Jenna's House of Idiosyncrasies Version 10.0 [Focus.]

Charleston was good. Saw 5 shows in three evenings (3 Dockstreets, a Tinkers, and a Will), shopped a little, and wondered around the charming part of the city by myself at length. It was definitely a long-overdue vacation and I felt I got a whole lot out of it without having to do too much. Very relaxing.

I think the word for Charleston, for me, is cute. I was asked by a few different parties during the course of the trip if I "love Charleston as much as we do", and the short answer is, I don't. It's a nice little city, not lacking in southern charm, lovely walks and excellent shopping, but it struck me as too damn wholesome, and the debauchary that I felt goes along with the real character of a city of any larger size was missing. Most places closed in the early evening, sometimes even before the hours posted on the door. The night life seemed to consist of a few dives you could count on one hand, and it didn't seem like you could eat anywhere after midnight. Not one all-night diner?

The good news is, in a city like that, where you have to get up during the day to do anything, and anything consists of shopping, walking or reading in the park, you get a whole lot of thinking done. Charleston tends to lend all it's beauty to sorting things out. Read More »

So where did I go tonight?

Myself and my partner in crime, Melissa, snuck into a private Tinker/Jump show at Emory University. We did this by walking right by everyone standing outside the room and sitting in on Tinker's soundcheck. Basically acting like we totally belonged there. We are so devious.

I love Tinkers. Adam (the drummer) wore Jenna Parker's "Jenna" shirt which produced a thrill for me. Cause, you know, thats my name. *Grin*.

Oh, banter.

Jay (before Say Goodnight): "This is a song about dirty little secrets with your roommate."

Ward (before Come Out Clean): "Good evening class - Welcome to Rock School."

Also, some sort of reference by Jay relating "Broken Hearts Education" to Rock School.

Ward: "You all get an A+ in Rock School."

All the Rock School comments rang with me because I'm taking Rock 'n' Roll History right now and all during Tinkers set I was thinking about the riffs verses the obligatto guitar lines versus the guitar solo breaks, and picking apart the drum lines. (Also, ever since I got into the class I've been attempting to place everyone's influences. With both Tinkers and Jump it's hard, which is really a good thing.)

Um, tangent.

I love, love, love Jump. They played 15 Stories, which is like, my song.

I got to see so many of my people. I love Opiates.

As it turns out, a stutter when talking to Jump. A lot. My asking for a picture when something like this—

"Matt!" He looks at me. And completely stuns me. "St—T—P—Picture? Could I? With you and your brother?"

He stares at me, completely deadpan, and says, "If there is one thing I do not do, it's take pictures with my brother."

He's really good at that. For a second I totally believed him.

He burst out laughing, danced over next to Evan, and they stopped moved for two seconds and took a picture with me. I tried to thank them but they both walked (or danced, or leaped) away in opposite directions. But I should soon have my very first Jenna with Jump picture, a "Bivins Sandwich" as Crystal called it.

I was the middle of a Bivins Sandwich.