Reading...It's what I do (maybe)

One of my New Year's Resolutions (sorry mom, I do make them) was to read a bit more.  Now, I was never an avid reader.  I think the only books I ever read when I was young was the Sweet Valley high series and the Babysitter's Club.  Not exactly profound and life altering reading, I know.  Well, after I graduated college I actually got more in to reading.  For the past few years, I read so much more than I ever used to.  Part of it is due to traveling and it is easy to read a book on a plane and part of it is I have found books I enjoy.  Whatever the catalyst, I am reading more, and that is a good thing.  This year I have decided to alter my reading focus a bit.  While I have historically focused on mystery and sci-fi (I will admit, I have read all of the books in the World of Warcraft series), I have decided to alternate fun/fictional reading with non-fiction.

Since about mid-December, I have been reading the Sookie Stackhouse books.  Yes, I am a huge fan of "TrueBlood."  Well after blowing through the first 8 books, ending in about mid-February, I decided I need to read something a bit more enriching.  I was at Borders and a book caught my eye; any book that has something "street gangs" in the title as GOT to be good, right?  Well I picked it up and it is actually about the history of Sesame Street.  Side note (but related): I grew up on Sesame Street.  During the Iran-Contra hearings, my sister and I watched more PBS than you could even imagine.  

Well anyway, I am now on my "non-fiction" book and it is "Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street."  I have finished the first few chapters and it is actually pretty interesting.  When finished, I will post a review.

http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0670019968

Mean people are mean

A few years ago my mom told me a story about myself at a young age.  When I was in elementary school and middle school I always took my lunch.  Every morning I would wake up and make my own lunch, seriously, EVERY morning.  Now I remember doing this, but didn't have a clue that there was a reason behind it.  Well my mom told me that I told her that I did it because I was scared of dropping my lunch tray and everyone looking at me.  I can totally see me saying this.  I hate being the center of attention and drawing attention to myself.  I am more of a color commentator rather than a play-by-play kind of person (to use a sports-type analogy).  

Well, coming home from DC on Friday, I was on the ATL to TLH leg of my flight and this old man totally humiliated me.  Back story: I am a tall person, if you have ever met me you most certainly know this.  Well on most airplanes my knees always touch the seat in front of me, I have no choice in this matter.  Now the story: apparently, this old man's precious little wife (grrr!) complained to her husband that I was "kicking her seat" and so he turned around and kind of loudly (and quite curtly and surly) asked me to stop kicking his wife's chair.  Well, lets see...I am not 10, I have manners, and I AM TALL.  So I was not kicking her chair, merely moving my legs (heaven forbid!).  Unfortunately I was in shock and too mortified to say anything (if you have ever seen "You've Got Mail" and Meg Ryan's character makes the comment about never thinking of a good 'zing' when someone says something to her, this is how I felt), plus it was an old man and I do have respect for people.  But I was totally humiliated and mortified (not exaggerating).  The old man said it loud enough that everyone looked at me, and plus being publicly rebuked is not the most fun ever, either.  So I basically did not move the rest of the flight and just stared out the window, willing myself not to cry.

But, when we landed and I was talking to my friend I just started crying.  So congratulations Mr. Crotchety Old Man and Wife, you made a 30 year old cry.

I would like to think I am over it, but I am not.

Gettin' my groove on

Sigh!  Ok, I am a fan of novetly things, I can admit this.  I am also a fan of gadgets and such.  Well for the last month or so, I have been contemplating getting "Dance Dance Revolution" for the Wii.  I used to make fun of people who played DDR.  I remember walking by the arcade place in the mall before going into the movies and the DDR game was right in the front, by the window.  Seeing the kids playing it always made me laugh because they looked so silly.  Well, now I look silly.  It really is alot of fun though, and at least I look silly from the safety of my own home.  Until someone comes over and wants to play...then I will look silly in front of others.

I am a creature of the internet

So we are preparing for a conference at work and one of the breakout sessions I have been involved in has been regarding Web 2.0 which got me thinking (as well as the the fact that I use Google Chrome as my browser) about my internet usage.  Having a laptop only reinforces this because I don't have to go in the back bedroom to use the computer, I can just sit in the recliner in the living room and play on the internet and watch t.v. while Allie the Dog sits at my feet.

