Things I love Thursday!

Abstract pictures: I’m a real fan of Dali, so I love pictures that seem surreal and fantastic. This picture was taken by two twins in a black room. Clearly they edited out the box that she was standing on, but it’s still kinda fun. It makes the “flying” girl seem weightless

Birds: I don’t know why I like birds so much. Maybe it’s because a lot of them are characters. They are fun to watch. This action shot was taken at the beach with a bird snipping at a chip.

Pie: I love pie. Enough said

Rainbows: I love it when you get light coming in from the window and it shines through something crystal in your house. This is a picture of a beam from my dinning room that we had back in the day at Ridge Road. I love the colors.

Altered Signs: I am still having my love affair with altered signs. Though this one is not necessarily altered, it’s just kinda funny. I don’t think you can really see it, but one sign (on the right) says: State Hwy 46 can be tolled without a public vote! Demand a vote! High cost of water, high taxes, loss of rights, invasive regulations! The sign right next to it says: Jesus is the Reason

Chocolate Labs: I miss my dog so much. She’s fat, grumpy, addicted to crack and has the worst dog breath…but I love her.

The look of “jewel lips”: This is the newest fad apparently. I can’t afford it, but it’d be pretty cool to do this for a party or something. Jewel lips. You can have gems temporarily glued to your skin and feel like you’re always worth a thousand dollars. This isn’t the first time that they’ve incorporated jewels into the makeup/fashion world. Madonna, for a while, had diamonds glued to her eyes as permanent sparkly eyeliner. I don’t know if she still has them, but it was worth 10,000 or something. Extravagance.

Raindrops on lilies: They look like small little pearls on the lily leaf.

Striking ethnic photos: I was looking through a couple of things about Afghanistan and I saw this picture. This reminds me a lot of the famous national geographic picture titled "girl", also taken in Afganistan. I love the eyes; how they contrast against everything in the picture. Truly beautiful…even if the photographer stole the idea from another.

My bed: I cannot tell you how I adore my bed. It’s warm, comfortable and frankly provides almost everything for me.

My ipod: yes they are not the best Mp3 players, nor are they the most flashy…but I like my little old-school ghetto nano (ask ghetto as an Ipod can be). It was one of the best presents I have ever recieved

Cosi salads: stuff is gooood I tell you

Post its: These things are a lot of fun. I’m coming up with new ways to use them. Soon you’ll hear it

Bright sunrises: some people like sunsets, some like sunrises. I like both, but I love the cold brightness of the dawn. It’s not as colorful, but it’s the herald of a new day. Remember tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it.

Origami boxes: I’ve made an entire mountain of them already…I don’t know why though

Dark sharpies: especially navy blue ones. If you go into the back room and draw a little fly, it’s a lot of fun watching some co-workers swat at it. You can do this really with any pen, but I only had a sharpie on hand

My office manager: she is so sweet. She gets me and I get her.

Counting the insulin bottles in the fridge: don’t ask me why

The security guard: crazy old man that shouts at you if you have your key, even though you have to have your key to get in the building.

Mail: I love mail

Minis: they make my day pass by a lot faster.

How to save a rotten day

We all have them, and I'm no exception. I normally get up at around 5 am to start my day in order to squeeze in everything that I've been must for that day. It's a pain in the ass, but it seems to be working so far. However... I'm not a drill instructor and as such I don't have the discipline to be extremely repetitive. Plus...I'm not very good at constant routine. I need and enjoy change. And I've noticed that once you get a job, the next thing you'll want is a way to get out of going. All of this combined just leads to a rotten day. So how do you turn around a really rotten day? I have many things that I do when I'm feeling not like myself.

Create Mantras: yes it seems silly. But it really helps I think. It makes you feel kinda dumb and goofy, which helps when you don't want to take anything seriously anyway. For example... today, for no real reason I shouted "Left hand green!" To me that just means to let go and just have fun.

Sit in the park and people watch: you can come up with a lot of things about people. For example girls that have long and perfectly straight hair always think they're saying "I'm a classic beauty". What it really says about them is that they are really just a total snot. Or girls that wear baby pigtails. They generally think that they're saying "Oh look at me I'm so crazy cute!" Really it just says I'm just plain crazy.

Take a walk. Sometimes it's the best way to just get out of your own head when you immerse yourself in a complete crowd.

Smile insanely. I mentioned this one earlier on in the blog. I'm telling you....try it.

phone someone: call up someone that you know will always make you feel better no matter what. For me it's always been a hand full of people that just seem to know the right thing to say

Go get a hug: I'm not a very touchy feely person, but sometimes it feels good to just hug someone. This also goes for when you should just hang out with people that love you and that you love back. It's amazing how just being with them helps you out. Even if you're doing completely stupid, like drawing on each other, it's a great way to feel better.

look: Go look at things that you really like in stores and plot ways to get it.

Buy streetsense: this is a DC thing, but there are a couple of homeless guys around that sell you newspapers. It's a great idea, a non-profit called street sense prints out the newspapers, then give them to homeless people to sell. The homeless people then get to keep a portion of the credit. I love it because it employs people, and most of the homeless that sell it are really just looking to be productive while they find a way out. A lot of them are great to talk to, and they always are really pleasant. I love buying it from them...even though I honestly don't read the articles.

Go to florists shop: Sometimes just looking at green helps you to feel better. I go in and buy myself some flowers. I deserve a little love to myself

Get some good food: I tend to get a little edgy if I'm hungry. Diabetics go through the same thing (though I'm not a diabetic). Their blood sugar gets low and it swings around their mood. I find that sometimes I feel better when I just take a bite of something I really like. Today was some Kookabura Licorice...mmmmm!

Watch birds: they are so simple and just a lot of fun. They're like miniature people, and you can always tell a character from the others.

Plot: I sometimes sit in the park (even when it's freezing outside) and just sit around and plot things. Most of the time when I sit down on good days, I just plot about squirrels...how to get them drunk, how to catapult them out a yard, how to make them really really dizzy....

stretch or go take a nap: For the same reason as grabbing a bite to eat, sometimes an off balance set of emotions is because you're just really tired. I can't take a nap in my office, but if you can you should. It's healthier and will help you get through the rest of the day. I close the door to my office and just stretch around or sit really quietly.

Listen to some music: But remember to keep it upbeat. You're not helping anyone feel better by being mopey. Or watch a movie; again with the upbeat material there. I know that Requiem for a dream is an awesome movie, but it's really really depressing.

Read some poetry: Even write your own, or create something. I like to do this a lot. I'll make cards, write letters, draw a picture, or just make something origami. I am not an origami wizard (far from it), but it distracts me. Sometimes I'll even make lists...since I really like to make them (I love Thursdays anyone?) and normally these "sad" lists are just things that I want to do.

Go to a bar: sometimes you just want a good drink

Dance: I dance around a lot in my room. It feels really stupid sometimes but if you force yourself through the stupid parts you eventually get to enjoy it.

Make faces at nothing and no one: I'm making one right now probably

Pamper yourself. Go brush your teeth (hey! at least you'll have good teeth right?) or just soak in a hot tub with a cup of tea and a good book. Light some candles too if you like or replace the bulb with an dark light, that's always fun.

There are tons of other things that I do when I'm having just a completely horrible day (and one day I'll share more with you), but for now I'm going to go out for a walk myself, to plot about the squirrels and people watch.

