I'm a down to earth girl who loves to laugh at others...I mean make others laugh.
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All That... Sans A Bag Of Chips
You know how you know you haven't done something in ages? I'll tell you how. You know when you can't remember how you did it in the first place. That's what happened to me this morning when I decided to log on, to my own blog. How pathetic is that? At thirty-one years old I am already forgetting things that I did or didn't do or how I did them and stuff like that. Geesh. If I can nominate myself as a strong candidate for having Alzheimer's in the future, I'd like to do so now. Really, I have to write it down here otherwise I won't remember. You all are my witnesses, but I digress.
As Sharon so politely pointed out, it's been just a little over two months since I last updated. Needless to say a lot has happened in those last two months and thus, that's the reason why I haven't had time to update to begin with. Let's try to go in order, shall we? To add richness to the story I plan on including pictures so get ready!
When we last met I mentioned that we were slated to move into our new house in mid July. All went well and we did just that. With only a few weeks left until the wedding (like I previously mentioned) we tried to get as much done as possible. While our house is pretty much in move in condition, there are still things that need to get done. This included getting three rooms painted and ordering an area rug for one of the bedrooms (the upstairs is currently all hardwood). The rest of the time was mainly spent organizing what I did bring, that mainly being gifts from the shower which, in large part, were kitchen related. I have been bringing my stuff in bits and pieces, mainly because I can since I moved from my parents house.
In other house news, so far we have had a love/hate relationship with our pool. I love it, he hates it. See, all my life I've always wanted two things my parents never let me have-- a pool and a dog. When we found this house we had the first one and in the next few months I hope to be working on the second. So when we found this house with a beautiful above ground pool which does not effect your taxes, it seemed meant to be. Only problem is neither one of us has a clue how to take care of a pool. I'll spare you the details now, but let's just say that not knowing what to do or being unable to carry out what to do for whatever the reason, coupled with not being around much this summer to use it has made the pool a bit of a nuisance. I still love it though and I hope that next year, with less going on and, as Madonna once put it we, "get into the groove" it will feel like less of a hassle.
After we moved in we had the little business to attend to of getting married. For the most part, this went off without a hitch...or, in this case, should I say with a hitch? Ha, ha. Amazingly the groomsmen all did show up, dressed in the right clothes and everything. Only one guy was running late that day, but as it turned out so was the girl I found to do my makeup so it didn't really matter. Apparently she was having car problems and called to tell us this at the same time she was supposed to arrive. I did have a backup if I needed it, but when things like this happen on your wedding day, it's like a domino effect. Incidentally her being late offset everything else. Thus things with the photographer seemed rushed and in a way, they were. While taking photographers I knew we were behind schedule to getting to the ceremony itself, but my girls wouldn't tell me just how behind. But like they said, no one could start the wedding without us, so they had no choice but to wait.
I don't know what time it was when we actually showed up, but drinking wine in the limo helped me care less about what didn't go right. Since neither one of us are super traditional people I wanted the ceremony to be a mix of the fun and the serious. So prior to my entrance, we decided to play "Somebody's Getting Married" from Muppets Take Manhattan. My parents were mortified when I decided to go through with this, but I told them to just trust me. Wouldn't you know when we did the receiving line that is the one thing more than anything else people told me they loved? To walk in I went pretty traditional with Pachelbel's Canon in D. On the way out we decided to "Rick Roll" our guests a bit by playing "Together Forever" by Rick Astley as our recessional music.
Our priest also made it to the event, wearing his sandals, yes I wrote sandals, to officiate. I felt like the ceremony itself took no time at all as did everything that followed. I never got to see the cocktail hour or all that was there as I was in the bridal suite with a fraction of the food that everyone else had. These are the drawbacks of being the guest of honor. When it came time to make our grand entrance, the DJ asked me if someone was saying grace before dinner. I had already confirmed this with the priest so imagine my surprise when that's how I found out he had already left. Granted we were running behind, but the least he could have done was tell someone he was leaving and attempt to say goodbye. Oh well, so we proceeded, without grace although there was a woman named Grace there, so I guess that's good enough.
I liked our DJ when I first met him, but he did give off an air of cockiness I couldn't quite put my finger on that night. It was just a vibe I got that pretty much was confirmed the day of the wedding. When I met with the DJ I mentioned how we wanted to do the traditional mother/son and father/daughter dances in the middle of the night as neither one of us really like being center of attention. Since he was only half listening he responded with something to the effect of, "But if you do it in the middle of the evening, less people will notice."Exactly, Sherlock.
I know it seems like a bit of an oxymoron to some to not expect to be the center of attention on the day of your own wedding, but we just don't like being on display. I liked the idea of a big party and all of that, but fussing over me, not so much. At any rate, the day of the wedding arrives and we're about to walk in and that's how I discover the DJ already cued up the first dances to go at the beginning though we had discussed and solidified the opposite. He acted like he didn't realize and he could still change it, but since we were buzzed and I didn't want to delay things any further, we went ahead and got all the dances out of the way in the beginning. And for us, honestly this wasn't so bad. For my dad, however, who is a lot like me and didn't get forewarning (though didn't get to drink nearly enough to prepare), not so much. By the way, in case anyone is interested in the nitty gritty details, Mother/Son dance was "I Hope You Dance" by Leann Womack (mom's pick), Father/Daughter dance was "My Little Girl" by Steve Kirwan and our dance was to "Angel Eyes" by The Jeff Healy Band.
My father in law did get a lot of nice pictures and even a few videos, but I don't know where he was during our first dance as he had no pictures of that. He did, however, have pictures and videos of the bane of my existence, the organized dancing. I tried my damnedest to keep it out, but come hell or high water, these people need their Macarena!! God bless them all.
As I mentioned earlier, we're not overly traditional people. I also don't like cookie cutter weddings. As a result, I didn't do the bouquet toss or garter exchange. I always found it to be awkward anyhow. Hey! I just caught the garter of someone I probably don't know and now I'm going to put it on someone I just met in an incredibly awkward moment of public humiliation. Sound fun?? No thanks, I'll pass. I also don't think my DJ took me seriously when I said in lieu of the clinking of the glasses, I'd like Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" (my favorite song and a real crowd pleaser to boot) to be played every hour, on the hour. Instead he threw me a bone and played it once, and even that was far into the night. I did make sure that my wallflower self got on the dance floor though. It was the least I could do.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you're interested in seeing the professional pictures, i.e. getting ready, on location, posed and perfect, shoot me an email at aogbgirl@yahoo.com and I'll give you behind the scenes access to the online proofs. There are also more pictures uploaded to those of you who have access to My Space or Facebook. If I haven't added you as a friend on either site, let me know that, too.
Next up was the honeymoon. Thankfully we had a bit of a breather in between the wedding and the trip as our wedding was on a Saturday and we left on Thursday. We took a nine day cruise to the Caribbean, specifically Bermuda, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Puerto Rico. Neither one of us had been on a cruise before, so that was fun, but I have to admit nine days is a bit much. I would love to go on a cruise in the future, but I think it would be more fun to go with a group of other couples, girlfriends or family. This is only because if you are with just one person and said person, ahem, doesn't want to do certain things, there are other people to do things with. Also when you're only with one person for that long there's only so much to do or say. We were very lucky though as we had a kick ass table in the dining room of two other couples and ourselves so dinner each night was fun and delicious, not a chore.
We did a lot of fun things on our cruise and a lot of relaxing, but I couldn't imagine writing about it all now after all that I wrote above. Let this be a tip to you. This is why you shouldn't take long hiatuses from blogging kids! I will tell you though about the most exciting thing that happened on our trip...I was a winner at the casino! I barely put any money in to win too and it was from a 25 cent slot machine! Nice, right? I didn't even know I had won or what I had won when my machine started dinging. total strangers started gathering around me out of curiosity, but "hubby" had no idea it had happened. I could see him in the distance, losing his quarters, but he didn't look up and couldn't hear me (as often happens anyhow). It wasn't until they had to come over and hand pay me since the machine doesn't spit out money over a certain amount that I could go to him and fan out my winnings (as seen below). When all was said and done I won a little over a thousand bucks which, as anyone who has ever cruised before knows, basically covered most of our on board expenses and a little of our port expenses, too.
But now it's back to life, and back to reality. Tomorrow I go back to school and the kids start Thursday. I have to say though that I'm ready to go back. This summer flew by because I had so much going on, but typically I get bored the second half of the summer. I like keeping busy. The paperwork and the preparation, not so much, but still. My commute will be further since the move so that's one change, as well as my moving my classroom as I told you about in the previous post. I got as much done as I could this summer in terms of setting up so I'm in pretty good shape now. We don't have class lists yet, that's always a last minute thing that changes constantly anyhow. I heard through the grapevine though that I have fourteen students (my max in the new room is fifteen) but the breakdown may be 9 boys and 5 girls...ouch. This means if the boys act up, and sorry but they often do, there's really no way to separate them in the new room. It should be interesting and at the very least, different from past years. I hope to give you more regular updates about the day to day happenings now that the major things are no longer keeping me from blogging.
One last thing, for those of you who have been kind enough to ask, my mom is doing well. She finished her chemotherapy up a little over a week before the wedding, which was good. She's now done with all treatments, but has to take a pill for the next five years as a precautionary measure. She was nervous about taking it as there were possible side effects to that, too, but so far, so good. She's glad she had the wedding the same year as being sick because it kept her busy and kept her from becoming preoccupied so I guess it's true when they say God doesn't give you more than you can handle. I'd like to think so anyway.
And there you have it, the last two months the Reader's Digest version. But enough about me. So, what's new with you?
When It Rains, It Pours
I know it's been awhile (two months to the date exactly, though not on purpose) but I wanted to take advantage of the quiet hours of the morning and try to write an update on how things are going. I also want to visit those of you who have taken the time to visit me. Unfortunately, I fell out of the loop even with that since the server that sends my janet@theartofgettingby.com email, Go Daddy, fills up from time to time, yet never tells me I've reached capacity. It's up to me to realize that I haven't been getting messages to that address for awhile in order to make something happen.
