The Butterfly Network

I'm Over IT!!!!

2006-12-15T15:07:00.000-05:00

Okay...so we went on hiatus for a while....and who knows....we might do it again. But today I actually have a few minutes to vent, err, write...about some things.

For the first time in a while, I'm sick in bed and doing absolutely nothing. Its weird. Living in NYC you don't have time to sit in bed and do nothing, and now that I find myself in this position, what better thing to do than mend to our poor and failing blog?

And today not only am I a woman sick with a bad cold or flu or whatever has crept under my skin, I am whole-heartedly, completely, and utterly sick of men. My experiences here the past year and a half have turned me into one cynical, negative, and doubtful 23 year old. I admit that its pathetic and sad, but when it comes to men, I just GIVE THE F UP.

I'm not even looking for a boyfriend. I was over that a long time ago. But what I do look for as a smart, educated, pretty young thang...is a little damn respect. And that, my friends, I have failed to receive as well.

A perfect example would be this past Wednesday. This handsome feller I met at a trader party back in July or August called me to hang out. We've hung out a few times before and have always had fun. Last time we hung out we shared our first kiss. Our friendship that was developing had a lot of potential and I could feel sparks from both sides. I don't have much expectations anymore, but when I called him back he told me he wanted to discuss something with me before we hung out. ("Jesus Christ what the hell could it be now?" is what I was thinking) Ohhh welp, he is currently dating someone. Fine. We could still be friends, right? So I got off work and went over to his place to continue our "discussion", yet instead, he wasn't in for more discussing. The sleezeball made a bee-line for my lips and tried to kiss me. I jerked myself away and asked what the hell that was about. He then further informed me that he didn't see "us" going anywhere, but that he would like to hook up with me on the side. Without his girlfriend knowing. Never in my LIFE have I been made to felt so trashy and disrespected. I've deleted his number from my phone, and him from my life.

But that's not even the end to this hellacious week. I woke up this morning to have one missed call from my cute neighbor friend. We've kissed a couple times and nothing more, but I have to wonder what signal I give off when the message he left me at 2am last night said, "Ashley...its Mike...I'm booty calling you. Why? Because I'm going crazy. So call me back, and if not, call me tomorrow to make fun of me."

Again, another number, deleted.

I've tried online dating...it sucks. They all want booty. I won't give it. They stop calling.

Then there is the fling I had with a boy I went to high school with. Every time I came home, we'd see each other. His current lack of communication and interest in me has lead to yet another deletion.

I don't get it. I'm not an uniteresting person. I don't hook up with random people. I'm far from a slut. I put myself out their in the dating world only to get burned and burned and burned to the point where I am sick in bed and don't want to get out.

So if anyone has a remedy for the poor girl sick in bed with MENingitus, please let her know. She's tired of the sleezeballs that have caused her to come down with such a sickness.

Oh, no. He didn't...

2006-08-25T08:59:00.000-04:00

So, we all know how I feel about visible panty lines... VPLs if you will... But today, (on the metro ride from hell - I swear we were packed tighter than sardines bc of delays on the Orange line), I saw a MAN with them. Which is actually a first for me.

And he was married... Shouldn't married people look out for each other for stuff like that? I mean, I'm just wondering...

Unsolicited advice

2006-08-23T17:19:00.000-04:00

It is unnecessary and annoying. I know that friends mostly mean well when they blurt out what (they think) you're doing wrong and/or why what they (think they) know is better than what you do. But, my goodness, it is so frustrating.

It's one thing if a friend is putting herself in a dangerous situation. Because then, as a true friend, you need to let her know that you're worried for her and are here for her if she needs you. (Or him, if it's a guy of course.)

But otherwise, just keep your mouth shut. Please :)

This is something that has always bothered me, but recently it's been stemming from the fact that I am going to, in the next half year, be making some major changes in my life. Changes that are going to make me a lot happier and more inline with the future that I want. And my mind's made up. 100%. I know that the choices that I'm going to make are the right ones for me.

And all I want is support, which mostly I've been given... But there are a few friends who've felt the need to tell me what they'd do if they in my shoes. I appreciate the fact that their words stem from love for me and wanting to help me, but 1) I'm not asking for their help and 2) they are NOT in my shoes. Yes, there are many different ways to do things, I understand that. But the way that I choose is the way that suits me best. And because you're NOT in my shoes, you can't really tell me that I'm wrong.

Unless, as I said before, the situation is a dangerous one, I really try to curtail anything unsolicited from coming out of my mouth... Because I think that people should be able to hope and dream and really reach for their goals - without my opinion bringing them down... Unless they ask for my thoughts, in which case I am always honest. OK, maybe I do express my views on the blog... but that's different :) I just wish that everyone would adopt the same policy. Don't give your opinion if it's not asked for! Because if it's not asked for, it's most likely not wanted.

Anyway - I'm off to ballet... PEACE

Crazy Cruise

2006-08-23T08:30:00.000-04:00

Tom, that is... Was dropped from Paramount due to his unacceptable behavior, which apparently affected the company's box-office takings.

Shocker.

Welp, That's A Wrap...I think!

2006-08-21T22:58:00.000-04:00

You are probably sick of hearing about my dating escapades by now. Welp, its my blog and I'll cry if I want to.

Or maybe I am just being premature in my thinking...I don't know.

So "Harry" and I had a great second date, and the next night he invited me to a baseball game. We went, had a blast, got coffee and breakfast after the game, shared kisses, held hands, and had another wonderful night. Date number three was just as fun as dates number one and two.

I felt a great connection with him. From the first date we had just clicked. I know its only been three dates and realize it takes MUCH more to get to really know a person, but things seem to be on a great track.

I haven't spoken to him since Saturday night but we've very very briefly spoken on IM. Both times I IM'ed him. Both times his response was that he was going to bed. That was that. Not 'how was your day' or 'when can I see you' or even a simple 'hi'...

Now I dont expect him to jump up and scream my name and profess his love to me. That would freak me out! But I feel that if he wants to continue what we have started...the past two days he gets a F for effort. His contact with me went from very intense to very minimal...which is very up and down...and not acceptable in my book.

It could very well be that he isnt interested anymore, but seeming out we left off on Saturday night (waited for my subway to come, passionately kissing me goodnight)... I was left with butterflies in my stomach!! (For the first time in a long time)

This is the part where dating gets annoying AND complicated. This is where I start thinking and analyzing way too much, protecting my feelings and my emotional stability from even the slightest mishap. This is what ALWAYS happens to me when I start liking someone!! I freak out and get paranoid and don't know what to do, and I feel that he can see my thoughts over IM and know that I am liking him and freaking out about it.

I need a vacation. Not a man!

I'll be on vacy for the next few days...enjoying and remembering why its FABULOUS to be single and stress free!

Three strikes...errr dates...and I'm OUT!

Date Number Two

2006-08-19T10:12:00.000-04:00

I've learned that second dates can either go downhill or up. There is no inbetween. If the first date was great, there is really no telling what the second will be like. First dates are the two people trying to impress the other person, they are on their best behavior, using their manners, trying not to get sloppy (if they find out they like the person.)

So I had my second date with "Harry" last night. If you haven't been keeping up with my dating trials and tribulations, feel free to refer to my two previous postings.

I'll admit I was somewhat nervous because the first date went so well. My expectations were so high I was a bit scared I would be let down. But hey, thats the game of dating!

We decided to meet up at a posh rooftop bar in the city last night. Amongest a rowdy crowd cheering for their Yankees (who were playing the Red Sox), annoying drunk girls who tried to steal his seat from him, and bump and grind music being played over the loud speakers, somehow we both still felt like we were the only people there.

At one point, Harry stopped and looked around with a puzzled look on his face.

"I just forgot where I was. I didn't even notice that we were here...because I've been talking to you all night!"

Once again we chatted, laughed, made fun of the drunks, and a few hours later (okay okay by this time it was 2:45 am) we decided we were starving and went to get breakfast at a diner. Over french toast, eggs, and bacon at 3am we continued to enjoy each others company. Honestly if it wasnt 4am knowing that the sun would be up in an hour, I would have stayed out for 10 more hours.

We finished our meal and realized it was time to call it a night. He paid for everything. Drinks at the bar, the cab, the breakfast. I even offered to pay the cab and breakfast! He wouldn't let me.

Harry finally walked me out to my cab...gave me a hug, and, our first kiss goodnight. :-)

Any nerves or anxiety I had over the coming 2nd date have been withered away. I am looking forward to the 3rd date because I know it will be just as, if not more FUN!

I'm at the point now where I know I like him and enjoy being with him. But do I keep pursuing others with online dating? Should I still be looking to see whats out there? I'm definetely very interested in him, but I don't want to throw all my cards in one basket, but at the same time I don't want to spread myself to thin. Ah! Will keep you posted.

Loooove Connection

2006-08-17T22:07:00.000-04:00

So now that I have this whole "logging in" thing down...let's get down to business. My business. A lot has happened in the past fews days (or shall I say dates?) and I feel compelled to share.

As you may know, Sara is in a wonderful relationship right now. I really think this is it for her. While I have never met the handsome fellow, I have personally called him and talked to him on the phone -- and 100 percent approve. Sara and I have been through our share of terrible men, so when one of my best friends finds a man that can make her this happy (and I have never seen her like this) - then I couldn't be happier as well!

And then there is me. My past relationships have been a firey trainwreck. First, my first love - we dated on and off for five years. He cheated. Then, my first boyfriend in college - he cheated. Finally, my most recent disaster (although its been a year now) - he cheated and is now dating a former friend. Of course I am better off without those bastards, but is it so wrong to wish for the right one to come along after have these awful, abusive relationships? I've been on a loosing streak since HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT....

I haven't given up. I've come to realize that I've just picked the wrong men for me. And Sara has helped me realize that all these unfortunate things that have happened to me in my past relationships are only stepping stones to lead me to the one who actually WILL treat me right.

So in that case, bring on the men!

I've recently thrown myself into the fiesty sea of online dating. I have date #2 this coming weekend with "Harry"...(see my first posting)I am surely looking forward to that date (we decided on a movie.) At a magazine party this past Tuesday I met a handsome gentleman we will call "Brandon". Brandon works in finance (like every other NYC guy) and coincidentally (and somewhat convient) I found out he lives in my SAME apartment building. Had I not lived in NYC I would have been shocked and probably put some underlying meaning to meeting a guy at a posh party who happens to live in my building. But I've learned that you can run into ANYONE living here, and running into someone who lives in your building is likely to happen. Anywho, Brandon and I seemed to "hit it off"...and I put that in quotes because when there is alcohol involved, you can hit it off with anyone. I gave him my number, he gave me his. It will be intesting to find out if he takes the initiative to actually call me. I've decided if I don't hear from him in a week I will call and invite him out to a bar with my friends (that idea I got from Glamour magazine.)

So instead of sulking around and crying about what could have been, I am looking forward to what will be...if not with the guys mentioned above I know with someone and I am willing to wait -- for I know it will be WELL worth it! :-)

Kate's back on the market...

2006-08-14T16:43:00.000-04:00

So, just announced, Kate Hudson has split up with her husband Chris Robinson. Although I'm sad for them, I always thought they seemed a little mismatched.

That being said, I can't wait to see who she pairs up with next! (I previously said this about Jessica Simpson, even though I secretly still hope she and Nick will get back together, but she's been so boring lately - dating-wise anyway.) Kate's so hot. Let's imagine her next to some of hollywood's hottest stars and YOU pick who she'd look the best with!

First up, Kate and Jared Leto (back when he used to be SUPER hot)

And how about Kate with my current favorite cutie, Tatum Channing:

Or how about with the love of my life (second to my boyfriend, of course) Ryan Reynolds:

(She must be laughing at something HILARIOUS that he said, as he is so funny...)

Or, just for one more here she is with the hottie from Prison Break:

Welp. There ya have it folks. Take your pick! (My vote's for Jared Leto - of course based solely on looks...)

One's Quest For Love

2006-08-13T10:37:00.000-04:00

Dating in New York City can go to the dogs. Of course I am young, beautiful, and fabulous, but lets face it...so is every other girl walking down the street here. This place is full of gorgeous and ambitious women...and men too. And while everything else in our lives seems to be together (the career, the social life, health) there is ONE thing we can't figure out: DATING.

I hear the men complain as much as the women: no one can find the right person, not even the one they want to marry, but just one that they like. Maybe its because we are used to such a fast-paced hard-driving lifestyle that a quick romance is perfect for instant gratification...but in the long run its just not going to cut it.

Which is why I've just checked into online dating.

I know, I know. I was a skeptic at first as well. I won't lie to you and tell you there aren't creepy guys on there. There ARE. But don't let the few ruin it for all the good ones.

So last night I put my little online dating trial run to a test and went on a blind date. We'll call him "Harry." Harry's pictures were cute, his profile seemed interesting, and we got to chatting online...(yes I know phone is too personal these days, IM is safer) We finally decided we should meet up for dinner.

I hadn't talked to Harry on the phone until last night, when I was in the cab trying to figure out where this restaurant was. I was pleased when I walked up to him and saw that he looked exactly like his pictures. He was actually even CUTER in person, a major plus. He escorted me inside and we sat down at 9 p.m. for dinner. We ate, chatted, laughed, drank...and before we knew it the clock hit 3am. Neither of us had moved from our seats all night. I looked around the restaurant and saw that we were the only people left and the waitress was kicking us out! Harry walked me to my cab, kissed me on the cheek, and sent me on my way. It was the best first date I've ever had.

