Thanks, Dad

Given that it's the day after Father's Day, I thought it highly appropriate to give a shout out to my good ole pops.

This weekend was a whirlwind, driving home in torrential rains on Friday, family stuff on Saturday before heading back that night so I could work at the drop zone on Sunday.

So needless to say I feel a little more than guilty for not spending Sunday with my dad.

But after reading this post by rs27 - who writes by far one of the funnies blogs ever, Your Beard is Good - I felt inspired to reflect on all those things my dad has done for me over the years.

After a recent conversion with my big brother, who in his pre-marriage counseling has to fill out a chart, plotting points on a graph of his relationship with his family members over time, I got to thinking about my relationship with my parents over the years. 

Every teenage girl has those turbulent years with her mother, so we'll shy away from that. But don't worry, mom and I get along great now!

But in my 25 years, I can't once think of a time where I could have asked for a better dad.

I was lucky that during my elementary school days my dad worked the night shift. He came to all of my school functions, signed up to chaperon every field trip, and I loved it.

He would pick me up from school and I was always proud to be walking out with my dad while the other kids got on the bus. Sometimes, on nice days, he'd even pick me up on one of our motorcycles - think dirt bike, not Harley.

After school and on weekends we'd be out shooting the basketball or I'd be running errands with him. I loved the time we spent together in the car, just the two of us, talking about who knows what anymore.

The summer before I started high school my dad took over a newspaper delivery route for a family friend. It required middle of the night drop offs - from 1 until 4 a.m. typically - driving around the country back roads. This was a daily adventure that I decided to help him out with.

Some of the best conversations took place in the front seat of his truck that summer. I gained an appreciation for music of his generation and I'd like to think he did for mine as well, maybe. Eh, Dad?

We even became immune to scent of skunk together. Had to be there, I guess.

Needless to say, I was sad when that summer ended. After that, my teenage years set in and boys became a main focus.

But no matter what I was involved in, my dad was there for it. Track meets in the rain. Tennis matches in the heat of the fall. And we can't forget how much time he spent with me on the court every summer. A little tradition that carried through to college - playing a couple sets indoors any chance we got.

Moving away wasn't easy, especially since he's not much of a phone talker, but I cherish the moments I get to spend at home and those days he comes to visit me. Next, I'm working on getting him to jump out of an airplane with me. Baby steps.

Thanks Dad, for always being there.

What are the best memories of your dad?

Cheers!

-A

It'll take you back

Guess what? I'm back in the Big Apple again!

GASP!!!

Huge surprise there, right? Given that Manhattan has become my home away from home these past 6 months.

Anywhosits. As I sit here, catching up on my Google Reader, I came across a post from my blogger buddy Susan over at Transient Travels. (She writes an amazing travel blog...a must read.)

Her most recent post entitled, "When Music Takes you Places" really hit home with me. 

As a lover of music and someone who finds memories attach easily to sound  - only beaten by smell in my book - I found there to be an endless number of songs that correlate to specific events or past times in my life.

So rather than record them all in Susan's comments, I thought I'd steal her post idea and make a list of my own.

What do ya think about that?!

Ha. Right, like I care what you think. I'm making the list anyway!

When I hear AC/DC's Thunderstruck I'm instantly back in Spartan Stadium, pre-game in the student section, back before they started using clips from the movie 300. This was a huge crowd booster as Sparty beat down the mascot from the opposing team.

As I mentioned to Susan, Untouched by The Veronicas takes me back to the Cessna-185 that I jump from at Cleveland Parachute. Somehow it's become the song I sing to myself as I climb to my knees and mentally prepare before each jump.

No Sunlight by Death Cab for Cutie takes me back to last year's trip to San Francisco. Actually, the entire Narrow Stairs album reminds me of my time in the city and the trip up to wine country. 

If I want to travel back to my high school band camp days (shut up) all I have to do is turn on Hysteria by Def Leppard and I'm back on the top bunk, curled up with Marilyn Manson's autobiography and relaxing from a day of field marching (shut up!).

Slide by the Goo Goo Dolls takes me back to a summer pool party I had in high school. It definitely reminds me of a more innocent time. Though I still have a little crush on Johnny!

Fall Out Boy's Thanks for the Memories has strong ties to when I first moved to Cleveland and some decisions I made along the way. Enough said.

