National Smiths Month

So maybe I gave up on quoting The Smiths every single day. The reason: I only talk to about five people every single day and quoting The Smiths made me feel depressed beyond the ridiculousness of the lyrics themselves.  Well, not actually depressed, but slightly pathetic.

In the words of The Moz, I started something that I couldn't finish.

 typical me, typical me, typical me.

However, I did dress up as "Death of a Disco Dancer" for the workingman's Halloween (i.e. Saturday before Halloween). Here is some proof:

it happens a lot round here.

carnage

before the blood

I got hit with a mirrorball. Also, I got to walk around like a zombie all night. And when I spun around the light reflected off me. Hooray!

The best part of the night, however, was the recognition. I was crashing the Charleston School of Law Halloween party and I wasn't particularly expecting anyone to recognize me. In fact, most people didn't know who The Smiths were. But this one kid, upon hearing the title of my costume, smilingly said, "Ohhhh, like The Smiths song! Wanna see 'Girlfriend in a Coma'?" He then mimed punching his girlfriend and proceeded to tell me how much he loved "all things Moz." The best moment was when he approached my friend and I at the bar and yelled, "KEATS AND YEATS ARE ON YOUR SIDE!"

That makes it all worth it, I think. Even though at another Halloween party, I lost a costume contest to Bubble Boy. It's ok. I got to walk around with blood on my face all night.

If I go out on actual Halloween, which I probably will as it is the best holiday ever, I wonder if I will make more Smiths fan friends.

Kat, circa 6:00 p.m.: Bad day?

Me: Take me out tonight. Where there's music and there's people who are young and alive.

Also on Monday, this is what happened:

Me: So remember when I was looking for a job... and then I found a job. [Long pause. Heroes is pretty great and should feature The Smiths.] And heaven knows I'm miserable now.

Kat: Yeah.

Since then I have completed a review form and thought about The Smiths incessantly. Now I decided to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower because I heard as a freshman it mentions The Smiths. It does. Hooray! Also, it seems like a good book.

After staring at a computer screen all day, I decided to go to the movies right after work. I saw The Science of Sleep. All in all, it was a good movie. The best part:

In the main character's childhood bedroom, on the very important bed right above his head, what is there but a Smiths record cover tacked upon the wall. At first it seemed like your average in the background set piece, but as the camera zooms in on Stephane's head, all other background is cut out to reveal only

The Smiths.

(I don't know which record cover it was; probably a deleted single of some sort.)

They were not featured on the soundtrack, although I can imagine Morrissey singing, "All the kitties are playing." Best cover ever.

So Michel Gondry released his movie nationally in October (or late September, realizing that it had to be out for the start of the month), thus recognizing that it is National Smiths Month.

Anyway, today's foray into lyricdom regards Grey's Anatomy.

Me (to Kat): And Meredith's all, like, I want the one that I can't have and it's driving me mad.

What are some of your favorite, forgotten albums that have stood the test of time?
Submitted by PeterGibbons.

 

Gonna have to go with The Queen Is Dead for that one. Although I like Strangeways better, I didn't get that until this year.

I don't remember buying The Queen Is Dead, though. I think I was in high school. I remember buying Hatful of Hollow as a freshman in college sometime in the spring after a boyfriend of mine showed me Carmine Street and Bleecker Street past Sixth Avenue. There's that record store there, and shortly before or after our brief relationship ended I bought Hatful of Hollow.

That was no QotD answer, but oh well. Perhaps I can share more Smiths stories as the month goes on. Though like most Smiths stories, they all pretty much involve me listening to headphones or driving in my car and wanting to cry.

Anyway, today:

After talking to Alex for forty-five minutes or so:

Me: Yeah, I haven't quoted The Smiths yet today, and you're going to be the last person I talk to so I'm gonna have to say it to you.

Alex: Well, don't tell me when you're going to do it. (a minute or so later) So have you been doing it every day?

Me: Almost. I missed one when I was sick, but yeah, I have. [I assure you I have; they are just not all written down yet due to travel and work crap. It will all be caught up tomorrow.]

Alex: Do you realize what you're accomplishing by doing this every day?

Me: I dunno, it's an exercise in being an asshole.

Alex: Yeah but...

Me: Well, I'd rather be famous than righteous or holy any day.

Alex: Did you just do it?

Me: Yeah... I'm also trying to convince people that they want to buy me tickets for the Morrissey tour.

You want to buy me tickets to the Morrissey tour in England.

Today was obvious, but more good ones are coming. I assure you. We've still twenty days of fun.

So I'm a third of the way through National Smiths month.

First, today:

Me: Yeah, so I had a pretty good day all in all. I'm just tired. It's raining. The rain falls hard on a humdrum town.

Mom: (laughing) What?

Me: It's really nothing. Sorry.

Mom: Well, Deborah, you'll just get through this manuscript and you'll feel better.

And one from this weekend.

I am sitting outside, slightly awkward and very quiet at a reception where I don't really know anyone. I call Devin.

Me: I'm feeling a little weird. Just quiet. Shyness is nice, but shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life you'd like to.

(Apparently Devin is not familiar with "Ask" or he did not hear me. The conversation cuts off soon and I go back inside and try again.)

Hi friends.

I'm going to Minneapolis for a wedding this weekend and will be back on Monday with lots of Smiths lyrics fun!

This all happened prior to 9:00 a.m., an event of which I am quite proud. In discussing my sickness of the past couple of days.

Me: Yeah, it feels a bit like my insides are rotting away. Like I've got a big black hole on the inside. [gesturing to my shirt] I wear black on the outside cos black is how I feel on the inside.

[Big dramatic exit to my desk.]

Me: So, what I discovered today: The sun shines out of our behinds.

Devin: Did you call me just to tell me that, Deb?

Me: Pretty much yes. Fuck you.

In my defense, I barely talked to anyone all day.

It's true, though. After medicine, the sun shines.

In compensation for yesterday, I will tell you about my first Smiths dream of the month. I dreamt that some band was covering "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" and it was absolutely awful. In addition to being upset ad the poor quality of the cover in my subconscious, my waking self said, "Holy fucking shit! I'm having a Smiths dream! That's awesome!"

Duckie and Cameron were pleased.

hello lads!

I have been in pain for most of the day and wasn't quite clever enough to quote The Smiths to my doctor. Sorry. Now that I think about it, I had the perfect opportunity, but it's pretty gross. I'll find a better context for it tomorrow when I will be recovering.

anyway, I'll make it up when I can think again. and I'm fine; I just have a rough day ahead of me.

I broke my eye this weekend, and it's all bloodshot. My friend cannot stand talk of eyes.

We are sitting around the table, and a bunch of people walk out. We say goodbye nicely.

Me: God...why do I smile at people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?

My friend: Ohhh... eye!