Watch Closely Now

So, upon this the completion of my first year of graduate school, I have decided to reward myself with something I've wanted for awhile now: a nice yet casual watch that I can wear everyday and with pretty much everything. I have narrowed it down to two, but I cannot make the final decision.

I need your help, faithful readers, friends, and even you, strangers.

Look closely, for I know they are similar...

If you don't like either one of them, well that's okay, too. You're entitled.

So, what do you think??

The Latest Fashion

A few months ago, I wrote a post about fashion: the do's, the don't's, and the did she reallys?, according to me, of course. Now that spring has officially sprung, however, I felt led to add a few more observations, atrocities, and musings. I'll say now like I said then, these are merely my opinions, not meant to offend.
It's all in fun, people. All in fun.

Doo rags. I wasn't really aware that people still wore doo rags anymore, but I've spotted several lately. Unless particating in some sort of redneck event and also wearing jorts and a fanny pack, I feel the doo rag should be left at home. A baseball cap would do the same job with a lot more class.

The other day I swear I saw a lady walking to class wearing shorts overalls. I hadn't seen any of those since I was in junior high, and, seeing these, I was reminded of why.

Cardigans can be worn with almost anything--dresses, t-shirts, jeans, dress pants. They can truly go anywhere.

Am I the only one who thinks that certain fabrics should not be worn outside of certain seasons? For example, I would not wear linen to Christmas Eve church service, and I would ask that you not wear corduroy to the Fourth of July picnic.

I will forever be jealous of those girls who looked like they just stepped off the pages of an Urban Outfitters catalog. If I'm not shown exactly how to wear clothes from that store, I'm likely to wear a skirt as a hat or a sweater as a scarf.

I think velcro rollers are the best beauty invention I've happened upon in a long time, especially if, like mine, you're hair's volume is on mute.

Who is responsible for the production of those thick soled flip flops? You know the ones I'm talking about; you can buy them at Old Navy in a plethora of colors, all equally terrible.

Flat bill hats: I don't get it.

It's my opinion that, upon entering college, high school clothing (e.g. garments emblazoned with your high school's name/emblem/catchy slogan) should be discarded, or at least pushed to the back of your closet (or perhaps made into a quilt?). Cleaning house, washing the car, painting, sleeping--knock yourself out. Wear nothing but high school paraphernalia if you want. But keep it current when venturing out in public. Nothing screams "underclassman" like your high school track hoodie or that prom t-shirt you just can't let go.

I don't think capri pants do anything for anyone. Cropped pants: cute. Bermudas: like 'em. Capris, however, do not flatter anyone, no matter the age, height, weight, etc.

Facial hair, in my opinion, is case-sensitive, but one thing I will never get on board with is that little tuft of hair under the lower lip, commonly referred to as "the soul patch." Ew.

Big, huge earrings: I feel like that ship has sailed.

I'm not a huge proponent of track suits in general, but I feel that, for a guy, donning a tracksuit is like serving up your manhood on a platter.

One shoulder is back in full force, and I, for one, couldn't be happier about it.

You know what you rarely see these days? JNCO. You know what I'm talking about? Those gigantic skater jeans? I saw some this morning, and it reminded me of all the reasons you don't see them anymore.

This Boy

So, I just got back from a double feature afternoon. If you're a frequent blog reader, you may already know about that being one of my most favorite things to do. If not, well, I guess I'm telling you for the first time: that is one of my most favorite things to do.

I went to see 17 Again (which was pretty good) and State of Play (which was, like, fuhgeddaboudit good). You can check out my reviews of both movies on my movie blog if you're interested.

Anyway, while I was watching 17 Again, all I kept thinking was "How did the world survive before Zac Efron came onto the scene?"

Flash back. Can you remember a time before High School Musical and Troy, the most popular kid in school who is good at absolutely everything, was everywhere? I honestly can't.

Think about it. This kid is the very definition of "it-boy." Seriously, he's everywhere. I cannot remember the last time I read a magazine, turned on the television, or went to a movie without seeing this kid's mug grinning out at me from behind his 'I-work-really-hard-to-look-this-laid-back' locks, the perfect complement to his 'I-spent-two-hours-to-look-like-I-just-rolled-out-of-bed-and-threw-something-on' outfits. Come on, dude, you're not fooling anyone.

And of course he's a Mr. Nice Guy on top of all that.

Blah blah blah.

