A Day in PC

No, that's not a day in Politically Correct land, it's a day in Panama City, Fl which is where I was visiting a close friend. Let me just clear something up for those of you who were wondering, but in case I haven't mentioned it before, I freaking love Florida!!!! I MUST move back here for permanent residency someday. Today was spent eating a fabuloso lunch at a place on the water called the Boatyard, where I ate delicious grouper and sweet potato fries and drank not one but TWO pina coladas!

Next up (after a tasty buzz) we headed out on the Sea Screamer, a touristy boat that takes you out into the gulf for an hour and a half boat ride to see dolphins. It was super fun, and I got some sun (yay for skin cancer, and thank you to answer girl who divulged some much needed info on sunscreen) and we got soaked by some stupid kids with a squirt gun. Blah. Kids suck.

Anyhoo, then it was on to the PC Beach yummy winery for free winetastings, and they have wine that tastes like blueberries, oranges, pineapples, passion fruit, strawberries, mangoes, etc.
I got some Sangria wine as my b-day present, which, for those of you who don't know, is coming up July 14.

Then it was off to the sight of much youngster partying: Club La Vela on the PC Beach. It is pretty ghetto now that I'm almost 26, but as an 18 yr old blonde chick who attended Florida State, it was the place to party. There was much debauchery and fun, and friend and I had a drink by the pool and reminisced about the "old" days. She's gonna get married in about a year, so we looked, but didn't touch, (of course, I didn't either b/c duh, partner!) and had a blast. What a beautiful day out in Florida. The sun scorches, but it hurts so good.

Now I'm home, a little burnt, a lot tired, but thinking that I'll probably end up in Tampa or St. Petersburg, Florida. SWeeeeetttt!

Oh Flor-i-da how I've missed you

So I"ve made it safe and sound here in sunny Florida. And when I mean sunny, I mean bright, hot and well, bright. The heat here is definitely different, and you forget about the humidity until it hits you like you're walking into a wall as you get out of your car. I drove a new way this time and it was very easy and I made great time. I went about 80mph the whole way, give or take sections depending on how crowded it was. I took I-85 to I-77 to I-95 to I-295 to I-10. About 9 hours to get here; I arrived around 4:20pm eastern standard time. Whew. I was proud of myself; I was super tired but I stopped a lot and drank A LOT of coffee. And my new sirius satellite hook-up came in super duper handy!

So I went out with my brother and his friends to dinner and then a bar named Bullwinkle's. It's 21 and up, but I definitely felt like the older person in there, though I definitely wasn't, as there was some old Hispanic man doing moves from the '70s. It was quite funny, but I realized that the bar hopping bug has definitely left the system. It was boring and silly to see everyone try and re-enact a scene from an MTV music video (you know, when they still played videos).

But I was super tired when I arrived home around 2AM and I had been up for about 20 hours at that point. Whew. Sleepy time.

On a great note, my brother got in to TCC's nursing program! He's gonna be starting the RN program in the fall! The great news arrived when I did, and that makes for some great synchronicity.

Anyhoo, now it's off to go grocery shopping w/ the mom, and this oughta be fun since she keeps forgetting that I'm now a vegetarian (for about 8 mths now, give or take).

But I"ll be posting regularly this week as next week I will not b/c I'll be too busy drinking margaritas by the sea mommacita. Whoo and hoo!

Last Day of 250

Today was the last day of my class, and I'm sad. It was super fun and I loved teaching it; I could basically do whatever I wanted, as long as I covered certain material. Now all that's left is to grade, and that won't take long, hello 8 students.

Today was a good day. A good friend of mine took me to a fancy schmancy lunch at Green Valley Grill, and I had a super duper yummy salad and the best Tiramisu dessert ever. Yum. My.

I'm glad school is over though; I can finally relax. I've finished my paper that I had an extension on, and got an "A." Good. Financial aid is back in session. whoo and hoo.

I worked out today and we've been trying to "adopt" this new kitty into our house, but I think she rolled in some Poison Ivy cause I've got a bit on my arms. I'm trying not to freak out. But I think I scrubbed and scrubbed enough where it won't be too bad. I hope I hope.

So this is a quick update. I've got to get ready to go to Florida this weekend for family visit time, and then it's off to beautiful Anna Maria Island for a week for fun and sun with my family, whom I love to spend time w/ at the beach, especially by pookie pie (aka brother). Nice bonding time.

