confession

Tonight, I learned that spending a late evening working on a database and my contemporary folk pandora station do not mix well....

My solution?

The creation of my *NSync pandora station....!

I went from snooze-fest to sing-a-long party within the span of a minute!!

Currently jamming to a Backstreet Boys tune.....I feel like I'm a senior in high school all over agin.
Flirty 30, ftw  :)

meet me in st. louis

or more aptly titled...
Lessons Learned: St. Louis edition

1. If you're picking friends up at the airport....whatever you do....DO NOT accidentally use the bus lane.....it results in lots of yelling and honking.
2. Drury Inn offers free appetizers and three free drinks for guests during Happy Hour...a big time win for anyone on a budget.
3. The Big Bang Piano Bar attracts bachelorette/bachelor parties like you wouldn't believe.  I think we counted around 8-10 bachelorette parties alone....pure insanity!
4. You DO NOT get complimentary bread if you order an appetizer at The Spaghetti Factory (even though all meals are advertised to come with bread, soup/salad, etc)...unless you ask the waiter, then he'll bring you three loaves just to be snarky. 
5. To have a delicious breakfast/brunch/lunch, just visit Roosters for a yummy crepe.
6. The older I get (ahem, which is still on the younger side of the line), the less travel-friendly I become.
7. The free Anheuser-Busch tour is totally worth the time...which is saying a lot since I don't drink beer. For you beer lovers, they give two free nice-sized samples.
8. If you're in the mood for a movie....I suggest checking out Chase Park Plaza, which is actually housed in a hotel....the theater even has a man playing an organ to entertain the crowd prior to the previews!
9. On the movie subject.... "Midnight in Paris" is a very endearing movie...it harkens back to older Woody Allen films.  Definitely a charming film for those who love Paris and have a nostalgic disposition.
10. Oh, and don't start watching "Reservation Road" when you're getting ready to go out....it's a serious downer.
11. I feel like all the fleur-de-lis around town made more sense after I made the obvious connection that St. Louis was named after the canonised king of France. 
12. St. Louis is actually home to a cathedral housing the largest mosaic installation in the world.
13. Holly = Patron Saint of Hospitality (at least to Carla, Damona and me!) ....after some research in relation to one of our many convos, I learned that St. Louis is the Patron Saint of many areas (including, but not limited to):

*button makers
*difficult marriages (really??)
*distillers (this could be why it's the home to Anheuser-Busch!)
*grooms
*tertiaries (which I'm choosing to believe that this relates to the definition pertaining to birds)

I think I relate to Saint Catherine of Alexandria much more....I mean, she is the patron saint of old maids, spinsters and secretaries. ;)

As you can probably guesstimate, the trip was great....it even included a cruise through downtown with the windows rolled down/sunroof open just so we could blare "Just a Dream"(even though "Country Grammar" would have been my first choice) ....such a great way to commemorate being in Nelly's hometown!

I only wish I would've watched "Meet Me in St. Louis" before the trip!

random mondegreen moment of today:

^{singing the lyrics to Ke$ha's Tik Tok as.....}

^{The party don't stop til I walk in}

yeeeesh...I certainly don't want a party to end just because I show up....that's probably why the actual lyrics contain the word start.....

buzz worthy

My friend, Jen, sent me this photo a few days ago....which we both found pretty humorous....

You can read this previous post to understand why!

Makes me think someone at Louis Vuitton might be reading my blog..... ;)

flightless bird

The realization has set in that my passport has officially expired...and it makes me slightly anxious.  I've always liked the idea of being able to leave the country at a moment's notice (not that I act on such opportunities...often)...but alas, I cannot run away to Europe (or even Canada) today...

the Vonnegut connection

I really like random coincidences, even when there is no real or personal effect on me....like last night:

I'm currently reading Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (it's the latest book club pick), and I had gone to a coffee shop after work to read some before catching a movie with some friends (hence, the author was freshly on my mind).

The movie happened to be Can't Hardly Wait (honestly probably my favorite teen film) which was being shown for Girlie Movie night at the Alamo Drafthouse....and I completely forgot that at the end of movie the main actor (the endearing Ethan Embry) is leaving (or, at least, trying to) for a workshop with Kurt Vonnegut.

