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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Blog #135: yesterday

Sometimes traffic jams send me into a level of rage inappropriate for the minor inconvenience they really are. Yesterday there was an accident at a key juncture of my typically incident free commute home and rather than getting riled up at the feeling of being trapped and tired, I took the opportunity to enjoy the glory days of music (including but not limited to some Salt n Peppa and Sir Mixalot action)

Friday, July 20, 2012

Blog #134: Wherein I get a little serious.

I don't typically post opinions I have on topics that are considered controversial, for many reasons. One, I'm of the belief that strong statements in support of any side of an issue (especially if the issue is divisive) in a public forum should be backed with sound resources supporting them. Otherwise they are just more noise. I would prefer not to add to an already noisy internet, but I often tend to lack the follow through necessary to really put forth the time to get something meaningful and eloquent written. So, my opinion gets kept to myself or shared in discussions with those close to me.

Another reason is that I often don't feel convicted enough about something to devote a whole entry in my already sporadically updated blog just to rail about how the world needs more of this and less of that. I try to keep it mostly pretty fun around here. Plus, I don't know if I have it in me not to take opposing commentary personally. Especially if it's done the way most people disagree on the internet these days. You guys, my skin is just not that thick. So, since I can't take the heat, as they say, I pretty much stay out of that kitchen.

In fact,  I often keep myself from even making a spelling correction online just to avoid the backlash. The other day I read one of my favorite blogs, and she had asked her readers which movies made them cry. After about 8 commenters mentioned how various movies had them "balling" I myself had to BALL UP in a corner to physically restrain myself from an all caps tirade: "BAWL. TO CRY LIKE A BABY IS TO BAWL. YOU ARE BAWLING NOT BALLING. STOP IT." But alas, I held myself back.

However.

There is one thing that I feel very strongly about that doesn't need sources, or even much of an explanation. It shouldn't even need to be said and yet here we are. It has nothing to do with spelling or grammar (though, I still believe that the internet needs some help with that.). No, this is just me, making a plea for common decency, that will fall, I'm sure, on deaf ears.

The stories in the news and on the internet lately have been intense this week.But it's the commentary added to the links being shared on Facebook, the reactions in the comment section of the articles, and the overall attitude surrounding the way differing opinions are treated that has me troubled for humanity. And whether or not you believe that 2 men who want to be able to eat chicken sandwiches together for the rest of their lives should be able to teach a group of boys to tie knots and sell popcorn at Christmas time is irrelevant.

Can we all just take a minute and remember that even people who disagree with us are PEOPLE (unless they are Raiders fans.*) ? As in, actual human beings who, regardless of the way they feel about waffle fries and merit badges, are probably basically decent people (Unless they are Raiders fans*)? Can we remember that the issues we're disagreeing about are also about human beings? Not animals or monsters or aliens... but people who have feelings, dreams, hopes, and also are probably pretty decent for the most part? Because, the fact is, people aren't created or developed in a vacuum. A little bit of empathy, even in disagreement, to at the very least realize how someone got to an opinion (even an opinion you find abhorrent) goes a lot further in facilitating change than a personal attack ever will. I didn't totally mean to get on this soap box, and maybe I just need to take a break from reading articles about these topics (or at least from reading the comments sections) but I am equal parts fascinated and horrified at the way we choose to interact with one another. Maybe we should all just take a break from serious things on the internet until we can learn to respectfully disagree.

And for what it's worth, I believe it's none of my business WHO you want to eat chicken sandwiches with.

Thanks for reading. Now let's all have some margaritas and chill out.




*JK about the Raiders thing you guys. But seriously.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Blog #133: Pardon the Thigh Shot

But these bruises are just ridiculous. You may wonder, "Marissa, what monster have you been fighting so fiercely with that you should have such discolorations all over your legs?" To which I would reply, "THE BOXES! All the boxes!"

See, I moved apartments over the weekend. It wasn't too major of a life event because I stayed in the same complex but I still had to load and carry boxes. These particular bruises are the fault of my arms because I have zero upper body strength. When I want to lift an exceptionally heavy box I have to bump it with my leg to get the proper oomph factor. Of course, I bruise like a peach so the oomphs have added up and left me looking like a tough guy. I'm going with it.

