No Need to Call the Police, I'm Safe

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that I am neither dead nor in danger, nor have I forgotten you. I returned from Houston on Sunday evening, with every intention of updating you as soon as possible with the story about how the airline screwed up my flight. Unfortunately, I forgotten about the small issue wherein my laptop doesn't actually turn on or do anything right now. No problem, you might be thinking, you can just update at work, where you have access to the internet and you never do anything worthwhile anyway, right? Trust me, I had the same thought, but it turns out we've been working against a pretty tight deadline, and so I was actually productive at an unprecedented level this week. Add to that the fact that I've been spending my evenings preparing to move this weekend, and you have me here in my current situation: sitting in my office at 10:30 on a Thursday night, updating my blog for the first time in what must certainly be a decade.

NaBloPoMo indeed, am I right?

Oh well. At least now you can rest easy and stop bothering Scotland Yard about my whereabouts. Sherlock Holmes has more important things to do anyway, you know.

Skulking Back

Oh, I'm so ashamed.

I really just up and disappeared there, huh? There, there, now. Don't be upset. If it's any consolation, I was out having a wonderful time, enjoying the last bit of summer. I visited New York and Philadelphia and San Diego. I took pictures. I took naps.

But I didn't blog, and for that I feel terrible. I can't even promise you that it'll get much better! I'd like to post photos and reminiscences from my travels and adventures, but I'm not sure if I will. School is starting next week and I'm 95% sure it's going to kill me this time. I spent the first two weeks of August hanging out with Lee, getting used to having him around as a real person again rather than just as a voice on the phone. And then of course he left, and now I've got to go back to school, so I'm in a bit of funk.

BUT. I love you all still. And I felt that if I didn't post something, even if it was the most pathetic post ever (as this is) then I might slink off into guilt-induced obscurity forever and ever. So. Here's hoping this does the trick.

XOXO,
Me.

The Universe Is Conspiring Against Me, But I'm Famous Anyway

Last Christmas, I requested and got a pretty silver necklace. It's very simple, it's just a circular charm with the word 'TRUST' stamped on it. (I'd include a picture, but I'm currently at... a place where I don't have access to my stuff.) I wanted it because I needed a new necklace and because I thought it would serve as a helpful reminder to, you know, trust. Both in myself and in other people.

I've been satisfied with it, except for the fact that I broke the chain. So I replaced the chain. Then I broke it again. And that's where we are now.

Try as I might, I am unable to think of a way to interpret this series of events that doesn't seem like a terrible omen. I'm all, "I'm going to be more trusting!" and the universe is all, "Oh hell no!"

MEANWHILE, back at the ranch...

I got a comment the other day from a lovely young lady named Valérie. She has her own blog called En Quête D' Inspiration, and also contributes to a blog called What the Ladies Say, where 20-something women from around the world write about their perspectives on self-improvement and personal development and other things that psychology majors like myself enjoy. Anyway, Valérie read and liked this post of mine, and asked my permission to reprint (re-post?) it on What the Ladies Say. So, if you'd like to go look at me being Super Internet Famous, you can see that, and Valérie's comments on my post here.

And if none of those links do anything for you, may I suggest: You Suck At Craigslist.

Oh, By The Way

I don't know if anyone was wondering about it, but I've decided to give the blog a break from the goal-setting this month. I've still set myself a couple of goals for May, but they're not really blog-able, exactly, and plus I'm worn out from all the gratitude posts last month.

And just so you know, that goal I had of getting up at 7:30 every day and trying to change my lazy ways? Yeah. Not so successful. I mean, I'm kind of getting up earlier? But not really. And not at 7:30, necessarily. Sigh.

But hey, I totally knocked that gratitude thing out of the park, huh?

