Icky Flashback

Today I actually did a little basic stitching which was surprisingly successful, considering that I couldn't really remember the proper way to tie the knots with needle and thread. I don't even know if that was the proper terminology. Anyway, it reminded me of another man from my past. We'll call him John. We went out once, maybe twice. during my first month of college. He was not bad looking and an excellent violinist. The relationship didn't go anywhere, but we remained friends. Several months later, we were having lunch together in the Dining Center and he asked me if I knew how to sew on buttons. Then he proceeded to ask me if he would sew on some of his shirt buttons that had fallen off for him. Ew, ew, ew.

Later on that year, he went on and on in praise about some girl who found his laundry in a dryer that she wanted to use, so she took out his clothes and folded them for him. Ew, ew, EW!

I have never regretted not dating him extensively.

I like to take this day—any day—and go to town with it.
--James Dickey

I know it's just another one of my "live life to the fullest" type quotes, but I just love the"go to town with it."

Abstract Concept Stores

I've shopped in boutiques for so long that I am at a bewildered loss when I try to shop at a department store. There's no problem as long as I'm looking for cosmetics, handbags, or shoes. But trying to find some sort of clothing is another tale. Since when are departments called Individuality or Sophistication or other similarly abstract concepts? Truthfully, I'm all for creativity. I don't mind the crazy color names (Passionate Plum, anyone?) or the ever changing PC renaming of everything. But really, what if I want a raincoat that is both sophisticated and representative of my individuality?

Thankful for the Ordinary

In the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, my family feels very fortunate that my parents' house escaped any damage.

My mother commented on how interesting it was for her to talk to me and my brother in California about our lives which were carrying on as normal, while she and my dad were preparing for the storm.

No one should live in a bubble, completely unaware of the hardships in the world, but there is something to be said about enjoying the ordinary.

It's not the women....

I am currently part of a sales team that usually has a lot of fun together. A few of us have been together for many years. In the past year or so, our staff has nearly doubled in size and our sales numbers have followed accordingly. It's great, but it's interesting to observe the slight change in dynamics. The sense of easy cooperation is shifting and the competition, albeit friendly, is thick in the air. We have some very talented sales reps with very different styles and very strong personalities which inevitably leads to some misunderstanding. Add in a Bulldog (that was an actual nickname that we gave her) of an A/R girl and emotions are running high... Rumor has it that two of the guys (both over 6 ft tall and NOT small) were cat fighting today.....

ReeeOW.

Inside the Party

Parties, especially one where I get to meet a lot of new people give me such a rush. I went to a really fun party last night, sponsored by one of our clients. It was at the Frisco Baseball Stadium in the Founders Club Dining Room which is a really great venue that I never knew about. There wasn't a game so they had a slideshow of photos from a digital camera showing their employees and some of the guests down on the field, not on the jumbotron (sp?), but where the sponsors names are shown in front of the bleachers. (I don't know what you call it). The first thing I asked the hosts, of course, was why my picture wasn't up there. They promised next time. Maybe they can get the jumbotron next time...

The party had all the typical elements of attending a social event alone as a single, outgoing girl. I prefer to attend parties and social events alone. Generally, I have more fun when I am free to mingle without a date. Of course this comes with the usual guest reactions.:

The Straightforwards
These guests are usually well-intentioned men. Last night, the main host said to my boss, "I kept asking her if she was going to bring someone and she just kept telling me no." To which I honestly replied, "I don't like bringing people to parties." Another man came up and just asked me flat out, "So since you're here alone, does that mean you don't have another half?" Again, I honestly replied, "I'm a whole." I don't really mind people asking me these questions, but I find it puzzling that my being alone there so deeply bothers them. "But you're so pretty and outgoing..." Uh, and that means whaaat?

Married Matchmakers
I never really know if they just feel the need to match all singles in their life together or if they just really like me. Most of the time, the best response is a polite "no, thank you." Last night, I was having a really great time with them and they seemed to really like talking about this fantastic man they had in mind for me, so I just kept veering the conversation to other topics.

