Greetings friends. Thanksgiving is now over and the holiday moves are a'plenty. Home Alone and Elf? Feel free to show those any time USA and TBS. Movies such as Love Actually? Feel free to never show that awful movie again. I know it's a ton of people (re: girls') favorite holiday movies, but it's on my top five list of worst movies of all time, along with A Walk to Remember, The Notebook (well, it probably would be if I'd seen it), The Holiday, and Saw II.
But, I want to talk about a more serious topic than I usually cover on my blogs. People know I hate the holidays, and some people know a few of the reasons but not all of them. Well, it's time for me to shut up. Just because I don't have positive holiday experiences doesn't mean I have to glare and sulk when 'All I Want for Christmas is You' comes on during a flip cup tournament (true story). About a year ago I started reading a blog at www.littleblueboo.com. The writer is an incredibly creative woman, who also suffered through the loss of her father and a serious cancer diagnosis and vigorous chemo treatments in a short time span. Thankfully, her cancer is in remission and she is living a healthy life with her husband and daughter. But her mantra throughout her trials is what has really struck a chord with me: Choose Joy.
Sometimes choosing joy is hard. It's much easier to sit around feeling sorry for yourself and eating bleu cheese crumbles (wait, is that just me?) than to put on some makeup, fluff up your hair, and go out and meet your friends for drinks. It's super easy to sit around with a frown rather than plastering a fake smile on your face and pretending nothing is wrong. But you know what, you're going to get an actual smile on your face a hell of a lot faster if you're around people that make you happy than if you're dwelling on the hard things in your life with no one but your cat for company.
So that is my goal for the holidays: to choose joy. When negative thoughts hit, choose joy. When I don't want to leave my apartment, choose joy. And when I get anxiety about the next holiday approaching, choose joy. So this holiday season I will be surrounding myself with things that make me happy: UK basketball, friends, good food, friends, good books, friends, Zumba, friends, hot chocolate, and most importantly, friends.
So while you're out caroling, making gingerbread houses, decorating Christmas cookies, listening to the Mariah Carey holiday CD on repeat, or whatever it is you holiday lovers do, I may not join you, but I'll be out choosing joy in my own way.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
The Adventures of Mandy & Robin: Volume I - Mandy & Robin Go To Midtown (and Whiskey Kitchen)
Happy Thanksgiving. This blog comes to you from My Old Kentucky House (since I consider Nashville my home) and so far I have survived. But I've only been here for 20 minutes, so that's not much of an accomplishment.
Now that that's out of the way, we get onto the important stuff, like what mischief myself and my friend M got into last night. So the idea for last night came about during a text conversation where we decided since we don't have much luck meeting people out when we're ourselves, we should pretend to be other people and see if we had better luck. Last night I was more of M's wingwoman, but I'm fine with that because relationships tend to require warm fuzzies and discussions of feelings, things I am not very adept at. So we came up with our alter egos. Mine is Mandy, and I am kind of an airhead, have no opinions, am supported by my daddy, and I don't like any red food. Last night I worked at Express while I was studying to get into law school, but I figured out I needed a more exciting, conversation starting career, so now I'm going to be a food stylist. A food stylist that is allergic to gluten and can't eat half of the food I style. I think that works. M's alter ego is Robin, the tattoo-less tattoo artist. She says her body is a temple and there is no one who is as good of an artist as her, so she will not let anyone tattoo her. She's supposed to be really bitchy and high maintenance, only ordering top shelf drinks and looking down on people when they order something less.
Since I didn't leave for Kentucky until this morning and M's staying in Nashville, we decided last night would be our first attempt at our social experiement. Granted, there weren't that many people out last night, but night one was actually a surprising success...in some ways. We went to Tavern for Happy Hour and got a table near the bar. There were slim pickings, so we just enjoyed our 2 for 1's and planned to meet up with two other friends at Whiskey Kitchen when we were done, agreeing to try our experiement another night when there were more people. However, we struck gold. Just as we were paying, a guy came over to our table and started talking to us. When he asked our names, I said, "Hi, I'm Mandy."
And so it was on.
Below is a (pretty accurate) transcript of our conversation.
Mary: Hi, I'm Robin.
Guy: I'm ____________. What do you guys do?
Me: I work at Express.
Mary: I'm a tattoo artist.
Guy: Whoa! That's amazing! I've never met a tattoo artist before! (His eyes got really big too)
Mary: Well, I am. I don't have any tattoos though.
Guy: Really?
Mary: Yes. My body is a temple and no one is as good as me.
Me: She gave me a tattoo on my back. It barely even hurt!
Guy: Wow. That's awesome. I don't have any tattoos. Can you tattoo over other ones?
Mary: I'm not sure I know what you mean.
Guy: Like, can you tattoo over one tattoo with a new one?
Mary: Yeah, well, there's shading you can do. With white.
Me: She can. She's really good.
Guy: So, if I were to want to get a tattoo, where could I find you?
Mary: Brentwood.
After this the guy walks away and we go to the bathroom before we leave to let out the laughter we'd been holding in. Obviously we discovered we should flush out our backstories a little bit more and come up with a name of her tattoo shop. But we were so proud that we had been approached and had kept up our acts. So as we were leaving, he comes back up to us and says he's going to be around this weekend and could he get Mary's phone number. She gives it to him, but one digit off, verbally because he says he will remember. I guess he wasn't as confident as he thought, so he got his phone to type it in. When he typed in the incorrect number, M accidentally corrected him and gave him the right one! Oops. We figured though when he called and her voicemail says "Hi, this is M _____..." he'll think he got it wrong.
Some people might think this experiment is kind of mean, and that's okay. But we are just curious and plan on going for round 2, so if you don't like it you don't have to read about it, deal?
After this, we had a very funny conversation about what if you were married to the GPS voice woman? And what if she was married to the movie trailer announcer guy? Just imagine their bedroom talk. We were crying because we were laughing so hard by the time we got to Whiskey Kitchen. We met up with two friends, talked, I watched the rest of the UK/Moorehead State basketball game, and left soon after the game was over because M and I were tired and wanted to quit while we were ahead.
All in all, a pretty entertaining Wednesday night in Nashville. Here's hoping to have installment II after next weekend.
Till then, just say no to third and fourth helpings of food. You'll thank me when it's Monday morning and you have to fit in your dress pants.
Now that that's out of the way, we get onto the important stuff, like what mischief myself and my friend M got into last night. So the idea for last night came about during a text conversation where we decided since we don't have much luck meeting people out when we're ourselves, we should pretend to be other people and see if we had better luck. Last night I was more of M's wingwoman, but I'm fine with that because relationships tend to require warm fuzzies and discussions of feelings, things I am not very adept at. So we came up with our alter egos. Mine is Mandy, and I am kind of an airhead, have no opinions, am supported by my daddy, and I don't like any red food. Last night I worked at Express while I was studying to get into law school, but I figured out I needed a more exciting, conversation starting career, so now I'm going to be a food stylist. A food stylist that is allergic to gluten and can't eat half of the food I style. I think that works. M's alter ego is Robin, the tattoo-less tattoo artist. She says her body is a temple and there is no one who is as good of an artist as her, so she will not let anyone tattoo her. She's supposed to be really bitchy and high maintenance, only ordering top shelf drinks and looking down on people when they order something less.
Since I didn't leave for Kentucky until this morning and M's staying in Nashville, we decided last night would be our first attempt at our social experiement. Granted, there weren't that many people out last night, but night one was actually a surprising success...in some ways. We went to Tavern for Happy Hour and got a table near the bar. There were slim pickings, so we just enjoyed our 2 for 1's and planned to meet up with two other friends at Whiskey Kitchen when we were done, agreeing to try our experiement another night when there were more people. However, we struck gold. Just as we were paying, a guy came over to our table and started talking to us. When he asked our names, I said, "Hi, I'm Mandy."
And so it was on.
Below is a (pretty accurate) transcript of our conversation.
Mary: Hi, I'm Robin.
Guy: I'm ____________. What do you guys do?
Me: I work at Express.
Mary: I'm a tattoo artist.
