what is love [baby don't hurt me]

“Love is absolute loyalty. People fade, looks fade, but loyalty never fades. You can depend so much on certain people, you can set your watch by them. And that’s love, even if it doesn’t seem very exciting.” -Sylvester Stallone [He seems like an odd source for this quote, but the internet supposedly says its true.]



So there was no Bachelor Monday night. Boo. I watched a chick flick instead. And I called it Movie Monday!

First Up: He's Just Not That Into You
First off, I think Greg Behrendt is kind of a ... nut. With a complex. Case in point: He is a standup comedian, who was also a writer for Sex And The City. SATC taught us to wait for "big love" and all that crazy jazz. Then Greg writes this book and proceeds to tell us: if a guy doesn't call you, doesn't ask you out, doesn't try to sleep with you, etc etc etc, it's because he isn't interested in you. Drop him like a hot potato and move on! This is where the movie comes in. The movie is annoying because of the intertwined mix of characters and shifting plot lines. And because if we followed Greg's advice, I'm fairly confident that no one would get married. I can see where Greg is coming from. A guy shouldn't break our spirit. Or make us pathetic creatures. There are plenty of guys out there. We shouldn't forget our morals because of a guy. We should still have our own life. But, just because a guy doesn't call me everyday, that doesn't mean I should vote him off the island. And, as a Christian, the whole "he's just not that into you if he's not having sex with you" is a bit problematic. [no, I'm not joking. that's chapter 4!] So if you're still with me, Greg wants us to stop making excuses. He doesn't want us date guys who don't treat us well. And he gives pretty high expectations to be met. Apparently there is no compromise in life. [Unless of course, you consider the compromise there morals just to get a guy, because if he's into me he's having sex with me...according to Greg.]

Overall: If you're looking for a movie that will allow for mindless relaxation, this will fit the bill. Certain parts might even make you think about things. I'll give it a C (not great, but not awful either)

Happy Sunday

My week in review: The end of another Bachelor season. [And the new availability of Monday nights.] Locking my keys and purse in my car Wednesday morning. Learning how to break into my car Wednesday morning. Being told I make a good model [staff photo shoot, or fashion show according to Cory] and being praised for my parade-driver skills. After the St Patricks Day parade, we went hiking. Somebody got a tick. But not me. That may or may not be a result of meticulously covering myself in SPF 50 prior to our adventure. [I am Irish, afterall!] It's sticky and thoroughly coats you [but obviously not too sticky because I still choose to use it.] So I'm pretty sure a) this layer of stuff would make me taste bad b) makes me unappealing to ticks in general. Either way, no ticks for me.

And now that I've wasted an hour of my life on pinterest, I must go get ready for Church. Today is the camp auction and it could be... interesting...

and just because the weather is so nice

Springtime, is that you?

I don't know about you, but today sure felt like spring in Pennsylvania.

I have to admit my trail attendance has been impressive this month. It was so nice out (combined with me being stressed out) that I went to the track today. The trail is for relaxed, unwinding time. The track is for hard work and pain. In the best, most enjoyable way. I think, as true spring/summer approaches, its time to make the track the majority and the trail the minority for daily work outs. After all, "no pain, no gain". Or no pain, no PRs. You know. Whatever.

Also, I have a confession. Recently, in spite of, or perhaps because of, this I have been allowing myself to splurge on pop. Mind you this splurge is one can (12oz) or bottle (20oz) per day. First off, it adds up. I'm not crazy about the extra sugar. In my perspective, I'd prefer my unneeded sugar to come in the form of a moist chocolate brownie. I want to thoroughly enjoy every calorie. Is that so wrong? Secondly, I read this a few weeks ago. I know, I know. There are many variables to consider: where the funding came from, was there bias, correlation does not equal causation. I get it. But, it is still something to think about. Luckily if you read my blog, you know pop isn't my true love.

I'm really more into tea. You might say I am obsessed with tea. I always drink tea hot. I normally drink it with a splash of 2% milk. I do not, and have not for months, add sugar. So its flavorful without adding extra sugar. I have an entire shoe organizer filled with different kinds of tea. 11 large tins, plus small tins and individual tea bags, and one container of cocoa. Since I've been doing double work outs, I wake up early to go running before work. After work I do some stretches and strength training. I drink black tea in the morning, for that little rush of caffeine, while I drink green tea at night while I'm relaxing before bed. I should mention that I work at a business that sells Republic of Tea, so I get a discount. Which makes my collection slightly less terrifying.

