Le Rentag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog/12009-07-07T23:30:06ZThe every day life of the Ren (i.e. Le Ren). I'm a psycho, procrastinating perfectionist, cow obsessed, web-design savvy, career-less, Hanson loving type of gal. Movable Type Pro 4.23-enAn ode to Julytag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1152009-07-06T00:01:05Z2009-07-07T23:30:06Z Apparently, going up to Pymatuning for the 4th of July has become some sort of tradition between Dave and I. Hell, we've only gone up there for the past 3 years now. I think that constitutes as a tradition......
Apparently, going up to Pymatuning for the 4th of July has become some sort of tradition between Dave and I. Hell, we've only gone up there for the past 3 years now. I think that constitutes as a tradition... er, only if we keep it up, which I think we will - I hope we will. Moving on.
Pymatuning was definitely a firework competition this year, though we undoubtedly-neh-shamefully lost! Legally bought fireworks ain't got crap on the illegal ones. Now you definitely won't have as great of a chance of blowing your hands off as the illegal ones, but you definitely won't get as great of a show. Just saying.
Despite the absolutely freezing weather, I was still going to get the full effect of the camp experience and sleep out in a tent - HA! Who am I kidding, I was such a baby, I slept inside the cottage... aaaand ending up waking up to a spider on me. That's what I get.
Sunday, I had to whip out the pouty-face to convince Dave to go out on the pontoon boat for a little while before we had to leave (Win!). I couldn't tell if we were fishing in Pennsylvania or Ohio because of the damn drift! Umm, yeah, Pymatuning Lake goes into Ohio, if ya'll were wondering. We were very close to the Causeway because the other people had this bright idea to let all the non-fishing license peeps fish because the Ohio patrol couldn't bust us. Man's bright idea. Anywho, then off we went, back to the boring, smog-filled, overly-crowded, cow-less city that we call home.
So, this is to you July, an ode to fulfill my summer to the best that I can! ]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/07/an_ode_to_july.htmlA Summer Promisetag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1142009-07-01T15:18:24Z2009-07-01T21:21:14ZThere must be some type of epidemic plague that causes lethargy, because honestly, I have yet to do summer any justice - and I know a couple of other people who might feel the same way. Yes, technically, the first...
Kennywood which was mostly spent risking my camera for a cool action shot during rides or appeasing my 3 year old nephew whom has this infatuation with water fountains.
Nothing against Kennywood, I always have an oobertastic time there; though, it still doesn't excuse my poor attitude towards summer. I'm shooing it along like some elderly lady holding up the line at the bank when I have to be back at work in 5 minutes - I admit! My Bahama trip is in August and every day is just a countdown until then. It's cruel and unfair to myself because I find myself wasting away my whole summer just for 9 days of pure bliss. Plus, it doesn't help the fact that I just recently became an owner of Sims 3. (I need not to explain that one. Behold!)
I can't even say that I sat out on the deck, enjoying such beautiful weather while reading a book. I haven't even touched a book since The Shack, which was well over a month ago. I also can't say that I went to the Ultimate 20SB Meet Up in Chicago to meet fantastic people such as Rachel and Brooke. Not even did I go swimming yet - not once. I bought the cutest little bathing suit to kick-start this summer, but sadly it still sits in my drawer with the tags still attached.
So, I promise to you, July, to go outside! To enjoy such beautiful weather that my favorite season is so kind to bestow upon me. To stop playing Sims 3 from the time I get home from work until the wee hours of the morning. To enjoy summer for what it is.
(I wish it could be like the good ole days when I was a child. It was so much easier then, to go outside just for the hell of it and play with sticks, or rocks, or something. I'll look like a crazy person if I do that now.) ]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/07/a_summer_promise.htmlDoomed crappingtag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1132009-06-16T19:54:09Z2009-06-17T01:38:53Z So... yesterday... there was this peculiar pretty (despite it's doomed "crapping"--explanation to come), green package awaiting for me on the table. Peculiar indeed. A package for little ole me? I was having such a "take a spork to your...
So... yesterday... there was this peculiar pretty (despite it's doomed "crapping"--explanation to come), green package awaiting for me on the table. Peculiar indeed. A package for little ole me? I was having such a "take a spork to your jugular" type of day until I seen such a surprise!
Behold!
