Steal From Your Mother

I shop. A lot. As most of you know. So you would assume that my closet is a never-ending carousal of clothing constantly being rotated in and out as fashions fade. Call me annoying but for important events, I enjoy me a new outfit. So sue me. Nevertheless, there has been one article of clothing that has, and will remain, in my wardrobe cue for years: my cream wool hooded sweater.

I got this sweater from my mom's closet in high school because it was always freezing cold when I left the house at 7 a.m. each morning. After hoarding it for a while, I think my mom gave up her efforts for a permanent return and accepted that she was mine (yes, my sweater is a she). It wasn't until I'd worn the crap out of it that my mom turns to me one day and says, "Do you know how long I've had that sweater?" Uhhhhhh, no. But I have a feeling you're gonna tell me. "Forever," she says. Turns out she got it as a birthday gift from my dad either when she was in high school or shortly thereafter. The nostalgia automatically intrigued me.

I cannot tell you how many people compliment me on this sweater and ask me where I got it. It's an interesting story and great conversation starter. Even more than telling the story I love that inquiring fashionistas are unable to obtain this exact sweater.

Due to my sweater's overwhelmingly positive response, I decided to tool around my mom's closet and jewelry box a little more. Turns out mama-dearest had a ring, that she also has had since high school as well. Made out of the handle part of a spoon, it was engraved with a cursive "C" (Mama's name is Connie). I peg my obsession with finding anything and everything with either a "C" or "Carrie" on it to this very moment. After narrowing down the best excuse for requesting the ring be mine, my mom was happy to give it to me. She never wore it anyway.

Every now and then I ask my mom if I can fish through her jewelry box with her (which pisses me other sisters off) and I often find some gems. I highly recommend you all look through your mothers' stuff and starting a vintage family collection of your own. Afterall, your mom's trash could be this season's treasure.

Blogging about, well... blogging.

I love blogs. It's so much fun to read about other people's lives as they live them. Today Melanie posted a blog on Stephanie's page about a celebrity hair dresser who has a special needs daughter and I've been in the blogosphere ever since. Very touching. I read the family blog, then her blog as a hair stylist, then I wanted to add a link of her blog to my blog and realized that my blog background no longer exists. Sheesh. Anywho, I changed up the background. Do you love or what?

Point being: If any of you (assuming anyone reads this besides me) has a blog, please share. I'd love to read it. And if you don't have one, I encourage you to start writing. Thank you. Carry on...

Nerd Alert

A few months ago I was walking back to work from the post office and saw a book in the window of a consignment shop. I don't know what drew me to it, but I went in to check it out anyway. Turns out it was a hard over copy of Wuthering Heights circa 1943. I've never read the book but another urge engulfed me and I asked how much it was. $1.35. Sold.

As I walked back to work, I thumbed through the pages and observed the cover. The nostalgia of a book that was 65+ years old wasn't the only thing that intrigued me. What got me was the fact that I had, in my hand, a book that so many people before me had enjoyed; both physically in the book that I was holding and in the words Emily Bronte wrote so long ago. A classic. After examining every angle of the book, I concluded that I liked the spine the best. It looked vintage, a little worn, but charming. It was then that I decided I'd collect classic books to outfit my new bookshelf (that I bought for $30, thank you Sarah!).

It wasn't until this past weekend that I'd found some more books to add to my collection. At a used bookstore in downtown San Luis, I picked up "A Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (1960)" and "Here Lies Dorothy Parker (1939)." I got the Emily Dickinson book for obvious reasons, but the Dorothy Parker book was my true golden find. She was an author/poet in the early 20th century and a woman of my own heart. Smart, witty, and a man-hater. Love. I learned about her in my Women in Literature summer school class at Chico State and had been itching to get my hands on more of her work ever since. The hardcover book I got is only a collection of her short stories, but I picked up a paperback of a collection of her poems and stories at the used bookstore as well. I can't wait to thumb through and learn more about this literary hero of mine.

