Do you remember growing up and hearing things like "You don't know what it means? Look it up in the dictionary" or "Maybe if you read more you'd have a bigger vocabulary" or "You used the word 'great' six times in the paragraph. Find a synonym." from adults? Those were dreaded words - words that required thought and ultimately more effort on your part. Boo. Stupid adults. I never liked hearing those words either.
Except . . . according to all legal paperwork and social norms . . . and of course my students . . . I am now an adult. (*insert congratulatory sounds here*) YAY! This means that I should now, after years of being a student and hearing the aforementioned words, be able to proudly use my newfound vocabulary. It also means that I have the pleasure of saying things like "Maybe if you read more, you'd have a bigger vocabulary" or "...dictionary." or "You need to find a synonym for 'get'". Finally!
However, one would think that with this kind of power comes excitement over its potential usage . . . something along the lines of "Ha Ha! Now you must do as I say!" (*insert sense of gloating here*)
Sadly, though, the truth is more often than not it pains me to have to use the phrases mentioned above. Everyone always says "what's happening to the next generation?" but I have to wonder if there isn't some truth to the matter. Today I used words like "prestige", "counterintuitive", "subsequent", "non sequitur" (ok, ok, that one I'll admit is a little out of normal vocabulary potential. . . but it's such a fun word!) and "abrasive", and all were met with "Huh?" / "English please" / "What does that mean?" / "non-what?!?" It was a very unnerving moment. I'm not blaming, but these sorts of words are not readily available on reality TV or in email or youtube videos. They don't pop-up in today's movies or videogames, and if these are the fundamental portals utilized in students' free time, then what is to be expected? It is just a slightly scary realization.
But wait . . . portal? Damn! What does "portal" mean????
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Rock and a Hard Place
a.k.a. - Cash and My Sanity
Ever since "The Simpson's Movie", whenever I think of the saying "stuck between a rock and a hard place" I picture Homer swinging from the construction machine. It's a blatantly obvious visual representation of the concept, but so obvious you can't help but laugh. I thought about that visual tonight driving home, debating with myself over what I should be doing, except that my "rock and a hard place" are better known as "cash flow and my sanity". And, let me tell you, that was a fun merry-go-round of an internal debate. Every argument I could muster both supported and cut the legs off either side. I couldn't win for losing.
A little background: a friend was originally supposed to visit this weekend, and we had been semi planning / talking about it for about a month. I'm 24 and just starting out my life and, like everyone else right now or at least those my age, I am working to make every dollar do as much as possible. So, as a result of knowing I would probably be exploring Chicago all weekend with my friend, I had been saving for this weekend and sort of sacrificing my personal life with the mindset that I was doing so in order to be able to really enjoy a full weekend in the city. Unfortunately, as you all know, plans often fail and life gets in the way and it ended up that my friend wasn't going to be able to make it. Ok. Cool. New plan.
Well, turns out new plan included numerous trips in and out of Chicago for rehearsals (aka gas and pay-boxes), the beginning of college loan repayments, the realization of one very empty fridge, and the nagging need for the social life that I had been planning on for a month. So, I tried to balance the two. Friday I went for a late dinner with a friend close to home. Good. Less money on gas than another trip to the city and still a social experience (check). Today, however, included two different 45 minute one-way drives before anything else could happen. That alone cost me 1/3 tank of gas, leaving me just under 1/4 full, meaning I needed gas. So here is the thought process:
Ever since "The Simpson's Movie", whenever I think of the saying "stuck between a rock and a hard place" I picture Homer swinging from the construction machine. It's a blatantly obvious visual representation of the concept, but so obvious you can't help but laugh. I thought about that visual tonight driving home, debating with myself over what I should be doing, except that my "rock and a hard place" are better known as "cash flow and my sanity". And, let me tell you, that was a fun merry-go-round of an internal debate. Every argument I could muster both supported and cut the legs off either side. I couldn't win for losing.
A little background: a friend was originally supposed to visit this weekend, and we had been semi planning / talking about it for about a month. I'm 24 and just starting out my life and, like everyone else right now or at least those my age, I am working to make every dollar do as much as possible. So, as a result of knowing I would probably be exploring Chicago all weekend with my friend, I had been saving for this weekend and sort of sacrificing my personal life with the mindset that I was doing so in order to be able to really enjoy a full weekend in the city. Unfortunately, as you all know, plans often fail and life gets in the way and it ended up that my friend wasn't going to be able to make it. Ok. Cool. New plan.
Well, turns out new plan included numerous trips in and out of Chicago for rehearsals (aka gas and pay-boxes), the beginning of college loan repayments, the realization of one very empty fridge, and the nagging need for the social life that I had been planning on for a month. So, I tried to balance the two. Friday I went for a late dinner with a friend close to home. Good. Less money on gas than another trip to the city and still a social experience (check). Today, however, included two different 45 minute one-way drives before anything else could happen. That alone cost me 1/3 tank of gas, leaving me just under 1/4 full, meaning I needed gas. So here is the thought process:
- Gas required money, and I needed gas to go to the city for a going away party for an old co-worker.
