Why I hate the Superbowl....

Because it's on my birthday.

The End

Old Man Winter vs. Unsettling Optimism

I hate winter. Words cannot describe my hatred of winter. Super hate. HATE with all capitals.

I hate wearing the same clothes over and over again with little to no variation because they are the warmest things I own. I hate shaving my legs only to get out of the shower and have the hair grow out all anew while I shiver and clutch my towel. I hate having no sunlight. I hate having to put lotion on all the time. I hate using conditioner. I hate static. I hate how it's always cloudy but when it's not there is that fake winter sun that gives no heat. I hate how we don't get to hibernate like bears. I hate how Obama left out "no more winter" in his campaign promises.

Basically unless there are Christmas lights up, it's snowing, or it's my birthday the entire season of winter can shove it.

But at my life coach camp I learned all about being positive and grateful. So I have decided to refocus my grump into thinking about what I actually do like about winter.

So here goes:

I like whiskey. Whiskey is a perfect winter drink. I like fancy dining. Nothing feels more cosmopolitan than a fancy restaurant in the winter. I like fireplaces with warm fires. I like hot chocolate with marshmallows. I like warm covers with warm puppies.
And I LOVE my snow pants.

But most of all I've decided that I will look forward with great glee to the beginning of Spring. Only 60 days away peeps! We can handle that. Even though it won't be considerably warm then- think of all the flowers and the birds and thoughts of water sports to come.

Hopefully I can keep this going for a little while longer, it's around the cold days in March when I really start losing my mind. If I lose it again this year- I'm going to have to move to Florida. And none of us want that. Hear me Obama? I expect change and soon.

Grown-up Kid

Sometimes I really wish I had a grown-up who ran my life.

They would say things like:

Daisy, change your clothes! You've been wearing pajamas for two days.
Daisy, take a shower!
Daisy, don't eat shrimp cocktail for breakfast!
Daisy, put sheets on your bed!

And I would grumble and say mean things about them on the phone to my friends. But secretly when I went to sleep on clean sheets in fresh clothes, belly full of vegetables and other grown-up food. I would be terribly happy.

When do you start acting like a grown-up? Did I miss this boat too?

Thoughts on Love and Marriage Vol. 1

I'm from Alabama. Which means that 3/4 of the people I grew up with were married before the age of 25. The last remaining stragglers seem to have all gotten engaged over the holidays. Which got me to thinking about marriage. As I peruse the pages and pages of Facebook pages announcing happy coupledoms in happy poses many emotions run through me: the emotional equivalent of the word "awww", judgement on ring size and bridesmaid dresses, and the unfortunate and inevitable feeling of jealousy.

I hate feeling jealous. It drives me crazy and makes me feel like a weaker human being. So I decided to delve straight into my jealousy and figure out what was up. The bottom line is that i want to come to a conclusion about whether I actually do want to get married at all. That would be a good start for me.I have wanted to get married before. Well, I should clarify. I have thought that I wanted to get married before, but then when it actually came down to it I ran faster than a speeding bullet away away from the proverbial alter.

So I haven't come to a conclusion about whether or not I even want to get married. Which means I probably wont be anytime soon. I'm not opposed to marriage. I am a constant crier (with joy) at weddings. I love the idea of meeting your soulmate and staying with them for a lifetime. My step-dad and mom and my stepsister and her husband all have very good marriages. But I guess that's the thing about all these Facebook weddings. I'm so curious. I want to ask all the smiles if they think they have found their soulmate? Did they know instantly? How long did it take to know they wanted to get married? Was the feeling mutual or did someone have to be convinced? I want to know whether it will last. And I'm highly dubious that everyone I know married the right person before before we even hit a quarter century. I guess we shall see.

But I guess I'm also worried that I've gotten left out. I have loved very deeply, I have even looked for rings but I couldn' make myself marry that person. In my dating past I have always relied on formulaic stereotypes. It must be instant or the guy must chase after the girl until she magically realizes that he is the one. For the last five years I wouldn't let a boyfriend kiss me on New Years Eve because I believed (for some reason) this would mean we would break up. After one painful breakup I decided that all the boyfriends thereafter should chase me and I still haven't lifted a finger to show someone I'm interested unless they do it first.

But maybe there isn't a formula? And maybe not everyone is meant to get married? Not that I'm saying I would NEVER get married. Because that isn't true. I don't want to die old and alone either- but married right now? Gives me the heebie jeebies. (which is always met by marrieds as, "well you just haven't met the right person).

Oh and the children question. I don't have an answer for that either. I love children but the thought of having my own is not something that I'm completely cozy with. And if you don't have children, then you don't really ever have to get married. Right? Right?

I guess the jealousy/confusion has also been caused by the complete 180 my mother has done on the subject. Growing up I wasn't even allowed to act like I had a crush on a boy and the mantra "do not get married before you are thirty" was repeated loudly and strong. But now that I'm almost 29, every guy I mention is met with the new mantra, "is he the one?" What? I wasn't raised to believe in "a one." And now I'm supposed to know him.

Oh well- I ramble on while probably one or more of my friends is posting the happy news of their impending nuptials. And I'll be happy for them. And then I think that I'm pretty happy right now with my current station. I have an obcsenely caring boyfriend with whom I'm taking it slow. I don't have an answer for my mom. But for right now that is alright with me. I think.

To be continued...