To those of you who go to work every Monday morning and slave away to the man... I salute you.
I typically work Monday nights, so this "case of the Mondays" is brought to you by my boss' vacation. She's out until July 5th and I am seething with jealousy.
Even though, as she keeps pointing out, I have at least 10 vacation days to schedule and I have yet to do it. Because it's impossible to make plans with friends who are allll over the dang place. Literally and figuratively. My boss, sweet lady that she is, made a copy of the July schedule so I could see when I could fit in some days off, and when I couldn't (when other managers have time-off scheduled)... I just went to grab the schedule and, of course, it's not in my purse. So I get to make another copy today. And then put it in my wallet and not lose it. Go team.
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I'm in a major blogging rut. I made a conscious decision that I want to NOT give up on this blog (I wasn't considering it, but it works nicely for dramatic effect here).... and since it's summer and everyone's posting a bit lighter... I just feel a little lost.
I don't have awesome giveaways or the best pictures or a crap-ton of crafts.... what I do have is a million and one Classy Bookshelf posts (hmm, my book-reading has taken off and my blogging has suffered - don't think that's a coincidence!).
I think that I shall beg you all to give me questions and fabulous post ideas on Wednesday.... what shall the incentive be? Target gift card? (I mean honestly, is there ANYTHING better than Target? I dare you to tell me what it is.)
As for Monday... I gotta to go put my big girl panties on and deal with The Man bright and early today. Somehow, he was much easier to face at 1 pm. Woe is me!
Happy Monday (kinda)!
27 Haziran 2012 Çarşamba
Monday, Woof.
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
As I promised on Monday, we've got a Big Prize on the line here today.... $25 big ones to Target, also known as Heaven.
(Weird side note: I swear on all that is holy that I bought a $25 Target gift card yesterday and stuck it in my wallet. Just went to go grab it... and it's not in my wallet. Is this real life?)
Anyway, please, for the love of blogging, ask me anything. The more awkward and personal the better.
(Unfortunately, not sponsored by Target or anyone affiliated with them. If Target wants to sponsor my life, all they have to do is ask.)
You have until next Wednesday to win.... just ask me anything!
Current Obsession - "Don't Move" - Phantogram
Keep your body still, keep your body still.
All you do is, shake shake shake
Keep your body still, keep your body still.
Don't you realize you're fine?
Oh can't you see that you're fine?
And know that you're still alive.
You know that you're still alive.
Oh don't you know you're alive?
Don't you know you're alive?
Burning in the sky.
Lyrics
Excerpt from Thought Catalogue "We Have To Stop Calling Girls 'Crazy'"
source
Johnny Cash Quote on Love
25 Haziran 2012 Pazartesi
Spotify Almost Two Months Later
Its a really clever post, and more spotify playlists, get on it!
SPOTIFY - (almost) TWO MONTHS LATER
“Why?” - Bronski Beat
Isn’t Spotify great? Wait, are you listening to Spotify yet? Why not? Herc has never listened to so much music in his life as he has since Spotify finally came to the United States (& his beloved iPod Touch) and he has listened to a lot of music. A. LOT.
“Change” - John Waite
A work in progress, Spotify continues to evolve - no fewer than half a dozen software updates in the last two weeks alone. New features, new functions and new music...
"Gimme More" - Britney Spears
Since our last Spotify chat on August 31st, almost one million tracks have been added to Spotify’s library. (Let me do the math...carry the one...exactly 955,033 tracks.) More music than any human could possibly listen to in their lifetime but don’t let that stop you from trying.
“The Waiting” - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
It was never a Golden Ticket kind of phenomenon but when Spotify came to these shores, an invitation was required to partake in the musical goodness. You signed up and waited. Maybe you haven’t tried Spotify because you never got an invitation. Invitations are no longer required to get Spotify because...
“Power” - Kanye West
...Spotify is now fully integrated with Facebook, for better or for worse. If you haven’t signed up for a Spotify account yet it now requires you to sign in with your Facebook account. No Facebook account, no Spotify account for new users. There were some over-sharing issues initially but those have now been resolved.
“Radio, Radio” - Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Spotify finally has unleashed their Radio function Stateside - it’s on the left panel main menu just under What’s New. Sadly, they have removed some of Herc’s favorite channels (Disco, Funk, New Wave and Techno) and replaced them with three flavors of metal (Black, Death and Heavy). Play around with the Spotify Radio function by selecting more than one button at a time and see what pops up. While it lacks the fine-tuning capabilities of Slacker, Spotify Radio lets you skip as many songs as you want until you find one you want to hear.
“Let’s Go Crazy” - Prince & the Revolution
Remember when you had to ration your Spotify listening time because, as a Free User, there were monthly caps imposed by Spotify? Well those days are gone - you get unlimited listening for the first six months now before you have to start rationing. Go crazy, get nuts.
Seven Reasons I Love/Hate The DVR
Heya!
Do you have a DVR?
I know a crazy family that had 4 at one time. That family happens to be mine. Hey mom and dad!
Anyways, my own house has had a DVR since I moved back to AZ from Vegas and I have a love/hate relationship with it. It extends to TV as a whole too, sometimes.
Am I the only one? Does this ridiculous takeover by the cable companies and machines freak anyone else out? Just me? Cool.
We have a DVR and ever since the fall shows have returned KM and I are having trouble keeping up! There are shows on our DVR still from SEPTEMBER. This is crazy. We are slaves to the machine. Let me explain.
