I have a gecko in my room. As I was opening my door, I saw a baby gecko dart in. Those things are super fast and therefore very hard to catch. I've caught one (while on crutches, might I add), but it was not easy. I have no idea where this gecko is. I have to admit I am a little nervous. I would prefer that I not wake up with a lizard in my face. Maybe I should try to convince my aunt and uncle to let me keep a cat in my room.
On another note, I tried a new food today. I guess it is classified as a food. Flax seeds. I've had them mixed in peanut butter and in cereal, but never by themselves. I bought a container of them the other day and just now got around to trying a spoonful. The result: decent for the first crunch, and then repulsive. In my opinion, they need to be smothered in some sort of sugar-based substance, such as honey or chocolate syrup. Speaking of chocolate syrup, I just recently bought Trader Joe's Organic midnight Moo, a fat free, sodium free "chocolate flavored syrup," after reading a review about it on glamour.com. It is quite fantastic. It says it's fat free, but I wonder if that's only if you follow the recommended serving amount (2 tablespoons). However, I don't think I am physically capable of consuming only 2 tablespoons of anything chocolate. In my chocolate milk, I prefer a little bit of milk and a whole lot of chocolate. I try to eat relatively healthy foods, but chocolate is definitely one of my weaknesses.
Moving on... Today is Halloween. I'm not a big Halloween person, but I do enjoy the dressing up part. When I was a kid, I loved getting candy and then setting up a trading booth to trade with my brother and neighbors. Two Tootsie Rolls for one Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Four Dum Dums for one Three Musketeers. Steep? Maybe, but as I said before, chocolate is my weakness and apparently always has been. I did not dress up today. Instead, I went to a birthday party for four of my non-related "cousins." They are all much, much younger than me and very sweet, well-behaved kids. I was one of the first few to leave the party, because I had to study. Also, because I felt awkward being the only 20-something amidst kids ages 12 and under and adults ages 35 and older. Also, since I'm the newest relative in town, I am the "conversation piece" of all the family get-togethers. Hopefully, this will pass soon.
Anyway... I was thinking of what or who I would dress up as if I actually had somewhere to go in a costume. Here are my top 5 choices.
5. A punk-rocker- This is very atypical of me, and would therefore be shocking to those who know me (and to myself if I were to look in a mirror). I've always wanted to dress like a rocker for a day, or even a few hours.
4. Helen of Troy- This is my go-to costume. I've dressed up like her before.
3. A ballerina- Again, a go-to costume. I've got all the stuff for it, including leg warmers and a tutu.
2. Taylor Swift- I've been told numerous times that I look like her. I promptly reply with, "No I don't. Taylor Swift looks like me. I was born first."
1. A nudist on strike- one of my friends dressed as this in college. You just layer on a bunch of clothes and carry around a side that says "Nudist on Strike." It is both hilarious and easy to put together.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Fictional Men That Make Me Swoon
So, back in high school, my friends and I used to make up top 10 lists and then commentate on each others' lists in order to pass the time. Currently, i'm talking to one of my high school friends and read her blog that listed the top 10 literary characters that she would date. I must say, it was so much more well written than when we were in high school years ago. So, with her encouragement, I will now attempt to write my own list. However, I am slightly tweaking the subject to include both literary and film characters.
The Top 10 Fictional Characters I Would Go Out With at the Drop of a Hat
10. Howl from "Howl's Moving Castle": Yes, Howl is an ainmated character. He is actually an anime character, which makes me sound like a total nerd. Whatever. If you haven't seen this movie, go watch it now. Howl (voiced by Christian Bale) is a tortured soul. He orignially starts out completely self-involved. However, once he meets the woman he's meant to be with, he begins to metamorphose into a compassionate, joyful man (well, man/monster). He is willing to put his life on the line for those he cares about. I cannot ignore the fact that he also has amazing hair. You laugh, but once you see the movie, you'll know what I mean.
9. Dr. Neil McNeil from Christy: I read this book this summer while recovering from surgery. I must admit I have not finished it (I have a hard time finishing books- long story). However, Dr. McNeil is the quintessential man's man. He's a doctor (instant hottness), but is not the typical socialite. His passion for helping the people of Cutter Gap, Tennessee is heart-warming. He is compassionate, yet has no tolerance for gossip or menial things. He is resrved, independent, and kind. And muscular. But mainly, kind.