1. The wedding- The good news is, the priest did eventually resurface. The bad news is that there never was an explanation to his absence. I ended up emailing the website where I found him and relaying my concerns. They sent him a message cc'ing me and suddenly, lo and behold, he started responding. No sorry, no this the story...NOTHING. After a few more attempts, he did eventually send a few links about ceremony specifics like I asked but the problem with that was that by the time he finally did send them, things were busy again and I didn't have the time to devote to reading them. I also feel a bit perturbed that I'm basically choreographing the whole ceremony by myself. It's a pretty daunting task if you ask me, and thus why I'm dreading diving into it.
2. Wedding Part #2- There are a few other things that still have yet to be finished for the wedding. One thing is the music. I have to make a final appointment with the DJ, only problem is we have yet to pick out the songs we want to use for the important moments and don't want to use at all, period. Something like that is a bigger deal to me because I'm such a music buff. It's on the agenda for this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.
Also needing to still get done is all of the men need to go and get fitted for their tuxedos. We went to the preliminary appointment and picked out what we want, but the men (including the groom) have to go now and formally be measured. Along with this a few of my girls haven't had their fittings for their dresses yet. One lost a lot of weight and just waited because of it, the other is now pregnant and needs the dress taken out and yet another is just lazy it seems, period. A few other things that are in progress are gifts for the attendants and finishing registering for the honeymoon online.
The final wedding related snafu are the invites themselves. Our response date is July 1st and we still have a good amount of people who have yet to respond either way. In fact, three of those people are the groomsmen (which instills such confidence for the big day, doesn't it?) I mean technically I suppose you could say we could count them as yeses, but are they coming with dates or wives? One wouldn't know. Also awkward was the fact that my principal and vice principal were invited out of courtesy. The principal said he was coming, yet never formally responded and the vp said nothing at all. (although I found out after writing this that he told a co-worker of mine who asked if he was going that he doesn't think he was invited which who knows what's going on with that) Nice huh? Welcome to the wonderful world of inconsiderateness by way of wedding planning!
3. School- The third grade show, for better or worse, went off without a hitch. We did do a mock career day and I ended up choosing the career of medicine. The kids pretty much choreographed themselves because I was shot. I put them into groups of four and they told the story, through songs I spliced together, of getting sicks to getting better (Tossing and Turning, Bad Medicine, Doctor Pressure and then I Feel Good).
Otherwise, school was crazy the last month or so, but what else is new? I had one kid who was absent pretty much the entire month of June after being absent numerous times before that. In the end, he was out a total of 54 out of 181 days and as it stood, we did not retain him. The justification was that the child is actually pretty bright so another year in the grade wouldn't do him any good. In fact, even with all of those absences he still managed to nearly score advanced proficient in both the NJ ASK Language Arts and Mathematics. Still the fact that the school did NOTHING otherwise really gets to me and is a major concern. Also if he does return next year, what sort of message does that send to the rest of the kids that he still managed to move on? He should have been retained on principal of the fact that no child should miss that much school, period.
One final note on school and then I'll move on. In the last few weeks, as if there wasn't enough already going on, my principal approached me about moving my classroom. I would still be in third grade, just in a smaller room down the hall with less kids, 15 being the maximum (right now my class list is at 12). He justified the move based on the fact that he observed my teaching and heard enough through the grapevine about the types of students I typically get (those who can't or won't do anything) and he wanted to offer me a change of pace. He told me to consider it an "early wedding present". While the move itself is meant to be a good thing, the physical aspects of the move are what killed me. So the last few weeks of school I tried to move what I could to this new room as I'm not sure when or how I'm going to get in over the summer.
4. Moving- Which leads me to the next topic, moving. My fiance successfully sold his house. He moved out officially this week and closed on Friday. We are now in the process of closing on the house we found together. Right now our closing on that house is mid July which is good in terms of timing and gives us a few weeks to get in before the wedding, but connects back to why it's so hard to figure out a time to get into my classroom with all the other moving going on.
5. Mom- Finally, I want to thank all of you for your wishes and prayers for my mom, especially since y'all don't even know her. She's doing well, the chemotherapy is over and now she's in the midst of radiation. She has to do that every day *excluding weekends) for 6 weeks which concludes right at the end of July, right before the wedding. She still has some small side effects be it from the chemo or radiation itself, and sometimes her spirits get down with all that has been on her plate, but overall she really has done a remarkable job. The radiation is nothing compared to the chemotherapy either and she's happy because her hair is slowly starting to come back in. Adding insult to injury is the fact that my mom turns 65 this year and her health care coverage switches over next month which, as some of you may know, that dealing with health care providers is never a smooth process. Overall though, she's hanging in there.
So I think I touched upon all the major things going on in my life for now. Suffice it to say I'm definitely not ready to be promising posting on a weekly, or even regular basis, but I will try to take some time this summer to pop in more here (and there) to see how everyone is doing. Thanks again for remembering me and AOGB!
Don't You Forget About Me
I haven't had the time (and technically, I still don't) to update this blog as things have gone from busy to busier but I did want to swing by and let everyone know the bullet points of why I've been MIA. I also intentionally have Tell It To Me Tuesday on hiatus because I realized I didn't have the time to respond and it was lame just posting questions without contributing, so I decided to put everything on hold temporarily. The site will still be updated from time to time, it's just that it will happen when I get the time, if you catch my drift.
Here's a brief overview of what's been happening in my neck of the woods...
1. Wedding craziness has gone into full swing. Like someone once said, the devil's in the details. He's also apparently, involved in wedding planning, but I digress. I have more I could say about the wedding specifics but I've been weary not only because of time, but because of who might read the blog. This has held me back from sharing a few stories which is a shame because I know y'all would enjoy reading them. One day though I hope to fill you in on some of the details, if not all of them.
2. My priest, the guy who is marrying us, had been MIA for awhile, but has resurfaced. No explanation has really been given as to where he was or if he was indeed anywhere which doesn't exactly sit right with me, but at least I believe he's back so I'm trying to be positive.
3. Our third grade show is coming up again soon. The good news is I came up with the theme this year. The bad news is I gave all my good ideas away and I'm not sure what to do. Our theme is a mock career day. I can't decide on a career although I'm leaning towards medicine and of course, using songs surrounding that. Of course costumes are a concern that I haven't wrapped my head around either. Any suggestions within this theme are more than welcome. Our show is in the beginning of June.
4. My mom just had her 3rd round of chemo and has one more treatment to go. She's doing well and her spirits, for the most part, remain upbeat. After that ends it's on to radiation. She doesn't feel so hot a day or two after the treatment, but otherwise she's been able to live her life as close to normal as possible.
5. My second student teacher finishes up in a few weeks. You'd think I'd have more time on my hands having her around, but I don't. Most days I feel like a glorified secretary trying to get all the paperwork done and I'm STILL not ever satisfied.
6. My fiance's house went on the market for a second time a little over a week ago. Thankfully he received an offer this time quite quickly due to a combination of things including better timing, a better agent and a better overall showing for the home. He signed the papers today which is great news and if all goes well through the attorney review process, he could close on the house the end of June. What this means for us is that we can finally step up the process of looking around for a new home to live in. If we play our cards right, we can be in the new home by July in time for the wedding in August.
So that's a quick overview of what's been going on in my life. I want to know what's going on in all of yours so if you get to me before I get to you, please drop me a line letting me know what's happening on your end and pointing me directly to any juicy entries you want me to read. Remember, I'm still here, just trying to "get by"!
Tell It To Me Tuesday "Don't Quote Me"
Once again I'm behind on my weekend response but you know the drill by now. I do have a few good questions yet to use in my bag of tricks, but I don't want to choose a too complicated one this week. The reason for that is simple, I have to find the time to respond to it! So since I've yet to respond to last week's or manage to find the time to write anything else for that matter, I want to ask you about another topic that is near and dear to my heart, quotes.
As a preteen and teenager I used to collect quotes, daily in fact. So my question to you simple.
What are some of your favorite quotes, who said them and why do you like them so much? Feel free to go ahead and quote yourself, too if you so desire. Don't try to trick me though. I'm thinking next week my question my include a few quotes and you have to figure out where they came from. If I play my cards right, this can be interactive and productive. Imagine that!
If you are participating on your blog, the rules are simple:
1. Answer this question ON YOUR BLOG and THEN link back to it via the box below. 2. Leave a comment letting me know you played along. 3. If you are interested in adding the box to your site, please visit Mister Linky.
Tell It To Me Tuesday (On A Wednesday) "I'll Always Remember...Until I Forget"
The other day Lorna In Wonderland posted an entry that inspired me today's question. Luckily I "remembered" to check her site again and she said I could use it here. So here I go...
disremember
dis-rih-MEM-ber verb Meaning : forget
Example Sentence "'It was the British who did it,' I said quickly. 'I disremember the place and time....'" (E.L. Doctorow, Loon Lake)
What are a list of things you wish you could disremember?
If you are participating on your blog, the rules are simple:
1. Answer this question ON YOUR BLOG and THEN link back to it via the box below. 2. Leave a comment letting me know you played along. 3. If you are interested in adding the box to your site, please visit Mister Linky.
Write Back, Period! "Verrrry Interesting..."
Okay, so it's been established that I'm grossly overdo in regards to my posting. I did hope to make up for lost time during my week off, but you know how that is, best laid plans and all of that jazz. In fact, those of you who remember my posting from a weeks ago will recall that I was sick at the time. Yeah, well I'm sick again which is rare, even for me. So what I'm going to do right here is attempt to go back, way back. Back into time. Maybe not so far back, but since I have yet to answer two different Tell It To Me Tuesday questions, I decided to lump them together in one big post now. I also realize that there was no Tell It To Me Tuesday question for this week. I figured why kick a girl while she's already down, no?
The first question was...What are your thoughts on life outside of Earth? Do you believe in aliens? If so, what do you think when you think about them?...
For me, it all comes down to one word, believe. I'd like to believe there is intelligent life outside our planet. Do I personally have any proof? No, but then again there are a lot of things I haven't seen for myself that I believe in, too. For example, there's the fact that Tom Cruise is really a gay man or that God really exists, just not necessarily in that order.