Guy: Whoa! That's amazing! I've never met a tattoo artist before! (His eyes got really big too)
Mary: Well, I am. I don't have any tattoos though.
Guy: Really?
Mary: Yes. My body is a temple and no one is as good as me.
Me: She gave me a tattoo on my back. It barely even hurt!
Guy: Wow. That's awesome. I don't have any tattoos. Can you tattoo over other ones?
Mary: I'm not sure I know what you mean.
Guy: Like, can you tattoo over one tattoo with a new one?
Mary: Yeah, well, there's shading you can do. With white.
Me: She can. She's really good.
Guy: So, if I were to want to get a tattoo, where could I find you?
Mary: Brentwood.
After this the guy walks away and we go to the bathroom before we leave to let out the laughter we'd been holding in. Obviously we discovered we should flush out our backstories a little bit more and come up with a name of her tattoo shop. But we were so proud that we had been approached and had kept up our acts. So as we were leaving, he comes back up to us and says he's going to be around this weekend and could he get Mary's phone number. She gives it to him, but one digit off, verbally because he says he will remember. I guess he wasn't as confident as he thought, so he got his phone to type it in. When he typed in the incorrect number, M accidentally corrected him and gave him the right one! Oops. We figured though when he called and her voicemail says "Hi, this is M _____..." he'll think he got it wrong.
Some people might think this experiment is kind of mean, and that's okay. But we are just curious and plan on going for round 2, so if you don't like it you don't have to read about it, deal?
After this, we had a very funny conversation about what if you were married to the GPS voice woman? And what if she was married to the movie trailer announcer guy? Just imagine their bedroom talk. We were crying because we were laughing so hard by the time we got to Whiskey Kitchen. We met up with two friends, talked, I watched the rest of the UK/Moorehead State basketball game, and left soon after the game was over because M and I were tired and wanted to quit while we were ahead.
All in all, a pretty entertaining Wednesday night in Nashville. Here's hoping to have installment II after next weekend.
Till then, just say no to third and fourth helpings of food. You'll thank me when it's Monday morning and you have to fit in your dress pants.
Friday, November 16, 2012
25 Things To Know About Going Out After The Age of 25
The favorite redhead shared the following link with me earlier today: http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/ct-red-1116-chicago-drinking-20121115,0,3120522,full.story and said it reminded her of one of my blog entries. It's good to know that some people think I am as funny as I think I am. So, I decided to do my own version, based on the article 25 Things To Know About Drinking After You Turn 25, but I will title mine 25 Things To Know About Going Out After You Turn 25. Here we go.
1.) Funnels are overrated. Flabongoes are not. And yes, it's exactly what you think it is. A drinking apparatus made out of a yard flamingo.
2.) Sparkly shirts, okay. Sparkly dresses, are okay too as long as you're going somewhere fancier than Broadway Brewhouse. Sparkly pants are always a bad decision.
3.) Never pay a cover to get a in bar. Ever.
4.) If you want to do a shot it had better not be pink. If you're 25 or over and can't do a shot of a grown up drink like whiskey, just go home.
5.) If you think a guy across the bar is cute ask the opinion of at least three of your friends. Not because you really want their approval, but they can save you some embarassment if the guy is not as cute as you and your gin & tonic goggles think he is.
6.) Always have cash. Don't be the ass who never pays for cabs. Your friends know this about you and secretly plot how to never have to share a cab with you again.
7.) The pregame is your friend. The less money you have to spend while you're out, the better.
8.) Pace yourself. Being falling down drunk at age 27 is not nearly as attractive as being falling down drunk when you're 21. Actually, both are frowned upon. If you think one more drink is going to take you over the edge, don't have that one more drink. It's simple.
9.) Dancing on a table with your friends never gets old. Well, I'm sure it does. Maybe when you're 30?
10.) Just make sure the table is not going to break.
11.) Nothing good ever comes out of a night in which the words "Let's do a shot of Jagermeister" are spoken.
12.) Don't spend more on your bar tab than you do on your groceries. It's no longer acceptable to call your parents after a weekend of debauchery to ask for money for Ramen.
13.) If you still live with your parents after the age of 25, plan ahead. Get a buddy to let you say you live at his place. Because trust me, nothing makes a girl lose interest faster than hearing, "Well, I live with my mom so can we go to your place?" No. No you may not.
14.) Okay, this one is a little racy, but it's a valid tip. Ladies, I know the dress and tights or skirt and tights combo is popular. But if you're going home with a guy (or girl), as soon as you get to whoever's place, go to the bathroom and ditch the tights. Because few things are less sexy than standing in front of someone in your bra and tights pulled up to your waist. You know this is true. Unless they are thigh highs. In that case, have at it.
15.) Girls, buy your own damn drinks. It's not a guy's responsibility to keep you liquored up all night, especially if you're not interested in him. Be nice. (You know I mean it if I'm telling someone to be nice.)
16.) Always make sure the person you're talking to is legal. You do not need a lawsuit.
17.) Buy rounds of drinks or pitchers for your friends. Who cares if you did this last week too? In the grand scheme of things, it evens out. Don't nickel and dime people at 1:45 a.m. at Paradise Park. It's annoying. You're not that poor anymore.
18.) Be responsible. Know where you can stay at the end of the night if you can't drive home. Pack a bag and bring pjs. You'll be grateful for these items when you don't have to sleep in your dress and tights on your friend's couch.
19.) Don't be a cougar. Because at 27, you being a cougar would mean that the guy is like 20. No.
20.) Do not waste your money paying people at piano bars to play songs like Wagon Wheel or Rocky Top. You're in downtown Nashville. Just be patient. These songs will be played numerous times throughout the evening. Keep your Lincolns, Jeffersons and Washingtons.
21.) You are too old to get in arguments with fans of the opposing team. Whether you won or lost, just move on.
22.) In the age old battle of cars vs. man, man will always lose. So please quit walking out in the middle of Broadway.
23.) If there are more people in the bar with fake IDS than real ones, you're probably too old to be there.
24.) It's still fun to catch up with your friends about what happened the night before. It just happens at 4 p.m. the next day instead of brunch because your body hates you.
25.) It's okay to stay in some Friday and Saturday nights. Thanks to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and all the other technology out there, you can still know what your friends are up to while you are sitting on your couch in your red footie pajamas eating cereal.
Til next time...
1.) Funnels are overrated. Flabongoes are not. And yes, it's exactly what you think it is. A drinking apparatus made out of a yard flamingo.
2.) Sparkly shirts, okay. Sparkly dresses, are okay too as long as you're going somewhere fancier than Broadway Brewhouse. Sparkly pants are always a bad decision.
3.) Never pay a cover to get a in bar. Ever.
4.) If you want to do a shot it had better not be pink. If you're 25 or over and can't do a shot of a grown up drink like whiskey, just go home.
5.) If you think a guy across the bar is cute ask the opinion of at least three of your friends. Not because you really want their approval, but they can save you some embarassment if the guy is not as cute as you and your gin & tonic goggles think he is.
6.) Always have cash. Don't be the ass who never pays for cabs. Your friends know this about you and secretly plot how to never have to share a cab with you again.
7.) The pregame is your friend. The less money you have to spend while you're out, the better.
8.) Pace yourself. Being falling down drunk at age 27 is not nearly as attractive as being falling down drunk when you're 21. Actually, both are frowned upon. If you think one more drink is going to take you over the edge, don't have that one more drink. It's simple.
9.) Dancing on a table with your friends never gets old. Well, I'm sure it does. Maybe when you're 30?
10.) Just make sure the table is not going to break.
11.) Nothing good ever comes out of a night in which the words "Let's do a shot of Jagermeister" are spoken.
12.) Don't spend more on your bar tab than you do on your groceries. It's no longer acceptable to call your parents after a weekend of debauchery to ask for money for Ramen.
13.) If you still live with your parents after the age of 25, plan ahead. Get a buddy to let you say you live at his place. Because trust me, nothing makes a girl lose interest faster than hearing, "Well, I live with my mom so can we go to your place?" No. No you may not.
