I know, I know, I've been absent. I don't really have an explanation. I wanted to write last week. I wanted to talk about how much I didn't like Valentine's Day, but then I realized that in doing so, I would then be shouting out to the world that I'm single. And I am. I love it. I've hardly ever liked Valentine's Day. When you're in a relationship, there's all these pressures to have the perfect date, find the perfect gift to let your loved one know you care. Part of why I hate it is because when things don't go correctly, it makes it ruin the evening. I've had one of those dates where it wasn't what it was planned to be, and all it did was make me wish he hadn't tried so hard, that he had just done what was "us."
When you're single, fellow singles call it single awareness day. Now I hate this, because it's super cynical. I mean, I can be pretty cynical about love as well, but for some reason, when I saw so many status updates and tweet updates about "Singles Awareness Day," it really just kind of irritated me. Why can't we be happy for those that ARE in relationships and choose to have a huge display on this day? I mean, I personally would rather someone tell me they love me everyday, have a secret admirer randomly ask me on a date instead of it be the one day that is supposed to be "the day of love." Why can't every day be a day of love?
Then almost all of the TV shows last week, AND this week are also centered on love. Some personal favorites are the episodes of Whitney (shows when Whitney and Alex first met), How I Met Your Mother (even though it probably didn't end up the way most of you wanted, I thought it was perfect), and Hart of Dixie (I have a feeling that something is about to go DOWN with the Lavon/Lemon/George/Zoe/Wade situation, and SOON.)
And then song has slowly made its way to my number one country song obsession right now:
I mean, I don't have anyone that this song particularly goes out to right now, but f'reals, what girl doesn't think that every now and then? I guess I'm not too much of a cynic right now. Part of it is also that I'm obsessed with Kimberly Perry's voice. I don't know why. I like the more gravelly sounding voices, and have for forever.
But then I spent an AMAZING weekend away from home (which is what I originally intended this post for, my how easily I get distracted...), and realized that love of friends can be all you need sometimes.
But I also return to work tomorrow, and I did meet someone I find attractive that works for my same company (different location) and he's been all I've been able to think about since I've returned home today. I'm nervous and anxious about connecting with him...I had lots of opportunity to try to set something up, but I chickened out last minute. Eh, it happens.
I promise to update on my weekend later this week!
Recently, I discovered the band called The Black Keys. I know they've been around for a while, and I'm sure I'm probably one of the last people on this earth to discover how amazing they are, but I'm seriously obsessed. Their recent single "Lonely Boy" is the song that started my obsession. But I'm not sharing Lonely Boy with you today. No, I found a song of theirs that I like even better and that is what I'm sharing with you today.
Today I give you my current The Black Keys obsession, and it's Howlin' For You:
Do you like The Black Keys? What are some of your favorite songs by them? I always love new music and would love to hear what you like from The Black Keys!
If you have been following this blog for a while, you know that I used to have a feature called Tell the World Tuesday. However, it's been roughly 6 months since I've featured anyone, and I love Tuesdays. So today, I bring you something fun that may appear every now and then on a Tuesday. I've seen this around before, but I never participated because of my feature.
My first Tuesday Tunes is going to feature ONE song. Now that I don't have papers to write, tests to study for, and parties to go to (as often) because I'm a semi-adult now, I watch TONS of TV. No seriously. Probably too much for my own good. I have a serious relationship with my DVR. Anyways, I watch a show on the CW called Hart of Dixie, and this song rolled in the final credits of the last episode. AND. I. FELL. IN. LOVE.
That's right party people, today concludes my eight days with my beloved Eli Young Band. I will be at their concert TONIGHT!! So today, I'm giving you a bonus song! We'll call it two-for-Tuesday with Eli Young Band :)
This song is the title song for their third album, Jet Black and Jealous. (Album #1 was self titled, Eli Young Band, and album #2 is titled Level.) Most of my favorite songs come off of Jet Black and Jealous. I particularly love this song because to me, the beat and rhythm is just as catchy as the lyrics.
"Well you never were one for resting easy, were you?
......
I just hope that road would one day watch you walk right back to me
'Til then I'll be
Jet black and jealous
And I dare not let 'em know that now you're gone
I'll still be a fool for the way we used to be
......
Tell me how was I to know
Tell me how can I let go
......
If you get out there and find that it's not what you thought it'd be
This is another one of their newest songs, off the Crazy Girl - EP album.
What I love about this song is that it's about heartache and heart break, but the lyrics confess that it's all his fault, that he knows it, and he's willing to face it. Everyone's theme song? I think so. If you're willing to admit you've made mistakes, that is.
