Here's the thing about country music...

Until recently (recently meaning yesterday), I'd kind of written off country music. Before my mission, I listened to it on the regular. When I came home it had started to sound like nails on a chalkboard to me.

Sad, no? I was totally okay with it. It's when I hit my true hipster stage.

But then Samantha Jean decided that she was going to try, as many had before her, to convert me back to the land of cowboy boots, Wranglers, trucks, and twang. And because heaven knows that after a while I can be worn down, I finally had her just make me a mix of songs to ease myself into it. Little did I know that with country, there's no easing. It's all or nothing.

And I'm back in the all phase.

So without further ado, here are the things that I've learned in the last 24 hours of my recent re-conversion to country music:

-Girls are allowed EXPECTED to be sassy

"Have  you ever noticed every hurricane gets its name from a girl like this? She's a cat 5 kind keeps you up at night." 

-Hunter Hayes

-Say what you really think

"So let's shake hands and reach across those party lines. You got your friends just like I got mine. We might think a little differently, but we got a lot in common you will see. We're just like you, only prettier."
-Miranda Lambert

-When in doubt, talk about your truck

If I tried to give you an example of this, I would spend all day typing. Just listen to any Brad Paisley, Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan or Kenny Chesney album

- Sometimes? You don't have to be nice

"Well I've been saved by the grace of southern charm. I got a mouth like a sailor, and yours is more like a Hallmark card."
-Miranda Lambert

"Mama always told me that I should play nice. She didn't know you when she gave me that advice." 

-The Band Perry

-When worn right, blue jeans really do it for a guy

"Girl, you cut those jeans just right. I know you didn't buy 'em like that."

-Brett Eldredge

- If something is worth happening, it happens in the summer

See Brad Paisley's "Beat this Summer" and Rascal Flatts "Summer Nights"

-"Bless your heart" is more of an insult than an actual wish

"I don't have to be hateful, I can just say, "Bless your heart."

-Miranda Lambert

-Just because you're a good girl, doesn't mean he's a good guy

"You'll see a good boy, gonna give you the world. But he's gonna leave you cryin' with your heart in the dirt."

-Carrie Underwood

-And last but not least: the "g" at the end of any word is meant to be left off

So friends. Feed my new addiction. All suggestions are welcome and will be vetted by my guide, Samantha Jean.

Sometimes...

... I wish I was a ginger.

... I spend all day in leggings and one of my little brother's sweatshirts. And I love it.

... I car dance SO well that I distract the car next to me and they forget to drive. I'm always proud of myself for that.

... when I'm grouchy, I watch One Direction videos on YouTube and I remember that there's no point being grouchy in a world where Louis Tomlison and his ridiculous jokes are just one click away.

... I love Lee Pace even though he was in the new Twilight movie.

... I still get the plague even though I had my tonsils yanked.

... my internet goes all wonky and even spending an hour on the phone with Corey Shaw doesn't fix it.

... international students say the absolute best stuff in their emails, such as "I wish I could be the lucky dog." I always laugh.

... even though I love my job, I wish I had one that I could wear comfy clothes to instead of fancy pants clothes all the time.

... I get unreasonably excited when I find other Doctor Who fans who will talk about my love for David Tennant with me. As in I jump up and down and clap my hands. I always judge myself just a little for this.

... I realize that I'm going to miss my DVR when I move.

... I wish that I was British.

... I worry entirely too  much.

... popcorn and frozen Junior Mints fix everything.

... watching Pretty Little Liars makes me want to scream yet I can't turn it off.

... I read the same book over and over even though I know exactly what is going to happen.

Wherein you learn that I go for the nerd...

Dearest readers, I learned a few important things tonight that I feel need to be shared post haste on the interwebs.

A) NEVER under any circumstances, no matter how tired one might be are, should anyone drink a large Diet Coke during a James Bond movie. You will spend the entirety of said flick doing your best not to pee just a little every time a gun shot goes off. And if you haven't been to a Bond film recently, let me clue you in: that happens a whole darn lot. (Maybe this is more specific to me as the caffeine made me a touch jumpy as well).

2) Daniel Craig has the ability to make just about anything look hot. I'm not even exaggerating (which I will now admit that I am prone to do in most cases). Whether he's trying to live the life of a drunken beach bum or is walking into a mob run casino in a perfectly tailored tux to seduce a... erm, lady of the night, the man does it with class and sheer perfection. It's why he's my favorite Bond (SHHH! Don't tell Sean Connery. He held the top spot until just recently).