While it's not a huge move in regard to distance, the new location/layout of my apartment has me a little disoriented. Pre-caffeine this morning in the shower I almost shampooed my hair with spring fresh body wash. That might also have been due to the adrenaline from dealing with the spider in my shower first thing in the morning but either way. Disorientation.

Come to think of it, my brain has been on the fritz for the past two weeks as far as forgetfulness goes in a variety of ways that are both like me in scatteredness but unlike me in frequency. I might need an X Ray.

Until then I'm just going to chalk it up to too much stuff going on up in there. Much like my room.

P.S. My new roommate has a dog so I guess I have 2 new roommates. Meet Jake. He is very handsome and while he seems to have a little separation anxiety, he's a good dog. We're going to be friends.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Blog #132: introduction.

Meet Boyfriend. We were going to grill out at Smithville Lake and fish tonight. He forgot the grill when we left. So we came back and we're patio grilling instead. This can count as another "non problem problem." oooh my boyfriend has to grill for me on a patio in his condo instead of taking me to the lake. My life is soooooo tragic."

He's okay.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Blog #131: Non Problem Problems.

Ugh. My life is so hard. Every time I try to be cost efficient and buy the Dove brand dry shampoo for $4 instead of my favorite splurge, the $15 Big Sexy Hair version, I end up regretting it. Why? Because I pay $4 for like one use because the sprayer always malfunctions before I can use up the whole bottle. I think I've probably purchased at least 4 Dove versions that have lost their spraying ability within the first 3 uses. I realize that ultimately I end up paying more for the Dove than for the perfectly functional yet more expensive Very Sexy brand but when I am in the moment at the store and I see $4 vs $15 I FREEZE. And I clearly continue to make the wrong choice.

And another thing! I had recently fallen in love with/been singing the praises of Benefit's "They're Real" mascara and while I still believe that it is truly wonderful, it's $18 a tube. Just the other day at Target I got myself some Maybelline "Falsies" mascara for $6 AND IT WORKS JUST AS WELL. JUST AS WELL!!! I feel like someone has been tricking me. But this revelation doesn't keep me from pining over the Urban Decay "Naked" eyeshadow palette ($50) because I have a problem.

How do I even get by??? Just Friday  as I was getting home from my flexible and gainful employment (late because I spent extra time hanging out with my boss and drinking in his office), there were no spots in the area closest to my consistent and safe apartment! I had to park like an extra 20 feet away. It was so annoying.

And I have TOO MANY CLOTHES AND SHOES. I have to pack and switch apartments this week and it's sooooo daunting. And whenever I gain weight it goes straight to my boobs making my clothes look funny and completely changing my shape so the 6ish extra pounds I'm carrying at the moment are making it seem like I don't have any clothes when I really have way too many.

Wanna punch me yet?

(Everything is a joke. Calm down.)

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Blog #130: I might be a communist.

This 4th of July came and went and I did exactly none of these things:

Wear patriotic colors
Watch fireworks
Say the pledge of allegiance
Sing the national anthem or God bless America
Go to a cookout
Wave an American flag
Hold a sparkler
Lay out by a pool
Go to a lake
Eat corn on the cob
Sit around a camp fire
Wear a cowboy hat/boots


These are the things I did do:

Got up early for work at my 2nd job
Read a book about attachment
Played "Proud To Be an American" by lee Greenwood via YouTube.
Listened to country music
Cooked brats for myself on my George Foreman.
Drank some Boulevard Wheats
Ate some grocery store deviled eggs
Hated myself for not realizing what a great opportunity the holiday would have been to finally play the True American drinking game from New Girl.
Missed New Girl.
Went to bed early.

So I'm probably a communist. But at least I didn't run off to Canada for the holiday like SOME people I know.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Blog #129: The latest ZBB album is streaming for free on iTunes today.

So that's what's in my ears. Over and over. Hopefully it will stream free all week until I can get it for myself when it officially comes out next week because I think I've developed a dependence. Sheer brilliance.

Other recent-ish releases you should be hearing:
Regina Spektor - What We Saw From the Cheap Seats
Metric - Synthetica
A Silent Film - Sand & Snow


It's too hot for me to entertain anything but straight up country music in my ears right now... So ZBB it is. (am I the only one that can't get enough country music during the hot summer months?)