Feminism--a giant hoax, a step backward, or just another arena in which conformity has won?

Great article from Sunday's New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/30/magazine/30feminism.html?pagewanted=1&incamp=article_popular

I found this nugget particularly disturbing:

"A 2005 report by researchers at four British universities indicated that a high I.Q. hampers a woman's chance to marry, while it is a plus for men. The prospect for marriage increased by 35 percent for guys for each 16-point increase in I.Q.; for women, there is a 40% drop for each 16-point rise."

Are you fucking kidding me?

When I was young and socially awkward and unfortunate looking, my mom would tell me that the boys didn't want to go out with me because I was smarter than they were. "They're just intimidated by you," she'd say. "They'll come around--in ten years, you'll have to beat them away with a stick!" And while I didn't totally believe her, it gave me hope that someday, when I was a grown-up, the boys would wise up and realize that intelligence is sexy.

So, here I am, 25 years old, reading about studies that make a liar out of my dear mother.

I'm not saying that the bra-burners had it exactly right. I'm not saying that you shouldn't try to look pretty when you're out and about. But to have statistical proof that bright, successful women aren't being properly valued in society? That just chaps my hide.

In a word--GRRRRR!

Crisis averted.

Whew! I just tore my room apart looking for my anonymous bar exam seat number, and I finally found it. Thank goodness--I don't think I can wait any longer than Friday to find out my legal destiny.

Luckily, my number was buried in the stack of BarBri materials I haven't touched since July. Flipping through the pages of the sample MBEs and the Conviser Mini Review, I was reminded of how much this past summer sucked--working all day, studying all night/weekend, constantly doubting my intelligence, and generally pulling out my hair. Sure, there were some good times in between all of the misery (thanks to my wonderful friends, who stood by me through the bitching and moaning and overall insanity). But, moral of the story? I don't want to do it again.

So, to all of my friends in the blogosphere and beyond, please think good thoughts for me this week. What's in it for you? You won't have to read four more months of bar exam-related posts!

Lazy Friday thoughts

1. Well, I did find a taker to go out with me last night--a guy I met through Craigslist and have been IMing back and forth with for a few days. It was a really good night, actually (though I'm not going to give details, to protect both parties involved, haha), but it made me wonder--has anyone else "found anyone" (read: met interesting people for friendship or dating) online? I mean, CL, match.com, eHarmony.com--there are so many sites that claim they've matched up millions of couples, but I remain somewhat hesitant and skeptical about the whole thing (although less so lately, obviously, or I wouldn't have agreed to meet the aforementioned guy). Is meeting someone through a dating-themed web service really any different than meeting someone at a blogger happy hour?

2. One good thing about the "date" that I can divulge is the new drink I discovered--a lemon drop made with raspberry vodka. Yum.

3. I had too many of the above drinks. So, I've been a total bum all morning. I haven't even had the strength (till now) to read about the Libby indictment. Too hungover to read about Republican scandals? For shame...

4. My work Halloween costume went over very well--I went as my boss. Well, actually, I went as my boss's boss (the Director of my business line), but you get the idea. He actually responded quite well--laughed a lot, took me around to the other big shots and showed me off, and made me take a picture sitting at his desk and looking all official. The only problem is that the costume doesn't work outside of my office--so I'm going to have to find another one before I tag along with my sister to a Halloween party tomorrow night. I suppose I can always break out last year's winner--Jennifer Beals from Flashdance--but I don't know if I want to walk around Dupont in a leotard and legwarmers, especially if it's cold out.

5. T-minus one week till I get my bar exam results. I am totally freaked out. Please cross your fingers, think good thoughts, and send positive juju my way!

Everyone have a fantastic weekend, and don't forget to set your clocks back an hour on Saturday night. Woo hoo, daylight savings time! :-)

Any takers?

I have the day off tomorrow. That makes me very happy. To celebrate this happiness, I want to go out tonight. Any ideas? Any events? Anyone want to join me? :-)

Sadly enough, this worked for me.

For those of you who, like me, need certain DC political-type events/scandals explained in elementary language:

http://www.alchemysite.com/blog/Leaker_Wilson_part_1.pdf

Until I read this, I didn't really understand the whole Rove-Cheney-CIA leak nonsense. I feel much more informed now. :-) I particularly appreciated the illustrations.

