Someone Woke up on the Right Side of the Bed

This weekend was, in the words of a young Will Smith, spent chillin' out max and relaxin' all cool.

Friday, I hung out with girls and it wasn't unbearable. (I have this thing about being in groups of girls. It tends to increase their shallowness and bad laughter. Not too sure how I lasted 4 years in a sorority.) It was great to se Kalli, Jenny, Shilpa, and Gabby. We started something called a Mulan Group, where we get together and share our latest accomplishments and disappointments in life. It's actually really great. Plus, this time, we came up with a recipe for brandyshakes that we're delicious.

Saturday, I was with Morgan and Melissa most of the day. Went to JSharp's going away party that night.

Sunday, I decided the day was cancelled and read. All day. Well, the part of the day after 1:00, which is when I woke up. It was so low-key. I finished the second Dexter book (think ill write a review soon), and even snuck a nap in.

I really needed a day like that (apparently) because I have been in a cheerful mood this morning. Even when there was no hot water, I was just like, "whatevs." I acknowledged people at work before 10:00 am, and I even felt good enough to weigh myself.

Watch out, Monday.

It's Been a While

Surprise! I couldn't keep up with updating my blog regularly (or even monthly...). I had every intent to, so that has to count for something. Here's an idea of what's been going on, picture-style:

I got an iPhone 4s and have had fun with Siri. The best results are posted on Facebook, but these are gems, too. The best one was, "Talk dirty to me." "I'm not that kind of assistant." Jeremie said his phone's response w's "My floor needs vacuuming" or something like that. Good one, Siri.


Matt and I started Facetiming before bed, which I've come to love and look forward to. ...Especially when I can get him to act silly and take pictures of it without him knowing.


I had a crazy Friday when nothing was going right. It was 5:10 and I was late to a dinner, but was fighting with IT to get my article online. It was imperative, but people who needed to press a big OK button or something were gone for the weekend already. And before that incident, little fires kept popping up I had to take care of, which kept me from my own long list of duties. Apparently Tony was having the same kind of day, and this has been his phone background ever since.

Sarah K. introduced me to something called Blunt Card, and it just makes me laugh. This was my phone background for the longest time because it makes me LOL.

I mean, why wouldn't it? It's hilarious.

Here's another funny bit from someecards.

Slightly.

Shiner Holiday Cheer was discovered, so it was pure Christmas for about two months before the calendar said so. This is now going to be a yearly to-do.

This is now going to be a yearly to-do.

Matt and I cooked dinner at his parents' and I washed the dishes with this beauty. As fearful as a pink pig is, it's no surprise that it was no match for grease and stuck-on food.

At least it's fun-looking?

Annette introduced Andrew to a game called Puerto Rico, and Andrew in turn introduced it to everybody. I avoided it in Florida (because The Help was too tantalizing to put down and RuPaul's Drag Race was too entertaining to concentrate on anything else) but gave in one night. It was a more intense game than I'm used to playing (Hey, Solitaire and Life do have their stressful moments!), but I enjoyed it. It'll take a few more plays to grasp all the rules. We'll see. Matt got it for Christmas, so I'll be seeing more of this game named after America's adopted state.

So many pieces

First comes Thanksgiving then comes shopping, and this year Black Midnight was the new Black Friday. I went with Dad and Morgan to Old Navy and a few other stores to catch some week deals. The reason I only named old Navy is because that's where all the sweet deals were at. Coupled with Dad's debit card, I came out of that store a happy woman with a new appreciation for platform pumps. Seriously, they're the hottest, most comfortable shoes I've worn since I broke my foot. Pictured are glitter ones I wanted, but didn't have enough money after I bought two other pairs in black and tan.

I still think about this pair I didn't get -- Is that a problem?

Also, it snowed on a really random day and everyone was like, "whaaaaa." Even Siri was like, "It sure looks like Memphis is cray as ever."

Siri, unlike the internet, doesn't lie.

I went to Goodyear to get my oil changed and 1. Waited an hour. Now I know what the "jiffy" means in "Jiffy Lube"; I've only waited 10 minutes there. 2. Didn't wait as long as someone else had: 5 hours. Yikes. Anyway, between a lady telling me about the good old days of Midtown and the other lady commenting on her wait time, I read People. See what they say about Glee (totally true) and Dexter (totally better not be true)?

"Dexter is starting to get emotional."

"Glee is starting to get redundant and too unrealistic for a show based unrealisticism."

One Friday night, my friends and I needed something to do, so I went to ilovememphis (great blog) and found an 80's party at Molly Fontaine lounge. After getting over Matt's and my hunch that it was a gay bar, we rounded some people and 80's garb up and went. You know that fear you have the first month of school that you'll walk into the wrong classroom? Imagine that fear times two become a reality. I had my hair high, oversized striped shirt, skinny jeans, and Vans on, Matt had an entire factory of gel in his hair, and everyone else was wearing stuff. It was great. We get there and no one else is dressed up. So we bounced, went back to my place, and had our own 80's party. Also, the place had terrible lighting for pictures.