Ramen noodles! Flavors of Ramen noodles that I have never even heard of- neh- seen! Flavors that measly, little Pittsburgh has never had before, or has had but opted simply for chicken, beef, and shrimp. Boring! Ha Ha! My lunches will be dull no more and I gladly take upon the MSG headaches I'll surely be suffering from.
Care package courtesy of Brooke (oh my seven). Atop the package, layed-- or is it 'lied'-- a card.
"Hey Lauren! Sorry the wrapping is so crappy! (crappy + wrapping = crapping) The P.O. was closing & I couldn't do it tomorrow.
I couldn't find as many as I thought we had... ah well :)
Enjoy & don't die from an MSG headache.
Hugs, Brooke"
I love the internet. Gives me such opportunities to meet such great peeps. Brooke is a heavy dose of awesomesauce and has some great Pittsburgh phenomenon heading her way! That's when I think of such a phenomenon...]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/06/doomed_crapping.htmlEat'n Park's the place for smiles!tag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1122009-06-13T19:22:37Z2009-06-14T23:47:02Z I always forget just how bad Eat'n Park's food is, until I actually eat there. Then I remember. What keeps me coming back is one reason and one reason only-- okay maybe two, but I'm not talking about that...
I always forget just how bad Eat'n Park's food is, until I actually eat there. Then I remember.
What keeps me coming back is one reason and one reason only-- okay maybe two, but I'm not talking about that reason-- that being the Smiley Cookie. Yes my friends, the oh-so-delightful sugar cookie smothered in yummy-goodness with an ever-so delightful icing smiley face, which makes the cookie that much more delightful. Have I said "delightful" enough? Because, really that cookie is delightful!
As a child I remember always going to Eat'n Park just to get the cookie at the end of the meal. Oddly, I would never actually eat the cookie, but I would suck off the icing smiley face. Starting first with the eyes, then the nose, and saving the best for last, the smile. Boy, did I love to eat the smiley face. I had no care for the rest of the cookie; only in time and in maturity did I come to the realization of just how delightful the Smiley Cookie really is. ]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/06/eatn_parks_the_place_for_smile.htmlThe person is smart - People are dumb. tag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1112009-06-08T18:37:39Z2009-06-13T23:31:36ZIt was said that I was very 'European' when I stated "I've lost all hope for mankind. Working with the public for 8 years has really shamed me. Can people really be *that* stupid?!" on my Twitter account. I'm sorry...
'European' when I stated "I've lost all hope for mankind. Working with the public for 8 years has really shamed me. Can people really be *that* stupid?!" on my Twitter account. I'm sorry but there really is no excuse from the general public that I work with. That being the ghet-to.
Where letters and numbers are commonly misconstrued. Zero's are now O's and eight's are A's. In turn, pronouncing O's, it sounds like A's, so I continuously mistake zeros for eights and eights for zeros whilst working on the lottery machine. It's very frustrating.
Though, prior to my previous statement, I had not a clue as to just how common saying O for zero was. Either way, it's still one of my pet peeves and no matter how convenient it may be or how many zeros there may be in a number, I will always - and forever - say zero. Why? Because it is a number, not a letter. Just saying, moving on.
I also here phrases like "Is you open?" and have had someone tell me-- neh!insist that "These" is spelled "Deez," I kid you not - I wish I was kidding! Which brings me into the next topic. Apparently, pronouncing the ttthhh sound in any word with a th is too hard for the average person. It is either pronounced like an F or a D. "Can I speak WIF you," "Deez are not on sale," "If deez aren't on sale, den is dey?" This is why I-- on more than one occasion-- call my work-day brain numbing, because that's putting it lightly.
Don't even get me started on diction. Not finishing the pronunciation on a word is the cool thing to do. I've heard four be pronounced as "Fo" far too many times that I just want to bash people's heads in with a dictionary in hopes that they'll smarten up.
Now, before I get carried away with myself and ramble on and on and on and on... let's talk about the simplicity of a sale's sign, people. Just because the product was next to, above, below, three feet down the aisle, does not mean that product is on sale. The sign will indeed be directly in front of the correct item and STATE DIRECTLY SO on the sign. Fin.
