I love Facebook/Myspace

sometimes...

I just connected with an old friend from childhood/high school. This probably would not have been possible but for Facebook. Peyton and Ashley, it's someone you know, too :)

That Oprah

There seems to be some sort of Oprah backlash these days. I guess it is just one more thing for conservatives (sorry to generalize) to pick on and use as an example of how the evil liberals are taking over the world. What.Ever. I really don't have too much beef with someone who donates millions to charity every year, gets people to read books, and general attempts to put a positive message out there. I guess some people think she has too much influence. Well, I consider myself a person that thinks for myself and I am not going to do something just because Oprah told me to. Anyhoo, this post has diverted from my original intent...

I was watching the show today and she followed up about a show she did about puppy mills. I swear nothing is more sad than poor little dogs who have been mistreated. It makes me so mad when people abuse animals. They are so trusting and have no idea what is going on and I can only imagine the confusion and betrayal (even if people don't think they can feel betrayal). I guess the point of this post is just that half the time I watch the show I end up crying. I'm such a sap.

It should be a holiday

Ah, Talladega weekend in Alabama. Love it, love it, love it. For all you skeptics out there...you just don't get it and, perhaps, never will. That's okay because it is something that provides me with true pleasure. I love sitting on my couch being able to watch the race, read the Sunday paper, clip coupons, talk on the phone, and blog. That's how I watch a race. It's a long haul to the end so you gotta be prepared with food and alternative entertainment (i.e. beer and a nap) for the inevitable caution flags.

P.S. I know it's sad, but if you remember this post then you can appreciate how this made me feel. I got hit on last night. Twice. It was just a nice affirmation that I am not the lease appealing person in the world, there might actually be two or three less appealing people...I kid, I kid. No really, it was just nice.

It was a good week

As I am a superstitious person (when it comes to acknowledging good things) I am a bit hesitant to admit that I had a great week. As you know, I had my "snow day" on Monday, went to work on Tuesday, went to a conference on Wednesday and Thursday and then went to work Friday. All in all, it was an easy week and I know that next week will be harder, but it was nice to just a have a week to coast.

Currently, I am reading The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs for my book club. I'm a little over halfway through the book and I think it's my favorite so far. I would recommend it to the ladies out there.

I've been giving more thought to the writing idea and I think I might pursue the idea of writing about working in a library. I think I will use some of my own experiences and expand on it from there. No worries, I don't plan on "dooce-ing" myself.

So that's it in a nutshell.

A whisper turning into something louder

I have been feeling the urge to write. I haven't really said anything about it on here because I'm not sure what I want to write. Perhaps short stories, ala David Sedaris? Something scholarly to get published in a journal (in this case it would be something I wrote when I was finishing up my Masters in History and get it polished for formal pub)? I don't even know where to start. I write periodically on here, but nothing very disciplined. I've thought about setting up a work area in my apartment, but I'm not sure I would want to stay secluded somewhere away from a t.v., which is what I would have to do. I went to an author's luncheon for work today and was really inspired by a couple of the speakers. I feel like I am being sent a message from my environment. I know that sounds a little "Oprah-y" but it's really how it seems.

Snow Day in April!!!!!!!!

Not really, but there was a water main break so my boss closed the library. Yay!!

It was shaping up to be quite the productive day as I went to the gym this morning and did a good 45 min on the arc trainer and precor and then I took a shower and had a salad. Now with the work news I am thinking about seeing a movie. Hmmm what to see? I just saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall last night (run don't walk, btw) so I'm not sure what I would go see. I'm kind of feeling the idea of a nap though. Hmmmm, must think, think, think.

I recommend the book...

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist...

Here's a link to the www.amazon.com page.

Next up on my teen reading extravaganza...Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

P.S. Nick and Norah is being released as a movie on Oct. 3rd (my bday - a coincidence? I think not)

Last one for the week...

Today's question is once again inspired by my boring endless workday...

"When I am bored at work and want to goof off, I..."

It pretty much starts when I get to work and I check www.cnn.com before I check my email. I review the stories that seem interesting. I return to good ole' CNN at least 3 or 4 times a day and work my way through the stories that go from very interesting to just something to read. I am also constantly on www.amazon.com - my favorite thing to do is read the reviews that people have written about books I have already read. I like to see what other people think, particularly the 5 star and 1 star reviews. I'm weird, so what?

Thanks for participating in theme week. I believe I'll try it again in the somewhat near future.

Okay, so there's not really a theme to theme week...

"The last book (or magazine in certain people's cases) I read was___________ by _____________. I thought the book was __________. It was about _____________"


So, the last book I read was one that I finished last night. It was Now You See Her by Jacquelyn Mitchard. It was annoying, but okay. It was about a teenage girl who fakes her own disappearance. The book seems to try and explain why she would do something so extreme and then you find out that things are not what they seem. Ooooh, a twist!

Enjoy

New Question

This is something I thought about today as I gazed longingly out the window of a back office at work. Not that college was great all the time, but there were definitely some awesome perks...

"what is something that you took for granted while you were in college?"

I took for granted the ability to have maybe two classes a day and spending the rest of my time doing what I wanted. Being able to hang out on the quad during the middle of the day and enjoying a beautiful day outside. Oh the life!

P.S. if you didn't go to college then you could just answer it from the point of view of something you took for granted when you were younger.

