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Sunday, 31 August 2008

  • Was MTV always this amazingly stupid?

    My roommate is hardly ever home, so I tend to forget how very young she and her boyfriend are.  It isn't that the difference in ages between us is massive -- it's around three and a half years -- but there's a huge gap in maturity that becomes glaringly obvious when she's watching tv.

    Wait, make that MTV.  Lots and lots of MTV.  Now, I've hated this channel for a good decade or so at this point, so it isn't like I'm the most objective judge of its content, but the shows on this channel are some of these most asinine I've ever experienced.  No wonder so many kids in their late teens and early twenties are such douche bags -- it's all clear to me now!

    It isn't just the MTV, but sitting in here and listening to it as she and her boyfriend watch it, and hearing their conversations, I realize just how young she really is.  I think our living arrangement works out because a) I'm patient and pretty non-reactive to annoying shit; and b) she's usually at his house.  We've lived together for almost a year now, for money reasons of course, but I don't think I'll be able to live with her much beyond our lease on this house coming up (next July).  Not just because the boy and I should be able to afford our own place by then, but also because my tolerance has its limits and much more of this endless marathon-style MTV viewing really will drive me batshit.

Sunday, 10 August 2008

  • For the whole, amazing birthday weekend, there's one thing that defined it...

    It wasn't the extremely cute and very sweet personalized (deep red, of course) M&M's and teddy bear combo from My M&M's that was waiting on my doorstep on Thursday.  It wasn't the homemade peanut butter and dark chocolate M&M cookies he personally delivered later that afternoon (still warm! my boy is an exceptional baker...).  It wasn't the loving little text message that was waiting for me when I woke up Friday morning (my actual 26th birthday).

    It wasn't the fondue dinner we made together Saturday evening, complete with soft pretzels and mini pigs-in-blankets for dippers, or the night of uninterrupted cuddling on the couch that followed.  It wasn't the hard to find french dunny I'd fallen in lust with while looking for his own birthday gift three months ago, or a t-shirt from the extremely cool donut shop that we saw while watching our usual lineup of Food Network specials on the Fourth of July (I can't help it...  I loved the slogan.  And the voodoo doll donuts.) all wrapped up in the insanely cute moveable monkey bag I'd mentioned seeing out our store a good month ago.  It wasn't even that I woke up next to him this morning, a rare treat given our work schedules and often opposing days off.

    It was a short, simple moment in bed this morning, during a break in a tickle fight, when his arms were curled around me (fast little brat -- the only way I can stop him is to pin his arms around me), his head tucked into my neck, and no other sound in the room but our breathing.  That calm that I felt, that peaceful hush, when the chaos inside me is totally calmed and the only thing I'm aware of is him holding me, was worth more to me than anything else he gave me this weekend.  I can't really put it into words -- they'd never do it justice -- and the only thing I can compare it to is the sound and feeling that envelopes you in the winter, when you walk outside and there's snow everywhere and fat snowflakes falling through the air to the ground, that gentle, peaceful hush that settles all around you and seems to buffer you from the sights and sounds of the world around you.  When he holds me, everything is still and hushed, just like that moment when you walk out into the falling snow. 

    This morning, I truly realized just how much those moments mean to me.  He is the calm center in my world, a calm I've needed so deeply I didn't realize that need was there until he began fulfilling it.  He is who I want, but more importantly, he is who I need and he has a gift of knowing how to love me in all the ways I want and need.  Something so simple, just that one little moment, and all the reasons why I love him so much were crystal clear.  What better gift could he have given me?

Wednesday, 06 August 2008

  • Pampering = Bliss & Sexiliciousness = Worth the Splurge

    I love getting pampered. 

    This is no secret to anyone who knows me, though it always comes as a surprise to them when they first realize just how much I enjoy it, since I really don't come across as the type of woman who spends much time or money on pampering.  In daily life and at work, I am very low maintenance.  I'm not a fashionista in any true sense of the word.  It requires too much damn work and attention and I'd rather spend that time on other things -- such as the boy.   I don't fuss with my hair in the morning, I almost never wear makeup, and if I spend more than 15 minutes mulling over what to wear for an evening out, I usually get distracted and start playing my DS.

    But being low maintenance doesn't mean I don't splurge on myself.  I get my nails done every paycheck, which is my one bi-weekly vanity.  I get my brows done every six weeks or so, and I get my hair cut and highlighted every couple of months (I stretch it here -- I'm lucky with my hair, so I can go long times between cuts and such without it looking ragged).  If I have a nice dinner or an evening out planned, I may even buy a dressy new blouse or skirt if I want to feel sexy or special in some way.  Many people, including the women in my life who are very anti- "female nonsense", roll their eyes at me when they realize I do even this much, though I've never quite understood why.

    I think when it comes to a woman like me, very down-to-earth and low-key, they just can't understand why I'd bother.  Women like me just don't do things like this.  We're practical and pragmatic, especially when it comes to splurges and money.  But I am both practical and impulsive.  I'll definitely splurge on myself, but I won't go overboard and I won't choose pretty nails over groceries or medications (for obvious reasons).  For example, my hair stylist has done my hair for 17 years and she works in a little salon in the small town I was raised in, so getting my hair cut and highlighted by her comes in at around $45, plus my standard $15 tip.  That's an amazing price for the fantastic job she does.  Even with gas at $3.80 a gallon, driving from the city to her salon is still worthwhile.  Plus, I won't let anyone else touch my hair.