"Now I question every road I've taken
And I regret every heart I've forsaken
Here's my confession
The mistakes I've made
Are coming back to haunt me
Like a ghost from a grave
Always there to taunt me
You say it's okay
You say you still want me
But you don't know where I've been
I'm no stranger to my sins
I've got skeletons"
Most likely, I will be at work anxiously awaiting the end of the day to go see Eli Young Band. I hope that I have introduced you to some songs that you enjoy as much as I do. And these posts are by no means my top favorite 8 songs they sing. They aren't in any particular order. I really don't necessarily like one song more than another by them, just because each of them have different meanings to me. I seriously haven't heard one song from EYB that I didn't like.
This song was a little harder to find a decent link for. I guess that just shows that it hasn't quite hit mainstream?
I first heard this song when I was dealing with a boy. I knew who he was and basically his whole life story. He knew who I was, but never considered me anything more than a friend. I actually never told him how I felt, but like I said in the last post, I'm the kind of girl that thinks every song can apply to my life. So when I heard this song, my whole thought process was "if I were famous, he'd consider as more than a friend."
That was about 2-3 years ago. I don't regret never showing my true feelings to that guy. It would have never worked out.
Yep, I'm definitely one of those girls that thinks every song describes her life. Listening to this song, I can hear Mr. Eli telling the story of my soul to everyone who will listen.
But really listen to the lyrics. No matter how much this woman is hurt, she's strong enough to stick around and tough it out.
"She once fell hard 'cause she dropped her guard
And no one gets to stay
It's just too late
For as much as she's stumbled, she's runnin'
For as much as she runs, she still here
Always hoping to find somethin' quicker than heaven
This song is also very dear to my heart. Not only am I an Oklahoma Girl, but I am also a small town kid. I was raised in a very small town just north of Tulsa called Sperry. That's okay, people from Tulsa have never heard of it either.
The lyrics describe lots of people from my town, and the guitar tabs in this one are amazing. Go ahead, take a listen. You'll learn to love it too, whether you're a small town kid or not. :)
If anyone has known me for a while, they know that I find the rain completely irresistable. Something about it just gets to me every time. I love the smell in the air. I love how relaxing it is. I love how well I sleep while it rains throughout the night.
Even though this song is more of the depressing side of rain, I still LOVE this song, the way it sounds, the lyrics, everything about it.
Hearing all of these, I hope you start to love Eli Young Band as much as I do. I just can't get over the sound of Mike Eli's voice.
This song was the very first song I was introduced to by EYB. The first time I heard it, I fell in love. I decided immediately that I had to download MORE songs because the lead singer's voice was amazing. And I did. And I've been obsessed ever since.
"I can't keep fighting the urge to go
I've got nothin' in common with the town I've come to know
So I am so close now to walkin' away
About to walk a path I gotta take
I am packin' up, headin' out
'Cause I can't sleep I'm dreaming way too loud
I'm so close now, so close now
To gettin' out
...
I should have known how hard it'd be to leave this town"
Last week, I decided that I was going to see Eli Young Band while they were in town for the Tulsa State Fair next week. I LOVE Eli Young Band. Ever since the first song I heard from them, I was hooked. Today on my way home from work, I decided that I was going to share with you all some of my favorite songs they sing!
I decided to start with this one because it's their most recent single.
Reasons why I love it: When you read the title, you think it's going to be talking down on some psycho lady. Then they sing it and you realize he's in love. What girl wouldn't want that sang to her?!
"Before you ever came along
I was living life all wrong
The smartest thing I ever did was make you all mine
Crazy girl, don't you know that I love you?
I wouldn't dream of going nowhere
Silly woman, come here let me hold you
Have I told you lately I love you like crazy girl"
Today I'm doing another link up (I promise things will get to normal posting around here soon!) called "The Simple Things" found over at Jesslyn Amber. What's the idea behind The Simple Things? Well it's quite simple (tee hee hee), but I'll let the words of Jesslyn explain:
"I came up with this idea because one of my main goals is to remain optimistic and positive about life and everything that happens in it. Life's a struggle and a challenge, and sometimes we forget all the things that make it so special.
I want to learn to appreciate the simple things and I want to encourage you to do the same. Life's not a race or a contest, and it's definitely not something we should take for granted. Life is about enjoying the little, special, simple joys of our every day!
There will not be a certain structure for this link up! You can participate however you want to. Some days I may simply post a list of things I stopped to appreciate throughout the week...I may only post pictures...or I may write about one specific thing that stuck out to me. It doesn't matter how big or small your post is. I just want to take time to love the little things that make life so wonderful."
So there you have it. Keep it simple and remember what it is that makes you happy. Today's first Simple Things post will be kind of all over the place, so just bear with me.
The Simple Things in life that I love, and that make me smile:
*When my youngest cousins run and attach themselves to me when I come home from school
*Getting to sleep in
*The pretty colors the sky turns when it's been raining all day and the sun starts to set
*Getting text messages that say "I miss you!" because the sender has no idea how much I ache to be in their presence!