14.) Okay, this one is a little racy, but it's a valid tip. Ladies, I know the dress and tights or skirt and tights combo is popular. But if you're going home with a guy (or girl), as soon as you get to whoever's place, go to the bathroom and ditch the tights. Because few things are less sexy than standing in front of someone in your bra and tights pulled up to your waist. You know this is true. Unless they are thigh highs. In that case, have at it.
15.) Girls, buy your own damn drinks. It's not a guy's responsibility to keep you liquored up all night, especially if you're not interested in him. Be nice. (You know I mean it if I'm telling someone to be nice.)
16.) Always make sure the person you're talking to is legal. You do not need a lawsuit.
17.) Buy rounds of drinks or pitchers for your friends. Who cares if you did this last week too? In the grand scheme of things, it evens out. Don't nickel and dime people at 1:45 a.m. at Paradise Park. It's annoying. You're not that poor anymore.
18.) Be responsible. Know where you can stay at the end of the night if you can't drive home. Pack a bag and bring pjs. You'll be grateful for these items when you don't have to sleep in your dress and tights on your friend's couch.
19.) Don't be a cougar. Because at 27, you being a cougar would mean that the guy is like 20. No.
20.) Do not waste your money paying people at piano bars to play songs like Wagon Wheel or Rocky Top. You're in downtown Nashville. Just be patient. These songs will be played numerous times throughout the evening. Keep your Lincolns, Jeffersons and Washingtons.
21.) You are too old to get in arguments with fans of the opposing team. Whether you won or lost, just move on.
22.) In the age old battle of cars vs. man, man will always lose. So please quit walking out in the middle of Broadway.
23.) If there are more people in the bar with fake IDS than real ones, you're probably too old to be there.
24.) It's still fun to catch up with your friends about what happened the night before. It just happens at 4 p.m. the next day instead of brunch because your body hates you.
25.) It's okay to stay in some Friday and Saturday nights. Thanks to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and all the other technology out there, you can still know what your friends are up to while you are sitting on your couch in your red footie pajamas eating cereal.
Til next time...
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
A Letter to 17 Year Old Me
Hi friends. Wow, that was quite a weekend. Super glad I had yesterday off to recover from my weekend. Oh, and in case you were wondering, it is in fact possible to dirty dance with someone to 'Sandstorm.' You're welcome.
So I read a quote the other day that said, "Would the person you were 10 years ago look up to the person you are today?" At first I was like, um, NO...17 year old me would definitely not look up to 27 year old me. But then, I kept thinking, and it dawned on me that 17 year old me was kind of lame...and naive...and sheltered. So, I figured I would write a letter to myself back then, saying even though I turned out way differently than I thought I would, I turned out okay.
Dear 17 Year Old Anna,
Hey girl. I hope you have gotten over the initial shock of reading this blog, curse words and inappropriate stories and all. I'm sure you're wondering how the hell you turned out this way. You used to be so quiet and innocent and unaware of the ways of the world. Well, let me tell you, college wakes you up. Forget high school being the best four years of your life (we both know that high school sucked)...college is your time. You'll blossom into a social butterfly, get your first really serious boyfriend and talk about getting married, and you'll have some interesting life experiences on a cruise ship. You'll also get an awesome internship that will lead you to the best first job you could ever imagine. So stop breathing into a paper bag every time you see the word 'shit' on here and listen to me: you're going to be FINE.
College really is your time. You get to experience being on your own and making your own decisions all of the time. You'll also change your major, but only once. Good job. Most people change their majors at least 3 times before sophomore year. You'll meet some of your best friends, and you'll meet a lot of people you'll never talk to again, except for the annual birthday post on Facebook. Oh, and you'll discover Facebook. And you'll lose hours of your life stalking people you went to high school with.
Grad school...well, will not be your time. In fact, in your first semester, you'll find out something that will turn your world upside down. It'll be a rough couple of months, but you'll get over it. Well, I'm sure you'll end up on a couch talking to a shrink at some point in your life because of it, but you'll at least make it to 27 without an emotional breakdown. It'll change your total outlook on life, will change your religious beliefs, and will help mold you into the cynical person I am today...but you'll live. It will make you stronger, help you realize who you really are, and make you an advocate for what you believe in. You. Will. Be. Fine. Yeah, it'll suck for a while...and it still does coming up on five years later, but you're a survivor...a la Destiny's Child.
Oh, and you won't go to church for a while. Like, it's going on five years now. You'll still love Jesus, but you just won't enjoy being around a lot of the people that love him too for several reasons. I'm sure you'll go back someday, that day just hasn't come yet.
You'll have a great first job, a notsogreat second job, and an amazing third job. You'll end up working for the Department of Revenue where you will approve Tax Enforcement reports, negotiate prices and building floorplans with architects, and deal heavily with budget hearings, all with your History degree. Belmont was right...'From Here, to Anywhere."
But lastly, and most importantly, you'll have some of the best friends you could ever imagine. Friends that you go on Key West trips with, tailgate with, have cooking club with, call when good things happen with boys and when bad things happen with boys, will come sit with you when your loved ones are sick, will bring care packages to your door, will give you nicknames that inspire blogs, will give you their UK basketball tickets, will come to your events to support you, will make you laugh on the hard days, and will share inappropriate stories that involve "whoopsie-daisies", accidental Asians, and shooter fingers and other awkward hand gestures at inopportune times with. You'll be tired a lot on Monday mornings because of all the fun you had over the weekend, but you'll be loved.
So relax. I'm sure you still can't imagine how the sweet, little, angelic girl who never said a curse word in her life ended up with the mouth of a sailor and enjoys dancing on tables at Paradise Park. Just know that you'll have professional success, personal accomplishments, and (a complete lack of) social grace. But also know, you're going to have a hell of a lot of fun.
Peace, love, and Real Housewives (just wait...you're going to LOVE these shows),
27 Year Old Anna
So I read a quote the other day that said, "Would the person you were 10 years ago look up to the person you are today?" At first I was like, um, NO...17 year old me would definitely not look up to 27 year old me. But then, I kept thinking, and it dawned on me that 17 year old me was kind of lame...and naive...and sheltered. So, I figured I would write a letter to myself back then, saying even though I turned out way differently than I thought I would, I turned out okay.
Dear 17 Year Old Anna,
Hey girl. I hope you have gotten over the initial shock of reading this blog, curse words and inappropriate stories and all. I'm sure you're wondering how the hell you turned out this way. You used to be so quiet and innocent and unaware of the ways of the world. Well, let me tell you, college wakes you up. Forget high school being the best four years of your life (we both know that high school sucked)...college is your time. You'll blossom into a social butterfly, get your first really serious boyfriend and talk about getting married, and you'll have some interesting life experiences on a cruise ship. You'll also get an awesome internship that will lead you to the best first job you could ever imagine. So stop breathing into a paper bag every time you see the word 'shit' on here and listen to me: you're going to be FINE.
College really is your time. You get to experience being on your own and making your own decisions all of the time. You'll also change your major, but only once. Good job. Most people change their majors at least 3 times before sophomore year. You'll meet some of your best friends, and you'll meet a lot of people you'll never talk to again, except for the annual birthday post on Facebook. Oh, and you'll discover Facebook. And you'll lose hours of your life stalking people you went to high school with.
Grad school...well, will not be your time. In fact, in your first semester, you'll find out something that will turn your world upside down. It'll be a rough couple of months, but you'll get over it. Well, I'm sure you'll end up on a couch talking to a shrink at some point in your life because of it, but you'll at least make it to 27 without an emotional breakdown. It'll change your total outlook on life, will change your religious beliefs, and will help mold you into the cynical person I am today...but you'll live. It will make you stronger, help you realize who you really are, and make you an advocate for what you believe in. You. Will. Be. Fine. Yeah, it'll suck for a while...and it still does coming up on five years later, but you're a survivor...a la Destiny's Child.
Oh, and you won't go to church for a while. Like, it's going on five years now. You'll still love Jesus, but you just won't enjoy being around a lot of the people that love him too for several reasons. I'm sure you'll go back someday, that day just hasn't come yet.