Seven Facets Of My Love/Hate Relationship With My DVR
- Social Life Speedbumps. My massive social schedule is interrupted on a daily basis by my DVR screaming my name. Its like "Devyn, I have shows for youuuuuuu and I'm recording more today!".
- Backwards. Isn't that backwards though? Shouldn't my DVR be freeing up my social time, not stepping into it? It should be letting me live my life because I don't need to be tethered to my TV to watch my programs.
- Entitlement. The DVR has created a sense of entitlement in those of us that have one. I am entitled to watch all of my shows, and how dare the president interrupt my sitcoms? I can watch all the shows, not just one per time slot. I MUST watch all the shows. I don't have to pick just one, that's absurd. I can't believe that stupid dancing show ran late into my medical drama tonight.
- Tethered To The Machine. I can admit it. My DVR runs my life. When I take a weekend trip to Tucson, I make sure I take out the trash, pack my clothes and clear some space on the dang DVR. Oh yeah and water the plants and make sure to turn the AC up. But the DVR is definitely in the top 3 things I worry about when I leave my house overnight. What the heck is up with that?!(I love it.)
- Addiction To Shows. It used to be I would catch a show when I had the time. I would be kind of funny on the story lines and character happenings. I would try to catch up but mostly I would just be content with watching an hour of funny time. Now I watch everything and get angry if I missed anything, especially if it was the machine's fault.
- Couch Time. I spend all my time on the couch/my recliner. Watch TV all the time. Not live though, never ever live. Watching commercials? Are you kidding me? That is for the people without DVRs. Sorry marketing companies, I don't care for your 30 second sales pitches.
- My Wallet Hates Me. See, I get the DIY network. I watch tons of the shows on this network. Then I want to go and do it myself(get it?) and then my wallet suffers. I see Mr. Muenster rip up a bathroom and install a killer shower with body jets and I want to run out to Home Depot right away.
Seven Reasons I Wanna Go To Washington D.C.
With the travel bug. I'm losing. I just wanna GO! I've never felt it so bad before. So I am gonna channel it into this blog.
Last year I went to the greater DC area for the first time. I flew into DCA and saw some of the big landmarks from the sky. That's it. I never saw anything. It was a learning trip for work and I was lacking free time. It is kind of a shame. But I had a really great time. I just really want to go back.
Seven Reasons I Wanna Go To Washington DC
- The White House. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The house where Mr. Obama and his family lives. Its where the President lives. Also, its an incredibly fascinating building with a rich history and tons of amazing trivia. I have wanted to go here since I saw Graceland, I am now fascinated with public houses.
- Lincoln Memorial. I just really want to see the giant statue of Lincoln sitting. That's all. Plus its on the penny.
- The Smithsonian. Julia Child's kitchen lives here now! I have to see that. Also, every other radical piece of American/World history that resides here. Bonus: National Archives too please, all the amazing documents! Just like in National Treasure.
- Mount Vernon. Washington's house. George and Martha's home. Their estate. I wanna go! Why? Couldn't tell you. But it must happen.
- Library Of Congress. The biggest library in the world. I.Must.Go.
- Washington Monument. Thank goodness the earthquake didn't destroy this very tall obelisk. I haven't seen it yet!
- People Watching. I just want to ride the train all over, and watch people. Then I want to sit in a park and watch all the people going by. So many different types of people. Also, there is a lot of really good food to be had in this city. I must go.
Seven Flavors Of Kool-Aid
I really do. I always have and even in my mid twenties, there is still a pitcher in my refrigerator.
It has many uses these days. Coloring your hair, coloring yarn, scenting and flavoring homemade lip balm and other crafty things. Also you can drink it.
I miss the commercials and the pitcher mascot. Do you remember him? Let me jog your memory:
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| image found here |
- Cherry - Far and above the greatest flavor ever. Bright red and delicious its hard to not drink the entire pitcher. This flavor is always in my house. I am religious about it.
- Black Cherry - A great flavor as well, more refined. The grown up twist on the regular cherry.
- Tropical Punch - I honestly don't know what flavors make this up, and I won't look it up because I don't want to discover banana ingredients. It was a salmony shade of red and deliciously refreshing. This flavor was always at my grandma's house in my memories.
- Grape - I love grape flavored things. Some people really hate them, but I love them. Grape soda, grape candy, grape cough syrup, and of course grape kool-aid.
- Pink Lemonade - I thought this was how you made lemonade forever. Until I learned that you actually can make lemonade from lemons, those sour fruits that grew in our backyard. My mind was blown and things were never the same.
- Lemon Lime - I am a fan of this flavor combo. I like that it combines them both, I like that its crisp and refreshing and I really like that it doesn't stain my clothes like cherry or grape. Much lighter and easier to deal with. Yes, I am a slob, get over it.
- Orange - Almost as good as those Hi-C juice boxes but not quite there. Extra sweet to me and a definitely delicious flavor.
Seven Of The Greatest Albums Of All Time
Another installation of Music Mondays is coming your way. I can tell you that Herc is the single most music driven person I have ever known. He has an incredible knowledge of it, an amazing history built around it, and great stories all about it. This is a wonderful post by Herc, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
7 Of The Greatest Albums Of All Time
(that just happened to be released in 1982!)