- However, going into the city meant paying for parking, cover, etc. - money I didn't have if I expected my bank account to last me until my next paycheck.
- However, going to the GAP (going away party) meant participating in my much needed SL (social life).
- YET....the GAP meant a depletion of money which meant stress for Stephanie for the next two weeks trying to keep a positive bank account....which would ultimately = a blow to my sanity.
- However, forgoing the GAP meant more money in my pocket for needed things like food and gas, but the neglect of my already-put-on-hold-for-a-month social life = a blow to my sanity
- BUT, if I didn't go to the GAP I could have money for something social next weekend, maybe helping the SL and the sanity next weekend?
- However, that puts off my sanity for another week.....
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Conversational Tourettes
I blame the coffee.
Well, I should just say I blame Starbucks.
Ok...actually, I just blame Starbucks' coffee at 6pm. BAD IDEA!
Has this ever happened to you? Maybe you're naturally a chatter, maybe you're not, but have you ever found yourself in one of those moods where you literally cannot shut up? I mean, seriously cannot. stop. talking. There's no "pause" button. "Stop" doesn't even exist, and someone running the network in your brain jammed the "change the channel" button. Everything is utterly important, and you can't seem to talk fast enough to get all of the information out before you switch to another topic. You have suddenly become the next best candidate for emceeing a live auction.
This doesn't happen to me often. Don't get me wrong, like everyone else, get me on the right topic and I can definitely talk, but tonight was a rarity. I probably happily could have told the wall my life story if I wasn't already heaving involved in typing my conversational tourettes episodes to my friend via IM. Poor thing, and it was a guy too, so I felt worse for sending him the encyclopedia version of my day. After I finished typing and sending all the different information "channel" bytes, I looked at my computer and immediately thought, "Oh . . . yeah, he's probably going to take one look at that and say 'um, F-that' and then laugh at me," which he basically did. Although, can you blame him? We've all been on the receiving end at some point, and, come to think of it, I would especially imagine this happens to parents often. I give you lots of credit.
Regardless, I still blame the Venti Starbucks coffee at 6pm. We are going to completely forgo the fact that I had to decide and purchase said drink in order to drink it, because I very much like the idea of blaming a 3rd party for tonight's subsequent state of craziness. Luckily for you, my friend, and probably the wall, I am getting tired and shall go to bed soon - although probably not before running 200 circles around my house. Ok...obviously that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea. Best of luck to your family and friend next time you develop CT (that would be 'conversational tourettes', just shorter). Luckily, it's only temporary!
Well, I should just say I blame Starbucks.
Ok...actually, I just blame Starbucks' coffee at 6pm. BAD IDEA!
Has this ever happened to you? Maybe you're naturally a chatter, maybe you're not, but have you ever found yourself in one of those moods where you literally cannot shut up? I mean, seriously cannot. stop. talking. There's no "pause" button. "Stop" doesn't even exist, and someone running the network in your brain jammed the "change the channel" button. Everything is utterly important, and you can't seem to talk fast enough to get all of the information out before you switch to another topic. You have suddenly become the next best candidate for emceeing a live auction.
This doesn't happen to me often. Don't get me wrong, like everyone else, get me on the right topic and I can definitely talk, but tonight was a rarity. I probably happily could have told the wall my life story if I wasn't already heaving involved in typing my conversational tourettes episodes to my friend via IM. Poor thing, and it was a guy too, so I felt worse for sending him the encyclopedia version of my day. After I finished typing and sending all the different information "channel" bytes, I looked at my computer and immediately thought, "Oh . . . yeah, he's probably going to take one look at that and say 'um, F-that' and then laugh at me," which he basically did. Although, can you blame him? We've all been on the receiving end at some point, and, come to think of it, I would especially imagine this happens to parents often. I give you lots of credit.
(this is basically how I felt)
Regardless, I still blame the Venti Starbucks coffee at 6pm. We are going to completely forgo the fact that I had to decide and purchase said drink in order to drink it, because I very much like the idea of blaming a 3rd party for tonight's subsequent state of craziness. Luckily for you, my friend, and probably the wall, I am getting tired and shall go to bed soon - although probably not before running 200 circles around my house. Ok...obviously that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea. Best of luck to your family and friend next time you develop CT (that would be 'conversational tourettes', just shorter). Luckily, it's only temporary!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Louis Vuitton Weighs in for Paris Fashion
Ok, so this posting is a few weeks late, I understand, but I recently had a discussion about this topic with a friend, so I wanted to share.
Everyone knows the fashion industry is notorious for promoting an extreme "thin" - women that are drastically thinner than the average woman, both American and worldly. For as long as I can remember, any time a woman talks about clothing and trying on clothes, the "it looks so much better on the model" line always makes it in somehow. And this is because clothing is art, and designers want their clothes to look and move exactly how they envisioned, so they use thin models for optimum perfection. The focus is on the beauty of the clothes, their movement, their essence.
