tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25976812204918822542024-03-05T17:27:33.498-06:0030 Before 30Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-53806740576543270892012-09-14T11:15:00.000-05:002012-09-14T11:15:08.785-05:00Fall head over heels in love? Yes sir, I have done it! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'd like to think that falling in love would knock me off my feet. That it would be this force that slams into me, shakes me to my core, and leaves me feeling breathless. In my imagination it would be instantaneous; I'd see something, take it in, and fall. There wouldn't be any teetering on the edge, no sticking my toe in to test it out, no pacing in front of it making sure it's what I want. I would jump, all in, all at once. No hesitation.<br />
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So how come that isn't how I've fallen in love?<br />
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We all think of "falling in love" as being with another person. That boy in 6th period English class. The woman who fixes her coffee at exactly 8:05 am every morning. The man who smiles at you from across the library. These are the "things" we want to fall in love with, what we imagine falling in love with. No one daydreams about the day they'll fall in love with cheese straws or that cute little dress that's 30% off at Macy's. No, we sit around daydreaming about the day we'll fall in love with the person we're meant to be with the rest of our lives.<br />
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But that's not the only time we do fall. Sometimes we do fall in love with cheese straws. And honestly, that's the instantaneous love my imagination runs wild with.<br />
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When I've fallen in love with someone - and trust me, it hasn't really happened like I'd hoped - it's been slow. It may have started off as lukewarm attraction and slowly built into affection before turning into a glimmer of love. As someone who has had many, many experiences with falling (hey, I'm a clumsy girl), falling in love was not a normal fall. Falls are normally over quickly. Fall, bam, ouch. That's a fall. Falling in love is more like Alice falling through the rabbit hole. It goes on and on and on and before long you sigh and think "is there even a bottom to this?"<br />
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I digress. This isn't about simply falling in love. This is about falling head over heels in love. The fall, bam, ouch falling. The kind that takes your breath away and makes you instantly know you're in love. But mostly, this is about me falling head over heels in love. <br />
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I have a confession to make: I... am a book blogger. Yes, friends, I am one of those people who blogs and blogs and blogs about books. But not just any books. Young Adult books. Now, before you throw stones and remind me that I'm nearly 30 and how sad is it that I'm reading books written for 16 year olds, lemme explain. No. There is no time. Let me sum up. I love these books.<br />
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The summer I graduated from grad school I discovered the Twilight series. If you haven't read this series, let me just point out that it's like a gateway drug to the Young Adult demographic in the literary world. After I finished them, and reread them (twice), I wanted more. I wanted to feel that first rush of love all over again. I was tired of being a twenty-something who was struggling with money and boys and life and quite honestly, I was tired of reading about it.<br />
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Cut to November 2011. I had been following a couple Young Adult book blogs and finally thought "You know what? I can do this. I want to do this!" Thus, The Grown-Up YA was born. That is my blog. You're welcome to check it out, but don't stop reading this to do so.<br />
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I'm sure by now you're probably scratching your head and thinking "Okay, Candice, are you trying to tell me you fell head over heels with a blog? Really?" No, that's not what I'm trying to tell you. What I'm trying to tell you is that I fell head over heels with the book community. If you've never experienced ANY of it, you are sadly missing out my friend. And if you have, well it's just great, isn't it? <br />
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This community is made up of lovely, lovely people. People who come from all walks of life, have all kinds of personalities, have different backgrounds, education, families, lives. And somehow, they all work. You'd think this huge of a melting pot would be full of drama, backstabbing, insults, slurs. Kind of like a presidential race (oooh, burn!). But let me be the first to tell you this: it most certainly is not.<br />
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This community is made up of lovely, lovely people. I felt that line needed to be repeated. Yes, it's made up of us bloggers, but also the authors, the publishers, editors, marketers. We all work together not because we like the money or the recognition (and lemme tell you: as a blogger, there's rarely either of those) but because we have a common love of books and the written word.<br />
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In the year I've been a part of this community I have of course had some crazy ups and downs, but overall, it has mostly been ups. I've made some excellent friends and some even better memories. I've discovered a passion I never knew existed for something that I've always enjoyed. I've learned to be a better listener, a more astute reader, to pay attention to the details and not be afraid to state my opinion (no matter what it is!). I've realized it is possible to disagree and debate in a classy manner without losing respect for others and my temper. But mostly I've seen how there are still people out there who genuinely love. Love to read, love to share, and love to pass on the legacy of books to our future generations. <br />
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So yes, I have fallen head over heels in love. Not with the man who is sure to rock my world but with a community I am so happy to be a part of. I have fallen head over heels in love with the book community and I am certain our love affair, no matter what roles we continue to play in each others' lives, is sure to last all the rest of my days. </div>
Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-73608082881220951012012-08-16T14:30:00.001-05:002012-08-16T14:30:36.365-05:00“I wonder how you say goodbye to someone forever?” - Ann M. Martin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I posted this on my other blog earlier today, but wanted to have it here just <strike>for giggles</strike> because.<br />
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<h2 class="entry-title">
Let’s get a little personal, friends</h2>
My blog is clearly about books, and I honestly try to keep personal
blog type stuff off of my blog, but today I really feel led to talk a
little about what’s been going on lately and about my uncle, who I think
had a real book-worthy life.<br />
<br />
I mentioned on Twitter yesterday that I’ve been out of town the past
several days due to a death in the family. Long story short, my uncle
was the victim of a shooting at a bar. A man was kicked out, became
angry and retrieved a gun from his car, then returned to the bar to
shoot the bouncer, an employee, and my uncle. Someone asked me earlier
today if my uncle was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I like
to believe he was in the right place at the right time. He was shot when
he stepped in front of another employee as the shooter was pointing the
gun at her. Because of my uncle, she is alive.<br />
<br />
All weekend I met my uncle’s friends. I use the term “friends” here
loosely, because these people were much more than friends. They were his
family. I heard stories of how amazing my uncle was, how he was the
type of person who would give you the shirt off his back and his last
dollar (and he really would), how he was such a giving, kind, wonderful
person. These weren’t words from one or two close friends, but from
every. single. person. And I talked to A LOT.<br />
<br />
But I knew this of my uncle. I knew his giving and caring nature. And
while I think these things of him, what I really remember him for is
how COOL of a person he was. I remember him for all the things he did
with his life. In the early 70s my uncle began his adventures. Someone
asked him “Hey, do you want to do this?” and he replied “Yes.” Not a
moment’s hesitation, he just jumped at the chance. That adventurous,
brave, courageous spirit took him all the way to Saudi Arabia where he
worked in various medical positions. He eventually started working for
the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. The freakin Crown Prince, y’all! Who
is now THE KING. A friend of my uncle’s made the comment “Do you think
the king knows about his death? Someone should probably contact him to
let him know what happened.” How many people can ask that question when a
family member dies? I mean, c’mon…<br />
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As we were going through my uncle’s stuff over the weekend, it really
hit me just how many amazing experience he’s had. Pictures from all
over the world, trinkets and souvenirs from every place you can think
of. He had visited all the places I sit around and day dream of. He had
met so many people and done so many things, all I could ever do when he
talked about it was sit in awe. He had a life few can even dare to
imagine and even fewer will experience.<br />
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<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_1974" style="width: 255px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thegrownupya.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/photo11.jpg" target="_parent"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1974" height="300" src="http://thegrownupya.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/photo11-e1345141297358.jpg?w=245&h=300" title="Rocky" width="245" /></a></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
My uncle with his daughter Fedwa</div>
</div>
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There’s something we can learn from every death, no matter how
tragic, and that’s to look at the legacy that person left. My uncle left
one that tells me to be adventurous. To look change in the eye and face
it head on. To take chances, to live fully, to be courageous and stand
up for what is right, good, and true.<br />
His best friend, who has been like a brother to my uncle for nearly
50 years, spoke at his funeral and said something that has stuck with me
these past few days. He said “He lived. Boy, did he live.”<br />
<br />
I’m ready, Uncle Rocky. I’m ready to live.<br />
</div>
Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-65369315762118564772012-06-04T12:43:00.001-05:002012-06-04T12:43:57.546-05:00Where I'm at on the list<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We're nearing the 7 month mark of my countdown to my 30th birthday. Let's see where I am with my 30 Things to do before I'm 30 list:<br />
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1) Get my diplomas framed.<br />2) Go to Harry Potter World <br />3) <strike>Fall head-over-heels in love with something </strike><br />4)
<strike>Visit NYC and take my picture in front of Tiffany's wearing sunglassese
and eating a Danish (or a cranberry muffin from Au Bon Pain) </strike><br />5) <strike>See Wicked or Rent.</strike><br />6) <strike>Write a book and work on getting it published </strike><br />7) Spend a shameful amount of money on something shamelessly<br />8) Travel to Greece (optional: Meet a handsome Greek man and have a vacation fling)<br />9)
Go to a Karaokee bar and sing something like "Girls Just Wanna Have
Fun" or "I Will Always Love You" <br />10) Read Gone with the Wind <br />11) Do something charitable<br />12) <strike>Join some type of club</strike><br />13) Own the following complete series - Scrubs, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls<br />14) Learn to speak/read Greek <br />15)
Meet a celebrity <br />16) Find a great recipe for a dish that I can
make and bring to parties/holiday gatherings/family events/etc. <br />17) Learn how to boil eggs <br />18) Be able to run a mile <br />19)
Buy bedroom furniture<br />20) Move/live somewhere outside of Alabama<br />21) Create a signature drink and name it something using my name... like a Canditini<br />22) Spend a day at the spa<br />23) Face a fear <br />24)
Get a boob job <br />25) Donate to my college's (HES) alumni fund and my sorority<br />26) Take a chance on someone and see where it leads<br />27) Work on improving my credit score <br />28) Take a really good picture of myself<br />29) Learn how to change a tire<br />30) Overcome my fear of commitment<br />
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Seriously? *face falls into hands in shame* I need to get on this. Like stat! </div>Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-20645079165180179972012-03-02T12:02:00.001-06:002012-03-02T12:02:38.904-06:00I can scratch Wicked off the list!Well, it's been two months since I last posted and come back to post and the entire blogging system is different. Not cool Blogger. Not cool.
Anyway, to the post!
One thing on my list of things to do before I'm 30 is to see Wicked. I can officially cross this one off my list. Hooray!
For those of you who don't know, Wicked is the story behind Oz, the story of the two witches - of the North and of the West - and their friendship and struggles as they grow. Oh. And there are songs.
For my 29th birthday my parents gave me tickets to go see Wicked, something I really really really REALLY wanted - my parents are awesome like that. I asked my sister to go with me because really, who else was going to put up with my ants-in-the-pants excitement and/or me potentially bursting into my rendition of "Defying Gravity?"
Naturally, like any event the Morris family is attending, we were running late. Tickets wouldn't print. Shoes couldn't be found. Hair refused to behave. But in the end, the two lovely Morris daughters emerged, clean and polished and wearing shoes, ready to pose for the cameras. Mom insisted we take pictures. I all too gladly gave her my camera.
After a brief car ride into Birmingham (and by brief I mean we flew down the interstate) we were finally there. My earlier accusations were quickly confirmed: people don't know how to dress for the theater. You don't wear jeans people. You just don't. We had our tickets swiped, grabbed our program, climbed to our seats and then settled in. All in what can only be described as Morris record time.
I cannot begin to describe how amazeballs it was to FINALLY get to see Wicked - but I'm going to try.
The theater is one of those amazing experiences that unfortunately I don't get to experience quite enough. However, I think I wouldn't want to go so often that the magic of it was lost on me. Wicked was beyond magical, from the sets to the costumes, to the choreography to the music. Everything shook me to the core and there were times when I got goosebumps just thinking about the fact that I was watching this show.
I'm so happy the fates aligned and brought Wicked to Birmingham. While I would have gladly traveled far, far away - like to Atlanta - to see it, there's nothing quite like being reunited with a familiar theater and asking it what wonders it's going to show you today.
