AshenFury and I were discussing the caloric contents of vodka and tonic water (combined to make my fav, a Vodka Tonic) last night. Today, I'm still curious!
This website is very helpful...though, it's telling me that my V 'n' Ts aren't as diet as I thought (about 203 thigh-fattening calories!).
Am I the only one that thinks sex for 30 hours does not sound like a good time?
The link is work safe...promise!
Some students are giving up Internet and social-networking sites like MySpace and Facebook for Lent.
Could this be harder than giving up alcohol, chocolate and sweets? Quite possibly...
Seriously, what does this say about the state of the world we live in?
From DP
This is the cutest video I've seen in awhile. These cute little rascals were posted on Cute Overload (I've blogged about them before). Try not to exclaim aloud your pure girlish screams of delight!
An interesting article in Psychology Today. Here's a (long) clip:
"We've done away with a rigid social order, adopting instead an even more onerous obligation: the mandate to find a perfect match. Anything short of this ideal prompts us to ask: Is this all there is? Am I as happy as I should be? Could there be somebody out there who's better for me? As often as not, we answer yes to that last question and fall victim to our own great expectations.
That somebody is, of course, our soul mate, the man or woman who will counter our weaknesses, amplify our strengths and provide the unflagging support and respect that is the essence of a contemporary relationship. The reality is that few marriages or partnerships consistently live up to this ideal. The result is a commitment limbo, in which we care deeply for our partner but keep one stealthy foot out the door of our hearts. In so doing, we subject the relationship to constant review: Would I be happier, smarter, a better person with someone else? It's a painful modern quandary. 'Nothing has produced more unhappiness than the concept of the soul mate,' says Atlanta psychiatrist Frank Pittman.
In fact, argue psychologists and marital advocates, there's no such thing as true compatibility. 'Marriage is a disagreement machine,' says Diane Sollee, founder of the Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education. 'All couples disagree about all the same things. We have a highly romanticized notion that if we were with the right person, we wouldn't fight.' Discord springs eternal over money, kids, sex and leisure time, but psychologist John Gottman has shown that long-term, happily married couples disagree about these things just as much as couples who divorce.'There is a mythology of 'the wrong person,'' agrees Pittman. 'All marriages are incompatible. All marriages are between people from different families, people who have a different view of things. The magic is to develop binocular vision, to see life through your partner's eyes as well as through your own.'
'So much of what we learn has to do with the self, the ego, rather than giving over the self to things like a relationship,' Kramer says. In our competitive world, we're rewarded for our individual achievements rather than for how we help others. We value independence over cooperation, and sacrifices for values like loyalty and continuity seem foolish. 'I think we get the divorce rate that we deserve as a culture.'
'Marriage is not supposed to make you happy. It is supposed to make you married,' says Pittman. 'When you are all the way in your marriage, you are free to do useful things, become a better person.' A committed relationship allows you to drop pretenses and seductions, expose your weaknesses, be yourself—and know that you will be loved, warts and all. 'A real relationship is the collision of my humanity and yours, in all its joy and limitations,' says Real. 'How partners handle that collision is what determines the quality of their relationship.'
Such a down-to-earth view of marriage is hardly romantic, but that doesn't mean it's not profound: An authentic relationship with another person, says Pittman, is 'one of the first steps toward connecting with the human condition—which is necessary if you're going to become fulfilled as a human being.' If we accept these humble terms, the quest for a soul mate might just be a noble pursuit after all."
Don't know if you've heard about this - I'm usually the last one to hear the gossip...
Blingo is a search engine sponsored by Publisher's Clearing House and they give away prizes for searching through them! You'll get good search results too...Blingo is powered by Google.
Apparently, your first 25 searches of each day are the only ones that count for winning and if you sign-up friends and they win...you win, too!
Fun, right?!
Heck yes!
Humm, to give to charity...or to win prizes...such a hard decision...
1. Sundresses - I love it when it gets hot enough to break out the sundresses. I wore the first one of the season yesterday and it only left me craving the purchase of more. Here's my issue...tell me if you sympathize. There's comfort in numbers, you know? See, I'm a short girl. Many times, the fashionable shorts are too short for my liking and capris don't always look right (more like too short pants, aka highwaters). So, in the spring and summer, skirts and dresses are my thing. 'Tis the season!
2. Cloudless skies - If you were in Nashville this weekend, you understand how beautiful it was! Hot...but amazing nonetheless. Friday night was beautiful, Saturday and night were the same...and Sunday? Well, it just really took the cake. I played tennis that afternoon and got burned to a crisp...totally unexpected in March. It's what I get for being so dadgum pale complected!