Rihanna's Disturbia is by far one of her best, and will always remind me of the 10 days I spent in New York City, gallivanting around Manhattan and hosting a week long even in Chelsea. 

So tell me dear readers, what songs bring back vivid memories from your past?

Cheers!

-A

Sleep is underrated

Seriously underrated.

When I was a Dallasite and, let's just be honest here, my personal life borderline sucked, I would get a full eight hours every night - after a solid workout and a couple chapters from a good book.

Sounds nice, right? Well after the 80th consecutive day it gets a little monotonous, trust me.

This is so not the point.

Lately sleep has taken a back seat in my life. Between work, running, skydiving, spending time with the SO, NHL playoffs (which are WAY more important than the NBA playoffs, in my book) and trying to keep up with chores at home, there isn't enough time to get even 6 hours, let alone a full eight.

This week it caught up with me as I passed out in the middle of a DVR'd episode of Gossip Girl, face down on the arm rest of the couch, at which point the SO carried my sorry ass to bed and recaptured the remote to fill his weekly 24 fix.

Looks like I just revealed another guilty pleasure of mine. Oh shut it. You like Gossip Girl too, just admit it!

Then last night, I made plans to head to the gym and wrap up some chores that I've been slacking on all week. I was determined! That is, until I ate a pre-run bagel that put me into a near coma on the couch - only to realize what happened when I awoke to a phone call two hours later.

Needless to say my apartment is still a disaster and my thighs aren't getting any smaller on this carbo-load / nap combination. But I do have to admit that the sleep was needed and I felt pretty amazing after. And I was able to knock out a few chores post-nap so all was not lost.

But I got to thinking this morning, as I got out of bed feeling more refreshed than I have in weeks, this whole sleep thing is way underrated.

I've always stuck to the belief that I'm a bad napper - once I drift off to dreamland it's over, I'm dead to the world for hours. Power naps have never been my specialty, and I've never been good at waking up.

This is something that can be learned, right?

I mean, all it takes is a good nap and I'm rejuvenated and ready to kick some ass - figuratively, of course. Any of y'all who know me in real life are well aware that I'm not kicking anyones ass, ever.

So maybe, instead of giving the SO a bunch of crap the next time he suggests a power nap, I should shut up and surrender to the blissful sleep that's calling my name. After all, a little nap never hurt anyone, right?

Spring cleaning

As a follow up to my discussion on a few things I love about spring, I thought it appropriate to broach the subject of spring cleaning.

It's time to face the facts, my life is cluttered.

Now I'm not just talking about my office or my apartment (both of which we can not leave off the list), but it's more about the intricacies of my mental state, rather than the physical world around me.

Believe it or not, there's a lot of deep thought going on upstairs that hasn't been addressed in quite some time.

So the time to clean out the proverbial mental closet is past-due. I definitely consider it a good thing that I'm headed back home for the weekend. The nice 3-4 hour drive gives me plenty of time to sort through everything that needs my attention.

And given that it's the weekend before the big Caribbean cruise - c'mon, you know you're excited for me - it'll do me a world of good to get the thinking out of the way so I can enjoy some fun in the sun.

Yes, I just said that.

Yes, I'm slightly embarrassed.

Yes, I'm sticking to it.

The time away, in and of itself, will definitely help ease the mental strain that comes from the constant interaction with social media and the virtual world around me, too.

In fact, I've even made the decision to turn my phone off for the duration of the 5-day cruise. Yes, willingly.

And, given the friendly threat from the SO, and I quote "if I see that you smuggled your Blackberry onto the cruise it's going into the f*cking Atlantic!" there won't be any work going on for an entire week.

I'm not saying it's going to be easy, in fact, I'm expecting a twinge of social media withdrawal, it's much needed. But of course, I'll miss you all dearly!

And until then, hopefully I can slip in some real spring cleaning with the remainder of my time.

What's on your spring cleaning to-do list?

Cheers!

-A

Quite the imagination

Last night was consumed with vivid dreams. And this is not at all uncommon.

In fact, I can't really remember a [sober] sleep night where I didn't wake up remembering, in detail, at least one dream from the night.

As far as I know, it's just always been this way.

Even as a kid I would regularly wake up having been so involved in a life-like dream that I would experience those thoughts and emotions in the physical world.

Like once, I woke up from a dream about hanging from a cliff and my body was half flung off the mattress, arms dangling on the floor. No wonder I was a little freaked out. And on numerous occasions I would awake from a scary or sad dream only to be sobbing in my bed.