I've seen this one done on quite a few other blogs, and today I decided I wanted to participate, even if today is the only day that I do it!
It's going to be random, and you're going to love it (or else! ha!)
I'm loving that I finally finished The Maze Runner by James Dashner. It was very slow to start with, but it picked up and was hard to put down.
I'm loving that I got such good feedback about the Tell the World Tuesday posts! (I'm not loving that I only have one more for you guys before I have to start begging people to answer my questions.)
I'm loving that I have three of the best littles ever! They not only got me the paddle I have been waiting impatiently for, but they got me a VERY beautiful paddle, and exactly what I asked for!:
Thank you for not shunning me throughout my week of personal hell. I am beyond thoroughly exhausted that I am completely incapable of making a post worth reading. Just wanted to let everyone know that I just so happened to have survived my second to last finals week of undergrad . . . barely.
On a good note, I made up with an old friend today. Hopefully that relationship will grow exponentially stronger!
Until I have my wits about me (hopefully tomorrow), all I can do is leave you with a link to a very fantastic YouTube video. Embedding is not allowed for this one, so unlike my usual YouTubes, you have to actually go to the site. Sorry about that, but please, enjoy.
Ok, so typically when I am in the bathroom getting ready in the mornings, our hallway has a radio playing. Obviously we've been playing Christmas music for a while, but someone changed it back to the pop station this morning. This song was on when I was getting ready:
Now, I've been listening to this song pretty much since it came out. I mean who doesn't love some Bruno Mars? His voice is so soothing, and damn it if I had someone sing "When I see your face/There's not a thing that I would change/'Cause girl you're amazing/Just the way you are" to me, I think I would first soil my pants and then tell them they have no choice but to be my husband. I mean you gotta admit, that's something EVERY girl wants to hear her love of choice say to her. The beats along with the lyrics are pretty damn catchy too. But this morning, I actually LISTENED to what I was singing. BRUNO, DITCH THE BITCH. KICK HER TO THE CURB! If you would do all these things for her and she "won't do the same," I say it's time to find another girl that can appreciate you for basically protecting the one you love. Find a girl that would do the exact same because trust me, unrequited love SUCKS. That is all.
Actually, that is not all. Does anyone else think Mr. Mars should keep his hat on? He looks like a completely different person. Also, seriously, don't for real jump in front of a train for that cheating whore. Seriously, that is really all now.
p.s. I'm not all about hate today. I'm slightly brain dead from lack of sleep, and you must forgive my ridiculous post. It's still finals week, with my last test being at 8 a.m. I will not be sleeping tonight, I can promise you that :)
p.p.s. Here are 3 pictures from my Little's 21st birthday this past weekend. I realized today when I was adding them to my computer that I never updated on that. Please forgive me! If you really would like to hear all the crazy shenanigans that went down, I can update that with my next post. I just don't want to bore anyone with something that happened almost a week ago. :D
Me and the Birthday Girl Josalyn!
My friend Sam and me
Sam, our friend Chris, and me...I really don't remember why we took the picture like this.
Wish me good luck on my last final in my second-to-last semester as a college undergrad!
After feeling like this due to finals week all day:
And reading these tweets from various friends on twitter:
just having an off day...
Ready to go home, curl up in bed, and escape from the world. By far the worst day I've had since living in Phoenix.#depressingtweet
can i just go to bed now?? i'm tired of being frustrated. and irritated. and cold. ugh
Today = SHIT. For the most part.
I decided that todays post is going to be filled with fun and happy YouTube videos. So watch these 4 of my personal favorites and have a good little laugh. After all, Monday is JUST ANOTHER DAY! I hope you all have a good remainder of your Monday!
For those of you who truly know me, you know that I'm a perfectionist. I typically don't like group projects because I usually feel like the other person is slightly incompetent. Not because they really are, but I just want to maximize the amount of points I get. For my Principles of Personal Training class, we have to make a training program for a fake client of our choice. I know about 4-5 people in the class from having classes with them before. In the first week of class, I chose to work with a guy who was in Anatomy with me to work on the program. He has basically left it all for me to do. I guess I shouldn't complain because I could have said no, or picked someone else, but I'm just slightly irritated that he isn't helping at all. ugh.
HOWEVER, I have 2 classes today and then will be going to Poteau, OK to stay with my great-aunt Linda for the weekend. SATURDAY IS MY BIRTHDAY/Bedlam game :) I'm so excited to be spending the day with my friends from high school. So to get over the irritation of my group project, this is my theme song right now (only because I love this song so much!):
So last night began initiation for Alpha Phi Omega. It began with vote-in, where initiated members vote on each of the pledges on whether or not they would like to see that particular pledge initiated. I'm not gonna lie, I was a tad bit nervous. I missed ONE requirement, and tried to make up for it a little bit with other things, but I wasn't exactly sure how the rest of the chapter would feel about it.
