Ocean Breathes Salty

As many of you know, I’ve been obsessed with mermaids since my first viewing of The Little Mermaid all those years ago. Hans Christian Andersen really got me all swept up and in love with the ocean and all of it’s inhabitants.

When I got older I was a little disappointed to find out mermaids weren’t real, but I totally got over it. I moved on, memorizing the different species that were held in the South Carolina Aquarium, spouting off dolphin facts to basically anyone who would listen, and almost losing my mind when I finally got  to swim with dolphins in the Bahamas. My room is still full of books on whales and dolphins and other ocean life. I’ve got a bulletin board covered in Orca print still (okay, it was probably cow print, but I went with Orca because fyes) and everything anyone has ever given me as a gift is generally sea related. Going to school in Charleston really didn’t help me stray from my awkward ocean obsession. I got to watch a dolphin being born off the pier at Waterfront Park and I tried to swim with dolphins many times at Folly. On one occasion at Kiawah Island I almost got bitten by a baby shark when I mistook it for a dolphin. Point of this being, I’m a huge fan of the ocean and specifically ocean-dwelling mammals.

My sister and I swimming with dolphins.

With that in mind, I watched Mermaids on Animal Planet this week, their documentary series trying to prove that mermaids do exist. I’m sad to say that Mermaids lived up to zero of my expectations for this documentary. Unlike most documentaries filmed about something that the general public can agree doesn’t exist, Mermaids did not try and use itself to promote conservation or awareness of issues that plague our oceans everyday. Instead, Mermaids made quite a few ridiculous points and used some very doctored film to try and prove that the Navy is covering up the existence of mermaids and all of us who don’t believe are blind or fools. While I’m always down for a good conspiracy theory, this one was just too much. Thankfully, one of my lab TAs from my time at the College of Charleston has continued his science blog, Southern Fried Science, and live-tweeted this broadcast so I didn’t feel so alone in a world of people who believed in mermaids. This article is what I’ve found to be the most helpful in explaining the documentary to others. Also, fun fact: professors at CofC helped to disprove Barnum’s Feejee Mermaid. I mean, it’s not like it was that hard, it was a fish tail sewn to a monkey body. Gross and weird.

My point is, Animal Planet would have better spent their time, resources, and money to just show the aquatic episode of Life and then donate their money to something like The Marine Conservation Institute.

Bonus Pic: Me standing in some water.

Chvrches – Gun

So hip I can’t even find a studio version.

The Strokes- Under The Cover Of Darkness

Said The Whale- I Love You

The Good Life

So, this post could also be retitled “#lifeonthelist” or “Memorial Day Weekend: Mallie Lives Out of her Car.” Basically, everything is awesome and I haven’t slept… like ever. Anar and Ted were in town this weekend, and we spent quite a bit of time making fools of ourselves on Central, acting out scenes from past ridiculous experiences and catching up. It was fantastic, and I already miss the two of them.

To make up for the loss of old friends, Kayla and I have been spending all of our time doing awesome things. Wednesday night we went on a brewery tour of Birdsong Brewing and drank their delicious Jalapeno Pale Ale, then walked over to NoDa Brewing and joined their normal Tuesday night party, complete with the King of Pops and Auto Burger and Fry Guys. If you can’t tell by my tweets, I’ve been obsessed with Jalapeno Pale Ale for a few months, and it’s getting worse. I can’t get over how fantastic it truly is. If you can, stop by Birdsong or The Lodge and grab a pint. You won’t regret it.

On Thursday our lives took a complete 180 when one of my parent’s old friends, Mark Wright, came into town. Mr. Wright helped us out by getting us backstage passes to Brad Keselowski’s championship party, complete with free Miller Lite and a performance by Corey Smith. Trust me, it was also full of rednecks and drunk old men, but it was totally an awesome experience. It was fun to see Corey Smith playing again, I haven’t seen him since he played in Charleston a few years back.

Tonight, if I make it through the rest of this evening, I will either go see Brave Baby at the Visulite or Who Rescued Who at Heist Brewery in NoDa. At this point I’m still pretty much living out of my car, so if you feel the need please make fun of just how gross it’s gotten. I won’t mind.

Bastille- Pompeii

Cough, Cough.

So, as many of you know, life moves pretty fast, etc, etc. I’d love to continue quoting Ferris Bueller at you, but I think you’d quit reading. Recently, I’ve happened to get a pretty great job, and I’m almost done with my second week. Hooray me. It’s fun, I get paid, and everyone is really nice to me. I hope it keeps up and I can finally become a real adult.

On top of that, I’m moving to South End this summer. Crazy, right? I’ll be able to go to Amos’ and reenact Ed Sheeran and not have to get in a car to go home! Moving really means I’ll have a better chance of going to events that I’m normally too lazy to drive to and would go if I had more friends. Meaning this blog will pick back up with all the wild and crazy things I’ll get into over the weekends.

Speaking of that, have you been wondering what I’ve been doing since my last angsty post? Probably not, but here’s the DL!