10 Things that everyone should know

It's a tough world out there, and everyone needs an arsenal of things to keep themselves together. I like to call myself a fairly independent woman, but there are always things that help me out.

1. How to grab a bartender's attention:
This is really very tricky, but the name of the game is just to get noticed. Bartenders are used to people waving and shouting at them, so patience is the best weapon in your arsenal. But you can't rely on charm only, so here's a tip: keep moving. Don't wait as if you're wating in line. Instead, follow the bartender. Most bartenders move from one end and work their way to the other. Once you spot which direction the bartender is going to be headed, put yourself in that line of sight. Make sure you have money or a card visible in your hand. This will signify that you are ready to purchase drinks, and it won't take as long. Plus, know what you're getting ahead of time, a bartender can do just what a waiter does: I'll come back in a moment, and then you never see them again

2. Use a public restroom without picking up germs:
You're unlikely to catch an STD even in the grungiest bathroom, but there are tons of disease-causing bugs in there...including E.Coli. The toilet seat is not that germy actually, but still make sure that you put a barrier between the seat and yourself. This can be a little bit of toilet paper or a toilet gaurd. The real important things are flushing and washing. Flushing a toilet actually send fecal particles up to 20 feet in the air, so get out of the stall, wash your hands and leave. Don't linger so long in there *ahem* girls.

3. Fake goodlooks:
Your boss calls an emergency meeting for five inutes from now, or you spot your ex in a cafe, and of course "Murphy's Law" you're not looking your best. These work for guys and girls.
* Splash a little cold water on your face. This will temporarily tighten your pores and help even out your skin tone.
* Blot oil with a napkin, a towel, or even your t-shirt. The best thing to use though is tissue since it's porous enough to pick it up wihtout sticking.
* Camouflage breakouts with eye-drops...they don't make the zit disappear, but they do take the red-coloring temporaily out of the skin around it, making it easier to blend in.
*run your teeth over your lips. This will highten bloodflow to your lips, and will remove any obvious loose flakes. Then put some petrollium jelly on your lips. (Girls suck on some candy that will stain your lips)
* Pinch your cheeks for color

4. Fit everything into your bag:
My guy friends always laugh at me when they see me with my big purse. I carry a big purse during the week for a reason...because it fits everything. But I've come to accept that there must be ways to fit everything you need in a regular sized bag. And really this isn't just for girls, guys could learn this to so that they can minimalistic. First, you have to redefine what everything means. You have to lower this down to day-to-day essentials. I'm talking about your keys, wallet, sunglasses, cellphone, and super basics. Anything else that you don't carry with you everyday, should stay at home or at work. Then go with a size that will fit it all. Don't buy a super mini-clutch if you carry a notebook with you everywhere. Make sure that there are several smaller pockets inside the bag. Stash large items like your wallet in the main part of the bag, while your tinier things (such as your keys) should be in the pockets. That way, the big things will always be visible and the little ones won't get lost. Keep consistant when you switch bags. For example, always put your keys in the inner zippered pocket, your cell phone in the outer pouch, and so on. If you keep things consistent, you'll always know where everything is and you'll be able to reach in with your eyes closed and pull out exactly what you're looking for. Lastly, make sure that the bag has a lighter linning than the back on the inside. It's easier to see what you're looking for when the background is something that can contrast against it.

5. How to make a great omlet every single time:
Heat 2 ounces of butter (or 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, in a nonstick pan set on medium, and coat the entire bottom evenly. Add three beaten eggs to the pan, then (and this is key) continually push the cooked edges toward the center of the pan. You want to keep the eggs moving so that they don't stick. When the eggs become firm, cover half of the omelet with your fillings (think diced ham, cheese, veggies). With the spatual, fold the other side of the omlet over the filling side so it makes a half circle. After 30 seconds slip it onto a plate.

6. Set a mental alarm clock:
This become inportant when crashing at places on a weeknight, and there's no alarm clock. Try this next time: start by making sure the room is dark but not pitch black. If light get in your body won't be able to wake up. So as you're lying down, ready to drift off, tell yourself that you're going to wake at...say...seven. Say it over and over in your mind-I will wake up at seven- and at the samet time, envision the numbers on an imaginary clock. You should awaken at or very close to the desired time.

7. Talk and eavesdrop at the same time:
Mastering this talent gives you the percet cover when you're listening in on something. You can completely tune in to a nearby converation if you make a few mechnicali movements wiithin your own discussion that indicate you're paying attention but don't require actual focus. Lean slightly toward the person talking to you; this convey's an eagerness to hear what htey have to say, even though you're actually checked out. Maintain steady eye contact and nod your head occasionally. Every 30 seconds or so, volunetter a vague verbal cue like "right" "yeah". These words are easy to spit out without thought, so they relate to any topic.

8. Freshen you breath without a toothbrush:
Get some carbonated water, and swish it around in you mouth. This washes away food particles caught in your teeth or on the back ofyour tounge that cause odor. Then take a few bites (if you can) of crunchy vegtables. Apples, oranges, carrots, cucumbers, celery, and lettuce. These help cleanse your teeth naturally. If you can, much on parsley...which is a pretty efective breath-booster.

9. Fix a broken shoe:
Conquering the this common nightmare requires an easy preemptive maneuver-arming yourself at all times with the right extrastrong glue. One brand--> E-6000. Coat a thin layer on the hell, the press it firms against the back of your shoe. It's super strong and sets in in minutes, but go easy on your feet for a while, as it takes a while for the glue to set in completely. E-6000 is generally sold at craft stores, so if you don't have one nearby go for gorilla glue...which is more common and equally strong.

10. Tell a funny story:
I am probably the worst person to give this advice as I have the most awkward sense of humor. I'm one of those people that will laugh at exactly the most inappropriate times. But, I do know a few tips that I've noticed in other people. First rule of thumb: edit out the related details. "Keep your story short, clear, and to the point. If it doesn't matter what the main characters were wearing or what kind of car they drove, don't bore everyone with these tangents. Second, have fun telling your story without giving away the punch line. Go ahead and laugh while you're talking, it'll encourage others to do it too. Just don't give away the punch line early on. It's always best to keep it as a surprise.

Weekend Review

Weekend Review:

Hello one and all. I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend, and that they did something exciting and fun. My weekend was pretty good, though not as action packed as I had originally wanted it to be.

After work on Friday, I headed out to a Shabbat dinner invitation. Now, for those of you who don’t know what Shabbat dinner is, it is the weekly Sabbath (understand now-Shabbat, Sabbath) in Judaism. This is a day that symbolizes the seventh day of rest, in genesis when god rested from the six days of creation. Christians have this day too, it’s technically Sunday. In Judaism it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, and is observed from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday.

The dinner was hosted by my friend Michelle and her boyfriend Jon at Michelle’s house. They’ll have to forgive me if I miss anything out, or if I spell some things wrong as I’m spelling them the way that they sounded to me when Jon said them.

It begins with everyone washing their hands and then sitting down at the table. The table is covered in food (which I don’t know if it’s traditional or not, but there was a lot of food here). At the ends of the table sit the host and hostess. To her right there are two small candles, and to his left there is something of a chalice, which is called the Kos L’Kiddush. The two candles are lit-one symbolizing the act of refraining from activity, and the other symbolizing the act of remembering Shabbat. Traditionally the women of the household light the candles, though it’s not gender specific.

