You've Got Mail

I love getting mail and packages.  I love sending them, too.  I'm just a big fan of the postal service in general.
Wednesday, Thursday, and today I received stellar packages right on my doorstep, and, even though I knew they were coming, they put big smiles on my face.  
Wednesday, Barnes & Noble delivered these gems to my door:

Do y'all know about these?  I didn't until about a week ago when my mom mentioned them to me.  She had heard someone talking about them and thought they sounded like something I'd like.
She was so right.
These books are full of six-word memoirs people of all ages and backgrounds have written about their lives.  The whole idea stems from Ernest Hemingway's alleged six word story reading "For Sale:  Baby shoes, never worn."  Kind of eerily chilling, huh?  These six-word memoirs will make you laugh, catch your breath, wince, think, and touch your heart.  I love them.  I've already devoured the first book, and I'm itching to dive into another one.  Good find, mom.
Here are a few favorites I've already discovered...

Unrequited love is just another addiction.

Overly romantic soul, born wrong era.

Everyone's crazy except you and me.

May I have the last dance?

I find them to be especially amazing because they can be interpreted differently by everyone, and something that means nothing to you could mean everything to me.  It's unbelievable how much six short words can really say.  If you're wondering, no I haven't written one for myself.  I'm working on it, though I think it might change a little everyday.  What would your six-word memoir say?
Thursday, this little beauty arrived in my mailbox:

This gorgeous piece of jewelry came from the new spring collection of a very talented friend of mine.  I have known Catherine Bozeman Thoms for what seems like forever, as we are from the same home town, went all the way through school together, went to college together, and were even in the same sorority.  She is one of the most talented people I know, and I knew I had to have this unique treasure the moment I saw it.  Check out more of her beautiful jewelry here.  Is her stuff not fabulous??  If you're like me, you'll want to buy every last item.

Finally, today on my doorstep arrived some precious new address labels from my favorite online emporium of all things stationary/invitations/address labels/bookplates, etc.  Seriously, PolkaDotDesign is my obsession; I wish I had occasion to order every invitation they offer.  I am almost out of address labels, so I thought it the perfect time to order these lighthearted returns:

Are these perfect for spring/summer or what??  (Yes, I like that my address labels coordinate with the seasons... leave me be.)

I hope everyone has a great weekend planned.  I know my mailman (a jolly fellow who I have really come to enjoy) has certainly helped get mine off to a great start!!  

The Vent

Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen.  I've got a bone to pick and a rant to rave. 
I am an educated, capable, intelligent, responsible student.  I am an adult.  I don't miss class.  I don't hand in assignments late.  I take pride in my role as a graduate student.  I work hard, and I am trying to better myself through my education.
There are plenty of days when I don't want to go to class.  It is never fun to read chapter after chapter, article after article--bleeding hi-liters dry and killing whole forests one pack of Post-It notes at a time.  I loathe group meetings with every fiber of my being.
However, I do it, and I try my dead-level best to do it well, because right now it is my job, and, ultimately, I volunteered to be here.
All of that said, though, there are certain things I expect in return for my hard work.
I respect my teachers and professors because they are my educators.  They are my superiors, my seniors, and my elders.  They will soon be my colleagues.  I respect them until I have a reason not to, and I expect the same courtesy from them. 
Do not waste my time.  If you don't have a lesson prepared for class, don't just come up with some bogus, worthless assignment to fill the time.  This is not second grade.  We can see through you.  We have lives and jobs and families, and it is disrespectful of you to assume my time is worth so little.  I prepare for class like you ask me to; is it too much for me to expect you to do the same?
Explain yourself.  I cannot read your mind, and I do not know what you expect from me unless you tell me. 
I am like a sponge desperate to soak up the experience and the wisdom I assume you hold.  Don't take that appreciation for granted and think you can just wing it or something.  My education is a big deal for me; you being so blase about it only serves to harden me against you.
Listen to me.  I'm asking you questions because I respect you, and I trust the answers you will give me.  Demeaning me or paying little attention to what I've asked is a sure-fire guarantee that I will be seeking information elsewhere in the future.
Finally, please do not assume that because I am young and inexperienced that I am ignorant.  I believe that each generation has much to learn from the generations both before and after theirs; perhaps if you would give me a chance I might bring just the new perspective you've been looking for.  No one has proclaimed me an expert on anything, and I don't have an alphabet of letters behind my name, but I might still prove useful.
I have wonderful professors and educators, and I am beyond blessed with the people God has brought into my life over the past two years.  Sometimes, some days, though, are just too much to endure without opening up a vent.    
Whew.

