Have you Noticed?

Maybe you have already noticed these things, but maybe not...

There are fire hydrants EVERYWHERE.  literally. start paying attention. There is a fire hydrant like every 100 yards.  There are over 30,000 of them in Columbus.  30 THOUSAND. 

Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful. But can you imagine what life was like for the employees who put in all 30 thousand of those babies?  Nuts. just nuts.

This, I have never seen.

Also have you noticed how streets which used to be black top are now white gray top now that it is cold.  And I mean not the snow making it white..but the ground is white.  I guess it is the salt.  But like why? how? Salt chunks on top of black top make white gray top?

Okay and then what about grocery store shenanigans like how they display APPLES.  so Christopher likes gala apples which is nice because they are usually cheaper than some other apple guys.  Well the gala apples were next to some apples with a made up name that were much more than the gala apples.  Well i accidentally got one of those dudes and paid more than i should have for my 3 lbs of apples.  I call BS.


And what about some other weird things in grocery stores.  Where the hell is the velveeta? The pepperoni? The summer sausage? Like for real where do they hide all of this shit?

And lastly, since I am currently planning a wedding, have you ever noticed the entire INDUSTRY that is built around people saying "i do".  It is nutso.  I am often struck with the fact that Christopher and I's life will not really change after we say "we do".  We already live together, we already know we love each other and we already live our lives together.  While I love that those things are true, and I know I want to get married, why is an industry built around a few hours of celebrating the signage of a document? legally binding and life long as it may be, my romantic side is getting taken over by my cynicism I guess.  I can explain the romance and beauty of a wedding to you, yet am still taken a back by the HUGE billion dollar industry weddings are.

Parking Tickets

I think I live in the Parking Ticket Capital.  Last semester, I was averaging 2 parking tickets a week (which by the way, means that some weeks there were four and some weeks there were none).  This semester has been much better in that regard because I have been parking in the structure on my long days, and hopefully my other days are in the evening (holla to the gods making street parking free after 6!). 

What drives me crazy about Parking Tickets:
-- If I paid them within 48 hours, they'd be cheaper than the structure.
--When you park in free areas, but for longer than you're supposed to, the tickets are MORE expensive than if I didn't pay the meter. WTF.
--They charge a ridiculous convenience fee for paying online.  DumDums.
--I always seem to get tickets RIGHT before I get to my car.  My last one was written 4 minutes exactly before I got to my car.  Ridiculousness.


Anyways.  I am still grateful for some things..
#182: A car that gets me everywhere I need to go (ie school, work, my boyy, my friends, my vacations, etc).
#183: The ability to enjoy the city of Ann Arbor, parking tickets and all.
#184: The false sense of security that cops provide.  Even if it is false, I have never felt unsafe in Ann Arbor.

Joy

#131: such an amazing thing it is that we, as Americans, can travel within our own country (state, too) and experience so many climates, terrains, and weather elements.
#132: family is a blessing not a guarantee. Grateful for mine.
#132: getting to spend time with children. They're goofy, silly, funny, and always changing.
#133: nothing better than a baby lighting up at the sight of you. Grateful to not just be a babysitter, but an integral part of the development of a child (children).
#134: school! I love school, learning, opening my mind, and learning from my peers.
#135: cars! My little red engine that could has over 20,000 miles on it now! It's fun to think of all of the places I have gone in those 20,000 miles :)

Unexpected

Life throws curve balls and surprises on a daily basis, and I am finding myself more and more open to these curve balls.

Everyone always says that good things happen when you least expect them, and I am starting to believe that they were all right.  I can't express how grateful I am for my life, my freedoms, and my joys.  And knowing that all of these things are blessings and not entitlements make me feel that much more lucky!

