Thursday, July 18, 2013

Fresh

Dear Whoever You Might Be,

      It is hot. I cannot think of a clever or sassy way to put it otherwise since my brain is melting faster than the icecaps. As the temperatures continue to rise (who knew that was even possible at this point???), I have spent an abundance of time inside. But I do have to suck it up and brace the heat a few times throughout the day to walk the dog, get the mail, walk to my car, etc. On each of these unfortunate occasions I always feel immediately miserable. Not in the "my life is horrible and no one likes me" way, but in the "Ew, I feel disgusting and need to go inside and shower for the fifth time today" way. I'm not a big fan of smelling like "outside" nor am I a fan of sweating. Really though, is anyone?

      As these refreshing thoughts are the only ones I can muster up right now, I couldn't help but apply freshening up to other aspects of my life. My family is moving very soon to a completely different state. Whaaat?!? Yea. It's happening. With the whole moving process comes the whole packing process which inevitably leads to the throwing out process. We have done so much de-cluttering and compromising and evaluating of what we own, what we want to keep, what we want to donate and much more. And as much as I love everything and hate to throw things out, the whole ordeal is actually a bit invigorating. I find that I have a little more closet space (Yay!) and a little more drawer space.

      So there's that. Now what? What other refreshing can I bring to life? "Hmmm," I thought. "Maybe I can refresh my blog a bit..." So that is what I am presently contemplating. Being on the Blogosphere means staying attune to other blogs in the world and my, oh my, are there a lot. Of course I don't want to go all commando on my readers and strip away everything but the words, but I think it is time for a slightly more refreshing look.

      I am finding that the background image, though fitting for my overall intended tone,  becomes more and more obnoxious and distracting. Yet, I don't really have any pictures in my blog posts; so if I take away the large picture, there might be nothing left but too many words upon words. And no one wants to look at that. Regardless of what I end up changing, I think the time has arrived for SOME change of scenery. What do you think?

      As I ponder this impending change, my dear readers, please try and stay cool and fresh in this suffocating heat. Drink lots of water, find some shade, and apply Dove's GO FRESH deodorant as needed =)

                                                                       Sincerely,
                                                                              Me

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Tiff

Dear Whoever You Might Be,

      When Audrey Hepburn had a Down Day, she went to Tiffany's. Or at least her character went to Tiffany's. Better yet, her character ate BREAKFAST at Tiffany's. It made her feel better about life, love and the general pursuit of happiness. Though it never had such a lasting effect as, say, looking for Cat in the pouring rain with a hot man by her side, eating her scone and drinking her coffee in front of the glimmering windows on the New York street corner always seemed to do the trick for a day in desperation.

      I have a place like that. I have two places, actually. Anthropologie would be the first. Barnes & Noble, the second. I don't know what it is about these places that automatically lifts my spirits upon stepping through their air-conditioned thresholds. It is something in the air, NO, something in the smell. The atmosphere. The people. The clothes. The books. The general lifestyle I wish I lived my life by. I could spend a lifetime in Anthropologie and I could spend even longer in Barnes & Noble.

      It would be schaweeeet if when I get married I could register at Anthropologie. I'm pretty sure that isn't a "thing" yet, but I'm hoping that maybe if I get the idea of an AnthroRegistery enough street credit, maybe, just maybe, someone with corporate authority will hear my voice.  In the mean time, I will just continue to strive to fill my closet accordingly.

      Don't get me wrong though. One does not need to shop at their store of comfort in order to feel alleviated from the burdens of life. I mean seriously, I am a poor college student. If I wanted to buy anything on my own at Anthro I would have to limit myself to a piece of thread in the SALE section. I am not ashamed though because if I could eat breakfast everyday in front of their handcrafted window designs, I would.

      I know I haven't said anything yet about the glorious relief achieved at Barnes & Noble yet, but fear not, for hear it is.....


....And then some....

Did you like my use of my Pinteresting just then?

      I guess what I am trying to say is this: It is prime and pertinent to have *at least* one place where you can go and smell and stand and look around you to feel a little better. If it is the gym, then I hope you are doing a little more than just smelling and standing around. If it is a cake shop, maybe just smelling and standing is all you should be doing. Be what it may, it helps, even if only for a little. It may sound too "first world problem-y" or too materialistic but I think there really is something to being surrounded by your passions.