Before the actual meal, it is customary to sing a song of welcome to the Sabbath angels and followed by Brachot (blessings) over the Yayin (wine) and Lechem (bread), which is also called Challah. I must state that I have never heard Jon sing before, and it was really very nice and uplifting. After all of this, everybody eats, talks, drinks and just enjoys the evening. It reminded me a lot of my family dinners since I didn’t even notice the time pass.

When everyone is done eating, the host sings another song (or prayer) to end the Shabbat dinner. I felt a little bad because Jon was trying to finish his song and the rest of us continued to talk and chatter away. I made a point of not talking to him at that time because I know that if it had been me…I would’ve lost my place. It was really a lot of fun and I would gladly do it again.

I was going to stay the whole night, but had completely forgotten that I had already promised Corrine I would show up to her gathering at her house in Falls Church. So I ushered myself out Michelle’s and heading back down 66 towards Corrine’s house. For those of you who don’t know this already, Corrine is a combination of friend, sister and mother. She loves to take care of you, and her house is always so homey. I love it. Plus, we always drink wine and talk about absolutely nothing and everything.

I didn’t get to bed till around 4 am, but it was well worth it to see everyone and to experience a more personable Shabbat (the last one wasn’t as welcoming to a non-Jew).

Saturday and Sunday were mostly days of reflection, sleep, and shopping. I am pretty happy though. I saw Michelle and Jon again, shared stories from childhood, bought a new mask to make for tomorrow, and bought a couple of pieces of felt (I’ll tell you why when I’m done with them, it’s a surprise!). I also finally bought the clay that I had wanted to get. I haven’t played with clay since I was in high school art class, so I wanted to pick it up again and see what I could create. I’ll post pictures of that in a bit too.

So that’s about it, now your turn! How was your weekend?

CUPCAKE MINI!!!!!!!!

Smile therapy:
If you’re feeling super crappy, crabby, or cranky, smile like crazy at everyone. Small children, small animals, and adults of all sizes will smile back at you, which may make you feel better. BUT what’s even cooler is this: if you smile a lot when you’re totally stressed or depressed, you’ll feel like a raving lunatic, which is kind of demented but really fun for variety and will definitely make you feel better

It's Friday!

• It’s that day! Friday! Carousel! Time to keep you occupied!
  
  
• You got to love it when people come up with corny jokes to advertise something
  
  
• How can the three little pigs be offensive?
  
  
• Who says cats don’t have 9 lives?
  
  
• Addictive little game: I’m telling you DON’T play it!
  
  
• I love this artist. I mean she’s a little kooky but I think she’s great and it takes a lot of imagination and knowledge of wielding in order to do what she does.
  
  
• How about this for when you're having a bad hair day?
  
  
• Deliciously creepy photos
  
  
• This is really just an excuse to see half-naked girls fighting...and not a photoshoot for vogue
  
  
• Would you like to meet Mr. Nightmare before easter?
  
  
  
  Not as scared of it as I am zombies...but pretty damn close. Seriously will someone please tell me who was working in ads and marketing over at Ferrero for the Kinder Surprise line in the 80s? Leprechauns? Crackheads? Seriously. I am confounded and terrified. Can anyone out there tell me where these demonic puppetmasters have gone? I must know!
  
  
  This guy is awesome:
  
  
  Now I believe that all of these things will keep you occupied for about an hour or two…perhaps…I’ll have a mini for you later.

I love thursdays!

Altered signs: Most people don’t notice them but if you stop and take a look, a lot of them are actually really funny. They brighten up even the dreariest day.

Bright tights: Well I’m not a fan of the banana yellow on me, but on other people the color looks great. I’m more into reds and blues

Confused birds: Birds are some of the most curious of all the creatures, provided that they’re not afraid. They can be wonderfully entertaining if you take the time to look at them

Ethereal pictures: I love those pictures that make it seem like the object/person you’re looking at is something out of the world. An unearthly beauty in this case where she looks almost like a doll, or a Norse goddess.

Strong ballet dancers: Ballet is a serious thing. Not only is it one of the most beautiful and expressive forms of dance, it also takes a martial-arts-like mentality. To hold those poses and to control your body's own innate strength in seemingly unnatural positions, just amazes me every time. Look closely at this picture and you’ll see exactly what I mean.

Girls that don’t know how beautiful they really are: My friend Ashley is beautiful. She’s not conventionally beautiful, but I love to look at her. She has very round features that would at first seem sturdy, but actually are rather delicate. I love this picture of her because the detail in the plant shoots behind her give her an almost whimsical ambience. She could easily, in my wild imagination, be stepping out of a fairytale.

Masks: I’m going through a phase where I want a masquerade mask. It’s almost Sinful Tuesday (the beginning of lent) and Mardi Gras (which celebrates Sinful/Fat Tuesday). I’m going to make a mask as soon as I buy the supplies. I promise to post some pictures.

Droplets of water frozen in cool positions: I used to play a lot with water. When I was younger I used to sneak into the kitchen and watch the maids cook the dinner. It used to be a game for me to dip my hand into a bowl of cool water and the throw droplets onto the hot stove pieces to watch the water sizzle and evaporate. I called it dancing water. I used to also try and catch droplets of water that I drizzled into larger bowls. Ahhh, childhood.

I love crazy blogs: this seems like a person you want to take advice from...

My personal office heater: It’s small and it smells kinda musty (not to mention I always feel like it’s about to explode), but my office is freezing. Therefore I love what keeps me warm.

Office supplies: I know it’s going to sound really geeky, but I love looking into the closest of the office and seeing it stacked full of supplies. I don’t even have to take any of them, I just like to look

Cobbler: I often express my affection through sensual means. One of these means of expression is by making sweet things, like cobbler. I’ll share a recipe with you later if you like. Yummmm cobbler!

Sugarflowers: Look at them! I so desperately want to learn how to make them!

My new minis: not necessarily mini-skirts or anything, but rather the mini-posts that I do. I will eventually upgrade them to something better. Perhaps you'll get one later on today

A-CUPCAKE-MINI!!! --> Things to do in an office meeting:

Office meetings…ugggh….everyone hates them whether or not they admit it. You have to sit there in a room that is generally too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. Not to mention you always have to smile no matter who sits next to you, even if you can’t stand the person. Unfortunately they are essential in the 9 to 5 world. My experience with office meetings is actually a pretty long one. Office meetings are really just long lectures, like the kind you have in college. Sometimes you give the presentation, sometimes you watch, but always you’re thinking “I could be doing anything else than this”. But there are ways to get through it.

Now I am not telling you that all meetings are useless, there’s always some measure of attention you must pay to a meeting. They wouldn’t call them if there wasn’t something that they specifically wanted you to hear. However, some offices *ahem-mine* have a habit of calling staff office meetings every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. For an entire hour of my life I’m stuck in a room where most people just repeat what they said the day before. Here are some amusing tips to get through them.

Multi-task thinking: View meetings as unofficial social mixers where men and women of all levels get to come to check each other out while pretending to do business. Here is where you try to form a coherent sentence while at the same time imagining the most random, obscure things about the other person. For example, try explaining your recent project (for the ump-teenth time) to a colleague while at the same time imagining that person nibbling an earlobe, or dancing The Macarena.