3. Spring trees in bloom - You can't have missed them...the Eastern Redbud trees...they're on fire this time of year! They are just this emblazoned splash of purple on an otherwise natural-colored background. I just love them! Did you know that the Eastern Redbud is sometimes called the Judas tree, because it dates back to biblical times?? Well, whether you did or didn't know that little factoid, here's a montage so those of you not in the area can appreciate...
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, announced recently that her cancer had returned, this time in an incurable form.
This has sparked a firestorm of speculations regarding Mr. Edwards' ability to run effectively, Mrs. Edwards' ability to withstand the rigors of a national campaign, as well as accusations that Mr. Edwards' will use his wife's cancer to benefit his campaign as a way to garner sympathy votes.
When asked on "60 Minutes" if the cancer would interfere with her husband's presidential campaign and if her husband could/should run, she said she refused to allow the cancer to interfere.
“I didn’t want it to take this away not just from me but from those people who depend on our having the kind of president he would be,” Mrs. Edwards said. She added, “That would be my legacy, wouldn’t it?”
Heartbreaking...
My dad's occupation made me inherently interested in animal rights and nature conservancy. I was reading Slave to the Dogs' blog recently and she posted a link to an online petition to stop Canada's commercial seal hunt.
Please sign this...it takes two seconds.
You can also go to the Protect Seals webpage for more information on the issue.
View the slideshow here.
And my bracket rocks! Unfortunately, I don't have any money riding on it...
Though if it's like last year's - I will fall on my face after this round. How's your bracket looking?
It seems that Paul McCartney is splitting with Capitol Records, his record label home for more than 40 years, and has signed with Hear Music, a label owned by Starbucks.
He is taking his entire bank of solo albums with him, which include: "Band on the Run," "McCartney," "Ram," "Flowers in the Dirt," "Tug of War" and his most recent album, "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard," nominated for four Grammys, including Album of the Year, in 2006.
Starbucks has had much success cross branding their identity. From coffee, coffee merchandise (cups, espresso and java machines), to ice cream, CDs, DVDs, and books - Starbucks is seen in most circles of their hard to reach demographic, as hip and trendy. Having success with this demographic is something that record labels have not been having the most luck at.
Perhaps Hear will be a different story. We shall see...we shall see...
A South Korean bank (Hana Bank) is attempting to better the lives of its employees by signing its female employees, between the ages of 29 and 33, up to a dating service.
Twenty lucky ladies will be set up on blind dates in the hopes that the potential for blooming romance will make them happier at work.
"As our bank tries to help our employees balance their work and personal lives, we are putting more effort into improving their personal life."
I'm sorry - but my dating/romantic life should not be of any concern to my company. I have my mother for that.Posted by The Bastardly. Edited for brevity but can be found in it's entirety here.
"Aaah, The Jetta. I think the cars are synonymous with the words, “I want one of those” in the female and homosexual communities. Don’t get me wrong now, I love & respect both communities, but let’s not kid ourselves, the Jetta is not a car for the normal guy. That is, if the normal guy is not a chump.
The male Jetta driver: The Jetta is a classic car for your typical chump on the prowl for women (that is, women who are in high school or early years of college). Why? Very simple. Because you have something they want. It’s the same with other wonders of the world…money, large house, cute puppy, large penis, etc etc. You have something. They want a piece! The closest thing to owning a Jetta is being close to someone who has one. The chump gets what he wants. The woman gets her desires fulfilled. Very simple concept, indeed.
What characteristics define this chump? The Classic Jetta Chump is a (most often white) male in their late - early 20s. If he’s in college, 4 out of 5 times, he’s in a frat. He drinks Starbucks coffee. He Eats @ the Cheesecake Factory. He wears Abercrombie & Fitch. Lastly, he most probably lifts with a wife-beater on, so he can A) look @ himself in the mirror as he does curls & B) so he can attract his women. In other words, he has no mercy.
The girl Jetta Driver: Aaah, they are truly a wonder. No Asian man can ever get his skinny hands on their silky bodies because these girls have been sheltered by their fathers (who most probably have a military background & fought wars against the colored people–i.e. Vietnam, Gulf War, etc). There’s a clause to the last statement: The Asian man can get into Girl Jetta Drivers’ pants ONLY if they fork over a Jetta in exchange for pleasure, but that would classify as a total Chump move, so it just wouldn’t be cool.