However, this year, Louis Vuitton made a statement at France's fashion week when he broke away from tradition and used models that, for the industry, are considered large. By my or most normal women's standards, these women are still small and beautiful, but Louis Vuitton faced heavy criticism from onlookers. His models included 46 year old Australian top model, Elle Macpherson, and size 4 model, Lara Stone.
I say Keep it Up Louis Vuitton!!! More designers need to celebrate the figure of real women. Maybe when I am a famous fashion designer I'll use size 6 models on my runway!
Everyone knows the fashion industry is notorious for promoting an extreme "thin" - women that are drastically thinner than the average woman, both American and worldly. For as long as I can remember, any time a woman talks about clothing and trying on clothes, the "it looks so much better on the model" line always makes it in somehow. And this is because clothing is art, and designers want their clothes to look and move exactly how they envisioned, so they use thin models for optimum perfection. The focus is on the beauty of the clothes, their movement, their essence.
However, this year, Louis Vuitton made a statement at France's fashion week when he broke away from tradition and used models that, for the industry, are considered large. By my or most normal women's standards, these women are still small and beautiful, but Louis Vuitton faced heavy criticism from onlookers. His models included 46 year old Australian top model, Elle Macpherson, and size 4 model, Lara Stone.
I say Keep it Up Louis Vuitton!!! More designers need to celebrate the figure of real women. Maybe when I am a famous fashion designer I'll use size 6 models on my runway!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Kombucha
I am, through personal teachings, in love with healthy foods. This doesn't mean I love fat-free / sugar-free / no-carb foods. . . because I don't think those are natural. Give me real cheese, dark chocolate, organic Greek Yogurt, and whole grain bread with real butter and jam any day over Lite and Fit yogurt, fat-free buttery spread, diet drinks, etc. I don't believe in artificial sweeteners nor that they are good for you at all. I'm sorry, but something that can unclog a drain (I'm talking about (diet) coke) should not actually EVER be ingested.
On the other hand, I discovered a new organic drink. I recently read Bethenny Frankel's Naturally Thin book, which was very close in scope and in lifestyle recommendations to MIreille Guiliano's French Women Don't Get Fat, which I read about 3 years ago. In Bethenny's book, one of her recommendations is a morning drink which she finds has become her coffee replacement. It's not coffee nor supremely caffeinated, but it is more like a cool, bubbly tea. It's called Kombucha, and today I bought GT's Organic Raw Kombucha, Botnaic No. 7. It's a berry red color and has orange peel, chamomile, ginger, and hibiscus in it in addition to the Kombucha.
Kombucha, by the way, is a handmade Chinese tea.
Anyway, this specific type reminds me of ginger-ale with a slightly tangier citrus taste to it. Now, I would NOT recommend it to you right away if you drink Coke or flavored coffee in the morning. The change in taste and texture might be too much of a shock initially, and I would hate for you to miss out on a wonderful drink. However, if you already find that you love teas, and even fruits that are a little bit more naturally tart, then this is a wonderful drink to try. It's not cheap, per se, but it supposedly does wonderful things for your body. Enjoy!
On the other hand, I discovered a new organic drink. I recently read Bethenny Frankel's Naturally Thin book, which was very close in scope and in lifestyle recommendations to MIreille Guiliano's French Women Don't Get Fat, which I read about 3 years ago. In Bethenny's book, one of her recommendations is a morning drink which she finds has become her coffee replacement. It's not coffee nor supremely caffeinated, but it is more like a cool, bubbly tea. It's called Kombucha, and today I bought GT's Organic Raw Kombucha, Botnaic No. 7. It's a berry red color and has orange peel, chamomile, ginger, and hibiscus in it in addition to the Kombucha.
Anyway, this specific type reminds me of ginger-ale with a slightly tangier citrus taste to it. Now, I would NOT recommend it to you right away if you drink Coke or flavored coffee in the morning. The change in taste and texture might be too much of a shock initially, and I would hate for you to miss out on a wonderful drink. However, if you already find that you love teas, and even fruits that are a little bit more naturally tart, then this is a wonderful drink to try. It's not cheap, per se, but it supposedly does wonderful things for your body. Enjoy!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Spain puts Easter on Parade
¡Bienvenido a Semana Santa!
Welcome to Semana Santa.
These are not your average parades. They can last anywhere from 4-14 hours and include processions of people in the roles of drummers, mourners, and floats (pasos) that can weigh up to 220 pounds! The devoted men carrying the floats have the choice to walk barefoot, in memory of the suffering of Jesus. Additionally, it requires up to 40 men to carry each float, moving in perfect harmony to help support the weight and ensure it doesn't fall. However, women always carry the float of the Virgin Mary. These floats are all very special, as some of them are decades or centuries old.
And yes, the infamous pointed hats are seen in every parade. But NO, they are NOT KKK hats. In fact, these costumes were around centuries before the idea of the KKK was born.
