Where You Lead, I Will Follow

Choosing to rewatch Gilmore Girls was single-handedly one the best decisions I’ve made.
Not just because it’s a good show, the writing is witty and hilarious and the music selection is phenomenal, but because it’s exactly what I needed. Case in point, I am currently on the seventh and final season, which Rory is graduating  from college. She and I are in the exact same position and career path, the idea that it is the end of an era and the beginning of the unknown.  During these last few episodes I keep finding myself relating to dear Ms. Gilmore more than I ever have. Here I am entering the last few months of my college career, an incredible internship already under my belt, and now I’m not sure of what my next move is. I’m watching friends make these big life choices and celebrate with them as they receive news of a job offer, or internship choice, or acceptance into that graduate school program.

Yet here I am, waiting, almost hesitating to make the next big step. Much like Rory herself and having just finished the episode titled “It’s Just Like Riding a Bike”, Rory turns down her first job offer to go after her dream of working at the New York Times, only to be rejected, thus ending up with no future career path while everyone else around her is finalizing their plans post-graduation.

I’m given the real possibility that I might not end up where I want to be (if I figure that out) just like Rory herself.  While of course there are moves I want to make, but the issue is seems is more of when. Do I move home for a year to save money? Do I pack up and go on to another state and start new? Do I accept the first “big-girl” job I’m offered as a safety net, or do I hold out until one I really want comes along?  The deciding factors seems to be: when and where, and for once I’m thankful it doesn't rely on a “who”.  It might be that I’m too in love with myself and my passions, or that I’m too “busy” for anything else really, whatever the case, I’m pretty happy with the direction I’m going. Where I'm going...seems to be the biggest question.

Maybe 2015 can help me figure that out....

xoxo.

From (Web) Page to Paper

I'll be the first to admit it, I spend a lot of time in my own head.
Most of the time my head space is occupied by lyrics to songs that I'm always surprised I remember, or those equally annoying times when I can remember the lines to that annoyingly catchy pop song that won't stop being played on the radio.  

If it's not song lyrics, it's story lines. Ever since I was little I wanted to be an author, but I've got this whole thing about grammar and rewrites. That thing being I hate grammar rules, the whole i before e, except after c rule makes my head spin and I'm notorious for using one too many commas. So my apologies now if I commit any grammar crimes -- my AP Style book is being delivered from Amazon and you know how unreliable the U.S. Postal Service is.
And don't get me started on rewrites, this paragraph alone has been rewritten a solid seven times already.

Anyways, back to my point here...
Being in my own head.
It's messy and cramped and filled with endless nonsense that usually comes out of my mouth, or via my Twitter page, and sometimes I have a hard time keeping track of it all.
Which is why I originally decided to start this blog. A place to keep all my thoughts.
Enter the problem: My brain goes a lot faster than my hands can keep up with, which can result in a lot of spelling mistakes (another grammar crime I often commit, so thank god for spell check). I've considered doing a podcast, but 1) I'm lazy and have yet to actually follow through with it, and 2) I'm not too keen on hearing my own voice on recording...yet-if I do happen to land my own radio show right after graduation, than I'l get over my own-voice-listening-to-aversion and gladly accept the position.

Recently, I got this idea of how to document my head space clutter sans a computer.
A good old fashion journal. Think of one of those "Wreck this Journal" journals, just minus the prompts and actual destruction.
With 2015 a day away, I feel like this is just what I needed to start the new year, and to finish the final chapter of my collegiate career.
I'm hoping to fill this journal with doodles, song lyrics, as well as quotes and other momentos of 2015.

Now...to find a journal and a New Year's Eve outfit, wish me luck!
xoxo

Happy Reading and Sage Advice

Christmas Tradition

Currently, it is 10:30pm on Christmas Day 2014. My family and I per tradition are competing to see who can be the most lazy. Currently, I'd have to say it would be a tie between myself, and my mother, who has been napping on the couch on-and-off since 3:00 pm. Christmas, for us, was celebrated early this morning, (midnight, if you want to be exact) and since than we've been enjoying our presents, and quality napping time. 

That being said, one of my presents was Amy Poehler's book "Yes Please" and although I'm currently preoccupied with a whole other list of books (see my previous post, in case your wondering what list I'm talking about), but I couldn't help myself and had to read a few pages.

Amy's Advice

With Christmas coming to an end, and the New Year around the corner, it's natural to start thinking about next year, after all 2015 is a big year for me. Graduation, adulthood, complete panic at "officially entering the real world" It's strange, knowing that four years has gone by so quickly, but it's exciting at the same time.
I have successfully avoiding answering any prying personal details to my extend family, managing to mumble the general, "Oh I'm a Journalist Major...Oh I go to school in Aurora...I'm graduating in May.." all while having the great internal battle that one more cookie I eat won't spoil my Christmas dinner.

While reading the first few I'm reminded how much of an idol Amy Poehler is. Granted, I finished Parks and Recreations fairly quickly so I may be a little biased on my "Amy Poehler Appreciation" but that is besides the point here.

My point being, is that within the first chapter of the book, Poehler shares the hard truth- writing is hard. Life is hard, and messy and complicated, and becoming an adult is really scary. At 22, and an almost-college-graduate, I'm already sick of being asked "what are you going to do when I graduate?"

