days 8&9: still happening
Yes, this is still happening. Thanks to everyone who has asked me a variation of this question. “You’re still doing that?” “The bet is still on?” “You’re listening to that song still?” YES. I am not a quitter! (Actually I am often a quitter. Not in this case though! Yet.) And as I just loudly proclaimed to Stephy, I still like this song! What now, suckers?
Yesterday I listened to the song in my bedroom before I got ready for work, amidst a combination of the Beatles and Hilary Duff (a classic duo!). Tonight I am once again annoying Steph & Chris at their house. We watched some football at LTD, played some Seinfeld trivia, drank some Coors Light, and now I made Chris turn off his Killers “Are we human or are we dancer” (or whatever that song is actually called) on his iHome for a sec so I could listen to ”Come Sail Away” on their laptop. Sorry, guys. This is what you get for being my friend. I wish I didn’t have to do this right now, either.
Sidenote: For anyone following what I like to call the “Toshiba Chronicles”: Chris’ laptop is a Toshiba as well, and it also has that weird volume roller on the front! What is wrong with Toshiba?!? I mean… thanks, Chris, for letting me use your comp at 1am. 
Double Sidenote: I have Sunday off tomorrow! This isn’t an exciting feat to most, but for me it is a life-altering experience. I haven’t had a Sunday off (besides designated holidays or vacations) since the beginning of October 2009. Money!
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AJ informed me he “waited all day for a new post” but I informed him that there is nothing in my bet that says I have to post on this damn blog every day! Yesterday I listened, but I was kinda buzzed and tired, and didn’t feel like writing. I’m making up for my lack of computer/communication by hitting the world of the internet hardcore this morning. What do I mean?
me: i am currently having two active back/forth iphone texts convos, one facebook chat, and 5 open ichats.
what am i DOING
KJ: accomplishing NOTHING
You are officially back in junior high
You signing into an AOL chatroom any time soon?
This is 2010, not 1998!
HA. 
Well, song finished for today. Now I am off to jump on multiple trampolines, then eat a lot of food. (And not the other way around; that would be disaster with a capital “D.” So: Disaster.)
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day 5: musical trickery
Once again, knocking it out early (okay, kinda early) in the morning. I guess Pat is right when he says this is a good way to force me to write every day. (It’s probably good to look at it that way, instead of just being a good way to force me to listen to the same song every day!) Even though writing/thinking in the morning then forces me to face the insignificance of my day: finish my oatmeal & coffee, probably watch more Arrested Development, finish putting away laundry, work out/shower, then go work closing at the office. Tuesday oh Tuesday, you are the most monotonous day of the week.
How am I feeling about “Come Sail Away” today? Good. I didn’t want it to be the first song I heard, so I put on a bit of Avett Brothers beforehand to soften the blow, and I plan on some Beach Boys or Bright Eyes afterwards. Or maybe some Beatles. (Because apparently I only allow myself to listen to bands with a capital “B” in their name.) I think my secret to success will be to trick myself into thinking Styx is just part of my whole shuffled iTunes experience every day, instead of waiting until the last minute and turning it into a singular listening experience.
Kind of like stuffing a pill in peanut butter before giving it to your dog.
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day 4: morning productivity
I’m totally upping my game. Instead of waiting until late at night when I am either drunk, exhausted, or some combination of the two… I am listening right NOW, in the morning! Got up early, did some work from home, about to start some extremely necessary laundry, about 1/2 through the pot of black coffee I’m working through for “breakfast”… Styx was my final obligation. After a mid-morning workout, I will have accomplished all my personal responsibilities!
As this song is telling me at this very moment: “we’ll try… as best as we can… to caaaaaaarry onnnnn!”
And I AM! Nothing can stop me now!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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day 3: a bedtime surprise
Who knew ten straight hours in front of a computer screen could make you feel so wiped OUT?
I endured an especially long day at work (especially-especially long, considering it’s Sunday and most people were sleeping in or enjoying brunch with their boyfriends or whatever people with normal schedules do, and I was in the office by 9:30). By the time I got home tonight, the last thing I wanted to do was be on the internet, or even listen to mp3s. I hung out in the living room for awhile, chatted with my roommates, then excitedly headed to an early bedtime of 11:30, looking forward to falling asleep in front of the TV in my room. (I know, it’s a bad habit yet guilty pleasure of mine.)
Just as my clothes and the lights were off, and the TV was on… SHIT! STYX!
So here I am, back in front of a damn computer. With no pants on, so I’m also cold. But putting on pants means admitting I am still up and not lounging in bed, thus admitting early bedtime failure. Never! On the plus side, at least I can once again categorize a day as “success!” in my “blog categories”… silver lining, silver lining… and I have to say, I am still liking this song tonight. And I am done typing and it is just finishing… back to bed, goodnight world and goodnight Styx.
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day 2: fiesta!
