Teenage Dream Come True in Candyfornia

I'm working on some stuff for my writing portfolio for the school paper. This is one of my pieces let me know what you think...

                Like just about everyone else during the summer of 2008, I heard and ultimately learned the lyrics to Katy Perry’s hit song “I Kissed A Girl”. That song was inescapable, but in a good way.  My brother even had it as his ringtone for a while. It wasn’t until last summer, though, when “Teenage Dream” was released, that I found myself becoming a Katy Perry Fan. I bought both albums, listened to the music constantly, and waited patiently (okay, not that patiently) for her North American Tour dates to be announced. When I found out she was coming to Utah, I immediately knew I had to go.

                Sitting in Energy Solutions Arena Monday night with the smell of cotton candy wafting through the stadium, I knew the show would be quite a spectacle. I had scanned Youtube videos from previous shows and knew a little about the storyline and concept of the California Dreams Tour. The Candyland themed stage set was full of color and detail. The energy in the room before Katy came on was almost tangible and reached an uncanny level as the video montage began and started the concert.

                Perry didn’t disappoint the packed arena consisting of preteens, college girls, and a good dusting of gay guys. She kept the energy pounding with songs like “Teenage Dream” (her opening song), “Waking Up in Vegas”, “Firework” and “California Gurls” (her encore). The power energy jams bookended the two hour set, thrilling the screaming crowd.

                Of course she sang her break-through hit “I Kissed a Girl” but not before calling a shirtless guy on stage to be her Salt Lake boyfriend. With a hand over his heart she playfully teased him about how fast his pulse was. She granted him the opportunity to kiss her cheek before saying he better run because her husband (actor Russell Brand) was in the building.

                For all the sass and sex appeal, Perry has a rather tender side which she displayed during numbers “Not Like the Movies” and “Thinking of You”, the later performed while she floated over the crowd on a pink cotton candy cloud. It was during these slower, stripped away songs that Perry’s vocal capabilities were displayed. Turns out the girl REALLY can sing.

Between the slow love ballads, a self proclaimed “goofball”, Perry decided to have a bit of fun and perform a bit of “Katy Karaoke” as she called it. Following short covers of Rihanna’s “Only Girl”, Rebecca Blacks “Friday” and Willow Smith’s “I Whip my Hair”, she let her gospel roots shine as she belted out a few runs and trills. While they weren’t as big or powerful as Christina’s, they were still impressive.

The self empowerment anthem “Firework” was one of the loudest crowd sing-alongs, next to “E.T”. Along with amazing dance moves from her backing dancers, actual fireworks shot from various points around the stage, illuminating the arena, much to the zealous squeals of the already pumped up crowd.

                Overall the two hour show was a major sensory overload. There was so much to see and focus on, I almost think I need to see it twice to take everything in. Katy Perry didn’t disappoint her adoring Katy Cat’s (what her fans call themselves) and every minute was worth the $60 bucks I paid for my ticket. I honestly can’t wait until I can see the California Gurl again!

I'm Home

I just got home from my vacation and I feel like it was a whirl wind. Here's the quick rundown...

*Went clubbing for the 1st time--I can now cross this off my bucket list. It was fun and I want to do it again, but next time I'm going to a club where the guys are actually checking me, not my brother, out...

*Experienced my 1st swap meet...so HOT!! But there was some cool stuff

*Walked all over the strip and through a bunch of casinos...brought back memories of being a kid and meeting my dad at the Oasis to have dinner

*Tanned by the pool...I still have ridiculous tan lines from Lagoon though

*Found TONS of cute boys. Unfortunately most didn't play for my team

*Went to H&M in Ceasers Palace (3 stories!!!) and found some cute things.

*Saw the Ultimate Variety show in which my older brother was quite the active participant. He was called by name to the stage 3 times.

*Found adorable rock star jewelry (of course I bought it)

*Road the Roller Coaster at New York New York.