I'd like to believe that there is life outside our planet because it makes life interesting. I don't know if any life outside our planet is nearly as exciting as the movies makes it out to be, but it's fun to wonder and in that wonderment, create any reality we want. I somehow think that if we had the answer for certain we'd all be worse off for it. It might let us down. It would certainly disappoint people like Steven Spielberg. I do so wish that they were all like E.T. though.
I guess it all boils down to the fact that I have a hard time believing that there isn't a reason to believe. Imagining that we are the only intelligent beings in the whole galaxy just seems so far-fetched. Maybe it's even outside our galaxy, who knows? But the fact that someone, or some "thing" somewhere might be wondering the smae thing is exciting, too.
Now on to question number two...What's the strangest food(s) you've ever eaten?
Unintentionally there is somewhat of a common, quirky theme in these two questions. If only I had dined with an alien, now that would be unique in itself. Then again, maybe I already have. How would I really know?
Anyway, when it comes to food, I am no stranger to experimentation. I don't like people who say they don't like this or that, when in actuality they've never really tried...this or that. Another term my students over misuse is that they say they are allergic to things they haven't tried or things they have tried, but haven't liked. I try to explain to them that there's an important distinction to be made between people who can't say drink milk because they'll break out into hives versus someone who doesn't drink milk because they don't like white foods.
But when I say I like to try a lot of different foods I should clarify. One of my favorite things to do is try foods that come from different places. When I first went to Epcot Center in Florida I was so excited about the trip for that reason alone. I thought it would be so cool to "visit" each country and try a bit of their food, too. I didn't realize at the time that even Epcot had many limitations in this area, but I digress.
Since then I've discovered that cities are the best melting pots of different kinds of authentic culture. For instance, you can have Mexican food at Taco Bell, or you can have Mexican food at an authentic, Mexican restaurant. As anyone who has had both will tell you, they are entirely different experiences. When you've had good food of any culture and you compare it to the bad, only then do you really know. It's just like the words to the Facts of Life theme once said, "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and then you have...the perfect bite." No, that can't be right.
Anyway, it is within those given cultures that I've probably tried some interesting foods that I wouldn't try otherwise. In Japanese culture I love to eat sushi which when you think about it sounds disgusting, but it's actually really delicious to those of us who've ventured out and actually tried it. It's not even that unusual anymore. I can't even tell you all the different types of sushi I tried, but I'm glad I did. The other most unusual food I can remember trying was at an Indian restaurant in Philadelphia. My boyfriend ordered frog's legs just for the hell of it, and I had to try them because they were on his plate. I can honestly say that everything you've heard about frogs are true...they really do taste like chicken! Drier, chewier chicken, but chicken all the same.
Although I do try a lot of different foods, more than the average bear anyway, I do have some limitations. For example, I have no interest in knowingly eating any bugs or random body parts like brains or stomachs. Notice I said the word "knowingly". That's because I do realize that unbeknownst to myself I may very well have tried something, or will try something, that I wouldn't want to. I acknowledge this because I, like many of you, go out to eat. Like it or not, when you go out to eat, you really are at the mercy of the chef in the back. Sure you may order the chicken, but do you really know that what you ordered was chicken? It's a scary, sometimes disgusting thought that I don't like to dwell on too much.
All I'm saying really is that when it comes to foods, and even aliens for that matter, there's a motto to remember, "Never say Never".
Tell It To Me Tuesday "Just Eat It!"
First of all I'd like to say thank you to everyone who left me supportive messages and gave my mom, a virtual (no pun intended) stranger, well wishes. I know that my answer to last weekend's TITMT question has yet to be posted, but given the post below, I think you'll all understand why I didn't get the chance to respond. The good news is that spring break is coming up next week so I should have a little extra time on my hands to post and to visit your blogs. In short, just hang tight!
Ari(who shares delicious recipes on your blog, by the way) gave me the idea for this week's question so I hope you all play along...
What's the strangest food(s) you've ever eaten?
If you are participating on your blog, the rules are simple:
1. Answer this question ON YOUR BLOG and THEN link back to it via the box below. 2. Leave a comment letting me know you played along. 3. If you are interested in adding the box to your site, please visit Mister Linky.
Truth Be Told
As I sit down to write this post, I'm taking a deep breath. This is the post I've been putting off writing for sometime as I haven't really known what to say. I guess in a way I still don't, but here I am, full steam ahead, attempting to say it anyway. It's no secret that this blog is a shell of what it used to be and to be honest, there's a number of factors that have contributed to it's slow demise. When I started AOGB, it was was an outlet for me in so many respects, personally, professionally and mentally. Now it's more like an old friend, one I hate neglecting, but one that when I do get the chance to visit, things fall right back into place as if no time has passed at all.
Before I proceed, I realize as I write that the tone of this post is hinting that I am giving up on AOGB and no, this is not the case. I've toyed with closing its doors completely, but instead I've opted for the alternative, the understanding that those of you can accept that my posting is sporadic at best are going to be with me regardless of how often I post. I know that blog readership itself is fickle and I've seen its effects first hand. Maybe one day I'll have the time and the energy to get this blog back to where it used to be, but in all honesty, as many of you already know, truly running a good blog is like having a part time job. So instead I settle for second best. This blog might be winning any additional awards or even any new readers, but I've made peace with that. The fact that I haven't folded completely while other good blogging friends have come and gone over the years is in itself, a reason to be proud.
So why is it so hard to update AOGB as often as I used to do it? I have examined the reasons before myself and I've come to a variety of conclusions. Simply put, when I first started this site there was just less on my plate. In the last year or so the cup has overflowed so to speak and it's made it hard to catch up. It all started with my getting engaged and having a lot of my time, at least initially, devoted to planning a wedding which is, as many of you know, no easy task. With the planning of the wedding came the staging of the house my fiance has yet to sell and all that entails. A dismal housing market caused him to take the house off for the winter. Now, with more work being put into the house and less of a profit to be made, he's poised to put it up a second time in the hopes that we can still get it off our hands by the wedding in August. Needless to say we're cautiously optimistic.
From there, last fall I received my first student teacher which allocated my time differently as it was an additional responsibility. I'm not complaining about this responsibility in the slightest however, considering I learned a lot, had a great time and made a new friend in the process. I was so happy with the experience, in fact that when asked if I wanted another student teacher for the spring semester I happily agreed. But factors in and out of work have made this experience far different from the first one. There's more pressure for one thing the second half of the year and there are extenuating factors outside of school that have made this harder.
Which brings me to this week and another added pressure, the big state test. It's something I prepare for every year, but this year it really seemed to sneak up on us. All of us are feeling the pressure because it's a bit earlier than it usually is and the kids feel less prepared than they normally do. This compacted with the fact that the percentage of kids that need to be proficient each year increases and you realize the outlook doesn't look good. Still for better or worse, the test is almost over now and by this Wednesday I can heave a big sigh of relief that it's done for the time being, until I have to hone in on a new batch of kids, that is.
So now you have a taste of what I've been going through the last year or so. Maybe you think this already seems like a lot, maybe it's nothing compared to what you go through on a daily basis. Regardless of what it is, it's a lot all at once. Which makes the fact that one more thing getting added to my plate last fall truly pushed things over the edge. That's because on New Years Eve my mother was diagnosed with cancer.
It all started in the fall when she felt what she thought was a swollen lymph node under her arm. It triggered her to make an appointment for a routine mammography that was a bit overdue. Results from the mammography were inconclusive and after a series of tests, including a needle biopsy, it was discovered that she had Stage One breast cancer in both breasts.
The good news is that it was Stage One which makes it very easy to treat and the prognosis was excellent. But as any of you who have dealt with cancer directly or indirectly before know, it's still not an easy thing to deal with. The process itself is amazingly a long, drawn out one all things considered. Perhaps if she had a more advanced stage of cancer everything would seem to go faster, but they haven't. She went in to have a lumpectomy on both breasts in early February. The process of being in the hospital all day was a grueling one at best and disheartening, too. But really that is a post in itself that I won't bore you with here. Needless to say we were there from 8:30 in the morning and didn't get home until after midnight. The wait was worth it though when we got the news that her lymph nodes were clear and that the cancer itself had been removed. Had the cancer been present in her lymph nodes the battle would have been far greater, but thankfully and luckily, it was not.
My mom's recovery from the surgery itself was a relatively painless procedure, her words not mine. They do something now where they can hook you up to a pain ball which sends medications locally to the site where you had the surgery. In essence, the surgical site was numbed without her having to feel the side effects of pain meds throughout her body. It made her recovery much smoother and more pleasant. But after the surgery, we had entered the next phase, the hurry up and wait of treatment.
See we figured that since her cancer was stage one and for all intents and purposes had been removed, she'd have radiation and then move on. But unfortunately my mother was a rather unusual case, something you don't want to be in circumstances such as these. For whatever the reason, she had stage one cancer in both breasts, however the cancer she had in each breast was different. The good news is that meant that the cancer itself hadn't spread from breast to breast as it seems that it would have. The bad news is that she technically had two different types of cancers which effects the course of treatment they ultimately suggest.
So as a precautionary measure, it was suggested that my mother have four cycles of chemotherapy spaced twenty-one days apart to be followed by five weeks of radiation for five minutes each day. In addition, she also will take some sort of pill. The doctors showed her a chart that mapped out her chances of reoccurrence decreasing with each form of treatment that was added. They were the experts, so she trusted what they said and that's where we are now as she finally starts chemotherapy tomorrow.
As a bystander the whole experience has been surreal at best. As a family we are known for being worriers and over analyzers and even at times can be accused of seeing the glass as half empty and that would be right. But I must say it's true that you don't know how you'll deal with things until they happen. It's also corny and cliche to say, but God does not give you more than he thinks you can handle. I know she's my mom, but I must say that she has handled this whole process amazingly well. She has maintained a positive attitude and most importantly, her sense of humor. She has a great group of friends, lifetime friends and work friends, that have been extremely supportive, too. I also have told only a few close friends up until now and have seen first hand how others react to what you are going through. In general this has been a bittersweet experience because it can sweeten or sour the experience as the case may be. I wish I didn't take such matters to heart, but going through something like this and seeing where you truly stand with people is quite the eye opening experience.
