Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Crying Shame or What I learn from America's Funniest Videos


Sometimes the lesson in life is simple. Sometimes it's convoluted, tangled and insanely difficult to .. you know, grasp. Sometimes the lesson revolves around serious life events, but mostly, lessons are something like: Don't play with puppies in your underwear. Or, for the love of all that's good in this world, don't jump on an old trampoline. Or, listen up, don't let your grannies ride scooters.

But can you believe it? Have you ever even SEEN an episode of America's Funniest Videos? Never, NEVER jump on a trampoline. NEVER NEVER try to get into a paddle boat off a rickety dock. Don't sled. Just DO NOT sled. I mean, most of my life lessons I've learned from AFV.

Well, there are other life lessons that AFV can't *really* portray on the show. For instance, never have sex on the first date. And if you do, that's okay, just don't let it get *too* weird.. you know, paddling and masks and acid. Like, burning acid not dropping acid. Dropping acid is okay. Also, don't show up at your male lover's house with a gun and shoot his wife. I'm looking at you, Amy Fisher. I mean, life goes deeper than what AFV can show you, but not really. If it seems like a bad idea, don't do it. If you think jumping on an exercise ball is a bad idea, don't do it. If you think clubbing your opponent's knees is a bad idea, don't do it.

Same lesson, different vehicles to teach the lesson. Right?

For now, I think I have a handle on most things. But, to fill in the gaps, this is me. Driving. Taking a picture of myself. That's a terrible idea. Don't do that either.

Jesus Christ!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Interview Outfits and Other Things

I don't have a picture of the outfit I wore for my interview in Providence this past weekend, but don't worry because I looked cute. I wore brown cords with a grey blazer, some brown moccasins (I have a thing, I told you) and a green glass necklace. My hair was up like a messy librarian's would be, and I sported a borrowed red vintage peacoat and a snazzy umbrella, so that when I shook hands I could rest it in the crook of my arm like I was Dr. John Watson. If only.

The interview went well. I met all the other applicants, and they were smart and good looking and did things like wear purple coats and nice shoes, and they asked intelligent questions. For the most part I was just awkward and nodded a lot. I almost kicked a table over, too. Suffice to say, I was myself.

Traveling takes it out of you, really. But now I'm going to spend the next two weeks, as always, writing poems about people I saw in the airport.

...and all I know for sure is what earrings I'm wearing

About a month ago I applied for tickets to go to the taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon while he's in Indy for the super bowel. (You read that correctly.) A couple of weeks ago I received an e-mail that said I was going to the taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon while he's in Indy for the super bowel. Well, now it's the Monday of the week I go to the taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon while he's in Indy for the super bowel, and all I know for sure is what earrings I'm wearing.

I have to work that morning, but I'm getting off early to go pick up my tickets with my two friends who have to be present when he get our tickets. And then we'll spend the afternoon downtown wondering where celebrities hang out in Indianapolis the week of the super bowel before we get in line to go to the taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon while he's in Indy for the super bowel. So I could theoretically change after to work. Into some jeans, but as a very typical girl, what do I wear?! I got dressed this morning and as I walked out of my apartment all I could think was, "Well, dang. I should have saved this for Thursday." But it's too late now. I'm sitting in it now. Soaking my day's filth into the fibers. Jimmy will know. I will know.

What's worse is I just learned who will be on the show this week and Thursday, my friends, is a disappointment. Tonight is Glenn Close and Emmy Rossum. Tomorrow is JACK MCBRAYER! and people I don't think are real. WEDNESDAY is TRACY MORGAN and Tim Tebow. Friday is SNOOP DOGG. But Thursday? Taylor Lautner and Adam Levine with Nas as the musical guest. Come on, Jimmy. What that does mean though is we could run into Jack McBrayer or Tracy Morgan this week. What that also means is it isn't Seth Rogen or Jason Segel.



And the real point is I only know for sure that I'm wearing these.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Why I don't want to meet your mother

Not YOU specifically, but "you" Ted Mosby's children you. I've been watching "How I Met Your Mother" since it started, and when we made it to season 2 all I could think was "wait really?! You're going to pick this up for more seasons? I mean, I love it, but no one else is watching it."
We got to season 5, and I was surprised. I was happy, but I was surprised that it lasted this long. And that it persists. Still. The show is contracted for 8 seasons. So far.

My first complaint is this.