8. Ferris Bueller: If you can't tell, I am a huge fan of the Brat Pack movies from the 80's. Ferris Bueller knows what he wants and goes for it. He doesn't just sit on his butt and wish. I mean, the whole climbing onto a float, singing Danke Shoen, and Shake It Up Baby while wearing a leopard print vest is, in my opinion, pretty darn amazing.
7. Lord Nicholas Devereaux from The Princess Diaries 2: I was afraid to admit this one. I am addicted to this movie, mainly because of Nicholas. He looks good in glasses and reads. He also is originally selfish and easily manipulated by his uncle, but throughout the plot, he slowly learns who he is and what he truly wants. His selfishness begins to melt into a caring, compassionate Prince Charming. I usually am attracted to more flawed, mysterious types, but I cannot escape his charm. Am I weak and cliche because of this? Possibly. I don't really care.
6. Edward Ferrars from Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility: Of all Jane Austen's female characters, I identify with three equally; Elizabeth Bennet, Fanny Price, and Elinor Dashwood. Elinor Dashwood falls in love with Edward Ferrars. Yes, it's true that he is engaged for a while, but it all works out in the end. He is loyal to his word, and yet works to win the heart of his true love. He yearns for the heart of the woman he is in love with. As my friend Christa says, "...he is honorable to a fault... almost at the cost of his own happiness." Nicely put, Christa. He is just a good guy all around. I think sometimes the good guys get pushed into a corner. So, I have decided to take Mr. Ferrars out of the corner and put him in the spotlight.
5. John Bender from "The Breakfast Club": This might be shocking, especially for those of you who know me. But, come on. He's mysterious, has great style, and isn't afraid to break the rules. Sure, he's not one to bring home to the parental figures (at least without getting them tipsy first), but he has character, courage, and a bad-boy attitude that is just plain sexy. Yes, I said it. Sexy.
4. Westley from The Princess Bride: In both the novel and the movie, he's a swashbuckling heartthrob. He fights for the woman of his dreams. He fights giants, psychopaths, gigantic rodents, and even death to be with Buttecup. That determination is definitely swoon-worthy. He's loyal, intelligent, and wears a mask. I have a thing for mystery.
3. The Phantom of the Opera (Erik): Mystery. I fall for mystery. And passion. This man is both mysterious and passionate. He is also wounded, which rounds out his personality, giving him depth and insight into the pains and struggles of life. A man who is not afraid of dealing with struggles is very attractive to me. I cannot handle a man who does not know how to deal with problems and pain. Erik's deep emotionality is quite alluring. And his musical talents are enough to make me swoon over and over again.
2. Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: Mr. Darcy is the quintessential perfect/perfectly-flawed man. He is strong, prideful, and yet falls head over heels for an independent woman. He gives her her space, while still pursuing her, like a little love-sick puppy. Sure, he screws up some many things, but he fixes them in the end, quietly, with a sense of humility and decorum, which in my opinion is hot. Oh, and Pemberley definitely adds about 200 hottness points to his already overflowing hottie account.
1. Patrick Verona from "Ten Things I Hate About You": I was trying to think of my number one. I thought it would probably be either a Shakespearean character or a Heath Ledger character (not the Joker, though). It's actually kind of both. Patrick Verona is mysterious, flawed, and has a really hot Australian accent. He screws up, but he learns from his mistakes. He is not afraid to make a complete fool of himself to impress the woman he wants. He has a sweet side, although it is hidden about 90% of the time. He is intimidating to those who do not know him well, but turns out to be thoughtful and even sweet to the woman he loves. He is not static. Instead, he's layered, complicated, and has a whole slew of suprises up his sleeve.
The Top 10 Fictional Characters I Would Go Out With at the Drop of a Hat
10. Howl from "Howl's Moving Castle": Yes, Howl is an ainmated character. He is actually an anime character, which makes me sound like a total nerd. Whatever. If you haven't seen this movie, go watch it now. Howl (voiced by Christian Bale) is a tortured soul. He orignially starts out completely self-involved. However, once he meets the woman he's meant to be with, he begins to metamorphose into a compassionate, joyful man (well, man/monster). He is willing to put his life on the line for those he cares about. I cannot ignore the fact that he also has amazing hair. You laugh, but once you see the movie, you'll know what I mean.