So will there be another? Surely I do hope so. But even if not, I am now one to vouche that online dating is worth a shot. Whether its your quest for love or just to find a friend, spending a Saturday night laughing and learning about a new person beats going to a bar and taking shots with a random drunk guy anyday!

I guess I owe all my thanks to Dr. Phil. :-)

Step, Step, Step it Up

2006-08-12T00:04:00.000-04:00

From the bias of a girl who's danced her entire life - Step Up is a FANTASTIC movie. There's a ton of dancing, the main characters are hot, hot, hot and the plot was decent - even if predictable (but, hello, I was concentrating on the dance scenes anyway).

The movie was so good that I've been inspired into getting my ass back into the dance scene. Seriously - this week I'll be taking classes in the city - ballet and hip hop. And I'm determined to stick with it. I can't wait!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand... We're back!

2006-08-10T15:02:00.000-04:00

Well, I am at least... And I'm joined by a new writer who will introduce herself shortly... It was just too hard to stay away! These fingers have just been ITCHING to write...

See you soon!

It's been fun

2005-12-05T13:21:00.000-05:00

But I'm done. (For now at least.)

The Butterfly Network is now officially on hiatus. I just don't have the time/ideas to keep it updated daily (in case you haven't noticed). Maybe we'll be back, but regardless - best of luck to the rest of you!

Can you find them all?

2005-11-28T15:21:00.000-05:00

Apparently, there are 75 different band references in this picture... Can you find them? I'll list what I've found so far in my comments section!

Pay It Forward ... Sara's Version

2005-11-28T11:09:00.000-05:00

Last week, I was talking to a friend about guys. And how, while there are so many nice ones out there, there are also a TON of assholes. You all have known one of the types... Cocky, selfish, lying, sometimes cheating, pansy-ass, spineless guys who either are jerks upfront or are of the sneakier, slimier variety - the ones who start of being super nice and considerate without even a hint of who they really are deep down. In my opinion - so obviously it's correct ;-) - those guys are the worst kind of assholes. At least with the ones who are jerks upfront, you know what you're getting yourself into - and it's kind of your own fault if you fall for them and end up getting burned. But the deceiving ones - the ones who make you think at first that they're the type that you'd like your family to meet - they can really blindside you. Knock your feet out from under you and make you wonder for weeks what the heck really happened.

So my friend and I were discussing the awful ways in which these guys treat girls. And started wondering who the hell they think they are - these guys - and why the hell they seem to think that they can get away with treating women the way that they do. They act like these slimey bastards - whether cheating, lying, falling off the face of the earth, or whatever else they may do - and then, to top it off, they always come slithering back and are surprised if they're not taken. And we realized that, by this age, when guys act like that and think it's ok - it's most likely because women in the past have let the guys treat them that way.

And then I realized that because the guys have been led to believe that it's ok - they'll always treat women that way. UNLESS maybe we start a sort of "Dating Pay It Forward"... When you're dating a jerk - leave him. Don't take him back. And, maybe, it will be a sign to him that it's not ok to treat people that way. And, maybe, he'll think twice in the future about treating someone else that way. And I'm sure it's hard to think about him with someone else - nobody likes to do that - but perhaps someone else will have done the same thing to your next man to help turn him into someone who will treat you with the respect that you deserve. See what I'm saying? So pay it forward with the assholes - don't let them think it's ok to treat you or anyone else with less than what you deserve.

OK, fine - perhaps you think it's a silly concept. It probably is. But if you want to really how I feel - whether you think of it as "paying it forward" or not - you should leave anyone who doesn't treat you nicely. Sometimes it's hard because of feelings that may exist - but don't you want to look back on your life and remember that you had respect for yourself?

Sara Facts 101

2005-11-20T09:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome to today's online class about... me!

To follow suit with Asian Mistress, I (finally) have a little bit of free time today so I'm going to give a list of things about me a whirl!

I can't stand when two different textured things rub against each other - ie a marker across a pillow case... Stuff like that is equivalent to people scratching their nails down chalkboards.
I was a gymnast for about 10 years. I placed first on floor, vault, bars and all-around in Level 6 States. I competed nationally at Elite Level. When I quit, I was in an Olympic training group.
I can no longer remember the fancy names of the gymnastic moves that I used to perform.
I am obsessed with Sudoku.
My favorite color depends on my mood.
I don't like facial hair on guys.
I had a friend that smelled REALLY bad, and I never knew how to tell her. I still don't know if I could tell her today.
I hate being a part of drama - but at the same time, I love to know what's going on when there is drama.
I'm really good at keeping secrets.
One of the most frustrating things in the world to me is when a boy says he'll call you and then doesn't.
I have no self-control when it comes to spending money and eating.
I hate flossing.
I LOVE kittens.
I had a girl's version of 6-pack abs my sophomore year of college. I'm terrified that I'll never have those abs again. (please refer to #11)
I just, right this second, received an email that my business cards came in - and I'm way more excited than I should be...
I try my hardest to be neat, but in reality I'm messy. However, when things aren't put in proper places, I get frustrated.
I hate clutter, but can't seem to get rid of it.
Other than the regular seasonal flare-ups, I'm not allergic to anything. (that I know of)
I'm a fourth generation smoker and cancer runs in my family. It's time to quit, but I always quit quitting.
A big fear of mine is being made to seem insignificant.
I just took a half an hour break from this to work on a moderately difficult Sudoku puzzle. I didn't finish it.
When I was younger, I was obsessed with my handwriting. I hated it. I tried to change it almost every week, because I wanted to write in a way that was pretty to look at. I just recently have come to terms with the fact that I will always have sloppy handwriting.
I don't own diamond earrings. I really want a pair, but know that I'll never end up buying them.
I work in an office, not a cubicle - and I love that.
24, Lost and Grey's Anatomy are my absolute favorite shows. Following slightly behind are the OC, Reunion, Surface, Rome, Desperate Housewives and Family Guy.
I am obsessed with Ryan Reynolds. If he walked into my office/house/wherever and said he wanted me... Well, he could have me. In any way he wanted.
Except for right now, because I'm kind of into someone else...
I hate Alanis Morissette. (Due to #26)
Someday I think I'll get into writing romance novels. I know I'd be good at it.
Dying scares me because my relationship with God is not where I want it to be yet.
There isn't much that turns me on more than a boy who is really considerate.
Well, maybe humor comes in at a close second.
And that's after all the physical things of course.
I always have songs stuck in my head. And most of the time they're completely random.
A major reason behind why I really love my new job, is the fact that I have made a lot of new friends. And I'm not just talking work buddies, I mean actual friends. It's great. I only had one real friend at my old job.
I'm only at number 36 and I'm running out of interesting things to say about myself. Man am I a bore or what?
If I feel rushed, I get pissed.
So I'm generally early everywhere.
I'm easily turned off by guys. Especially cowards. But just as easily by conceitedness.
I hate how girls feel the need to act snobby in public if other girls are around.
I can't stand seeing animals hurt. I almost walked out of the Butterfly Effect.
I'm a youth group leader for my church. I love the hell outta my kids and am terrified that they don't like me or that I won't get my messages through to them.
Sometimes I know that my messages don't get through to them.
Bugs, (including ants, but excluding lady bugs and butterflies), terrify me. To the point of ridiculousness.
Sometimes I feel ill because I think about the statistics of how many spiders and cockroaches a person eats in their sleep a year.
I just googled #45 and found out it's a myth. I'm realllllly happy about it :-)
My good friend Dave took me sky-diving for my 21st birthday. It's about the most exhilarating experience I've ever had. I would highly recommend it.
I have a very bad habit of living from paycheck to paycheck. It's really, really hard for me to save money.
My past couple relationships have caused me to stop believing in "fairy-tale" romances. I'm more depressed about this than I was when I found out that Santa Claus didn't exist.
When my hands are dry, I get irritated.
I've only cheated on one boy, and that was my junior year in high school. I kissed someone else.
I love sauces. Barbecue, honey mustard, take your pick.
I always ask for extra cheese on everything.
Flying frightens me. Because of 9/11, I'm always afraid something will happen. But terrorism aside, I'm also talking about plane/pilot malfunctions. When I'm in a plane and we hit turbulence, I freak out.
My family jokingly calls me Saint Sara the Little Princess. Sara means little princess, and I can't really remember where the Saint part comes from.
My favorite book to be read when I was little was Good Night Moon.
Hands down, I truly believe that if someone opened a Bojangles in Northern Virginia, or DC, they would make an absolute killing.
If you don't know what Bojangles is, you are sorely missing out.
I think that guys who talk about wanting to fight someone when they get drunk (or, even worse, when they're sober) are the biggest losers around.
Fast food is my guilty pleasure. I love cheeseburgers. McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King in particular. Sometimes I eat so much from them, I feel sick. Sometimes, I'd rather eat a fast food burger than eat a nice steak. I don't think I've ever told anyone about this particular fetish. I'm going to give it up cold turkey SOON.
I'm about to try doing a total cleansing detox pill cycle for the first time.
I hate being pale. I tan whenever I can. (But not to the point where I'm orange)
I have sex dreams a lot. It's a nice quirk to have ;-)
I love rainbows and shooting stars. And I don't care if that's silly.
I've never traveled outside of the United States
Love Story and Meet Joe Black are some of my favorite movies and I sob all the way through them.
I can't watch romance movies when I'm not in a relationship.
I have a tattoo of a crescent moon with a vine around it and a star on my back. It means serenity. But people always think it's a dolphin. It pisses me off.
I don't watch porn, but I have nothing against it...
I think it's funny that I just wrote about porn on number 69 without meaning to. (Insert teenage-ish giggling here)
I'm not 100% sure where I stand politically. I tend to lean in one direction but I really need to educate myself.
I developed stagefright my junior year of college when I completely forgot a dance at a halftime performance when I was smack dab in front. I looked like an idiot. And I lost my love for performing after that.
I used to want chocolate alllll the time when I was little. Now I can take or leave it.
I've never used an excuse of a headache to not have sex.
Numbers. I have a weird relationship with them. For example: If I look at a (digital) clock I have to make all of the numbers equal 1 to 10 before it changes to the next minute. So, if it's 12:45 my thought process goes like this: 1=1;2=2;1+2=3; 4=4; 5=5; 5+1=6; 5+2=7; 4x2=8; 4+5=9; 5x2=10... I'm a weirdo... I know this.
I can not pee if anyone can hear me. (Unless I'm really good friends with them, or I'm drunk at a bar.) Especially boyfriends. Again, I know I'm super weird.
The Walmart in North Carolina where I went to school sells pepperjack cheese cubes. I could eat bag after bag. I don't like any other type of cubed pepperjack cheese. And I can't find it anywhere else.
I have a tendency to go for guys who aren't good for me. Most of the time they're jerks. I don't do this because I fit into the "girls who are attracted to assholes" category. I do it because deep down I'm not ready for anything to get too far; I'm scared of real relationships.
I don't really know what to say here.
I'm on a conference call right now.
My biggest pet peeve is when you're standing with a group of people, but one of them unthinkingly turns in, with their back towards you, so that you're excluded from the group.
When I'm out and realize that I want to leave, it's almost impossible to get me to change my mind. My "fun-meter" shuts off and I just concentrate on wanting to leave. I've tried to change this, but have been unsuccessful thus far.
I have REALLY curly hair.
I've always wanted to be a dog person. But I'm afraid that my ex-boyfriend's dog turned me off of big dogs forever.
I will never stop loving cats, though.
I'm excited about this list because I want to look back at it in 5 years and revisit the way things used to be... Like a time capsule!
Sometimes I go to 7-11 and buy a hotdog bun (but no dog) and drench it in nacho cheese. It's maybe one of my favorite meals. But I really only do it when I'm drunk.
I don't know how to cook. The only thing that keeps me from trying to learn is the thought of cleaning up the kitchen afterwards.
I never skip ahead in magazines. I read front to back, the entire way through.
Mystic River is one of my favorite movies. So is Million Dollar Baby.
Obviously, I think that Clint Eastwood is a brilliant director.
I had a flour fight with my best friend when I was little (we got flour EVERYWHERE). I've always thought it'd be cute/fun to have a fight like that, or paint or water or whatever, with a boyfriend.
I don't like corn on the cob. But I do like corn off of the cob, and creamed corn.
I have a book, somewhat of a picture journal, that I tape concert/plane tickets, clothing labels, purse labels, interesting facts, etc. So that I can look back and have an idea of what I used to be like. (Kind of like this list)
I want to live as long as possible.
How somebody can speak into the end of one cell phone, and another person thousands of miles away can hear them and speak back absolutely astounds me. (Same with wireless internet and other things of that nature)
I have awful credit because I messed up big time in college and am still bad with money. But I am slowly, but surely, working on it.
I don't like non-flavored potatochips.
When I was little, I truly believed with my whole heart that my stuffed animals came to life when I wasn't around. I used to try to creep up to my room and throw my door open to catch them. It never worked.
The impression that I get from most people is that they think I'm really nice. For the most part, it's true - but I can be a HUGE bitch when necessary.
I have thrown a complete drink in an asshole's face before. And I loved it.

Thanks for reading! :-)

Ex-Factors

2005-11-09T09:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I got to thinking about exes.... In the dating game, you meet someone, you think they're great and you date them. And then, when it's over, you ex them out. It's just the way life goes.

Some people, present company included, make an effort to be friends with exes. And it can certainly be accomplished. But it's always hanging there, no matter how great of friends you end up being... They are always, above everything else, your ex. That fact never goes away. It can be a touchy subject and maybe it's never spoken of. You might laugh about it with them, or perhaps you cry about it when nobody's around. But it's always up in the air in one way or another.