The Jetta Girl is the classic Daddy’s Little Girl. If she owns a Jetta released within the last 3 years, she is definitely Daddy’s Girl, but if it’s a old, ghetto Rabbit, then she’s probably your wannabe surfer. 7 out of 10 times (accounting for the wannabe surfers), materialism defines them. It is literally at the center of their world. Don’t be surprised to see a chick driving a Jetta, who has a Hurley bumper sticker & carries a LV handbag. Also, 4 out of 5 times they are members of elite sororities, so the Chumps on the prowl find their prey extremely easily. Also, to further feed the Chump fire, these girls believe coffee was invented by Starbucks."
~*~
Seriously funny! The description of the male Jetta driver is accurate of the one guy I knew in college who drove said vehicle. He was a white male, in a frat and a womanizer. I believe he might have been too good for A & F, though...only Ralph Lauren/Polo and Izod would do.
Apparently, being the ex-Mr. Spears, a rapper and an underwear model wasn't enough to keep K-Fed busy these days.
Kevin created his own search engine.
I guess Google wasn't good enough for Mr. Federline.
What an entrepreneur he is...
Oh, and you can win stuff...like an invitation to his b-day party!
Joy...
1. New furniture - In 2 -4 weeks!
2. Maturity - Specifically, getting old enough (mature enough) to know when to call it quits on a night out with your friends. When I was younger, I would go and stay out with my friends until everyone disbanded. Just like a little kid that doesn't want to go to sleep at night or take a nap during the afternoon...I didn't want to miss out on anything. If something fun happened or any drama occurred...I wanted to be there. I don't care anymore. If I'm tired...or cranky...or plain not in the mood...I'm going home.
3. Childlike, laugh at yourself people - We saw the funniest person on St. Patrick's day. He dressed himself like a leprechaun. He was pale with red hair and must have just said to himself..."Self, this day was meant for me. I'm goin' all out tonight." We all took pictures with him; when I get them from the others, I will upload them here.
I bought a new bed and dresser this weekend from Ashley Furniture.
I'm not an impulse buyer but I know what I want when I see it.
I was supposed to be helping Abi find a new couch...and then I wound up dropping some cash, too. Thanks, Abs!
I influenced her to get more than a couch as well...she left with a new couch and a new entertainment center.
The last of the big spenders, I suppose.
So, when we are so poor that we can't go out and be social, she will be nice and comfy on her couch watching TV and I can lie around in bed or reorganize my clothing. It will be perfect.
...You were everything I thought you'd be...and soo much more.
Thank-you.
Forever yours,
Sarah
~*~
I am sure you have been patiently awaiting my update on the fantastic concert Friday night. Well, here it is!
Ladies, gentlemen...it was the best $80 I have spent in a long, long time. It was every bit as good as I knew it would be. I mean, that boy can sing. He can dance. I'm sure he can act. And he can look hot(t) doing it all.
When we got there Pink was performing. Now, I'm not a big Pink fan. I like the songs she comes out with on the radio, but I have never desired to own one of her CDs. But after seeing her preform live, please understand that she is incredibly talented. Also, she's an acrobat. Not like the circus...like Cirque du Soleil. Like winding herself up in sheets 100 feet above the stage, acrobat. Yeah. Talented. I was impressed.
So then it was time for Justin. There was much anticipation between Tiffany and me.
I also have the distinct feeling that every woman in Nashville of child-bearing age was present at the GEC on Friday night at 7:30.
When the concert started, he just stood on the stage with his band and guitar and Tiffany and I were thinking..."What the heck! We came here to see him dance! Dance, Justin. Dance!"
And then he did.
I think I went comatose for the next two hours.
I am pretty sure that I almost fainted several times. Like when he grinded (and I do mean grinded...extremely sexual...extremely) on his dancers. Yes, heck yes!
It was then that I thought to myself, "Why, God? Why did you not encourage me to keep up my dance lessons?? Look what my life could be like!"
Tiffany and I have decided that we are going to follow his tour. We're giving our two-weeks notice to our respective employers tomorrow and off we go on tour. Good idea? I thought so, too.
Unfortunately, none of my pictures of Justin dancing or grinding turned out. I'll share what I do have, though. Enjoy!
This was before the concert at dinner. We ran into a few friends of ours and absconded with their table...
I asked Tiffany what she wanted to do/show to Justin...she did this...
Before the concert...waiting patiently...and our seats...
Justin playing the piano and dancing...
He just did something very, very naughty...I had to document our faces...
After the concert at Beer Seller
You guessed it!
The time is here...
Justin's in town...mere miles away from me.
Ahhh... :)
In just a few hours, I'll be seein' a little of this...
Definitely some of this...
Oh - God help me, maybe some of this...
And, absolutely none of this...