Enjoy!

Something for me to work on.

Generally, I am an optimistic, upbeat person. I'm one of those annoying "it takes more muscles to frown than to smile" girls. Can't help it.

However, sometimes reality gets the better of me, and I notice that no matter what's going on in my life that's awesome, I can only focus on the negative. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it really pisses me off.

For example, this past weekend. SO much goodness--I spent lots of fun quality time with my sister (who, consequently, is upset that she didn't show up more frequently on my "100 things about me" post--maybe I'll freak her out and make one of those lists about her), I did some retail therapy at Montgomery Mall, I ate a Chick-fil-a sandwich, I cuddled with my cat, and I saw some friends who have been off of my radar for a while. Fantastic!

However, I was also faced with some passive-aggressive nonsense. And it has been making me fret and lose sleep and prematurely wrinkle my forehead all day. That shit just ain't right.

So, starting this very moment, I am going to try even harder not to let the "bad chicken" get me down. There's too much good stuff going on in my life right now, and the world certainly doesn't need another Negative Nelly.

Instead? Boisterous Betty? Bouncin' Betty? No, wait, that's a land mine. Bodacious Betty? Bootylicious Betty?

Doesn't matter--I'm just going to be me.

100 Things About Moi (a.k.a., a really good way to distract myself during a painfully boring training session)

1. I’m a Taurus—and a fairly typical one at that. On the good side, that means I’m patient and reliable, warmhearted and loving, persistent and determined, and a lover of security. On the bad side, that means I can be jealous and possessive, resentful and inflexible, and downright obstinate.
2. I have a 6 (ish) year old cat named Boo. He is the cutest thing ever.
3. I can only eat bananas if they’re green.
4. I cannot wait till I can afford to have laser eye surgery—I’ve been wearing glasses since I was in the 2nd grade, and contacts since I was 13.
5. I used to sing the National Anthem at my high school’s football and basketball games. I even sang it at a swim meet once. When I was in college, I sang it at the UGA vs. UF Greek night basketball game. It was the greatest adrenaline rush of my life.
6. I’m obsessed with celebrities and all of their foibles. If I could afford it, I’d have subscriptions to all of those trashy gossip mags.
7. My sister is my best friend in the whole world. She's also my roommate.
8. I love the Food Network. Especially Calorie Commando and Iron Chef.
9. I’m a Presidential Management Fellow. Sounds important, eh?
10. I hate the cold.
11. Before my senior prom, after about 8 of us had racked up a $600-800 bill at The Palm in Atlanta, the couple sitting behind us paid for our entire tab. They said they wanted to send over a few bottles of Dom, but forgot that high schoolers couldn’t drink.
12. I am a total girly romantic.
13. When I was a server at a Cajun restaurant in my hometown, I used to wait on Jeff Foxworthy.
14. My mother teaches school where Whitney and Bobby’s kid goes. Oh, the stories she’s told me about their antics…
15. I lived in Madrid, Spain for 4 months while I was in college. Best. Time. Ever.
16. I am a cancer survivor—malignant melanoma, diagnosed at age 19. No chemo/radiation, but lots of surgery. And lots of scars.
17. I also have an arrow-shaped scar on my right arm from when I broke it at age 18 months. I was jumping on a bed and I fell.
18. Jeff Blauser and Mark Lemke, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, did shots with me on my 21st birthday.
19. On that same birthday, I made out with my lesbian friend in a bathroom stall at the bar. Classy, I know.
20. I collect James Dean memorabilia.
21. I had alcohol poisoning when I was 18—my best friend had a big party after HS graduation, and I had waaaaaay too much Goldschlager. I still can’t chew Big Red gum because it activates my gag reflex.
22. I cry during almost every movie.
23. I get really angry when I see a tattered U.S. flag flying in the air. But, I believe very strongly in the right to burn the flag in protest.
24. I truly believe that communication is the key.
25. Remember when Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopez burned down Andre Rison’s house? Yeah, that was about 5 minutes from my house. The ashes came down over my old elementary school.
26. When I was a senior in HS, I played the role of Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls.”
27. When I was in the sixth grade, I played the role of Max the Dog in “The Little Mermaid.” Even though I was the best singer. Because this other chick was cute and had red hair, and I was well into my 10-year awkward phase. But I’m not bitter.
28. My parents are my role models.
29. I’ve never been to Las Vegas. Come to think of it, I’ve never been to a casino.
30. I did debate in college.
31. I was also in a sorority.
32. I’ve never lost a grandparent—the two that are deceased passed away before I was born.
33. I cheated on my first love. Because I was scared.
34. I’m going to be published soon—it’s an article I wrote in law school, and it’s probably wholly uninteresting to everyone but me.
35. What I’d really love is for someone to publish my poems.
36. Next on my travel list: Boston, Miami, Seattle, Israel, and South America.
37. I love playing dress-up, whether it’s for Halloween or a formal affair.
38. I get car sick, airplane sick, train sick—but not sea sick. I am totally comfortable on a boat.
39. I believe in karma.
40. I get really excited when I remember my dreams. Especially the weird ones.
41. Napping is one of my favorite pastimes.
42. I’ve always wanted to be in a band.
