Happy My High School Reunion is this Summer Friday

A few weeks back, I received an invitation to my 10 year high school reunion.  Now, I know what you are thinking.  Surely, this woman who writes with all of this advanced wisdom must at least be the ripe old age of 29.
But no, my dear Friday Friends, I am a mere 28, though I do appreciate all of those lovely compliments about my wisdom and vast maturity.

Anyway. 

The invite came as a surprise to me.  Not because I cannot do math (I can, thankyouverymuch) but because I don't know a lot of people from high school anymore and so it hadn't occurred to me that it has actually been 10 years.  I, like many others, didn't love high school and the only person I still see from that time (my Romy or my Michele, depending on the day) is my friend Maddie, who I've known since second grade.
Since getting our highly personalized Facebook invitations to the reunion, Maddie and I have had several debates about whether or not we should attend, mostly based on which peers we would like to catch up with versus those we (ok, really I) have a kind of carwreck curiousity about - perhaps hoping that they are living on a lumpy futon in their parents' basement. 

GASP!  you might say.  Who would have thought a mature, wise, 28-year-old-who-seems-like-she's-29 might take such an approach to seeing her fellow graduates?

I think what it comes down to for me is that there are so many definitions of a successful life.  I see mine as successful right now.  I feel strong and secure in my job.  I own a house in the city.  I live independently.  I learn something new every day.  I am happy and I find a lot of joy in the things I do each day.  That said, I know that for some of my fellow graduates, the definition of a successful life has more to do with their marital status and number of children.  Let me be clear, I think those things can be part of a successful life.  They just don't happen to be part of my version of it.  And when we're only 10 years out of high school, it feels like the difference still matters.  Thus the debate.

To help Maddie and I decide whether or not we should attend, we watched Romy and Michele's High School Reunion in order to be well-researched. Our class had its fair share of delicious drama, but I don't think that anyone will be meeting Alan Cumming there to do an interpretive dance to "Time After Time."  Or seeking out their own mysterious Minnie Driver or John Cusack after 10 years apart. 

Then again, perhaps Romy and Michele and Gross Pointe Blank have spoiled my idea of what a high school reunion should be.

In the end, Maddie and I still haven't decided whether to go.  Perhaps we'll decide the day of.  I can say that I feel grateful to have a Romy (or Michele) to go with or not go with and pretend to have invented Post-Its,

images from here and here.

Happy Victorious Return of ME Friday

It's been nearly a year since I've posted anything here.  Which is terrible.  I'd apologize, but I wouldn't really mean it.  I've missed writing silly posts about silly things so here I am!

A quick rundown of some of the things that have happened since July 13th, 2012:

• The Dark Knight Rises
• I moved into the city
• We all survived 12/21/12
• I got hooked on the new Doctor Who
• Got promoted
• A new season of RuPaul's Drag Race began and ended
• Portland had a Comic-Con
• My favorite blog about comics shut down (possibly)
• Iron Man 3
• My favorite blog about nothing and everything returned (possibly)

Alright.  Now you are all caught up and we are Friday friends again.

Today, May 24th, is Brother's Day!  Which seems particularly appropriate because I just learned recently that my wonderful younger brother was accepted into an MBA program!  Congrats to him.  He is much smarter than I ever gave him credit for when we were younger.

Happy Comic-Con Friday!

Happy Friday!

It’s been a dream of mine to go to the San Diego Comic-Con for years now.  This is the weekend of 2012 Comic-Con and so, in true geek nature, I’ve been stalking all of my comic blogs to absorb every possible detail about what’s happening in the San Diego Convention Center.

This year, the hype is all over the map.  Dark Knight Rises comes out a week from today.  The Walking Dead comics and show.    Neil Gaiman announced that he’ll be writing a new Sandman book. Wreck-It Ralph.  The Avengers, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man…

Yes yes, it’s all geek speak.  But I think there is one thing that almost everyone can get on board with. 

Geeks in costume rock.

Image from here.

Fourth (ish) of July Friday

This one feels hard to write.  Not because the Fourth of July is particularly sentimental or some such, but because SO MANY ideas came to me when I was on my way to work and “Hot for Teacher” by Van Halen started playing on my iPod.

Do I take the most appropriate (and frankly, super obvious) approach of talking about our history and all of the fore-fathery stuff?

Do I say something politely patriotic?

OR

Do I talk about the things that I love most about what we have available to us here in the US?