I hope to come back with a nice tan and to be newly rejuvenated and relaxed, so I won't freak out when I get back and I turn 26. 26!!! Ah. where has the time gone? I don't know.

Anyway, I hope this blog finds you well, and I hope to see good friends soon.

People Suck (Mean ones too)

So a quick post to vent some frustration with the human race, especially some humans who live in the G'boro area. In the last six hours, I have encountered more rude and inhumane behavior than I have in aWHILE. Like to know what rudeness I have encountered in the last SIX HOURS?

Let's see:

• At Hairy Peeter today, Partner and I were picking up a few things and self-checking out with the "scan it yourself" check out thingies that talk to you in mean tones when you forget to put something in your bag quickly enough. Partner ran to get something he forgot, and I mosied on over to a magazine rack RIGHT NEXT to the check out thingie, and here swoops in some guy with a small basket trying to steal my check out thingie. When I apologized and explained I was waiting for Partner, he said absolutely NOTHING To me (barely acknowledged my existence) except for rolling his eyes and mumbling under his breath. Pssshhhaaa!
  
• THEN, at the Public Library this evening, not one but TWO older women were not only rude, but bitchy to say the least. One woman snapped at me b/c she pounced books on the table and did not clarify that she was DONATING them instead of PURCHASING them. And then acted insulted when I was confused.
  
• THEN at the same library not 30 min later as I browsed the used book section, I opened up a book and set it down on other books sitting on the counter, not really paying attention. Hello! I was absorbed in my book!!! And this older woman comes over and says, all miffed and rudely "um, those are MY books." She could've said, oh, i dunno, excuse me? Been, oh, i dunno, polite?
  
• THEN on the way to our neighborhood blockbuster to return "Sex in the City" we were at a stop sign and a car behind us sped up, went to the left of us, and turned without STOPPING or even LOOKING. Um, where's the fire? On a sidenote, I saw another car completely SPEED through a stop sign on Walker Ave. Like, there was no totally paused. He just floored it.
  
• THEN when we were in line in the Bbuster (getting more S in the C) some guy completely CUTS in FRONT of the guy WAITING BEHIND US. He comes up (NOT IN THE STRATEGICALLY PLACED CANDY FORMED LINE) and acts like he did nothing wrong. Again, I ask, where's the fire?
  

So here's my response oh city of Gboro, when is it okay to treat people like they're less than human? I mean, I have my fair share of bad days, let me tell ya and I say and do things that are not completely kosher, but I don't run stop signs, I don't cut in front of people, and I don't look down on people I think are "Less than" me. Does that make me a better person? Perhaps. But it definitely makes me more a part of the human race. I don't know if I believe in such a thing as karma, but I hope it exists and comes back in the form of a really huge centipede or scorpion and leaves a really big welt on these people's asses. Or oh! A staff infection that spreads all over and is so itchy they can't even pee or sleep. That's my idea of karma.

What is WITH people? I'm nice cause it makes me feel good. Why can't others reciprocate such basic human decency and show some f 'in respect?

(in case you didn't notice, this were a rant. If this were an actual bitchfest, fire and brimstone would've come out of your computer speakers. This is only a rant. )

The 80s

So, I'm pretending it's the '80s. I would've been super cool in the '80s, using words like "rad" and "bitchin'" and "tubular" and "stoked" and "gag me with a spoon." Wait! I still use those! Cool. I bet some of you out there didn't know, but the "popped collar" look originated in the early '80s in the likes of the valley, like, Sherman Oaks, California. See, there were 2 kinds of 80s people, as depicted in the classic 80s flick Valley Girl; you're either an affluent "Val" from the San Fernando Valley, or you're a Hollywood punk type who listens to music that doesn't talk about Johnny being queer or melting with your one true love during nuclear fallout. I, my friends, am torn between which camp to choose, as huge parts of me are Valley-esque, yet other parts of me would've been a punkish sort of person, you know, "anti-establishment." But who knows what I would be if I lived in the '80s. All Iknow is I have an accute fascination with all things '80s, and am wanting to have an '80s party for my upcoming b-day. I'm not sure how my friends would feel.....but I might do it anyway. It would be, like, super fun!
So, while at work (as I type) I have been thinking (since yesterday) of my top 10 '80s songs of all time. Of course, the following is in no particular order, as that would constitute favortism of my favoritest '80s, and I couldn't have that. They might get jealous.
So, without further adieu:

• Every Breath You Take: The Police
• Sweet Dreams: The Eurthymics
• Billie Jean: Michael Jackson (runner-up: Thriller)
• Heart and Soul: Huey Lewis and the News
• I Melt With You: Modern English
• If You Leave: OMD
• Don't You (forget about me): Simple Minds
• Rebel Yell: Billy Idol
• Pretty In Pink: Psychedelic Furs
• Heaven: The Cure

There are a LOT I haven't included here, but I think I could be trapped on a desert island and only listen to these 10 songs for the rest of my life (albeit short probably).

Anyhoo, what would be on YOUR list of super fantabulous (guilty pleasures even?) 80s music?

A Prairie Home Companion and a super S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y

So Partner and I have had a great day together. The best day we've had in a long time doing stuff together. We've been so busy lately that we haven't really had time to bond, but today was good. Wanna know what we did? Okay!

Wellllllllllll, we got up, went next door to our neighbor's yard sale b/c our older neighbors in their late 70s early 80s moved in with their daughter and are selling their house. But before they can do that, they must get rid of stuff. And we bought some stuff. A chair, a stool, a pet gate (which will come in handy when we dog sit, etc), and a cutting board and bill collector to hang on the wall. OF course some of this stuff must be cleaned and/or painted, but all this for 3 bucks. Gotta love yard sales.
Next, it was off to THE MALL, the quintessential 21st century representative of American life. Partner NEVER wants to go to the mall, so when he suggested it, I knew he was desperate. He needed new shoes. Partner's shoes normally last him a good long while, and he wears them long after he shouldn't, so, when I looked down and saw parts of his shoe were all brown with holes, I knew he was right. And we were off. I bought Partner some nice "made in America" New Balances that were on sale, 2 pair of shorts on sale, and some socks on sale. I have learned that when Partner agrees to new duds, there is no argument to be had.

Next, I bought ME some stuff, on sale of course. Some really good smelly stuff from Bath and Body Works (a ton of stuff for only 20 bucks! What a bargain!) and a buy one get one at payless for shoes. I needed some new shoes, and by golly, I was a savvvvy shopper today. Much thanks should go out to MEG who without doggy sitting Holly, Partner and I wouldn't have been able to afford the much needed stuff we, well, needed (except maybe the smelly stuff, but a girl's gotta smell good to catch that special someone.....)

NEXT, it was off to the gym, cleaning and doing laundry, and then to the movies to see "Prairie Home Companion" the movie version of the NPR radio show. I thought I was in for a night of yawns and "is this over yet?" but was instead surprised by fun songs, funnier jokes, and great Minnesota accents. All in all, I enjoyed myself, and Partner and I have agreed to get the PHC soundtrack. I highly recommend the film. Good stuff.

So now it's off to beddy by, and a fun day of biking and grading in store for tomorrow. Have a great S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night! (that 70s song.....)

Me miss Holly Bear:(

What a pretty little girl. So, I'm having SERIOUS Holly withdrawal. Like, I just went for a bike ride, and all I could think about was Holly and our daily walks around the neighborhood, sometimes even two or three walks a day. She loved to get outside and move around. So of course, I couldn't deny her what she wanted. And so, I became depressed b/c I miss her so much and had to cut my bike ride short. Because I miss her.

She would watch "Sex and the City" with me, read with me, cuddle with me, hug me, snuggle with me, walk with me, play chase with me, etc. She was, in essence, the perfect lifeform. I get to watch her in late July (only a month....ah). But it doesn't change the fact that I loved being snuggly wuggly with her. What a cute little baby doll honey bee. Sigh.

In other news, Partner and I went to the UNCG Surplus Sale on campus (sort of, not really) and bought two filing cabinets for 30 bucks total. What a deal, cause if you've ever tried to purchase 'em new, those babies are just a WEE bit expensive. We were also looking for bookcases, but no such luck. The warehouse, however, was pretty crowded, as people were holding on to their stuff as if they were walking through Columbia and sharpshooters were going to jump out and stick 'em up for their booty (as in treasure)...(or maybe real booty....) anyway. It was sort of stress-inducing. Apparently there are those psychos who wake up at like 6 and get there and camp out with their lawn chairs around 7 and wait for the doors to open at 9. These must be the same people who get up at the butt crack of the midnight hour to wait for Wal-Mart to open on the day after Thanksgiving. 3 words. Get. A. Life. or...out. for. a. walk. bitch. (buffy reference).