P.S. I could go on about the blatant stupidity of the general public, but that would make me more aggravated than I wish to be. When I am not at work, I do not like to talk about such horrifying experiences... Well maybe just momentarily, but my rant today went on entirely too long. ]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/06/the_person_is_smart_-_people_a.htmlI confess...tag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1102009-05-28T20:20:12Z2009-05-29T01:29:33ZI confess, I stopped looking for a job now, for about a couple of months. I confess, maybe three of four months. Who knows, maybe longer. The months just blur together anymore, and I've found myself deleting all job-listing emails....
then was just more than I can take. I'll never be a web page designer, hell, I'll never be a graphic designer. So yes, I've completely given up and I gladly take upon the title as a "quitter." Receiving the same bullshit-bullshit-bullshit over and over again for the past 2 years really takes a toll on you.
So, in turn, for the next 25 years or so, rather, for-what seems to be-the rest of my life, I'll be paying on a loan for a degree that I should have just kept as a hobby. At least then I can say I was happy. Now, all I have is a degree that serves better as teepee rather than getting me anywhere in life.
P.S. Yes! I would love some cheese with my whine. ]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/05/i_confess.htmlPersonal hair stylist, too!tag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1092009-05-21T11:23:45Z2009-06-14T23:45:11Z I just cut my own hair. It was so exhilarating. Yes, either I am that sheltered or that easily amused to sit in front of a mirror, laughing like some mad scientist, while cutting my own hair. I'm leaning...
I just cut my own hair. It was so exhilarating. Yes, either I am that sheltered or that easily amused to sit in front of a mirror, laughing like some mad scientist, while cutting my own hair. I'm leaning more towards 'sheltered' because I simply cut some bangs. Two snips here, two snips there, and I have a horrible set of bangs. At this point, I'm so broke, I'll take what I can get and a pair of normal kitchen scissors do the job.
So I reveal to you, in the epitome of a craptastic mobile picture because my digital camera is once again missing in action, my new and self-improved hair.
Boo-to-the-yah! ]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/05/personal_hair_stylist_too.htmlAruba, Bahama, come on pretty mama!tag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1082009-05-04T18:32:36Z2009-05-04T23:48:56ZThe constant throbbing of my knees down to my ankles. The jabbing pains that shoot up my legs every time I put pressure on my left or right foot. The irresistible urge to just shut my eyes and fall asleep...
Oh, I'm sorry, I never officially announced that I am going to the Bahamas!
Well, it's set in iron. Our plane tickets are bought and our (our, as in Dave and I) passports are floating somewhere in the mail, desperately trying to find their home; which is in my bag on the beaches of the Bahamas. Woot, Bahamas here I come!
Oh, and before I got sidetracked, I was refering to my pitiful, weak moment, which I feel I should have of pure whine-time after just working a 13 hour shift. I made a promise to myself, neh, a threat that whenever extra hours or extra shifts should arise, I shall become the "Yes WoMAN" and never know that the word "No" exists. Just got to keep telling myself: Bahamas, Bahamas, Bahamas, Bahamas, Bahamas!]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/05/aruba_bahama_come_on_pretty_ma.htmlMy day got Crank'd!tag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1072009-04-30T19:57:19Z2009-05-01T01:02:33ZThe constant nose bleeds and picking of the crusted blood (no, it's not digging for gold!) did not keep Miss Social Lauren, that I keep way too concealed, from emerging today. Behold, for I had a life. My dearest friend...
no, it's not digging for gold!) did not keep Miss Social Lauren, that I keep way too concealed, from emerging today. Behold, for I had a life. My dearest friend from ITT, Joe, or more formally Joey Baby, came into town to visit me before he heads off to Georgia for a job. So depressing. It was bad enough when he lived in Ohio which was only 45 minutes away, now he's an X-amount of time away that would probably require me to get on an airplane. Sorry, I don't like him that much. In fact, I don't think I like anyone that much to put myself in a giant heep of metal soaring through the air, thousands of feet above the ground, where I can, at any time, come plummeting to my death and then explode. It's just not happening, sorry.
Moving on. As his final supper, it was only appropriate to get a Primanti's sandwich. For all you non-Pittsburghers, a Primanti's sandwich is the greatest creation man could ever make, food wise. I'm talking a piled-high, mountain of meat, cole slaw, and fries doused in hot sauce. I pity those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, I really do.
Again moving on. Afterwards, we then saw Crank: High Voltage, which was probably more of a comedy than the producers intended it to be. Completely hilarious and action packed, and boy does Jason Statham get my juices flowing. If I were ever to be a movie critic, I would be an epic failure. Because "completely hilarious," "action packed," "freakin' awesome," and "it was good" seem to be the only terms in my Movie Critic Vocabulary. Not to forget that I describe every actor as "getting my juices flowing," not very professional.
