Just another day in the country...

The summer before my freshman year of college, I packed my bags into the back of my car and drove to the big city. Cue the music, feel the rain on your skin, no one else can feel it for you… My blonde hair was whipping in the wind, my shades on. I was starting a whole new life, and although Raleigh, NC is nothing like LA and my life is far from an episode of The Hills, it was really exciting. I’m from a town where if you want to go to a mall, you have to drive forty-five minutes. A town where you can’t talk about someone, because chances are, it’s your friend’s second cousin.

So I did what any big-city-living-in-the-country girl would do; I said eff that and moved to the state’s capitol.

Oh the city; when your skyline came into my view I screamed and threw my arms into the air, excited to reside within your warm arms. For an entire school year, I danced on your bars, shopped in your stores, and fell in love with your boys. But when the summer came, I pulled a Scarlett O’Hara (“Home. I’ll go home…”). I figured the country would give me time to relax, to detox, and, frankly, it was closer to the beach. Things would be serene, and all that.

Yeah, until I smelled my town before I even entered it. Serenity (and the sound of tractors) is only interesting for about a day. I miss the city! I miss the constant buzz, the bars, and the stores! You would think I learned my lesson the first time, yet here I am, my sophomore summer, sitting in a town with a Food Lion and that’s it.

What the hell was I thinking?!

Shopping
I have a shopping addiction. My family cringes when I walk through the door because, chances are, I will have at least one shopping bag in tow. Now I get excited when I go shopping in Food Lion, a grocery store, a mere 2 minutes away from our house.

Night life
I ask you this: why do people around here find hanging out in parking lots “fun”? Am I the only one who is confused by this?! Where I once got numbers, I now get mosquito bites.

Boys
Okay, so I have a boyfriend now, but when I was single living in the city was like living in a candy store. There were so many sweet things to choose from, it was hard to pick just one. Not only do cities promise more boys in one place, they’re way bigger so you’re less likely to be dating your best friend’s third cousin on their mom’s side who used to have braces and wet the bed. Okay, I just don’t need to know about all that. Not to mention how awkward it is when your friend finds out! Oh, the days when people laughed and pulled out old pictures. Let’s not even get started on how you are dating someone that another girl dated in the fourth grade, and she has yet to move on.

Okay, so it’s actually kinda nice to fall asleep to the sounds of crickets chirping instead of girls stumbling and laughing in the dorm hallway. It’s not half bad that I no longer have to hide my accent for fear of being called “big country”. But I’m still counting down the days until I see that skyline once more in August.

How about you guys? Are some of you not so happy to be home?

Keri Hilson- In a Perfect World

Who is Keri Hilson? That’s what I said. Then I figured out that she’s the girl singing in Timbaland’s hit “The Way I Are.” Ooh, I like that song, so I thought I’d probably like Keri’s new album, In a Perfect World. Mmm not so much. Honestly, I don’t think people are buying the album because of HER. I think they’re buying it because of all the awesome people she has featured on it. Most of the album was pretty blah to me; typical R&B and nothing she sang alone really stuck in my head. But all of the tracks that featured another star were the songs I kept going back to. I have a general theory that anything the Timbaland produces will be successful, and In a Perfect World just proves me even more right. I’m sure Timbaland’s pull has a lot to do with all the cameos on the album. One of my favorite tracks is “Knock You Down,” which features both Kanye West and Ne-Yo and has more singing from them than from Keri. I’m generally not the biggest Akon fan, but I found myself dancing along to “Change Me,” in which he also seems to play the main role. Other notable features on the album include Keyshia Cole, Trina, Lil’ Wayne, and Timbaland of course.  I might be deleting Keri’s solo tracks from my music library, but I know I’ll be listening to her duets again and again. Stick to the collaborations, Keri.

The Decemberists- The Hazards of Love

The Decemberists are one of those bands I’ve always meant to listen to, but just never got around to. Well, I finally did with their new album, Hazards of Love, and I’m so psyched that I already love them as much as I do. I would definitely describe this album as being a bit different….weird if you will, but in a super good way. Even the song names are a bit strange, with titles like “The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle the Thistles Undone)” and “The Abduction of Margaret.”  And then I realized the album is a “rock opera,” meaning all of the dialogue of the show is being sung and the entire album makes a complete story. If you didn’t know better, you might discount the album at that; but don’t. No matter if you pay attention to the story’s plot or if you listen to the album on shuffle, it is enjoyable. I’m a big fan of the voice of lead singer Colin Meloy and it works perfectly with guest singers Becky Stark and Shara Worden. I particularly enjoyed “The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid” and “Isn’t it a Lovely Night.” I’m not sure if the rest of The Decemberists’ albums are so quirky, but I’m definitely going to find out.

