This is a post of random things because I want to paste this quote from and article on my iPad. I may update it later, or not.
Today was a snow day for my school district--it's one of the benefits of my job. I really don't think it was necessary though. The snow just started (it's 4:00) and the roads were only wet earlier.
In other news, I totally caved and bought jeggings--you know those leggings that look like jeans? I groaned and laughed when I first heard about them. So I was in loehman's the other day and picked up this nice pair of skinny, dark was jeans. Then in the fitting room I saw the words "Jean leggins" on the interior tag. I had been fooled!! But I put them on anyway. And then bought them. They are awesome!! So comfortable and nice looking (but they are very expensive for jeggings). I wore them out today with a tunic sweater and slouchy boots. The whole thing felt very Audrey Hepburn. When I got home I slipped on some black ballet flats and it totally looked like something she would have worn. In short: I recommend getting some nice jeggings. But the tunic length top is essential. Leggings=tight. And the general public doesn't want to be thrust all up in your business.
And finally, the quote and the reason I am doing this post on my iPad (which is why there are no pictures)
This comes from a great article in Atlantic Monthly called "The End of Men". The article is about how women are, for the first time, dominating the workforce and college. The economy and culture is changing to one that values interpersonal skills over brawn. Women are good at this and are better at adapting. Men just keep failing to adapt and play Call of Duty. I see in in class everyday... Here's my fav quote, I so know where she's coming from:
"In February, I visited with Ashley Burress, UMKC’s student-body president. (The other three student-government officers this school year were also women.) Burress, a cute, short, African American 24-year-old grad student who is getting a doctor-of-pharmacy degree, had many of the same complaints I heard from other young women. Guys high-five each other when they get a C, while girls beat themselves up over a B-minus. Guys play video games in each other’s rooms, while girls crowd the study hall. Girls get their degrees with no drama, while guys seem always in danger of drifting away. “In 2012, I will be Dr. Burress,” she said. “Will I have to deal with guys who don’t even have a bachelor’s degree? I would like to date, but I’m putting myself in a really small pool.”
If you want to read the whole article, here is the address (iPad won't let me create a link--get with it Apple!)
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-end-of-men/8135/
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Girls' Night In
Being (almost) the only single girl among my friends, I find there are times when I am the odd one out when it comes to weekend plans. I want to go out. They have other commitments. Or are spending a night in with their significant other. It can get a little frustrating at times--and I do sometimes feel caught in this awful cycle. How will I meet anyone if all I ever do is have "girls nights" or feel left out because I am the "third wheel"?
It's not that I bemoan my single status. As my mom and many friends have pointed out, I could be in a relationship today if I wanted. But the fact is, I'm confident and happy by myself. And I get bored with so many guys... I'm just not willing to enter a relationship unless it's really something. So in the meantime, until I find a good solution, I feel I am spending too many nights at home (but in reality, I'm probably not. I'm just being neurotic/over-sensitive. I do that.).
So here is my list of great Girls' Night movies--even if you're just by yourself with a glass of wine (or three).
1. Love and Other Disasters -- Great fashion, gorgeous guy. I've already told you all about this one.
2. Dangerous Liasions -- Early Michelle Pfeiffer, Glenn Close, John Milkovich, Uma Thurman, Keanu Reeves... So many stars in this great movie! A woman in power, deceit, sex and costumes I just drool over. This is a movie I like so much, I bought it.
3. Lady Chatterley -- There are many versions of this story, but this 2006 French version is my favorite. I rented it on Netflix and them bought it the day after. As my friends will tell you, I don't shy away from risque movies. So if you're faint of heart, move right along. But this sensual movie is wonderful. It tells the story of Lady Chatterley as she breaks free from her life and has an affair with the groundskeeper. The scenery is georgeous and always makes me feel like I need to get "back to nature." As French films sometimes do, it moves slow at times( think: slow, long shot of trees in autumn). But there's even something sexy about that...