I keep getting off track, anywho. A hug and a punch to my Joey Baby's face ended the day perfectly. A good threat for him to keep in touch. 'Tis a good friend that I'm losing.
*le sigh*]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/04/my_day_got_crankd.htmlA plead for Mother Naturetag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1062009-04-28T15:59:19Z2009-04-28T20:56:45Z Dear Mother Nature, What has Spring done to you, that you just cast her aside like yesterday's trash? If I'm not mistaken, you went straight from Winter into Summer. 20 degree weather to 90 degree weather. This is not...
Dear Mother Nature,
What has Spring done to you, that you just cast her aside like yesterday's trash? If I'm not mistaken, you went straight from Winter into Summer. 20 degree weather to 90 degree weather. This is not fair on Spring's behalf. I would have liked to of had April Showers Bring May Flowers. Not "April snow storms one day, the next day April 90 degree weather, lets speed up the plants-coming-back-life-process to *BAM* fully blown flowers and trees Bring May NOTHING because I stole all the glory."
I really enjoy watching the trees bud, then turn to little baby leaves, and then slowly (but surely) spread it's branches and be all tree-like. I feel like I was cheated. One day, the trees were barren with snow on them, the next day they were covered in leaves! The same with flowers, the ground went from barren to full blown flowers.
Whatever grudge you have against Spring, please drop it Mother Nature. Because we people inhabiting your Planet Earth enjoy such processes and mild weather. A smoother transition into Summer. Not just some season that was forced on us like a History class in school!
It would be greatly appreciated,
Lauren.
Oh and P.S. Bring back Fall as well. The changing of the colors in the trees is absolutely breath taking. A beauty that shouldn't be passed by so carelessly.
P.S.S. I hated History class with every fiber in my being. Whatever happened, happened, I don't feel the need to take a class on it for every grade. ]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/04/a_plead_for_mother_nature.htmlGrace in Small Things #4tag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1052009-04-23T15:15:55Z2009-04-23T22:24:10Z 1. The look on my face when I realized that I haven't wrote a GiST entry since February! Boy that would have been a sight to see... 2. This is not cheating, I swear it is a grace in... 1. The look on my face when I realized that I haven't wrote a GiST entry since February! Boy that would have been a sight to see...
2. This is not cheating, I swear it is a grace in small things to be creating a GiST entry after so long.
3. Yoinking my sister's Megadeth CD's and uploading them onto my iPizzod while she wanders around aimlessly looking for them. *insert evil laugh* Muahahaha.
4. Still suffering from my oh-so-nutritious lunch of cookie dough yesterday. Was well worth it.
5. Knowing that in about 1 minute, I'll be watching Twilight. ]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/04/grace_in_small_things_4.htmlImma goin' Hillbillyin'tag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1042009-04-18T18:43:03Z2009-06-14T23:44:04Z So, where was my first vacation week from work spent? Pikeville, Kentucky, where the "hype" is Wal*Mart, and I'm quite serious about that. You can sneeze and *poof* you'll be out of Pikeville, Kentucky. You have to get on...
So, where was my first vacation week from work spent?
Pikeville, Kentucky, where the "hype" is Wal*Mart, and I'm quite serious about that. You can sneeze and *poof* you'll be out of Pikeville, Kentucky. You have to get on the highway to get anywhere remotely populated and there are a mutant species of spiders that has yet to be discovered. This is where I went to last week, but lucky for me "Hillbilly Days" were going on. Well hot dog, I reckoned I had me a grand ole time!
My sole purpose for being down there was out of pure love for my sister, Tina. Or maybe purely because of the fact that she begged me until no end to accompany her. How could I blame her; not only is it Pikeville, KY, but we went down there to visit Ed's (Auron's dad) family. There's not much good to say about this family when the mother insisted on being paid to babysit Auron back when Tina and Ed lived down there. Enough said.
Anywho.
