My Favorite Valentines - Fictitious & Non

Happy celebration of love day, friends!
Hopefully this day brings you more happiness than sadness, however if you're single, don't fret. Being single is not bad - I'm single and I'm ok with it. Yes, I would love to be woo'ed today, but I could be woo'ed any random day of the year; it doesn't have to be on Valentine's Day. So let's pop in our favorite romcom's, pour our single selves (or in a relationship; you're invited too!) a glass of champagne and oogle these couples that make us sick - yet still make us love's #1 cheerleader.

George Takei and Brad Altman: Non-Fictitious

George Takei (or as you probably know him, Captain Sulu) and his husband, Brad Altman make me lovesick. Recently tying the knot (though, in a relationship for over 18 years), these two are examples of how we should all conduct relationships. Almost every picture that I see of them together, they're either embracing or laughing. To still be that in love with each other after 18 years, a standing ovation to you.

Christian and Satine: Fictitious (yet, in my head, non-fictitious)

So my favorite movie about love is Moulin Rouge! and every time I watch it, Christian and Satine re-ignite my belief that love can really exist (especially when the world proves otherwise). If you've never seen this movie, rent it tonight. Not only is this another cinematic masterpiece by Baz Luhrmann, but such a meaty love story, that your heart will thank you for it. Moulin Rouge! takes us into the life of Christian (Ewan McGregor) and Satine (Nicole Kidman). Christian, who is obsessed with true love, hopes to write one of the greatest love stories ever made, but ends up finding himself in the middle it. Satine, who values money over love, finds herself in love with a penniless playwright. The ending of this movie will make you cry like the biggest baby in town (I tried to find a clip, but at no avail). This movie is the band-aid for any wounded heart - rent one and call me in the morning (doctor's orders!). 

 Drew Barrymore and Justin Long: Non-Fictitious and Fictitious

What a perfect indie romance. I'm not completely sure if they're still together and I haven't seen that movie, "Going The Distance" - however, this is probably one of my favorite celebrity couples ever. Drew and Justin go to concerts together, seem very similar in their personalities and have a such a cutesy relationship that it kind of makes me want to puke - and want it at the same time. I guess I love their relationship because I would like my relationship to look like this. Drew and Justin, I am jealous.

Anywho, I hope you enjoy your day - single or taken! I'm going to go buy myself a chocolate heart, pop in Annie Hall and celebrate the beauty of the single life.

xo

Sitcom Love and How It Relates To Your Life

In honor of Valentines Day coming up, I thought I'd post a little blog about Amour.

If you're like me (a hopeless romantic, emphasis on hopeless) than you wish for real love, like sitcom love. However, do not be fooled. Sitcom love is a myth; they are romances that ruin our perception of real life, and what real men are actually like.

Most recently, exhibit A:

 Zoey and Ted (How I Met Your Mother - Relationship Life: Oct. 18th, 10 - Present)

Zoey and Ted's relationship began with Zoey protesting a historic building being torn down, where (in typical sitcom style) Ted's architecture firm is planning on building a new building. Ted lies and acts like he's with Zoey, however the truth comes to the surface, and after a few ups and downs, Zoey, Ted and all of their friends become close. Ted, hopelessly single, starts to have feelings for Zoey, but Zoey is married to a creepy, older, captain dude. However, when Ted tries to pretend that he no longer has feelings for Zoey and asks her to hook him up with her cousin (Katy Perry - puke), Zoey gets jealous. When Zoey runs into Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and discovers that Ted gave Honey (Katy Perry) to him, she's overwhelmed with happiness. After a whole bunch of confusing explanations, Zoey learns that Ted loves her, and she confesses her love for Ted. Viola! A beautiful kiss is shared and love blooms. If you're like me, you sit - eyes glued to the television, and swoon over how heartwarming this new romance is and maybe, someday, it will happen to you.