43. One of my greatest accomplishments was being selected to sing Mozart’s “Requiem” with Robert Shaw. He was one of the most amazing choral conductors in history, and he sweat buckets. So much that he had to change shirts an average of 2-3 times per rehearsal.
44. I love the Muppets. And Sesame Street. And Fraggle Rock.
45. My favorite book as a child was “Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree.” It was about sharing.
46. My mother claims that I was reading by the time I was 18 months old. I was probably just memorizing and regurgitating the aforementioned book, but oh well.
47. I absolutely cannot equalize the pressure in my ears. That means flying is excruciatingly painful, and I’ll never be able to go scuba diving.
48. I hate the dentist. They have to sedate me just to clean my teeth.
49. I really hate feeling like I’ve got stuff stuck in my teeth. Thus, I cannot eat corn on the cob.
50. I loathe going to Georgetown for anything but retail therapy.
51. I think it’s really cool that I work two blocks from the White House, regardless of whether I support who lives there.
52. I fall hard. And fast.
53. I have a healthy appetite—for food, and for other things. :-)
54. I am always clumsy.
55. I am sometimes whiny.
56. Country music, old or new, makes me smile. Sometimes it makes me cry. It always makes me want to sing along.
57. I love my name. I was named after my maternal grandmother, who died long before I was born. Not only do I look like her, but my mom and grandfather swear that I’m her walking, talking reincarnation.
58. I need a vacation.
59. I care what people think.
60. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
61. Do NOT call me Betsy. Unless you want to be kicked in the shins.
62. I want to be rich. But only if I’ve earned it.
63. I check my e-mail about 100 times a day.
64. I’m addicted to Diet soda.
65. In law school, I specialized in tax and securities law.
66. I could eat pizza every day of the week.
67. Ditto on Chinese food.
68. Ditto on sushi.
69. I’m Jewish, but no one ever guesses that about me. I guess it's because my dad isn't Jewish, so my last name doesn't give me away.
70. Breakfast is my favorite meal. Only I prefer to eat it for dinner.
71. My eyes are my favorite facial feature.
72. My butt is my favorite overall physical feature.
73. I don’t miss my car. Even on a bad day, public transportation rocks my face off.
74. When I lived in Tennessee, I lobbied the state legislature to make all of the university residence halls smoke-free. I won.
75. When I decided to move to DC, I wanted to work as a lobbyist for the American Cancer Society. I’m glad that didn’t work out, because I love my current job.
76. Generally, I’m a beer girl.
77. I’m trying to learn more about wine, to go along with my knowledge and affinity for food.
78. If I’m in the mood to be a big spender, I go for the Grey Goose gimlet, on the rocks.
79. I've never been camping. I don't really have a burning desire to go, aside from being able to say I did it.
80. I can tie a necktie better than most guys. Guess it comes from having to wear one when I was a waitress. It had Tabasco bottles on it.
81. I was born in New York, raised in Georgia, and came to DC from Tennessee. I definitely relate more to the South than to the North. In fact, I think DC is as far up the East Coast as I'll ever go. And it cracks me up when people say that DC is a southern place. Puh-leeze.
82. I love McDonald's. Really any fast food except Taco Bell.
83. I feel more comfortable in stilettos than in flats.
84. Redundancy bothers me.
85. I love condiments and sauces. All of 'em.
86. My V-card was punched on a black leather couch in a fraternity house. Again, classy. Note: I cannot believe I wrote that, considering that my parents read this blog. Then again, they weren't born yesterday--I don't think they harbor any delusions about my sainthood.
87. When I was a kid, I had an imaginary friend named Penny. She was Inspector Gadget's daughter--remember? In the cartoon? The one who really solved all the crimes?
88. I have an obscene number of handbags. My favorite bag brand is Coach, though I do also love my clutch that's made out of recycled Mexican candy wrappers. Unique, cute, and eco-friendly!
89. I'm mildly allergic to peanuts. Conveniently, I don't like peanuts.
90. I am absolutely terrified of bees. Yes, that's right, bees. I scream like a girl and run away whenever I see one.
91. I really want a dog, but I know it would be unfair to get one right now, since I'm rarely home and I live in a small apartment.
92. I've had my ears, cartilage, belly button, and tongue pierced. The ears are the only things I've pierced just once. The ears and the cartilage are the only piercings I still have.
93. I'm a very touchy-feely person, especially after a few cocktails.
94. I love beauty products. I can spend hours in CVS, just browsing the lotions and make-up and bath junk. And Sephora? I'd pitch a tent and move in if I could.
95. If I'm eating popcorn, I don't really enjoy it unless I have M&Ms to go with it. I have to alternate the sweet and the salty tastes.
96. I come from a small one, but I still believe that family is the most important and precious thing in the universe.
97. I love to cook, but I hate to clean.
98. I want to get married and have kids. Honestly, if you would have asked me 5 years ago, I would have told you that by 25, I'd at least have the first part taken care of. I'm not even close. And I'm 100% okay with that.
99. I'm not an artsy craftsy, fixer upper kind of person. Stores like Michael's and the Home Depot really freak me out and make me feel inadequate.
100. Blogging has been great therapy for me, especially this summer while I was preparing for the bar exam.