Made me feel cool....until I realized I was essentially 15 years behind the times.  :)

ps - now that summer is upon us, maybe i'll have some time to blog!

hello sugar

A clear sign that I'm sleep-deprived....stuff like this ends up packed in my bag for work:

I truly hope to avoid showing up to the office in my sweatpants...but that is the next step in the lack of sleep progession.  If I get to that point, I would highly suggest greeting me with caffeine! ;)

notes from another monday (not) morning...

just a few of the errant thoughts that crossed my mind today...

1.  Why don't people take fasts from work like they do from food, tv, etc? About two seconds later, it hit me that a fast of that sort would probably equal unemployment. Shut down that rabbit hole pretttttty fast. 

2.  Why is Donatello the only Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle that I can never remember the name of? More importantly, why do I care??

sidenote: Want to know the name that comes to mind instead of Donatello (literally every time)? Versace. Seriously, he should be the 5th turtle.

3.  Is it possible to be on a highlighter high? If so, I think I'm on one.

4.  Could I reaaalllllly identify pajama jeans if I randomly came across someone wearing them?

notes from monday morning

1.  My caffeine addiction is to the point where I am willing to trade a $5 bill for three $1 bills without question just so I can buy a soda from the vending machine.  

2.  My office mate related me to an episode of "An Idiot Abroad"...the correlation would probably offend most other people, but I find it humorous...  
BUNNY HUG! (that's all I really have to say about that...)

3.  The office interns think I am 24 years old....and I'm gonna let them keep thinking that.

4.  I literally just received a work email that consisted of three words...in quotes. Not really sure how to respond.

:)

2011: eat. pray. love.

Soooo each year...it's kinda become an expectation for me to choose a theme for the year...a mantra of sorts. I guess in a way it's the same as making a list of resolutions...but I mainly see it as a mental mind-set for the year. Recent years have been associated with personal slogans such as:

Great in '08 - to be a better friend, daughter, sister, etc...to set realistic goals for myself...to challenge myself in new ways, etc

Redefine in '09 - to not be confined to previous expectations

2010, Live Your Life - to live my life without getting bogged down in ridiculous things or becoming worried about everything to come

Most years it's been fairly easy for me to come up with a theme...because I've had a good idea of what I wanted out of the upcoming year based on the year prior. However, this time around it was a little difficult to come up with what I wanted this year's focus to be....I think I was a little jumbled, because I felt drawn to several concepts that seemed unrelated.  It even became a running joke New Year's Eve night among my friends. Since last year's theme was based on a song...they kept suggesting mantras such as "Party Like a Rockstar," "Bottoms Up" and "All I Do is Win."  The funny thing is that I seriously almost chose "Dog Days are Over" as my theme...mainly for these lyrics:

Run fast for your mother,  run fast for your father

Run for your children,  all your sisters and brothers

Leave all your love and your longing behind.  

You can't carry it with you if you want to survive

 

I don't know the actual intent...but I interpret the lyrics to mean seek out those who genuinely care for you, give all the love you have because it doesn't do any good to withhold it and stop focusing on things that you can't change.

That being said...I decided to go a different, semi-related route and select 'eat, pray, love.'

Now let me just say that I honestly don't like the inherent association with the movie or book...because I don't personally advocate the message of either. Nothing about my 2011 mantra is about running away from problems or leaving friends/loved ones behind to escape the reality of my circumstances just to focus all my efforts on myself. I do, however, like the actual words. They're simple and straightforward in their message, yet incredibly powerful.  My resolve is about embracing a full life that is healthy on multiple levels....deepening my faith and further developing my knowledge of Christ....loving my family, friends, acquaintances and even strangers in a way that exhibits the love of my Savior.

Eat. Pray. Love.
2011, let the journey continue.... :)

blegh

Ever had one of those days where you just should've stayed in bed....well, it's been one of those weeks for me.

After an already long week, which has included my car being towed from our work lot while I was working overtime, a water moccasin situation during our event set-up and all other kinds of fun...today has been no exception.