The name of the show, as I recall it, is "How I Met Your Mother," and the first two and a half seasons were about that. About halfway through season 3 the show made a switch. It became vaguely about Ted and the long road to meeting his future wife, and it moved to what should now be titled "How Barney Slept with Way Too Many Women Before I Met Your Mother, and How Inappropriate It Is That I, Your Father, Am Telling You These Things." (As evidenced by this picture that barely contains Ted's face.) Don't get me wrong, I love Barney Stinson. I adore Neil Patrick Harris. And I loved the chance to hear a little bit more about Marshall and Lily, because I want to marry Jason Segel and I want to be Alyson Hannigan. And the heart-breaking news about Robin not being able to have children forcing her to realize just how much she wanted them. It resonated. These are all important things, and I'm sure they do play a role in how Ted's life shapes before he meets his future wife. All of that except Barney's promiscuity.

But what I don't ever want, more than anything what I don't want is to meet their mother. I just don't. It's bad writing if we meet her. Because from the beginning we've been told the kids know the short story of how Ted met their mother. So all of the story we're hearing should lead up through that point, and at most see the back of her head. Any person they give us will be a disappointment, and anything beyond that moment will be "How Your Mother and I Began To Live Our Lives Together."

But, we will meet her, and it could easily go beyond. Though it never should. Something about American television says "Drag it out as long as you can. No matter how little sense it makes." I'm looking at you, "The Office."

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Blog Post About Liking Things on a Bad Day or knowing somethings about yourself

Don't ask me when I became the person who started worrying about the fragile skin around my eyes because, basically, I don't really know. But you know? I don't care. I'll sing it from the mountaintops: I LOVE EYE CREAMS AND GELS AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTING POWDER FOR MY CHEEK BONES.

In addition, I like cheap wine, expensive pizza, tall socks, wearing head bands. I like talking, talking about pets, and feelings and babies. I also like alcohol. I like talking about my grandparents and watching lots of TV. I like that I form emotional attachments to fictional characters of all sorts. I like playing games on my phone. I like dishing out high fives and compliments and jokes. I like chatting online. I like tweeting and blogging and stalking people on facebook. I like thinking that people's parents like me. Reading and writing and browsing internets. Meeting people, making friends and making expressive movements with my arms, I like those things, too. I like having lunch dates and brushing my teeth. I especially like flossing.

I like wearing socks and sweats and oversized shirts. I like shopping at the mall, but also, I like staying at home and getting so drunk playing catch phrase. Hip hop music and tanning beds. I like getting approval from authority figures, and your parents and my parents and my cat. I like baking and eating the things I bake. I like being right. I like that I sometimes write poetry that could be considered good by some people somewhere who might want to read about the shit I write. I also like that I'm sometimes an elitist, but also, that I'm so approachable. I like that when I take personality tests I'm 100% extrovert, but sometimes all I crave is the quiet turning of the earth.
Et cetera.

I like lots of things.

Chances are, I like you. Unless you're part of that small group of girls from college... you know who you are. I don't like you... still.

Monday, January 23, 2012

BioFreeze Back and Sugar Scrubbed Feet


Hey, you guys, don't worry, for the first portion of today I was steeped in luxury like a damn queen. Or, like someone who was born into wealth. Or, like a high end prostitute with clients who pay for luxurious spa days. Or, like someone who had a little bit of christmas money to spend. Either way, I spent my day at the Woodhouse Day Spa alone and loved every second of it.

I'm not going to only talk about how amazing Spa water is (Basil and Orange infused water) or how deep tissue massages are simultaneously the best and worst pain ever or how going on a Monday morning essentially ensures a private spa - I'm not. I won't. That's boring. But I will talk about walking around with an oversized white robe covering my naked body in front of strangers... LIBERATING. Not joking at all.

Let me first, before I go on, lay out an exception: I still had my undies on, but they are skimpy undies, so basically, totally nude under my robe in front of people I don't know, lapping up basil and orange infused water while getting my feet massaged. WHAT THE HELL? Who am I?

So, here I am, walking around in spa shoes and robe, sauntering to the massage room, orchids and lilies littering the room, quiet ambient sounds invading my ears - and when the therapist tells me to disrobe, I do no problem. What does all of this say about me? I don't really know. Here's what I can only think:
I like being naked in front of strangers.

Hopefully that's okay. OH, and also, I slam down Spa Water like they're those test tube shots and I'm at a night club. And that, I know, is okay.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

It's not pathetic. It's the '90s.