#119: Today marks the 49th anniversary of Roe v Wade.  Thankful for my rights to choice, my right to privacy and the right to decide my own future! 
#120: Thankful for the fact that I am loved by so many, cared for by so many, and appreciated by so many.
#121: Scarlet Doodle is such a blessing for my life!  I love having her to greet me when I get home ... and every time I come down the stairs.
#122: Comfy beds, comfy pillows, and comfy covers have gotten me through this weekend.
#123: Plans.  You all know I'm a planner, and I love having things to look forward to.

Little or Plenty

I have realized of late that people talk of things in terms of their lives being full of things or void of things....
   
               I have NO money, but SO much to pay for...
                  I have SO much to be grateful for but SO few people to enjoy life with....
                       I have NO goals, but I have SO many desires....

What has shaped our culture in to thinking of things in terms or a lot and a little? 

It bugs me.  Lots.  Because though I could vent to you (guilty) of things I don't have enough of, isn't that complaining, or the absence of gratitude?

#109: Feeling blessed, thankful, and joyful.
#110: Seeing friends that I love and haven't seen often enough. 
#111: Safety.  Driving all day in rain, sleet, snow, ice and wind has made me grateful for my safe arrival home.
#112: The chance to disagree.  The freedom, rather, to disagree.
#113: Teaching.  It has brought countless challenges, numerous trials, and plenty of headaches...but I love the challenge, the discussions, and the insight some of my students have.
#114: Smiles.  Smiling myself and seeing smiles on the faces around me.

Interesting

I love Ellen.  She is funny, makes me laugh, helps mornings go by, and stands up for some incredibly causes.  On her show the other day was this beauty of a commercial.  The commercial is actually from a new TLC show "Virgin Diaries" that follows couples who have "saved themselves for marriage".  Since I know several couples who have done just that, I find the show both interesting and a train wreck waiting to happen.  While the show sheds light on this ever-shrinking population, it is also making a spectacle of these couples, mocking them in a way.  Watch this video for example...

There were serious outcry's from this commercial in particular, so TLC released a new one that addresses some of the dialogue that the couples engage in where they discuss their reasons for waiting, their excitement, and their "plans" for the wedding night (kinda awkward, honestly). 

Regardless of how I feel about not having sex until marriage, which honestly I can't say my feelings on this are set in stone, I am kinda disturbed by how many people are laughing at this couples' first kiss.  I can only imagine the excitement that led to the kiss, and the embarrassment that they are feeling now...

Is it fair to make fun of these couples who take waiting for sex to heart?  I get mad when religious groups require such practices, so shouldn't I also fight for the rights of these couples to practice their beliefs in privacy?  Then again, they chose to put their lives on TV.  Did they chose the mockery or the exposure? 

So interesting!

#87: Grateful my life is not on camera.  Privacy is a beautiful thing.
#88: Country Christmas Special.  Beautiful, peaceful, and a great reminder of the joy in the season.

. . .

Why??

I have been wondering about the question of why so so much lately.  For instance, why do we do the things we do, why do things happen the way they do, and why things happen when they do.  It's fascinating, discouraging, and frustrating to truly think about the question of why. 

Shout Outsss

If you have your own blog, then you know that "statistics" are kept for your blog!  For those of you who don't know this, blogger basically tracks the number of page views on the site, which particular posts are opened individually the most, what search words lead to my blog, what operating systems open my blog, referring websites, pageviews by browser and pageviews by country.

People have read my blog all over the world (no joke).  Countries represented include (but are not limited to) Mexico, Russia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Mozambique, South Africa, Australia, and Latvia.  Pretty crazy, huh?

Let this post be a polite thank you and shout out to my friends and readers in Latvia (and everywhere else, too!!!)

#64: This blog may not mean much to anyone but me, but then again, I made it for me first and foremost.
#65: Weeks go by, the weather changes, and the seasons are more and more exaggerated.  Loving Michigan.  Embracing this very very rare feeling. 

Sexy Can I

Have you listened to the radio lately?  Well if you haven't, let me give you a brief description of what you can hear on the radio...