The Wells Fargo was terrific, I went most days with friends and hung out at the clubhouse because I’m a snob. Also, because of clean bathrooms. Here’s a mildly attractive picture of Kayla and me out on teh linx.

Awesome, am i rite? Anyway, we also went to the after party for the tournament, which was significantly less awesome. So sad.

Significantly less attractive!

I’ve also been doing other wild and crazy things like getting media passes to the opening night of Oak Room and awkwardly hanging out at clubs. It’s been fun, but I’m pretty much done with that.

I am super excited for a few things this summer other than my impending move. To start with, The 1975 and The Neighborhood will be at Amos’ Southend SO SOON. Like, June 18th soon. You should get a ticket, a super ironic tattoo, and some cut offs. It’s going to be all kinds of ironic.

 

Cat’s Cradle is kind of killing it this summer. Their line up is absurd, and I kinda need to couch surf for a while, so Chapel Hill friends, get ready. I’m excited for Best Coast, The Postal Service, Passion Pit, Say Anything, Royal Teeth, Pinback, and Deerhunter. And on that note, I’m moving to Chapel Thrill. Seriously.

Also coming up at The Fillmore: Paramore, Fall Out Boy, The National, Jimmy Eat World, and Marilyn Manson. Now, back in my day there was a rumor spread around that Manson was so nuts while on tour in NC back in the 90s that he couldn’t come to shows in NC anymore. I’m actually considering going just so I can say I saw Marilyn Manson. Also, even better than that, Jay & Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie will be at The Fillmore June 8th with, drum roll please… JAY AND SILENT BOB. Yup, Kevin Smith will be in town. Tradgedy, because it’s going to fall on the same night as HeroesCon’s Superhero Bar Crawl. So you’ve got to pick between the two nerdiest things that could actually happen in one night. Unless you were to play Catan with my high school friends instead. Then you win. Who knows, maybe we could harass Kevin Smith to show up to the bar crawl? A girl can dream.

Speaking of Heroes Con, IT WILL BE HERE SO SOON! I can’t wait. I’m already working on my bar crawl getup (Natasha Romanov, who else? I love a ginger Russian spy as much as the next Russian history major). The full guest list is already posted, and I’m dying of excitement.

So, if you can’t tell, I’m in for a pretty epic summer. Stay posted to hear all about the woes of moving out and having a real job. And those awesome parts too.

Since this post was really lacking on pictures, here’s a picture of me with the kids I babysit. Adorbs.

 

I’m afraid of change. Most everyone is, but not everyone is willing to admit it. Since leaving behind my comfortable world of papers, exams, late night study sessions, and general school mayhem my life has been in constant flux.

While I dreamed of being an adult and wearing a suit to work everyday, strolling along the streets with my fancy coffee drink and leather portfolio in hand, I never really thought about what would have to go into that dream. I finally think I’m at a point where my post-grad dreams are going to become a reality, and I’ve never been more scared in my life. Well, excited and scared. While I know the first few years of life outside of my calm, quiet bubble aren’t going to be perfect, but I really am expecting the best. It’s just scary to think that everything I’ve got now will be left behind in a flash.

I know this post is a little whiny, and I apologize. What I really mean to say is that there is a fantastic, incredible, perfect opportunity coming my way, and I cannot wait to jump in feet first and begin a new journey. For the people who have had to listen to me get all wax poetic about life lately, just know that now you’re going to hear non-stop about apartment decorating and paint colors. I couldn’t be happier, and thank you.

If you live in South Charlotte, you already know how crazy this week is going to be. For the uninformed, batten down the hatches and get ready for the Wells Fargo Championship. Formerly the Wachovia Championship and the Quail Hollow Championship, the Wells Fargo is the golf tournament that happens every year at Quail Hollow Country Club. It’s a week where Charlotte kids ignore school, adults skip work and cheese over golfers, and everyone spends 90% of their week figuring out how to exist with all the ridiculous traffic. Mainly the traffic.

For me, this tournament marks the beginning of summer. It’s been a huge part of my life since high school, when prom was always the same weekend. I used to skip classes and use my dad’s ridiculous amount of passes to get into the tournament. We would drive off-campus and stay for an hour or two, knowing that I’d eventually had to get back to school. We would go to prom on Saturday night, then wake up and hit the links. You always knew that two weeks after the tournament we’d have exams and then glorious summer would be here.

High school prom.

In college I never made it back for the tournament. Exam week was always during the tournament, and I didn’t have a car in Charleston to drive back. While I’m really not a golf fan, it was such a tradition for me at this point that it felt wrong to miss. I’m finally going to have a chance to go back this week for the first time in four years, and I cannot wait. Regardless of how rainy and awful it seems like it will be, I’m still going to love it. I can’t wait to be back at Quail.

Aside from the awesomeness of the tournament, Charlotte is going to be crowded. Like, really crowded. Not CIAA uptown crowded, but really crowded. Plan on being late to everything for quite a while. Also plan on going to the Block Party at Piedmont Town Center this Friday. It’s always a good time, and I’m totally set on finding tickets.

Where you should be Friday night.

Cold War Kids- Miracle Mile

I can’t stop listening to this song. It’s so catchy and summery.