The Butterfly Network: July 2005

Sunday, July 31, 2005

Let's talk about sex, baby

OK, so recently a few blogs have been touching on very sexy subjects...

And since (in case you can't tell) sex/relationships & dating/singlehood/opposite sex discussions are some of my favorite things, I'd just like to point some of them out.

First and foremost, DC Cookie's was (in my opinion) the most important. In fact, I'll quote some of it right here for you: Titled: Eat Up

"I find it unbelievably disturbing when my girlfriends meet guys, date them for several weeks (clearly hooking up at this point) and confess that their new men have yet to go down on them, or even attempt it. Sadly, this happens all the time. Guys, are you serious??!! It is our god-given right as women to get as much oral pleasure from our boyfriends as is humanly possible. If the man is orgasming from mouth-to-pleasure-center fun, he had damn well better be returning the favour.Beware of the classic excuses:

I don't really like to (woman's response: 'you're right, I don't really like to give BJs either, I think I'm going to stop')
It takes too long (woman's response: 'it takes me two minutes myself, you need the practice')
I don't like the way it tastes (woman's response: 'have you had to taste any of your own byproduct?')
I don't know what I'm doing (woman's response: 'let me help you...you'll get the hang of it')
Ladies - you can't let men get away with any of these..."

OK so that was almost the whole post, but it was just so damn good. And necessary for as much recognition as possible!

Next I move on to DC Drama Grrls. And The_Dutchess' post about Recreational Viagra - for men AND women. From their comments section:

"Completly kissing and telling here:
I took my 1st trip down Viagra lane with an old beau while on a vacation ~ we were always much better in bed than out. But, with this, I can only say, wow! (Glad we had a great hotel; never saw much of the city) I must warn, it started getting slightly addictive. We started hitting up anyone we knew with a M.D.
When I finally tried one myself.. it was like out-of-body-experience-WOW. Everything becomes more senstive, more intense. Highly recommend! Take a half for starters. "

Wow, indeed! Anyone else ever tried this?

Then there's Chase-ing Random Thoughts' post about women's sex drives. And I quote:

"I was talking to a friend recently who suggested that women aren't really interested in sex and could go long periods without it and not think twice. (Obviously my friend is a man.)

WHAT!? I love sex! I once even considered getting help because I thought I was addicted to The Rabbit."

Her point, as you will read if you click on the link, is that while it does not control our every thought, women enjoy sex just as much as men. Yep.

And last, but not least, and I'm sure that there are many other sexy posts like this out there, I bring you UpAllNiteJane. She posts a couple times about her taking off the ground sex life with her semi-new man.

See, so although I am quite single, and you can not live vicariously through my posts, surely you can with theirs! Enjoy :-)

Friday, July 29, 2005

Taking a Big Bite Outta the Big Apple

I know, I know... so cliché... But I don't care!

My friend Lauren and I are hopping on the Apex Chinatown Bus in T minus 4 & 1/2 hours and going to visit Lil DC Diva! I'm so excited that I'm even forgoing my severe claustrophobic tendencies and taking the metro from work (Silver Spring) to Chinatown. {shudder, shudder}

However, if the rain keeps up, I will certainly be turning into that petty chick who takes a 3-4 block cab ride from her office to the metro station... (Whatever, I'll have two duffel bags full of my stuff PLUS a bag full of Lil's forgotten belongings - I don't want to get it all wet.)

Tonight we'll probably just relax (Lil, unfortunately has to work at 5 am tomorrow morning) but tomorrow clearly we'll be shopping... and we have reservations tomorrow night for a bed at Bed NY. Ah, just like Sex and the City.

Speaking of (and since we're talking about NYC)... Which character are you? I'm Carrie, obviously...

And I may take flack about it, but, again, I don't care. Sex and the City = my favorite show EVER.

I digress.

Anyhow, can't wait to see ya Lil! And I will surely post many, many pictures upon return!

Elevator Etiquette

This morning, I got on the elevator with 3 other people. Two nursing students and one guy who does maintenance around the building.

The two nursing students went to the right, I went to the left - leaving plenty of space in the middle & back - and the guy went to the left as well. And stood very close to me. Basically, I was backed into the corner and he stood directly in front of me. He was so close that I see the errant hairs along where he'd shaved his neckline. It's not like he was being creepy or anything, I just think he didn't have much spatial awareness.

However, I am extremely claustrophobic. I'm not good in small spaces and I'm VERY uncomfortable being in a really close vicinity to people that I don't know. I have miniature panic attacks on metros, hate crowded elevators, and you will rarely ever see me at a club or on a jam-packed dance floor (and considering I was on the dance team in high school and college, I think that shows just how claustrophobic I am).

But when the nursing students got off, leaving the whole elavator (which isn't small) to me and the guy - he didn't move. Not even a muscle. And for me to move, I would have had to push past him - and as you're aware, I don't really like to touch/be touched by random people. (Had he been a hottie, perhaps it would have been a different story, wink wink.) I know a simple "excuse me" would have been suffice, but I was concentrating too hard on my breathing (claustrophobia taking effect).

The ride from the 5th to the 10th floor (where he got off) seemed like an eternity to me. When he exited the elevator, it was like a weight lifting off of my shoulders. And I'm not holding anything against Mr. Maintenance Man, because as I said before, I think he just didn't have the spatial awareness that would have prompted him to give me some breathing space... But isn't it the proper thing to do? If there's space in an elevator, you should spread out to give room to those around you, right? You know, all that stuff about people needing personal bubbles of space?

Havin' that cake, are ya?

So perhaps the blonde in me is coming out a little bit - maybe this is easily answered - but can somebody please explain to me the concept* behind the saying: "she wants to have her cake and eat it too"?

Because, when it's said, it's said negatively, as though you shouldn't want to have cake AND eat it.

But what are you supposed to do? Have cake and just look at it? I don't think so. I'm not even a big cake person, I just think the expression is stupid.

Seriously, imagine having a big slice of moist chocolate (or vanilla or marbled or whatever suits your fancy) cake in front of you. Perhaps there's a tall glass of milk to go with it. It's iced to perfection, not to much and not to little. And it's yours - you have it.

Are you telling me that you're not supposed to want to eat it? I don't even like cake that much, but if there's a piece in front of me, I'm going to eat it. What would be the point of having cake without eating it? Are you just supposed to stare at it and think about how pretty it is? Or maybe you're supposed to ignore it, and pretend it's not there, while your stomach grumbles for it?

So, forgive me if there's an easy explanation for this, I just don't see it. I really want to know the answer!

*Also, just to clear a little bit up - I understand that it means that you can't have the best of both worlds. I just don't understand why a person would use the cake analogy because it does not make sense (to me)! Wouldn't it make more sense to say (if you HAD to use cake as an example) you can't eat your cake and have it too?

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Michael Douglas and Wife In Town

No, not in NYC, in DC!

On M and Conneticut! Hurry hurry run over and get cast as an extra in his new film. Wife Catherine Zeta Jones is standing nearby.

Eva Longoria and beau are floating around that area as well today.

And who said DC only had politicians as celebs? Pfff!

And that's the word on the street, folks. The DC streets. Reporting to you live from NYC. I still got the DC juice in me. :-)

Yo Girl, Lemme Get Those Digits

I can honestly say that I have never, in my life, asked for a boy's phone number at a bar. And, just as honestly, I can say that I rarely give my phone number out when asked for. (I sometimes have too much fun with the rejection hotline...)

But, I was thinking about this recently: what is a girl to do when she meets a boy out that she'd like to give her number to?

I certainly could never ask someone for his number. Not because of any rules or anything, but because I know I wouldn't call. I'm too shy. I'd get the number and then, when thinking about calling, I wouldn't use it because I'd convince myself he only gave it because I asked - not not because of the spark in conversation, or because he was interested too.

And what if he seems to be enjoying himself, but at the end of the night/conversation, he doesn't ask? Should I volunteer it... "Hey, here's my number, give me a call sometime?" I just don't quite see those words ever coming out of my mouth...

I know I've heard a million times that guys sometimes like it when girls make the first move... It's just not really something that I do (most of the time).

So guys, I guess my question is this. If you're into a girl that you meet, you'll ask for her number, right? And if you don't ask, then she should assume that, while you might have enjoyed talking to her, you are not interested in getting to know her further?

"Intern" Stamped on my Forehead

Well tomorrow is my last day as an “intern”…Thank God! Interning has been such a wonderful yet frustrating experience. I know the whole point of having an internship is to learn first hand about the business world and to help you get acquainted with what you will be doing once you have a real job, but at the same time it is so infuriating. As a 22 year old female it is hard to be taking seriously. Most interns are usually still in college, and granted I just graduated in May, I am still treated like I am so much younger then everyone else even when half of my department are between the ages of 24-28.

I understand that I do not have the experience that they have in the business world and that I have a lot to learn, but as I look back it makes me so mad how I was not treated as an equal. On a daily basis I would get comments thrown at me about how I am an intern. For instance, the head woman in my media relations department came into our office and was introducing a new worker at where I am interning at. She went around introducing everyone and then she got to me and said “Oh this is just our intern, you don’t need to know who she is.” OUCH! I am a human being and I am the person who is doing all of your grunt work and without me, you wouldn’t have reporters to come to our events, which creates better publicity for our business which pays you your salary BIATCH.

Another thing that constantly happens is when people in my office ask around if anyone has a quarter or a nickel so they can get something from the vending machine and it happens that every time I am the only one with change. So the response to this is “Oh my god I can’t believe I am taking money from the intern” Um I think I can spare a nickel…I know that I am not getting paid, but I do have some money. It is just really infuriating! An internship is supposed to be a stepping stone into the real world and should be treated as equal within a workplace because once I am gone they will be doing all the grunt work that they load onto me.

Don’t get me wrong, I do love my internship, I just hate that aspect of it. I have learned so much and I have met some really great and intelligent people. I have built many connections that can definitely enhance my career and I am thankful for that and everything they have taught me. I just wish I didn’t have “Intern” stamped on my forehead, then my feelings would be a little different because it is hard enough to work full time without getting paid.

My question is, does this happen every where? Or is it just at the place I am working at?

B.A. Meetings

Hi. My name is Sara and I'm a blogoholic.

Does anyone else feel like there should be Bloggers Anonymous meetings? (Well, not that they'd be that anonymous, considering there are pictures up of all of us everywhere...)

Because, honestly, I think I have a problem. All day at work I'm either blogging or reading blogs. I read the blogs I link to and sometimes even the blogs that they link to. And after that, I'm all over the celebrity blogs all day long.

Some people only post once a day. We post multiple times. 1) Because we have a lot to say. 2) For people (like me) who read and re-read and love to see new posts upon checking back. It's like a drug addiction. Will it wear off? Perhaps, I know some bloggers get bored, and some stop doing it... But we've been up and running for over 5 months now and I certainly don't see an end in sight.

And also, is blogging still slightly taboo? Yesterday, at the St. Ex Happy Hour, I waited for quite a while (ahem, ahem) for everyone to show up. Luckily, I happened to sit down next to a very nice (and cute) boy who kept me entertained. I did not mention the blog. Yet, coincidentally, some of his friends knew some of the bloggers that I now know. So the question of how our friends knew each other was inevitable - and out came the fact that I have a blog. I was a little embarassed... hence the 'is blogging taboo' question.

But I was thinking about it later last night, and I don't really think that blogging is as taboo as it used to be. And plus, I love to write and have so much fun updating the site with my silly little rants and opinions that I am not embarassed about it at all. Certainly some people think it's stupid (aka my ex) but for the most part, all of my friends think it's funny and are regular readers. And based on the comments we get, and the stats from sitemeter, there are lots of other people who like to read blogs as well.

I mean, blogs are now regularly quoted and mentioned in the papers and even Cosmopolitan magazine has changed it's dating section to a "Bedroom Blog" section. Plus, Webster's Dictionary has acknowledged blogging.