The busy-bee: if you’re one of the few that receive a company blackberry, send yourself a million texts and leave the phone on vibrate. Make sure that there is an appropriate amount of time that the phone rests on the table by making sure that it doesn’t go off in your hand. Keep reaching for it, and clicking one button and then putting it down immediately. People will always thing you’re super busy if your phone is always going off.

Attention rush: Some people get the urge to sleep after hearing the same information again and again. This is actually natural, as the brain when stimulated with repetitive information will filter it like your spam filter in your email. The natural response to this, since you’re sitting down, is to go into temporary standby phase. The trick to not slumping down your head and napping make eye contact with anyone! You’re less inclined to fall asleep and you look really intense as you stare into the speaker’s eyes and make your coworkers think that you’re onto something new.

Gym-Gym-boree! : Work on some muscles baby! Flex those buns, tighten those abs! Not only will you stay awake, but most people won’t even notice that you’re doing a mini-workout.

Bring a notebook: Bring a notebook to the meeting and start scribbling. This helps if you have bad handwriting since no one will even attempt to read your notes. But, you’ll look super productive and get brownie points for making whoever is talking feel important, and whoever is watching like an ass. Of course you’re really writing about anything but what the person is talking about

Have fun: girls….rub, release, rub, release…repeat. Dare to go as far as you will. Sorry guys, but just know that at least ONE girl in the room is doing it, let your imagination soar.

Spin your pencil: You may drop it a million times during the meeting, but you’ll have a super cool skill that everyone else around will want to do. I’m serious! Try it, swirl and spin your pen around your fingers like a baton, pretend you’re only interested in what the speaker is saying and take side glances at the people around you. You’ll notice that they’re starting to twirl their own while watching your movements.

I will probably think of a few more while in my own staff meeting

*Did you know that Tonic water glows? *

What you really need to know about Gin:
Have you ever been to a deluxe bar, which takes its cocktails seriously, and opened up the drinks menu, only to be overwhelmed with the list of Gins, vodkas etc? Well, Danearys is here to help you. As much as I can that is. This is a guide to that most sophisticated, wonderfully complex of spirits; Gin.

What is Gin?
Gin is a clear grain spirit enhanced by the fragrant juniper berry, which in Dutch is genever. Essentially you could say that it’s juniper-flavored vodka, but it’s a tad more sophisticated than that. Pervious myths whispered that Gin is made in bathtubs, on the contrary mes Amies. Gin is blended in copper-pot stills where the spirit is boiled. The botanicals-any herbs, spices and fruits that you can imagine (including nutmeg, orris, angelica root and orange peel) are added directly to the bubbling elixir. This is the most common way of infusing gin with its various flavors. However, in a few choice distilleries, these botanicals are suspended over the copper pots in copper baskets and vapor-extracted. This gives the gin a more delicate taste.

What makes a Quality Gin?
The best gins come from distillers who make their base spirit on-site, or get it from small artisans that micro manage the procedure. Smart distillers then blend the freshest botanicals with curatorial discretion. What you want is a gin that has balance, complexity and smells more like a garden than aftershave. Good gins have a good smell. In order to reveal these it’s a pretty good idea to add a few drops of water to the gin, treating it like a scotch. Just like wine, you should be able to pick out the different parts, the norm being between a citrus, sweet and tangy scent. Always avoid gins that have long lists of ingredients, as there should never be too many botanicals. Gin should always have one or two signature taste characteristics rather than a jumble of ingredients. If you can’t tell what the hell the different ones are, it’s probably not a premium gin. Avoid gins that aren’t labeled “distilled”. This means that they’re compounded mixture of tanker-truck booze, lab manufactured flavors, and will light your lungs on fire! Believe me, it’s kinda painful and sickening.

The history of Gin:
Many people argue about the origins of Gin. As I understand it, the contention is between Italy and Holland. Italy claims that it had created the drink at the Salerno Medical School, which it had used in various celebrations. Holland claims that Franciscus Sylvius, a Dutch doctor in Leyden, created the infusion of juniper berries and distilled grain produce as a remedy for weak kidneys and stomach disorders. Either way, all sources agree that the drink was most common in Holland.

During the 30 years war, English troops fighting in the lowlands were given “Dutch courage”, and took the concoction back to England for mass production. The distillation process was fairly easy to recreate in England and various laws actively encouraged the home distillation of spirits. This mass production lowered the price of Gin and soon became a firm favorite with the poor, as it was cheaper than beer and ale, and had a warming quality. The influx of gin in the market suppressed the production of good gin, but the quantity consumed continued to rise. Suddenly the abuse of alcohol became a major social problem, leading to such terms as “down gin lane”; a description for areas that were scenes of idleness, vice, misery and death.

The problem was tackled in 1736 by passing the Gin Act, making gin prohibitively expensive. Previously a license to retail gin cost £3 ($258.87 today), to £50 ($4314.50 today). Over time the cost lowered, but only marginally. Gin became more expensive to distill, increasing quality and social rank by making it a commodity that only the rich could afford. It continued to rise as technological improvements allowed for beer and ale to become cheaper, and refined a drier gin. In the late 1800s, gin became a popular favorite in gentlemen’s clubs, where it was added to various cocktails (such as “Pink Gins”), leading to the habit of mixing gin with unpleasant tasting liquids[1]. Thus leading to today’s view of Gin.

So how do you drink it, and top choices?
Sure there’s tonic (a personal favorite), but there are other ways to enjoy your gin if you don’t enjoy the taste of quinine. Consider not mixing your gin at all. If it’s a good gin, it won’t make you feel like your liking a car battery. Make a martini but skip the vermouth, which personally doesn’t appeal to me anyway. Why mix gin with flavored wine? Gin is the Rolls-Royce of cocktail spirits, so it advocates drinking it slow and straight, or strained after some easy shaking over ice. Why shake? The shaking introduces oxygen to the drink which enhances the botanical ingredients making them much easier to recognize and to pop out. You can also add little garnishes to the drink which will melt in with the juniper; cucumber is an interesting choice, and I’ve seen several add in a couple of pearl onions.
But, Gin doesn’t follow any strict recipes-it requires juniper…that’s about it- so distillers can get creative with their blends and create specific tastes. Premium distillers make mixes that make sense, and have some uncommon but complimenting ingredients. Remember that what makes the gin a beautiful drink is the fact that they are blended with skill and intention, revealing a thoughtfulness, and complexity you won’t find in other spirits.

Suggestions:

• 
  Bluecoat: A little sugary. It’s got a lemon drop candy flavor that’s pretty light.
• Bulldog: This gin is drier than most and…exotic. This I think is because it adds a botanical called dragon eye, which in my personal opinion is awesome in an of itself
• No. 209: This is thick and very tangy…not a personal favorite but it certainly clears up the nasal passages.
• Aviation: Spicy! Not in the buffalo wing sense, but rather in the cardamom and anise sense.
• Leopold’s: I can never really put this right on place it’s always a tie between citrus and spice
• Hendrick’s: It’s got cucumber and is probably one of the best that you can start on. It’s got an unusual taste but it’s still one of the most drinkable gins.