Things I accomplished down in Pikeville that I wouldn't have ordinarily accomplished here in "Picksburgh:"
1. Being called a "Hot dog!" by some man as, what I assume to be, a compliment. Followed by a grunt.
2. Asked by a Bob Evans waiter if I was going "hillbillying?"
3. Ordering a #8 on the McDonalds menu and that being biscuits & gravy.
4. Having my [insert finger-air quotes] "accent" criticized.
5. Discovering that what I presumed to be a gaping black hole lied a small hint of a maternal gene. I say this because Thursday night turned out to be quite cold and I gave up my hoodie to keep my nephew warm, while I froze. Shocker.
6. Catching myself talking with a 'twang.' The longer I was around the "Southern twang" the more I felt speech slur!
7. Reading a book. A whole book, front to back. What else is there to do but sit out on ye ole porch in a rocking chair, reading a book. Quite peaceful and refreshing being away from the city but at the same time, kind of boring.
8. Walking across a very rickety, unstable, swayed-and-squeaked-and-faltered-as-you-walked-on-it, bridge... willingly.
9. Buying beer in Wal*Mart.
10. Sitting through Knowing. Strictly because I didn't know my way back to the house. Not a bad movie, just horribly graphic and traumatizing.
11. Appeasing the inner-photographer in me because I don't quite have the best surroundings to take photos of. Kentucky was beautiful!
12. Actually taking some good photos!]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/04/imma_going_hillbillyin.htmlMemories are ninjas in disguisetag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1032009-04-13T09:46:09Z2009-06-14T23:45:55Z Holiday's should be a happy one, shouldn't they be? Not for me. Easter this year was just a reminder of what once was. This time last year, Krystin was still here to dye Easter eggs with us. Now it...
Holiday's should be a happy one, shouldn't they be? Not for me. Easter this year was just a reminder of what once was.
This time last year, Krystin was still here to dye Easter eggs with us. Now it was just me, and my mother. Dying eggs with boobs and vaginas on them, with an occasional Coach egg or poop egg. Don't get me wrong, it was such a fun time drawing vaginas onto eggs with my mother, it was still kind of sad to know that I'm the only one left to share this tradition with.
I can't help but think about my dad, either. I try to block out such memories but this was the first holiday since his death and... okay, I'm not continuing on with that sentence. Life moves on and he would have wanted it that way.
So I wish everyone had a very Happy Easter. For the most part mine was.
P.S. The proper definition of a "poop egg;" when one dips the egg in every color and it comes out to be a brownish-green poopish color.]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/04/memories_are_ninjas_in_disguis.htmlLaurenvilletag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1022009-04-06T15:09:29Z2009-04-06T20:07:44ZMy life seems to be that of a broken record. Days rarely change. I've found myself unwillingly falling into a routine. Alarm clock goes off at 5:30 AM. Snooze it every 5 minutes until it reaches 6:15 AM. Then, my...
exactly the same time... or my clever little wake-up call will be a FAIL.
Moving on, 99% of the time I head into the bathroom and simultaneously pee and brush my teeth because I was too tired to brush my teeth at night. You heard me right, it's rare when I actually do brush my teeth at night.
I head into my room, pajama bottoms taken off somewhere in the process of heading into the bathroom, or heading out. One way or another, they're off. I then sit down at my computer to check my blog, Twitter, MySpace, FaceBook, GMail, et cetera, et cetera. They all have the same outcome; no new messages, no new comments, no new emails, friend requests, so on and so forth.
I then feed my fishies, get dressed, make it down to the kitchen to scarf down a bowl of cereal and be out the door by 6:45 AM. Even though it only takes roughly 15 minutes to get to my place of work and my shift doesn't actually start until 7:15 AM, those 15 extra minutes add up at the end of the week. Yea, I'm that desperate.
At work, I have the most numbing, brain melting experience for those horrid 8 hours of my life. It's the same, everyday.
Come home, head back to my computer to re-check all my social networking's, just to find out there's no change. Bleakly look for jobs, apply for some, check up on those "some" just to expect the same answer, every time.
The rest of my night is ominous. It's either reading a book, or watching Twilight. Well there you go, I just spoiled it. Hmph.
Unless it Wednesday's and Lost is on, my butt is usually in bed by 9:00, 10:00 o'clock.
Yes, ladies and gent's, welcome to the world of Loser, errr I mean Lauren. ]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/04/laurenville.htmlYou have the right to remain silenttag:www.catchingessence.com,2009:/blog//1.1012009-03-31T19:50:21Z2009-04-01T01:02:15ZMy coffee got cold in the car this morning because I was too busy chipping the frost off my windows. Later that day, my car's temperature read 97 degrees. Hence why peeps are getting plagued. ... Has now spread my...