4. Persuasion -- Sense and Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice get all the glory, but this lesser-known Jane Austen film is just as good. Some say this particular novel was the one that most closely mirrored Austen's own life. A single woman in her 30s (the scandal!!) reunites with the man she loves, but rejected years ago because of family complaints, and realizes it's not too late for her after all.
5. He's Just Not That Into You -- I actually enjoy watching this movie after breaking up. In a weird way it keeps me grounded. That and I really identify with the optimistic protagonist who never truly gives up.
6. Love and Sex -- Love Famke Janssen. Love Jon Favreau. My favorite "relationship" movie ever. It is at once realistic and idealistic; touching and hilarious. If you're curious how I think about or operate in relationships: this movie explains a lot. And I did actually do the "cheese sandwich" thing with a guy once (only it was "roast beef sandwich." Don't ask.).
7. Sex and Lucia -- I loaned this to a friend once. I think she fell asleep... and the guy she watched it with just described it as "weird." But if you like foreign, intellectual, erotic films, this is a good one. Lucia is a woman whose boyfriend just committed suicide (we see their relationship in flashback). She runs off to a remote isle on a vacation and rediscovers herself. For some reason, I really connected with it. If you're going to watch it, make sure it's the unrated version. Not for cheap thrills, but because there are amazing, touching scenes (that are important to plot) left out of the "rated" version.
8. I'm With Lucy -- The film starts on Lucy's wedding day. She's getting married to a man she was set up on a blind date with. The rest of the film goes back through the dates/relationships with these 5 blind dates--making it a bit of a romantic whodunit. Each relationship is different and probably something you've experienced: the great guy who's just too nice (and you're a little too drunk), the guy only good for one thing (guess what that is), the "good on paper guy" (who turns out to be a real jerk), the guy who's just a big child, and the real thing. Though I haven't experienced the last one yet, I have experienced many others. It's cute and relatable. That's why I like it.
I feel like I should do 10, because that's a nice round number. But then I'd be lying... these 8 are the only ones I really recommend--that I can remember right now--I'll probably post this and then say "oh! That movie is so perfect, how could I have forgotten about it??"
Which ones do you think should be added to the list?
It's not that I bemoan my single status. As my mom and many friends have pointed out, I could be in a relationship today if I wanted. But the fact is, I'm confident and happy by myself. And I get bored with so many guys... I'm just not willing to enter a relationship unless it's really something. So in the meantime, until I find a good solution, I feel I am spending too many nights at home (but in reality, I'm probably not. I'm just being neurotic/over-sensitive. I do that.).
So here is my list of great Girls' Night movies--even if you're just by yourself with a glass of wine (or three).
1. Love and Other Disasters -- Great fashion, gorgeous guy. I've already told you all about this one.
2. Dangerous Liasions -- Early Michelle Pfeiffer, Glenn Close, John Milkovich, Uma Thurman, Keanu Reeves... So many stars in this great movie! A woman in power, deceit, sex and costumes I just drool over. This is a movie I like so much, I bought it.
3. Lady Chatterley -- There are many versions of this story, but this 2006 French version is my favorite. I rented it on Netflix and them bought it the day after. As my friends will tell you, I don't shy away from risque movies. So if you're faint of heart, move right along. But this sensual movie is wonderful. It tells the story of Lady Chatterley as she breaks free from her life and has an affair with the groundskeeper. The scenery is georgeous and always makes me feel like I need to get "back to nature." As French films sometimes do, it moves slow at times( think: slow, long shot of trees in autumn). But there's even something sexy about that...
4. Persuasion -- Sense and Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice get all the glory, but this lesser-known Jane Austen film is just as good. Some say this particular novel was the one that most closely mirrored Austen's own life. A single woman in her 30s (the scandal!!) reunites with the man she loves, but rejected years ago because of family complaints, and realizes it's not too late for her after all.
5. He's Just Not That Into You -- I actually enjoy watching this movie after breaking up. In a weird way it keeps me grounded. That and I really identify with the optimistic protagonist who never truly gives up.