[part of ongoing series 7 Greatest Albums]
In 1982, Herc was in his teens, a crucial time for any music lover: bonds are formed, memories are made and allegiances are pledged that will affect the rest of our lives. Herc was one of those kids who walked around with headphones on, listening to cassette tapes he recorded, in his trusty Sony Walkman. Walking down the street, sitting in class or riding the bus, the headphones and Walkman were ever-present. Music was his drug of choice, the one thing that got him through the day, all day, every day. It fueled the fires of his passions, bandaged his bruised ego and helped heal his heart. Over the past 30 years, these albums (like Herc) have withstood musical trends and fashion fads, not too mention the epic and expensive transition from physical media (records, tapes) to digital media (CDs, files). Music is still his drug of choice, though, and these are some of his biggest highs.
all 7 albums in one Spotify playlist
or click on each album title to listen, one at a time
Blackout - Scorpions
unleashed 3/29/1982
The lead single from Blackout was entitled “No One Like You” and in interviews with the band they say it was originally written in their native German and lost its meaning in the English translation. It must have been inconceivably brilliant because the song as it was released is absolutely fantastic from that first drum beat. The album itself begins with a rocking guitar siren on the title track and gets better and better from there. The second track, “Can’t Live Without You”, is a throwback to 70s British Glam Rock with its counted off intro, self-referential lyrics and helium-voiced sing-along chorus. Then comes “No One Like You”, a blast of harmonic high guitars and longing lyrics. There are other songs, most notably the tour memoir valentine “Arizona”, that round out the album but after those first three tracks the rest of the album sounds familiar.
Rio - Duran Duran
unleashed 5/10/1982
From it’s stylish cover illustration to the equally stylish grooves within, Rio hastened the arrival of the New Romantic portion of the New Wave: pretty boys in pretty clothes playing gussied-up disco music for the next generation. A major factor in their popularity was the ability to see the band in music videos filmed in exotic locales, yet another layer of stylishness. Simon, Nick and the three unrelated Taylor boys played dance/pop music and released a series of 12”s and EPs featuring enhanced dance remixes of the songs from Rio making them a feature in clubs as well as the radio and the (M)TV on both sides of the Atlantic. In hindsight after nearly 30 years, some of the music does sound stuck in the Eighties but most of it holds up.
Combat Rock - The Clash
unleashed 5/14/1982
“This is a public service announcement/With GUITARS!” are the first words your hear when you drop the needle/press Play on The Clash’s fifth full-length release. The guys had toured the world, read the newspaper and, after six years together, they were reaching a breaking point both as a group and in their popularity. The songs they recorded for the album that eventually became Combat Rock were musically as diverse as ever, a sonic trademark of the musical alchemists known as The Clash. Two of the band’s biggest hits emerged from the album, “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” and “Rock The Casbah.” But the one Herc keeps going back to is “Straight To Hell” which was later sampled in M.I.A.’s global smash “Paper Planes”. By 1983, the band that had recorded Combat Rock was all but extinct, limping along after firing two members. Fortunately for us, we’ll always have this memento.
The Lexicon Of Love - ABC
unleashed 6/25/1982
As rhythmically funky as it orchestrally lush and packed with more heartbreak scenarios than any romance novel, The Lexicon Of Love still manages to sound contemporary almost 30 years after its release. Love, after all, is timeless. and this is love in its purest romantic form. Martin Fry is hardly original in his delivery, drawing on everyone from Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra and Bryan Ferry before him, but somehow it doesn’t matter because the words he sings and the way he sings them ring true. All of this hopeless romanticism is set against a wall of sound constructed by Trevor Horn (featuring many of the players who would later go on to form Art Of Noise) that melds the burgeoning new wave sound of the time with classic soul and rhythm & blues sounds of the late Sixties and early Seventies. The album flows lyrically and musically towards an all too soon end but that’s okay because you can play it again. And again.
Friend Or Foe - Adam Ant
unleashed 10/14/1982
On the morning of May 16, 1981, Herc watched Adam & the Ants perform (lipsync) “Antmusic” and “Dog Eat Dog” on American Bandstand. After lunch, he rode his bike up to the Base Exchange (BX) and bought their album Kings Of The Wild Frontier. Six months later, Adam & his Ants issued Prince Charming, which was more of the same music but the make-up and costumes had changed, from a Pirate/American Indian mash-up to a Pirate/Dandy Highwayman mash-up. Within 12 months, Adam had jettisoned all but one Ant and released this, his debut solo album. This time out, he wore minimal make-up and dressed like a Pirate/Cowboy hybrid. The music was just as dense and as rhythmic as the previous two outings, proving he had chosen to retain the right Ant and, on the first day of 1983, Adam returned to American Bandstand performing what would become his biggest hit, the hyperkinetic “Goody Two Shoes”.
1999 - Prince
unleashed 10/27/1982
One night in November 1982, while ironing a couple of shirts to wear to school the following week (snicker, snicker), Herc was listening to “The New Music Test Department” on a local radio station as he usually did on Sunday evenings. It was a chance for the deejay to break from the “rock” format and play new releases in all genres from punk to funk. On that particular night, he first heard “Little Red Corvette” and a lifelong obsession began with the music of the artist who will always be known as Prince. A sprawling and ambitious double album, 1999 featured tight funk jams and longer, looser workouts with drum machines and layered synths paving the way for what would become known in the Eighties and early Nineties as the “Minneapolis sound”. The music was the soundtrack to parties, the background for make-out sessions and inspiration for at least one American Government term paper. Within two years, Prince would be the biggest recording artist in the world, rivaled only by Madonna and Michael Jackson. But his ascent is easily traced back to this, his launching pad and proving grounds.