Thankfully, my physical involvement in dreams has subsided with age. As far as I know I've never been one to walk or talk in my sleep, though I did recently have a sleep over with one of my favorites and she informed me that I was laughing in the middle of the night.

I suppose a little unconscious chuckle never hurt anyone, so I'll take it.

Regardless, my vivid dreams continue well into my adult life. I still even have the occasional tornado nightmare that's followed me from childhood. Though I must admit, the visions have become much less scary over time, but quite the picture all the same.

Someone once told me that people who regularly have vivid dreams are highly creative in the conscious world - but that could be a farce. Regardless, it sounds good so I'm sticking with it.

So tell me dear readers, do you often have vivid dreams? What about recurring dreams?

Cheers!

-A

A pathetic, sniffly sight

I am not a crier. Anyone who knows me well, knows this. In fact, in a recent conversation, I couldn't recall the last time I had a good cry.

Well, that time was tonight when I finished this book. I broke down in huge, heaving sobs (trust me, it's as attractive as it sounds) when Randy started talking about his family - more specifically, his daughter. And let me tell you, I'm still feeling the effects of this chapter and fighting back the tears.

He noted that when his daughter was born he immediately became an official member of the "Wrapped Around My Daughter's Finger Club."

I've always liked to think that my dad was a member of the club, too. That there was just something special about being his daughter. Let me tell you from 24 years of experience, there is.

Growing up, I was always the girl with the cool dad. He was an athlete, a comedian, a motivator, a friend, a supporter, and he seemed to know everything about everything. Even now, he's still very much all of those things.

He's the reason I spend so much time single - no guys can even come close.

(It's just screaming daddy's girl, isn't it?)

For all these reasons, there's this soft spot for my father that I just can't explain. Reading Randy's description of the short relationship he's had with his daughter that's coming to an end, I can't help but get all weepy. Honestly, I don't know what I'd ever do without my dad.

It makes me hate living even this far from him - and makes me think that I should really visit home more often. Gets me to thinking about being a better daughter...I know I was a pain in the ass growing up, and I probably still am now. 

Thanks, dad, for putting up with my crap! It means more than you'll ever know.

How's that for a mushy start to your Monday?

Highly recommend The Last Lecture, if you haven't read it already.

Cheers!

-A

Brick walls

The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're here to stop the other people.
...
Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something.


Right now I'm in the middle of a rather inspiring book. The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch. For those who haven't heard in it's rising popularity, it chronicles the life of a college professor who is asked to speak about his life as if he were dying - as if it was his last lecture.

Reality of the situation, is that it was, as Randy was dying of cancer at the time. How about that for some real-life inspiration?

As any inspirational book will, I found a concept that was instantly applied to my life. And I've gotta say, it's been kicking me in the ass ever since.

In one of his chapters, he discusses the challenges he faced when courting his wife. These challenges were his brick walls - and he worked hard to show those walls who was stronger. And succeeded. Proof is in his marriage and three children.

So I've been reflecting on the brick walls in my life, the challenges I've been working hard to overcome to prove just how much I desire the life I aspire to live.

Impulsiveness - since I've been a working girl, I've been of the mindset that if I want something I purchase it. Be it a trip to visit friends or a new camera lens. Debt has not overcome me yet - and I'm working now to make sure this doesn't happen.

Cynicism - sure, we all get bitchy from time to time, but, I'll admit, I've been known to bond with others over the negative rather than the positive. This is definitely a work in progress.

Impatience - I've said time and time again that I could never be a teacher because of this. But fact is, everyone is a teacher of some form in this life. And patience is one of the most important attributes of a successful teacher, mentor or supervisor.

Distractions - my 'ADD' leads to procrastination, which often leads to less-than-my-best work. As much as I say it, I don't actually work best under the pressure of a deadline, I just enjoy the adrenaline rush.

So tell me dear readers, what are your brick walls?

Cheers!

-A

Sound track of...right now

So you may remember a while back when, thanks to Playful Professional, I was inspired to create a soundtrack of my life. 

And for the most part, this list still very much holds true. 

Lately, however, there have been a number of events in my life that have added an interesting flare, to say the least. 