And, for good measure:

101. I appreciate everyone who reads my crazy posts, and I'm really impressed with anyone who made it through this list!

Headache, dehydration, exhaustion--all worth it.

So. Much. Fun. The blogger happy hour, that is.

Early in the evening, I was discussing the whole bloggers-meeting-in-person ritual with AUA of Direct Current. I mean, we read about each other's lives (though, to be fair, in varying degrees of detail) every day, so to a certain extent, we already know each other. But, on the same token, as creative and witty and fabulous as we all are online, can a blog really capture a person's true personality? Can we really *know* anything about anyone by simply sharing their stories secondhand?

Fuck it, that question is way to serious. :-)

My cohorts have already done a fantastic job at summing the evening up (especially DC Cookie--the pictures are classic), but suffice it to say that I had a great time meeting everyone. Here's my brief recap:

Most innocuous pick-up line: "Do you blog?" (Which, consequently, resulted in the most hilarious retort to a pick-up line: "Um...not on the first date?")

Double-take moment: Let's just say it involved a Playaz logo. And an undergarment.

Sketchy Sketcherson award: Goes to the creepy Hill staffer from Texas who was skulking around the bar, preying on cute blogger girls. He tried to follow me to the ladies room--ew.

Smoothest move ever (if "cheesy" is a synonym for "smooth," that is): When I wrote my phone number on a bar napkin and not-so-subtly placed it in a certain blogger's rear pocket. I believe that was after I reached into his front pocket to get a smoke. Oy. Ah well, hopefully I looked good while I was embarassing myself. :-)

Biggest regret: Missing the dance party. Next time, for sure!

Fave blogger: EVERYONE!

Seriously, y'all were fantastic, and you were so welcoming to this blogger happy hour virgin. I'm looking forward to the next shindig--maybe I'll wise up for that one and call in sick the next day.

