The Day After...

Today is April 4th. Yesterday was April 3rd, the first day of Spring Break for many Binghamton University students, the day before my birthday, and the day that 14 people in Binghamton died, 4 were wounded, and thousands traumatized. I started out as just a BU student in 2003. Now, I've been a Binghamtonite for the past 6 years and I've started to feel pretty damn attached to this city. I work here, I live here, I learn here. It's the same city that tons of university students mock for being "lame", "totally unhip", "too damn cold", and "full of hicks". I find it amazingly ironic that the students have been let off for Spring Break and weren't even privy to the tragedy. The fact of the matter is that most of them probably don't give a crap about it. Because it affected "townies", who cares, right?

Wrong.

I saw the outpouring of support for Virginia Tech two years ago. This has happened here and it affects all of us. I expect nothing less from university students this time around. We need to work together to heal these wounds and keep each other safe and sane. Don't let me down, BU.

They're still alive... and still mighty tasty!

Look! It's Fox Mulder and Dana Scully! I know, I was shocked as well. The amount of nostalgia that's been flowing back into my life in the past few weeks has been incredible, and here's another to add to the pile.

The X-Files started when I was a wee 8 year old. I started watching the show with my parents right after we had moved from Spring Valley to Nyack. I can honestly say that, back then, the show used to creep the bejesus out of me! But I loved every second of it. I also had some serious crush-itude on BOTH of these folks right here; David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. In fact, Gillian was probably my first real attraction to someone of the same gender. (Insert profound, life changing experience here).

So, here they are 15 years later, coming out with a new X-Files movie on July 25th! I'm super psyched, but I do have a couple concerns. A) Does anyone even remember the X-Files!? (I sure hope so). B) If they try to put all the backstory in to bring new viewers up to date, the new storyline will compose a total of 10 minutes (or less) of the film. C) If they make Mulder and Scully finally "do it"... what will we all have to look forward to. (Fantasy ruined). Nowadays, David is still on TV (and pushing 50) and Gillian is doing stage work (and pushing 40). They both have families and children and all that great, grown up crap.

But in general, I think the walk down memory lane is going to be a blast, so I'm going to dig up my old (hand knitted) X-Files vest which sports some of the famous slogans of the show embroidered on it and go to the theatre on July 25th with my +1.

Patrick > Everyone

I really love Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy. I love everything about him. I love how he acts as Pete Wentz's foil. Besides the obvious features; being amazingly talented, writing all the music for FOB, singing the best modern blue-eyed soul, and producing wonderful acts. He's got this great self-depricating sense of humor (which is REALLY attractive) and he appears comfortable in his own skin (which is inspiring).

He's who I wanna be when I grow up.

I've got a BS in Nursing and BA in Patrickology.

Making Medicare foxy!

Today was my mother's 64th birthday, so my father and I took her out for the day. We took her shoe shopping, to a nice dinner, and to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. We all enjoyed the movie so much! It was so much fun and was filled with nostalgia from the older 3 films. I don't know if people around my age have the same connection with Indy that I do, but his trilogy was the first set of action movies with an iconic hero that I ever saw. He was technically my first cinematic hero and my first crush... when I was 5... I think every girl (and queer male) wishes they were Kate Capshaw in Temple of Doom... come on, you know you do, too.
This new movie was a wonderful continuation of that heroic journey with tongue in cheek jokes that are cheesey as hell, but totally charming.

So the theme of today was "people in their 60's still kick ass!" in honor of my dear mother and Mr. Harrison Ford who is 65 (eligible for Medicare!). I've been known to find older men attractive (see upcoming post on my love for Mike Rowe), but Harrison Ford is an outlier on the continuum. Perhaps it's just the association of his face with that jerky, brazen, intelligent character, but I still found myself grinning unbearably and wishing I was Karen Allen all over again... like I did when I was 5.





Totally hot.




OMG, STILL TOTALLY HOT!

Where Brooklyn at?

Oh my, oh my, oh my. Have you been watching Ms. Rap Supreme on VH1? I sure have. For those of you that don't know, I have a (huge) place in my heart for hip hop and rap, having grown up outside NYC with Hot 97 as my prefered radio station until punk rock stole me away in my early teens. I can't say I have a sure-fire prediction to win, because there are a few really talented gals on there. However I do have a favorite.

<------This gal right here. Her name is Byata and she's from Brooklyn. She grew up in Little Odessa with Russian immigrant parents. I guess I feel that I can relate being from NYC and having an eastern european ancestry. It's nice to see an example of the mix of cultural influences that makes NYC the best city on earth. She is full of talent, enthusiasm, intensity, and fun. I have to also admit that it helps that she's totally hot. I LOVE women in rap and I'm hoping that all the gals from the show get record deals and we can all hear more from them. Women have a lot to say and rap is an excellent vehicle to vent from centuries of male oppression and whatnot. So, for all my girls on Ms. Rap Supreme, keep spittin' for girls like me, who wish we could.

And as for Byata... call me?

Keep Quiet, Nothing Comes as Easy as You.

I am ever so slightly (sarcasm) obsessed with my boyfriends in Fall Out Boy, so by default, I've been following the saga of Mr. Pete Wentz and Ms. Ashlee Simpson (currently Mrs. Ashlee Wentz). Their wedding this weekend was the same day that I graduated from college (how odd). Apparently they spent half a cool million on an Alice in Wonderland themed wedding. Pretty fuckin' sweet. I've seen the invites, they're adorable. Can't wait for the photos! Her dad officiated (hmm?) and apparently they had a "non-denominational" ceremony. That's pretty cool cuz the Simpson's are mega-religious, but they're respecting their son-in-law's spirituality. Maybe they're not as gross as Perez sez.

I'm just so happy to see young people having a semi-normal relationship and getting married in a fun and unique way. (It may be partially my own obsession with theme weddings and my burning desire to wed sooner rather than later). I love these kids and I really hope that Ash is preggers. Babies are awesome even though they're now the hottest accessory in Hollywood. In short, they seem so happy together, which is a damn good reason to get married.



Mazel Tov!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, Patrick... are you perhaps looking for a nice Jewish girl to marry?

Rebirth on the internet?

I, like most people in their early 20's and younger, grew up on the internet. I had my days of looking at pictures of shiny celebrities and downloading virus-laiden programs and my endless nights of instant messaging. But I had figured that all that was over and done with once I became a serious student during my junior year of college.

My name is Katie Avalanche and I have not been on AOL Instant Messenger for over 2 years.
My name is Katie Avalanche and I have not posted a blog on any networking website for over 6 months.

I guess this website officially marks me 'falling off the wagon', so to speak. Through my trepidation I am typing these words and trying to understand why there is trepidation to begin with!
My associations with the internet are cut-throat, reputation annihilating, friendship-destroying fights with covertly sent, nasty emails and BFF breakups through IM that deserve Perez Hilton coverage. I'm just trying to explain why even being on this website makes me somewhat uneasy.

But what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. And I believe in the journey, not the destination. So, through those trite cliches I'll press forward and try to write something that is important for me and that gives some insight into the interesting things that I do. But just for fair warning, I do still like the pretty, shiny lights of celebrity from time to time.

XOXO
KxA