This lead me to thinking about the different ways that exes act. And how there are so many different types of exes. For instance, there's always:

1. Mr. Heartbreaker Ex - The most ~~important~~ influential ex. The one who seriously broke your heart and you can lie to yourself all that you want, but you will most likely never truly be over him. You can't help but compare other boyfriends to him, and most of the time they fall short... even if Mr. Heartbreaker was a real ass. He's the one who you swear you'd never give the time of day to again, but realistically, if he wanted you back you'd be there in a heartbeat.

2. Mr. Heartbroken Ex - The ex for whom you'll forever be Ms. Heartbreaker Ex. You might have had an amazing relationship, but you realized before he did that it was fizzling and broke it off. He was devastated and, whether or not you're able to be friends again, a part of him will always want you back.

3. Mr. Ex Squared (or Cubed, etc) Ex - This is the ex that you date and break up with. And then date again and break up again. And so on and so forth. You never quite learn your lesson that it's just not going to work out.

4. Mr. Wishful Thinking Ex - This is the guy whom you never dated but tells people he's your ex anyway. You may have hooked up once or twice, or maybe you never did, but you certainly did not have a relationship. However, in his head, he's built up a beautiful story about the two of you and the time you spent together which is topped off by your tragic ending. This, depending on the guy, can sometimes be embarrassing for you. Especially if he's definitely not anyone that you would ever really date.

5. Mr. Perfect Ex - You let this ex slip away. And you wish that you hadn't. He was perfect and you left him and regret it to this day because you know you could have been very happy together. Hindsight is a bitch.

6. Mr. Hanger-on Ex - This ex doesn't quite get the point that you're over. He calls and wants to hang out under the guise of friendship, but has very obvious ulterior motives to get back together. Sometimes he can hide these ulterior motives, but most of the time he can't and is quite annoying. It is a constant reminder of why you ended things in the first place. He sometimes borderlines on being Mr. Psycho Ex. And he probably does petty things to try to make you jealous.

7. Mr. Keep-Around Ex - This is the ex with whom you were not relationship compatible with but you were more than suitable with in other areas... aka the bedroom. You may be friends, you may not be. But your numbers stay in each other's phones because you certainly know who to call when you're drunk or just lonely... This can be tricky because of left over feelings making you think that if you're good in bed you should try the relationship part out again - but if you keep the facts straight in your mind, you should be fine.

8. Mr. Future Son-in-Law Ex - This ex you were ready to break up with for a while but your parents just loved him so much that you stayed in the relationship a little bit longer because maybe they saw something in him that you didn't. (This reverses into Mr. Future Parent-in-Laws: the ex that you stuck with a little longer than you should have because you just loved his family so much.)

9. Mr. Wants You Because He Can't Have You Ex - This title pretty much explains itself. And it certainly reverses itself to go both ways...

10. Mr. Mona Lisa Ex - The ex who seemed so amazing from afar, before you were dating, but up close, as you got into a relationship with him, you realized he was all fluff and not actually that nice. Careful here though because when you break up you tend to see him from afar again and doubt your (correct) decision to hightail it out of that relationship.

11. Mr. Future Ex - You haven't dated him yet. But you're going to. Even though you know he's wrong for you and it will never work out... But he's just so cute/fun/etc... You can't help yourself.

12. Mr. Waste of an Ex - The ex that you wish you'd never dated. You got nothing from the relationship except a bitter taste in your mouth knowing that he somehow got the best of your time, which was certainly wasted. This is the guy that, if you could go back in time, you would take back ever dating him.

I wrote these from a female perspective but I'm pretty sure all of my examples would fit just as well from a male perspective.

And a lot of the aforementioned exes are easily combined. For example Mr. Ex Squared Ex could easily be the same as Mr. Keep-Around Ex whom could easily also be Mr. Mona Lisa Ex, etc...

I could go on and on... Anyone else want to add their $.02?

Bad weeks all around I guess...

2005-11-03T08:59:00.000-05:00

Well, I know I'm not alone... But this week (starting last week) has SUCKED for me. Remember how I had started dating someone? Everything was good. Better than anything else recently. Between visits and calls and feelings. I've been happy.

Well, I guess all good things come to an end. Here's the scenario:

Saturday 10/22: He calls me. Says he wants me to come next weekend. He asked off of work and will call me on Sunday morning to let me know if he got the days off so I can go visit him.

Sunday 10/23: He doesn't call in the morning. He doesn't call at all.

Monday 10/24: He still doesn't call me about the upcoming weekend. So I call him and leave a message. He calls me back that night, with the bad news that he couldn't get off of work. I'm bummed, and he is too, but we agree we'll see each other in November a lot because he'll be home for 10 days. We have a good conversation. I bring up the fact that he has a tendency not to call when he says he's going to. He apologizes profusely and says not to take it personally, he's just really bad at doing it. He swears it won't happen again. We hang up on a really good note.

Tuesday 10/25 around 3:30 pm: He calls (I'm surprised because he wasn't supposed to). He's excited because he figured out a way for me to still come visit him around his work schedule. I say I'll probably still come. He says PLEASE DO because he really wants to see me. He misses me. Stuff along those lines. I think it's sweet and decide to cancel the plans I'd made for the weekend earlier in the day. He's excited and says he'll call me that night when he gets off of work, around 10:30, to work out the details.

Tuesday 10/25, 10:30: I've packed my bags because I know the rest of the week will be too busy to get it done. I also have gone out and bought bags of candy & pumpkins to stuff it in for him and his roommate. But he does not call. I get kind of pissed.

Wednesday 10/26: He does not call. I'm really pissed and a little bit worried about him.

Thursday 10/27: He does not call. I'm really pissed and also worried.

Friday 10/28: I'm supposed to drive to visit today. He does not call. I call him that afternoon and leave a message saying (practically verbatim): "Hi, it's me. I just wanted to make sure that you're ok, not hurt or sick or in a hospital somewhere. If that's the case, I hope you're ok and please let me know if I can do anything at all! But, if that's not the case, I just wanted to say that I don't think you should call me again. I mean, you're doing a stellar job of it already, but I just wanted to solidify that fact." It wasn't a bitchy message. More concerned at first and hurt toward the end. I was about to cry. He does not call back.

Saturday 10/29: He does not call.

Sunday 10/30: He does not call.

Monday 10/31: Hedoes not call, but he is online. His profile says this (and I quote, word for word): Cell phone was dead all weekend due to issues with my P.O.S. ancient Nextel Phone... Sorry to those who couldn't reach me and thanks to those few who left hateful messages... mature... Phone is back and working now if you need to get a hold of me...

And that's it. That wraps it up. And I'm not going to lie, I've been pretty upset this entire week.

He should have emailed me or gotten in contact with me some other way if his stupid phone was broken. And he has SOME nerve trying to say that in his profile, as though he's the one who was wronged in this situation. And talk about mature? How mature is it to leave a message like that in an online profile? And my message was NOT hateful.

Seriously. So your phone breaks?? There are other ways of communicating. Email? Roommate's phone? ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE WAS PLANNING ON DRIVING 6 HOURS TO VISIT.

So, I guess another one bites the dust.

Wow is really all I can say...

2005-11-02T08:58:00.000-05:00

I got this from a friend, who knows the guy who sent out the email you'll read below. It's hilarious. Mean, but seemingly well deserved. And hilarious regardless.

First: Email from Elizabeth to Brad, my friend's friend:

Brad,

It would be difficult for me to be any more miserable right now, I feel like the worst person ever. First, let me start by saying that I am truly truly sorry, and I hate myself for hurting you. Of all the people in the whole entire world, you were honestly the last person that I would ever want to wrong in any way. There is no excuse at all for anything that happened, so I won't even try other than to say all of us had WAY too much to drink, and I did a stupid thing. I can handle you being pissed at me, I absolutely deserve it, I can even handle the ugly words that were exchanged between us, what I can't handle is thinking that you see me as a different person. It is weird, I feel like I just went through a horrible break up or something. The world looked funny yesterday, I couldn't crack a smile if you paid me, there are songs I can't listen to, and I just ! feel beyond crushed. I don't know if you meant everything you said to me, and I am hoping that you didn't. I know that I was wrong on many levels, but I am also hoping that this is something that we can deal with. I know it sounds totally crazy and stupid, but you have come to play such a significant role in my life, I can't imagine my days without you. It is totally strange and weird to say that, and you could say that my behavior didn't reflect that, and you would be correct. I hate feeling like you hate me, and I hate feeling like all of your friends think I am a terrible person, because I am not. I know there is nothing I can say or do to take back what happened, but I just want you to know that fighting with you was just about the worst thing I could have ever imagined. It was right up there with one of the ugliest nights of my life, and I would give anything in the world to rewind and fix it.

I am not sure if you will respond to this, part of me thinks that you won't. If not today, then maybe some other time. Also, thanks for getting my stuff together, although I think my sunglasses are still at your house, if you could keep your eyes peeled for them that would be great.. I can't even focus or work today, I can't eat, I seriously feel like it was an ugly break up, and I am hoping against hopes that it was not that and you are not done with me. Please don't cut me off, I really don't think I can handle that.

I am so sorry.

Elizabeth

And now, his unbelievable and FUNNY response:

Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for your concern. I'll be sure to file it away under "L" for "Long-winded diatribes from drunken whores I couldn't care less about".

You did a stupid thing huh? No...doing long division and forgetting to carry the one is "a stupid thing"; Mixing in a red sock with a load of whites is "a stupid thing"; Blowing some guy in a bathroom for 45 minutes while I sit at the bar wondering if you're taking so long because you ate too much bran that morning isn't as much a "Stupid thing" as it is grounds for permanent removal from my social calendar.

To be honest, I'm not sure if it was more amusing that you went and degraded yourself in a public toilet not once but twice in a 2 hour span, or that you seemed to think that by saying "Well, I didn't Fuck him" somehow gave you a clean slate.

So forgive me if I couldn't care less if the world "looked funny" to you yesterday.Since your world revolves around blow dryers, golden retrievers, Prada Bags and Jelly Beans, I'm sure it must have been most unsettling to actually have to consider someone else's feelings for 24 hours straight.The good news for you is that my friends don't think you're a terrible person, they just think you're the average run of the mill cum-guzzling blond who commands about as much respect as your average child porn collector. I could be wrong but, it's pretty hard to respect some B&T chick who comes out to spend the night at my place even though she's seeing someone else in New jersey and winds up tongue-bathing the taint of anyone who decides 30 minutes of droning commentary on Colin Farrell's new haircut is worth putting up with for a hand job in the men's room. The good thing about being a guy is that when I eventually bump into the young lad who finger-blasted you on top of a towel dispenser last saturday, we'll have a shot and laugh our heads off about the time it happened.

By the way, for the amount of time you claim to spend in spin class you really must be doing something wrong to sport the thunder thighs you do. Watching you parade around my bedroom in a thong was a little like watching sea lions mate. Thought you might like to know.

PS.I BCC'd about 100 people on this email.

Talk to you never, Brad

Something Spooky for Halloween!

2005-10-26T21:06:00.000-04:00

READ THE STORY FIRST BEFORE YOU OPEN THE VIDEO

Strange but interesting.

This is a car advertisement from GreatBritain. When they finished filming the ad, the film editor noticed something moving along the side of the car, like a ghostly white mist.

They found out that a person had been killed a year earlier in that exact same spot.

The ad was never put on TV because of the unexplained ghostly phenomenon. Watch the front end of the car as it clears the trees in the middle of the screen and you'll see the white mist crossing in front of the car then following it along the road....

Spooky! Is it a ghost, or isit simply mist? You decide. Make sure to listen to the ad so you can hear the cameraman whispering the background about it near the end of the commercial.

A little creepy but I also kind of thought it was pretty...

Video and Photo Hosting

INCREDIBLE (Forward I received)

2005-10-26T15:49:00.000-04:00

Julian Beever is an English artist who’s famous for his art on the pavements of England, France, Germany, USA, Australia and Belgium. It’s particularity? Beever gives to his drawing an anamorphose, his images are drawn completely distorted which give a 3D image when viewed at the right angle … see for yourself it’s amazing!!!

This is a drawing, looked at from the wrong angle:

Same image, from the right angle:

Random Facts

2005-10-22T16:50:00.000-04:00

A random person sent me a message on MySpace.com. With all of these random facts*. Although I think it's weird to get random messages, I still did think that some of these are interesting - so here ya go:

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee
If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb
The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet
A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes
A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death.
Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour
The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off
The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.
Some lions mate over 50 times a day
Butterflies taste with their feet
The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue
Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people
Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump
A cat's urine glows under a black light
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain
Starfish have no brains
Polar bears are left-handed
Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure

*I obviously didn't take the time to make sure these are all true...

A few things...

2005-10-18T21:27:00.000-04:00

Let's see...

I totally got busted giving out the Rejection Hotline last weekend. A guy asked for my number (who wouldn't leave me alone all night) so I said I'd put it in his phone for him. And I did. And then he said he'd go ahead and call me now so that I had his phone number as well. And I got busted.
If you ride your bike in DC during rush hour, I hate you.
If you're from Ohio and drive like crap during rush hour in DC because you're too busy studying a map with your frizzy-headed wife, I hate you.
I just found out that the new season of 24 doesn't come on until January. I hate that.
I've just used the word hate more times than I've used it in months. I try to never use the word.
It's never smooth to introduce yourself and immediately following up with the fact that you went to an Ivy League school. These are times when I think it's fun to give out the rejection hotline.
My one of my very best friends in the entire world just got engaged on sunday!
There are two types of cigarette smokers in this world. The ones who you can lean close to and realize that they've had one and the ones who walk down two halls away from you and you can still smell their dirty ashtray stench. It's disgusting. (Not that all smoking isn't disgusting, but the latter smell is AWFUL.)
Everyone fantasizes about throwing a new crush in their ex's face, but when you do like someone new, you don't care about rubbing it in with your ex anymore.
I went to visit my friend Emily and "someone special" in NC two weekends ago and got drunk and played with a snake... I never would have done it sober!
I'm worried that I may have to drop the blog because I can never think of clever/entertaining things to write about anymore and I refuse to turn it into a personal diary... But I probably won't!