Within my first couple of pages of reading "Yes Please" I was given the best answer I could ever hope for via the great Amy Poehler. "...we should stop asking people in their twenties what they "want to do" and start asking them what they don't want to do. Instead of asking students to "declare their major" we should ask students to "list what they will do anything to avoid." It just makes a lot more sense..."

And it does make a lot more sense, and makes me so much more excited to start reading.

Happy Holidays!
xoxo

Bookworm Forever

Between two pages; my favorite place to be.

I'm a lover of many things. Music, obviously. Of comfy socks, and superheros, of pizza and good coffee. Most importantly, I am a lover of books.

Growing up, I wasn't the athletic type. I didn't actively compete in a sport until my senior year of high school, and even now, I'm limited due to a knee injury. I was always someone who kept to myself, and was rather on the shy side. (A complete opposite of who I am now.) With my mother always working late hours, I often found myself looking for things to keep me entertained. That entertainment usually came in the form of music and television (which resulted in my vast knowledge of pop culture), but most importantly: books.

While my main focus of this blog has primary revolved around music, and my experience at my music-industry focused internship, I cannot shy away from another big part of my life. Books, much like music, have always served as an escape. A journey, and always an exciting adventure.

Currently, my internship with Cumulus Media (owner of 101.1 WKQX, 97.9 The Loop, and 94.7 WLS) has come to an end, (as all good things must do) I find myself with an endless amount of free time. Something, that since the semester started, I have not found myself having a lot of.

The Challenge 

With this vast amount of free time of my hands, I have done two things: scan the vast cyber world of Pinterest, and shamelessly binge watch various television series on Netflix. Currently, I am working my way through NBC's Parks and Recreation, and Gilmore Girls. As I made my way through Gilmore Girls, a show I had watched during much of my adolescence, I was reminded why I admired Rory Gilmore. She was beautiful, quick-witted, and intelligent and held a such a high admiration and knowledge on music, books, and pop culture that I could only dream of achieving

Her graduation speech alone nearly moved me to tears. Partly because of the close connection to her mother, much like myself, and partly because, I, much like Rory, have always loved books.

With that being said, I came across the massive list of books referenced in Gilmore Girls. The grand total: 339 books.  I have taken it upon myself to begin this, "Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge", because, what else do I really have to lose?

I'm a firm believer that if the time I'm wasting isn't due to sleeping, it best be wasted due to reading.

"...I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I’ve been a resident of Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina, and strolled down Swann’s Way. It’s a rewarding world...." Rory Gilmore; "Those Are Strings, Pinochio" (Season 3, Episode 22)

Shut Up and Steal Christmas

Another Day, Another Concert

The life of a Promotions Intern, is certainly never a boring one. Exhausting? Yes. But boring, never. This week kicked off 101.1 WKQX's "The Nights We Stole Christmas" two night concert events, and while I missed out on opening night last Monday, I got to witness the chaos first-hand on Saturday.

Looking at the line up, I could barely contain my excitement when I realized that Walk The Moon was the headliner. For those you, who haven't heard of them (shame on you, first of all), they just released their new album "Talking Is Hard". Their hit single, "Shut Up and Dance" has been playing non-stop on my iPhone since it came on my iTunes Radio shuffle back in September. A catchy and dance-worthy song, I'm happy to say that Walk the Moon sounds just as great live, as they do on their album. Too often I find myself being greatly disappointed when a band sounds great on recording, and awful live. 

I spend a solid 10 hours at The Aragon Ballroom in Chicago on Saturday. (This is where the exhausting part of being an intern comes in) Being a part of the Promotional team, it was our responsibility to not only set up the entire venue before the show, but also to manage any of our contest winners and set them up with their VIP and Meet The Band passes.

Perks Of Being an Intern

With that being said, I have to share the good parts that come with being an intern. We arrived at the Aragon at 2:00pm, (I had arrived in the city at 11:00, so my day had already started waaaay before getting to the Aragon), and the set up began: promotional tables, hanging posters and signage from all there sponsors, setting up our "Awkward Family Photo" booth. The whole thing was exhausting. But--being there early before doors opened did mean one good thing: hearing the bands warm up. Kongos, Meg Myers, Vance Joy, and Walk the Moon, I was in heaven.

But it got better. While I was incredibly excited to be wearing my "Working" pass, and to get a chance to see the bands performs I wasn't exactly sure what perks came with wearing it. The perks, I quickly learned, were amazing. We were granted access to the VIP Lounge, I got a chance to meet Walk the Moon, be in the balcony behind the stage (giving me perfect view of the bands) AND during one of the performances, I found myself dancing with Noelle Scaggs (of Fitz and the Tantrums) who showed up after performing at their own show earlier that night. 

The Nights We Stole Christmas is certainly a show I'll remember, and with my internship coming to a close within the next few weeks, I'm beyond thankful to have gotten this experience of a lifetime.

                 For more behind the scenes footage, follow my instagram: xoxo_cgonzales

 

          (Video taken December 6, 2014 by Christina Gonzales. Aragon Ballroom. Walk the Moon.)