III) Even when the above mentioned perfection is clamoring for my attention, I will still go for the nerd.

Allow me to explain for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of feasting your eyes on Mr. Craig's baby blues in the most recent installation of the International Man of Mystery's story; you finally get to meet Q, who has morphed into the perfect blend of hipster and tech nerd. And I think that I might be a little bit in love with him. (Hint: Hold the little).

I loved everything from his heavy framed glasses (I have a similar pair in the bathroom at home) to his messy hair to his cardigans to his skinny tie. I thoroughly enjoyed his snarky banter with Bond and the fact that he's wicked smart. While Bond maybe hot... oh let's be honest, we're all friends here: there's no maybe about it. Bond is smokin'.  So, while Bond is hot in every sense of the word, Q is wonderfully quirky and just dorky enough to appeal to a total nerd girl like me. Don't misunderstand me: nerd does not mean lack of social skills or an extreme dislike of sports. I have learned through painful trial and error (read: loads of awkward blind dates) that I couldn't ever spend a ridiculous amount of time around a guy who hates sports. It's just not a thing in my world (speaking of: GO UTES! Way to finally win a game. Now back to our regularly scheduled ranting). But I most definitely appreciate a nerd. And that, my darling readers, is what Q is. Total and complete geek chic.

Why, may I ask you, do men like this only exist in fictional worlds?

This is not a political post...

This is a Hobbit post. You read that right.

This is a post celebrating the goodness that is J.R.R. Tolkien and his brilliance.

It's an epic moment.

I just purchased tickets to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

What?! You didn't know about my Lord of the Rings obsession? You must have failed the quiz to be my friend. I'm sorry for you.

You can redeem yourself by watching the video below.

Richard Armitage as Thorn Oakenshield? Martin Freeman as Bilbo? 

I grew up watching the animated version over and over. And I can tell you that in this moment, I am thrilled. THRILLED I tell you!

So, friends. 

Put aside your differences and join me in celebrating the brilliance of The Hobbit. 

Quotables...

I've been horrible at keeping up on quotes of the week. I know. I've been horrible at blogging in general. I wasn't going to bring that up for the second post in the row, but it was just hanging out there in the ether begging to be said. So, as I am wont to do, I said it. Anyway. Today I am stuck at work for an extraordinarily long period of time so to entertain myself, I started looking through all the completely fantastical stuff I posted on Pinterest. I should become a professional Pinner. They should pay me. (Something to look into...that and getting paid to read). Without further ado, here are this week's (erm, more like month's) quotes:

"There isn't anyone that you couldn't love once you've heard their story."

-- Mary Lou Kownacki

"Life has many ways of testing a person's will. Either by having nothing happen, or by everything happening all at once."

-- Paulo Coelho

"There is nothing interesting about looking perfect."

--Emma Watson

"When you stop doing things for fun you might as well be dead."

--Ernest Hemingway

"My experience has been that this is, surprisingly, always hope."

--The Doctor

"Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do."

--To Kill a Mockingbird 

Quotes of the Week...

How do you feel about the new and improved blog layout? I think I'm in love so if you hate it, don't tell me. I wouldn't listen to you anyway, if I'm going to be perfectly honest. Anyway, along with the new layout I've decided to do my quotes of the week as their own post. I know. I'm a genius. Also, I wanted to say how much I loved all of your comments on my last post. I'm totally going to gush and say that I clearly have the most awesome friends in the 'Verse.

Without further ado, the quotes of the week:

"A guy and a girl can be just friends, but at one point or another, they will fall for each other. Maybe temporarily, maybe at the wrong time, maybe too late, or maybe forever."

- (500) Days of Summer

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we  leave behind."

-C.S. Lewis

"I don't love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful."

-Natalie Portman

"Everything can be taken from a man or woman but one thing: the last of the human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

-Viktor Frankel 

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."

-Desmond Tutu

"I am by nature a dealer of words, and words are the most powerful drug known to humanity."

-Rudyard Kipling

Why I Majored in History...

"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it." -Winston Churchill

I've started this post about three times. And every single time I go through and erase everything that I've written and stare at the Churchill quote again. I won't lie to you, I tried to find one from Doctor Who, but I couldn't find one that I liked well enough. And Churchill? He's my hero. And only partly because he's famous for saying wonderfully snarky things.

