Wednesday Letters: To the Costume Makers

Dear Costume Makers,

I don't believe in dressing up for Halloween.

Maybe because my mother didn't like finding me costumes or she often went with a homemade outfit that just wasn't as cool as my friends.

But even if I did like dressing up... I have yet to find a costume that isn't slutty. Seriously? Does Strawberry Shortcake REALLY need to be slutty? You're making a mockery of my childhood.

Just sayin'.

Cordially,

Emery

Back to the Grind

I can't believe it's back to being Monday again.

I also can't believe how exhausted I am and it's only Monday.

Maybe I feel a little bad that Monday gets to be a such a bummer day.

But I'll give you a recap of last week:

1. Landed an internship for next semester doing social media. That's pretty cool!

2. Went to the gym 3 times during the week (that's an accomplishment, trust me).

3. Hosted a party for some of my friends. We called it Witches' night and involved us dressing up as witches and make pumpkins from pretty paper (thank you, Pinterest):

4. Watched Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. What you don't know is that I never before made it through both movies. I have fallen asleep every single time I tried to watch either of them (which may have been like one try for each movie). I feel the need to get Return of the King and polish it off.

It was a decent week. I didn't do as much as I hoped to with my schoolwork or work projects, but hopefully I'll do better this week. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Also, I'm wishing that my big bed would come soon. I think we're down to a couple of weeks worth of waiting now. HURRAY!

Saturday Stories: Cheesecake Always Wins

There once was a boy.

I hated him on first sight. 

Okay, maybe hate is a strong word. I didn't like him though. He was the guy that EVERY girl was interested in. He was always surrounded by a grouping of girls. I don't like boys like that... they breed competition amongst girls. And as a self-proclaimed wallflower, I feel like I'm always going to be lost in the shuffle. 

But a group of people played softball every Thursday night. In the hopes that I could be a bit more social, I started to go. And then I remembered that as good as I think I am with sports, I'm rather slow and fat (it's true).

After the games, the group went to a ice cream place to celebrate our victories. We were that good. Except, I would head home. I had homework to do or work the next day and ice cream wasn't on the agenda (please also refer to the aforementioned fact that I was fat.).

But one time... one time I decided to go. Looking back, I can't decide that if it happened all over again, if I would go or wouldn't. 

This boy sat across from me and we talked. Really talked. Everyone else was joking or being twenty-something year olds without a care in the world, but we leaned in close and talked about things that were real, things that require a serious tone and maybe a witty joke to lighten the mood.

And he asked about a Facebook post I had made. Free cheesecake for someone who'd go with me to a restaurant. He wanted to go. So we agreed to meet the next day. 

He came. We ate. We talked. We laughed.

By the end of it, I was smitten. Forgotten was another boy who I had been holding on to for a month, hoping that maybe things would change and he'd like me. No more.

I don't think I've had a piece of cheesecake since then. Nor have I been back to that restaurant. That probably should change soon.

Wednesday Letters: Roomie

Dear Roommate 

(or more preferably, flatmate because even if we aren't in England, we don't share a room. We share an apartment):

Thank you for making me breakfast yesterday when I woke up late because I failed to set my alarm to wake me up. 

I know that my waking up late delayed your getting in the shower, so I appreciate you making an effort to help me get out the door (and even be to work early). 

Hopefully this won't happen again (fingers are crossed....)

With deepest appreciation,

Emery

Monday Night: Exercise Night

I love a good weekend.

A weekend of relaxing. An extra day where I take a mental health day to recoup. Watching Arsenic and Old Lace with my sister-in-law and niece (I think we're on four years running with this tradition. We all adore Cary Grant.).

And then Monday comes around.

I've found that living in a basement apartment brings me trouble. I used to use the sun as an alarm clock. Currently, I don't see the sun in the morning. It's dark. So mornings are getting a little harder for me to handle.

So... what's on tap this week? Well, I've already landed myself an internship for next semester so it's figuring out 3-4 learning outcomes for that. As well as work, starting my paper, and getting ready for the Witches' night my friends and I are having.

But tonight? Tonight is always spent at the gym with my friend Lucy. We go and we work up a good sweat. Because I need to lose weight. Seriously. I think I'm going to have to post one of these days telling you about my journey/story of losing weight. But I do love gym night. 

Now I should go to bed. Since I'm having trouble waking up and all.

Saturday Stories: The Library Part 2

I'm running out of stories.

That's a bit scary for me.

Maybe I'm not the dating aficionado that I make myself out to be. There was that five year dry spell... and then the two year after that...

But, none the less, I shall dig into my recesses and find more after this weekend...

Today's story, once again, occurred in the library. (After it happened, I seriously questioned my choice of degree).

I was straightening books, counting down the minutes until I could go home (sounds pretty much like my real job on some days). 

And then, someone said something. 

It's a downtown city library so there are plenty of crazies or homeless people who stay there in the middle of winter to keep warm and be off the street. It's free. There are places to sit. So I just assumed that he was crazy...

Nope.

He repeated himself. He was talking to me.

He asked if I worked at the library. He asked why I worked at the library. He asked if I had a boyfriend. Then he asked me for my number and if we could go out for coffee. 