Now these are just suggestions, I’m not saying these are the best. I’m just offering them up as ones that would make a good start for people looking for a variety of tastes. There is absolutely nothing wrong with other brands, so go ahead…raise your glass…take a sip! Gin and Tonic for me

[1] Enter the “Gin and Tonic”. Previously called “Indian tonic water”, gin was added to tonic water to disguise the taste of the quinine necessary to fight malaria in the tropics, during the campaigns of the East India Company

Weekend Review

Well hello my pretties!

Welcome to another week. Some of you lucky individuals don't work today; due to Martin Luther King. For the more international of you readers, there is a holiday dedicated to Marting Luther King, and some offices take the chance to honor him by freeing their repressed workers. Other people are not so lucky...no comment.

Anyway, today is weekend review day so we'll get right down to it.

It's always a good thing to connect with your family at some point in your independent life. So, after a long hard day at work on friday, I figured that instead of the usual mellow out time with monsieur pillow and madam DVD, I went directly to my parent's house and simply talked to my mother. We gossiped, talked about our lives and of course (cause you can never avoid it in my family) talked about politics. Even though I am independent of my parents now, and have lived long enough to develop my own views on various topics, I continue to learn from them. Someone once told me that having kids enriches your life. It works both ways. Honor thy mother and father, the fourth commandment calls for.

The next day was another bonding experience with the family, but of a different kind. Having just moved into my new apartment, I need furniture. We had the furniture bond. A little too early on saturday morning my mother, my sister and I drove to the IKEA store outside of the city. For those of you who don't know what the heck IKEA is, it is a swedish company that sells cheap, modern furniture. It is a newbs best friend as far as decoration (note newb= newbie). Now, even IKEA can be expensive but it's generally the right amount. Word of advice though, save up because it's actually cheaper to buy all of your stuff in one go and have it delivered at a flat rate, which is 80. Than have to buy separately and pay 80 for each delivery.

But I digress, back to bonding. There is such a thing as furniture bonding. This stems from the decoration bonding act, and is a tricky endeavor as sometimes the bonding isn't really positive. Positive bonding leads to a feeling of general love, and the idea that you are your bonding fellow's daughter/sister/whatever. Negative bonding leads to the idea that you hate the other person and that they are trying to decorate your house for you. Luckily...that has never happened with me. This was a good IKEA bonding. We arrived just as the store was opening and decided to indulge in the food that they were serving for breakfast at the time. Let me tell you, the Swedish think of everything: Swedish fish, Swedish models- Swedish breakfast for 1.99! After an hour or two of looking around I saw many things that I wanted...but that I could not yet afford all in one go. That was pretty depressing, but I did enjoy helping my mom and sister decide.

After that I cleaned up my house a bit, which really just lead to it being even MORE of a mess. In order to be organized, I realize, that you must first disorganize everything. It proved to be somewhat fruitless, so at around 9 o'clock I called a couple of friends and headed out.

Old town Alexandria is really very charming, and full of bars/restaurants/clubs. Since I was very much into jazz and blues at that moment, I went to a charming little jazz club. The food was great, the music was great...the drinks were great. I do not remember the name of the jazz club, but I'm pretty sure I could recognize the club from the outside when I go back. Immediately afterwards I went to a basement club where they were playing renditions of 80's pop. It's called 219 basement's on King street. I don't think I'll go back, simply because it was a pretty dirty, small, cramped space. At the time I didn't mind it so much, but now that I look back...it wasn't that great.

Sunday was spent recovering from a night of frivolity. I slept a bit, then went to chipotle and returned to my friend Michelle's house to play trivia pursuit till 2 am. Probably not the most sound of choices, but it's a fun game. You learn the most random of things, and even when you don't know the answer it's fun to take a guess. Most of the time for the 90's headliners we just shouted Bill Clinton if we didn't know the answer.

Now it's your turn! What did you do?

Thursday

I love naturally, oddly shaped food. I found a picture of these crazy carrots and have named The Cowboy and The Siamese

Altered signs. I remember taking a few of these that just made me laugh. The “welcome to our farm” picture has the scariest drawn berry monster, and the “cliff” one reminds me of Fred Astaire in “put’n on the ritz”

Gnomes

Gorgeous women of the week: Kate Moss and Maya

SNOW! It’s snowing! Mind you, I don’t like the cold, but I love snow.

Humidifiers. I plan on getting one for my apartment because it is so damn dry and hot, and because of this I get sick all the time now. I used to think that it was a doctor’s paranoia when they told me to moisturize my skin heavily during the winter months because if not I get sick. I don’t mock them anymore. I’ve done my research, the drier the skin, the easier it is for germs and other pathogens to get into your system.

Making lists…I am such a geek

Editing my bosses’ work. I know that sounds stupid, but I don’t really mind it. It keeps my brain running and I ensures that I don’t forget everything I learned in school

Water. I have to start drinking more. Mainly because I woke up this morning with “dry” cuts on my hands, where you skin is so dry it become brittle.
Boots: I love boots

Plans for creating things. I want to start making things again and this weekend I intend on starting a new project. I have no idea what it is yet, but I’m sure I’ll come up with something soon

Stupid people, they annoy the hell out of me but amuse me too.

Why does everyone compare stuff to walmart?

So you succeeded in ending crime through cameras huh? The next logical step is to remove the cameras that helped you end it.

Happy Thursday!

How to be a Gentleman:
This morning I was on the metro along with the thousands of other 9 to 5ers, getting ready to trudge through another day, I witnessed at least a dozen strapping young men standing around idle as an old lady tried to drag her packed wheelie case down the escalators and onto the train. Totally appalled, I stood up from my seat (which, incidentally, was snapped up immediately by another selfish, slack jawed human bystander), walked past everyone and lifted the wheelie up into the train just before the doors closed on it. It took me five seconds and minimal effort, but she was so surprised and so grateful for it. Everyone around me looked at me strangely, like I was some freak of nature.

It got me thinking though — I’ve always been told that while I am on an equal playing field with men, I am still a woman and it is, in a sense, my duty to be ladylike when a man is a gentleman towards you. I remember a time when guys held doors open, said ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, and charming men gave up their seats for the elderly, a pregnant lady, or someone who just looked like they’d had a rough day.

So what the hell happened? Well, believe it or not, but my male friends actually do voice their confusion and frustration after dates or nights out with friends, about not knowing what to say to a girl or how to act to show them they are actually a genuinely nice guy. They want to be pleasant, nice, and funny but don’t want to be dismissed as just ANOTHER guy with only one thing on their mind. They want to be polite, but not offensive. In essence, they want to be a gentleman.

See, chivalry’s not dead. It just got confused. With the push of equal opportunity and political correctness, I think most guys have the right intentions. It’s really easy sometimes to offend a girl just by being polite — as stupid as that sounds. Some guys unfortunately have good intentions, but come on way too strong or don’t know how to deliver. Others only use politeness as a way to pick up chicks, thus ruining it for everyone. The remainder? Well, they’re just jerks.
So here’s my guide to being the perfect modern gentleman. I say modern, because there are several things that have since my upbringing have become outdated, or are just impractical. For example, I was always told that a gentleman stands up whenever a lady at the table stands up. While in formal settings this is still somewhat of a requirement, it is no longer something everyone does if you’re hanging out in a restaurant. It’s actually ineffectual as you can easily get in the way of the person trying to leave. So this is just a quickie guide, in the hope that everyone can exercise some of this in the real world, and foretell the comeback of nice gestures and gallantry.

