For some reason I just love break up songs. It's not that I'm going through one--quite the opposite in fact--but there's just something empowering about this particular sub-genre.
But I don't do weepy songs, I've never been one to dwell on things. The songs I listen to as "breakup songs" are very far from "Everybody Hurts." You have to try your best to see the brighter side, realize that you'll be stronger in the end and move on. So with that in mind, I give you my 7 favorite "kick ass and take names" break up songs.
1. Reba McEntire "Consider Me Gone" I love this one because we've all known guys like this--they're "fun" but just... shallow. These are the immature "bros" who say such enlightened things as "I feel like a married couple" or "I just don't wanna be trapped." Well: 1) you should be so lucky and 2) See ya!
2. Goodbye to You "Scandal"
I love a little peppy 80s music when I'm down. Also a great song for the elliptical (speaking of, it's been a few weeks since I hit the gym).
3. "Express Yourself" Madonna
Speaking of 80s music... This one helps to remind me what I need to wait for. Favorite line: "You deserve the best in life, so if the time isn't right move on. Second best is never enough, you'll do much better, baby, on your own."
4. "Wrong Baby Wrong" Martina McBride
Cause there's nothing a bottle of wine can't cure. Except maybe a hangover from drinking said bottle...
5. "F**K It"Eamon
So this one is a little more angry than sassy, but it's great for when you're going through the "angry" stage of grief. I'm not one to curse, but I still like this song. And sometimes you just gotta drop the F-Bomb. (this is the edited version of the song; still probably NSFW though).
6. "Bye Bye" Jo Dee Messina
Notice the abundance of country songs? Yes, I listen to them and these women just do it right. This is the song for the guy that you thought was "the one" and you just hung around too long. We're all guilty of it as some point. "Maybe I read you wrong thinking you could be my Mr. Right. I was putting my heart and soul on the line, you said you needed more time... well it's been long enough and time is up."
7. "Harden My Heart" Quarterflash
Hearing this song always brings me back to the first time I heard it. Senior Year. Kinda broken up over a certain college freshman who "broke" my heart. I heard this and starting jumping on the bed and dancing. Also gotta love a little early 90s sax a la "Baker Street"
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Kafka and Arhaus
"Kafkaesque" is really the only way to describe the ordeal I'm being put through with ordering this comforter from Arhaus:
Now Arhaus is a "nice" store. I really like their stuff and the employees have been very nice, but let me describe what I've been put through with this cursed quilt.
1. Went to store on Dec. 26 and have a post-Christmas, totally greedy "OMG I have to have it" moment. Bought quilt with X-mas cash.
2. Now, the entire problem could have been resolved if they just kept the quilt in the store. I understand why they don't have furniture there, but how much space would it really take to store a few quilts? I doubt that many people are flooding the furniture store for $300 quilts. But John happily takes his commission for doing nothing and laughs "Oh, we don't have a back room." Like I'm supposed to swoon at how exclusive they are. I just want the damn quilt.
3. Since they don't have something as pedestrian as a backroom or "storage" I am forced to pay $24 for shipping and handling. They better make my bed for me when it gets here.
This is how John sees storage.
4. It's on back order. Of course--So I am told it will be in by February 2nd. I patiently wait. Later I figure out the quilt was on sale and I didn't get my sale price. I call about that...
5. Mid-February rolls around and I am wondering where my quilt is. After all, they already charged me for it. Most companies wait until they actually send it. I call the store and meet Robin, who is a very nice lady who seems sympathetic of my situation. It was back ordered again. Until March 2
6. March rolls around and guess what?! No quilt! I call Robin again, she says she'll look into it for me because it was back ordered again... and this is "not usual." I sure hope not.
7. Robin leaves a message on my answering machine and I just have to laugh. Turns out my quilt is made in Egypt and a certain revolution there has held it up. However, there is ONE in the U.S. and since I've been waiting longer, they are going to remove it from one person's order and send it to me.