9. Dr. Neil McNeil from Christy: I read this book this summer while recovering from surgery. I must admit I have not finished it (I have a hard time finishing books- long story). However, Dr. McNeil is the quintessential man's man. He's a doctor (instant hottness), but is not the typical socialite. His passion for helping the people of Cutter Gap, Tennessee is heart-warming. He is compassionate, yet has no tolerance for gossip or menial things. He is resrved, independent, and kind. And muscular. But mainly, kind.
8. Ferris Bueller: If you can't tell, I am a huge fan of the Brat Pack movies from the 80's. Ferris Bueller knows what he wants and goes for it. He doesn't just sit on his butt and wish. I mean, the whole climbing onto a float, singing Danke Shoen, and Shake It Up Baby while wearing a leopard print vest is, in my opinion, pretty darn amazing.
7. Lord Nicholas Devereaux from The Princess Diaries 2: I was afraid to admit this one. I am addicted to this movie, mainly because of Nicholas. He looks good in glasses and reads. He also is originally selfish and easily manipulated by his uncle, but throughout the plot, he slowly learns who he is and what he truly wants. His selfishness begins to melt into a caring, compassionate Prince Charming. I usually am attracted to more flawed, mysterious types, but I cannot escape his charm. Am I weak and cliche because of this? Possibly. I don't really care.
6. Edward Ferrars from Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility: Of all Jane Austen's female characters, I identify with three equally; Elizabeth Bennet, Fanny Price, and Elinor Dashwood. Elinor Dashwood falls in love with Edward Ferrars. Yes, it's true that he is engaged for a while, but it all works out in the end. He is loyal to his word, and yet works to win the heart of his true love. He yearns for the heart of the woman he is in love with. As my friend Christa says, "...he is honorable to a fault... almost at the cost of his own happiness." Nicely put, Christa. He is just a good guy all around. I think sometimes the good guys get pushed into a corner. So, I have decided to take Mr. Ferrars out of the corner and put him in the spotlight.
5. John Bender from "The Breakfast Club": This might be shocking, especially for those of you who know me. But, come on. He's mysterious, has great style, and isn't afraid to break the rules. Sure, he's not one to bring home to the parental figures (at least without getting them tipsy first), but he has character, courage, and a bad-boy attitude that is just plain sexy. Yes, I said it. Sexy.
4. Westley from The Princess Bride: In both the novel and the movie, he's a swashbuckling heartthrob. He fights for the woman of his dreams. He fights giants, psychopaths, gigantic rodents, and even death to be with Buttecup. That determination is definitely swoon-worthy. He's loyal, intelligent, and wears a mask. I have a thing for mystery.
3. The Phantom of the Opera (Erik): Mystery. I fall for mystery. And passion. This man is both mysterious and passionate. He is also wounded, which rounds out his personality, giving him depth and insight into the pains and struggles of life. A man who is not afraid of dealing with struggles is very attractive to me. I cannot handle a man who does not know how to deal with problems and pain. Erik's deep emotionality is quite alluring. And his musical talents are enough to make me swoon over and over again.
2. Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: Mr. Darcy is the quintessential perfect/perfectly-flawed man. He is strong, prideful, and yet falls head over heels for an independent woman. He gives her her space, while still pursuing her, like a little love-sick puppy. Sure, he screws up some many things, but he fixes them in the end, quietly, with a sense of humility and decorum, which in my opinion is hot. Oh, and Pemberley definitely adds about 200 hottness points to his already overflowing hottie account.
1. Patrick Verona from "Ten Things I Hate About You": I was trying to think of my number one. I thought it would probably be either a Shakespearean character or a Heath Ledger character (not the Joker, though). It's actually kind of both. Patrick Verona is mysterious, flawed, and has a really hot Australian accent. He screws up, but he learns from his mistakes. He is not afraid to make a complete fool of himself to impress the woman he wants. He has a sweet side, although it is hidden about 90% of the time. He is intimidating to those who do not know him well, but turns out to be thoughtful and even sweet to the woman he loves. He is not static. Instead, he's layered, complicated, and has a whole slew of suprises up his sleeve.