Territorial Women
Lastly, are the girls who are there with their significant others and treat me like a potential man-stealer. Here is what I have to say about them: puh-leeeeeeeeeze.

I can handle the starightforwards and the married matchmaker. And thankfully, for every territorial woman, there are at least 2 other women who are with their signifcant others, but cool with me. Nothing can ruin a great party for this girl!!

Amen Sister!

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.
--Mary Schmich

Reason #1 to Choose Your Confidantes Wisely...very wisely

Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.
--Benjamin Franklin

Maybe, just maybe...

...my dad was (is) right in his assertion that anybody can learn to do anything if he/she really has a desire and willingness to try. As optimistic as I am, I always took this with a grain of salt because, come on... I learned soon enough in my short life that some of these "anythings" remain beyond my grasp.... time after time.

However, I suprised myself when I purchased Tivo about 4 months ago. Just the thought of figuring out how to hook up the tv, Tivo, Cable, telephone, etc. was already making me hyperventilate. As I took my Tivo out of its box with all its cables, I told myself to calm down and take deep breaths.... Surprise! I was able to hook it up to all my equipment in one try. So this past weekend, I bought what they call a "Master Video Switching Center." My TV is at least 20 years old (bless her little heart) and only has one output (input?) thingie in the back so new device was the only way I'd be able to hook up my DVD player and my Tivo to the TV at the same time. And guess what? Yup, I'm now happily able to switch between my DVD and TV once again.

Father knows best!

What? Rain?

My ticket to London is now officially purchased and I plan to spend lots of the long weekend coming up, poring over my new book/travel guide, Top 10 London.

I guess I have to get a raincoat. I haven't worn a raincoat in at least 5 years. I'm so lost...

Looking to Help?

A coworker of mine plans to spend the weekend collecting clothes, toiletries, every day items, etc. to take to the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Dallas which is helping to house victims of Katrina. She told me that they have set up one of their meeting rooms with donated clothes. They are sorting them and hanging them up. If there's one thing I have to give, it's extra clothes. I came home for lunch and spent about 15 minutes bagging clothes to give.

My mom who lives in the Houston area went grocery shopping and found out that you can buy groceries and designate them to be given to help the victims. She didn't have to deliver them herself either. The store takes care of it.

Just a couple of small, practical ways to help...

True Valuables

There is no wealth but life
--John Ruskin

Normally, I would love this quote because I love to really live to the fullest. But right now, it makes me think of Hurricane Katrina and how this quote takes on an entirely different meaning to her victims.

Living life to the fullest without so many of your material belongings...a sobering thought. To me, it's a reminder that resilience and hope are far more valuable.

Sartorial Experiment

10 minutes to get out the door, my bed is piled with clothes.

Outfit after outfit, but I'm just not feeling any of them.

And I haven't even started with acessories or shoes.

A familiar morning dilemma.

Tonight, I decided to figure it all out before I go to bed so that I can just slip it on in the morning. I've always avoided that because I have to create the ensemble based on how I feel that morning. But I'm really trying to be more punctual in the morning.

We'll see how this goes....

Nawlins

I fell in love with New Orleans when I was in high school. Armed with my mother's (longtime New Orleans fan) lavish descriptions of the French Quarter, the one-of-a-kind cusine and cajun culture, I was not disappointed with my first trip to the city with so much soul and flavor. I went with my high school orchestra. Unfortunately, we were forbidden to set foot on or near Bourbon Street. Of courseI did.... how could I go all the way there and not? Not only was I just as enamored with everything my mom told me about, but I fell even more in love with jazz. I loved jazz, but hearing jazz where jazz was born..... Life changing.

When I returned as an adult, I had a completely different, but equally scintillating experience. Thankfully, I could spend as much time as I wanted on Bourbon Street and I still say that the finest music and musicians I have ever witnessed happens on about one or two blocks of New Orleans after dark. Unbelievable.

