For the ladies

This is not the kind of thing I typically post on my blog, but I need your help. Here's the problem: I have been having a really hard time finding a decent mascara. The ones I've been buying either make my eyelashes too clumpy, or they seem to do nothing at all. In some ways I can't believe I am posting about this, but that just shows how desperate the situation is getting. Are long, thick eyelashes too much to ask for!? (Did I really just write that?) Anyway, if you have a mascara you love, please share!

Wednesday Thoughts

I love rainy mornings - I feel like they give me permission to wake up slowly. I was so happy this morning when I looked out the window and it was raining. I would have been much happier if I could have stayed in bed, but oh well.

The "what's your favorite color" poll is almost over and it looks like blue is the winner! There's one more day to vote. I have to say that I'm surprised orange got four votes. Way to go orange. I didn't know you had it in you.

On an unrelated note, have you guys seen the PSA about texting while driving? I'll put the link to it on here, but I have to warn you, it's really graphic and unsettling. But if you text while driving, check this out (link). Trust me, you'll never do it again.

For reasons unbeknownst to even myself, I recently watched all four seasons of Alf on hulu. It was one of the stranger things I've done in my life. And when I ask people if they remember the series (so I can discuss the series finale with them) they look at me like I'm crazy. In my defense, I was only half paying attention the whole time. I wasn't studying the show with a notebook and pencil in hand or anything like that. And I only cried twice! Three times, tops. Those Christmas episodes can really get to a person.

Yesterday I pulled a muscle in my back and it's pretty much all I can think about. (And all Justin's been hearing about.) I miss my heating pad today.

I hope your day is less physically painful than mine! Happy hump day.

You might enjoy this

Sudden Ominous Music Heard Across U.S., Nation Panicking

The Sorting Hat

The other day, a friend of mine asked me which house I thought I'd be in if I went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I responded, "Well, everyone thinks they'd be in Gryffindor, don't they?" He said, "yes, but they all wouldn't be." He told me he thought I'd actually be in Ravenclaw. Curious, I took a couple online tests to find out what the pros had to say, and by pros, I mean the 14 year olds who make the online tests.

Unsatisfied with just one test, I took three. The first test said I'd be in Gryffindor, the next said Ravenclaw, and the third said Hufflepuff. I was afraid to take the test a fourth time.

Here are a couple quizzes so you can find out for yourself:

The Sorting Hat (link)

Another Sorting Hat (link)

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

If I know my friends well, and I think I do, I predict most of you end up in Slytherin. Not because you're evil, just because you're cunning. I mean...(ahem)... in a good way. Of course.

Come on now

Is there anything more ridiculous than the news headline,

"Miley Cyrus spotted 'full-on making out'"?

Here's an excerpt from this juicy story:

Last Wednesday, as Cyrus bid Australian actor Liam Hemsworth goodbye at the Nashville airport, the two kissed -- and were "full-on making out," says Alex Emanuel, a New York actor who was a few feet away from the couple and saw Cyrus, 16, act "as giddy as a schoolgirl."

What!? A 16 year old was acting as giddy as a school girl!? Unimaginable! I'm so disillusioned!

But the plot thickens - according to what I can only assume is a story stolen from Miley's high school newspaper, Miley has apparently been claiming she's single in her Twitter status!

People have a tendency to say "must be a slow news day" when this kind of story comes out, but that's not true. There's never a slow news day. There are horrible, amazing, and wonderful things happening all around the world every day. I don't understand how a story like this was literally a headline on the news.

And yes, I know I clicked on the story, but for purely mocking purposes! (Plus, I thought Miley was dating one of the Jobros! Boy was my face red.)

Wednesday Thoughts

In my home town, there's a Chinese restaurant run by people who seem to speak absolutely no English. I call, give my order, and wait to find out what I'm given. It's a complete guessing game once I place my order. I never know what I'm going to get.

Occasionally at work, a few of us order Chinese food. Most of the people at our favorite local place speak English really well, but from time to time the language barrier causes some problems. Today was one of those days. After ordering our food, Kathy came back with a bewildered look on her face and relayed the following conversation to us.