And I want them back! In light of my recent skorts-related post I realized how much I love the '90s way too much. And by "realized" I mean "was reminded." And by "way too much" I clearly mean "in exactly the right portion." It's not dramatic, but what I know is exactly this. On Friday nights I still stay in, but there's no "X-Files" or TGIF on. Well, okay, some times the X-Files is on, but I did that. Not the TV. It's never TGIF. It should always be TGIF. I want to be able say that I'm staying in on Friday night for a real reason, and not because I hate leaving. And yes, I do consider TGIF a real reason. "No, sorry I can't. 'Full House' is on." "No, not tonight, Cory and Topanga are getting married, and I was invited to the wedding." "Friday? Oh no. Not Friday. Sabrina has used her magics all incorrectly and that crazy witch has to get herself out of that mess. Can't miss it." "No. No. Urkle is on." "No, I can't come to your house for a sleepover. You're not allowed to watch 'Dinosaurs.'"

Clearly, the '90s trained me to stay in on a Friday night. That's not pathetic. That's the '90s! And cost-effective. And far less intimidating.

I want my jellies to give me blisters with fashion legitimacy. Not insanity and the usual result of sweating feet in the summer in plastic shoes. I want the bright peach sweatshirts and t-shirts I wear to be normal and ridiculous. Obviously, I want to always be wearing skorts. What I'm saying is I don't just want to be watching TGIF, is I want to be Stephanie Tanner. It's not an outrageous desire. But before I wanted to be Stephanie Tanner, which is my current goal. I wanted to be Clarissa Darling. I wish I'd never given up that goal. I simply don't have enough hubcaps on my wall.

I want a Giga Pet! A sad, unfed and neglected Giga Pet. Not Angry Birds. I want Keds! Not Toms. I want Doug pining after Patty Mayonaise. Not Spongebob. I want 'N Sync is better than Backstreet Boys. Not the Biebs. The only way I want to see Kenan Thompson is on "All That" or "Kenan and Kel." Not "Saturday Night Live." I want slap bracelets. Not Silly Bands. (Silly Bandz? Seelly Brands? Steely Dan?) I want Beanie Babies. Not Furreal Friends. (Those are ROBOPETS!!!!) I want to hear about Zach and Kelly and Slater. Not Edward and Bella and Jacob. (name checks.) Green planet propaganda from cartoons. Not politicians. (Captain Planet. Fern Gully). I want to change the radio station in angst from the Macarena. Not LMFAO. I want the Spice Girls. Not the Pussycat Dolls.

Stirrup pants. Wide leg jeans. Grunge. Surfer fantasies. Hacky sacks. Hypercolor. Pogs. Scrunchies.

It's a rant we've all felt before. I know that deep in your hearts the only thing you want in life is for pizza to be motivating children to read thanks to Book-It.

Friday, January 20, 2012

The what's missing conundrum

So last night before my 8:45 bedtime I was looking for something in my room and something super weird and very unlike me happened. I got this weird and uncomfortable feeling. It was exactly the feeling that I'd been wearing a necklace or bracelet or ring for months and months and suddenly wasn't. The feeling was exactly on my left ring finger. Right where a ring would be, if I talked to other humans, had met a man who actually wanted to spend time with me and was stupid enough to want to marry me.

But that's never happened. I go on dates with guys who get up and leave. I leave my apartment to go to work or to go to the grocery store (once a month) or to the Edingers, which is hardly like leaving my apartment. I go on a date once a year, if I feel like putting pants on. So what the hell is going on with my finger?!

I never wear rings anymore. Only because it's not 1997 in the world, even if it still is in my heart. So the only explanation a friend of mine and the Drugged Librarian's could come up with was this.

Aaaalternaate uuuuuniverrrrse. But not just one. All of the alternate universes. Every Hayley from every alternate reality has been wearing a ring on that finger. Purity rings. Engagement rings. Wedding rings. Mood rings. Friendship rings. Giant moosehead rings. But they all lost them last night about 8:42 p.m. And now we're all feeling the loss, which is totally unfair because it's not my fault that engaged Hayley's fiancee was two-timing her or that married Hayley is clumsy and dropped her ring down the garbage disposal or that Portland Hayley's mood ring was giving bad vibes when she felt totally chill or that slutty Hayley got caught or that perpetually thrid grade Hayley's best friend found a new best friend. Why should I feel the uncomfortable for their mistakes?