8. 2 weeks pass. I call Robin again. At this point when she answers the phone I find myself wanting to say "Hey Robin! What's up? It's me Laura" I actually do say "It's Laura" and she knows who I am--Quilt girl. She's shocked that I still haven't received said quilt and is going to look into it again.
9. A weekend passes and then Robin calls me again. Turns out there was some sort of shipping fiasco and UPS ruined my quilt THE ONLY ONE IN THE CONTINENTAL US! UPS.. WTF?? And you wonder why you're going out of business.
So now I'm back to playing the backorder game--I'm told Mid-April. I should just cancel the order at this point, but I feel like I've waited so long that I can't just give up now. Will the quilt ever arrive? Or will I be 80 and hanging out with my best bud Robin still waiting for the backorder that would not end?
 |
| Pretty isn't it? I wouldn't really know since I still don't have it |
 |
| A close up--it's burn-out velvet. It really is beautiful. |
1. Went to store on Dec. 26 and have a post-Christmas, totally greedy "OMG I have to have it" moment. Bought quilt with X-mas cash.
2. Now, the entire problem could have been resolved if they just kept the quilt in the store. I understand why they don't have furniture there, but how much space would it really take to store a few quilts? I doubt that many people are flooding the furniture store for $300 quilts. But John happily takes his commission for doing nothing and laughs "Oh, we don't have a back room." Like I'm supposed to swoon at how exclusive they are. I just want the damn quilt.
3. Since they don't have something as pedestrian as a backroom or "storage" I am forced to pay $24 for shipping and handling. They better make my bed for me when it gets here.
This is how John sees storage.
4. It's on back order. Of course--So I am told it will be in by February 2nd. I patiently wait. Later I figure out the quilt was on sale and I didn't get my sale price. I call about that...
5. Mid-February rolls around and I am wondering where my quilt is. After all, they already charged me for it. Most companies wait until they actually send it. I call the store and meet Robin, who is a very nice lady who seems sympathetic of my situation. It was back ordered again. Until March 2
6. March rolls around and guess what?! No quilt! I call Robin again, she says she'll look into it for me because it was back ordered again... and this is "not usual." I sure hope not.
7. Robin leaves a message on my answering machine and I just have to laugh. Turns out my quilt is made in Egypt and a certain revolution there has held it up. However, there is ONE in the U.S. and since I've been waiting longer, they are going to remove it from one person's order and send it to me.
8. 2 weeks pass. I call Robin again. At this point when she answers the phone I find myself wanting to say "Hey Robin! What's up? It's me Laura" I actually do say "It's Laura" and she knows who I am--Quilt girl. She's shocked that I still haven't received said quilt and is going to look into it again.
9. A weekend passes and then Robin calls me again. Turns out there was some sort of shipping fiasco and UPS ruined my quilt THE ONLY ONE IN THE CONTINENTAL US! UPS.. WTF?? And you wonder why you're going out of business.
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| Too bad this guy wasn't around to sew it back up for me. Seriously, what is going on in this picture? |
Thursday, March 10, 2011
For someone so young...
And seemingly "normal" I sure have had to deal with a lot of tragedy in my short life. I was confronted with this fact today when I learned that one of my former students, now a senior, committed suicide last night.
Having known this girl, I am in disbelief. She was so smart, beautiful, outgoing, and always seemed so happy. I keep checking my work email for an update from our principal, to tell us that it was actually some sort of tragic medical thing. Not suicide.
It just doesn't make sense. Somehow a heart attack at 17 seems more acceptable to me.
But, like this student, I am a good actor. I can pull myself together quickly; know tricks to hide red, swollen eyes; and smile brightly, even though it takes every ounce of my energy to do so.
I'm not sure if that's a weakness of mine or a great strength. But I do know that it means that others don't always take me seriously when I say that I do know great tragedy.
This is not the first death I've had to deal with--or the first suicide.
Though I wish it was.
I wrote the above the day I found out about Alyssa. I never finished or published it though. I will now.
