What is Love?

I love talking with my friends their insight and opinions on life never cease to amaze and inspire me. Sometimes I cringe and wonder how they can think that way but more often than not I am reaffirmed in my personal thought and often find more clarity than what I was looking for. When in the midst of these good discussions/talks I lose track of time and just want things to go on and on.

A discussion and thought that I think that most people who aren't in love, married whatever think about. There are a lot of thing that I "know" logically yet I'm not ready to emotionally come to gripes with. One of my favorite movie quotes comes from Saving Silverman; "Doesn't 'One and only someone' mean; One and Only?" That brings up the question of whether or not there is a one and only, the infamous soul mate. Does that exist?

In all honesty I don't think so. At least that is what my mind tells me, my heart is a totally different story. And I think the mind comes into play here because I know that love is more than just an instantaneous feeling. It is something that grows and becomes more as you get to know someone better. At least that is the way I feel that most relationships do. The more you understand the more you love.

I had a friend put the idea this way: If attraction/love is like a fire if it a huge fireball of flames those are going to burn out at sometime there is just no way to maintain that level of passion consistently. Instead if you build love, like a fire and continue to feel it wood it grows bigger and the flame stays around. I don't know if I am doing the description justice. I hope you get the idea.

My mind understands this concept and I agree that this is supposedly the best way that loves survives you constantly feed it.

I have even had another friend who said there have been plenty of perfectly good guys she could be happy being married to. She just wasn't ready for a relationship. I don't know if I agree or disagree with this sentiment or not. I am pretty sure that I disagree there are a lot of guys I have met, perfectly nice and great guys that I COULD not be happily married to, then again maybe I am just more close minded.

Then there comes this idea how do you know you are with/marrying the right person? I've heard many different theories most of them boil down to this: When it is right you know. Helpful I know. So I asked my Grandmother today, who met my grandfather labor day weekend and married him December 30 of the same year, when she knew. He. my grandfather knew on their first date, well before that. He asked her to marry him and kept at it until she said yes. She didn't know until after they were married. Even on their wedding day she had doubts. So does that blow the idea that you will know out of the water? A little.

I think that movies have played a HUGE role in what we expect from love and romance. I am not going to lie I want that big moment. You know the one where the music swells and your eyes meet across the room and you know you cannot live without each other.

Here is the thing though shouldn't you be a complete person without them? I know I could live without. I think the ultimate goal is that life with much better with that person by your side. Maybe that is the goal find someone who makes everything better.

An Easy way to Change it Up

I love love love doing my nails. I like painting them. I like finding crazy colors to paint them (not yellow though it makes me think of dead fingernails). I found that you could have metallic nails I had to have them. Thus I became Beyonce-fied. I am pretty much down to try anything, on my nails that is.

Something I don't understand is people who are afraid of certain colors or looks on their nails. I want to shake them and ask what they are afraid of. It isn't permanent in fact it is one of the least permanent things you can do to your self. People paint their small children's nails. I mean it smells but other than that there is nothing lasting about it.

This is actually my annoyance with nail polish. I hate taking it off and putting it back on. Probably because I can never find the nail polish remover. Mainly this is due to the fact that I like my nails to be painted all the time. That way you can't see any of the dirt I might get under them. The only thing I don't like about painting them is the time it takes to dry and the need to do absolutely nothing while they do dry. You need like a 2 hour block of time. I have solved this by doing them progressively over the work day. Also buying those nail polish removers that allow you to remove the polish from one nail instead of pouring it onto a cotton ball and ruining all of your nails. The one thing I don't like about nails is I don't like getting them done. I honestly don't feel like a manicurist does that mush better of a job than me. I mean sure if I am getting fake nails they are necessary but for just polish I can do it all on my own. Also what is the deal with their colors. People come here to get their nails painted!!! Have some crazy variety, and I don't mean different shades of red and pink, spice it up!

Hmmm..... who knew I could write so much about nails?

How Does this Seem to be the Case?

Something got me riled this weekend. Instead of my usual response to ignore it and let it go I decided to address the problem. I wrote what I felt to be very clear e-mails to the parties involved. They may have made me look crazy (I stand by the fact that they did in fact not). Maybe the hurt was still a little to raw and they came across as more than I wanted it to.

Anyway to make the point I have already gotten a response from one of the e-mails. In my response I think I apologized!! Why cannot I not shake this need to be a good girl and appease people, make them happy? I still think I have a right to be annoyed but now I feel bad about how I expressed myself. Why?

How did this get so turned around? I'm still mad but now I think I could have handled the situation better or stated myself more clearly. Even worse now I am wondering if I viewed the entire situation wrong.

Why do I always end up conceding like this? Why can't I ever hold onto my "righteous" anger? Probably for the best that I am able to move on and forgive so easily. Right?

I guess the point is that I apologize for getting mad.

It just hits like a Bullet

Songs that is. I can take a song and like most people make it all about me. To me that is what makes a good song; when the lyrics and music all comes together. In fact it is one of the things I hate most when the lyrics rock and I can't stand the music or vice versa. Although I guess not all groups/artists/bands can be that universally awesome.