Thriller - Michael Jackson
unleashed 11/30/1982
Herc ain’t gonna lie, he probably slept on this record until Christmas 1982, when he finally picked up a copy for himself after listening to his father’s copy far too often. “Billie Jean” was an awesome song and his live performance of it on the Motown 25 show, where he revealed his new Moonwalk, lit the fuse on this firecracker which went on to become the biggest selling album of all time even before MJ’s untimely death. All but two songs were released individually and became Top Ten singles and when the mini-movie for the title track was released, millions would stop whatever they were doing and just watch. The performances are breathtaking but it is the polished production by Quincy Jones that does it for Herc. Even after all the tabloid tales, this is still a great listen.
>>>Bonus 1982 Spotify Playlist<<<
For the record (get it?), Herc also played the groove out of these vinyl albums from 1982 and has since owned compact disc versions. Tracks from these albums (as well as the albums above) are the bedrock of Herc’s Digital Music Archive.
Asia - Asia***Picture This - Huey Lewis & the News***8th Wonder - The Sugarhill Gang***Just Another Day In Paradise - Bertie Higgins***Mountain Music - Alabama***The Golden Age Of Wireless - Thomas Dolby***Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet - Rick Springfield***All Four One - The Motels***Toto IV - Toto***American Fool - John Cougar***Diver Down - Van Halen***A Flock Of Seagulls - A Flock Of Seagulls***Hot Space - Queen***Built For Speed - The Stray Cats***Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor***Eye In The Sky - Alan Parsons Project***Night And Day - Joe Jackson***Emotions in Motion - Billy Squier***Billy Idol - Billy Idol***The Party’s Over - Talk Talk***Screaming For Vengeance - Judas Priest***Upstairs At Eric’s - Yaz***What Time Is It? - The Time***Fast Times At Ridgemont High soundtrack***New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) - Simple Minds***H2O - Hall & Oates***Kissing To Be Clever - Culture Club***The Nightfly - Donald Fagen***Shabooh Shoobah - INXS***Spring Session M - Missing Persons***Hello, I Must Be Going - Phil Collins***Long After Dark - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers***Computer Games - George Clinton***Oh No, It’s Devo! - Devo***Gap Band IV - GAP Band***The Distance - Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band***Business As Usual - Men At Work***Dare - Human League***Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing - Soft Cell***The Message - Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five***
24 Haziran 2012 Pazar
Wine Wednesday: Something Different
First of all, I'd just like to apologize right here and now because my wine Wednesday posts have gotten SOO lame. For once, I actually have all kinds of different wine and such to drink... but I have run out of ideas for photographing it.
I swear, next time, I'm going to up my game. PROMISE. Probably.
This week's wine is probably not so much a wine as it is a wine product. You can tell not only from the alcohol content but also from the screw top. Which is why I was baffled when Mr. RH totally turned up his nose at it. I'm not sure I'm ever going to get him on board with wine, but ladies, I WILL DIE TRYING.
Although probably it would be more of a murder-homicide situation.
This weeks' "wine" was a pre-made sangria. I've made sangria in the past, but I've never had one straight out of the bottle before.
It was good - sweet and light and refreshing - but now I'm wishing that I had taken 2 minutes to throw some fruit in there. That probably would have been way yummy.
Regardless, it was a delicious little bottle and got my brain excited to make some homemade sangria coming up. Is it peach season yet?? YUM.
Happy Wine Wednesday!! What are YOU drinking?
All Aboard the Crazy Train!
I am finding it extremely hard to focus today... probably cause I was at work until almost midnight and I was a hot mess before I even left work. Brain=scrambled.
- I am struggling to try and use up my vacation time this year. I know, WOE IS ME. I would love LOVE to see my college friends, I miss them a ton. But getting them in one space is nearly impossible. I had planned to do something with my friends from home, but that seems impossible too. One is taking the bar and one may be done with our friendship. SUPERFUN. And then there's Mr. RH... the person I really want to take with me everywhere (put him in my pocket, obviously). Want to take him back to Chicago, to an IKEA (that's random), to Oklahoma to snuggle some twins, to Florida cause a beach sounds nice, to Michigan cause a beach sounds nice. Like I said... I'm struggling. And wish I were independently wealthy with a private jet.
- I am really missing my college friends. I know we are all in 93 directions all over the place, but I just wish it were easier to stay in touch. Found out that one of them was pregnant a couple of weeks ago and I haven't even called to congratulate her. I suck.
- The Victoria's Secret semi-annual sale starts at 7 am today. And despite the fact that I barely slept and need bras like I need a hole in the head... I think I need to stop in. It's my American, consumerist duty.
- Speaking of Mr. RH, he has somehow released my inner interior decorator lately. Since I have yet to grow up and get a home of my own, I have transferred my decorating needs onto his apartment. I almost had a breakdown this weekend because there are so many things I "need" to purchase for his apartment. Such as a kitchen table (he has an empty room now), a new couch, a fancy new bed. Basically, I am a loose cannon. HELP.