My flag football team is undefeated! We played in the rain last week and I fell about a gazillion times and tore myself up. I was covered in head to foot in mud. And loved it. Here's a nasty-ass picture of the bottom of my knee & shin. (I know, my leg looks funny because it's from a really weird angle.)

It's 10 pm and I am working. I've always got work. I don't mind it because it's interesting to me. But it does mean that this post is over!!

I got wingmanned... and some notes

2005-10-04T21:03:00.000-04:00

Yep. I was wingmanned at the gym tonight.

So, I'm on the treadmill next to this absolutely beautiful girl. And I'm talking naturally beautiful. No make up, sweaty... and would have made me look like a toad even dressed up looking my absolute best. And these two guys, we shall call them tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum, came up to talk to us. The other girl was obviously annoyed and I was obviously not interested, as I was rather busy trying to read the teleprompter on Seinfield.

Before they came over, I noticed the guy that ended up trying to talk to me (tweedle-dum) rolling his eyes and saying "fine". While he was half-heartedly talking to me, and I was whole-heartedly trying to show that I wasn't interested, he kept staring at her. Obviously, I didn't care. But it was funny, and weird. Who knows how many times that's happened to me before, but it was TOTALLY obvious tonight.

And guys, here's a little note: I know that sometimes it's confusing. BUT when you see a girl at the gym, if she's sweating and not wearing make up and obviously into her work out - she doesn't want to get hit on. It's annoying. If you're looking for chicks to work it with while you're working out, look for the perky little girls walking slowly on treadmills, fully made up and in full jewelry. K? Thanks

*************************************

Anyway. Last Thursday, I went with Asian Mistress and some of her chickadees to see Aaron Karo do stand up. He was absolutely hilarious. We were cracking up the entire time! At one point, he compared 20-something girls to preseason football - because they appear that they're trying to score, but in reality they're just trying not to get hurt. Pretty funny. And, in some cases, accurate. Funny, regardless.

Karo also talked about how after having sex, guys pee sideways. Had I been taking a sip out of a drink at that moment, I would have spit it out. Is this true? I've never heard anything like it! Asian Mistress said that it's common knowledge, but apparently I've been kept in the dark. Also, funny.

For anyone who doesn't know who Aaron Karo is, he's a comedian and an author. He sends out emails called Ruminations in which he makes funny comments on observations that he makes. I'd highly recommend signing up for them! They're free, and you can sign up here.

*************************************

I'm very sorry everyone, but I'm not sure that Lil DC Diva or The Celebutante will be back with the blog for a while. They're both busy with work - and I miss them dearly! (Although I do talk to them all the time.)

*************************************

Commercials

2005-09-29T08:21:00.000-04:00

I'm not a big TV person. But nowadays, there are a lot of shows that I happen to like so I've been watching it a lot. (Desperate Housewives, Rome, Family Guy, Grey's Anatomy, Surface, Medium, House, Boston Legal, Lost, Invasion, the OC, Reunion... Seriously, it's pathetic - Not that I watch all those shows every week, but definitely Rome, Grey's Anatomy and Lost...

So in all this newfound TV watching, I've also been seeing a lot of commercials. And I've made some observations about a few of them:

DHL's new customer service commercial - I LOVE IT. It really portrays how shitty customer service is today. It's ridiculous. If DHL really does provide the fantastic customer service that they claim, I think I will begin using their services.
Someone running for something in Virginia has a commercial out. This commercial focuses on education, so that's great. But one of the statements is that he wants to keep gang members out of Virginia schools. Again, that's great. But how sad is it that there are gang members in Virginia? I mean, perhaps I'm just out of the loop but this wasn't a big problem when I was in high school just 5 years ago. I always thought that someday, Northern VA would be a good place to raise kids because the schools are great and it's a good area. So the fact that gangs are a problem there now really upsets me.
There's a Wendy's commercial out promoting the new "choose your own" burger or something like that. It's all fine and dandy until the very end, when they show a bride eating a Wendy's burger. Come on. What bride is going to eat Wendy's on her wedding day, in her wedding dress?
Finally, there's a commercial out for a special edition Cinderella. In the commercial, they show the scene where her slipper falls off as she's running away from the prince and the ball. And it hit me. (Well, I've actually wondered about this before.) Why, at midnight, does everything else turn back into it's normal grimy self - but NOT her shoes?

Two things

2005-09-26T08:42:00.000-04:00

I wish people would have more tact. I would have appreciated it this weekend because I was invited somewhere as a last resort. Twice. Here are the scenarios: Person A & B both ask "Hey, do you want to come to {insert event here} with me?" To Person A, I declined. To Person B, I accepted. And here were their responses: A - "Jeez, I can't find ANYONE else to come!" B- "Oh great! Everyone else I asked had plans."

I mean, what the hell? OK, so I know that it's impossible for everyone to be first on everyone else's list for invites - but do you have to make sure they know it? Come on, let's show some finesse and realize that, while everybody's aware that sometimes they're not the first to be asked to some things, people don't like to think that they might be a last resort invite. So keep all of your previously declined invites out of the conversation. Thanks.
I have a great respect and appreciation for police officers. Anyone who is still going through their hating the law days, in my opinion, never grew out of their teenager mentality - and should grow up. However, I think that cops who waste time standng around and playing with radar guns during rush hour should be... put in time out or something. Seriously, how annoying. Sure, people shouldn't speed. But with all the accidents and backup that happens every morning/afternoon on the beltway, etc., I really think that they should just be alert to help in those situations and keep the flow of traffic moving. I know that sometimes it's the people speeding that cause the accidents, but pulling a couple people over who are just rushing to get to work on time is not really going to make a difference.

He's just that into you.

2005-09-23T19:39:00.000-04:00

I left out the 'not' in that popular sentence on purpose. I haven't read the book. I don't want to. I'm a positive person and (when I feel like it) I try to put a positive spin on things. But I've recently been shown that girls do not have to put up with jerks. I know that there are amazing guys out there and they must be worth the wait.

And, though some of my closest friends swear by it - and I have no doubt that there is a lot of truth in it - I'm not a big fan of "He's Just Not That Into You". The only reason being that it points out the reasons why your man is not into you. - it's negative. I think it'd be better to focus on how you can tell when he is. Here are a few examples:

He has faith in you - He believes you're smart and capable and tells you so.
He may tease you lightly, in a flirtatious manner, but will never make you feel dumb, or ugly, or bad about yourself.
He makes room for you in his life - regardless of how busy he may be.
He talks to his friends about you.
He does sweet things to let you know he's thinking about you. And no, for the haters, I'm not talking about buying you presents; I'm talking about the little things - like leaving IMs early in the morning to tell you that you're beautiful.
He isn't afraid to show affection - not to the extent of a PDA, but hand holding and/or when he (often unconsciously) uses body language to establish that you care about each other.
Most importantly, he's man enough to tell you how he feels about you. I know some guys are shy, but if he really sees what you're worth - he'll tell you! (And if for some reason he doesn't voice his feelings, it won't matter because his actions will show you loud and clear.)

And please don't be reading this list and thinking to yourself that your guy is the kind of guy to do those things, he just hasn't done them yet. When someone is really into you, they'll be sweethearts all the time, it's not something they'll just grow into sometime in the future. I really think that girls' biggest mistakes are to fall for guys based on who they have the potential to be - not who they actually are. I've done it PLENTY of times. And when you do this, it's a huge mistake. You end up make sacrifices for someone who doesn't even really exist.

Ok. Stepping off my soapbox now. (But, let's be honest, we all know I just love to talk about relationships/love/romance/etc.) And in hindsight, I wish I'd always listened to everything I just said above. But, ya know, maybe we all have to go through relationships with jerks so that when there's a spark with someone who's really special - it's even easier to see.

My new theory about @$$holes

2005-09-19T12:19:00.000-04:00

So I can not tell you how many times I've had girl friends ask me/themselves why they always end up with jerks. They're relationships always take so much work and they feel like they are the ones putting all of the effort into anything. Half of the time, I'm the one asking these questions.

But, you know when you first start dating someone whether or not they'll be good for you. If it's not going to work out, from my experience, more times than not, you know it deep down as soon as you begin dating. Most of the time, you just ignore what you know. To the point that you don't realize you know it and are crushed when some time later, the relationship doesn't work out.

I think my biggest mistake is that I always like guys based on who they have the potential to be - not who they actually are. And when people do this, it's a huge mistake. You make sacrifices for someone who doesn't even really exist.

Well, perhaps also as a good friend recently pointed out, I go for guys I know it won't work with because deep down I'm a commitment-phobe ;) woopsie

Stupid drivers...

2005-09-14T21:06:00.000-04:00

It's really annoying when you're on your way home from the gym and somebody almost kills you because they chose not to check lanes before switching - and it's dark out so you know they can't see the form of the curse words flying out of your mouth or your middle finger which is pointed purposefully in the air at them.

Just an observation...

Let's talk about cleavage

2005-09-14T12:03:00.000-04:00

And I'm not talking about breasts.

I'm not talking about ass.

I'm talking about toes. Yes, toes.

Ladies, as we near the season of closed-toed shoes, I feel that I must comment on the way feet should look in them. Because, a lot of shoes are now designed to show off a little bit of toe cleavage. To be honest, I could care less about whether or not my shoes show my toe cleavage. (I care more about how cute my shoes are, obviously.) I seriously doubt it's all that sexy or that most people notice whether or not your shoes stop before your toes do.

But you know when it is noticeable? When you've got dry, cracked and {SHUDDER} dirty toe cleavage. It's disgusting. First of all, there is no excuse for having dirty feet. That's just gross. You need to learn the correct way to bathe - it includes washing your feet and in between your toes!

As for the dry and/or cracked part, it's easily fixable. Personally, I live by pedicures... They're a great way to relax and they make ya feel good about your feet. Some people think they're feet only need to look nice in the summer, I really don't agree. If you don't want to fork out the $20 or whatever for a pedicure, you should still take care of yourself! Get some foot lotion, lather it on... Repeat. It's not really that hard.

Don't ruin (what I'm sure is) your cute and professional look at work by having nasty toe cleavage. Nobody likes to see it.

Oh. And please do not wear pantyhose with open-toed shoes. Honestly.

Ugh

2005-09-11T10:52:00.000-04:00

What do you do when it's new years eve and you made out all night long with a boy who told you that he didn't have a girlfriend, but the next day you found out he was lying? And what do you do when you find out he and that girlfriend recently got engaged? And what do you do when you're at the same party?

Funny you should ask... The answers, in question order, are: get pissed, feel guilty and drink a lot while avoiding him.

David Bell's Theme Song: "I Touch Myself"

2005-09-03T13:05:00.000-04:00

Obviously this is not a sports blog. When sports are mentioned, it's normally to talk about a cute player that I've noticed or to brag about going to a Nationals or a (for the future) Skins game. (Woohoo! Go Nats! Go Skins!)

But today, I feel the need to mention a player on the Philadelphia Phillies. His name is David Michael Bell. He's the third baseman, he hits and throws right and has a batting average of .246. He's hit 7 homeruns, he'll be 33 on September 14, he's 5'10 and weights 190. And he REALLY likes to touch himself.

Yes, you read that right. I went to the Nat's game with Hotwheelz, one of his friends, and my best friend, Krista, last night. And while Krista and I were eavesdropping on the guys sitting behind us (which I will blog about later) we noticed that the third baseman for the Phillies kept scratching himself. I mean A LOT. So we thought it'd be fun to count. I stopped after two innings because we were already up to 23. And for anyone who saw last night's pathetic game, the Phillies were never on the field for that long.

I mean, maybe the pants aren't comfortable? Maybe he needs to wear a different cup - or brand/type of underwear? Or maybe... well I can't really think of any other reason for it...

Maybe there's a great reason for a ball player to continuously touch his own during a game - but there's no way that anyone's going to convince me that 23 times in two short innings is not extremely excessive.

I'm hooked

2005-08-30T11:53:00.000-04:00

It's my week off. I start my new job on September 6. I wish I could say I'm going somewhere exotic and fun... but I'm not. I don't get paid again until October, so funds are low and need to be saved.

I'm having a relaxing time... Cleaning, doing laundry, reorganizing my closets (yes, that is plural), working out/running, hanging out with the fam, catching up with friends - and taking care of my new addiction.

PokerStars.com. There ya have it. You can find me in the play money tables, playing Texas Hold'em... Username: absolut_sara.

Seriously, my eyes are going bad from staring at my computer screen. And I can't stop. I don't want to. It's too much fun. And besides, what else is a broke girl to do? (Other than sleeping in until 11:30, as was the case today.) ;-)

Have fun at work today guys... hehe

The first to let go

2005-08-28T10:52:00.000-04:00

In relationships... well, more in relationships that have ended, it often turns into a race to be the first one to get over the relationship. You put on a happy face and act, date other people and force yourself not to think about your ex - all the while hoping that they're thinking of you.

