Doc Martens

I lost my Doc Marten virginity.  Actually, that's a lie.  My first time was really back in high school (isn't that always the story - some lost confused incident back in high school that doesn't really count?!  I kid).  But those were sandals, and bought by Mom & Dad.

I bought these bad boys myself.   They are the traditional style docs, but they are 'pewter' (that fancy word for silvery).  Strangers compliment them.  I 'pinned' them (more on that later), and they already got repinned by a stranger who said she loves them (not sure what that fully means in the grand spectrum).

Anyhow.  I just wanted to post them.  I really like them and am really excited about them.  

What's The Deal With Alumni Junction?

So I periodically get emails from 'Alumni Junction' that my high school classmates have posted messages for me on their site.  It is specific classmates by name that I remember, but either a) it's someone I've never spoke to, so I highly doubt he or she is contacting me or b) it's someone who could contact me on facebook, so why is he or she writing me on a random site instead?

Anyhow.  I keep getting these emails.  I went to their site.  I know these 'messages from my classmates' must by lies.  I attempted to login - I clicked 'forgot password'.  It emailed me my 'password'.  Let's just say I'm, for better or worse, too much of a creature of habit - this is not a password I'd choose.  I found it odd that it sent me a password, instead of telling me to create a login/account.  As I started to think about it, I had no recollection of ever being at the site and creating an account (not that it is something so noteworthy that it'd stick out in my mind, but still).

I know there is some kind of sham here.  I am not sure what, exactly, and I do not want this blog to be sued for libel.  So, I do not have any hard evidence, nor am I making a direct accusation, but something seems off.  Does anyone know anything about alumni junction?  I did a brief google and I found someone discussing, on his own blog, in relation to his upcoming high school reunion, that he directly spoke to someone who 'posted a message to him on alumni junction' and she directly told him that she had not.   Your thoughts?  Anyone have more information?  Any alumni junction users out there? 

10 Year High School Reunion Recap

So, as most of my readers know, I recently had my high school reunion.  It started off with a slightly embarrassing moment.

So, long story short - there were several events planned, then canceled, then rescheduled, then some people chose to make alternative events happening at different locales at the same time (all whilst I started to ask myself 'wait, what am I about to subject myself to?').  Long story short, I spoke with a real-life friend (not just one of the facebook variety).  We both agreed that we would show up at one of the multiple bar names thrown out, and, worst case scenario, we would sit together and catch up just the two of us, and if that happened, that would be fun in and of itself.

Anyhow.  We both show up at the bar around the same time.  By 'we both showed up at the same time', I arrived, sat in my car in the parking lot and texted/facebooked until said friend showed up.  I don't know why or where this came from, but I felt too self-conscious to walk in alone, even though nowadays I have no problem showing up at an event alone provided I will know at least one person there at some point (I figure if someone thinks I'm the weird girl who showed up alone, well, fuck them).  I don't know where this burst of self-consciousness came from, and I really hate to think that it had something to do with stupid high school insecurities, but anywho, a mere 10 minutes later, my friend is banging on my car window in a dark parking lot (serial killer style) and we're headed in.

We walk up to the hostess.  Since this is our 'unofficial reunion' not at the original meeting spot, we're not sure if there's some formal reservation or any such thing.

Us, to a hostess who looks like a high school student herself:  Uh, we're kinda sorta here for, uhh, maybe, our high school reunion, we're not sure if there's a reservation....
Hostess:  Are you guys here for the Hersey Reunion?
Us:  YES!
Hostess:  Ok, we're still clearing the room out from a previous party, it will be ready shortly!
Us:  Great, will go sit by the bar and talk in the meantime!

So said friend and I are chilling for around half an hour, having a nice catch up chat.  After a short bit, we see said hostess head over to us with a big smile on her face.  "The Hersey Reunion is getting started upstairs - some people are up there already."

Great.  Thanks!  We pay our bill and head on up, excited and curious who might be there.  We reach the top of the stairs.  I immediately search a small crowd for a somewhat familiar face.  I see a large banner:

John Hersey High School Class of  1981 Reunion.