My mom has continued to work while all of this has been going on, only taking off days as necessary for various appointments. She doesn't have to work at all, but she chooses to do so and I think it's great she has that outlet for her mental health. Just recently I started to see her show signs of being more scared now that she knows that she has to undergo the chemotherapy. After all, up until now she hasn't really felt sick. The chemotherapy and radiation however may change all of that and it's the unknown that scares her, not the fact that she's not really "sick" anymore. She also gets sad when she thinks about the possibility of losing her hair, especially since that means that she will have to wear a wig most likely for my wedding. I suggested postponing the date but there's no way around it. If the date is changed she'll always look at pictures and remember her sickness was the reason why. If the date isn't changed she'll probably always look at the pictures and remember what was going on at the time. One thing we can't change is the fact that cancer itself changes things, period.
So why am I telling all of you this now? Well it's not so much avoiding sharing it with all of you, it just hasn't seemed necessary or appropriate up until now. But for those of you who have been loyal enough to stick with AOGB through highs and lows I felt I owed you something. This isn't an excuse, merely an explanation and a disclaimer that the highs and lows continue indefinitely, until further notice. Regardless of the fact that I've never met any of you, many of you are like an extended family of sorts, knowing me in different ways than some of my own friends and family do. Only like minded bloggers know what this sort of experience is like. It's hard to explain to people who haven't experienced it for themselves, but needless to say I'm glad I'm still along for the ride.
Tell It To Me Tuesday "They Came From Outer Space"
Thanks again to all who come here and have been patient in my ongoing absence. Rest assured there is a post explaining all coming tomorrow so I hope you swing by and accept my sincerest apologies.
In the meantime, for today's TITMT question, I'm going to go with a twist on Rhodester's question. His original question was the following...
"Have you ever been abducted by aliens, be it from another planet OR country, and if so, did they experiment on you?"
Now since this question, even if it was meant to be serious, is rather narrow in scope, I took an idea that he gave me and instead went in my own direction.
So the new and perhaps improved TITMT question that at the very least, encourages more people to answer, is the following...
What are your thoughts on life outside of Earth? Do you believe in aliens? If so, what do you think when you think about them? I am purposely being vague here in the hopes you'll expand upon your own.
If you are participating on your blog, the rules are simple:
1. Answer this question ON YOUR BLOG and THEN link back to it via the box below. 2. Leave a comment letting me know you played along. 3. If you are interested in adding the box to your site, please visit Mister Linky.
Write Back Weekend "Making Sense"
So here I am with the long overdue response to the week before last's TITMT question. I am pretty much back to normal in terms of my health, except for a stubborn, lingering cough I can't seem to get rid of. But enough about that.
The question in question was all about your senses, your hits and your misses. Most Favorites
The things you are about to read about qualify as my most favorite in some way, shape or form. As with anything else, I'm sure the list is a lot longer than this, but it's a start anyhow.
Favorite Taste
Of course my favorite taste depends on the mood I'm in, but overall I prefer salty to sweet. I'm not really a typical dessert type person. I next to never would choose a piece of candy over a raw vegetable. I can't really tell you why, it's just how I roll. Unless of course it's (cover your ears, or eyes as the case may be, men) my time of the month.
Favorite Smells
I can go in two different directions with this one. I have always loved the smell of the laundry detergent aisle in the supermarket. I guess you could say I love the smell of clean. I love taking in the smell of my newly cleaned sheets for instance. It's addictive to me. It's also the reason why I'm greatly upset when I can't smell such things due to a cold like I went through last week.
But on the flip side, I also love the smell of good foods cooking. Newly baked bread is a good one, as are any type of baked goods. But really the smell of most foods, sans perhaps cabbage, cooking are pluses for me.
Favorite Touch
This might seem like an odd one, but I if I had to pick touches I like, I like the feeling of holding someone's hand whom I trust. I find that holding hands can be very comforting, calming and soothing. There's also a sense of protection that comes along with it, not to mention what it says to the outside world. But don't take my word for it. Just ask Angela Chase.
Favorite Sight
This is the trickiest one to answer because sight encompasses so many different things. I love the sight of some of my friends after not seeing them for awhile. I love to see people laugh heartedly. I love to see my favorite movie when I find it by accident on television one afternoon. I love to watch people's reactions to good news. I also love to watch things that don't know we're watching them like animals or babies. Just a whole hodge podge of stuff.
Favorite Sound
I love the sound of water. I like waves crashing on a beach, splashing in a pool or a fountain or waterfall overflowing. I know this sound can also make you want to pee. I feel it's a small price to pay though.
Least Favorites
At the risk of stating the obvious, this category is going to be restricted to things that I've actually experienced that I feel are awful, not awful in the traditional sense. For one thing, that's gross. For another, it's not realistic. So there.
Least Favorite Taste
I always hated the taste of cucumbers. Even worse than the taste of cucumbers is cucumbers when they are repeating. There are some instances I can tolerate eating cucumbers when they are mixed in with something else, but the repeating part after I'm done eating is what really does me in. Least Favorite Smell
I don't know about anyone else's house, but the first time the heat is turned on when it starts to get colder, there is a good awful smell that permeates the house. Luckily it's temporary, but it really gets to me and makes me gag. I also incidentally, hate the smell of cigarette smoke because there's no escaping it, it's everywhere and it's cumbersome to get rid of to boot.
Least Favorite Touch
This might seem odd, but the one touch that comes to mind is the sensation of a fortune cookie on my fingers. I hate opening them. I do it all the time, though I rarely eat them, if only to get to the actual fortune. I do it begrudgingly so though, as a means to an end, because I really, truly hate that sensation.
Least Favorite Sight
I seriously hate seeing cruelty to animals. It makes me very sad, overwhelmingly so, even if it's just depicted on television and I know it isn't real. Maybe I was a dog or something in another life, I don't know. All I do know is that seeing animals being treated meanly or being ignored completely really does something to me. I think it's sadder to me than people because animals are completely at our mercy and can't defend themselves the way we can.
Least Favorite Sound
For some reason, it really, really irritates me when a fly whizzes past my ear. It bothers me so much to the point that it's a slow torture for me. It's even worse if you're stuck in a house with a dying flying because it's buzz gets louder as it struggles to live. I've been known to trap a fly or two in a room with the door closed when I can't get it to leave, simply because I need to put it, and me, out of their misery.
The other sound I hate is snoring. I'm a light sleeper and once a snorer has infiltrated my sleep system, rarely is there any going back. I know the snorer can't help it, but that doesn't make it any less annoying.
So there you have it, my hits and misses, the abbreviated version. Thanks to the few of you who have been patient enough for me to get it posted!
Tell It To Me Tuesday "Calling In Sick"
Although I've been no stranger lately to being a bit behind as far as AOGB is concerned, this week I actually have a legitimate excuse. I got sick on Saturday and so once again I'm behind. Apparently in addition to having a bad cold, I have double ear infections and pink eye. Good times, my friends. Good times.
So today's TITMT is an open-ended question that I've asked before, but it never hurts to ask again. I decided to go this route since I'm still trying to make up for the post I'm behind on from last week. So.... What sorts of questions do you want to see for future Tell It To Me Tuesdays? As always, if a question of yours is used, you will be given credit.
I'm not going to do the Mister Linky thing today for obvious reasons, but if you happen to stop here today, I hope you decide to jump in with ideas anyhow. I also hope to get to many of your blogs sometime today, too.
Tell It To Me Tuesday "Coming To My Senses"
I couldn't think of a question for today's Tell It To My Tuesday no matter how hard I tried. I felt like a good question was on the tip of my tongue, but nothing. I thought I smelled something cooking, but it went nowhere. I heard something good through the blogging grapevine, but it didn't pan out. Okay, so maybe none of those things really happened, but instead I decided to write a corny introduction to what did.
So today's question is all about your senses, all five of 'em. What is your favorite taste, smell, touch/texture/sensation, thing to see/sight and sound?
And of course, what TITMT would be complete without the flip side?
What is your least favorite taste, smell, touch/texture/sensation, thing to see/sight and sound?
As always, remember this is just a springboard. The more creative you get with this the better!
If you are participating on your blog, the rules are simple:
1. Answer this question ON YOUR BLOG and THEN link back to it via the box below. 2. Leave a comment letting me know you played along. 3. If you are interested in adding the box to your site, please visit Mister Linky.
Write Back Weekend "How Much Is That Doogie In the Window?"
My whole life, I've considered myself a dog person. In fact, I'm probably the biggest dog person you'll ever meet whose never actually owned a dog.
The main reason I have never owned a dog is simple; my mommy wouldn't let me. If it had been just me and my dad I'm sure I could have convinced him. In fact, together we tried to convince her, too. After all, she thinks they're cute, but she always felt that she'd end up the one taking care of the dog, not giving us, or mainly me, any credit in that department at all. My dad understood my desire to want a dog. He had dogs as a child. He also knew that being an only child, a dog could be a welcomed addition.
When I was little, the story I got was that I was probably allergic to animals since I had a lot of allergies. All of that was fine and good, but even if I was allergic to dogs, I think I would have been okay. I say this because my best friend growing up had plenty of dogs, mainly Irish Setters, and I was around them all the time and I felt fine. Long story short, I think it was an excuse.
One time those very same relatives came across a stray dog who looked a lot like Benji. They kept him for a few days and contemplated keeping him in the long run, but truth be told they didn't really have the room for another dog. My friend's mom, who was good friends with my mom, tried really hard to convince her to let me keep it. Alas, it never happened.
So now that I'm finally on the verge of branching out on my own my to do list looks something like this: get house, get dog. This is because the person I am marrying loves dogs like me. He has faltered a bit over the years about getting a dog, but I won't let him. He worries about the responsibility factor. I think it's silly because we're luckier than most considering he works from home. Granted, that being said, I still have a sinking suspicion I'll be doing most of the dog taking care of it ness, and I'm okay with that, really.
