People Who Come to the Beach with Metal Detectors

Ok.  So this a real 'thing', if you will.  I thought  this was kind of a made up myth for the occasional sitcom bit, or something that was once popular but got phased out, perhaps in the 80s (see also: stretch pants).  However, I have been going to the beach rather regularly.   I can vouch this is not only real, but it is also somewhat common.  Almost every time I've been to the beach, there has been AT LEAST one.  I don't know if maybe it's always the same one.  They always have a similar look - an older man, usually wearing shorts, black socks, and black shoes (at the beach, mind you). 

What are these people hoping to find?!  Seriously.  I know people lose things at the beach.  But does anyone find anything of value?!  A set of car keys?  (moderately useless without the car.)  A woman's earring? (most likely costume jewelry.)   Has anyone ever really found something of value/something worth the time/effort/looking like an idiot?!  Please enlighten me.  I am quite curious.  Should I invest in a metal detector and be out there with them?

For No Reason in Particular....

I'm looking forward to the release of this book.  Not sure why.

Random Earrings I Made

These are very basic.  Some are gifts.  We will see.  This is just the start.

Hi Old Friend, Part 2

As many of you know, I recently ran into my good friend, Heimlich, the caterpillar from 'A Bug's Life'.  I ran into him again today - only, a much more matured version of him.  He's grown up so much; I am so proud.

In search of a tattoo artist to color him in and put him on the small of my back.

Shout Out to a Classic Pair of Shoes

 

The Steve Madden Slides (or whatever the formal name for them is).

I've owned them.  So have many.  In fact, I've had several pair over the past couple years.  

They fall into some unique island/bubble/category of shoes.  They are comfortable.  Casual.  Yet dressy ENOUGH that they can be worn to work, or around town, but they offer the flexibility of the flip-flop.  They are the mullet of shoes.  Business on top, party in the sole.  Or something like that.   And much like the mullet, they have enough loyalists that they'll never go away for good.  

Who else has owned these?  Who else loves these?  Bueller?

New Hobbies

So, I, unlike some of my peers, am not:

a)  tending to a baby/chasing a toddler around
b)  planning a wedding
c)  working 14 hour days or
d)  a full-time student

It's not to say that I have some 'time on my hands', but in a way, I kind of do.  Some people might think I am at a point where I should be 'living it up', and I am, for the most part.  However, something is often forgotten - most of my friends might fall into one of the above categories.  A lot of teachers I know make the same comment - everyone envies their 'summers off', but none of their other friends have the same luxury so it sometimes leaves them bored.

Anyhow.

To combat this temporary 'boredom', I'm acquiring some new hobbies/interests/goals/etc.:

(in addition to my current dance class/blogging/facebooking/what have you):

--reading (read 16 books this year - halfway there!)
--doing push-ups
--jewelry making
--painting my coffeetable
--cooking/baking
--random arts & crafts
--buying a piece of art
--learning various google products better (step 1 - blogger)
--becoming certified in said products
--getting a butterfly tattoo on the small of my back
--running 3-5 miles at a time without stopping approximately once every couple weeks
--additional blog - www.friendsoftheprintedword.blogspot.com

I am quite open to further suggestions.  Your thoughts?  Any one else take on some new hobbies?  Looks like it's gonna be busy summer.

For Historians Out There....

Cosmo just informed me it's been eleven (!!!) years since Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" was released.

Not sure about you, but I'm sure feeling my age right now.

Just Read....

 

 Long story short - I read this book recently.  I found the whole story very intriguing - I saw this woman once on 20/20, which is what made me pick it up at the booksale in the first place.

Basically, in short, this woman remember every single day of her adult (and teenage) life.  She can recall everything from every given day.  Aside from the oddness of this - what I find most odd is that she can identify the day of the week and the specific date of every event.  As if it's not enough that she, specifically, remembers ever day - I can think of many days of my life in which I remember what happened, but never even thought about what date it was and was sometimes confused at times about what day of the week it was.  

Anyhow - scientifically - brain scans prove this woman is, scientifically, different.   I can remember random details from random events - like what everyone ordered at dinner from a random girls' night out (maybe this is my four years of waitressing coming into play).  I once corrected a close friend about the date in which she lost her virginity (and she conceded I was correct).  However, I cannot touch this woman.

There were a lot of random tidbits throughout this story that sparked my interest - the fact that this woman was never heavy but her mother constantly tormented her about her weight, the fact that she met her husband in an internet chat room (before meeting someone online was trendy), the fact that she's a young widow who has her dead husband's, uh, genes preserved so she can one day have his baby....  Sigh.

I am most curious, however, if there is anyone else out there like her.  She is the only documented case of this circumstance - I wonder if there are others.  Hmm.  

 

Something French

Bead Girl Bootcamp!

So, as my loyal readers know, for my birthday this past year, Emily got me the Caravan Beads Bead Girl Bootcamp jewelry making class groupon.