6. Love and Sex -- Love Famke Janssen. Love Jon Favreau. My favorite "relationship" movie ever. It is at once realistic and idealistic; touching and hilarious. If you're curious how I think about or operate in relationships: this movie explains a lot. And I did actually do the "cheese sandwich" thing with a guy once (only it was "roast beef sandwich." Don't ask.).
7. Sex and Lucia -- I loaned this to a friend once. I think she fell asleep... and the guy she watched it with just described it as "weird." But if you like foreign, intellectual, erotic films, this is a good one. Lucia is a woman whose boyfriend just committed suicide (we see their relationship in flashback). She runs off to a remote isle on a vacation and rediscovers herself. For some reason, I really connected with it. If you're going to watch it, make sure it's the unrated version. Not for cheap thrills, but because there are amazing, touching scenes (that are important to plot) left out of the "rated" version.
8. I'm With Lucy -- The film starts on Lucy's wedding day. She's getting married to a man she was set up on a blind date with. The rest of the film goes back through the dates/relationships with these 5 blind dates--making it a bit of a romantic whodunit. Each relationship is different and probably something you've experienced: the great guy who's just too nice (and you're a little too drunk), the guy only good for one thing (guess what that is), the "good on paper guy" (who turns out to be a real jerk), the guy who's just a big child, and the real thing. Though I haven't experienced the last one yet, I have experienced many others. It's cute and relatable. That's why I like it.
I feel like I should do 10, because that's a nice round number. But then I'd be lying... these 8 are the only ones I really recommend--that I can remember right now--I'll probably post this and then say "oh! That movie is so perfect, how could I have forgotten about it??"
Which ones do you think should be added to the list?
A Little Grocery Shopping
I haven't posted anything since announcing that I was going through a "quarterlife crisis," which may have made you think that I had really fallen off the deep end. In reality I was just really busy with holiday activities... and then too used to the lazy holiday attitude to post anything.
I still certainly feel that I need to shake things up a bit in my life, and am working on that. I saw Black Swan twice (it's really good) and decided that I am going to take up ballet again. I am also researching the possibility of a trip to Europe this summer... there's a few really cool art programs offered. One is in a castle outside Paris, where you spend a week making art with a group of like-minded people. Another is a class on developing and exploring your creative process in Barcelona. I've never been to Europe and now is the perfect time in my life to do it: no kids, summers off, no major responsibilities holding me back. We'll see.
In the meantime, I took a little trip to the store this past week and the contents of my cart cracked me up. So I must share:
One large bottle of wine. Four Stouffer's Dinners. I was slightly embarrassed. In my defense, I usually make a weekly menu plan and have a cart full of fresh vegetables, meat and dairy. But, as I said, I've been lazy since the holidays. That's stopping now.
At least it's not as bad as my purchases during the blizzard last year. Here's a sampling of one such trip:
At least one of the items was "necessary." But, when you're young and single you can get away with things like this. Unfortunately, I can't get rid of the slight embarrassment at the checkout.
I still certainly feel that I need to shake things up a bit in my life, and am working on that. I saw Black Swan twice (it's really good) and decided that I am going to take up ballet again. I am also researching the possibility of a trip to Europe this summer... there's a few really cool art programs offered. One is in a castle outside Paris, where you spend a week making art with a group of like-minded people. Another is a class on developing and exploring your creative process in Barcelona. I've never been to Europe and now is the perfect time in my life to do it: no kids, summers off, no major responsibilities holding me back. We'll see.
In the meantime, I took a little trip to the store this past week and the contents of my cart cracked me up. So I must share:
 |
| Could she be single? Maybe... |
At least it's not as bad as my purchases during the blizzard last year. Here's a sampling of one such trip:
- Box of frozen chicken wings
- Gummy Coke bottles
- Cheez Puffs
- 2 bottles of wine
- Toilet paper
At least one of the items was "necessary." But, when you're young and single you can get away with things like this. Unfortunately, I can't get rid of the slight embarrassment at the checkout.
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