I can also say that I did not treat anyone to my rendition of "Defying Gravity." I know you're disappointed.Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-85464723192806932482012-01-10T15:51:00.000-06:002012-01-10T15:51:50.392-06:00Birthday Week Celebration!!! MondayIn case you've been living under a rock, last night The University of Alabama won its FOURTEENTH National Championship!!! Thanks boys for my birthday present! <br />
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Okay, so MAYBE they didn't win it for me, but that doesn't diminish the fact that it's my birthday celebration week and this gives me just one more happy! Not only did we demolish LSU, we DEMOLISHED LSU! 21-Zereaux! <br />
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I should warn you, I hate LSU more than I hate cooked bell pepper, cancer and the Devil combined. So the fact that we not only beat them for the National Championship, we prevented them from scoring one single, solitary point. Which, come to think of it, is actually impossible in football unless kicking for the extra point, which would mean they had scored 6 points previously thereby eliminating the fact that we let them score a single point. But I digress. <br />
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Hey Tigers! We just beat the hell outta you! Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, give em hell Alabama!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZuB4diGeDUJMLbAsQn2ECtoO3vYRFtRV8LkYIAEdmph4XMvh9kt7sWvtZplWx4WbKZiKwURRIRaGK0HPX-2tMZKrrCEut7-Z3Vae4WrMN8FUZIstTk5BFddjfacJB7p-Ti4DrP9VNcc/s1600/cordog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="225" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZuB4diGeDUJMLbAsQn2ECtoO3vYRFtRV8LkYIAEdmph4XMvh9kt7sWvtZplWx4WbKZiKwURRIRaGK0HPX-2tMZKrrCEut7-Z3Vae4WrMN8FUZIstTk5BFddjfacJB7p-Ti4DrP9VNcc/s400/cordog.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Whew, got that out of my system. So that was Monday. Can't wait to see what Tuesday brings (although considering it's 3:50 in the afternoon, you'd think I'd know what Tuesday is bringing!)Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-29792292021273219522012-01-09T10:17:00.000-06:002012-01-09T10:17:12.838-06:00Birthday Week Celebration!!!! SundayIt's that time of year again: birthday time! This year is a special one. 29! Woot! Okay, so nothing is really THAT special about 29 except that it means there's only 364 days left until I'm no longer able to say I'm in my 20s. Which is a slightly scary yet satisfying feeling. <br />
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To kick off my last birthday of my 20s I've decided I'm going to celebrate all week. Why reserve only one day for celebrating I always say. Each day this week I plan on doing something fun for myself, whether buying a little happy, taking time to relax and get pampered or going to dinner with friends. <br />
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Sunday kicked off the celebration, which is now going to be called Birthdaython. While shaping up to be a dull and rainy day, magically got better once the rain stopped. After a trip to the library resulted in having to go buy AAA batteries for an audiobook (I feel insanely old using this. What is this new fangled whatchamacallit? How does it work? Argh the screen is too small!) I found a new wallet! Grown ups carry wallets and, since I am closing in on 30, it's high time I left my little keychain wallet thingy behind. Although this is only a new thing; I've been using wallets since college. <br />
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Moving on to more birthday fun: Later in the day my mom asked me to come into the living room and she handed me a card. Inside was a "coupon" for "reasonably priced" tickets to WICKED!!! She wanted me to go ahead and buy my tickets for whatever day I wanted. So that means in just over a month I will be crossing off something on my list AND seeing Wicked. I am wicked excited. <br />
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Sunday night also turned out to be a night of exciting premiers on TV, so I had a full night of happy shows. And, thanks to DVR, I didn't have to miss any of them or rush to fix dinner/take bath/do laundry in the 2 minute commercial breaks. Once Upon a Time, one of my new favorite shows, returned and it was just wonderful. I've missed it! Also... and this is huge... DOWNTON ABBEY IS BACK!!! Oh, the 2 hour season premier was wonderful. I cannot say enough, except Maggie Smith is my hero. <br />
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Finally, the best thing of the day - although everything else is pretty hard to top - is that... well I don't want to tell you because it's a secret. But let me just say... happy dance! <br />
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And so ends Sunday's Birthdaython. What will Monday bring? Stay tuned!Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-50964155866054824882011-12-13T12:23:00.000-06:002011-12-13T12:23:06.826-06:00Where I've been is where I wanted to goSo it's been 3 months since I last blogged here. What?! Yeah, I know. I've been busy! No excuse... I thought I should update what all I've been doing because I've kind of started wondering what the heck I've been doing the past 3 months!<br />
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<b>Football Season</b> - I know it's lame for me to say "Oh, well it's football season. Of course I've been busy!" Every football fan who's worth his salt says this. Of course, they're usually just fans who use that as an excuse. Me? I WORK during football season.* If it's a home game, I'm swamped with tailgating orders and coddling fans, not to mention I actually work on game day for 6+ hours feeding said fans (who are now hungry and drunk). If it's an away week, that doesn't mean we've got an off week. No, I'm getting ready for the next home game, catching up from all the work I DIDN'T get done on home game week... Let's also not forget we had the biggest game of the year (or decade in some people's opinions) here in town (LSU vs. UA for all you people who live outside the south (or under a rock)). Needless to say, football season wiped me out! <br />
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*Yes, I know you probably work too. Don't come after me with torches. <br />
<b>Babies, Babies, Babies!</b> - Okay, so two. And calm down. None of them were mine. One of my good friends had her baby in October which I was super psyched about! And then a few weeks ago my aunt had her baby, which I was also super psyched about! Although I've had many friends and acquaintances have babies, these were the first two friends (and relative) that have had babies and I've gotten to be a part of sharing in their excitement. <br />
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<b>New Ventures</b> - A while ago I decided I really wanted to start a website. I don't know why, I just did. Deep down I knew I wanted to start a book review site because I LOVE book review sites almost as much as I love books. So my want of a website broke two ways:<br />
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Cupcakes and Cover Letters - Still in the works, but super fun. A friend and I have always joked about starting a business that offers resume/cover letter advice and cupcakes. I thought it would be fun to at least have a website that offers that advice and talks about cupcakes, so we decided to go in together and create our site. It's still new and we're still working on it (we're both major busy) but I have no doubt it's gonna be great once we finally get our thinking caps on. <br />
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<a href="http://thegrownupya.wordpress.com/">The Grown Up YA</a> - This has become my baby over the past month. While C&C was fun, I really wanted my own site that I could devote to book reviews and such. And since I have a slightly sad obsession with Young Adult literature... it was a no brainer what my site should be about. It's been super fun working on it and connecting with others to make it a legit site. Now all I need is visitors... <br />
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<b>Getting Ready to Move</b> - Yes, you heard it right. I'm moving. AGAIN. Unfortunately it's nowhere fun. Just back to my parents'. Luckily this time it should only be for a short while. My lease was up and I hate my apartment complex so I decided not to renew and move home for a bit so I could look for something perfect rather than be rushed into another crappy apartment. Upside? 3 hours of driving a day means lots of books on tape!<br />
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<b>Netflix</b> - I hoped to teach those greedy so and so's a lesson by cancelling my membership when they price gouged their product. But then I really wanted to watch an episode of Scrubs and I rejoined. Don't judge. Since I renewed my membership I've been catching up on shows I missed seasons of (30 Rock, Parks and Recreation) and finding new shows to be obsessed with (Downton Abbey OMG so good!). I currently am geekily obsessed with Merlin. You're welcome SyFy. <br />
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<b>New Baby Kitty </b>- A couple months ago I went out one night to run an errand (ie go get ice cream) and saw a couple of cute kittens playing in the neighborhood. So when I came back they were still there and I wanted to play with them. Long story short, I ended up taking one home with me. What the what?! I have no clue what I was thinking but she has been so much fun that I'm glad I acted irrationally and randomly picked up a stray cat. Oh, and her name is Elliott. This is not weird, despite what the vet said. <br />
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<b>General Laziness</b> - Okay, none of these things listed above REALLY kept me from blogging as much as me being lazy did. <br />
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So now that I've started back on this blog I hope that I can be a regular blogger here. Blog.Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-18102561318025506382011-09-08T16:36:00.034-05:002011-09-09T15:28:35.768-05:00Fun & Fancy Free in Happy Valley!Well, football season is back and so far everything is rosy for the University of Alabama! Roll Tide! Of course... we've only played Kent State and that was a bust. 48-7. Roll Tide again!<br />
This weekend we go to Happy Valley and play the Penn State... well I'm not sure what they are. Panthers? Patriots? Amish? Who knows? <br />
Funny story about Penn State. When I was interning in Cuba (yes Cuba) this man came into my office and was asking me where I went to school. So I happily replied "I go to the University of Alabama." Because why wouldn't you say that happily? He gave me a funny look and told me to come closer. This sent off major red warning lights, but considering he was older and I was stupid, I moved closer. He was, actually, holding his hand up to show a large class ring. I immediately thought "Great, he went to Auburn. Time for a show down at the OK Corral" but decided to put on my Alabama classiness and smile politely at him. The ring, however, said "Penn State." Enter total confusion and more polite smiles. Apparently he was at Penn State in the late 70s and early 80s. For those of you who do not know your Alabama history, clearly as I did not back then, we beat Penn State in the 1979 National Championship. <br />
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This is the second time I will get to see Alabama take on the Penn State... what are they?! I should look this up. Anywho... as I mentioned earlier we will travel to Happy Valley, which reminds me of this Mickey Mouse cartoon that we had on video when I was little. <br />
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My dad was in the Marines before I was born and didn't get out until I was 3, so we moved quite a good bit. When I was 2 he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and, while there, my parents bought several bootlegged Disney movies for me to watch. One of them had Peter Pan, Dumbo and Mickey and the Beanstalk. And in between Dumbo and Mickey was this gem:<br />
<iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QrZvUlGJr30?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br />
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Back to Happy Valley. Mickey and the Beanstalk appeared on something called Fun and Fancy Free, which I believe was a video of this man telling a story to this little girl and these creepy puppets. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF2We032pEsUIhq6_3MISJ1TcIv50-5Dr3V74uH4rCMN3Ca9OQgsRVKesKBBuTCtceN2QIESqbLHWul4aie9_17EbBiIYtHOwvesgklsW9-AQ_9JmF6u4Xj308IzzqflQNv1YdY6PFNU/s1600/Fun_and_Fancey_Free_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF2We032pEsUIhq6_3MISJ1TcIv50-5Dr3V74uH4rCMN3Ca9OQgsRVKesKBBuTCtceN2QIESqbLHWul4aie9_17EbBiIYtHOwvesgklsW9-AQ_9JmF6u4Xj308IzzqflQNv1YdY6PFNU/s320/Fun_and_Fancey_Free_003.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I, however, am just now learning this as Juicy Fruit took over that part of our bootleg tape. <br />
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See, once upon a time, Happy Valley was beautiful, yada yada yada and there was this magic harp that sang. Then a giant stole the harp and the land became poor. We all know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, so just insert Mickey, Goofy and Donald into the story and it's about the same. <br />
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So of course hearing that Penn State was referred to as "Happy Valley" I immediately thought how funny it would be to use Mickey and the Beanstalk for my predictions for the game:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The day before the game the boys of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide are treated to a meal before flying out. While there is a delicious brunch prepared for them, unfortunately some of them will be on very strict diets so as not to weigh them down. <br />
</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBD4hodi6SylMaYWlKM0A5WukL9bBdXfU0WeYtEfgltFKRstuwObDKXKQcCZ2gfnvv1TxHYsGZhyphenhyphen81MnG3jjXXM7ggVsC36TXN35JhBvh_2rm7kTaguNyjhAyxcL-LyiocJ6WvEcnFZc/s1600/mickeyandthebeanstalk05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="234" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBD4hodi6SylMaYWlKM0A5WukL9bBdXfU0WeYtEfgltFKRstuwObDKXKQcCZ2gfnvv1TxHYsGZhyphenhyphen81MnG3jjXXM7ggVsC36TXN35JhBvh_2rm7kTaguNyjhAyxcL-LyiocJ6WvEcnFZc/s320/mickeyandthebeanstalk05.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>When the Crimson Tide boys get up to Happy Valley, they will be excited because for some of them this may be their first time to ever travel from the state of Alabama, much less so far north. <br />