I had only one solution. A bunny ring.














But only because I couldn't find my giant moosehead ring.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Sunshine on my shoulders



On the way home from lunch today, I became engaged in a conversation that made no sense at all. These are the best. It all started with a man in a hunter's jacket. You know the kind. Violently bright and, honestly, absurd if worn anywhere doing anything besides hunting.

Andy made mention that the jacket was assaulting his eyes. I told Andy he should sue the sun.

What if we did? Just brought a law suit down on the sun so hard for all the supposed wrong doings -- sunburns, drought, bright colors that hurt our eyes, snow blindness et cetera... but then, as a form of retaliation, the sun just decided to freeze us to death????

And then, just like that, 8 minutes later - we were all Popsicles. Dead. Because we think that we should be allowed to fall asleep in our backyards without shirts on.


addendum: I don't want to sue the sun. at all. it was just a thought.

Skorts, please, come back

It's winter now, if you didn't know. I know it's hard to tell these days. What with the midnight thunderstorms in January and what not. But I assure you, it is technically winter. When it comes to skirts in the winter I wear them with tights. It's the practical solution, even if those tights are bright yellow or orange or purple and make my legs look like muppet legs.

When it isn't winter though, it's too hot. And when it's too hot I don't wear shorts. Not denim, khaki, board, bermuda, gym. I won't wear them. They make my legs feel funny. What I will wear though is skirts. Lots of skirts. But that puts a real damper on my activities. What if there's a spontaneous game of tag or floor is lava? Or what if there's a spontaneous picnic at which a short skirt would make sitting on the ground difficult and unladylike?! My answer is always spandex shorts. I have four pair. Two blacks, one gray and one white. Three of them have lacy edges. It's like being Stephanie Tanner every day! Bright colored skirts and white spandex shorts? Who wouldn't feel like Stephanie Tanner?!
But Stephanie Tanner makes me think of one wonderful thing, and I can hear it echoing through your head and heart. I hear you longing for them too. Skorts! SKORTS. Half shorts. Half skirts. All awesome. Some times they were just a pair of shorts with a panel in the front to make it look like a skirt from the front. Some times they were really just over-sized shorts that looked like a skirt if you stood with your legs together. (like a woman's legs should always be). Some times they were a skirt with the shorts built right in, and that is exactly the style I want back.

Think of all of the things I could do, while still looking like Stephanie Tanner. I don't feel like it's an outrageous desire. Juvenile? Maybe. But not outrageous. It's everything you want too, you're just ashamed to admit that even in elementary school you'd always rather you'd been wearing a skort than some silly skirt or shorts. Fancy and functional. That's everything I want in life.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Pho tai, nam and being good at things


There are things I do really well. Seriously. If you know me, this is something I bet you doubt, but it's true. For example, I'm pretty damn savvy in most social situations. There are, of course, some scenarios that send me over the edge, but mostly.. mostly, I'm prepared for many awkward interactions.

Also, I'm kick ass at my job. I am. Right now, I'm planning a puppet show, Mail Art programs for home schoolers, a poetry workshop in April and bringing in real life comic book artists in May. Kids love me. Kids love my robot earrings and red shoes and the high fives I dish out on a regular basis and my story times and how they know I will stand up for them when bullies are dick heads and grown-ups are mean. Kids know this about me, they remember the people they like and like you back. They remember when a grown-up doesn't take herself too seriously. They remember when you take time to listen. Kids, honestly, are the best things ever. They know I think that and they reward me with devotion reserved for cool ass librarians.

I, also, must be really good at bragging.

Anyway, among other things (and the aforementioned items), I'm also really, really good at eating. No lie. I'm good at ordering foods I like and eating the shit out of them. Pho, pizza, coney dogs, chili and soups, sandwiches, sides, appetizers, desserts and everything of the sort. If it's food, I'll eat it. I'll eat it in a way in which one would think it was my job to consume food - sometimes gracefully, with manners, sometimes lacking both elegance and table side charm. I mean, it all depends on the food. I eat pizza with my hands, pho with chopsticks, sloppy joes with getting the sloppy on my face, ice cream in little bites.. honestly, I've gotten it down.