So that about sums it up... Blogging - it's so hot right now ;-)

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

The Gym. We Can't Break Up.

I hate gym memberships. It is literally signing your life away to join a cult. So far, this is the hardest thing I've had to deal with while in NYC. And its not even NYC's fault. It's my gym's.

Okay, so I didn't go to my gym barely at all while in DC. I paid more of a $60 fat tax just for not going (or at least thats how I like to put it.)

So moving to a new city and being all alone has forced me back into a work out regime that I haven't missed, but I know I need it. That means, going back to the gym. On the outside, the gym looks like a great way to meet people and get in shape, but once you enter, man, its worse than dealing with your freakin' cell phone company. At least they have a contract you can get out of!

After researching local NYC gyms, and finding out that my company works with a local gym around here on discount corporate memberships, I decided it was time to get an annullment from my old gym so that I may join my company's.

Ohhhh no. Stop right there. Breaking apart from my gym is harder than getting a divorce. It's worse than marriage. It's for a lifetime. My lifetime. (Duh, of course I didn't read the fine print in my contract - do you? Those damn sales reps sugar coat EVERYTHING.)

And even if I didn't want to actually GO to my gym, I'd have to pay $40 a month just to NOT attend! Arrgh!

So basically there is no getting out of this contract. Unless I want to pay in full what I agreed to pay them, which, to be honest, is a ridiculous amount in itself.

Way to screw me up the ass, gym. Maybe I'll go work all this stress off in the park since I'm clearly too pissed to face the terror of my gym itself!

A word of advice? Don't join a gym. Build your own in your basement. Let's see if those fucks would sign YOUR contracts.

Celebrity Gossip at its Finest

The Celebutante sent me an email with a link to this site, which is full of celebrity gossip: It is hilarious! Some of the gossip includes these little tidbits (please note, that I took the gossip, almost word for word, straight from the aforementioned site):

Alsyon Hannigan: used to date a member of Marilyn Manson and had three ways.

Alyssa Milano:has actually eaten shit; on one movie set in Canada, she infuriated a propmaster and after bitching him out, she ordered him to get her something off the craft services table (food bar). He got her a hot dog, but before giving it to her, shoved his shit in it using a pen's inkwell

Justin Timberlake: JT is indeed bi. I know because a few years ago he had a fling with a friend of mine. This was pre-Britney. We didn't believe it, but our friend called JT on his cell and we muted it and secretly listened in on the conversation. It was him. They discussed sex. Case closed. It may have been a one time thing, and maybe Timberlake is solely straight now. Entirely possible. But I know for a fact that he's slept with a man before. Period.

Denzel Washington: philanderer; arrogant; banged BET host Julissa Marquez and gave her designer hand bags

Kevin Spacey: gay and loves the company of young twink types; is not above slipping a mickey to a hot stud he wants to bed

Chris Klein: He knocked up his girlfriend when he was still in highschool and has a 6 0r 7 year old child. His PR people try to kep this under wraps.

Who knows if it's true or not, but it's certainly entertaining (and also, in some cases, gross) - and there's a lot more dirt on the actual site. Enjoy!

Walk by Groping

Asian Mistress touched slightly on this, but it's something that I feel strongly enough to write about also. It's been a long time coming.

Why is it that, when at a bar - crowded or not, guys feel the need to run their hands all over your body while walking by?

Example:

Guy:

Line 1: "Excuse me" (touches small of my back)
Next line: "Let me squeeze by real quick" (moves hand to trail along my back to my side, places other hand on my stomach)
Final line: "Thanks sugar" (slides hand on my side down and around to my ass - light squeeze)

Honestly, it's rude and so annoying. Now, if he's a looker, then I don't normally mind as much ;-) but for the most part it's the guys who are sweaty, not attractive and wouldn't have a chance in hell... which is probably why they get their kicks out of feeling up girls as they walk by.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Hello from the BIG APPLE!

Here I am DC bloggers, reporting to you LIVE from New York City. What can I say? I do love it here. The people are so nice and welcoming, and its so easy to learn your way around the city.

I've been here four days and have already walked around TriBeCa, SoHo, Chinatown, Times Square, Canal Street, Little Italy, and all up and down Broadway to the Upper West Side, where I live.

I love where I live, it literally looks like Carrie Bradshaw's place from Sex and the City. I couldn't be happier.

Last night I sat in the front row for a taping of the David Letterman show. After that I made my way over to IMPROV, and watched a 2 and a half hour hilarious comedy show with comedians from around the country. I've only been here four days so far, so I have every right to get out that "tourist" in me!

The subway makes life so easy ~ I can get anywhere in the city cheap and fast. There is food around every corner, shopping, anything I need. Duane Reade is my new CVS.

More importantly, I have learned that you don't have to spend money to have fun. David Letterman was free! Walking around the city and soaking it all in is an experience in itself. I'm learning new ways every day to save my money and still have a great time, which is VERY possible.

Well, thats about it for now, DC! Missin everything and everyone mucho. Sending my blogging love. Mwuah!

Sienna and Bloom...AN ITEM??

OMG. Immediately check these pics out!! Is that really Sienna Miller and Orlando Bloom? I thought Orlando and Kate were back together...Why do these celebrities mess with our minds like this?? This is huge if it is really them and it is true!

Who does that?

OK, so you've obviously lived on Mars for the past 20 years if you're a woman and haven't grown up being told, repetitively, not to get in cars with strangers... particularly boy strangers.

It's dangerous. You never know who they really are or what they're up to, or what they're going to do to you. I mean, seriously, you might have to be the dumbest person around if you think it's ok to take rides from strangers.

The reason for that little rant is this:

My best friend, Jon, and three other guy friends were walking back to their car from a bar late one night (maybe two weekends ago... sometime recently). And they walked by a chick walking by herself. (Mistake #1 sweetie... Do NOT walk around DC by yourself late at night...)
So Jon, being the sweetheart that he is (obviously he's a sweetheart, he's my best friend of over 11 years and you know I wouldn't put up with anything else) - plus he was hammered - asks her if she wants to hang out and party with them. And she said yes. She'd never seen these guys before, it's late at night and she's by herself. What an idiot.

Not only does she proceed to walk with them, she GOT IN A CAR WITH THEM. (Mistake #2... could have been fatal, you idiot.) She went back to a house with them and partied well into the morning. Then, when my friends left, she stayed and hung out with the guy, Erik, whose house it was.

I mean, she got lucky. My guy friends are stand up guys, who respect girls (for the most part) and a girl would never have to worry for her safety around them. BUT she did not know that.

Brianne, Jon, Erik and I went out on Saturday night... and she came out as well. She's not that cute and certainly not very bright. While out, I watched her latch onto another completely random guy. Maybe 20 minutes later she was acting as though they'd been best friends for years... best friends with benefits that is...

Eventually the rest of us left to go to a party elsewhere. At around 3, while waiting for a cab, she found us at a random house in Georgetown. Seriously... can we say psycho? At first she got in to the cab to come out with us, but then jumped out suddenly on a corner, all upset because Erik left the bar without saying goodbye to her earlier in the night. (Note, I know for a fact that he didn't want her and could have cared less if she came back with us...)

And again, although feeble attempts were made to tell her it was unsafe, she was walking alone late at night, on the streets in Georgetown. I guess it's a habit of hers.

Seriously, honey... could you be more stupid?

Monday, July 25, 2005

You know she's 19 if...

My friend Brianne was in town this weekend. On Friday night we went to a friend's house party (and got to hang out with Lil on her last night here! Miss that chick tons already...). It was low key, which was good because that was just the type of night that we were in the mood for.

Upon arrival, however, and while making the rounds of introductions, I noticed a plethora of girls that I'd never seen before. All these cute little things who giggled while giving their names. I couldn't quite figure out why I'd never met them before, because I go out with my friends quite a bit and had never once seen these girls.

Making conversation, I asked one where she went to school and when she would graduate. She smiled and told me that she graduated in 2004. I wondered how she could have graduated my year when she certainly didn't look my age... and then it hit me. She was talking about her HIGH SCHOOL graduation date. She was 19. The plethora of girls hanging out with my guy friends was really a group of 18 & 19 year olds... Hence my never having seen them out at a bar before. They weren't old enough to get in.

Considering that my friends and I are all 5-6 years these girls' seniors, I wanted to laugh at my guy friends. And I did, of course. But I was careful to be nice to the girls because, I can not lie, I used to be one of them. When I was 19, my friends and I definitely hung out with 23/24 year olds guys. It was fun and we certainly felt cool. But the older girls were not so nice to us.

Looking back I realize that it was actually ridiculous for these guys to hang out with us because our maturity levels were so different. The mean older girls must have realized this. (No matter how mature us 19 year olds may have acted, there was certainly a HUGE maturity difference between us and the college graduates that we were hanging out with.)

That is neither here nor there, however. My point, actually, is that there were certain characteristics that Bri & I noticed through out the night that really helped us to pinpoint the 19 year olds from the college grads. These characteristics are as follows...

You know she's 19 if:

she feels that it is acceptable to make out with boys, heavily - tongues out and all, in front of anyone and everyone at a party. (ok, ok I can't pretend I haven't done this since age 19... BUT never with my tongue out, and at a bar, not a party)
she laughs hysterically at everything you say, if you're an older girl (ie. the age of the guys that they're hanging out with) even if it's not that funny. (I tested this theory, and proved it.)
she wears short skirts that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination when sitting down... actually they leave nothing to the imagination when standing up either.
her friend is dating an older guy, then she is certainly hooking up with one of his friends... because 19 year olds stick together.
while talking to the (older) object of her affection, her voice raises a couple octaves into a laughing screeching sound.

OK, I know there were more... but I can not remember and I can't get in touch with Bri to help me think of them. Feel free to add on...

And of course, to any indignant 19 year olds (if any) reading this, try not to be too offended by the list... don't forget, I used to be there myself - and don't worry because you will grow out of it and look back and laugh... Now put your mini, mini skirt on, gather your girls and go find an 23 year old to make out with in a crowded restaurant ;-)

Friday, July 22, 2005

To listen or not to listen... Juanes is the question

Well... DCB made it very clear about how he feels about Juanes... Hotwheelz made an opposing statement... whom are you going to listen to??? (Personally, I believe that I will save judgement until I've listened to the cd...)

;-) ;-) ;-)

Have a good weekend everyone!

The Break up Grieving Period

I have a friend, whom we will simply call Jane...

Jane has been in a relationship for the past two months. And they broke up two days ago. And she is a wreck.

She can't sleep. She can't eat. She cries all the time.

My other friend, Stacy, is Jane's roommate. Stacy is worried about Jane. She called me last night to ask for help.

I didn't have much advice to give. From my past experiences, I don't think that there's too much that a friend can do for someone going through a break up other than just be there to listen to them.

Let them cry, let them vent... Try to feed them... But I don't think that there's any one thing that you can tell someone going through a break up that will make them feel better. (Unless, of course, you happen to know that their recent ex wants to get back together - and even that sometimes is not the right answer.)

Honestly, I think that people who are upset over break ups have to come to terms on their own. There's not some switch to flip that makes them get over a relationship. It's all internal. You're upset, then you're angry, then you're sad... and then one day you realize that you're ok. And those stages last different lengths of time for different people.

So, Stacy and I debated this for a while. And then she made a comment about not understanding why Jane was so upset because they only dated for two months. I started to agree, but then I thought differently. Because, thinking back, I've never been through a break up that I haven't been really upset by.

For me, it hasn't been the pain of being rejected - in probably the past 7 years or so, I've been the one to end all of my relationships, except one... (Well, and then there was another one whom I played the break up and get back together game with so many times, we just took turns ending it...) It's more the sadness that something that could have been great did not work out. I'm a sore loser, I freely admit it - and I HATE giving up.