This is the thing about being a humanities major: you know from the get go that you're never going to make any money at it. At least if you're smart, you know you're never going to make any money. That's not why you do it. This isn't business school. If you're a true blue history major, you've had more than one person try to take you aside and tell you how worthless your life goals are. Try to talk you into doing something more sensible, like getting your MBA because you're good at analyzing or becoming an elementary school teacher because you're great with kids. While I firmly believe that I would be good at both of those things (both of which are worthwhile goals to pursue), I'm not passionate about product distribution or dividing fractions.

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive." -Howard Thurman

What these well meaning people don't seem to understand is that just because you're talented in a particular area, doesn't mean that's what makes you come alive. And what, may I ask, is the point of spending your entire life doing something that you don't really love?  There isn't one. It's a silly and narrow minded way to view the world. I majored in history because every single time I sat down in one of my classes, I was thrilled at the idea of reading, learning, and absorbing everything that the professor had to offer. I always tell my students at the tutoring center that history is really about people. People just like them. Sure, you have to remember their names and a whole list of dates on which they did all kinds of random things, but if you really look at history for what it is, you see a story. It's someone who lived their life in such a way that you are forever changed by their choices, good or bad.

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.  Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope." -Bobby Kennedy

I majored in history because someone needs to remember them. Who are 'they', you ask? They are anyone. They are infantry soldiers who slogged through the jungles of Vietnam, unnamed women who marched in the streets of New York City demanding the right to vote, immigrants who lived in the poorest conditions you could imagine, mothers who raised their children alone after their husbands were killed defending their country, ordinary people who went about their quiet lives. These people deserve all of the respect that history has to offer them, yet their stories are so often discounted as being 'boring' or 'useless' in the 'real' world. 

"History is our guide to navigation in these perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are." - David McCullough

Last year I was lucky enough to be part of a seminar focused on the Holocaust taught by my favorite professor at the U, Ronald Smelser. If you ever have the chance to take a German history or World War II focused class from this man, run, don't walk. He's amazing. During the course of the class, we discussed the idea that as the termination of the Jewish race grew more prevalent in Hitler's Germany, that very few people stepped in to help or stop the Nazis. It wasn't the focus of the class, but it became my focus as I wrote my final paper. The last paper I would ever write as an undergraduate history major. The more I thought about those people and what they sacrificed, the more I realized that they are why I spent so many years pouring over dusty old books and memorizing dates. It's because these people, whoever they may be, deserve to have someone willing to search for them and their stories. Many of these good men and women suffered and died along with the very people they were trying to help. Their efforts mean so much more than their numbers, because they have permanently and vividly colored the pages of the story of human kind with something redeeming. And all at once it came to me, the real reason that I picked a major that seems completely useless and absolutely senseless to so many people: I studied history because it taught me who I was and where I came from. I studied history because I love learning about people. I studied history because without it you have no math, no engineering, no science. I studied history because the past is prologue. The past teaches us what to repeat and what to stay far away from. I studied history because the world needs all kinds of people to help it run. I studied history because it made me come alive. 

 I studied history because I believe that everyone deserves to be remembered. 

A smallish rant or two...

So this morning, as I was doing my regular perusing of the interwebs before getting down to business (ba ha ha, that's funny since I work at the business school. Get it? Sometimes I just crack myself up), I found this  article from clear back in November before that 8th and final Harry Potter movie came out on DVD.

Before you start guessing, I'm not really upset by the fact that Rowling thought seriously about killing Ron. I mean, he's lovely and all, but it wouldn't have been the end of my world. What just drives me nuts is the comments. I only read a few of the over 2,000 but if one more person mentioned how the "movies would have played out differently without Ron" then I was going to scream. And not a nice little dainty scream. A break-the-glass-help-someone-is-trying-to-kill-me scream. Yes, dear tech smothered generation, the movies would have played out differently but ONLY because they were based on these lovely things called books, which definitely would have turned out differently without Ron. Read one. It might help you learn about cause and effect.

And scene.

Confessions of a Bibliophile...

Now ain't that the truth? So tell me: what's your favorite book to "sink into"? My list is oh so very long. But recently it's been The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. And Midnight in Austenland. And The Devil in the White City. And  Death Comes to Pemberly. Did you know that I simply adore the smell of books? My very most favorite thing to do in the summer time is to go to King's English (an awesome independent bookstore that's been built in an old house) when it's raining. Why raining, you may ask?

