Retro Junk

This morning I was putting in the last of the info sheets from Impact into Recruitment Plus and I came across a girl who's last name was Stickford, which made me think about Stick Stickly... you know that popsicle stick that told you what shows were coming up next?

But when I thought of that, I went straight to all my other favorite nineties shows, video games, and food. There was Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Gullah Gullah Island, Blues Clues, the Puzzle Place, Wishbone, Doug, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Guts, Allegra's Window, Home Improvement, So Weird, Flash Forward, Franklin, Zoom, All That, Figure It Out, Wild and Crazy Kids (which I always wanted to be on because one of the hosts was pretty cute), Pepper Ann, Recess, Smart Guy, Fudge, Brotherly Love, Bug Juice, Jett Jackson, and Kablam!

Oregon Trail, Number Munchers, Zoo Tycoon, that one computer game where you could write a book and then illustrate it with premade sets and people, Amazon Trail, Roller Coaster Tycoon, Theme Hospital, Legends of Zelda, Tetris, Super Mario 64, Word Munchers, Duke Nukem, Mortal Kombat, my sister playing Myst, Sim City, and Mario Kart 64.

Dunkaroos, the Taco Bell chalupas, numerous Chuck E Cheese birthday parties, the McDonald's Monopoly game, the cheesecake Jello cups, Froot by the Foot, Fruit Stripe gum, Pepsi Blue, Nestle Quik, 3D Doritos, Juicy Juice commercials, Sprinklins, Dizzy Grizzlies, Bubble Tape, Bill Cosby's Jello commercials, Butterfinger BBs, Kid Cuisine (though I was never allowed to actually eat those, too much sodium my mother said), Lunchables (same with the sodium, but I got back into them when I got to college :D ), Mentos commercials, Bagel Bites, California Raisins, the Campbells soup commercial with the melting snowman, Amazin' Fruit gummies, and Fruitopia.

goodness, what memories those things bring up. And while I was really only coherent, for 6 of those years, they were the formative ones, and they still stir warm fuzzies inside me. There are still songs that make me think of when I would listen to the radio to fall asleep at night, and I think that makes me feel safer somehow. Sigh. The joys of being a child.

the art of living

This is the first day in a few months I've actually been cold outside. It is HEAVENLY. (this is also at 8 am :D )

I feel like I have so much to talk about now. I'm sitting at work with piles of Info cards that need to be put into the system, but I will gladly write instead. :)

5 deaths in the past month- 4 in the last week. Really makes you think about life. I know that's super cliche' to say, but this is the first time in my life so many celebrities have died in such a short amount of time. I know people die everyday, so you should really be constantly thinking about how short life is, and how you need to make the best of it. But when they are in the spotlight, and CNN and every other major media follows their last days, you can't help but sit in shock, and wonder if you will be next.

Farrah and Ed weren't that surprising, one old and one struggling with cancer, it was eminent. You know they are in a more peaceful place. And the same could be said for MJ too. Everyone's seen that he was 400 mil in debt, possibly anorexic, and struggling with trying to get back on top. And his last days weren't his saddest. His whole life was stressful, and I'm sure he's glad to be in a better place as well. Interesting though that he went out the same way as the King of Rock 'n Roll, who he was so often compared to.

As shocked as I was about MJ, I think Billy Mays was the saddest. As far as I can tell, his life was going pretty well. The face of countless products, the star of a new show, and the proud wearer of the thickest beard I've ever seen. I'm not a huge fan or anything, but I feel really bad for his family. A normally harmless bag falling from an over head compartment shouldn't kill someone. Especially after its victim has given an interview following the semi-crash and assured the interviewer that "he had a hard head." Billy, that's what got Natasha as well. How scary is it that a bump on the head could kill you in a day or two? (UPDATE) - Reports now say that Mays died of heart disease. Never really believed that heart disease was the number one killer until now...

Lately, I've also realized how quickly people change. And it's surprising what changes them. I guess I always knew that returning from college I would have completely different friends. A year away from what you were structured to be for the past 18 years has a toll on your personality. I prayed and prayed that things wouldn't be drastic, and so far they haven't been absurd, but I've definitely been disappointed. And who knows, maybe I've changed a lot as well, but I can't see it. I need to stop growing up.