Once I pass the dating game with someone and settle into a real relationship (which doesn't happen too often), I really give myself. I certainly don't rush feelings, but I don't hold them back either. And I don't play the silly little control games. While dating, I play games... although they're half-way unintentional most of the time - and I truly believe that anyone who says that they don't is a liar. But when you care enough about someone to seriously be with them, there's (in a perfect world) no point to game playing.

Basically, I (and so do many others) go into each relationship with the high hopes and expectations that it's going to be a great relationship because we care enough about each other to be together exclusively... I date a lot, but I don't get serious with guys easily, unless I really see something in them, so obviously there's a strong connection when I do. And this is why I disagreed with Stacy when she made that comment (about not understanding why Jane was so upset because they only dated for two months). I think no matter how long or short of a time that you're in a committed relationship with someone, it always hurts when you break up.

However, I also think that the length of the relationship sometimes dictates how long you'll be upset about it ending. It took me almost a year to get past breaking up with my college boyfriend... but we dated all of our junior & senior years plus some... Jane's devastated now, but given the length of time she was with her boyfriend, (and, knowing Jane the way I do) I bet she'll be fine in a week.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

A few pics of DC bloggers ;-)

Ok, here are a few pics from last night. I've accidentally deleted some (sorry!) But for those who were there, I will email you ALL the pics if you shoot me an email with your address!

Circle V, Lil, TxQt, DCB (open those eyes!), Crazy Girl City & Luci

Circle V & DCB

TxQt, Robin Worldwide, Linz, DC Cookie, Kathrynon

DCB, Kathrynon, Rock Creek Rambler

TxQt, DC Cookie, Robin Worldwide, Kathrynon, Sara

Sara, DCB, Lil DC Diva

Robin & DC Cookie strike a pose... work it work it

DC Cookie, Robin Worldwide, Texas Cutie & Lil

Now, isn't this ironic?

GET A F'ING LIFE

First, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all my wonderful friends and bloggers who came out last night. I had a fabulous time, and apologize for being a little toooo tipsy! Thank you for sending me off in such a fun fashion. And to all the bloggers I met, I had a great time, and I am so sorry I am leaving and won't be able to attend more fun social gatherings, but you can all come out with me in NYC whenever you want!

Now down to business. I found out that someone IM'ed my ex boyfriend last night to let him know what I was up to at the blogging party. Excuse me, since when is it wrong to drink and be merry with your friends and new interest?

Well, you know what I have to say about that? Get a fucking life. How is this anyone else's business but my own? IM'ING MY EX BOYFRIEND? And its someone who reads the blog too. Well I advise you to stop reading if you actually have the time to do such a thing.

I am not going to point fingers or try to play Clue. I just can't believe some people have that much time on their hands.

I'm about to be done with this blogging business and move on with my life, privately, without having to worry about crazy fucks I don't know trying to get into my personal business. Ciao!

The aftermath

Sara's stomach = to a washing machine on spin cycle. I believe I will be leaving work in about an hour to go home and be miserable for a while.

Last night was a blast :-)

First of all, I need to say thank you to the following four people:

DCB, such a sweetheart for giving me a ride to the metro
Circle V, for your generous offer of a place to crash (um, also, do you have my sunglasses, by any chance?)
Andrew - a HUGE thank you for ordering me to cancel my cab and driving all the way out of your way just to drive me home. I owe you big time!
Hotwheelz - for the ride, the tylenol and the gatorade this morning

And along those lines, I had so much fun with you:
Texas Cutie (who really is a texas cutie!), Kathryn, Robin Worldwide, lagniappe in dc, Rock Creek Rambler, DC Cookie, the boy (although I never got that one promised picture), Crazy Girl City, and all of your friends :-)

As well, of course, all of Lil & my friends that came were fun, per usual!

I certainly had too much to drink on an empty stomach - but it was well worth it. I promise to post the pictures up here later today (or maybe tomorrow as I am going home to sleep shortly).

and PS. Do not eat chinese food when you've been drinking on an empty stomach. It does NOT soak up the alcohol. At all. Ug.

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

TONIGHT... The Place To Be Is...

Drumroll please ;-)

.....................................................................................

McFaddens!

Yep, it's the mini-Blog-a-palooza... DUH

It's TBN's Farewell Happy-to-Late Hour Party for Lil DC Diva. A mix from the blog-o-sphere and our personal friends will be in attendance.

Those who have rsvp'd that they will be attending from the blog-o-sphere thus far are: DCB, TxQT, Crazy Girl City, Kathrynon, a certain Rambler from Rock Creek, DC Cookie... and of course - our wonderful alumna, Asian Mistress (if she's not too sick).

So everyone come out and bring whomever you want - the more the merrier!

You'll find us downstairs, by the bar on the right, cocktails in hand and ready to have a good time :-)

I'm Going To Miss You, D.C.

My time is almost up. As I close one chapter in my life and begin another, I have found myself sitting back and reflecting on what I am going to miss most about DC. Aside from friends and family of course, this is my home. And like that old saying goes, home is where the heart is, and I feel like I am leaving my heart behind!

So, what am I going to miss the most about this area? Oh, many many things:

1. Redskins. First thing is first, this is my team. People have come to me in the past few weeks saying, "Oh, you better become a Giants/Jets fan when you get up there." As if! I don't care where I live or how disappointing a season we have, I'm 13 years a fan and going strong!
2. The Nationals. Okay, so now I look like a sports junkie, I know. But I can't help it, I have fallen in love with a baseball team that I can call my own. As I get lost in the world of Yankee crazies, it will be impossible to stray from our promising team. (I even have a ball signed by one of the original Senators! Score!)
3. Jumbo Slice Pizza. I know there are a zillion pizza joints in NYC, but there is only one that I choose to note in DC. How can you go wrong with a huge slice of pizza or few from this place? It's perfect after a night out in Adams Morgan, and so convenient located right next to Tom Tom's. So much for dieting!
4. Elliot in the Morning. DC 101. Elliot has saved my commute to work. Without it, I'd be forced to listen to the overly cheery and lame folks at HOT 99.5, although I do love the Hollywood Hot Sheet. Elliot, Diane, and the rest of the class have been my saving grace during the rechid DC commute. If only they had an afternoon show...
5. July 4th. I've spent many 4th of July's here. Iwo Jima, the Pentagon, the Potomac River. There is just something different about celebrating the 4th in our nation's capital. I'm proud I was able to have the experience for so many years.
6. Wednesday nights at McFadden's. So its not an upscale bar. Whatevs. You can't go wrong guzzling down dollar drinks with your best girlfriends after a day at work. Beats any night out at a posh joint with over-priced drinks and unfriendly faces giving you the once-over. (Side note: SEE YOU THERE TONIGHT!)
7. Georgetown shopping. There is nothing better than spending a day walking the streets of Georgetown, even if you are just window shopping. Who said DC didn't know fashion? Okay so, maybe much of the population here are fashion victims, but if ONLY they would take a stroll thorough the shops here and buy something other than a black or navy blue suit, maybe, just maybe, we might look a little more colorful in our fashion sense.
8. People watching at Dupont. I love walking through the circle and looking at all the different people who are looking at all the other people. I love the diversity and energy of DC, and I know NY will have that too, but in a place that I am so familiar, its nice to see that we don't all look like robots. (Although I do sometimes question that walking down M Street.)
9. The Monuments. Oh geez, so lame and cliche, you say. Au contreir! Any one who thinks that driving over the Memorial Bridge or around any of the Monuments isn't breathtaking, get your eyes checked. People travel from all over the world to come here, and we are right in the middle of it every single day and pay no mind. We rudely honk at the obscnenely large Tour mobiles as a welcoming chant to the overzealous tourists. Actually, we just honk at everyone. Welcome to DC, bitch! Now get the f*ck outta my way!

Maybe it'd be good for us to stop and smell the coffee once in a while. I just did, and this is one cup I'm truly going to miss.

*This list is a reflection of my personal favorites based on experiences and by no means reflects that of any other the butterflies, bloggers, or haters for that matter. If you don't like it, piss off and have a happy hater day!

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Past-in-a-Box

My room is undergoing major surgery. Aka: I'm finally cleaning and reorganizing it as well as taking care of the 18 bajillion loads of laundry that have been waiting on my floor.

But that is neither here nor there... The basis for that lovely little tidbit of background information is that while I was reorganizing the drawers & shelves in my armoire, I also reorganized the very top shelf. I NEVER touch that shelf. It's where I keep all my Past-in-a-Boxes.

(Past-in-a-Box: The box in which a person collects all past memories of a relationship, including, basically, everything that one simply can not bear to throw away, regardless of the fact that the relationship is over... The box is to be put away and not reopened until said person is strong enough to look at its contents with out wanting to be back together.)*

Now, let me backtrack a little bit. It had been a good 6-8 months since I'd last touched any of my Past-in-a-Boxes. I don't like to dwell on the past and looking at all that stuff tends to make me feel a little bit sappy. So I steer clear of them. But in the past few weeks, my college sweetheart and I have been talking quite a bit. NOT in a romantic sense, but more in a "catching up because we stopped talking for a few months" sense.

See, things were a little bit awkward a few months ago, because he wanted to get back together, but I was just starting to see someone new. And, while I'll always care for him, I knew we didn't work together as a couple. That being said (well... written, I suppose) it was uncomfortable when we would talk on the phone for a while after that - so we stopped talking.

Coincidentally, he called me again for the first time the weekend after my most recent break up. Totally random. We did not, however, speak about my break up. We do not talk about love lives at all. But we certainly talk about EVERYTHING else. And it is really nice to have him back in my life, as a friend.

Personally, once that awkward, freshly broken up/still hurting period is over, I think it's important to stay friends, and if not - at least acquaintences - with whom I've dated. (With the exception of the one boy who ever broke my heart - I think he's scum and could care less if I ever see/talk to him again - His Past-in-a-Box is hidden somewhere that I would not be able to look at it even if I wanted to...) This is because, if you think about it, when you get into a relationship with someone, past just dating, there are obviously reasons why you do so. And while you may not mesh with some people, they still must have values that you respect/admire - otherwise you never would have dated them in the first place.

Blah blah blah. Sorry to go off on such a tangent... My point is that as I'm friends with the college sweetheart once again, I took his Past-in-a-Box and sat down for an hour and went through it all... The cards, the notes, the movie ticket stubs... the sweet, "look how happy we were" pictures (that took me ages to take down after the break up)... and I had the BEST time doing it.

Obviously we had problems, it's why we broke up. But for the longest time I could only look back and see those problems and feel the frusterations that went with them. Now, with the new found friendship and my Past-in-a-Box, I can look back and forget the problems and remember all the great times we had. :-)

Ah, sweet nostalgia...

*I do not have many Past-In-A-Boxes. Only a few. And only those who were VERY near and dear to my heart get one... Things from relationships past that did not last long/did not mean that much all go into one community Past-In-A-Box... I am, I realize, somewhat of a relationship reminder packrat...

REMINDER: TBN's (Mini) Blog-a-palooza!

The Butterfly Network's (mini) Blog-a-palooza:

OK, OK, so it's not really a blog-a-palooza... that, of course, would require MUCH more planning than we feel like making an effort for (at present time... perhaps a future event will follow). But the name sounded cute & catchy to us, so there it is!

Please come, we'd love to meet you! And bring whomever you want to! The more the merrier, of course :-) This is not a private party - just a public get together!

When: Wednesday, July 20, from 6:00PM - However late you can stay!

Where: McFadden's
(2401 Pennsylvania Ave at 24th St NW
Washington,DC)

Why: Although McFadden's has been looked down upon by some bloggers... it's ladies night... and there are really good drink specials and a lot of us work very close to the location! If you absolutely HATE McFadden's... just come have a drink or two with us and then dip out to your favorite Wednesday night hang out spot... We won't be offended!

Why #2: Also, it's a bon voyage to Lil DC Diva. She's staying in the blogosphere, but it may be your last chance to meet her because she's moving to the big apple!