Because King's English is so old that they don't have central air. Just a swamp cooler. So the humid smell of the swamp cooler mixes with the delightful smell of thousands upon thousands of book to create a perfume that I would purchase should anyone ever bottle that incredible mixture. Does this make me crazy? Quite possibly. Do I care? Not even a little bit. There is something entirely magical about a bookstore. Especially independent stores like King's English. Call me a hipster if you must, you definitely won't be the first. 

As much as I like shopping for books on Amazon and reading them on my Kindle (Amazon would have to do something completely horrible to shake my loyalty), part of me craves the sensory experience of shopping for a book. I love chatting with the sales girl at the register about what a sweetheart Shannon Hale is and how much we loved her latest book. I love that they have 'recommendation' shelves where employees get to list their favorite books and why they loved them. I love the faint smell of coffee that always seems to linger in the fiction section and they way the light comes in through the window just right when I sit on the bench to read the first few pages of each of the huge pile of books that I want to buy.

I love going to the Shannon Hale loving sales girl and asking her to tell me why she loved The Elegance of a Hedgehog more than The Lenningrad Madonnas. I love the sense of community that a bookstore creates. For just a little while, you're all friends. It's not odd to recommend a book to a stranger or ask the opinion of someone you'll likely never see again. I don't think there's anything more satisfying than that.

Wherein you join me in the realization that David Tennant is the perfect man...

If you don't know who I'm talking about then feel free to remove my blog from your reader right now. We can never be friends. This is harsh? I don't even care. David Tennant. Oh David Tennant. You'd know him if you saw him. Oh you want to see him now? I'm happy to oblige.

Are you breathing normally again? I look at these pictures on a fairly regular basis (one of them might be the current background on my phone and the others are most definitely in my screen saver), so I'm fairly used to seeing his perfection, though I'm not immune to his charm. Not only does he have an incredibly darling Scottish accent, but he makes a brown pinstripe suit and Chuck Taylors look hotter than most men could ever hope to (excepting Zachary Levi, of course). How can you not love someone who, at the age of three, told his parents that he wanted to become an actor so he could play Doctor Who? Who, after playing the Doctor to perfection for three seasons, went on to play Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company and who (be still my heart) played Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost with the same company? Did you happen to know that Berowne's love letter to Rosaline is one of my very most favorite quotes? That's right. Chalk up a few more points for yourself, Mr. Tennant. 

He made nerdy glasses cool before hipsters did and frequently says things like, "Wibbly wobbly timey wimey" and "Brilliant!", taught me to properly pronounce the name of the planet Raxacoricofallapatorius and uses a sonic screwdriver. He can travel forward, backward, sideways... let's be honest, pretty much anyway in time and to top it all off, he has absolutely fantastic hair as well as having brown eyes and dimples. Perhaps you recognize the Fantastic Mr. Tennant from the Harry Potter films? Particularly... Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?  Why yes! He's Barty Crouch, Jr.! Personally, I think that he should have played Remus Lupin. A) Because Remus is supposed to be good looking and hi, he's lovely. 2) Remus has a much larger role, which equals more screen time for my darling David.  III) Aside from his good looks and his sheer awesomeness, he's a fantastic actor and could have pulled off the part perfectly. If he didn't scare the bejeezes out of you as Barty, then you're a nut. 

I know. He's pretty much the perfect man. Why do you think I've been taking my sweet time watching series two, three and four of Doctor Who?! I'm going to have a panic attack when he regenerates into Matt Smith. 

Send chocolate, I'm going to need it. 

Sometimes...(yup, it's back)

...I see other bloggers do "Sometimes" posts and I wonder if they got the idea from me. (What? I'm self-centered.)

...I don't write on my blog because I can't think of anything wildly entertaining to say. If you had friends who wrote blogs like this you'd be worried about this as well.

...I spend entirely too much time watching Doctor Who. Platt always gives me a hard time for it.

...I realize that Wal-Mart smells like a mix between dirty laundry, fried foods and too much cologne. These moments of clarity lead me to shop at Target.

...I stay up entirely too late looking at artwork on Etsy that is absolutely overpriced.

...my little bloggy gets neglected in favor of Rose and the Doctor. And Shawn and Gus. And murder mystery novels.

...it's not too bad that it didn't snow much this winter. No slipping on ice? Check. No worrying about whehter or not I got frostbite on my toes? Double check. How is this a bad thing?