Exhibit B:

 Jim and Pam (The Office - Relationship Life: May 17th, 07 - Present)

Oh, Jim and Pam. I've always felt so like Pam. Pam and I are quiet, yet outgoing when we feel comfortable.We both are artists in our own respects (she draws, I'm a graphic artist), we both drive Yaris's, and we both felt a connection with a boy in our office. For a while, I felt like watching Jim and Pam on The Office was a mirror of what my life was actually like at the time. If you're not familiar with The Office, Jim and Pam work in the same office together. They form such a close friendship that they start to have feelings for each other. Whenever Pam would be really into Jim, Jim would be in a relationship and vice-versa. For months, we pained to see Jim and Pam finally get together - when they did, I felt like my heart was going to bust. To this day, whenever I watch the clip below (see it - sorry about the advertisement at the beginning) it makes me snivel like a little babe.

See what I mean? Whenever Jim busts in the door and Pam starts to cry a bit, holy cow. I always thought that my Jim and Pam situation would end up like this - unfortunately no.

I am the perfect example of a lost cause. I still hold on to the hope that love like this can really, actually happen. I've seen glimpses of it and usually yes, my glimpses were actually dreams in disguise - however, feeling that hope that goes along with these glimpses and how deep it made my body react, sitcom love has to exist. I started this post, in hopes of trying to convince you not to keep your hopes up high for love like sitcom love. I think I need to convince myself first.

xo

Don't hide your love away.

This weekend was so nice. I got to spend a lot of time with my family and it felt so good to be surrounded by people that I love. As I get older, I cherish the time that we get to spend together. I was watching The Trouble With Angels the other day and it made me cry so hard. The movie is supposed to be a comedy about two trouble making girls who are sent to a convent-school. In the end, they grow to become well-rounded ladies, leaving their mischievous ways behind. This movie reminds me so much of my Grandma Kurtz and my Grammie. Usually on Saturdays, my sister and I would stay the night at my Grandma Kurtz's place and watch old movies like By The Light of the Silvery Moon, With Six You Get Eggroll, Good News, The Trouble With Angels - classic June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Doris Day, Hayley Mills films (just to name only a few). It reminded me of my Grammie because my Grammie loved Hayley Mills.

Watching this movie made me realize that time goes by so quickly. You live in these moments of spending Saturday nights watching black and whites, thinking they'll last forever. Before you know it, both of your grandma's are gone, and time is still ticking. Losing my grandmothers so close together has really effected me deeply. 2009 till now have been some of the hardest years of my lives. I lost my Grandma Kurtz on the Christmas before 09' (literally on the 25th), I lost my Grammie that June, I lost my Job in June of 2010 and I lost my Guinea Pig, Sire Boo Pig Mallion, just when the weather started to get cold in 2010 (I know you're thinking that he's just a guinea pig, but I really, really, really loved him). I've been having a hard time keeping my anxiety and sadness in check, and that's why I say family is so important. They love you even when you're a blubbering, stressed-out mess. They don't get fed up with you and they help ease your sad feelings. Family = the ultra in awesome.

In other news, I have noticed that I have started to develop a weird obsession. I cannot stop taking pictures of cats. Here's a few recent obsessive shots I've taken:

(Ashley's Cat, Ginger)

 (Ashley's Cat, Woody)

 (Mom's Cat, Figaro)

(Our Kitty (Nick and I), Harriet Tubman)

Cats are excellent. I guess you could call me the "cat-tographer".

xo

I should blog more.

Sorry for the absence in blogging, but I've been busy doing:

this:

 and this:

and a little bit of this:

A dash of this:

A pinch of that:

One of these:

A whole bunch of this:

 Some of this:

Some of this:

And one of these:

 So in the future, I'll try to stay current and update more frequently. That way, I don't have to shove three months in one post.

xo

You Are Here

History repeats itself.

Alan Simson of the Debt Commission was interviewed by Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News last week. When asked by Brian Williams what his message for the American people would be, Simson said: "Sober up or sleep in the streets."

Like the estimated 2 million plus Americans, my unemployment benefits will run out this month. I have constantly applied for jobs since June and still have not landed anything. For me and unemployed America, this will truly be a "Blue Christmas".