You'll have a great first job, a notsogreat second job, and an amazing third job. You'll end up working for the Department of Revenue where you will approve Tax Enforcement reports, negotiate prices and building floorplans with architects, and deal heavily with budget hearings, all with your History degree. Belmont was right...'From Here, to Anywhere."
But lastly, and most importantly, you'll have some of the best friends you could ever imagine. Friends that you go on Key West trips with, tailgate with, have cooking club with, call when good things happen with boys and when bad things happen with boys, will come sit with you when your loved ones are sick, will bring care packages to your door, will give you nicknames that inspire blogs, will give you their UK basketball tickets, will come to your events to support you, will make you laugh on the hard days, and will share inappropriate stories that involve "whoopsie-daisies", accidental Asians, and shooter fingers and other awkward hand gestures at inopportune times with. You'll be tired a lot on Monday mornings because of all the fun you had over the weekend, but you'll be loved.
So relax. I'm sure you still can't imagine how the sweet, little, angelic girl who never said a curse word in her life ended up with the mouth of a sailor and enjoys dancing on tables at Paradise Park. Just know that you'll have professional success, personal accomplishments, and (a complete lack of) social grace. But also know, you're going to have a hell of a lot of fun.
Peace, love, and Real Housewives (just wait...you're going to LOVE these shows),
27 Year Old Anna
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Anatomy of a UK Fan
People who know me, or people who just stalk my Facebook wall, are well aware that I am a die-hard UK sports fan. Of course I get most excited about basketball, but I'm a football fan too (unfortunately). And I love sports in general. I'm one of those girls that genuinely likes sitting on the couch all day Sunday and watching football. I don't get to do it as much as I like because hey, I'm really popular and I have a very demanding social schedule, but I'll occassionally instruct my assistant to block my Sunday afternoon for football viewing. I wish I had an assistant.
I at first titled this entry 'Anatomy of a Sports Fan,' but I decided to change it because I wanted to write about my UK fandom. Being a UK fan is a privilege like no other. UK basketball is my happy place. March Madness is my Christmas. Few things make me happier on this earth than taking off the first Thursday and Friday of March Madness, going to a bar with friends, and watching basketball all day, cheering when my brackets fall into place, cursing when my "sure bets" lose (damn you, Belmont), and laughing when Duke goes out in the first round to Lehigh.
They call UK fans the Blue Mist because wherever our team goes, we follow. The tournament in Hawaii last year? Mostly blue. UK fans with tickets to the UK/Maryland game on Friday are searching for ways to get to New York in lieu of Hurricane Sandy (I picture the leather clad version of Sandy from Grease...the poodle skirt version wouldn't have been near as much of a bitch) and the nor'easter that is threatening the east coast once again.
I hate when people say I must have hopped on the bandwagon because UK is good again. Granted, this comes from people who don't know me. Because, people who do know me, know that I was just a big of a fan in the Dark Ages (BCG era) as I am now. I also hate when people talk about our one-and-dones. Yes, I will miss the Darius Millers of the world: the Kentucky kid, who was Mr. Basketball, a four year player, led his team to a championship, and graduated with his diploma. Don't think I didn't cry when the team was introduced at Rupp as National Champions and Miller got a standing ovation. God, it still brings a tear to my eye and makes my black heart of ice melt a slight bit. But I love my one-and-dones too. I get just as excited when John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo, or any former player comes back for a visit. Or when they do cool things. Just the other day Rondo went to two schools in New York to hang out with the students, completely on his own, with no publicist or posse. He just wanted to go hang out with the students. Regardless of who you cheer for, that's awesome.
But I want to go back to something I said in the previous paragraph about former players coming back for a visit. They come back because they know they are loved. They come back because being part of the Big Blue Nation means something to them. They come back because they love their UK family as much as we love them. You'd be hard pressed to find another school that emotes such love from its players. Whether it be to play in an exhibition game, come watch the new generation of Cats, or to be the coveted "Y" at a game (my dream), it's not uncommon to see former players come back to be around the program that embraced them.
The other night after our kickball championship game, some of us went to Logans to celebrate. All of a sudden highlights of the night's UK game came on the tv and I'm pretty sure I trailed off mid-sentence and became mesmerized at the smooth moves of Nerlens Noel's flat top. My friend A was there too, and he pretty much did the same thing. One of our friends commented at the looks on our faces...how happy we were and how we didn't care about anything else going on in the room. So true. The Rapture could have began and an angel could have swept down from heaven to whisk me away (that is, if I'm allowed in) and I would have told him to hold on until I watched the replay of that last dunk.
The Favorite Redhead and her fiance gave me their Vandy season tickets for the UK/Vandy game in Nashville. This is probably one of the top three nicest gifts I have ever received. They could have gone to the game, or they could have sold the tickets and made a nice profit. But, they know how much I love my team, and they gave them to me as an early birthday present. I'm pretty sure if anyone were to ever give me UK season tickets, I would marry them on the spot...and as someone who does not really want to get married, that's a pretty bold statement. But honestly, pretty true.
I love watching games with other UK fans because they're as nuts as I am. You know the type. The ones who wear their lucky blue underwear for important games (I know this does not just describe me). The ones who will go sit on the other side of the room if UK was doing better when they were on the couch versus the chair. The ones who will say the same phrase over and over because it means good things are happening ("This is HUGE"). The ones who love their team no matter what, and don't go on Facebook tirades after the games to berate the players and coaches.
So if you're looking for a UK game watching buddy, I am more than happy to be your girl. I have a huge tv, a comfy couch, and plenty of popsicles. Come on over! And don't forget your lucky blue underwear.
I at first titled this entry 'Anatomy of a Sports Fan,' but I decided to change it because I wanted to write about my UK fandom. Being a UK fan is a privilege like no other. UK basketball is my happy place. March Madness is my Christmas. Few things make me happier on this earth than taking off the first Thursday and Friday of March Madness, going to a bar with friends, and watching basketball all day, cheering when my brackets fall into place, cursing when my "sure bets" lose (damn you, Belmont), and laughing when Duke goes out in the first round to Lehigh.
They call UK fans the Blue Mist because wherever our team goes, we follow. The tournament in Hawaii last year? Mostly blue. UK fans with tickets to the UK/Maryland game on Friday are searching for ways to get to New York in lieu of Hurricane Sandy (I picture the leather clad version of Sandy from Grease...the poodle skirt version wouldn't have been near as much of a bitch) and the nor'easter that is threatening the east coast once again.
I hate when people say I must have hopped on the bandwagon because UK is good again. Granted, this comes from people who don't know me. Because, people who do know me, know that I was just a big of a fan in the Dark Ages (BCG era) as I am now. I also hate when people talk about our one-and-dones. Yes, I will miss the Darius Millers of the world: the Kentucky kid, who was Mr. Basketball, a four year player, led his team to a championship, and graduated with his diploma. Don't think I didn't cry when the team was introduced at Rupp as National Champions and Miller got a standing ovation. God, it still brings a tear to my eye and makes my black heart of ice melt a slight bit. But I love my one-and-dones too. I get just as excited when John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo, or any former player comes back for a visit. Or when they do cool things. Just the other day Rondo went to two schools in New York to hang out with the students, completely on his own, with no publicist or posse. He just wanted to go hang out with the students. Regardless of who you cheer for, that's awesome.
But I want to go back to something I said in the previous paragraph about former players coming back for a visit. They come back because they know they are loved. They come back because being part of the Big Blue Nation means something to them. They come back because they love their UK family as much as we love them. You'd be hard pressed to find another school that emotes such love from its players. Whether it be to play in an exhibition game, come watch the new generation of Cats, or to be the coveted "Y" at a game (my dream), it's not uncommon to see former players come back to be around the program that embraced them.
The other night after our kickball championship game, some of us went to Logans to celebrate. All of a sudden highlights of the night's UK game came on the tv and I'm pretty sure I trailed off mid-sentence and became mesmerized at the smooth moves of Nerlens Noel's flat top. My friend A was there too, and he pretty much did the same thing. One of our friends commented at the looks on our faces...how happy we were and how we didn't care about anything else going on in the room. So true. The Rapture could have began and an angel could have swept down from heaven to whisk me away (that is, if I'm allowed in) and I would have told him to hold on until I watched the replay of that last dunk.