</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyzJJ4V4Y5-lCrCIEXPr5ILHs-69xk8Az0SDSRLqEV73mCVRMJi1OFeHSq3HsRAx5VkH7ZEaysPgOL9lcGjRu09kF_t0Rx3baK76M8Pf7x5tsPVmNXw-DZfm_N8JveGsxQwFD4a-kA8A/s1600/mickeyandthebeanstalk06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="234" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyzJJ4V4Y5-lCrCIEXPr5ILHs-69xk8Az0SDSRLqEV73mCVRMJi1OFeHSq3HsRAx5VkH7ZEaysPgOL9lcGjRu09kF_t0Rx3baK76M8Pf7x5tsPVmNXw-DZfm_N8JveGsxQwFD4a-kA8A/s320/mickeyandthebeanstalk06.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>How pretty Happy Valley is! How lovely it is!</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhRStjyyQVfePu_-YtCI-35kTRFXN1J8M22W0Rx1G7Par1WTGnW19s04zqvtxUePuEMofGZKBLeRZYbCj4z_ypFS34jxr0oZ3z8YjH4PrIeC-8GcvSadY48e09i3QmOmGeMj35cUOHBk/s1600/1_975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="97" width="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhRStjyyQVfePu_-YtCI-35kTRFXN1J8M22W0Rx1G7Par1WTGnW19s04zqvtxUePuEMofGZKBLeRZYbCj4z_ypFS34jxr0oZ3z8YjH4PrIeC-8GcvSadY48e09i3QmOmGeMj35cUOHBk/s320/1_975.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<blockquote>But away games are no picnic. There's lots of hard work involved.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUxdK1nJXaqI7iNtgZn-twI9Hnju9qFIShli00zN8jg2B4Wgr-C9E7AZLFe6ilPHKQin38EtRmX4ZAZ2v_KXKHrYQxjJapN3uwa1akQj4vhfKjp3CCzbM1IkiPuXkzv2_p2o4BnKqna0/s1600/Beanstalk_LithoREsized2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUxdK1nJXaqI7iNtgZn-twI9Hnju9qFIShli00zN8jg2B4Wgr-C9E7AZLFe6ilPHKQin38EtRmX4ZAZ2v_KXKHrYQxjJapN3uwa1akQj4vhfKjp3CCzbM1IkiPuXkzv2_p2o4BnKqna0/s320/Beanstalk_LithoREsized2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>When it comes time for kick-off our boys will be ready! <br />
</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTUtIgdYsXaj6qnRu7gVZuwJ56BxvaYCe2BRLAaD4xcyQtaJv-a_EWN40hpdUsEtu1Orq0EGGr-DYMrNOJRy4HjD4ubvg816i8RVH02U1y0ie35f07166kSzz7SY83WgqmE5sNLs9Hik/s1600/matb8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="225" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTUtIgdYsXaj6qnRu7gVZuwJ56BxvaYCe2BRLAaD4xcyQtaJv-a_EWN40hpdUsEtu1Orq0EGGr-DYMrNOJRy4HjD4ubvg816i8RVH02U1y0ie35f07166kSzz7SY83WgqmE5sNLs9Hik/s320/matb8.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>Ahem... ready!</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKx0ru-UVyRkwq53Qtt54E9yqx6uoA2Z2Qx3sLbChbtkYEtr9ArYxakDU7IFG099wRCH04VF8cDe-wElxZ5nQY7bKwDcJr2UUl3nioB_66emPCJpVIANOdO26mnec1MDqIyhtUoODqGU/s1600/13514585_jpeg_preview_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="120" width="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKx0ru-UVyRkwq53Qtt54E9yqx6uoA2Z2Qx3sLbChbtkYEtr9ArYxakDU7IFG099wRCH04VF8cDe-wElxZ5nQY7bKwDcJr2UUl3nioB_66emPCJpVIANOdO26mnec1MDqIyhtUoODqGU/s400/13514585_jpeg_preview_medium.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>Roolllllllllllllllll Tide Roll!<br />
</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsElPVZQCcfW77AUjGpvlXp494p5FYS9JrGJMcjwAgErbLtNBbmn0aRuNnkG571DDIMqYhu5lB5Dzqom5NuLm34lx6l0ldmgckBi2p520l7eqyAIHZ7a-AzYuiE4xvi2aMsUWqhm7NwY/s1600/Lunana_PAtten_aspx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="120" width="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsElPVZQCcfW77AUjGpvlXp494p5FYS9JrGJMcjwAgErbLtNBbmn0aRuNnkG571DDIMqYhu5lB5Dzqom5NuLm34lx6l0ldmgckBi2p520l7eqyAIHZ7a-AzYuiE4xvi2aMsUWqhm7NwY/s400/Lunana_PAtten_aspx.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<blockquote>And they're off! McCarron throws the ball to someone who catches it... Okay, I haven't learned everyone's name this season yet</blockquote>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BcpQf1H2df1F0a3b_tw8imRWuGXJZe5iKPZic0K2a9zAgTB05-p55Exjku19-Og0AP4AA9VXk84-60FULCdiNOUOExnxR-M22sOeHWz2pm8w3gM9N8C5wAksl0yREYWJINIIASsMmdE/s1600/cork.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BcpQf1H2df1F0a3b_tw8imRWuGXJZe5iKPZic0K2a9zAgTB05-p55Exjku19-Og0AP4AA9VXk84-60FULCdiNOUOExnxR-M22sOeHWz2pm8w3gM9N8C5wAksl0yREYWJINIIASsMmdE/s320/cork.bmp" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Touchdown Alabama!</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsRStLlZLK49DDgpaZ_UfHn9ROQGPAG8MpTA9DCNL9ynYD7EPecEv4dNCMiYo1evlH7_nuEDG5KqxeNvVOPAkiOW_41Ov6OvSmrmKYOszNjl2rMJ4vO0ht73VFLOTEhGzBn6Mk7V90C0/s1600/magicsingingharp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsRStLlZLK49DDgpaZ_UfHn9ROQGPAG8MpTA9DCNL9ynYD7EPecEv4dNCMiYo1evlH7_nuEDG5KqxeNvVOPAkiOW_41Ov6OvSmrmKYOszNjl2rMJ4vO0ht73VFLOTEhGzBn6Mk7V90C0/s320/magicsingingharp.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>Penn State has the ball.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuQ3A6aTO3NS_kRhjWiJ0j1fejlCnVmFN_AUhCsRfM6N1gLmed3HWg6SJQ8WiK4iON60T5tlq9EFgYiEAmsMIIIKnKRjy_7mFMeVvOXEfqtFpJcyDxUCrABxxqI-54aZrTZZFpycYJa4/s1600/5557036_std.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="120" width="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuQ3A6aTO3NS_kRhjWiJ0j1fejlCnVmFN_AUhCsRfM6N1gLmed3HWg6SJQ8WiK4iON60T5tlq9EFgYiEAmsMIIIKnKRjy_7mFMeVvOXEfqtFpJcyDxUCrABxxqI-54aZrTZZFpycYJa4/s400/5557036_std.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>Sneak attack!</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivw63pqT35TiX3rhX8qEHu2yVhY_3vwSSUqvsG0kDHQzlgmCEWJR-TvTkf6AW6SraivyKqVOZX1XzDqP27Qowj3gLWRh076aqy9W_rj2bLOanmu6jO7Eff6ktje5FTxi60sxXdsv3ESis/s1600/Mickey-and-the-Beanstalk-mickey-mouse-11376283-300-219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="219" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivw63pqT35TiX3rhX8qEHu2yVhY_3vwSSUqvsG0kDHQzlgmCEWJR-TvTkf6AW6SraivyKqVOZX1XzDqP27Qowj3gLWRh076aqy9W_rj2bLOanmu6jO7Eff6ktje5FTxi60sxXdsv3ESis/s320/Mickey-and-the-Beanstalk-mickey-mouse-11376283-300-219.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Hightower tackles, fumble! <br />
</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWiLcJ77_fz5zIqzmlmf0R3NVpq__JFByIRyd8LUHqfwTeadGSgFPqM9K5cKme15aaeSpjSXlKSwtBUVIKsrqjn_Mirw7GhUUcLEoIzg13SdJXzcouNbLPUFIXbBLbFwJnOsCo1b9j_s/s1600/4278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="106" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWiLcJ77_fz5zIqzmlmf0R3NVpq__JFByIRyd8LUHqfwTeadGSgFPqM9K5cKme15aaeSpjSXlKSwtBUVIKsrqjn_Mirw7GhUUcLEoIzg13SdJXzcouNbLPUFIXbBLbFwJnOsCo1b9j_s/s320/4278.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>Recovered!</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnQyGmiAg6p_pePT6mWFxsNYEBRP3V74G196pZSHDKyjYnPecKhfzW86RvuLA3KnQTjhpjjmBKMKUNn1AhXIzaCD4eB8_ckOACPqvzfMmfGjQCreYoPJE243FEOkF8OomnuL0hGBGE2k/s1600/FFF_-_Mickey_w_Giant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnQyGmiAg6p_pePT6mWFxsNYEBRP3V74G196pZSHDKyjYnPecKhfzW86RvuLA3KnQTjhpjjmBKMKUNn1AhXIzaCD4eB8_ckOACPqvzfMmfGjQCreYoPJE243FEOkF8OomnuL0hGBGE2k/s320/FFF_-_Mickey_w_Giant.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Touchdown Alabama! </blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjQTeA9NfuRgWmNbAeRkOXSjPnDH274iJ6chqH-L3vA5HosNZCs0yljn3_3KgzJ-RvVIWC5Kz7siwXywm516hgTzp1DkV5Qib3qoxe-xYwAmEPoHOz4Dn2t2-6MEjkx7jyCCuL9v5bHI/s1600/magicsingingharp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="266" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjQTeA9NfuRgWmNbAeRkOXSjPnDH274iJ6chqH-L3vA5HosNZCs0yljn3_3KgzJ-RvVIWC5Kz7siwXywm516hgTzp1DkV5Qib3qoxe-xYwAmEPoHOz4Dn2t2-6MEjkx7jyCCuL9v5bHI/s320/magicsingingharp.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>Alabama Wins!<br />
</blockquote><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hg_AeukB1v0?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Of course, we can't all be winners. And so, the Penn State boys return home, with good ole JoePa. <br />
</blockquote><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mGnz4RykgF8?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br />
<br />
As always, enjoy the game and ROLL TIDE!Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-20808237894237521892011-08-23T15:16:00.001-05:002011-08-23T15:22:30.089-05:00Dear Future HusbandDear Future Husband,<br />
<br />
By now I am sure that you have accepted all of my odd quirks and love them almost as much as you love me. If you don't, my apologies. You should have thought of that before you gave me the ring. Hopefully you will grow to love my little food songs, my overuse of Scrubs quotes, and my mad desire for Little House on the Prairie marathons. Just as I love how you take out the garbage, don't complain about my cooking, and pick up your socks even though I don't pick up mine. <br />
<br />
I know how lucky I am to have you. Never in a million years did I think someone would be okay with a domestically challenged woman as myself but somehow you are. And I love you for that. Even if I'm not able to cook a fancy schmancy meal to show just how much I love you. <br />
<br />
Once a very picky girl, I have grown into an even pickier woman who has not always known what she wants. It may have taken me a while to find you, but find you I did. I know that you're healthy, wealthy and wise, with handsome looks and charm that curls my toes. I know that you're the man of my dreams regardless of ever actually appearing in them. I know that one day when we begin our family our children will be beautiful because look at us. We're beautiful. And I know that my life has been enriched just by loving you. <br />
<br />
I look forward to spending my life with you, experiencing things with you, growing old with you. I look forward to the day when we sit in our living room fussing like an old Jewish couple and are absolutely precious doing it. Because we will be that old Jewish couple who are absolutely precious, despite us not being Jewish. Unless you are. Then mazel tov. And when you're going through your mid-life crisis I promise not to roll my eyes too hard when you insist on buying that ostentatious cherry red convertable and will put sunscreen on your balding head when you insist on driving it around with the top down. Because I know you put up with me during all my crazy moments and baby, there will be lots of 'em!<br />
<br />
Thank you for making my dreams come true, for giving me happiness and laughter, for entertaining my crazy schemes like the dreamboat Desi you are. I know that no matter how awesome I am, it's because of you that I am that much more awesome. <br />
<br />
Hugs and Kisses,<br />
Your darling wife<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVgT76GShIj-eROyYYZciyrME0WZQNU9Bi8kBFuVl3cMXJwB0y59k3FbsJNWzIlh1oNmgV0Dey4SKpoIIaS6Xpw4qNWGjIIY08hfPufM-UxVgUXf4Fx7bfGQHzK1zoeDCkh9auuLOr2c/s1600/300_glee_lc_042611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="298" width="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVgT76GShIj-eROyYYZciyrME0WZQNU9Bi8kBFuVl3cMXJwB0y59k3FbsJNWzIlh1oNmgV0Dey4SKpoIIaS6Xpw4qNWGjIIY08hfPufM-UxVgUXf4Fx7bfGQHzK1zoeDCkh9auuLOr2c/s400/300_glee_lc_042611.jpg" /></a></div>Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-83009485804986850092011-08-09T13:52:00.000-05:002011-08-09T13:52:32.987-05:00May the odds be ever in your favor!Earlier today I had a brief, humor-laden serious discussion about the current drop in rating the US just received. At least I think that's what it was about. Whatever it was about it led me to say this:<br />
<blockquote>and I think that we've completely [screwed] up this country over the past decade so it's almost beyond repair... like someone's going to have to give and no one is willing to do it</blockquote>Which led to this gem:<br />
<blockquote>oh god... this is how all those dystopian books start... a corrupt government, overthrowing it by the people... damnit! pretty soon they're either going to wipe us out or we're going to resort to the middle ages and be forced to marry and have babies!</blockquote><br />
Recently I've somehow subconciously discovered what is referred to as dystopian novels. For those who don't know what this means - don't worry, I didn't either at first - it's basically the opposite of utopian. Don't know what utopian means? What? Did you never see Ever After with Drew Barrymore? Pshh... <br />
<br />
Dystopian mainly refers to "the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian." From Wikipedia. We all know it's a reliable source. <br />
<br />
Now I'm seriously NOT a conspiracy theory nut or one of those "keep the government outta here!" type people. I'm really not. I truly still want to ahave faith in the government and believe that it's still "for the people." Although lately our government hasn't given me much hope. And isn't that slowly how dystopian societies in these books start? The people are dissatisfied with the government, they revolt, they riot, they try to overturn the government and either the government wipes them out or the rioters destroy the government and take over. (See Cuba and their happy ending) <br />
<br />
Of course I don't see any of this happening in my lifetime or my potential children's lifetime. I just don't. But if these are the types of people our world is churning out (see below), I just don't see how we can stop a dystopian society from becoming our future. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-NrSCDKO-Pgp0xknWvT7iEb1r0c8JqEpsfM_bvnDb3y272aiKY78yiKXStkxtqArJif9A2RPx7AzZe9wXYJFHtYxz6_aRXL7q-Oyu7hZf4hGAZcwOpKWPKO3gCI7tJhU8zMdCW6RRPs/s1600/fb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="263" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-NrSCDKO-Pgp0xknWvT7iEb1r0c8JqEpsfM_bvnDb3y272aiKY78yiKXStkxtqArJif9A2RPx7AzZe9wXYJFHtYxz6_aRXL7q-Oyu7hZf4hGAZcwOpKWPKO3gCI7tJhU8zMdCW6RRPs/s320/fb2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscenIrjOYq_plzYe1MS0Egjsqpb19LKppxJJO9g-hpiBQrCO9JRVYg5BRBg5mvEYqwnJLkw3IPt73hzyr-GEGN5UbqqP2-dewvZU9HmZxNK3BLu_EaYnxHMcHnIRTrQmXQkTROTXllHM/s1600/fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="262" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscenIrjOYq_plzYe1MS0Egjsqpb19LKppxJJO9g-hpiBQrCO9JRVYg5BRBg5mvEYqwnJLkw3IPt73hzyr-GEGN5UbqqP2-dewvZU9HmZxNK3BLu_EaYnxHMcHnIRTrQmXQkTROTXllHM/s320/fb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And I don't mean that they will be the ones to rise up and overtake the goverment. Not unless they can Facebook about it. <br />
<br />
Perhaps a dystopian society wouldn't be so bad. As long as you kept your head down and played by the rules maybe you could have a healthy and happy life. According to the many novels out there, apparently everything's taken care of for you. No longer will we have to worry about what our kids learn and whether one school system is better than the other. Everything is equal. Looking for love will be a thing of the past, if love isn't completely eradicated by then. Mates will be chosen for us and we won't have to stress about finding someone before we get too old. We'll all be married at a certain age anyway. <br />
<br />
Yes, I know this all makes me sound like a crazy person. But as my friend Loraine* said: "At this point I'd rather do that then work 14 hour days and make no money. At least making babies requires me to be sleeping with a man which is better than right now too"<br />
*Name changed to protect Emilie. <br />
<br />