- I'm taking wedding photos for a friend in a month. And then my boss in September. I realize I am 100% unqualified for this... but yet I can't stop agreeing to do things that make me scared. YAY.
- It's no-shower Tuesday.
- Less than 24 hours till Wine Wednesday (the activity, not the post. I actually don't have one for this week).
- I'm going to a bachelorette party this weekend and I feel fat. Is it acceptable to wear a maxi dress instead of a slut-mini-dress? My pasty legs are extremely stressed.
- I'm not sure if it's jealousy or excitement or just losing my mind (probably that)... but Tess' engagement set of the bomb of wedding-planning inside my brain. Had a breakdown yesterday cause I couldn't find California Wife's list of recommended Indiana wedding photographers... and it basically went downhill from there. And yes, very astute of you, I am actually not engaged. Crazy train, party of one!
She's Rihanna, I'm Jay-Z.
So, you all know the story of Rihanna and Jay-Z, right? Not Chris Brown, Jay-Z.
Let me enlighten you.
Eight years ago, Rihanna was just a 16-year-old with a demo tape when Jay-Z came across her music. Rumor has it, he loved her so much that she auditioned soon after.... and she was signed and a part of Def Jam records ever since.
Fast forward to 2009. The night before the Grammys, Chris Brown violently attacked Rihanna. He slammed her head into the car door, shook her until she lost consciousness, and left her broken and bleeding.
Jay-Z finds out about this and he is livid. In the days following the attack, Rihanna allegedly sought refuge and advice with her mentor, Jay-Z. Jay-Z is furious and vows never to forgive Chris Brown.
Rihanna pulls herself back together, pushes her career higher than before... and then proceeds to be rumored to be cavorting with Chris Brown again.
Jay-Z is, allegedly, disappointed and upset. He feels strongly that Rihanna should be watching out for herself - and should have NEVER forgiven Chris Brown.
Ok, did you follow that? Good.
So I have a friend. The best friend, really. I have loved her for as long as I can remember. I can literally barely remember the number of men she has brought into our lives over the years. But men can come and go - I will remain constant.
I humor her by accepting these men into my life, although I secretly harbor the notion that she could benefit from talk therapy. I feel that the reason she allows so many unsuitable men into her life is that because she is deeply unhappy within herself.
I have shared this with her and she seems to agree in some ways... but the pattern continues.
She meets a guy (can't say man, it wouldn't be appropriate), falls fast and hard, and he uses her, then discards her like yesterday's newspaper.
Each time, it chips away at MY own heart. I can't imagine how it must feel to be her, but, even as a friend, it stings.
This time last summer, as I was falling in love with Mr. RH, she met a guy. Let's call him Carleton.
Carleton is, for a lot of reasons, an appealing catch. He's attractive, has a very macho-manly job that is steady, and did I mention he's attractive? Tan, white teeth, fit body.
I remember the only time Mr. RH met Carleton. He remarked, after the fact, that the guy was certainly nice enough.
Nice enough. Doesn't cut it.
Carleton is a flawed person. He carried a lot of baggage from previous relationships. Said he couldn't do this or think that or be this way because of his Ex. Ok, fine.
My friend.... she fell fast and hard. Imagined their babies. Planned out their future, their perfect life together.
I wanted it to be true. Wanted it more for her than I wanted it for myself... which, as you know, is A LOT.
The thing is.... Carleton sucks. He can't say I love you. Although he CAN reply with a "me too" if she says it first.
He ALLOWS my friend into his life. As in, "oh, I have 2 hours before I have to be doing something, I can fit you in there"... as opposed to setting aside his own personal time to fit her in, you know, because he is excited about her and wants to see her.
He treats her as an afterthought. She dotes on him, obsesses over him, and treats him like a damn king. She tries to make herself a part of his life... by tidying up his house or inserting herself in some other way... but I suspect he barely notices.
In September(ish, I can't remember exactly when), Carleton broke my friend's heart. She called me around midnight and told me everything. Was hysterically sobbing on the phone. I literally thought something had happened to one of her parents.
I offered to come to her, but I didn't follow through. I feel like a bitch for that now.
Of course, they got back together. Carleton ONLY releases nuggets of affection when it can get him what he wants... and boy is he SKILLED at getting what he wants.
They've gotten back together and broken up twice since then, I believe. After one of the reconciliations, she told me that she enjoys the sex too much to leave him.
I would bet all my future orgasms that the sex is NOT worth the emotional trauma, but that's just me.
During the Vera Bradley sale in May, she told me that she was done with him. Capital D. I was thrilled, relieved, can't even describe the feelings. Ecstatic.
I think that breakup lasted less than a month (and she had dates with a kind, handsome man in between breakup and reconciliation).
Now they're back together. How did I find out?
A text. "You guys are going to be really mad at me...."
My response? "I can't possibly hate you as much as you hate yourself right now."
Verbatim.
I don't know what to do. My heart is in tatters. Since then, I have not spoken or communicated with my friend. Our group of 4 BFFs is suddenly a group of 3.
The 3 of us are keenly aware of the loss. I don't know what to do. One friend says to stop supporting her, reasoning that we can't care for her enough to make up for her own carelessness with her heart. The other friend maintains that cutting her out only makes us like him. The fucking bastard.
My friend seems happy. She has a new roommate, bible study friends, and work friends filling up her time. I used to have 4 limbs, each one representing one of my BFF's... and now I've lost an arm.
