Laugh Out Loud

For some reason, I have had the hardest time getting my thoughts gathered for this post.  Even now, I am bumbling and backspacing every other word, unable to solidify my perspective.  Some might call this writer's block; I, however, call it the perfect summation of the past year--2009 in a nutshell, so to speak.
There were parts of 2009 that were frustrating beyond belief.  Like the parts where I was eating everything I could get my hands on with no end in sight and the parts where I was in a bad mood with no known source.  The parts where I was blowing through money like it was literally growing on a tree outside my back door weren't too pleasant, either.
There were also parts that were empowering, fulfilling, and altogether divine.  Like the times during and after my mom's surgery when I was called upon to make big decisions and, ultimately, hold our household together.  Or the times when I worked really hard on a project for school and was rewarded with a good grade or a simple approving nod from a tough teacher.  In a lot of cases, I learned what I was really made of and how tough growing up can really be.
There were, of course, lots and lots of fun times in 2009, as well.  The times when I totally cut loose during football season, for example, and acted like I was anything but twenty-four.  The times when I was reading a great book or seeing a fabulous movie.  (Check out my year's best reads and movies.)  And the vacation times and the wedding times and the nothing times with the people I love the most.
For me, 2009 really ran the gamut of feeling and emotions.  It was fun; it was difficult; it was wild; it was frustrating; it was scary; it was tiring; it was bizarre; it was wonderful; it was funny; it was trying; it was lonely; it was happy; it was rewarding; it was a test of faith; it was sad; it was real.
It was life in its purest, rawest form.
I don't know what 2010 holds--couldn't begin to speculate or make a guess.  I don't have a clue where I may go, what may happen, who I may meet, or how the year may unfold.  I don't even really know what I want to happen.  All I know is this:  I want to laugh.  Every day.
No gimmicks, no slogans, no resolutions.
Just laughter.

For, at the end of every day and every situation, if you ask me, laughter makes everything bearable.  It makes the funny funnier; it makes the tragic endurable; it makes your eyes shine brighter, and it's the best soundtrack this life could ask for.

I have some goals for the year, which I am shockingly keeping to myself for the moment, but my outlook for the coming year can be perfectly summed up in these ten words from Daughtry's newest song, Life After You.

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter.

That's it:  pure and simple.  Just laughter.

Webster's Dictionary defines laughter as "a cause of merriment."  A Yiddish proverb says that "what soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul."  The great comedic actor Milton Berle said, "laughter is an instant vacation," and I can't really think of anything better than that.

All that I'm after is a life full of laughter.

Happy 2010 to you and yours, my loves.  I wish you all the best.

All I Want for Christmas is You

Dear Santa,
I know you're probably thinking that I'm a little old to be doing this, but I've been satisfactory pretty good this year, so I thought I'd give it a shot.  I'm a little out of practice, so forgive me if I'm a tad rusty at first.

First, I'd like a new copy of Newsies, preferably on DVD.

Unfortunately, my VHS copy bit the dust during football season.  No one would 'fess up to destroying it even though it looked like this:

but that's a whole melodrama unto itself.  Anyway, it's pretty much been my favorite movie since third grade when Alicia and I used to watch it every weekend, singing and dancing along, of course.  It's my go-to when I've had a lousy day, that foxy Christian Bale just makes my life sweeter, and I'm in serious need of a new copy, pronto.  Help me out, SC?

Next, I would really love to have the whole series of Daria on DVD, as well.  That Daria Morgandorfer cracks me up, and I would love to add her to my DVD collection.  That's all there is to that one, no story, no plea.  Just pure want.

I am really jonesing for this next one, so pay close attention, Claus.  I am desperate for this camera lens, for I feel it's time to take my zoom capabilities to the next level, and for that I need this little beauty:

I know it may not look like much, but I think it is just what I need.  Granted, I will have to carry it in a separate case and probably get seasick adjusting to the equilibrium, but I'm up to the challenge if you simply give me the means.  Come on, Santa... whaddya say??

To go along with this new lens and the explosion of pictures I will undoubtedly be taking, I think it's time I upgraded my editing software, as well.  What I really want is this:

 

but seeing as it is exhorbitantly expensive (as in, I wouldn't even ask Santa for that), I am more than willing to go in a different direction and, instead, ask you for this:

So, how about it?  You wouldn't bring me this fantabulous new lens and leave me with my barely mediocre editing software, would you? 

