Summertime, and the living is... easy

So tonight I got all gussied up (who SAYS that? Apparently I do!) and went to see the DIT Symphonic Orchestra perform at the National Concert Hall, because Niall (yes, THE Niall) plays oboe in it! The performance was called A Night Of American Music, and they played a bunch of John Williams (Empire Strikes Back! Superman! it was AWESOME!), then whole sets from Porgy and Bess and West Side Story, complete with singers, and it was really cool because it was beautiful orchestral music but I also knew some of it, so I was kept entertained. I also may have watched Niall a bit more than was strictly necessary. He's so adorable you guys, what the hell. He even had at least two solo-ish moments, at least where his oboe was the most prominent instrument, and he was so good, I was so proud of him :D He seemed really pleased that Sinead and Louise and I came to see his show. And I met his parents afterwards! It was a really lovely night.

Random bits from the night: a senator of Ireland, David Norris, was sitting in the same row as us! He said excuse me to us as he went in to his seats, Sinead was very excited, haha. Apparently he is gay, vocally in favor of gay marriage, and just a lovely fun man. So that was nifty! \o/

Also, there was a piano soloist who was fucking talented but who was, hi, BRENDON. I mean. He looked about 18, and was a bit twitchy and spazzy. He had a red vest and bowtie on under his tux, and I think they had to hunt him down when it was time for his song because there was an awkwardly long pause beforehand, and he had long shaggy hair that got in his eyes, and he OWNED that piano. So yes. Because all things come back to bandom \o/

I'm really really really fond of Niall. If that wasn't clear.

Moving on!

crystal_lily!! I GOT YOUR PACKAGE!! Bweeeeee BOOSH! And RUSSELL! And a beautiful letter in your beautiful handwriting! YAYE! *twirls you* Thank you so much, sweetiepie! It totally made my day <33333

I paused in writing this post to call my dad, and, like, I know I say this all the time, but I love my dad so much. I had refrained from calling him for a while because he was super sick with the flu (he was in bed for TWELVE DAYS *boggles*) but he's finally feeling almost better so I wasn't as worried about tiring him out. And I swear I need my weekly doses of my daddy like I need oxygen, or sunshine. He just lifts my spirits, even if they don't need lifting. We talked about how even though I might be dreading leaving this place, it's pretty dumb to worry about losing something awesome WHILE I am experiencing said awesomeness. We also talked about what it will be like for me to go home, and how it will probably be different than I'm expecting, because *I* am so different. And I really, really am. When I went home in December, we spent Christmas dinner with my godparents, and my dad told me that they remarked to him, astonished, about how superconfident I had become. And I really hadn't thought about it in that way, but it's true - I am so much more sure of myself, more pleased and comfortable with who I am, and much more easy with interacting with people. It feels wonderful. We also talked about his upcoming visit (SQUEE! Two weeks!!!) and how ridiculously excited we both are, and all the amazing things we're going to do, and YOU GUYS I GET MY DADDY AND MY LITTLE SIS :D:D:D I get to show them my beautiful city, and my beautiful country, and basically have this experience none of us will forget. Yaaaaaay.

There are a bunch of other random things I could talk about, but I am exhausted and I think I have rambled on plenty. Goodnight, my lovelies! <3

We're feelin so good, just the way that we do

So Rocksound is kind of douchetards for promising a giant Panic poster on the cover of last week's issue, then only delivering Jon and Ryan, and giving Brendon and Spencer in this week's. Nowhere on the cover of either issue was it indicated that the "giant poster" was actually half of one. But whatever, I got suckered in, and HI THE RESULT IS SO PRETTY. Talk about larger than life!

( The best picture I could get... )

So according to some random dude on Youtube, Hold Still the Red Light is not actually a Pencey Prep song? This might explain why, um, it's so much better than their other stuff, haha. I love it though, whoever it is! And I'm still fond of Pencey's actual material. Fraaaaankie. You guys, he makes me get hearts in my eyes. Do we know what's wrong with him yet? :(

The new Panic songs sound SO SO GOOD. Everyone needs to STFU with the Beatles shit, because this sound is entirely their own, and it's quirky and weird and cheerful and HI RYAN SINGING LEAD ILU BB. Siiiiigh I can has album now? *grabbyhands*

My current project is to rip live MCR performances from various videos, old and new and in between, just to give myself something new to listen to. I'll probably be uploading a zip of them when I have enough! If there's a live performance video of theirs that you think sounds particularly good, let me know :)