I’m ecstatic about seeing the Black Keys at ACL this year.

Pretty sure it’s impossibly to be anything but happy when their music is playing.

Great discovery.

Last Saturday, Dave and I spent the day in Lafayette doing all of the things that can’t be done elsewhere. We got waffles from the Viva La Waffle food truck, watched kids play in the downtown fountains, enjoyed affogato gelato from Carpé Diem gelateria (and met up with Josh from the Givers while there!), and visited our friend Asche while she was working.

Throughout these adventures, I neglected to realize that my portable oxygen system had run out of batteries.

Once I did realize this, I tested my oxygen levels and discovered that I was breathing extremely well on my own. I kept testing it every few hours with the same results.

I don’t need oxygen unless I’m at high altitudes.

I still need to get my spine fixed if possible. My left lung is still pretty crushed by it. But in reality, the only thing that has changed for me is where I live. My lungs are neither better nor worse than they were one year ago.

This is such a relief.

You will never understand how happy this made me.

As I quietly moped about the fact that I would be alone on my birthday, three of my closest friends successfully plotted the best surprise I have ever received.

A knock at the door. I opened it expecting the UPS guy and found Tyler there. Minutes later, Dave. And then Mari.

I’m hoping that in time I can express my gratitude adequately. I have never loved my friends—all of them—more than I do right now.

Dave was right. The iTunes Genius playlist created from Rebellion (Lies) is perfect.

Complaints? I have zero.

My updates have been sparse lately and despite how it seems, I’m really trying. Onward, now:

My parents got into town Saturday and are leaving (without me because of my exam at 9 on Friday) for our family vacation in a few hours. As excited as I am to be here for the Harry Potter premiere, I really am going to miss my cousins and everyone else this year. Also: I should probably study for said exam at some point.

I’ve been spending my time with my friends and enjoying every minute of their company. I love them all and playing poker against them at night for the prize of cupcakes while discussing Harry Potter spells and music festivals trumps thinking about anything happening in the future. I cannot believe I am finally getting the hang of being happy.

Kara gets here Thursday. After 7 years (!!!) of being best friends, I can truly say that seeing her is always amazing. We’ve mastered long distance friendships and it is honestly a gift to have someone as fun, patient and wonderful as her in my life.

Mari is also in town again. As I was saying: this week is golden.

Kasie and I ordered shirts for the Deathly Hallows premiere from EvieTees on Etsy.

My shirt is beautiful:

And Kasie’s is amazing, too:

And I will have pictures of us actually wearing them after the premiere. Which I am going to with about 15 people. And following that up with a trip to our 24-hour diner for post-movie discussions. SO MUCH EXCITEMENT.

More frequency, less lengthy rambles: I promise to try.

Getting kind of bummed about moving.

So in an effort to be optimistic, I bought a ticket to the Death Cab show at Red Rock on August 23.

Codes & Keys isn’t really my thing. But at least I have something solid on my calendar now.

Oh. And Dave has assigned me the task of making him a Best of Death Cab mix. He’s always magically loathed them even though I suspect this is just from the two or three singles he’s possibly heard on the radio. So I’m kind of ecstatic and trying to put Ben’s best foot forward here. Wish me luck on a late conversion?

"A dry vagina is a sad vagina."

Dave

We finished reading Deathly Hallows.

It took an entire year and we read half of the book aloud and together. It was totally worth it, though, because I’m pretty sure Dave was one of my only friends who hadn’t finished the books. So being there for the end of the journey was kind of awesome. I wish I could experience them all again for the first time.

When we read the Prince’s Tale, I actually cried. I have no idea how that part gets to me every single time. But Snape.

Another night of Storytime with Dave: five of us crowded together in my living room, passing Deathly Hallows from person to person as we read aloud. Chapter 32.

Yeah, it’s a good night.

Dave and Kyte are going to Boston for a few days.

For years, I tried to find something to collect from different places. I tried shirts and hats and mugs. All of which are nice. But they can be expensive and they take up room and I rarely wear vacation shirts and I seriously cannot wear hats properly—the circumference of my head is staggeringly large. But I absolutely love postcards. If you send me a postcard I will be sheepishly happy for days. This is somewhat related to my love of getting and checking the mail and I have a collection of postcards on my wall when you walk into my room.

Okay, so what I was going to say is that I asked Dave to send me a postcard from Boston. He told me it was unlikely to happen because “where do you even buy a stamp for that?”

Which, you know, I’ll give you this: That could sound like a total cop-out. But he genuinely meant it. Dave has no idea where stamps come from. Not only does he not know where to get a stamp, he also thought stamps still cost 28 cents. (Have I mentioned that Dave is still somehow one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met?)

In order to subvert this entire stamp locating dilemma, I took a book of stamps out of my wallet (YES, I CARRY STAMPS AT ALL TIMES.) and cut a square of them off for him to use on my future postcard.

Dave, if you are reading this: I am likely waiting by my mailbox for this postcard. So please don’t forget to send it.

Finally getting into the sixth season of the Sopranos.

This only took three years of dedication. And patience on Dave’s part.

I’m going to be incredibly sad when it’s over.

Everyone was exhausted from working or attending graduations.

Dave fell asleep on the sofa within 20 minutes of getting here. Mari had to take a shift at work and then chaperone her little cousins. 

Last night was okay. But certain threads of the evening were left untied and I think we need to try again another time.

Tyler did make some awesome homemade strawberry daiquiris, though. And the wheelchair we stole a few months ago came in handy as extra seating finally. So I consider the evening a partial success on those notes alone.

Dave showed this video to Kasie and I last night. I don’t really seek out poetry to read outside the realm of lyrical music but I like this guy a lot.

My friends are fantastic people, I agree.

Tyler is about to start a Post-It masterpiece in his room of an afternoon sky. I’ll definitely show you when it’s done! It’s going to be absolutely glorious!

Dave and Kasie are asleep on my sofas. Tyler and I have retreated to our bedrooms.

There is no way I could have asked for better people in my life. I hope, no matter what happens, they know how much I love them.

These are the non-band pictures, but worth noting nonetheless.

I don’t even care that I look like crap here. It was an exhilarating and unforgettable day.