I have realized that I love Nashville. Walking downtown this weekend was fabulous. I think at some point in my life I'd like to live downtown somewhere. Maybe not Nashville, but a big city. But honestly, I wouldn't mind winding up here.

Can I just take some time and say how much a miss fruit? I'm not sure there are any types now that don't make my mouth feel funny after I eat them. :( Pineapple is the least offensive, but apples, peaches, and canteloupe make my mouth explode. GRR. What is wrong with me!?

Is it weird that I think in opening paragraphs for a novel? The other night I went with Rob to his night lab for Astronomy, and was just thinking of a fantastic paragraph to grab the reader's attention when they open the book. "The heat rose up from the pavement warming my skin as I gazed up at the Big Dipper. I had always been intrigued by the constellation. It seemed to always be the one mentioned in elementary school, and was always the subject of stories. Staring up at the sky I let my mind grasp the idea that these skies were the same skies that people hundreds and thousands of years ago saw as well. The Big Dipper alone was the guiding light to lead hundreds of slaves to freedom, and other constellations had been the inspiration for our calendars, astrology, and even math. I have always been impressed how the past still holds so much for our futures."

Well, it's better usually in my head... but I know that the rest of the paragraph is usually going to suck in my head as well. haha i just need to stick with photography...

speaking of which... I am REALLY needing "models" or I guess just people to photograph. pwease?? (sad face to the extreme)

hopefully write much quicker than last time. ha but no one follows anyway, so I guess no one is hurting. :)

i have often dreamed of a far off place...

It's been a little while...

Not much has happened. My dreams of meeting Snow Patrol were smashed, but whatevs, I guess I didn't burn in the hot sun. Saturday was fun though. I got to hang with some girls I haven't hung out with in a while. While our original plan of dressing up and taking pictures crashed and burned, we had a lot of fun at Opry Mills. It was actually my first visit to an oxygen bar. Probably something I'll never do again, but still fun to say I've done it. Since we had all dressed up for the day, we got a ton of comments. All good, but it's surprising how different a reaction you get by waitresses or sales people when you are dressed up and not just wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

Yesterday my mother and I went to Tarboosh or House of Hummus and Hookah Bar. I got hummus with beef and it was incredible. We were definitely the minorities there, which was oddly a very strange feeling. Everyone there except for us were smoking, but it smelled really good. I think I had it stuck in my nostrils for the rest of the night.

And the rest of the night was consumed with the Tony's, which were surprisingly very interesting. I missed this but thanks to Meg Cabot for finding it. I definitely want to see Billy Elliot and the Shrek musical now. Oh and maybe I can stand Guys and Dolls again just for Lauren Graham. haha

Found this today. I love Big Bang. Even though I'm not geeky enough to get everything they reference on it.

Currently listening to Go the Distance by Roger Bart (hercules)

you liked it so you put a ring on it

Joe Jonas Doing Single Ladies

i enjoy finding fun videos at work. especially since i can't hear them...

Today I ate an apple and my mouth started feeling funny. Like it has for the past few years when I eat starchy fruit. It was bothering me so much that I decided to look it up for myself. Here's what I found.

The oral allergy syndrome is another type of cross-reactivity. This syndrome occurs in people who are highly sensitive, for example, to ragweed or birch pollen. During the seasons that these allergens pollinate, the affected individual may find that when he or she tries to eat fruits, chiefly melons and apples, a rapid onset of itching is experienced in the mouth and throat, and the fruit cannot be eaten. The symptoms of this allergy, which is caused simply by the direct contact of the food with the lining of the mouth and throat, resolve rapidly.

ick.


anywho. today has been rather boring. definitely been scoping dresses and what not. also craving my laptop so that i could pass the time by playing the sims 3. which is awesome btw!!

and this is the first day i've felt extreme fatigue. yaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnn.

definitely need more sleep tonight.

currently listening to That's Life by Michael Buble

awkwardfamilyphoto of the day.

Last night me and my mother did a complete sweep of my room. Sigh, it's good to sleep in a room not completely cluttered with piles and piles of clothes. Next is my desk, shelves, and book case. Definitely not looking forward to that.

But I AM looking forward to the Sims 3 tonight!!!! :D

I actually stayed up and watched Conan last night. It was pretty good I must say. I was never a huge fan of Leno, most of his jokes were way too crude, and Conan is usually pretty good with not just having strictly sexual humor. I didn't watch all of it, I DO have to get up at 5:30 am. But I plan on watching it later.