Long story short - this was an AWESOME class.  It  actually ended up being just me and one other person.  After the class was over - I was feeling inspired  so I free-formed some earrings (which are part of my cousin's birthday gift - don't read this part, Kellie).   Humorously, my classmate bought something around $125 worth of  stuff.   I'm convinced this is how they get people - after  the class, everyone buys something.

Anyhow, with no further ado, here are three of the things I made in class.

Hmm...

So there's a website:

I Write Like....

Basically, you can Check which famous writer you write like with this statistical analysis tool, which analyzes your word choice and writing style and compares them with those of the famous writers.

My result:

I write like
Dan Brown

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Your thoughts?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I see this book EVERYWHERE.  To the point that it is driving me nuts.  The train.  The beach.  Almost as bad as seeing a KINDLE everywhere.  And in fact, it is probably on some of the kindles I see.  

I've already had one friend and fellow reader tell me I should read this trilogy.  Your thoughts?  Should I do so?

People Who Over-Share on Facebook....

...we (members of the facebook community) all know them.  We all have one.  At least.  Someone who overshares - specifically - about the problems in his or her life.

 I'd take a moment to complain about these people, but who am I kidding - I LOVE them!  #1) They give me something interesting to read and #2) They always make me feel better about my own life.  In fact, I wish more of my friends were like them.

Is this incredibly sad?  Please don't answer that.  I am guessing, though, that I am not alone in feeling this way.  It might be cool to hate on these people, however, I'd venture a guess that very few actually do....

Sex and the City Quote of the Day

“Think about it. If you are single, after graduation there isn’t one occasion where people celebrate you … Hallmark doesn’t make a “congratulations, you didn’t marry the wrong guy” card. And where’s the flatware for going on vacation alone?" -Carrie Bradshaw

 Amen.

Art

So, there is a large blank spot above my television.  Now that I'm such a dignified adult, living on my own, I need some art in my life.

Now, I found some art I like whilst window shopping in Lakeview (www.franklieart.com).  How could I not like a wine bottle with a purple frame and leopard print curtain?  I am still thinking of it, however, it is toward the top of my price range.

Now, quick question - where does one buy art in Chicago?  Where does one buy reasonably priced, not too modern of art?  I am curious.  What have you other young Chicagoans done for art?   Please advise. 

An Additional Blog?

So, as most of my readers know, I work for a newspaper.  I constantly hear people (usually people ten+ years older than me, but not always) making comments about how they like physical newspapers - they like holding a newspaper, etc.

Additionally, I spoke (well, wrote) in a previous post about how I am just not sure about the Amazon Kindle (and various identical products, etc.).  I like the physical book. I am not sure, exactly, why, but I do.  Maybe it's simply for the sake of being set in my ways, but I do know that, for sure, I am not alone in feeling this way.

So, I like the physical printed word.  I know I am not alone.  Maybe I am clinging to something that some say will eventually be gone, but I don't want to think this way.  I don't want the actual book or paper to ever fully leave us.

In honor of  my love and respect, I created an additional blog.  I am not sure what to put in it, but I did snatch up the domain - www.friendsoftheprintedword.blogspot.com.    I am open to suggestions/thoughts.

Let me save you some time - yes, I do realize the extreme irony of me staring a BLOG on this subject.

Snoopy 4th!

Happy 4th of July all!!

Coffeetables....

So I own the above plain Ikea coffee table.  I believe it cost $20.  I have the matching side table for $12.

Dear reader, I think you can understand why I chose said pieces of furniture.

However, they 'do' for now.

Recently, the 'Martha Stewart' in me thought I might 'do' something to them.  Such a paint or tile them.  Anyone out there know anything about bricolaging (or decoupaging?) a table?  Your thoughts?  Recommendations?  Suggestions?  New hobby ideas for me? 

Something Funny I Noticed....

...the negative critiques of the book 'Undateable'.

Ok, LOL.

Now, granted, my personal take on it was that it was a fun read.  I don't think it was meant to be taken super-seriously, however, it was an honest review of things men do that turn off women.  Most of these things were completely within men's control - things they say or wear, etc.  The advice wasn't something to the extent of 'get plastic surgery', so I kind of think some of the more sensitive men out there should chill out.

However, quite a few of the men raised the point that what if men made a list of 311 things women do that guarantee men won't be proposing  (or asking for a second date, or some variation).

I am curious, partially for amusement sake, partially for educational purposes (on what goes on inside a man's head) what might be on this list.  I imagine there are some reasonable frustrations (took a call during the date, didn't offer to pay for herself) and various others (wore shoes or carried a purse that cost half a month's rent).

Let me just say - I do the latter.  I like my shoes and purses.  I do not plan on changing that.  I do not expect the man in my life to fund said habit, so I don't see the problem.  If a man has that big of a problem with it, he needs to either a) get over it or b) move on to another chica who is more willing to let the man in her life dictate her every move - I am not giving up my shoe/purse choice for someone else.  However, I do realize that men might be thinking the same thing about their jorts/orthopedic style shoes.  Hmm.