If you're thinking to yourself "Me thinks the lady doth protest too much" you're...

absolutely correct.

I'm a total poser. I love him. I think he's gorgeous. I have a major jonesing for those piercing baby blues. I think he can take a white tee and aviators to new levels. I think he's a fuzzy little man-peach. I am a first class ticket holder on the Efron Express.

Choo choo, indeed.

I think it really got serious when I saw him in Hairspray, but I imagine its been clandestinely building all along. Even though sometimes he's so cheesy I want to turn my face away, I can't make myself do it. I'm always drawn back like a magnet. I'm not so much a fan of the singing, but he more than makes up for it with the dancing. (And there's a stellar dance sequence in 17 Again, just fyi.)

I rationalize it in my head by telling myself that he looks like a young Jared Leto, but that's just to avoid admitting that I have yet another thing in common with adolescent girls. Seriously, add this into my love for Twilight and Harry Potter, and I am well on my way to tween status, even though the only thing I'm "tween" is twenty and thirty.

So, tell me I'm not the only system he's infiltrated. Tell me, are there others...??

Undecided

So, here's what's on my mind:
Music, particularly rap music, that reinvents a previously released song.
Friend or foe?
Honestly, I really cannot decide which way I'm going to go here.
You know the songs I'm talking about. We're talking catchy tunes like Jay-Z's Hard Knock Life and the current radio submersion Flo Rida's Right Round. These types of songs seem to be everywhere right now, and I am totally riding the fence.
After doing a little research at work this morning, I discovered that these recycled bits of song are apparently called samples. (Perhaps everyone else already knew this?) In addition, it's not just limited to a previously used rhythm, word, or tone; it also transcends to sound effects, spoken words, and even lines from televison or movies.
No way?
Way.
So, I got to thinking, is a sample the same thing as a remake?
For example, I consider The Fugees Killing Me Softly to be a remake of Roberta Flack's 1973 hit, which was actually a remake of Lori Lieberman's 1971 recording. However, there is some heated controversy out there, for some call The Fugees version merely a sample of the previous versions.
Confused yet?
No?
Pressing on, then.
After doing a little more research (e.g. Googling my fingers off), I realized that, according to the infinite wisdom of Wikipedia, Google, and the host of other information on the world wide web, almost every modern-day song contains a sample of some other song. It seems everything old really is new again, which means that what we all thought was new isn't new at all. It's just been tossed in the microwave for a minute, spooned onto a new plate, and served up "fresh."
Hmph.
Well, I say call it whatever you like--samples, remakes, even do-overs, if you want--I still don't quite know how I feel about it. I suppose I'll just have to judge these masterpieces on a case-by-case basis.
Oh, let's be honest, most of the time I don't even realize I'm listening to something that's been done before. Sure, I get the link between Queen's Under Pressure and Vanilla Ice's Ice, Ice Baby, but usually the parallels go over my head. I'm probably too busy screaming "OhmygoshIlovethissong" and ratcheting the volume up to ear-splitting decibels.
My mother tells me I'll be deaf when I'm 45. She's probably right, but at least I'm enjoying the music while it lasts.
Another thing I don't really get is Twitter. Oh, yeah, that and backing into parking spaces..., but I'll put those on the shelf for another blog, another day.

Loser Magnet

I have spent the majority of the last two hours sitting on my couch blubbering like a baby, but, this is pretty much standard fare for me on Tuesday nights at seven o'clock. No, I don't attend a regularly scheduled pity party at this time; it's simply when The Biggest Loser come on.

I'm sure at least a few of you are rolling your eyes at this point, and that's okay. I roll my eyes when people talk about watching Desperate Housewives, so I guess it all evens out.

Perhaps you've never watched the show, or perhaps you just don't see what could possibly be enjoyable about watching these overweight people sweat for two solid hours? Perhaps you think all they do is whine, and if they had any self-control they wouldn't have gotten themselves into this situation in the first place? Perhaps you'd just rather watch American Idol?

Fair enough.

I, however, started watching this show several seasons ago and have been hooked ever since. I literally weep every single week, as I watch these people change their bodies and their lives. As a person who struggles with weight issues daily, many of their stories resonate with me, and I get great inspiration from their strength and hard work. Some days it seems like I've been on a diet since I was eleven and tried every fad; seeing someone else fighting that battle and winning it makes my heart soar. Like I said, I sit on the couch and weep every week.

