Work Hard

I've discovered that I have sort of a schizophrenic relationship with my job here - one day (or hour) it's the application of the most fascinating stuff that I learned about and loved in college and the next I'm just trudging through it all waiting to go home so I can pack my bags and go back to Oregon to work there. Today was an up day, though, so I can't complain.

After work I almost went to an All-American Rejects concert at the Virgin Megastore, but after I rode two escalators with the band, I decided I wouldn't stick around. Ok, it also helps that I'm not the hugest fan of All-American Rejects. They really remind me of Stroke 9, from my days in high school. Some things are better left in high school.

After the Virgin Megastore, I went to Borders to buy the new Keane album. It was cheaper at Virgin, but the extra $1.99 at Borders was worth it since it got me a VIP pass to Keane's in-store performance on Friday and a guaranteed autograph. Yay for free fun! And autographs! And good music! I've only had one complete listen so far (I'm on round two right now) but I think Hopes and Fears is still a better album. At least the album art is cool. So far, I think Hamburg Song is my favorite from the new album. For an album that was accused in several critical reviews for having campy and much-less-than-profound lyrics, I'll have to say that upon my limited observation, Hamburg Song provides one of the more thoughtful and sincere lyrical passages of the recording:

I don't wanna be adored
Don't wanna be first in line
Or make myself heard
I'd like to bring a little light
To shine a light on your life
To make you feel loved

No, don't wanna be the only one you know
I wanna be the place you call home

I lay myself down
To make it so, but you don't want to know
I give much more
Than I'd ever ask for

Will you see me in the end
Or is it just a waste of time
Trying to be your friend
Just shine, shine, shine
Shine a little light
Shine a light on my life
Warm me up again

Fool, I wonder if you know yourself at all
You know that it could be so simple

I lay myself down
To make it so, but you don't want to know
You take much more
Than I'd ever ask for

Say a word or two to brighten my day
Do you think that you could see your way

To lay yourself down
And make it so, but you don't want to know
You take much more
Than I'd ever ask for

So what would you do if you were meeting someone for the first time for dinner and they told you the name of the restaurant and time of the reservation only for you to then discover that it is one of the most expensive spots in town, and you'll probably be paying for yourself? Can't we just go to Chinatown???

-Depeche Mode-