First Impressions:
A gentleman takes care of his appearance. This does not mean that you have to dress in the best clothes with precise knowledge of the latest trends. It just means that you’re presentable and give the best first impression that you can give. Now you can stick to your personal style if you like, but just remember the basics: Clean teeth, Fresh Breath, groomed hair (In various orifices on your body), clean nails, deodorant, clean clothes, and healthy skin (not flaking or chapped because its dry…no one wants to kiss someone that reminds them of a leper…well unless you’re into that).
You know that amazing feeling when you’re out somewhere and a cute girl flashes you a smile? Now nothing necessarily can come from it, and she might be down the road and around the corner by the time your brain’s caught up with the rest of you. But it’s still nice to have an acknowledgement that a cute girl thinks you look nice, or dress nice, or that she digs your shoes, so you must be worth the effort. Newsflash, superstud! Girls get that same amazing feeling if you smile at them first! And it’s the simplest, easiest, cheapest nice gesture you can give.

It’s all about delivery though, and I think this is the biggest problem guys face. Girls are scary. We’re like sharks in the water, we smell fear. I can see how guys are afraid of us; especially the ones they think are cute. I know tons of guys that have loads of stuff to talk to a girl about, have frozen still in their tracks because they are not sure how to actually talk to one, or acknowledge one. The trick is something that I can’t expound enough; a little belief in yourself. Confidence. That’s the key

Most guys over think things though, and try to cram too much into a smile. Obviously, your smile shouldn’t say, “Hey baby. You are one sexy mama and you should shimmy over here!” Nor should it say, “Hey. I think you’re cute and I was wondering if you wanted to come and hang out and have a chat and see if we have something in common because if we do I think it’d be awesome to hang out and go somewhere some place sometime and do something because I think you’re cool and interesting.”

Try and smile at someone as if you’re saying “Hey! What’s up?” without words. Because essentially, that’s all a smile to a stranger should say. Nothing may come of it, and that’s fine. All you want to do with a smile is give her your acknowledgement and respect. She might take it on board and that’ll be that. At least you brightened someone’s day. If you’re lucky though, she’ll flash you a “Hi. Not much…” smile back. And those, my friend, are awesome!

A compliment is a great way to break the ice or strike up a conversation with someone, but again, you need to be smart about it. You need to understand that a compliment is only good if it’s sincere. Don’t make stupid, back-handed sarcastic ones. And it can’t be too superficial either. So you think she’s cute or pretty. Of course you do, that’s why you’ve noticed her. Just stop and try not to be really shallow about it — what is it about her that you like? Try and work it out, but don’t blatantly stare while you do so, because you’ll look like a creep. It’s a delicate balance, I know, but it’s something we all need to learn: a general compliment will make you sound like Johnny Everyguy, and she’s heard all that before. Say something really specific or weird and you’re a creep that she’ll be telling her friends about over coffee tomorrow.

So if you find yourself noticing a girl some place and you want to be a gentleman about it, quickly ask yourself why you’ve noticed her. Maybe she’s got a button or a tee from an obscure band you like. Is she sitting at a table and reading your favorite magazine. Perhaps she’s just ordered that weird cocktail that it seems no one else but you like at your favorite bar. Or maybe you love her laugh and just had to talk to her. Something not so shallow, a little different, but most importantly, honest. That’s what you’re aiming for here. And that’s what’ll set you apart from the fifty other guys that have already stared at her boobs tonight, telling her she has a pretty “smile”

Keep things positive: I mentioned above the ‘back-handed compliment’. Girls reading this will know what this is. I see and hear guys do these all the time, and I don’t for the life of me understand it. A guy will be interested in a girl, strike up a conversation and all is fine. But suddenly it’s like the 10-year-old inside of him takes over and he’s pulling the cute girl’s pigtails again — making sarcastic comments, saying negative things to ‘playfully tease’ the girl, flirting with their friends to ‘play hard to get’ (which can work sometimes, but a lot of the times you come of as someone that just likes to flirt), sending mixed messages or just generally saying things that could be taken a number of ways. I don’t get it, and I’m sure most girls don’t want to play these games. So stop it.

Keeping the gentleman flowing: Okay, so you’ve embraced your inner White Knight. She can see the nice guy you are and now you don’t want to mess it up. What do you do next?
Nothing, that’s what! Come on, this stuff is really easy and SHOULD be coming naturally for you. Maybe you’ve just regressed into Caveman Mode, forgotten it all and gone over to the Dark Side. Well, bring yourself back to the light: it just boils down to being respectful. If going out on a date, pick the girl up or at least make sure you’re on time to meet her wherever you’re going. Let her sit first, or be extra courteous and pull out her chair to let her sit. Let her order first, engage in some appropriate conversation, listen to what she says, don’t start eating until you both have your meals, and make sure she’s comfortable and content throughout the meal. Obvious, huh?

And even if you have fallen for a girl who’s really switched on to the modern, PC way of life you can still be a gentleman. There’s such a good balance between males and females these days that we’re lucky to be part of, but most guys seem to take advantage of. For example, splitting a bill was frowned upon back in the fifties and most people go dutch these days. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t offer to pay. It’s just manners. Politeness. A great gesture. It’ll make her feel special. Just make sure it’s not an empty gesture. Because there’s nothing worse than that, and it’s game over well and truly if you’re found out to be a snake.

Check the cavemen at the door: This isn’t supposed to be a ‘how to talk to girls’ article though. My main point is that the more masculine half of the population used to be far nicer and respectful. I mean, what the hell happened? I’m not saying times are back to the point where you should take off your cloak and lay it in the mud to save a girl’s shoes. But the old lady on the metro just made me realize what the world is like right now. And frankly, I felt ashamed of every person that had just stood and watched her. Don’t discriminate either, if the old lady had been a blonde haired, large chested lass dragging a shopping cart onto a tram, suddenly every guy there would’ve been Don Juan reincarnated.

Why do you have to be interested in someone to be a gentleman? People say that guys will do anything for a pretty face, and isn't that the truth. For shame, boys! That’s not how it should be at all. So I issue you a challenge: treat everyone the same and be a polite gentleman anyway — even if it’s just for the sake of being nice. Do at least one good deed a day, to anyone, anytime. In fact, do a million good deeds.

Seriously, do it! I dare you

There’s nothing wrong with being nice to a stranger. I admit, times have changed since the old days when your parents were young, polite bucks and Boy Scouts were helping old grannies to cross the street. ‘Stranger danger’ is rife in everyone’s attitudes, and sometimes someone won’t even appreciate your efforts to be nice.

But that shouldn’t mean you keep to yourself and only interact with those you know, running in the same old circles. Where’s the fun in that?! A while ago, I made friends with a girl who was in the same class (back in the college days). I’d seen her all over campus a few times, and one time she had a heap of bags full of books and notepads. When we got off, I offered to help her out since my hands were empty and we were heading the same way. Nothing suspicious, no hidden motives – it was just a nice gesture. And she appreciated it. I was just someone who’d offered to help her out. And from that came a great new friendship.

I’m not a student any more, but we do catch up from time to time, and she’s got some awesome friends who I now count as my friends too. And it all started from a mere compliment and a nice gesture.

