Somewhere Between Childhood and Old Age

Sunday, April 21, 2013

A List of Random, Absurd Things I Would Like to Do

There are several things I would like to do for no particular reason. I've seen them done on a television show or in a movie, and they are completely absurd, but they look like so much fun. Of course, this goes without saying that there would be no consequences if I performed any of these actions.

Here it goes:

1. Grab food off someone's plate and eat it. I blame Kingpin for this. Woody Harrelson's character grabs pizza off someone's plate before a big bowling match (game? meet?), and the guy didn't seem to care. And, right, how awesome would it be to just grab a french fry or a nacho off someone's plate and just keep on walking. (Also, pretty unsanitary, but that's neither here nor there.) Of course if I attempted this, it would probably go a little more like the end of the movie.

2. Pull off someone's toupee. I don't know anyone with a toupee. But man I would love to just pull a bad toupee off someone's bald head. See Seinfeld, Liar Liar and Tommy Boy examples here, (:35 in) here (2:16 in) and here (:34 in). It's just always funny. But, it's mean, so I could never.

3. Ride on top of a train. Okay this scares the shit out of me, but it could be so, so cool. I mean how bad ass is that. Look at Angelina Jolie in Wanted. And, well, look at anyone in any action movie ever. If I had the reflexes and flexibility of Ms. Jolie, I'd be all over this.

4. Smack the hood of a car and yell, "Hey, I'm walking here!" I would like to do this for a couple reasons. A) Drivers in Manhattan are jerks; and B) It's a great way to let out some pent-up anger.

Case in point: Dustin Hoffman in Midnight Cowboy.


Reading this back, I realize how absurd all this actually sounds. But, hey, don't pretend you're not thinking some of the same things.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

What is Love?

I was grabbing drinks with my friend Sarah last Saturday, and she asked me an interesting question.

She asked, "At its most basic level what do you think love is?"

And I thought about it for a minute before I answered, "Love is when you can completely be yourself with someone. At the most basic level, it's someone who will accept you for who you are."

She responded, "But don't you think it's someone who makes you want to grow, to change, to be a better person?"

And I agreed with her, but ultimately, I think that no matter how much you might actually want to grow or change, love means that this person accepts you even if you don't.

This question got me thinking. What did other people think? Was my answer just trite? I mean, I was a few drinks in. So, I decided to take myself out of blogging retirement to get some answers.

I went to the source: my friends. I asked men and women alike (although only the ladies got back to me) what they thought about this question. In one or two sentences, what did they think about love?

I received some surprising, some blunt, but mostly sweet answers.

I've listed them below for you. But, what I think I have come to realize is that love can't really be boiled down to one thing. It can't always be put into neat words. And it definitely can't translate across relationships.

What I've found from my informal poll is that love means different things to different people. And the meaning of love, and the type of love experienced, is different in every relationship.

You may read these quotes below and think they describe you and your relationship perfectly, or they may seem completely off base. Either way, leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Without further ado, here are some more theories on love:

"Lasting love/forever love is when you realize you have found your partner for life- someone that you want to see every single day. I knew I found the love of my life when I realized that from the day I met him I was becoming a better and stronger person- in all aspects of my life. I was more motivated with my career, I adopted healthier eating habits, I took better care of myself and body, I was traveling more, I became closer with my family, etc. Love should make you a better person....happiness is the key."

"A [teacher] said that a healthy, loving relationship was when you could live your life without that person but you would much rather not."

"It's when you can hate them so much in a moment, but know that you still love them and that you'll do anything to make it work."

"Love is growing together, and still being able to feel something other than disgust and annoyance. It's compromise, and forgiveness. It's having a best friend that you always want to be around, even when you don't want to be around them."

"Love for me is the ability to see someone, all their beauty and faults, and adore them completely. It's what I look forward to every morning. It is also the ability to be my 110% completely genuine self (in all my glory) and know that I am loved for it."

"Love is minimally a feeling, after that it is a decision. And it is appreciation and acceptance and patience and lots and lots of work."

And, finally, I leave you with this quote from Dr. Seuss (h/t Emily):

"We are all a little weird and life is a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Bands that MUST Get Back Together

When I saw Backstreet Boys this summer, it got me thinking about all the other bands that should really get back together. I mean En Vogue has done it. New Kids on the Block have toured together the past few years. Even Rolling Stones played at the Hurricane Sandy Relief Concert on 12/12/12.

So, here is a list of bands and groups I would like to see get back together for reunions.

Limp Bizkit: While it might be awkward to see a slightly overweight, 42-year-old Fred Durst screaming, "Now I know you all be lovin' this shit right here - L.I.M.P Bizkit is right here," I would love to see Limp Bizkit bring back some of their old hits. Faith. Nookie. Re-Arranged. My inner teenage angst would come out in full force.

2gether: Yes, they were a fake band. Yes, they were designed by MTV to attract viewers and make money. And yes, they were awesome. Sadly, QT passed away in 2001, but with modern technology we can always pull a Tupac and start playing holograms of him singing with the rest of the group members. I mean what are the rest of these guys doing today? I would like to see them in a "Where Are They Now" episode.

Blackstreet: Who wouldn't want to hear No Diggity live!? The answer to that: no one. I listened to Blackstreet's Another Level on repeat through pretty much all of middle school.

Note: As a very poor and disappointing consolation prize, I would also take a reunion of Next...but only if they sing Too Close and Wifey.

Destiny's Child: Now I know Beyoncé all but launched a Destiny's Child reunion at the Superbowl on Sunday, but I'm talking about the original Destiny's Child. Sorry, Michelle, go back to whatever Broadway play you've been in or whatever Christian R&B album you've been recording. I want to hear No, No, No with LeTavia and LeToya. I want the original group serenading me with Bills and Bugaboo. Thinking about the potential of a Destiny's Child reunion is seriously giving me goosebumps.