Just recently, we've begun to talk specifics where dogs are concerned. See although we already know we want a dog, we don't really know what kind of dog we want. So far it seems the types of dogs he'd be inclined to get are the opposite of the ones I'd be inclined to get. Isn't that always the way? He also thinks we should have two so they can keep each other company. In theory I think it's a great idea, but I still say we need to acclimate to one dog first before we do any add ons. I know in some ways it's easier training them together, and this way one is less likely to feel dominant, but on the other hand, even just going on breed generalities, you really don't know what your individual dog is going to be like until you get it home. Breaking in two difficult dogs at the same time is probably my worst nightmare regarding all of this.
Although we are both getting this dog, I can't help but feel what I want should trump what he wants. Is that bad? I only say this because I do know that I'm going to be the one taking care of it more and because I am the person who has been patiently waiting for this day my whole life. He's had dogs before, so it's not new to him. I waited so long for this experience, I think it's only fair I have a big say. That being said, I think I want a smaller to medium sized dog, preferably one that doesn't shed a lot, is not a big barker and who is cute and loyal, but doesn't scare visitors.
What he wants however differs. He agrees on the size, the shedding and the barking, but he's not really into cute dogs and he kinda digs the fact that he'd have a dog that would scare other people or at least protect us. While there's a time and place for a dog like that, I am not into getting a dog that protects me right now. I've been unprotected by one for years and done just fine. I want one who will cuddle up with me and watch TV at night or be excited when I come home, not aloof. I also don't want a dog that will scare neighbors cause chances are then he'll scare me, too.
But the type of dog I want and the type of dog I think I would be are two different questions. All my life I've been convinced I must have been a dog in another life. I have a lot of hair that sheds a lot and I have a great sense of smell. I also get an overwhelmingly feeling of sadness when people are being cruel to animals in movies or on TV. I know it's fake, but I get so, so sad. Even if it's a cartoon. I get sad for people too, but not in the same way. That has to say something about me.
So, to help me decide which dog is most like me, I took the same quiz that Sharkbait did in order to figure out how I measured up. Here were my results:
You scored 42.9% Jack Russell Terrier This pint-sized explorer is the Dr. Livingstone of the canine world. Always ready for adventure, the Jack Russell Terrier is known to wander off at a moment's notice. Her life is never dull, and entertainment is key. Accepting in nature, she makes friends easily and is usually the center of attention wherever she goes. Her high energy and upbeat personality make the Jack Russell Terrier a fun-loving part of any family.
You scored 28.6% Lhasa Apso The Lhasa Apso may be petite, but she's very tough. Always ready to romp, her daily exercise requirements may leave her companions winded. Fond of her loved ones, she is likely to cuddle up with them at night, content to be doted on. Her long coat requires regular maintenance but is sure to turn heads when properly styled. The feisty and exuberant little Lhasa Apso has a well-earned reputation for her lovability.
You scored 14.3% German Shepherd The German Shepherd is a workaholic. Intent on business, this loyal breed is always on patrol. Suspicious of strangers, she defends her territory with a fierce reproach. When it comes to affection, she is tender and loving toward her pack and feels a deep responsibility for their well-being. Mental and physical exercise both appeal equally to the German Shepherd, and her intelligence is further enhanced by her dedicated nature. When it comes to dependability, the German Shepherd has the market cornered.
You scored 14.3% Cocker Spaniel The Cocker Spaniel feels the need to please. She tends to become overly submissive in her mission to make everyone happy but makes up for it with her sensitive nature. A brisk walk around the block is right up her alley, but she prefers to spend a good part of her time indoors. Her silky hair tends to become tangled, and regular grooming sessions are necessary to keep her looking her best. The accommodating Cocker Spaniel is truly a loving and trusted friend as well as an ideal companion.
So let's review the results, shall we? In some ways, I completely see the comparisons. However the terrier, which I'm the most like allegedly, is probably the description I least relate to. I like entertainment, but I like watching it and creating it, not being part of it. I never like to draw attention to myself either. I've also never been too keen on adventure in it's truest sense of the word. Meanwhile I like the fact that the Lhasa Apso is described as petite, but tough. I think that's a fair comparison to me. I also think my hair looks good when properly styled.
At first I didn't see how I could be like a German Shepard, but I guess I too am suspicious of strangers and remain guarded until I know someone. I also take responsibility and dedication seriously. Then there's the Cocker Spaniel, a breed I've always loved, that is described as being eager to please, preferring indoors and a sensitive, trusting soul. I also feel that this description is a lot like me.
So what have we learned? Apparently I match four very different breeds, but none of them overwhelmingly so. What does this say about me? To me this says that more than likely, I'm a mutt or a mixed breed which I truly think I'd be. I also wonder if that's what I'd lean towards getting, too and that's why my indecisive nature makes it so hard to pick just one. After all, I've never fit into any category and sometimes ways people have perceived me have even surprised myself. Like most dogs, I feel I am a loyal person and if you treat me well, I'll be your best friend for life. That and buy me dinner once and awhile.
Of course all this doesn't mean that the mixed breed of the Labradoodle still doesn't crack me up. But going on about that would be a lot like barking up the wrong tree, now wouldn't it?
Same Old Song
Note: This post was written before the performances for this week's American Idol aired. Most of my comments still apply, but there could probably be some additional comments added, provided I had the time which of course, I do not. Still for AI fans, or AI haters as the case may be, enjoy!
This week launches the first real episode of American Idol of the season. Sure, technically the show has been back for a good month or so now. I don't know how many of you feel about it though, but I am bored by the horrible auditions. I'd much rather hurry it up and get to the good stuff.
Although it's season seven and so most people know what to expect, they are trying to throw in a few zingers this year to keep you intrigued. For one thing, the singers were allowed to use instruments to showcase their skills during one round of auditions and presumably, will be able to do the same thing at some point during the actual competition. For another, there is said to be a more concerted effort this season for you to get to know the contestants and thus hopefully make more of a connection with the singer after the competition has ended (see boost their record sales).
But there's another issue, and thus the main reason why I am writing this post, that American Idol has struck a sour note early on. This is in regards to the selection process of the candidates themselves. You see I can still remember season one of American Idol. I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for this season as it was one built upon no expectations. We didn't know that poor Nikki McKibbin really could get so far on the mean-spirited redials of future Vote For the Worst type fans. Not only did we not know what to expect, we didn't know who to expect. That's because American Idol was just that. It was America's chance to pick somebody from obscurity and fulfill their American dream. This is why a winner like Kelly Clarkson was so perfect. She was just a girl from the South who happened to sing really well and amazingly, had been in large part undiscovered before the program.
But at the seasons have evolved, so have the contestants. No longer are just the unknown wannabes trying out for the show. The people who are trying out are also okay with not winning the whole thing. In fact, if you're someone like Daughtry you were better off NOT winning as now he had a chance to make the kind of music he wanted to make instead of being pigeon holed into puke worthy (Taylor "cough" Hicks) type pop, only to be dropped from a label consequently at a later date. Now unsigned artists and savvy marketeers are trying out, sitting right next to that undiscovered girl who worked at Dairy Queen. Some might say there's nothing wrong with this as they are still technically unknowns, but I say failed deals and child star pasts are still an advantage over someone who has no experience and essential, no connections, to anyone in the business, period.
This is why every season since that first one has had a contestant or two that has raised some eyebrows. But now it's worse. Maybe it's because the proverbial well has run dry, but this season, more than any other, is full of stories behind the stories that makes the American dream seem more less and less about being plucked from obscurity and more and more about previous history.
But before I continue, let me say this one side note about American Idol. I am beginning to get really annoyed that they focus so much time on certain people so that you get attached, only to let them go. For instance, Angela Martin the single mom whose child was disabled and then her dad died during the process, too (not to be confused with the other African American contestant whose dad died) and Josiah Leming, the young emotional guy who lived out of his car were two of my favorites. Neither one of them made it though which baffled me because some of the people who went in their place I never saw. It seems obvious from the way they edited it that they wanted us to focus on them for some reason, but why I'll never know.
Meanwhile some of the people who DID make it are a far cry from being unknowns which changes things for me.
My personal favorite "back story" is the one contestant, Carly Smithson, the Irish girl who tragically tried out before, only to find out she didn't have a work Visa to stay. It's since come out though that Carly Smithson is actually already was a singer who recorded an album. I didn't recognize her because her album wasn't a hit, and she didn't enter the competition under her maiden name, but her married name instead. In fact, I realized that under her old name, before she got married, I actually have a song by her LOL
There's already controversy brewing over whether or not this should matter because she is talented and currently, unsigned but I think it should, at least to some extent. I think the public should at least be informed and then make their decisions accordingly. If it doesn't make a difference to you after knowing, fine. But her connections to the business run deeper than some others and I for one refuse to believe this doesn't contribute to her place in the competition. Interestingly enough, on her album she barely sounds like the same girl who tried out for American Idol. Instead she sounds an awful lot like former child actress turned singer/songwriter, Danielle Brisebois who wrote many songs for the album. I know Danielle's sound because her album, although never a hit, has always been one of my favorites. Her one song, "Just Missed the Train" in fact has been recorded by her, Carly and former Idol contestant, Kelly Clarkson. If all of this is just coincidence I'll shut up, but I don't think it is.
But Carly, although the biggest story, isn't the only story. There's also country crooner Kristy Lee Cook who apparently recorded an album and was ultimately dropped by her label before, too. Another country tinged contestant with a backstory is Amy Davis who is a part time model who also appeared as a reality show contestant on Nashville Star. Or how about Jason Castro who allegedly was on MTV's Cheyenne show as her boyfriend or Jason Yeager who once appeared as a contestant on ABC's Making the Band? Maybe you recall the daughter of a Motown back up singer, Syesha Mercado who was on short-lived ABC show called The One, as well as appearing in numerous commercials? What about Kady Malloy? She's the girl who showed off her ability to do impressions during her audition. What she didn't advertise however, was the fact that she already recorded an album songs from which can be heard here. Perhaps you were intrigued by long haired "rocker" Robbie Carrico who is no stranger to show business and in fact, used to be in a pop band called Boyz-N-Girlz United and looked like this.
So you might say a lot of these contestants have entered competitions before, but it's not like they won them, so all bets are off. Only to this I say au contraire, as seventeen year old David Archuleta not only was a contestant on the most recent Star Search, he actually WON. Sure he won when he was a minor, but he won regardless. If you can just can go on reality show after reality show, where's the fairness in that? All this being said, just wait three years. By then, America's Got Talent winner Bianca Ryan will be sixteen and thus eligible to enter and win this competition, too.