* I wish I had pictures ready to post, because I think I got some good ones, but alas, I do not have a digital camera. Gasp, shock, dismay, I know--AUA made sufficient fun of me last night, and now I feel totally out of touch with technology. I promise, when I get the film (you know, that stuff you used in old-timey cameras) developed, I'll use my trusty scanner to publish any notable shots.

** Oh, and by the way, I went to another happy hour this evening, and it wasn't nearly as fun as the blogger get-together. Have my standards been taken to a new level? Hmmm...

A case of the blahs.

I just want to thank the folks at Kathryn On..., RCR, DCB, and DC Cookie for organizing tonight's happy hour. I know, it hasn't even started yet, but in a nutshell--I really fucking need it.

After an unexpectedly unpleasant evening last night, today I had to sit through the most excrutiatingly painful training session EVER. And I have a Day 2 to look forward to tomorrow. Woo hoo.

So, while I don't plan on getting totally wasted, and while I'd like to be home by 10-ish, I'm glad to have a friendly forum at which to throw back a few cold ones. Dragonfly, here I come!

This one's for the girls.

Alright, ladies--I desperately need your help.

My beloved waxer is leaving her post at the Bethesda Aveda to pursue teaching. While I am, of course, very happy for her, I am simultaneously devastated. It's hard to find a salon professional with whom you feel instantly comfortable--especially when you need a wax in a...well...um...non-facial area.

So, I'm all ears. Location is not terribly important, but I live in Bethesda and work near the White House, so a spa near one of those areas would be a good place to start. Oh, and weekend hours are a definite plus. Help!

Tagged again.

1. When you look at yourself in the mirror, what's the first thing you look at? Hair--gotta judge how bad the train wreck is. :-)
2. How much money do you have on you? Zero in cash. My checking account is actually rather full (due to travel reimbursements), but that will be a memory once the credit card bills come in.
3. What's the first word that comes to mind that rhymes with "TEST?" Rest.
4. Favorite plant? Um...I'm not so much into the greenery. I like roses, of course, like all girly romantics.
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? My girl Myria down in Knoxvegas. Oh, how I miss her!
6. What is your main ring tone on your phone? Right now, it plays the theme song from "The O.C." Should probably change that before work tomorrow.
7. What shirt are you wearing? Pink cami.
8. Do you "label" yourself? I suppose--though (unfortunately) probably not as much as I label others.
9. The brand of shoes you're currently wearing? I'm totally sporting old no-name flip-flops with my sorority letters on them.
10. Bright or Dark Room? Dark--no overhead lighting, and only one lamp. I should probably buy another one--my eyes are bad enough as it is.
11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? Don't know Miss Penny Lane, but I love her blog! Hopefully we'll meet at happy hour this week.
12. Ever "spilled the beans?" Yup. More than I'd like to admit.
13. What were you doing at midnight last night? Sleeping.
14. What did your last text message you received on your cell phone say? From a law school classmate: "I passed the bar!"
15. Do you ever click on "Pop Ups?" I avoid them like the plague.
16. What's a saying that you say a lot? "That's retarded."
17. Who told you they loved you last? My mommy and daddy. :-)
18. Last person you hooked up with? Oh, I don't kiss and tell...but he's a cutie!
19. Last furry thing you touched? My precious kitty cat, Boo.
20. How many drugs have you done in the past 3 days? If alcohol counts, one.
21. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? I need to finish the one that's in my camera!
22. Favorite age you have been so far? Hmm...my early 20s were all good years, so it would be hard to narrow it down to one.
23. Your worst enemy? The gym.
24. What is your current desktop picture? At home, just the boring Dell logo. At work, the seal of my government agency.
25. What was the last thing you said to someone? I told my sister that she could have the couch.
26. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to change a major regret? Show me the money...regret don't pay the bills.
27. Are you in love with someone? Still workin' on that one...to be continued.

Home, Sweet Home. No, for real this time.

