Wednesday, September 28, 2005
I'm Back!
But I'm going to bed tonight. Have some GREAT stories and GREAT pictures to share when I get some rest. Oh...where to begin? And yes, I did everything I said I wanted to do in my previous post. More details to come.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Gone Greek
Well wouldn't you know that the day before I'm set to fly out for my Greece trip, Delta Airlines declares bankruptcy? Well, if I don't have a flight back to the United States, at least I'll be stuck somewhere beautiful!
If you're interested, I've found this website to be helpful and entertaining: http://www.greektravel.com/islands.htm
Friday's going to be one heckuva day. First of all, we'll be on the plane for 8 hours overnight tomorrow night until we reach London. Then we'll hop on a 5 hour flight from London to Athens. From Athens we'll catch the train down to Pireaus. From there, we'll purchase tickets for a 3 hour trip on a ferry boat to Mykonos. I have a feeling I'll be slightly irritable after all of that and very little sleep! Let me tell you how much fun I am to be around when I haven't had enough sleep...just be thankful it's not you on the trip with me that day...that's all I've got to say! And we're really just winging this trip. We have NO hotel reservations - anywhere, NO real plan of action, NO idea how to speak or read the language, and NO agenda whatsoever. We've done little to no research, so this should all be very interesting!
Things I Plan on Trying While in Greece:
- Ouzo
- Nude Beaches (notice how this is listed after I try the ouzo?)
- Black Olives (I don't like olives, but "when in Rome"...errr, I meant Greece)
- Greek Men (ha! kidding, I'm kidding...sort of...)
If you're interested, I've found this website to be helpful and entertaining: http://www.greektravel.com/islands.htm
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Crazy Busy But...
I've been insanely busy trying to run errands, do laundry, pack, tidy my house up, and tie up loose ends at work before I leave for my trip on Thursday. No time to really blog, but I do have 3 quick things tonight:
1) I find that driving my car on the way in to work in the morning really inhibits my ability to check email on my Blackberry, and answering email is increasingly difficult while dodging cars at 80 mph. Maybe I should get a chauffeur.
2) More elevator etiquette: Push your button and move out of the way. You aren't the only one trying to go anywhere, so don't just stand there in front of the buttons. Next time I have to reach around you, I just may get a case of the "crazy elbow" and give you friendly reminder to move.
3) I really think Target should be classified as a addictive narcotic. You can't just go in the store for one quick "hit," you always end up wanting, and buying, more. It drains your wallet, while giving hallucinations that you have more in your budget to spend in there than you actually do. And I usually walk out of there, clutching my little plastic bags filled with goodies, on a shopping high. Coming down is a bitch though, when you realize you've spent too much and got a bunch of nothing. I went in for a $2.69 pack of toilet paper, I walked out with 3 bags of crap and a receipt that says I spent $49.54. On what? Still not sure.
1) I find that driving my car on the way in to work in the morning really inhibits my ability to check email on my Blackberry, and answering email is increasingly difficult while dodging cars at 80 mph. Maybe I should get a chauffeur.
2) More elevator etiquette: Push your button and move out of the way. You aren't the only one trying to go anywhere, so don't just stand there in front of the buttons. Next time I have to reach around you, I just may get a case of the "crazy elbow" and give you friendly reminder to move.
3) I really think Target should be classified as a addictive narcotic. You can't just go in the store for one quick "hit," you always end up wanting, and buying, more. It drains your wallet, while giving hallucinations that you have more in your budget to spend in there than you actually do. And I usually walk out of there, clutching my little plastic bags filled with goodies, on a shopping high. Coming down is a bitch though, when you realize you've spent too much and got a bunch of nothing. I went in for a $2.69 pack of toilet paper, I walked out with 3 bags of crap and a receipt that says I spent $49.54. On what? Still not sure.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
It's Game Day #2 - Now Updated
Ladies and Gentlemen, it's practically what I live for: college football in the fall. Before December's through, you'll probably get to read something or another about football every week and probably be tired of hearing about it, but I don't care. I can't get tired of football. It's an interest, it's a hobby, it's a passion. I don't just heart it, I.Love.It.
*Update: Alabama won 30-21.
Yeah, maybe we looked a little rusty in the 2nd quarter and yeah, maybe we gave them 3 easy touchdowns due to a turnover and stupid missed tackles, but you know what? I'm glad it wasn't a blow out. This was Southern Mississippi's first game of the season after Katrina, and they needed something to give them hope. They played a good ballgame. And Alabama's Tyrone Prothro made what's being called the "catch of the century," catching a pass behind the head of a Southern Mississippi player and hanging onto the ball after flipping over the player for a touchdown! It was AWESOME.
Alabama's Tyrone Prothro reaches around Southern Mississippi defender Jasper Faulk (21) to haul in a 42-yard pass from Brodie Croyle late in the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2005, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
As for Alabama's upcoming game, I hope we're ready for Spurrier's Univ. of South Carolina Gamecocks team next weekend. I won't see the game because I'll be in Greece, but I'll look forward to reading about it online and hearing about it when I get back.
"Univ. of Alabama vs. Univ of South Carolina: In a game where inches matter...University of South Carolina's 'Cocks just don't measure up."
Thursday, September 08, 2005
A Series of Unfortunate Events
I was talking with a coworker today about weird/usual/unfortunate things that have happened to us. It was just a late evening, ready to go home, finishing up last minute-end-of-the-day work, and we were just keeping each other company as we were winding down the day. She was saying how somehow, someway, she's had her fair share of people that flash her. She started telling me a few different stories of times that she was out and low and behold, some whack-o stranger opened a jacket or pulled down his pants to flash her. Odd, isn't it? I mean, I have NEVER been flashed (thank goodness because it's never the attractive people that want to flash), and here she is going around life getting flashed now more than once. But although I may not have had the unfortunate experience of a flash, I'm the girl that has had the experience of finding men in ladies rooms on several occasions - performing a "self-help" program on themselves, using the liquid soap for other purposes then to wash their hands if you get my drift. I kid you not.
