Lazy Monday

I spent the weekend with my family at a hotel downtown. My mom bid on it at a charity auction and won. It was actually a really nice time, especially since it felt like I hadn't really seen my family in a while (only in passing). I can do weekend family trips, apparently. Much longer than that is usually a different story, though, because we'll probably end up at each others' throats.

We started the night off with 3 free (small) drinks a piece, provided by the hotel. Then we walked to Friday's (included in the prize) and afterward went back to the hotel to play Apples To Apples. We got the game for Christmas and just opened it Saturday. I had played it once before with friends/acquaintances, but I didn't understand the appeal, really. I discovered that it's so much better when you play with people that you know well, though. It's all about guessing what the other person would relate to a particular word, based on what you know about their unique personality. (I swept the board. By the way, my favorite word combination on my turn: "snob" was the word that I picked, and "the far right" was clearly the correct answer.) Then we had s'mores in the microwave for dessert and went to the Cardinals game the next afternoon.

We won the game and it was a nice day, too, but I got sunburned on my shins, arms, and a little of my face. It's about time, though. I think my legs were actually reflecting the sun at that point. I had been avoiding the sun all summer, like a vampire, and not even on purpose, really. I'm just not the lounging by the pool kind of girl (with good reason, after the melanoma scare), and whenever I was outside in the daytime, I was in transit to somewhere else or the sun was going down. Hopefully this will turn into a bit of a tan, as it usually does (believe it or not), but every so often a sunburn will just disappear into whiteness again. Like last year in Hawaii, when I got that terrible sunburn on the top of my feet, it swelled (from the 24 hours of flying or hanging in airports the next day), turned purple and then disappeared like I didn't get any sun. Ooh, that was probably my worst sunburn ever. No fun. Currently, though, just my ability to comfortably shave and take showers is affected by this sunburn. I'll get over it.

After the game I went home and watched my first-ever anime, provided by a friend from taiko. I figured I should at least know something about it before I go to Japan. I watched Spirited Away, which is pretty mainstream, and I officially don't get it. It probably stems from the fact that I'm not big on fantasy movies to begin with (Harry Potter is okay because it seems more realistic) and I can't seem to connect with a serious plot in the form of a cartoon. The phrase "serious cartoons" seems like an oxymoron, which probably stems from my history of Saturday morning "Looney Tunes" and episodes of "The Simpsons." I'm going to give another anime movie a shot because it's supposed to be better, but I'm just not feeling it. That's okay, at least it's sort of pretty and I can say that I've seen some now.

Speaking of Japanese things...holy crap! I thought the Burger King was scary, but this seizure-inducing, whacked-out Japanese commercial makes me fear for my life:

Note to self: Stay away from Cheese Curry.

Love lesson

Every third Wednesday of the month I try to go to a thing called "Theology At The Bottleworks." It's a group philosophy discussion at Schlafly that usually involves 40-100 people with extremely different opinions. Of course, I only sit and listen, but it always makes me think. Last week's topic was "The State of Marriage." I'm actually going to skim over the marriage part and just talk about my views of love here, though.

I'm not sure if you realize this, but I am sort of a self-taught sociologist. I am constantly reading or observing whatever I can find about the ways people relate to each other, because I want to know the hows and whys of everything. I gather that through random scientific, advice, and opinion articles on relationships (romantic, friendships, family, etc.) and human behavior as well as through observation. It doesn't even stop at humans, because we can learn things from animals, too. I am just constantly fascinated by it, and I think my "studies" have allowed me a pretty high emotional intelligence.

That being said, I think that people are developing a warped view of love. I can't blame them, really, because that frantic, all-consuming kind of love is constantly perpetuated and exploited in love songs and romantic comedies. I actually really enjoy that stuff, because it's better to promote love than hate, anyway, but it's not reality. For instance, I don't care who you are or what you have been through together, I don't think you can truly love someone after a few dates or even a few months. By that I mean, you can certainly love aspects of someone and the feelings they give you; you may love them in a certain way and even say that you love them, but it's not really true until you know and accept them fully. There is certainly a distinction between that romantic love in the beginning and that true love that holds marriages together until the end, but the movies don't usually follow what happens after that initial "love" wears off and they enter into the next stage. I guess if they did it might be rather mundane for outsiders, but I prefer to think of it as comfortable and mature.

