"When people ask me if I like Vegas, I wish I could express to them the feeling I get when I step in the cab line, about it see you ladies. It's just... giddy." -LL

McCarran cab line.  Where giddy starts.

This past Easter weekend (I apparently start blog posts and never finish them -- but in honor of D's trip this weekend, I thought I'd give my take on the Paris of the Desert.  I just made that up.  No one calls Vegas that.) was my annual trip to Vegas with my girlfriends.  The title of this post is a text I got from my best friend while she was in the cab line at the airport waiting to come meet us at the hotel.  One of the things that I love about Vegas is that from the moment you get off the plane, the experience is larger than life.  Even the cab line is an event -- there are probably 200 people in it at any given time (many more if you're arrive between 9pm-11pm on a Friday night) and the energy is electric.  You know from that first moment that this is a place like nowhere else on earth.

We've been to Vegas at least once a year since we were 21 and, since we're all getting up there, that means we've had quite a few nights in Sin City.  Originally, we went just for the clubs -- Vegas has some of the best nightclubs ever; always packed, big dance floors, cool tables and amazing DJs. (Seriously, I use to fly to Vegas just to see Clinton Sparks -- who lived maybe ten minutes from me in Boston -- play at Body English, my favorite (now, sadly, defunked) club ever.  The loss of Body English should be a blog post on it's own, since it closed seemingly for no reason and Vanity has nothing on B.E. At any rate, that's a story for another time, since this post is already so tangental that I can barely follow it.)  The clubs were just the greatest scene with the funnest crowds. (Crowds with some of the best pick-up lines ever in the history of the world, like, "Well, going to clown college really chooses you." or "Do you know Pepto Bismol?  I'm actually the heir to the Pepto Bismol fortune.") We always met fun, funny people there, got drunk, danced and had a great time.  There is definitely a certain level of trashiness in any club, and especially in any club in Vegas (Vanity is taking trashy too far.) but the trashiness can be ignored because of the fun.  Also, Vegas has the most amazing bathroom attendants of anywhere I've ever been.  One night at Drai's, I saw a woman rip her dress, go into the bathroom and take off the dress, wait in the stall while the bathroom attendant sewed the dress, and then put it back on and go back to dancing.  For real, that is service.  At any rate, we loved the clubs.  Even though there's still a giant Body English-shaped hole in my heart, I still think they are really fun.

It really is all that.

This past trip we spent time at the Palms clubs, Moon and Ghost Bar, which are worth visiting for the view alone.  You're like 45 stories up, dancing outdoors on this huge patio, with the Vegas lights all around you.  It's really surreal.  Making all the crazier, at Ghost Bar, the floor of the balcony is clear, so you're also watching cars whiz by on the street below you.  Unbelievable.

So, in short, the clubs are awesome.  As we've gotten older though, we've embrace some of Vegas' other attractions.  This past trip, for example, we saw Zumanity, the Cirque du Soleil show that borders on actual porn, but is still completely amazing, despite it's weirdly racist undertones.  Not only was it a great show, but it struck up a lively dinner conversation about which countries the Cirque du Soleil performers were B-list gymnasts in.  It's nice to have something to talk about over dinner.

Favorite people, favorite place. 

In another totally adult move -- and this is a highlight -- I learned to play craps.  It's legitimately the most fun gambling game I've played, and I really like to gamble.  Craps is the quintessential Vegas game, because it's all about strangers coming together to have fun.  In my first game, I won like a hundred bucks, had an entire crowd of strangers chanting "Eight for Kate! Eight for Kate!" and received a marriage proposal.  For someone who likes attention as much as I do, it was pretty much the highlight of my life.

To sum up, I love to dance, drink, gamble and watch acrobats perform well-chorographed soft-core porn.  Like in life, the most important part about Vegas is the people you share it with, and I'm lucky to get to go to heaven in the Mojave (I made up that name too.) with some of the smartest, funniest, wildest girls I know.  Ladies, I can't wait til next year.   For now, I'm so, so sad that I won't get to be with you, D, as you lose your Vegas virginity.  But I hope you know that I'm with you in spirit.  Enjoy the giddy, you deserve it.

xo kate

Unleash the Dragon

The following is a real email exchange between my best friend Chaci, and an administrator from a local university.