These "nazarenos" (people of Nazareth) believe that being completely covered except for slits for their eyes de-emphasize the human and bring the focus back to the parade, the float being carried, the music, and the purpose of the parade itself.
Overall, it's a very moving parade. The music is wonderful and the costumes elaborate. Definitely a "must see" at some time during your life if possible.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Long Standing Rivalry
I have struggled with something girls have struggled with for eons, and I will not be the last. An eating disorder. It has been a 10 year battle, some periods I seem valiant and in control, and others I completely fail to even make it to the court.
Tonight was one of those really close games. I won, but it was a close match. I've been good too, for the last 3 months, but those urges are a daily battle and tonight all I wanted to do was binge. So annoying. I knew I was doing it too, but I couldn't find the stop button. I found everything - vanilla chocolate almond ice cream bars, cereal, peanut butter.....it was awful. My only saving grace was this momentary snapshot on Real Housewives of New York City when Bethenny talked about her book, and I ran to the internet to look it up and - low and behold - her book is called Naturally Thin. I read a quick excerpt and luckily for me it snapped me out of my binge-trance. I decided to drive for a while, stopped and walked around Borders, and managed to re-center myself before giving into the eating disorder trap. I felt very proud of myself by the time that whole incident passed.
This topic totally isn't uplifting, I know, but I am doing better. In part of my decision to get better in the last few years, I wrote a book about the experience. It's a 3-month fictional snapshot, but totally based on my life. I'm in the process of publishing it right now, and it has proven good for me. I forced myself t deal with a lot of the issues, and I want to bring awareness to bulimia. But. . . I wanted to do it in a way that was accessible and fun to read. I'm really excited about it, because it has an undercurrent of humor below the real-life drama. I will keep you all posted about the book and the publishing process! Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes, and I am happy to share them with you.
Tonight was one of those really close games. I won, but it was a close match. I've been good too, for the last 3 months, but those urges are a daily battle and tonight all I wanted to do was binge. So annoying. I knew I was doing it too, but I couldn't find the stop button. I found everything - vanilla chocolate almond ice cream bars, cereal, peanut butter.....it was awful. My only saving grace was this momentary snapshot on Real Housewives of New York City when Bethenny talked about her book, and I ran to the internet to look it up and - low and behold - her book is called Naturally Thin. I read a quick excerpt and luckily for me it snapped me out of my binge-trance. I decided to drive for a while, stopped and walked around Borders, and managed to re-center myself before giving into the eating disorder trap. I felt very proud of myself by the time that whole incident passed.
This topic totally isn't uplifting, I know, but I am doing better. In part of my decision to get better in the last few years, I wrote a book about the experience. It's a 3-month fictional snapshot, but totally based on my life. I'm in the process of publishing it right now, and it has proven good for me. I forced myself t deal with a lot of the issues, and I want to bring awareness to bulimia. But. . . I wanted to do it in a way that was accessible and fun to read. I'm really excited about it, because it has an undercurrent of humor below the real-life drama. I will keep you all posted about the book and the publishing process! Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes, and I am happy to share them with you.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Who misses "Who's Line"?
Late night TV. It's a beautiful thing. I found myself awake around 11pm, surfing the channels, and I also found on the Family channel (51 in the suburbs of Chicago) a show I haven't seen in years: "Who's Line is it Anyways?"
Do you remember that show? Wayne Brady and his lyrical genius, Drew Carey steering the direction of the show from behind his desk, and Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie forming the foundations for years of laughter. Last night's episode included a weatherman's trip to Hell, Songs of the Teacher, an Ode to Howard (an audience member) in the style of the Village People, subtitles to a Vietnamese movie called "The Rice Paddy", and one-liners of "Things you can say about food that you can't say to your girlfriend". Priceless.
I remember watching that show with my family growing up and laughing for the entire hour. I don't know how Wayne and Ryan and Colin can keep a straight face. I took 2 improv classes at Second City and, aside from good comedic Improv being extremely hard, it is VERY hard to keep a straight face when the one liners that come back at you are really good. I just wish the show was still on tv! I would watch it over some of the reality shows on nowadays. I think the world could use a lot more comedy!
So get your friends together, test out your own improv skills, and never tell your girlfriend "mm, the other one was better." Happy laughing!!
Do you remember that show? Wayne Brady and his lyrical genius, Drew Carey steering the direction of the show from behind his desk, and Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie forming the foundations for years of laughter. Last night's episode included a weatherman's trip to Hell, Songs of the Teacher, an Ode to Howard (an audience member) in the style of the Village People, subtitles to a Vietnamese movie called "The Rice Paddy", and one-liners of "Things you can say about food that you can't say to your girlfriend". Priceless.
I remember watching that show with my family growing up and laughing for the entire hour. I don't know how Wayne and Ryan and Colin can keep a straight face. I took 2 improv classes at Second City and, aside from good comedic Improv being extremely hard, it is VERY hard to keep a straight face when the one liners that come back at you are really good. I just wish the show was still on tv! I would watch it over some of the reality shows on nowadays. I think the world could use a lot more comedy!