The thing is, I'm not even sure she notices we're gone. She has other friends and family to soak up her time. Plenty of fun in the sun without us.
What should I do? Reach out to her and let her know I support her, even in the midst of her continually poor decision-making? Drop the whole thing and pretend it never happened? (It seems that it may be too late for that). Wait for her heart to get smashed again? (I'm not sure I would even find out about it, at this point.)
She's Rihanna, I'm Jay-Z, and I have no freaking clue what to do anymore. My heart is broken.
What should I do?
Weepy.
First of all, thank you thank you thank you SO much for the comments on my last post. I have been so emotionally drained from that post that I could barely think about this blog. It made my stomach hurt and my heart hurt... knowing that almost everyone who commented has gone through something similar - it's a powerful thing.
And also, a really sad thing.
Rationally, I know that there are all different kinds of men out there. Kind men, strong men, funny men, macho men, and on and on and on. What is it about women, about US and OUR FRIENDS that draws us to the weak men. The men who make us/them feel less than. The ones that only dull our strength and beauty.
Ahhh, I'm done. I could go on and on but then I would die from self-inflicted navel-gazing.
I've just never been in a "fight" with a friend before, especially not one that I instigated.
(Actually, that's not true. I actually started this blog in a "fight" wit my college friends... it blew over eventually, but I was completely shattered at the time. Funny how I had forgotten that completely, 4 years later.)
I can't even finish this post today. Too many emotions and too much PMS.
And I ate all the Salt & Vinegar chips at work yesterday and have to leave a few minutes early for work if I need to replenish them.
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In other heart news, sweet Cohen went to heaven two years ago today.
I will be thinking of him. Happy, healthy, whole. In Heaven.
Monday's a good day for a nice cry, right? That means I'll be all emotionally clear and bright for the rest of the week? Yeah, good plan.
I Bunted. No Kidding.
So, if you had asked me 6 months ago what "bunting" is... I would have told you that I make an excellent bundt cake. (Side note: why does my computer not recognize "bundt" as a word?)
So, naturally, bunting is the act of eating some really delicious bundt cake. Or not, whatever. You people and your grasp of the English language, whatever.
Anyway, someone told me what bunting is. Those cute little flag banners that wave in the breeze and make everything look homespun but also very chic.
Image from 8balloons.com
So, a couple of weeks ago, when talking to my co-worker about a bridal shower, I decided I needed to conquer the bunting beast.
The original ideas I saw all involved burlap. Side note: Hobby Lobby doesn't sell burlap. At least not in the fabric department, and I couldn't find it and I was quite distressed.
So I got some cheap canvas instead.... and it worked perfectly.
First order of business: find a bunting template on the internet, print, and cut the fabric. I can't find the one I used any more, of course. 
Then I freaked that the canvas was too light and neat looking. Panic panic panic.
And then I remembered tea-staining. Make a couple gallons of piping hot tea on the stove, dump my little pennants inside, and wait. The original color is on the right, final color in the middle. BAM.
It took forever for them to dry because it was freezing out that day... so I ended up ironing them dry. It helped to have a nice, pressed surface in the end when I did the painting, so it all worked out. 
I used some cheap, black acrylic paint that was gathering dust in my closet and stenciled the letters onto the pennants. I broke down and bought stencils at Hobby Lobby... they ended up being the most expensive thing about the project, probably $8-9 before the coupon.
The Bride's New Last Name
I used a hot glue gun to attach the pennants to the string, but ended up making it so the letters aren't stationary - you can move them to the left and right.
I figured she might be able to reuse it someday, or even for the wedding, so I wanted it to be as easy to modify as possible.
I'm really pleased with how it turned out, and everyone was asking about it at the shower.
It's been a loong time since I flexed an even semi-crafty muscle. It felt good, real good.
So, bunting. No longer the act of eating bundt cake. Sad day, really.
23 Haziran 2012 Cumartesi
Seven Reasons I Want To Go To Alaska
It marks the first day of the raising of the US Flag at Sitka. In case you were wondering...
As I told you about with my post on Washington DC, I have been bitten by the travel bug. I know that post was just a couple days ago, but I have another one about Alaska for you today.
This is my wallet friendly version of pacifying the travel bug and its working for me. Is it working for you?Seven Reasons I Wanna Go To Alaska
- Glaciers. I have seen them on television and in photographs but I really cannot fathom how big they actually are. That being said, those photos and videos are incredibly beautiful and amazing and I can only imagine how great they are in person.
- Native Culture. Eskimos, igloos, dog sleds, and so on. I want to learn more about it and see it and understand it. Are there real igloos there? I want to see one.
- Scenery and Nature. Its a huge state with not a lot of people in it. There are acres and acres of untouched nature beauty. I think its beautiful. I'm not a crazy hiker or nature enthusiast but there are some things you must see. Like a Moose.
- Northern Lights. I just really need to see this. Something within me really wants to see this. I can't explain it. March or September 22nd, I will be there to see them.
- Lack of Sun. I know there are parts of Alaska where you have less than 2 hours of sunlight a day. I find that to be incredibly fascinating and I want to experience that.
- Fishing. Not a fan of seafood or fishing really. However, I think it is very important to the culture and I would ride along just to experience some sort of outing. Wouldn't that be fun?