Maybe I should impart my knowledge on the different "stages" that I just referred to. I know it's odd to take a scientific approach, especially for me, maybe, but as an honorary "social scientist," this makes the most sense to me. I think it's possible to take a practical and optimistic approach at the same time, so here we go: the initial stage of love, often exemplified in the media, is called "romantic love," or the infatuation stage. It's when you become obsessed with this other person and can even exhibit signs of obsessive compulsive disorder. Your brain releases endorphins that essentially drug you and you can't think clearly. It doesn't last forever, though, and it's actually a good thing because if it did, no one would get anything done. It can last anywhere from a week to about 3 years, and it's an evolutionary development designed to propagate the species. Many people are tricked into believing that this is supposed to be the love that they are striving for, and it certainly lends itself to a society of immediate gratification; however, this kind of love inevitably fizzles out. (Some people turn into "serial monogamists" because they get attached to this feeling and jump from relationship to relationship.)

Eventually, reality sets in and they "sober up," so to speak. They see that the other person has flaws and they think that person has changed, when it's mostly their own perspective that has changed. Some people decide they don't like this "new" person and break up, and others may question if it's still love but continue the relationship, anyway. If they continue, they start to settle into the attachment phase, and this is where the real work of a relationship comes in. They deal with unresolved childhood issues and really grow. Hopefully, they grow together and they end up in the final, deepest stage, known as "true love." They accept each other and fulfill that potential that they maybe thought they already reached in the infatuation stage. It's a mature understanding of love, and it is actually motivated by a subconscious drive for emotional healing from the scars of childhood (everyone has some). This person helps you complete your childhood and regain wholeness. It is said that this kind of love never dies, and I would like to believe that.

Now, I consider myself to be so in touch with my emotions and in control of them that I just never really let myself get carried away in that "romantic stage" in the way that others do. I constantly evaluate and try to rationalize my emotions, and I tend to glaze over or ignore things like that because it seems like...well, irrational nonsense, essentially. It's a blessing and a curse, I know. This does not mean I can't love, though. Maybe it means that because I am more practical and self-aware, I am able to cut through the illusions and love more deeply. My heart essentially has to agree with my head, and I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. It just tends to take a long time to sync up, but I believe it will be worth it in the end.

Fun weekend recap

Ugh I don't want to go back to work. I had a 4 day weekend and I was busy the whole time, in a good way. Friday I had lunch with a couple old Momentum co-workers and ran a million errands. My aunt from California was in town, too, and I saw her for a little while. Then Joel and I went to the horse races for his birthday, which was pretty fun. I won 3 out of 4 races, too. I picked the horses mostly intuitively, based on the names, numbers, and sometimes how they looked--how I "felt" about them. Of course, Joel picked them based on "math" and "statistics," but did not do as well. That just goes to show that facts don't always trump feelings, I say. Next time I will trust my intuition with more money, though, because I didn't really win much with a $2 or $3 bet.

After that we went to a crazy karaoke bar on Hampton (Talayna's), the one with mirrored walls and ceilings, neon lights, and dozens of disco balls. We both signed up for karaoke but chickened out before they called either of our names. I was going to do "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson because it's one of my MJ favorites. I ran into a girl from high school and some of her friends (my "fake talking" buddy in the high school musical), who coaxed me into it. They were going to be my backup singers, but it took too long to call my name and after they left I really didn't want to do it. That was a close call; however, I am now determined to do a karaoke song all by myself someday soon, and that song will be....drum roll..."Abracadabra" by Steve Miller Band. It was my signature song when I was 4 and I used to dance to it all the time in the living room (my parents had the record). My extended family remembers me singing it for them, so I've done it before and I know it like the back of my hand. Wish me luck.

Saturday Linda and I left for Kansas City. We started in Crown Center and saw some cool sculptures and portraits made out of legos. Man, it makes me wish I had made a career out of playing with Play-doh or plastic play food somehow. When I was 7 I remember telling my parents that I wished I could still just "play all day like I did when I was 4"--you know, simpler times. I should have run with my toy art career then, but I guess I missed the boat.