Kathy: On the cashew chicken, I'd like the sauce on the side.
Chinese Food Guy: No. We can't do that.
K: You've done it before.
CFG: If I do it, I want 100% guarantee no complaints. 100%.
K: Ok. No complaints.
CFG: 100%.
K: Ok, for the next thing, I'd also like it with sauce on the side.
CFG: Both, no sauce inside.
K (confused at the wording): Sauce on side.
CFG: No sauce inside. Sauce on side.
K: On the side.
CFG: No sauce inside. Sauce on side.
K: Yes...
CFG: No sauce inside. Sauce on side.

Have you ever heard the expression "sauce inside?" There's something completely unappetizing about it. Ann said it reminded her of the kitchen utensil called the "solid flavor injector."

That conversation made me laugh so much, I felt it really had to be preserved in the blog. We were all very tempted to call and complain, but have resisted so far.

Happy Wednesday.

Getting to know you

Remember when we were kids and the first question we asked a new friend was, "What's your favorite color?" What was it about this question that made us decide we could be friends with the new kid? Was it really the most personal question we could think of? And did it really matter what the answer was?

When I was a kid, my favorite color was blue. It was most likely pink or purple when I was very young, but when I got old enough to really think about it, I decided it was blue. I liked how as a young girl, blue set me apart. I felt like an individual, a trend setter, and a woman who thought for herself. Besides using the color to set myself apart, I also really liked it. I found it calming and peaceful.

For years while I was in college, I taught Spanish part time to elementary school age kids. When teaching the colors, I would ask the kids what their favorite color was. About 90% of the girls said their favorite color was either rosa or morado. Is this a requirement for girls under 8 years old?

Later in life, my favorite color changed to red, which I felt spoke to me more than blue. And most recently I've been teetering on changing it to brown. Does this say anything about me? Some people say it does, but I'm not sure. From time to time, I still get asked what my favorite color is. Unfortunately, it's not the defining question it once was. Now, of course, the first question people ask is "what do you do?" If they asked me what my favorite color is, I might like them more.

Just recently, a coworker asked all of us in the office what our favorite color is. Surprisingly, this question stressed some people out. They thought about it for days, going back and forth between their top three or five favorite colors, finding it painful to choose just one. I thought that this coworker was asking us our favorite color for a reason - but nothing ever manifested as a result of the question. She was just curious. So now I'm curious. What's your favorite color?

I'm going to put a poll on the side. You know I love polls - plus, it's easier for you to respond. You don't have to click on "comment" and come up with something clever to say.

And no pressure. I'll be your friend no matter what your favorite color is! Unless it's orange. But that's a given.

Rivalry

Once upon a time, six years ago or so, there was a group of friends who loved playing Dr. Mario together. Their rivalry was fierce and passionate. Trash talk was thrown around freely and was accepted just as freely as a motivator. The friends grew closer through playing together. They became so good at Dr. Mario, no one from outside the circle would play with them.

After countless hours dedicated to the game, the Nintendo broke. And along with it, the friends began moving on with their lives. They stayed in touch, but without the common bond of Dr. Mario, it was easy to drift apart.

Until this year. A $40 purchase of an old school Nintendo and old Dr. Mario game has brought the friends back together. Tonight, for the first time in 5 or 6 years, four of the original gang (Kristin, Garrett, Katherine, and me) got together to play Dr. Mario. Things started out well. Everyone was having fun, talking trash, and reminiscing about the old days:

Unfortunately, not everyone was as good as they remembered being. Many excuses were made:

"I wasn't focused."

"You distracted me."

"I'm pregnant."

"This controller's messed up."

"You made me laugh."

"You walked in front of me!"

And on and on... Until finally, Garrett could take it no longer. About to lose the last round to me, he grabbed the controller out of my hand. I tried to get it back, but Garrett would not allow it. He pulled away more and more until eventually, tragedy struck:

With the Nintendo ripped from the TV and the group dissolved in histerical laughter, we called it a night.

Wednesday Thoughts

You know what's really bumming me out lately? People saying they're sad summer is "over." It's not over! I've been hearing people say this for weeks now, like July 31st officially marks the end of summer. I guess if you're in school, I can understand that you might be getting into that mind set, shifting gears or what-have-you. But let me say it again, no matter how long the school supplies have been on sale at Target, summer isn't over.

I still have a ton to do before fall starts! I haven't watched the summer classic, "The Great Outdoors" yet, I haven't caught any fireflies (nor will I...yick), I haven't had a sunburn that peeled, and I haven't made myself sick from eating too many cherry tomatoes fresh from the garden!

Wow...maybe it's time for some new summer traditions. Either way, my point is the same: summer isn't over yet.