Background: In the fall of 2010, Chaci was about to complete his masters degree and was in the process of preparing all of the commencement paperwork and logistics.  This included choosing a personal picture to show while they called his name during the official diploma ceremony.

Please note: certain names have been changed to protect the ignorant...uhhhh, i mean, innocent.  Enjoy. 


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dr. Smith
Date: Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 1:31 PM
Subject: your MarchingOrder slide
To: Chaci 


Hi Chaci,

We noticed that the photo you used for your personalized slide for the upcoming graduation is of a celebrity.  Would you prefer to use one of yourself or another photo that is reflective of who you are and the message you want to send and publically display?  Typically, the personalized slide is an opportunity to give thanks to individuals who have contributed to their academic achievements or to wish others well.  We see that your message does mention Sisqo.  Perhaps Sisqo is a friend of yours.

Please let me know.  Thank you.

Dr. Smith

Assistant Dean

Academic & Student Affairs

Boston, MA 02115

From: Chaci
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 2:24 PM
To: Dr. Smith
Subject: Re: your MarchingOrder slide

Hello Dr. Smith,

I hope this email finds you well.  It terms of the type of person I am, perhaps you are right, Sisqo would not be the best representation.

Although his music has gotten me through some difficult times in my life that corresponded with his 1999 release of "Unleash the Dragon", it may be too embarrassing to admit to publicly.

I met Mark Althavean Andrews, a.k.a.Sisqo, during his younger years in Baltimore when he was with the singing sensation Dru Hill.  We've grown a part since his minor fame and I haven't had too much communication with him.

I would refer to him as an acquittance at this point, rather than a personal friend.

I rediscovered his music again when I was having difficulties managing my hectic full-time job and course work at BU.  Studying with his track "Got to Get It" surely made me realize his influential power and inspiration.

He has meant a great deal to me in achieving my degree, something many never believed I would accomplish.

I do; however, understand the public and professional setting of the commencement (something I'm looking forward to for sure!).

If you would like me to change it to something a little more standard I will do so immediately.

Thank you very much,

Chaci

On Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 2:30 PM, Dr. Smith wrote:

Hi Chaci,

Thank you for your response.  It really helped me understand why you used Sisqo’s photo instead of yours.  Given what you have indicated, I truly believe that you should be the spotlight of your personalized slide.  This is YOUR moment, not Sisqo’s.  I am sorry that there were those you encountered who doubted you.  You persevered.  That’s what’s important.  Sisqo made a song.  I’m glad that it touched you but in the end, you were the one who had to work very hard to accomplish all you have.  You were the one who allowed his song to touch and motivate you.  Instead of giving him credit for what you have done, when he personally did not contribute to your success, consider honoring those who have.  This includes you. 

Dr. Smith

Do you remember, that day in November?

How cool is this video? How great is this song?

The drummer, my good friend Jon Marco, is coming out with a solo album soon! Get excited! And in the meantime, enjoy some vintage Parker House and Theory.

A modest proposal

You know what really grinds my gears?  The friggin Disney Vault.   

The "Disney Vault" is the term used by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment for its policy of putting home video releases of Walt Disney Animation Studios's animated features on moratorium. Each Disney film is available for purchase for a limited time, after which it is put "in the vault" and not made available in stores for several years until it is once again re-released.  In short, the Disney Vault ikeeps children and wildcats alike from experiencing the sheer joy of classics like The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.   

It is mocking me, this Vault.  It is making fools of us all.  And it is time we do something about it. So, I've made a pretty bold decision.  I'm going to plan a heist of the Disney Vault!      

Of course, I can't do it alone; I'm going to need help.  They don't know it yet, but I've assembled a crack heist team to help me penetrate the citadel of princesses, talking animals, and bizarre sequels that rarely follow the chronology of the original story.  Each member has been chosen for various skills, but also because I believe they can be cold and pitiless in the field. Without further ado, here is my list of recruits.

First and foremost, we need a Chief of Strategy and Logistics.  For this role, I plan to recruit my sister Danger, who's resume includes working in Afghanistan and knowing all of the words to Aladdin. Look in her eyes.  See her motivation.  