In no particular order, and certainly not limited to these items below, this is what I love about the place I live.  And I recommend you absorb every single thing on the list.

Independence Day – The movie from the great year of 1996.  Take time to savor the scene right after Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum destroy the aliens when they strut across the Salt Flats in Nevada smoking cigars.

Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen – Just try and tell me this isn’t one of the best albums ever.  Actually don’t.  You’re entitled to your wrong opinion.

Captain America – Let’s be clear.  I’m talking about the comic book hero.  The movie was great and all, but Cap looks best in print.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – one of the loveliest books I ever read in my American Lit. class. 

Mark Twain and Walt Whitman – crazypants authors who shocked people at every opportunity.  Incidentally, July 4^th is also Tom Sawyer Fence Painting Day.

Van Halen – What is more American than a band that has dramatic break ups, reunions, and really really loud drum solos?

Image from here.

Happy First Day of Summer Friday!

Wednesday was the first day of Summer!

I firmly believe that there are few better places to be in the summer than Portland.  Having spent big parts of my childhood in the Chicago suburbs where the humidity during the summers smashed you flat against the sidewalk, summer here always feels like a big, wonderful, blue sky-filled breath.

Now, admittedly, as I write this, it’s cloudy and kind of sad out, but Wednesday was 80ish degrees.

So I’m going to do some suggesting for all of us to take advantage of the UH-MAY-ZING things that happen in our lovely hometown (or adopted hometown, as the case may be).

Movies in the Park – which start next Friday

Trek in the Park – totally nerdy, but super funny and a great crowd attends

Shakespeare in the Park – this year it’s Hamlet, which is one of my least favorites of the Bard’s plays because he’s such a whiney fool, but still.

Brew Fest – 25^th anniversary this year, which is kind of cool.  And usually the weather is lovely.

Concerts in the Park – Some of these are a little more my parents’ flavor, but you know.  probably lovely.

Sand in the City – The beach.  In the city.  And for a good cause.

Also, in general, the Portland Art Museum has free admission the fourth Friday of every month and there is a Farmers Market in NW Portland on Thursday afternoon evenings-ish.

Image from here.

Happy 90's Music Friday!

Hello Friday Lovers!

Even though I was born in the 80’s, I am, without a doubt, a child of the 90’s.  My favorite color is flannel.  My favorite band will probably always be Third Eye Blind.  Secretly, I think Val Kilmer was a pretty good Batman.  And let’s be honest, the two best, most relatable movies ever are Reality Bites and 10 Things I Hate About You.

Recently, I’ve been back on a 90’s music kick. (ok, fine, I’m always on a 90’s music kick.  All the good music stopped in 2000).  And I have created the world’s greatest 90’s music playlist.  In the midst of clicking “add to on the go” a couple hundred times, I came across a few gems that I had to share with my Friday Friends.

Pick your favorites.  Watch.  Listen.  Enjoy.  And believe me when I tell you that your favorite Friday-er was the best flannel-and-torn-up-jeans wearer ever.

Peaches by the Presidents of the United States of America

No Rain by Blind Melon

Steal My Sunshine by Len

Buddy Holly by Weezer

I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan

Wear Sunscreen by Baz Luhrmann

Image  from here

Happy Titanic Friday

In April of 1997 I was 13 years old and, just like every other girl I knew, I was in love with the movie Titanic.  I can tell you with certainty, I saw it at least 6 times at our local theater.  Which means 3 things:

1) I somehow convinced someone’s parent to drive me to the theater 6 different times to see it (probably with my friend, Emma, who saw it 9 times)

2) I spent $27 on movie tickets ($4.50 X 6 = $27)

3) Clearly I knew the value of my allowance dollars.

In 2012, 3D movies cost $14 (if you’re luck)

X 6 showings (I’m not going 6 times, if I’ve learned anything in the last 15 years, it’s the value of my allowance dollars)

= $84!!!

Can you imagine?

I went to see Titanic in 3D last night after work.

And it was JUST AS EPIC AND AMAZING as I remember it being when it debuted in 1997.

Go.  Enjoy.  And know that my heart will go on.

Image from here.

Sing-a-Long Friday

Today, my Friday Friends, I’d like to do some advocating.  I am advocating for Sing-alongs.

We live in a weird city (thank goodness).

Between Cinema 21 and the Hollywood Theatre, there are just about 10 million sing-alongs throughout the year.  You know,10 million-ish.

Last year, I went to a Mary Poppins sing-along.  Last weekend, I attended a Hedwig and the Angry Inch sing-along.  For my birthday last year, I went to a Rocky Horror Picture Show “sing-along.”

