Thanksgiving.

I have a pretty weird family ... and I love it. So when I walked into the kitchen the other morning and my parents were imitating a Three Stooges skit, I wasn't fazed. My mom, pointing a pancake spatula at my dad, was saying "Thank YOU!" in this really silly voice then laughing at how funny she was. My dad then promptly responded in a French (ish?) accent, "No, but thank YOU!" They went back and forth with this, improvising with new voices and doing funny little hand motions.

This entertainment went on for awhile. But the rest of the morning was like any other: my dad blasted some Wilco and we stuffed our faces with yummy pancakes (all the while my mom said my bed hair looks really funny when I drink and party the night before).

There's a point to this. Thanksgiving is TOMORROW (who has started counting down, by the way? Eeeeek pumpkin pie!!) and it makes me wonder: what am I thankful for? Well the other morning, I knew the answer. As I stood in the kitchen watching my parents act like crazy weirdos-- as I watched them laugh till they were almost crying-- I couldn't help but feel so thankful for them.

I think that Thanksgiving is about realizing what moves us in life and feeling grateful for that. It's a day where we look around and give thanks for the things that make us happy-- our favorite hobbies, love, friendship, companionship. It's a day where we can turn to someone and say, "thanks for everything."

I am lucky to have a ten day Thanksgiving break. Right now I am in beautiful North Carolina with my WHOLE family (add lots of wine and bizarre humor to the mix and we are having a damn good time). It's been a relaxing and much needed break. We hang out by the fireplace, watch cool indie movies (thanks to my dad the self-proclaimed film connoisseur), do a little hiking (emphasis on little), and eat SO much food (whenever I come to NC, I find myself either eating or talking about eating).

The first few days of the break I was home in Miami. While I was home, it was so easy to see what I am thankful for: my incredible friends (imagine a wine night until 6am), my huge, comfy bed, going out to the best restaurants and places (Miami Short Film Festival was going on! AMAZING), and family dinners that last HOURS. I am thankful that I have such a wonderful home to go back to whenever I want. And when I say home, I mean it in every sense of the word.

For Thanksgiving, there are so many things you can do to give thanks. But in the end, it doesn't even need to be something that big. It's a day where you can turn around to your friend, a family member, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, whoever, and say, "thanks for being you." (I admit it-- such a corny post, but come on people! It's thanksgiving!)



"And so today, my world it smiles, your hand in mine, we walk the miles,
Thanks to you it will be done, for you to me are the only one."

-Led Zeppelin

Time

It makes me sort of cringe to think that my last post was about the first week of school. We can look at it literally: Alex, you are a lazy ass. But let's be nice to Alex and look at it symbolically: Alex, can you believe the semester is almost over?

Time has flown by so quickly that it scares me. It seems as though as we get older, time moves a lot faster. Does anyone agree? Or am I just really anxious since this past weekend was our last tailgate (ever)? Ok. Don't stop reading, I promise this post will not be emo.

A lot of good things have happened over the past couple of months. I have grown closer with my friends, I really like my classes, and I have come to love and appreciate Vanderbilt (Nashville especially... who woulda thunk it?). When you acknowledge the fact that time is fleeting, you realize that you should REALLY enjoy it. What do you have to lose?

So when my older brother got on my ass about sticking with my blog, I had my excuses: "I have NO TIME," "the GRE," "so much work," "it's just a hobby," "I'm going to start fresh in the spring." He responded, in a nice way, cut the bullshit. "Don't wait till spring, do it now. If you like doing it, make time." In the end, we have to admit that we have no control over time. But we have control of what we do with it. So, I'm going to make time for my blog and stick to it. I like writing it. I hope you like reading it. And even if you don't, I'll be doing it every Wednesday. Wednesday wrap-up if you will.

Enough about time, now about artsy. In my most recent music experiences, I saw Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes do a small set at Grimey's record store (above The Basement on 8th ave). I had never heard of them so I am very glad I found someone else who loves music as much as I do and decided to invite me! Ed Sharpe sounds smooth, soulful and folky. By folky I don't mean in a weird way but in a "let's hold hands and laugh and dance" kind of way. The show was simple and sweet. And I REALLY loved seeing this band jam out stoned off their asses (imagine a group of happy hippies in bizarre garments and greasy hair just having a fun time talking shit and performing great music.) Check out one of their most popular and one of my favorites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjFaenf1T-Y

Just this past weekend I had the chance, no the great fortune, to see JAY-Z perform at Vanderbilt. There really are no words, except that he's not a businessman, he's a business, man (ha! had to do it..) No but really, he is the epitome of cool. Honestly, this guy knows how to put on an AMAZING show. He did a lot of songs from the new Blueprint 3 album (almost cried when I heard "Empire State of Mind," who wouldn't?) and of course the classics, including one of my faves of all time, "Public Service Announcement." Others to be mentioned for their greatness: "Big Pimpin',""99 Problems,""Hard Knock Life," and... wait for it... "Forever Young" to finish it all off.

What's so great about Jay Z is not that he is such an amazing performer but that he really loves his audience. Who will ever forget the ten minute shout out he made to people from the floor to the nose bleeds ("ye boy I see ya in ya jamaican shirt.." "ye girl, I see ya in yo bling. damn!")? Or the fact that he thinks Vandy girls are hot ("y'all got some pretty ladies here! what the fuuuuuck!")? My roommate and I convinced ourselves that he was looking at us directly. All in all, such a perfect experience. Thank you Jay Z.

Shit. I really always tell myself to write shorter posts. ANYWAYS. Recap, I will be writing a post every Wednesday about any cool artsy experiences and will try to include things going on in Nashville. About the time thing, take it in stride, but realize that time does fly. Why not enjoy it? In the words of HOVA himself:

"I'd rather die enormous than live dormant."

Stuff to check out if you are here this weekend before the break:

Deadmau5, this thursday, Limelight, 8pm

Dan Auerbach (of the Black Keys), this Saturday, Cannery Ballroom, 9pm