So get your friends together, test out your own improv skills, and never tell your girlfriend "mm, the other one was better." Happy laughing!!
Friday, March 26, 2010
¡¡FALLAS!!
Okay, so this is about 2 weeks late, but here's to one of the coolest and excitingly pointless (as my students managed to point out) festivals in Valencia, Spain. It's called "Fallas" (Fai-yas) and it's a valencian word for "Fire".
A long time ago, carpenters and farmers used to get together to burn their rubbish, and the carpenters would create crazy statues out of the rubbish as a form of entertainment prior to burning the trash. Well, the tradition became so popular that in conjunction with celebrating St. Joseph (patron saint of carpentry apparently) the tradition stuck and Valencia has been having these festivals for quite a long time. Today they are just more elaborate and celebrated.
But, you guessed it, the two major themes of the festival: Building stuff and then burning it down! It's a pyromaniac's dream!
So what are these things they burn down? The statues, easily enough, are called Fallas, and they are made out of wood, plaster, and paper maché. They can be anywhere from 3 feet tall to 5 stories tall and can cost up to $75,000 to build. They are often satirical, playing off themes of art, music, corruption, politics, and everyday life. (Notice Michael Jackson in one, Humpty Dumpty and Pac-Man in the other. . . also note how big they are compared to the people around them!)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
A long time ago, carpenters and farmers used to get together to burn their rubbish, and the carpenters would create crazy statues out of the rubbish as a form of entertainment prior to burning the trash. Well, the tradition became so popular that in conjunction with celebrating St. Joseph (patron saint of carpentry apparently) the tradition stuck and Valencia has been having these festivals for quite a long time. Today they are just more elaborate and celebrated.
But, you guessed it, the two major themes of the festival: Building stuff and then burning it down! It's a pyromaniac's dream!
So what are these things they burn down? The statues, easily enough, are called Fallas, and they are made out of wood, plaster, and paper maché. They can be anywhere from 3 feet tall to 5 stories tall and can cost up to $75,000 to build. They are often satirical, playing off themes of art, music, corruption, politics, and everyday life. (Notice Michael Jackson in one, Humpty Dumpty and Pac-Man in the other. . . also note how big they are compared to the people around them!)
The festival goes a total of 5 days, and is truly a 24 hour party! Every plaza in Valencia has it's own Falla, so there is never a shortage of new, comical, crazy things to see! On the 4th day is the "Nit de Foc" (pronounced: Neat-day-Folk), or the night of fire where they have a firework show startng at 10pm! There is also the daily "Mascletà " (pronounced: Mah-sclay-tah) which is a show at 2pm of literally firecrackers for 10 minutes. Very cool. Very loud. Think: LOTS of smoke and the decibel level of a drag race if you're up close! And then Day 5 - The Cremà , or the burning of the Fallas, beginning at 10pm and lasting until 2 in the morning. 3 story bonfires!!!! SO much fun! Best March 15-19 ever!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Maybe this time it'll be "Differin"
I thought getting older meant there were certain things you didn't have to worry about anymore - you know, like curfew, having to listen to your parents, getting your own tax rebate! . . . .
. . . . acne.
BOOOO. Acne is embarrassing enough when you're young and trying to deal with middle or high school and just life in general. I thought all that was supposed to stop by the time you hit. . . i don't know . . .post puberty . . . and I would like to think 24 / 25 is definitely post-puberty! So frustrating!! And for the longest time I thought it was just me doing something wrong with my whole "washing of the face" regimen. I can't even begin to tell you how many different products and creams and gels and washes and masks and this and that and yada yada yada I've been through in the last 3 years! Walgreens and make-up counters alike should make me their spokeswoman!! (free face stuff for me!!) Seriously!
But, alas, no. Happy to announce I'm not actually doing anything wrong. Instead, my body just hates me. Apparently my hormones haven't quite caught up to 2010. They're still partying circa 1999. That . . . or they just hate me, but I like the way the former sounds. Either way, though, they are messing with my face! It's called a "party in your pants" not "party all over your face" people! Come on, hormones, get with the program.
Luckily, (*insert superhero music here*), my shiny-new dermatologist came to the rescue. Prescription antibiotics and Differin gel should apparently, in 1-3 months, do for my hormones what boot-camp does to new recruits. *yay!* I just needed to fill the prescription!
W-O-A-H. Hold the breaks. Can I tell you how much that prescription cost!! I nearly passed out right there in Walgreens. There were 5 numbers blinking back at me from the register (yes, decimal point included), but still! I'm sorry, you want me to pay how much?! I'd prefer to see those kinds of numbers added to my paycheck, not a 1-month's prescription bill!! But wait! Apparently I can go on their website and get a $5 coupon!
All I can say is this "boot-camp" better be amazing. My face better look "differin" in the next few months!
. . . . acne.