The first time I ran into this disgusting event was a few years ago when I was home one summer from college. Me and several of my old high school friends were all going out one night and stopped at Taco Bell for dinner (hey, we were poor college students that would rather spend their money on beer then on good food). Two of our guy friends went on out to the car and me and my friend Stephanie went to the restroom before we left. Inside the ladies room were 2 stalls, one of which was occupied when we walked in. Steph went to the empty stall first while I waited for my turn. She was finished before the other occupied stall finished, so I went in after her. While I was taking my turn, I looked down while "hovering" and remember thinking that the lady in the stall next to me had really large feet with white tennis shoes, but it didn't click in my mind then that there was anything out of the ordinary. I just assumed some big-footed women had had too much bad, fake mexican and was in there paying for it. So I finished and walked out to wash my hands. All of the sudden, the previously occupied stall door opened and a man started to walk out, pants down around his hips, holding himself in his hand! Steph, waiting on me to finish washing my hands, sees this, grabs my arm with her left hand, the door to the ladies room with her right, and she and I whoosh out in a sprint towards the parking lot, leaving the water running in the sink and soap all over my hands! We thunder into the back seat of the boys' car who were waiting for us outside. Concerned, the boys were trying to figure out what all the commotion was about, and why I still had soapy, wet hands. We relay the story and they.were.pissed!! Our friend Blake jumps out of the car and explodes back into the restaurant, looking to KO our offender while we wait in the car. He returns 5 minutes later and gets back in. He said he told the manager about the incident, and the manager had gone into the ladies room to check to see if the man was still in there, but it was empty. He'd gotten away. We carried on with our night, but not without telling everyone about the events in the women's restroom earlier that evening.
The second time that I've run into this type of thing was just 2 weeks ago...at the office! I was working kind of late one night and one of the last people still left in the office for the evening. I was ready to go home, but was going to use the restroom before I started on my trip to the house. I walked into the bathroom and hesitated as soon as I walked in. There was an odd smell in there. Not the typical cleaner smell. Not a bleach smell. Not even a bad bathroom smell, but it was a very recognizable smell. I thought to myself, "it couldn't be, could it?" I took 3 more cautious steps into the bathroom towards the stalls and with a few more whiffs of the air through my nose, decided that it was definitely the distinct smell of...well...um... I noticed in an instant that one stall door was locked, and a rush of anxiety came over me as I did a 180 and headed back out into the hallway. There is no doubt in my mind that there was a man in the ladies room that evening. I don't know who it was, but I wasn't going to wait around to find out, being one of very few still left on my floor! If someone's that hard up to do something like that, there's no telling what else they'd find enjoyment out of. I walked around and cautioned another female coworker of mine that was still there to not go in the restroom, told her what I had experienced, and I went home, holding it until I got to my house. At least I knew my bathroom was safe.
So with my coworker's tales of flashing, and my tales of men in the ladies room, I wonder if everyone has an unfortunate "thing" that the universe continuously throws in their life path? If so, what's yours?
The first time I ran into this disgusting event was a few years ago when I was home one summer from college. Me and several of my old high school friends were all going out one night and stopped at Taco Bell for dinner (hey, we were poor college students that would rather spend their money on beer then on good food). Two of our guy friends went on out to the car and me and my friend Stephanie went to the restroom before we left. Inside the ladies room were 2 stalls, one of which was occupied when we walked in. Steph went to the empty stall first while I waited for my turn. She was finished before the other occupied stall finished, so I went in after her. While I was taking my turn, I looked down while "hovering" and remember thinking that the lady in the stall next to me had really large feet with white tennis shoes, but it didn't click in my mind then that there was anything out of the ordinary. I just assumed some big-footed women had had too much bad, fake mexican and was in there paying for it. So I finished and walked out to wash my hands. All of the sudden, the previously occupied stall door opened and a man started to walk out, pants down around his hips, holding himself in his hand! Steph, waiting on me to finish washing my hands, sees this, grabs my arm with her left hand, the door to the ladies room with her right, and she and I whoosh out in a sprint towards the parking lot, leaving the water running in the sink and soap all over my hands! We thunder into the back seat of the boys' car who were waiting for us outside. Concerned, the boys were trying to figure out what all the commotion was about, and why I still had soapy, wet hands. We relay the story and they.were.pissed!! Our friend Blake jumps out of the car and explodes back into the restaurant, looking to KO our offender while we wait in the car. He returns 5 minutes later and gets back in. He said he told the manager about the incident, and the manager had gone into the ladies room to check to see if the man was still in there, but it was empty. He'd gotten away. We carried on with our night, but not without telling everyone about the events in the women's restroom earlier that evening.
The second time that I've run into this type of thing was just 2 weeks ago...at the office! I was working kind of late one night and one of the last people still left in the office for the evening. I was ready to go home, but was going to use the restroom before I started on my trip to the house. I walked into the bathroom and hesitated as soon as I walked in. There was an odd smell in there. Not the typical cleaner smell. Not a bleach smell. Not even a bad bathroom smell, but it was a very recognizable smell. I thought to myself, "it couldn't be, could it?" I took 3 more cautious steps into the bathroom towards the stalls and with a few more whiffs of the air through my nose, decided that it was definitely the distinct smell of...well...um... I noticed in an instant that one stall door was locked, and a rush of anxiety came over me as I did a 180 and headed back out into the hallway. There is no doubt in my mind that there was a man in the ladies room that evening. I don't know who it was, but I wasn't going to wait around to find out, being one of very few still left on my floor! If someone's that hard up to do something like that, there's no telling what else they'd find enjoyment out of. I walked around and cautioned another female coworker of mine that was still there to not go in the restroom, told her what I had experienced, and I went home, holding it until I got to my house. At least I knew my bathroom was safe.