- Alaska. I just want to see it all! I want to see Alaska and research the best of the best to see and do there. I want to eat my way through the state too, but I cannot figure out what a signature Alaskan item is?
I want to go to there.
Movie Quotes: Adam
Things that move apart faster than light can ever see one another
because the light from one never catches to the other.
- Adam
Someday everything you'll see here will disappear forever,
and eventually the night sky will be almost completely dark.
- Adam
I talk too much when I get excited.
- Adam
Adam: This is very good smelling tea.
Beth: English breakfast.
My father calls it, "coffee without the bad breathe."
Beth: I'm sure the right thing will come along.
Adam: How can you be sure of that?
Beth: I mean, I hope the right thing comes along.
There's a saying in my family,
"it's never too early to drink the champagne."
- Beth
In most interview situations the greeting is done in the standing position.
Simple greeting: Hello, nice to meet you.
Basic greeting: Hello, my name is Jason, nice to meet you.
Involved greeting: Hello, you must be Mrs. Austin,
my name is Jason, nice to meet you.
Make it a goal of your interview,
to mention each of your strengths,
at least once.
Eye contact.
One way to get around for eye contact dilemma
is to have the candidate look at the interviewer's forehead.
Practice is needed however because it will still require
an effort to remember a look at a forehead.
At your last job..
how much of the work did you performed independently?
How much is a team?
- Adam, narrator
Liars is all you gonna went across in this world.
A man who got to learn the difference between
just plain liars, and liars, worth lovin'.
- Harlan
Harlan, if you call that girl,
couldn't you stop cursing yourself for a stubborn old fool
even if you still have to be old?
- Adam
Movie Quotes: Table For Three
Don't go falling for the first girl that comes along though.
I know how you get all those
hopeless romantic sh*t,
will get you nothing but trouble.
- Tre
Leslie: What are you doin' tomorrow?
Scott: Something with you, I hope.
Leslie: Wow! You weren't play hard to get, don't you?
Scott: Hey, who's side are you guys anyway?
Bartender: Right now?!
Scott: Don't answer that until you hear the rest.
Just because you've done something for a long time,
doesn't mean you're doin' it well.
- Scott
We can't play it safe all the time.
- Scott
A wise man once said to me,
love is all about takin' chances,
even if it hurts.
- Mary
Movie Quotes: Radio Rebel
This is radio rebel live from the underground.
You don't know who am I,
but I know who are you,
because I'm one of you.
Report cards came out today
I got a minus in participation,
but you can't give me minus for who I am.
So, turns grade to bring handed out
I think will give all of us
A looking may high,
and F for labeling each other.
Jocks, outcasts, dorks,
teen leads, and their fellow pops
and newborn pops.
Guys these are all labels
none or we really are.
Once upon a time being
different was a good thing.
Not that's different that just abide us
You deserved to embrace your ozyness
Stand up for who you are.
Project a status-quo, I dare you.
- Tara
Tara: I just wish I could talk to everyone the way I talk to you.
Guess that's why you're my bff.
Audrey: BFF TLE WE - Best Friends For Totally Like Ever Without Exception.
Tara: Catchy!
Listen. Focus.
Eye of the tiger.
Don't stop believin'.
We are the champions.
- Gabe
Tara's step-dad: We've so much in common, you know?
Tara: Yeah, like we're both super busy.
Oh, honey, you have to take risks.
Like I always touch shore trouse
was a bad color for me, then I tried,
and now it's my trademark.
How do you know something isn't taboo
if you never try it, right?
- Tara's mom
I thought you were just as little shy thing
but you are all kinds of amazing.
You are fierce!
- DJ Cami Q
Wow, I can't believed she's you,
I've.. you're her.
- Audrey
There's a fine line
between pain and constipation.
- Stacy
Music is the soundtrack to our lives.
It's, it's where we've been,
and where we're going,
and everywhere in between.
Our music is who we are.
We're you just let anyone to snatch it away from us?
Or we gonna change the game?
Here's a new song about.. a trying things
you never thought you could.
- Tara
People are hearing me,
but they're not hearing me.
That sounded crazy didn't it?
- Gavin
Audrey: This is your time to shine.
Tara: But I don't wanna shine
shining isn't really make thing.
Audrey: As your BFF TLE WE,
I'm legally obligated to make sure you do the show.
Even if I have to drag there.
I'm afraid to show people the real me!
- Tara
Because you inspire them.
You standing up for your beliefs that's all I care about.
- Tara's mom
I try to remember, I'm not as alone as I feel.
- Gavin
Movie Quotes: A Thousand Words
My name is Jack McCall. If you can hear me but you listening to is not the sound of my voice.
It's the sound of my inner voice, the one inside my head.
I'd like to talk to you.. but I can't.
Because if I say just one more sentence out loud, I'm die.
- Jack McCall
Co-worker: What's his actual philosophy?
Jack: In quite there is truth.. some shit like that,
something like that.
Breath in and release.
Quite your mind, until there are no thoughts.
Then, you can see your true nature.
Your face before your parents were born.
- Dr. Sinja
It's okay, our truth can be painful.
Pain is the touchstone of goal.
It's okay, laugh, cry, to close causes
just to let it out.
- Dr. Sinja
We all create our own destiny, Jack.
- Dr. Sinja
Remember, our words have a profound riffling effect on the entire universe.
- Dr. Sinja
Movin' is a huge change.
- Jack
Sorry.