(Plus, from 4-7, you can get $2 "U-Call-Its"! Also, from 7 - 11, there will be 1/2 price domestic beers and 1/2 price burgers!)

Have questions? Are you planning to come? Shoot an email to thebutterflynetwork@gmail.com and let us know! We'll send you an official invite and get right back to ya with an answers you need!

See you there!!!

Luv,
Sara, Lil DC Diva & The Celebutante

Fantasy Blogball :-)

OK, so it's about the time to start up fantasy football teams! The Butterfly Network and DC Sports are jointly hosting a Fantasy League for Bloggers. (Yes, we are internet geeks... every last one of us... but if you're reading this - well then, you probably are too.)

Are you a blogger?
Are you interested?
Here are the terms:

Blogging Fantasy Football Terms

For now, you must be a blogger (write on a blog) to participate. If participation is low, we'll open it up to our readers as well. The max amount of teams allowed in the league is 20 - it's first come first serve.
The league name is Fantasy Blogball.
The name of your team must be your blogging name so everyone knows who you are. (ie, my team name will be Sara, etc)
The draft will be a live, online draft. The currently set draft time is Tue Aug 9 7:30pm ET.
The date/time may change. However, if someone is unable to participate in the live draft, they can use the auto pick draft tool available on yahoo. I will not explain this further because anyone who participates needs to be familiar with how the game works, so read for yourself!
Of course, this is only for fun and no money/betting is involved! (If you chose to do so, on the side, it's your prerogative, of course.)
Fellow bloggers will receive an invitation, via email, with the password and instructions. If you don't – send an email to thebutterflynetwork@gmail.com and we will send it to you.

Let the games begin!

Monday, July 18, 2005

Aghhhh!!!

I feel like the biggest bitch in the world. I move to NYC in 4 days. I broke up with my boyfriend of a year, and now I already have feelings for someone else I just met and I can't control one bit of it.

And now, with four days left, I am building someone of a relationship with this person I met. And before I know it, I will be whisked away to NYC, engulfed in the rest of the madess that goes on there, possibly leaving everything and everyone behind.

And will I get there and regret everything I just did?

I can't figure out if everything is somehow falling apart or coming together. What is wrong with me?!

I am flustered and confused and NOT READY to move!! Eeeekk!!!

THIS IS MY QUARTER LIFE CRISIS!!

Mama NO!

Honestly, I am speechless. What the hell is she thinking?
Okay we get it Britney, you are pregnant but do you really have to cut your hair so you look like a soccer mom? DO YOU? NO. I don't know if you have noticed, but hot moms are the in thing right now. Come on...work with us. I am so disappointed...did she not read my blog from last week. Apparently not!

Say It To My Face

I'm probably one of the nicest, most genuine people I know. Sometimes I find that I am so nice people take advantage of me. But with five days left living here, a new bitchier me has surfaced, and I like it. I've never liked to deal with BS, but I have found that every once in a while we all have to deal with it, and I choose to deal with it immediately and move on.

So this past weekend, while hanging out with all my favorite people and friends, in my honor of course because I am leaving, I found out that two supposed dear friends rolled their eyes at me after a comment or something I had said while in the middle of a game of flip cup.

I didn't see it, but someone else sure did catch it, and let me know.

Now, normally I don't care what people think about me, because I am the captain of my own ship, and I steer in the direction of my choice. Normally I choose not to get into the nitty and gritty, but when two friends ROLL their eyes at you for reasons you aren't aware of a week before you move and your entire life changes, its a problem.

Whatever their reason may be for their immature actions, eye rolling is totally inappropriate in my book. First of all, if you have a problem with me and you are my friend, please address the issue with me in a respectable manner. And if you don't have the balls to at least do that, roll your eyes so that I may see you do it, and bask in the humor of your pettiness and insecurity.

And you know what, I am not trying to stab at my friends through a blog or hide my face behind my computer. They might read this and I really don't care if they do or not. I addressed the issue to their faces almost as soon as I found out and handled it in a respectable manner, something that they failed to do. And with my departure in a less than a week and my emotions boiling inside, I can assure you that their eye rolling made me question who really does matter, because I would never EVER do that to someone I call my friend.

Wedding Crashers... The New Old School

Ok, without a doubt it's the funniest movie that I've seen in a LONG time. Perhaps since Old School came out. As a matter of fact, I think this movie may rival Old School. Which, in my book, is the funniest movie out there.

A few reasons the movie rocked:

It takes place in DC.
There's a guest appearance by another member of the Frat Pack.
Vince Vaughn has more funny lines than you can possibly count. Seriously. I had tears running down my face.
One of my personal faves: When he talked about the "just the tip" game... You'll know what I'm talking about when you see it... HILARIOUS...
Also: "She just eye-fucked the shit outta me!"
Seriously, every few minutes there's a new, quotable, hilarious one-liner... But, come on, did you expect less?
Christopher Walkin stars in it. Need I say more about that?
Jane Seymore does a complete 180 from her role in Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. (Does anyone else even remember that show?)
Cussing Grandma = rapping Grandma from the Wedding Singer... always funny
The list could go on and on and on... but I have to get some work done today!

Honestly, I expect to be back in the theater watching it all over again sometime this week.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

OK. First, and foremost. I read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Saturday. Loved it. I won't say too much about it here, because I know some people haven't read it yet. BUT I have a prediction about Harry Potter Book 7. I won't write it here, because it completely gives away the biggest part of the ending to The Half-Blood Prince. But I will write it in the comments section of this post.

So: DO NOT READ THE COMMENT SECTION HERE IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING OF THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE.

Friday, July 15, 2005

Move Over Deep Throat... Another DC Mystery Man Has Been Revealed

(A friend, with whom I've seen this graffiti, pointed out the "Borf Revealment" to me.)

So you know you've seen "Borf's" graffiti around DC. His artwork includes a huge five-foot-high Borf face that appeared on a Roosevelt Bridge sign, and a 15-foot "BORF" above a Dupont Circle cafe... There's the stencil of a little girl who holds a sign saying "Grownups are Obsolete" and the Borf face is really all around the city. His spraypainted work can be viewed on the base of the Key Bridge, or on a brick wall by the 9:30 club.

"People took pictures of his work and posted them on Web sites. Bloggers speculated on the culprit's identity and his motives. Was he man or woman, one person or many? What did Borf stand for? Some people were enraged and others were cheered by that mischievous Borf face..."

Well, the graffitist's real name is John Tsombikos and he just turned 18. He borrowed the nickname Borf from a friend who committed suicide two years ago.

The kid is considers himself a crusader for youth and is against age.

Once upon a time, Borf said, he was "just, like, some liberal, like anybody," but then he started reading, and found out he really wanted to be an anarchist. He decided he doesn't believe in the state, capitalism, private property, globalization. Most of all, he doesn't believe in adulthood, which he considers "boring" and "selling out."

"Growing up is giving up," he said. "I think some band said it."

Last Night

TBN and Asian Mistress had a few drinks last night at BWU in Fairfax! Here are a couple of pics... More stories to come, I'm sure. (Check out Asian Mistress' post about it here.)

Sara & Lil DC Diva...

Lil & Asian Mistress... The pink shirt was SO hot... until I knocked beer onto it... Damn it

Thursday, July 14, 2005

NAMBLA - I am disgusted

So there's this group. It's called the the North American Man/Boy Love Association
(NAMBLA). This group's goal is to "end the oppression of men and boys who have freely chosen, mutually consensual relationships".

**Before I go on, please note that my disgust has NOTHING to do with the fact that the members of this club are gay. I have gay relatives as well as gay friends. If this group promoted men with little girls or women with little boys, I would feel the same way.

Basically, this group is saying that if it is consentual, it is okay for grown men to have sexual relations with little boys. The fancy-shmancy it up, but that's basically it in a nutshell.

NAMBLA sells a publication comprised of many letters and articles by youth who (in my opinion) have been brainwashed by the group. While the actual letters are not available to read online (the publication costs $5.95) here are an example of some of the titles, along with boys' ages. Again, I have nothing against the sexual orientation basis of the letters - I have everything against the fact that these are from children speaking about their adult male lovers. Make sure to note the ages:

The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, Greg, age 16
I Love Him, and I Know That He Loves Me, Darrel, age 16
It Shouldn't Be a Crime to Make Love, Bryan, age 12 1/2
I'm Not Going To Be Kept Away from Him (An Interview), Thijs, age 11
Sex Is Really Beautiful with My Friend, Dennis, age 13
Thank God for Boy-Lovers, Victor, age 14
For The First Time in My Life I Felt Wanted, Gabriel, age 16
I Need My Lovers, Tyrone, age 16
He Was Very Special and Kind, Barry, age 17

Seriously, I could puke. The men in this club are pedophiles, without a doubt. And they talk about ageism as an argument. Basically their take is that just because they're children, they have a right to some good lovin' from an older man too. Bullshit. These guys are disgusting, creepy, perverts who should be behind bars.

Kids can not make these decisions for themselves. Surely when I was younger I thought I knew best, but I can almost guarantee that there's not a single adult alive that doesn't look back on their youth and realize that they made a stupid decision that, at the time, seemed like the best thing to do.

If you're not outraged by this, well then I personally think there's something wrong with you.

This group could just as easily be called NAMGLA or NAWBLA. You get my drift. Anyway, it's wrong. And sickening. And now I'm leaving work, for my 1.5-2 hour commute home with a really bad taste in my mouth.

From an angelfire article I found:

"I was watching America’s Most Wanted, when they aired a story concerning an organization called North American Man/Boy Love Association or NAMBLA. John Walsh stated “That he and the FBI has tried for years to stop NAMBLA, and that all members of NAMBLA are sexually abusing young boys.” Stephen Davis Lewis was wanted for child sexual abuse and Leyland Stevenson who has been in prison for child pornography, said in his interview, that he and all the members have sex with young boys; they go to the park, library, and such, to pick up young boys for sex and there is nothing wrong with it.”
I called NAMBLA’s phone number in New York City and a recorded message said “If you want information about NAMBLA send a stamped self addressed envelope to PO Box 174, NY, NY 10018.” I sent the request and received a pamphlet concerning NAMBLA and a membership form. In order to stop NAMBLA we needed to gather information on them. I sent a $25.00 American Express money order and became a member using an alias.
NAMBLA was featured on America’s Most Wanted again, this time they arrested Stephen Davis Lewis, he was with a 15 year old boy.
I received my membership package. It contained a NAMBLA Bulletin with hand drawings of young nude boys, and stories of men sexually abusing young boys."

Click on the above quote to read the rest. I don't know if it's true or not, but I don't doubt it.

I'll leave you with an excerpt from the NAMBLA web site:

"The outcomes of sexual experiences between adults and younger people primarily depend upon whether the sex was consensual. Also, sexual experiences are powerfully influenced by expectations and the attitudes toward sex which have been passed on to younger people by their parents and social environment. Rigidly anti-sexual attitudes and fears can predispose anyone to harm. Boys often approach sex with great interest and enthusiasm, so that their consensual sexual experiences are not harmful.
Once sexual experiences have become known to others, secondary harm to youngsters can be induced by the inappropriate reactions of parents, police,
social workers, lawyers and other adults, where no apparent harm results from the sexual contact itself.
If people are not taught to despise their bodies and fear sex, if their sexual choices are not forced on them by others, and if they are not subjected to harsh or tigmatizing reactions to their sexual choices and experiences, they will not be harmed by having sex, regardless of how old or young they are or with whom they have sex."

GROSS. Ridiculous. I hope this is just a sick joke, but unfortunately, I don't think it is. How the hell does this group even exist? They should ALL be in jail.

Two Minutes of Silence

At noon today, take two minutes of silence to reflect and pray for the victims of last week's London terrorist attacks.

They were there for us when we were attacked. They even played our National Anthem in their own country to show their support for us. Now it's our turn to show we care.