And, given my recent bout with insomnia - hence the mid-night post - I've had plenty of time to listen to a number of my iTunes playlists. In this process, a few songs have stood out to me. Some because of the lyrical meaning, some for the harmonies, but all for the fact that I just really like them.

So, there's going to be a temporary addendum to my original list of eight - as a sort of soundtrack of now. No judging.

Oh, what the hell, judge all you want. What do I care?

Promise (Eve 6) - old school Eve 6. Not only do the harmonies in the song mesmerize me, but the lyrics are perfectly appropriate for my life as of right now. Planning big is a huge gamble, and yep, I've already rolled those dice.

Streetlight (Derby) - you're standing a little foolish, in the late night...

I Can't Hold Back (Survivor) - this song came on in Mitchell's the other day and I remembered that I loved how it sounds. So 80s. As Jennie says, it's one of those songs they'd make fun of on Saturday Night Live....regardless, I love it. And it's pretty accurate, assuming you're not thinking in sexual terms. C'mon now, remove head from gutter. 

One Step at a Time (Jordin Sparks) - for oh so many reasons. This song about sums up my life at the moment.

What are some of the songs that represent your life at the moment...or, even the ones you like just because?

Cheers!

-A

I'm gullible

It's true. I am.

Proof:

The SO tells me that "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" is on the top of his Netflix list.
-Me: really?
-SO: stares at me blankly

On moving day I call my parents to find out their ETA and current location.
-Mom: we're still at home, stuck in the driveway actually. Your dad's trying to dig us out.
-Me: instantly stressed out. seriously? why didn't you call sooner?
-Mom: in fits of laughter. (After all, it was May.)

And one time, I was even coaxed into believing there was such a thing as left-handed silverware.

Yes. Really.

In my defense, it did take some effort on their part to get me to become a believer. And of course, it was something I never lived down. Rightfully so.

I like to think that it's not that I'm gullible so much as that I'm pure of heart and truly trust the people in my life. But, given my overall cynical nature this is hard for even me to believe.

Though even with my recent transition to being a brunette I still play these instances off as blonde moments.

Please tell me I'm not the only one out there who's logical mind slips up every now and again and believes the complete nonsense that people are feeding you...please?

Cheers!

-A

Photography Friday: Hiking

Welcome to Photography Friday - the hiking edition.

These are actually from a little over a year ago, when the BFF and I went hiking on Grand Island out in Lake Superior.

Due to my recent crazy schedule, leaving me little time to head out to snap some nice winter shots, you get to relive this experience with me. Yay!

Aside from the bear encounters, torrential rains, and supposed tornado on the island during our first night (which we didn't find out until the countless voicemails from our concerned friends and family, post-trip), it was a fantastic trip with phenomenal weather - and I managed to get some great shots, too.

You'd never know, by looking at these images, that it was late September in northern Michigan.

(From the campsite the first night. Just before the storm hit.)

(A look at the beach from high atop a cliff.)

(As you can see, the lake rose pretty high in the storms the night before.)

(Check out how blue the water is...hard to believe that's Lake Superior.)

(A day spent hiking the cliffs and relaxing on the beach, what more could a girl ask for?)

Expectations

All my life I've worked hard to exceed expectations, and I'm usually pretty successful, if I do say so myself.

It's not unusual for people to take one look at me and assume I'm some little blonde girl that has no idea what's going on in the world around her. I take great satisfaction from reactions I get after discussing my career, an upcoming marathon, or current events in sports with people I meet - I guess they just don't expect it. What, does everyone expect me to talk about shopping and The Hills?

Not that exceeding expectations comes easy by any means. I work hard, sacrifice time and put my heart and soul into everything I do - career, running, relationships...everything.

This backfires, however, when rather than meeting expectations, I completely bomb and disappoint someone. As a perfectionist, this hurts more than it should, because in turn I end up disappointing myself the most.

I tend to be a pretty proud person at times - *gasp* I know, right - especially when the things I've accomplished took exceptional sacrifice and investment (read: time, money, the shedding of a few tears). And often in these situations, I'm pleased with the outcome - but what about when someone isn't? When you disappoint someone else because you didn't meet their expectations. And even worse, what if it's a situation that you can't fix? Recovering from this can be the most difficult of all.

In the end, the final product is worth the added stress - or so that's what I tell myself. But sometimes this desire to exceed expectations causes more distress than need be. However, I've yet to figure out how to take a step back and care a little bit less. Because as I see it, that's the only way to overcome this sick need to continuously go above and beyond and blow everyone out of the water.