As long as my futuristic, government chosen husband looks like this:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb24VYOCvVT0Nc0hF0i41fQsbY0W92wqIR2nR4-J2-6L2iGS4Tdb_8QDiJJSFriB0rP0RIMR8e7y-BL84N-qF3iCocVPy3xP3NTITNHMXcptjFT29kigy9Y44VWNXJr5e0DEA09X495aQ/s1600/550w_hunger_games_first_look_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb24VYOCvVT0Nc0hF0i41fQsbY0W92wqIR2nR4-J2-6L2iGS4Tdb_8QDiJJSFriB0rP0RIMR8e7y-BL84N-qF3iCocVPy3xP3NTITNHMXcptjFT29kigy9Y44VWNXJr5e0DEA09X495aQ/s320/550w_hunger_games_first_look_2.jpg" /></a></div>I'd be okay with making babies for a living too. <br />
Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-81797618580375519352011-08-03T13:44:00.003-05:002011-08-03T14:17:21.089-05:00Dear MyselfI would like to share a story. If I've already shared this story, then excuuuuuuse me Princess... but this is my blog. <br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rXTWxWB1n4U?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br />When I was maybe 13 or 14 I decided to make a list of things I wanted to do by the time I was 16. I was going to open it on my 16th birthday in hopes that I had accomplished the things on my list. So I made this list, folded it up and taped it on the inside of my dresser's top drawer (you know it's important and private if it goes in the top drawer). As my birthday drew nearer I grew more and more excited. I even went as far as bragging to everyone about this. I tried imagining what all my younger self had wanted to accomplish, had I accomplished those things, etc. When it was time to read the list I could hardly contain myself. I opened the drawer, ripped out the folded up paper and opened it. And it was....<br /><br />Something completely different. There was no list. It was like a piece of scrap paper with something random on it. No list. No goals. Nothing. <br /><br />This really was one of my more embarrassing moments. But still a funny story. <br /><br />In the show How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) they often have this bit "You know who could handle this? Future us." (note: this is not a direct quote from the show) Since I am one of those people who regularly adopts funny lines from shows and uses them as my own catch phrases (ex. "frick", "awesome", "funsies", "You son of a beetch!", etc.) I sometimes catch myself saying "You know who would be awesome at doing this? Future Candice." Well, Future Candice, you ARE awesome. <br /><br />When I was a freshman in high school we had to write letters to ourselves that we would open right before graduation. Since mine was so ridiculously dumb, I'm going to refrain from explaining what it was about. This is just another prime example of how awesome Future Candice is. Because Future Candice would never write about lame things like how super cute that guy in band is. <br /><br />Since Future Candice is so awesome, I wanted to write a letter to her. So here goes:<br /><br />Dear Future Candice,<br />Hi! How is it in year 2021 (yes, 2021... because I'm sure this blog will still be awesome then)? Hopefully great!<br /><br />I hope by now you have found a career that satisfies you and pays your bills. And leaves you lots of money left over for fun stuff... like shopping! Did you ever take that trip to Greece? I hope so because I'm really wanting to go. <br /><br />I'm also hoping by now you've managed to have a somewhat successful relationship. And I hope that includes with someone other than yourself! Maybe that's a little harsh, but by 38 you should have at least found someone to love you! <br /><br />There are so many things I hope you have done and discovered by now, such as had your book published and learned how to clean your apartment. Geez I hope you aren't still living in an apartment! Unless it's one in NYC, then that's acceptable. You did move there, right? Please don't tell me I'm still stuck in Tuscaloosa! <br /><br />Finally, what is your hair like? Did it turn completely grey? Are you still rocking the Stacy London look? Is Stacy London even relevant? <br /><br />Love and Kisses!<br />Candice<br /><br />P.S. Did the last Twilight movies really suck?Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-16199213662235078372011-08-01T11:52:00.007-05:002011-08-02T15:51:21.108-05:00You want me to do WHAT?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZYUTDLBbj1kHZQ3nLz0Te9sD3K7lZ6PGvo-qwUyA1kAfZTJMm1krIVGNuJlFRyrBjMimkNZWHB7FIfUwpO8yCdDIKfZK4iyDpz-qqYWLpfiAyh7UCc1E10pC9s7ZLObKdaGii6Hkh4s/s1600/ThatGirl_S2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZYUTDLBbj1kHZQ3nLz0Te9sD3K7lZ6PGvo-qwUyA1kAfZTJMm1krIVGNuJlFRyrBjMimkNZWHB7FIfUwpO8yCdDIKfZK4iyDpz-qqYWLpfiAyh7UCc1E10pC9s7ZLObKdaGii6Hkh4s/s320/ThatGirl_S2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636358172626389458" /></a><br />Earlier this morning I read this really great article by Marlo Thomas entitled "Passing the Torch... Who's Going to Run With It?" Basically it was about growing feminism for the next generation (or at least that was what the tweet on twitter tweeted about it... tweet). Anywho... here is the link to it. Go ahead. Give it a read. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marlo-thomas/growing-feminism-for-the-_b_914380.html<br /><br />Read it? Great huh? It's really inspiring to know that in today's world opportunities are opening up for women by leaps and bounds. In today's world there's nothing a woman can't do simply because she's a woman. <br /><br />Growing up I never had a hero. People I admired maybe but never an actual hero. Which, looking back, I find to be a shame because as I was a child women were beginning to take the world by storm. There was no longer an excuse NOT to have one. This got me thinking: If I didn't have a role model or a hero, what did I have? <br /><br />I just read a blog post about books that changed lives and decided to comment on it. The first book that sprang to mind was Catherine Called Birdy which was a favorite of mine growing up. Not to go into any details, but it was basically about a girl ahead of her time. Another favorite, The Awakening. Again, woman ahead of her time. A Doll's House. A woman ahead of her time. Seeing a pattern here? Me too. <br /><br />Over the past few years I've started to become more aware of the advances of women in both the workforce and in the world. It wasn't too long ago that I remember telling my grandmother that I didn't think a woman would do well as a president. I really wish I could go back and slap that version of me. On second thought, maybe not; that would hurt. My point is, why would I think that? Why would I tell myself, and firmly believe, that women can't do what men can? <br /><br />The truth is I don't know. I could say that I thought the world wasn't ready for a female president of the United States. But why not?! Other countries have women leaders - Germany, England, Liberia, Finland, India, Argentina, Australia... the list goes on! Why not us? Why not the US? Okay... off that soapbox. <br /><br />My point is and original reason for writing this post is that today's women can do anything, be anything, achieve anything. Our mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers fought and pushed to get us to where we are today. If anything, I wish I could tell girls how successful they can be, how beautiful they can be, etc. and that they don't have to be Snookie or whatever crap MTV pushes out to be awesome! <br /><br />I think Reese Witherspoon summed it up best (ironically at the MTV Movie Awards) “I know it’s cool to be bad; I get it,” she said. “But it’s also possible to make it in Hollywood without a reality show.” It's also possible to make it anywhere. <br /><br />Note: I should let you know what brought on this girl power rant. Last week my boss told me that he wanted me to clean the office really well because one of his bosses is coming back into town and wanted to make sure the office looked good for him. Apparently I work on the set of Mad Men. However, according to my friend Emilie, if I did work on Mad Men haha well on Mad Men I'd "at least have a really attractive... boss who might bang you on the side." Thanks Emile Bunle for putting that into perspective.Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-60530709462694095782011-07-26T12:24:00.010-05:002011-07-26T16:10:05.687-05:00If I could write my own job description... It would be awesomeIt's a funny thing, really, when you think about your job. What it is you ACTUALLY do vs what you were HIRED to do. I often wonder would I have even applied for my job had I known exactly what all it entailed. <br /><br />Thinking...<br /><br />Thinking...<br /><br />Thinking...<br /><br />Yeah, I probably would still have applied. I was that desperate back then. <br /><br />In hindsight, which IMO is the best sight to have, the job hasn't been that bad. I've learned a lot, I've grown somewhat of a backbone, I've learned not to let little things get me down. But, just in case there is something better just around the bend *coughNewYorkcough* I've decided to create a more accurate job description for the person who one day takes my place<br /><strong><br />Event Coordinator Job Description</strong><br /><br /><strong>Office Equipment Repairperson/Guru</strong> - The Event Coordinator is required to know all facets of the office equipment, including but not limited to Fax Machine, Copier, Laminator, Scanner, etc. Should the Event Coordinator for some reason not know the reason behind malfunctioning equipment, whether due to overusage or ignorant employees who don't know how to use said equipment, he or she must figure out how to fix said equipment so ignorant employee can continue with their job.<br /><br /><strong>Information Specialist</strong> - The Event Coordinator must be familiar with all internet websites that may contain any information others may need at any given time. He or she must always be able to find answers to a variety of questions, including football/commencement/academic/Prince William's schedules; phone numbers to clients who had an event that one time three years ago; and why Vanderbilt is the Commodores. <br /><br /><strong>Psychic Medium</strong> - Must be able to see into the future and forsee all needs and wants of anyone at any given time. Whether they are a client or not. This may also include knowing what type of salad Nick Saban enjoys. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Historian</strong> - Ability to keep impeccable records of all events dating to before Event Coordinator graduated from high school. Prefer person who is able to recall dates at the drop of a hat and provide facts regarding said dates. <br /><br /><strong><br />Therapist/Psychologist</strong> - Provide free services for customers and co-workers with various problems and disorders. These may range from "my boss just told me we need cookies for this afternoon," and "but only 8 of my 10 guests showed up and I don't want to pay for 10" to "my husband pissed me off this morning so I'm going to take it out on you." Therapist license preferred but not required. <br /><br /><strong>Detective</strong> - Ability to research and provide facts from mulitple months or years prior, including what type of spice was used on that thing with the brown stuff on top that was served at the event that was back in 2007 or 2004 when that man with the grey toupe sat at the third or fourth table and ordered a glass of water. <br /><br /><strong>Miracle Worker</strong> - At any given time miracles must be performed. These are not limited to Annie Sullivan miracles but may also include miracles of the Biblical kind. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeJlvlbytnnGt7URQOAX5TvahNAIZIgFdJBQrDXISECZxmlkMl2hVaKd6LrqnfGA4A6NJqZ2E-8K-XBWD4rFwgZV13KwCuILfurWfRpHN8nMxft5iCIFiN0YHHg8jZ5s4lZjYnP2jwMc/s1600/MiracleWorker367.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeJlvlbytnnGt7URQOAX5TvahNAIZIgFdJBQrDXISECZxmlkMl2hVaKd6LrqnfGA4A6NJqZ2E-8K-XBWD4rFwgZV13KwCuILfurWfRpHN8nMxft5iCIFiN0YHHg8jZ5s4lZjYnP2jwMc/s320/MiracleWorker367.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633770469037109474" /></a> <blockquote>Yes, yes you can add water at the last minute! W-A-T-E-R!</blockquote><br /><br />Sound like an interesting job? No? You're right... it's actually not. Except for the miracle working part. That's pretty awesome.Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-91428575099475873512011-07-15T09:13:00.006-05:002011-07-15T10:00:54.681-05:007 Favorite Harry Potter Moments #5, #6 and #7Today's the day. The day it all ends. The final Harry Potter movie is officially out in theaters and in a few hours my sister and I will be sitting in our awesome D-Box seats waiting to watch our three favorite wizards try to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Today will prove to be a very non-productive day... as if any of my days really are! <br /><br />#5 - That moment of "huh?" that I had after watching HP:OOTP<br />Yeah, I know that doesn't sound like a very memorable moment on the surface, but trust me, it was. After watching Order of the Phoenix I remember leaving the theater thinking "okay, I am TOTALLY lost here." So I decided to finally read the books. I was unable to put them down. As I am a super-reader, I'm pretty sure I went through books 1-6 in like a week. So thanks whoever wrote, directed, produced, whatever the 5th installment. I owe you one!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehJYtiWFGbvL2KGpEYyatlriNQmWu7KpbxtelIg6CXLoLeP6vhIMRE3p6dHiTIWJq_pLO0iD_XsiGWteWHz8bcjBHb-DgdZDWweOgr36Z3125wFg25iLRBU06UbV5FZqal7Qx_TDXlLk/s1600/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehJYtiWFGbvL2KGpEYyatlriNQmWu7KpbxtelIg6CXLoLeP6vhIMRE3p6dHiTIWJq_pLO0iD_XsiGWteWHz8bcjBHb-DgdZDWweOgr36Z3125wFg25iLRBU06UbV5FZqal7Qx_TDXlLk/s320/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629591569308067234" /></a><br /><br /><br />#6 - That time Hermione grasped Ron's hand<br />Who DIDN'T squeal when this happened? Okay... maybe no one did. Maybe I didn't either. But it seriously was cute. <br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/T6JZVTxuEd0?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br />#7 - Tie between waiting for the Inferi to grab Harry's hand and waiting for my sister's shock when Snape killed Dumbledore, both in the Half-Blood Prince<br />This is probably one of the drawbacks to reading a book before seeing the movie based off it. You know what's going to happen before it happens. Of course, when you know it's going to happen and it's something that you know is going to startle you, that does make it even more exciting. When we were watching HP:HBP I remember sitting in suspense, waiting for that deathly hand to pop out of the water and grab Harry. And then it did! Yikes! <br /><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/k6oCIqu_jtE?