My friend and I are part of the class of 2001.  We were not even BORN in 1981.  Everyone we see in the room, well, looks like a member of the class of 1981.  This hostess thought we belonged in the group?!  This only brought on a bigger series of self-conscious questions than one could expect from a high school reunion.

Have we reached the point of just 'looking old' to anyone in the 18 and younger crowd?  Do my friend and I need botox?  Had this girl just assumed my friend and I had been the ones to stumble upon wealth and, subsequently, had had a lot of botox?

Anyhow.  We then went back down to the main area, feeling painfully dejected, and shortly thereafter stumbled upon a handful of fellow classmates from the class of 2001 and had a very nice brief catch up conversation.  The only thing we were really truly missing were more people.  And maybe some botox.  We are thinking a possible 11 year reunion, since, for some reason, this one just didn't pan out (it wasn't poor planning).   If not, well, apparently, there's always the 30 year....

How We Met....

So, as a lot of my loyal readers know, my high school reunion came and went this past weekend.  I stopped by.

A cliffnotes version:

I saw a guy I was acquainted with - we had several mutual friends, but never really knew each other too well.  Let's call him Tom, well, cause that's his name.  We started the usual casual banter.

J:  What are you up to these days?
T:  I work in x field, at x company.  I live in Chicago with my fiance.
J:  When is your wedding?
T:  Next weekend.
J:  How long have you and your fiance been together?
T:  A little over two years.
J:  How did you two meet?
T:  On the metra.  She and I were sitting across from each other.  I randomly struck up a conversation with her.  It was the one day I was randomly taking the metra.

Ok, let's assume he's 100% telling the truth and this isn't a cute cover story for eharmony.  I was just, in my mind, wondering if people met like this any more.  I felt like 5-10 years ago, maybe, people pushed themselves to meet speak to strangers this way because it was one of the only ways to meet new people.  However, with the existence of the internet, I wonder if people no longer stepped out of comfort zone in such a way.  I suppose I must say, thank you, Tom, for answering this question.

Does anyone out there sometimes strike up a conversation with an attractive stranger?  Does anyone else have a 'how we met' story like this that has taken place in the past three years?

Nail Art

So, according to Glamour magazine (where I get a lot of my important information), fancy nail art is in.

Here is the article with some various tips.

I have news.  This is not NEW news.  This is like, when, say, 8 years ago, there were articles about flare leg jeans being in style.  Maybe it was a current, accurate statement, but there was nothing 'first' about it.  Back in high school (which was, ahem, a few years ago), I did nail art ALL the time.  I painted ladybugs, rainbows, hearts, flowers, and butterflies on my nails quite regularly.  (Editor's note:  please keep any commentary on what you, dear readers, think I might have been like back in high school to yourself.)

I used paintbrushes that I cut down to a very thin size (so there were only a couple bristles of hair left) for the fine line necessary for the detailing.   People would compliment my nails all the time - even strangers.   Does anyone who knew me back then have pics of this?  And by anyone, I mostly mean mom.  And by pics of this, I mean my nails, not people complimenting me - although that's something I'd like documented as much as anything.

Anyhow.   Although the nail art is fun, it is time consuming and the end result doesn't last for long.  Does anyone know anyone who actually DOES the fancy nail polish designs on her own nails?  Most of my friends don't even do their own nails - they get manicures.  If anyone knows of anyone sporting nail art - please submit a pic to this blog.  Otherwise, I will walk around thinking I am the only one, or, at least, was the only one back, ahem, a couple years ago.  

It's Coming....

(cue for Jaws music)

No, not shark week.

The 10 year high school reunion.

Dun dun dun.

Volkswagen Bug.

So the other day, I was on the expressway out to Aurora for the spectacular Coach outlet store.  On the way there, I encountered a Volkswagen Bug.

Do people still drive these cars?  I mean, apparently, the answer is yes.  I remember them being the super hot back when I was high school - and I'm not going to go into how long ago that was, but it was a while ago.  Anyhow.  They were trendy moreso than functional.  However, at this point in time, haven't they gone out of style?  I realize that some of them might still work - I'm not really sure.  However, I just can't wrap my head around someone owning a bug out of functionality.  I seem to remember (and I could be totally wrong) that they weren't particularly safe or cheap.  They were a fashion statement.  I've made quite a few of them myself - no judgment, bug owners.  However, I just can't wrap my head around why anyone might own a bug in the year 2011.  I can hear Ross Gellar screaming 'You've got a blacklight!  It's 1999!'