Seriously, I have tears rolling down my cheeks; my eye makeup pools hideously under my eyes; sometimes I can't catch my breath and I get the hiccups. (Perhaps it's good that so few people I know share my affinity for this show, as it gives me latitude to watch the show in glorious solitude and sob to my heart's content?)

This season I secretly get an added pleasure from watching the show, for I have a mini-crush on Mike, the 18-year-old contestant who has lost over 150 pounds in sixteen weeks. He's sweet and cute, and he has the most perfect teeth. Ah, to be a few (ahem, six) years younger...

Working Girl

I don't have but just a second before I scoot out of town to Atlanta for Bailey's bachelorette party, but I had to post a quick CONGRATULATIONS to Becca, one of my lifelong best friends, on getting her first teaching job!! She has worked really hard and waited a long time for this, and I am so excited for her!

Becca is one of those people who was born to be a teacher. She has loved children forever, and she has been everybody's favorite babysitter since we were in junior high. It was completely typical to see a car seat in Becca's car or spot her around town with a gaggle of little people grasping onto her limbs. Becca has told me that she is a different person when she is in the classroom, that it is what she loves to do, and I have no doubt of that being true.

I know she will have tons of great stories rolling in when she starts in August, and I can't wait to hear each and every one of them. I hope those kids realize how lucky they are! Love you so much, Bec, and I'm SO proud of you!!

Addiction, Obsession & Me

Y'all, I have a confession. I'm obsessed...

with television.

Make no mistake about it; I just can't get enough of the ole' box. The electronic babysitter. The eye. The small screen. The goggle box. The tube. The TV. The idiot box. The cultural barbiturate. The glass teat. The boob tube.

The telly.

Before this year, television was something that was marginally present in my life. I might have had one show I hoped to watch every week, but the world still continued to turn on its axis if I missed it. Not this year, though, no way. Since August, I have become one of those people who consciously schedules things around television shows.

I'm ashamed.

The only defense I have is this: when I get home from class/work, I need to just chill out for a minute before I can get going and be productive. Therefore, the glass box in the corner makes for an ever-willing accomplice in helping me delay the inevitable. Further, I need breaks from my school work, and the interlude provided by 30-minute or hour-long programming makes for the perfect revunation period. I know my mother, who fought so hard to make television something of a last resort when I was growing up, would be appalled. Sorry, Mom!

It seems that I now have at least one show I want to watch almost every weeknight. (In a side note, why is it that no good television ever comes on over the weekend? I mean, there's good movies on sometimes, but the weekend lineup is often completely barren.) Some nights there's even more than one show I want to watch on at the (yikes) same time! It gets intense. Take a look at what a normal television week looks like for me:

Note: I am ashamed not only at the volume of television I now watch but also at the silliness of some of the shows I pick. I hope we can still be friends after you see what's coming.

Monday: Dancing with the Stars and my newest obsession CSI: Miami (a subject I will probably be devoting an entire post to in the very near future, FYI). I also like to flip over to Intervention, so this is one of those nights that I'm flipping back and forth during commercials and, honestly, not getting the full gist of either show.

Tuesday: The Biggest Loser and the results show of Dancing with the Stars comes on at the same time, so I'm flipping once again. Sometimes I cruise over to American Idol, but I've managed to keep from allowing myself to get totally sucked into that one this season.

Wednesday: I manage to give my full attention to America's Next Top Model before I have to start flipping between The Gauntlet II and CSI: New York.

Thursday: I try to squeeze in Grey's Anatomy and The Office, but it seems that this night is often the one that my television watching goes haywhire. (Yet another reason I am thankful for TV shows on DVD.)

While this may not seem all that overwhelming, you have to keep in mind the shows I watch that are currently out of season, including: The Bachelor, Secret Life of the American Teenager, America's Best Dance Crew, The Real World, and So You Think You Can Dance.

Is your head spinning?

That makes two of us.

However, this ride is not quite over, for I have yet to mention the sitcoms and fillers that I frequently watch. By these I mean the entire TBS afternoon line-up, from Yes, Dear to Seinfeld. I also mean late-night Will & Grace, Frasier, and sometimes even Golden Girls. I know; it's too much to conceive of, too much to digest.

I promise I really do actually do more than sit on my couch soaking up the gamma rays being emitted by my television set. I manage to make it to work and school; I go for walks; I hang out with friends; I talk on the phone; I read; I listen to music; I check out what's going on in the world around me.