Finally, if you're feeling reeeeeeaaaaalllllllyyyyyy generous, I wouldn't mind at all if you brought me this:

The Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM in the Damier pattern.  My dream bag.  The bag to end all bags, if you ask me.  Ahhhh...... I swoon just looking at it (as well as looking at the price tag).  I know, I know... it's extravagant and unnecessary and somewhat impractical at this stage in my life, but if you wanted to squeeze it down the chimney with you, I would accept it without hesitation.  Just fyi, of course...

So, there you have it, big man.

Thanks so much for your continued service; you really are one of a kind.

All my love,

Lauren

Today is My Birthday

Today is my twenty-fifth birthday. 

That sounds so weird. So mature.  So established.

I have to admit, I think I am having a tiny bit of a quarter-life crisis (which I know is absolutely ridiculous...), so, instead of being a big baby even the tiniest bit sad on my birthday (becuase who wants that?), I decided to look back.

Entering the world twenty-five years ago were Mandy Moore, Jena Malone, America Ferrera, Scarlett Johansson, Avril Lavigne, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Sabrina Bryan, and Prince Harry.  Leave it to me to be born in a year when there were seemingly no boys born on this continent.

People were funny in 1984.  They were doing the worm:

wearing Day Glo:

and these t-shirts were all the rage:

There was also the Miami Vice look, Guess jeans (stone-washed denim, of course).  The Vanessa Williams Miss America scandal shocked the nation, and who could forget Courtney Cox dancing on stage with Bruce Springsteen??

In the world of literature, it appears to have been a bit of a scant year.  A few of the highlights include:  Cold Sassy Tree, The Color of Money, Hotel du Lac, The Hunt for Red October, Ramona Forever, and The Witches of Eastwick.  Good thing it seems I would be content with picture books for awhile.

Care Bears, Cabbage Patch Kids, Dungeons & Dragons, and Transformers flooded the market twenty-five years ago, and Sony introduced the first CD player.  Also, Apple introduced the world to the Mac for the first time.

Then:

Now:

In the world of the small screen, MTV first held the Video Music Awards, and shows like Kids Incorporated, Jeopardy, Punky Brewster, The Cosby Show, Who's the Boss?, and Miami Vice ruled, and the world said goodbye to Happy Days, Three's Company, and Dallas.

At the movies were now-cult-classics like The Never Ending Story, Revenge of the Nerds, The Karate Kid, Gremlins, and Ghostbusters.  There were also legendary action movies like The Terminator and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  Finally, the iconic Footloose and Sixteen Candles were released twenty-five years ago--two of my personal favorites.  Here's my own sixteenth birthday, at which time I was kidnapped (wearing one of the most hideous outfits I owned, mind you) and taken to a great surprise party.

 

Finally, in the world of tunes, there were some dynamite hits twenty-five years ago.  Madonna was singing about Lucky Stars and Holidays, and Michael Jackson debuted Thriller.  Stevie was Just Calling to Say I Love You.

  The Pointer Sisters wanted you to know they were So Excited, but they were also commanding you to Jump (as was Van Halen, actually).  Mike Reno and Ann Wilson thought they were in Almost Paradise.

Ray Parker, Jr. was askin 'who you gonna call?' (Ghostbusters!); Lionel was saying Hello and letting you know he could go All Night Long; and Bruce Springsteen was Dancing in the Dark.  Cindi Lauper was first telling the world that Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

Tina was asking What's Love Got to Do with It?, and Kenny Loggins was telling everybody to cut Footloose; Kenny and Dolly were going on about Islands in the Stream; and Chicago was singing about Hard Habits to Break; Billy Joel was looking for an Uptown Girl. 

  

Finally, Corey Hart was wearing his Sunglasses at Night

and Deniece Williams was pumping up men everywhere with Let's Hear it for the Boy.

Twenty-five... still sounds weird, but I know I'll get used to it.  It's a whole new world of possibility and who knows what's still to come.

The Secret

I love Christmas.  I really do love it.  I love the music and the movies and the decorations.  I love the food and the smells and the cold weather.  I love the spirit and the excitement in the air, and I love the church services and the reason behind it all.  I love the twinkling lights and the wrapping paper and the joy that seems to resonate with people of all ages.  I love the memories of Christmas past and the hope for Christmas future.
I love it all, but I have a secret.
For me, when it comes to Christmas, there's a certain innate loneliness that lies beneath the whole season, making itself known with pangs of melancholy and bittersweetness, rising up when I least expect it.
I wrote this in my journal four years ago, but the same ideas pretty much ring true today.