I’d never claim to be a good singer.  But two things I am good at is dressing up in silly costumes and “singing” really loudly without feeling embarrassed.

This is one of the big reasons I love living in Portland.  The fact that I own a pair of sequined heels essentially for sing-along type events is mostly normal here (again, ish), and for this I am grateful.

I recommend attending a sing-along at least once in the coming months.  More tend to be scheduled as we get closer to summer, but the wait is worth it.  And if you ever need a “singing” buddy, you know where to find me.

Image from here.

UPDATE: How was my New Year's Eve?

Apparently, New Year's Eve is the busiest time of year at the happiest place on earth.  A fact that we did not know when booking our trip.  The park was at capacity every day we were there (read: 85-90 thousand people).  Those of you who know my little idiosyncrasies know that I’m not for close contact with people I don’t know, so this was a bit overwhelming.

BUT

Disney has brought back Captain EO, which was one of the major highlights of my trip.

Overall, it's one of the best things I've ever done, worth every penny, minute, and bump in the crowd. I definitely plan on going again (at any time of year other than early January). 

Be happy and safe this year!

*image from here.

Happy Virginia Friday

I read the Yes, Virginia letter every year.  More than any movie, song, or epic sweater, it makes me feel the merriest and least Scrooge-like.

I’ve always really loved the idea of Santa Claus.  In my family, he is still very real and very well-represented on Christmas Eve.  I’ll be honest, if I had my way, I would still believe in Santa.

So, even if Christmas or Santa Claus aren’t part of your life, I encourage you to read this.  It’s really about the Spirit of the season.  

Be jolly and joyful.  Enjoy whatever lovely break you may have from work and have a beautiful, healthy, happy, and safe end of the year, however you celebrate it.

image from here.

Happy Wally World Friday!

Over the last several years, my mom has started a new tradition.  Out with the old fashioned end of year mass mail letter to family detailing our every moment in a cheerful tone!  Out with pictures included in cards for odd holidays like Arbor Day!  Out with personal cards to every member of the family and everyone else loosely connected to us!

My mother, being ever so family focused and making an attempt to share the joy she finds each day with everyone she now spends days creating a photo book showing what we have been up to as a family for the past year.  Each year now, starting around mid-November, every moment or photo comes with an exclamation of, "this will be great for the book!"

The year my brother got married, the book was enormous in order to include all of the vital moments.  When I brought my dog, Stevie, home, the book was full of more pictures of a sleeping dachshund than I ever thought possible.

This year it will have some big travel moments and pretty excellent birthday celebrations, but the best part will be the cover.

I'm not much for staged family photos using a timer where everyone is wearing an ugly sweater, but that's what we've got this year.  Plus something a little extra special. 

Think Wally World, 1989, “save the neck for me, Clark!,” Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and non-nutritive cereal varnishes.

Happy family holiday card season my Friday Friends!

*image from here

OH. MY. GOODNESS.  Hello 11/11/11! 

I’ll reveal a little-known secret about your Favorite Friday Blogger.  I am REALLY REALLY GOOD at The Google.  This is why my Friday posts are so amazing.

Normally, I find exactly what I’m looking for on my first search attempt.

However, the planning I did for this Friday’s topic was the most insane exception I’ve ever experienced.

A few samples of the glorious sites I discovered with the simple Google search “11/11/11” in ascending order of awesomeness.

Yes, it’s a real movie.  If anyone sees it, please report back.

Metaphysics

Trust us, it’s special

We are being guarded

APOCALYPSE

After you check all of these out, the snark in me wants to point out the location of the news sites on this list (#’s 3 and 5...specifically Fox News.  Hint: it's #5)

*image from here

Happy Rex Manning Day Friday!

I am a lover of all things 90’s.  When plaid started coming back into style, I nearly passed out from excitement.  When Everclear (read: 1 of the original members) came to play in a small hole-in-the-wall bar in central Illinois during my senior year of college, I quite literally screamed after buying tickets.  When I feel like I really need to get into spreadsheet-level focus mode, I usually put on some loud grunge music.

When my friends and I discovered the glory that is Empire Records (on VHS), rented it, and watched it in the basement, we fell in love.

So we made an official tradition.  Rex Manning Day.  Every year on October 20^th (the date the movie was released), I still watch Empire Records, watch this, and remind myself not to dwell, not on Rex Manning Day!

*images from here and here