*NSYNC: Backstreet Boys did it. NKOTB did it. Why can't *NSYNC get onboard? It's probably because Justin is too big a deal now, right? I mean he's a movie star, Jessica Biel's husband, and is finally coming out with another solo album. So, why would he need the other four guys who have done................(I have no idea what) since they broke up. I'll tell you why, Justin. Because your fans want it. So stop being selfish and go on tour with these guys again. K? Thanks.

Boys II Men: Apparently, this has already happened. And I missed it. Worst news of my life. I can't imagine why they wouldn't do it again. They were the best R&B band of the 90s (I don't care what you say VH1!) And....OMG as I was typing this, I Googled "Boyz II Men" and just learned that Boyz II Men actually have reunited!! They are going on tour with New Kids on the Block and 98 Degrees. (See, *NYSNC, even 98 Degrees is doing it.) AND they are putting out a new album. AND they come to NY in June. Okay, it looks like they are down one man. But, OMG, you guys. This is definitely the best news of the year. I'm so excited I need to end this blog post right now and find people to come to this concert with me.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Inauguration 2013.

I'm a week late and a dollar short on this blog post. But, here it is.

Inauguration 2013. It was amazing.

And not just because even President Obama understood how important and special that day was (seriously this made me tear up).

It was amazing because it was a definite step up from the last inauguration.

In 2008, Meghan and I basically just woke up and decided to go to inauguration. We slept at Peter's apartment at the time, and we walked down to the National Mall. We stood in the freezing cold to witness history in the making.

And we had a blast.

But this year was on a different level.

Thanks to my wonderful friend, Rob, I was able to get tickets to the Inauguration. And it was cold, but definitely not as cold as four years ago.

Then, thanks again to Rob (and Sidney's persistence), we got tickets to the Commander in Chief's Ball.

So the night before the Ball (after a ferocious game of flip cup), Peter and I scrambled and we were able to secure an evening gown and a tuxedo.

And in less than 24 hours, me and my friends went from this:

...to this.

It was just a beautiful, fun and phenomenal night.

Friday, January 18, 2013

2013 Wish List: A New Take on New Years Resolutions

As you all know, I really don’t do New Years’ Resolutions. I’m more of a vision board and to-do list type of girl. But, I’ve been slacking on both lately.

This year, I’ve decided to make a “2013 wish list.” Not resolutions, just things I really want to do, and just never did. So, I should do them in 2013.

Here it goes:

Visit California: I’ve never been and would love to see America’s west coast.
Take the GMATs: This should read ACE the GMATs. Definitely don’t want to take those bad boys more than once. On to the studying!
Travel abroad: I haven't been out of the country since I was in South Africa in May 2011. I have the travel bug and I need some culture in my life.
See Book of Mormon: Finally.
Ice Skate in Rockefeller Center: It just looks so pretty...and romantical.
Buy some really fun shoes: Like gold glitter or leopard print pumps. Just because.
Spend as much time with my family as possible: I actually miss living with them and they are awesome.
Fully enjoy the summer: That means take summer Fridays, go to the beach, barbeque, and do all those amazing summer things.
Run more: Maybe sign up for a 5K or 10K...half marathon even?

That's a good start. Getting really excited for 2013!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Laughter is the Best Medicine

I truly believe that the best love can only exist if laughter is at the heart of it. The greatest relationships are the ones in which we can be silly, act goofy and, really, just be ourselves. Maybe that's why I was so heartbroken when I heard about Will Arnett and Amy Poehler's split.

Laughter can do so much for a relationship. In mine alone, it has eased tensions, lifted terrible moods and helped us bond. It doesn't hurt that Peter has one of the best sense of humors...raunchy and inappropriate at most times...but still one of the best.

Take tonight for example. I was still at work tonight around 9:30 p.m. and not the happiest camper.

So, I call Peter.

ME: "I'm still and work and in a cranky mood. I need you to cheer me up."
[Yes, I know I sound needy, but I was in hour 12 of my work day. Deal with it.]
PK: "Hmm, okay, okay, okay...what number am I thinking of?
ME: "I dunno, 10."
PK: "69."
[We both laugh. Yes, we're 15 years old.]
PK: "Okay, okay, okay. What is black and white and red all over?"
ME: "What?"
PK: "I have no friggen idea."
[Again, I start laughing.]
PK: "Okay, if I am wearing a blue shirt, and the shirt is blue, what color is the shirt?"
ME: "Um, blue."
PK: "Oh man, how did you figure that one out?"

At this point I'm smiling and laughing. And yes, I know that these jokes make no sense. And no, they are not inside jokes. And yes, I know they are pretty stupid. But, they made me laugh.

If we can't laugh - at ourselves, with the people we love, or when we make mistakes - then what are we doing? And if we're not with someone who helps us laugh, then what's the point?

I am just so lucky that I found someone who does.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

A Look Back: 2012 in Pictures

My beautiful friend, Alison, recently wrote a post reminding us all to look back at our lives and remember all the good things that have happened in 2012.

I liked the sentiment. Every New Years Eve, all we talk about is what we can do better in the next year. We make resolutions to be a better person. We make promises to cut back on vices. But what we don't do, is take a moment to think about all the good that happened. We just wash our hands of the past and move on.

But good things did happen. There were 365 days. Not every single one of them could have been bad.

So, I wanted to take a moment to remember how wonderful my life was in 2012. Yes, it was stressful and difficult at times, but mostly, pretty damn awesome.

In 2012, I...