One Week of Life

This past week has been a really great one.  I was planning to write this post over the weekend (yes, I sometimes often plan my posts...), but I was too busy doing fun stuff to stop and compose my thoughts.

I'll start with last Tuesday, when Lindsey and I headed to Birmingham to see John Mayer.  We started off with an amazing sushi dinner at Sekisuri Pacific Rim in 5 Points.  I love that neighborhood, and our sushi was delicious.

After dinner, we headed to the concert, which was so, so good--just as I expected.  I saw John Mayer in Memphis my freshman year, and he was just as fabulous as I remember him being.  Yes, he makes a lot of weird faces while he sings, and, yes, he has lots of tats, but I don't care.  I think he's gorgeous and super sexy.  I think he has mad, mad guitar skills.  I think his concert is the perfect chill concert.  In addition, he was super sweet to this couldn't-have-been-more-than-twelve-year-old girl who was front row center.  He kept talking about how cute she was and how she was singing along with all the songs; he gave her his pick, and he edited one song a little bit, saying, "I'm not gonna curse in front of you, cutie."  Although he didn't sing a few of my favorites, I found a fell in love with a few new favorites, namely Half of My Heart.

At the concert, however, I saw some funny stuff.  High school girls are funny to me.  First off, they were everywhere.  They practically ran over Lindsey and I walking into the coliseum, and I truly thought they were going to push us down getting inside.  Also, they were wearing the most fantastic clothes and taking millions of pictures with their Nikon/Canon super-nice cameras.  Seriously, when did this happen?  When did high school girls turn into sophisticated, self-assured, polished grown-up women?  My inner high school girl, complete with frizzy hair, ill-applied make-up, uncoordinated outfits, and nonexistent self-esteem, still cowers at the sight of them.
After the concert we had a little snafu finding the way home, for Bernice--my GPS--was determined to send us awry.  We outsmarted her, however, and finally got started in the right direction.  After stopping at a super scary, super ghetto gas station, we finally arrived home about 2:30 in the morning.
Wednesday morning I was blasted out of bed by the upstairs neighbor playing Pretty Fly for a White Guy at earsplitting decibels.  He becomes the bane of my existence more and more everyday.  The day was quickly saved, however, when I watched the most amazing episode of Criminal Minds, where Hotch pretends to beat the snot out of Reid so that they can distract an un-sub and Reid can shoot him between the eyes.  Wednesday night I finished the most amazing book, Garlic and Sapphires, and finally watched a true classic of American cinema, Rear Window.  Both were seriously awesome.
Thursday the talk was all about the weather.  Snow was expected for Friday, possibly ice, as well.  Of course, Friday morning dawned with no snow, which further solidifies my belief that meteorology is more a game of chance than a profession.  There was a little bit of snow midmorning Friday, but hardly even enough to make a proper dusting.  I did, however, manage to snap a few quick snow pics, just to document that we got anything at all.

Friday afternoon, I went to see Valentine's Day, which, for the most part, I really enjoyed.  After the movie, I was pretty much glued to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which I simply couldn't get enough of.  I am not too proud to admit that I might have sobbed cried a little while watching it...

Saturday morning I headed to Columbus for the night.  I started off my visit with a manicure at Eden, which I thoroughly enjoyed because it was almost completely silent.  I am not one of those people who wants to chat with their manicurist, I just want to relax in silence.  Is that weird?  I followed that up with a fun lunch with some of my favorite hometown ladies, solving all the worlds problems and causing a scene in the restaurant, of course.  Saturday night Lindsey, Hope, and I went to an unbelievably fun engagement party for Florence and Mark.  The food and drinks were fabulous; the house and flowers were gorgeous; the company was spectacular.  I had an absolute blast.

Sunday mom and I went to a very nice shower for Florence, and I enjoyed a quiet Valentine's Day glued to the Olympics--my newest obsession.  I don't really understand myself, for I hate sports and have never really been immersed in the Olympics like this.  I just can't turn it off, though.  I have major crushes on Apolo Ohno and Graham Watanabe, and I'm sure I'll find a few more Olympians that catch me eye, as well.  I don't really understand why there are so many soul patches, though?  In addition, I wonder if there could be a more unflattering, unattractive costume outfit uniform for a woman to wear than thecomplete-with-hood unitard worn by speed skaters?  It is truly unfortunate.

Dude, what a random post.  

Happy Monday; hope you all have a great week!

Day of Love

So, just because I don't have somebody special this Valentine's Day doesn't mean my life isn't full of love.  My family bowls me over with their love, and the older I grow, the more my friends become like family.  In addition, there are so many little things that bring joy to my life, and love really does abound. 
I set out to write 14 little things I love this Valentine's Day, but I just couldn't stop.  I thought of other numbers to shoot for, multiples of 14, perhaps, but that still just wasn't enough.  So, I kept on going until I reached 114, a seemingly appropriate number.  Even then, though, I ended up with a few honorable mentions...