I also decided that Planet Hollywood and the Miracle Mile shops are my favs on the strip. There's a store called "Betty Page" (Yes that Betty Page) that had really great little play suits and accessories. If only I didn't have two years of school left to pay for...

A lot of great ideas for my new book showed themselves while I was in LV. We'll see if they actually garnish anything. I haven't written for almost a week!!! I need to get moving if I'm going to have this done by summer. I know what I want to do with it, I just have to take the time to write it all out. I also need to work on my portfolio for the school paper. If anyone has any ideas for articles I could write let me know...I'm drawing a blank. 

Anyways....I'm home now, done with my summer vacation. Now all I have to look forward to is the Katy Perry Concert next month. Sometimes I wish I could stay on vacation forever. 

**Rae

Born for This

Sometimes, I wonder if we are born to do specific things. The other day I was reading a magazine interview with Katy Perry (surprise surprise) and she said something along the lines of feeling like she was born to be a popstar. What I wonder is if people are born to do certain things. Was Picaso born to be a painter? Was Eistien delievered to this earth to bogle our minds with his discovery's in math and science?? Was I born to write??????

Okay, I'll stop attempting to be deep. I finished editing "David". Slightly sad about the whole thing, but also a bit relieved that it's done. I want to get it all cleaned up and send it to publishers, and at the same time I want to spend some time with another project I just started and let David and Katy breathe for a bit. Decisions decisions.

I haven't had much time to think about anything though because I've been working like crazy. Work hosted grad parties for Clearfield and Syracuse so I had to work the midnight parties on top of working normal shifts. I can't complain. I need the money, but my body is trying to catch up. I think it might take some time for it to though. haha.

So that's me, just being boring and reading. I've decided if I could write like Russell Brand, or at least have is vocabulary, I would be totally fine. Guess I'll just keep dreaming...

*Rae

Change of Plans

Hi kids! So I know for the longest time I said I was going to send out my book to publishers and agencies the first of June, but there’s been a change of plans. I don’t know what it is, or why it’s happened, but I’m no longer “in love” with my characters, which is kind of a problem, especially when you are trying to edit and make sure everything is cleaned up and just the way you want it. Whatever the reason, I’m putting “David” (that’s the new working title) on hold for at least today, if not longer. I have four chapters left to clean up and they are my favorite and hardest to do. Maybe that’s why I’m so passive about editing them???

I have a question for all my writing (and reading) friends. Do you ever feel like you are the only one who would want to read your stuff?? That’s how I’m feeling right now. I feel like my book, my characters, my story (although I hate when people reference my book as a story…sounds so insignificant to me. Anyone can write a story, it takes a long time to write a book) is STUPID.I’m terrified to send it out, although I know if I don’t, I will never have a future in writing. I feel it in my gut though, and I’ve learned that my gut is usually right. What I’m having a hard time discerning is whether I’m just scared or actually right?? Help!!

I did just recently read Russell Brand’s book “My Booky Wook” and if you don’t mind the language and slightly risqué material, it’s really a good read. He writes in a way that is so personable, like it’s just him talking and not trying to sound super formal (although I had to have a dictionary while I read because he uses a crazy vocab). Anyway, I’m prattling on again. Hope you’re enjoying the rain or lucky enough to be somewhere sunny.I think I should have bought a boat instead of a car, but whatev.

**Rae

Meet Veronica

Yesterday I set out on a mission to find a new car…and before it was dark I had one parked in my driveway. Meet Veronica.

She’s a 1998 Ford Escort, and all mine (well as soon as I pay the bank haha) She looks a lot nicer than Daisy, and drives better too. So now that I have a cuter car, one year of college done, and a book to start editing—let the rockstar life begin!!

**Rae

Is the End Just Another Beginning??