      Sure, maybe I should go smell the inside of a Church more often. And who knows, maybe that will be number three on the list. But for now, my Cat is safe and sound and snuggled up on the couch. Life is good and, today, I went into Barnes & Noble and smelled.

                                                            Sincerely,
                                                                      Me





 

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Juniper

Dear Whoever You Might Be,

June
  • Color- Since I live near Annapolis, I think it is appropriate to declare the color for this most fantastic month is NAVY. I like navy and white, navy and yellow, navy and pink. I like looking at the Navy men in their crisp uniforms. Navy is one of those classic colors. It is a staple for a lot of weddings and for a lot of home décor. It is one of those prime summer colors, for it's crispness looks elegant and casual all at once.
  • Book- Although I am currently reading "East of Eden" for my thesis, I want to kind of switch gears and not do the one I am reading nightly. Instead, the book this month is officially "Love Letters of Great Men." It is a compilation of, well, love letters written by some of the great men to their beloveds. The list includes Mark Twain, Beethoven, Henry VIII, and Oscar Wilde. It is one of those books that warms your heart and helps the sentiments rise and when you receive it as a gift, it makes the sentiment even that much higher =)
  • Song- In sticking with the deviation, I think this months song shouldn't really be a song....but rather, a noise. I think June is the perfect month for thunder. Obviously there is a thunder storm almost every single afternoon in June, but nothing beats the sound of rolling thunder in the late afternoon of a summer day. Even if there is no cooling rain or flashing lightning, the sound of the thunder always makes me stop and listen and look outside in anticipation for a potential storm.
Specialty of the Month- Birthdays- Yesterday was my twenty-first birthday. I can honestly and whole-heartedly tell you that I have never had any alcohol before yesterday, and I think I had enough to last me a while. Needless to say, I am spending my day today laying very low and just taking it easy.  So for all those who like to rage, I would just like to say, make sure you have enchanting friends who can take care of you in times of desperation. Because I had a few, and it made all the difference in the world.
 
 
                                                                     Sincerely,
                                                                               Me
 
P.S. Juniper plants actually smell pretty bad...kind of like cat pee. Yet somehow, I think of Junipers when I think of the month June. Probably because they sound the same...

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

A Little Listless

Dear Whoever You Might Be,

      Right now I am reading John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden.  I decided to change my thesis topic a few weeks ago which meant abandoning Don Quixote for Steinbeck; but have no fear, I have maintained Dostoevsky in the overall scheme of things. Anywho...I read East of Eden my junior year of high school, making this the second that I've read the book. Since I have to actually pay attention this go-round, I am noticing quotes that are rather profound and applicable to my current state of being, such as this one:

                 "Time interval is a strange and contradictory matter in the mind. It would be reasonable to suppose that a routine time or an eventless time would seem interminable. It should be so, but it is not. It is the dull eventless times that have no duration whatever. A time splashed with interest, wounded with tragedy, crevassed with joy-- that's the time that seems long in the memory. And this is right when you think about it. Eventlessness has no posts to drape duration on. From nothing to nothing is no time at all."

      So obviously it is summer. Duh, I mean just look at a calendar, and even though the technical first day of summer isn't until the 21st, schools are out and swimming pools are open and the beach traffic officially is the sole cause of global warming. But what does it mean to be on summer vacation? Adults with actual full-time jobs don't get three months off of work. There is such a thing as "summer school" so the classrooms aren't all collecting dust. The mailman AND the garbage man still have to roam the toasty pavement. And don't forget all those people who work in retail, *cough, cough*, who still have to trudge into their stores and/or local offices to serve the general population of teeny-boppers who just like omg loooooove to walk around the mall and mess up everything in sight only to buy like this totally hottt pair of earrings...... sorry. CLEARLY I harbor a deep seeded grudge against those people when I am the one who has to be nice and friendly when they walk in.