Never have I been so glad to see my little apartment. Having seen the unique sights of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, and Shepherdstown, West Virginia, I can sleep soundly at night knowing that I have lived a full and happy life. Whew. :-)

I just got back from a three-day orientation session for my fellowship program, and it was pretty much as I expected--a few nuggets of wisdom, a select group of cool people, and a whole lot of useless fluff. If I never hear the words "synergy," "networking," or "communication" again, it will be too soon. Shout out to Team Owl, though--hoot hoot hooray!

What really hit me during the past week, though, was how I'm starting to get super anxious about my bar results. Most states have found out within the past week or two, and (thankfully) it has been mostly good news for my friends and colleagues. People were even finding out smack in the middle of this training, and I cannot imagine how nervewracking that must have been--I was having a hard enough time concentrating on team-building even without the added pressure of knowing that my future in the legal community was being announced that very day. My results (I took the exam in Maryland, for those who are only recent readers of this blog) come out on November 4, and hopefully they will be published after 3:30 PM--that way, I'll be the only one left in the office, and no one will have to see me cry if I find out that I failed.

Failure. Blech. Besides the blogger happy hour, how can I keep my mind off of this uber-stressful event during the next three weeks? I welcome any suggestions--I desperately need distractions!

More fun, time-wasting questions.

Thanks to DC Urban Family for this questionnaire:

1. How old were you when you found out Santa was not a jolly man, but your Mom and Dad? Well, I'm Jewish, so the Santa mystery was never a big part of my childhood. I do remember being shocked when I found out that Mom and Dad were behind the whole Tooth Fairy charade.

2. Who was the first celebrity's poster you had hanging on your wall? I'm sad to say that it was probably the New Kids on the Block. However, when I was in the 9th grade, I developed a fascination with James Dean (which I still retain to this day), so at least my taste improved.

3. How many times have you heard the phrase, "Please step out of the car Ma' am/Sir." Actually, only once. My first and only speeding ticket, in Perry, GA, was issued by a state trooper who made me exit my vehicle and stand on the freeway with him while he took my information. Bastard.

4. What is the lamest reason for breaking up with someone you have ever given or received? I don't think I've ever given a lame excuse, but I definitely received one. A guy that I had been dating for about 4-5 months--who, consequently, had already introduced me to his parents, told me he loved me, and bought me jewelry--told me he couldn't be with me anymore because I was Jewish. Which he knew from day one of our relationship. Which had never been a problem because neither of us are particularly devout. I looked him straight in the eye and told him there was no fucking way he was getting out that easy. After a lot of squirming, he finally confessed that he just didn't want to be with me anymore. Was that so damn hard? Going all anti-semitic on my ass was NOT a good call. Thus, he gets called out on my blog.

5. What is the dumbest lie you ever told your parents to get out of something? Well, considering that I always get caught in my lies, I'd say they've all been pretty dumb.

6. Paper or Plastic? Plastic--so I can use them as trash bags when I forget to go to the store.

7. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were little (under 10)? A princess, of course. ;-)

8. What do you want to be when you grow up now? In my fantasy world, I'd like to be either a country music singer or a gourmet chef.

9. What kind and color of underwear do you have on right now? White lacies from Victoria's Secret (where else?).

10. What CD are you ashamed to admit you own and listen to? Michael Jackson's greatest hits. I still get teary-eyed when I hear "Man in the Mirror." Ha!

11. Who would you sleep with if you had the opportunity to? Oooh, tough question. Right now it would have to be Benjamin McKenzie from "The O.C." Old standbys include Taye Diggs, Antonio Banderas, and Nicolas Cage (though not as much post-Lisa Marie).

12. Finish this sentence and say what movie this is from. The FBI is going to pay me to ______? I have no idea on either count.

13. Are you a lame asshole who lied on the above question? No, I'm a lame asshole who doesn't know the quotation.

14. Why did you come to the blog that tagged you? The folks at DC Urban Family always seem to be having so much fun--it's nice to live vicariously.

15. What is your biggest fear? It's a tie--I'm equally afraid of flying, fire, and bees. Yes, that's right, bees. And yes, I was stung as a child.

16. Do watch a lot of reality television? Not really. I like "America's Next Top Model" and some of the absurd shows on VH1, but that's about it.