Take me out to eat and you'll see. You won't regret it. In addition to seeing a professional eat food, you'll also get to hang out with me. And I really like making friends.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Alright, Jeans, let's talk


Alright, so I've got this tummy brought on by beer, poor eating habits, candy, cake and laziness in all aspects of my life except eating things that are bad for me. But my legs are slammin'. If I'm honest with you, which I am. And Tina Trendiness says I'm supposed to be wearing skinny jeans. You know what sucks about skinny jeans? Well, I'll tell you. Fat people look ridiculous in them. That's just true. Even if you have kickin' legs (ha), you end up looking like some sort of living ice cream cone.

Now I own exactly five pairs of skinny jeans in varying styles and colors. One black, one gray (of course) and three dark blue. The dark blues are all in different sizes because I keep getting fatter. Tina, or Ms. Trendiness to those of you unfamiliar with her, says that I should always be wearing these jeans. Because they're cool. Well, this morning, CASUAL FRIDAY, my favorite pair of these skinny jeans, and the only blue pair left that fit me, were WET, because the only dryer left in my building barely works. So I had to wear a different pair of jeans. Moreover, a non-Tina-approved pair of jeans.

So I grabbed a pair of dark blue flared jeans. Like it was 2003. And I'll be Frank with you; you can be Dean. My ass looks great in these jeans. I always forget. And it's a great feat, because I have an innie-ass. But what's really important is this. I was walking into the office, and I looked down at my feet. (I do this because I tend to trip if I don't.) And I see my brown mocassin slippers and my flare-leg jeans, and I think to myself. "NO, TINA! I'll wear what I want. I'm comfortable! And NO, you can't see how amazing my calves are, but you also can't tell that my stomach is going to consume Rhode Island."

The problem with Tina is she's always telling you what you're doing is wrong. You apparently always have to be dressed like her to be living your life correctly. But my friends, you do not. Wear what you want. Dress in the style that makes you most comfortable in that situation. If a trend doesn't work for your body type, don't buy into it. I've always said they shouldn't make certain styles of shirt for every size, because the people that will buy them are exactly the people who shouldn't. I, for example, can never buy a shirt with designated boob placement. My boobs will always pour out from all sides. Left, right, top, bottom. Made to look completely ridiculous. Even if I buy the shirt to fit my boobs perfectly, I'm then suddenly dressed like a pregnant lady trying to hide the fact that her belly is full of baby.

If you like flare-leg jeans, wear them. Don't be an ice cream cone. Just eat one.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Bone Thugs & Uncle Charlie.

Last weekend I felt really lucky. I went to a cluster of antique stores and in the 3 hours I was out looking at old stuff, I heard my two favorite Bone Thugs-N-Harmony songs. Can you even stand it? Both songs are on the album E. 1999 Eternal and I first heard this album in Jr. High. A time when No Doubt and Mazzy Star were busy influencing my blue fingernails and purple space purse. I'm pretty sure Coolio was my gateway drug to Bone Thugs but really it doesn't matter. What matters is two fold. First, they taught me the love of fast talk and rhyme. Seriously, they probably somehow made me a better writer of poetry. Probably not too, but I don't want to talk about it right now. Second, and perhaps scarier was the fact that my childhood best friend loved them too. Tha Crossroads was her favorite song and it was my favorite song. What I'm really getting at is that my childhood best friend is now in jail for attempted murder. Do you get that? So every time I hear this very nostalgic fast talk rhyming, I also get sad for my childhood friend that will be sitting in jail until we are well into our old age. And here is maybe the saddest part, we came from the same sort of life. Good, country kid, had a house and school life. Do you think Bone had anything to do with it? Probably not but sometimes I think I should write her a letter and put Tha Crossroads lyrics at the bottom. I am only half serious about that but I still think it. "...can I get a witness? We livin' our lives to eternal our souls."

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Bruno Mars, I'm concerned


I don't like the music of Bruno Mars. For several reasons.

1) It gets all stuck up in my head too easily.
2) It sounds so happy, but it's really the same whiny things Dashboard was singing about 10 years ago.
3) It's not good.

That being said, I'm concerned, and here's why.

First, I heard his song "Just the Way You Are," in which he expresses to unknown woman...sorry, "girl"...well, not even to, more about. So there's this girl, and her eyes are making shiny things appear less shiny, her hair is perfect, she doesn't buy into compliments, and she don't see what our boy Bruno sees.

What we've learned so far, Bruno Mars puts his lady friends on a high pedestal but keeps them in check by calling them "girl" regardless of age. This woman has, in Bruno's mind, an unrealistic self-image. Bruno is crap at grammar.