Next, I'm going to need some Muscle.  For this, I plan to persuade Geoff to join this most noble mission.  Not only is he as jacked as a career tribute in the Hunger Games, but he is also something of a Disney expert. Honestly, if he didn't have a great job in DC, he'd be playing Gaston down in Orlando.  Pythons + Disney Brains = One skilled operative.

Obviously, in order to hack into the Vault systems and pass the high tech security, we're going to need a computer/machines/devices/tech mastermind.  And I have the just the dude:  Eric.  Not only is Eric a Systems Whisperer, but he also has a son, which means he has a lot to gain by taking down the Vault.  

Next on the list:  two Masters of Disguises: Chaci and Bre.  Without them, we are just a bunch of amateurs.  With them, we are undercover agents.  We are sticky-finger, pilfering masterminds...incognito.

Last but not least, we're going to need a Get-away Driver.  Not some pansy who will panic at the sight of Cruella deVille, but someone with grit and no fear.  If any of you have driven with my roommate, JG, you know she is fierce and stealth behind the wheel...and also, she has one of those illegal cop buzzer things.  Very necessary. 

And when its all over and we are reveling in our success, we'll head back to headquarters where Kelly will be waiting with some nourishment and adult sodas.

So there you have it.  My heist team. 

The only thing I need now is a money man.  A backer.  I'm taking nominations.

In the meantime, imagine the team dressed in black.  Sporting barely visible, snazzy headsets.  Hacking into systems. Jumping over laser beams. And using harnesses when we can't quite jump. 

Sweating. Picking locks. Going undercover. Wearing disguises. Making narrow escapes. Climbing elevator shafts.  Stealing movies. Sticking it to the man. The Disney man.

Soooo...what do you think?  Bad idea? Who am I missing? What am I forgetting?  Any advice? What movie would you want me to steal for you?

****

Note: I do have crazy amounts of respect for the entire Disney enterprise.  They were a part of my childhood and I wholeheartedly plan to pass the joy and magic onto my family one day. This post is entirely satirical and tongue and cheek. 

I'm a movement by myself, but I'm a force when we're together...

A colleague of mine recently told me that flash mobs were, "soooo 2009."   Come on now now.  That just doesn't make any sense to me.

If dancing around my room alone is fun, and dancing at the Bell in the Hand with Kelly, Lisa, and Chaci is fun to the 10th degree, then it only stands to reason that participating in an organized dancing flash mob with all of my friends is so freaking fun that it hurts. Its science, guys.  Algorithms.

Besides, I'm pretty sure that no fun thing is ever dated.  It is like bowling.  Or like rollerskating.  Figuring out the rubrix cube. Winning Monopoly.  Wearing winged eye-liner.

And even though I've never done any of these things successfully, I hope you get my drift. And so, back to the topic at hand:  flash mobs.

I'll be honest: I don't know the official history of dancing flash mobs. But I do remember the first time I experienced the phenomenon...and if you were a teenager in the 90s, I'll bet my bottom dollar you remember as well.  Seriously, how badly did you want your high school to organize a dance a la "She's All That" for prom?  Whenever I see Freddie Prince Jr. awkward dufas face, I get the Rockefella Skank stuck in my head.  Now its stuck in yours too.



Recently, my friend Kelly and I took a cue from Usher and put together a flashmob for our friends' wedding.

Using a free and un-intuitive download of Audacity, Kelly mixed, cut, and blended the music mix; four songs, four styles, four times the fun.  Pulling inspiration from various music videos, movies, and youtube clips, we then choreographed the 2.5 minute number. We went for simple, classic and hella jazzy dance moves:  grapevines, the Carlton, spirit fingers.  Think Fosse meets Footloose and mix in some fist pumps...and boom goes the dynamite.

The bride, groom, bridal party, friends and family totally embraced the plan, learned the moves via silly youtube videos, and brought swagger and life and fun to the mob.  Check it out, son.



Kelly and I are also available for bar mitzvahs, sweet sixteens, and holiday parties.

Zombie in a Penguin Suit

A long LOST friend of mine, Chris Russell, made this genius short film...perfect for a chilly Halloween night in Boston.

Happy Birthday Lauren!

Where the Wildcats are: The Sandwich Fair

Every Columbus Day Weekend for the past six years, my friends and I have been breaking up into 3 teams, packing up our cars (named after Columbus' three ships: the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria) and trekking up to the Lake Winnipesaukee area of New Hampshire for a wholesome New England weekend. We not only take in some leaf peeping, but we also get lost in a corn maze, wander a pumpkin patch, and fight the crowds at the outlet shops.