      So again, I ask- What is "summer vacation"? I think for a lot of people, summer IS that eventlessness. Ask anyone how their summer has been thus far and I bet nine out of ten people would respond "It's too fast," or "I can't believe June is almost over," or my favorite "We need to start keeping an eye out for those back-to-school sales". For me, I Literally Cannot Believe June is almost over. I got out of school on May 1st this year. MAY FIRST. That means that I have had over a month and a half of vacation so far, and that is mind boggling.

      I think Steinbeck has really hit something with his above quotation. When my boyfriend booked his trip to come visit me earlier this month, every.single.day between booking and arriving dragged on like a freaking snail. And then it was like I was stuck in a time warp, because NOW I can't believe next week I am leaving for Charlotte to celebrate my birthday. Between boyfriend and birthday I have been stuck in a daily rut of wakeup, drink some tea, eat some Captain Crunch, shower, eat lunch, read read read read research reseach, watch TV, nap, dinner, readdddddd, TV, journal, bed. Wake up and do it all again. And you know what? My time is flying faster than a jet plane, or Superman. BUT, now that I am leaving in a week, the time warp has snapped open and dumped me back into Snailville.

      Sure, occasionally I do something daring like go to the movies or, shockingly, work. But when there is nothing life changing or even entertaining, it's like the days slip through my fingers and I find myself every night grasping for something that has already come and passed. People always say "Live each day like it is your last." But how do you do that when, truly, there isn't enough hours in a day, days in a week, weeks in a month, etc.etc.? If I did something exciting and adventurous and different every single day, I wouldn't have the time or energy to fulfill my daily thesis requirements. So when your days comprise of nothing to nothing, how do you reconcile that with the societal expectations to have the Best Summer EVER? I am bored most of the time, but what am I supposed to do to fix that?

      If someone out there in the grand cosmos, or even in the tri-state area has the answer, I would be much obliged to be let in on the secret.

                                                                  Sincerely,
                                                                          Me

Monday, June 3, 2013

Allegory of the Cave

Dear Whoever You Might Be,

      I caved. I caved big time. Usually I pride myself on not conforming to major trends...at least not conforming when it is popular to do so. I didn't get a Facebook until February of my senior year of high school. I didn't get an ipod until the summer before my freshman year of *college*. When I went to Israel in the fall of my senior year of high school, I took a CD player and a handful of CDs. Old school. I still don't have a Twitter and my phone is a dinosaur from the stone age. That's right folks, I can't snapchat you even if I wanted. But on Thursday night, my holding out took a nose dive into the ground when I got a Pinterest.

      This may come as a shocker and I apologize for any sudden heart palpitations, but up until Thursday, I never wanted a Pinterest. Everyone insisted that I get one because apparently, I seem like just the kind of person who would have one. I always secretly reveled in the knowledge that "Ha. I am a like a neo-hipster because I haven't caved even after it is cool." Now, that may make me nothing more than a freak with a weird sense of personal achievement, but I have been darn proud of myself for holding out this long. I guess I can not longer claim one small step for man, one giant leap for Megan-kind, can I?

      I really have nothing more to say on the matter other than, what would Plato say? He claims that the people in the cave are stupid and unenlightened and need to be brought into the light of the sun in order to know basically everything. So, does joining the realm of Pinterest mean I have stepped into the light? Does the expression "This, that, or the other CAVED" always insinuate something negative? Is conformity more appropriate to crawling back into the dark cave on my hands and knees and begging to stay? Or, is conforming to the general consensus part of what Plato considers enlightenment? The biggest question is probably this: Would Plato even give a flying banana pancake about my joining Pinterest? Probably not, and therefore, I will leave it at that.


                                                                     Sincerely, 
                                                                              Me

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

May I?