I just make sure that I'm positioned on my couch, remote in hand, in plenty of time to catch the opening credits, of course.

Video Revue

So, it seems that I just couldn't let it go. After the commercials yesterday, I went and found some funny clips from some of my favorite movies. Like I said yesterday, I hope at least one of these makes you laugh out loud, because, again, they get me every time. Hope you enjoy...

1. The Breakfast Club



2. You've Got Mail




3. Can't Hardly Wait




4. What's Up, Doc?



5. Christmas Vacation



6. Sixteen Candles



7. Juno



8. When Harry Met Sally



9. Father of the Bride



10. Father of the Bride 2


Happy Monday!! =)

Just for Laughs

So, yet again... Rachel's post has inspired me. Sorry I keep copying everything you do, Rach! It really is true what they say, though: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!!
Anyway, Rachel posted some of her favorite commercials and movie clips, so I followed in her footsteps with a few of my favorite commercials of all time. As I sit at my computer on this rainy night, trying to chip away at the mound of schoolwork I have to complete in the next three weeks, I know I could use a laugh; I thought maybe you could to...
So, here goes. A few of my favorite commercials ever. Enjoy--

1.AMP Energy Walk of No Shame



2. Subway Commercial 1812 Overture



3. T-Mobile Commercial



4. T-Mobile Official Phone of Fun Leave a Message



Hope you got a chuckle out of at least one of those, as every one of them makes me laugh out loud every time I see it. No lie... every time. But, let's be honest, I doubt if many of you are surprised at that, right?

Thank You for the Music

So, yesterday Rachel had a great post about musical confessions, and I thought it such a great idea that I had to immediately follow in her footsteps. The result: the following musings, confessions, and thoughts, all with the common musical theme. Thanks, Rach, for the constant inspiration.

One of my favorite things to do is turn on my iPod and hit "shuffle songs." With close to 6,000 songs stored, there really is no telling what tunes will come through those speakers. For example, this morning while I was getting ready I heard Ludacris, Ray Charles' Georgia, a Christmas song (I'll Be Home for Christmas, I think...), Jack Johnson's Crying Shame, and Billy Joel's Big Shot. Incredibly random and lovin' it.

I really love concerts, and I wish I went to more of them. I'm so excited to go to Memphis in May (James Taylor, Amos Lee, All-American Rejects, Bonnie Raitt, Ben Harper, Matt Nathanson, and so many more) this year, but I'm even more excited to see Elton John and Billy Joel's Face 2 Face tour in DC in July!

As I've said before, I love musical theater. Performing in my senior play, Footloose, is one of my favorite high school memories (although the person who gave me a solo needs to have his head examined. Seriously, I have my strengths, but singing is not one of them, as the video will forever illustrate.) I do also love going to any Broadway musical, and belting out showtunes alone in my house or car is one of my favorite pasttimes.

I took piano lessons from the time I was in first grade until I graduated from high school. My grand piano is one of my most prized possessions, and I still love playing when I'm at home; I can't wait until the day I have a real house, so I can take it with me. I owe my mom a big thank you for never letting me quit (and you better believe I used to beg) and forcing me to practice (which I would sometime do almost anything to get out of).

I am constantly patrolling for new music, and I love when iTunes totally gets it right and recommends a great artist I've never even heard of. I am a total iTunes addict, and there is no telling how much money I have spent there in the last 5 years.

Last July, I started taking violin lessons. I have wanted to learn to play since junior high, but I never imagined how hard it was going to be. I'm getting to where I can actually play real songs now, and I am loving it more and more.

I played the trumpet for two years in junior high. I can pretty safely say those two years playing that trumpet were some of the most mortifying of my life. (No offense to anyone who plays the trumpet, it just wasn't for me.) It wasn't so much the music that I hated, it was things like emptying my spit valve (sick... I know) and marching around the football field all day in the blazing August Mississippi heat practicing our halftime show, which I dreaded having to perform over and over again at each varsity football game.

The first CD I remember owning was Ace of Base: The Sign.

The most recent CD I bought was probably Taylor Swift: Fearless. Weird... and embarrassing. I know.

I love it when Ben uses his cool New York vibe to bring awesome new music into my life, like months ago when he introduced me to MGMT.

It is my personal opinion that musicians (like moviestars) should stick to what they do best: in this case, singing. I feel they should leave their political opinions and their causes off the stage and out of the limelight.