Your thoughts?  Any Volkswagen Bug enthusiasts out there?  Are these really cool out in the suburbs (like, say, Applebees)?  Can anyone think of a good reason to own a VW Bug in 2011?!

Abercrombie & Fitch

Whatever happened to Abercrombie & Fitch?  I know the store is still out there because I see it at all the major malls.  Is it still popular?  Is it still expensive?  Is it still making sales despite the economy?  I feel like I don't see their clothes walking around on people much - maybe it's that they changed their style.  Maybe it's that I'm no longer in high school.  I don't know.  Maybe the company was started by some wealthy individual and isn't necessarily intended for profit - someone just enjoys keeping it running, even if it ends up in the red.  Does anyone know?

It's Coming....

I just got an email about the John Hersey High School Class of 2001 Reunion.

Sigh.

Earlier, I wrote a post about not needing a high school reunion these days, what with facebook and all.  Which is true.  People who would have dropped off the face of the earth in my world I now know are married, with baby, living in suburbia, working at company xyz.  So, I must say - people whom I was friendly with whom I wouldn't mind exchanging a couple nice words with - well, I can pretty much just comment on their statuses and be done with it.

Anyhow.  A close friend, whom I am trying to drag with to this blessed event, lamented that this is just going to be one big 'one up' fest.  Everyone will be trying to prove how wonderfully successful he or she has become.  It'll be a big 'who gained weight' 'who lost weight' 'who looks better' 'who makes a lot of money' 'who is now with someone better looking than his/her high school sweetheart' fest.   What is the purpose of a high school reunion?   Is it just to rub everyone's face in the whole 'you should have been nicer to me in high school' idea?  Is it just to see if someone you hate got fat or miserable?  Is a high school reunion ever anything BUT this?  Should I attend?   Your thoughts?

Jaime's Dream Diary

So, as a break from the Lee Dewyze mayhem - back to my personal dream diary.

I was back in high school, AGAIN.  It was the day of prom and I was freaking out because I didn't have a dress.  I was at the store and I couldn't find a dress I liked.  This is like me not finding a nail polish or wine I like.  Anyhow, I was scrambling in the middle of the mall, desperately looking for a dress, I was also realizing that I hadn't planned out who my date and I would be taking pictures with and sitting with.  An interesting sidenote is, in this dream, I was going to prom with a specific guy from my high school (not the guy I actually went with way back in the day) - I won't mention him by name because that could be creepy with the world of google-stalking and all, but anyhow - it was a guy I very vaguely knew and I don't think I spoke to once - so I found it odd that he was specifically my date.  Odd.

Anyhow.  So then I woke up from said dream because I was so frantic/panicked - however, then I fell back asleep and went back into the same dream.   Does that ever happen?  Only, the strangest thing is, instead of prom dresses, all the girls, myself included, were wearing wedding dresses.  Anyhow, I'd found my date and we were in his car, together (he picked me up straight from the mall) in transit to prom.  That's when I woke up.

What does it all mean?

Oh Sarah.

You're breaking my heart. Which newspaper do you read? All of 'em! Back in high school, my ability to BS questions was much better than this. Stop disappointing me Sarah.

It Happened Again....

I was back in high school...AGAIN...I was a senior and I had to choreograph a dance for my high school orchesis (dance team) show. I was going through my ipod looking for the right song. Gosh, I feel so old, back when I was in high school, ipods hadn't even been invented!!!!! Eek! I guess this tradition of dreams of being back in high school is going to continue into the new year....

Another Guilty Pleasure....

TheKnot.com

The Wedding Website.

I know what you're gonna say - typical girl obsessed with weddings, etc. I like weddings a normal amount; it's more the wedding website that excites me. I love looking up people from high school and college when I hear they got engaged; I love seeing if they're still friends with people from way back when and if they made the wedding party. I love the cheesy, sometimes gag inducing proposal stories. I HATE it when I know an engaged couple who has purposely not created a knot page - what's the purpose of even being engaged then!?!