The Favorite Redhead and her fiance gave me their Vandy season tickets for the UK/Vandy game in Nashville. This is probably one of the top three nicest gifts I have ever received. They could have gone to the game, or they could have sold the tickets and made a nice profit. But, they know how much I love my team, and they gave them to me as an early birthday present. I'm pretty sure if anyone were to ever give me UK season tickets, I would marry them on the spot...and as someone who does not really want to get married, that's a pretty bold statement. But honestly, pretty true.
I love watching games with other UK fans because they're as nuts as I am. You know the type. The ones who wear their lucky blue underwear for important games (I know this does not just describe me). The ones who will go sit on the other side of the room if UK was doing better when they were on the couch versus the chair. The ones who will say the same phrase over and over because it means good things are happening ("This is HUGE"). The ones who love their team no matter what, and don't go on Facebook tirades after the games to berate the players and coaches.
So if you're looking for a UK game watching buddy, I am more than happy to be your girl. I have a huge tv, a comfy couch, and plenty of popsicles. Come on over! And don't forget your lucky blue underwear.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Why I Voted the Way I Did...
Happy Election Day!
Just a warning, this post more than likely isn't going to be very funny, so if you're looking for my usual rapier wit and humor, you should probably check back later this week for my Anatomy of a Sports Fan entry I've been working on.
This post is in no way trying to persuade anyone who to vote for. I'm one of the last people that you should look to for advice on how to vote, but I do think I have more credibility than the Guitar Hero/Guitar Zero guy in those annoying commercials. This is simply my reason for voting the way I did.
Everyone has their issues that are most important to them. Some people rate the economy highest on the importance scale, others the environment, others healthcare, and so on. There is no right or wrong hierarchy of importance, it differs with each person. Me? I'm a social issue voter. Therefore, I proudly cast my vote for Barack Obama.
To me, the choice was simple. Yes, I agree with parts of Mitt Romney's platform, and I actually side with him on more economic and immigration issues. However, on issues that are most important to me, such as gay/lesbian rights, a woman's right to choose, and birth control, Barack Obama is my guy.
A Republican friend asked me why I supported Barack Obama, and I told him that my main reason was because of his stance on gay marriage. His response was that he didn't think the government should have say in gay marriage so therefore it was a non-issue to him. But the problem is, the government has inserted itself into the gay marriage debate, so therefore it is a huge issue.
I have wonderful gay friends that deserve to be just as miserable as everyone else that gets married. I want to dodge the bouquet at my friend T's wedding, like I do at every other wedding I attend. I want him to be able to choose where he gets married, and not have to pick from one of a handful of states where his and his partner's union will be legally binding. I want my friends and their partners to have the same rights as opposite sex couples, when it comes to health benefits and visitation rights. And most of all, I want an important person in my life to finally admit who they are to the world, and feel safe to be openly gay and proud. Do I think if Obama is re-elected all of this is going to happen overnight? No. Do I think if Romney is elected then none of this will ever happen? No. I'll say it in French too. Non. But, I think it will happen a lot faster if we re-elect our current president.
It kills me when people make election night declarations that they are moving out of the country if their candidate loses. Um, have you forgotten your fourth grade Social Studies lessons? There are two other branches of government that have a say in the laws we follow in our country: the Legislative branch and the Judicial branch. Just because one man is elected (I say one because VPs don't really do anything, let's be honest), it doesn't mean the entire country is going to completely go to shit and change dramatically. With government bureacracy, it will take years to accomplish even the most simple task. I mean, our state legislature once had an hour long discussion on whether or not to change the temperature in the chambers. You expect anything to get done fast?
Whether you're voting for Obama, Romney, or another party, just please get out there and vote. People say their vote won't make a difference, and maybe it won't...but it's a right we enjoy that many people across the world would give anything to have, and to waste it is an awful, irresponsible thing.
I'll end this by saying best wishes to the next president. I sure as hell wouldn't want your job. Although, it would probably get me amazing seats to UK basketball games...hmm...
Just a warning, this post more than likely isn't going to be very funny, so if you're looking for my usual rapier wit and humor, you should probably check back later this week for my Anatomy of a Sports Fan entry I've been working on.
This post is in no way trying to persuade anyone who to vote for. I'm one of the last people that you should look to for advice on how to vote, but I do think I have more credibility than the Guitar Hero/Guitar Zero guy in those annoying commercials. This is simply my reason for voting the way I did.
Everyone has their issues that are most important to them. Some people rate the economy highest on the importance scale, others the environment, others healthcare, and so on. There is no right or wrong hierarchy of importance, it differs with each person. Me? I'm a social issue voter. Therefore, I proudly cast my vote for Barack Obama.
To me, the choice was simple. Yes, I agree with parts of Mitt Romney's platform, and I actually side with him on more economic and immigration issues. However, on issues that are most important to me, such as gay/lesbian rights, a woman's right to choose, and birth control, Barack Obama is my guy.
A Republican friend asked me why I supported Barack Obama, and I told him that my main reason was because of his stance on gay marriage. His response was that he didn't think the government should have say in gay marriage so therefore it was a non-issue to him. But the problem is, the government has inserted itself into the gay marriage debate, so therefore it is a huge issue.
I have wonderful gay friends that deserve to be just as miserable as everyone else that gets married. I want to dodge the bouquet at my friend T's wedding, like I do at every other wedding I attend. I want him to be able to choose where he gets married, and not have to pick from one of a handful of states where his and his partner's union will be legally binding. I want my friends and their partners to have the same rights as opposite sex couples, when it comes to health benefits and visitation rights. And most of all, I want an important person in my life to finally admit who they are to the world, and feel safe to be openly gay and proud. Do I think if Obama is re-elected all of this is going to happen overnight? No. Do I think if Romney is elected then none of this will ever happen? No. I'll say it in French too. Non. But, I think it will happen a lot faster if we re-elect our current president.
It kills me when people make election night declarations that they are moving out of the country if their candidate loses. Um, have you forgotten your fourth grade Social Studies lessons? There are two other branches of government that have a say in the laws we follow in our country: the Legislative branch and the Judicial branch. Just because one man is elected (I say one because VPs don't really do anything, let's be honest), it doesn't mean the entire country is going to completely go to shit and change dramatically. With government bureacracy, it will take years to accomplish even the most simple task. I mean, our state legislature once had an hour long discussion on whether or not to change the temperature in the chambers. You expect anything to get done fast?
Whether you're voting for Obama, Romney, or another party, just please get out there and vote. People say their vote won't make a difference, and maybe it won't...but it's a right we enjoy that many people across the world would give anything to have, and to waste it is an awful, irresponsible thing.
I'll end this by saying best wishes to the next president. I sure as hell wouldn't want your job. Although, it would probably get me amazing seats to UK basketball games...hmm...
Monday, November 5, 2012
The Five People You Meet in Nashville on a Saturday Night...Part Tres
Well, it's that time again to revisit one of my favorite blog posts, The Five People You Meet in Nashville on a Saturday Night. This past weekend I found five more people you typically meet and I got really excited about it. Thinking about blog posts in a bar. Wow, I'm fun.
1.) The person who gets there on time.
You know what I'm talking about. This person is punctual and because of that, they are punished. Their friends said, "See you at Paradise Park at 10:00!" so they show up at 9:59 ready to get their Fireball shots on. Unfortunately, they are the only person in their group who actually shows up at 10, so they have to stand by themselves. Or, they could sit on the Pop-A-Shot machine to see if anyone talks to them. Their choice. See, there is an unspoken rule that you should never show up to things on time. Well, work is different, but optional activities that involve bars, drinks, or boys (or girls, if that's what you're into) don't fall into the same category as work. It's pretty safe to show up 20 minutes late and you'll still be one of the first people there. Show up any earlier, and you'll be standing alone in a bar, pretending like you're texting someone on your cell phone, silently wishing your friends to just show the f--- up already. When they do get there the person who has been there for 20 minutes already says "Oh no, it's fine, it's fine!" when the others apologize for their tardiness, but you and I know it's really not fine. They're just saying that hoping that their friends will buy them booze for their efforts. More likely then not, this doesn't happen, so the poor soul starts out the night with a badditude. See what I did there?