Martina McBride- Shine

I think it’s pretty impossible not to like Martina McBride. OK, so lots of people don’t love country, but seriously? “This One’s for the Girls” is such an incredibly uplifting and bright song, how can anyone resist? I feel the same way about “Ride,” the first single on Martina’s new album, Shine.  It’s the kind of song you listen to whenever you need a little sunshine in your life (get it? Shine?). “Shine while you have the chance to shine/Laugh even when you want to cry/Hold on tight to what you feel inside and ride.” The songs are fairly simple as most country songs are, but the lyrics all tell us the kinds of things we need to hear from time to time. One of my favorite messages on the album is in the song, “Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong,” where Martina sings, “But if you think you’ll never move on/You’re wrong baby wrong.” Some of the other lyrics on Martina’s new album include, “today everything is so sunny side up,” “If you got love you don’t need money,” and “Everyone calls you amazing/I just call you mine.” As you can see, if you need some cheering up, all you need to do is pop Shine in your CD player (or pop it in your computer, or open it on your iTunes, or play it on your iPod). It’s impossible to still be sad after listening to Martina’s 9th studio album.

I’m not gonna lie: I was super excited for this week’s latest releases. Not because I love The Fray (though I do), and not because Country’s hottest star was out again (though he is), but because Melinda Doolittle was finally making her mark on the music industry.

Although, the other two weren’t too shabby either…

The Fray- The Fray

It’s been four long years since the Fray’s first release, How to Save a Life. But if you’re a fan of The Fray, then you would probably say their new self-titled album is worth the wait. The Fray is one of those bands with a distinct sound. Many of their songs may sound the same, with their slow starts and instrumental buildups, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you like them, of course. After one listen-through of The Fray’s new album, I was already getting the songs stuck in my head. They’re not extremely complex tracks, but they’re catchy and easy to pick up. It’s also the perfect CD for when you’re going through a break-up; even “Happiness” is enough to depress you: “Happiness damn near destroys you/breaks your faith to pieces on the floor.” OK, then. But that’s The Fray for you and, frankly, that’s why I like them.

Dierks Bentley- Feel That Fire

Even if you’re not a fan of country music, I’m pretty sure it’s hard to resist Dierks Bentley. First of all, he’s hot. And second of all, his songs are extremely fun; more of a pop-ish type of country with a bit of Southern rock thrown in. I was a bit nervous since I found Feel That Fire‘s first single and title track to be super cheesy and typical country. But the rest of the album is actually much better than the single. One of the album’s highlights is “Beautiful World,” a duet with Patty Griffin. Also, “Pray” reminds me of the slower, reflective Bentley I’ve come to love: “Just because it didn’t last/Doesn’t mean that we were wrong/We both fell in love so fast/And now it’s gone.” To be honest, it would be extremely difficult for Dierks to beat his Long Trip Alone, on which every single track was music to my ears. So, while I enjoy Feel That Fire, I’d still choose his older stuff first.

Melinda Doolittle- Coming Back to You

I currently have American Idol fever, so when I heard Melinda Doolittle was coming out with her first album this week, I knew I had to listen. It was quite apparent what an amazing singer she was on the show two years ago, but I always thought she didn’t quite fit the Idol persona and, though she didn’t win, I figured she would still make it eventually. Melinda definitely does not disappoint with her first studio album, Coming Back to You and her Idol fans should be quite happy with the finished product. Each track on the album is a cover and, though I wish Melinda would sing her own music, the covers on her album aren’t obvious covers. In fact, I’ve never heard of most of them and the ones I have heard, I actually think I prefer Melinda’s versions. I was most pleasantly surprised by her cover of Faith Hill’s “If I’m Not in Love,” which she very much made her own while still staying true to Faith’s version. Thank God Melinda didn’t win American Idol because her contract never would have allowed her to make this album.

All images are from Amazon.com

It is one hell of an evening. It does not matter which candidate you supported today, we should all be proud of our country and ourselves. Not only did we elect the first black president in American history, but we came out in record numbers to do so.

Our demographic – the “apathetic young people” – stood up and made a choice. We campaigned, we were engaged like never before, and today we voted.

This country is in serious need of a change, and while both candidates were more than capable of bringing that change, Barack Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States. I know I am not the only one who is excited for him to take office. And I know that his daughters, who are definitely stoked about getting that new puppy, aren’t the only ones excited for him to take office. This country as a whole is ready for Barack Obama.

