Camo

I am NOT a camo-kinda-girl. I've never purchased ANYTHING camo in my life! I don't go camping, I don't go hunting. I don't even think I've ever held a real gun in my life.

I DO own 1 piece of camo. Its a hat that says "SU" on it. I won it at an end-of-the-year Communication Studies party (I think because I knew that Dr. Dedo had 2 sons). It's strange, but this hat has become a staple of my off-work attire. I love hangin' around town in black Nike shorts, my gray v-neck and my camo hat. Grungy, colorless, and strangely hick-ish of me. I guess I have to balance the dresses/heels somehow. In Birmingham it was cool to wear camo or cowgirl boots. In Texas, I think people actually take you seriously for what you wear. If your'e wearing cowgirl boots, it's because you're really a cowgirl. If you wear camo, it's because you're really a redneck. I don't really care. Let them think I'm a redneck. They don't know me.

We keep the news on at work, so yesterday I watched quite a bit of news about Proposition 8 being overturned. I don't really watch the news when I watch it, so I can't tell you who the speaker was....I saw the name "Swarchenegger" on the screen, but I know it wasn't him. The guy speaking was young (upper 20s/30s) and in the middle of his speech he said something about all Americans being entitled to the right of "life, liberty, love, and the pursuit of happiness."

Wait a minute. I've heard the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness part before, but love? Wouldn't that classify under the "pursuit of happiness"? I say no more on the issue.

I FOUND him!

OH. MY. GOODNESS!

Tonight I came home from our fun work function and was trying to open my door....(I'm really particular about people seeing me come into my apt, b/c I don't want people to realize I live alone and then....well, you know. It's a dangerous world out there for independent women hahaha). Anyway, I was opening my door when this man (who apparently is my upstairs neighbor) came up the stairs. I think I heard undertones of a fabulously British accent! He said something like "If I'm ever too loud tromping around up there don't call the courtesy officer on me....just come knock on my door" or something to that effect. I just laughed and said "oh, I'd never do that to you!"

It's my first interaction with a neighbor! HA, I've only been around for, what...11 weeks (well..REALLY been living here for 9). His accent was TOO adorable! I'm convinced when I came into my apt that he was making noise up there on purpose so I'd HAVE to come tell him to be quiet. Hahahaha. BAH. Who am I kidding? I'm just a sucker for any guy who might sweep me off to London for the rest of my life. sigh.

SO, today was the big day. The fellows presented before the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) and his "Team 1" (aka....all my bosses and THEIR boss). No big deal.... No, but it went really well. I was more nervous for this 3 minute presentation than I was for my 15 minute presentation (followed by 15 minutes of Q&A) before my COMS faculty! I promise, my legs were shaking when we walked in, but my boys were by my side, and since I created the power point, I put myself RIGHT in the middle of the group (it pays off to take initiative sometimes). Summary of the presentation: the fellows love our team, and the team loves the fellows. Win Win. We all took a pic at the end with just the fellows, then the fellows and our bosses. I'm kinda a fan of being friendly in pics, you know, putting your arms around each other and acting like friends. Nope. Awkward. We just stood there. The pic turned out pretty good, but it just looks so political. Totally not Christmas card material. haha

The Marketing team went to Main Event after the big presentation. I was a little nervous about bowling since I haven't been in like 5 years. I busted out a Spare on the first round....then it went downhill. I lost the first game. I think I may have been slightly above the 50s...? Mike won with like 115. BUT, the 2nd round, I decided that even though I was an intern, I could show them what I really got goin' on. I won the 2nd game with a measly 101 (hey, at least I broke 100....). So, I think I win the most improved award for the night.

Apparently our boss got hit in the head by a 6-year-old's lazer tag gun and came out of the game with blood and a possible concussion. He went home right after that....hope he's okay! Lazer tag is a rough sport.

Fun night overall. I'm hoping to run into my neighbor again sometime! Maybe, one night when I just happen to be baking cookies and he's making a ruckus up there, I'll just have to go say something....and maybe I'll take a few cookies with me.     : )

Wher Wher

I've been writing a blog entry for 20 minutes and just deleted it because I was getting bored writing it. If I'm bored writing it, you're definitely bored reading it.

My crazy cool cousin from Rockwall texted me a Happy Birthday tonight. My birthday is August 27th. Goober.

I learned today that I do not have a future in operating teleprompters. That is one future career option I can cross off my list. I guess I don't have a knack for them....at all. It made my interaction with a particular VIP ulta-awkward, and I did NOT leave a great first impression on him. I think that was mutual. He was clearly too busy to carry on a conversation with an intern.
If (and when) I make it to the top, somebody remind me to be kind and engaging to those who sit at the bottom of the ladder! 

I dyed my hair black 6 weeks ago with one of those "washes out in 28 washes" kind of things. Most of my hair has lightened up...but not to the original color (my grandfather noticed last night that it was darker...he normally wouldn't notice something like that). The front part of my hair is still pretty black. You can tell I did a fabulous dye job in the first place! I had parts that were lighter than the rest to begin with, but hair is hair and I don't really care (pardon my rhyme). I'm going to dye it again, with another 28 wash box, but not black this time. I loved the black, but my dad called me goth! haha. This time I'm going for "Natural Dark Brown". Then I'll let it wash out and go normal again. Maybe? We'll see.