So with my coworker's tales of flashing, and my tales of men in the ladies room, I wonder if everyone has an unfortunate "thing" that the universe continuously throws in their life path? If so, what's yours?
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
I Am Sponge Bob Square Pants
So, maybe I don't feel like posting some elaborate, or even witty, story about what's going on in my world, or the world outside of mine. Maybe I'm feeling a bit lazy tonight, tired of thinking, or even tired of being inside of my own head today so I definitely don't want to have to think any longer to try to put it on screen. So in the meantime, I'll just post some random things up that entertained me today, so I thought you might like them, too.
Who are YOU? (Kara)
Everyone has a personality of a cartoon character (who knew?). A group of investigators got together and analyzed the personalities of well-known and modern cartoon characters (wonder if they got paid for this? they probably did...and probably with our tax money). The information that was gathered was made into this test (hey, investigators, not much going on, eh?). Answer all the questions with what describes you best, add up all your points (which are next to the answer that you choose) and at the end look for your results (taking the test like me? not much going on, eh?). Leave who you are in my comments.
1) Which one of the following describes the perfect date?
(a) Candlelight dinner (4 pts.)
(b) Fun/Theme park (2 pts.)
(c) Painting in the park (5 pts.)
(d) Rock concert (1 pt.)
(e) Going to the movies (3 pts.)
2) What is your favorite type of music?
(a) Rock 'n Roll (2 pts.)
(b) Alternative (1 pt.)
(c) Soft Rock (4 pts.)
( d) Country (5 pts.)
(e) Pop (3 pts.)
3) What type of movies do you prefer?
(a) Comedy (2 pts.)
(b) Horror (1 pt.)
(c) Musical (3 pts.)
(d) Romance (4 pts.)
(e) Documentary (5 pts.)
4) Which of these occupations would you choose, if you could choose only one?
(a) Waiter (4 pts.)
(b) Professional Sports Player(5 pts.)
(c) Teacher (3 pts.)
(d) Police (2 pts.)
(e) Cashier (1 pt.)
5) What do you do with your spare time?
(a) Exercise (5 pts.)
(b) Read (4 pts.)
(c) Watch television (2 pts.)
(d) Listen to music (1 pt.)
(e) Sleep (3 pts.)
6) Which one of the following colors do you like best?
(a) Yellow (1 pt.)
(b) White (5 pts.)
(c) Sky Blue (3 pts.)
(d) Dark Blue (2 pts.)
(e) Red (4 pts.)
7) What would you prefer to eat right now?
(a) Snow (3 pts.)
(b) Pizza (2 pts.)
(c) Sushi (1 pt.)
(d) Pasta (4 pts.)
(e) Salad (5 pts.)
8) What is your favorite holiday?
(a) Halloween (1 pt.)
(b) Christmas (3 pts.)
(c) New Year (2 pts.)
(d) Valentine's Day (4 pts.)
(e) Thanksgiving (5 pts.)
9) If you could go to one of these places, which would it be?
(a) Paris (4 pts.)
(b) Spain (5 pts.)
(c) Las Vegas (1 pt.)
(d) Hawaii (4 pts.)
(e) Hollywood (3 pts.)
10) With which of the following would you prefer to spend time?
(a) Someone smart (5 pts.)
(b) Someone attractive (2 pts.)
(c) Someone who likes to party (1 pt.)
(d) Someone who always has fun (3 pts.)
(e) Someone very sentimental (4 pts.)
Now add up your points and find out the answer you have been waiting for (can hardly wait, can you?), and don't forget to tell me who you are:
(10-16 points) You are, Garfield. You are very comfortable, easygoing, and you definitely know how to have fun but sometimes you take it to an extreme. You always know what you are doing and you are always in control of your life. Others may not see things as you do, but that doesn't mean that you always have to do what is right. Try to remember your happy spirit may hurt you or others.
(18-26 points) You are, Snoopy. You are fun, you are very cool and popular. You always know what's in and you never are out of style. You are good at knowing how to satisfy everyone else. You have probably disappeared for a few days more than once, but you always come home with the family values that you learned. Being married and having children are important to you, but only after you have had your share of fun times.
(22-28 points) You are, Arnold. You have lots of friends and you are also popular, always willing to give advice and help out a person in need. You are very optimistic and you always see the bright side of things. Some good advice: Try not to be too much of a dreamer. If not, you will have many conflicts with life.
(29-34 points) You are, Sponge Bob Square Pants. You are the classic person that everyone loves. You are the best friend that anyone could ever have and never want to lose. You never cause harm to anyone and they would never not understand your feelings. Life is a journey, it's funny and calm for the most part. Stay away from traitors and jealous people, then you will be stress free.
(35-42 points) You are, Charlie Brown. You are tender, you fall in love quickly but you are also very serious about all relationships. You are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday. You have many friends and may occasionally forget a few birthdays. Don't let your passion confuses you with reality.
(43-50 points) You are, Dexter. You are smart and definitely a thinker. Every situation is fronted with a plan. You have a brilliant mind. You demonstrate very strong family principles. You maintain a stable routine but never ignore a bad situation when it comes.
And finally tonight, a friend of mine sent me a picture of why we have the best military on the planet, and I couldn't agree more. I mean, who could argue with this? I ended up picking out two of them to be in lust with because I just couldn't decide on one, and well, it's just been a while, so I'm entitled. I picked the guy on the left because he looks kinda dumb. You know, for a "little less talk and a lot more action." I picked the guy on the right because he looks smart, and he's "got being right (and a few other things) down to an art." It's kind of a Ying Yang - best of both worlds. And yes, that's me at the bottom, but please, don't hate be because I'm beautiful. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?