Another of Sara's Target Tales

Ok, I swear I can not go into a target without some kind of story coming out if it!

So I recently broke my blowdryer and before getting ready to hit up the A-Town bars last night, I ran out to Target to get a new one. Well anyone who knows me knows that I have a severe spending problem. I can never run out anywhere and get just one thing. (I've tried to stop this madness, it just doesn't work...) So I figured I'd check out the latest CDs and maybe get a new sports bra as I'm getting into yoga... maybe some yoga pants as well. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time. Oh wait... where was I? ;-)

Story 1

So first of all I'm checking out the sports bras which happen to be in the same vicinity as the panties section. And in the panties section there are two girls holding this conversation:

G1: Well I want to get something cute and new for tonight... I really need to do laundry.
G2: Oh, well you can't go wrong with a thong!
G1: No, he's not into thongs... He-- (gets cut off by G2)
G2: How about some one of these lacy boyshort things? Maybe I'll get some too, I love these.
G1: Well, ok don't laugh ok? The thing is... (and I am not lying, she REALLY said this) for some reason he really likes high-waisted granny panties.
G2: (busts out laughing... she even snorted...) (at the same time I choked on my gum...)

I didn't hear the rest of the conversation because I didn't want to laugh out loud at this girl so I walked away. But how funny is that? Honestly, is this normal? Do boys really like high-waisted granny panties? Or did this girl happen to hook up with him one time, unexpectedly, and was unprepared and wearing granny panties - so he reassured her that he liked them in order to make her feel better?

Anyhow, I was chuckling to myself all the way until:

Story 2

I was picking out my new blowdryer when a couple walked down the same aisle, holding hands. The girlfriend starts considering all of the brush choices. I glance over because I'm thinking about how much I also need a new round brush. The boyfriend looks at me and gives me the looking up and down once over - and smiles. (Not just a friendly, "hi" smile... A "I'm really enjoying checking you out behind my girlfriend's back" smile... You know there's a difference)

Ok, first of all, I was not looking hot... at all. We're talking mesh shorts and baggy, faded t-shirt. And they were not cute little short shorts or anything either. So what the hell is wrong with this guy? He risked getting caught checking out another girl who wasn't even looking cute. Stupid, stupid... In my opinion.

Second of all, how rude. Not to me (although I could say that too), but to his girlfriend. I understand that boys and girls always notice attractive members of the opposite sex. But is it really necessary to blatantly stare at one when you're out somewhere with a significant other? I once dated someone who would check out just about every pretty girl who walked by when we were out... and then discuss the girls (sometimes in great length) with his friends, again, right in front of me. I think it's so rude. I could care less if a guy does it when we aren't out together (so long as looking is all that occurs) - because I'm doing the same thing when I'm out without the guy. But when a guy and a girl are out together, I think it's very unnecessary and can sometimes be hurtful. Of course you'll still notice hot members of the opposite sex - but who needs to concentrate on them when you're out with someone you supposedly really care about?

And this brings me to

Story 3

This is non-Target related. But I was just browsing on City Sparkle and read Asian Mistress' Friendly Post. A quote from the post is "Friendship is a fickle thing. I completely agree with Circle V about the "seasons of friendship" - and also with Sara who was wondering, when is it really over, how much can you apologize?" (This is referring to my previous Excuse Me While I Put My Foot In My Mouth post.)

Well here's a quick update on that situation. While my apology to that friend still stands (I know when I've messed up), I've also come to the realization that this 'friend' is a humongous hypocrite. You know the saying... People in glass houses should not throw stones. I simply can not understand why someone would be so cold to a person for making a mistake when they themselves have done PLENTY of thoughtless, hurtful things that were forgiven/overlooked. But it's whatever. We are all aware that some people are good at dishing out what they themselves can not handle it in return.

Can you tell by the length of this post that I'm not getting any work done today? (Woops...)

Extramarital Greeting Cards?

OK, so this is disgusting...

A woman in Bethesda, Cathy Gallagher, started a new line of greeting cards called The Secret Lover Collection.

They're sexy, loving cards that you can give to the person with whom you're having an extramarital affair.

They read with lines such as, for a holiday card: "As we each celebrate with our families, I will be thinking of you." Or, for an interoffice affair: "I used to look forward to the weekends but since we met they now seem like an eternity."

Seriously. I think this is completely redonkulus. I know that there will always be cheaters, but why in the world would anyone want to celebrate that fact?

"People who are involved in affairs are not bad people," Gallagher said. "A lot of people meet the right person at the wrong time." WRONG. People involved in extramarital (or any other kind of cheating) affairs are bad people. The people who find themselves falling for someone new and, before starting anything with them, get out of the relationship that they're currently in are not bad people (for the most part).

This touches a little bit on what The Celebutante wrote about the other day. Perhaps people cheat so much these days because society seems to be doing its best (ie by selling cards like these, or by allowing people to seach for affairs on sites like AdultFriendFinder.com, etc) to make cheating so much more acceptable.

Personally, I think it's wrong to cheat (obviously) and I am completely disgusted that anyone would feel so tolerant about the concept of cheating that they would go so far as to create and market cards that condone it.

"If"

Life is full of surprises, isn't it? Three weeks ago I had no idea I would be preparing to move to New York City. Recently, I have found myself coming back to read Rudyard Kipling's "If," for guidance, inspiration, and pleasure. I felt it would be nice to share it with the rest of the blogosphere, for I feel everyone can relate to it in some way. Sometimes we need to just break away from all the talk and gossip of other peoples' lives and analyze our own. This poem always helps me do so.

"If" by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

We Want Our Pop Princess Back!

Ahh remember the days...you know, when Britney knew how to wash her face, brush her hair, and do over 1,000 situps a day. Do you? I know, it is all a vague memory to me as well. When did America's favorite pop princess go from FLASH to TRASH...and most importantly WHY?
I loved Britney Spears, I was so intrigued by her awful singing and her awesome dance performances, then she cheated on Justin, screwed around in Hollywood and then found Mr. Rat Weasel Federline. HE IS CLEARLY THE PROBLEM! I understand she is so in love with him and I am happy for her, but why? Doesn't she know her career is pretty much done for? I understand that maybe she doesn't want to be in the lime light anymore and she wants to try and carry out a normal life, but that is almost impossible considering how huge she has been in the entertainment business. But even if she claims that she doesn't want to be in the hollywood eye anymore then why is rushing to get back into the studio? OH becasue Mr. White Trash USA is spending all of her money and she is clearly the only one in the relationship that will be able to pull some what of an income for them. I honestly do not see any future what so ever for Federline in the entertainment industry...and I think a lot of people can agree with me on that, so why doesn't he get the hint? He wants to be the next Eminem? What? Oh I get it, because he likes trailer parks too?
Also Britney is preggers now and that is great! But the poor child is going to be addicted to caffeine as soon as it comes out of the womb because Britney constantly has a starbucks drink in her hand at all times. BRITNEY THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR YOUR UN BORN CHILD!
Did you hear about the fight her and Kevin had at the premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? I was completely baffled on how rude and immature a father could be! Well actually I wasn't baffled because he is Kevin Federline and he is the king of white trash...anyways. At the premiere they made a red carpet appearance and for once Britney looked decent because she had makeup on and someone had did her hair and she wasn't bearing her pregnant stomach. So Kevin kept smoking ciggarettes, and get this, BLOWING THE SMOKE IN HER FACE! Are you kidding me? He has to be the dumbest human on this planet. WHY doesn't she come to her senses and realize that he is not a good father figure? I mean he did basically walk out on his other two kids!
Someone needs to have a talk with Britney, and I don't think it can be Madonna because she will want to make out again during a performance.
We just want our old Britney back...is that asking for too much? I really don't think so. I would think with all the money she has, not acting like white trash would be easy. Go to Michael Kors buy a beautiful outfit and wear it, please no more Walmart specials Britney, please!
Another reason why I want our old Britney back is for the fact that during her awful reality show, most of her audience were young girls starting at the age of 12. OH WOW that is great considering all she talked about was sex and how good it was. Honestly, Brit, keep that information to yourself....PLEASE!
Britney please come back! I think you got everything out of your system now, so come back to reality and do what you do best...

Call me a loser but

I am really excited because the new Harry Potter book comes out on Saturday!

OK, so yes, I am 23 and not in 5th grade. But I don't care. I have been waiting for this day for a LONG time! In the past two months, I've reread the entire series. And yes, I did sign up at Barnes & Noble to pre-order the book... Many, many, many months ago. And you know what? I can guarantee that I will finish the entire thing this weekend! Seriously, I can not wait.

*On a side note, The Milkman has an interesting perspective on the ending of the 7th Harry Potter...

Google Earth

Now you can see the world from right where you sit.

Want to travel the world? That would take up a lot of time and would be very expensive, wouldn't it?

How about just see the world? Ahhh, now we're talking.

Welcome to the world of Google Earth, and I am warning you, this is almost more addictive than US Magazine. Download it and first type in your home address. Look! Your house. Now zoom in and tilt it so you can see it from different angles.

Travel to Europe, Asia, everywhere and anywhere. The world is literally at the tip of your fingertips through this new outstanding geographic satellite.

Happy traveling!

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Another Reason Why Americans Are Fat

I work on the 13th floor of a building with elevators that are certainly not the fastest around. So every day I'm used to stopping on just about every floor before getting to my own. It's annoying, but it's fine. Obviously, I can't get mad at people just because their floor happens to be before mine.

However. Also on my building there are a couple floors that are a nursing school (or something of that nature). And the floors are one on top of each other. And every single day when coming back up to the 13th floor, either from lunch or just from getting fresh air or whatever, nursing students will get on the elevator on the 5th floor and get off on the 6th floor.

First of all, how lazy can you get? I'd understand if they were carrying things that would require a lot of effort to get up steps, but they never are. And the majority of these students are VERY obese (well, perhaps not the total majority... maybe the healthy ones take the stairs... just the majority that ride the elevator). And I'm not talking a little bit overweight. I'd say a good 85% of them are about 5'4 and are well over 170 pounds. (According to the University of Michigan Health Systems, the ideal/healthy weight for a 5'4 large-framed woman is between 131 and 154 pounds.)

Overweight? No biggie, it's your prerogative whether or not to stay in good health. I'm not going to judge you. BUT what really gets me is that these are nursing students. They're on their way into the medical world and how the hell are they going to lecture/teach their patients about living healthy lives when they're not concerned with their own??? Seriously, stop making my elevator ride longer than necessary and start walking! It's good for you.

Coming Out Of The Closet

Everyone wants to check out R.Kelly's "Closet"

Or at least take into peek at R Kelly's closet. This singer/rapper has been getting loads of attention the past few weeks with the release of his five-chapter musical "mini-movie." Sara introduced me to his new CD over the weekend, and now I just can't stop thinking about it. The last five songs on his CD are a story about infidelity between husbands and wives, in a twisted, racy, and intriguing tale and rap ballad.

I am not normally one to take a liking to slow rap tunes, but I am hooked, and as the Washington Post Style section says today, "'It has everyone listening in the D.C. metro area on the edge of their seats,' says Jeannie Jones, a DJ at WKYS-FM."

I've listened to the chapters over and over again and can't stop. Even this morning, I downloaded the videos off of MTV.com just so I could watch them. (All five videos for the five chapters are complete.) And this was all before I found the Washington Post article about it! The entire CD is very sexual, but I mean, this is R. Kelly we are talking about here.

The Washington Post reports that last week BET aired all five chapters of "Trapped in the Closet" in a special last Tuesday night, and the half-hour program drew 2.8 million viewers, making it the ninth most-watched telecast in BET's 25-year history.

Now of course, R Kelly has been quiet the controversial person in and out of the news. From child pornography, to sex with minors, he hasn't been the most popular guy on the block. He is currently facing 14 counts of child pornography and could end up in jail for a very long time. Yikes.