Sometimes you get over them. Sometimes you never do. But you never really stop to think about how they're feeling. In your mind, they're trying just as hard as you are to get over the relationship. But in reality, sometimes those exes are hurting way more than you are. Sometimes they can never really get over you. And maybe that's something that people should think about more often.

You know the feeling of getting over someone... When you suddenly realize that you haven't really thought about them for a while... when you have feelings for someone else that don't make you fantasize about your ex finding out... when you can finally wish them well in life and love - and mean it. It's often a nostalgic feeling, because deep down you sometimes like holding on to holding on. You know you're better off with out feeling for them, but at the same bittersweet time, you don't want to let go because that will mean that it's really over (even when you know that it's good for you).

Back to my point though, it's basically a race (in your head) to get over each other. But what happens when you really are the first to let go? Do you ever think about it? Because sometimes you can find out a year later that your ex is still struggling and hurting. And maybe it's not the best to finish the race first because you're forced to see the other person hurt which, as much as you may have dreamed for it to happen in the period before you were really over them, really sucks.

Maybe you're thinking about an ex hurting right now... and you're thinking - wow that wouldn't suck, I hope s/he's still hurting over me! Well, that just means you're not really over them (ok, with the exception of exes who purposefully hurt you while you were together). Think about it, you once cared enough about the person to be with them - to share yourself with them... When you're over the hurt feelings from a break up you can once again own up to the fact that you don't really want to see your ex be hurt.

I do believe that boys and girls can be just friends. I have a lot of guy friends. But I am, right now, questioning whether exes can ever really be friends. Will one person out of each break up always hold on to feelings (sometimes hidden) for the other?

Guess what happened at the lake yesterday!

2005-08-24T08:55:00.000-04:00

..........................DRUMROLL PLEASE..........................

Nothing. Yeah, sorry to disappoint but yesterday was just a boring run. That's it. The most exciting part was maybe when I forgot to keep my mouth firmly shut when running through an area, coming out of the woods, where there are always like a zillion gnats flying everywhere... And I swallowed a few of them {shudder}... But I hear they're a source of protein, right?

Anyway, I heard on the Hot 99.5 Hollywood Hotsheet this morning that British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen (a.k.a. Ali G) came in through the ocean on a turtle flotation device (or something of that manner). He was dressed as Kazakhstani TV reporter and he tackled Pamela Anderson during her dogs' wedding at the beach. He was promptly thrown back into the ocean by security.

OK, sorry that you got knocked over Pam... but I think that the thing that bothers me most about this is the fact that she was marrying her dogs. Am I out of the loop? Does this happen a lot? Because to me, it's just ridiculous. Come on. Pam's golden retriever, Star, tied the knot with her Chihuahua, Luca.

"Pammy, 38, carried 'groom' Luca to the altar, while 'bride' Star was led up on a lead by a pal of the sexy actress."

Is this just me? I mean, how does getting married change anything about dogs? Do they take vows not to sniff the butts of other dogs? I don't get it. It's so stupid.

Yeah, OK. So the picture's cute.
I still think it's redonkulous.

*Postscript: I just read that Pamela Anderson was filming the special dog-event for a reality show. I still say it's still a dumb idea to have wedding ceremonies for dogs.

Another Lake Story

2005-08-23T08:12:00.000-04:00

As you may or may not know, I've started running 4 times a week (well, sometimes 3) around the lake behind my house. I'm determined to get in shape - as I've already signed up for the flag football team at my new job (although I don't start until September 6). Well, had I been running this whole year, I would never have needed to think up new material for the butterfly network. I find something new to write about every time that I run around it!

I was pissed yesterday, for personal reasons, which apparently is good to run with because I shaved 4 minutes off of my time around... But that's neither here nor there. The real story actually takes place during one of my walking segments.

I usually go by this pretty, pleasantly plump, older girl, I notice her each time because she's one of the few females who will smile back at me and she has a really pretty face. She stopped when she saw me walking and had something that she wanted to say to me. Here's how the conversation went:

Girl: Hey, I have a question for you!
Sara: OK, what's up?
Girl: What high school did you go to?
Sara: Robinson, why? Did you got here?
Girl: Oh no, but I just think that my little brother would be perfect for you.
Sara (thinking that, for the amount of times that stuff like this happens to me, I must have a sign somewhere shouting out that I'm single): Um, hmm... Uh...
(what exactly was I supposed to say here?)
Girl: Listen, he's really cute and really smart. He's actually really popular too!
Sara: (thinking, popular? I haven't heard that phrase since... oh no): How old is your brother?
Girl: He's going to be a senior at {a rival} high school!
Sara (chuckling): Um, and how old do you think I am?
Girl: What, like 16 or 17?
Sara: I'm going to be 24 in a few weeks.

It turns out that she had really asked me, "what high school do you go to" not "what high school did you go to". See the difference?

Anyway, she was embarassed and we had a good laugh, as she's only three years older than me. It turns out her little brother has a bad habit of dating trashy girls and since she always sees me running, she wanted to try to set him up with someone healthy looking...

Great. So, I get mistaken for a 16-year-old? This has happened a couple times in the past two years. (Like when I went shopping for a dress for my sorority formal, my last year of college, and the saleswoman couldn't believe I wasn't shopping for prom because, according to her, I couldn't be a day older than 17 - I was 22.) I guess it doesn't matter and it's certainly better than when a coworker asked me a few weeks ago if I was 30 or not. I guess I had just been under the (apparently mistaken) impression that I fill a sports bra out better than a teenager. Dammit. So much for that theory.

Themed Weddings

2005-08-22T12:40:00.000-04:00

I was listening to Elliot in the Morning this morning during my hideous monday morning commute to work. It was actually the best of Elliot (I think) so it may have been an older segment. But he was having engaged people call in and talk about their weird wedding plans. And I swear, I heard the strangest things.

First of all, there were a ridiculous amount of callers who said that they were having Star Wars themed weddings. Brides dressing as Princess Leia, couples entering the reception as Star Wars music plays in the background, after cake cutting saber fights... I mean, it was ridiculous! Maybe I just don't get it - as I've never seen a single Star Wars episode (I just had to look up how to spell Leia) - but I can pretty much guarantee that if I had, I still wouldn't be modeling my wedding after it. Come on. You've got to be kidding me.

Then there was the caller who said that he and his fiance were either going to go to their wedding as Batman and Robin or as Sonny and Cher. Um, let's see. In the first choice, they would be going as two men (and for the record, this was a heterosexual couple). In the latter, one of the characters is DEAD. Great. What is wrong with these people?

Elliot then reminisced about attending a Halloween wedding in which everyone (bride and groom included) wore black. And instead of candles lit everywhere, there were jack-o-lanterns. Another caller said that at a wedding she went to on halloween: the groom dressed as Chucky, the bride was the bride of Chucky, the best man was the devil, the maid of honor was an angel, the groomsmen were the KKK and the priest dressed as Jesus. Um. No thank you.

There were other callers - one was having a white trash wedding full with a red carpet in front of a trailer and bridesmaids entering on ATVs - another was attending a 2006 Lord of the Rings themed wedding (but he was planning to dress as Harry Potter to crash it). I mean, what is wrong with these people?

Personally, when I think of a wedding theme, I think about a romantic theme with candles and lace and an old white church. Or maybe of a beach theme, of being barefoot on the sand with the sunset in the background. Am I the weird one?

The Bigger The City...

2005-08-19T18:38:00.000-04:00

...the lonelier it can be.

I knew the adjustment would be hard, but NOT this hard. I'm a tough girl, I've handled a lot in my life and experienced things not every woman goes through at such a young age. I lost my father at eleven years old and grew up very, very fast. Moving to NYC would be a cakewalk compared to other life experiences I've faced. I thought I could take on NYC and own it. Who the hell was I kidding?

My poor, poor friends back in DC. I call/IM them every single waking hour and tell them how miserable I am. I'm all alone. No friends. Live alone. Eat alone. No cable tv at my place. No internet. Lots and lots of reading. (Nothing wrong with that though.)

Last night I went to dinner by myself. Sat in the restuarant and ordered my favorite Peruvian dish, Cerviche, with a glass of white wine. Observed my surroundings and saw that I was the only person in the restaurant dining alone. No big deal, right? Well, it still made me feel empty and very alone. I was jealous of the other couples, the friends, the families, gathered to share some QT time together. I literally had to jerk back tears because it made me miss my friends and family SO MUCH.

I found myself at work today talking about how much I loved DC and why I loved it so much more than NYC. Once again, I had to pause, because if I talked about it any more, the tears would come flowing down.

Thankfully, I haven't cried yet. I'm still holding it in, but I don't know how much longer.

I'm stressing that I didn't make the right decision to move to NYC. Why would I leave behind a great life, great friends, great job? I want to walk away in life and have no regrets, but I feel a wave of regrets surfacing as I think more about my decision.

It's been a month now and I'm sick of my life here. I'm sick of getting off work late at night, going to dinner alone, riding the disgusting subway, smelling manure and urine every street corner I turn, not knowing a familiar face, or just having a friend to vent to. Or someone to grab a beer with. I want to come home.

So I am.

Tomorrow. :-)

On my day yesterday

2005-08-19T08:33:00.000-04:00

There's a lake about 1/2 a mile behind my house. It's between 2 and 2 1/2 miles long. This is the lake I run around three to four times a week (which just started last week, so we'll see how long I keep it up.) And by run around, I mean run for two minutes and walk for two minutes alternating... Because it's a weight loss program, not a marathon training.

Anyhow. I'm writing this post to show you a prime example of how I always manage to embarrass myself. With out fail.

At close to the end of a lake lap, I always run by a basketball court. There are always people playing on it, but I never pay attention because by that point I'm getting tired and focusing on finishing. Yesterday there were a bunch of boys playing. And one of them threw the basket ball so that it landed right in front of me - apparently to get my attention because obviously I listen to my music so loud while running (to drown out the sound of my breathing) that I didn't hear him calling at me. So I stopped and some guy ran up to get the ball and told me that his friend thought that I was pretty and wanted to ask me for my phone number. I thought it was kind of stupid that his friend came over, as though we were back to being 14. Then he pointed to the boy, who was smiling over at us kind of sheepishly... And he was very cute. Of course, I suddenly thought it was the sweetest thing ever that his friend came over for him.

Description: Tall, shaggy light brown hair, very nice arms. Green eyes. Just a little bit bigger (muscle-wise) than I usually like... but he pulled it off very nicely. He was wearing a cutoff Harvard Law T-shirt. Was I impressed by the shirt? Yes, so sue me. Am I aware that it could easily have been someone else's shirt? Yes. Do I care? Not really. Did I give him my number? You betcha.

So I move onto my second lap of the lake. OK, and I'll admit it. I was feeling pretty good about myself. I really was feeling a little bit cocky. I'm sure you can understand - when you get hit on by an attractive person, you're confidence is always bolstered, so you know the feeling. But around my lake, there are about three spots where, no matter what, you will always run through a spider web. Almost guaranteed. I was a little more than half way around the lake and I reached one of these spots. I always run through them waving my arms in front of me to get rid of the webs. Well this time, I swung my arms up (I don't know why, I always swing them down) and I freaking hit a spider and I propelled it right into my own face. Let me pause here and say that I have a major thing about bugs. I hate them. I am more scared of them than anything else in the world. I'm talking all bugs (except butterflies of course.) And spiders are the absolute worst. So, needless to say, I feel the spider smack my face and I begin screaming bloody murder. Seriously. I'm not exaggerating. At this point I'm dancing around brushing every part of my body off to check for the spider. Screaming. Almost crying. Full blown freaking out.

And then I look up. And whom do I see standing there looking at me in astonishment? The basketball boy. Turns out he was going for an after-game jog. Great. I can't remember the last time I was so embarrassed. I swear it was the perfect set up for a sitcom. He laughed and seemed to be understanding as I explained my bug phobia... but will he still call me? Well, now that he's seen my screaming, spider-searching frenzied dance, I fear that it may no longer be the case. (Honestly, I don't care becauses I don't think I'm really looking for anything right now anyway.) And I learned my ~~first~~ upteenth lesson that there is truth behind the saying that pride comes before the fall.

Other Lake Observations:

I saw a woman smoking while running. She had on a sports bra and shorts, with a pack of cigarettes tucked into her shorts. Her cigarette was lit and she was running. Kind of a living example of an oxymoron, ya think?
I went to school in North Carolina. In the south, you smile and even sometimes say hello to everyone you walk by. It's just the way it's done. So when I run by people at my lake, I always smile. I noticed yesterday that almost every guy I passed smiled back and almost every girl did not. I don't get it. It's not like we're out at a bar competing for guys (like I'd do that anyway), we're just all out running or walking to stay in shape or relax. Why not just smile back?
I passed a pack of ghetto people smoking pot a little bit off the path. One of them shouted at me, "don't worry girl, you'll work that baby weight off in no time". And then they all laughed like there was no tomorrow. The little jackasses. (I heard this because I was no longer listening to music because after the spider incident I threw my walkman on the ground and lost one of the batteries.)

Also last night, much to the entertainment of the family behind me, I walked right into the automatic door at Target. Apparently it wasn't working. And I found my new favorite teeny-bopper popstar - her name is Kaci Brown.

And that's about it.

Thanks!

2005-08-18T21:33:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone for your funny and nice comments about my previous post! I especially think that this is hilarious! (And I liked this and this too.)

I doubt I'll get anymore nasty comments outta that chick :-) I'd be surprised if I ever hear from her again, for that matter!

Imagine this scenario, if you will...