And your honey can trust that you’re looking through his shiznit. Don’t limit your search to sock drawers and ATM receipts. Find out if your S.O. is truly loyal with the nifty SnoopStick. The USB flash drive allows you to monitor a computer in real time. Plug it into the machine whose activity you want to keep tabs on and download the software. (PCs only — Mac users are safe on home base.) Then put the contraption into any PC and get directly connected to the computer you’re staking out. Your victim will have no evidence of the trespass, so stick it where you want (and hope that he hasn’t). You’ll be able to see e-mails (as they’re being read or written) and IM chats, view website histories, and even block access to certain sites. The contraption stores info for twelve months, so even if his little friendship is over, you can dig up the details. True you’re getting down and dirty. But you may find out he’s into that." From Daily Candy
To be honest, this is kinda sick...
Trust is the cornerstone of good relationships. Without it, you have nothing. If your trust for someone is so low that you are stooping to these levels, get out of the relationship. It's probably not worth salvaging...
~*~
"Trust is the cornerstone of any good relationship.
You can get me this...
I think it is perfectly clear that I have a slight obsession with Jane Auten's Pride and Prejudice. I watched the A & E movie with my mom when I was in 8th grade, suffering from the chicken pox. And when I got into my sophomore year of high school, I read the actual book...and was hooked.
I mean, my awesome cat is named after the book's main man - Mr. Darcy.
So, you can believe I was ecstatic when I read the article from the NYT about this series of books that is out to help the reader understand the life and times Austen (and others) wrote in. The book helps explain what was actually meant by certain things mentioned.
Who knew that the reason Lydia kept saying "fun" was because that was that time's "awesome"? It gives it a whole new life!
I can't wait!
A new 24-hour diner is opening down on Broadway this Friday, Paradise Park Trailer Resort.
Location: 411 Broadway
Contact: 251-1515
The restaurant and bar will be separate yet connecting establishments, allowing customers to patronize one or both establishments.
Live music and kitschy decor.
Regular specials include $6 pitchers of beer.
Hours for the restaurant are 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Hours for the bar are Mon - Sun, 11 am - 3 am.
Quite possibly the funniest quote from that show I have heard.
Scene: Eric didn't return the library books that his dad (Red) wanted. Eric tells him that he will pay the overdue fine of $.25 and return them the next day. Red gets angry and snarls...
Red: "It's all about rules. And without rules, we might all as well be up in a tree flinging our crap at each other."
Long pause
Eric:"....Okay...."
I found the sound bite too - It'll convey it better than I can! :)
Go to that site, then hit Red on the Sound Bites section. Scroll down and look for "Why we have rules..."
I don't get it...
And then there are Amy's other works...which I still don't get...
I need my friend Britney, she'd laugh about it...and then make me laugh...at her...
3 days...
You thought I forgot didn't you?? :) This is totally better than a picture...
I got put on the radio yesterday! W-VNS (102.5) here in Nashville has my favorite DJ, Lulu, on the drive home. I know, I know. I'm probably going to get made fun of for my station choice...but I love her!
Anyway, she does this "60 Second Poll" and yesterday's was regarding couples sleeping in separate bedrooms. Some psychologist hypothesized that, by the year 2015, 60 percent of couples would be sleeping in separate beds/rooms. Well, I thought this was ridiculous...ridiculous enough to call in and voice my opinion.
When the call connected, a familiar voice answered the phone...it was Lulu! She asked me my name and what I thought and then asked me if I would mind holding on to go on the air. Heck no, I don't mind holding on to go on the air!
So, while I'm holding, I try to think of smart things to say. Nothing came to mind. I completely drew a blank.
Lulu came back on, "Sarah? Tell us what you think. Would you rather sleep in separate beds?"
"No way!," I said.
Silence.
"Sure, it's nice to sleep alone...but not every night. I'd rather sleep next to someone every night, than sleep alone. That way, when you do sleep alone, it's like a treat...you can spread out...you know?"
Lulu - "That's great! How long have you been married, Sarah?"
Silence.
"Um, I'm not." Thinking to myself..."God, I live in sin."
Awkward.
So, we say our thanks and goodbyes and she goes to the next caller. Well, the call is delayed a bit, so I got to hear myself! I thought, "Man, I don't sound anything like that!"
Then my phone rang. A friend of mine called screaming... "I just heard you on the radio!!! It sounded just like you!!!"
Great!
Then another friend called, "Was that you on the radio?!?!"
Yup. It was.
How many people listen to this?!
Haha - I'm famous. And apparently I sound like a nasally 12-year old.
Belmont received the 15th seed rank in the East region (the same as the 2005 tournament) and will face off against 2nd-seeded Georgetown.