The main event of the weekend, however, is the Sandwich Fair.

Sadly, it is not a fair of sandwiches.

But rather, a country fair in the rustic town of Sandwich, New Hampshire.

Oxen pulls, pig calling, helicopter rides, carnie games, tractor pulls, and of course, fair food.  Cha cha cha.

Fried pickles, sausages, chicken fingers, buffalo burgers, corn dogs, sweet potato fries, ice cream, snow cones, apple crisp, fried Twinkies.  Nevaeh.  (that's Heaven spelled backwards.)

We pretty much just eat our brains out.  One year Eric puked all night.  But don't tell him I told you that.

To better help you understand the magic of the Sandwich Fair weekend, I've collected some photos from over the years...

The Evolution of a Wolfpack: The Goon Docks

The Goonies:  
The Wolfpack of 1985

  

When I was eight years old I pushed my sister down the stairs and blamed it on the dog.

 This one, this one right here. This was my dream, my wish. And it didn't come true. 

So I'm taking it back. I'm taking them all back.

You know something, Willie? You're the first Goonie. 

Goonies never say die.

Cos I said so.

Cos is one of my oldest and bestest friends. We were buddies before I even knew what a wolfpack was.

He's also a musical genius, involved in a variety of projects and groups. One group is the Boston-based band, Parker House and Theory.

They are playing at the Hard Rock Cafe on September 23rd and you should go see them.

In the meantime, check this out...

This is my forever love.

I'm more invested then I probably should be in certain celebrity couples.  I recognize that this is weird, since, you know, I don't technically know these people.  But there are certain couples that I just think should be together, and no matter how long they are apart -- or in some case, were never really together, except in the movies -- I just can't get over them.  I've conveniently broken them down into categories for you.

Epic Romance

It wasn't over.  It still isn't over.

The most obvious example of this kind of weird devotion to celebrity romance is Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling.  I've never met a girl who doesn't think -- no, know -- that Noah and Allie need to be together forever.  In the movie world and in the real world.  The Notebook is one of those movies that it's just really hard not to like, even when you logically know it's bad.  I saw it for the first time in a huge theatre in Boston at like 10pm on a Tuesday night with my friend Virginia.  There were only maybe four other people in the theatre.  I remember sitting there for a good ten minutes after the movie was over because we were so embarrassed about how hard we've been crying and didn't want to walk back on the street.  The fact that the stars were together in real life just added to the epicness of the love story.  Apparently they real-life broke up in 2008 and now Rachel is dating that really creepy royal vampire from the Twilight movies.  You know, the one who wears his hair like he wishes it was a mullet.  But in my heart, Noah and Allie and Rachel and Ryan will always be together.

Teenage Dream

I have no idea what the actual purpose of this photo shoot was,
but I like to imagine it was for  JT and Brit's 2001 Christmas card.
Alternatively, don't they kind of look like they could be doing promo shots 
for the new season of Teen Mom?

Britney and Justin defined the bubble gum dreams of preteen millenials.  They had everything that American's look for in a teen idol couple: they were young, they were talented, they were rich, they were self-proclaimed virgins.  Which begs the question: at what point did it stop being cool for pop stars to talk all the time about saving themselves? You don't read about Selena Gomez and the Biebs talking about how they are virgins and will be for life.  They are taking unchamperoned trips to Hawaii to "unwind."  Did that end with Justin's Rolling Stone comments about Britney?  Or when she cheated on him with Wade?  Did we just evolve past the point where we can reasonably believe that famous, good looking fifteen year-olds aren't having sex?  But this isn't suppose to be political.  This is suppose to be about love.  And I believe in Britney and Justin's love.  Forever.  Wait, sorry, I should say 4-eva.  Despite the back and forth singles (Cry Me A River and Everytime) and the claims that it was "never going to work" and they "were just kids," I'm still holding on for them to come to their senses and realize that what starts in the Mickey Mouse club should never really end.  Everytime I hear about Justin dating another Hollywood starlet, or Britney getting married to someone non-famous, I just think: Why!? Why can't you two crazy kids make it work?  And I don't think I'm the only one.