2005-08-18T08:37:00.000-04:00

Let's just say that there is a girl named Sara and a couple named Jeff and Kacey.

Sara and Jeff have known each other for years. Sara's met Kacey a few times when hanging out with Jeff. Sara and Jeff have never hooked up or had feelings of a romantic nature for each other; they are very much like brother and sister.

Now let's say that about two months ago, Jeff and Sara were hanging out a lot, as Sara went through a drinking phase in which she wanted to go out all the time and Jeff lives very close to many bars. Kacey hung out a lot as well, as she and Jeff rarely do anything apart. And let's stress one more time about how platonic Sara and Jeff's relationship is.

Perhaps one night about a month and a half ago, Sara receives a phone call from a number that she doesn't know. She answers to hear a girl on the other end screaming at her. This girl calls Sara some really nasty names and, as though back in middle school, threatens to "kick her ass". Sara laughs and when she can finally get a word in edgewise, she asks whom it is that she is speaking to. The girl on the phone identifies herself as Kacey. Sara remains calm and asks Kacey what this is all about. Kacey continues to scream random and stupid things at Sara. So Sara hangs up on Kacey and calls Jeff to see if he knows the answer.

And this is where things get a little tricky. Here is how the conversation might have gone:

Sara: Jeff, hey. What's Kacey's deal?
Jeff: What do you mean?
Sara: Well, she just called and threatened me, poor thing. And she keeps calling my phone and won't give me an explanation.
Jeff: Oh no. OK Sara, please don't take this the wrong way. You know that we've always just been friends and I am in love with Kacey, right?
Sara: Yeah. I know.
Jeff: Well, I swear I have no clue where this came from, but yesterday when Kacey and I were... um... you know...
Sara: Having sex?
Jeff: Yeah. Well, I accidentally said your name. But please don't think anything of it! I really only think of you as a friend, ok? Don't get all weirded out.
Sara (a little bit weirded out): Um. What? Jeff, that is f***ing crazy.
Jeff: Yeah, I know. And Kacey's not taking it well at all. But I told her that there's nothing between you and me. She won't believe me.
Sara: Poor girl. I'd be really upset if someone did that to me too. Maybe I'll try to talk to her.
They hang up, but to this day their friendship remains slightly altered.

Kacey continues to call Sara's phone and finally Sara picks up. Kacey is still screaming at her. Sara tells her she knows the story and she's so sorry and that Kacey should please believe that nothing's ever happened between her and Jeff and that Jeff is completely in love with Kacey.

Kacey continues to yell and threaten Sara. Sara tells Kacey that she understands that she's upset but that she's going to hang up because this situation is really between Jeff and Kacey. Sara then hangs up.

Kacey calls Sara's phone all night. Sara would normally just turn her phone off, except she has a date the next night and he's supposed to call her. Sara finally gets fed up. She answers and before Kacey can yell, Sara tells Kacey that it's not her fault that Kacey's so dull in bed that Jeff has to think about other girls. Kacey hangs up on Sara and stops calling. Sara feels bad, but at least Kacey stopped calling.

And now let us say that Sara went on her way and stopped thinking about the whole thing. And let's say that last night, Kacey left a comment on Sara's blog. The comment was really bitchy, which Sara can handle, but it gave out all of Sara's personal identification information, which Sara will not put up with. (The comment included Sara's full name, address, etc.) Luckily Sara was checking her email at the time and was notified of the comment and deleted it immediately.

Now let's fast forward to today, to me, and to my blog. If you leave another comment like that, or harass me in any other way, you'd better believe that your whole life story with details will be my next post. And believe me, I know your embarrassing details. I also know things about you that Jeff does not. You know what they are. And I will be MORE than happy to tell him. In fact, I'll write the post and specially deliver it into his email inbox. Both of his email inboxes, actually, to be sure that he sees it. So don't you forget it.

Don't hate the playa, hate the game

2005-08-17T10:16:00.000-04:00

I do. I really hate the game.

I have girlfriends who swear by game playing. You gotta rope guys in by playing cat-and-mouse. Don't be too available. Don't show that you care as much as you do, but do flirt enough so that they know that there is an underlying interest. Because it will give them enough motivation to go on to stay with you but not enough to feel secure - that way you'll always have the upperhand.

And then there are the guys. Don't show emotion. Don't tell how you feel - don't even admit it to yourself. Always choose friends and other things over her - because she can not know how important to you she is. Because that gives her an advantage over you. And you might lose face.

And I have to say that I think it's bullshit. It's annoying and it's frustrating. Because for those of us who don't like to play games - well, it's just too bad. If you don't play games and the other person does, you'll always feel like they're not really interested. You feel insecure about the relationship and can sometimes get suckered into playing the games right back. It's an ongoing cycle and it's so annoying.

Some people play games without even knowing it; that's how natural game playing is in the dating world. They play games to the point that they begin to believe that it's the real way that relationships work.

Some people seem like they're playing games when they're really not. They're just different about the way they handle relationships than you are - which makes you think they're playing some game because everyone thinks that they have the right ideas about the way relationships should be.

Personally, I go back and forth. I hate playing games, but I do play them sometimes. I admit it. I think that they are SO stupid. And I try my hardest not to play - but it's easy to get sucked in.

Well. OK, it's different if you just want to hook up with someone - or date them casually. Then you flirt the whole time and it's a different type of game playing. It's fun and just flirtatious. That's it. It's not like you're trying to get the upperhand or anything because you're not that serious about the person.

But if you could see yourself really with a person, why play games? To save face? To keep your pride? To avoid the hurt of rejection? Come on. Think about it. Speaking with the Celebutante yesterday, on the way home from work, she made a very valid point. If you play games with someone you're just delaying the inevitable. You're either going to be with them, or your not. They either want to be with you, or they don't.

Think I'm wrong? Well how's this for an example:

Maybe by playing the 'unavailable game' someone will think they want you because they can't have you. But in the end, when those feelings settle, you'll be left facing their real feelings - which may be different than the feelings that you provoked by being unavailable in the first place.

So what? You can just continue playing games of unavailability to keep them interested? Fine. But then you better resign to the fact that the person you're playing with may never fall for the real you. How can someone care about the real you if they only ever get to know the façade of a person under which you play games? Can you ever really be happy knowing that someone's with you because of who they think you are instead of who you really are?

On Drunk Dialing

2005-08-17T07:32:00.000-04:00

As the self-proclaimed queen of drunk dialing and having been the recipient of a few recently, I've come to the realization that (friendship calls aside) there are really two types of drunk dials, A and B.

DD A: The one that you do not want to make at all when you're sober. This call goes out to the person that you really like. It's too hard for you to tell them how you feel in person, but when you're drunk it seems like a great idea. You forget when you're drunk, that they're in a position to reject and/or hurt you when you open yourself up to them. But you're confident that regardless of what they say you're alcohol content will be cushion enough to avoid any bruises. However, the cushioning is short-lived until you remember what you said the next day. You know that feeling... you might be hung over, but happily walking through the grocery store the next afternoon and then the first flashback - similar to a hotflash - of the conversation hits you. And you realize what you've said. You have three options from this point forward. You 1) go with it and see what happens, 2) act as though you don't remember what you said, 3) play it off as though you drunk dialed everyone in your phonebook and laugh it off to show that you didn't mean what you said. (Although with option 3, you're secretly hoping that they'll say that they wish you'd been serious because they care about you too, blah blah.)

DD B: The one that goes out to the people still interested in you. (Or at least that's what you think when you're drunk.) If drunk dial A does not go well, you often resort to Drunk Dial B. (Or sometimes, your drunk enough to drunk dial, but sober enough to make DD A.) You flirt. They flirt. Sexual innuendos are made, but not always followed through. But you certainly end up feeling better about yourself. And the person on the other line does as well. For that night. The next morning you don't really care about what you've said because you didn't mean it and most likely it's a regular occurrence and just not a big deal. More often than not, the recipient of your call already knows that you were just drunk and lonely and calling just to flirt with them. Careful though, sometimes this can still hurt a person's feelings.

And sometimes, when you're on the receiving end, it can be impossible to tell which DD option you are, A or B. Sometimes it can make all the difference in the world. And sometimes, it just doesn't matter at all.

PS. I don't think I'd mind if the guy in the picture DD'ed me... ;-)

NYC + Credit Card = TROUBLE

2005-08-16T16:31:00.000-04:00

To go along with Sara's most recent post about spending money we don't have, or did have, but lost, I'd like to announce that today I have received my FIRST credit card ever.

Spending limit? $1000.

What's a girl to do with herself in New York City and a brand new never before been used credit card?

It should be illegal, shouldn't it?

Part of me wants to get off work and run to Coach, Louis Vuitton, Prada...and just swipe away. Then I think realistically, and shit, I can't REALLY afford any of that right now, let alone all of it at once! (Which would be every girl's dream!)

For some reason Carrie Bradshaw (a la Sex and the City) could afford all of that. I watch the episodes every night before I go to bed. In one episode Carrie comes to the realization that she has spent nearly $40,000 on her shoes...which is the result to her current financial woes.

Do I want to end up like Carrie? Hell no. Is it easy to end up like that? Hell yes.

Dangling a credit card in front of a girl is like dangling a play station remote in front of a guy telling him the brand new Madden 2006 is in the player...its just TOO tempting to NOT use.

I'm going to try to be strong, dammit. It's just so easy to live the high life for a temporary moment and not think about the future consequences. Someone, please, give me good reasons NOT to use this puppy in NYC before my poor card ends up on crutches!

I have no self-control.

2005-08-16T13:49:00.000-04:00

Remember how I said that I was excited about building my new professional wardrobe? Well, I shot myself in the foot with that one. Almost literally.

My last day at my current job is next week. I start my new job in the beginning of September and won't get paid until October 1. This leaves the entire month of September paycheckless. No big deal right? I'm supposedly a mature and responsible girl.

So I figured I'd give up going out for a little while. No big deal. Cut back on drinking and going out, watch a few more movies, spend more time exercising and less time spending money... And I'd just spend a little bit of money to buy some professional clothes for my new job.

Well.

In the past two days alone, over lunch/shopping with the Celebutante, I've spent almost $300. Over the weekend, I spent a whole lot more than that - I refuse to list the amount because it's quite embarrassing. Since Saturday, (yes, I'm aware that it's only four days ago), I've purchased five - that's right FIVE - new pairs of shoes.

So that's it. I'm done. I have no will power. I am very angry with myself. I will not be able to go out or do ANYTHING for the next month and a half. Actually, for the next month in a half - to borrow part of a quote from Carrie Bradshaw - I could quite possibly be the little old lady who lived in her shoes... and her new Ann Taylor Loft wardrobe.

Looking for a Piece of Ass?

2005-08-16T11:29:00.000-04:00

Well. Perhaps this wasn't what you had in mind, but according to Hot 99.5's Hollywood Hotsheet this morning:

"Founding Monty Python member John Cleese will be selling pieces of his colon on his personal Web site. 'In case any of you have noticed that things have gone a bit quiet in the last few days," he writes on www.thejohncleese.com 'it is because the old man has decided to have some surgery to cure some digestive problems he's been having. The good news,' he adds, 'is that the infected bit which has been cut out by the surgeon will be offered for sale on the Web site in the next few days.'"

Yum. Any takers? Wait. Nevermind. I have no desire to know, you sickos.

My biggest pet peeves...

2005-08-15T17:00:00.000-04:00

1. Standing with a group of friends when one friend isn't thinking and slightly turns their back to me suddenly excluding me from the circle.

2. Going out somewhere with a boy who feels that it's necessary to check out every girl who walks by. Come on now. I check out a lot of boys when I'm out with my friends, but when I'm with someone I'm dating, or on a date, I'm respectful and I pay attention to whom I've chosen to spend my time with... And I expect the same in return.

3. At the mall:

People who walk slowly in groups with out caring that they're causing a hold up behind them.
People who walk up stairs and stop to discuss something causing a traffic jam on the stairs behind them.
Couples who find it necessary to make out. You love each other. Great. Get a room.
People who find it necessary to cuss in front of children.
Cashiers who move at a turtle's pace. Not to fold the clothes neatly... But just because they could care less that there's a line of people who have other places to be.
Parents who think it's ok to scream at their children.
The people who work at the kiosks who single me out and try to drag me in to promote whatever product they're selling. Hello - if I was interested, I'd come over by myself.

4. Running consistently for 3 days in a row and not seeing immediate results. (I know it takes time... blah blah...) I'm just really bad at sticking to habits. I tire of things very easily. Exercising, Dieting, Relationships... Wait a second, maybe I just figured out why I have trouble keeping relationships...

5. People who judge me for judging other people. We all judge. I'm just honest about it.

6. Bosses who micro-manage.

7. Being called stupid. Even in a joking manner.

8. The fact that I am a huge procrastinator and no matter how hard I try not to be, I always leave things until the last minute. Seriously. I've been working on this for ages and have not changed a bit.

9. People who do not call when they say that they're going to.

10. People who make plans and have no intention of carrying through with them. (All though, I have done this occasionally...) At least use a parachute when making the plans... Ex: "Yeah, that sounds great... I want to do it, but I may have to {insert whatever here} instead. I'll let you know though."

11. Having things thrown on me at the last minute. I try to be a go with the flow girl. And most of the time I am. But when someone throws something out at me last minute, it throws me into panic mode. I always quickly get over it, but it still happens.

12. Not having a specific place for everything to go. I have so much stuff. Deep down, I'm a neat freak. But if I don't have enough space for my stuff, I get messy. And it pisses me off.