All of this reminds me of the semi-controversy that surrounded previous Idol contestant Mario Vasquez. Mario made the top twelve in season four only to mysteriously drop out due to reasons that are still unclear. At the time, the consensus was that Mario was already signed with J Records and that once that information surfaced, it would have been a conflict of interest for him to continue. Regardless of whether or not he was signed at the time, he did ultimately get signed and released an album which makes you believe there was some weight to this rumor. In this case the only difference would have been that the artist was signed currently, not in the past. It's a minor technicality if you ask me, but a technicality nonetheless.
When try outs were going on this season I remember hearing about Philadephia native, Lindsay Pagano auditioning. Lindsay, along the same lines as Carly, already had an album released in 2001 when she was only fifteen years old and around here, there were local articles remarking about whether or not it was fair for her to try out. All of it was a moot point, however, considering she didn't allegedly make it past the first round and her audition was never shown on television. Ouch. Her catchy single, Everything U R was even used as the theme song to now defunct WB show, Maybe It's Me as well as an AOL campaign. Pagano argued that none of this mattered as that was then, this is now and now she's just an unsigned artist who is trying to make a name for herself like everyone else.
So as I watch the top 24 performances this week, I watch not with baited-breath, but instead with cautionary interest. It's early, but if I'm rooting for pure, unknown talent I'd go with contestants like Asia'h Epperson, Brooke White or Danny Noriega. They remind me of the days when the competition gave you that feel good feeling about watching someone's dreams come true. I would include rocker nurse Amanda Overmyer in that list but she's a little intense and to be honest, quite scary to me. Of course there are a slew of wild cards who have yet to be seen that may have something worth mentioning, too. This is not to take away anything from some of the more "experienced" contestants. If nothing else, they should make for good entertainment. And who knows? Maybe there will be a male who has to be eliminated for a shady past. Stranger things have happened after all. Then contestants like Josiah can be added to the competition where he should have been all along.
Tell It To Me Tuesday "It's A Dog Eat Dog World"
Today's TITMT question is being posted a bit later, but actually that's on purpose. This is because I had to post not one but two answers to Write Back Weekends since I fell a bit behind. Now that I've given all five or so of you sometime to digest, I figured it was safe to forge ahead. I even have a new, original post to put up this week. It's amazing what a four day weekend can do for ya!
Nat actually suggested this question awhile back and I just got around to using it now. It actually has some significance to me in regards to timing, but the TITMT part is never about me. Now it's on to YOU.
If you were a dog, what breed would you be?
If you are participating on your blog, the rules are simple:
1. Answer this question ON YOUR BLOG and THEN link back to it via the box below. 2. Leave a comment letting me know you played along. 3. If you are interested in adding the box to your site, please visit Mister Linky.
Write Back Weekend "I Love It! I Love It! I Love It!"
In an attempt to somewhat honor Valentine's Day being last week, I decided to make the TITMT question about love. However I didn't really want to write about love in the traditional sense since somehow there was a been there, done that vibe about it.
So instead, in AOGB's grand tradition of list making, I decided to ask everyone about particular favorites. The favorites I chose were arbitrary and the first ones that came to my mind. That being said, if you decided to play along and wanted to take away or add as necessary, who am I to judge? You'll also notice that in my version of favorites, it is almost next to impossible to choose just one. I pluralized wherever I deemed fit so you can feel free to do the same.
Favorite Food(s)- My favorite foods have changed over the years, not unlike hairstyles or clothing trends. The food I most want also changes dependent upon the mood I'm in. There are some key ingredients though to the best foods for me. One, the spicier it is, the better it is. Two, the hotter it is in temperature, that's good too. Of course there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, good sushi is hands down, one of my favorite foods. I love to make it spicy by adding wasabi to the mix, but it's not the kind of food you want to eat warm. I also love salads that might have a warm ingredient or two added to it, but the salad itself need not be heated. My other favorite foods are soup and chicken, not necessarily in that order. Ethnicity wise I think I'd go with Chinese though I admit to being an equal opportunity eater. In fact, it's probably much easier to say what I don't like in this category, but I digress.
In a sub category, my favorite places to eat out would probably be a good diner (New Jersey is crawling with them) or Cheesecake Factory (though you have to go at an off time). I also have been known to enjoy indulging in a great Olive Garden meal from time to time as well as Indian, hibachi....
Favorite Movies- This is one category that you think would keep evolving, but I haven't really watched that many movies in the last ten years or so that I feel I have to own. I've been entertained, sure, but not to the point where they make a best of list. My favorite movie after all this time is still Some Kind of Wonderful which is now (gulp) twenty-one years old. My second favorite movie came out ten years later. That film is called That Thing You Do. Incidentally, my memories of this movie and every time I've watched it since have been known to release some sort of endorphins into my body. After that the lines get a little blurry as there are so many movies I have loved over the years all for different reasons. I was always a huge fan of eighties teen angst so movies like For Keeps, Pretty in Pink and Say Anything definitely would make the top ten, too. Then again, I could seriously go on and on here.
Favorite Drinks- It all depends on the category we're talking about. If we're talking about a regular thirst quenching type of drink, I'd go with a good lemonade on a hot day. Nathan's lemonade is my favorite as it's not too sweet, not too sour. Really the right mix is everything. I also enjoy drinking water with lemon although it took me many years to get to that point after fighting it for so long. Along those same lines, my favorite alcoholic drink is probably a Long Island Iced Tea. Some people think this is a rather strong drink given how much alcohol it contains, but it all depends on whose making it. If they make it right, it's rather tasty. A good Corona Light ain't too shabby either. Nor is a nice glass of wine.
Favorite Bands/Songs- Another category that has changed with the tide, I still have a soft spot in my heart for many artists that are no longer on the top of the charts. Bands/singers like Jude Cole, Jellyfish, Huey Lewis and the News, Rick Springfield and Squeeze would definitely make the list, among others I'm sure. Currently I'm really digging people like Rilo Kiley, Pink, Justin Timberlake, Saving Jane, One Republic...
Favorite Memory- Now that I've been alive thirty plus years I have to say that I am definitely the kind of person who subscribes to the "don't know what you got till it's gone" school of thought. I mean I suppose I kind of knew what I had, but I'm a nostalgia freak all the same. I have so many great memories for different reasons, but my favoritest memories probably revolve around my youth, under the age of eleven, growing up in the eighties. Attached to that time are so many people, places, movies, music and television memories, too. If I hear a song or see a certain person, the memories come flooding back. One one hand I love that feeling, on another it reminds me of how much time has transpired.
Favorite TV Shows- Over the years this answer has changed a lot, but one thing that never seems to change is that the shows I seem to enjoy the most often are the ones that end of getting canceled. It's disappointing really to the point you think I wouldn't keep on trying, but somehow, someway I do. My So-Called Life is probably the best example of this, but there have been many shows that fit this description since then (Once and Again, Cupid, Relativity, American Dreams, Life Goes On...I could go on and on actually). So I suppose it should only seem fitting that my current favorite show is Friday Night Lights, a show that may or may not return. I also love October Road which probably isn't far behind FNL but without the huge fan base to keep it afloat. I also love Monk but that's probably the only hit on my list, besides some reality guilty pleasures and things like that, of course. Really this is an abbreviated list. If you knew me you'd know that was true. It's really a post in itself.
Write Back Weekend "You Can Tell Everyone, This Is Your Song"
This Write Back Weekend response is a week late and a true answer or two short, but finally posted nonetheless!
Soon after I posted last week's TITMT question I realized that it was a mistake. Okay, maybe calling it a mistake is a mistake in itself. Basically I realized I was painting myself into a corner regarding the whole "write back" aspect. I mean I've had a year or so to think about the songs that are special and significant to me. I don't know why I thought thinking about it for another six days or so would bring me to a solution.
I also appreciate and respect the fact that some of you delicately pointed out no one can make this decision for me. This is something I knew already and know will work out in time, but it's just that picking ONE song is such a hard thing to do for me. This is for a variety of reasons. One, as anyone who knows me knows, I have a massive musical collection. So the same thing that applies to life also apparently applies to wedding song selection. Sometimes less is more.
Just the process of finding someone to play music at the reception was difficult for me. The only thing that was easy was having faith in knowing that I wanted a DJ. The reason behind this was simple, I didn't like the way most wedding bands I had heard sang songs I otherwise loved. Why sit there wishing it sounded like the original when you could have the original itself? That coupled with the fact that the cost of a GOOD wedding band can be insane, especially here in New Jersey. Only one time during this whole process did I feel a twinge of regret about not going with a band. That was the day I was at a bridal show where an excellent band was playing. They probably could have changed my mind. Then again, if I knew their prices, I think I would have gone back to being happy about my original decision.
Having a DJ is actually a bigger deal to me than it is to most. After all, the DJ company is full of professionals who know the music everyone wants to hear the most at weddings, right? Wrong, at least in my book. That's because I hate, hate hate attending weddings where every song is so played out. If I never hear Celebration or Mony, Mony again in my lifetime, I think I'll be just fine.
The same goes for organized dances. Call me a curmudgeon, but I detest them. But as everyone has delicately pointed out to me, many guests love them so my compromise is we'll do one, but no one is dragging me on the dance floor to participate. In fact, I think that's a good time for me to take a bathroom break, don't you?
I simply feel there are just so many good songs out there, many that are good enough for a wedding in fact, but never got their fair shot. So I want to add some good songs that everyone knows to the mix, but songs they most likely didn't hear at the wedding they went to the weekend before.
Which brings me to my first problem, our wedding song.
I have a very hard time choosing a first dance song because we want to be very careful not to pick something that's been played out. Also at hand, is the type of song itself. We have toyed with going non traditional and doing something more upbeat but still romantic like Dean Martin's "Ain't It A Kick In the Head". I am going to play that song, somehow, someway, but if it was a first dance song we'd need a routine to go with it.