99.99% of germs and not 100%, take it up with them.
...
Willingly (purposely) admitted to a customer that I was not as smart as him. The poor fellow fell for it and now became the butt of my joke.
...
Drank five cans of Mountain Dew so I can safely drive to my friend's house and not fall asleep behind the wheel. Attempt failed because I almost got hit whilst cutting the other driver off while making a left hand turn.
...
Flat-ironed my friend's hair in preparation for the return of her "other half" (aka love of her life) from Iraq. Accidentally burned her forehead right after she tore a chunk (that's an understatement) of skin off her leg while showering. The poor boy is going to think I abuse her!
...
Coming home to an empty house with nothing else to do but to watch The Hill's season four finale. While watching The Hills, I became unwillingly depressed at my current situation in life.
...
Ashamed to admit that such a simple, and quite aggravating, show like The Hill's can bring about such a mood.
...
I'm still mad at Dave for his current behavior. "What's that," you ask? Well, that man is still lying to me. Big No-No! Huge No-No! Epic NoNo (coming in 2010, the new 'Epic Fail' Da Da Da DA!)
...
Contemplating the viewing of Twilight to lift my spirits.
...
I ramble. It was the only suitable way to compile such randomness into one blog entry, duh (nifty "dot dot dot's" included).
]]>
http://www.catchingessence.com/blog/2009/03/you_have_the_right_to_remain_s.html
Nothing against Kennywood, I always have an oobertastic time there; though, it still doesn't excuse my poor attitude towards summer. I'm shooing it along like some elderly lady holding up the line at the bank when I have to be back at work in 5 minutes - I admit! My Bahama trip is in August and every day is just a countdown until then. It's cruel and unfair to myself because I find myself wasting away my whole summer just for 9 days of pure bliss. Plus, it doesn't help the fact that I just recently became an owner of Sims 3. (I need not to explain that one. Behold!)
I can't even say that I sat out on the deck, enjoying such beautiful weather while reading a book. I haven't even touched a book since The Shack, which was well over a month ago. I also can't say that I went to the Ultimate 20SB Meet Up in Chicago to meet fantastic people such as Rachel and Brooke. Not even did I go swimming yet - not once. I bought the cutest little bathing suit to kick-start this summer, but sadly it still sits in my drawer with the tags still attached.
So, I promise to you, July, to go outside! To enjoy such beautiful weather that my favorite season is so kind to bestow upon me. To stop playing Sims 3 from the time I get home from work until the wee hours of the morning. To enjoy summer for what it is.
(I wish it could be like the good ole days when I was a child. It was so much easier then, to go outside just for the hell of it and play with sticks, or rocks, or something. I'll look like a crazy person if I do that now.) ]]>
So... yesterday... there was this peculiar pretty (despite it's doomed "crapping"--explanation to come), green package awaiting for me on the table. Peculiar indeed. A package for little ole me? I was having such a "take a spork to your jugular" type of day until I seen such a surprise!
Behold!
I always forget just how bad Eat'n Park's food is, until I actually eat there. Then I remember.
What keeps me coming back is one reason and one reason only-- okay maybe two, but I'm not talking about that reason-- that being the Smiley Cookie. Yes my friends, the oh-so-delightful sugar cookie smothered in yummy-goodness with an ever-so delightful icing smiley face, which makes the cookie that much more delightful. Have I said "delightful" enough? Because, really that cookie is delightful!
As a child I remember always going to Eat'n Park just to get the cookie at the end of the meal. Oddly, I would never actually eat the cookie, but I would suck off the icing smiley face. Starting first with the eyes, then the nose, and saving the best for last, the smile. Boy, did I love to eat the smiley face. I had no care for the rest of the cookie; only in time and in maturity did I come to the realization of just how delightful the Smiley Cookie really is. ]]>
Dear Mother Nature,
What has Spring done to you, that you just cast her aside like yesterday's trash? If I'm not mistaken, you went straight from Winter into Summer. 20 degree weather to 90 degree weather. This is not fair on Spring's behalf. I would have liked to of had April Showers Bring May Flowers. Not "April snow storms one day, the next day April 90 degree weather, lets speed up the plants-coming-back-life-process to *BAM* fully blown flowers and trees Bring May NOTHING because I stole all the glory."