Who are YOU? (Kara)
Everyone has a personality of a cartoon character (who knew?). A group of investigators got together and analyzed the personalities of well-known and modern cartoon characters (wonder if they got paid for this? they probably did...and probably with our tax money). The information that was gathered was made into this test (hey, investigators, not much going on, eh?). Answer all the questions with what describes you best, add up all your points (which are next to the answer that you choose) and at the end look for your results (taking the test like me? not much going on, eh?). Leave who you are in my comments.
1) Which one of the following describes the perfect date?
(a) Candlelight dinner (4 pts.)
(b) Fun/Theme park (2 pts.)
(c) Painting in the park (5 pts.)
(d) Rock concert (1 pt.)
(e) Going to the movies (3 pts.)
2) What is your favorite type of music?
(a) Rock 'n Roll (2 pts.)
(b) Alternative (1 pt.)
(c) Soft Rock (4 pts.)
( d) Country (5 pts.)
(e) Pop (3 pts.)
3) What type of movies do you prefer?
(a) Comedy (2 pts.)
(b) Horror (1 pt.)
(c) Musical (3 pts.)
(d) Romance (4 pts.)
(e) Documentary (5 pts.)
4) Which of these occupations would you choose, if you could choose only one?
(a) Waiter (4 pts.)
(b) Professional Sports Player(5 pts.)
(c) Teacher (3 pts.)
(d) Police (2 pts.)
(e) Cashier (1 pt.)
5) What do you do with your spare time?
(a) Exercise (5 pts.)
(b) Read (4 pts.)
(c) Watch television (2 pts.)
(d) Listen to music (1 pt.)
(e) Sleep (3 pts.)
6) Which one of the following colors do you like best?
(a) Yellow (1 pt.)
(b) White (5 pts.)
(c) Sky Blue (3 pts.)
(d) Dark Blue (2 pts.)
(e) Red (4 pts.)
7) What would you prefer to eat right now?
(a) Snow (3 pts.)
(b) Pizza (2 pts.)
(c) Sushi (1 pt.)
(d) Pasta (4 pts.)
(e) Salad (5 pts.)
8) What is your favorite holiday?
(a) Halloween (1 pt.)
(b) Christmas (3 pts.)
(c) New Year (2 pts.)
(d) Valentine's Day (4 pts.)
(e) Thanksgiving (5 pts.)
9) If you could go to one of these places, which would it be?
(a) Paris (4 pts.)
(b) Spain (5 pts.)
(c) Las Vegas (1 pt.)
(d) Hawaii (4 pts.)
(e) Hollywood (3 pts.)
10) With which of the following would you prefer to spend time?
(a) Someone smart (5 pts.)
(b) Someone attractive (2 pts.)
(c) Someone who likes to party (1 pt.)
(d) Someone who always has fun (3 pts.)
(e) Someone very sentimental (4 pts.)
Now add up your points and find out the answer you have been waiting for (can hardly wait, can you?), and don't forget to tell me who you are:
(10-16 points) You are, Garfield. You are very comfortable, easygoing, and you definitely know how to have fun but sometimes you take it to an extreme. You always know what you are doing and you are always in control of your life. Others may not see things as you do, but that doesn't mean that you always have to do what is right. Try to remember your happy spirit may hurt you or others.
(18-26 points) You are, Snoopy. You are fun, you are very cool and popular. You always know what's in and you never are out of style. You are good at knowing how to satisfy everyone else. You have probably disappeared for a few days more than once, but you always come home with the family values that you learned. Being married and having children are important to you, but only after you have had your share of fun times.
(22-28 points) You are, Arnold. You have lots of friends and you are also popular, always willing to give advice and help out a person in need. You are very optimistic and you always see the bright side of things. Some good advice: Try not to be too much of a dreamer. If not, you will have many conflicts with life.
(29-34 points) You are, Sponge Bob Square Pants. You are the classic person that everyone loves. You are the best friend that anyone could ever have and never want to lose. You never cause harm to anyone and they would never not understand your feelings. Life is a journey, it's funny and calm for the most part. Stay away from traitors and jealous people, then you will be stress free.
(35-42 points) You are, Charlie Brown. You are tender, you fall in love quickly but you are also very serious about all relationships. You are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday. You have many friends and may occasionally forget a few birthdays. Don't let your passion confuses you with reality.
(43-50 points) You are, Dexter. You are smart and definitely a thinker. Every situation is fronted with a plan. You have a brilliant mind. You demonstrate very strong family principles. You maintain a stable routine but never ignore a bad situation when it comes.
And finally tonight, a friend of mine sent me a picture of why we have the best military on the planet, and I couldn't agree more. I mean, who could argue with this? I ended up picking out two of them to be in lust with because I just couldn't decide on one, and well, it's just been a while, so I'm entitled. I picked the guy on the left because he looks kinda dumb. You know, for a "little less talk and a lot more action." I picked the guy on the right because he looks smart, and he's "got being right (and a few other things) down to an art." It's kind of a Ying Yang - best of both worlds. And yes, that's me at the bottom, but please, don't hate be because I'm beautiful. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?
P.S. Happy Birthday Daddy! Love you! I know you must be so proud...
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Monday, September 05, 2005
First Thing's First
I'm back from my trip to the beach and it was amazing and relaxing and everything a trip to the beach should be. I'll do a separate post about that, but first thing is first - the first Alabama game of the season*.
Score?
Alabama 26
Middle Tennessee State University 7
ROLL TIDE!
Score?
Alabama 26
Middle Tennessee State University 7
ROLL TIDE!
Alabama running back Kenneth Darby (#34 and my dog's namesake) finds a hole in the Middle Tennessee State defense at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005.
Up next week?