As some of you have pointed out Organized Wedding Dances are all the rage right now. Interestingly enough an organized "fakeout" dance like the one in the link was exactly what we were planning on doing all along. In fact, we were seriously thinking about doing this so much that when this video leaked on You Tube, my fiance was highly disappointed that someone thought of it first. Now we know there are people who are going to think we are copying dances like these if we went this root, depsite our best efforts to explain that we're not.
So what's the final result? I don't know. There are no easy answers in this post. Instead it's just an opportunity to vent. Of course when we do ultimately select it I'll be sure to fill everyone in on what we chose. You're all part of the process now after all. Short of inviting you to the wedding, it's the least I can do.
Tell It To Me Tuesday "All You Need Is Love"
First things first. I want to say a thank you to those of you (namely Sharon) for wondering where I am sometimes. Although there's no easy answers, I have not forgotten about this blog or those of who who despite everything, make the time to visit me. My visits might take a little extra time, as it seems it also seems hard to FIND the time to post these days. That doesn't mean though that I'm not interested. Maybe one day I'll even find the time to write a post or two as to why certain things have delayed me as of late. For now though you'll just have to take my word on it and take my word whenever I give it too...whenever that may be.
Along the same lines, my Write Back Weekend answer is going to be a little late this week since obviously the weekend, and even Monday, passed. The most frustrating part being is that I'm so not a last minute person in life. I'm actually quite punctual and reliable. I guess because I spend so much time trying to keep all my ducks in a row in real life that something has to give. Unfortunately this blog has been the casualty. Rest assured though I always find the time. Somehow, someway!
Given the theme of this week's holiday, I want to know what your favorite things are in life. The list of ideas is as follows...
Favorite Food Favorite Movie Favorite Drink Favorite Bands/Songs Favorite Memory Favorite TV Show Favorite ???
The ??? one is where you come in. Assuming you're playing along on your blog, or even if you're not, I want you to add something to the list. Depending on how many favorites I get added here in the comments, I may even update this post accordingly.
If you are participating on your blog, the rules are simple:
1. Answer this question ON YOUR BLOG and THEN link back to it via the box below. 2. Leave a comment letting me know you played along. 3. If you are interested in adding the box to your site, please visit Mister Linky.
Tell It To Me Tuesday "They're Playing Our Song"
I'm coming to find that one of the hardest things about planning a wedding is going to be picking out the music. Or as Rainman would say, "Yeah, definitely. Definitely the music." It's not because I don't have a lot of music. In fact, it's the exact opposite. While some girls worry about flowers, I worry about my top 40 playlist.
So with the upcoming nuptials in mind, here is a multi-faceted question for you to mull over:
1. If you're married, what was your wedding song? 2. If you're not married, what song would you wish was your wedding song? 3. Do you have any suggestions for someone like me? (don't be offended if I gag at a choice or two. Like I said, I am very selective about the musical company I keep. I just want to see what y'all come up with.)
If you are participating on your blog, the rules are simple:
1. Answer this question ON YOUR BLOG and THEN link back to it via the box below. 2. Leave a comment letting me know you played along. 3. If you are interested in adding the box to your site, please visit Mister Linky. 4. If you have any questions or you're confused just ASK!
Write Back Weekend Monday "Memories, Like The Corners of My Mind"
For the first twenty- two years or so of my life, I prided myself on having a good memory. In fact, I find it ironic that having a good memory is one of the things I most remember about my "youth".
Not only did I recall things that pertained to me, I also recalled random things, usually related to pop culture trivia. For example, I loved to watch the Dateline blurbs where they'd give you three events and then they'd supply you with three different years those events could have occurred. Even before the years were revealed, I had a very good accuracy rate of guessing within a two or three year range. My mom was always amazed by this since many of the events were before my time. I could never really explain it, but it seemed as if I almost had a photographic memory for pop culture related dates and times. Now if only I had been able to do that for all of my studies in school I would have it made.
In the past eight years or so or though I have noticed that this talent has diminished somewhat. I say the past eight years because I know I can apply my lack of specificity to a certain decade, the 2000's. Say to me St. Elmo's Fire, I say back to you 1985. Remind me of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" debut, I can tell you the year was 1989. But ask me what year say A Beautiful Mind was released, and I can give you a time frame, but not the exact year itself, not without looking anyway. See those first twenty-two years or so remain ingrained in my brain. The last eight years or so, not so much.
There are a few different theories I have on this. One theory is that as we get older, the brain only has room to store so much, sorta like a closet. As a result, our short term memory needs to make room to fit everything in, so it starts picking and choosing, clearing out miscellaneous thoughts the mind deems expendable. This would explain why many Alzheimer's patients can't tell you what they ate for lunch, but they can tell you what they were wearing the day they met their wives back in 1952.
My other theory is also related to age, but in a different respect. I find that the older I get, the less impressionable I am. I can still tell you all about those first movies that I loved or those sleepovers that I had because they were such monumental memories to me, at least at the time. I can still hear certain songs today and instantly be transported to the time and place that song was popular. But the older we get, the less of those "milestones" there are to capture. Suddenly a new show, song or movie seems less memorable because YOU'VE been there and done it all before. Meanwhile some teenager, somewhere is obsessing over the likes of Gossip Girl the way I once oohed and ahhed over My So-Called Life.
And yet if either theory is true, our first memories, as asked of us from last week's TITMT, don't fall in line with this train of thought. Instead our first memories are often random in nature, not necessarily pertaining to anything monumental. It's almost as if that part of our brains was shut off and then one day, suddenly it was activated, just like that.
The very first memory I have is fuzzy, not unlike the footage you might see from an old movie. Whether or not I applied that to the memory as creative license isn't really important, but it is there. It's a memory of my nana, my dad's mother, who passed away shortly after the memory itself. She was sick with cancer and died in the early eighties so I never really got to know her as a grandmother, or as a person. I do remember though being about three or four and having this doll. It was a learning doll that had buttons, zippers and laces all over it in order to encourage children to explore these concepts. Anyway, I can clearly remember my nana hiding mints in the pockets of this doll. My mission, should I chose to accept it, was to figure out how to get those pockets unzippered, laced or buttoned so that I could get to my reward. It was pretty clever of my nana, looking back on it.
This is why memories are fickle. I know she died shortly after this, but her actual death I do not recall. Perhaps it was way too complicated of a concept for me to grasp at such a young age, so instead the mind made provisions for me, allowing me to hold on to a much smaller memory which in turn, served a much bigger purpose.
We may never know why remember things we want to forget and forget things we want to remember. All we know is that memories themselves, make us who we are today.
Remember that.
Tell It To Me Tuesday "Do You Remember?"
Today's question comes to us courtesy of the thoughtful Sid Faiwu. It sounds like he'd have the name of a great magician doesn't it? Maybe that's how he's able to whip up the magic when it comes to TITMT ideas!
Both Sid (and myself) want to know...
What is your earliest memory(ies)? and adding my own personal touch, why do you think this memory has managed to hold such significance over the years?
Ironically I almost forgot to ask this question. Luckily I remembered it at the last minute. Which by the way, if you have any good TITMT ideas, don't forget to email them to yours truly at janet@theartofgettingby.com
If you are participating on your blog, the rules are simple:
1. Answer this question ON YOUR BLOG and THEN link back to it via the box below. 2. Leave a comment letting me know you played along. 3. If you are interested in adding the box to your site, please visit Mister Linky. 4. If you have any questions or you're confused just ASK!
Write Back Weekend "It Was the Best Of 365 Days, It Was the Worst 365 Days"
For the record, I tried to post this yesterday, but Blogger was just not cooperating. :(
Last week's Razzie nominations inspired me to ask the question...
What do you think were the worst performances of the year? In the name of expansion this could be the worst movie or acting in a movie, worst TV show or even worst album or song. Feel free to write as little or as much that comes to mind.
As usual with loaded questions like these, thinking up the question poses no challenge, having the time to actually answer it is another matter entirely. I can't help it. I take my TITMT answers seriously. I can give you any old answer here, but I do try to give thoughtful ones. So when I have to dig deep to think of the worst of the year, I have to really dig deep. I just want to be so careful not to forget anyone, ya know? Still, for brevity's sake, I decided to pick just one choice for each category. Also, for my own sanity's sake, I've decided to go with the first thing that hits me. I'm sure there were better (or worse as the case may be) but this is my story and I'm sticking to it...for the purpose of this post anyway.
Worst Popular Album of 2007
Lost Highway- Bon Jovi Being from Jersey and all I might take some heat for this, but I just don't get the new Bon Jovi. He's all countried out and mellow. What's up with that? And by the way, when I say new, I really mean the last ten years or so. I dug his solo, Midnight in Chelsea phase a bit and It's My Life grew on me after the zillonth time. But nothing, and I do mean nothing, holds a candle to classic, full on hair band eighties rock days of Bon Jovi's heyday. Nothing.
Worst Television Show of 2007
Going with my knee jerk reaction here I have to choose ABC'sCavemen. I'm not even sure if it's still on the air. Then again, is anything really these days? I hate this show and although I've never seen it, I know enough about it to know I never need to, ever. It's a show that was born out of lack of originality. It's like that guy you knew who took a joke that was mildly amusing at a party once and just dragged in on for years and years. I mean I love the Burger King commercials, but even I know I need not add plot and 20 more minutes the mix. Duh. Worst Movie of 2007
Again, so hard to choose just one here but I'm going to go with one I saw this time around. After careful consideration I think I'm going to go with the train wreck of a film, I Know Who Killed Me, which appropriately starred Lindsay Lohan. This is the story of a girl who gets kidnapped, or does she? She loses her mind, or not. She has a twin, perhaps. She lives, she doesn't. Basically it's all very confusing. It's premise is so ridiculous it's one of those you have to see it to believe it scenarios. Suffice it to say that it's akin to the accidents you pass on the road. You want to look away, but somehow you just can't.
I could go on and on, but considering this is late and I'm very tired, I'm lucky I got it up here at all. Plus talking about all of this suckage makes my brain hurt. Must. Move. On.
Here's to hoping 2008 will be better. Stay tuned...
Ashes to Ashes. We All Fall Down.
I have to say, I didn't see myself ever writing this post. Then again, blog worthy events, as with life itself, happen while you're making other plans, or in this case, writing other blogs.