This is a season that is all about family and loved ones and togetherness.  It is filled with soft lighting, blazing fires, warm drinks, and special memories.  I just wish that this year this season of warmth would not leave me out in the cold again.  I just want to be a part of the group.  The group I speak of is the group that has someone special to share things with and someone to curl up in front of the fire with and someone to stay warm with.  In the summer it's easy to 'barhop' and run from here to there all over the place, but in the winter people generally stay in one place, and I guess I just find myself wishing that my one place could be somewhere filled with real warmth, more warmth than you tend to find in a bar, movie theater, or restaurant.
It's not that I'm depressed or upset or anything, really, but I just wish things were different, I guess.  It's kind of like this:  I've been alone for so long that I have just sort of accepted the fact and tried to make the best of it, but, for some reason, today I started to entertain the idea of actually having someone to share not only special times but all the times with, and it just made me wish that maybe this year I'd get a present that didn't come wrapped under the tree.

What a gooby, melodramatic twenty-year-old I was.
I know some of you may be thinking that I'm not alone, for I've got my friends and my family; and I shouldn't be sad, for this is a happy time.  And you would be completely right.  But you know that's not the kind of alone I'm talking about.  And, as for being sad, it's not an all-the-time thing; it's not even a most-of-the-time thing. 
It comes in moments. 
Moments when I just can't help but wonder what it might be like and envy those who take it for granted.  Little moments that make me catch my breath sometimes:  a sappy commercial; a glimpse of a couple walking hand in hand; the snatch of life seen when passing a lighted window on a winter's night.  These moments are fleeting, but I can't pretend they're not there.
Are there others like me, or am I the anomaly?
It doesn't really matter, for this I believe to be true.
All the moments that make me stop short now will be the moments that mean the most one day.  My feelings now will help me remember how important the little things are and remind me to honor that importance.  I will appreciate 'then' more because of the way I look at 'now.'  
Or, well, at least that is my hope.
God's taking care of it, that I know for sure, just like He does everything else.
Sometimes lots of times I get distracted, but it all comes back to Him.  He is the reason for the season, you know. 

Mad Season

In the week since the conclusion of an amazing football season, I've had time to mull through all of the laughs, funny stories, bad decisions and things that made football season 2009 one of my absolute favorites.  Of course, I can think of no better way than one of my infamous ABC lists to share all the fun with all of y'all.  

A

Amanda's amazing cookies; "Amanda, are you cooking something or just banging all the pots together?"; "another great weekend"; Anthro; Amanda's attempt at sister's punch; airplane bottles; Anthro flower necklace; all that matters is the Egg Bowl

B

Becca's family Christmas card freak out; Ben hitting a parked car; bathroom lines; barefoot in the mud; Barrister's; Bin 612; Becca's camera under the wheel of her car; beer

C

corn dip; City Bagel; crunk; cheering on the Bulldogs; clothes, food, luggage, people, cans, bottles everywhere; chasing tail

D

"Damien... he's almost too gay to function"; Dixon for Heisman; Dawg Pound Rock; dark nail polish; dragged around by the night route; Dan "the Man" Mullen

E

eating City Bagel for every meal; Egg Bowl victory

F

from Dixon with love; fold-out couch; four inches; fighting for our seats; fabulous friends

G

game day guru

H

"How early do you think we should get out there?"; "how did my feet get so clean?"

I

inappropriate texts; "I like it Dawgy style" cowbell; "I don't want to look at engagement rings.  I just want to quote movies and drink beer"; "Is your house on fire, Clark?"

J

Junction

K

"Keep your eyes on my ba bom ba bom bom"

L

living for the weekends; live music:  both good and bad; Leon Berrrrrryyyy... Leon Berry; "Lauren Springer's always in an Explorer!"