Food Gatherers

I don't normally do this on my blog, but felt that this was a worthy cause. I just read that a local food bank, Food Gatherers, is desperately low on canned foods. This is a local organization that gives all over Washtenaw county, and I have heard very good things about them over the years. If you're interested in helping out, here's more information on where to contribute.

On a less serious note: the more you look at the word "gatherers," the stranger it looks.

Michiganders (or Michiganians) unite

The other night I was playing Rock Band with some friends and as we were going through the song selection, I suggested "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi. My friend Dan (who's not from Michigan) said, "You know who likes Bon Jovi? People from Michigan." He's right. Almost everyone I know who's originally from Michigan does indeed love Bon Jovi, myself included.

We've all seen the "you know you're from _________ if" lists and I can't believe I'm about to do this, but I thought I'd list a few things I've noticed people from Michigan like. If you can think of any others, or you disagree with the ones I list, let me know!

So, here are some things that came to mind that people in Michigan like:

* euchre!

* pointing to our hand to show where in Michigan we live (even referring to the east side of the lower peninsula as "the thumb" without hesitation).

* fudge

* hockey

* Deeeeee-troit basket-ball (said in that special Mason way)

* Tim Allen, and while I'm on the subject, Kid Rock. The celebrity we don't like from Michigan: Madonna. (I get the impression the feeling is mutual.) The celebrity we're shaky about: Eminem.

* cider mills

* making fun of Ohio (which is, admitedly, ridiculous) and sometimes Canada.

* staying out of Detroit. (Sporting events are the exception.)

* college football

* bragging about the Great Lakes

* pasties

* skiing on landfills

* corn mazes

* really bad roads (at least it seems like we really like those.)

* knowing what our state stone is - seriously, ask anyone from Michigan. We all know. It's weird.

Michigan Pride!

Wednesday Thoughts

So, I have been having a strange relationship with my blog lately. Some funny stuff has happened recently that I'd like to write about in my blog, but can't because I'm not sure who's reading it. Do you know what I mean? I'm pretty sure the people I want to write about aren't reading this, but if they are, it could be bad. I could change their names but they'd still know it was them... If you're starting to get paranoid, don't worry, I'm not talking about you! I'm talking about some other crazy person I know!

Moving on, I think I'm going to make this an old fashioned "Wednesday Thoughts" and write a bunch of unrelated thoughts. Sound good?

Here's one for the ladies: how long can you wear lip gloss before it has to be reapplied? I've been watching a show with some friends lately and the women on the show always have fresh lip gloss on - it's so unrealistic!

Is "Summer Girls" by LFO truly the worst song/video ever!? I think it just might be. Check out the lyrics and video if you doubt.

This has been the coldest summer ever, don't you think? I hope it warms up before fall comes. It might be too late.

Someone recently told me that I sound like Jessica Simpson in my blog. I was mildly offended, but reading through this post, I think I see what they're saying. I like to believe that it's only my blogging voice that's like hers, and that I'm not actually like her at all. Speaking of which, is this chicken or tuna?

Happy Wednesday.

Hilarious

This old Conan clip never ceases to make me laugh - thought you might enjoy it. I've been too busy adjusting (after my vacation) to get back to actually writing in my blog so this will have to suffice for now!

Some of my favorite lines:

"Some say a waste of time, others say an incredible waste of time."

"...Where does it say 'Get it on?'"

Home from vacation

There's something about going away on a vacation that reminds you that you can be someone else. That you are someone else, really. Not the person you've defined by the day to day activities of your daily life. You realize other parts of your personality that you either forgot about or didn't know about. Depending on the vacation, these things can be good or bad. You might have forgotten how much you love the people you're traveling with, or how much you enjoy reading or nature. Or you might realize that you have a shorter temper than you realized or that you don't like the same things you used to. Either way, stepping away from your normal life gives you a new perspective on yourself and your life.

I had a fabulous time this past week. I couldn't get enough of my nieces and nephews. They are cute and funny and snuggly. I had a great time with the rest of my family too. And frankly, I'm not ready to go back to normal life. But there is one thing I am very much looking forward to: sleeping in a bed that has no sand in it. I have no idea how I got so much sand in my bed (although I have some suspects, and they're mostly under three feet tall and may or may not have been jumping on my un-made bed after going to the beach)!

But I feel refreshed and re-energized! Now I just have to plan my next vacation...