These are just the basics…I won’t get into the large pedigree of etiquette that has been engrained in my head…and which I generally ignore myself (I don’t always wear only A-line skirts). But this will help you get the advantage in getting that cute girl that you would like to know more about.
Good Luck!

Because all 9 to 5ers suddenly find so much joy in the weekend, you may have noticed that I don’t post much on the weekends. This is because I’m generally out and about trying out the things I’ve been longing to do all week. Granted nothing stops me from doing any of these things during the weekdays…but it’s very hard to get up at 5 am if you JUST went to bed an hour or two before.

Anyway, this weekend was a road trip weekend. I went up to the Delaware coast or Delmarva as the locals call it. I had never been there during the winter so it was an experience really. The town that I went to was Bethany Beach. It runs right along the coast and is just south of Rehoboth, Dewey, Ocean City, and Atlantic City. During the summer it’s great.

I am not a fan of beaches were I cannot see the bottom, but Bethany Beach is one of the few places that I don’t mind it so much. Most of the big denizens are just harmless tuna and dolphins. I still like to stay closer to the shore though…just in case.

What I love about Bethany is that it’s still relatively quiet, in comparison to its HUGE neighbors. So when I want to get away from crowds and noise, it’s a good choice. Plus the beaches are cleaner. However, if I want to enjoy the fruits of the 20th century which include heavy doses of kamikaze shots, then I am really just a quick drive to any of the other places (I always have a designated driver though).

So I’ve done a quick review of Bethany for you all to peruse.

Where to stay: I stay with a friend. But there are choices around the area. You can rent a house or you can stay at the Sea Colony resort. There used to be the Blue Surf motel, but it has since been taken down and is being made into a bunch of condos…I personally think that it’s a horrible idea, but I do not have a say in it.

Where to eat:
There are a lot of places to eat around Bethany, but you have to be sure what you want. The restaurants around the beach aren’t amazing. However, I have to note that there IS a difference between restaurant and food stand. Most of the food stands sell yummy, but guilty pleasures. Try board walk fries and TCBY treats while you walk along the beach at sunset. You’ll also find lots of “candy kitchens” which sell delicious little pieces of fudge. It’s right there on the board walk with many little stores. But if you’re looking for a sit down it’s hard to find a good place.

Baja Beach House Grill: Very Tex Mex, not amazing but if you’re craving that fajita they’ll have it.
Mango’s: right above the board walk, it’s got great views of the beach and the drinks are great…but the food is pretty average, neither bad nor amazing.
Patsy's Gourmet & Restaurant : not a bad place in and of itself. I have yet to experience the fullness of the menu so I have reserve a bit of judgment.
As you go farther up the price ladder you do get a few better options:
Five Guy Famous Burger & Fries: I don’t know what they make in their burgers but let me tell you, they are delicious! Great burgers! But you have to wait in line a while and a lot of times you have to put up with other people fighting for their own deliciousness.
Di Febo's Deli & Carryout: I like Di Febos, but it’s not necessarily cheap. I love their wine selection. It’s not the most sophisticated but they do a good job of it and it’s a really good choice. You can’t go wrong.
Grotto Pizza: I go here mainly because of tradition, but it’s really not that great. The pizza is ok, but everything else is pretty average. It’s a great family restaurant though, so let the little tots bounce around if they want.

Where I would like to go:

I am not really a local in Bethany Beach, so naturally I don’t know ALL the secrets, but I’m dying to try a few of these places:

Bethany Blues BBQ Pit: Sometimes you just want some good old BBQ!
Sedona: It’s fusion, which is always an adventure. And everyone knows how much I love adventures.
Things to do: You can do a lot in Bethany if you don’t mind amusing yourself. There are lots of beach shops that if you have time you can poke through and see if you find a treasure. But the draw of it all is the beach. I cannot tell you how beautiful it is. I personally love getting up early in the summer and walking along the beach just before sunrise. One you can see the dolphins hunting and playing, and you can walk the entire beach. Yes it’s a little chilly but so worth it. If you walk all the way down the beach you can reach the WWII look out towers. I did that one morning and found a pretty cool chunk of old metal that had a few markings on it and some small holes that look like bullet holes. I’ve been trying to discover what exactly it is. I like to think it’s a submarine piece.
Kayak and bicycle: If you don’t have a fear of sharks or dark water, go kayaking. Lots of times dolphins come up and play with you or swim along side you. Once I swam out (without realizing it) up to a kayak and swam a little bit with the dolphins. They’re HUGE creatures, but very majestic.
Buy books: one of my favorite pastimes. There’s a delightful little store, Atlantic Books, around the beach front that has several books. I warn you, it’s not a Barnes and Noble, but I also support small time stores.
Shopping: Little knickknacks, and beach stuff. There is however a jewelry store that I would like to go into…but never had the time now that I think about it.
Swimming: obvious
Put Put: There’s now a little put put stop in the center of town. It’s not complicated but it’s there.

If there’s anything else that you want to do/eat/go, Bethany is really just a five minute drive from other action spots. The best thing about Bethany is that it’s the “quiet resort”. Beautifully serene.

Learning to let go:
In these times that we live in, the challenge of just getting through the day has made our relationships increasingly complicated. Breaking up with anyone in these relationship is never easy. Well kinda. If you don’t care about the person, then it is pretty easy because the lack of emotion towards that person gives you an edge. However, if you do have at least some respect for that person, ending a relationship is arduous to say the least. I was looking through my journals and photos of yesteryears and read all the trials I had in the past. Sometimes it’s painful to look back, but most of the time I don’t think I’d have changed a thing. But I really could have dealt with some situations in a better way, or could have healed myself faster.

The stages of a breakup:

Stage one: The initial break up process can include fits of crying, a great sense of loss, worry, anxiety and rage. There could be a thousand unanswered questions about what exactly led to the breakup. Past events and situations, either positive or negative, can be obsessed over. Guilt and blame are felt by both partners, no matter who initiated the breakup. Sometimes, if the relationship was torturous and difficult, there may be a sense of emotional liberation and relief.

Stage two: Once the first stage has passed, acceptance of the situation sets in, and gradually you become accustomed to the changed circumstances. You begin to focus on new concerns aside from the emotional turmoil that a break up can cause. The social circle that used to include both partners as a couple can shrink, and formerly mutual friends may drift away. This is…unfortunately going to happen. You can never have really “mutual” friends, that friend is always more loyal to one person or another. When you break up and that friend becomes distant, just back off, chances are you’ve been passed over for the other one. And don’t take offense, admit it, you’ve done it too.

Stage three: Recovery. You’ve accepted, and you’re moving on. You begin to actively reorganize your life and forge ahead into the future. You make new friends, set new goals and become more involved with yourself and your friends.

Personal Recipes and tips to survive a breakup:
Everyone is different I know this, but I go through my own series of rituals that ensure a quick and speedy recovery…for me. I don’t know if they work for everyone, but I’ve come to the conclusion that they are general sweeping points and can help others out too.

Communication: I’m a bit of no contact person, once someone is out of my life… I want them out. But some people like to keep in contact with their exes. I have a few tips for this. If you feel like you need to talk about what happened, talk about the problem(s) directly, without subtle accusations or reading between the lines. It’s also critical to avoid unnecessary arguments. Learn to forgive and accept that your ex has changed, and that now is not the time to try to change them into something you want. It’s normal for these conversations to be difficult, but don’t let the other get the best of you.