2.) The person who is wasted at 11:00 p.m.
As I was walking toward Paradise Park on Saturday night I witnessed a guy and a girl literally carrying another girl across Broadway. The guy had her upper body and the girl had her legs. Girl was semi-passed out. I looked at my watch (or rather, my cell phone since I do not own a watch) and it was barely 11 p.m. Now either she had been day drinking (which there was no Vanderbilt home game so I don't know why she would have been) or she was just a lightweight. But damn...didn't her friends try to slow her down at the bar? She wasn't dressed up light a bride or a birthday girl, and she wasn't that cute, so I doubt she was in the position to have free drinks given to her all night. Usually everyone has their drink threshold, where you know one more is going to put you over the edge and turn you into a hot mess of a person that cries at the drop of a hat and finds the sudden urge to tell people how much you love them. (Much like at Steeplechase when we sat around in a circle and told eachother what we liked about them. Aw, memories.) And most people actively try not to cross this threshold. Well, girlfriend Saturday night did not pay one bit of attention to that threshold, and as a result, anyone walking down Broadway at about 11:04 p.m. got to witness her being carted off to safety by her trusty friends. I wonder if any guy has ever seen a girl like that and been like, "THAT is my future ex-wife right there." Just curious.
3.) The person you should probably remember but you don't.
This has never happened to me because I don't make a habit of making out with random people at bars (unfortunately), but it's happened to friends of mine so it counts as personal experience. You catch someone's eye, you do the 'hold eye contact for 5 seconds and look away' thing, and he comes over to talk to you. Just when you think you might get a free drink or some action out of this conversation, he opens his mouth and says "Hi _____ (insert your name here)." You freeze, because you have no idea who this person is...or do you? Suddenly, he starts to look familiar. You start talking, hoping you're going to remember what his name is, as the details start to come back, albeit fuzzy. Oh yeah, he's the guy you made out with three weekends ago to up your self esteem since the boy you were interested in didn't call you! What was his name again? Dave? Dan? Devin? (It's Lloyd...or something equally as ridiculous). You chit chat for a few minutes, promise to come find him later (lie) and then actively try to avoid him for the rest of the night before sneaking out to another bar while his back is turned.
4.) Your new best friend.
So you're out celebrating a huge win for your sports team and you see someone else in the bar wearing your team colors. Instantly, you're bff and are talking about getting brunch together sometime. You have so much in common, you think her hair is super pretty, and you want her to be in your wedding someday. You introduce them to your group of friends, talk about how awesome she is, and you promise to get her number so you guys can go share $8 mimosas at Tavern sometime. Except...you forget about the person 15 minutes after they leave. Saturday night was the night of the Alabama/LSU game where 'Bama came from behind to score a touchdown (that's what she said?) with like a minute left to play. So there were lots of Alabama fans out that night. As soon as I walked into the bar people started yelling "Roll Tide!" to me. I guess because I was wearing red, so obviously I had to support Alabama, right? Actually, I could have cared less, but cheered for Alabama because M, fiance to the Favorite Redhead, is a diehard fan. People were toasting their pitchers of beer to the Crimson Tide and lots of meaningful friendships were made that night. Meaningful for 17 minutes, anyway.
5.) The Stalker guy.
Now this one can get a bit creepy. I was walking back to my car Saturday night and this guy started walking with me. He was pretty good looking, had on well fitting jeans, and was not homeless...my normal dating criteria. However, he was hammered (not my dating criteria) and I really don't think he had any idea what he was doing. I tried to speed up to walk away from him, but I'm only 5'2" and my legs only move so fast. Here's how our conversation went:
Him: Is your hair red?
Me: Kind of.
Him: I love redheads.
Me: Good for you.
Him: Even though I dated one in high school and she broke my heart when she cheated on me with my best friend.
Me: Tough story.
Him: Yeah, it was pretty painful. Hey, want to share a hot dog with me?
Me: I'm allergic to hot dogs.
Him: Oh. Okay. Want to share a cab?
Me: I'm sober. I'm driving home.
Him: Oh. Well, can I come home with you?
Me: Absolutely not.
At this point we are approaching the garage where I parked my car. The guy didn't give off a creepy vibe, but no girl likes to be cornered by a guy she doesn't know in a a parking garage. Instead of making a scene and yelling "Stranger danger!" or something, I quickly pointed to something across the street, forcing him to look away from me, and ran around the corner when he wasn't looking. My evasive tactics must have worked, because he didn't follow me. I really should get better about walking to my car alone at night.
Okay folks, that's all for installment 3. Maybe there will be a 4, who knows...it just all depends on who I meet out in Nashville on a Saturday night!
1.) The person who gets there on time.
You know what I'm talking about. This person is punctual and because of that, they are punished. Their friends said, "See you at Paradise Park at 10:00!" so they show up at 9:59 ready to get their Fireball shots on. Unfortunately, they are the only person in their group who actually shows up at 10, so they have to stand by themselves. Or, they could sit on the Pop-A-Shot machine to see if anyone talks to them. Their choice. See, there is an unspoken rule that you should never show up to things on time. Well, work is different, but optional activities that involve bars, drinks, or boys (or girls, if that's what you're into) don't fall into the same category as work. It's pretty safe to show up 20 minutes late and you'll still be one of the first people there. Show up any earlier, and you'll be standing alone in a bar, pretending like you're texting someone on your cell phone, silently wishing your friends to just show the f--- up already. When they do get there the person who has been there for 20 minutes already says "Oh no, it's fine, it's fine!" when the others apologize for their tardiness, but you and I know it's really not fine. They're just saying that hoping that their friends will buy them booze for their efforts. More likely then not, this doesn't happen, so the poor soul starts out the night with a badditude. See what I did there?
2.) The person who is wasted at 11:00 p.m.
As I was walking toward Paradise Park on Saturday night I witnessed a guy and a girl literally carrying another girl across Broadway. The guy had her upper body and the girl had her legs. Girl was semi-passed out. I looked at my watch (or rather, my cell phone since I do not own a watch) and it was barely 11 p.m. Now either she had been day drinking (which there was no Vanderbilt home game so I don't know why she would have been) or she was just a lightweight. But damn...didn't her friends try to slow her down at the bar? She wasn't dressed up light a bride or a birthday girl, and she wasn't that cute, so I doubt she was in the position to have free drinks given to her all night. Usually everyone has their drink threshold, where you know one more is going to put you over the edge and turn you into a hot mess of a person that cries at the drop of a hat and finds the sudden urge to tell people how much you love them. (Much like at Steeplechase when we sat around in a circle and told eachother what we liked about them. Aw, memories.) And most people actively try not to cross this threshold. Well, girlfriend Saturday night did not pay one bit of attention to that threshold, and as a result, anyone walking down Broadway at about 11:04 p.m. got to witness her being carted off to safety by her trusty friends. I wonder if any guy has ever seen a girl like that and been like, "THAT is my future ex-wife right there." Just curious.
3.) The person you should probably remember but you don't.
This has never happened to me because I don't make a habit of making out with random people at bars (unfortunately), but it's happened to friends of mine so it counts as personal experience. You catch someone's eye, you do the 'hold eye contact for 5 seconds and look away' thing, and he comes over to talk to you. Just when you think you might get a free drink or some action out of this conversation, he opens his mouth and says "Hi _____ (insert your name here)." You freeze, because you have no idea who this person is...or do you? Suddenly, he starts to look familiar. You start talking, hoping you're going to remember what his name is, as the details start to come back, albeit fuzzy. Oh yeah, he's the guy you made out with three weekends ago to up your self esteem since the boy you were interested in didn't call you! What was his name again? Dave? Dan? Devin? (It's Lloyd...or something equally as ridiculous). You chit chat for a few minutes, promise to come find him later (lie) and then actively try to avoid him for the rest of the night before sneaking out to another bar while his back is turned.
