Happy Friday

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Awkward Turtle

So I have a problem: I have no regard for the personal space of others. And I'm awkward about it. Particularly on the subway. And even more particularly as it relates to reading their reading materials.

People read other people's reading materials on the subway all the time (I think). It is common practice to sneak a glance at what's happening with Iran or Bloomberg or Miley off of your neighbor's New York Times, Metro or US Weekly. Sometimes, you get lucky and they have it opened as a spread instead of folded... they're practically begging you to read what's spilled into your hula hoop space. Or, if they're holding their paper up and you're sitting across from them, you can read the B Side with ease.

Or at least that's what normal people do.

I, on the other hand, have a problem - the aforementioned issue of disregarding the personal space of others and being awkward about it. See, when I'm reading someone else's paper or magazine (or, I won't lie, book, iPhone, Kindle, Blackberry, t-shirt, or whatever else they may have in their posession that I can get my eyes on), THE WHOLE TRAIN KNOWS IT. I gawk. I lean over. I squint. I nod. I laugh. All of which are totally inappropriate and kind of freaky. And make me a total awkward turtle.

Then, taking it to a whole new level, I will comment. Not to myself, and not (usually) to the reader in question, but to whomever I may be traveling with. Enter second problem: I talk really loudly. Really, awkwardly loudly. I don't mean to, but I just do. So imagine how the scene goes: A friend and I are riding the downtown 1 train, I awkwardly read over someone's shoulder to find out that Kevin Jonas got engaged, an article that the person holding the newspaper is inevitably reading at the exact same time. Then I look to my friend and loudly say, "Did you know Kevin Jonas got engaged?," at which point the person whose personal space I have invaded looks up and realizes that we both read the same thing at the same time, but I am not holding any type of newspaper whatsoever, and they realize that I actually just read it off their page and commented about it. And then they think to themselves, "That girl has no regard for my personal space. And is kind of an awkward turtle."


p.s. Don't even get me started on the other awkward ways I disregard people's personal space, including but not limited to: asking to try on strangers' engagement rings, eating off anyone and everyone's plate if I want to try their food, freely petting someone's purse if I'm curious of the texture, etc, etc etc...

p.p.s. I can't help it, it's just the way I am. :)

They said New York changed us

They said New York changed us.

They meant it in a bad way.

They said New York made us hard. They said New York made us too independent. They said we became cold. They said the city made us cynical, even jaded.

They said New York caused our southern accents to fade and turned us into Yankees. They said we spent too much money on rent and too much time at work.

They said New York made us impatient. They said New York made us rude and abrasive.

They said we forgot who we were and where we came from.

They said New York changed us.


I say New York changed us.

But I mean it in a good way.

I say New York made us stronger. Made us braver. In fact, made us fearless.

I say New York stretched us. I say New York challenged us. I say New York taught us. I say New York required guts - required heart - that we didn't know we had.

I say New York was the fertilizer that helped us grow faster, greener, more vibrant, more colorful.

I say New York reminded us of home and made us even prouder of our roots.

I say God used this city to bless us. Prosper us. Ignite our passions. Restore our faith. Awaken our souls.

I say New York changed us.

And we will never be the same.

Video of the Day

T Swift and T Pain rappin' on the same track

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Let's Go to the Movies

Earlier this week, in an effort to return to the Old Hollywood roots of the '30's and '40's, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that there will be ten Best Picture nominees in 2010. Presumably, blockbuster hits like "The Dark Knight" and "Wall-E," snubbed for a Best Picture nomination, might actually have a chance amid critical darlings like "The Reader."

I actually have no strong opinion about this matter aside from the fact that I LOVE MOVIES and I LOVE THE OSCARS. As far as I'm concerned, the more the merrier. But while we're on the subject, I think it appropriate to share my ten favorite movies of all time with you, in quasi-order, along with the highest award each received. (Note: I have never made any claims to like high-caliber movies in lieu of feel-good romantic comedies.)

1. "When Harry Met Sally." Nora Ephron nominated for Academy Award for Best Screenplay
2. "You've Got Mail." Meg Ryan nominated for Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy
3. "Shawshank Redemption." Nominated for Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Morgan Freeman)
4. "Gone With the Wind." Won Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Vivien Leigh), Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel), Best Director
5. "Sweet Home Alabama." Won Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie and Choice Movie Liplock
6. "Love Actually." Nominated for Golden Globe for Best Picture and Best Screenplay
7. "The Count of Monte Cristo" (2002). n/a
8. "Pride and Prejudice" (2005). Nominated for Golden Globe for Best Picture, and Keira Knightley nominated for Academy Award for Best Actress
9. "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." Nominated for Teen Choice Award for Choice Actress (Kate Hudson) and Choice Movie Liplock
10. "Garden State." Won Grammy for Best Soundtrack. Nominated for Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie, Choice Actress (Natalie Portman), Choice Actor (Zach Braff) and Choice Movie Liplock

So there you have it. From one Academy Award for Best Picture to three Teen Choice Award nominations for Choice Movie Liplock, I'm pretty proud of the list. With this discerning taste, Roger Ebert, Gene Shalit and that British woman on the taxi cab TV better watch out.

Mix it up

Lately I have been dying for a KitchenAid stand mixer.