I really enjoy watching the trees bud, then turn to little baby leaves, and then slowly (but surely) spread it's branches and be all tree-like. I feel like I was cheated. One day, the trees were barren with snow on them, the next day they were covered in leaves! The same with flowers, the ground went from barren to full blown flowers.
Whatever grudge you have against Spring, please drop it Mother Nature. Because we people inhabiting your Planet Earth enjoy such processes and mild weather. A smoother transition into Summer. Not just some season that was forced on us like a History class in school!
It would be greatly appreciated,
Lauren.
Oh and P.S. Bring back Fall as well. The changing of the colors in the trees is absolutely breath taking. A beauty that shouldn't be passed by so carelessly.
P.S.S. I hated History class with every fiber in my being. Whatever happened, happened, I don't feel the need to take a class on it for every grade. ]]>
1. The look on my face when I realized that I haven't wrote a GiST entry since February! Boy that would have been a sight to see...
2. This is not cheating, I swear it is a grace in small things to be creating a GiST entry after so long.
3. Yoinking my sister's Megadeth CD's and uploading them onto my iPizzod while she wanders around aimlessly looking for them. *insert evil laugh* Muahahaha.
4. Still suffering from my oh-so-nutritious lunch of cookie dough yesterday. Was well worth it.
5. Knowing that in about 1 minute, I'll be watching Twilight. ]]>
So, where was my first vacation week from work spent?
Pikeville, Kentucky, where the "hype" is Wal*Mart, and I'm quite serious about that. You can sneeze and *poof* you'll be out of Pikeville, Kentucky. You have to get on the highway to get anywhere remotely populated and there are a mutant species of spiders that has yet to be discovered. This is where I went to last week, but lucky for me "Hillbilly Days" were going on. Well hot dog, I reckoned I had me a grand ole time!
My sole purpose for being down there was out of pure love for my sister, Tina. Or maybe purely because of the fact that she begged me until no end to accompany her. How could I blame her; not only is it Pikeville, KY, but we went down there to visit Ed's (Auron's dad) family. There's not much good to say about this family when the mother insisted on being paid to babysit Auron back when Tina and Ed lived down there. Enough said.
Anywho.
Things I accomplished down in Pikeville that I wouldn't have ordinarily accomplished here in "Picksburgh:"
1. Being called a "Hot dog!" by some man as, what I assume to be, a compliment. Followed by a grunt.
2. Asked by a Bob Evans waiter if I was going "hillbillying?"
3. Ordering a #8 on the McDonalds menu and that being biscuits & gravy.
4. Having my [insert finger-air quotes] "accent" criticized.
5. Discovering that what I presumed to be a gaping black hole lied a small hint of a maternal gene. I say this because Thursday night turned out to be quite cold and I gave up my hoodie to keep my nephew warm, while I froze. Shocker.
6. Catching myself talking with a 'twang.' The longer I was around the "Southern twang" the more I felt speech slur!
7. Reading a book. A whole book, front to back. What else is there to do but sit out on ye ole porch in a rocking chair, reading a book. Quite peaceful and refreshing being away from the city but at the same time, kind of boring.
8. Walking across a very rickety, unstable, swayed-and-squeaked-and-faltered-as-you-walked-on-it, bridge... willingly.
9. Buying beer in Wal*Mart.
10. Sitting through Knowing. Strictly because I didn't know my way back to the house. Not a bad movie, just horribly graphic and traumatizing.
11. Appeasing the inner-photographer in me because I don't quite have the best surroundings to take photos of. Kentucky was beautiful!
12. Actually taking some good photos!]]>
Holiday's should be a happy one, shouldn't they be? Not for me. Easter this year was just a reminder of what once was.
This time last year, Krystin was still here to dye Easter eggs with us. Now it was just me, and my mother. Dying eggs with boobs and vaginas on them, with an occasional Coach egg or poop egg. Don't get me wrong, it was such a fun time drawing vaginas onto eggs with my mother, it was still kind of sad to know that I'm the only one left to share this tradition with.
I can't help but think about my dad, either. I try to block out such memories but this was the first holiday since his death and... okay, I'm not continuing on with that sentence. Life moves on and he would have wanted it that way.
So I wish everyone had a very Happy Easter. For the most part mine was.
P.S. The proper definition of a "poop egg;" when one dips the egg in every color and it comes out to be a brownish-green poopish color.]]>