4.) Your new best friend.
So you're out celebrating a huge win for your sports team and you see someone else in the bar wearing your team colors. Instantly, you're bff and are talking about getting brunch together sometime. You have so much in common, you think her hair is super pretty, and you want her to be in your wedding someday. You introduce them to your group of friends, talk about how awesome she is, and you promise to get her number so you guys can go share $8 mimosas at Tavern sometime. Except...you forget about the person 15 minutes after they leave. Saturday night was the night of the Alabama/LSU game where 'Bama came from behind to score a touchdown (that's what she said?) with like a minute left to play. So there were lots of Alabama fans out that night. As soon as I walked into the bar people started yelling "Roll Tide!" to me. I guess because I was wearing red, so obviously I had to support Alabama, right? Actually, I could have cared less, but cheered for Alabama because M, fiance to the Favorite Redhead, is a diehard fan. People were toasting their pitchers of beer to the Crimson Tide and lots of meaningful friendships were made that night. Meaningful for 17 minutes, anyway.
5.) The Stalker guy.
Now this one can get a bit creepy. I was walking back to my car Saturday night and this guy started walking with me. He was pretty good looking, had on well fitting jeans, and was not homeless...my normal dating criteria. However, he was hammered (not my dating criteria) and I really don't think he had any idea what he was doing. I tried to speed up to walk away from him, but I'm only 5'2" and my legs only move so fast. Here's how our conversation went:
Him: Is your hair red?
Me: Kind of.
Him: I love redheads.
Me: Good for you.
Him: Even though I dated one in high school and she broke my heart when she cheated on me with my best friend.
Me: Tough story.
Him: Yeah, it was pretty painful. Hey, want to share a hot dog with me?
Me: I'm allergic to hot dogs.
Him: Oh. Okay. Want to share a cab?
Me: I'm sober. I'm driving home.
Him: Oh. Well, can I come home with you?
Me: Absolutely not.
At this point we are approaching the garage where I parked my car. The guy didn't give off a creepy vibe, but no girl likes to be cornered by a guy she doesn't know in a a parking garage. Instead of making a scene and yelling "Stranger danger!" or something, I quickly pointed to something across the street, forcing him to look away from me, and ran around the corner when he wasn't looking. My evasive tactics must have worked, because he didn't follow me. I really should get better about walking to my car alone at night.
Okay folks, that's all for installment 3. Maybe there will be a 4, who knows...it just all depends on who I meet out in Nashville on a Saturday night!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
30 Days of Thankfulness...In One Day
So, many of you know I have a problem committing to things...and people...but the second part is neither here nor there. Which, I don't really understand what 'neither here nor there' really means, but I'll use it anyway because using "nor" makes me sound really smart.
Every November on Facebook people start posting something they are thankful for everyday. I guess because November holds Thanksgiving, and therefore, you are to be super grateful in November, but not the other 11 months out of the year. Well, most people that know me know that Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday. I don't like any of the food, it's not as exciting when you have a three person family, it holds really bad memories for me, and it just gives my mother an excuse to repeatedly ask me over four days, instead of the usual two, why I'm not dating anyone or why I have no interest in ever getting married. Most of our conversations go like this:
Mom: Well, have you met anyone new lately?
Me: Yeah, I met this guy at a bar last weekend.
Mom: Did you hang out with him?
Me: At the bar, yes.
Mom: Did you kiss him?
Me: That is none of your business.
Mom: Did anything else happen?
Me: Yes, mom it did. And I'm pregnant with his triplets. Surprise! Happy Thanksgiving! You're going to be a grandma!
Mom: Anna Charles! I can't believe you just said that to me!
Me: Well mom, when you ask stupid questions, you're going to get stupid answers.
Imagine four days of this. This, is my life.
But, don't get me wrong. I have many things in life to be thankful for. So, below are my 30 things I am thankful for. Because if I can't even commit to a brand of toothpaste I like, there is no way in hell I can post something I'm thankful for for 30 days.
1.) My friends. I have the most amazing friends I could ever imagine. They leave care packages on my door when people in my life are in the hospital, they form email groups to mock people's Facebook statuses, they listen without judgment, they make me laugh each and every day, and they're all really pretty. And handsome.
2.) My job. I'm one of the few people in their 20's that can honestly say I love my job. I've had three jobs in my life so far and two out of the three have been wonderful. I have great co-workers, a boss that I can joke around and talk sports with, and I learn a lot everyday.
3.) My hair. Okay, so this is really shallow, but I'm a big fan of my hair. I dye it all the time, but my hair stylist is amazing and she always makes it look good and healthy. When I really want to put in effort, I can make my hair look really, really good. I just wish I put in effort more often.
4.) UK basketball. It brings me joy, occassionally gives me heart palpitations, and brings me to tears of happiness. There is no better fanbase on this planet to be a part of. I love that almost everywhere you go, you can find a UK fan. If you're not a UK fan you should raise your standards...while we raise our banners. That sounds like it should go on a t-shirt.
5.) Bleu cheese. I'm a big, big fan. I frequently eat only bleu cheese crumbles for dinner, which probably isn't the best choice, but I never said I make the best choices.
6.) Dresses. They're pretty much all I wear. I'm not a fan of pants.
7.) Victoria's Secret. Putting on something of theirs can make you feel pretty on even your crummiest day.
8.) Helping people. Yes, even though it doesn't sound like it from many of my blog entries, I really do enjoy helping people. I've been very fortunate to have people in my life that have gone out of their way to help me, whether it be with my career or personal life. I'm always happy to pass along a resume, introduce people to others, or lend a hand with household cleaning chores. Just don't ask me to play Matchmaker. Because if there is a single, attractive, normal single male around, I call dibs.
9.) My grandfather. I talk a lot about Daddy Cliff on my blog, but I really was given the best grandfather a girl could ask for. Many girls are daddy's girls but I am not one of them. I am a grandaddy's girl though, through and through. Sometimes when I dream about him (on the rare occassions I sleep), I can still feel what his hugs feel like. I carry one of his hankerchiefs in my purse as a good luck charm and I miss him more and more everyday. When I drive by his assisted living center I still picture him sitting in the rocking chair on the porch waiting for me to come see him. This world will never know a better man.
10.) My mentors. Through my jobs I have had the immense pleasure to work with a variety of inspiring people. I'm sure these great people don't want to be mentioned in a blog that talks about going out on Saturday nights and is full of curse words, so I'll leave out their names. But, at age 27, I should not have nearly the amount of people in high places I can call on for advice that I do.
11.) My tv. I'm serious. It's big, I paid for it, and UK basketball looks glorious on it. When I went to the store to buy it I specifically said, "Show me the tv that UK basketball will look the best on." The poor salesguys were so confused, but I was serious. I even made them turn the channel to a basketball game so I could see what the court would look like on screen. That, my friends, is dedication to a sport.
12.) My cat. Okay, you all knew this was coming. I really like my cat. He fetches, he has an attitude, and he likes to look at himself in the mirror. Much like myself. Minus the fetching.
13.) My health. With as many sickly people I have in my life, I do not take my good health for granted.
14.) My home. Minus the damn geese. I've lived in my apartment for almost two years and I really like it. I have a nice view, plenty of room, and I finally have it decorated the way I want. Everything in it is mine and I'm very proud of that. Yay independent women (cue Destiny's Child music.)
15.) My books. I love to read and I have many shelves of leather bound books. Okay, well they are mostly paperbacks, but I still love them.
16.) Gmail email chains. Capturing my friend's humor, one line at a time.
17.) Gchat. How did I get through the day before I discovered this?
18.) Popsicles. Delicious, satisfying, and cold. Yum.
19.) Even numbers. Because I don't really like the odd ones. Except 13.
20.) Sports in general. Turn on sports and I'm usually a pretty happy girl. Unless it's golf. Then I'm a very bored girl.
21.) My family. Even though I mortify my mother on a daily basis, I know she and my dad* are there if I'm in a pinch. *Most of the time.