13. Having a messy car. Mine is always messy. And it kills me. But please refer to #8.

14. People who wear sunglasses at night. The only people who do think they look cool and come off as trying WAY too hard. (Sorry Captain)

15. People who don't return my smile when I go run past them. What's wrong with being friendly?

16. Old men who stand outside in their tighty-whiteys.

17. Tighty-whiteys.

18. People who don't cut their toe nails.

Your turn to rant... Anything to add?

ugly millionaire dating service

2005-08-15T08:28:00.000-04:00

Looking for love? Want to find someone rich? Do looks matter? If you answered yes to the first two questions and no to the last, this online dating agency might be the place for you! Welcome to Marry an Ugly Millionaire.

Why marry an ugly millionaire? Well, according to the web site: "The world is NOT full of beautiful people – that’s a fact. There are many men and women who are on the hideous side of normal. But that doesn’t make them bad or unmarriable! No - many ugly people have other traits that make up for their lack of good looks – personality, charisma, dependability, caring and MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MONEY. These traits add beauty to otherwise excessively overweight, fat, deformed and revoltingly ugly people. A beauty you can enjoy while sipping champagne on an exclusive a sun kissed beach."

FOR WOMEN:

Self made millionaire Munchien der Dashwoune is an International Dog Breeder and Culinary Expert. He is urgently looking for an older women for marriage and international travel. Could he be the perfect man for you?

Do you want to be a millionaire? Marry Randy and run away to South America. A man with great dress sense and wonderful man boobs. This is an opportunity for love, romance and money that must not be missed!

Girls - ex boxer Teeka is worth fighting over. A black millionaire with charisma and dollars.

And find so many more great catches here!

FOR MEN:

Millionaire Madame Susanne seeks sophisticated stud.

Mega Rich Bertha could have a crush on you. Marry her next week and become an instant millionaire.

Sexy tattooed Lady Claudia Helena Maxwell-House would like to get passionate with you.

Looking for someone else? Check here for the great selection!

He he... Figured this would bring a little smile to an otherwise depressing Monday! Happy beginning of the week everyone :-)

P.S. I copied all descriptions word for word from the Marry an Ugly Millionaire site.

I miss you, homeslice

2005-08-12T13:41:00.000-04:00

I've been pretty idle in the blogging world recently. I'd have to say that moving to NYC, starting my new job, and adjusting to the lifestyle would pay a toll! Nonetheless, I have not forgotten my fellow peers. And I'd like to say one thing: I MISS DC!

I've been here three weeks so far. Here is a quick recap:

Week One: Stepping out of Penn Station was like an immigrant coming to the US through Ellis Island. I was flushed with joy and anticipation of the opportunities that NYC would give me. I became the ultimate tourist. I "did" Times Sqaure. David Letterman. The Improv. Bed NY. SoHo. TriBeCa. Canal Street. I was having a blast - and I was by myself! I was so excited I paid no mind to the horrible smells, dirty subways, and some of the largest rats on the face of this earth. Really. They are better fed than my two dogs.

Week Two: The blissful tourist chic runs out of speed, and a new outlook of the city overtakes the old outlook. What is that horrid smell while I walk to work? It smells like a farm, but its the city. Eww! Manure. Urine. Horses and carriages = not as glamorous as they look in the movies. The smell will kill you. The subway, my god, when is the last time they cleaned the metal poles and windows? I'm afraid to touch anything! Yeeks, some homeless person just declared to everyone that he is HIV positive and needs food and money. Time Square has become a place I want to stay FAR away from - the overzelaous tourists flood the streets. I walk down the street and get hoots and hollers (typical - but WAY more than usual.) I'm beginning to feel that the bigger the city the lonlier it is. Then it hits me. I miss my home. I miss my friends. I miss the cleaner streets of DC and the more "yuppie" crowd. I walk up my street heading for home right off Broadway and see two of my neighborly rats scurry in my path. I scream in disgust. I've had enough.

Week Three: I'm becoming immune to the dramatic homeless people on every street corner. I feel horrible for that - but what else can I do? Give them money? I can barely afford to live for myself, let alone pay a homeless tax to those who will take it and use it for drugs and booz. Thank god for my iPod or I would never be able to block everything I see and hear on the subway. At least it gets me to where I need to go quick and cheap. I'm making friends at work, so I find myself staying at work much longer than usual - at least 12 hour days, because I feel most comfortable there. If I could, I'd work 24 hours. It's becoming my safety net. Going out is okay, I feel that people talk up the NYC night life, but you know what? Its not about where you are, its about who you're with. And without my friends, I could be at the coolest club, and its still sucks. Quality, not quantity, people. NYC has over 20,000 bars and resurants, yet without a close knit group to go to these places with, its awful. Now I am not saying Im a homebody and havent made the best of where I am, of course I am doing that. It just takes time to adjust, we all know this. But the rats, the rats man, I'll never adjust to that.

So I've decided that I need a dose of home. I'll be back in DC next weekend. Chinatown bus type. What can I say? I ride in style! Have a great weekend DC! I miss you!

On Lunch...

2005-08-12T12:48:00.000-04:00

Yeah. So some coworkers and I ordered Chinese for lunch. I got my usual - chicken in spicy garlic sauce. Delish.

Except for the fact that another coworker came into the kitchen and said that it smelled really good, even if I was eating a cat disguised as chicken.

First of all, how rude. Second of all, I promptly lost my appetite. So much for lunch today. Damn it.

Um... WTF?

2005-08-12T12:26:00.000-04:00

I see some random referring URLs for The Butterfly Network. BUT, apparently, we came up when somebody did a search for "Women with little boys"... Along with a bunch of disgusting (and probably illegal) porn sites. That's gross.

Great. And now we'll probably come up with it again because I wrote about it. So for anyone who finds TBN through that search - YOU'RE A SICKO!

Oh and on a total side note... Sorry I missed out last night!

Inappropriate Office Encounters... Rant # 1

2005-08-11T17:01:00.000-04:00

I'll begin by saying that my office does not have a professional dress code. It's been kind of nice to wear jeans on occassion. Although, my new job does have one. And, being the girl that I am, I'm certainly excited about building my new professional wardrobe. However, I digress.

There's a woman at my office who, apparently, was never taught the difference between appropriate work clothes and inappropriate work clothes. Regardless of the dress code.

Yesterday she wore a shirt that was sheer at top and solid white below. Well, the sheer top part stopped right above her nipples. She wasn't wearing a bra. You could see the undercurve of her breasts through the material. And nobody wants to see that. And perhaps the male readers are thinking that they would, in fact, like to see this? Well, let me tell you: they're not nice boobs. They're not perky or full. They're flappy-looking and unattractive. So, I repeat, nobody wants to see that.

And today, she is just wearing a white tanktop with no bra. It's just bad. I don't know why her superior hasn't talked to her about what she wears. And I just am forced to wonder how some people look in the mirrors and are content with what they're wearing. I understand that everyone has different styles. That's fine. The world is better that way. But what this woman wears is not a fashion statement. It's a blatant attempt to flaunt her (nonexistant) sexuality in the workplace. And, again. Sometimes that's ok. If you have a sharp work outfit that makes you feel sexy, you go for it. Wear it. Be proud and confident. But, for the love... Don't do it if it makes you look like trash. Ug.

A 'Cure' for Speeding Tickets?

2005-08-10T15:35:00.000-04:00

Well, considering I've been given 3 speeding tickets in the past 3 months... I would really like to purchase this new type of Swedish Insurance!

You are given coverage for up to 3 speeding tickets a year, as long as you are not going more than 30 miles over the speed limit. You can also buy coverage for parking fines. Of which I have two tickets outstanding.

Please bring this insurance to the US asap!

Wild On Tara (Reid, that is)

2005-08-10T08:49:00.000-04:00

The one hour series premier of Wild on Tara will be tonight at 10 p.m. On E!, of course.

I'm not sure what to think. I don't know if I'll watch it. I loved Tara back in her Carson Daly and Van Wilder days (click the links to see her in those days)...

She just seems so skanky nowadays. Although I do think she looks cute in the above picture. Maybe hosting the show will bring her out of her trashy, drugged out (looking), party girl slump? I really used to like her. But I'm not getting my hopes up.

Either way, it sounds like a really fun job! Some Tara Reid quotes:

"In Greece in Mykonos, we went sea-urchin diving. They looked like porcupines. You crack them open, and clean it out, and put a little lemon and olive oil on it, and it's an aphrodisiac. It puts oysters to shame! And it worked, too, I'm not kidding. My whole body was feeling a little too great."
"In Cyprus, we went to this little village and found this restaurant. We were the only tourists there. It was all Cypriots. We ate the traditional food, did the traditional dances and drank liquor that was only produced there. And then they had this thing where they balanced glasses on their head. And this guy had maybe 30 glasses on his head. People were freaking out. Before I knew it, I had six glasses on my head. It was a blast."

And there you have it, folks.

OH and also, E! True Hollywood Story is running an hour on the Simpson Family this Sunday!

Today...

2005-08-08T13:30:00.000-04:00

Bored today... So here's a list of a few things going on with me:

Not fun. Getting a manicure and then chipping one nail so that it's all jagged and not having a file at work to fix it, thus biting it all the way down and looking slightly like trailer trash (from a digital perspective).

Fun. Sending sexy emails/IMs while at work to make the day go by quicker.

Not fun. Waiting to find out if your salary negotiation skills are worth anything.

Fun. Knowing that no matter what the final offer is, you're finally getting out of a job you don't like and into one that's quite exciting.

Not fun. Hitting a creative standstill about what to write on the blog. (In case you can't tell by this post.)

Fun. Realizing it's 2 o'clock and the work day is over in 3 hours.

Not fun. Realizing you need to tack at least 1.5 hours to those 3 hours due to traffic on the way home.

Fun. Having a friend get a job right next door: meaning another lunch buddy (at least until the new job starts).

Not fun. Missing another friend who lives in a different big city...

Any add ons?

NOTE: to drivers

2005-08-05T08:37:00.000-04:00

If you're driving on a one lane road, and the speed limit is 35, and you are going 25, I will tailgait the hell out of you. And when I finally get by you, you can give me a dirty look all you want... Expect one right back, buster.

Waving The Flag!

2005-08-04T16:59:00.000-04:00

I'm calling a truce!

First, I'd like to say THANK YOU to the many lovers and haters alike who chose to comment on my profiling blog. Clearly this is an issue of importance to many, and I'm glad we were all able to share our thoughts and feelings.

Second, I would like to formally apologize to any reader who took offense to it, for that was NEVER my intention. I was interested in getting comments/thoughts as to better ways we could find a potential terrorist on our subways, and profiling has been a hot topic in the news and government recently, so I chose to dicuss it.

For some, profiling is not right and never will be. For others, it is something that needs to be done to ensure our safety. Some feel that in a time of war its necessary, others feel that it never will be.

After being called a racist, a terrorist supporter, and other hurtful things (We even made it to Rants Craigslist.com), I'd like to say this: Attacking someone for having the courage to write about a touchy and gray subject matter and in turn asking the opinion of readers, is just wrong. I of course do understand that by putting myself out there in the blogosphere there is plenty of room to get criticized, but I'd just like to reach a happy medium where we can all recognize our differences and refrain from unnecessary name calling.

No one here is a racist or a terrorist supporter. We all know this.

So lets move on from our differences and be friends again, k? Cheers :-)

EAR TO EAR!

2005-08-04T15:34:00.000-04:00

Oh man. I can't stop smiling! I JUST GOT A JOB OFFER! (For a company that I've wanted to work for since last summer...)

Seriously, I'm not going to be getting much work done for the rest of the day!

More money. Better Location. So happy right now.

Blogging 101

2005-08-04T08:38:00.000-04:00

By the time you finish reading this sentence, four new blogs will have been created. Wait, now five... Now six... Blogging has become so popular that a new blog is now created every second. That's a whole lotta blogs...

However, "the statistics show not everyone who starts a blog stays the course. Although the blogosphere has doubled in size in just over five months, only around half of all blogs are 'active' - in other words they have been updated in the past three months - and just 13% are updated every week or more often."

Bloggers who have made something of themselves through their blogs: (found these online, so the write ups about each one is not my writing.)

Belle de Jour, a London Call Girl got herself a book deal and a Channel 4 drama based on her stories,
Salam Pax, 'Baghdad Blogger', an Iraqi who blogged while the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was building up turned into an international commentator on Iraqi affairs and got a column and a book deal.
Ellen Simonetti, Queen of the Sky, wrote an anonymous semi-fictional account of her life as a flight attendant. It got her in trouble. She was suspended by Delta Airlines for posting 'inappropriate images' on her blog, one of which showed her draped across seats inside one of the airline's planes.
And everyone knows about Jessica Cutler...

I could go on, but I just wanted to show that, although it's rare, sometimes people do make names for themselves (albeit not always positive ones) through blogging.

FYI - New blog statistics and analysis are being posted every night this week by Technorati’s CEO David Sifry on his own blog.

And now, my own personal little rant on blogging etiquette:

I think it's rude when you are trying to 'promote' your own blog and to do so you leave a comment, completely unrelated to the post's topic. The comments that are like this:

"Hi, great blog! Check mine out here! [insert blog address]."

Ug, it's my biggest blogging pet peeve. If you leave a comment, have something to say about the post - or a response to another person that's commented. I'll check your blog out if I've never seen your name before. But if you just take up space just to promote your own blog/website, I probably won't even bother.

[Insert sound of me stepping off soapbox here.]

Is It Time To Profile?

