Check out those ankles!

I have a penchant for historical novels, including my guilty pleasure the romance novel.

But please don't lecture me on it, I fully understand the crap that fills those stories. That's why I get them at the library and try to avoid buying them.

As I lay in bed last night, reading the latest library rental, I had a thought.

What the heck happened to fashion?!

In some ways there has been a role reversal. Men wore tighter fitting trousers, versus their much baggier counterparts today. Women went from concealing to exposing pretty much as much as possible, either skin or shape.

Women, I think we lost out. Think about it.

A couple centuries ago we could turn a man on by showing our ankles. And they could never really tell the size of our thighs because of our skirts.

Now girls/women are wearing tighter, skimpier clothing to get attention.

Oh, sure. I value being able to ride astride a horse and take part in athletic activities beyond the occasional stroll through a park. I am also not sad that I don't have to deal with hoop skirts, corsets, or intricate updos.

But I am pretty sure no man has looked at my ankles and thought, "I'm not sure I can keep my hands off her."

Maybe I'm wrong.

I'll all about helping

A while back, when I was in the throes of unemployment and not nearing the end as I am now, I wrote a post for the president about how much I was helping the economy and the environment by staying home everyday and not working.

I would like to point out a few other ways I am helping our country and our economy get back on track:

1. I don't shower all that often. Gross, maybe. Green, definitely. Plus I have to buy things like shampoo and conditioner a lot less often. How dirty do you really get when you exist in a 2,000 sq. ft. area?!

2. Obvious lack of driving. Besides my trip last week to other side of the street that I haven't really talked about, I rarely drive more than a mile or two every couple days. Combine that with the fact that my car is a hybrid and I can't do a much better job.

3. While I now have employment and, cross your fingers, should be starting in the next couple weeks, I am not stealing jobs out from anyone. My job is there because law requires it and no one was fired to make room for me. I am also thereby removed for the increasingly competitive job market. Your welcome.

4. Because I am living at home with the parents I haven't had to rely on government aid, such as unemployment or welfare. Thereby, saving you, the taxpayer, money.

While there are some cons to my whole situation (i.e. I don't have money to spend to bolster the economy.), overall I feel that I am definitely doing my part to help the country in this dark time.

All I have to say is, "you're welcome, America!"

Stump

There is nothing quite like a dog show in HD.

Seriously.

I don't know if anyone else out there likes dogs or not, but I am definitely a HUGE fan. Love them.

And it's been dog show season lately. Rounding out the season was the Westminster Dog Show which. finished up tonight.

This is the grand daddy of dog shows. Nationally televised. Madison Square Garden. Glitter, sequins, rhinestones - and that's just the handlers' outfits.

The champion, best-in-show Stump. The Sussex spaniel is ten years old. He came out of retirement for this. He almost died in 2004. And he is freaking adorable.

His victory is like Michael Jordan being MVP at 70. Or an elderly supermodel. Take that Tyra and all fifteen billion seasons of ANTM!

How could the judge say no to that face?! (p.s. Thanks for the pic, Reuters!)

So close I can smell it

I took my final test for my training today. I'll still have a couple short lessons to complete, assuming I pass, to prepare for entering the real world of transcribing.

But I still feel like I can breath a huge sigh of relief. (Your welcome for the convulted, poorly structured sentence, it's because I love you.)

Three things happening after the test that lead me to believe I most likely passed and can start earning money:
1. I didn't get a parking ticket for not having a campus parking pass.
2. It began to snow with the sun still shining as I drove home.
3. I passed a man on a unicycle on the way home.

If those aren't signs that my stars are aligned, or however astrology works, then I don't know what are.

But I am not celebrating early. That could counteract all of those positive signs.

Instead I will wait on pins and needles. Or put on sweats, find some junk food to consume, and watch some TV.

Take your pick.

Just call me the Dabbler

I am what you might call a dabbler.

I get interested in hobbies, projects, etc. Then I struggle to maintain interest and energy toward that thing, or get distracted by something else.

For example: knitting.

Let me start off by saying that I have only ever knitted scarves. They are simple, straightforward, and easy. I probably have three or four started right now, with I don't know how many others in mind.

I can go to yarn stores and gaze and wander for hours. I'll buy yarn which then goes home to sit in my knitting basket, which no longer can contain all my unopened, unused yarn.

Another example: playing guitar.

I got my guitar when I was 17? I think. I don't really remember which birthday it was for, clearly.

So I've had it five or six years. I can count the number of chords I can play on my hands. I don't really know how to pick. I haven't changed the strings in about four years. And it spends most of its time in the case.