Michelle's daily websites:

1.  Myspace - yeah...I lurk!

2.  Twitter - I love to tweet!

3.  iGoogle - I can see my e-mails, jokes, news, and Digg stories from this page

4.  Facebook - This is moving up on my list and I waste way too much time here lately

5.  PerezHilton - I like celebrity gossip!  :)

6.  MSNBC - I try to stay somewhat up to date on news (ok, I go to the entertainment section alot)

7.  The WoW forums - This one is moving down...what with my lack of playing WoW

8.  My blog! - But I have a lot of links here now that I visit, such as failblog and graphjams and other blogs

9.  The Superficial - more celebrity gossip

10. Lolcats - those crazy cats!

11. ThePioneerWoman 

Other sites that I love

1.  Amazon (who doesn't love it)

2.  Chacha.com - this is quickly becoming one of my favorite

3.  Bestbuy - I love electronics and gadgets

4.  TDO.com - for local news

5.  Netflix - gotta keep up with my movies

6.  Youtube - My youtube addiction comes and goes

Things I never got into:

1.  Ebay

2.  Craigslist

3.  Other things that I don't know about yet!  :)

It really is amazing to me that I remember sitting in an 11th grade "libary/media" class where I just hung out in the library and one of our actual assignments was to use the internet to write a research paper.  This was the first time I ever used the internet, really.  I remember having an AOL e-mail account but none of my friends did so it was pointless.

Ah Web 2.0, I have a love/hate relationship with you!

Travel

In the first three months of the year, I will fly 5 times (roundtrips).  That is alot, in my opinion.  I hate packing and unpacking and just want to keep my suitcase packed, as horrible and lazy as that is.  I always fear I am going to forget something or leave it in the hotel.  I actually have done that before, I left my glasses in a hotel and luckily they found them and express overnighted the glasses to me.  Plus, being tall sucks when you are flying.  I always try to get the emergency exit row, but I am only successful about 50% of the time.  And so my poor legs are all cooped up, like chickens.  I think I need a new carry on bag, during my last trip, my messenger back was killing my shoulder, but I hate roller bags because they don't fit in the overhead compartment sometimes.

What a complainy post this was!  :)  At least my last trip will be to Michigan.

Side note: The Superbowl was really good this year!

30 things you may not know about me

When I started the blog, I thought I would have more to say.  Well apparently I was wrong!  But I saw this on a friends blog, and then my sister posted something similar on facebook, so I thought I would try it.  And since I am 30...."30 Things You May Not Know About Me."  Shall we begin?

1.   I have never had a manicure nor a pedicure.

2.   I have seen every episode of "Friends" at least 3 times.

3.   I am at my very core a romantic.

4.   I love to plan things, trips, cleaning schedules, days, etc.

5.   I want to go back to school.

6.   I like pet names, but funny ones, not cliche ones.

7.   I never realized how getting older would change my outlook on things, including goals.

8.   I hate shopping with most people.

9.   While I used to hate Mexican food, it is probably my favorite type of food now.

10. I don't have any secret talents.

11. I never realized how judgemental I am, until I have started trying not to be

12. I would like to write a book.

13. I would like to be famous without be "paparazzi" famous (i.e. I want to go to award shows, but not be the center of attention).

14. I truly hate being the center of attention.

15. I would like to help people figure out what they want to do with their life.

16. I do not like talking politics.

17. I want to be one of those "genuinely nice" people.

18. Ingrid Michaelson is my favorite singer/song writer.

19. I am higher maintenance than I would like to admit.

20. I enjoyed the "Sookie Stackhouse" books.

21. I have not enjoyed the "Twilight" series.

22. I enjoy looking at pictures, rather than taking them; I only take them to look at them.

23. I have learned more about myself in the last 2 years than probably any time before then.

24. "The Princess Bride" will always be my favorite movie.

25. I hate watching the news.

26. I watch "Saved by the Bell" every morning.

27. I have read more in the last 4 years than the 26 years before that.

28. I hate that my fingers are crooked.

29. I love new years resolutions.

30. I take my family for granted.

That was hard, but fun.  My stream of consciousness thinking is very random!

Photos

Andrew suggested we take some pictures when he came down this week, so thanks to Facebook, I knew that a friend of mine from high school was a photographer.  Branch was great and agreed to take some photos for us.  On Thursday we met at Maclay Gardens.  I confess I have never been to the gardens part.  I was impressed actually.  The camillas were blooming, as were the japanese magnolias.  So, here a couple of the pictures, thanks to Branch (www.photographybybranch.com)!