THEN it was off to give Holly back to her rightful owners, who were happy to see her. But I must say, I would spoil that dog if she were mine. Seriously. I would shower her with goodie bags of treats and blue corn chips (her favorite snack. snicker snicker).

THEN it was off to grocery shop. I've come to both love and loathe the aisles of the Hairy Peeter. I like shopping. It gives me great feelings of independence. But I also hate it, b/c it's so expensive.
THEN it was off to pick up my students' 250 exams from the WGS office. I will have a fun weekend of grading mid-term essays. I must say, as of now, I only have 7, so it's NOTHING compared to having three sections of 20 to 25 to grade.

So I WILL be teaching 250 in the fall it looks like, which is good news b/c it means money money money, money! You know, I have a powerful need to eat and sustain life, preferably Partner's and mine.

Now it's off to TCBY for a yummy low cal smoothie with guava juice, yogurt and raspberries. Yum. If only I can tear Partner away from his new Xbox game......

My eyes are itchy, my heart is deflated and my nose is tickly. I'm all around kind of poopie. I heart Holly Bear!
oh, PS: MEG, the person I doggiesat for, brought me back some killer chinese lions that are like paper weights. They signify strength in academia. How cool is that? I'll need it for my Ph.D. Whew! They came all the way from China! Whoo hoo!

Holly Bear and Sex and the City

Holly Bear and Partner. How cute are they?
Holly Bear is the babydoll I have been doggysitting for about 3 weeks now. Our last night is officially tonight, but I might get her for another night depending on when the owners get into town. But I love her. She is my doggy soulmate. I will post more pics of her. What a cutie patootie baby doll. Sigh.

It's been awhile since I posted, and lots has been a happenin. 250 is going very well. I'm covering a LOT very quickly, and I just hope it'll sink in as an afterthought. You know, after the class.
Partner and I saw "The BreakUp" with Vince Vaughn and Jenn Aniston. Good flick, I have to say, though funny at times, not as funny as I thought. Definitely makes you think about relationships. Partner and I DEFINITELY argue about dishes and him WANTING to make an effort to do the dishes and actually doing them. Sigh. But that's the small stuff, and we're not supposed to sweat that, eh?

I've been watching "Sex in the City" that I've rented from my neighborhood Blockbuster, and I'm in love with the sitcom. It's totally true to relationship life of the heterosexual persuasion, but not necessarily true to real life. And it's definitely the white upper class female experience of the urban area. Not all of us fit in those categories. I also watched "Something New," a "black" film if you will, about a young AA women who is searching for an IBM: ideal black male. Also very "Sex in the City" esque, but definitely makes you think about privilege and the white vs. the black experience. Say for example in the film, the actress makes a statement that she's constantly reminded that she's black, but white people don't experience the same thing, and I have to say, I think she's right. We are so complacent in our white-washed worlds that we can't seem to look over the whitewalls and see what's on the other side. It's easier to be white. It just is. But what is the problem with accepted and owning your privilege? You're white, you can't change it, so accept it, acknowledge it, and use it to help realize that the world is a lot bigger than the suburbs. Good film.

In other news, it was brought to my attention that I am somewhat "loud" especially when I've been drinking. And I've given thought to this. And this is what I think. In WGS 250 we were talking about the issue of "verbal" space and physical space and how women are not supposed to take up much of either. That it makes people uncomfortable. And I've decided that I like being loud. I like that I can talk to people and be sociable. I like that I can have a good time. I like that about me. And I've had too many people (especially the Penis Posse) tell me otherwise. But the thing is, I don't see it as a flaw, and others might. So I suppose the flaw is in the eye of the beholder, just like beauty. Cheers to flaws. They make someone REAL. Like Shakespeare's Sonnet "If hair be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses demasked, red and white, but no such roses do I see in her cheeks..." Is this the kind of girl who can stop traffic? No. Is this the kind of girl a subject of a fantasy? No. But she's real. She's got flaws. And that's what makes a life. So yeah for me. And screw everybody else.:)

Ah well. Holly is calling my name and I must appease her, for she is my doggie soulmate. And she's leaving soon. More to come.