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br />The next thing I was really looking forward to was Snape killing Dumbledore. Unfortunately when I was reading the books I read something about how Dumbledore had been killed, so I knew it was coming. However, I didn't know Snape had done it and it was a very definite "whoa!" moment. So I knew that in the movie this scene was going to be very similar for my sister. I kept glancing over at her during this whole scene to get her reaction. Boy was she surprised! <br /><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UNt-T6k7r9k?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br />Whew, at least she didn't act like this! <br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/r13vkdLNvfU?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br />So there it is... my 7 favorite Harry Potter moments. And so as to not leave on a sad ending, here are two of my favorite Harry Potter videos. <br /><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wTHn5oFPmi8?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tx1XIm6q4r4?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-52089734768295339052011-07-13T09:12:00.005-05:002011-07-13T10:01:42.833-05:00Is there such thing as a 1/3-life crisis?I'm pretty sure there comes a point in everyone's life where they stop and think "Is this really my life?" Maybe it comes earlier in life, fresh out of college, sitting in your parents' living room in your pajamas watching Sabrina the Teenage Witch at 1:00 in the afternoon while eating a bowl of cereal out of a big cup because you just woke up 20 minutes ago. Maybe it comes later in life, while you're sitting at your kid's soccer game and watching him kick the ball into the other team's goal and forcing yourself to clap for your semi-special little man who just lost the team the game. <br /><br />Or, if you're like me, maybe it hits you every time you take a shower. Or go to bed. Or wake up. Or sit at your desk at work pecking away on your blog. <br /><br />I just finished reading a post on HelloGiggles (one of my favorite new sites, check it out if you haven't already!) entitled "Being a Professional Adult." In this post the writer listed ways she would know when she was an adult and I really found myself agreeing with her on most things. She wrote about when she bought her first winter coat how she felt everyone would know she was an adult. I think I go through that a lot to. Not with coats, mind you, because I have a mild obsession with them and have a different one for every day of the week, plus a few extra for costume changes mid-day. But there are times (rare times) when I actually put effort into getting dressed and think "I'm wearing heels! My hair isn't in a ponytail! I'm not wearing sweats! Look at me! I'm a grown up!" <br /><br />Of course, I pretty much cancel out all grown-upness out when I get home, kick off my heels, pull my hair up, put on some sweats and turn on Wizards of Waverly Place. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrFAI-H9Q-LbZx27p7bD3RaMx7iFBqPoRjZ8JkZgud_mzuH9-u-P0DKrqNbAGZZ5YNKR5x7gyjS3RhbCnkyaVklT1DMozgcsqwHsZao-kJkazaP7AvHJiWpHgxDoijbTZpNbhqL7ndwU/s1600/The-Wizards-of-Waverly1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrFAI-H9Q-LbZx27p7bD3RaMx7iFBqPoRjZ8JkZgud_mzuH9-u-P0DKrqNbAGZZ5YNKR5x7gyjS3RhbCnkyaVklT1DMozgcsqwHsZao-kJkazaP7AvHJiWpHgxDoijbTZpNbhqL7ndwU/s320/The-Wizards-of-Waverly1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628852057113802930" /></a><br /><br />Lately I've been looking at my life and thinking "Is this really my life?" You hear all the time about the existential woes of the twenty-something, scraping by on a meager salary, eating Spaghetti-O's for dinner, having massive credit card debt due to shopping too much... It's kind of funny, always good for a laugh or a quirky rom-com. But in real life, not so funny. And somehow, in the past year, this has become my life. Minus the credit card debt. Yay me. <br /><br />Now, I've never felt like I was the girl who always "had it together" but I've also never felt like an incredible train wreck. There's really no point in searching for the "how" or the "why" - such as I took a job that was incredibly low-paying and in Tuscaloosa in hopes that it would lead to a better job. Pshh...<br />Now that I've gotten all my Negative Nancy out, maybe I should focus on how to combat said train wreck and get myself back on course. <br /><br />Set goals - I would like to move somewhere new by 2012. (NYC please!)<br />Manage money better - Prepare budget and stick to it. Cut excessive crap spending. <br />Clean apartment - No explanation necessary<br />De-clutter my life - Do I really need 9 coats? In Alabama? (yes... yes I do)<br />Make goals happen<br /><br />Will these things make me feel better about my life? I have no idea. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. But maybe they'll let me stop eating Spaghetti-O's. They're honestly pretty disgusting.Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-67413900196575679642011-07-12T09:17:00.005-05:002011-07-12T10:57:25.099-05:007 Favorite Harry Potter Moments #3 and #4My friend Emilie went to the NYC premiere of Harry Potter last night and I'm fairly certain my skin is slightly tinged green with envy. But no matter... only 4 days until I get to see it! <br />I thought it would be fun to have some HP-themed snacks for my sister and me to enjoy before we go see the movie so the first thing that came to mind was Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans. Let me tell you... this was like trying to find a needle in a haystack! I still haven't found them... so we may not get to feast on "chocolate and peppermint, and... also spinach, liver, and tripe." However, after work today, the search will resume!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-h6Yrn8AHjj2IjE7v2Ud5p39x3nKHgcYVCgZ07CtAZOsDmTyCjyTENVzb3Ho4d1DCCuIAQa476S61tDFb5C5EAt4C2_gKC6yfO4iHqxaJNrr_KSMTjvoUR1G4tEF0Z3405-xWUH9DXo/s1600/Bertie_Botts_Box.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-h6Yrn8AHjj2IjE7v2Ud5p39x3nKHgcYVCgZ07CtAZOsDmTyCjyTENVzb3Ho4d1DCCuIAQa476S61tDFb5C5EAt4C2_gKC6yfO4iHqxaJNrr_KSMTjvoUR1G4tEF0Z3405-xWUH9DXo/s320/Bertie_Botts_Box.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628492657311327474" /></a><br /><br />And now for more of my favorite HP moments! <br /><br />#3 - The hotness of the Weasley twins<br />Who would have ever thought that two gangly gingers would turn out to be so hot? Not me, that's for sure! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPzVOtmyiIA6Kb3eVvHNy1cfj_PLjvZ2iWnrKjTFPYtklpaj6Br0RMDg94tunIwqqboMZwhJzc4MbizJXALAc7v2fNDUN2YYd847W6gr87GjPv1uLS5ky4b3-QVdU6epTuNiolgZ8FxQ/s1600/tumblr_lgy29lxejD1qeq4p9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPzVOtmyiIA6Kb3eVvHNy1cfj_PLjvZ2iWnrKjTFPYtklpaj6Br0RMDg94tunIwqqboMZwhJzc4MbizJXALAc7v2fNDUN2YYd847W6gr87GjPv1uLS5ky4b3-QVdU6epTuNiolgZ8FxQ/s320/tumblr_lgy29lxejD1qeq4p9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628492423228188786" /></a><br /><br /><br />#4 - Any scene that Helena Bonham Carter is in<br />I don't really remember much about Bellatrix Lestrange from the books, mainly because re-reading them I haven't gotten that far (I'm still working on GoF). But I do know that casting HBC as Bellatrix was a total WIN. The first time we were introduced to her was like whoa... she's one crazy you know what. <br /><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/52oufE2oI_w?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-61022492521050584422011-07-11T10:44:00.005-05:002011-07-11T11:08:33.481-05:007 Favorite Harry Potter Moments #1 and #2With almost a 10 year age difference between my sister and me there really are very few things we've shared over the years. But when our mom forced me to take her to the movies 10 years ago to see Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone, who knew that would be the start of something special? <br /><br />Danielle and I have gone to see every Harry Potter movie together over the years and, in 5 days, it will all be over. So, rather than get all weepy now, I wanted to discuss my favorite moments over the past 10 years. And, in keeping with Harry Potter, I've decided to list my favorite 7. <br /><br />#1 - The midnight premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince<br />By this movie our sisterly tradition of going to see Harry Potter had really taken root and we both were excited about it so we decided to go to the midnight premiere. This would also be the LAST midnight premiere of Harry Potter that we would go to. Danielle fell asleep during it. I was constantly having to wake her up. She thought it was boring. I still tease her about not being able to handle staying up late. <br /><br />#2 - Harry Potter costume = fail<br />I thought it would be funny to dress up in a Harry Potter costume before going to the movies to see what my sister would say. So I put on my old black graduation robe, a scarf and my glasses and went to sit in the living room to wait on her. My mom laughed but when Danielle walked in, she took one look at me and said "Okay, are you ready to go?" Apparently she didn't think it was funny... <br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RK2WCPYMERg?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-17309510841599452292011-06-30T08:52:00.003-05:002011-06-30T09:27:15.866-05:00Summer ReadingA few weeks ago I decided to tap into my inner school-girl and give myself summer reading assignments. I created a not-so-short summer reading list that I figured would last me 3 months. Of course, being the Speedy Gonzales of reading, I realized I'd probably zip through that list in 3 weeks rather than months. Seriously, I read like it's going out of style. <br />Anywho... I'm SO glad I made this list. Although I haven't gotten very far in it - considering I keep adding books to it rather than reading the ones already listed - I have come across some absolutely fabulous reads and wanted to write down my thoughts of them. <br /><br /><strong>Hunger Games Trilogy </strong>- OMG... I NEVER thought this would be something I liked and OMG was I wrong! OMG. haha. While I love reading, it generally takes a lot to really get me invested a book and let it become a part of me. These three books totally did that after only a few chapters. I found myself wanting to kick Katniss and hug her at the same time. I fell in love with Peeta even before she did and threatened to throw the book across the room if she ended up with Gale. I wanted to kill... Okay, you see my investment here? <br /><br /><strong>The Sky is Everywhere</strong> - I'm not really a crier when it comes to books. In fact, there really aren't many I remember crying over. And I don't mean tearing up. I mean, CRYING. Curling up in the bed and soaking your pillow crying, hating the book and the writer for making you cry but wanting to go on because you owe it to the character to hear her story. Yup... this book is the culprit for making me cry. The plot is pretty simple: girl's older sister dies unexpectedly and she deals with the aftermath. Already that's sad! Add to it that the girl's mom ran off when she was little, she's making out with her sister's boyfriend and the new guy in town is in love with her but dumps her because she's making out with her sister's boyfriend and whoa... emotional roller coaster for me! Oh, and did I mention all the poetry she writes about her dead sister at the beginning of every chapter? I know this sounds like a terrible book, but trust me when I say all the crying was well worth the read. <br /><br /><strong>Starcrossed </strong>- I was SO excited when I finally got this book! I had been waiting weeks to read it and it was so worth the wait! I was still in love days after finishing the last page. I wanted to read it again and again the second I closed the cover - in fact, I did go back and re-read some parts. Just to make myself happy. The story follows Helen, a girl who doesn't quite fit in, who finds out just why she doesn't fit quite in: she's the child of a demi-god. And there are others out there, just like her. Including Lucas, the dreamy guy who just moved to town. But when they find out that they are reincarnations of Helen of Troy and Paris, they realize they cannote be together or risk starting another Trojan War. Ohhh.... this book was so good! Only downside... the sequel doesn't come out until next YEAR! Ugh!!! This is why I don't get into series at the beginning; I HATE WAITING!!!<br /><br />There have been several others I've read so far this summer, but these are the ones I've loved best so far. It's gonna take a lot to top them! Happy Summer to all!Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-29496666738880573122011-06-24T09:14:00.009-05:002011-06-24T10:36:29.523-05:00A Trip Down Memory LaneI'll be the first to admit it: I have a LOT of pet peeves. People leaving the copy machine up. People taking my pens at work. My sister singing in the back seat of the car. The list could go on and on. Today's pet peeve comes from a blog post I read earlier written by a 23-year old woman about how she loves the 80s and it was her favorite decade and she wishes she could go back in time and be 23 in the 80s. Now, maybe I get what she means. Perhaps the 80s were awesome. Perhaps it really was a good time to live. I mean, I enjoyed it. But I was a kid. I think I would have enjoyed any decade. This girl, however, was maybe 3 at the end of the decade. THREE! I suppose I just don't understand this kind of nostalgia. I mean, when I get nostalgic for a past time in my life, it isn't nostalgia for stereotypes of that era. I'm not nostalgic for big crimpy hair, jean mini-skirts and bangles up to my elbows. I'm not nostalgic for dancing around in the mall or going to see whatever John Hughes came out with this week. I was a KID! I didn't do these things, I didn't wear these things and I don't remember these things. AND NEITHER DID YOU 23 YEAR OLD WOMAN!!!<br /><br />That being said, I am getting slightly nostalgic for the 80s. Here are some things that made up my childhood that I suddenly miss:<br /><br />Alvin and the Chipmunks - This was my absolute favorite! Although, for some reason, whenever the theme song came on I would apparently hide. No idea why. <br /><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J7KUk8gCUnI?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br />Crest Sparkle Toothpast - Weird, right? But who didn't love sparkly blue toothpaste that tasted like bubblegum? And it was star-shaped at one point! <br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/H9RfqzLJ5pg?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsOWiPs3hgMIF_8c6EbmGJVwTKxIQufTxmYXQ8oAGURItxpxWUB9kaQMGzVjlniEvVtF64TN1id2lkM1IaH3PuOozcfUHbBsCC0QvyhvGUau_EtvlY9jbX-HBGpgI_9dsU-uay3OKJ7E/s1600/mlp.