Sounds Like Fall

So I wanted to take a little time to do a entry about some jams that I'm really loving for November (and hopefully you will too!).

White Hinterland Kairos

I have been enjoying White Hinterland's Kairos since the last weekend in October.
This is such a phenomenal record, that it completely passes up their last release, Phylactery Factory (released in 2008, with the hit "Dreaming of the Plum Trees" - however, not saying that record was nothing short of great either). Some of my favorite tracks off this album include: "Icarus", "Bow & Arrow" and "Cataract". I posted a very brief update about this great album on my other blog, which you can check out by clicking here! In short, this album provides a very earthy, melodic, vintage feel that smothers you when you listen to it - great for fall.

White Rabbits Fort Nightly

Everyone is aware of the White Rabbit's release on It's Frightening titled, "Percussion Gun". I believe, that for most people, this might overshadow their fantastic album Fort Nightly. I started going back through some of my favorite albums that I discovered in fall of 2007 and this one stuck out to me. Even though this album was released in May of 2007, I believe that most great albums take a little while to titrate through the music community - even for experienced users (hehe). If you're looking to add hits from this album into your November playlist, I would recommend "Kid On My Shoulders" and "The Plot"; but definitely check out the whole album.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin Let It Sway

Yes, I'm perfectly aware that you've probably already been beaten to death by your local/satellite radio stations with hits off of this album, but I cannot ignore a really incredible album just because the radio destroyed it (or atleast, tried to). This album, if it had a taste, would taste like the mild air of Fall. Really great vocals, really great instrumentals, I know that once you get a chance to listen to this album in it's entirety, you'll thank me. Suggested jams off this album: "Back in the Saddle", "Stuart Gets Lost Dans le Metro", "In Pairs", "All Hail Dracula!" and of course, "Sink/Let It Sway".

I had some honorable mentions, but I'm thinking that I'm going to save them for next month - because around Thanksgiving, we're all going to want to kill ourselves from listening to much Christmas music.

Au revoir! xo

Sweet and Sour

Sometimes I have a hard time letting things go, especially when things offend me on a personal level. I wouldn't say that I hold grudges, but once something is said or done and it effects me deeply, it's hard to forget. Such as:

1. Politics and Political Issues

I voted on Tuesday and I felt like my vote didn't even make a difference in the outcome of the elections. Mostly, everyone that I voted for didn't get elected and all the issues that I voted for, went the other way. Also, whenever there is something going on that is political, Facebook floods with ignorance. People make statements that have no factual backing (or backing that they heard from Rush) and the small-mindedness is abounding. I cannot express to you how much it breaks my heart that some American's are still in a 1950's frame of mind and then try to support their position or defend it with God. God/The Bible are not game pieces, so please do not use them as such.

2. Liars

Lying is so filthy. If you don't like me, don't pretend that you do. I found this out to the fullest extent a little less than a month ago. I was doing a little internet surfing and came across something shocking, which illuminated to me, that what I was being fed was a bold-faced lie. Also, this has nothing to do with my friends - this deals with people that I used to trust that are ADULTS and do not act like adults. I think it hurts more when someone you feel completely safe with, like someone that is older than you, betrays your trust. I think that's probably why I'm having such a hard time dealing with the betrayal I feel inside. These people are breeding and teaching their spawn to be exactly like them - filthy, despicable people. One in particular tries to pretend that we're still "all good" like I'm some kind of fool that is still unaware of the lies. It hurts my feelings so bad, no one will ever really know.

On happier, lighter notes - lets talk about Halloween! Well, instead of talking, let me give you a little picture montage, because I feel as if I've rambled enough throughout this entry!

The annual carving of the gourds:

(Nick's pumpkin)

(My pumpkin)

(The finale)

The Halloween bash:

Some of the pictures may appear a little smokey, but that's because we had a sweet fog machine going in the living room (score) and Erin is holding a Snuggie because she won our costume contest. All in all, a great night!

xo