Today, one week later, I am sitting at the computer in my black dress having just come back from her funeral. I still find it so hard to believe and when a coworker told me how it happened... that's an image in my head I'd rather not have. I found myself thinking several odd things while at the funeral, where over 400 people showed up.
The first was that it was the first time I'd set foot in a church in about 10 years. And when the priest kept talking about "forgiving sister Alyssa of her sin" and then refused to let any non-catholics take communion, I remembered why. One of the coworkers I was with is actually a pastor's son--he was very mad about that. At a time like this, when people need comfort, what kind of message is that sending?
The second thing I kep thinking about was all of my students who were there. Some in rather short, tight black dresses. Clearly a dress meant for a night out and not a funeral.
But why should a 17 year old need a funeral dress?
Seeing my students there was probably the hardest for me. Just seeing them tear up made me start crying and I had to stop and ask myself a rather morbid question.
As a teacher, over the course of my career, how many student funerals will I end up attending? I hope only one, because even that is too many.
And the final thing I found myself thinking about is something I have said before. People like Alyssa are not the ones you "expect" to have problems or do something like this. But those are precisely the people with real problems. I've met many people who dwell on issues and who broadcast the fact that they are depressed. But at the core of all that show is really a cry for attention or sympathy. Not true depression. I remember a roommate I had in college. She quite literally introduced herself like this: "Hi, I'm Danielle. I have depression." Did she have problems? Of course, but 90% of the things she did were an attempt at getting attention. She would never go to the extent Alyssa did because the root cause of her issues weren't the same.
Alyssa never would have admitted to that, and never did. Now I know she had been seeking help for years and was, in truth, quite troubled. But depression isn't really something you can control; and when it is a part of you like that, you get really, really good at hiding it.
Having known this girl, I am in disbelief. She was so smart, beautiful, outgoing, and always seemed so happy. I keep checking my work email for an update from our principal, to tell us that it was actually some sort of tragic medical thing. Not suicide.
It just doesn't make sense. Somehow a heart attack at 17 seems more acceptable to me.
But, like this student, I am a good actor. I can pull myself together quickly; know tricks to hide red, swollen eyes; and smile brightly, even though it takes every ounce of my energy to do so.
I'm not sure if that's a weakness of mine or a great strength. But I do know that it means that others don't always take me seriously when I say that I do know great tragedy.
This is not the first death I've had to deal with--or the first suicide.
Though I wish it was.
I wrote the above the day I found out about Alyssa. I never finished or published it though. I will now.
Today, one week later, I am sitting at the computer in my black dress having just come back from her funeral. I still find it so hard to believe and when a coworker told me how it happened... that's an image in my head I'd rather not have. I found myself thinking several odd things while at the funeral, where over 400 people showed up.
The first was that it was the first time I'd set foot in a church in about 10 years. And when the priest kept talking about "forgiving sister Alyssa of her sin" and then refused to let any non-catholics take communion, I remembered why. One of the coworkers I was with is actually a pastor's son--he was very mad about that. At a time like this, when people need comfort, what kind of message is that sending?
The second thing I kep thinking about was all of my students who were there. Some in rather short, tight black dresses. Clearly a dress meant for a night out and not a funeral.
But why should a 17 year old need a funeral dress?
Seeing my students there was probably the hardest for me. Just seeing them tear up made me start crying and I had to stop and ask myself a rather morbid question.
As a teacher, over the course of my career, how many student funerals will I end up attending? I hope only one, because even that is too many.
And the final thing I found myself thinking about is something I have said before. People like Alyssa are not the ones you "expect" to have problems or do something like this. But those are precisely the people with real problems. I've met many people who dwell on issues and who broadcast the fact that they are depressed. But at the core of all that show is really a cry for attention or sympathy. Not true depression. I remember a roommate I had in college. She quite literally introduced herself like this: "Hi, I'm Danielle. I have depression." Did she have problems? Of course, but 90% of the things she did were an attempt at getting attention. She would never go to the extent Alyssa did because the root cause of her issues weren't the same.