I could feel it when I was watching the returns. I could feel it when the bar I was in erupted in cheers. I could feel it as I drove back to my house and heard people screaming on the streets.

Today was an awesome day and the next four years promise to be the same.

Then the designers find out they have to design for one another, which is when everything got really fun, because their designs had to be inspired by a certain genre of music.

And someone up above was watching over this situation and fulfilled my dreams of finally laughing at an episode of Project Runway by putting the most ridiculous pairings together.

Here’s the breakdown:

Jerell has to be dressed in rock and roll (where is Leatha Stella when you need her?)

Suede must be donned in punk rock attire.

Kenley is to look like a pop star

Korto has to go country.

Leanne has to rock the hip hop look.

Yeah, this is bonafide comedy fo sho.

The designers go to the fabric store where we see Kenley purchasing a floral fabric (SHOCK!) for a hip hop ensemble (Questionable…) We also find out that Suede classically trained cellist…and he’s dressed Britney Spears?

So much going on. So little time to care.

I really just want to get to the runway show. Until, of course, Tim comes in to do a little advising and totally bitch slaps that ugly red lipstick right off of Kenley’s face.

The problem with Kenley is that she can’t handle ANY criticism. She is like a guy in the bedroom; tell her she did something wrong and she turns her back to you and starts to cry (leaving you forced to finish everything yourself…wait…I think I took the analogy a step too far). I think the girl needs to step away from her hipster collection of vintage vinyl records and realize that she has NO IDEA what hip hop is.

Oh and she better respect Tim Gunn. No one talks back to that man and gets away with it. NO ONE.

So, as usual, Kenley decides she’s not gonna listen to Tim. And now it is time for the most amazing runway since the drag queens. The designers head to hair and makeup where Suede is given a multicolored front mullet, Kenley is totally turned into Britney Spears, Leanne is turned into a white girl trying too hard and Jerell….looks exactly the same.

The designers strut their stuff down the runway and I have to say – seeing Kenley dressed as a total slut, Korto in cowboy boots and Leanne do a “hip hop move” at the end of the runway makes this the best episode of all time. (Oh and did anyone else totally see Jerell’s junk in those pants?!)

Yes, I am including every single season. Even the whole “Andre, let’s go to Red Lobster” sitch.

Anyways, the judges (including LL Cool J…who totally put Kenley in her place…and is so effing hot) deliberated and crowned Korto’s punk design for Suede as the winning look.

Yayyy Korto!

The bottom 2 were Kenley and Suede. According to Heidi (and her terrible metaphor), Suede stayed too safe: “You could have turned up the volume but you stayed silent.” Get it? Cuz he was designing a rock and roll look? Heidi is so clever!

So, Suede was sent home. Wearing metallic green eyeshadow.

That’s just wackadoodle!

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None. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. They didn’t cut their $500 million budget to, say, $250 million. They exed the loans altogether.

MEFA secures loans for 40,000 students who live in Massachusetts, or who attend school there. Unfortunately, this year, the financing authority could not secure the money. Executive director Tom Graff blames “disruptions in capital markets.” So, just like that, 40,000 students are sh*t out of luck.

MEFA is the first to make headlines, but any financing authority could also be treading on thin ice. Which means that students across the country could be forced to drop out of college, or sell their souls to finance a degree that can cost upwards of FORTY GRAND per year at top-notch schools like Carnegie Mellon, Tufts, NYU, and Notre Dame.

When I was in college, I played my cards right, and managed to get through my degree with almost no debt, and decided to pursue a Master’s, rather than join the work force right away. With our declining economy, I am currently paying dearly for that decision. Sure, I have a MA, but with hundreds of thousands of workers being laid off across the country, I don’t have the experience to compete. I’ve been applying for job after job, to no avail. Even the number of job openings in dwindling, because companies are being forced to cut corners left and right.

So, MEFA has set up a hotline for students to call, but I’m not sure how much good that can do. It’s a scary time to be a college student in America. Bernie Pekala, director of student financial strategies at Boston College, spoke out about the current MEFA crisis: “[Students and families] have less obvious choices right now. They’re going to have to look at circumstances and try to come up with alternative financing options if they have utilized this as their main option or only option in the past.”

Many students are going to have to put their education on hold. Many others will complete their plans of study, and come out with a deep debt and fewer job opportunities available. I’d like to know if anyone out there is being effected by crises such as lack of financial aid, student loans, or the job market. Of course, there will be a lot of changes for the country soon (e.g. the upcoming election). Hopefully, things will take a turn for the better…asap.