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsOWiPs3hgMIF_8c6EbmGJVwTKxIQufTxmYXQ8oAGURItxpxWUB9kaQMGzVjlniEvVtF64TN1id2lkM1IaH3PuOozcfUHbBsCC0QvyhvGUau_EtvlY9jbX-HBGpgI_9dsU-uay3OKJ7E/s320/mlp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621803952265448994" /></a><br />My Little Ponies, Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, Pound Puppies/Pound Kitties... these were my toys in the 80s! We really did have cool toys back then. I'm pretty sure I had most of the toys on this site: http://www.liketotally80s.com/80s-toys.html<br /><br />One of my favorite toys on this list was the My Child Doll. I had one... I named her Maria and she wore a lot of my old baby clothes. She now lives in the attic. Naked. Ah, Maria! <br /><br />Dirty Dancing - Yes, I know this is NOT an appropriate movie for children, even now. And no, I don't really remember actually seeing the entire thing. Just the ending. "Nobody puts Baby in a corner." Then the awesome dance. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey singing "I've had the Time of My Life." Baby's really awesome dress from the 80s. My mom telling my dad that was the kind of moment all women want. Ahh...<br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WpmILPAcRQo?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br />Sunday Braids and Ponytails - I'm pretty certain we were the only family that called this hairstyle "Sunday Braids" and "Sunday Ponytails" but that's what they were. (PS after googling Sunday Braid, I found out that it's a type of boot)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8T8EnzZisIqHAUQn5KbF-hJgkc4c2hrICzUh0-wNmTucihRWYrK1vbzQBesWQqoZw9ZVeTGijo_vQN8KFluGJse7gDSnreJjvcOB1OjlIya7c4Usv5sW_nDxW4ChNf5R0nVKiTe6a5jE/s1600/jellies.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8T8EnzZisIqHAUQn5KbF-hJgkc4c2hrICzUh0-wNmTucihRWYrK1vbzQBesWQqoZw9ZVeTGijo_vQN8KFluGJse7gDSnreJjvcOB1OjlIya7c4Usv5sW_nDxW4ChNf5R0nVKiTe6a5jE/s320/jellies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621803818554235714" /></a><br />Jellies!!! - I LOVE LOVE LOVE these shoes! They were oh so cute. Only downside... little rocks would get stuck in the bottom of them. But who didn't love pulling them out?!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So that does it for my little trip down memory lane. I'm sure I can think of a million more things, but those are just the ones that popped into my head while I was bored at work and writing this.Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-19686269211324121992011-06-16T14:29:00.007-05:002011-06-16T15:29:23.712-05:00Guest Blogger: Emilie Bunnell - She speaka de Spanish good!In response to my previous post regarding my fears of moving to New York City, my good friend Emilie has decided to give a rebuttal and feature as a guest blogger on the awesomeness that is my blog. So without further ado...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vToKDgmMKYkWi_T-ZvYqVHr0iOEEv9Yev1jn6c59iiHnKlmCjAVfi1zoWIvKf5QH9jv45BwSLQn73j5VmFFGG0kFKq0n-liZZ6b37Lh8F4A8ZDiL7FcmA_93CpbYbt1xFDLQMjL_PDM/s1600/Emilile_BUnnell_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vToKDgmMKYkWi_T-ZvYqVHr0iOEEv9Yev1jn6c59iiHnKlmCjAVfi1zoWIvKf5QH9jv45BwSLQn73j5VmFFGG0kFKq0n-liZZ6b37Lh8F4A8ZDiL7FcmA_93CpbYbt1xFDLQMjL_PDM/s320/Emilile_BUnnell_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618916278476930610" /></a><br /><br /><em>I realize that its a daunting experience packing up your things and traveling miles and miles into a crazy and unknown city. As a real New Yorker I have a few rebuttal comments to your fears about moving to the city to help ease your nerves.<br /><br />1. All the superheroes live in new York for the most obvious reason - the fairest damsels in distress reside here. What do you think all the explosions, destruction, and bridge dangling is caused by? Same reason for the troubles in Troy - beautiful women. (The spandex they wear is for the woman to make sure there is no false advertising in our superhero crushes.)<br /><br />2. Giant marshmallows are delicious. What you missed is everyone plucking a piece for their hot cocoa on their walk around the city in the winter. The Statue of Liberty was clearly being kind to tourists by walking to Times Square making it easier for them to find her. And that giant ape you saw was really just a window washer. <br /><br />3. First, better the hero then the villain, right? Also, how amazing would that proposal story be? "So how did he propose?" "Well I was hanging by the ankles from the Brooklyn Bridge when he swung in, kicked a green goblin's ass, kissed me upside down as he pulled me to safety, then dropped to one knee and proposed as he pulled off his mask." Ahhh romantic. <br /><br />4. Hate in NYC? River of slime?? What are these things you speak of? NYC is the city of love. The city of friendship. Its the place people dream of moving to. Its romantic, and exciting, and full of opportunity. It's the thing of movies and music and art. There is no city better!! That bit of slime is from New Jersey. Not all states can be great. <br /><br />5. Rats are to New York what cows are to the country. Next trip I will teach you rat tipping. <br /><br />6. Stabler, Caffrey, Ames, Flack, Reagan...the list of attractive men fighting crime in this city goes on and on. Safety and eye candy. What more could a girl ask for?<br /><br />7. Don't worry about dancing gangs. Life in New York is like all the great high school movies from the 90s. When the music starts everyone knows the dance!! It's part of your initiation to the city. And if you are lucky Neil Patrick Harris is in the dancing gang. I mean who wouldn't want to be in a dance gang with NPH?!<br /><br />And thus ends my rebuttals for why New York is the city. Have no fear my friend. Falling in love with a spandex wearing employed superhero will be the least of your worries when you start apartment searching and realize your budget only allows for places that have either a shower or a toilet. Shacking up with Spidey might look like a good idea then.” </em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMZJ3Oz16V1Ipw644QKv2S9bgo6hoQNDz3tI8TT9ZPVGRAHl_9lPJnbuPrwIrDhZNrfGBg8213hcNaNBey8PwMEVKBliLpS9YxCXMK46YDYYbMRIsJVDD9pglzSpQpKQAGvCkPu2LeGQ/s1600/Emilie_Bunnell.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMZJ3Oz16V1Ipw644QKv2S9bgo6hoQNDz3tI8TT9ZPVGRAHl_9lPJnbuPrwIrDhZNrfGBg8213hcNaNBey8PwMEVKBliLpS9YxCXMK46YDYYbMRIsJVDD9pglzSpQpKQAGvCkPu2LeGQ/s320/Emilie_Bunnell.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618916038543771090" /></a> I sort of hate her for this...Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-59992371026202378532011-06-07T12:32:00.003-05:002011-06-07T12:33:25.982-05:00This Mr. Stay Puft's okay! He's a sailor, he's in New York; we get this guy laid, we won't have any trouble!A while ago I emailed my boss asking if we could set up a time to discuss my future with the company and what I would like to eventually do with my career. After an initial reaction of "OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY DID THAT I'M GOING TO VOMIT" I decided to become confident, non-self-concious woman rather than scaredy cat girl. Which led me to ask the big question: What DO I want to do with my life?<br /><br />Over the past few years I've really had this annoying hankering to move to New York. It's unheard of, unthinkable, and quite honestly the biggest thing I think I could do short of moving to Greece and opening a cupcake shop. In other words, it would be awesome.<br /><br />Aside from the fact that I'd have to find a new job, find a new place to live, learn how to hail a cab, figure out bus schedules, and invest in walking shoes, there really are a lot of things that seriously worry me about moving to New York.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdp1jE6oaEPH9ih3rqFzsEd2q281n8Bpfk37iWh_9jjQTlVjGAmU4jsmsDHoMCrjERCHihDtdNLK5qW_VBgmuUiEgxyVb03ZLJH3WokDASYeHkuulmCTBDcg-A7VTLLaRkVMGm4tg5cU/s1600/Spiderman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615519863097539266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdp1jE6oaEPH9ih3rqFzsEd2q281n8Bpfk37iWh_9jjQTlVjGAmU4jsmsDHoMCrjERCHihDtdNLK5qW_VBgmuUiEgxyVb03ZLJH3WokDASYeHkuulmCTBDcg-A7VTLLaRkVMGm4tg5cU/s320/Spiderman.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />1) Crime - I know everything says that crime has gone down over the years in NYC, but really... if it's gone down so much why do all the superheroes live there? Spiderman, the Fantastic Four, Captain America... And have you seen what happens in the movies? Explosions, buildings destroyed, damsels in distress; I could easily be kidnapped and hung upside down over a bridge while a spandex onesie wearing man flys around for an hour fighting another spandex onesie wearing man.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KQbos_EPpkUKzIEr7NX8SaFdwmU5j43VK_iSU3cwW0bhkE6rVMp73MlcTx8Oc2X0pIZMcF9Y6kPZVesdt4uoYCjsoFveusjKUPDL_yRDR7cio_-ifwtFuoEx8YtCUaO6bXFvjjZans8/s1600/staypuft_marshmallow_man.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615522248120263186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KQbos_EPpkUKzIEr7NX8SaFdwmU5j43VK_iSU3cwW0bhkE6rVMp73MlcTx8Oc2X0pIZMcF9Y6kPZVesdt4uoYCjsoFveusjKUPDL_yRDR7cio_-ifwtFuoEx8YtCUaO6bXFvjjZans8/s320/staypuft_marshmallow_man.jpg" border="0" /></a> 2) Various giant beings are an every day occurance - A giant marshmallow man is coming down 5th Avenue? Pshh... no big deal. The Statue of Liberty strolling down Madison? Happens every day. Giant ape climbing the Empire State Building? Really? Again? Are New Yorkers so jaded that this doesn't faze them?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />3) Superheroes - Okay, I know I just talked about them, but here is my other issue. If all these superheroes live in New York, and no one knows their identity, what happens if you meet one on the street and end up going out on a date? Now, I know the chances of me going out with someone who is a secret superhero are slim to none, but I'm sure Mary Jane Watson didn't think she'd be dating Spiderman. I'm sure MJ didn't ever consider the fact that maybe, just maybe, the reason she keeps nearly falling off buildings or getting kidnapped is because her boyfriend is really Spiderman. I personally don't want to fall of buildings. Maybe it's just me. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnN8KLTwZtq5Y4kYmMG_EvkS5uxQxoSsQDZjwxAmAxEH33M8R76bvZLWKhaDNT5ATq3SpWQBmGjE-IiRvqouJanS7lAJZ5dXcdpLIu7OEp-eAKuO_MPfgNZgQqe48P0D8AOae0IrAJ7D0/s1600/pseudoblog_tobeymaguire400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnN8KLTwZtq5Y4kYmMG_EvkS5uxQxoSsQDZjwxAmAxEH33M8R76bvZLWKhaDNT5ATq3SpWQBmGjE-IiRvqouJanS7lAJZ5dXcdpLIu7OEp-eAKuO_MPfgNZgQqe48P0D8AOae0IrAJ7D0/s320/pseudoblog_tobeymaguire400.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615529063742728114" /></a><br /><br />4) All the hate in NYC creates a giant river of slime - Disgusting! That's all I have to say about that. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR96ayVhvwpMPv6dG9IFqjhZbLF0wGbkS9UdvePPbGBk3fb0e8BT00UmZojjvCpNxgDqKhSvGGFceG1wBSt0ayG9h_DCwIZiQlVi17RmCCev6dW_XvTvoqK3bVzc_HFymVrnpF59FQcp0/s1600/Riverofslime01.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615524618314941490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR96ayVhvwpMPv6dG9IFqjhZbLF0wGbkS9UdvePPbGBk3fb0e8BT00UmZojjvCpNxgDqKhSvGGFceG1wBSt0ayG9h_DCwIZiQlVi17RmCCev6dW_XvTvoqK3bVzc_HFymVrnpF59FQcp0/s320/Riverofslime01.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qoFAothFyIewf9t-AZkcppXa4Y7mC02N5148o96lRjy9DuUrwcEBVSg_o498bI8spp1YKO5YfNocNWFgr0tthDHyCxrEyJEilkbCQmgqrX4hETSSJ_9GVitlDmDsfSR0i5ZgMCYS4ic/s1600/rodents-of-unusual-size.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615523172554615090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qoFAothFyIewf9t-AZkcppXa4Y7mC02N5148o96lRjy9DuUrwcEBVSg_o498bI8spp1YKO5YfNocNWFgr0tthDHyCxrEyJEilkbCQmgqrX4hETSSJ_9GVitlDmDsfSR0i5ZgMCYS4ic/s320/rodents-of-unusual-size.jpg" border="0" /></a>5) Rats - During my trip to NYC my friend Emilie told me about a game they play called "Spot the rat" while in the subway. Yeah, I won the first round having spotted a giant rat the second she finished telling me about the game.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p>6) Sick, twisted SVU crimes - I know I mentioned crime as the first thing that wo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ECEhNQ3ipPQxKTG0eKvT-g5hDJv8FD37BAl37dNoFuXThzMyi8iP_LdlrL3w8BduZyzyVyp-G8OYb7J8ETyxxaS3Jtva6oJbtuzsTdMHa8O5BW3SviuZGeCo1b8DVQPmyX31MMqdnU0/s1600/svu-1-1600x1200.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615521679203794546" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 201px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ECEhNQ3ipPQxKTG0eKvT-g5hDJv8FD37BAl37dNoFuXThzMyi8iP_LdlrL3w8BduZyzyVyp-G8OYb7J8ETyxxaS3Jtva6oJbtuzsTdMHa8O5BW3SviuZGeCo1b8DVQPmyX31MMqdnU0/s320/svu-1-1600x1200.jpg" border="0" /></a>rries me, but have you noticed that just about every Law & Order takes place IN NEW YORK CITY?!?! Wow... I mean, c'mon... crazy crimes like that happen EVERY SINGLE WEEK? Good thing I'll have Benson and Stabler watching my back. Although I wouldn't mind watching Stabler's back...<br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p>7) Singing Street Gangs - Okay, maybe this one is a little far-fetched, but for some reason I'm not really scared of legit gangs... Not that I'm really scared of singing street gangs, but only in NYC could they exist. I do worry that I might get caught in a rumble and will have to pick between the Jets and the Sharks. Also, I probably should work on my grand plies just in case. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYIMaxe0lATmg519EYF8iWyx0TBIpaExFoxNY9G3OJ3_O5JiCWS1dv2v_YFtQXdd1cxJQsVZ6nnqgh2Myw-JucZT4wV7tNKiTdApgZPW2knD-GIABZUktDsKEe3OIP4mZoZMrenp6iAM/s1600/west+side.bmp"></p></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615521368191650722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYIMaxe0lATmg519EYF8iWyx0TBIpaExFoxNY9G3OJ3_O5JiCWS1dv2v_YFtQXdd1cxJQsVZ6nnqgh2Myw-JucZT4wV7tNKiTdApgZPW2knD-GIABZUktDsKEe3OIP4mZoZMrenp6iAM/s320/west+side.bmp" border="0" />Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-85500140135528233182011-06-02T16:04:00.000-05:002011-06-02T16:04:16.835-05:00Picture Challenge!!! Or I had nothing else to do at workA picture of yourself with 10 facts <br />Awesome, Smart, Witty, Beautiful, Domestically Challenged, Quirky, Caring, Snobby, Super Hair, 2+2=4<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0p9fwJmE06n4UJVbzT1dWhyrynoCyWxbSAsYZNZNEzxAbGh5OxG3Pp14qR4vi5QIN_rSFTHK31_WepgJ67h3L8hLfum7bJHVLIeip1RRi8WFGLRcrurqK5LdG4Nb3S1Ph90h1ybopo0/s1600/me.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 173px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0p9fwJmE06n4UJVbzT1dWhyrynoCyWxbSAsYZNZNEzxAbGh5OxG3Pp14qR4vi5QIN_rSFTHK31_WepgJ67h3L8hLfum7bJHVLIeip1RRi8WFGLRcrurqK5LdG4Nb3S1Ph90h1ybopo0/s320/me.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613720594426594066" /></a><br /><br /><br />A picture of the person you have been closest with the longest<br />I speeka de Spanish good!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcOHHdNMjUkysipOOM4T4_RbAw1zWeGMyooftyablkRb5lsjjo6TPF-vakyC-VFCO3i3lnw6dZaiogDK3GsMvxDPPKK4QiZV9C7HP5UoKcV3CaTmsfk_78Fyiw8TdLRq6zyZDo1OR3mk/s1600/photo3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcOHHdNMjUkysipOOM4T4_RbAw1zWeGMyooftyablkRb5lsjjo6TPF-vakyC-VFCO3i3lnw6dZaiogDK3GsMvxDPPKK4QiZV9C7HP5UoKcV3CaTmsfk_78Fyiw8TdLRq6zyZDo1OR3mk/s200/photo3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613709646108509122" /></a><br /> <br /><br />A picture of the cast from your favorite show <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSLVFQQs1p2iAbf-olvaS6NNeteSA6dJZjHTC26iPcvS9e817KjAUuqhe_C3QNnNXqedPSyLNlPj00gL7wFNagcGvCVhP3XL0F4DmzyNidFfmXvgvVKKLiKnekRR3wu7zLYT7LKAfhwY/s1600/scrubs-new-season-1446.