Also I become obsessed with a song. I want to listen to it all the time. No matter how much annoys other people. I can't help it, I want to crawl into the song and live there. Today "Help I'm alive" by Metric is the place I want to live.

We're in a Recession, Right?

I had perplexing experience the other day. My friend and I decided that we wanted a new make-up look. A day look to be exact, one that make it look like we are wearing make-up, something to mix into the rotation. I didn't think it would become the adventure that it did.

We started at Nordstrom, Mac the destination. We get a salesperson/make-up artist to help us. Her make-up is like most people that work at Mac, over the top and colorful. She proceeds to do my friend's make-up first. It was pretty basic browns and what not. Not anything crazy fancy, yet there was something off about it. When it was my turn I said I wanted something navy and gold. I got browns and teal. And definitely didn't love it.

It should also be noted here that the salesperson failed to sell anything other than eye shadow. We said day look not just eyes, but the whole deal. She failed to mention anything else, well that's not true she offered my friend lipstick, not me though. no blush, no foundation, nothing. Good thing I'm not her manager.

Dissatisfied with our look we next headed to Ulta, and couldn't find anyone to help us, although in Ulta's defense did have a line at the register. It was here that we saw a look that we wanted to try out. So we headed back to the mall and this time went to Sephora, inside JC Penney's. We found someone to help us and she told us that she could give a ten minute tutorial on how to do a smoky eye or show us how to apply foundation and cover up. Umm thanks? (I have a whole rant on the smoky eye, that I will have to get into at another time.)

We leave and go to another mall. We are going to try Sephora, not one inside of JC penny's. here we are told the same thing, but we feel that we are armed with the look we saw at Ulta. Apparently at this Sephora, they don't actually want to help you. I swear we were extremely clear about what we wanted, nope she did not want to help us. So we left (another person who should be glad I'm not her boss). She went so far as to say we should just you tube what we wanted and learn that way. Um we wanted you to show us what to buy and you want us to leave and go home and look it up? Okay?



Back to Nordstrom. Mac was busy so we found a salesperson working the Nars, counter. She finally helped. At this point I was done. She only did my friend's make-up. It was fine, better than the first try. This person failed to sell as well. Until asked. It was a little ridiculous.

And this whole time I thought we were in a recession. Guess I was wrong, these stores obviously don't want my business.

Good to Know

Apparently there are 4 categories of women/girls...whatever. Here they are in no particular order;

• Gorgeous
• Beautiful
• Cute
• Pretty

I was told, tonight, that I fit into the beautiful category. Nice, I guess. He did tell me there is no ranking, I don't believe it and I think there were a couple categories left out.

And a follow up question why is he telling me this? And on a first date?

That Party Last Night Was Awfully Crazy

There is a reason why my friends are my friends, we all get each other on some different special metaphysical level. Yeah that's right, here's an example.

I was visiting a friend out of town and brought with me a mix CD. On my mixes there is typically one or two songs that I like but don't necessarily listen to every time. Also some people hate particular songs. It is there right. I personally can't stand Aerosmith's "I don't want to miss a thing", it drives me nuts. I like almost everything that Aerosmith does, I know it is weird.

Okay back to why A is my friend. We are listening to the aforementioned mix CD, when that song comes one. The one people always ask if they can change, complain about how retarded it is, etc. So I automatically reach to switch it. She stops me and says something like; "Man I love this song." Ahhhhh true friendship.

We are able to bond over lyrics like; "Pass out at 3, wake up at 10, go out to eat, then do it all over again, Man, I love college." Most people just don't get the simplicity and the beauty of those lyrics.

It is Just the Craziest Thing

I have a group of friends that I hold in high regard. They are intelligent, attractive, generally well put together women. They have go it going on. In my opinion they deserve the best and they generally demand the best for themselves. There is one area of their lives that I find they aren't making sure that they get the best. Or at least demanding that they are treated as they should be. This area of their lives involves the opposite sex; men, guys boys, dudes. They lack common sense when it comes to ...... Relationships.

It isn't that my friends are particularly retarded in this area of their lives. I think that most women are this way. What is is about relationships that makes generally sane women (myself included) such idiots?

Where does the logical thought process go that got us through school and gets us through our work days? And why is it so easy to judge other peoples' relationships? Not to mention the hindsight you get once you are out of the relationship. Where do our brains go? What happens to all of our common sense?

Here is a prime example: I have a friend who we'll call A. She recently broke up with her boyfriend. As a result of this we re-hash the details of her relationship. A tells me a story about something that the boy did. I find this to be something that I feel like I would never put up with. I say nothing at the time of the telling. It doesn't really matter at this point, she has broken up my saying something doesn't matter. She mentions that if I had come to her with the same story she would be appalled and wonder why I was still with the guy. How can something she would find not okay for me be okay for her? And how as a friend do you address issues like this? I feel like I want the best for A and for her to be as happy as she can but how do I say something without making her feel like an idiot. I mean it really isn't her fault she is in a relationship and it seems that no matter what your judgement is called into question here. What makes this situation different for her? What makes it okay? Why is she willing to deal with behavior she would find horrible in a friends' relationship. Where did A's logic go?