Until the release of his new CD, I had pretty much paid no mind or attention to him. Why should I? His law-breaking and kiddy porn ways don't fit my liking at all. But now, I just can't resist. With possible prison-time aside, he is a very talented artist, which many are now tuning in to notice.

It looks as though his closet has been cleaned out, or at least all revealed!

I'm Not a Playa, I just Crush A Lot...Or You're Just a Big Cheater!

I have many pet peeves, but this is probably my biggest one of all and that pet peeve is CHEATERS. I literally do not understand why anyone would do that to another human being. I was cheated on once, but it was way back in high school and so insignificant to the situations of cheating I am hearing about today. People are just so ruthless when it comes to relationships and it absolutely infuriates me.

My biggest question is how a person can look at themselves the same after cheating on someone that they “love?” It literally baffles me. I know of many instances that have taken place in the past couple of years and these people not only cheat on their loved ones, but blatantly lie about it. What is wrong with these people? Do they really have no heart? If you love someone so much, why would you want to put someone in such pain and hurt…and even risk their health? They literally tell themselves that they didn’t do it and continue to carry out this lie to everyone around them. It is truly sick and it is a serious problem that I see many people getting accustomed too.

I would absolutely hate myself if I ever were to do that to someone…I wouldn’t be able to look at them or even look at myself for that matter. So why do these people continue to lie and to tell their significant other that they love them and they can’t live without them…BLAH BLAH BLAH. It literally breaks my heart to see these people doing this to my friends and I am not even in the relationship. Do you think they do it because they know they can get away with it and get the best of both worlds? In some instances, I really believe that is the case, but others I can tell that they really made a mistake, but that still doesn’t constitute as an excuse in my book.

If you are going to cheat or you did cheat on your boyfriend/ girlfriend, for the love of god TELL THEM. It is much easier on the heart and mind to be honest then to lie because once you lie or cheat; you will always lie and cheat if you are not honest about it. I would be heartbroken in my boyfriend cheated on me, but I would much rather him tell me and break up with me, then me finding out months later about it and him to continuously lie about it. These people need to stop being so selfish and grow some balls and do the right thing. Honesty is a key characteristic in every relationship and so is RESPECT.

Monday, July 11, 2005

For the Love of Heels

Ahh heels...I have such a love/hate relationship with them. I feel as if they are the most beautiful looking shoe out there, and they have been for many decades, but damn they make your feet hurt like hell.

Wearing heels, makes any woman feel more in power and confident with their self. Since working in DC this summer I have noticed that women who wear high heels have their head held high and they definitely have a more prominent strut compared to women wearing flats. Personally, I am an avid high heel shoe kind of girl. Every day I wear them. I refuse to wear flats. I don't necessarily hate flats, but I just feel so much more put together in a pair of heels. Flats are very cute, but I feel they are not for business attire. Since I wear heels everyday, I have started to bring flip flops to commute in. As soon as I put those on, I feel like my outfit sucks and I hope that no one I know sees me. Once my heels are back on, I am so confident with my outfit and look, I decide that at the end of the day I will refuse to put on my flip flops for the commute home. I go through this routine everyday.

My number one thing that I love about heels, is the fact that they make every outfit look so much better. You could be wearing jeans and just a plain cotton shirt... Throw on a pair of heels and BAM! You have yourself a great outfit to go out in.

Heels also make everyone's' legs look so long and lean...If there is a shoe that can do that for a women, I don't understand why I don't see every single woman wearing them. I know that they are uncomfortable, but honestly you get used to them. I say if they can make an outfit, then just suck it up. Think of all the women out there who wear them as well, their feet are hurting, but they also know that their outfit looks so much better and are more confident with themselves.

Personally, heels are the best accessory a woman can have...So if you are not a big fan, go out and by yourself a great pair and just give them a shot. After a week, you will understand. :) Here are some of my favorite places to get fabulous heels: :)
Bandolino
Nine West
Nordstrom
J. Crew
Steve Madden

Damn Pink Panty Droppers

Lil and I made a trip down south for her boy's birthday party this past weekend. And it was (from what I remember) a fantastic time.

Friday night it was just Lil & I, plus her boy and a bunch of his visiting fraternity brothers. (Great ratio, I know.) We went out to a place called Cheeseburger in Paradise, got drunk (obviously) and had a good time (again, obviously - Lil & I have fun where ever we are!). Of course spending the night at Lil's boy's place WAS a little bit like sleeping at a frat house, but Lil & I are fairly laid back about such things and went with the flow. (Plus, thankfully, one of the roommates gave up his bed for me...)

Saturday was a little bit crazier. The birthday boy's parents actually hosted the big birthday bash in their huge, super nice house with a big back yard & pool. A lcohol supplied included a keg, 6-8 cases, a bunch of handles and an ice luge.

The party was scheduled to begin around 5:30 or so, but a lot of people weren't slated to arrive until around 9 or 10. Needless to say, the group of us who were already there began drinking around 4. Oh, and I forgot to mention that they made a punch called Pink Panty Droppers. While everyone else decided to start drinking beer, I decided to start drinking the punch. It was delicious. Tasted just like pink lemonade and not like alcohol at all. (There was a bunch of alcohol in it, but I can not give out the recipe... However, according to the Asian Mistress, they definitely added some peruvian liquor that is illegal in the US!)

Lil warned me about the punch... but I have this bad tendency not to listen to people when I'm drinking. Other than a few games of beer pong (of which I'm appalled to admit I won NONE), the Pink Panty Droppers Punch was all that I drank. And it was (to maintain my alliteration run) particularly potent.

To make a long story short(er) I will just say that from about 4-9:30 I had a wonderful time. By 9:30 (or 10) when a lot of people showed up, there was no punch left (thanks mostly to yours truly) and I was passed out in bed. The Pink Panty Droppers Punch turned me into quite the party pooper and I completely missed the second half of a kickass party. Woops! I missed hanging out with a bunch of people that I would have enjoyed chatting with... Including Lil's lil sis and Asian Mistress...

Better luck next time? Only if there's no Pink Panty Droppers Punch... It's too good to pass up, regardless of how early it might make somebody (aka me) pass out!

Sisterly Love

Ahhh..The Hilton sisters...but it's safe to say Paris and Nikki lead very different lifestyles!

Ah, the joy and bliss of having a sibling. Many of you know how it feels. I have one younger sister, a twenty-year-old spunk of fun and energy. Now I don't know what it feels like to be the youngest, but I sure know what its like to be the oldest: the leader of the pack, the bossy one, the one who the parents are more strict on. And the youngest child? The spoiled one, the baby, the one that can do no wrong.

My sister and I have a pretty strong bond, being only two years apart. We definitely have our sisterly fights, but when it comes down to, the love we have for each other beats out everyone else.

Recently I've begun to notice a peculiar pattern in my sister. Maybe it's always been there and I'm just starting to notice now, or maybe its a more recent occurrence, but whatever the reason, it has me a little concerned.

She copies everything, and I mean EVERYTHING I do. Check this out:

Little sis transferred to my university, joined my sorority, lives in my old apartment with my old room and bed, changed her major (Fashion Design) to mine (Media), and has flings with my old flames. (EW)

This past weekend we both attended a party where many of our mutual friends would be. Sissy ended up making out with a guy I used to date in college, and neither he or she paid no mind! I was practically disgusted. I stay FAR away from her old men, how dare she step into MY territory? Do I have reason to be pissed about this!?

Everything seemed to come together at that point. She is literally following my footsteps. Is it cute? Not to me. I want her to be her own person. Or maybe its the fact that we are very similar people with similar tastes, but regardless, the line was crossed.

Some say I should be honored that little sissy aspires to be like me. She looks up to me. Everything I do to her is probably safe and familiar, which is why she follows it. But following the same men? Now that's just strange.

Of course we didn't fight or argue about it, I was just like, ew, sis, you can do better. There is a reason I'm not dating this person anymore, so why would I want you to go through the same thing?

I know she is young and having fun, but I wish she would just break away and do something that I haven't done yet. I'd like to see her be more of an individual instead of a follower. I know she still has a lot more growing and learning to do, but how will she learn something for herself if she continues to copy me?

Friday, July 08, 2005

Excuse me while I put my foot in my mouth

I am normally pretty conscientious of other peoples' feelings (perhaps because I am rather sensitive about things myself - I can admit it). However, sometimes (and, this is rare) I'm an airhead and do/say things that unintentionally hurt other people.

This happened recently. I did something that seems to really have hurt a friend's feelings and now that friend seems to be phasing me out of their life. I feel horrible about it. And I've apologized as much as possible. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be good enough. And there are only so many times that I can say sorry or admit to being a jerk without beginning to feel as though I'm being redundant and the meaning behind the words seems false.

Perhaps this friend just needs some time to cool off... Perhaps the friendship's as good as over. I guess I'll just have to wait and see... But I've done all I can.

And it's Friday :-) The perfect day to drink all troubles away! Have a great weekend everyone, I certainly will. Ciao

Celebrities a.k.a. The Most Popular People in the World

I am sure you have all figured out that I like celebrities according to my blog name. Well to make some things clear, I don't just "like" celebrities I am borderline obsessed. Let me just give you a little preview of my slight problem.

Everyday I have a strict routine where I get my full dosage of celebrity gossip by waking up and turning on the radio to Hot 99.5. To be perfectly honest the only reason why I listen to this radio station is because every hour at quarter til the hour they have the Hot Hollywood Hotsheet where I am literally engrossed with the celebrity gossip of the day. Then I commute into work and immediately check Entertainment Tonight's, E! online, and People magazine's webpages to see what else is in celebrity news. I look at new celebrity pictures, I take polls, and the list goes on. Basically I have a problem.

My bible is US Weekly...It is my weakness and the one thing that starts my weekend. I get it every Friday afternoon and I flip through the whole thing to glance at the pictures and then I start from the beginning reading every word. It is just my thing. I don't know what it is about it, I know some of the stories are all fluff up and not all true, but it is honestly my favorite thing to read.

The problem is, I don't think I am the only one with this obsession. Out of personal experiences even men enjoy celebrity gossip and even my US Weekly. They all pretend they don't but I always seem to catch them reading my US Weekly or they will very nonchalantly ask me about a particular celebrity and what I thought about their situation that is currently in the news.
So what is it with people in general being so interested in celebrities? I honestly ask myself this question a lot. Why am I so engrossed with their lives? Why do I care who they are dating, what they are wearing, what movie role they are going to be in next? WHY WHY WHY? They are like these surreal humans that people think so highly of.

Is it their constant "perfect" image they portray at all times? Their hot bodies, beautiful skin, long flowing hair, AMAZING clothes? Is it the amount of money they have, the vacations they go on? What makes them so intriguing and why? I constantly wonder about these things, but I still have a problem with breaking away from it all.

Maybe it is my way of breaking away from reality and I get to dream about what it would be like if I had that type of money, stylist, appearance, etc. Because they basically live in a dream world with all the perks they receive. They are so rich, yet they get almost everything for free. It is ironic, don't you think?

They are like the most popular people in the world. I would have to say majority of the world knows who they are and what they look like. I am basically the annoying girl, like in high school, who is constantly talking about their lives. It is somewhat annoying, but at the same time I know there are many people out there who do enjoy knowing about their lives as well, which makes me feel sane again!

In conclusion, celebrities are this worlds number one form of entertainment. They are everywhere we turn...On TV, commercials, billboards, ads, movies, books, magazines, internet, and so much more. No wonder this world is becoming more and more obsessed with them because they are now becoming a prominent thing to us, even in the news. Like on CNN, one of the most prestigious news source around, they even have an Entertainment section with a lot of the up to date celebrity gossip. They even sometimes have it under their breaking headlines when something huge about a certain celebrity is circulating around. Will this hollywood craze ever fade away, or will it only continue to grow? I don't know about you, but I know for a fact I will continue to be an avid fan:)

Breaking News: I'm Moving to NYC!