    Since I am all about the bargain, I've found ways to enjoy my little indulgences without breaking the bank, which satisfies my practical side. Even when times are a little rough, such as now, I'll always budget for some little splurge with each paycheck, usually my nails.  Sure, I could take that $25 and put it in savings or do something practical with it, but spending that $25 on something so seemingly frivolous is worth it for the boost in confidence and sexiliciousness that little bit of pampering gives me.  Even just getting my hair cut or styled differently definitely puts a little extra sway in my hips, if you follow me. ;) 

    When I'm not doing those little things for myself, when money's really tight and I really cannot afford them, I notice a definite downturn in my mood.  Maybe that's vain to some people, but I don't do these things just for the lovely physical outcome, but for how sexy I feel afterwards and for how blissed out getting pampered leaves me.  I'm practically humming right now from the hour and a half I spent getting my hair cut, highlighted, and styled.  Other than spending time with the boy, nothing else really gives me that feeling.  That makes the $50/month splurge totally worth it, naysayers be damned.

    Which brings me to the really interesting conversation Jenny and I had while she was doing my hair.  We were talking about the economy and such and she mentioned that it thankfully hadn't really affected her business all that much.  Yes, her clients were maybe going a week or two longer between visits, but they weren't stopping the visits so the salon hasn't felt the pinch.  She almost seemed surprised, but then I pointed out why I feel spending money on myself is worth it, even when it seems like an unnecessary indulgance in tough financial times.  Even when money is tight, people feel the need to do nice things for themselves.  Treating yourself to these things is extremely important, even when they seem a bit ridiculous to friends, co-workers, or significant others.  When work is shitty and life is a downer and just filling up your gas tank is enough to send a person into fits of financial panic, continuing to do those little things for yourself is so important for your health and happiness. Whether it's a $45 highlight & cut, or a flirty $10 tanktop, or a monthly date night at your favorite restaurant (or on your favorite sofa with some tasty takeout!), doing these things for yourself is a good thing, a necessary thing, and no financial advisor or scrooge-type person can convince me otherwise.

    I just wish the boy wasn't at work right now.  I'm feeling rather fiesty and there's just no way he can resist me when I'm like this.   He may think this girly stuff is kind of silly, but he can't deny how hot it gets him to see me feeling this fabulous about myself.  And really, that's possibly the greatest reason my little indulgances are worth the splurge they definitely are: guaranteed sexy fun as soon as he comes through the door.

Sunday, 27 July 2008

  • Sun-fried brain anyone?

    I spent my day frying outdoors while watching a charity vintage baseball game in support of the local domestic violence shelter.  I am now Extra Crispy Sammy with a side of sun-fried brain mush.  Why must charity events always be outdoors in the scorching sun/freezing rain/bitterly cold wind/etc?  It never fails.  I am more than happy to go to such events and drop money on $3.00 hotdogs, $5.00 margaritas, and ridiculous raffles that I'll never win anyway -- since I did all those things today while burning to a crisp -- but the aftermath is never pretty.  I try to avoid the sun/heat/cold/rain/etc., being the big weather sissy I am (I melt.  Seriously.), yet throw a "Charity Fundraiser..." in front of an event listing and I'll haul my prissy ass out of hiding to join in for a good cause.

    I think I need to get into the habit of writing checks in lieu of going to the actual events.  Well, outdoor events, or events that could possibly involve small children since they tend to drag on forever.  Ok, all events, since I really don't have the patience to last out the day.  Checks are easier and charities enjoy cold hard cash (check?) just as much as they enjoy that cash dropped into a traveling bucket at a charity base/volley/basketball game.  Hey, that's one less person they have to booze up and feed, so everyone wins in the end! 

    My grandma writes checks.  She's done it all her life.  The only charity event she goes to is the annual corn boil her church hosts and she goes because she loves corn.  If it were a potato boil or whatever other boil you might have, she'd send a check along and spend her morning cussing out the squirrels ripping off her bird feeders and kicking my ass at battle sudoku.  Even when we were all in girl scouts, she'd never buy the cookies, she'd just give us a check, since she knew two things in her infinitie, old-lady wisdom:  1) the troop got all the money from the check, but less than half from the cookies; and 2) keebler makes all the same cookies in bigger packages at cheaper prices and they're sold at walmart, so why buy them from us?

    My grandma's always been very practical.  That's hard to understand as a child, especially a young brownie wanted to sell enough boxes of cookies to afford that sweet new brownie pin to put on her sash next to all those badges, but now that I'm older, poorer, and far less tolerant of children/weather/stupidity/fundraisers/etc, I understand fully and aspire to be as no-nonsense as my grandmother.  Oh, and checks are easier when it comes to tax deductions.  That was her third reason.

Monday, 21 July 2008

ohsosammy

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    • Name: ohsosammy
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 6/22/2008

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  • Almost 26 and almost in my happy place. This little xanga space is my place to talk about life, love, and my impulsive spending habits. Life's a rollercoaster to be sure, but for all the ups & downs & barfing, I'd have it no other way.

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