Southern Mississippi at 7:45pm EST on ESPN2
*My heart goes out to all of the players, students, and fans of the universities affected by Katrina that aren't able to enjoy the excitement of the start of the football season due to canceled or postponed football games this past weekend. May the recovery be swift and your spirits be lifted. We look forward to having you back in play as soon as possible because that will mean an emergence out of the devastation and an attempt back into normalcy; however that gets defined in the upcoming weeks and months for you. May God bless and be with you and your families.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
'She Likes to Feel the Sand Beneath Her Feet'
I'm just waiting to Exhale. I'm heading down to St. George Island tomorrow afternoon for a long weekend vacation at the beach. A long needed long weekend vacation. An 8 hour trip from Atlanta, I should be there by 11pm tomorrow, and by 11:05pm my toes will be in the sand, guaranteed. The way work's been lately, thinking about a few days on the water is the only thing keeping my sanity. I can almost hear the crash of the waves now...or is that just a hallucination from lack of sleep and too much stress?
The great thing about St. George is that it's very dog-friendly, so of course Darby's going with me! Dogs are allowed on the beaches, and even at the local restaurants if you sit out on the patio area. I even have a doggy Hawaiian shirt for him to sport around the island. He's going to love it just as much as me, I'm sure! An animal shelter adoptee, he fell into the lap of luxury, and has been spoiled rotten since the day I picked him out...or did he choose me?
So my friends, if you don't hear from me this weekend, you'll know where I am. I'll be working on my base tan before my trip to Greece in 2 weeks. Which, by the way, my passport renewal arrived today, thank goodness! It only took them a week to send back to me, but of course, it cost me an additional $100 to have it expedited. That's what I get for my procrastination. And on that same subject, it's midnight and I'm still doing laundry to pack for tomorrow...
Saturday, August 27, 2005
A Little Down Home Humor
Got this forwarded email yesterday and it made me laugh:
Due to the popularity of the Survivor TV shows, several southern TV stations are joining together and are planning to do their own, entitled "Survivor: Southern Style."
The contestants will start in Alabama, travel over to Georgia and on to South Carolina. From there they will head up to North Carolina and over to Tennessee. They will then proceed down to Mississippi and Louisiana. Finally ending up back over in Alabama.
Each will be driving a pink Volvo with New Jersey license plates and large bumper stickers that read:
Due to the popularity of the Survivor TV shows, several southern TV stations are joining together and are planning to do their own, entitled "Survivor: Southern Style."
The contestants will start in Alabama, travel over to Georgia and on to South Carolina. From there they will head up to North Carolina and over to Tennessee. They will then proceed down to Mississippi and Louisiana. Finally ending up back over in Alabama.
Each will be driving a pink Volvo with New Jersey license plates and large bumper stickers that read:
- I'm a Vegetarian
- Al-Quida Has Been Misunderstood
- NASCAR Sucks
- Go Yankees (or any other hockey team or non-SEC/ACC college football team)
- Hillary 2008
- Hunting is Murder
- I'm Here to Confiscate Your Guns
Simply Decadent and Sinful
She was 25, he was 31. She was the essential girl next door from Georgia. He was...well he was romantic, successful, and from Venezuela. He approached her at a party, tried to give her his business card, and asked her to call. She politely returned the card, indicating her interest in him, but her lack of interest in her pursuing him, and offered him her number instead. Right on schedule, she heard from him 3 days later, and they made plans for a date.
He picked her up that August Friday night and had a rose waiting on the grey leather passenger seat of his silver Jeep Cherokee as he opened the door for her to get in. She was impressed at his thoughtfulness and manners, and couldn't help but notice the rush of butterflies in her stomach. A slight smile turned the corners of her lips upward towards her eyes with the anticipation of what was to come. They had a fabulous dinner, with equally fabulous dinner conversation. He spoke to her in Spanish, with phrases such as, "my beautiful," falling off of his tongue like sweet cream. He had deep, rich brown eyes and jet black hair. He definitely qualified as the cliche: tall, dark, and handsome. Nothing like any other boy she had dated before, he was a man - exciting and new (come aboard, we're expecting you...). How could she help but be smitten?
They dated for the better part of 4 months. The relationship was somewhere just beyond casual, yet not quite developed into serious. She enjoyed the small but sweet "just because" gifts he'd pick up for her when he was thinking of her. He enjoyed her sincere interest in his culture. They both enjoyed learning about each other. And the attraction was undeniable.
As the relationship grew more intimate one night after coming back to his upscale condo from a few drinks out with his friends, a romantic conversation while sitting on the black leather sofa in the soft candle light in the living room quickly turned from a verbal conversation into a more passionate physical conversation. The location of this conversation between two bodies moved from the living room and into his bedroom. The two became lost in the intensity of the moment. Everything was perfect, euphoric if you will allow, up until the point where she opened her eyes with some clarity and saw something similar to this:
Apparently there is nothing that can kill a romantic, intimate moment as quickly as that of a crucifix hanging from a chain and swinging towards your face.
He picked her up that August Friday night and had a rose waiting on the grey leather passenger seat of his silver Jeep Cherokee as he opened the door for her to get in. She was impressed at his thoughtfulness and manners, and couldn't help but notice the rush of butterflies in her stomach. A slight smile turned the corners of her lips upward towards her eyes with the anticipation of what was to come. They had a fabulous dinner, with equally fabulous dinner conversation. He spoke to her in Spanish, with phrases such as, "my beautiful," falling off of his tongue like sweet cream. He had deep, rich brown eyes and jet black hair. He definitely qualified as the cliche: tall, dark, and handsome. Nothing like any other boy she had dated before, he was a man - exciting and new (come aboard, we're expecting you...). How could she help but be smitten?
They dated for the better part of 4 months. The relationship was somewhere just beyond casual, yet not quite developed into serious. She enjoyed the small but sweet "just because" gifts he'd pick up for her when he was thinking of her. He enjoyed her sincere interest in his culture. They both enjoyed learning about each other. And the attraction was undeniable.