"I shall stay the way I am because I don't give a damn."
- Dorothy Parker

Freaks, Families, Fangs...

So I watch a lot of TV... what of it? I very much enjoy finding a new show and obsessing over watching all of the past episodes until I catch up to the most recent. I figured I'd share with you some of my latest victims.

Last week I rented Freaks and Geeks from the library. After I heard some good peer reviews (isn't that how it always happens?), I decided to give it a whirl. I loved it. It was smart, funny and best of all, had James Franco in it. I'm not going to sell Jason Segal short but mmmm... James Franco. Anywho, I digress. It's a shame the show only lasted a season. I will forever wonder if Sam ever confessed his love to Cindy Sanders or if Lindsay and Nick get back together. Maybe Judd Apatow will tell us in his biography someday.

It's been hard finding a good TV show these days that is so funny it'll make you fall over crying. Last show I had this experience with was The Office and, like my dating life, that fuzzy feeling fizzled after just a short period of time. Modern Family has proved to be the knight and shining armor of sitcom television these days. BRILLIANT and laugh-out-loud funny. And the best part? It's only just begun. This show is too good for just two thumbs up. I give it three thumbs up. Or I guess two thumbs and a big toe.

Last summer I spent an unspeakable night with Sarah doing nothing but eating Thai food, frozen yogurt and watching 12 straight hours of True Blood. It wasn't one of my prouder moments but it was 12 of the most addicting hours of my life. These writers probably pump this show full of subliminal messages, at the end of each episode leaving you salivating for more. Did I mention how hot Eric the vampire is? If I didn't... well.... he's hot. A great show with suspense hidden around every corner. Another great recommendation, although I might warn you, this is an HBO series so beware of some rather, ahem, graphic scenes.

Enjoy :)

Going to the chapel and we're gonna get maaaaaaaaaaarried!

Congrats to Kiersten and Ryan! I can't wait til you get Maui'd next year!

Road Rage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E9X-y3ylbY

"Daaaaaamn girl! You drive like Danica Patrick!" -Cesar Sepulveda.

I can't say I'm the best of drivers. I've never gotten a ticket (knock on wood) and I've never been at fault for a car accident. But what I can say is that I may have a mild case of road rage.

One morning on my way to work, I'm cruisin' down the 101 in the fast lane and I come up on a line of cars. I continue to drive along with traffic when I notice a maroon Mazda convertible behind me. Now, let me preface this by mentioning that one of my biggest pet peeves is when drivers start tailing you when it's obvious that I can't go any faster due to the traffic ahead. Maroon Mazda decides to ride my ass until traffic lets up and I'm the only one in the fast lane. To make Maroon Mazda pay for driving like a dip shit, I pull along someone in the slow lane and cruise at the same pace for a few miles, not allowing Maroon Mazda to get passed me. After I have myself a little chuckle, I pull ahead and sure enough, Maroon Mazda jumps in the slow lane, passes me, and the Asian lady driving Maroon Mazda(who clearly raided Liberace's closet) shakes a nasty fist at me and barrels ahead.

About to claim my victory, I see that Maroon Mazda has once again decided to ride the tail of yet another innocent victim, Silver Accord. I find myself behind Maroon Mazda and decide to stick up for my fellow Honda and tail Maroon Mazda to give her a taste of her own medicine. As soon as Silver Honda could get into the slow lane, Maroon Mazda is on to my tactics and slams on her brakes, causing me to nearly smash into her. That bitch. I proceed to scream profanities and flip her off. Through the shadows of her rear view mirror, I see her giving me the bird as well.

Much to my surprise, I instantly start laughing. I have to hand it to Maroon Mazda for being crazier than me, a feat not often reached. I slow my horse down and let Maroon Mazda speed off in a rage. A few miles and a good hard laugh later, I see Maroon Mazda getting off the freeway in Atascadero. She looks over at me from the off-ramp. As if inching past Maroon Mazda past the checkered flag, I give her a warm smile, a friendly wave (with all 5 fingers this time) and say goodbye to my foe. I win.