Blast from the past: theme week

If you've read ye ole' blog since or around its inception, I used to be much more interprising and creative. I used to have theme weeks. So I've decided for sh*ts and giggles to try it out again. Usually, I give a little notice, but oh well here goes...if you have anything to contribute feel free...

"Today at work I did something you didn't do"

I cleaned out a hamster cage while listening to my ipod which is loaded with 80s, hardcore rap, and electronica.

what about you...?

Things that make you go hmmm.

I am currently watching Georgia Rule (starring Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman, and Jane Fonda). Although Lindsay's career has been in the crapper for quite some time, this movie is not exactly what I was expecting. There's quite a bit more of sex and innuendo than I expected. So my basic assessment is that it might just be worth watching...

PSA: Nickelback

Why are they always on the radio? Why are their songs always someone's ringtone? WHY?? Why, sweet Jesus, Why?

Okay, for those of you who don't already know...they suck hardcore. Seriously, almost all of their songs sound the same and it just drives me crazy. I want you to let them go. If you are an "out and proud" or "closeted" Nickelback fan - relinquish them. Find a real band. Please.

And for all that is holy, make it stop playing on the radio all the f*cking time.

The Unplanned Pregnancy Marathon

Tonight I watched August Rush and Waitress. Both of these movies star Keri Russell. Both of these movies involve Keri Russell's character getting pregnant unexpectedly. In terms of movie reviews, I would give August Rush 3.5 stars. Waitress gets 4 stars. There are several caveats:

August Rush is a strange movie. There's a lot of "feeling the music" and "hoping they will come." In the Field of Dreams kind of way. The ending alone bumps the movie up at least a star.

Waitress should not be judged by the terrible Southern accents. If you try to ignore them then you will be able to enjoy the story.

The t.v. in my life

I haven't sung the praises of my current favorite programs...here's a rundown of what we be watchin' at the G-Unit Mansion:

Sundays:
Rock of Love II

Mondays:
Big Bang Theory
How I Met Your Mother
The Hills

Tuesdays:
Life of Ryan
Rob & Big
The Real Housewives of New York City

Wednesdays:
Various Mtv Programming
Top Chef Chicago

Thursdays:
I watch Eli Stone
and that new Vh1 show with Danny Bonaduce with potential child stars

Friday:
I love me some 20/20

Saturdays:
48 Hours Mystery

4 years

Usually, I just refer back to this post on this date.

http://youarehere1.blogspot.com/2006/04/2-years.html
for some reason it won't link)

peace

Mama Like

A little something to brighten your weekend. I was just watching the tail end of Just Friends. If you haven't seen this movie then you should. It is one of those movies that was probably in the theaters for five minutes, but it's really funny. It stars Ryan Reynolds (part of the reason for the picture above - right), Amy Smart, and Chris Klein. I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Helpful advice

Although I am not a parent, I am able to spot the behavior that parents display that will get their children's asses kicked at school. (I truly saw this earlier this week - the child was 7)

-cutting up said child's chicken NUGGETS into the tiniest pieces possible and unpacking his lunch for him and placing everything just so and explaining what everything is even though it is only chicken and doritos.
-holding a cup to the child's mouth so that he can drink despite the fact that there were no discernible reasons why the child's own arms would not support the slight weight of a paper cup. You might as well regress back to a sippy cup and a bib.
-cutting HIS hair in a pageboy style home haircut (like the picture above, but with shorter bangs - I sh*t you not)

This child is in for a lifetime of wedgies and swirlies and any other torture that kids can come up with these days. It won't be pretty.

Another one of those posts that I should delete

Why should I delete it? Partly because some of what I am going to allude to involves people who read this blog periodically. Oh well. I have felt this one brewing for a while, but I didn't really know how to express it or even if I wanted to.

I'm lonely. I am lacking in human contact. I have friends and I see them pretty frequently, but I don't have a person to share things with. This has come more to a head because it seems like Noah's Ark around here (two by two if you get the analogy) and I'm left out. Sometimes I withdraw myself from these friends because I don't want to be the third wheel. I don't want them to think that I am so sad and pathetic that I will have nothing else to do. I think I might be overly sensitive and they probably don't feel that way, but I would hate for them to ever feel this way. It was just be unbearable humiliating. I guess it just makes me sad that I am missing out on an important part of life. Unfortunately, I really don't know how to remedy this. There is a part of me (a pretty big part) that figures that there is just something inherently wrong with me and that is the reason I am destined to be alone. I know this sounds melodramatic, but it really is how I feel.

Sad, but true: someone told me I was gorgeous this weekend and I had to ask who he was talking to even though the only other person around was Roach. Boy, if that doesn't put my state of mind in perspective nothing will.

second verse, same as the first

Everyday is the same. I go to work, figure up what I will do, finish my project and wait for an acceptable time to go home. Blah, Blah, Blah.

As I type this, there is a contact lens commercial on. Let me set the scene: Guys playing football. Guy with glasses fumbles. Hot guy friend asks him to ditch the contact lenses. Next scene...former guy with glasses sitting quite cozily on couch with his glasses hating friend. All is right with the world. No more glasses. Awesome football player.

What if life was like that commercial? There I am having a bad day and one of my friends comes up and tells me that I need to wear different sunglasses and life will be alright. Pan to me looking gloriously happy with new shades.

I guess I want to live in a commercial.