So. The new Death Cab leaked on the Internet. JR has a copy. Erek is getting a copy. Everyone and their brother (read: Rolling Stone, the only music magazine that counts) says that it's absolutely incredible.

Crazy as it sounds, though, I think I am going to wait until May 13th, the official release date, to enjoy it. I've eagerly awaited this since...oh...the day after Plans came out in '05. ;) I can wait a few more days. Plus, I love love love the feeling that comes with buying a new CD I want so badly, opening the wrapping, putting it in my car's player with shaking hands, rolling down the window, and letting the music just wash over me on the drive home.

Last night was Marcus and Micah's rat-pack-themed birthday celebration at The Crimson Tiger (slightly classier bar than our usual haunt, The Moose). It was a lot of fun. All the guys dressed up (except Zach, go figure), and I wore my graduation dress. Pictures below the cut, and on facebook. Marcus wasn't awkward last night, and it went really well. I mostly hung out with Erek, JR, and Zach....Kayne was paying a lot of attention to Diaz, so I didn't get to talk to him very much. I've been telling him that he needs a woman (other than myself) in his life. Zach was in a really good mood, so that was pretty much fantastic. When he's in a good mood, he has this wonderful sense of humor. It's pretty cool. JR and Erek...were pretty much just themselves. :)

As for Erek...he met my sister, Kate, and Riley (Kate's bf) on Friday night, so that was cool. He went with us to see Kate in the CAST play, "Once Upon a Mattress" (a musical retelling of the story of the princess and the pea). Kate was really good, but overall the play was...not so great. I've seen CAST do a lot of amazing performances, and this show just paled in comparison to pretty much everything else I have seen them do. I can't tell my dad about it, because he's the president and all. Oh well.

I told madre about the whole moving-to-Illinois thing, and she was more supportive than I thought she would be. I am very seriously considering it, if only as a means to travel (Peoria is within 6 hours of several major cities, including Chicago, Indianapolis [Colts game, anyone?], and Detroit - I could do some serious exploring of parts of the US I have never seen before! Hooray!!) Erek was also super-supportive of it. He says he thinks I should do it because it's "an adventure," even though he'd miss me. I might visit home once during my 5-month "adventure" up north, but it wouldn't be til September, probably. It's a long time to be away from my heart - my friends and family. But at the same time, I think it could be very good for me.

It's like The Weepies sing...in the end, the only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself.

the guys, all dressed up :) l-r: micah, marcus, shane, and kayne


some of my favorite guys!! l-r: shane, me, erek, jr (i was wearing 2.5" heels...and i am still short. lol.)