Or maybe he has terrible facing for pictures?

Speaking of terrible facing for pictures, here's my pretty thin father attractively posing for a picture.

Wonder where I got my double chin from?

Met up with part of the AXD family for drinks at the Fox. Now, understand I was a poor college student for 4 years and a poor paying-off-my-student-loans working woman ever since. So when it comes to necessities, I can't get too picky.. Especially when it's my own money at stake. Anyway, I ordered a delicious brew while Laura ordered a new mixed drink. Long story short: it was terrible, i discovered the first uber disgusting drink I've tried, and I got a free beer to drink said drink. See Sailor's Grog below. 

More like "Sailor's Reason to Barf"

Gag. Even Raegan tried it and she couldn't handle it! I'm the real winner here. Except that, in addition to making my taste buds cry, it made my stomach hurt for the next few hours.

I dyed my hair black again! Loving it. I'm finding that younger people like it and older people don't.

So what are you? Young or old? Be honest with yourself. 

Even crazier than that is I didn't tell anyone about my impulse decision, and while the dye was in my hair, Miaya texted me that she was dying her hair black! In the eloquent phrases known to writers such as myself, I poetically replied, "Omg me too! BFF twins." 'Cause if you can understand that, it's totally true. We were also both wearing spaghetti strapped black tanks. Side note, I got dye on the back of the shorts I was wearing and it looked like I pooped my pants. Apparently I sat on the bed with this dye and it looks like I pooped on my bed. Slick, right? I felt hot and chic that first day, so I tried to take edgy artistic pictures. Too bad my face isn't made for that junk.


One day, it actually snowed and I was so happy. Check out this beautiful picture.

Seriously has to be the best nature shot I've taken. LOVE. 

Christmas came along and it was god. Someone online did the following..

Is it really sacreligious if it's Christmas??

 If you didn't enjoy that picture, here's one you will enjoy: my unfortunately wrapped present to my sister. Since I can't do anything like a normal human being, I wrapped each appendage to the sock monkey separately.

Wrapping. Magic.

It was great til I turned it over and looked at the backside. Which, if you mistake it for the frontside, can be pretty awkward.

Hint: Penis

What's even more unfortunate is Morgan's drawing of a sock monkey in church the next day. She was being serious, but maybe I'm too adult (?) to appreciate it.

Three years from now, this will be blackmail.

So i Iaughed instead. (Note, I wasn't the only one being immature in church! Here's will with the battery-operated church candles.

Given, I'm the one who gave him the idea, but Dad didn't have to know that when he got in trouble.

Sock monkeys are apparently a big deal now. I've seen them everywhere, as is evidenced by mine and Morgan's Facebook wall-to-wall activity. Theyre apparently hip enough for 1. Her to have a personal photo shoot with then 2. Arkansas.

Arkansock monkey

Here's another lesson about Christmas: it's tiring.

ZZzzZzzZ

Test Positive

Overwhelming, worries, stress, unfinished, unfulfilled, jealous, self-conscious.

These are words that can negatively affect a person's attitude, behavior, and take on life. Just reading them probably makes you feel a little down, as you can relate personally to each one. How do you respond to that? Do you dwell? Forget about it? Talk about it? Drink? Blame it on your parents? Beat yourself up?

I've spent too much time thinking - too much time delving into why I feel a certain way. This isn't a bad thing because discovering your root of emotions and thinking is important to personal development and understanding..

..wait for it..

As long as you don't dwell on it. Dwelling on the negativity (whether it is real or perceived) in your life can drag you down and downplay any positivity you would normally see in a situation. I used to be a completely positive person, thinking nothing bad about anyone, befriending everyone,and even keeping all my sarcasm as nice as possible. Gag, right? Well, someone convinced me this wasn't a good thing, so I developed harsher sarcasm, judgmental points of view, and negative self-reflection .. All interpreted as a "backbone."

Eventually, I lost grasp of a needed balance between the two trains of though and dove into the one that ultimately wasn't me. Outwardly, you can be "you" (or what you want people to perceive as you), but what happens inside eventually poisons that.

I found it permeating areas of my life where it has no business.

We tend to label things as "good" or "bad" immediately. You are running late and hit a stoplight: Bad. A skanky stranger talks to you: Probably an annoyance. Your coworker talks a lot: Bad. Your boyfriend has the wrong tone of voice: Bad.

Many who triumph never label what they go through as bad and lament over it. They simply take it as a given. If you never label something as bad, then you don't need positive thinking and the stress associated with getting something bad and experiencing it as such until you figure out how to make lemonade out of it and it goes away.

You don't have to pick up this load. Don't pick up that useless burden. When you dwell on the negative aspects of life and compare your failings to others' successes, you can become discouraged.

Maybe the solution is to retrain your thoughts. (The following is taken from the internets, but it explains perfectly exactly how I want to summarize these thoughts.)

"1. Live for yourself. When you constantly try to be the person others want you to be, you cheat yourself out on the individuality and your own dreams. Take a long hard look at what you want out of life and plan your daily routine to bring you closer to it.

