raindrops on roses...
its been one of those days, or few days. soooo, today while swimming laps i was thinking of ways to get myself out of my mini-funk. once again i thought to myself, “self, you should blog about it”. so it was decided – i’d pass the time planning out part dos (that’s “two” for you non-spanish speakers) of my blogosphere appearances. weird?? i think not. i mean, really...what else is there to think about while swimming laps other than “1...2...3...breathe” (bore snore!), or “man, i hope no one is watching my legs jiggle underwater” (not the best motivating mantra), and of course the obvious thought “michael phelps aint got nothing on me” (seriously...go home, michael!).
today’s blog topic of choice: things that make me happy (and why). i know, i know, my loyal followers (9, to be exact), it's another list. but don’t fret… esta chica es todavía realmente graciosa. (which translates to: “this girl is still really funny”). sidenote: you see, monday’s finale of the bachelorette has inspired me to randomly throw in some español on occasion. now i’m not sure which is worse ...the fact that i watched the entire season and loved every second of it (and am now admitting it here) OR the fact that the bachelorette producers actually put in all those clips of roberto/ali (ali fedatowsomethingorother, the bachelorette, not to be confused with me, ali, blog author extraordinaire) and their mini-spanish lessons. uhhh, corny?? sí! sí! (yes! yes! come on people...) but then again, perhaps you never even noticed these brief eye-rolling moments because you were too fixated on roberto’s perma-SUL (and for you non-abbreviators in the crowd, SUL is sweaty-upper-lip). i mean, i know there are make-up people on that show... DO YOUR JOB!! DAB THAT SUL!!
moving on...
LAS COSAS QUE ME HACEN FELIZ (“things that make me happy”) ..and why.
*my parents (why? they are my parents, it’s an obligation...no? kidding! all jokes aside... they are wonderful, loving, kind, funny, supportive, down to earth and easy going, always there and call me out on my crap. and then i love that they both have a little bit of crazy… examples: my dad, he’s stubborn and always right. ALWAYS! even when we prove him wrong, the facts are wrong, the source is incorrect …he’s still right. he always wins. ALWAYS! and my mom: let’s just hope i don’t inherit her “crazy-gene” which will one day lead me to believe that our cat can actually talk and carry on a normal conversation. hello, ridiculous!! ... but aren’t they great? sí! sí!)
*michigan’s upper peninsula (especially my hometown: menominee) (if you ask why, you clearly haven’t ever had the pleasure... i love being a yooper, the small towns, friendly people and familiar faces, the great lakes (great times!), pasties! (mmm!), the smell of summer, tacos from the sub shoppe, the northern lights, 1st street at christmas, “say yah to da U.P. eh” bumper stickers, crusing the strip, the menominee marina, the way i can use my hands to make a mighigan map, campfires/bonfires, the mackinac bridge, sunsets over lake michigan, the winters. the list could go on ...and on.)
*writing letters (why? “snail mail” will always be cool in my book. i love to write real mail and pop it in the mailbox. and getting real mail is always more exciting than a boring old email. hint hint.)
*movie matinees...alone (why? it’s simple. it’s mid-day relaxation at it’s finest)
*nicknames (why? who doesn’t love a good nickname? my friends and i love giving nicknames to everyone we meet. part of it might come from growing up in the U.P., i’m pretty sure people there are known by their nicknames – it’s so intense that i am a firm believer some people might not even be recognized by their real name. i have a nickname of my own... gator. gates, for short.)
*cheese (why? uhhhh, do i need a reason? IT’S CHEESE! and me likey!)
*my job (why? i love always being around sports and athletes. i love the sweat and pains of practices to get the payoff of a winning season. when my team wins, i get a feeling of absolute calm. i always want my athletes to be healthy and competing, but i get really excited when i see an injury. i’ve always said my dream athletic training job would be to work tennis at an international level. soooo, any followers out there who can help me make this happen – let’s do it to it!!)
*sweatpants (why? pure comfort. i also like them long enough to cover my toes and drag on the floor.)
*national anthems at sporting events (why? i get goosebumps everytime. it’s an amazing feeling.)
*abbreviating words (why? simple ...it’s hilar (hilarious)! i’m even a member of the facebook group “abbrevs - sweepin the naysh”. my friends and i have some faves (favorites) of our own: abbrevs (abbreviations), deets (details), perf (perfect), menoms (menominee), approp (appropriate), beaut staysh (beauty station...came about while working at maiden lake supper club when lexi, jodi, cathy, erin and i would be getting ready for work. “beaut stash” was days we glam-ed up our hair and make-up), vid staysh (video station... means watching numerous movies in a row or one movie on repeat. preferably, vhs))
*delilah radio (why? i love the requests and dedications (i will one day call in and request a love dedication, therefore crossing off another item on my “murtaugh-list” (thank you ted mosby), the corny stories of love and love lost, delilah's overly calming voice, and her all-too-predictable song selections after talking with callers.)
*bald eagles (why? ok, now i don’t like bald eagles in the “research” way or a “i want one as a pet” kind of way… i like them in the "searching for them in the trees while driving throughout the U.P. with my dad" kind of way.)
*my friends (why? because mine are the world’s greatest! i have an amazing group of childhood friends from home who are still some of my best friends. i think that situation is very rare and feel lucky to still have them as friends everyday. i also spent a blip of my life at northern michigan university, where i met 3 of the best friends i could ever have. and then there are my good friends from all the other places i have lived and worked over the years. if only we could all live on our own island together... now that'd just be dangerous. and one heck of a party!)
*survivor (why? most times you'll probably regret getting me started on this topic: i just love the game itself. my friend jer and i have a special survivor connection: we like the same people, we hate the same people, we even make spreadsheets before each season to strategize before/after each episode, we have laughed over many episodes until we cried, we have gotten in fights over non-survivor things that somehow always turn into a discussion of a similar situation from a past survivor episode - example: one time jer even jumped on the windshield of my car in the pouring rain and was screaming "39 days!!! you don't know what you would do!!!!". sooo, any followers out there with any cbs connections to getting me on the show...help a girl out!!)
*naps (why? naps rock!)
*toothpaste for dinner comics (why? let me just give you an example of a few of my favorites and you can decide for yourself…)
*pickles (why? mmmmmmm!!)
*getting my sweat on (why? the feeling afterwards is what i consider to be heaven. i still sometimes struggle with the motivation, but am getting better everyday. (encouragement welcome!))
*franny (why? basic comfort. franny is a doll i got when i was born. i still have her and take her most places i go. those of you who have had the pleasure of meeting her, you’re welcome.)
*green bay packers (why? born and raised fan. they are LEGEND - wait for it, and i hope you're not lactose intolerant because the next part is DARY... LEGENDARY!)
*reading (why? sometimes there is nothing better than a good book.)
*quoting lines from favorite tv shows (will & grace, how i met your mother, sex and the city, beverly hills 90210, and yes...on occasion, even gossip girl) (why? why not? it’s hilarious! and they make for great status updates on facebook - always provoking good back and forth banter.)
*crazy tan lines (why? beeeecause they are ridiculous! and a good conversation starter...usually.)
*movies on vhs (yes, i still own a vhs player! who doesn't?) (why? because vhs will never go out of style…at least my style. some of my vhs favorites: home alone, footloose, empire records, indian summer, father of the bride, airborne, what about bob?, grease, legally blonde, the sandlot, dirty dancing, the wedding planner.)
...“when the dog bites, when the bee stings
when i'm feeling sad
i simply remember my favorite things
and then i don't feel so bad”
stay thirsty, my friends...
el fin. (the end.)
