A Man's Burger

Those new Carl's Jr. adds are disgusting. It's gross enough to see a commercial for a heart attack in a sandwich, but apparently it gets worse. Now big, juicy, beefy burgers are only for men. They are men's burgers and if men don't eat there they will go hungry. Are you kidding me? It is 2007 and trust me women can eat huge burgers if they want to. I have recently started eating more red meat (for whatever reason my body responds best to it's protein. sucks.) and let me tell you I look forward to my weekly BEEFY burger. I very rarely opt to go the fast food route, but if I do let me reassure you I will be skipping Carl's Jr. Their shakes are so freaking delicious, but it's not worth it. I'll just go to Jack In The Box or In-N-Out.









Where's Hardee's when you need it?

Layover In Vegas

More on NY later. Here's what I had to write about as I was waiting for my flight in Las Vegas in between 8-11PM on June 28:

Airports are weird. They are apparently the only place where anything goes. Wanna wear your pajamas? No prob. Those cutoffs that are so worn in with those new Crocs you bought on vacation? Awesome. You and your husband feel like wearing matching outfits? By all means.

I love seeing old couples in airports because they are so non-chalent about traveling. Fuck it, nothing else to do. I'll read my romance novel while waiting 24 hours for the flight that was just canceled. And old people on vacation are the best dressers ever. Period.

In the Las Vegas airport they have slot machines. I mean, why wait to get to the strip? Or if you have a layover you can either a) spend all your money you had saved for your vacation before actually reaching your destination or b) ignore the fact that you spent a shitload of money on vacation and spend more at the airport. Could be your lucky day.....and it's better than spending it on magazines and gum right?

NY DAY 1

For those of you who know me (and if you don't it's weird you would be reading this), you probably know I lived in NYC for a little while about a year and a half ago. I loved the city, still do, but the last month or so that I lived there left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It became too expensive, too loud, too cold, too depressing. I recently took a trip back to the city I loved and I realized that it's still home, although I like it where I am thank you very much.

As I left LAX I actually realized that I was going to miss LA and I finally realized that I felt like I had a home. It was a great feeling because I never feel like I am home when I go to Indiana, the place that I grew up, and I wasn't in New York long enough for it to be like home. I love feeling like I will have something to come home to.

After a 3 hour layover in Las Vegas (more on that in a future blog) and a total of about 6 hours in the air, I finally arrived at JFK. I went straight for the train, which I miss so so so much, and headed to Ali's new apartment. I made her get out of bed to come get me (9am is a bit early for me and my friends) and planned to take a nap, but we were too excited so we stayed up chatting about what had been going on in our lives. When her roommates woke up we went downstairs to an East Coast staple: Dunkin Donuts. I had forgotten how fast-paced this city was so after about 10 people barked their order before me I ordered what anyone else who hadn't been there in over a year would: a delicious iced coffee. There really is something about iced coffee out there.

After more catching up I eventually left Ali to go to Alison and Eric's. They live in my old neighborhood, so naturally I choose to stay with them. New York is very neighborhood-oriented and when you live in one area for awhile you become attached to it, the people at the deli, the bars, the guys playing dominos on the street, even the dead stray cats you find on the sidewalk. You just learn to love it all.

That night I relaxed with the cutest couple ever. I am so happy that Alison is with such a great guy, perfect for her. They are both in just the right place and have been living together forever. It's only a matter of time before she calls me and asks me to if this wedding dress would look ok. And I can't wait.

As I fall asleep on my friends' couch I hear all the old sounds of the neighborhood. They are lucky to have a kinda quiet block, but I can still hear the faint sound of reggaeton at 2am or a rooftop party from the McKibbon lofts just a few blocks away. And I used to be apart of it all. At this point I wish I could just pack up all my stuff and move back. I'm back in my comfort zone.