I panicked. This was maybe the first time in my life a man had asked for my phone number. Sure, I'd lost a lot of weight (to be documented in a future blog post), but I couldn't be THAT attractive... Or could I?

So, I gave him my number.

And prayed that he wouldn't call.

Later that day, I missed a phone call. When I googled the number, it came from the homeless shelter. But the guy had a cell phone. 

I never got another phone call. 

And I've yet to find another man to pick me up. Apparently I need to start going back to the library.

Wednesday Letters: New Store, New Clothes

Dear J. Crew,

We haven't really ever met. 

I've maybe been in one of your stores twice in my life. 

It wasn't anything personal with you. I, on the other hand, have lots of issues with my weight, my body shape, etc. I feared that your very trendy and smaller sizes would not fit a curvy girl so I stayed away because I felt like you would hurt my self-esteem more than improve it.

However, you offer a discount to students. On top of sales. And so I went with a friend on Monday.

How wrong I was. How wrong indeed. 

Two sweaters and two blouses later, I'm now feeling very much more stylish than before. Also, I'm feeling cute.

So, thanks, J. Crew. I hope we meet again soon.

Love,

Emery

Mondays and Midterms

Why does it feel like I'm more tired at the end of the weekend than I was when it started?

Also, when did weekends start to go by more quickly?

Back at work, and also I have three days to finish my midterm essays. I pretty much feel like my preparation is like this graphic:

 [source]

However, I'm not really watching 30 Rock. I think I only got to Season 3 before other TV shows entered my life. But don't worry, I'm busy catching up on Downton Abbey Season 3, Merlin Season 5, NCIS, The New Girl Season 1, and The Good Wife. It's a good thing I go to the gym a couple of times a week. That's when a lot of TV show watching is happening.

But I'm determined to prevail. PREVAIL! I will beat my midterm.

Perhaps me saying it will ensure this outcome. (*cough*Wishfulthinking*cough*)

Also, I did a lot of shopping because it was necessary (or I was just avoiding my essays). Got new towels (I can't believe I got excited about towels) and Christmas decorations (apparently I can't do the whole fall decorations bit so we skip right to Christmas. And I'm READY!)

How was your weekend?

Saturday Stories: My Butt, My Property

So... I was telling you about J.J.

After the text conversation I thought things were odd...

A few months later, I was at a ward activity. It was bowling. I was enjoying myself, being on a lane with my friends, eating pizza and drinking soda. Next to us was one of our leaders and his family.

As I stood to head up to bowl my turn, I felt something slap across my butt.

That's right. My butt.

I turned and there was J.J. 

He was pointing to our leader, yet his bowling shoes were in his hand. I sensed that these were the objects that had been used to slap me.

I glared at J.J. and scoffed at his attempts to convince me that our happily married leader would slap me across the butt with his children sitting right next to us.

That was the last time we really ever spoke. I think he got the hint that flirting with me takes a little bit of effort... and subtlety. 

Tech Thursday: Finding Your Audience

Okay... back on track.

Let's talk about Twitter today.

Why should you be on twitter?

Well, it all depends on your audience. Who do you want as your audience?

This blog has some amazing infographics about the audience on twitter, but let's look at a couple of these charts:

 What do you notice?

First... there's a lot of pink... in this case, that represents females. 

That doesn't surprise me. Most of the people I follow are women. Oh, I follow some men for music information, entertainment purposes, and sports, but the majority of people I follow, respond to, mention, etc. are women. 

Second: Notice the age range... 10-20 year olds make up the biggest group followed by 21-25. Once again, females have a lead on males in those age categories.

So, if that's your audience, you should go where your audience is and join the conversation. Don't push your way into the conversation.

It's like when I go to a party. I look around and I found the group of people who I can identify with the most. Or I hope to see a friend nearby. Then I head in the direction of that group. I slide in and listen intently. And then join with my thoughts when appropriate. And suddenly, you're accepted. People respond to you. You're part of the conversation.

So... find your audience. Be there and listen intently.

Listening works both for finding your audience and also dating. Just sayin. (Of course... I'm giving myself that advice because apparently I need it...)
 

Vacation

It's been two and a half weeks. 

This is what happens when you move.

But I'm back now. Settled. The front room is mostly empty of boxes. I only have to take a couple of more trips to Target to purchase plastic bins for my nick-knacks and yarn (yep... I have a lot of yarn. I crochet. Did I mention that? I try to keep that on the DL...). So I can get back to blogging.

Since I've been away:

 Twin came into town and visited me. I gave him the grand tour of my office building.

 

 My boss said something rude so he bought me a maple bar to make it up to me.

I'm a sucker for a maple bar.

 

 Watched my sister play softball. 

She's still got it.

 Pumpkin spice is back at Starbucks. I usually get a hot chocolate.

Also, a place I frequent in the current locale is Beans & Brews. They have a maple vanilla that is to die for. Just as a recommendation.

 Why yes... I purchased new shoes that are totally not my normal style.

But I couldn't resist.

And now I'm looking at my outfit today and I realized that I should've worn them. DANG IT!

 I've discovered that Pandora is cruel.

See exhibit A above.

The weather has turned cold. There is frost on my windshield every morning.

And now an advertisement telling me about sunny vibes.

Don't worry. 77 days until Christmas and probably 75 until I'm back in San Diego.