First let me just note that currently all is not right in my head...
a. I'm sick...like for real (this is what I get for joking about calling in sick during tournament season)
b. After the past couple of weeks, I honestly have no concept of what weekday it may or may not be

This morning I went into the office to assist in putting together our Volleyball program. When things started to slow down a little, I got the bright idea that I would run downstairs and unload the office suburban (which was fully loaded with Cross Country supplies). This would have been an excellent move if I had not:

a. left my key to the office on my desk on the 3rd floor
b. left my phone in my purse beside my desk on the 3rd floor
c. forgotten that our office doors automatically lock on the weekends (of course, I remembered this just as the door shut behind me)

Which left me outside, in the cold and sick. After yelling, beating on the doors until my hand was too bruised to continue, honking the league car no less than 18 times and waking up every dog in the neighborhood, I gave up and laid down in front of our back door. After a generous amount of time passed (and thoughts of going door-to-door in our eastside neighborhood to beg to use a phone, running down Manor to track down a cop on patrol, or pushing a UT emergency phone button, etc), a coworker finally came down to check on me.

Being the angel that she is, she promptly sent me home.

After I thaw out a little, take some meds and sleep some more...I think I'll feel like a brand new person...or at least regain a little common sense.

happy wizarding-world-of-disney halloween!

This past weekend, I got to fly over to Orlando to see my younger bro and catch up with a friend...this of course was only made better by a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Islands of Adventures, Epcot's 15th annual Food & Wine Fest, a little time in the Magic Kingdom for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween and a truly awesome gospel brunch with Apostle J.L. Cash at the House of Blues. 

VACATION WIN (times 3)

1. Captain EO!  I don't know who was able to pull together the genius of Michael Jackson, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola with a cameo of Anjelica Huston thrown in the mix...but someone at Disney in the 1980's must have been a smooth talker, because they accomplished just that.  I vaguely remember seeing Captain EO back in the 80's, but it was a real treat to watch it again as an adult. It is completely over the top for a short Disney 3-D experience film...but that's what makes it so great. Think Star Wars meets The Dark Crystal merged with the Michael Jackson Thriller video. Check out the clips below, and you'll see what I'm talking about:



I can pull off the open-jacket-fling, but my moon walk needs a little work...



2. Free candy...that's right I said FREE CANDY! Ok, maybe that's not technically true since there was an entry ticket involved...but Disney has "free" candy for those who come trick-or-treating in the park during "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween" Party.  Some of my favorite costumes were a family dressed up as crayons (I really wish the dad had come as the crayon box...or that the parents had been primary colors, with the kid as a secondary color...), a guy wearing a shirt that said "i'm scarier without the costume"...which is my personal choice of costume, but my favorite was a dad with his little girl...she was a tiny toddler-size cinderella and he was dressed as prince charming...completely adorable as they walked hand in hand through the park.

 3. I was on vacation....duh!

VACATION FAIL

I was put on camera duty by my mom. So I brought two cameras...only to have a complete stranger (kindly attempting to take my photo) point out that I didn't have any memory remaining in my nicer camera. Oh no, the memory card wasn't full...I just didn't have one in the camera period. My "doh!" [hand slap to the forehead] moment of the trip. Which left me with the point-and-shoot. Thought I got a few pretty nice pics despite my limitations. :)

Plus I also committed a major faux pas....at least in the world of all things sci-fi.

I cross-referenced Star Trek and Star Wars unintentionally.  Basically I made the "live long and prosper" sign,  yet said "may the force be with you"..... my bro in turn gave me a look of utter disgust. I don't know what the problem is....like Miley Cyrus would say, it's the best of both worlds!

[a comment I'm sure that will even further disgust my brother....even though he secretly loves Miss Hannah Montana] ;)

I'm back with an attack!

My mom seems like a quiet, unassuming person....which for the most part she is....until you get to know her, and then she's a little cheekier than expected. Kinda like me I guess....must be in the genes.

Anyways....my parents are coming to move all my listen.read.love.repeat. inventory back to my hometown soon, and it made me think of a pretty funny story from the evening prior to my Austin event.

My mom and I left my crew of faithful friends/fam back at the apartment to run an errand. We parked at the HEB, took care of our mission, and started back to the car.  My mom managed to make it inside the car, but as I was walking to the driver's side...things went a little awry.