Belmont Press
Quote from a UCLA fan (love this) - "Hey Belmont! Congrats again for going to the men's tourney. We UCLA fans are rooting for you. Now that you have been to the big dance, hold your composure, hit your 3's and box out those big G-town guys. Remember, G-town lost 6 times this year. No team is unbeatable. If you truly believe, you can win. A lot of us LA folks will be watching. We like the class of your fans and school. Good luck!"
ESPN Press
"Belmont: Boomer Herndon, a 6-foot-10 center, will have his toughest matchup ever against Roy Hibbert. If Herndon can stay on the floor, the Bruins might be able to make it interesting."
I just hope they hold their own...at least until the end of the first half.
1. Waylaid Plans - Sometimes, we have the "best" plans laid out. Sometimes, they don't work out. And sometimes, that's okay.
2. Shooting Stars - I saw one this weekend and made a wish. Nope, don't even ask, I'm not telling you what I wished for.
3. Mother/Daughter Nights - I went and saw "Because I Said So" at the theatre with my friend Abi, her mom and my mom. We went to dinner beforehand and had a great time! Yea for mom bonding!
I like this look. It's very masculine, woodsman, "I can grow facial hair" look.
8 days...
Interesting site I found awhile back and forgot to share.
What Should I Read Next?
There is also a music site, This One Next. Though it is up, I believe the kinks are still being worked out.
Register and build your library of books, CDs and DVDs.
9 days...
We all have our awkward phases. I'm just glad mine wasn't documented for the world to see...
... 10 days until ...
Justin Timberlake!
I've decided to post a picture a day until then...
Ahh! I'm posting on time this week! You didn't think I would, did you?! My track record hasn't been so good recently, I will agree.
Here are my Three Thanks...in no particular order:
1. The beginnings of Spring - On Sunday, I went to Centennial Park here in Nashville and enjoyed the fantastic weather. Sure, I had to keep my fleece on with my scarf wrapped tightly
around my turtleneck sweater...but it was great...and only cold when the wind was blowing. Perhaps it was my apparel that was keeping me warm, or perhaps it was the company...of this, I shan't tell.
Here's a side story...decidedly of no interest to anyone but me...even still, I will write about it before moving on. There are no restrooms at this park. Well, there are...just not good ones. Ladies, you know the offense to which I am referring...Porta-potties. Those disastrous creations that are made to hold excrement in a hole in the ground until someone with a big truck comes to empty it out. Gross.
So, there I was at Centennial Park...really needing to use the restroom. This was my only option. Well, my only viable option. I make the trek to the area where they are located. In front of one of the toilets is a large, metal trashcan with an open top. There is something leaning down into it...it looks like a small cat, perhaps a small raccoon. When it hears me it pops up onto its hind legs. It peers at me with its big brown eyes. It wasn't a cat...nor was it 
a raccoon. It was an obese squirrel. Quite possibly the biggest, fattest squirrel in existence. When I walked closely by it, it didn't even budge. It was as if to say..."Heh, I could totally take her! I am not moving..."
I opened the door with one finger, sliding the latch to the left oh so carefully. When I walked in, my gag reflex kicked in, as the smell of fecal matter and heated urine immediately invade my nostrils. I glanced down into the toilet (why, I don't know)...and what did I see? Among the Dentyne Ice wrappers, toilet paper and other various sundries...I saw it. Perfectly placed on a piece of TP, it was sitting there. A perfect poo swirl.
After seeing that one squirrel...I was really afraid that one of his mutant friends might be hiding inside the bowl. Much to my luck...no one jumped out at me...
2. My new bedside table - My dad made it for me. I've had one for almost two years now and have been waiting for its mate. Well, it finally arrived from my parents' house Saturday afternoon. Yea!
3. Parties with my girls - I love seeing you ladies. Saturday night was a blast...I can't wait to see pictures!
By the way, people scare me...
Seriously, today is gorgeous! It is absolutely amazing here in Nashville...and to have come after such a nasty day yesterday.
I really don't have much to say except that.
Oh, I do need some advice if anyone wants to offer some up -
Wednesday night I left my sunroof open in my Jetta and that was fortuitously the night that it stormed cats and dogs. I went out to my car early Thursday morning, trying to leave early and beat the throngs of commuters since it was raining. I opened my car door and was greeted by a wave of water rushing out of my car...
Just kidding...but seriously, it was sopping wet in there...
Does anyone know what I should do? Right now, all my windows are open just airing it out. I like to workout...but I don't want my car to smell like a dirty, wet athletic sock.
Advice? Sympathy? All is accepted here.