Anyhow. I'll stop. Anyone else love this site?

Dork is the New Black?

So my friend Jenn raised an interesting point on my post about people claiming they were dorks growing up:

"I tend to make this claim every now and then. I was a dork in H.S. But the fact that I was a dork then, doesn't mean I have transformed into something else now. I'm content (and maybe sometimes proud) that I was, am, and forever will be a dork. I guess the shock factor in my case is that I was even MORE of a dork in H.S. It's hard to believe. Could I beeee any more dorkier?! (I dropped that 'Friends' reference for you. ;) ) "

Thank you for the comment, Friends reference and new blog topic all at once, Jenn.

Now, in my previous post, I was moreso referring to people who say things such as "OMG, I was the biggest dork in high school. Can you EVER believe it?!" in the sense of 'I'm so good-looking, likeable and have so many friends, how could any group of people have ever misjudged me in such a way?!?!'

However, the more I think about it, there are a LOT of people who claim dorkhood (if you will), but not in a "BUT LOOK AT ME NOW!" kind of sense. In fact, I can think of a lot of good friends who make such claims in a completely matter-of-fact sense. The more I think about it, the 'I am/was a dork' claim is really rather pervasive all of a sudden.

Why is that? Are there more dorks out there than we anticipated? What percentage of the population is/was once a dork? It would seem as though it's like 75% of the population. Is 'dork' developing a positive connotation? I personally kind of think people started publicly proclaiming their 'dorkhood' because a) it was different and b) relays some level of being comfortable with oneself ('I might not go with the flow and people might judge me for it, but that's OK'), but I think now it's reached a point of being the trendy thing to do. Is being a dork the new hot thing right now?

That, and what does it really mean to be a dork? Is it having an interest in academics? Is it having an interest in some odd niche subjects? Is it abstaining from bad behavior? Is it being shy/quiet? Is it not being popular?

Please people. Elaborate on this.

Weird Dream, Part 893

Ok, so I had a dream last night that I was shopping for art (perhaps for my new apartment). This isn't odd in the least of ways because I was just thinking about the fact that I really have no artwork whatsoever and I'm going to need to put SOMETHING on my wall. So I have been thinking about buying a piece or two. Anyhow.

In the dream, right before I woke up, I was holding a piece that was bright pink and purple and glitterly - highly, highly gaudy. Actually, I personally thought it was pretty, but not appropriate for an adult apartment. It kind of reminded me of something I would like back in high school.

Now, again, the only thing about this dream that really stuck with me was the fact that I remember it very clearly. I decided to do some research on dreams about art. Here's what I found (per google).

Art Gallery

To dream that you are in an art gallery (well, it was a place with multiple pieces of art, so close enough), represents your past experiences. Something in your past is having an impact in your current situation. Alternatively, the dream may be telling you that you need to capture some moment and preserve it.

HMM.

How Facebook Has Changed Things....

Ok, so the other day, a good friend of mine mentioned her upcoming 5 year college reunion, which got me thinking....

(Editor's Sidenote: I do not know if my college has a 'five year reunion', but even if so, I won't be going, unless a group of my college friends plans on attending all together. I cannot imagine my graduating class of, say, 7,000 all running around bumping into each other saying 'oh, hey, how's it been?' or, more likely 'do I know you? have we ever met?' Anyhow.)

I will, in the semi-near future, have a high school reunion coming up. (I do, at this point, fully acknowledge it hasn't been 10 years since I graduated. Just sayin'.)

However, at this point in time - with facebook, I pretty much know what everyone from high school (and basically, the past, in general) is up to because of facebook!! Granted, all the people I was actually close to, I am still in touch with and could see if I wanted to, so I don't need a 'reunion' to get reacquainted with these individuals. My main motivation for going to a reunion would be to find out what all the other people I'd lost touch with are doing these days. However, based on facebook, I know this already! So, I ask this - what, really, is the point of the high school reunion any more?

Yet Another Pet Peeve...

Ok, this has got to be one of my biggest ones....