Journal: I write down everything. My disappointments, my fantasies and my feelings. Although it may seem superficial, every little detail helps. They make a great read later on in the future when you’ve settled and you can see how much you’ve grown.

Guilt: Don’t blame yourself for the breakup. Neither you nor your ex are solely to blame. Relationships change, and people do too.

Phone calls and pleas: This falls of course into communication but I think it deserves a section of its own. 75% of divorces in the US are one-sided. Unrequited love needs to be managed very carefully. If you’re the one being abandoned, no matter how many pleas you give to entice that person to stay will never change that person’s mind if they truly don’t want to stay. If you are the one leaving the relationship, your ex may call you, but you must be firm in your decision.

Change your routine: Lots of couples develop routines or patterns, now is the time to stop it. It’ll help you get over the relationship, and if the habits never really suited you, you can start afresh.

No Drama: Once the separation has become a reality, try to avoid bringing up old conflicts. Dramas, fruitless fighting, and arguing serve no purpose.

Being alone: Don’t resist spending time alone. Enjoy it. A person who knows how to be happy alone will be able to be happy in a new relationship. Do exactly as you please.

Friends: I can’t tell you how important they are. Usually, the friends of a couple decide for themselves which partner they will remain friends with. This doesn’t usually have anything to do with which person they think is right or why the pair separated. The friends of both partners will gravitate towards the person they feel the most affinity with. Never try to win over mutual friends. Those that stay with you are your sidekicks and it’s important to never let them go and be there for them too.

Sex:When you find that you are ready for some physical contact, try not to confuse the need for affection with the need for sex. You don’t want to end up disappointed, but let yourself enjoy sex. Give yourself permission to experience new sensations and express love in different ways.

Delicious extras:
Go out: You're single…why the hell not?

Take a road trip: Despite what you’ve seen in the movies, you don’t have to kill your ex-lover to go on a road trip. Just wanting to kill your ex is enough. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, depressed, crazy, bored, exhausted or all of the above, then hit the road. Road tripping (especially with friends) is like the ultimate brain douche that clears your head and leaves you feeling fresh. It gives you the chance to recreate yourself at any stop and to really find about who you are.

Date yourself: Hey think of all the benefits of this one! You never have to worry about the other person being asleep, or not in the mood. Never liking what you like, and never anxious or boring. How to start? Well ask yourself out on a luscious date, it’s a absolute yes so don’t be nervous. Wine and dine yourself in front of a mirror and tell yourself how ravishing you are, then…since you know you’re going to bed with yourself, seduce seduce seduce! If you need cuddle time afterwards whispered sweet nothings and then turn around really fast to catch it in the other ear

Friday Carousel

It's Friday, the last day of the week! How wonderful! This is the day that I get to wear casual clothes to work, and pretty much enjoy the day as much as I can. I'm right now in my office hanging up pictures. Mostly they are pictures of impressionist artists, but they are all pictures that were in the famous Ambroise Vollard collection. So far my favourites are "The cook", and "Dr. Felix Rey".

Anyway, onward with Carousel!

Florence Foster Jenkins: You have to give the woman some credit, she was just so determined. Florence was born in Pennsylvania in Wilkes-Barree to two rich parents in 1868. She had a couple of music lessons as a child and developed the desire to go abroad and study music. Of course daddy refused to pay the bill, so she eloped to Philadelphia with Frank Jenkins, a doctor (She later divorced him). Here she earned a living as a teacher and a pianist. However when her father died, Jenkins inherited a substantial sum of money and embarked on the singing career that she had always wanted. She was a hit immediately for her songs, but for quite the opposite reason than most singers can boast. Florence had little sense of pitch and rhythm and was barely incapable of sustaining a note. Her accompanist can be heard making adjustments to her variations and rhythmic mistakes. Despite her lack of ability, she was convinced of her own greatness; dismissing the laughter which came from the audience as “professional jealousy”. She was also aware of what her critics said stating that “people may say I can’t sing, but no one can ever say I didn’t sing”. The great Florence died after her last (and sold out appearance) in 1944 in the same happy, confident sense of fulfillment that had always been a leading factor in her entire life.

A lawsuit between hairdressers and culture?

Underwater Sculpture. These are a little creepy but still beautiful in my opinion, I suppose that they'll in some way revert back to the ocean and in a thousand years they will become coral reefs. This is of course if we don't mess everything up first.

RAVE CATS! I Have always had a thing for glow in the dark stuff...yes it's a secret passion of mine...that I think stemmed from my obsession with the strange and unusual well scinece has created my newest fad...Rave cats!

Fireworks in Oslo. Because it generally gets really cold up in Norway, the government doesn't have a huge location where people go to watch fireworks. Instead everyone just uses their own backyard as the point of celebration. Someone decided to take a picture. How cool is that?

Most romantic getaways are sappy, but these actually look pretty cool. I love beaches, so I would probably go for these.

Japan should know better: Globalization and politics merging together to create this big ooops. Come on...Japan should have known better.

And now a weird video for all you wonderfully weird people out there:

It's THURSDAY! And of course you know what that means: Things I love Thursday!

Crawling into bed after a shower: Because I am trying my best to exercise every day, I normally get up really early. But I have this lazy streak and right after my shower I generally shiver my way back to bed. It's even better when there's something in the bed to tempt you back into it.
Marie Antoinette style: Maybe it's the colors or the whole shebang about the rococo style, but I have a secret crush on the whole thing. Now I wouldn't wear some of the colors (like baby pink) but I appreciate the colors on other people dressing in the same style. I love the picture above because it's just soo....Je ne sais pas

Flower Farms: Yes some people will say that I'm ridiculous for liking these things (and my more environmental friends will scream murder), but I can't help it. I love flowers. Not because they're "girly", but because they have such bold statements and are works of art in of themselves. Also I don't think I need to mention Georgia O'keeffe in this list because my more conservative friends will probably cringe and cry murder just as much.

Balloons: Come on, who doesn't love balloons? They're a heck of a lot of fun. They can fill a room and make it seem like you're in some kind of air box. They give you crazy hair if you rub them on your head, and perfect opportunity to accidentally zap that annoying coworker of yours. Plus, they give you a really nice rack...just stay away from sharp objects.

Shoes: Yes I love shoes.

Bright bathing suits: Bright colors have always drawn my eye and I love the layout of the picture above.

Bratty kids: Yes they are annoying and a pain in the butt. However, you have to give it to them. They are the most amusing things to watch when you don't personally have to deal with them. I took this picture watching a mother go insane over her kid who was asking "why" all the time. Then suddenly the kid just looked at me and pointed. It made me laugh, despite the fact that I was slightly affronted. Damn brats.

Sparrows: The ones in the park outside of my office are pretty neat, and intelligent...for birds I suppose. They know exactly which type of people to hop around in the morning. For example you have the rushed secretary, who generally stops at the "Au Bon Pan" across the park, grabs a muffin and a coffee and tries to beat the light while shoving half her muffin in her mouth and downing her drink. She of course drops most of her muffins and the sparrows are right there to pick up the crumbs. I also see them as free city street cleaners. The are better animal citizens than those damn smuggy squirrels.

Punting: The sparrows thing above reminded me why I love punting smuggy squirrels. *Punt*