At 8:56 p.m., I get a phone call from my big (Brook) and she says, "Congratulations, you have been voted to become initiated into Alpha Phi Omega! . . . (my heart stops racing) . . . Now what you need to do is meet at the duck pond at 10:15, and you need to be dressed in blue and gold. If you don't have blue, wear all gold, and if you don't have gold, wear all blue. Do not come any earlier than 10:15! I'll see you tonight and good luck! (click)" . . . Now continue my racing heart. I had absolutely no t-shirts that were blue and yellow that did not have Alpha Gamma Delta on it, and I felt that it would be inappropriate to wear my other Greek letters. BAHHHH!!!
I was having a near-panic attack and was about to cry when one of my Alpha Gam sisters saved my night and let me borrow a yellow shirt.
After vote-in is a BIG/little bonding sketchy time (won't go into full details, just know everything was super sketch, but then it also helped me bond more with two of my pledge brothers), and then we ended the night at IHOP.
I got back home around 1 a.m., and because of all the super sketch activities, I had adrenaline pumping through my system for about an hour. Needless to say, it was hard as hell to focus on studying when I got home. I calmed myself down enough to study for about an hour and a half, then got up in bed and CRASHED.
So if you have been reading my posts, you'll know that my stats test this morning was supposed to be the end of 8 straight weeks of testing. I failed and realized at lunch today that my last test is next week. Along with a term paper the following week. The good thing about the term paper is that it is only a rough draft that is due, so hopefully that won't be too difficult to accomplish. HOWEVER, that will make TEN weeks. TEN WEEKS PEOPLE! WHY?! bahhhh! Why can't senior year of college be like senior year of high school. Oh that's right, because everyone goes to high school but not everyone goes to college. The stats test today was by far the hardest test I've taken this semester. I just want a freaking C. I don't even care if I get a B or not anymore, just let me pass and get the eff outta there! (As you can tell, I'm slightly sleep deprived, therefore proper grammar and spelling is going out of the window.)
To all my random readers, read my friend's post here and let me know what you think about her question too! I was slightly appalled by her friend's statement. Are we always supposed to be searching? Or should we let things fall into place?
Before this year, before I ACTUALLY began to love EVERYTHING about myself, I wasn't searching. I thought I had found him. I thought everything that we had been through and everything that we had shared would help us come together again. I knew that I knew that I knew that he loved me as much as I did him. We had dated for 2-ish years, and still remained VERY close for 4.5-5 years after that. What changed? We both did. I grew up, he grew up on a different side of the country, we both experienced things that the other didn't understand because our paths were diverging so differently. When I realized that we actually DIDN'T love each other anymore, I cried. I think they were partly tears of sadness, and partly tears of relief. Sadness because we HAD shared so much, sadness because did we just cause each other to waste FIVE years of each others' lives? Only time will tell. Relief because it WAS a realization. A good realization (for the both of us!)
I do hate that now he thinks poorly of me, and has nothing nice to say to me, but one of these days we'll take every ill thought and comment back and remember that we can be civil. After all, our circles of friends run pretty close, and I still love his family. They are people who saved me, they just don't know it. In a way he saved me too. I'll never be able to thank him properly now, but in the off chance that anyone out there knows who this "he" is, cherish him. He could save you too.
I never would have known self-love without him catapulting a series of events that lead me to where I am today. And for that, Mr. R., I thank you.
That post totally got wayy deeper than I had intended, but reading Sam's blog almost always makes me think!
p.s. Thank a Veteran today America. Special thank you to my Uncle Ed, Jason, Wes, Kendrick, and the rest of C Co of the 489th EN BN that I've known almost my entire life. I love each and every one of you guys, and appreciate the sacrifices you all made in the 18+ months you were deployed!
I'll leave everyone with this, in your name, there is DEFINITELY healing.
I'm a big fan of countdowns. I feel like every day that goes by and you realize how close something is that you are looking forward to adds a little extra excitement into your life. So here are my 4 countdowns:
NINE DAYS until my BEST FRIEND visits from Phoenix!
that also means NINE DAYS until the midnight premiere of Harry Potter 7 part 1!
TWELVE DAYS until my Route 66 Half Marathon! (ahhhhh!!!)
EIGHTEEN DAYS until my 23rd birthday and Bedlam = weekend in Stillwater with my friend Zach.
November is such an exciting/eventful month for me this year! 2010 freakin' rocks my socks off!
So I took a test on Friday. I'm not real sure how I did on it, but that concluded the 7th straight week that I had a test or paper due in a class. I also have another test this Thursday, making it 8 weeks. I'm a little burned out. HOWEVER, PC 'X is now initiated, dry week is over, and I was invited to a fraternity date party this evening. SOOOO excited for tonight. I will definitely be having some bonding time with my little plaid family (and G's bf too).