I'm sorry I have a lack of thrilling stories to share. My life is just bursting with juicy excitement. One day...soon...I'll have a killer story to share, but for now, I'll let the suspense loom.

JAM SESSION

Check it.... go to pinkberry.com for a totally rad jam session. My gurl Hannah and I just had a Skype dance party. Couldn't figure out how to take screen shots, but they would have made your night. haha She's still singing it. I hear pinkberry has awesome ice cream too, but I only know about their site song from first hand experience.

Hannah gave me a shout out in her blog today, so I'm shoutin' back. I had a hilarious conversation with her yesterday (she just moved up to Louisville and I've talked to her on an average of 2 hours every night since Sunday...yeah, that's a lot). So, I was telling her about how we have this review thing to do at work. At the beginning of the summer they asked us our weaknesses (so I think in the review we have to talk about how the projects we worked on helped us grow). Anyway, I was joking with one of the fellows and said "I need to find a really good weakness! I mean, don't they know you're not going to give one of your REAL weaknesses? You have to make your weaknesses sound like a strength!" So fellow friend said "Yeah, like I'm going to say 'Sometimes I like to steal'?" And I was like "'Sometimes I'm really lazy'" Ha...who says that? Anyway.... Hannah came up with my perfect weakness.....ready for this? All of you who know me will think this is hilarious:

"When I first started working here, my weakness was MEN, but after working around all these guys all the time, I'm doing much better."

BAHAHAHAHA. This is why I keep Hannah around. She kills me!

I owe Dallas an apology.

Growing up in Fort Worth, it was only natural to hate on Dallas. Dallas is snooty, high-class, fast-paced, and always has the worst traffic. Fort Worth has more of a suburban feel, it's family-oriented, and people actually know how to drive. I hate when people try to mesh Dallas and Fort Worth together. Yes, we share an airport, but it isn't in Dallas OR Fort Worth. It annoys me when people from out of state have never heard of Fort Worth and I have to say, "It's right by Dallas." Who are these people that have NEVER heard of Ft. Worth!? I had one friend who was convinced I was from Dallas, despite my persistent protests. They're 2 different cities! 


I've come to realize that Dallas isn't as awful as I grew up thinking. Don't tell Fort Worth, but I actually kinda love Dallas. I especially love the Dallas North Tollway that runs straight through town. It feels wrong to go driving through town at 70mph, but you're on a tollway! It makes getting into town so fast, so I don't even feel like I live way north of town. It's probably really weird of me to love a tollway.


I went to the Dallas Farmers Market (DFM) this morning. Yes, I realize it is Sunday morning, but I've decided to go to church on Sunday nights, when mega-churches are much less intimidating. I went to the evening service last week, was a few minutes late, and STILL was able to find a seat on the lower level! Anyway, I went to the market, which is on the south side of downtown. Driving in, downtown looked deserted (of course, it was Sunday morning...) and suddenly I was second guessing this whole market idea. There were a lot more people at the DFM than I thought, lots of families. There were tons of farmers selling produce hustling me to try some watermelon, pineapple, mango, oranges...you name it! I got some grapes, bananas, and, of course, mangoes! The mangoes were more expensive than in the grocery store, but they were bigger, more ripe, and hey, I was supporting my local farmers! I can never pass up a good mango! (I even got some mango gelato made with organic milk and eggs before I left! It wasn't as good as Della Palma in Rome, but it was pretty good). I would've gotten some more veggies, but I still have my green beans from Austin and I was getting really tired of the hustling. I wonder if you can barter? That would make it so much more fun! I feel so awkward when people are trying to get me to buy stuff from them but I don't need a WHOLE barrel of strawberries! I definitely need to take a friend with me next time! 


Oh, I bought this roasted garlic linguine from the cutest old man! I met a really nice bread lady who said in a couple of weeks they're going to get a permanent booth at the market and they'll have all kinds of bread, and they'll have their slicer so they can cut it for you! (Yes....I do realize that getting excited over freshly sliced bread DOES make me a major nerd!) 


I'm still intimidated by the whole market experience, so I'm taking a friend with me next week! Let me know if you want to come!!!!!

My newest guilty pleasure...

I've never been a big fan of Cheez-its. They kind of go in the same category as Twizzlers....I just don't like them, except when that one kid brings a bulk of them to camp and its the only thing to eat in the cabin at 10pm when you're starving after that flag football tournament.

BUT I discovered the Cheez-its to DIE for! Well...maybe not, but I actually like them and I down a box like no body's business (no, really, don't ask. It's not your business). The DUOZ Cheez-its with Parmesan and Sharp Cheddar in the same box! KILLER! Try them! (And someone go tell Cheez-its to send me a check for giving them a MAJOR plug to my audience of....5? haha).