Forbidden Love

I'll never let go either.

Every time there's a playoff series and a team loses the first three games, most fans really hope they can come back and win it all.  But everyone in Boston hopes that they lose.  Somehow another team coming back from 0-3 in a playoff series makes the Red Sox 2004 victory against the Yankees less special.  I used to have the same feeling every time a major movie would come out.  I'd be so worried that it would become more successful than Titanic and it would somehow make the Titanic phenomenon -- a big part of my tweenage years -- less special.  Of course, eventually it did happen, with 2009's Avatar (which I still haven't seen on principle and because I hate fantasy) and it didn't make Rose and Jack's tale of epic romance any less special to me.  I still love them.  And I still love Kate and Leo.  I understand that they were never a real life couple, but to me they always will be.  Also, her Golden Globes speech sort of made it seem like maybe she felt the same way.

The reason this is coming up this week is because there was some upsetting news about one of my favorite couples.  I'm not talking about Leo and Kate, although I do think that he's completely ridiculous and completely predictable to take up with Blake Lively.  Or even about Rachel and the vampire, although I think that's really weird.

I'm talking about Courtney and Jennifer.  That's right, this week Us Weekly told me that Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston, the best friends of Friends, are fighting.  Apparently, Jennifer thinks that Courtney's vacation with her Cougar Town co-start Josh Hopkins while she's still married to David Arquette (although they are separated) is reminiscent of Brad's beach romp with Angelina and Maddox just weeks after his separation from Jennifer.  Jennifer disapproves of her friend being so publicly reckless with her husband's feelings, which is understandable, seeing as she was married to this guy:

These two make me want to throw up.  But those little boys are too freakin' cute.

Mon, Rach, don't you think we can work this out?

Still, the friction between this particular set of Hollywood BFFLs leaves me baffled and upset.  I sincerely hope that the Friends who made us believe in the power of purple walls and a really big cup of coffee aren't on a break for long.  In the Hollywood world of "I love you dahlings" and insta-relationships, it's rare that a friendship forms that is real and genuine and stands the test of time.  To me, part of what makes Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston likable as actresses is that they feel so accessible as people.  The fact that they were the Friends who really were friends made it feel like I knew them as well as I knew Monica and Rachel.  I know that's unreasonable, but it's just the way my brain works.  I really hope these two kids can work it out.

xo kate

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

The first excerpt of Mindy Kaling's book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns), hit the internet this week.  I appreciated the free 26-page excerpt (which you can read for yourself here) and, apparently -- according to The New Yorker, am Mindy's target demographic, "i.e., unmarried,
babyless women above the age of sixteen and under the age of thirty."  Gee, thanks New Yorker, there really isn't enough pressure to be married and having babies in your twenties, or even pejorative comments made in the media about young women -- I needed you to point out that I'm the target of certain authors.  


Media targeting aside, my favorite part of the excerpt was Mindy's rights and responsibilities for being best friends.  One of the best parts about being a women is the ability to have really great friendships with other women.  I always feel bad for guys because, although they often have a lot of male friends, for some reason men don't seem to be allow (I don't know if this is a testosterone thing or a society thing -- or some combination of the two) to have intimate friendships with men in the same way that women are allowed to be friends with women.  Personally, I think that having close, adult friendships with other women is the reward that girl's get for surviving middle school.  Mindy's best friendship rules remind me of how lucky I am to get to have great friendships with my best friends and include: I can borrow all your clothes (as long as you've worn them once), We sleep in the same bed (how else can we talk until we fall asleep?), I can ditch you -- within reason (as long as alternative plans for travel home have been established), I will try to like your boyfriend five times, I will hate and re-like people for you (but don't get mad if sometimes I can't keep track), and It's okay to take me for granted (when you fall in love, but don't forget about me completely).


At any rate, I wasn't blown away by what I read so far, but I did enjoy it and, given my love for Mindy Kaling, I'm sure I'll read the whole thing when it comes out.  That is, unless I get married or pregnant before that, in which case, I'm out.


xo kate

The importance of a true wolfpack

There are three happiness killers:

doing work you do not love and are not passionate about,

surrounding yourself with people who you do not really like

(someone who just fills time),

and living somewhere that does not let you be you.

Just stop it.

Life is far too short.

- Richard Florida