...my sweet brother posts totally awesome versions of The Beatles "Blackbird" on my Facebook wall. (Did you know that it's my very favorite Beatles song? This is knowledge that is part of the quiz in the application to be my friend. I just gave you a free answer. You're welcome.)

...the urge to make cupcakes is too overwhelming to ignore. These are the days that I wish I had a roommate to help me eat them.

...the nerd in me comes out in uncontrollable spurts.

...the book piles around my bed get so high that I can't differentiate between the stacks of books that are 'to read', 'have already read but can't bear to have put in the book room in the basement', 'lend to friends' and 'catalog in LibraryThing'. It's a hard knock life.

...I judge other people based on their grammar.

Everything I Need to Know about Life I Learned from Buddy the Elf...

What? You really think that Buddy does't have some great life lessons to share? Here is where I prove you wrong, my dear friends. WRONG. Because, really, everything you need to know about life, you can learn from Buddy the Elf. 

*It's always appropriate to ask someone's favorite color when answering the phone.

*The yellow ones don't stop.

*When walking across a busy street at a crosswalk, one should step on the white lines only. The black spaces are poison.

*Passion fruit spray, while sounding like it might, does not, in fact, taste good. 

*Taking off your tights in the kitchen is never a good idea.

*To get to New York City from the North Pole, one must pass through the Seven Levels of the Candy Cane Forest, then the Sea of Swirly Twirly Gumdrops and eventually come out through the Lincoln Tunnel.

*Santa does not smell like beef and cheese.

*Syrup is a wonderful addition to any meal as well as being a great gift for that hard to buy for someone.

*The four main food groups are: candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup.

*Having an elf on your side during a snowball fight is always a good idea.

*Really ginormous toilets are cause for great excitement.

*When in doubt, add more paper snowflakes.

*All serious lists and messages are written on an Etch-a-Sketch.

*Also, Light Brights are an essential part of true Christmas decoration.

*Good pick-up lines include:

   -"Deb, you have such a pretty face you should be on a Christmas card."

   - "I think you're really beautiful and I feel really warm when I'm around you and my tongue swells up."

   - 

*Asking to pick snowberries when one is in the middle of an existential crisis will only get you a "Not now Artic Puffin!"

*Francisco is fun to say.

*Whispering is fun and smiling should always be your favorite.

*Always end the day with a snuggle or a tickle fight.

*Only 8 cookies fit in the VCR.

*South Pole elves are mean.

*Fingers can have heart beats.

And last but not least (now say it with me):

*The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

Top 10 Reasons I'm Sick of Being Sick...

Have you wondered where I've been? All two of you that actually check this blog looking for updates. I know  you've been concerned for my safety. I think I even heard whisperings of a search party being sent out on my behalf; but fear not, good readers, this blogger is alive and mostly well. That's right. I've got my second case of the plague in three short weeks. Since I love to make lists (and I'm bored stiff after spending 2 days in bed), here's a list of the top 10 reasons I know I'm sick of being sick.

10) I have spent approximately 10 hours pinning useless things on Pinterest. 

9) I actually went through a whole gallon of orange juice. (I hate orange juice).

8)I watched all of He's Just Not That Into You, not just the parts with Alex and Gigi like I (or any sane person) normally do.

7) I actually took 2 days off of work to stay in bed. 

6) I've been in bed before 10 pm for the last three nights.

5) I'm all caught up on every single TV show I watch and my DVR is completely clear.

4) I haven't cleaned my kitchen or vacuumed in three days.

3) I wore my pajamas to Noodles & Co. yesterday to get chicken noodle soup

2) I didn't even care when two overly quaffed, overly waxed and overly dressed guys pointed and laughed at my black and white snowflake pj pants and bright pink hoodie, which were paired with my brown slippers. Yup, I'm classy. 

and reason number #1 that I'm sick of being sick:

1) I actually watched an entire season of NCIS and now a little bit bored with Gibbs & Co. It's not their fault, you see. But when a girl only leaves the house twice in a couple of days, she starts to feel like she's trapped inside. And then she gets bored with even the most exciting things. 

So I beg of you, dear neglected readers, tell a girl something exciting.

(Also, I finally updated my quotes of the week. Be excited.)

Think of it as personality dialysis...

So I just took this fun little personality test... this is link. How's about you take it and then post your results so I can see?! Yes, yes, I love this plan. Now go, dear readers!! (Kudos to this cutie who gave me the link!)

Conscientious

You feel it's important to work according to a plan and finish every task, to do things correctly and thoroughly.