I know TBN has done a lot of shifting lately, and we are about to do some more! I would like to announce that I, Lil DC Diva, will be relocating to permanently live in New York City in two weeks! Eeek...I know, scary yet very thrilling at the same time!

I've grown up in the DC area. Having lived here for most of my life, I can't say I've seen it all, but I sure have seen a lot. The fact that my life is about to uproot and I have to say goodbye to those very near and dear to me in a short period of time is quite overwhelming! I am leaving my family, my friends, basically my entire life, and I am doing this all by myself. I'm scared, honestly.

I will never betray my hometown. I will always be a faithful follower of the Redskins and Nationals. And of course, I will never betray the DC blogosphere. I won't be going anywhere blog-wise, just physically relocating for work purposes, and I am very excited!

I will now get to blog about my new experiences in a 'foreign' city, and share them with everyone else. And not to worry, the 'Lil DC Diva' name will stay! (In no way do I have a right to call myself a NYC Diva!)

For now, until the big move, I will start my 'Farewell DC' postings.

I am sorry that I still haven't gotten a chance to meet many of you DC bloggers, but perhaps in the next two weeks we could arrange for a happy hour of some sorts? Blogging has become a passionate part of my life, and sharing my opinions and feelings with you all has been a liberating experience in itself.

So, as I began my two week long departure of goodbyes, please know that although I am spreading my wings and discovering a new city, DC will always have my heart ~ I am going to miss everything and everyone more than I can imagine.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Friends with Benefits (I've got a long post, if size matters to you...)

Friends with Benefits. Remember the term? I can think back to high school for the first time I ever heard it. Back then, friends with benefits meant that you had a friend who you weren't dating that you would hook up with. Although at that time in life hooking up sometimes just meant making out.

Nowadays people who aren't in relationships will sometimes take lovers (I actually prefer the term luva, wink wink)... or F-Buddies... Whatever term you may wish to use, you get the gist:

I have a few thoughts, which stemmed from a recent conversation, on this topic. I'm sure most people do.

First of all most (single) guys I know go out trying to get laid. They have fun with their friends and get wasted in the mean time, but are always on the look out for an easy lay. (I'm well aware that some of our readers may not be this way though.) When I go out with my girls, we go out to get drunk and have fun with each other. Perhaps we occasionally look for some harmless flirting with a hottie... every once in a while there may be a little making out at the end of the night... but that's it.

And if anyone even tries to say that it's because guys have a stronger sex drive than women, I can tell you right now that you're wrong. I believe that (for the most part) it's because women have had it drilled in their heads that, while it's normal for guys to go out on sexual conquests, when women sleep around they're sluts. Logically, I know that this is a ridiculous double standard, but emotionally I tend to believe it. I don't really judge my guy friends for taking girls home, (ok maybe I roll my eyes at them and tell them that they're pigs) but I certainly judge the girls who go home with them.

And I also look at it from this angle as well (not that I think it's fair). While most girls assume that the guys that they date have been with tons of women, most of the guys I know wouldn't want to date a girl who's slept with a lot of people. This puts women (unless they are the morally casual girls going home with my friends) in the unfortunate position of not having sex unless in relationships. And this brings me back to the "friends with benefits" type of situation that I began the post with.

While I do think poorly of women who sleep around, if you're a young woman who isn't looking for a relationship and you take one luva to keep around, I don't see anything wrong with it. This is not to say that it is something that I'd do. But it's just what I think.

So then you break it down further. You may decide to start hooking up with someone, but whom do you choose? The ex or a friend? (because I think a random should be completely out of the question.)

The Ex Factor (yes, it is a Sex and the City title). It could be amazing because, most likely, you already know what the other likes; it's familiar territory. It won't be awkward, you've already seen each other naked and there probably won't be any fumbling moments because you've already got your pattern down pat. HOWEVER, personally I think this could be tricky to do with out feelings getting hurt. Think about it, if you once were in a relationship with them, you once held (probably) strong feelings for them which can come back easily and confuse things. So there are bound to be feelings involved here. And even if those are ignored, what about when one is ready to move on to something with someone else? Or if the physical spark fizzles on one side but not the other? If you're not very careful, you could hurt someone that you care about. I'm not knocking it, I'm just saying that it's something you should be careful with.

And then there's the friendly hook up. Perhaps you decide to pass some sexual time with someone who's only just been your friend in the past. It could be great... Think about it... Sexual inhibitions could fall away because you know they're your friend and (hopefully) not judging you. You can have fun and be totally playful. And afterwards you can go right back to watching TV together or playing drinking games or whatever. If you wake up next to each other in the morning, you can laugh about it. And then think about doing it again for good measure ;) At the same time, there could be an adjustment period while you learn what the other likes... what if you're unlucky and don't match well sexually?? And you have to wonder, if you have a great friendship to begin with, will it ever really be the same if you take that sexual dip together? And the same thing as with an ex, what if one wants out first... How do you end it with out someone getting hurt?

And in either case, either an ex or a friend, what if one person secretly is hoping for more than just a hook up... It's not that they're being dishonest to you on purpose - more that they're lying to themselves about being fine with it just being a physical thing. A slippery little slope that you have to watch for here.

At the same time, what if you go on a date while you have a luva? Do you break it off with your "special friend" or wait until you see a possibility of something more serious with whom you're dating? Would you ever let somebody kiss you goodnight knowing that you are still hooking up with someone else? (Personally, there's no way that I would.)

Finally, I have to wonder... Could a physical relationship equal better sex? No strings attached = no inhibitions? Or is the emotional pull that you feel for someone that you're in a relationship with necessary to make the best love?

And again, let me just reiterate that these are just thoughts in my head. Not about myself in particular but about the topic in general.

DC-Divas (Not to be confused with TBN's Lil DC Diva) Revealed!

Remember DCB's post about the slutty chicks that wrote on http://dc-divas.blogspot.com?

Well check out Asian Mistress' newest post as she reveals all about them!

Terrorist Attack in England

AP Photograph of an injured passenger is escorted away from Edgware Road Station in London following an explosion in the underground.

Just in case you live under a rock and the Butterfly Network is the place where you find all of your world information...

From the Washington Post (By Glenn Frankel and Fred Barbash):

"LONDON, July 7 - A series of explosions rocked the transportation system across a swath of central London Thursday morning, injuring scores of commuters and killing at least three with the numbers expected to rise, according to early reports. The blasts hit subway stations, subway carriages in the underground tunnels, and several double-decker buses.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was "reasonably clear" that the attack was an act of terrorism timed to coincide with the meeting of the G8 industrial nations* in Scotland, which is being attended by President Bush.

The blasts came nearly simultaneously at the beginning of morning rush hour and caused an undetermined number of injuries. Initial preliminary reports from authorities said at least 90 people were injured with at least three dead.

Authorities deployed some troops, bomb squads with dogs and rescue crews across central London. Four hours after the explosions, rescuers were still trying to extricate passengers from some subway carriages in the area of the Kings Cross railroad and tube station in the heart of the city...
...Witnesses speaking on TV described scenes of flashes of fire, followed by screaming and fear, with passengers on subway cars acting unaided to escape, opening emergency doors and walking through the dark to platforms and up long flights of stairs...
...The BBC is reporting that Al Qaeda sources are telling them it's highly likely they were behind the attacks..."

This is disgusting... In the very words of the CPMC, it's sickening. TBN's thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

*The G8 Meeting, at Edinburgh's Gleneagles Resort, brings together the leaders of Britain, the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada. They are scheduled to spend three days together at the Resort, brainstorming solutions for global issues including African poverty and climate change.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Are these Abs Real or Fake?

Whoa this is a HUGE CELEBRITY QUESTION of the day! Over Fourth of July Mariah Carey was looking beautiful as ever in a cropped white shirt and bronzed skin, but where did those chiseled abs come from? From the looks of this picture it almost looks like someone painted these amazing abs onto Mariah with a lot of bronzer. This might sound a little odd, but I have read in a magazine before that some celebrities do this to make their abs look better in photographs. If this is the case, Mariah can I please have the number of who ever did this to your abs so I can have them permantly done to mine. No I am only kidding, but to be perfectly honest Mariah doesn't have abs like that...OR DOES SHE?!?! Please tell me what you all think!

Also on a completely different spectrum of celebrites, Quentin Tarantino and Shar Jackson, you know the poor woman Kevin Federline abandoned for Britney, were seen together this past weekend...and it looked like they were a couple! SAY WHAAT?

One Non-date Deserves Another

So last night an old friend/ex-boyfriend of mine took me out. We'll just call him J.

So J and I dated years ago. The relationship teetered on the brink of being pretty serious at times. It was a clean break up and it had nothing to do with a loss of feelings on either side. However, over time, those left over feelings faded away in to fond memories and friendship.

So through out the years we've done the whole random email about once a month thing, just to catch up. So when he called me to say that he'd be back in the area for a week and wanted to see me, of course I said yes. It wasn't a date thing... just two friends who haven't laid eyes on each other for years getting together to catch up.

We were only supposed to go out for a few drinks because I had 3 classes at the gym yesterday. But it took me over 2 hours to get home and by that time I'd already lost some pounds due to the 2 hour nonstop stream of curse words and hand motioning while driving. So I skipped classes and called J to see if he wanted to go out earlier. He did. So a few drinks turned into dinner and a few drinks.

He took me to Old Town. Man, that place is certainly underrated. I've been there maybe four times in the past six months and every time I go I'm stuck by how much I love it. We ate at a very nice French restaurant (sorry, I can't remember the name... it must have been drowned from my memory with martinis...) and then we walked along the waterfront for a good 20-30 minutes just talking.

The kicker, though, was when we walked back to his car. I'd had such a good time I was pretty disappointed that the night was coming to an end. But he surprised me and pulled a blanket out of the back seat and we walked back to the grass and sat and talked for a good 30 minutes longer.

It was the best non-date ever.

Or was it really a non-date? Did I get butterflies when I knew he was about to pick me up? Yes. Did we laugh and flirt and kind of jerk shyly away when our hands touched across the table? Yes. Did we heavily reminisce about how good we were together when we used to date? Yes. Was he even hotter than when we used to date (which is quite an accomplishment because he is one of the most attractive people I've ever been with)? Yes. Was there a goodnight kiss? Not really. He kissed my cheek... but that's because I turned my head... hmmm, something to think about I suppose

He called me this morning knowing I'd be on my way to work just to say he had a great time and wants to come back in a couple weeks (he lives in NY, but is moving back to DC in a couple months) and see me again. What a sweetheart.

Bad Day Getting Worse

Sometimes I feel that we literally wake up on the wrong side of the bed, which defines the way our day is going to go. I didn't wake up on the wrong side today, I woke up completely off of it, and my day has been getting worse by the minute.

I'll start with my finances. I haven't gotten paid in a while and today is my payday. I have been looking forward to going to the bank since the beginning of the week to drop off my blessed paycheck and spend tonight shopping. Alas, I realized during my commute to work that I had forgotten my wallet at home with all my ID's, my check card, money, everything. Miserable. I am crossing my fingers that the bank will at least let me deposit my money, that is if I even get there today.

So I decided to give my mom a ring this morning. Come to find out, her house was vandalized last night, by a gang. What.The.Fuck. This is not the ghetto - this is classy Northern Virginia suburbia I am talking about. My uncle's house next door got it as well. And my cousin's car. And the other neighbors in the pipestem. Spray paint and gang symbols all over the houses and cars. Cops are currently investigating....

I knew it was going to be a bad day today and it started last night. I had set plans all week to watch the Real World (It's soooo good this season.) I saw the clock hit 9:45 p.m., and the next thing I know I wake up at 12 a.m. I missed Real World. Unbelieveable. It was all downhill from there.

All of this and it's only 9:21 a.m. Holy hell.