"I'm sexy and I know ittt""are you gonna love me forever...uh uh uh..or am I just a hit and runnnn"

"You da oneee"
"God gave me youu"
"We found love in a hopeless placeee"
"we own the night"
"all you are is meann"
"someone like you"


So basically, we are all going through a mental process of knowing we are damn hottt, determining the status of the relationship (one night stand or long term), deciding that the other person is "the one", going so far as to say that God gave me you, being grateful for finding the one in a hopeless place, feeling so powerful in love that you feel like you're owning the night, and then all of the sudden, boom, you hate the person and the person is mean, and you'll find someone better.

It's a complicated world that us humans live in. 

#61: Music makes commuting possible.  don't know how I would survive without being able to listen to music and sing along.
#62: Getting assignments done early because of the motivation that CMT/GAC offer.  I love how much it can make the time go by during homework time!  (unless "I'm gonna love you through it" comes on)
#63: Ever walk into potentially horrible situations? I did recently.  I made it out alive, mentally stable, and emotionally stable.  Grateful.

Awkwardddd

Lots of things are awkward.  Just check out Awkward family photos and you'll find things like this to show you just how awkward life can be...



Other things that are awkward:
Your professors and dean being at the Charity Ball you danced at on Friday night, waking up the next morning to find out that you were texting the wrong person the night before, finding out that your baby brother is not such a baby anymore (Girlfriend alert), and having your dad call the sales people that are not being cooperative while your still in the store....

yep. Life has been pretty awkward lately....

#55: My dad fights for me all the time.  Even if it's really awkward, I'd rather not have to be the bad guy.
#56: I love my baby brother.  And he will never lose the baby in front of brother.
#57: We still had fun, even with our professors and dean rockin out beside us.
#58: People are very forgiving when it comes to late night texts.  Thank you.
#59: Time to blog.  Such a fun outlet. 
#60: Jon Stewart's reaction to the GOP debates this past week.

Bruised

I bruise easy.  Like crazy easy.  Like within 10 minutes, I have a bruise.

I went shopping this past weekend, and while trying on clothes I noticed ALL KINDS of bruises all over my legs.  And arms.  What have I been doing?! It's crazy! Some of them are all kinds of weird colors, others are standard, others are huge.  It's so weird.

When I was going out on a nightly basis, bruises were more expected.  But now that I spend my days reading, writing, and working, where am I getting them from?

#19: Grateful for health.  I complain about my migraines/allergies/etc, but in the scheme of things, I am healthy.

#20: Support for when I am NOT feeling healthy.  When I am sick and weak with some sort of ailment, I am lucky enough to have the support from friends and family to get me through it.

Secret

I LOVE THE KARDASHIANS.  So embarrassing, I know.  It's absurd.  I don't even know why I like them.  But watching them provides me with so many entertained moments...

A moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips...

told you, creepy.

Adorable little Mason...

Mame K's face lift...lol...

Bruce's creepy face lift results...

The DRAMA (understatement of the year)...




Really. It's so entertaining.  Though sometimes I feel like my brain cells decrease as I watch their dramatic, extravagant lives unfold.  Everyone needs their little secret pleasures though, and watching Kim K's wedding is one of mine...

P.s. this is tagged as acceptance so you are all motivated to STILL accept me :)

Games

I am not into video games, and definitely not computer games.  But put me in front of something that has solitaire and I'm set for HOURS.  I love it.  SO much.  I have an almost equal amount of love for freecell, but I love the quickness of solitaire. 

I don't even really like board games.  Monopoly is the one exception, and I have to be in the mood for it.  I also really dislike things like Eye Spy, Tag, Capture the Flag, etc.  I just am not a game person. 


With my new iPad, however, my world has been opened up to new games.  Angry Birds provides entertainment for hours, and Words With Friends takes more of my time than sleeping does, probably.  I love it.  I can also play solitaire and Monopoly! It's like the best thing ever.  I love it.

just imagine me with my iPad...