I am sitting on my friend Steph’s couch, post-Taco Night dinner party and margs out at the new Queen Anne hotspot Loredo’s. About to watch Paranormal Activity on DVD (scary!!!!!!!!) and I remembered I had to “sail” into my obligation. This song. It is now blasting from YouTube in the background. I’m slightly irritated cause I just wanna watch TV, mostly still okay with it, and Stephers is enthusiastically singing along… so things really can’t be bad. Everyone here agrees that this is an ambitious albeit dumb idea. Just like most other endeavors I attempt… (Except one dissenter, Ryan, who asserts: “That’s a pretty obnoxious song you’re doing.” Yeah, I’m aware.)
Well, time to get scared by a ghost movie, day 2 is almost complete. We’ve decided that “day” means “waking hours” not actual 24-hour period. Since lots of my activity happens post-midnight. Today is still my Saturday night. Now day 2 is complete, only 363 days to go. Only.
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day 1: the squeakuel
First of all, congratulations to ME for including drunken blogging into my new years even experience. (See post below.) Obviously I am taking this project really seriously.
I’m sitting on Jordan‘s couch, post-YouTube of the first half of “Come Sail Away.” We are watching the USA Law & Order: SVU New Year’s Day marathon (naturally) and controversy has already plagued this mission.
AJ argues that I am giving myself too much leeway in this challenge. Because first I turned it up during commercials and down during the TV show, also that I paused it right now because I got yelled at for playing Styx during an integral moment of SVU. As I argued, “No one ever said I couldn’t do it this way!” This is mildly worrying, however, because if it’s the first day and I am already coming up with creative ways to complete my listening.
Well, only time can tell. Let’s hope for the best. As I press play on YouTube and the epic second half continues, my enthusiasm for this quest seems to be rising… inspiration is washing over me! Yessssss. Let the tides of 2010 toss me where they may, I will maintain supremacy over the seas of time!
(The second purpose of this blog besides my Styx bet is to see how many horrible nautical puns I can make in one year. I might be more excited by this than the actual bet. A personal challenge, if you will. I was probably a maritime lawyer in a previous life.)
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day 1: fail?
Well, it is 2:35AM on January 1, 2010. I am at the tailend of a fierce new years party… as it dies down, of course I find myself perusing the internet.
(btw, “fierce party” = USA marathon of Burn Notice + lots of $4 champagne + a certain friend blacked out and falling into a a wall, permanently denting it… 13 or 23? So far I can’t tell….)
My friend AJ and I decided “might as well get this over with” and looked for “Come Sail Away” on YouTube and Google in general, BUT fortune frowned upon us because this ghetto 2001 “Toshiba” (is that even a company?) laptop I am using (NOT MINE) apparently doesn’t have sound. So I have watched three silent Styx music videos but not heard the musical nectar for which I yearn… question is, does it count?
Well, while I embrace the letter of the law instead of the spirit, I don’t think it is wise to start my year with skating around the rules. I will find a FULL SOUND version of ”Come Sail Away” later today. But I want to post this right here, right now, to prove my dedication. This whole problem could have been circumvented if I had remembered to load the mp3 onto my iPhone this morning like I promised myself I would… I guess not all dreams can come true. Not a sentiment I want to carry into this new year.
Therefore stay tuned for SUCCESS POST NUMERO UNO, coming in a few hours… hopefully. No matter how hungover I may feel, I will not be too hungover for Sytx. And I will not be as hungover as my dear friend Jo, whose head broke through a wall tonight. Literally, physically, tangibly… it happened. Highlight of the decade so far.
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COME SAIL AWAY WITH ME !
Hi! I'm Emily! I am ridiculous! My brother and I made a bet on Christmas day 2009 that I wouldn't be able to listen to (or should I say, enjoy) "Come Sail Away" by Styx 365 days in a row! There's no turning back now. This blog shall serve as proof. Come 2011, my brother will owe me $100. (Maybe.)
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start your engines.
Or… start your sails? How do sailboats rev up?
Whatever, I’m not here to answer these trivial questions. I have more important issues on my hands.
I’m here to prove to my brother that I can listen to “Come Sail Away” by Styx every single day of 2010. AND LIKE IT. And publicly humiliate Eric via the internet. This is one bet you won’t win, bro!!!
Right now I am savoring my last two days of a Styx-free existence by listening to some Dylan & Springsteen. Not that I dislike Styx, but it’s kind of like Thanksgiving. You know you are about to consume a large meal, so it’s better to let yourself go hungry the rest of the day and anticipate how full you will be in the future.
I’m about to “sail away” into uncharted territory… won’t you join me on this quest…
(SIDENOTE: Just so there is no confusion. I am not exclusively listening to Styx in 2010. I am too musically obsessed, and that type of commitment would take its toll on my sanity; there is absolutely no way. I like to halfass things. I will just be listening to “Come Sail Away,” in full, at least once, for 365 days in a row.)
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