I finished my first year of college today. I can’t believe time is going so fast.I’m hoping I passed everything. The only class I’m really worried about is Statistics. I just have to get a C in the class and I won’t have to take it over. I’m not even worried about the grade itself since I changed it to pass/fail.I do NOT want to take that class over so let’s all pray Rachael passed. I’m really pretty excited for my classes next fall. Most of them are for journalism, my new major, and English, my minor. I’m done with all my general ED stuff THANKFULLY!!! I feel like general ED credits are just so the school can make some money. Let’s be honest, the information you learn in them is only good if you ever happen to be on Jeopardy or one of those random knowledge game shows, so why else would you have to take them??

Overall it was a good year. I learned a lot about myself and what I want and don’t want in life. I think it’s funny how much I feel like I’ve changed. This time last year, I had so many different ideas of what college life was going to be like. I thought I knew exactly who I was and what I wanted. Turns out, I didn’t. I ended up changing my major and my minor, making new friends, and just becoming a better person. I wouldn’t say that I’ve changed completely, I’m still the crazy movie loving, music singing, novel writing, Rachael that I’ve always been, but I think I’m a stronger version of her. I’ve had a lot of experiences this year and though not all of them were good or left me feeling Glinda pink and sparkling, I know that I went through them for a reason. I know that some happened to teach me to say no. Some were there to help me become less shy, and others were just to add to my collection of things that could be put in a novel one day.

With no school, I have four months of summer to hang out, relax, make and save some money, and maybe publish a book. The first thing on the agenda actually starts tomorrow. I’m going to get a new car. Daisy, my beloved little Honda Accord is on her way to seeing her last days. I don’t really know what exactly is wrong with her, but she’s not driving like she should. At almost 30 years old and what in car years must seem like a million miles-she’s done good.

I also have the Katy Perry concert in July (I’m so FREAKING excited for that-I can’t even begin to tell you) and a trip to Vegas in June, along with working at the Fun Center (I love my job-most of the time haha).

Overall I’m really happy to be done with school for the summer, though leaving today was sad. I’ll never forget the memories I made in good ole Wasatch Hall with my great roommates Esther, Mabel, Jocelyn, Kelli, Michelle, and Chelsea. Thank you ladies for making me a better person.

This is a lot longer than I anticipated it being, but it’s been about a month since I last posted-so I guess it’s okay.

Sweet dreams and pink ice creams everyone!!

**Rae

Blue Skies and White Floors

Hey All!!

It’s April and there is still snow on the ground. A lot of it is melted, but it’s still here, lingering like the memory of a bad scary movie that still bugs you even though you’ve told yourself it was all pretend. I’m told I should just get used to it because it will more than likely snow during Finals week. Lucky me (if you can’t feel the sarcasm hitting you in the face, try harder! haha). The horrible part is that the sky is blue, the sun is shinning and it’s almost 50 degrees outside. So it’s attempting to be spring, but obviously it isn’t trying hard enough.

In better news, and probably more interesting than my weather report, I will have successfully finished my first year of college is just four short weeks. I’m ready for it to be over. Not that I don’t love school, I’m just ready to make some money since I will be working actually part time instead of just two weekends a month. Which in essence also means that my paychecks will have more than 8 hours on them! Plus the sooner school is out means the closer July is and the closer to July we get, the sooner I get to go KATY PERRY!! (Super excited, can ya tell??)

I finished rewrites on D+K last Wednesday. I’m really happy with the way it turned out. I was happy with the first ending, but this one is much better. My characters are actually people now, and not just figments of my imagination. I feel like they have depth and are 3D. Maybe I’m just ranting like a proud mother, but I can’t help it!! I’m trying to send pages around to friends to get opinions and such, so if you’d like to be one of those people shoot me a message with an email address and I’ll send it your way. I’m hoping to get everything cleaned up and ready so that I can send my pages out the first week of June, so the more input I can get before then, the better. I still have a little bit of work to do, but I’m a lot closer than I was in January. Maybe next year my book will actually be on bookstore shelves….A girl can dream….

So yeah, that’s it. Not much going on. Saw ARTHUR with Russell Brand (well not with him, cuz if he had been there, I would have died, but he’s in it, but you probably understood that). Good movie. I better go, I have to go figure out my future with the advisors.

**Rachael