Now it's the chorus that really gets me. Every time, EVERY TIME, this lovely young lady asks Bruno if what she's wearing looks okay he says THE SAME THING EVERY TIME! And everything he has to say about her is about her face, which has nothing to do with what she's wearing.

Just say, "yes," and we could move on! But no. Not Bruno. He evades the question. He won't answer about her clothes; moreover, he says the same thing every time she asks making it a thoughtless and careless response. It's rehearsed and loses all meaning.

So let's assume she did not dump him.

Now the only other Bruno Mars song I've ever heard is called "Grenade." In this song Bruno's lady is put into HORRIBLE situations (or she's completely safe), and Bruno will do nothing helpful to save her. He will, however, kill himself.

She's tossed everything Bruno had in the trash, probably because he's just as careless with his compliments. All Bruno wants from her is all of her love. Is that so much to ask? He can promise in return to blindly compliment you and evade questions. But this lady doesn't seem to understand that Bruno would catch grenades (that may or may not have been thrown at said lady of interest), throw his hand on a blade (in a grand gesture of blood sacrifice, I guess), jump in front of a train (to stop it so she can get on it maybe?), take a bullet to the brain ("I'll kill myself if you won't love me"). Bruno would die for this woman, completely unnecessarily.

And because of the lack of returned affection he suggests the woman is going to hell, or is at least in cahoots with Satan.

Here's the thing though. At the end of each chorus Bruno points out that she's not going to do the same for him. One, because she doesn't love him. Two, because he's a sloppy complimenter and inattentive. Three, because she's not suicidal.

So, if you get a moment, maybe just write Bruno Mars a little note asking him to calm down. Remind him he has so much to live for. (There's cake to be eaten). In the meantime, listen to some Kings of Convenience.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

...and the booze makes three

I'm healed. I'm putting off so many things, like grad school applications, like glancing over Aesop's Fables for potential puppet show scripts, like cleaning my kitchen, like putting up clothes, but I don't care right now! All I care about is telling you this story that I remembered midday and it made me laugh and laugh. This story is quite telling, so - I hope you're ready!

I work hardware trade shows 2x a year for Do It Best. I do. I'm good at it. Mostly, I sell locks, but what I really do is sell my conversation. I'm a tiny blonde in a booth selling WordLocks in a convention center filled with busy people. Slowing down, talking to a chatty little Midwestern girl is what lots of people like to do. And by people, I meant to say .. Hardware Store owners. It's not weird. It's awesome. Then I walk myself through downtown Indy and stay in a free hotel where I run and watch emotional porn and take baths and paint my nails and prepare for the next day - where I will talk to people and sell locks. Honestly, it suits me.

Sometimes the husband will visit while I'm down there because, hey, even extroverts get lonely after a long day talking to people...This last market, October 2011, husband and I decided we wanted to blow the money I was making. We went out drinking. Shots shots shots and shots. Except, we had a tequila shot served with sangrita (look it up, it'll blow your mind (best shot experience I've ever had)). Anyway, here's the good part - we decided to go to Circle Center Mall. Drunk.
You actually might think this was a bad idea - you might be totally wrong. The things that bother me about the mall just didn't matter. Every thing was great and funny and so attractive and "of course this will look good on me". Can I just tell you we spent SO MUCH MONEY THAT night. On booze, on oversized T-shirts, floppy mustard hats and other items we ended up returning... but the best part, most amazing part? The husband went into the girl's bathroom on accident. Laughter was uncontrollable. And now, as I reread that, it doesn't seem as hilarious as it was.

A series of unintentional decisions led us to the mall where WE were the annoying ones. How funny life can be. I don't regret it. I never will. That trip gave me the balls to buy my most favorite shirt -- an oversized purpley guy - if you've seen me since October, chances are you've seen this shirt.

I went to the mall tonight and bought the pictured items. I had an okay time, but boy, I do wish I would've gone drunk.

e


(addendum: Basically, we were technically buzzed, but I've heard "buzzed shopping is drunk shopping"... so, there's that. Also, I only recommend buzzed shopping for people of age - of course. What am I, irresponsible and dangerous?! well, depends on who you ask, but as a rule NO!)

Monday, January 9, 2012

Everyone says, "It's not THAT bad" - WRONG

Here I am, y'all. Here's a picture of me last week after the "ordeal". Do you want to know what constitutes an ordeal? For me, it was extraction of wisdom teeth.

