Friday, November 20, 2009

schoolgirl crush

I was watching the Today Show this morning (Matt Laurer... Swoon...), and there were all. these. screaming. girls. there to catch a glimpse of one of the Twilight stars.

I admit it. I have not read any of the Twilight books. (However, I would like to! Anyone have a copy they can share?) I have also not seen the movie. (planning on renting it...)

But these girls! Nuts! And, some of them were not girls. Some were full-grown women with teenage daughters of their own literally falling over themselves to get a picture of a seventeen year old boy who plays a werewolf. Really?

Then, I remembered the time I got all "teenage girl" as an adult... New Kids on the Block concert. June 28, 2009. My 26th Birthday.

Oh. My. God.

Two words: Jordan Knight

Hottie -bo -bottie. For real.



PS: Anyone remember the New Kids on the Block cartoon???? Hey-o!!!!


It's a Confusing Time to Be a Woman!

Earlier this week, new guidelines were introduced in regards to breast cancer screenings. I've matured into a woman knowing that I'll need to get my first mammogram at age 40. The new guidelines are saying women can wait until they are 50 to get screened.

Then, this morning, it was reported that the American College of Obstetricians is advising women to wait until they are 21 until they get their first pap smear. Yeah... I got mine much earlier than that.

Whoa.

This is a lot of information. A lot of change. In one week. And, the response has been anything but passionate.

And, this should come as no surprise: I'm pretty passionate about this issue too. I know too many women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in their 20s, 30s and 40s. What if these women had not given themselves self exams or had a screening before they were 50? Would they be survivors today? Or victims?

And, let's be frank: I know and love A LOT of women who grappled with HPV in college. The majority of them being diagnosed with this before they were 21. If they had not been receiving annual pap smears since they were in high school, then what? Would they not have known they had HPV until they reached the legal drinking age? Would the HPV progressed into something not as easy to treat? Heck - at that point, some women would not even know who had infected them in the first place!

Yes, I know that it takes a lot of time for HPV to progress into cervical cancer, but there are a lot of benefits besides a cancer screening when it comes to your annual pap.

I'm a girl. I love and respect my girl parts. Both the top and the bottom. And, I know that the best way to keep me and my girl parts healthy is to be proactive and preventative. So, while I respect the new research, I'm sticking with the old guidelines. I'm still going to see my gyno every year. And, when I'm forty - my twins are going to be squished together between two metal plates.

These screenings are not fun. But, are they worth it? I'm sure of it.


Monday, November 16, 2009

35-34

'Nuff Said

Sunday, November 15, 2009

My Boys


It's almost half time for this year's Colts-Patriots regular season match up. I hate this game. Every year. It's one of the only games where I feel a little less confident in my boys in blue than usual. And, for someone who is so even keeled when it comes to sports, it's surprising to some to hear my say really. mean. things. about the Patriots.

I remember crying after we beat the Patriots in 2005 because I was so happy. I also remember crying when we were beat by the Patriots. After the Colts beat the Patriots for the AFC Championship in 2007, I ran around in the snow only wearing underwear and a Peyton Manning jersey - I was THAT excited! (yes, mom. i know this was not a smart or healthy decision. but, it felt great at the time.) And, soon after that half-naked run, I went downtown to celebrate on the circle - wearing TWO jerseys and a smile (oh, and pants!).

This game always invokes a lot of emotion. Right now, we're down 10 points. I don't like it. I have this thing where I really need the Colts to be in the lead at half for me to feel good about the rest of the game. But, I know THIS game is the exception year after year.

And, knowing this gives me hope that we still have a chance. I'm going to be honest - I'm going to change jerseys at halftime, just in case it may help our chances.

See you on the flip side. GO COLTS!!!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Knock and the door shall be opened?

I'm pretty bummed to find out I won't be getting the promotion I had been seeking. My three year anniversary of hard work just happens to fall at a really crappy time in my office. I'm disappointed, but not much I can do about it at this point.

On the other hand, I wrote Cover Girl about some faulty eyeliner I have been experiencing. They wrote me back and gave me a coupon for full compensation of said faulty eyeliner.

So, as the old saying goes: Knock, and the door shall be opened. Ask and you shall receive. Well, only sometimes....

Hopefully, the old saying of "every time a door is closed, a window opens" works in my favor.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Hope for the Holidays

Typically, my office "adopts" a family each year for the holiday season. This year, we're going a bit of a different route: we're selecting children who don't have family - at least not in the traditional sense. Foster children. Children who have been neglected, abused and taken away from their parents. One little boy who's three younger brothers were adopted - yet he still moves from foster home to foster home.

Even during these tough economic times, I find it important to give back. I'm asking for golf clubs for Christmas. These kids are asking for shoes. It really puts life in perspective. While money is tight, a lot of us still have a lot to share.

If you're in Indiana, I encourage you to check out the Children's Bureau website and their Hope for the Holidays program. On the website, each of the children's case workers have written a short background on the child. I warn you - they are heartbreaking stories. But, they are moving. And, hopefully they encourage you to give a little bit extra this holiday season.


Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Perfect Respite

Central Indiana was blessed with amazing weather this weekend. 70 degrees and sunny both Saturday and Sunday. And, what do you do on a weekend in November that features the. most. perfect. weather? Tailgate.

The weekend focused around football. Bloomington on Saturday morning. Hanging out with some of my best friends and most of my family. Colts game today (close win!) followed by catching up on the back deck.

Perfect. I'm ready for the week now. Thank you, Mother Nature, for the wonderful gift.


Friday, November 6, 2009

Something to Look Forward To


I booked a plane ticket to Florida yesterday. I'm going in January. While it seems far away now, I'm so thankful I have something to keep me going through the cold, nasty weather that's about to show its face. And, while the ultimate trip is a Summers' family vacation, a trip with Mom, Dad, Tom & Alice is going to be perfectl.

Here's what I have to look forward to: Reading by the pool. Walking the beach early in the morning. Seafood and Coronas. Look for the "green flash" when the sun sets. Flip flops. Sleeping with the windows open so the waves crashing can lull me to sleep (that hasn't happened since Myrtle Beach! many moons ago...). Tiki bars. Swimsuits. A break.

Been a long time.

Been a long time, blog.... You and my journal are currently in a competition for who receives my thoughts. And, right now, the journal is winning. No offense to you - I just have so many thoughts that don't need to be shared with the world. (And, I don't need "some people" reading my missives about them....) Here's my holiday vow: I'll pay you some more attention!