You are not the kind of person who abandons a project before finishing it, or slacks off when you've lost interest.

Aesthetic

You appreciate art, beauty, and design; you know that they are not superficial but absolutely crucial to living the good life. You have good taste, and you're proud of it. Those with a high score on the "aesthetic" trait are often employed in literary or artistic professions, enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about the arts, reading, and travel.

You don't think it's pretentious to be moved by art and beauty. You're not one of those who believe it doesn't matter what something looks like as long as it does its job.

Curious

You like to get to the bottom of things. You're not content knowing what someone did; you want to know why they did it.

You don't simply take things as they are and move on; you're not content skimming along on the surface; you don't feel you're wasting time by digging for the meaning of things.

Assertive

You behave in a confident and forceful manner, take charge of the situation, raise your hand in class, stand up for what you think is right, and lead others. Among those who have a high score on the "assertive" trait, many have jobs in which they are valued for their organizational skills as well as their talent for supervising others.

You are not interested in fading into the woodwork, leaving everything to fate, taking more time than necessary to accomplish a task, or avoiding confrontation.

Warm

You have a genuine interest in other people. You're a natural host, and are always thinking about how you can increase the happiness of those around you. When friends have problems or are in trouble, you're usually the first person they turn to for aid and comfort. Scoring high on the "warm" trait suggests that you are among those who enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about charitable work, helping others, and making the world a better place.

You don't always say exactly what you're thinking; you don't like the idea of causing anyone pain because of your criticism.

Responsible

You fulfill your obligations and responsibilities, are true to your word, and generally obey the rules. While the majority of those who have a high score on the "responsible" trait enjoy traveling, they are usually very happy to return home — and don’t mind staying put for a while.

You're opposed to making hasty decisions, you don't insist that you're above the rules, nor do you feel compelled to color outside the lines.

Focused

You know how to lock in on what's important. You quickly prepare yourself for a task, you don't procrastinate, and you don't let up until the job is done to your satisfaction.

You are the opposite of scattered. You don't procrastinate before starting a task, and you almost never lose track of what you're doing.

Organized

You like to think a task through before you embark on it. If it's the slightest bit complicated, you make a list (even if it's only in your mind) and methodically work your way through it. When you have a goal in mind, you're not satisfied until you reach it.

You are not one of those people who ignore the details, and you don't understand how anyone can get anything accomplished without thoughtful planning ahead of time.

Optimistic

You are a "glass half-full" kind of person, always on the lookout for the silver lining. Your happiness is contagious, which is why others like to be around you.

You do not feel that the world is an intrinsically depressing place; you are not the kind of "realist" who thinks that only fools find joy in life.

Introspective

You like your own company; you're a very interesting person. Tracking your own mental processes, knowing what you're thinking and why you do what you do, is important to you. Often, what's going on in your mind is more compelling than what's going on outside. For the most part, those with a high score on the "introspective" trait enjoy reading, taking long walks, learning new things, and other solitary activities.

You are not someone who is constantly looking to be among a group of friends; you never feel bored when you are by yourself.

By way of an update....

I am currently ignoring a huge pile of laundry. Clean laundry, mind you. I love clean laundry. It's sitting in a massive pile next to me on my recently vacuumed floor while I half pay attention to the first season of Castle (which I'm watching for the millionth time) while I casually eat Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia FroYo. And yes, I am picking out the chocolate fudge flakes. What is that look for? If you know me at all, you know that I always pick the chocolate chunks out of any ice cream (fine fine fine, froyo) that I eat. Where am I going with this? To be perfectly honest, no where. As I sit in my mostly clean bedroom, surrounded by lovely clean clothes, I have come to the realization that I'm pretty darn content with my life. When it comes down to it, who am I to complain? Sure, I could give you a long list of the things that aren't great in my life (please reference the opening lines of "Holding Out for a Hero" and take a gander at these pictures for two things that are pretty darn close to the top of the list). But why, may I ask, should I waste time being unhappy about things I have no control over? Remember the Roald Dahl book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"? Sidebar: Before you say anything, yes, I am totally pulling this from this talk, but whether you're Mormon or not, the concept completely applies to you, so don't stop reading. Remember how Willy Wonka, the crazy, slightly unhinged candy maker, hides five golden tickets in some of his candy bars and then announces to the world that whomever finds these special tickets wins not only a private tour of his factory, but a lifetime supply of chocolate? Written on each ticket is an identical message: "Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket! Tremendous things are in store for you! Many wonderful surprises will delight, astonish and perplex you." In the book, (in the off chance that you haven't read it [shame on you] or seen either of the movies) people all over the world become obsessed with finding the Golden Tickets, buying up all the Wonka chocolate they can find, placing their future happiness on a game of chance. When the ticket is not to be found in their particular candy bar, the joy of the treat (and trust me, there is definitely joy in chocolate) is completely lost. The candy bar itself becomes a complete disappointment without the addition of the Golden Ticket. I think that so often we get fixated on our own "golden tickets" and forget the simple joy of the chocolate. Well, at least I do. There are so many things that I want to accomplish in my life. So many plans and goals. More often than I would like to admit, I get bogged down in how far out of my control some of my plans are that I forget to enjoy the "chocolate"; my friends, my job, my family, the incredible opportunities that I'm given on a regular basis. What, my dear readers, is the point of all this particular ramble? Simple: every now and then stop and enjoy the chocolate. You'll never be sorry that you did.