I'm feeling about as miserable as the French people right now, who just lost the 2012 Olympic site to London. Ouch.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Tom Cruise Is Nuts... Well, Duh!

I know, if you are like me at all, you are sick to death of hearing about weirdo Tom Cruise. But I just wanted to point out this web site (that Lil actually directed me to):

TomCruiseIsNuts.com... Hilarious. The site lists all of the stupid stuff that Tom has said recently. It also shows you a lot of the crap that other people have been talking about him. For example:

"Do whatever you have to to never have a heart attack around Tom Cruise, cause he would just use his medical expertise to put some duct tape on your chest and give you some gumdrops. And then he would convince you that the defibrillator and paramedics who later saved your life really didn't save your life. Just like people who improve on meds like Stratera and Ritalin haven't really improved on meds like Stratera and Ritalin." - The Superficial.com

I couldn't actually find that quote on thesuperficial.com, but it's still hilarious. (And thesuperficial.com is actually a pretty funny site as well.)

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I sure did... I'll post about it tonight or tomorrow - whenever I get my pics online!

Blogs...So Hot Right Now.

Hello to the blogging world! As you can tell, I am a new edition to the Butterfly Network and I am very excited. I am good friends with Sara and Lil, and I have a problem…a blog problem. I never thought I would be one to get into this whole online diary thing, but it is so addictive. I am an intern at a pretty prestigious place, but they really don’t have much for me to do so I just sit at my desk and pretend like I am doing something. When in all actuality I am looking up celebrity gossip and constantly checking blogs. I have slowly weaned myself into this whole craze, but now I am officially addicted.

Last night I had the girls over for some wine and cheese and of course I got wasted. When I am drunk I think of the most random things and think it is a genius idea or thought, which needs much discussion. Now, I have turned those thoughts into “blog entry” ideas. So as I was washing my face I thought that an interesting blog would be to write about how different make up products affect your skin. I literally ran out of the bathroom with soap and water dripping down my face and told Lil my "ingenious" idea for a blog. A) that is just an AWFUL idea for a blog and B) why have all my thoughts turned into blog ideas? What is wrong with me?

Anyways, so my main thought for this blog, is why are blogs so popular and why am I addicted? Is it because I am just not intellectually stimulated at work by which I sit at a computer desk reading random dribble for 5 hours a day? Or is it really going to be a passion of mine to continue writing excerpts on my life and read about others?
Another thing that baffles me is that people take the time to write these witty and quirky blogs and then they come to find comments by their readers who absolutely destroy their whole blog with ruthless comments about it. People are writing and putting up these blogs for everyone’s source of entertainment and there are people out there who are just so harsh. Is it necessary to be that rude? Does that give you satisfaction to leave such mean comments? I understand that everyone has different opinions from one another, but there is no need to attack them for their thoughts. I know you are all thinking, mean comments are there for a reason because that is how you get into discussing more on the issue at hand, but I am talking about the comments that call the writer a “Bitch” or something along those lines. That is just unnecessary, how can you call someone a bitch when you don’t even know a person?

From reading all the mean comments out there that people say, I do have another issue with Blogs and that is the fact that I always get nervous after everything I post. It can either be after a blog entry or even a comment. I am just waiting for someone to tear me apart about either my thoughts or comments, which isn’t good at all.

So as this furthers my career in the blog world, I hope you all enjoy my thoughts and try and keep the mean comments to a minimal! As you can tell I am not a big fan of those.;)

Monday, July 04, 2005

July 4th Traffic Report

Well, not that anyone but me should really care. I am probably one of the only people in the United States who has to work today. But regardless, here I am!

Today I choose to drive to work, knowing that traffic and parking would be a breeze. I slept in too, which was a blessing in itself.

As I came across the GW Parkway, about to cross over the Memorial Bridge, I halted in front of two cop cars blocking my passage to work.

What's a girl to do?

Flirt with the cute cops, of course!

I stopped and chatted for a few minutes, blocking traffic (oh well where else were we to go?). They even gave me new navigation tips on how I can better get around today in my car (without going over the blocked bridge.) One officer had the sweetest southern accent, which made me melt further in my seat with every word that escaped from his mouth.

I eventually thanked them and said my goodbyes, and thanked the Lord for a great start to my day! (Normally a detour would violently piss me off, but today, I paid no mind.)

So, today's traffic report? Sunny with a chance of no traffic, but lots of detours. You can't cross over the Memorial Bridge, but you sure can stop and talk to the cute cops, where they will happily direct you to another route.

Happy 4th!

Friday, July 01, 2005

As One Butterfly Spreads Her Wings... Another Emerges From Her Cocoon!

As One Butterfly Spreads Her Wings...

We have absolutely loved having Asian Mistress as a butterfly. But, alas, all guest butterflies must, at some point, spread their wings and begin their own blogs. So we would like to introduce Asian Mistress' new blog: City Sparkle.

Her tagline: "Why City Sparkle? My sparkling personality of course! I'm smart, sexy, silly, sweet, sarcastic, scandalous, and single! You may love me, and you may hate me - but somewhere along the line I promise to entertain you."

So check out City Sparkle! The Butterfly Network ladies are sure to be avid readers :)

Another Emerges From Her Cocoon!

As Asian Mistress flies away, we would also like to welcome our newest butterfly, The Celebutante as she breaks from her cocoon into the blogosphere! The Celebutante is a near and dear friend of Lil & myself from all the way back in high school. She's always up to date with the latest celebrity gossip and I'm sure her witty banter will keep you entertained as it has done for Lil and me for years!

WELCOME THE CELEBUTANTE!

Sanda Day O'Connor Retires

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has just announced her retirement. O'Connor was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court by Ronald Reagan in 1981. She will be leaving before the start of the court's next term in October, or when the Senate confirms a successor.

O'Connor sent her resignation letter to President Bush today, leaving Bush with his first opportunity to appoint a justice.

Developing story...

And now I have to wonder... Am I an Ass Girl?

A Very Happy 4th of July to all the ladies out there :)

Well, by now you all know what attracts the butterflies. (If not, well, click in the link in the last sentence and read my list.) No where on that list of what I like did I mention a boy's behind. I just don't ever pay attention to butts. Well, actually... scratch that... until this morning I didn't anyway.

So I had to stop at the gas station this morning. My gas light was on, plus my hangover was pounding my head from all angles, begging for some coffee (thanks to the multiple pre-gaming games of Cadillac Brewski as well as the beers at Whitlow's last night).

Well, the coffee ended up being pretty weak - what can you expect from a gas station anyway? But it turned out that I didn't need it quite as badly as I thought I did; this morning, I found another, even better way to get a jump start on my day.

I'm struggling with the lid on my coffee while putting the pump in my gas tank... well more like hitting around the gas tank because I'm still half asleep and am contending with that aforementioned hangover. A black, brand spankin' new Audi pulls up. And quite possibly one of the most georgeous men that I've ever seen... EVER... gets out.

Now, I am not one to be that impressed with cars... Meaning that, while I admire nice ones, I could care less what type of car a guy drives - it's not a deciding factor (or even a small factor) about whether or not I like/am attracted to a boy. However, today, I was impressed with the image: Thick, dark (almost black) hair, tan with a little stubble, green eyes and a full mouth. Sharp black pants, pressed green dress shirt tucked in, silver (but not too gaudy) watch - against a shiny new black Audi. Seriously, I think I started drooling... I also sent a silent thank you up above for having decided to get gas at that particular gas station this morning.

And the best part, get this, was that he looked at me and smiled. And said good morning. I'm not gonna lie, it took a second to find my tongue to respond, but at least I managed to smile quickly.

And then he walked around his car to start pumping gas. And I checked out his ass. Not a standard procedure for me. As I said, I don't normally care about them. But holy wow. His pants fit him very, very nicely. It wasn't flat, it wasn't a bubble butt... Just perfectly in between. And for a second I ogled. Can you believe that??? I've never ogled a guy's ass (or any other part for that matter). But I can tell you that within those 30 seconds of him getting out of and walking around his car I no longer needed that coffee!

Silly, you think? And sad... that I would be checking out/attracted to this guy at a gas station at 7 in the morning... Well, don't worry because I had the same thoughts... That is - I had those same thoughts until he came over to give me his business card. Yep, that's right, he said he thought I was cute and to call him if I was ever in his area.

Will I call him? Probably not because he's based in Richmond. Am I secretly, in the back of my mind, thinking about any old friends in Richmond that I may want to pay a random visit to soon? Absolutely :)

What a GREAT way to start my day!

A Fanning Thought

Dakota Fanning is the most talented and well spoken child in the U.S., as well as possibly the most brilliant child actress to ever grace Hollywood.

Hopefully she can be the childhood star to abstain the evils of drug addiction, anorexia, and all the other problems that come along with being high profile. We don't want to see another Drew Barrymore on our hands (although she did clean up her act fairly well.)

We're rooting for you, Dakota! Don't screw up, okay?!

Wow...Who's That Girl?

The combination of $2 Bud Light, Soco & lime, and lemon drop shots on a Thursday night? Killer. I'm going on 4 hours of sleep and I haven't felt this shitty since college. Mental note: eat dinner before a night of drinking.

Oh man...I was THAT girl last night. Apparently I was all over the two guys I like. Yeah, two. I didn't make out with anybody, or try to (thank God) - but all my coworkers definitely saw me with arms around a certain two and now I'm sure all know my "secret." I started out really cool with everyone and one of the guys, I'm fun and blah blah...but then when I get drinking and bolder - yeah, I have no game.

OK, well Boy 1 and I have hung out socially before, we're pretty close sometimes (as far as telling each other things about our personal lives I mean) so we've been like that before which makes it not a big deal I don't think. I'm sure he knows I like him and obviously doesn't care. Whatever, fine. I really could not care less what he thinks of the situation because we've been through it before - it's just a little thing now - we hang out, he tells me his girl problems, I analyze and assist, we laugh, we talk politics, we go home. Seperately.

Boy 2 is a completely new situation and I'm afraid now that maybe I blew it. Granted, I'm friendly with everyone and a lil more touchy-feely and huggy after hours (and, after a few drinks)...but this was a clear sign that alcohol, crushes, and coworkers create a very bad situation for this butterfly. At one point I was holding hands with one of them walking down the street. Cute? Maybe. Or not. Shit. Who does that?

I'm so ashamed.

On one hand some of my guys who I am just friends with on the ride back were like, yeah, you were all up on that. I think they know now that you like them. I believe it began with, "what's up with you and Boy 2?" and I was like, "what do you mean?" "Um...you were holding hands." .....Oh. That. Um....I don't know. Great...... Maybe they were just giving me a hard time though. Or were they just jealous it wasn't them I was paying attention to all night?

Then on the other hand, my girlfriend who was with me said I was totally fine and had nothing to be embarrassed about. It was a group of about six guys, and none of them were really talking to anybody but each other, so really I was just being a social butterfly - holding the group together. She said that all the guys were kind of quiet so I was just more outgoing and that I shouldn't worry about it, and that they should be happy I was flirting with them.

I guess it's not that big of a deal, we were all drunk and I was just being overly-flirty. Right? Or did I blow it with Boy 2 (new one) by being too friendly? I mean, let's be honest - if a cute girl was singling you out with your group, and just being a little touchy-feely (like, arms around waist while talking or hand on shoulder type situation - not too out of control, not a makeout and/or sitting in lap situation - nothing like creepy)...would you be flattered or frightened???

Maybe we can just chalk it up to an "I was drunk" situation and it's really not that big of a deal. I can only hope. Thank God it's a long weekend and I can get away from everyone and they will all forget. That and I'll stop acting like I'm 12 and get over it. It's not a big deal, and I know I'm totally making it a big deal. But, not to the boys - just to you faithful bloggers.

Fuck me. I may try but I'm so not the mysterious, game-playing girl. I apparently let it all out and wear my heart on my sleeve.