Looking back on the situation, I would have noted that the couple hurriedly rushing past me trying to shield their baby acted in this manner for a specific reason. Instead I continued on...it wasn't until I opened the driver's side door that I realized I had just walked into in swarm of bees. Not wanting to draw the bees into my car, I started running around the car like a crazy woman. Worst part of this all was that I initially ran straight towards the couple with the baby...serious no-no!  So then I had to retreat and jump in the car as fast as possible. My mom was laughing so hard that she was crying, and the only words she could manage to get out were: " hahahaha....bees....haha.....coming out [gasp] of your....purse!"

[Apparently from her angle, it looked like the multitude of bees apparated out of my purse...and yes I casually just used a Harry Potter reference.]

When we got back to my apartment, she couldn't even make it through the story without cracking up.  My mom had a lot of fun reliving this story for the rest of the weekend...especially since she said that watching the whole scenario was pretty much like watching an old school cartoon.  I can admit now that it was pretty hysterical....especially when I think about the parents of the baby running from me as I ran towards them.
oops.

Notes to take from this:
1. When I encounter creatures from the wild (in this case bees...past experiences give insight into encounters with snakes, possums, armadillos, etc), logic leaves the picture and insanity enters. Catch a video of my response and you may have a viral hit on your hands!
2. My mom has a 'mean girl' sense of humor (ie. she finds my panic-driven-knee-jerk response to "danger" extremely funny)! ;)

90210: Prime Time

So this year my birthday just happens to fall on "90210" (Sept. 2, 2010), and I reeeeeaaaaallly wanted to have a 90's throw-back party with awesome 90's pop rap music, Fresh Prince-inspired clothing, etc....but since all my energy was funneled into the listen.read.love.repeat. event this past weekend, my super-awesome 90's party will have to wait for another year! Instead I plan to celebrate 29 in a manner that's become somewhat of a tradition in my late twenties...at a place that involves both a "2" and a "9"... :)

However, just for the heck of it...I thought I'd share a few early 90's photos:

Can we just talk about all the awesome hairstyles?  Btw...I'm the little blonde runt third from the left on the front row, casually wearing the wrong color shorts.

Feathered bangs. Enough said.

Just in case you were curious, here are some fun facts about 29 via wikipedia....

• It is the tenth prime number, and also the fourth primorial prime. It is also the sum of three consecutive squares, 2² + 3² + 4². It is an Eisenstein prime with no imaginary part and real part of the form 3n − 1. Since 18! + 1 is a multiple of 29 but 29 is not one more than a multiple 18, 29 is a Pillai prime. 29 is also the 10th supersingular prime. (which I interpret to mean that I'll be in my super single prime...) 
• The atomic number of copper
• The New General Catalogue object NGC 29, a spiral galaxy in the constellation Andromeda
• The lunar month is very close to twenty-nine days.
• Saturn requires over 29 years to orbit the Sun. 
• The number of days February has in leap years.
• The number of letters in the Turkish,^[1] Finnish, Swedish,^[2] Faroese,^[3] and Norwegian^[4] alphabets.
• The highest possible score in a hand of Cribbage.
• An album by Ryan Adams.^[6]
• The track the Chattanooga Choo Choo leaves in the Glenn Miller song.
• The amount of attributes existing according to The Strokes in You Only Live Once.
• The number every woman in the "wrong age" claims to be. According to "The Nanny". (ahem....not so, b/c I really will be 29)
• The number of Knuts in one Sickle in the fictional currency in the Harry Potter novels

A little preparatory reading to consider reading before September 2, 2011 (not really......ok....maaaaybe):
29 & Counting: Chicks Guide to Turning 30
30 Things that Everyone Should Know By 30
Midlife Crisis at 30

brotherly love

My older bro turned 30 this past weekend...to commemorate the Big 3-0, here's the card I gave him:

[My message says: 'For your 30th birthday, I thought I'd offer you the gift of perspective! You're 1/3 of the way there! :)]

While I was looking at all the numbered birthday cards, this card caught my attention as the only appropriate option...especially considering that I gave him a "Happy 30th" card last year only so I could write "oooops....that's right, this year you're hanging on to 29!"