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSLVFQQs1p2iAbf-olvaS6NNeteSA6dJZjHTC26iPcvS9e817KjAUuqhe_C3QNnNXqedPSyLNlPj00gL7wFNagcGvCVhP3XL0F4DmzyNidFfmXvgvVKKLiKnekRR3wu7zLYT7LKAfhwY/s200/scrubs-new-season-1446.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613667066488147794" /></a><br />Elliot: Carla, if your wedding ceremony's gonna be in Spanish, how will I know that you're officially married? <br />Carla: [sarcastically] Cause all my cousins will throw tortillas in the air and fire their guns. <br />Elliot: Really? God I wish I was ethnic. <br /><br />A picture of your favorite night <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dpzyf-9jbOV0_aofvU5PzMyS7sB9r9A4jpy2es5MueKPe2p-f-U2PfkFPsmk_6OgkXEgy5SHJvJlX8auni03Kpy4oG38l_Le1IPQoZBX0_Z_uib_pYiIMdEwnVwYWjnxjojU_TiUNqw/s1600/jt1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dpzyf-9jbOV0_aofvU5PzMyS7sB9r9A4jpy2es5MueKPe2p-f-U2PfkFPsmk_6OgkXEgy5SHJvJlX8auni03Kpy4oG38l_Le1IPQoZBX0_Z_uib_pYiIMdEwnVwYWjnxjojU_TiUNqw/s200/jt1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613701382234130770" /></a><br />Drinks, dancing and 80s/90s music... could life get any better?!<br /><br />A picture of your favorite memory <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYkbePPSxS9csgStIXYIs9Pvh7kL8L8rcFv5wwyFdlS7NrKRYXb7xNQhMEmnUhfuZ0ans5jRMXqgsisrqYOx0QM7COoF6y0GNKw-wlFWgl9t-SoNflYXtCb6Dar5JsThuaC_obgMRojk/s1600/game.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYkbePPSxS9csgStIXYIs9Pvh7kL8L8rcFv5wwyFdlS7NrKRYXb7xNQhMEmnUhfuZ0ans5jRMXqgsisrqYOx0QM7COoF6y0GNKw-wlFWgl9t-SoNflYXtCb6Dar5JsThuaC_obgMRojk/s200/game.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613703147837744594" /></a><br />Roll Tide!!!!!<br /><br />A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleVtco6dTWhIvteSwe7hVJKFeIWib5RY_K01PORTJw5F8uvjNDO2a-FUJjVOceEaw5blZoXpPEhnZml5YHfpgrfw63KDcRv116JKGvdnL4yE_RWzkPdtHrHopNxRMAW7mtOLBIt78NY0/s1600/lea-michele_240.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleVtco6dTWhIvteSwe7hVJKFeIWib5RY_K01PORTJw5F8uvjNDO2a-FUJjVOceEaw5blZoXpPEhnZml5YHfpgrfw63KDcRv116JKGvdnL4yE_RWzkPdtHrHopNxRMAW7mtOLBIt78NY0/s200/lea-michele_240.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613701852102178642" /></a><br />Okay... I wouldn't trade places with Lea Michele. I would trade places with Rachel Berry. Mainly so I could make out with Finn. And then I think we would have a little scene that went something like this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvFbEoLStHxT9lCdZk03tMDRrTGQscGoT46meqvYQofky3A1lNcXDAvBS4UglcGBlKC_GNoSCv9VkdVJgtm9JzyAij5AQfNx9BHlk_92nkLnd1UNrt8amv2aL_LfBwmrhUuHbjxWWWUg/s1600/300_glee_lc_042611.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvFbEoLStHxT9lCdZk03tMDRrTGQscGoT46meqvYQofky3A1lNcXDAvBS4UglcGBlKC_GNoSCv9VkdVJgtm9JzyAij5AQfNx9BHlk_92nkLnd1UNrt8amv2aL_LfBwmrhUuHbjxWWWUg/s200/300_glee_lc_042611.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613702446270142834" /></a><br /><br />A picture of your most treasured item <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR8R5g7DM1hLpX-Kj9Xc4_9XtgHUpM4THmfVEBQiYnt1ZiIZHc-I_6NKFfM-WXiA_ePRkZSCrkRPbT3nwIQB8CfOxqdp-y7L96fgwg2whI6DALDQZ9j-xI7mL3mBQ5jaN74DgFd0Tta8/s1600/ginger.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR8R5g7DM1hLpX-Kj9Xc4_9XtgHUpM4THmfVEBQiYnt1ZiIZHc-I_6NKFfM-WXiA_ePRkZSCrkRPbT3nwIQB8CfOxqdp-y7L96fgwg2whI6DALDQZ9j-xI7mL3mBQ5jaN74DgFd0Tta8/s200/ginger.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613705760718914738" /></a><br />So TECHNICALLY my dog isn't a "thing" or an "item" but she is treasured. Look at that face! How could she NOT be!!!<br /><br />A picture that makes you laugh <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-Sak4wcG4WrJjlylgbH9UUEj7ixWCRclSEvRTENZVQL1paBX8E-Mrf8ZciAoqp-O6ms_NRujYHVmLL-14zUsYqXu50_fWVp_Dc5ra2bpIqXgvbVxaSVGIgREAvBUE_m_R3BCXOaQzH0/s1600/63458_903577795965_27400439_47429593_8377478_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-Sak4wcG4WrJjlylgbH9UUEj7ixWCRclSEvRTENZVQL1paBX8E-Mrf8ZciAoqp-O6ms_NRujYHVmLL-14zUsYqXu50_fWVp_Dc5ra2bpIqXgvbVxaSVGIgREAvBUE_m_R3BCXOaQzH0/s200/63458_903577795965_27400439_47429593_8377478_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613671048990290130" /></a><br /><br />or<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LlSJwJJFj5IpKVuN4aueLfiuY-G8nr_gVYcm25fQOOI4oQPv012s-YmYK0b-R6Njku2U9ZTl_n9SagTNbAcXqLzTZtKxWLcCN7oT_ynNaU9SNeCwKMjzqnS626QfNMxEJcuefl_5QEw/s1600/fun.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LlSJwJJFj5IpKVuN4aueLfiuY-G8nr_gVYcm25fQOOI4oQPv012s-YmYK0b-R6Njku2U9ZTl_n9SagTNbAcXqLzTZtKxWLcCN7oT_ynNaU9SNeCwKMjzqnS626QfNMxEJcuefl_5QEw/s200/fun.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613715288665314722" /></a><br /><br />or<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yJEy_rDN0sWN260g6InFA9KTyRbrjPqQCoiEgPLi31ggR6iZXzGyxLApYyyQltH0kbg1USTp_Xr_1jrCDG78GdlSgSXztlXqfUhZPJWFuCaOviN66jiEIUcqDw4OUZ1XeMUvocRzNhE/s1600/beach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yJEy_rDN0sWN260g6InFA9KTyRbrjPqQCoiEgPLi31ggR6iZXzGyxLApYyyQltH0kbg1USTp_Xr_1jrCDG78GdlSgSXztlXqfUhZPJWFuCaOviN66jiEIUcqDw4OUZ1XeMUvocRzNhE/s200/beach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613715443081251106" /></a><br /><br />A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIqw7Bqm9ousQzXrDUb0fx3MX1aLzEe7mqhLdo_1jd4bAS-lrQiVn4A8K2T13mhp_n-c9sXHPIBdZi0xmh0vdpdcPGPVYLp-5lwOz1qeIhyphenhyphen8qno-qwMzErNC2UJ38FnYuu6S4lJxHQvU/s1600/LC2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIqw7Bqm9ousQzXrDUb0fx3MX1aLzEe7mqhLdo_1jd4bAS-lrQiVn4A8K2T13mhp_n-c9sXHPIBdZi0xmh0vdpdcPGPVYLp-5lwOz1qeIhyphenhyphen8qno-qwMzErNC2UJ38FnYuu6S4lJxHQvU/s200/LC2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613700827570638738" /></a><br />I heart LC! <br /><br />A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwJzasPI30VdYYYIGzKn4IVQEsmsFB7UcX_LfeI1PSS2pQo_u65sxlAcDa_oxrXYVNf9oyVKnYf5qmj9-LDVVEh9rK0CAzNdEFNYmAbwQMbTspNKD3pmR9QSCQFrPxd6zcaxhlBHFR8U/s1600/lauren.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwJzasPI30VdYYYIGzKn4IVQEsmsFB7UcX_LfeI1PSS2pQo_u65sxlAcDa_oxrXYVNf9oyVKnYf5qmj9-LDVVEh9rK0CAzNdEFNYmAbwQMbTspNKD3pmR9QSCQFrPxd6zcaxhlBHFR8U/s200/lauren.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613706231452156914" /></a><br />I wouldn't really say I do the most ****** up things with Lauren, but I do manage to get into trouble whenever we hang out! Mostly my fault though... I'm no spring chicken!<br /> <br />A picture of something you hate <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YevWkoVFOTcPHZehQV1RiZLiUjRfs1bXQJRsIovEcL7h1jNU-cwrUG0ccEU0tV5mO6o72aCnAgQ_ziEkMiN_rVYzyNz5ddrI8YQw2w63oxuK0keD5lf0XFZs1FwkuPrnLfQacLdRWY8/s1600/3679628279_f87343e362.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YevWkoVFOTcPHZehQV1RiZLiUjRfs1bXQJRsIovEcL7h1jNU-cwrUG0ccEU0tV5mO6o72aCnAgQ_ziEkMiN_rVYzyNz5ddrI8YQw2w63oxuK0keD5lf0XFZs1FwkuPrnLfQacLdRWY8/s200/3679628279_f87343e362.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613667628449172450" /></a><br />Blech! Cooked bell pepper!<br /><br />A picture of something you love <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0EFBe4PWtXzTPgaPSAk-_q8tF-7wNnGnOHnEPZFvCjtkhp4R0RrfN6cbb_EbpVZyWOQXGBXhI7lxnnAlIo-tWZvAnkKEcv_s-1kW9TKPgyJYxZFLoLfBUTlhDYJSVmz5HR4EU8dxev4/s1600/tiramisu.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0EFBe4PWtXzTPgaPSAk-_q8tF-7wNnGnOHnEPZFvCjtkhp4R0RrfN6cbb_EbpVZyWOQXGBXhI7lxnnAlIo-tWZvAnkKEcv_s-1kW9TKPgyJYxZFLoLfBUTlhDYJSVmz5HR4EU8dxev4/s200/tiramisu.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613709186091073666" /></a><br />Nom nom nom... tiramisu!<br /><br />A picture of your favorite band or artist <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyOjWYQ17O_aEGgycPqHpWFTx8LUucU1-0ONMoldpBbOlsLeER2U4y1PRPARF7TVHj3nNv9ABLpJ3iDcFwoP3e4kR6XgXfFOOH-YFdPLJiQ4wrMa7YfrW9ZRO0T1tLz-F0bHSVyYM04M/s1600/smashingpumpkins_sflb_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyOjWYQ17O_aEGgycPqHpWFTx8LUucU1-0ONMoldpBbOlsLeER2U4y1PRPARF7TVHj3nNv9ABLpJ3iDcFwoP3e4kR6XgXfFOOH-YFdPLJiQ4wrMa7YfrW9ZRO0T1tLz-F0bHSVyYM04M/s200/smashingpumpkins_sflb_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613709909965841826" /></a><br />I don't know if they're still my "favorite" band, but I do love some SP! <br /><br />A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9NwuDX-K-gHSClh1KbvirWDQhRxh1QTMj7rwcYXWtTWqRlC5FL0t7ICjQQ0vYG5Yz3KtIPUEtq7VhzHYKHA_Mm0O46vi-dBnPc97Bn2pdSl2wmTMtidFuEYh8QkIkohTUxSJfk0pCYY/s1600/mom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9NwuDX-K-gHSClh1KbvirWDQhRxh1QTMj7rwcYXWtTWqRlC5FL0t7ICjQQ0vYG5Yz3KtIPUEtq7VhzHYKHA_Mm0O46vi-dBnPc97Bn2pdSl2wmTMtidFuEYh8QkIkohTUxSJfk0pCYY/s200/mom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613698998217308434" /></a><br />My mom! She's sort of my best friend. <br /><br />A picture of something you want to do before you die <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCvZRjnfhVWMmgVBScWC6l9hRDvbeeuPr9YtpcoO-S5TQ3Gm5-Uam5C7DT_OeOWyn2HhtswUCXnr1m-mFnldi1aiL-Yuj74UJCLbBRf33A3qzBaVHdZra96Ly82B8vEcnqK7tPxAEx3o/s1600/jake-gyllenhaal-prince-of-persia2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCvZRjnfhVWMmgVBScWC6l9hRDvbeeuPr9YtpcoO-S5TQ3Gm5-Uam5C7DT_OeOWyn2HhtswUCXnr1m-mFnldi1aiL-Yuj74UJCLbBRf33A3qzBaVHdZra96Ly82B8vEcnqK7tPxAEx3o/s200/jake-gyllenhaal-prince-of-persia2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613711489618110562" /></a><br />No comments needed. <br /><br />A picture of someone who inspires you <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwMTgYH7koQ1UIclA9VmAql4h4P2PhYQypZF7GA-c8BByNP9Qr_bCpsufSaFF3HnpMrkwGhsP7UuOHK19JAmgUC7P3HnKzb954SJhkJHKWqNeQSIY_LMxR1mHQqYb6C1VxoEi3cpNqko/s1600/madeleine-albright-book.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwMTgYH7koQ1UIclA9VmAql4h4P2PhYQypZF7GA-c8BByNP9Qr_bCpsufSaFF3HnpMrkwGhsP7UuOHK19JAmgUC7P3HnKzb954SJhkJHKWqNeQSIY_LMxR1mHQqYb6C1VxoEi3cpNqko/s200/madeleine-albright-book.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613698682866071810" /></a><br /><br />A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxPBlW3_8ozwzTLuUEGg-eV5BQbHqdr-_dWZwAXEl0H6vXTXXZs7u_RvJnr7nkc_WurygVH6lvbsmKEI-lcC45J8NkAONruSh7epwtAi6Nv9ND26_6iBv6lNmqQ2Ok6wEEhVYldLFK_s/s1600/INW36900_91644_5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxPBlW3_8ozwzTLuUEGg-eV5BQbHqdr-_dWZwAXEl0H6vXTXXZs7u_RvJnr7nkc_WurygVH6lvbsmKEI-lcC45J8NkAONruSh7epwtAi6Nv9ND26_6iBv6lNmqQ2Ok6wEEhVYldLFK_s/s200/INW36900_91644_5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613673149124937618" /></a><br />Hello friend!<br /><br />A picture of your biggest insecurity <br /><p style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/HarryPotter/Docs/Quiz-House.html"><img src="http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/HarryPotter/Docs/Quizzes/HP-Hufflepuff.jpg" style="border:none; width:256px; height106px;" title="Hufflepuff"></a><br><a href="http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/HarryPotter/Docs/Quiz-House.html">Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?</a></p><br />Maybe it's dumb... but I'm kind of insecure about the possibility that if I ever get sorted into a house I'm going to get put in Hufflepuff. Despite Cedric Diggory being in this house... <br /><br />A picture of a letter <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CFT6puf_fJIYhc-jESJK4MQfYUdm2aEvtJjcDy0G0tuarBTDn0bQNzUqR1ERpw_Sv50uMGgn-pXPtXDX83JBoxYI9DiPoyFIxiuUQ6duqQzSUsFUZXeNc1LqAR2d4EQD2rBu6W_NOUk/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CFT6puf_fJIYhc-jESJK4MQfYUdm2aEvtJjcDy0G0tuarBTDn0bQNzUqR1ERpw_Sv50uMGgn-pXPtXDX83JBoxYI9DiPoyFIxiuUQ6duqQzSUsFUZXeNc1LqAR2d4EQD2rBu6W_NOUk/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613696300456632706" /></a><br />What yourself Selena...<br /><br />A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycakVDY1WcMyOp6CosqO35sAugqYVxR7hJXk-b8SoJsjOJv2Mt3xVsDho1XCFltBA9_yonjbd7qJ500FPMjFmu43VeK1kTu860_rSxEJgCzDQMLwyVQUhs51_Kjw_inWRz7RYxj1jn0U/s1600/greece.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycakVDY1WcMyOp6CosqO35sAugqYVxR7hJXk-b8SoJsjOJv2Mt3xVsDho1XCFltBA9_yonjbd7qJ500FPMjFmu43VeK1kTu860_rSxEJgCzDQMLwyVQUhs51_Kjw_inWRz7RYxj1jn0U/s200/greece.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613668151500760450" /></a><br />Duh<br /><br />A picture of something you wish you could forget <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HAmY1ILu05Cm5WkRuWWXAubhE4bZ9A9jUSGo25P9ppncsbNhbr3EdKeyXP6eTjyac9VR0xKzPFHBaB4JuJJtPLhjEgq_7Kj_trOBWIEbOTv7L0RO6FOdpZgN3wkvqSQYUs3maqPE0Sg/s1600/n27400439_36799737_2582.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HAmY1ILu05Cm5WkRuWWXAubhE4bZ9A9jUSGo25P9ppncsbNhbr3EdKeyXP6eTjyac9VR0xKzPFHBaB4JuJJtPLhjEgq_7Kj_trOBWIEbOTv7L0RO6FOdpZgN3wkvqSQYUs3maqPE0Sg/s200/n27400439_36799737_2582.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613681216156980882" /></a><br />That says "Harris Hall" - I'd love to wipe away my memory of that place. <br /><br />A picture of something you wish you were better at <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YgWAUqw0fbxg4TY1eLKRP_0f8pZBF9j7kfeQ15XFfeH5TavJbUcqnzs2-VSJvxhwwQYzxs_9Gqe6sfXAp4rCi9F2q2yXuE4I4OVOQ-0kndiOv4mwHXxHIcW1vvoUnzvDgLcNRKL-DAk/s1600/just-dance-wii-087.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YgWAUqw0fbxg4TY1eLKRP_0f8pZBF9j7kfeQ15XFfeH5TavJbUcqnzs2-VSJvxhwwQYzxs_9Gqe6sfXAp4rCi9F2q2yXuE4I4OVOQ-0kndiOv4mwHXxHIcW1vvoUnzvDgLcNRKL-DAk/s200/just-dance-wii-087.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613714351856380274" /></a><br />Dancing... I mean, I'm totally stellar at home, but not so much on the dance floor. <br /><br />A picture of your favorite book <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WLtS9L6ifSw1zUF7wlfjh6bYxZMteiV3uVFc5ahZ0zbKPlqsAfmom3vs6m_bAERytHLquaanRUN1iAhtgzFLzCvK4iWBngf8P9vxJatfU_Kj_OW2ASsP5mC0t4d83y6G69t74uUvwJg/s1600/lucy-sullivan-is-getting-married-marian-keyes-paperback-cover-art.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 127px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WLtS9L6ifSw1zUF7wlfjh6bYxZMteiV3uVFc5ahZ0zbKPlqsAfmom3vs6m_bAERytHLquaanRUN1iAhtgzFLzCvK4iWBngf8P9vxJatfU_Kj_OW2ASsP5mC0t4d83y6G69t74uUvwJg/s200/lucy-sullivan-is-getting-married-marian-keyes-paperback-cover-art.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613673635093142226" /></a><br />Fantastic read! Read it! Read it! Read it!<br /><br />A picture of something you wish you could change <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrNULI1B25PR9Q00p4T7mvIwt5o7jEDjCLpO6P1jchJCK56QiM4Z6y1hc1W7RXM4UXdMXoSoap-MZw-NBMF2xBotZf950gBtM0I7Se1iS9DwEJ9Uok6OCwKRS-w66JbO_Uc2TNl9w77M/s1600/flat-tire.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrNULI1B25PR9Q00p4T7mvIwt5o7jEDjCLpO6P1jchJCK56QiM4Z6y1hc1W7RXM4UXdMXoSoap-MZw-NBMF2xBotZf950gBtM0I7Se1iS9DwEJ9Uok6OCwKRS-w66JbO_Uc2TNl9w77M/s200/flat-tire.