22.) Sunshine. I am a big fan of sunshine. And rainbows. And stars. Basically anything Lisa Frank put on a Trapper Keeper.
23.) My city. I love Nashville. Even though I may not end up staying here forever, I've built a great life and great memories here. And I'm sure I've forgotten some pretty great moments too.
24.) Parks. I love to go on walks and I love people watching, especially when they don't know you're watching. Wait, that sounds creepy. I mean, I like to watch people in their natural element. Watching little kids play, without a care in the world, watching the old couple hold hands while they walk around the park, watching the soccer dads yelling excitedly for their children on the sideline...that sort of thing. I do not like creepily stalking people. Hope I cleared that up.
25.) Lazy days. Every once in a while, you just need one. There have been many days that I have just laid around the apartment either reading or watching mindless tv and not thinking about the things that stress me out. I'm glad I have the kind of life where I let myself relax.
26.) The ability to read. It's so sad that some people can't read and it's sad that so many that can don't enjoy it.
27.) Animals. They just make the world a better place. Except for my apartment complex geese. They bring nothing to society.
28.) Airplanes. Because otherwise I would never see half of my friends because they live too damn far away and I refuse to be in a car for more than 3.5 hours.
29.) Beaches. Because they are beautiful.
30.) Coffee. No explanation needed.
I suppose I should have said God or Jesus but I doubt they want a shoutout on this blog either.
Till next time,
~SFR~
Every November on Facebook people start posting something they are thankful for everyday. I guess because November holds Thanksgiving, and therefore, you are to be super grateful in November, but not the other 11 months out of the year. Well, most people that know me know that Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday. I don't like any of the food, it's not as exciting when you have a three person family, it holds really bad memories for me, and it just gives my mother an excuse to repeatedly ask me over four days, instead of the usual two, why I'm not dating anyone or why I have no interest in ever getting married. Most of our conversations go like this:
Mom: Well, have you met anyone new lately?
Me: Yeah, I met this guy at a bar last weekend.
Mom: Did you hang out with him?
Me: At the bar, yes.
Mom: Did you kiss him?
Me: That is none of your business.
Mom: Did anything else happen?
Me: Yes, mom it did. And I'm pregnant with his triplets. Surprise! Happy Thanksgiving! You're going to be a grandma!
Mom: Anna Charles! I can't believe you just said that to me!
Me: Well mom, when you ask stupid questions, you're going to get stupid answers.
Imagine four days of this. This, is my life.
But, don't get me wrong. I have many things in life to be thankful for. So, below are my 30 things I am thankful for. Because if I can't even commit to a brand of toothpaste I like, there is no way in hell I can post something I'm thankful for for 30 days.
1.) My friends. I have the most amazing friends I could ever imagine. They leave care packages on my door when people in my life are in the hospital, they form email groups to mock people's Facebook statuses, they listen without judgment, they make me laugh each and every day, and they're all really pretty. And handsome.
2.) My job. I'm one of the few people in their 20's that can honestly say I love my job. I've had three jobs in my life so far and two out of the three have been wonderful. I have great co-workers, a boss that I can joke around and talk sports with, and I learn a lot everyday.
3.) My hair. Okay, so this is really shallow, but I'm a big fan of my hair. I dye it all the time, but my hair stylist is amazing and she always makes it look good and healthy. When I really want to put in effort, I can make my hair look really, really good. I just wish I put in effort more often.
4.) UK basketball. It brings me joy, occassionally gives me heart palpitations, and brings me to tears of happiness. There is no better fanbase on this planet to be a part of. I love that almost everywhere you go, you can find a UK fan. If you're not a UK fan you should raise your standards...while we raise our banners. That sounds like it should go on a t-shirt.
5.) Bleu cheese. I'm a big, big fan. I frequently eat only bleu cheese crumbles for dinner, which probably isn't the best choice, but I never said I make the best choices.
6.) Dresses. They're pretty much all I wear. I'm not a fan of pants.
7.) Victoria's Secret. Putting on something of theirs can make you feel pretty on even your crummiest day.
8.) Helping people. Yes, even though it doesn't sound like it from many of my blog entries, I really do enjoy helping people. I've been very fortunate to have people in my life that have gone out of their way to help me, whether it be with my career or personal life. I'm always happy to pass along a resume, introduce people to others, or lend a hand with household cleaning chores. Just don't ask me to play Matchmaker. Because if there is a single, attractive, normal single male around, I call dibs.
9.) My grandfather. I talk a lot about Daddy Cliff on my blog, but I really was given the best grandfather a girl could ask for. Many girls are daddy's girls but I am not one of them. I am a grandaddy's girl though, through and through. Sometimes when I dream about him (on the rare occassions I sleep), I can still feel what his hugs feel like. I carry one of his hankerchiefs in my purse as a good luck charm and I miss him more and more everyday. When I drive by his assisted living center I still picture him sitting in the rocking chair on the porch waiting for me to come see him. This world will never know a better man.
10.) My mentors. Through my jobs I have had the immense pleasure to work with a variety of inspiring people. I'm sure these great people don't want to be mentioned in a blog that talks about going out on Saturday nights and is full of curse words, so I'll leave out their names. But, at age 27, I should not have nearly the amount of people in high places I can call on for advice that I do.
11.) My tv. I'm serious. It's big, I paid for it, and UK basketball looks glorious on it. When I went to the store to buy it I specifically said, "Show me the tv that UK basketball will look the best on." The poor salesguys were so confused, but I was serious. I even made them turn the channel to a basketball game so I could see what the court would look like on screen. That, my friends, is dedication to a sport.
12.) My cat. Okay, you all knew this was coming. I really like my cat. He fetches, he has an attitude, and he likes to look at himself in the mirror. Much like myself. Minus the fetching.
13.) My health. With as many sickly people I have in my life, I do not take my good health for granted.
14.) My home. Minus the damn geese. I've lived in my apartment for almost two years and I really like it. I have a nice view, plenty of room, and I finally have it decorated the way I want. Everything in it is mine and I'm very proud of that. Yay independent women (cue Destiny's Child music.)
15.) My books. I love to read and I have many shelves of leather bound books. Okay, well they are mostly paperbacks, but I still love them.
16.) Gmail email chains. Capturing my friend's humor, one line at a time.
17.) Gchat. How did I get through the day before I discovered this?
18.) Popsicles. Delicious, satisfying, and cold. Yum.
19.) Even numbers. Because I don't really like the odd ones. Except 13.
20.) Sports in general. Turn on sports and I'm usually a pretty happy girl. Unless it's golf. Then I'm a very bored girl.
21.) My family. Even though I mortify my mother on a daily basis, I know she and my dad* are there if I'm in a pinch. *Most of the time.
22.) Sunshine. I am a big fan of sunshine. And rainbows. And stars. Basically anything Lisa Frank put on a Trapper Keeper.
23.) My city. I love Nashville. Even though I may not end up staying here forever, I've built a great life and great memories here. And I'm sure I've forgotten some pretty great moments too.
24.) Parks. I love to go on walks and I love people watching, especially when they don't know you're watching. Wait, that sounds creepy. I mean, I like to watch people in their natural element. Watching little kids play, without a care in the world, watching the old couple hold hands while they walk around the park, watching the soccer dads yelling excitedly for their children on the sideline...that sort of thing. I do not like creepily stalking people. Hope I cleared that up.
25.) Lazy days. Every once in a while, you just need one. There have been many days that I have just laid around the apartment either reading or watching mindless tv and not thinking about the things that stress me out. I'm glad I have the kind of life where I let myself relax.
26.) The ability to read. It's so sad that some people can't read and it's sad that so many that can don't enjoy it.
27.) Animals. They just make the world a better place. Except for my apartment complex geese. They bring nothing to society.
28.) Airplanes. Because otherwise I would never see half of my friends because they live too damn far away and I refuse to be in a car for more than 3.5 hours.
29.) Beaches. Because they are beautiful.
30.) Coffee. No explanation needed.
I suppose I should have said God or Jesus but I doubt they want a shoutout on this blog either.
Till next time,
~SFR~
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