It's quite amazing,
how many thoughtless words one can speak?
Don't you think?
- Dr. Sinja
You need to find peace.
- Dr. Sinja
You need to find the truth about yourself.
It's quite simple Jack.
You need to get quiet, not just with your mouth, with your mind.
And in that quiet you will hear the truth.
You do have any other unresolved relationships in your life.
- Dr. Sinja
Make peace, show them that you love them, and be truthful.
- Dr. Sinja
21 Haziran 2012 Perşembe
Seven Channel Surfing Adventures
You know when you are home alone and watching tv? Its fun, 'cause like you can watch whatever you want and try new shows out with no guilt. Not that I care what other people think of my television viewing habits, but you know how it goes.
I have been trying on several new shows, some good and some I wish I had never seen. Let's discuss.
Seven Channel Surfing Adventures
- American Hoggers(A&E) - I watched this out of pure curiosity. I will never watch it again. It is exactly what it sounds like. A family of hoggers. Its real redneck, and I try to surpress that side of my genealogy. Don't waste your time like I did.
- Suburgatory(ABC) - A new show this season and I honestly love it. A cute concept, funny characters and lovable leads. Watch it!
- Kardashian Whatever(E!) -I'm sorry. It has happened and I will do my best to not let it happen again. Please forgive me.
- Gayle King Show(OWN) - This never should have been allowed. Oprah's bff is not so great. This show needs to stop. And quick. Again, sorry I wasted time.
- Whitney(NBC) - An often foul comic writes a self titled sitcom loosely based on her own life? Sounds like a bad plan. I watched it anyways. Guess what, I like it. She is more dimensional than she seems and she is incredibly awkward which speaks to me.
- Storage Wars(A&E) - I hate storage units. I hate the idea(mostly). They have a few uses that make sense but mostly its a waste of money and space. This show is about auctions of storage units that are abandoned, forgotten, or not paid for. Its fascinating what people stick in storage units and then abandon. A guilty pleasure that I will not apologize for.
- Oddities(SCI) - A very strange show, odd even, and yet its impossible to turn off. A bizarre couple run an even more bizarre store full of the most bizarre items ever in the history of the world. It comes on after my favorite show(How Its Made) sometimes and I just can't turn it off! Strange and yet not for the faint of heart.
Seven Excellent Concerts
Do you like concerts?
I do. I've been to a few concerts in my day.
Not as many as I wish, thanks to the ridiculous prices of tickets these days. I do splurge every once in a while and am always scouring the web for bargains or deals. What's up with 50$ tickets?
Also at the most recent concerts I have been to, 75% of people had their phone out. 25% were texting, and the rest were taking videos and photos. You can't just enjoy a concert in the moment? You have to watch it through your camera screen or maybe miss a special look because you were texting. Its distracting for me to see so many people with their glowing phones out.
Despite that, I have seen some really great concerts and look forward to seeing more. Here is a quick look at 7 of them.
Seven Excellent Concerts I've Attended
- Kiss. Fire, Rock, Fire, and more Rock. This is what this concert meant to me. My family and I all went to this together in Tucson. An excellent concert all around and the pyrotechnics were amazing! I remember when one of them flew above the audience on some sort of rig and thought that was the coolest thing ever, until I saw Gene Simmons blow fire. Then they did "Beth" and I saw hundreds of people holding their lighters up. Real life. It was fantastic!
- Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and those other guys. This was my first concert I ever attended solo. Oct 2005, Mesa Amphitheater. It was an awesome show. I went for Fall Out Boy and learned of panic and was an instant fan. To attend alone, it was quite a step for me as the lone wolf I like to be. Also Fall Out Boy was a really great live act! I also met the Panic! guys behind the venue at their bus cause I was wandering around lost looking for where I parked my car.
- Dwight Yokham. A favorite of my dad's, my family and I came to see this show a long while back at one of the amphitheaters here in Phoenix. I am familiar with his music and acting but this concert experience was definitely an eye opener to me. People were drinking beer *gasp* and smoking *YIKES* and making out all over the place. The music and performance was really great, but not what I took away from this concert.
- Motion City Soundtrack, Ok Go, and those other guys. This was during my college year. I treated myself and my three friends to this show and we had a really good time. It was at the Marquee Theater in Tempe and remains my only general admission standing room only style concert. It was four bands, but I only remember two of them. We went to see Motion City and discovered OK Go at this time. I love concerts where I discover new favorites.
- John Mayer and Maroon 5. Saw this when I was in high school with Agent Z herself. Was really unfamiliar with Maroon 5 at the time and really enjoyed this unknown band and have been a fan ever since. Then Mr. Mayer came on, and this was around the time Heavier Things came out when he was that cool sexy singer songwriter with that song about my body being a wonderland. It was a wonderful show, and remains one of my favorite concert shirts ever.
- The Band Perry. Just this week I saw this cute country family band at the AZ State Fair. Two brothers and their sister sure know how to put on a show. The brothers should really consider wearing pants that are less tight though, in this girl's opinion. The sister is also really pretty and can play guitar and sing live! A win. Get into this band, it will be worth your time.
- MC Hammer. Now, I do not remember this concert at all. I am told I went with my parents and that I was a big MC Hammer fan when I was young. I do remember my favorite pajama shirt of many years, and that was my concert shirt from this show. I wonder if my parents still have that in a box someplace...