BOOOO. Acne is embarrassing enough when you're young and trying to deal with middle or high school and just life in general. I thought all that was supposed to stop by the time you hit. . . i don't know . . .post puberty . . . and I would like to think 24 / 25 is definitely post-puberty! So frustrating!! And for the longest time I thought it was just me doing something wrong with my whole "washing of the face" regimen. I can't even begin to tell you how many different products and creams and gels and washes and masks and this and that and yada yada yada I've been through in the last 3 years! Walgreens and make-up counters alike should make me their spokeswoman!! (free face stuff for me!!) Seriously!
But, alas, no. Happy to announce I'm not actually doing anything wrong. Instead, my body just hates me. Apparently my hormones haven't quite caught up to 2010. They're still partying circa 1999. That . . . or they just hate me, but I like the way the former sounds. Either way, though, they are messing with my face! It's called a "party in your pants" not "party all over your face" people! Come on, hormones, get with the program.
Luckily, (*insert superhero music here*), my shiny-new dermatologist came to the rescue. Prescription antibiotics and Differin gel should apparently, in 1-3 months, do for my hormones what boot-camp does to new recruits. *yay!* I just needed to fill the prescription!
W-O-A-H. Hold the breaks. Can I tell you how much that prescription cost!! I nearly passed out right there in Walgreens. There were 5 numbers blinking back at me from the register (yes, decimal point included), but still! I'm sorry, you want me to pay how much?! I'd prefer to see those kinds of numbers added to my paycheck, not a 1-month's prescription bill!! But wait! Apparently I can go on their website and get a $5 coupon!
All I can say is this "boot-camp" better be amazing. My face better look "differin" in the next few months!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Blue-Leaf Clover
Imagine for a moment, St. Patrick's Day without the green. No Green beer, no green eggs, no green bread, no green beads or hats or t-shirts or facepaint. No green.
Imagine, instead, blue! That's right, The official St. Patrick's Day color was blue for centuries. St. Patrick is originally from Ireland, where he was told to have been enslaved by the British, taken there as a child, and escaped year later. He then grew to spend his life devoted to God, preaching and telling people about His wonders. However, all this occurred during the 400s AD, which means that Blue was a LONG standing color of St. Patrick's Day . . . until about the 1700s.
Unofficially, history credits the changing from blue to green because the people started carrying around 3-leaf clovers on March 17th (the day of his death), and in the 1798 rebellion the soldiers all wore green to make a statement. Guess it kinda just . . . well . . . stuck! Yay for government intervention. :-) However, as mentioned, the green initially came from the wearing of the 3-leaf clover, which legend suggests St. Patrick used to use to preach about the Trinity of God.
Fun stuff, although green definitely won the color battle then and continues to sparkle on nights like the last. So raise your glass high, do a little jig, listen to a great Irish band, and wear all the green you own! Just be sure to brush your teeth before bed. Green is a great staple of the day, but I don't think many people want to see your green-stained teeth the following morning!
Imagine, instead, blue! That's right, The official St. Patrick's Day color was blue for centuries. St. Patrick is originally from Ireland, where he was told to have been enslaved by the British, taken there as a child, and escaped year later. He then grew to spend his life devoted to God, preaching and telling people about His wonders. However, all this occurred during the 400s AD, which means that Blue was a LONG standing color of St. Patrick's Day . . . until about the 1700s.
Unofficially, history credits the changing from blue to green because the people started carrying around 3-leaf clovers on March 17th (the day of his death), and in the 1798 rebellion the soldiers all wore green to make a statement. Guess it kinda just . . . well . . . stuck! Yay for government intervention. :-) However, as mentioned, the green initially came from the wearing of the 3-leaf clover, which legend suggests St. Patrick used to use to preach about the Trinity of God.
Fun stuff, although green definitely won the color battle then and continues to sparkle on nights like the last. So raise your glass high, do a little jig, listen to a great Irish band, and wear all the green you own! Just be sure to brush your teeth before bed. Green is a great staple of the day, but I don't think many people want to see your green-stained teeth the following morning!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Il Divo - Il bello
You've probably seen their CDs even if you didn't realize it. For a while their CD was available at Starbucks. If you haven't heard them, I highly recommend youtube-ing them or finding a friend who has their CD and stealing a quick listen. Or to go this website and listen to their featured songs or interviews:
http://ildivo.com/exclusives/
Some of their songs last night included "Amazing Grace", "I did it my way", and my personal favorite, "Hallelujah" (although it's not their particular version, but the song has a momentary cameo in Shrek!). Some of the songs are in English, other in Italian, and some, like the televised show from Barcelona, Spain, are in Spanish. The men and truly beautiful (so you can watch them forever!), their voices make your heart flutter, and you feel completely transported - like you just snuck into a million dollar classic show for free or only a few dollars. There's nothing quite like warming the heart with the enveloping voices of truly talented male vocalists. Enjoy!!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Driving (In)visibility
The premise of my blog is "life created daily" - or the things that make life the amazing roller-coaster journey that it is: the fun, the bumpy-roads, and the parts that make you laugh or shake your head.