Friday, September 25, 2009
I'm sure you are wondering about the title.
I'm sure you would agree that the title I choose for this blog is a bit on the strange side, given that this is not a cooking blog, a dieting blog, or a cereal-enthusiast's blog. Rarely do I eat a complete breakfast. I know, shame on me. I'm lucky if I can drag myself out of bed every morning in time to go to work or school, let alone eat a balanced meal before eleven o'clock. But, I digress. The reason I chose this title is two-pronged:
Reason One: I could not think of a better title.
Reason Two: I live in a bed and breakfast.
When you begin graduate school, you meet people. As you are learning about each other, one of the things you probably ask is, “So did you get an apartment here in town?” or something along that line. What you probably don’t expect to hear is, “Well, actually, I live in a bed and breakfast.” But I do. I have been here for about a month and a half. Even though I didn't expect it because I've visited this city at least once or twice a year since I was born, culture shock has proven to be a bit of a problem. I consider myself a Southerner, even though, I'm happy to say, I am, for the most part, accent-free. I do say y'all, though. Don't judge me. However, I have realized that even Southerners can be like strangers when you live eight hours away from each other. For instance, has anyone ever heard of a Fordhook? Another example: I was driving through a particularly urban area of town and saw a man on a horse in front of some stores. I'm not kidding. It was like, "Okay, so there's City Hall, the laundry mat, KFC, the service station, a man on a horse, the... wait. What??" It was quite a sight.
When I was originally thinking about documenting my time here, I thought to myself, “It’s gonna be boring. Nobody will read this, because you just live in an inn, not the White House or a castle or something cool like that.” And then the fact that I tend to attract situations that are usually found in those books about how to survive random, rare catastrophes such as getting caught in a riot in a foreign country or accidentally swallowing cellophane reminds me that this could turn out to be more interesting than I originally thought. By the way, those two random, rare catastrophes have happened to me. You see? I wasn’t kidding.
Since I've been living here, things that might belong in Ripley's archives have been occuring. For starters, let me tell you about the bunny rabbit that resides in my aunt and uncle's den. His name is Moses. I think Moses is out to get me. More specifically, my collection of sweatpants. This brings me to my first story.
Moses, the Vicious Bunny Rabbit and Other Animal Tales
I must start this tale with a little background information. When I am ever around animals, I tend to cause them to go haywire. I have stories upon stories to prove it. Monkeys, chipmunks, scorpions, fish, cows… I have been attacked, prowled, thrown off of, bitten by, and jumped on by almost every order of the Kingdom Animalia.
My aunt and uncle left me in charge of the house while they went out of town for two days. So, in typical grad student fashion, I donned sweats, grabbed a pint of ice cream, and crashed in the den to rot my brain with TV and movies. My aunt’s rabbit, Moses, usually minds his own business unless he hears you shake the bag of rabbit treats or the box of Strawberry Whoppers. Or bring in crutches, which I did (I was recovering from surgery). So, after downing my ice cream and finishing a movie, I proceeded to climb out of the La-Z-Boy, grab my crutches (which now had rabbit saliva all over them), and hobble toward the door, only to be stopped by the fact that I had a rabbit attached to the hem of my pants. So, I hopped faster, and so did he, still clinging to the elastic band by my feet. I couldn’t run. I could barely hop. And he is a much better hopper than I could ever aspire to be. So, I gently (heh) pushed him away and held him at bay with my crutch, and backed out the door. Now, every time I go in the den wearing sweatpants, I immediately have a rabbit attached to my ankle.
The same night, I was attacked by a different order. I hopped up the stairs, being careful to not hurt my leg by falling or tripping or anything graceful like that, only to come to one of the landings and have a baby gecko kamikaze jump from a shelf in the wall right in front of my feet. He stood there for a bit, stunned by the fall (I'm guessing that geckos have zero depth-perception...), and I used that time to scamper up the stairs before things took a turn for the worst. I made it to my room, flopped down on my bed, and noticed a spot on the ceiling. I looked closer. It was a large spot, about four inches. Then I realized, with fear and dread, that it was no spot. It was a spider. So, I called up my mother. "Okay, Mom. Pretend you are my height, have a seven foot ceiling, one good leg, and a four inch spider. What would you do?" With her advice, I put down the phone, fashioned a contraption out of a crutch and a tennis shoe, and took care of the problem, hopping and screaming the whole time.