M

Mugshots; muddy Junction; millions of pictures; making every minute count; my apartment being destroyed/somthing getting broken every weekend; Mean Girls; maroon blazers

N

near-fall in the Junction; new black jerseys

O

Old Venice

P

possibly best football season ever; people sleeping everywhere

Q

quoting movies

R

Ridiculo-tron; Ray's stories about his grandmother; record crowds

S

sister's punch; Springer Inn; sushi martini; sake bombs; Sunday hangover lunch; sleeping on the floor at my own house; seats in the sky; screaming with laughter; scratchy voices; speedwalking from the games; shots; sushi; seeing people we know but not speaking; stadium pics; spending time with so many people I love; scarves; sleeping 'til 1:30 on gameday; scrounging for tickets

T

the mixing pen; The Strangler; "This is Rebecca... and this is Lindsey"; trip to the hospital; the shorts; trumping football season 2007 (I thought it couldn't be done); "This is for the blog"; Terri's oatmeal cookies; True Maroon; tailgreating; throwing beer bottles (and ashtrays); "That's a paper towel"; towel bar falling a million times

U

uninvited guests; unexpected surprises from people I didn't think I'd get to see

V

visitors from all over; Vegas the bulldog

W

whiskey drinks; washing feet in the toilet; "What's all this lettuce in your truck?"; wardrobe consultations; "Well, you've still got to put your makeup on, right?"; weekend pass from the looney bin; who destroyed my Newsies VHS?; "Wait, when did we see Hope and Don?"; "Wrap that one in maroon and white"; "We've hit a human"; "We couldn't find the remote, but thankfully The Wedding Planner was on"

X

x-small quarterback, Tiny Ty

Y

yummy, yummy tailgate food

Z

zillions of loads of laundry

Thanks to all who participated for such an amazing season.  The Springer Inn is now accepting reservations for the 2010 season; book early to secure your spot!

It seriously was an amazing few months.  Love y'all.

TV Guide

So, lately I haven't had quite as much time to devote to the boob tube as I would like, as school work continuously gets in the way.  I have, however, managed to keep up to date on my absolute die-if-I-miss-them favorites.
My new fall favorite is most definitely Glee.  If you haven't seen this one, you should probably go ahead and jump on the bandwagon now, for it is laugh-out-loud funny every week (and those kids can really sing, too).  One of my favorite characters is Sue Sylvester, the badass, backstabbing, lying, cuts-like-a-knife funny cheerleading coach.  Sue says all those things that go through other people's heads but social norms constrain you from saying them.  Everything she says is, admittedly, horrible, but I cannot help but guffaw again and again.



My other favorite character is Kurt, the fish out of water fashionista, the gay high schooler in middle America.  Kurt makes me practically scream with laughter with his quick quips, his mannerisms, and his hilarious facial expresssion.  The kid is a riot.



Next week is the final episode on Glee for the fall, and I can't wait to see what cliff they leave me hanging off of, for you know that's exactly what they'll do.
My other favorite (which I have loved since its second season in 2006) is So You Think You Can Dance.   I thought there had been good seasons before, but this season is off-the-chain amazing. 


(I tried and tried... and tried some more to find the group routine they did this week to Still Rock and Roll to Me from Billy Joel's Movin' Out (becuase it would blow you away), but... no luck.  Boo.)  Those 20 kids should be allowed to think they can dance because no one would dare dispute.  Although there's no Neill (all-time foxiest favorite contestant), 

I have certainly picked some favorites to root for.  It is down to the top 8, and I am really loving Ellenore (and her beyond fabulous pixie haircut), and Russell, who I picked as one of my favorites from auditions.  The one I really adore, though, is Jakob... wowza.  That's the only way I can describe his dance and his quality of movement.  Just wowza.
SYTYCD has featured some of the most amazing dancing I've ever seen, and so many of my favorite routines have come from this guy:     

Wade Robson.  A living legend in the dance world, and a rather foxy gentleman himself (although I'm pretty sure he's probably certifiably insane).  He has brought so many gems to the show, like this one from season 3:  

and this legendary group routine from season 2:



I think this one looks like a Victorian version of thriller, and I love it.
Anyway, last night I found another show I know I won't be missing.  I have been waiting for Jersey Shore to start for weeks--ever since I first saw the trailer.

Jersey Shore - MTV Shows

I was not disappointed as it was, in fact, the nastiest, skankiest, trashiest, most ridiculous and, therein, funniest thing I've seen in a long time.  It was like the Real World, but everybody was from the same type of background so they were just feeding off of each other.  Also, I didn't really realize it was PC to say 'guido.'  I kind of thought that was a racial slur, but it appears I was mistaken, as they speak of being a guido (and don't forget a guidette) to be a good thing.  One of my favorite parts of the episode was when Pauly comes riding up to the summer house in his Cadillac.  Not an Escalade, mind you... some gigantic Cadillac DeVille or something.  Oh, yeah... and he has the word Cadillac tattooed down his side in this gigantic script.  
Give it a whirl; I have full faith that you will laugh out loud, too.
Anyway, I'm off to the movies!  Happy Friday!   