2005-08-03T13:15:00.000-04:00

Okay, okay. Before I get all the haters calling me a racist bigot and what not, hear me OUT. There are even politicians calling for this to happen in a time of war. Democratic and Republican politicians.

NYC has recently adopted the idea that randomly searching bags on subways will ease tensions of riders and make us feel safer. And maybe they'll even find what they are looking for - a bomb, or lip gloss, or granny's rosary, whatever. DC might even adopt the random bag searches as well.

I ride the subway every day. In case anyone is worried about cops racial profiling people, let me put you at ease.
I am a young, brown haired, brown eyed, Scottish/Italian woman. I come to work dressed in a yellow tube dress from Le Chateau, a black sweater and black stilletos, with my black work bag. My toes are neatly manicured and pedicured. I wear knock-off Gucci sunglasses. I pose no threat whatsoever to society. Someone will simply look at me and think, 'harmless.'

And still, I got pulled out randomly to have my bag searched. Whats to be found in a 22 year old woman's work bag? My iPod, Bonnie Bell Lip Gloss, Cell Phone, notebook, folders with notes, and a pink feather pen.

I smirked when the cop asked if he could search my bag. I didn't mean to and I felt bad for doing it, but COME ON. Do I look like I pose a threat on the subway? Do I LOOK like I would carry a bomb? We BOTH knew we were wasting time. From the time it took me to place my bag on the mantle, open it, and have it searched, someone with an actual bomb could have easily squeezed through. All while the cop searched the girl in the too-high heels and bright yellow tube dress.

The random searches on the New York subways are a response to the recent bombings in London. Who was it that bombed the London subways? Young Muslim/Islamic men. Who flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon? Young Muslim/Islamic men. Who are we fighting a war against terrorism? Young Muslim/Islamic men. And please, if I am wrong on that note, explain to me WHO else it could have been based on the evidence we have collected thus far.

In any case of being politically correct, we certainly are. But how far is this PC going to go? Until a bomber enters our subway and blows it up? Is THAT when we are going to start racial profiling?

Of course I feel safer with the cops prescence at subway stations. And I actually feel good knowing they are searching bags, even if it is mine. But is that the point to all of this? To make us FEEL safer, when we actually really aren't?

Honestly, I don't know if it's time to start profiling. I don't agree with racial profiling, but in a time of war, is it necessary? I'd like to know your thoughts.

Martinis are like breasts

2005-08-03T09:36:00.000-04:00

So this past weekend my friend Lauren and I went to visit Lil in NYC. Oh man. I am IN LOVE with the city. I am so in love in fact, that I am going to begin applying for jobs in NYC immediately. (Unless I'm offered this other job that I just interviewed for on Monday... that, however, is another story.)

Anyway, here is the weekend recap:

First of all, it took roughly 7 hours to get to the city. Lauren and I took the Chinatown bus, which (surprisingly) was fairly clean and not that bad at all. However, there was a suicide jumper on I-95, which meant the entire road was closed. 190,000 traveling cars were forced to take a one-lane detour through some part of Maryland. It sucked. A lot. We didn't get to NYC until, I'd say around 1:30 am. We didn't get to Lil's place until at least 2:15. But, while waiting to hail a cab, we met a DC United player and his girlfriend. The girlfriend was absolutely beautiful... The soccer player was one of hottest guys that I'd ever seen in my entire life. Looking through the roster online, I believe that it was Matt Nickell. But, I swear to you, the picture does not do him justice. He does not look like that. He's SO much better looking than his photograph lets on. (His hair is also very blonde now...)

As a quick side note, after looking through the DC United roster, I must say we have some HOT DC soccer players. Obviously I love the team anyway, being from DC and all. Plus, I know Clyde Simms (not well though, but well enough to know he's really nice) from ECU.

So Friday night was a movie night, because we got in so late and Lil had to work early on Saturday morning. But on Saturday, we did it all. We went down Canal Street (first photo is when from right after we left Canal Street) and shopped in SoHo... And basically went broke. I literally bought three pairs of sunglasses. Ridiculous. We stopped for a delicious lunch (& a much needed, ice cold beer) in Little Italy (second and third photos).

After hours of walking/shopping/unnecessarily spending money we were exhausted. So, obviously, we were forced to go back to Lil's and lay down to watch 2 hours of Sex and the City.

Next up, nightlife NYC baby! For dinner, we walked across the street to a little Mexican place, Mama Mexico (picture of Lil & me). Good food, not-too-expensive Coronas... all and all a great time. A little mariachi band to set the Mexican mood...

And then we were off to Bed NY! It was amazing. You're supposed to have reservations. Woops. But we managed to get in because the bouncers thought we were cute (being female certainly has its perks). I watched tons of other groups get turned away. Especially groups with out reservations that had guys with them... It's not fair, but hey... it's how it is.

The bouncers let us through the door and we walked into this little hallway and they shut the door behind us. And all of the sudden we started going up - it was really an elevator! We got off, walked up some stairs and were there. At this amazing bar. There are HUGE beds all around and the bartenders are very attractive. We managed to sweet talk our way up to the rooftop (where you're also supposed to have reservations) and it was AMAZING. A huge open area with beds around the outer parimeter and tables in the middle. You could see the lights of the entire city all around. They played sexy club-ish (chill and relaxing, not really 'dancey') music the entire time. Drinks were between $12 & $14 (our drinks were, anyway). So we stuck to two martinis a piece. But, a friend of Lil's explained to me that martinis are like breasts... More than two and it's just scary. And, it certainly can be scary when they're made the way BED makes them ;-) I stuck to one martini and one fabulously strong and yummy drink with crushed strawberries... (I forget what it was called however... but you can see it in the pic.)

After we went to BED, we hit up Joshua Tree (a bar & restaurant). This bar was more upbeat and we had a great time. Drinks were less expensive ($7-ish) and they played 80s (and some early 90s) music the whole time. The best part was that they had TVs all over the place and whatever song was on, the music video would be playing. We walked in to M.C. Hammer's "Can't Touch This". It was sweet.

But, Joshua Tree was SLAMMED. And after a while, we wanted to go somewhere more spacious, to dance. We hopped right next door to Bar 515.

Me, Lauren & Lil at Bar 515

Before we went in, I met an Irish boy. (Lil & Lauren, having boyfriends, let me be the one to flirt of course.) He was pretty cute and the accent added about 1000 hot points from the beginning. He said his name was Thomas and that he plays a new character, Bruce, on the NBC soap opera Passions. I can't find him anywhere on any cast list, so he was probably lying... But he already had the accent... He didn't need to lie about being on TV to up his game... But Lil and I doubt it was the truth, and until someone shows us otherwise, we're sticking to what we believe. His pic's here - he's next to me.
Me & Thomas (aka a fake soap opera star named Bruce)
Does anyone even watch Passions? And if so, have you ever seen him on it?

I have absolutely NO idea what time we made it home by. All I know is that Lil, Lauren and I had the BEST time all night long.

Sunday, before catching the bus back to DC, we did the whole Times Square trip. It was fun, and I did see the biggest Dove ad that I've ever seen before, but I don't think I'll need to do it again. It is very touristy and for the most part, once you've seen it, you've seen it. We did the whole Rockefeller Center thing too. And shopped in some super fun stores, like Louis Vuitton and Prada (to name a couple).
Just for you, DCB!

All in all, it was an absolutely fabulous time and I simply can not wait to go back!

Nick Lachey SANS wedding ring!

2005-08-02T12:20:00.000-04:00

Nick Lachey was spotted this past weekend at a party in NYC without his wedding ring and without his wife, Jessica Simpson.

Rumor has it that divorce papers have already been signed.

Developing...

So, we have a 10th planet in our solar system

2005-08-02T11:38:00.000-04:00

My youngest sister recently informed me that a new planet has been discovered in our solar system... Listed below are some tidbits from news stories that I've gathered:

A California astronomer has discovered what he believes is the 10th planet in our solar system.
The new planet is currently known as 2003 UB313.
2003 UB313 has been identified as the most distant object ever detected orbiting the sun.
An undisclosed name for the planet has been submitted to the International Astronomical Union.
The new planet orbits the sun once every 560 years and is now at its farthest point from Earth. In about 280 years, the planet will be as close as Neptune.
The planet‘s surface is believed to be predominantly methane, but its size -- about 1,700 miles (2,700 km) in diameter -- qualifies it as a planet.
Earth is about 7,900 miles (12,700 km) in diameter.
The new planet is believed to be part of the Kuiper Belt, a large ring of icy objects that orbit beyond Neptune and are believed to be remnants ofthe material that formed the solar system.
This data was released earlier than planned on due to a hacker threatening to publish it sooner.
The new planet went undiscovered for so long because its orbit is tilted at a 45-degree angle to the orbital plane of the other planets, and it travels in an elliptical orbit.
The claim that this object is a planet has already been contested.
Some astronomers view it as a Kuiper Belt object and not a planet.
The Kuiper Belt is a region of frozen objects beyond Neptune.
Pluto is called a Kuiper Belt object by many astronomers.
2003 UB313 appears to be surfaced with methane ice, as is Pluto. That's not the case with other large Kuiper Belt objects, however.
NASA effectively endorsed the idea in an official statement that referred to 2003 UB313 as the 10th planet.
The rest of the news stories have this same information in them...

ps - hopefully I'll get the fun NYC post up later this evening :-)

Homeless or Ivy League? How about in the middle!

2005-08-01T17:00:00.000-04:00

So I survived my first week in NYC. There are begging homeless people everywhere. On the streets. On the subway. I think homeless people account for half of the NYC population. They hang outside my place, even on my steps, as if they are the ones that live there. I actually feel bad for not feeling sorry for them, if that makes sense. After a long day of work, the LAST thing I need is someone begging me for money just so they can get their latest heroin fix for the evening, after I slaved away at work just so I could survive in this so-called overpriced city. Whew, anyway, glad I got that off my chest. Moving on.

One difference I have come to notice are the mannerisms in the male kind here, especially when I am going out for the evening. In D.C., I feel that guys just grope and grind girls at their own will, without even asking their name. The lack of respect for women in a bar is apparent in my eyes, after being touched from my shoulder to waist to ass all while trying to buy myself a damn cranberry and vodka. But in NYC, I have found a different annoyance in the men. Sure, unwanted groping happens everywhere, not just DC, but less in NYC than DC, or so I have found.

The guys here actually try to make conversation with you. And not once, NOT ONCE, have I been asked the SIGNATURE DC question: "So, what do you do?" Instead, its been more of 'hey, we're all out to have a good time and leave it at that.' I love this attitude.

But not too much attitude.

While out with the girls on Saturday night at Joshua Tree (after we left Bed,) a decently attractive young man sparked up a conversation with me. Come to find out, he went to school with a friend of mine, and not just any school - Harvard. After he revealed to me where he went to school, I felt a sudden change come about. I actually felt uncomfortable, not on my part, but the way he was making me feel - the "I went to an Ivy League school attitude." And not a good attitude. An overly-confident, cocky, I'm better than you attutitude that made my stomach cringe. Suddenly this young man became unattractive and rude, so I went with it. I flat out told him he was strange. He tilted is head back and laughed, the little cock.

I left and he proceeded to hit on the next girl that was appealling to his eye. I mean, why not? He had every right to, after all, he IS a Harvard grad. Pfff. Funny while being a graduate from such a prestigious school, I've never had more of an uninteresting and unenlightening conversation than I did with this guy.

I hope this doesn't speak for all Ivy League grads, and I am sure it doesn't. But if you did go Ivy League, congrats, and now please get your head out of the clouds and join the rest of society on planet earth, where we are all grads from various schools and are just as interesting and intelligent as you think you are. Cheers!

Let's talk about sex, baby

2005-07-31T23:05:00.000-04:00

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 :-)

Taking a Big Bite Outta the Big Apple

2005-07-29T14:35:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-29T10:10:00.000-04:00

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?

2005-07-29T07:40:00.000-04:00

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?

Michael Douglas and Wife In Town

2005-07-28T17:07:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-28T12:21:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-28T10:50:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-28T09:03:00.001-04:00

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 ;-)

The Gym. We Can't Break Up.

2005-07-27T16:07:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-27T12:43:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-27T09:10:00.000-04:00

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.

Hello from the BIG APPLE!

2005-07-26T14:37:00.000-04:00

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??

2005-07-26T14:34:00.000-04:00

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?

2005-07-26T11:06:00.000-04:00

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?

You know she's 19 if...

2005-07-25T10:48:00.000-04:00

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 ;-)

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

2005-07-22T18:11:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-22T11:02:00.000-04:00

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.

A few pics of DC bloggers ;-)

2005-07-21T17:31:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-21T14:44:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-21T08:50:00.000-04:00

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.

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

2005-07-20T12:30:00.000-04:00

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.

2005-07-20T08:25:00.000-04:00

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!

Past-in-a-Box

2005-07-19T15:26:00.000-04:00

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!

2005-07-19T13:36:00.000-04:00

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 :-)

2005-07-19T09:49:00.000-04:00

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!

Aghhhh!!!

2005-07-18T22:01:00.000-04:00

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!

2005-07-18T12:41:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-18T11:49:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-18T10:35:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-18T08:49:00.000-04:00

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.

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

2005-07-15T12:51:00.000-04:00

(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

2005-07-15T11:36:00.000-04:00

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

NAMBLA - I am disgusted

2005-07-14T16:51:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-14T15:20:00.000-04:00

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

2005-07-14T14:40:00.000-04:00

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?

2005-07-14T09:03:00.000-04:00

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"

2005-07-14T08:43:00.000-04:00

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!