Alyssa never would have admitted to that, and never did. Now I know she had been seeking help for years and was, in truth, quite troubled. But depression isn't really something you can control; and when it is a part of you like that, you get really, really good at hiding it.
 |
| Alyssa Marie Jupin December 13, 1992-March 2, 2011 |
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Snow day, jeggins, and the end of men
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/
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/
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:
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| 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.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Quarterlife Crisis
These past few weeks, I've been feeling a little like everything is falling down around me. This past week alone, here are a few of the things I've done/thought:
1. Cried about my job for the first time ever
2. Drastically cut my hair on a whim (I needed a change! And I like it now.)
3. Yelled at, then walked out on, my journalism class.
4. Researched how much it would cost me to go back to school and get a masters in Art History ( a long dream of mine, but bad job market.) about $13,000 at George Mason
5. Did a little job search on the Smithsonian Museum website
6. Got angrier and angrier about the person who stole my debit card and spent over $300 at a Korean grocery store
7. Then got more and more frustrated about my financial situation. How badly I want to invest and plan for my future but have absolutely NO extra money to do so.
8. Realized, yet again, that things are not actually working out for me romantically
9. Felt pressure because I keep thinking I'm running out of time to deal with all this finance, job, love stuff. I'm supposed to have that figured out now right?!?
10. Felt bad/guilty for whining about all this in the first place. After all, these aren't real problems right?
And as I was driving home today with my new haircut, considering shopping and getting new clothes (I didn't, wrong time of year for that!) I realized I felt like I was dealing with a midlife crisis, but minus the whole "midlife" thing. So I did the math and decided this would be a quarterlife crisis. Curious, I googled it and it turns out that it is a REAL THING!
There are books , a wikipedia entry and even a movie on the topic. And of course there's www.quarterlifecrisis.com
I also found a candle. But I'm not linking to that because it's just too stupid and we shouldn't dignify it with any more views.
So, great, there is a "reason" for the way I'm feeling. But now what? If you need me, I will be found in the Self Help section of Borders, surrounded by books about how to make it through the "horrible" mid-20s.
Or in the salon, getting my head shaved because I need a "change." Suddenly Britney Spears doesn't seem so crazy.
1. Cried about my job for the first time ever
2. Drastically cut my hair on a whim (I needed a change! And I like it now.)
 |
| The pic I showed my stylist and new hairstyle. Though not so messy. Unless students make me start pulling my hair out. Again. |
4. Researched how much it would cost me to go back to school and get a masters in Art History ( a long dream of mine, but bad job market.) about $13,000 at George Mason
5. Did a little job search on the Smithsonian Museum website
6. Got angrier and angrier about the person who stole my debit card and spent over $300 at a Korean grocery store
7. Then got more and more frustrated about my financial situation. How badly I want to invest and plan for my future but have absolutely NO extra money to do so.
8. Realized, yet again, that things are not actually working out for me romantically
9. Felt pressure because I keep thinking I'm running out of time to deal with all this finance, job, love stuff. I'm supposed to have that figured out now right?!?
10. Felt bad/guilty for whining about all this in the first place. After all, these aren't real problems right?
And as I was driving home today with my new haircut, considering shopping and getting new clothes (I didn't, wrong time of year for that!) I realized I felt like I was dealing with a midlife crisis, but minus the whole "midlife" thing. So I did the math and decided this would be a quarterlife crisis. Curious, I googled it and it turns out that it is a REAL THING!
There are books , a wikipedia entry and even a movie on the topic. And of course there's www.quarterlifecrisis.com
I also found a candle. But I'm not linking to that because it's just too stupid and we shouldn't dignify it with any more views.
So, great, there is a "reason" for the way I'm feeling. But now what? If you need me, I will be found in the Self Help section of Borders, surrounded by books about how to make it through the "horrible" mid-20s.
Or in the salon, getting my head shaved because I need a "change." Suddenly Britney Spears doesn't seem so crazy.
 |
| She was about 26 when she did this... just think about it. |
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