How to go about this, is the ultimate question.

So what about you - do you find yourself in similar situations? How do you work through situations where you haven't exactly met expectations without beating yourself up?

Cheers!

-A

Unthankful

(My apologies in advance, this post is not up to par. But I tried, and doesn't everyone deserve an A for effort? Okay, no, but it took me a long time to write and I'm not just going to let all that time go to waste, so this is what you get. I hope you keep reading anyway.)

That's typically what I am all year.

I'm a cynical 20-something with high expectations and an ability to attract uncomfortable situations.

Though people tell me I bring them good luck - at least I'm helping someone out in the end.

Regardless, normally I would focus on the fact that the upcoming holidays mean that winter is upon us and the bad weather has only just begun - which means driving in snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Not to mention enduring hours of forced family gatherings, spending my hard earned paycheck on gifts for my cousin's husband's sister who will be joining the family around the Christmas tree, and figuring out how to take off the 10 pounds I gained from eating only cookies and pie over the holidays - given that my carnivorous family neglects to accommodate the vegetarian.

But today, I'm not going to think about these things. Nope.

So to change it up a bit, I wanted to talk about all the things I have to be thankful for, given that this is the time of the year to give thanks (Thanks-giving...even I can figure that one out).


My job - in this economy, who wouldn't be happy to have a job, especially one they can say they enjoy getting up for in the morning.

The accidental hair color change - sure, I wanted to go a little darker, but now I'm officially not a blonde anymore. And you know what, I really like it!

Discovering Americanos - yes, this is something that happened just this past year, apparently I'm behind the times. Regardless, without this lovely addiction I may not be able to make it through the day.

New routines - with the commitment to a marathon and my recent book obsession, I've taken my weekly routine to a new level. Unless of course I get a midweek invitation for dinner at Lola - I will be dining there tonight hoping, in the back of my mind, that Michael Symon makes an appearance.

Photography - without this hobby I wouldn't be who I am. It's the ultimate creative outlet for me. And, I've even started selling now. So, keep an eye out. If I post something here you like, I'm happy to get you a print!

Being the black sheep - over the years I have come to realize I'm the black sheep of my family. It's not all bad - I cherish this status, actually. And because it's widely understood, I have an excuse to bail out at times, or just not show up. But of course, I will be showing up in Michigan for Thanksgiving weekend (hence the early 'thankful' post, if you hadn't caught on before). Though I am thankful for my little family which will be getting bigger shortly when my brother and his new fiancee tie the knot.

Longstanding friendship - this is the time of year to cherish those nearest to you and I've really learned over the last year how valuable my friends in this city, back home, and around the country are to me. Thanks guys *tear*

My independence - as much as it may seem like I'm a little harsh on my family, I wouldn't trade them for the world because they taught me how to be strong and independent. That's something I hold onto tightly.

Social media- these tools really help me in all aspects of my life, especially those things above. Maybe that makes me a geek (okay, so I know it does, when your significant other is in finance and you casually mention 'tweeting' in conversation, you're bound to get the look of, 'holy crap, I had no idea you were such a nerd!')

So really, I'm thankful for being a nerd - and quite proud if I do say so myself.

What are all y'all thankful for?

Cheers?

-A

Reading and writing

This weekend brought me back to 90s style reading and writing. You know, the kind of reading where you have actual pages to turn and the kind of writing where a pen actually touches paper.

It was amazing.

Don't get me wrong, I love writing to y'all, but the feeling of picking up a pen and going to town, writing down all my thoughts without a filter, it was highly cathartic.

Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but there actually are things that I think and don't say. You can only imagine the types of things I keep to myself.

Anyhow, I also started reading a new book. It's been a while since I picked up a novel for pleasure - most of my reading has been industry related as of late.

What's even better is that I'm reading a trendy book...that's right, I jumped on the Twilight series bandwagon. It took me a while to see what all the fuss was about, but now that I've reached a certain point in the book I'm hooked. I even skipped one of my all time favorite shows last night in lieu of more tales of Edward Cullen.

Jenn's guide was right, this book has the potential to suck the life out of you. But I don't regret it. In fact, I can't wait to finish so I can see the movie on the big screen. At the rate I'm going, I'll be heading to the theatre later this week.

So what about y'all, read any good books lately?

Cheers!