Yesterday, along with the rest of the world I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of actor Heath Ledger. For those of you who didn't know who Heath Ledger was he starred in such movies as Brokeback Mountain, The Order and my personal favorite, 10 Things I Hate About You. He was only 28 years old young.
Just writing about Heath Ledger in the past tense sends chills down my spine. Sure death is sad, but something about it becomes so much more prolific when it is the death of someone young. When someone older dies there often isn't an element of surprise. After all, we all know we are going to die someday in someway. But when someone dies unexpectedly and in their prime, their past presence takes on more meaning. It doesn't matter that in theory we know this can happen at any time. Suddenly it becomes not about what that person accomplished in their short lives, but all the things they never would since that life was taken away.
Of course Heath is not the only actor of his kind to die so soon, or even, so recently. In fact, just last week, lesser known actor Brad Renfro died from an alleged drug overdose just a few days shy of his twenty-sixth birthday. Although Brad was younger, somehow his death wasn't nearly as shocking. In his short life, he was in and out of trouble with the law and involved in problems with drugs and alcohol. Sources close to Brad said he had been making attempts to stay sober, but perhaps the price of fame was just too much to take.
The death of both Ledger and Renfro reminds me of a day back in 1993 when talented actor River Phoenix died at only twenty-three years old. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was fifteen at the time and since River was only seven years older, I, like many of my peers, identified so much with his sudden death. It might sound silly, but that was the first time, or at least the most profound time, that it hit me--death could happen to anyone, at any time. Back then I was naive enough to also be shocked that Phoenix, a teen heartthrob who made multiple appearances in anti drug campaigns was not being true to his word. See, I didn't understand that actors weren't only good at pretending to be other people on screen. Often times they were "acting" in real life, too.
I've grown up a lot since my early years of disillusionment, but that doesn't take anything away from those who lose their lives, especially those who seem on the surface like they have so much to live for. But whether it be Heath Ledger or Britney Spears, it doesn't change the fact that something somewhere is seriously wrong. Say what you want, but young Hollywood today did not seem to learn a thing from the pitfalls of those lost child performers. Instead the public continues to build these people now, more than ever. Think about it. The paparazzi today is 100 times worse than it was ten or twenty years ago. They are stronger in means and in numbers. Does this excuse erratic behavior and the actions of overgrown children who don't know how to behave? Of course it doesn't. But it's the chicken or the egg scenario. Are these people lost because they lead a life of debauchery or are they leading a life of debauchery because they are lost?
We might never know what category Heath Ledger fell into. All we do know is that he now and will forever on be remembered as one of the many who was taken from us far too soon.
When I think about River Phoenix's death and the troubled lives of those who have come after him, a popular song from that time period haunts me to this day. This song is called Amazing and it was sung by Aerosmith. At the time the lyrics reminded me so much of the news of River Phoenix's untimely passing but as the years have gone by, it's become much more than that. The song hints at the promise of change, but to me the "light" also could be construed as the light to the other side. I'll leave it up to you.
Amazing
I kept the right ones out And let the wrong ones in Had an angel of mercy to see me through all my sins There were times in my life When I was goin' insane Tryin' to walk through The pain When I lost my grip And I hit the floor Yeah,I thought I could leave but couldn't get out the door I was so sick and tired Of livin' a lie I was wishin that I Would die
[Chorus:] It's Amazing With the blink of an eye you finally see the light It's Amazing When the moment arrives that you know you'll be alright It's Amazing And I'm sayin' a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight
That one last shot's a Permanent Vacation And how high can you fly with broken wings? Life's a journey not a destination And I just can't tell just what tomorrow brings
You have to learn to crawl Before you learn to walk But I just couldn't listen to all that righteous talk, oh yeah I was out on the street, Just tryin' to survive Scratchin' to stay Alive [Chorus]
Desperate hearts, desperate hearts
Tell It To Me Tuesday "Razzle Dazzle Them"
This week the infamous Razzies released their list of nominations. If you don't know what the Razzies are, simply think of the Oscars on opposite day. They honor the best just like the Oscars do, only in the Razzies case, they honor the best of the worst. Which leads me to today's question...
What do you think were the worst performances of the year? In the name of expansion this could be the worst movie or acting in a movie, worst TV show or even worst album or song. Feel free to write as little or as much that comes to mind.
If you are participating on your blog, the rules are simple:
1. Answer this question ON YOUR BLOG and THEN link back to it via the box below. 2. Leave a comment letting me know you played along. 3. If you are interested in adding the box to your site, please visit Mister Linky. 4. If you have any questions or you're confused just ASK!
Write Back Weekend "Blog Unto Others, As You'd Have Them Blog Unto You"
This past week I asked what might be seen by some as a cop out question. I asked for some brand new blog suggestions. How it was perceived I simply cannot control, but further clarification I can surely give.
A few weekends ago I finally made the time to update my links accordingly. It's probably the longest time I've let my links go unattended. At any rate, that's how I discovered that a good many of them were defunct. I swear I had to delete at least 20. I wish I could say the purge was comforting, but in reality it was actually more discomforting. This is because all of those people in somehow, someway had a small part in my AOGB life. Now without explanation they are gone from the blogosphere. Some are still around and like I said, decided I was no longer worth linking to. That's painful on a different level, but it's the blogging life and it happens. Thanks to Lightning Bug's Butt for once again deeming me worthy enough to grace his blog's presence. I don't know what I did wrong last time, but hopefully this time around you'll see fit to have me stay. By the way, he was never gone from my sidebar links. Just because someone doesn't link to me, doesn't mean I always don't link back and vice versa. Janet don't play like that.
The second part is where YOU came in. Since I forcibly had to drop many of my links, I decided I was in the market for a few good blogs. Unfortunately from the responses I did get, it seems that all of you are in the same boat that I'm in. Needless to say, my desire to write a post about all the great blogs I discovered here kinda went bust. And this in a sense connects to the bigger problem I've been having. Most of my old blogging friends are out of the game and I find the new breed of bloggers that I run into to be somewhat of a snobby bunch. There I said it. I say this because when I didn't get many blog recommendations from y'all, I took matters into my own hands and decided to visit some of your blogrolls on my own. I don't know how many blogs I visited and commented on, but as of today, not ONE of those people visited and commented back. Nice, right? Whatever happened to blogging etiquette not to mention curiosity or wanting to meet like minded bloggers. I tell ya. Bloggers these days. Not sure what they're in it for exactly.
But a promise is a promise and as a result, I intend to highlight what I did find, no matter how few and far between my travels took me.
Lindsay of Blood, Guts & Melodies has been coming here awhile now with thoughtful comments and frequent TITMT participation. Since I'm a teacher, certainly the TITMT points would serve as extra credit, and yet I was sadly remiss in adding her link to my life. It's not that I didn't visit Lindsay's blog and like what it had to offer, I just had been lazy in terms of linking, a process I once was so diligent about. So, when it came time to recommend a blogger Lindsay recommended herself, and with good reason. She's a blogger after my own heart because she doesn't write about any one thing. While themed blogs are nice from time to time, I also like the unpredictability of clicking through and not knowing what you're going to get. This is the kind of blog Blood, Guts & Melodies is. But don't take my word for it. Go over and tell Lindsay AOGB sent ya!
Loyal AOGB visitor Sharkbait recommended Metafilter.com. I knew I had heard of this site before, but when I visited I found you couldn't leave a comment without registering. Me don't likey that. So I went back over to Sharkbait's place where she informed that they charge a one time $5 dollar fee but that it's worth it. While I'm sure it is, I'm slightly squeamish about registering to read ANY blog. Plus what I'm looking for is to make a blogging connection, not unlike Chuck Woolery did with love back in the eighties. Buying into a big conglomerate of a blog makes me feel like I'm no longer supporting the indies. I do appreciate her exuberance though, especially since she turned around and asked her readers to recommend blogs to her. I'm going to do that right here, right now. Sharkbait, meet Lindsay above. Lindsay, meet Sharkbait.:)
Life of Marty's Marty threw a recommendation into the ring that I'm not going to repeat here (not that you can't do the slightest detective work and find out on your own, but still). A lot of people have endorsed this blog before and as a result, I have visited this blog before. But this blog is only one blog that serves as an example of one of my blogging pet peeves. I don't want to single said blog out though because by no means is it this blog's problem. It's more like a growing epidemic. Like I said earlier, a blog need not link to me for me to link to them and vice versa. But, and this is a big BUT, I do like to know that me and/or my blog matters to them in somehow, someway at some point. There are exceptions for instance like say I visit a writer's blog or someone famous. I know they don't have time for little ol' me.
Yet a lot of times, bloggers get around visiting other bloggers by commenting to them only back via their blog. I do that sometimes, but I always visit their blog, too. Not only do I see it as blogging common courtesy, I think that it's rather presumptuous to think that every person who comments on my blog is going to come back and read every comment I make. If you have the time for all that, God bless ya, but for the most part, I don't. I refer to this as half assed reciprocation. If I have to be Angela Lansbury to find out an answer to my question or create a conversation about a topic, for the most part, I'll pass.
Finally, frequent TITMT contributer Sid Faiwu reposted the question on his blog. His recommendation was AOGB which was nice. Again though, he only got one response given to him and it looked like it was from somebody who already visited there. The attempt was an admirable one, but it looks like one we all made in vain, apparently.
So there you have it. Unfortunately it was a rather dismal turnout to the TITMT this weekend, but I think this is a larger issue that deserves deeper exploration. I also feel that while like minded bloggers seem to be fewer and farther between, that doesn't mean bloggers should give up fighting the good fight completely. If you have any thoughts on the matter (or last minute recommendations) feel free to leave them in the comments.
Front of Our House
Our backyard, including the pool
A bad shot of me walking down the aisle, but you get the idea
Reception Entrance
Mother/Son dance
Dad/Daughter dance
Our First Dance
Because You Can't Have Dancing Pictures Without One of Ninety-One Year Old Grandma
Something Horrible Was Happening Here
Jessie's Girl!!
I Feel Like This One Says, Thanks For Coming
Our Dinner Table
Me and My Winnings