Every city has its own personality, but New Orleans is truly one of a kind in its architecture, culture and spirit of life. You feel it as soon as you're there. It's so much more than just Mardis Gras.

It's hard to believe what's happening to it now. Unspeakable tragedy. But even if some of the appearances change, I believe that the soul of the city will never be destroyed. The people and music will go on.

You may find this 20-something in an unlikely section of your local bookstore

Growing up, my mother always made me check out one non-fiction read per library trip. Which roughly translated into one non-fiction book per 15 fiction books. She wanted me to "learn something." I don't regret that, but it took me years to convince her that fiction taught me more about human nature than anything else could have.

I don't read novels nearly as much as I did when I was younger, but I still love children and young adult fiction. I've been especially into the young adult fiction recently, maybe because I remember being a teenager and the delicious first taste of independent thought and self discovery.

I'm not sure what I like better... a novel that makes me say, "How did she get into my head and my life?" or one that makes me say, "Oooooh...so that's what it's like to be someone like that..." I just read one that fits the latter description.... Sarah Dessen's Dreamland (young adult). Trying to summarize it in this short blog post would trivialize the delicate complexity of the subject matter, so I won't. Sometimes you read something that means more because of things in your life at the moment. Maybe that's why I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it last weekend.

Everyone should read teen fiction.

Happiness Anonymous

People like to assume that "happily ever after" is the same for me as it is for them. First of all, "happily ever after" is an ever evolving concept and second of all, I happen to be very happy right now. I am not and never have been waiting for anything to happen to make me happy. I expect to be happy whether my future unfolds conventionally or not. I'm not saying it's for everyone and people can believe it or not, but that's the truth and it makes me happy. :-)

Friendship is a Choice

When I was in elementary school, I had a friend, let's call her Gina, who caused a lot of stress in my life. When things were good, I liked her a lot and we had a great time. But when she was ultra-competitive, posessive and jealous, or saying, "Well, my mom says..," I would get a stomachache and lose sleep. I was the girl who was nice to everyone and I hadn't learned yet how to set my personal limits in a friendship.

One summer, after some time away from her, I finally resolved to tell her that I couldn't hang out with her anymore. Interestingly enough, the next time she called, it was to tell me that she would be attending a different school the next year. She was sad, but I was relieved. While I didn't have the opportunity to actually initiate the "break up" myself, after that, I never had any problems knowing when to distance myself from even a well-intentioned friend and I never thought twice about doing it.

I really think that is why I've always been blessed with wonderful, positive friends who inspire me and lift me up, not bring unecessary drama to my life. It's 5% luck and 95% choice.

I have wonderful friends!

bebe Me's Celebrity Lists

Three Most Beautiful Females

• Faith Hill
• Michelle Pfeiffer
• Jessica Simpson

Two Most De-LISH Men

• Jason Lewis (in Sex and the City. I saw some Hugo Boss model shots...not quite as de-lish)
• Josh Lucas (in Sweet Home Alabama)

Celebrities I'd Most Want to Meet

• Amy Brenneman because she's exceptionally smart and interesting and I can't get enough of Judging Amy
• Ellen Degeneres because, well, who doesn't want to meet her? She loves to dance, she loves pop culture, she loves animal rescue and she's not mean spirited.

Celebrites I Was Born To Be

• Britney Spears, of course! (only when she's on stage performing...let's make that very clear)
• Any of the Dixie Chicks (again...on stage)

Fun Facts About a Couple of the Men in my Past

Within the last 3 months, I've found out the latest on 2 men I used to date:

• WLSH lost his job and his company and almost lost his wife, house and all of his possessions as a result of a nasty cocaine habit.
• NM is a recent law school graduate.

Nobody can tell me I only date one type of man.

*Initials are not their real initials, but are quite possibly representative of my "affectionate" ephitets*

As a girl who values freedom in every sense of the word, perhaps above anything else, may I never forget...

Responsibility is the price of freedom.

--Elbert Hubbard