Speaking of things to watch later, I missed the MTV movie awards. I know this isn't high class entertainment, but apparently really crazy things went on... Kristen smoking too much to hold on to your award? LeeAnn Womack singing J*** in my Pants? Good grief, do you need ratings that badly??

I'm glad I missed I'm A Celebrity... I'm not entirely sure why people come up with these lame ideas for shows. I already miss the office and heroes. :(

hmmmm that's all I have for right now. perhaps I'll stumble upon other fun things throughout the day.

unbelievable sights, indescribable feeling :)

Awkwardfamilyphotos.com for very random pictures like this. The caption for this was "Truly a party in these people's pants." Bahahaha :)

Oh postsecret. I hope by now that everyone knows what this wonderful website is. I've become so addicted that sometimes I think in secrets. In the past month I've come up with about twenty I'd like to send in. I just can't think of any creative ideas for a background for the postcard itself. My secrets vary from very hurtful, to very stupid. I have to give props to the man who created this.


This weekend was pretty rad. Rob and I headed for Holiday World early on Friday. I was sad to see that both the Legend and Pilgrim's Plunge (the world's TALLEST water ride!!!) were not going to be operating that day, but we headed first to the Voyage. Apparently it's the number one wooden coaster in the world right now, and that would be hold true for me since it's 1. super long, ride time was around 2 minutes, 2. line moved quickly, and 3. actual seat was not uncomfortable. However, it was so jostling it gave us headaches. Come on wooden rollercoaster engineers, please make your ride completely enjoyable!!!

We rode all the little rides and the Raven, and then headed for Splashin' Safari. Definitely the best part of the day. They had a large assortment of slides and they were all very exciting, plus the staff was very friendly at the end asking us how are ride was each time. After we were sufficiently wet, we changed and headed to Elizabeth's.

The next morning we headed for King's Island and went to Diamondback. It was reallllly awesome. Probably second to Millenium Force, but seeing as the people who own Cedar Pointe (Cedar Fair), now own all the Paramount and Knott's parks, it's no wonder why they built something similar to their number one coaster. However, I'm not sure if this buyout had all good things attached to it. Because it's no longer Paramount, all rides with affiliations to movies have been stripped of their titles, which shouldn't mean much, but now the Crypt, formally Tomb Raider, is nothing but a glorified spinning box. It used to be so cool, and now it's lame and sports a naked shy mutant bat. Lame. We spent the rest of the day going from ride to ride and then headed to Boomerang Bay, which had nothing on Splashin' Safari. However, a lot of their rides were hidden so we didn't get to ride everything before it closed.

We headed back to Firehawk, and had made it to the first row until they came over the speakers... "Due to ominous weather, we have to suspend the ride for now." seriously!? we waited all day to go!! we tried to wait it out, but the weather got nothing but worse so we made a break for the car, and came out looking like drowned rats. I don't mind being that wet, but not when I have technology I need to keep dry...

Anywho, that was the excitement for the weekend. We saw UP yesterday. Definitely not the best Pixar movie, but better than A Bug's Life. haha. However, I cried the most in this one. Actually in the first ten minutes. The whole montage of his life shot me right in the heart. But I think Wall-E, The Incredibles, and Finding Nemo are still my top three. They were just more believable... even if none of them are really that believable anyway. Oh well.

I need to finish Arrested Development. And unpack from college. And clean my room. Hmmm sounds like a busy night for me. Good.

Recently read books:

• Alphabet Weekends by Elizabeth Noble- This is a semi-romance novel... but there is a lot of heart in it. Also a lot of creativity. I think the idea of doing something different every weekend starting with the letter A is such a clever idea. You'd definitely get to know a person well.
• Blame It On Paris by Jennifer ... something- This is classic romance novel-esque in a that can never happen way. But it was flirty and romantic and I enjoyed it.
• Queen of Babble Gets Hitched- Meg Cabot- in true Meg Cabot form, very predictable. However, I love her wit and style of writing, so I just keep writing whatever she dishes out there. haha

Next up- Looking for Alaska by John Green. I'm on page 6 and it's very promising.

Currently Listening to A Whole New World- Aladdin