17. Have you ever slept with someone and wondered why the hell you did that? Um, yeah. Who hasn't?

18. What is your biggest regret? I don't believe in regret--every decision, good or bad, makes you who you are.

19. How old where you and what happened the first time you got drunk? 18, and I got alcohol poisoning. Fucking Goldschlager. To this day, I can't chew Big Red gum.

20. Which would you rather be, the hammer or the nail? Just like Simon & Garfunkel, "I'd rather be a hammer than a nail..."

21. What is your favorite curse word? Definitely the F-bomb.

22. If there was one thing you could ask your parents, but never had the guts, what would that be? I can pretty much ask my parents anything--the few things I don't know, I don't want to know.

23. What are 3 things that make you go Hmmm? Long division, fashion "don't"s, and hypocrisy.

24. Real of fake boobies? Mine? Real. "They're real, and they're spectacular!" ;-)

25. Do you like being tagged by people? Depends on the people.

Ray Scott = my new favorite

The last two stanzas of his single, "My Kind of Music," are just awesome:

She don't like to play my kinda music.
She don't know "Sunday Morning Comin' Down."
She can't see what's so cool about "He Stopped Lovin' Her Today"
Or "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground."

She told me that she sorta likes the Eagles.
She couldn't name one hit by Johnny Cash.
No, she don't like to play my kinda music.
So I had to tell that girl to kiss my ass!

After I heard this song, I started thinking: what are peoples' most common "dealbreakers"? Smoking, religion, race, views on children and family, and political slant are big ones, but is there anyone out there with quirkier relationship filters?

Worst. Flight. Ever.

Northwest Airlines, your suckitude knows no bounds.

Yesterday, I was supposed to take a 6:45 PM flight out of Minneapolis, which would put me back in DC at about 10 PM. My boss in Minnesota, kind soul that he is, hustled me out of the office at 11:30 AM so that I could try to get on the 1 PM flight. I got to the airport, paid to change my flight, and booked it to the gate--only to find out that the flight had been delayed until 2:45 PM. "No problem," I thought. "Leaving at 2:45 is better than leaving at 6:45."

We actually boarded the plane at 2 PM, which looked to be a good sign. We sat on the runway for about an hour before we actually got in the air, but I suppose that's a relatively small gripe. Once airborne, the pilot announced that we'd be landing at Reagan at 5:50 PM, so I relaxed and took a nap, happy to be on my way back home after a month of living in a hotel.

When I woke up, it was 6 PM, and we hadn't started our descent into DC. 6:15 came and went, as did 6:30, and finally the intercom came on--the pilot had accidentally published his conversation with air traffic control to the whole plane, and it sounded like he was planning to land in Baltimore. When he realized what he had done, he came back on the intercom and said, "Man, there are a lot of buttons up here." Um, I'll take "Things you don't want to hear from your pilot" for $800, Alex. Sheesh.

We did, in fact, have to divert to Baltimore. At this point, it was about 7 PM and I (and many others) wanted to just get off the plane and take a cab home. I live in Bethesda, after all. But nooooo--I had checked baggage, so I had to stay put while the crew refueled the aircraft and tried to figure out what the hell to do. I was so jealous of the people who only had carry-on luggage--if only I hadn't bought those four bottles of wine in Stillwater!

We finally got clearance to get back in the air and fly to DCA. The passengers buckled up, gritted our teeth, and prayed that the flight would be over soon. Much to our dismay, however, the pilot informed us that something was wrong with the engine and that he had to go take a look. I'm thinking to myself, "If he can't even work the intercom, should he really be fixing the engine?" Luckily, the passenger sitting next to me was a Northwest mechanic, so he went outside and took care of the problem. Also, the flight attendants, sensing that a riot was about to ensue, broke out the wine and started passing it around. Thank goodness for small blessings.

Once again, we were in the air and on our way to Washington National. We started to descend, and I could see the lights and the runway and all of the things that I had been longing to see for hours. Just as I think the wheels are going to be lowered, the pilot banks us vertically (sharply and without warning, I might add). He missed the damn approach, so we had to go back up in the air, circle around, and try it again. Through what I'm now convinced was a holy miracle, we finally landed at the proper airport. My 1 PM flight out of Minneapolis arrived at 10:15 PM. We were in the same airplane for almost 7 and a half hours. For that long of a flight, I should have ended up in London or Hawaii or someplace really cool.