As the relationship grew more intimate one night after coming back to his upscale condo from a few drinks out with his friends, a romantic conversation while sitting on the black leather sofa in the soft candle light in the living room quickly turned from a verbal conversation into a more passionate physical conversation. The location of this conversation between two bodies moved from the living room and into his bedroom. The two became lost in the intensity of the moment. Everything was perfect, euphoric if you will allow, up until the point where she opened her eyes with some clarity and saw something similar to this:
Apparently there is nothing that can kill a romantic, intimate moment as quickly as that of a crucifix hanging from a chain and swinging towards your face.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Reader's Choice
I've been racking my brain all night trying to find something to post about. I haven't been able to come up with anything all that compelling. I considered posting about my longest and worst date ever, complete with a toothbrush consolation prize and detailed description of every flower/shrub/tree planted at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I also considered posting a funny story about an intimate situation I had with a Venezuelan guy and his gold chain. Even the story of my 5 minute worldwind "marriage proposal" from the French stranger in Paris came to mind. But then I thought, hey, why not let the 3 people that read my blog tell me what they want to hear about? So my friends, it's up to you. Reader's choice. If any of the above sound like something you'd like to hear, let me know. Or, if you have another subject you'd like to hear from me on, tell me what it is and I'll see what I can come up with. Now mind you, I'm not making any promises that any of it will be good, so I don't want any of you coming to me afterwards demanding your wasted time back for reading it, but at least it'll give me something to write about.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Back At It
Don't you wish you could subscribe to a wake-up call service, much like you get at hotels? That'd be great, especially for those of us that HATE mornings and have a hard time getting up. Have a meeting this morning at the office at 7am. People, I don't usually get up until 7am or after, let alone have to be dressed, ready, at work, and on my toes for a meeting by 7am. Ugh. So far work's kicking my butt this week. The score is now officially Work 4, Kara 0. Actually, I may be more like -0.
Thank goodness for coworkers that are friends. I enlisted my friend Dana to call and wake me up this morning since she has to be in the meeting, too. It's better knowing you're not the only one up at the crack of dawn.
Have a good day everyone!
Thank goodness for coworkers that are friends. I enlisted my friend Dana to call and wake me up this morning since she has to be in the meeting, too. It's better knowing you're not the only one up at the crack of dawn.
Have a good day everyone!
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Overtired
Ever get to the point where you're so tired, you're over tired? Where your eyes are so heavy you can hardly keep them open, but your mind won't rest long enough to get you into a deep sleep? Know it? That's me tonight. I'm having a hard time relaxing. In taking on the extra work and thinking of everything I have to get done before my trip in 3 weeks, my body's all tense (I can feel the muscles in my mid-back, neck, and shoulders just engulfing the stress, clinched tight) and my brain is on overdrive. I tossed and turned and woke up 3 times last night thinking about work. How sad is that? It's time for extreme measures. I'll be investing in a bottle of wine on my way home tomorrow night. After a self-medicating liquid dinner*, I should be all relaxed and ready for bed at about 9pm.
*Self-medicating liquid dinners may not be suitable for everyone. Please check with your physician to see if a self-medicating liquid dinner is right for you. Just a heads up, it probably isn't. And as always, please drink responsibly. You know, don't spill any; that's wasteful.
*Self-medicating liquid dinners may not be suitable for everyone. Please check with your physician to see if a self-medicating liquid dinner is right for you. Just a heads up, it probably isn't. And as always, please drink responsibly. You know, don't spill any; that's wasteful.
Monday, August 22, 2005
IM In
So now what? I've had AOL for over 10 years, and the same email address for just as long. Now that I have DSL, all of what I've known is now changed. Not good for someone that doesn't really have the patience to figure out computer stuff. My email is new, and now I've had to sign up with AIM and Yahoo messenger for communication. AIM I kind of "get" because I was used to using AOL IM capabilities. Yahoo, I totally don't just yet. But hey, I have it. If you have some time and want to explain it to me, or even say hi, you can find me at Kara0303 on AIM and Kara_0303 on Yahoo. But, don't get your feelings hurt if I don't respond, it may just be that I don't know how!
It' Snot That Impressive
Allergies. I have 'em. Breathing in all of the grass and whatnot after yesterday's yard work excursion didn't help me with my allergy situation. I woke up with a dull headache and then developed around mid-morning a stuffy nose that runs. Yea, that's fun. You can't breath and you can't sniffle. And of course, the stuffy/runny nose develops just at the time that I begin my 10 am to 4pm back to back, no time to eat lunch, no time to go to the bathroom meeting bonanza. You see, one of our marketing managers took another position in the company, and I'm the one (un)lucky enough to get to do her job and my job until we find her replacement. Today was my first day doing both and it about killed me. To top it off, one of my back to back meetings was the first with the VP and department members that I'll be working with until we replace her. Yes, my first impression with these people is one of waded up kleenex and sneezing. I'm sitting in the meeting, trying to hold my own because I know they're judging me as the "new girl," and sizing me up to see if I can meet their aggressive departmental marketing objectives. Meanwhile, I can't breath or keep a tissue away from my face longer than 5 minutes. It's kind of hard to sell yourself as someone that will keep a department on strategy during their biggest time of year when you sound like you're talking from the inside of a barrel.
Ahh, such is life. It's just a job - only meant to pay the bills. In all honesty, it's really just a game to me. Because it's the only thing I have to focus on at the moment, I kind of view my job as a race. It's a race to find out how far up the ladder I can get before I get the job that I *really* want: having a family. Those are the people I want to impress the most, anyway.