-A

For us or for others?

Perfection.

It's something that we all strive for, and yet, being a 'perfectionist' is often talked about in a negative way. Why is that?

(ok, so it's not completely relevant, but about the only thing Google Images was giving me for perfect...)

Perfectionism is merely striving for an ideal that we have in mind.

And bettering ourselves is a life-long journey.

But in the end is it about overcoming obstacles and pleasing ourselves, or to become perfect in the eyes of others?

Sure, no one wants to disappoint those in their lives, but is this a viscous cycle of improving one day and feeling bad the next because the same progress was not made for us, or for everyone else?

Taking my life as an example, because that's the only one I'm certain about, I spend much of my time striving to make others happy, or at least make them content. And when this doesn't happen, my mood spirals downward.

But it's a catch-22 you see, because when your livelihood depends on how others view you, in turn making your mistakes the demise of your day/week/month, where's the internal incentive to continue making progress after these blunders?

As I see it, us perfectionists - yes, I'm owning up to this - need to take a step back and ensure that each day we are striving to become better, not just for those around us, but for ourselves too.

Because at the end of each day, everyone is thinking of himself and his loved ones foremost, and we deserve to do a little of that too.

So tell me fellow perfectionists, what keeps your motivation for perfection running high?

Cheers!

-A

Big steps

Over the course of the last couple months, some rather big changes have taken place in my life. 

I'm by no means complaining - in fact, completely the opposite. I've come to realize that I'm really lucky for these new adventures.

What I also realized is that somehow I've managed to get to this point while speaking my mind at all times. I have no filter.

None.

What. So. Ever.

After another big step this weekend, in what I like to think is a great direction, it hit me that I'm incredibly lucky to even have these opportunities given my complete lack of tact at times. 

And trust me, when I notice this, it must be bad.

But I suppose, at least I'm honest...right?

So I've realized this flaw, and I may or may not do something to improve it. Admitting is the first step.

How many of you out there have gotten yourselves into messes due to lack of brain to mouth filter?

Cheers!

-A

The infamous meeting

Of all the people I met during my two weeks in New York, one meeting stands out above the rest.

Why? Because I finally got to meet a long-time friend and colleague face to face.

And I was not the only one looking forward to this encounter - I had co-workers who were rather excited to witness the infamous meeting.

Meetings like this are strange. You feel like you know the person so well from countless phone conversations and e-mail chains, but when you're looking the person in the eye while speaking to them for the first time, it's almost surreal.

Let's go back to that night, shall we?

Tuesday of the event week was the longest day in history. My day started at 4 a.m. with filming for a media tour and ended with a dinner for 40 that we arranged that ended at 10:30 p.m. Don't get me wrong, much fun was had, but I looked at my superiors at the end of the dinner and said, "if there's not liquor in my hand in 10 minutes I'm not going to be a pleasant person."

Luckily, there was!

We walked across the street to a rooftop bar where we met up with our friends who had flown into town that day.

And then we met.

It wasn't what people expected, I'm sure. A hello and a hug and the drinking began. Grey Goose and Red Bulls were consumed by the gallon - I was a very happy girl!

The party continued well into the night, getting me to bed about 24 hours after I had woken up the previous day. Needless to say, that made for quite the long Wednesday.

Drinking continued on Thursday night and goodbyes were said on Friday. And now, we're back to phone conversations and e-mail chains.

The connectivity of this society is great for instances like this - but it also makes you realize what you're missing out on when you finally meet your virtual friends face to face.

Sometimes reality can be a bitch, but I have no doubt that we'll get to do it again, sooner rather than later.

Has anyone else had the chance to meet long-time friends/co-workers/bloggers in person? What was your experience like?

Cheers!

-A

Come back

Oh what I would give to have the weekend back.

This one was one of the best I've had since my return to the Midwest.

Intrigued? I hope so, because I'm going to tell you all about it!

This weekend was one of those rare fall weekends where I stuck around town. Fall is a great time to travel and go back home for tailgating with friends and college football watching with my pops, but it was wonderful to have a lazy couple days to myself for a change. Though it was a fairly active lazy, if I do say so myself.

Friday night was sushi date night - and not with my girlfriends this time. I actually went out on a date.

*gasp*

I know! Stepping out of the comfort zone, ladies and gentlemen.

What's even better...I accepted a second date with him for later this week. I'm just as shocked as you are.