114 Things I Love This Valentine's Day (+ a few honorable mentions):
1. Hot chocolate
2. Antiquing
3. Blowing bubblegum bubbles.
4. TV shows on DVD
5. Thought-provoking song lyrics
6. Sushi
7. Massages
8. Chips and cheese dip
9. Christmas (and everything it entails)
10. Pajamas
11. Avocado
12. Invitations
13. Double entendres
14. Montages
15. Unlined journals
16. Unique jewelry
17. Scarves
18. Twinkle lights
19. Cornbread in milk
20. Coffee table books
21. The Olympics
22. The Academy Awards
23. Books with ragged edges
24. Looking in apartment windows
          *****I know how this sounds, but I promise I don't mean it creepily.  I just like to see how people the different ways that people arrange their apartments... is that weird?
25. Movie previews
26. Cookie dough
27. Bookshelves
28. Julia Roberts' laugh
29. The Morning Mash-Up
30. Postcards
31. Old movies/musicals
32. Accents, especially British, Irish, or Australian
33. '80s music
34. Getting out of class early
35. Cereal
36. The phrase "gird your loins"
37. The bridal issue of Mississippi magazine
38. The symphony
39. Cocktail parties
40. Photography
41. The silent laugh (a.k.a. the old man wheeze)
42. Criminal Minds
43. Libraries/bookstores
44. My GPS, Bernice
45. Donut holes
46. Candles
47. Dancing to country music
48. New school supplies
49. Holding hands
50. Dr. Spencer Reid
51. Quotes
52. Photo albums
53. Piano bars
54. History
55. Daria
56. Going to sleep without setting an alarm clock
57. Brunch
58. Crispix
59. My TV/movie/book-character boyfriends
60. Songs that take you back to an exact place, time, and feeling
61. Rick & Bubba
62. Cemetaries
63. The perfect song
64. Headgear
65. Marathons (movies, TV shows)
66. The perfect planner
67. Billy Joel
68. Arranging flowers
69. Pizza with mushroom and union
70. Black-and-white photography
71. Sunkissed cheeks
72. Going to the movies
73. Countdowns
74. My life list
75. Sister's Punch
76. Outtakes/bloopers
77. Southern Living
78. Mail
79. Pedicures (even though they tickle like crazy (is tickle a weird word, or what?))
80. Broadway shows
81. My down comforter
82. The perfect playlist
83. Goat cheese
84. Netflix
85. InStyle
86. Big band
87. Glee
88. Traveling
89. The smell of clean laundry
90. Pulling my hair into a ponytail at the end of the day
91. Perfume
92. Falling asleep listening to the rain
93. The World War II era
94. Good wine
95. Getting my hair cut
96. Planning trips
97. A good workout
98. Movie quotes
99. Dr. Pepper on ice
100. Planning parties
101. City Bagel Cafe
102. City skylines
103. Binder clips
104. Semi-colons
105. A great story
106. Unexpected text messages
107. The beach in fall
108. Historical fiction
109. PostSecret
110. Commercials that make me laugh out loud
111. Concerts
112. Inside jokes
113. Memoirs
114. Museums
          *****Honorable mention: So You Think You Can Dance
                                                    Washing my face/brushing my teeth
                                                    Online shopping (it gets me everytime!)
                                                    Using up the last of things
                                                    Finding/coining new catchphrases
                                                    TBS Breakroom

Happy Valentine's Day!! Hope you've all had a day filled with love!

Life is Awesome

Top 10 Awesome Things About This Weekend:
(And I'll go ahead and say up front that the Saints winning the Super Bowl is not one of them--not because I don't like the Saints but more because I couldn't care less about sporting events of any kind...)

10.  Looking through old photo albums and reminiscing with Lexie.
9.  Becca causing a scene at Dear John, waving her hands and repeating "I'm a disaster" while tears poured from her eyes.
8.  Meg's 'tude at BoneFish, harrassing our waiter and making all the decisions for the whole table.
7.  Julep brunch with Alex and Amanda--strawberry and chocolate chip pancakes, enough said.
6.  Getting to hang out with Courtney, David, and Leslie and their cute little girls.
5.  Lindsey's hilarious tales about the adventures of booking her wedding band.
4.  Waking up at Lexie's and thinking her dog was alone in the living room watching the Cartoon Network.
3.  Bargain hunting at TJMaxx with Meg.
2.  Talking the afternoon away with Becca and Nicole, solving all the world's problems, of course.
1.  Ending the weekend with a young Leo in a foxy pair of suspenders a la Titanic. 

