She's a Volume Freak

I can't believe it's fall already. The months are moving so fast for me lately. I don't want to start sounding like one of those old ladies who sits on their front porch swings talking about how time flies. But it seems like just yesterday that it was the beginning of fall. In a lot of ways, it feels like the first weekend of October last year

And who the hell knew I'd keep this site updated for a year and a half and 165 entries. There aren't too many things I've elected to do consistently for that long.

I think I'm getting misty eyed about this site -- nostalgic, because post-epiphany yesterday I realized that I've outgrown joyfulthing.diaryland -- perhaps just enough to feel the need to grow larger. Kind of like putting on your fall coat a year later and noticing that you've gained a few pounds.

The epiphany yesterday was that my next step is to create and run a music site with calendars, concert and record reviews, and photos. A cute, slick, witty site with a sense of humor -- run by rock girls. Boys are definitely invited, but this is my little project. I'm trying to convince Ruby to double up with me, because between the two of us, we could knock you on your ass with rock and cuteness.

So get this. Yesterday I went on a little domain registration spree. I own about a dozen domains already; we have a Web server in my apartment. Yesterday I'm brainstorming names for our new site, the cute kickass one. I'm trying to come up with clever names that are song titles of good bands, but I wanted it to be clear it was a music site even if you didn't know the song. And if you did know the song, it would be a little nod from fan to fan.

So we've all discussed the fact that the Catherine Wheel is my default Favorite Band of All Time. And then I remembered the lyrics to "Judy Staring at the Sun": So amplify this little one / She's a volume freak / She hears as much as she can see / And what she sees she can't believe.

So I registered volumefreak.com -- how fucking perfect. I'm so excited about this new project I'm going to explode. So you can see why Diaryland suddenly feels a tiny bit restricting. Not a lot, mind you. I love these digs and I won't ever leave you. But now I have someplace else to freak out about new shows and shamelessly plug my friends' bands.

In other news, I'm going to NYC this afternoon (I always think of the Interpol song whenever I write NYC -- "New York cares…") which is becoming a well-worn path for me. I begrudgingly love New York. I really do. It's one of those things, like a good movie, that everyone raves about so you want to be jaded and disenchanted with it. Sometimes you even avoid seeing it just so you can act like you're truly jaded and and disenchanted, "I didn't see Finding Nemo. I don't believe in animation."

But that city's got me in its jeweled-tooth grip. It's just that there's so much. Of everything. I've always been a city person. Since birth. So it makes sense that I would love our biggest city. Boston lately is just not enough city for me.

So many of my friends are moving to New York -- it seems like a lot of people my age are either old enough to be making adequate salary to move, or old enough to start worrying that they never will. Mon Frere Shea is moving if he can finalize the job offer he's got. I told him a few months ago I wanted us to move to NYC, and he said he wanted to wait 2 years, and I said "No now!" in my traditional impatient, indulgent, impulsive style -- tossing all my furniture to the sidewalk. And now he's most likely going to be ditching me soon. Or saving me a seat till I scrape together the funding, however you choose to look at it.

Anyway, the friend I'm staying with this weekend -- my Home Away from Home on the Upper West side -- is ditching me to see Sting on Saturday so I'm rounding up a few of my other Big City peeps to do the nightlife. I want to see if I can stay up 48 hours straight. And go dancing. And find a really good deck of red velvet Tarot cards. Those are my goals this weekend.

Tonight is the Mr. North show at the Bowery Ballroom. You guys have to hear this band. Last time I was in NYC I saw them -- the Damnwells were opening for them -- and it was a religious experience. I ran away inside the music and when I came out of it, I stared down at my feet and was like, "Oh my god. I'm in a body."

Please please hear them. I think their album comes out this week -- the show is supposed to be a record release.

4 days till the Death Cab for Cutie release of Transatlanticism.

3 hours till I get in my car and get the hell out of Dodge.

2 litres of diet coke await.

1 volume freak signing off.