When people say 'I was the BIGGEST DORK back in high school'. Why do I hate this? Well, apparently, some hollywood bigshot superstar(s) years ago thought this was a clever/kitchy thing to say for some reason, and now pretty much EVERY FAMOUS PERSON has claimed this. The uniqueness/shock factor has worn off - I am actually ready for a famous person to claim she was the prom queen and be shocked at this point.

Anyhow.

I guess what irritates me the most, per se, is that when a person says something to the extent of 'you might be surprised to learn I was a huge dork growing up', the implication is "I think I'm REALLY hot shit now!" I've heard this not only from hollywood bigshots but also from everyday people I see and meet. In fact, for quite a few of them - and I don't mean this in a bad way in the least of ways - but I'm really NOT surprised. In fact, there's a couple people I've heard claim this where, to be honest, I couldn't really picture it any other way - yet they still made the statement blatantly looking for some 'shock value'.

In fact, I think I've officially decided that the next time someone says 'I was a huge dork growing up, doesn't that surprise you?', I think my response is gonna be 'No, I can so totally see it".

I Took the Plunge....

...and privatized my facebook. I know, crazy! It's not for any reason in particular, per se. Well, actually, it is. I am curious to see how many people out there are THAT CURIOUS what's going on in my life. Like, before, anyone could see my profile and check up on me. Now, only my current friends can. So, it's a good test to see which of my former coworkers, college classmates and high school classmates will take the plunge and put in a friend request because they care enough to see what I'm up to. I will, of course, accept said request - I have nothing to hide and I have no reason not to let anyone know what I'm up to (hey, I was public for how long now) - I just like to know who is interested enough in me. Anyhow. It should be a good test. Since the privatization, I am yet to receive a friend request - but you know what - I'm gonna be optimistic about this.

Forget My Past, Part 2....

My friend Matt brings up the tennis ball shirt. There's a good story here.

I had a shirt the color of a tennis ball. A brand new tennis ball. It was a long-sleeved fleece from the Gap. It went well with the rest of my wardrobe (gold leather pants, silver sparkle shirts, etc.).

So I wore said shirt to high school. I was at orchesis (dance team) rehearsal with a bunch of the other dancer girls, wearing this shirt. Matt walks by. I yell 'hi Matt'.

Matt continues walking, even though I know based on the distance between us/noise level in the hallway that he HAD to hear me. Then, five seconds later, he stops, freezes, and looks at me. He then delivers the following line:

"Oh, Jaime. Hi! I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over your shirt."

This got a good laugh at the time from the group of 20 or so dancer girls. Someone even proclaimed "That was good!"

So, from there on out, Matt took it upon himself to tell this story approximately once every couple months for years to come. I'm telling it now, but if I wasn't, it was only a matter of days before he did in the comment section (or on his own blog). It was quite possibly one of his best lines back at good old Hersey.

Sigh. Memories. There'll be more to come.

If You Want My Future, Forget My Past

So, we all have some embarrassing historical data...for example, a good friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, used to use a paschee machine daily (if you don't know what this is, it's probably for the better).

Well, as you probably already know, I had to take an unpaid week off work a couple weeks ago, and during that time period, I had a lot of time to go through stuff from under my bed, inside my junk drawer, and the back of my closet, if you will. I came across some old incriminating photos.

Well, you see, back in the good old days of high school, I used to slather on the makeup. My favorite kind of makeup was 'glitter'. Not the Mariah Carey hit movie - something even a little worse. I was almost known for it. In fact, I seem to remember, junior year of high school, after a school dance, my date commented that the next day, his dad asked about where all the glitter in the passenger seat of the car came from (the correct answer was: my dress, my shoes, my handbag, but mostly, my face, or the backup makeup in said handbag).

Yes, I slathered the glitter on. And the eyeshadow. I could really put other 17 year old girls to shame. I think I thought people couldn't see the makeup unless I put it on really heavy duty. The girls who work at MAC had nothing on me. I did, at a couple points, have friends point this out to me (that's what friends are for?), but there was no convincing me otherwise. I thought I looked good and I was going with it. I've refrained from posting one of these pictures for obvious reasons.

Anyhow. Nowadays, I've ditched the glitter (I have much more sophisticated taste, or so I like to think). I also wear less makeup (again, or so I like to think).

My readers - any dirty secrets in the closet? Please do share so I'm not alone.