Something wonderful...

Alright. I still stink as a blogger. But I'm going to make it up to you by having you read this. If you've read this blog for very long, you know that I adore Meg. She's fantatic and wonderful and amazing and I simply love her.  (I was so lucky as to get to have lunch with her last summer when she was living in Utah. Be jealous.) Anyway, because I'm a horrible blogger, I give you the words of an incredible one to make up for it. Forgive me?

M

A passion for dead leaves...

(Hey y'all, do me a favor and vote in my poll. I promise to send positive energy and lovely thoughts your way for each vote..)

If I could pick a season in which to live perpetually, it would be fall. I love everything about fall. I love the golden colors the sun creates as it filters through red, orange and yellow leaves. I love the tangy smell in the air when I wake up in the morning. (Have you ever noticed that each season has a smell? Well, it does. Let me enlighten you: spring smells clean, like wet dirt and freshly cut flowers. Summer smells warm, like newly cut grass and sun dried pavement. Fall smells tangy, like fallen leaves blown off the trees by the wind. Winter smells crisp, like falling snow on a quiet evening . Aren't you so glad that I called your attention to this? Thank me later.)  I love the little bit of bite the air has to it. I love driving with my windows down and not melting in the kind of heat that can only have been created by Hades. (I know. It's not as bad as Texas or Arizona. That's why I don't live in those places. If I think Utah is too hot, imagine how miserable I'd be some place else.) I love any excuse to wear a chunky sweater and tights. I love boots. I love the feeling and sound of the crunchy brown leaves under my feet as I walk down the tree-lined streets of my little neighborhood. I know plenty of people like fall, but this complete passion and adoration for all things autumnal has been around as far back as my excellent memory takes me. I remember waking up in the morning during kindergarten and being unreasonably excited to walk to school. Not because I particularly cared for the walk, but because it gave me an excuse to traipse through large piles of leaves and take long deep breaths of that lovely tangy air. Yup, I was that kid. And you know what? I'm glad I haven't grown out of it.

Advice from The Bird Woman...

(Have you ever read A Girl of the Limberlost? NO?! Oh the tragedy! Run, don't walk, to the library and find a copy. It's pure charm and wonderfulness. No, really. I swear to you. I'll forever be grateful that Shayla let me borrow her copy when I was about 13. This quote comes from one of my favorite characters, the Bird Woman. You'll just have to indulge in a little of the wonderfulness of the book to really discover who she is. I must add a special shout out to Amazon for reuniting me with this long lost love. Reunited and it feels so good. Yup, I went there.)

"What you are lies with you. If you are lazy, an accept your lot, you may live it. If you are willing to work, you can write your name anywhere you choose, among the only ones who live beyond the grave in this world, the people who write books that help, make exquisite music, carve statues, paint pictures and work for others. Never mind the calico dress, and the coarse shoes...before long you will hear yesterday's tormentors boasting that they were once classmates of yours."

Gene Stratton-Porter A Girl of the Limberlost  pg. 27

A walk...

Let it be known in the 'Verse that I'm not an outdoorsy girl. I don't do bugs. I don't do lots of dirt. I don't do small animals running around near me. And I most definitely don't do no showers. Call me a girly girl if you must. Call  me prissy. I'll own up to it. I am, however, a outsidesy girl. I like walks. I like sunshine. I like swing sets. I like rain. I like flowers. I like wind in the trees. And I like that I get to walk back into my clean house with a ready shower. It's a win-win, really. Tonight I decided to go on a walk.