A Note From the Editor

I don't necessarily think this needs pointing out, but since my mom (my mom!) sort of raised her eyebrows at my previous post, let me say this right quick:

The previous post was meant first and foremost to be a light-hearted rant on a subject that I find to be both amusing and slightly infuriating. It is about the crazy things that religious beliefs and/or love can make one do, in spite of the fact that there may be no logical explanation for your behavior. It is also about the hilarious new definition of 'saddlebacking.' It is my sincere hope that no one was offended, or took it to reflect negatively on my character, which I assure you is stellar.

Also, have you lost weight?

P.S. Sorry posting has been light lately, I've been pretty busy with the grad-school-applying and work. Don't worry, though - only one more grad school application to go!

Now. You may resume your regularly scheduled internet browsing.

Back From the Big City

First things first: it has come to my attention that my previous black market blog template might have been preventing people from commenting, so I have reverted to one of the Blogger-approved models. I expect you to take advantage of the newly-restored commenting capabilities ASAP.

Also, I'm back from my visit to Philly! It was a really awesome time, I have to say. It's always nice to spend some time with one of your bosom buddies, the kind that you know you can count on, the ones that will always be there for you and love you no matter what and will hardly bat an eyelash when you spontaneously start sharing about your sex life in the middle of a Philadelphia Barnes & Noble.

So, highlights of my trip included our whirlwind diversion to NYC, as well as the Philadelphia Art Museum. Disappointments include the fact that I forgot to eat a cheesesteak at any point during my trip, and also the fact that I didn't see Nicolas Cage even once. Being a southerner from a relatively small town, my favorite pasttime while in Philly was to find differences between here and there and exclaim, "Well! The things you learn in the big city!"

I have a fair amount of pictures but I don't have access to them right now, since I may or may not be writing this at work, so those will have to wait until a subsequent post. But here are some memorable moments that I can share without the aid of pictures...

There was the moment I had on Saturday night, standing around Le Poisson Rouge (the club we went to), holding a $7 beer in my hand and secure in the knowledge that my coat was being given the best supervision that $4 can buy, when I looked around and realized that I had found something really special. Surrounded by casually-dressed hipsters dancing ridiculously to the musical stylings of Max Tundra, it hit me that "going out" doesn't have to be so stressful. It doesn't have to be an endless train of concerns like, "Am I dressed nicely enough? Am I overdressed? Are these shoes comfortable enough to dance in?" And then once you get there it's all, "Is my dancing silly? Am I dancing enough? Am I sweaty right now? What does my hair look like?" (This can't just be me, can it?) Instead, you can go to a place where it's ok to wear your ever-loving SNEAKERS and where the music is so off-the-wall that any way you dance seems perfectly appropriate. I'm just here to spread the gospel, people. This is the way of the future.

Another perfect moment was when, after walking all weekend through snow and ice, rigidly afraid that I was going to fall and break something important, I finally slipped on some ice in the middle of the street. Luckily, I caught myself, stayed upright, and looked super awesome and agile (in my head). Afterward, Kellie shamefacedly confessed, "When you started to fall, instead of reaching to catch you, I moved to get out of your way so you wouldn't bring me down, too. ... I would have helped you up if you had fallen, though." Maybe I should rethink all that stuff I said up there about friends that will always be there for you.

Here is where I remind you that Kellie and I both have what scientists refer to as "birthing hips" or "thick asses." This will be important in the next paragraph.

The third and final great moment that I will share today took place in the art museum, where there are security guards stationed in every major room to make sure you do not try to shove a priceless Degas down your pants. Most of these security guards just kind of ignore you. One of them chastised me for standing in the rocks by the Japanese tea room. But my favorite was the woman who spontaneously asked Kellie and I if we were related. No, we replied, just friends. "Oh," she said, patting her hips, "well you're shaped alike."

Redecorating

So. Got me a new blogger template. Whatcha think? If you like it, thanks, I designed it myself. If you don't like it, it's not my fault, I got it from pyzam.com.

(I'd really rather not frequent a website with such a ridiculously stupid name, but I couldn't find a template I liked anywhere else, and I don't know enough html to design my own.)

Boring blog business, over and out.