Today I drove home from work, and I found myself singing and dancing in the car like always. I am totally one of those people you drive by and go "what the ???" because I am totally jamming out to the latest hits on KISSFM or B96. I have a great time, and quite frankly, I could care less if someone sees me. They probably do, but too bad. :-)
However, today, the person driving next to me must have thought he was either invisible or, like me, didn't care. He looked at the car ahead of me on my right, I noticed a man holding something in his mouth. At first I thought he was just smoking, but then the object in his hand (a) didn't move and (b) was too big to be a cigarette. Then I thought cigar or joint or something, but he never moved it and no puff of smoke billowed from his mouth. I suddenly became incredibly intrigued. My insatiable curiosity insisted I needed to try to understand what on earth he was doing.
He slowed as the car ahead of him turned, so I found myself about to pass him. Just as I thought I would be left without answers, he pulled the "thing" out of his mouth. It tapered to what looked like a point, and then I watched him glance at it and shake it. He was taking his temperature! I have officially driven by someone who was taking his temperature while driving. I laughed as I realized that is something I never would have thought I'd see. I mean, really, how often do you see that?! You hear about people doing some crazy shit while driving, either because they're in a hurry or because they don't think people are watching, but this is a new one to me! Makes me wonder what other crazy shit people have seen other people doing while driving . . . or even better, what crazy shit people have done while driving that they hope no one sees! You just may be more (in)visible than you think!
Today I drove home from work, and I found myself singing and dancing in the car like always. I am totally one of those people you drive by and go "what the ???" because I am totally jamming out to the latest hits on KISSFM or B96. I have a great time, and quite frankly, I could care less if someone sees me. They probably do, but too bad. :-)
However, today, the person driving next to me must have thought he was either invisible or, like me, didn't care. He looked at the car ahead of me on my right, I noticed a man holding something in his mouth. At first I thought he was just smoking, but then the object in his hand (a) didn't move and (b) was too big to be a cigarette. Then I thought cigar or joint or something, but he never moved it and no puff of smoke billowed from his mouth. I suddenly became incredibly intrigued. My insatiable curiosity insisted I needed to try to understand what on earth he was doing.
He slowed as the car ahead of him turned, so I found myself about to pass him. Just as I thought I would be left without answers, he pulled the "thing" out of his mouth. It tapered to what looked like a point, and then I watched him glance at it and shake it. He was taking his temperature! I have officially driven by someone who was taking his temperature while driving. I laughed as I realized that is something I never would have thought I'd see. I mean, really, how often do you see that?! You hear about people doing some crazy shit while driving, either because they're in a hurry or because they don't think people are watching, but this is a new one to me! Makes me wonder what other crazy shit people have seen other people doing while driving . . . or even better, what crazy shit people have done while driving that they hope no one sees! You just may be more (in)visible than you think!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
When the ball rolls . . . in the right direction!
Balls. (stay above ground with me here, people). They are infamous. They have many different jobs: You can "Get the ball rolling", be "on the ball", have "too many balls up in the air at once", have "dropped the ball", or even have "the ball in your court". Yes, there are lots of different kinds of balls. All the above, however, suggest a direction. That means, depending on the ball you possess at the moment, you can either be going in the right direction . . . or the wrong one . . . and, trust me, when those balls pick up momentum, you do not want to be in possession of the "wrong" ball.
Sometimes, though, you work and work and work and work, seemingly towards an end, even though you can't always clearly see where the end is. It can get frustrating because instead of seeing results, you just see exhaustion. I felt that way recently. I tend to do 20 different things all at the same time (not literally, but I always have multiple things going on simultaneously). I actually ran the candle at both ends for so long I got sick. Now, although that's really not surprising, you can only go so long before your body makes you take a step back, it is still annoying. Don't get me wrong, I loved everything I was doing, but I was overworking myself. I overworked myself because I have a list of things I want to accomplish (that "list" I had brought up a few weeks back, with immediate and long-term goals). I needed to "get the ball rolling" on some of those items, so I have been working attempting to try to do just that. The cold, however, made me feel as though I regressed. Yet, to my surprise, today I realized that all my hard work might be finally paying off. The "right" ball might be finally gaining some momentum! What an amazing feeling!
Now, nothing holds definitive certainty, but still, sometimes you can just feel when things are starting to move in the right direction for you. When finally, after constantly feel like you're about to "drop the ball" because you have been juggling things for so long, something starts to go right, it is a complete relief and sense of accomplishment. You did it! You got the right ball moving and it's actually starting to pick up momentum on its own. Things might actually be falling into place. Now, you just need to keep it moving.
A word of warning, though. The right direction may pose as obstacles: more work, time conflicts, a required change of an otherwise already scheduled routine. Be careful. Learn to sift through the obstacles and see the opportunities. Opportunity often comes disguised as hard work, but recognize that it is, in fact, there. It's left the "ball" in your court, if you will, giving you the chance to make the next move. Don't go against fate when it has started the ball moving in the right direction for you. Embrace it and run with it. After all, you put in all the leg work prior to that point for a reason. Keep the ball rolling!!