I've set myself up for much ridicule this year (and next)...but it's been worth it!  :)

---------------------------------------

It was also my mom's birthday this past weekend...and I had several conversations with my younger bro (regarding a gift for our mom's birthday) that went something like this...

me:   "Hey...so what's this gift idea that you've got mom?"

TK:  "She said she really wants a new shirt." (obviously satisfied to pass along such vital news)

me:  [crickets]

TK:  "You know...a shirt to go 'out' in..."

me:  [intrigued/confused silence] "...what do you mean by 'out' exactly?"

TK:  "well...like to go to Beaumont (the nearest city to my hometown) and stuff, but not to wear around the house or to church..."

me:  "hmmmm...." [my bro still is oblivious as to how ambiguous this description still is]

[silence]

me:  "soooo, maybe I should just take her shopping...?"

TK:  "yeah, that works too."

three reasons...

why this past Friday rocked:

1. I got a call from the Sustainable Food Center to say that they want listen.read.love.repeat. to be a part of the Sunset Valley Farmer's Market (instead of just occuring in an area near it)...exciting stuff...

2. I got a semi-private office space...after a year of being hidden behind a printer at the end of a hallway! No more awkward convos from people waiting for their documents to print... :)

3. I got to hang out with Meagan's little fella, Hudson! Isn't he a cutie?! I think most of our office was anxiously waiting for his visit.

Life 301: Lessons in Dating

This past Saturday, I got to enjoy a lively dinner with my fam (including people who might as well be family). The large party involved my parents and younger bro...two of my good guy friends...one set of their parents...and some of their siblings. 

My friend's mom commented that as I get close to 30,  that I'm gonna have my pick of these guys.
[when I was a teen, I made "back-up" plans with multiple guy friends (a la Phoebe from Friends)... therefore securing my options early on]

I laughed and joked that it was my all part of my master plan....I've just been waiting for the ball to be completely in my court before I finally settle down.

One of the guys, who tends to occasionally suffer from "foot-in-mouth" syndrome, remarked, "well B, out of everyone I know, you're the ONLY girl over 27 who's still single.......sooo you're looking preeeeetty good right about now!!"  (I sincerely wish you could hear the way my friend said this b/c it was hysterical...while it was a compliment, it sounded like a complete burn.)

[The table (with me included) erupted in laughter.]

Amidst the giggles, I leaned over and told my friend that he has a thing or two to learn about women. Like...

lesson #1: never reference a woman's age
(especially in a way that suggests she's some sort of sideshow freak)

Later in the evening, this same guy friend was wildly gesturing (like he's scarfing down food) at the waitress to indicate that he's waiting for his food to be delivered....I casually dropped this hint:

lesson #2: sometimes talking is necessary....
(a given should be when you're trying to communicate with a waitress)

And as he's waiting for his food to be delivered, he pointed out that my large piece of chicken looked like it had been genetically altered and therefore could result in my gaining an extra toe....hence, my quick (and fairly comedic) follow-up to #2:

lesson #3: but more often than not, silence is golden.

It was at this point I quipped that I wished I could record my friend's comments and play them back to him...and, with a goofy grin, he commented to my parents that he thinks I've told him that before (which I have...many, many times). 

There were several other "lessons" that popped up through the course of the evening...such as watching out for ladies with "crazy eyes" (I was immediately informed that all women have "crazy eyes"), never talking about a woman's weight, checking the crazy/hot scale standing, etc.

My parents were practically in tears from laughing so hard at the whole conversation (I think my dad about lost his tea at least twice)...especially given the timing, quick chatter and funny looks involved in it all. And my other guy friend was making the situation even more humorous by trying to work the other end of the spectrum by saying things like, "B, you know, I've heard that a woman really comes into her own during her 30's...it's when you really grow in your own beauty"....only to be put on the spot (by his mom) as to how a woman in her 50's could be perceived.  Poor guys couldn't catch a break...


My final tip for the evening...

