on Little Christmas instead of, like, March like last year.

This brings to mind my To-Do list from last year. I checked off all that I had accomplished, which left me feeling proficient/sad. I did way better than I thought but I did leave a lot unfinished. I'm especially sad about not doing the things I wanted to do with my parents while they were home.

While we were in Miami they left to get the boat in Stuart, FL, which didn't leave them enough time to come down and meet us. I pretty much knew that would happen, but there was still a little hope that they would make it. Now they'll be gone until July. Brian and I talked about how much I missed them last winter and we decided that if it ever becomes truly unbearable for me I can take a long weekend to go see them. It's great to know that he's reached a point where he can take of the store in my absence. Just knowing that relieves some of my stress.

So here's to 2010, the beginning of a great (stress-free) year and hopefully a great decade. It has to be better than the last, right?