Dear Whoever You Might Be,

May
  • Color- I'm not sure if this counts as a "color," but this month I have to promote White. As boring as it might seem, white makes everything else pop. If you do your utmost best to imagine walking through a vast garden amongst plumes of white flowers, then it does not seem so lame does it? It would make the greens greener and the yellows yellower. And unless you are the Queen of Hearts from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and hell-bent on painting every single white flower red, you'll agree with me that it is a sight to be revered. And I mean, let's be real. White jeans/shorts/skirts in the summa'time = prime outfit choice. It's crisp and fresh and a *LOT* cooler in the hot sunshine.
  • Book- This particular category is a bit difficult this month. Usually I have no issue divulging my dirty little avid-reader secrets, but I'm a bit dried up this month. Some of you may know that I am on schedule to graduate early aka in December. Because I am graduating early, I have to spend my summer days doing research for my thesis. The normal procedure for English majors is research in the fall, writing in the spring; but since I need to write in the fall, I need to research this summer. I've already started and am currently working through Mikhail Bakhtin's essay Author and Hero in Aesthetic Activity. It's a doozy to say the least but I need to get through it before I start on the real meat of my thesis- Don Quixote.
  • Song- This one is a bit tough this month too...But I think I'll stick with the standard pop song from the radio. Cliché and absolutely non-hipster of me but I'm opting to keep it simple this month. Since about October I've really liked the song "Just Give Me a Reason" but P!nk and Nate Reuss (the super talented lead singer of FUN). I guess I can be a hipster for .5 seconds since I've been playing that song since the fall and it's just become a major hit in the last month or so. But I really DO like that song and keep it on the radio every time it comes on, which is a bunch.
Specialty of the Month: Drink- I am a tea person. I don't drink coffee. I drink tea, all the time. A few times a day. It teeters on the verge of an addiction. My favorite is the classic Earl Grey. I love me some Earl. If someone asks me what kind of tea I want, I am predictable and will almost always answer "Earl Grey, please." But I also appreciate trying new teas. I have an awesome blossoming peach tea from Teavana and a delicious apple&mango combo from Teavana as well. And for Christmas my mom stuffed my stocking with a box of Prince Vladmir aka the Russian version of Earl Grey. It is prime, and though I may have been preemptively biased since it's Russian, I still really like it. Tea makes me feel all sophisticated too. I cannot quite put my finger on why, but sipping on a nice cup of tea just seems to warm me, literally AND figuratively.
 
 
                                                                           Sincerely,
                                                                                    Me
 
 
 


Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Rain

Dear Whoever You Might Be,

      Well, I missed April's month of "stuff." Too bad. I was swamped with final papers and exams and spending time with all of the lovely people who will be graduating in a few days and El Blogge went on the back burner. But now I'm back in action for the summer and ready to keep a steady schedule...or at least I hope to keep a steady schedule.

      Even though I am home for the summer, it doesn't feel like it. For starters, my school always lets out before everyone else. I'm not complaining; I mean, it's great to have a long summer vacation. But unfortunately, most other people aren't out yet which means I have no one to hang out with. Cry me a river, right?

      For the most part though, it doesn't feel like summer because of the weather. The majority of people think that Global Warming makes the temperature warmer on a day-to-day basis. Well people who think that, you are wrong. See, Global Warming DOES make the weather warmer....in the North Pole. Then, all the ice caps melt. You know all those cheesy commercials about saving the polar bears? That is for reals. The ice is melting and alllllll that precious fresh water makes its way down south to the normal oceans. The massive amounts of fresh water interferes with the normal amounts of things in the ocean. The currents get screwed up and low and behold, the jet stream gets completely thrown out of whack. And how is our weather determined? By that very same jet stream (among a whole bunch of other things). Therefore, the water is colder and the temperatures get colder.

      It is May seventh. The temperature outside? Sixty-Two and RAINING. There has been so many clouds, so much rain, so much ickyness that it makes me want to just run away and live on a tropical island where there is no humidity. I know...I should just keep dreaming.

      Weather like this is only good for a few things. 1). Snuggle up and watch a good movie. Rom-Com, Classic, Mystery. It doesn't really matter as long as it is a movie that you enjoy. 2). Snuggle up and read a good book. For me that means Beautiful Creatures. Don't judge. It's pretty good and it is a nice brain-break after finals and before I start thesis work. Rainy-day books make me think of Wuthering Heights  or  Northanger Abbey or something a little lighter like Twilight or Harry Potter. 3). Snuggle up and take a nap. 4). Snuggle up and do some arts & crafts. 5). Basically, snuggle up and do anything that doesn't require too much exertion nor going outside.

      On days like this, my dearest readers, remember Winnie the Pooh. That's right. Winnie the Pooh:
                        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0i7JU9SijE
                                    ^^^Watch it and SMILE ^^^

                                                                         Sincerely,
                                                                                Me