Lesson #??: Don't take dating advice from a single gal (ie. me).
;)

note to myself

I should never ever be allowed to go grocery shopping when I'm legitimately hungry (and craving sweets), because this is what I come home with:

Oreos

Cinnamon Rolls

6pk of Big Red

Brownies topped with Chocolate Chip Butter Fudge Ice Cream

2 bottles of Chocolate Milk (hey, at least I got a 1/2 gallon of real milk too)

No wonder the check-out girl gave me a disapproving look!

float on

Dear Comal,

Yesterday you pushed me down and hit me in the knee (while drawing the tiniest bit of blood), but I think that only made our time together more lively and adventurous. Thanks for hosting my "polygamist family" as we floated along....I'm sure our discussions were highly educational to you.  You and your wily ways....kept trying to separate me from the group, but we had a "no toob left behind" policy [and yes, I really did just spell tube like that....on purpose].  You definitely amused me while I was the DD (designated drifter). Next time, I might throw you off-guard and bring my wine-in-a-juice-box...who knows what fun we'll have then!

B

phone chronicles...

with an anonymous, awesome friend....

my friend was trying to talk me into wearing my hair curly [note: my hair is naturally straight...curls seem to be something beyond my hair's comprehension] for an event this upcoming friday:

me:  "you don't understand...my hair looks awesome for maybe the first hour, but then everything goes awry"


aaf:  "seriously....I'm sure it's not that bad!"


me:  "I'll send you a photo to prove it!"


aaf:  "[long pause].......[snort]...HAHAHAHA.....Ok, maybe it IS that bad!!"


me:  "hahahaha....I told you so! so I think straight hair is the way to go..."


aaf:  "[still laughing] agreed!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------


minutes later, on the subject of guy prospects:


aaf:  "well...I give all your damn bastards the benefit of the doubt."

me:  "hahahahaha....yes, you do...and I'm gonna quote you on that. Plus I think you could add that along with awesome friend and extremely honest (especially in regards to my hair) to your personal resume."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

several minutes after that:

aaf:  "[giggling]....sorry...still laughing about your hair"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

**originally forgot to include this section...
even later in the convo (in the midst of another topic):

aaf: "seriously, what friends were you with that didn't inform you that your hair had transformed into a hot mess??...b/c you really shouldn't be friends with them anymore. [still snickering]"

me: "[chuckling] actually I'm supposed to be a bridesmaid in one of their weddings..."

[laughter interlude]

aaf: "you should rethink that."

warning: this may end up in a sitcom

As I was waiting in the Austin airport to board my delayed flight to Long Beach, Carla called to chat with me about my transportation to Laguna. Carla had originally planned to pick me up, but then she found out that me and one of Jason's friends were actually coming in on the same flight...and this guy apparently had his friend [Jason's friend's friend....ummm, yes this gets confusing] picking him up on the way to Laguna...so she asked if I would be ok hitching a ride with them [Jason's friend {who we'll call Dude One} & Jason's friend's friend {who we'll call Dude Two}]...and since I'm a fan of adventure I (of course) agreed.

First, I have to find Dude One...who Carla had described as "a really tall guy who looks like he should be in Weezer"....note to all: most guys flying from Austin to Long Beach seem to fit this description. Just when I was about to call Carla back and tell her that finding this guy was like picking out Waldo in a scene where everyone's dressed like Waldo.....a guy walks up to me and says, "umm hey...I think you're Brooke"....ummm, yes that would be me. My introduction to Dude One. [One of my friends was like, "he prob was told to look for a petite, quirky Nancy Drew look-a-like with her iPod on and a book in-hand"]

While Dude One definitely had some Weezer-esque qualities (with the Buddy Holly glasses and tattoos)....he totally looked like Phil Dunphy from Modern Family! I'm a huge fan of that show...so the fact that Dude One not only looked like Phil, but the fact that he talked like him too was a genuine novelty to me.

Finally we made it to Long Beach, and got picked up by Dude Two....who just happened to resemble Mitchell & drive a Prius....needless to say, I had to restrain myself from giggling throughout the 45-minute car ride. Especially since I was wedged between car seats in the back seat.

When I shared this experience with my office mates (who also happen to be fans of the show)...they extrapolated that I was riding with the true inspirations for the characters...and therefore could end up in an upcoming episode as random girl #2 who Mitch and Phil "accidentally" pick up at the airport on their way to a wedding.  

ps - click here to see some professional pics from Carla's wedding!