Ahh, such is life. It's just a job - only meant to pay the bills. In all honesty, it's really just a game to me. Because it's the only thing I have to focus on at the moment, I kind of view my job as a race. It's a race to find out how far up the ladder I can get before I get the job that I *really* want: having a family. Those are the people I want to impress the most, anyway.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Blister in the Sun
For those of you that get the pun in my title, it's not what you think. I have a blister on the palm of my right hand. It's about the size of a dime, and I got it today while performing yard work in the scorching Georgia sun and heat. My parents came over this morning to help me get my yard in order. I'm not a yard work kind of girl, in fact, I hate it, and it shows. Which is why they volunteered to come help me get the front yard back to a presentable state. It's so much easier to accomplish some things when you have help. All day long we mowed, we weeded, we pressure-washed, we laid pave stones, we edged, we trimmed bushes, we swept, and we even put up a new mailbox post. We were exhausted.
As I type this, my lower back killing me and drinking gallons of water to replace what I sweated out today, I reflect on a few ways to look at what the blister on my hand represents:
As I type this, my lower back killing me and drinking gallons of water to replace what I sweated out today, I reflect on a few ways to look at what the blister on my hand represents:
- A job well-done. An accomplishment. A sense of pride in my home.
- Team-work. Family support. Lending a hand when things become too overwhelming.
- Damn shovel. Soft hands not meant for manual labor. Yardwork sucks.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Renewed Philosophy
Sorry guys, another "deep blog" by Kara. I can't help it, deep-thinking is just the pisces in me.
So after several "deep breaths" lately now that I'm getting off the roller coaster I've just ridden through the month of July - ex's wedding all over the media, sister's engagement, and an attempt at a new dating venture (the first in a long time that I was actually *hopeful* about) - the chaos has subsided and my head's clear again. I've run a brush through my wind blown hair, straightened up my clothes, and the weird feeling in my stomach that you usually get on a roller coaster has subsided. With the new found clarify, I'm now refocused. I've been stressed, I've felt an insurmountable weight of pressure from within and from external sources, and I just haven't been myself. I haven't been my fun-loving, c'est la vie, que sara sara, (insert your own cliche here) natural self. I feel like the more out of control I felt personally, the more control I tried to exert on my personal life, and it didn't work. And it sucks. But, I can't go back and change any of it no matter how much I wish I could. So, instead of song lyrics, which is what I usually relate to, today I found some movie quotes to live by.
"Stop trying to control everything and just let go."--- Fight Club
"Why should I live up to other people's expectations rather than my own?"--- Kat, 10 Things I Hate About You
"Don't go looking for Mr. Right. Look for Mr. Right Now, and eventually, if he's worthy, one day that Now part will just drop away naturally."--- The Sweetest Thing
My renewed philosophy is just to relax and have fun. I'll just be along for the ride with a smile instead of trying to drive and control where the ride is taking me. And I look forward to and am open for whatever's around the bend - past, present, and future.
So after several "deep breaths" lately now that I'm getting off the roller coaster I've just ridden through the month of July - ex's wedding all over the media, sister's engagement, and an attempt at a new dating venture (the first in a long time that I was actually *hopeful* about) - the chaos has subsided and my head's clear again. I've run a brush through my wind blown hair, straightened up my clothes, and the weird feeling in my stomach that you usually get on a roller coaster has subsided. With the new found clarify, I'm now refocused. I've been stressed, I've felt an insurmountable weight of pressure from within and from external sources, and I just haven't been myself. I haven't been my fun-loving, c'est la vie, que sara sara, (insert your own cliche here) natural self. I feel like the more out of control I felt personally, the more control I tried to exert on my personal life, and it didn't work. And it sucks. But, I can't go back and change any of it no matter how much I wish I could. So, instead of song lyrics, which is what I usually relate to, today I found some movie quotes to live by.
"Stop trying to control everything and just let go."--- Fight Club
"Why should I live up to other people's expectations rather than my own?"--- Kat, 10 Things I Hate About You
"Don't go looking for Mr. Right. Look for Mr. Right Now, and eventually, if he's worthy, one day that Now part will just drop away naturally."--- The Sweetest Thing
My renewed philosophy is just to relax and have fun. I'll just be along for the ride with a smile instead of trying to drive and control where the ride is taking me. And I look forward to and am open for whatever's around the bend - past, present, and future.
Some Nerve
An acquaintance called me up Thursday and wanted to see if I wanted to grab a drink with him after work yesterday. Me not having any Friday plans set up just yet because after checking in with people, I was finding that some friends had to work, others were out of town, I thought, why not? Let me preface this by saying that I don't know this guy very well. We've hung out with others once before at a party, but that was back in the spring, and and we've maintained an acquaintance friendship at best since then. So, he calls me on my way home from work and says he's on his way over. I tell him that it's not convenient just yet, that I wasn't even home myself. So he "graciously" gives me 30 more minutes. I get home, change out of my work clothes, feed my babies, let them outside for a few minutes, and he shows up. He walks in with a bottle of Captain Morgan, a 2 liter of Coke, and a movie. Puzzled, I tell him that I thought we were going out for a drink. He says, "ohhh, dude. I realized I only had $25 so I thought we could just hang here tonight." Ummm? Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for changing plans, I'm extremely adaptable and flexible and even like spontaneity, but since I don't know him very well, it kind of aggravated me that he just assumed it'd be ok for him to hang out at my house, the first time he's ever over. And in all honesty, it made me a bit uncomfortable. But, I'm a go with the flow girl to a certain degree, so...
He proceeds to mix drinks and we start watching the Falcons vs. Titans game. During the first 3 quarters of the game, he mixes himself 4 very strong drinks to my one very weak drink that I was nursing, and I start to get a little concerned. In the meantime, he's put in the movie, The Aviator, and we start watching. Ok, first of all, who knew that this movie had a running time of like 3 days!? Geez, I thought it would NEVER end. And I wasn't digging my company, and it was a bit slow on top of that, so it truly felt like an eternity had passed me by last night. Like I was in some sort of a slow motion warp zone. Seriously, I have to check what year it is now, but I may very well have aged 10 years and am now 38 - which sucks because I'm still single, but considering my current alternative (him), that's ok with me. Anyway, the movie's over around 1am and I'm SOOOOO ready for him to leave.