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613718272174751698" /></a><br />One day...<br /><br />A picture of your favorite day <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHhMexpK_5-8_YL9A_rhx7toMvPvguuUrNfmCj75CXFKywLYo05jcmX2rNwBZFGAeaHWhx5lyQ8_F8a8R0qnk6eFgVZh4N8BEhObkJdYBlHZZU5jFuEotuqDsCG0XrZFq2oKH2NoGUVA/s1600/calendar_January_15.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 142px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHhMexpK_5-8_YL9A_rhx7toMvPvguuUrNfmCj75CXFKywLYo05jcmX2rNwBZFGAeaHWhx5lyQ8_F8a8R0qnk6eFgVZh4N8BEhObkJdYBlHZZU5jFuEotuqDsCG0XrZFq2oKH2NoGUVA/s200/calendar_January_15.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613680287663873954" /></a><br />My birthday!!!<br /><br />A picture of something that means a lot to you <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnHQlPooHvHJB1T33PEVEA6U2SOjgFkeQtw5SLn-tgYDM0XtAGh8312XqZ1krdOYii3vC-C0qlTR8Z_42VnpTZLw2OsioQ9SD6tRVSSpqCRqB-nxfEFliWXXD8Il_wjlAgSPInSPmmgE/s1600/breast_cancer_awareness-3298.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnHQlPooHvHJB1T33PEVEA6U2SOjgFkeQtw5SLn-tgYDM0XtAGh8312XqZ1krdOYii3vC-C0qlTR8Z_42VnpTZLw2OsioQ9SD6tRVSSpqCRqB-nxfEFliWXXD8Il_wjlAgSPInSPmmgE/s200/breast_cancer_awareness-3298.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613714804412005234" /></a><br /><br />A picture of yourself and a family member <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgti6MrwNirZ6_2r0NsMmgnnZ4ZHH8X_22LklN0-ZzH7Invs81mn5R0ONIx2zHBRzWwLiLh9tslL-hJy1UYc1waRqKtXDNwW11_VYvJ8LEgOq1r19BKpal82Kho65CU48yl4Ly8SOYut8w/s1600/grad.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgti6MrwNirZ6_2r0NsMmgnnZ4ZHH8X_22LklN0-ZzH7Invs81mn5R0ONIx2zHBRzWwLiLh9tslL-hJy1UYc1waRqKtXDNwW11_VYvJ8LEgOq1r19BKpal82Kho65CU48yl4Ly8SOYut8w/s200/grad.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613718824460557186" /></a><br />Or 3...<br /><br />A picture of something you're afraid of <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4-vYQffTZgo2CdWV6qD5znTaQyqAf6j3pBR-q6vOourJ3jWeLWLaXYQlhigYajaGKe2weMyDRdZsPDAsp_0k0vsdHWzw_Pm59oSSHhnOV5hZaYWJe1JgOAoZmzjw6E9f8TJFNSaCSQo/s1600/gremlins2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4-vYQffTZgo2CdWV6qD5znTaQyqAf6j3pBR-q6vOourJ3jWeLWLaXYQlhigYajaGKe2weMyDRdZsPDAsp_0k0vsdHWzw_Pm59oSSHhnOV5hZaYWJe1JgOAoZmzjw6E9f8TJFNSaCSQo/s200/gremlins2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613715057269091570" /></a><br />The first (and only) time I watched Gremlins was when I was maybe 4... it came on TV and my parents let me watch it. I was, of course, scared... and was petrified there were gremlins under my bed. Didn't help that my mom, upon checking, pretended that they had gotten her and she was being pulled in under the bed. I may have to rethink that "best friends" thing...<br /><br />A picture that can always make you smile <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mAle9MYs8qTq9JJ9-C99CnywECAs5ePSmPRzaDdrsInuraEKQm68ikENLy8YAo9I-yH8QU6el-SMYM7HO_D1vv2cD-o2fuD61bVHpkVOu978Llw6cyEy5G5zDGDnxd9IiNtha2bl20s/s1600/devil+child.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mAle9MYs8qTq9JJ9-C99CnywECAs5ePSmPRzaDdrsInuraEKQm68ikENLy8YAo9I-yH8QU6el-SMYM7HO_D1vv2cD-o2fuD61bVHpkVOu978Llw6cyEy5G5zDGDnxd9IiNtha2bl20s/s200/devil+child.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613717572817448130" /></a><br />It's kind of tiny, but I'm making this adorable devil child face... Also, check out my aunt's knee socks. <br /><br />A picture of someone you miss<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21DcC_J2-GJvI_hlLOPJ4OiVbl9pBBGdWLHme9Ymx7A3hyphenhyphenbWZHa8TXP5VVFoQ80HAXDFhemZT-nuo3Byj_8LzUARk37yebEMk5exOCW_TILkNfy367DsQ_fLJvsmyaHE9H3-qs72gmBM/s1600/tay.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21DcC_J2-GJvI_hlLOPJ4OiVbl9pBBGdWLHme9Ymx7A3hyphenhyphenbWZHa8TXP5VVFoQ80HAXDFhemZT-nuo3Byj_8LzUARk37yebEMk5exOCW_TILkNfy367DsQ_fLJvsmyaHE9H3-qs72gmBM/s200/tay.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613716047285134258" /></a><br />My fabulous sparkle!!!Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-21789947214525845912011-05-26T12:21:00.005-05:002011-05-26T12:46:32.807-05:00Anxiously Awaiting the Sources of My Anxiety“The source of anxiety lies in the future. If you can keep the future out of mind, you can forget your worries.” - Milan Kundera<br /><br />We all have them: friends who freak out over seemingly nothing things or worry about events that could happen to them but aren't even on the near horizon of their future. They worry about the possibility of getting mugged on the street when they live in the safest suburbia of America and don't even go "on the street." They flip out over who they could bring as a date to their 10 year high school reunion 3 years after they graduate from high school. They panic about who is going to play the female lead in the screen adaptation of their book (watch your back Selena Gomez...) when they haven't even finished writing the damn thing! <br /><br />Yes, we all have those friends. And if you're friends with me, hi, I'm that friend. <br /><br />I just finished reading a blog listing things that make the writer anxious but shouldn't and, after drying my eyes from laughing so hard, it got me thinking about my own anxiety problems. For example: I panic about getting pregnant and what would happen if I did. Could I afford a baby? Would I need to find another job? Would someone hire me if I was pregnant? Do people even take chances on pregnant women? Will I ever meet someone if I'm pregnant? See? It's ridiculous for me to worry about these things because I'm not even having sex. I'm not even in a position to have sex (no pun intended). Maybe instead of focusing on how I'm going to decorate the baby's room (pink and yellow w/ elephants wearing pink bows if a girl, tigers with bowties if a boy...) I should focus on finding someone to have sex with. I mean... date. Date. Yes, date. <br /><br />Thinking about my anxiety and the ridiculous things I get anxious over really makes me stop and think about why I get so stressed over stupid things like the possibility of getting pregnant or finding a date to a wedding when everyone already knows I'm single. Maybe this is a way of addressing my fears. Yes, I'm scared to get pregnant and as of right now it's probably the worst thing that could happen to me. Yes, I'm slightly afraid that I'm going to always be alone. Yes, I'm petrified that Selena Gomez will be cast in the movie adaptation of my yet to be finished book. <br /><br />Maybe my anxiety stems from the lack of these things in my life and seeing others achieve or do these things. The anxiety could be a way of living out things that I really want and a way of dealing with them even though they aren't happening at the moment. It's like I'm mentally preparing myself for the worst and freaking out before it happens so when/if it does happen, I'll be prepared to deal with it calmly and rationally. <br /><br />Or maybe that's all crap. In the words of Dr. Temperance Brennan: I hate psychology.Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-53437452825731103632011-05-23T11:25:00.003-05:002011-05-23T11:47:30.216-05:00After the "Rapture"Rapture (n): <br />1. The state of being transported by a lofty emotion; ecstasy.<br />2. An expression of ecstatic feeling. Often used in the plural.<br />3. The transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to heaven<br /><br />Apparently, May 21, 2011 was supposed to be the rapture... the day the rapture came... when the rapture happened? I'm not really sure how you would phrase that. Regardless, I, like so many other people I know, found the idea of the end of the world being this past Saturday kind of... well... hilarious. It's been the butt of several jokes last week followed by several post-rapture jokes so far week. <br />Even though I'm not still quite sure I understand exactly WHAT the rapture is (please feel free to explain if you're so inclined) I definitely feel that no man is going to be able to "predict" when it's coming. Despite the world-wide popularity of books such as The DaVinci Code or movies like National Treasure (although I'm not sure how popular that one was...) I have a hard time believing that these historical documents or biblical documents have hidden "codes" that we can use to predict things. Especially the second coming of Christ. If he's coming back, he'll come back when he's ready, not when man dictates he's coming. Although he might have been trying to make a surprise visit on Saturday and decided not to since we were all expecting him. Thanks, Mr. Camping. <br /><br /><strong>Things I had Hoped to Get Out of Due to Rapture</strong><br />That late fee at the library due to not turning a DVD in on time<br />Work<br />Cleaning my apartment<br />Paying doctor's bills that my cheap-o insurance wouldn't cover<br />Going to the dentist<br /><br /><strong>Things that I would have Missed Due to Rapture</strong><br />Final Harry Potter<br />Seeing Wicked next year<br />Glee Season Finale<br />Finally getting to go to the pool at my apartment complex that only JUST opened<br /><br />Perhaps if I had been raptured, those things would be in Heaven... so I'm cool with it. I can't see Harry Potter NOT going to heaven with me.Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2597681220491882254.post-86953176997274738682011-05-13T22:00:00.006-05:002011-05-13T22:33:51.029-05:00My Awesome Day or Why Friday the 13th isn't really so Bad<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqURAkqhwfYl-SWxZwWpzG0Mgy0F6EOxEXDCZCqeSeAf5vPK6a6JAUCEu6rQQcVHyXBVSazxfJbl67j97Wy07bxSP46Ryr253BtlI37jgsMdLqSN4cF7pr8NC2a791afVepHRIsbUOs4/s1600/297356049.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqURAkqhwfYl-SWxZwWpzG0Mgy0F6EOxEXDCZCqeSeAf5vPK6a6JAUCEu6rQQcVHyXBVSazxfJbl67j97Wy07bxSP46Ryr253BtlI37jgsMdLqSN4cF7pr8NC2a791afVepHRIsbUOs4/s200/297356049.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606409875329854354" /></a><br />Today is Friday the 13th. Typically this day is the day when bad things happen or you have bad luck. I can't really say I've had that type of luck with Friday the 13ths, but maybe I've just forced past ones out of my memory. <br />The day started simple enough, nothing out of the ordinary. I woke up entirely too early and realized I had an hour left to sleep. Maybe this is when Friday the 13th kicked in. This would be one of those moments where, if I was on that Bahamas episode of Scrubs, I'd lift up my Brady Bunch Tiki Man and say "wanana!" Of course I'm not. Not that it's going to stop me. Wanana!<br />Long story short, why in the world don't I wake up earlier and give myself time to actually relish my mornings instead of racing through them? I had a perfectly lovely morning of sitting on the patio with my book and sipping a cup of tea. It was awesome and quiet and perfectly pleasant. (BTW, if you're into slightly darker fantasy historical type books, I would highly recommend the Gemma Doyle books. Just finished the first in the series, "A Great and Terrible Beauty" and omg...)<br />One of the first phone calls I received this morning at work was from a client who is having an event on Monday. She just wanted to verify everything. (Note: when working with an event planner or caterer, CALL TO CHECK IN PRIOR TO YOUR EVENT!!!! We really like this, I promise) Somehow the woman segwayed onto the dreaded "What did you go to college for" question. Normally, if you go to college and have a degree, it's not really that bad of a question. When you're a glorified receptionist who basically takes cookie orders (yes, I know I'm being overly harsh about my job... I really do a lot more), explaining to people what you hold your degreeS (note: plural) is slightly embarrassing. I explained I have my bachelor's in RHM and my master's in HES and then braced myself for the "What?! Wow!" response... usually this isn't said in a "Hey, that's totally awesome!" kind of way. It's more in the "WTF are you doing in THIS job?" kind of way... but I digress. <br />Let's just say I got a little teary-eyed from her praise of me. There really was no mention of my degrees but instead of how great I was at my job and how she knew that I would be successful and go far. And I BARELY ever work with this woman! Man, what do clients I work with on a weekly basis think of me? I could probably be the next president in their opinion! Maaaaaaaaybe that's pushing it...<br />I'm sure this whole "my day was so super great" thing is making me sound like a conceited you know what, but who cares?! After the week I've had I needed someone to throw me a bone and remind me that my journey is still far. <br />As a recent Twitter-er I started following my college (from which I hold both my degrees). The other day there was a "tweet" about an HES grad that was going to be on Regis and Kathy Lee.. I mean... Kelly? Yes, Kelly. She was launching her new line or something. There was a link, so I ended up on her website and ended up as a giant ball of this strange mixture of pride, inadequacy and motivation. I mean, kudos to this girl for realizing her dream and making it happen. She not only had a new line coming out for Fall 11, but had already put out TWO OTHER ONES! And they weren't crappy clothes either! So after I finished my "Good for her! What a great feeling to have such a successful HES alumna!" I started feeling very inadequate. I have yet to realize my dream, much less begin pursuing it. It was a big hit to the ego to see this girl who is several years younger than me already more successful than I wonder if I'll ever be. After that wave of inadequacy simmered down, I got super motivated. I mean, damnit why can't I be successful? What's stopping me? My boss? My co-workers? NO, just me. <br />So that brings me to what motivated me this week and why my day got even awesomer. I've been hedging about my book, hem-hawing that it's not very good, avoiding facing the truth that maybe it sucks and flat out avoiding what I really want it to be. So today, after completing my 15 minutes of work, I dove in head first. <br />I've written great things in the past... things that made ME happy. I didn't worry about what others thought; I wrote what I wanted to read and it worked and people enjoyed it. Why am I steering away from this formula? The formula works.<br />I feel like today's editing really got me back on track and really expanded the depth. I really hope it steered away from being too cheery/saccharin/cutesy and started being a little darker. Not scary dark, just not so cutesy. <br />I'll also be spending the weekend in the library working on the book... there will probably be several more entries over the weekend.<br />Finally, in case you noticed, I added some Doogie Howser background music to the blog. I sometimes feel like him as I'm entering these things. You know, minus the teenage doctor genius thing...Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14426414229160461775noreply@blogger.com0