What's currently in my cup:
-(Every) Morning: Red Rose Original tea. I've grown up drinking it, so I might be biased but it is the perfect morning cup! I drink this almost every day without fail, even if it is 93 degrees outside! I love the flavor and depth of the tea. It's just so good!

-Evening: I mentioned that I drink green tea before bed because it has less caffeine. Tonight I am drinking The Republic of Tea's Honey Ginseng Green tea. If you're a sugar addict, you might be interested to know that this is the first tea I could drink (and enjoy!) without adding sugar. The ginseng makes it somewhat flowery, but not to the point of being unpalatable. The honey keeps it light. It's a great way to unwind at the end of a long day.

Or you could give your shins a massage, which is what I'm about to do. That feeling after the first hard run in the spring? (Runners you know what I'm talking about) Yeah, it was that kind of day... Here's some Jack Johnson, just because.

"this is our superbowl"

every year I watch the Bachelor(ette).
every year I whine and moan about how much ABC has manipulated the concept for ratings at the cost of (what small possibility remained for) a happy, true love ending for the show.

Why, oh why, do I subject myself to this torture you ask?
I love football. But I don't love football like my brother loves football. I'm not a guy. I think I'm missing the supreme football part of my genetics. (That sort of impassioned sports extremism is definitely part of the Y chromosome, am I right ladies?) I love sports, and I don't want to downplay that. But...

The Bachelor(ette) is my sport. It's the equivalent of Monday Night Football for the ladies.
You're forced to watch the awkward early episodes, aka preseason games. You don't always get to see the good players right away. But once you survive preseason, you are then compelled to slog through the season. The drama, the battle wounds, the casualties. Finally, you get to the final four. And the final four mean hometown dates. Or, as my coworker, who also is a lover of all things Bachelor, and I like to call them: the playoffs! (Our fascination is no joke. Just ask the poor male pharmacist who has to work with us!) This is when things really get exciting. From there the season really gets going, and finally you have the Final Rose: our superbowl!!! (Honestly, it's amazing poor Cory still talks to us!)

Well it's over for another season. 3 hours of all things ABC, Bachelor, and Chris Harrison. I get the impression that Chris Harrison would have been quite the party man in college, while still being a nice guy. (Shut up, don't tell me he's just another rude frat boy who has finally grown up.) Anyway, I like Chris Harrison. He has some undefinable endearing quality. And he always roots for the couple at the end. (Root for the home team, all that jazz.) He's perpetually happy and I love that.

Anyhoo, Ben chose the mean girl. Boo. Lindzi got the boot. There is always one girl who has a really hard time opening up to the Bachelor. This is understandable when you remember a) the season is filmed in a 6 week period and b) those moments will be broadcast on national television. I think people always fall in love with the girl who has a hard time opening up because a) we all empathize with her and b) believe that emotion is generally more sincere than a lot of the nonsense that is documented for these shows. I know I can definitely empathize with Lindzi.

On the other hand, for the first time in a long time. (Heck, maybe the first time ever!) I could care less if this Bachelor couple lasts. At least I won't be disappointed when they break up, like all (but three) franchise couples who came before them.

 yep... even they broke up.

I would have accepted the fantasy suite with the sole goal

 of waiting until he fell asleep to cut off his hair!

(even Cory thought this was a good idea- the only thing he 

adds to Bach chat is commenting on Ben's bad hair)

[photos from abc.go.com]

Well, that was our superbowl. It's over. And quite frankly I'm ready for the off-season!

Maybe I'll even think of a more worthwhile way to spend my Monday nights...

Tears of Rage I Cannot Fight

Nothing's true and nothing's right
So let me be alone tonight
Cause you can't change the way I am
Are you strong enough to be my man?

Lie to me
I promise I'll believe

crushed

When we're little, our parents teach us how to take care of ourselves.
To pick up our toys, and to mind our matters.
They teach us that honesty is the best policy.

I think honesty sucks.
It's a cruel weapon that can dash our hopes,
and kill our dreams in one fell swoop.

Before you know it, the wind is knocked out of you
and your perception of everything seems out of focus. Nothing looks right.
Everything seems to be crushed, bruised, and ruined.

What happened to the wisdom of Bambi?
When Thumper's parents taught us all: "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all"
Or at least, if you say something that has caustic implications,
at least take the time to thoroughly explain yourself.

Running Buddy

Sometimes I wish I had a buddy for these mornings on the trail.

Somebody to help me out the door on days that I'm just not feeling it.

Maybe, one day.