Yes, you read that correctly. And I'm as surprised as you.

Here's the deal. I hate cooking. I do my best to avoid it, at all costs. I think it's genetic. I do, however, love to bake. And big, fancy, colorful, $399 mixers are perfect for baking.

Still, I have never in my life had a desire to purchase any type of kitchen appliance or utensil, let alone one that costs more than $20 at Wal-Mart. I've always gotten by with whatever was there courtesy of my family or roommates. But a KitchenAid mixer... so pretty, sitting on the counter as a part of the kitchen decor... available in so many adorable colors... just waiting to be used for baking deliciousness... I think I'm in love.

I did a little research (and by research, I mean Googled, because we all know that I am a master Google researcher), and found a press release that KitchenAid issued for the 70th anniversary of their iconic stand mixer. According to Brian Maynard, KitchenAid Brand Marketing Director, "While its core following is among those who love to cook and bake, our research tells us that many less avid cooks simply want one on their countertop, largely because they like its design.”

Ding ding ding!

So, channeling Carrie Bradshaw's single gal registry for a new pair of Manolos, I'm considering making myself a one-item registry at Macy's for a KitchenAid stand mixer in - what other color - red.

Well, it's between that and the Christian Louboutins...

How did it get so late so soon?

"How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?"

- Dr Seuss


Thursday marked my three year anniversary of living in New York. However, I was globe-trotting (or at least Southeastern United States-trotting), so I was not here in the city to mark the occasion. Even more so, though, June has just flown by before my very eyes. My anniversary date, June 18, snuck up on me, just as today, June 24 has...and next week is 4th of July! In fact, I'm not sure where the summer is going at all.

How did it get so late so soon?

When I first moved to New York, I thought I would live here for a year, maybe two. Now I am five days in to year four. Age 23 has become 24 has become 25 has become 26 has become I-will-be-26-and-a-half-on-Saturday, so I have to ask,

How did it get so late so soon?

My time in this city is slipping through my fingers like grains of sand. One minute it's summer, the next it's fall, and before you know it, it's summer again. The first game of the season turns into last game of the season. The lease gets renewed. "I'm new" is no longer a relevant excuse for not knowing where the mail room is at work.

How did it get so late so soon?

I think it all comes down to the fact that there's just something about being on the downhill part of the journey that is New York, and with every day that passes, I get closer and closer to just somersaulting down that hill head first. My whole life I've dreamed of living in New York, since the day I stepped foot in this fine city when I was twelve years old. Even when I wasn't sure it would ever happen, I knew deep down that it would.

But now this chapter that I prepared for for so long is starting to draw to a close. This thing that I have worked for for so long - dreamed of, sweat for, cried over - is wrapping up. On the dawn of year four, I can see the faint light at the end of the tunnel as my train barrels through. And so I wonder,

How did it get so late so soon?

Because, my goodness, how the time has flewn...

Blame it on the rain

"I don’t think talking about the weather is a particularly exciting topic of conversation, but holy hades, it has been raining forever. New York City has up and turned itself into Seattle. I’ve practically forgotten what the sun looks like. I think it’s yellow, but I can’t be sure. All this grey weather has turned me into an emo kid. I recently dyed my hair black, cut myself some severe angled bangs, and took self photos in sepia to post to my Myspace account."

- 2 birds, 1 blog

You belong with me

My favorite Bachelors are dropping like flies, while the total creepsters and guys who may actually still be in high school hold steady. Jillian, my dear, what. are. you. thinking?!

Fortunately, the two winners of my highly scientific poll, Kiptyn and Reid, are going strong.

Kiptyn is by far the best choice for Jillian. He's adorable, they have great chemistry, and they seem to actually have some things in common. Jesse is the dark horse who has popped up since the creation of my poll. For some reason, he is just not my cup of tea, but my roommates and friends like him so I guess that's good. And Reid. Oh Reid, with your over-analyzing and glasses/no glasses debating. You are SO my type, and you belong with me.

I'm still mourning Jake's departure, but the saving grace is that he's just too good for Jilli anyway. And Wes. Wes, Wes, Wes. There are no words for your skeeziness. You belong with Daisy of Love.

iPhone 3.0

The new iPhone has a lot of cool features, some of which even work on my approaching-ancient original non-3G, really non-3GS version. Seriously... who would have thought that a copy and paste functionality would be so cutting edge?

But alas, it is. So we have cut and paste. And search. And landscape keyboard in mail. But I'd like to focus on the new little app that popped up on my home screen: voice memos.

Voice memos are essentially a way to record audio on the iPhone. The app is super easy to use, and it's also incredibly easy to share the audio file via email. Apparently text messaging the voice memo is on its way, allowing you to send someone a voicemail via SMS.

I just KNOW that voice memos have a million cool, useful, and/or hilarious things you can do with them...but I'm kind of at a loss for what exactly those are. So far I have the following list:

1. Record a baby talking his/her first words and email to long-distance aunt
2. Record a grocery list so you don't have to type a memo with fat fingers
3. Record a funny message for a friend that they can listen to on their iPod
4. Record an idea for a new song you want to write while riding on the subway

But I am neither an aunt nor a cook nor a comedienne nor a songwriter, so these are kinda lame ideas. What else can I do with the voice memo iPhone feature?!