Later we went to dinner at a brewery and sampled 11 different beers. It only came with 6 officially, but our waiter was feeling generous and we were feeling...grateful, but slightly on the verge of nauseous. We could have done without a few of those, but we powered through them, anyway. I mean, we couldn't be rude! We walked to the Mat Kearney concert down the street, which was our official reason for being in Kansas City in the first place. I didn't know his music that well, but it was still pretty good. Later we stopped by the "Power & Light District," the new popular hangout that is full of well, lights, as you can imagine, as well as loud music and bars. We ducked into a quieter Irish bar for a drink, caught a solo Irish dance performance and listened to the bar band.

The next day we visited the art museum and The Plaza, a shopping district and historic part of the city. After an amazing lunch of (only) cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory, I checked out American Apparel and bought a bandeau dress that I absolutely LOVE. It's dark blue and, get this, I can wear it with or without straps in at least 15 different styles! It's so versatile that I could even wear it as a shirt or skirt. The pictures don't really do it justice, but the tutorials might give you a better idea of what it can do. I am a big fan of options and creativity and I think it's the perfect summer dress! I could even decide to wear it one way and change my mind mid-evening.

Dinner with family (oh yeah, we were staying with my aunt & uncle) and a trip to the casino ended the evening and we drove home the next morning. And that, my friends, is how you tour Kansas City. Stick with me, I know how to travel. ;) I'm pretty handy with a map, too, so we didn't get lost once.

Tonight I went to an All Star party at the City Museum with a friend that works there and now I'm finally winding down. I would say that was the best weekend I have had in a long time, although last weekend was pretty great, too. Oh, I love summer...and birthdays...and road trips...

State of emergency

Two-thirds of Republicans still want Palin to be "a major national political figure" in the future? You have got to be kidding me. And aww, she's been getting negative media publicity, poor Palin. I'm pretty sure she did that to herself. Like, that Katie Couric interview was bad publicity, but it was because she opened her mouth without a script. Now, Hilary Clinton's bad publicity seemed unwarranted. I'm not even a big Hilary fan, but you have to admit she was exceedingly more qualified than Palin. Comparing their images and how both of them were portrayed in the media would actually be an interesting study, because it was so different.

Here's the article. I had to rant about this immediately after I saw it. If Palin becomes President in 2012 (or ever), I am so out of here.

Oh, speaking of hypocrites (uh, I mean neocons), has anyone been following Rush Limbaugh's most recent rants? Oh please, Honduras, send some people over here to overthrow Obama and help "us" get "our" government back. Wow, what an idiot. Ironically, when people didn't agree with President Bush (namely the war in Iraq), they (we) were "un-American." Now threatening a coup of the president is patriotic? It's hard to keep up.

Nervous energy

Nothing gets your blood pumping like the sound of your own car pulling out of your own driveway unexpectedly. I was just sitting here at the computer when I heard it, and I went running out after it. It turns out that my mom was pulling my sister's car into the driveway ahead of mine because they are doing curb construction on their street tomorrow morning. My sister asked if she could park in my driveway, sure, but she failed to mention that it would happen tonight. Awesome. Well, now that I'm awake, let's see what else is on my mind...

• Oh! MJ is already haunting his house, maybe. How cool is that? Take a look:

• Sarah Palin has resigned as governor, which sounds like a victory for women everywhere, but I'm afraid that it's an elaborate first step in her underground rise to power. Somehow, I think enough people could be brainwashed by her good looks and hockey mom "charm" to vote her into a higher office. *gag* She is another embodiment of what is wrong with America, by the way--a superficial, stereotypical image with no actual substance. Maybe she's aiming for a spot on "The Hills," in which case I think she should go for it. At least we can keep an eye on a group of them there.
  

• As I read more and more about Japanese culture, it is glaringly apparent that I am a feminist. Well, I knew that before, but this brings it out in me. Like..."husband" and "master" are the same word? Uh, excuse me, no. That is an equal partnership. Also, if I want to sit cross-legged at the dinner table, I should be allowed to do that (not men only). I'm unusually quiet and polite for your average American, but I suppose I am also too opinionated and liberal for Japan. I hide it well, though, huh? Don't be fooled by the quiet, though, because I am definitely a strong-willed, independent woman.