TO BE CONTINUED.....(I know you can't wait, don't pretend)

plastic surgery

A few months ago I was in a bookstore coffee shop trying to pass the day away when an old couple sat across from me. They seemed to be with a therapist or life coach or something. The life coach was trying to tell the lady in the couple what was wrong with the man's actions, almost kissing the lady's ass. The man wasn't having any of it and eventually just walked away, with good reason.

First off, I can't believe people get paid for crap like that. Second, as annoying as this all was their was something even more bothersome going on. The lady, who was probably in her sixties or so, had so much plastic surgery it was sick. And not even in the plastic sort of way. It was more in the 'are they really finished?' sort of way. And maybe they weren't. Maybe she was just between surgeries or something.

Either way, to see this odd-looking couple together sucked. The man, who was about the same age, had no obvious plastic surgery done. I'm guessing it's not too common for men to have plastic surgery, but I don't know the statistics. I just can't believe that their are many couples who are probably just like these two.

It sucks that women feel so much pressure from society or family or whomever to stay young. It's only natural to grow old. I can't say that I will love getting wrinkles or cellulite (more since I already have some, gross), but I can say that I would rather look old than look fake. A little plastic surgery here and there fine, but you gotta know when to stop.

Or be like the husband and be fine with the idea of growing old. I gotta say when I get older I'll be happy that I won't have to care so much about what I look like and will hopefully be able to eat a little more ice cream without being scared of gaining a few pounds.

fakers

So for all of you amy winehouse fans. I have something to show you:



What a quick transition in between records. Her background music may be good (vocals, eh), but I can't buy into something that looks more and more fake everyday. Maybe she change quicky, like young girls do, and then fire her manager because she didn't want to go to rehab (don't forget she's an alcoholic. She sure won't). I can't help but think she's just the UK version of Pink. I'm gonna go listen to some Phil Spector albums instead.

life is ruined

The more I learn about people when I read in and out of school and from meeting people in general, the more I realize the world is hopeless. All I want to do is help people, but how much will little old me really be helping? Too many of my friends seem to not care, which is there choice, so I can't complain, I'm just frustrated. How do I convince people to do something not for themselves? How do I convince myself to do that?

And the more I read the more I realize that there is always a equal argument for either side of an issue. Am I a liberal because of who I am or what I read? If I read conservative stuff from the start would I be conservative? It's all very confusing and annoying, but I'd like to think it's in my nature to care about people. But then i guess conservatives would have an argument that they care for people too....

Also, I have been trying to get involved with a few non-profits with no luck. One in particular is moveon.org so if anyone has any connections that would be lovely. And by involved I do not mean money I mean my abled-body.

One more thing: the movie Blood Diamonds made me want to throw up within the first ten minutes and want to kill myself by the end. How many countries are going through something like that that we may not know about until it's too late? Why would you ever want to wear a diamond again? And what other than diamond manufacturers support things like this? There are obvious ones, but also not so obvious. It makes me not want to buy anything every again, but since I'm an American for now I'll try to do more research on where my shit comes from.

freedom to petition sucks

Well it doesn't suck really but sometimes it does.

This week I was strolling along campus to have a delicious and tasty ice tea in the student center when I came upon two HUGE signs of an aborted fetuses, as well as two protestors passing out literature that I'm guessing said the same old shit about why abortion should be illegal. After seeing these awful pictures, which I had seen before but never as big as me and in my face, I seriously felt naesous and almost had to go home.

I proceeded to go to the front desk of the student center to let them know what was going on. In a matter of minutes the signs were down and the two jerks were escorted off campus. Score one for me.