But since I've never had to budget time for games before, I'm finding myself lost in these games for hours on end.  What do you do to make sure you don't waste too much time on games??  I'm thinking of maybe only playing Words With Friends during the week, and the other games only during the weekend?  That way I still can play games during the week and weekend, but they all have a limited time frame?  Still learning!

Bold

Boldness is admirable.  Whether your bold by telling someone about your life, your faith; by approaching a person you want to get to know; or if you're bold by making risky decisions, it can be a freeing and learning experience. 

I like to think that I'm passionate.  Well, I know that I'm passionate.  If you tell me about a social issue, or something of social injustice, I can jump on board with a petition, plan or political movement to work closer toward equality quite easily.  But even though I am passionate, I am not always bold.  Though I detest inequality, I listen to derogatory comments, watch racism and witness classism all of the time; and rarely do I respond vocally.  I want to learn how to be bold, learn how to speak up for how I feel and learn how to go after exactly what I want.

I hate the movie Knight and Day, really I do.  But the beginning of the movie reminds me of the boldness I do NOT have.  Cameron Diaz is on a flight with Tom Cruise, and finds him cute and flirty.  She preps herself in the bathroom, comes out and kisses him passionately.  Of course she later finds out that he's crazy and the movie turns weird, but for the moment that she takes what she wants, I envy her bold passion. 

Sometimes I feel like women don't have the freedom to just go up to a guy and express what she wants.  A woman who just wants a fling is written off by many men, yet so is a woman who wants to get married?  Why can't we all just be bold, honest, and enjoy each stage as it comes?

Hurricane Irene

Since I've been sick all weekend and have done little more than lay around for the past 72+ hours, I have watched loads of broadcasts focusing on Hurricane Irene.  I am watching some at the moment, actually, and they're showing the crazy amounts of flooding and devastation that has hit New England hard.

Something that has been bugging me is that I keep reading things on facebook about how over-hyped the storm was.  First of all, why would you EVER complain about a storm being not as strong as originally feared? Second, was it really over-hyped?

5 million + people are without power
37 people CONFIRMED dead (more are missing)
Every major road in VT is damaged
New England flooding is worse than it ever has been

I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound pleasant to me.  So yeah, it could have been worse...things can ALWAYS be worse.  But why don't we celebrate the evacuation plans that helped keep that death toll to what it is currently instead of whining about it being over kill?

My Pneumonia and Me

So I mentioned a few days ago that I was sick...and not feeling too hot.  Well I'm pretty sick.  And still not feeling too hot.

I went to the doctor a couple days ago, my pulse-ox was only 91, I had a really low peak flow and couldn't stop coughing.  They said it was bronchitis, put me on Zpak and prednisone and let me on my way.

Well a few days later I start to get worried because I'm getting worse, not better, and after talking to my asthma doctor (who scolded me and told me to go to an ER right away), I did end up going to an ER.  Which is in Brighton, where I was in a room, had tests done, and had seen my doctor within 20 minutes. 

not mine...but what the xrays look like. 

They did some x-rays, gave me IV steroids and antibiotics.  They also did lots of blood work and I had 2 breathing treatments.  I was going to sleep there, because that was what was recommended...but being there was just as miserable as being at home and they don't really let you sleep.  So I went home. 

Today, my x-ray was evaluated by a radiology tech.  I have pneumonia.  For the record, in my 22nd years of life, I have had pnuemonia 3 times now.  So when your children are offered the vaccine, stop being dumb and thinking they're linked to asbergers and autism (they aren't) and give them the vaccine.

Now, I'm at home with vick's vapor rub on my chest, drinking water and juice and mountain dew (caffeine helps asthma), watching TV and lying in bed trying not to move (lots of pain from the fluid in my lungs).  No one is home so it's oober boring.  I'm on 4 prescriptions and also have meds to help with my fever, cough and asthma.