• I love the attitude in Beyonce songs. I have her new song on repeat. Whether it is actually about a man's ego or a man's size is up for debate, but it doesn't really matter. In the minds of men, the two are at least loosely related, anyway, right? The relationship between them is also open to interpretation, I think.
  

• Why does this couch pillow smell like icing and cupcakes? Mmm, it's making me hungry. I'm all out of cake now, too, for the first time in like 3 weeks.

• That reminds me, I should take a cake decorating class for fun at some point in the relatively near future. I hardly ever bake, but maybe I would if I could turn it into a mini masterpiece. On the other hand, part of the reason I don't appreciate the "art" in baking or cooking is that it's so fleeting. You slave over it for many minutes, sometimes hours, and then someone comes along and eats it before you can pronounce the name of it. What a waste. Just give me some food, please, so that I don't starve. Good food is...fine. Great. Sure, thanks. Meals are just a means to an end, and if that end is dessert, all the better. I can appreciate a good meal, it just usually seems like I have other things to do that seem to be more interesting.
  

Busy girl

I think I'm just going to celebrate everything from now until my birthday on August 19, because summer is a good time to celebrate everything and there's a lot going on. Most notably, all the cool kids have birthdays during this time, so it's the perfect excuse (okay, there are some stragglers in September. I didn't forget about you). Also, it's just a good time to skip work and do some traveling. I'm warming up with a road trip to Kansas City this weekend and then, of course, Japan is only 3 weeks away!

The party started last Friday and hopes to continue until at least Monday of next week. :) Friday's concert was great and Saturday Joel and I took an impromptu trip to a couple Augusta wineries. (We were both off work in the daytime for once!) Sitting on those scenic patios, listening to music, eating, drinking, and talking is always nice. I always seem to have relatively revealing conversations on winery tours, not surprisingly. I would be fairly open to talking about whatever when I'm sober, too, depending on the person, because I will pretty much have to tell the truth, by default. I am a terrible liar and not good at being phony.

The rain stayed away, too, just long enough for the fireworks show in Florissant. Sunday I posted pictures on facebook from last year's Australia/New Zealand/Hawaii trip (only a year late), had dinner with my family, and caught up with Melissa. I also came across some old childhood polaroids taken at Halloween and birthday parties. Maybe I'll post some of them on facebook, because they crack me up. I forgot that I used to strike a pose or present something like Vanna White in all of my pictures. Just standing there and smiling was so boooring. I should start doing that again.

The only bad part of the whole weekend was that...well, I forgot to close the moon roof on Friday night. And it proceeded to rain for several hours straight. Into my car. Of course, I didn't know about it until the following afternoon when I was going to leave, and by then it had stopped raining. Yeah. The front seats, the roof, and the cup holders were completely soaked. I had always been so good about closing that roof, but I assumed sooner or later that was going to happen. It seems pretty dry at this point, but I don't know for sure.

Tonight I caught up with a friend at happy hour and it turned into a comedy show at The Funny Bone with some good ol' truck drivers from Kansas City (that we met at happy hour). All the comedians were surprisingly funny and I don't think that's the beer talking. The truck drivers were also amusing, and I didn't even notice until we were leaving that one of them was wearing a confederate flag handkerchief on his head. They were relatively polite, too, and as long as they stayed a few feet away from me at all times, they were okay. I mean, I would have rather just spent time with my friend, but whatever. Slightly annoying, but relatively harmless.

Tuesday and Thursday I should probably go back to practice, Wednesday is the No Doubt concert (yay!), Friday is Joels' birthday/gig and my aunt is in from California, and Saturday-Monday is a concert and fun in Kansas City. I'm already exhausted, but in a good way. :)

The Fray

It seems like every passing month just sneaks up on me. We are halfway through the year already! This year has mostly been a breeze, which is a very welcome change of pace. I made a last-minute decision to go to The Fray concert tonight, and it should be fun. I think I went to their concert around this time last year, which seems like a lifetime ago. They are good musicians and their songs are meaningful. "You Found Me" is pretty much my anthem:


Lyrics | The Fray lyrics - You Found Me lyrics