Ultimate laziness ensued on Saturday. Sleeping in, running a couple errands, watching movies alone in my apartment all afternoon, a quick workout and some Saturday night grocery shopping. Yep, I'm that cool.

A late night trip to Target was the most beneficial as I picked up a few pumpkin spice and Glade apple cinnamon scented candles. These things are amazing - the scent fills the entire room (highly recommended)! Now my apartment constantly smells of fall and I love it!. I can't wait for my trip to the cider mill next weekend for some apple cider and pumpkin donuts...mmmmm.....

Sunday included brunch with a long lost girlfriend, a trip to a local national forest with a friend for some hiking and photography, cleaning my apartment top to bottom (I even vacuumed the couch cushions) and finishing the weekend with some yoga.

And now, sitting here at the office preparing for a hectic four day work week, I can't help but look back and wish that I could do it all over again.

A great weekend indeed.

Aside from Alexa, who's weekend was also awesome, and CC who managed to carve out an entire day to herself, anyone do anything exciting this weekend?

Cheers!

-A

Photography Friday

In keeping with my promise to come up with a weekly column, I've come up with Photography Fridays. For those who may not know, I pride myself in being an amateur photographer and it's one of the hobbies I'm most passionate about. So each Friday I will post one of my recent pictures or those of a friend, or even interesting pictures I find online and comment about them.

Given the newness of this venture, feedback from my readers is always appreciated. If there's anything you want to hear, see, or discuss in this weekly column, just comment and let me know. But for now, on with the show.

This week I'm going to start with one of mine. Though not the most artistic shot of a lifetime, the quality is impressive given that it was taken indoors in the evening, with a point and shoot. On top of that, the photo has not been enhanced. Given the opportunity to go back to this restaurant in Philadelphia, where you might remember that I met Tony Danza, manual settings would allow me to sharpen the image outside and mute the inside framework.

Regardless of what could have been, I love this picture. It's simple yet impactful, and boy does it hold a lot of memories. In the end, capturing the mood of the memories is what matters most.

Cheers!

-A

Music ADD

Looking back on a relaxing weekend where I can actually say I didn't do much and mean it, there's a statement that continues to replay in my head:

"You have some serious music ADD."

Truth. This is something that I continue to struggle with. I've even gone so far as to create tailored playlists in iTunes in hopes of preventing constant music surfing. The even more unfortunate thing is, this behavior has begun to irritate others too - let me explain.

On Friday night, in our mutual state of boredom, my friend Jamie and I decided to relax with some drinks and a few rounds of Wii bowling. Rather than listen to the standard Wii background music that will put anyone to sleep after a long work week, I brought out the Mac to listen to some music we both enjoy. For the most part, Jamie and I have similar taste in music, so when The French Kicks, Morrissey, or Death Cab comes up in the playlist I know he's not going to look at me with the tone of "what the F is this." (And yes, a look can have a tone.)

However, when I was changing the music after the first 15 second of every song until I found the one to perfectly fit the moment, I was called out on my music ADD.

Sometimes you just can't help it - or at least I can't. So how do I break the habit?

On the one hand, I tend to be rather picky with my music choices, so if a song isn't up to par, why waste any more of my time listening. Then again, you can't get the full effect unless you take the time to listen in full at least once. See my dilemma?

Breaking this habit is going to be like any other - it's going to take determination and dedication - two things I'm not sure I want to waste on something as silly as music ADD. So for now, it's back to surfing on Pandora.

Cheers!

-A

How to be liked

Tonight at yoga class I met someone I thoroughly enjoyed. She was friendly and personable and our short conversation was enjoyable. Though from the moment she walked into the room conversing with another student, before even meeting her, I knew she would be lovely. But I can't really put my finger on why, exactly.

After class, in my reflective, meditative state, I got to pondering this further. What characteristics make someone a person you want to know? What personality traits do those people have that when they walk out of the room you think to yourself, "I really like her/him/them"?

My introspection has led me to a few ideas, but I'd like to hear from you, dear readers. What makes someone likable?

1. They start conversation with me.

2. They smile, are friendly, are warm.

3. They ask questions and seem interested in what I have to say.

4. Their speech reflects empathy.

I tried to come up with a solid 5th to complete the list, but am struggling and didn't want to half-ass it. So, what are some of the others? Why are your dearest friends, your friends in the first place?

Cheers!

-A