Impressive, I know.

So when I get interested in something now, I am little more hesistant to invest money in it.

Currently I would love to get into photography. Nice camera. Lenses. Photoshop. The whole shebang.

While there is no way in heck I can afford to begin this new adventure now - I haven't a had in job in months - I also wonder if it would really be a smart use of my money when I do start working.

I also, from time to time, have contemplated expanding my blogging. Maybe a sports blog. Maybe something to do with cooking/crafts/who knows what. Maybe something else.

Then I think of the time it would to really maintain multiple blogs with decent quality posting. And I think of the struggles I sometimes have on this blog just to post consistently.

Makes me think expanding might not be the best idea.

I am, however, pretty sure that I'll be purchasing Photoshop Elements when I am making money again.

And refinancing my car loan, but that's a whole different story.

You can't make me.

I am one of the least confrontational people you might ever meet. Seriously.

I don't like confrontation. I don't like yelling (except due to extreme enthusiasm about a topic). And I get tired of long-winded, never-ending discussions/debates.

I am also a people pleaser, which pretty much goes hand-in-hand with my avoidance of confrontation. At least it does in my head.

I'm pretty sure those two characteristics made me one of the easiest teenagers ever to parent. Except that I hated having to talk about any issues and always blamed crying on fatigue.

But really, I cannot remember yelling at my parents. Ever. In my entire life.

Maybe it happened as a small child, but that was probably only when I was tattle tailing (sp?) on my brother.

The thing is I have had many a serious discussion with people, in my head.

No joke.

Often I'll think about how I would kill conversations that I probably should have. Or I replay past conversations with spins that put me saying what I actually feel as well as coming out on top.

I am always victorious in fake conversations. No one can hold me back.

I'm pretty mature like that.

Two birds with one stone

Today I am presenting you with 25 random facts about myself. I am doing this for a few reasons. One, I've been tagged by a few different people in these notes on facebook. Two, I am running around visiting people where I went to college and need my energy for more important endeavors. Three, I don't have a three but it seems like every good list should.

I am not tagging anyone or asking anyone else to do this. Trying to end this craziness with myself. Anyways, maybe you'll learn something new about me, some of you at least. If, however, you want to share 25 things about yourself, I would be interested in learning them.

Here goes nothin':

1. I have never broken a bone.

2. In spite of that I have had a random assortment of accidents: trigger finger, stapling my fingers together, burning my butt, falling into berry bushes. What can I say, I'm talented.

3. Six months after I got my license, I flipped my car...in a parking lot.

4. I am a country music fanatic. That's the music I listen to 90% of the time. (It's okay if you are cringing right now.) But there isn't much music I don't like.

5. I really enjoying driving and road trips, especially by myself.

6. I have never been in a serious relationship.

7. I couldn't really drive a manual until I was 21, when I purchased my first car - a manual.

8. I have an addiction: shoes. Due to a lack of funds, I have held back from buying a new pair since September. And it hurts me.

9. I love sports. Especially college basketball. I'd list my favorites, in order, but who knows how long that would take.

10. I lived in a dorm for the first time at 22.

11. I did very well on the SAT, but chose to go to community college to play basketball after high school.

12. I brush my teeth religiously, but rarely remember to floss.

13. My Christian faith is essential to who I am.

14. I knit, but only scarves because they are easy and don't take too long to make if I can stay focused.

15. I skipped second grade. I also read to my kindergarten class. What can I say? I was an overachiever back then.

16. I have done lawn care with my dad every summer since before my senior year in high school. This year will be my 7th as a lawn care professional.

17. To follow up #16, I owned a lawn mower before I owned a car.

18. I love to travel, but haven't made it out of North America...yet.

19. Over the past year, I visited 13 states and flew on 20 different planes. I took the time to count that up; I don't have it in my head.

20. I've had a guitar for six years, but can only play a handful of basic chords. Someday I hope to change that.

21. I have a younger sister and brother. That's right, I'm the oldest.

22. I absolutely love to cook. I could spend loads of time looking for good recipes, and then eating them. :)

23. I don't have a clue what I want to do with my life, and it scares me. Least favorite interview question right now: where do you see yourself in five years?

24. I graduated with my college degree and am back living with the padres. Thanks a lot economy; you're the best!

25. I like to be organized, but my room is often messy because I am overwhelmed by all the stuff in it. For the record, not all of it is mine. That's what happened when you haven't lived at home in a couple years.


So there you go. Now you know something more about me, hopefully. Thanks for taking the time to read until the end. Now, go forth and conquer.