I love movie and TV show soundtracks, and it is not uncommon for me to love music from a movie I didn't really care for.

Embarrassingly, I love David Cook. I feel the need to watch every performance, appearance, and interview he does. His season is, oddly enough, the only season of American Idol I've ever watched, so maybe that explains my uncanny attachment.

Why is it that when 80s music or an 80s band is playing the party just gets started? Turning on 80s music is like plugging people into an electric socket or something.

I am more likely to buy (or at least remember) a product if I like the song played in its commercial. Commercials are also great places to discover previously unknown music.

Whoever invented the concept of a piano bar or dueling pianos should be given a big high five every day, just for being awesome.

So, tell me if I'm alone in this one: some songs completely transport me to another place and time in my past, complete with sounds, voices, sights, and even smells. Anyone else?

XM Radio changed my life. I know that may sound extreme, but, seriously, sometimes it blows my mind. I feel almost as strongly about Pandora.

I would be hard pressed to narrow in on the best concert I've ever been to. The Goo Goo Dolls, John Mayer with Maroon 5, Michael Buble, and, surprisingly, Linkin Park with Hoobastank, P.O.D., and Story of the Year were all pretty amazing. (Seriously, the last one was so, so good.)

I can, however, say, without a shadow of a doubt, the worst concert I've ever been to: Jessica Simpson. Ryan Cabrera's opening was the only saving grace of that abysmal experience.

I always love to find a song that has eloquently incorporated interesting or intelligent vocabulary into a seemingly commonplace song. For me, that's like finding the prize at the bottom of the cereal box, a hidden treasure that I was almost certain wouldn't be there.

An Affirmation

So, as rough as this week started out, it ended with more beauty, fun, and love than I could have ever imagined. Thanks so much for all of your prayers and kind words about my car situation; I really felt each and every one of them, and I am so blessed to have such caring people in my life. There's an update coming on the car later in this post, but first things first.

Like I said, last week started out so roughly, and the first couple of days seemed to have that "when it rains it pours" theme flowing abundantly throughout. It seemed that Murphy's law was in full effect, for anything that could go wrong was definitely going wrong. However, just when I thought I had reached my breaking point, God reminded me of the wonderful things and people in my life, and the suddenly things didn't seem so bad.

As I look back over this week, I am reminded once again (for what seems to be the gazillionth time) of how many amazing people are present in my life. It seemed like everywhere I turned, there was a reminder of someone's care and support, and affirmations of friendship and love abounded. Many small, unexpected happenings came together to make a warm quilt in which I could wrap up and take comfort.

As I said, there were many unexpected reminders of how blessed I am this week, so many in fact that I truly cannot remember all of them. A few that come to mind right off the top of my head are Amanda unexpectedly coming into town, going out for Celia's birthday dinner, Wex's sweet text and Bible verse, bumping into Hope at the grocery story, lunch with Bailey and Sage, Day's long email from Germany, and the makings of an incredible beach trip this summer. I repeat, there were so many, many more, and I know I'm leaving some of you out. I'm sorry!! Know that I love and appreciate each one of you so much, and you all make my life so special.

As promised, I have an update on the TransMission 2009. It seems that I somehow drove the second and fifth gears right out of my car. Seeing as I am far from an automotive genius, I'm not really sure how that could happen, but I'm just glad there is only a partial replacement needed and not an overhaul of the entire system (as is my wallet). My car has been in the shop since Thursday, and, in the meantime, I've been cruising in this sweet ride:

I know, I know... you're green with envy. I've gotten that reaction a lot over the past four days. My car is supposed to be fixed late tomorrow afternoon, and I'm already anticipating the angiush I will experience when I have to surrender this soccer team on wheels. Perhaps I could work out some sort of barter system, and the Windstar could be mine forever...

Total sarcasm, obviously, although driving this monstrosity (no offense to minivan lovers/drivers everywhere, I'm just partial to my gaz-guzzling SUV) has certainly been a much-needed ends to a mean, and for that I am thankful (although I wouldn't have objected to a loaner with a CD player...).

So, all in all, it's been another great week, and I'm looking forward to a short week this week and a visit home for Easter weekend. Oh, and if anyone is looking for a great read, I just finished the most delicious story. It's called Water for Elephants; it's set in the circus world of Depression-era America; I couldn't put it down. Check out my book blog if I've piqued your curiosity at all...

If not, well, that's okay, too.

I'll leave you with a few pics from an unexpectedly amazing weekend.