Now it's a waiting game.  If I'm not better by Monday, it's back to the ER for me.  Why isn't there a quick fix to this?

I know I get sick often, but usually it's allergy related.  This is AWFUL.  Way worse than the Swine of 09, people. WAY WAY worse. 

Internship Drama

As part of my MSW program, I have to have an internship for an insane amount of hours per year.  It comes down to 16/week...but when you are also working and taking 5 classes a week...life seems daunting. 

I'm not worried about the time commitment of the internship, but I did not have one locked in place until about a week ago.  Because of that, I'm running around like crazy getting background checks, TB tests, and thousands of other documents put together.  I'm not getting paid for the position, yet I'm doing more to lock this position in place than I did to get into Grad School (no joke).  It's absurd.

Off to fill out more paperwork...

p.s. since when did organizations make people pay for their own background checks?  And when have you ever needed THREE written recommendations for a VOLUNTEER position? WTF.

Lesson Learned

This blog post will make you both cringe and laugh.  Have fun.

So at Amanda's Bachelorette party I danced a lot a lot.  And one particular man found my dancing to be appealing enough to approach me and basically beg for my number (not sure what that says about my dancing).  At first I said no, tried to explain I wasn't from around Royal Oak, etc etc.  Then he told me that he would travel long distances for a girl like me, mentioned all kinds of quite convincing lines and I eventually gave it to him, thinking that a. he'd NEVER call (who calls people they meet in bars) and b. if he does I'll ignore.

And that I did! He texted me three days after, (at Amanda's wedding) and I ignored the messages.  Deleted them and never responded.  Then a couple days later he texted again, I didn't recognize the number so I responded asking who it was.  Then we some how got into a text-conversation that ended with him asking to go out sometime.  I cancelled (work related) on him the first time but rescheduled for last night. 

Let's just say I have learned my lesson.  I came fully prepared for all scenarios; the creep who wants my pants off, the weirdo who drinks a lot, the old boring types.  He was the later.  Seriously.  Old.  Definitely closer to my parents age than mine (30s, 40s maybe?) and he was just so boring.  We talked the whole time but he's sooo mellow it was painful.  Then he mentioned, at one point, that he hated hyper people.  I probably blushed because he has NO idea who I am. hahah.

We FINALLY left (which was sooo awkward) and I find him walking straight for me...like he just keeps walking into me.  He doesn't try and kiss me though so I assume he's hugging me, so I ended up receiving the most limp, awkward, dead man hug in my much shorter life. 

On the way home I called Lisa to report all of the awkwardness to her.  It was excrutiating really.  We decided that I need to think of a fake number to hand out.  I can't do it on the spot...my answer would be 333 7777.  And I need to come up with a couple reasons to hand out my real number (only if...x, y, z).  Lastly, I need to make sure to see the person in some sort of light because old guys can look cute in the dark when you can't tell how old they are. 

Schedule

Fall is approaching.  Know how I know that?  HOUSEBOAT IS SO CLOSE!! I am going this weekend.  And for 5 days over Labor Day.  I can't flipping wait.  Seriously.  I want the sunshine on my cheekies and to walk the dock and feel cool and completely content with life.  I can't wait.

It also means that I'm approaching freak out mode about time, classes, money, scheduling work, etc etc.  I am going to have no free time.  And I am determined to keep up my time at the gym (keep up as in keep my ever so infrequent sightings at the gym consistent) but am utterly clueless on how to get there before 9pm when they close.  Sure I'm free at 2am every night...but that does nothing for me!  Plus I've heard sleep is good for grades, health, and overall happiness.  To be confirmed though.

My biggest problem is learning how to say NO.  Just because I'm offered a job doesn't mean I have to take it.  Just because I need money doesn't mean I can work.  Just because I have 30 minutes doesn't mean I should be filling that 30 minutes with something. 

Lessons are being learned, friends.  Tis the purpose of life to learn lessons, to love and to never stop adventuring. s

Pictures Worth 1000 Words