Fun things to come this week:  John Mayer on Tuesday; Katie visiting on Thursday; headed home Saturday for an engagement party and wedding shower for Florence.
Fun, fun February.

Much Ado About Nothing

Recently I've found myself writing out a lot of my posts before I post them, not so much because I'm a perfectionist dead set on having a rough draft or something but more because I get really bored in class and my mind naturally wanders here (where else?).
This time, though, I'm not doing that.  I'm just writing.
Don't you think it funny the impact that people have on our lives?  The impact that lasts forever, sometimes long after the person is no longer a part of our lives?  Years, even lifetimes, later, the smallest, seemingly inconsequential things that meant absolutely nothing at the time bring back scores of memories in an instant.
I love that.
Even though sometimes it's sad and sometimes it hurts, I love those moments.
I think I love those moments because they always remind me of someone who, someday, meant something to me.  He or she may no longer be a part of my life, or at least not in the same capacity, but the memory stands just the same--untouchable, untarnished, and forever in my mind.
I'm not so much talking about reminders about people who have been and will be my life forever--my family and my lifelong friends--for I think about them all the time anyway.  I'm talking about the people who, for whatever reason, have come and gone.  I love those moments that remind me of them.
I'm talking about the people who were my friends during a certain time in my life; I'm talking about the people I met at camp; I'm talking about the people who existed on the perimeters of my life; I'm talking about the people I had classes with in college; I'm talking about the friends of friends I've met throughout my life.
In addition to people who have come and gone, I'm talking about people whose roles have changed in my life.  I'm talking about forever friends whose closeness waxes and wanes; I'm talking about boys I thought I loved, as much as any thirteen-year-old or sixteen-year-old or twenty-year-old or whatever can love anybody, boys I still love but in a wholly different way.  
I'm talking about people I never dreamed would mean what they have, people I never imagined impacting my life the way they have.  I'm talking about the people that pop into my head, as vivid as a picture in front of my face.
I hear a song; I see a sight; I hear a voice or a joke; I see a commercial or a movie; I say some certain thing; I see a picture; one little tiny thing happens and, for better or worse, a memory is standing before me, reminding me of how different my life would be without that person.  Things I thought meant nothing end up meaning everything.
It's sort of like that quote from You've Got Mail:
"The odd thing about this form of communication is that you're more likely to talk about nothing than something, but I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings."
I'm all for the inconsequential, the nothing, the irrelevant, the unimportant.  I'm right there with you, Kathleen Kelly.

The Criminal Code

Ode to Criminal Minds:

Hotch, you never crack a smile,

But I'd still want you on my case.

You love your precious son, Jack,

And your wife, too (who played Andie McPhee on Dawson's Creek).

Sometimes you're really hard on your team,

But it's just because you care so much about your job.

The Reaper actually brought you to tears,

But that was before he tried to kill you and dumped you at the ER.

Gideon, how do you know it all?

No matter what the case, you always have the answers

Except, that is, when you let six agents get blown up,

And then ran off--never to be heard from again...

Elle and Prentiss, you're the ones I don't really feel like I know.
Prentiss, you look like a young Angelica Huston, but that's really all I've got.
Rossi, you're the one I like the least,
For sometimes you just have a 'tude.
You went on a book tour, good for you.
I would be fine if you went back into retirement.

JJ and Garcia, I love y'all.

Garcia, I always wonder just what is on your head (and what you're wearing),

And I think your computer-hacking skills are unbelievable.

JJ, I adore that you made Reid Henry's godfather,

And I think you're so pretty.

Morgan, I think you're great.

You're so easy on the eyes,

And you have the prettiest white teeth.

I love how you're like a big brother to Reid,

And you're so protective over Garcia.

(I loathe pet names, but I don't mind your banter with Garcia.)

Dr. Spencer Reid, my love.

PhD cubed--tallest, skinniest, most awkward boy ever.

Geeky clothes and a constant spouting of statistics.

I love your innocence and your naivete,

Your mad chess skills and your wild unkempt hair.

I love that your mother is Jane Lynch,

And I love that Morgan is trying to teach you to be a ladies' man.

Criminal Minds, what did I do before I knew you?

The un-subs, the victimology, the profiles, the guest stars,

The tiny, tiny personal insights,

And the way the team is like a family.

I love your black SUVs and your bullet-proof vests,

Your quotes and your time spent on the jet,

And the storylines that are sometimes almost too real.

I'm so glad you've come into my life.