And not just extraction of wisdom teeth -- aware extraction! Just local shots, no gas, no going under, NOTHING. Yes, once again, I'll say I was totally AWARE.

The pain is bad, but the remembering is worse. Tugging on my head, pulling, and pushing and clamping and pressure and breaking, cracking then... the worst of all, SAWING MY TOOTH OUT OF MY HEAD. Guess what, guys? They nicknamed the bone saw "THE MINNESOTA". I'm not kidding. He sliced through my bottom cheek, too, you know, to make more room. Worst experience of my life. This picture was taken the next morning.

Yesterday, Sunday, I started experiencing Dry Socket. A phenomenon that is quite literally the worst pain I've ever experienced in my whole entire life.
Wisdom teeth extraction happens to be a shit storm of terrible. Don't do it.
Today, I'm on the upswing - I got my (dry) socket packed with medicinal cloves and I'm feeling more like a human and less like a nerve-less alien.
Wait! Did I tell you the second best part of all of this? (The first best part being THE MINNESOTA) - Not only do I have dry socket NOW, I also have shit tons of infection. Yay! OH, and one more thing. I can't feel my chin. And I probably won't get feeling back for another 6 months.
Alas, I am part of The Drugged Librarian, and I'm actually .. well, drugged.
It's all on the upswing.
I hope.

Soon, I'll post a better, more accurate picture of me - until then, YES, I can *actually* look THAT bad.

e

Gray, the opportunity for anything

I've fallen in love. Head-over-heels, sick-to-my-stomach, can't-live-without-it love. I've fallen in love with none other than Gray. Not some silly man, just the irreplaceable color.

Now don't get me wrong here, I love all of my neutrals. Brown is my favorite color, for pity's sake. But Gray. I mean have you seen what he can do.

Gray can take your fuschia sweater and move it from obnoxious to mellow. But your sweater is still going to pop. What's great about Gray is no matter the shade of any other color you can still wear Gray. With Black or Brown or even Navy you run into issues with "Does this look too much like I'm trying to wear the same color, but accidentally grabbed a brown sock and a black sock?" Gray doesn't do that to you! Gray is forgiving!

And I know what you're thinking, "Gray? But Gray is cold. He's harsh and somehow simultaneously bland." I know. I thought that too, but get out your Grays. All of them. I'll wait. Now grab any color and put it next to a Gray. Suddenly Gray is warm and inviting. It softens and mellows without removing the power of a color. Gray is your neutral salvation.

There's this strange and inexplicable fear I see in people when it comes to neutrals. That somehow one neutral means only neutrals in an outfit. WRONG, so wrong, unless you're an elderly woman, then you can feel free to wear an entire outfit of cream. But if you aren't 82 yet, might I recommend one neutral and many colors?

Though, I don't know if you should trust me as I so often accidentally find myself wearing costumes to work rather than outfits, but more on that later.

Meanwhile, take a look at these shoes before this post calls it quits.



First, GRAY! Second, they look so much classier than they are. Wing-tip stitching. Laces. It looks like I put effort into wearing these shoes. Secret: The only effort I put into them was stretching them a little. They're just jazz shoes, at the heart of the matter. Gray flats with fancy stitching and laces that secretly slide on. I could go be in some stage production where I need to be doing some soft-shoeing, but still look like a businesswoman. Plus, comfort city. But the truly beautiful thing about these shoes? I spent a measly $8 on them.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Getting My Act Together

I'm trying to get my act together in 2012. Which, I guess, should really read: "I'm trying to get my closet together in 2012." It might help if my closet weren't the size of Miss Trunchbull's chokey, but whatever.

I have made it one of my goals this year to stop looking less like a baglady and more like a handbag lady. I don't think I own any handbags. What's the difference between a handbag and a purse? Is a handbag the same thing as a pocketbook? I thought a pocketbook was a wallet. Why are there so many names for "small place to put your crap"?

Anyway, I've started following a few fashion blogs. Mainly this girl and this girl and this girl. Because it seems like I have all these clothes, but I never know how to wear any of them. Learning how to wear clothes shouldn't be such a difficult task, but if you're me, and you've recently had to add words to your vocabulary like "flats" and "accessory" and "handbag" (I'm going to keep using that one in random contexts until somebody tells me I've done it right), then you can understand that it is a very difficult task indeed.

I guess I have to man up and stop saying "I'm a poet, I can dress like a baglady" and start saying "I'm a poet, but I still have to look like a human being."

What are your best closet tips?