2. You can't control outside circumstances, but you can control your reaction to them. If you're currently working for a demanding boss, make a conscious effort to tell yourself that his poor behavior can make you upset only if you allow it.

3. Leave your work at the office..mentally. When you step outside after a trying day's work, tell yourself that you have all day tomorrow to deal with the problems and mentally switch gears by thinking something positive or planning your next vacation, even I'd it's months away.

4. Slow down. When constantly pressed to finish tasks, you can develop a negative attitude towards life. If time is a commodity, figure out how you can schedule your chores more efficiently, like maybe waking up early.

5. Learn something new every day. You can encourage a positive attitude by always providing something new in your life. As a child, your curiosity led you to explore and learn. Recapture that feeling.

6. Make a list of the positive aspects of your life. Include your achievements, like humor or playing an instrument. Nothing negative should be on this list. You can read it when you need a mental boost.

7. Help others. Extending a helping hand to those in need makes you feel needed and worthwhile. Helping others allows us to be thankful for the blessing we have and helps us maintains positive attitude."

Breathe. Find balance. And live confidently for yourself so that you can be there for others.

Thanksgrubbing

Thanksgiving was, in one word, superdelicious. And I got three of them: Work, my family, Matt's family.

-Insert me want food-

Work's food was great. I found out that 6 coworkers made the stuffed croissants for their families' Thanksgiving! Master chef right here, y'all. I seriously ate about three plates, then had the equivalent of 3 dinners the next day. I told my dad this and he said "Good for you! You get that from me." No wonder I'm gaining weight, eating as much as a grown man.

My family's dinner was also great. Highlights: Dad deep-fried turkey and Grammy made amazing sweet potatoes and Kathy made squash casserole. And I ate. And ate.

At Matt's we had steak because why not? We're adults and can do what we want. Actually, I was glad for the switch-up, since I'll be feasting on leftovers til Valentine's Day.

As a side note, Thanksgiving is like the middle child of holidays. Between Halloween and Christmas, people and stores gloss over it, and it's too bad. I'm still not sure how I feel about black Friday turning into Black Midnight - for one, it's encroaching on the special holiday. Secondly, I know it stimulates the economy by almost 15% or something, but that takes the attention from family and fellowship to consumerism. I bet no one would even dare doing that for Christmas.

This is the time each year we have set aside to remind ourselves that, despite the uncertainty in the world - the wars, the economy, the job market - there are still plenty of things to be thankful for. And it's not $50 off electronics at WalMart.

Here are a few things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving:

1. My job and apartment. I can always want more and better, but I have what's perfect for my place in life now and I couldn't be luckier.
2. Good friends. Otherwise, my weekends would be boring and I wouldn't have anyone to text!
3. Matt. I'm not just thankful for him as my best friend a love, but for everything he's given me as a person. You want to find someone who challenges you and builds you up without ever knowing it, and he does that every day.
4. My and Matt's families.
5. People with a sense of humor and open mind. This world would go crazy without them.

We are lucky, lucky people.

Lazy Skankin' Ass Bitch

Last night was Tuesday, which means last night was pint night, which means I drank my heart out on $2.50 Newcastle. Classic case of cause and effect.

The waitresses at the Fox and the Hound are renown for making up for their slowness of service (and mentality) with deep V-neck shirts. The slower, the deeper.

Waitress: I can't wait for the beer list to be updated so I don't have to remember everything we have!

So what's Jeremie's take on this? He walks into the bar, joins our group, looks around at the selection of waitresses, and says, "We better not have no lazy skankin' ass bitch waiting on us." Oh yeah, he had also waited about 5 minutes for someone to come take his order, so it was called for. Miaya and I are still laughing at that new string of words.

Anyway, what Jeremie said ties into what I wanted to write about: Laziness.

Here are a few semi-relevant thoughts about laziness:

1. There is some amount of lazy in everybody and we have all encountered people we feel are 12 times more lazy than we are.

-Insert picture of Dagwood-

2. People arent doing what they ought to do, but not because of a lack of mobility, but a lack of motivation; it's more disinterest than anything.

3. Anxieties about failing can keep you from starting and/or completing a task. And even if it is started, there's a noticeable pattern of delay. This thought interests me because this tackles unresolved self doubts - a monster in all of us.

4. If you don't feel challenged by a task, it shows when you hesitate starting it or do a mediocre job.

5. It's really just not worth the effort.

Consider this excerpt from Psychology Today:
"Even though what we label procrastination may relate simply to poor time management, the act of procrastinating may also be motivated principally by the fear of failure. And such being a delaying tactic (commonly seen as depicting some sort of "laziness") generally goes back to our having learned in childhood that we weren't good enough if our performance was somehow flawed ..In fact, much of what we describe as perfectionism derives from having grown up in a home where our parents held us to realistically high standards that, unless we could meet them, led to us constantly being criticized."

Aaaand that's some self-reflection for a gloomy day and a pile of pills.

What have you been "lazy" about, and what is at the root of that laziness? If its affecting others or, more importantly, your productivity and happiness, is it something you can tackle?