He gets up and goes down the hall and I assume he's going to the bathroom before he takes off. So I go clean up the kitchen. Several minutes pass, and I'm thinking, where is he and why's he taking so long and more importantly when's he leaving? I look down the hall and the bathroom door is open, lights off. Confused, I walk further into the hallway and see him laying on MY bed! Oh heyell no (for those of you unaware, that's southern for "hell" - you know we have to draw out one syllable words into two, especially when we're pissed)! I go into my bedroom and shake him to wake him. I tell him he's got to get up and go home. He gets into a sitting position on the side of my bed and mumbles/slurs that he can't drive because he's drunk and he doesn't have keys to his apartment anyway(apparently he took his car in for some work and left his whole set of keys at the dealership while he was given a loaner), and neither roommate is home tonight. I think my head was going to explode, I was so mad. The nerve of him knowing that he couldn't get into his apartment last night, just assuming he could hang out at my house, get drunk, and crash at my house!? Ugh, I'm still fuming as I type. If we were better friends, fine, no problem. But really, we aren't good friends, and even the word "friends" might even be a bit of a strong word to define our "relationship." But what am I going to do? I can't send him off to drive drunk, and he can't even get into his apartment anyway if I send him home in a cab. So, I make him get up and go to the guest room - basically shuffling him in the door to the room and then closing him in there as soon as he gets through the doorway. I go to my room, shut my door, and go to bed mad as a wet cat.
This morning around 6am, I awaken to feeling him sit down on my bed. Trying to get my bearings after just being woken up, I feel him grab one of my breasts! I shoot upright, throw back the comforter and start telling him he has to leave immediately!! I storm towards the door and he trails behind me apologizing. I open the door and firmly say, "good - bye!" He walks outside, I slam the door behind him, lock it, and go get back in my bed.
Unfreakinbelievable.
He proceeds to mix drinks and we start watching the Falcons vs. Titans game. During the first 3 quarters of the game, he mixes himself 4 very strong drinks to my one very weak drink that I was nursing, and I start to get a little concerned. In the meantime, he's put in the movie, The Aviator, and we start watching. Ok, first of all, who knew that this movie had a running time of like 3 days!? Geez, I thought it would NEVER end. And I wasn't digging my company, and it was a bit slow on top of that, so it truly felt like an eternity had passed me by last night. Like I was in some sort of a slow motion warp zone. Seriously, I have to check what year it is now, but I may very well have aged 10 years and am now 38 - which sucks because I'm still single, but considering my current alternative (him), that's ok with me. Anyway, the movie's over around 1am and I'm SOOOOO ready for him to leave.
He gets up and goes down the hall and I assume he's going to the bathroom before he takes off. So I go clean up the kitchen. Several minutes pass, and I'm thinking, where is he and why's he taking so long and more importantly when's he leaving? I look down the hall and the bathroom door is open, lights off. Confused, I walk further into the hallway and see him laying on MY bed! Oh heyell no (for those of you unaware, that's southern for "hell" - you know we have to draw out one syllable words into two, especially when we're pissed)! I go into my bedroom and shake him to wake him. I tell him he's got to get up and go home. He gets into a sitting position on the side of my bed and mumbles/slurs that he can't drive because he's drunk and he doesn't have keys to his apartment anyway(apparently he took his car in for some work and left his whole set of keys at the dealership while he was given a loaner), and neither roommate is home tonight. I think my head was going to explode, I was so mad. The nerve of him knowing that he couldn't get into his apartment last night, just assuming he could hang out at my house, get drunk, and crash at my house!? Ugh, I'm still fuming as I type. If we were better friends, fine, no problem. But really, we aren't good friends, and even the word "friends" might even be a bit of a strong word to define our "relationship." But what am I going to do? I can't send him off to drive drunk, and he can't even get into his apartment anyway if I send him home in a cab. So, I make him get up and go to the guest room - basically shuffling him in the door to the room and then closing him in there as soon as he gets through the doorway. I go to my room, shut my door, and go to bed mad as a wet cat.
This morning around 6am, I awaken to feeling him sit down on my bed. Trying to get my bearings after just being woken up, I feel him grab one of my breasts! I shoot upright, throw back the comforter and start telling him he has to leave immediately!! I storm towards the door and he trails behind me apologizing. I open the door and firmly say, "good - bye!" He walks outside, I slam the door behind him, lock it, and go get back in my bed.
Unfreakinbelievable.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Cell Phone Number Clean Up / Round Up
Ok, so I was going through my contact names in my cell phone the other night and deleted quite a few during my cell phone clean up. K, S, and S were deleted because I don't like talking to any of them. K is somewhat of a stalker-type and doesn't make me laugh when we talk, S smokes like a chimney, drives me crazy, talks during movies, and acts a little too feminine for my taste, and the other S is just a "good-time" guy only looking for a good-time, which isn't exactly in line with what I'm looking for. Besides, I hate to say this, but he's just not good-looking enough to be a "good-time" kind of guy. Girls, you know what I mean. I like talking to G, but deleted that one just as a natural progression of things. I also enjoyed talking to J, but deleted that one because I got really tired of my calls being screened. I gave that one my best effort of all but the interest isn't returned. And as of late, I've only added D. So, by my calculations, I've really got 4 new open spots in my contact list to add new people. With the freed up space now in my cell phone, I need to do a cell phone number round up. If you think your number is cell phone worthy, let me know and I'll consider it, but please pay close attention as to why the others were deleted out of my phone and if you fit into any of those categories, your fate in the phone will be doomed as well. Otherwise, I've got a party on Saturday night, maybe I can add a few there. It's actually the "Betty Ford Center Bash at Steve and Joe's" with a really cute invite:
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