As a rule, I kind of hate summer. It's too hot. I dislike feeling as though I'm melting every second that I'm outside of my air conditioned house/car. Today had been a slightly stressful day. I had my fourth (yes, you read that right, fourth) interview for the same job up at the U. I mean, I get four interviews for the CIA, FBI, NSA or any other three letter organization. But really? Anyway, I decided that I needed a walk.

I chose Taylor Swift as the soundtrack for my little journey. Now put your astonished face away. I know I always go on and on about how much I hate country music, but Taylor, she speaks to me. So in my ears the headphones went and my little feets got to walking. I came to a conclusion: I either need a dog (I don't do animals, so this is big deal) or a boyfriend, because people looked at me funny as I bee-bopped down 8th East by my lonesome. That might have been because at one point I could not contain those feets of mine any longer and I started dancing. That's right, dancing. This shouldn't surprise you. Oh, you in the back? Thank you for asking. It was ballet. A few twirls and leaps never hurt anyone. Just after my display, I found a swing set. Which meant that I had to swing. It was an absolute necessity.

Yup. I took pictures of those feets of mine while I was swinging. Hence the blurry pictures. And it was only my cell phone camera. I'm not a big deal and I don't have an expensive camera. It was delightful. I had forgotten how much I love to swing. There's a type of freedom that comes from swinging. It throws me back to being a little kid. Even now, if I close my eyes, the whole world is open to me and I could be swinging off to anywhere. But it makes me dizzy, so closing my eyes isn't a good idea. Plus, I can't take blurry photos for your enjoyment with my peepers closed. So I did the swingings for a bit and then continued my mini-journey. And you know what? The sunlight coming through the trees right about sunset is magical. There isn't an expensive camera in the world that could properly capture it. I'm pretty sure that it could cure cancer or bring world peace. I felt perfectly content with life, even though there are plenty of things that I wish I could change, things that are out of my control entirely. But with that sunlight streaming through the trees? I could do anything. I could work miracles. So, dear readers, what is the moral of this post, you ask? Well simple: Go on a walk. 

Capri Suns, boom boxes, Boy Meets World, Yikes! erasers....

I'm a 90s kid. I read the Babysitter's Club (and tried to start my own version, don't you little worry). I idolized Punky Brewster. I wore white platform tennis shoes with my over-sized overalls. I was in love with Cory Matthews. I know every word to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song. I desperately wanted a Trapper Keeper to hold my Lisa Frank folders. I drank Capri Suns like they were going out of style, the Wild Cherry was, is and always will be the best flavor. I learned that there were 9 planets in our solar system. I realize that I'm dating myself here, but what's a girl to do? Yesterday my mom brought a bunch of boxes up to my house which contained all of my childhood memories (elementary school to high school). It was Mallorie in a Box... okay, well like 4 boxes. My living room looked like an episode of Hoarders for a good three hours as I sorted through my life thus far. And if you know me, you know that I need a soundtrack to just about everything. Lucky for me, I have some help coming up with this one. There's this website called Turntable that allows you to play DJ with all your friends. And my co-worker decided that today was 90s day. How fitting! So without further ado....

Mallorie's Totally Awesome Ridiculously Cool and Completely Rockin' 90s Playlist:
Surgeon Generals' Warning: Extreme flashbacks, desires to act like an angst ridden teenager and permanent fixation of said songs in your head may accompany reading of/listening to this playlist. These emotional and mental conditions are not permanent or detrimental to your health. You have been fairly warned.

I Saw the Sign-Ace of Base
Waterfalls--TLC
Sunday Morning--No Doubt
Truly, Madly, Deeply--Savage Garden
Semi-Charmed Life--Third Eye Blind
She--Green Day
Bad Habit (edited)--The Offspring
Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana
Loser--Beck
Never There--Cake
Black Hole Sun-- Soundgarden
Buddy Holly--Weezer
If You Could Only See--Tonic
3 AM--Matchbox 20
One Headlight--The Wallflowers
Mr. Jones-- Counting Crows
Losing My Religion --REM
Tonight-- Smashing Pumpkins
Torn--Natalie Imbruglia
Breathless--The Corrs
Bittersweet Symphony--The Verve
Zombies--The Cranberries
With or Without You--U2
Blind-- Hootie and the Blowfish

Join me in the '90s, my friends. Pluto misses you.