On a Day Like Today

I loved today.
First, today was the first day of December, my without-a-doubt favorite month of the year.  Now that the weather has gotten frigid drastically colder, it really is begining to feel a lot like Christmas!
Also, today was a huge day for me school-wise.  After getting up at 4 AM to finish one of the three huge projects I had due today (in addition to a final), I am somewhat in shock that I'm not catching some serious zzzzzzzzzzzz by now.  I think I'm just on a momentary high due to the completion of my two hardest classes for the semester.  Always love that feeling.  I'm sure I'll be sawing logs sleeping peacefully as soon as my head hits the pillow.
Today's greatness continued when I got this little gem in my inbox.  I loved every minute of this video, but the part where the girl tells about the love letters is my favorite.

PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God from Frank Warren on Vimeo.
If y'all haven't jumped on the PostSecret bandwagon, I would highly recommend it.  I read the blog on Sundays, I have the books, and I get Frank Warren's emails; I think PostSecret is fabulous and unendingly fascinating.  Becca is also convinced that I send in my own secrets because I just "seem like that kind of person" (I'm not sure exactly how to take that... insult?  compliment?), but I don't know what secrets she thinks I have because I'm always spilling my guts to y'all. =)
Another reason today was great is that, after my final this afternoon and before my night class, I spent the afternoon in one of my favorite ways--curled up on the couch with a great book and a great cup of hot chocolate.  Does it really get much better?
Today did, actually, get even better.
Tonight I went to the Starkville Symphony/MSU Choir concert, which was beyond phenomenal.  For the majority of the time I felt like I was at some extravagant ball at Pemberly, hoping Mr. Darcy would come whisk me away for a waltz (that's a Pride and Prejudice reference, for those of you are not gaga crazy in love with the work of Jane Austen).  (On a sidenote:  who knew harpsichords still existed?  I thought they had gone the way of the lyre and other extinct musical instruments, but I am no longer living under such misconceptions.)  Anyway, as I said, the whole program was wonderful.  I find symphonic music so dreamy totally romantic and altogether swoon-worthy.
Anyway, speaking of great music, have y'all started listening to Christmas music?  It's practically all I listen to these days.  What are your favorites?  Here are my top 10 favorite Christmas songs of all time:
10.  It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas: Bing Crosby
9.  Christmas in Killarney:  Bing Crosby
8.  When a Child is Born:  Kenny Rogers
7.  Because It's Christmas:  Barry Manilow
6.  Hanukkah Song:  Adam Sandler
5.  Kentucky Homemade Christmas:  Kenny Rogers
4.  All I Want for Christmas is You:  Mariah Carey
3.  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas:  Judy Garland
2.  Song for a Winter's Night:  Sarah MacLachlan
1.  I'll Be Home for Christmas:  Josh Groban (complete with the voiceovers from soldiers currently serving overseas; I've heard this song about 59 times, and I cry every time)
********I have to give special recognition to the entire Hanson (yeah, like as in "Mmmmmmbop") Christmas CD, Snowed In, which is without a doubt my favorite Christmas album of all time.  Don't hate; it's awesome.
********I also have to clarify that I really do have good taste in music, but I blame my mother for my undying love for the dorkiest Christmas music on the planet.  Y'all know Christmas music is hokey by its very nature; don't act like you don't love Bing Crosby.
Oh, yeah, and there's one other song I'm really loving this holiday season.  It's pretty new, so you may not have heard it yet.  It goes something like this...

Cowbells ring, are you listening?
Down the field, Dixon sprinting...
A beautiful sight, Rebs crying tonight,
Walking with the trophy in our hands.
Ran away with the Egg Bowl,
Don't feel bad for the Rebs soul,
A beautiful sight, when the dawgs bite,
Walking with the trophy in our hands.

Pretty catchy, huh? =)
How. bout. them. dogs??  Am I right??
I'm still loving the sheer butt-whipping awesomeness that was the Egg Bowl 2009.  
So. much. fun.
Anyway, hope you all had a great day, too!  Happy December!!