Now don't get me wrong I agree that they have a right to protest and spread their beliefs (however retarted they are), but there were a few things I had problems with. 1. Very interesting that both protestors were men. 2. Don't they realize that the only reactions they will get are from the people who agree with them and the people who don't. They are not really succeeding in getting anyone else to support their beliefs by scaring people straight. 3. For the women who are and who have gone through something like that I just can't imagine. It's upsetting enough to have to go through a decision like that. No one needs even more guilt. And if they did change a woman's mind about getting an abortion that week and that women ends up becoming a bad parent, sweet thanks a lot. You've just increased the chances of yet another woman having to go through that same situation in about 16 or so years. Good one. 4. Protest all you want, but if you're offending someone then go home.

some stuff

Lots of stuff coming up for me. I just booked my ticket to SXSW, so if you have anyone who needs a DJ let a girl know. Two events this week. Yessss can't wait!!

This Sunday. Party is back on!! Also with special guest DJ Chronica.

This Wednesday and every single Wednesday after I will be DJing at The Vine Bar with Napalm Suicide hosting and everyone else dancing their asses off.

Bitches Brew every Saturday. This Saturday - Stitch N Bitch, etc.

Also, school is kicking my ass. I am officially the nerdy kid you always tries to know the answer in class and who everyone asks for answers from. Come on guys do that shit yourselves. I don't want to talk to you, seriously.

the library

So these days when I find myself with a lot of time on my hands I have been escaping to none other than Borders bookstore. I pay my $1.50 for my black iced tea which is a little too expensive if you ask me, but in exchange I have access to all the new magazines I can handle plus enough books to keep me occupied for most of the year. Be it Ms., the feminist news magazine I have recently taken a liking to, or The Fader, the only real magazine I use to know what I should be listening to, or even books based on New Journalism or the fallen activist Che, I can spend hours in this store all for the price of $1.50.

So whatever happened to libraries? Well to be honest I haven't really set foot in one since college and only then because I worked there. However, everything I learned in the past about libraries is that they rarely ever have the books I'm looking for or the variety of magazines I need (yes need).

As a child the library was my home away from home. I was one of those kids who never did anything wrong. I remember reading a dictionary from cover to cover in the span of one of my mother's bowling nights. Granted it was a kids' dictionary, but really who does that? I joined the library club as soon as I was old enough to read, which for me was about 3 or 4. I would go there to play chess, to give my old books to kids who didn't have enough money for books of their own, and to relax. The only real time I remember getting in trouble was when I ran away to go the library when I was 7.

In adolescence I stopped reading as much, but that didn't stop me from going to the only place I really felt comfortable in my small hometown. I would go there with friends to chat and play tag, which usually got us kicked out, but since I was basically a VIP we were always allowed back. My freshman year in high school me and my best friend were ordered not to see each other for a week because we locked her door and ran away to the library when we were supposed to be cleaning up her room.

I suppose in high school I moved on a bit from my love for reading and started finding other hobbies to occupy my time. I made real friends, produced the school TV show, and started working. And then in college what other job should I get but working in a library.

So after moving away from home to New York City the one place I took comfort in was a bookstore. The world's best bookstore is in that city. Strand is huge and if you haven't been there you better go. Cheap books and just about anything you want. Walking into that store is overwhelming and unbelievable and you truly realize how much of a dork you really are. But unfortunately I couldn't read there, just buy. So off to Borders I went.

So am I trying to say we should all go to Borders for our books. No, not really. I actually want to find an independent bookstore where I could feel comfortable reading for as long as I want, but then still feel good about purchasing a book from the store if I'd like. But my real dream would be to find a nice library where I can find books that I need as well as all of the new magazines that I love to read, but can't buy. Then I could put that $1.50 towards me not just reading about things in the world that interest me, but doing something about them as well.

New Year's Resolutions

are pretty pointless. However, I've decided there are a few things I need to do in the near future. Some of them can be found in this Gloria Steinem article. Others include finishing my business cards, filing my taxes, buying a new pair of headphones, trying to enroll in classes, and taking a dance class.

Oh and to have many many more of nights like these:

Sorry Thom, I hope you miss the Pyrex as much as I do.

send in the troops

Over 100 people were killed in Baghdad today. We seem to be helping, let's send in more troops....





Katie Couric says more American women are single than married. She blames it on this lady.



I blame it on everything else.