I finally did it! I registered for my rowing classes! Two weeks in September I'm taking rowing classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights! I'm pumped! I missed the July registration date, and I'm busy one of the weekends they're having the lessons in August, so September it is! It will be perfect rowing weather (I hope. I honestly don't know what perfect rowing weather is, but I'm going to love it!). I also just got a membership at 24 Hour Fitness (wow, I'm doing quite a lot of name dropping today), so I get start swimming again! I haven't been able to run since April because my stupid knee is busted with tendonitis. It sticks....bad. But luckily I love to swim and it won't bother my knee! Again, I'm pumped because I get to swim off all those Cheez-its!! (P.S. Props to whoever decided to put that hyphen in "Cheez-its"....who wants a cheese ZIT!?)

I was made for sunny days.

My friend introduced me to a new Denton-based radio station (91.7 FM) that plays cool indie music. I heard this song this morning and fell in love with the Weepies.

I went to the market, the world was threatening rain. I was late to that station, swore I'd miss that train. And the streets filled with umbrellas and we all looked the same. But I'm the one whose waiting till the sun comes out again.

CHORUS: I say, I was made for sunny days. I may do it great, but I didn't stay. I was made for sunny days, and I was made for you.

Found the look you gave me, when we were first in bloom; when I thought that you might save me from the dark side of the moon. Instead we both went walking to the shadows and the plume, and we never did stop talking; you still light up the moon.

Ooo ooo-oo-oo the nights are longer. Ooo ooo-oo-oo you make me stronger. And the late light lingers on the grass. And the nights are dark but then they pass. They don't seem so deep. I'm still losing sleep, but I don't mind, no, I don't mind.

I got you a winter jacket that I really wears around, and we chase him through the spring time when the sleeves drag on the ground. And every hour we're working, and work and play abound. And every day is Sunday 'cause the sun, comes dancing down.

Love it! I found this song too, but it's slightly more depressing....or empowering, whichever way you want to look at it. It's "You Can't Go Back Now":
Yesterday, when you were young/ Everything you needed done was done for you/ Now you do it on your own/ But you find you're all alone/ What can you do?

You and me walk on/ Cause you can't go back now.

You know there will be days when you're so tired that you can't take another step/ The night will have no stars and you'll think you've gone as far as you will ever get

But you and me walk on/ Cause you can't go back now/ And yeah, yeah, go where you want to go/ Be what you want to be,/ If you ever turn around, you'll see me.

I can't really say why everybody wishes they were somewhere else/ But in the end, the only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself

And you and me walk on/ Yeah you and me walk on/ Cause you can't go back now/ Walk on, walk on, walk on/ You can't go back now
__________________________________________________


I don't mean to get all weird or anything, but life after college is still surreal. I grew up at a church that sits right on TCU's campus, so I grew up (literally from birth to high school) passing through this college campus week after week. I always thought college kids looked so old. In high school, I thought all the college boys were so cute, and I thought the college kids who worked with the youth group were so cool and I couldn't wait to be like them and be independent...yada yada yada. So, the weekend before last, I went to a wedding at the church I grew up in, and passed through the campus like I did all those other weeks growing up. We passed a sign for freshmen orientation and it hit me.... I did that. I've been there, I'm done with that, I'm older than these people I grew up thinking were so old. (My DEEPEST apologies if you actually ARE old and I'm making you feel older).


I'll go ahead and blame the media because they're the easiest to blame. They makes kids think high school is the bomb dot com (it's not). Then college is seen as "the best days of your life" (and they were pretty awesome), but I'm not buying into the idea that at 21 this is it. 


I hate that all the graduation paraphernalia says stuff like "You did it! Bravo! You're done!" I didn't do anything (other than get a degree, which, granted, is kind of a big deal.) I just feel like now that I've spent a short amount of time in the workforce, I've seen how far I can go in the future, and my "accomplishments" pale in comparison to what I hope to accomplish one day. I'll try desperately not to turn this next idea into a college paper, but that's why I see the song "You Can't Go Back Now" as both REALLY depressing and really empowering. College was great. I feel like in my fourth year, I grew out of it (I don't know if I grew out of Samford or just the college experience in general, but I was ready to move on come graduation day). It would have been easy to stay in Birmingham and cruise through life at some job I halfway liked just because I was comfortable in Birmingham, but I honestly think leaving was the best thing I could do for myself at that time. I'm going back this weekend, just passing through really, for a wedding, but it is true I can't go back. It's not the same.


"In the end the only steps that really matter are the ones you take all by yourself." I was really nervous on graduation day about moving to Dallas and starting over. While my family and high school friends are about an hour away, I'm still really proud of myself for moving out here "alone." I like being independent and it took interrupting my comfortable life in Birmingham to remind myself what I'm capable of doing. I tweeted back in May "Sometimes familiarity and comfort need to be challenged," and I really think that's where we grow the most.


I'm sorry I got all deep and personal. I think I needed this pep talk more for myself than anything, so I could care less if it gets read. To sum it up, I'm happy. I'm in a good place, and I'm really optimistic. It's all about keeping a positive perspective!