And why do we as women make excuses for men? Why do we allow that the reason he didn't call is because of x, y or z? We leave ourselves open for heartache and disappointment. We create these scenarios that aren't really there. Maybe he didn't call you because he was out with someone else. After all you have only been on one date why are you automatically exclusive. We all do it is like a hobby; the analyzing every little nuance. I'm not going to lie it is one of my favorite pastimes. Probably isn't healthy but it is fun and can really occupy the time. It does lead to excitement about things that are probably nothing....He invited me to a party! Oh wait he invited a lot of people to the party.

What happens to us when a man/boy/guy/dude is involved? There is something in us that pushes for more - more feelings - more everything. And most often the guys we are going after aren't ready or willing to give us what we want. Is going after these unavailable guys a defense mechanism? If there are the guys we are chasing/dating/interested in then when we are ultimately rejected we can't really be that devasting, Right?

I am particularly at fault for this one. Every little gesture has some bigger meaning. Logically I know that is doesn't but I create it into this thing that is more. He responds promptly to my texts, he must like me. He waits hours, then he must be with some other girl. He intiates contact like me, I intiate he doesn't. Sometimes it feels like this emotional rollercoaster. And lets be honest I have no one to blame but myself. Maybe his phone was in another room and maybe was with another girl. These are all possibilities. So why am I making myself hopeful/depressed over them. The relationship must not be in a very advanced stage for me to making these jumps in conclusions.

I don't want you to walk away thinking that I am some relationship guru. I am not. I am stuck in the same boat as every other girl that I know. We are pretty much just feeling our way and sometimes it just seems like the blind are leading the blind.

Relationships are tricky weird things. And hopefully someday I find the right one.

Fall

I usually think that I like summer the best of all (as far as seasons go). Then Fall comes and I a remember how much I love it. There are a few things that stick out more than any other and are really the reason I love it, Fall.

I love when the air turns crisp and I can finally pull out my scarves and coats. I will hate these come spring, but right now I am longing to throw some leggings on and grab my pea coat and bright pink scarf. I really don't like summer style, there isn't much too it. Just a skimpy top and shorts, some flip flops and you are good to go. Fall takes some thought. How rainy is it? How cold? How many layers do I need? Does this purse fit over my coat? There is just a lot more thought and car that goes into the Fall wardrobe. I don't think I have really updated my summer clothes in years. The Fall clothes though I can update and add and subtract from.

Another thing that I like about Fall is the September Vogue. I wait all year for this issue. Once I buy it I don't read it right away. I need a full day just to really feel like I am satisfied reading it. There is a process to reading that issue. I flip through it backwards first. Then I go through it front to back reading the articles that grab my attention. The I flip through randomly again lingering on pictures and ads that catch my eye and my imagination. I may not be able to afford anything in the magazine but I have at least found the inspiration for my Fall outfits.

This isn't to say that I neglect the other September fashion magazine issues. I buy them all and savor the. There is just a special place in my heart for Vogue.

I like going back to school. I will not be doing so this year but I like the concept of it. The fresh start, the new year that is open to all sorts of possibilities. It makes me want to buy to pens and notebooks. It also makes me want to go back to school. And I think I will it might not happen this fall but I will be working towards that goal.

So goodbye summer, though I love you and would live to live in a perpetual state of summer I can't help but love fall.

Worst Decision of the Week

I decided I wanted to do something new with my hair. I'm trying to grow it our so no chopping, and wasn't really feeling a big salon spending spree, so dying my hair was out. I had read over and over again about this shine treatment that you could buy from Clairol. It is $9 and an easy at home thing. So I went out and I bought that container.

I opened it as soon as I got home and started reading the instructions. Now I should have known here that there was something wonky up with this treatment then. If it is just a shine treatment why am I wearing gloves and why does it have warning that if I get it on clothes or anything else I should immediately wipe with a damp rag. It didn't make me nervous I proceed to follow the instructions (if you have ever done an at home dye job it is exactly the same - just 10 minutes though).

I put a face mask on, paint my toes and then hope in the shower to rinse it off. My hair feels fantastic! I hardly ever blow dry my hair so I let it air dry when I go outside to read a book. I get ready for the night and my hair seems pretty shiny. Not miracle hair shiny but the light is definitely reflecting.

Here is the problem that I notice after I have completed the treatment. There is peroxide in this product. This is why you wear the gloves wipe things down, etc. And most importantly why it says on the box to start rinsing at EXACTLY 10 minutes, which I didn't do.

No big though right? I mean I've dyed my hair hundreds of times, in fact I am growing some blonde out from my ends as we speak.

The next day revealed the error of my ways. Now my hair is course and dye and I don't have any of the result that usually happens from this, lighter hair. Nope it is the same and on day 2 not nearly as shiny. Now I am battling with dried out hair.

So Clairol Shine treatment huge mistake.

The 3 Minute Miracle I used from the Aussie line left me feeling pretty good about life though.