Friday, March 5, 2010
a city's truth from a city lover
Chicago may not be the best city in the world. Or, to you, maybe it is. Either way, it is a city, and it is the one that I have lived by and called "my city" for the majority of my life. Granted, I live in the suburbs, but it's still "my" city. I own it. I'm okay with that fact. :-)
Ok not really. Actually, I don't often have a chance to get into the city with the way my schedule works, so I cherish moments when I do get to play "city-lite" . . . like last night. Initially, though, I cursed the city. They implemented these new Payboxes which means that you have to give half of your checking account in order to park for 20 minutes. YAY Chicago. However, I needed to be somewhere at 5, and that somewhere happened to be smack dab in the middle of the loop just south of the river. Silly me, I actually tried finding a parking spot on Clark before 5pm. Totally a horrid miscalculation on my part. Oh, don't get me wrong, you can park there, there are payboxes (needless to say therefore I was initially excited because I thought I had cheated the system and found a paybox!). However, it is a 100% tow zone before 6pm. Damn! 1 hour short. I actually tried putting my flashers on and running into the building trying to cheat "death by towing" part 2, and I got as far as the elevators before I realized that that was a horrifically bad idea. Ever been towed in the city? NOT FUN!!! It's $150 of pure "you took my car to what neighborhood?" or "Ok . . . WHERE exactly on lower Wacker?". I lived through that 4 years ago and have absolutely no intention of intentionally reliving that awesome-ness.
Therefore, I moved my car. Where exactly you wonder? AAAAALLL the way down to Roosevelt and Wabash, by the Columbia College, where there is one tiny little strip of paybox parking that actually is useable prior to 6pm. Still, $7.50 for three hours isn't bad, but it's not terribly cheap either, so I walked my way back up the 15-20 blocks to the building I was supposed to be in in the first place. I got in a workout AND kept a little more cash in my back account! Win-win!
On the way back to my car, just a little past Roosevelt College, I slowed my pace and allowed myself the joy of taking in my surroundings. People around me walked briskly with scarves and caps. Buildings suddenly looked more welcoming in the late night sun of early March (and by late night I really mean 5:45pm . . . which is "late" given the past few months!). Cars and cabs zipped by me, and I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of peace and enjoyment. I am truly a city girl at heart, and my walk back to my car reminded my how much I love the chaotic peacefulness of the city. If that makes perfect sense to you, then you are a city person too. If that doesn't, I understand. Either way, mishaps and all, last nights adventure was refreshing. Now. . . if I could just refresh my bank account . . . . :-)
Ok not really. Actually, I don't often have a chance to get into the city with the way my schedule works, so I cherish moments when I do get to play "city-lite" . . . like last night. Initially, though, I cursed the city. They implemented these new Payboxes which means that you have to give half of your checking account in order to park for 20 minutes. YAY Chicago. However, I needed to be somewhere at 5, and that somewhere happened to be smack dab in the middle of the loop just south of the river. Silly me, I actually tried finding a parking spot on Clark before 5pm. Totally a horrid miscalculation on my part. Oh, don't get me wrong, you can park there, there are payboxes (needless to say therefore I was initially excited because I thought I had cheated the system and found a paybox!). However, it is a 100% tow zone before 6pm. Damn! 1 hour short. I actually tried putting my flashers on and running into the building trying to cheat "death by towing" part 2, and I got as far as the elevators before I realized that that was a horrifically bad idea. Ever been towed in the city? NOT FUN!!! It's $150 of pure "you took my car to what neighborhood?" or "Ok . . . WHERE exactly on lower Wacker?". I lived through that 4 years ago and have absolutely no intention of intentionally reliving that awesome-ness.
Therefore, I moved my car. Where exactly you wonder? AAAAALLL the way down to Roosevelt and Wabash, by the Columbia College, where there is one tiny little strip of paybox parking that actually is useable prior to 6pm. Still, $7.50 for three hours isn't bad, but it's not terribly cheap either, so I walked my way back up the 15-20 blocks to the building I was supposed to be in in the first place. I got in a workout AND kept a little more cash in my back account! Win-win!
On the way back to my car, just a little past Roosevelt College, I slowed my pace and allowed myself the joy of taking in my surroundings. People around me walked briskly with scarves and caps. Buildings suddenly looked more welcoming in the late night sun of early March (and by late night I really mean 5:45pm . . . which is "late" given the past few months!). Cars and cabs zipped by me, and I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of peace and enjoyment. I am truly a city girl at heart, and my walk back to my car reminded my how much I love the chaotic peacefulness of the city. If that makes perfect sense to you, then you are a city person too. If that doesn't, I understand. Either way, mishaps and all, last nights adventure was refreshing. Now. . . if I could just refresh my bank account . . . . :-)
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