This should be fun, right?
Reason One: I could not think of a better title.
Reason Two: I live in a bed and breakfast.
When you begin graduate school, you meet people. As you are learning about each other, one of the things you probably ask is, “So did you get an apartment here in town?” or something along that line. What you probably don’t expect to hear is, “Well, actually, I live in a bed and breakfast.” But I do. I have been here for about a month and a half. Even though I didn't expect it because I've visited this city at least once or twice a year since I was born, culture shock has proven to be a bit of a problem. I consider myself a Southerner, even though, I'm happy to say, I am, for the most part, accent-free. I do say y'all, though. Don't judge me. However, I have realized that even Southerners can be like strangers when you live eight hours away from each other. For instance, has anyone ever heard of a Fordhook? Another example: I was driving through a particularly urban area of town and saw a man on a horse in front of some stores. I'm not kidding. It was like, "Okay, so there's City Hall, the laundry mat, KFC, the service station, a man on a horse, the... wait. What??" It was quite a sight.
When I was originally thinking about documenting my time here, I thought to myself, “It’s gonna be boring. Nobody will read this, because you just live in an inn, not the White House or a castle or something cool like that.” And then the fact that I tend to attract situations that are usually found in those books about how to survive random, rare catastrophes such as getting caught in a riot in a foreign country or accidentally swallowing cellophane reminds me that this could turn out to be more interesting than I originally thought. By the way, those two random, rare catastrophes have happened to me. You see? I wasn’t kidding.
Since I've been living here, things that might belong in Ripley's archives have been occuring. For starters, let me tell you about the bunny rabbit that resides in my aunt and uncle's den. His name is Moses. I think Moses is out to get me. More specifically, my collection of sweatpants. This brings me to my first story.
Moses, the Vicious Bunny Rabbit and Other Animal Tales
I must start this tale with a little background information. When I am ever around animals, I tend to cause them to go haywire. I have stories upon stories to prove it. Monkeys, chipmunks, scorpions, fish, cows… I have been attacked, prowled, thrown off of, bitten by, and jumped on by almost every order of the Kingdom Animalia.
My aunt and uncle left me in charge of the house while they went out of town for two days. So, in typical grad student fashion, I donned sweats, grabbed a pint of ice cream, and crashed in the den to rot my brain with TV and movies. My aunt’s rabbit, Moses, usually minds his own business unless he hears you shake the bag of rabbit treats or the box of Strawberry Whoppers. Or bring in crutches, which I did (I was recovering from surgery). So, after downing my ice cream and finishing a movie, I proceeded to climb out of the La-Z-Boy, grab my crutches (which now had rabbit saliva all over them), and hobble toward the door, only to be stopped by the fact that I had a rabbit attached to the hem of my pants. So, I hopped faster, and so did he, still clinging to the elastic band by my feet. I couldn’t run. I could barely hop. And he is a much better hopper than I could ever aspire to be. So, I gently (heh) pushed him away and held him at bay with my crutch, and backed out the door. Now, every time I go in the den wearing sweatpants, I immediately have a rabbit attached to my ankle.
The same night, I was attacked by a different order. I hopped up the stairs, being careful to not hurt my leg by falling or tripping or anything graceful like that, only to come to one of the landings and have a baby gecko kamikaze jump from a shelf in the wall right in front of my feet. He stood there for a bit, stunned by the fall (I'm guessing that geckos have zero depth-perception...), and I used that time to scamper up the stairs before things took a turn for the worst. I made it to my room, flopped down on my bed, and noticed a spot on the ceiling. I looked closer. It was a large spot, about four inches. Then I realized, with fear and dread, that it was no spot. It was a spider. So, I called up my mother. "Okay, Mom. Pretend you are my height, have a seven foot ceiling, one good leg, and a four inch spider. What would you do?" With her advice, I put down the phone, fashioned a contraption out of a crutch and a tennis shoe, and took care of the problem, hopping and screaming the whole time.
This should be fun, right?
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