The icing on the cake was that it took another hour to get our luggage. Oh, and the people who were waiting for our plane to come in so they could depart started bitching right when we got out of the jetway. "We've been waiting for 4 hours!" they whined. My response? Suck it. At least you were in an airport with restaurants and bars and leg room and real toilets and properly functioning ear canals.

So, I got in a cab around 11:15 PM and actually walked into my apartment around midnight. I dropped my suitcases, pet my kitty cat, and walked right back out the door to go have a beer at Ri-Ra. Consequently, my original flight definitely got to Reagan before I did. Sigh.

Leave it to Rascal Flatts to make me weepy.

I heard a song this morning that really got to me. It's called "Skin," and it tells the story of a high school-aged girl who is diagnosed with cancer. Here are the lyrics that put me over the edge:

Sarah Beth is scared to death
As she sits holding her mom
Says it would be a mistake
For someone to take
A girl with no hair to the prom

Oh, just this morning right there on her pillow
Was the cruelest of any surprise
And she cried when she gathered it all in her hands
The proof that she couldn't deny

Sarah Beth closes her eyes
She dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love was holding her close
And the soft wind is blowing her hair

Its quarter to seven
That boy's at the door
And her daddy ushers him in
And when he takes off his cap
They all start to cry
Cause this morning where his hair had been
Softly she touches just skin

And they go dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first true love was holding her close
And for a moment she isn't scared

In the few moments that the song played, I was transported back to my diagnosis, at age 19. I was very lucky that I didn't have to go through radiation or chemo (my cancer was treated with surgeries), but hearing the words "You have cancer" was still heart-wrenchingly painful. Thankfully, I am a survivor (it'll be six years in December), and the diagnosis turned out to be the most significant and positive experience of my life. But, the illness didn't have to change me for the good--I have my family and friends to thank for that distinction.

My sorority sisters brought laughter and chocolate to my bedside. My literary society brethren sent flowers, taught me to play chess to pass the time, and offered their assistance upon my challenging return to campus. My best friend pushed me around the mall in a wheelchair just so I could have a change of scenery. My parents and sister provided their usual blend of love, humor, and encouragement.

I guess the point of this whole trip down memory lane is that, while the Rascal Flatts song is sad in a way, it leaves me feeling more hopeful than anything else. As long as you have that boy who's going to shave his head right along with you, you can dance through just about anything.

If you're ever in the Twin Cities...

I normally don't write restaurant reviews on my blog. I think the venerable Tom Seitsema, our WaPo food critic, does an excellent job, and his views are usually right on target (he's certainly never led me astray). However, there is no Tom in Minnesota, so I thought I'd share two memorable midwest dining experiences.

First, there's Cesare's. Located in Stillwater, Minnesota, this place is actually two places--a wine bar/restaurant AND a wine shop/marketplace. Looking for the former, my companion and I found the latter (of course), but it actually worked out well. The store has a small tasting bar at which we sat and had a few glasses before heading over to the restaurant. We actually chatted a bit with the owner--about his wine selections, DC, Naziism, and a variety of interesting topics--which was quite an unexpected treat. Then we went to the restaurant, where I had possibly the best tomato and mozzarella salad ever (I hesitated before ordering such a thing at the end of tomato season, especially in Minnesota, but I'm so glad I went with my first impulse--I could have put the 12-year-old balsamic vinegar in a glass and sipped it all night). It was so wonderful to get out of the Twin Cities and find such a charming place--I even went back to the wine store and purchased a few especially notable bottles. Yum.

The other restaurant worth mentioning is Hell's Kitchen. This one is in downtown Minneapolis, and it doesn't look like much from the street. There was a huge line out the door and an hour and a half wait, though, so I figured it would be good. Inside, the walls are painted red, and there would be a very Edgar Allen Poe atmosphere--if the servers weren't wearing their pajamas (an idea I proposed to my old restaurant manager on numerous occasions--guess he wasn't as hip as the folks at Hell's Kitchen). They're known for their breakfast/brunch, and the menu was certainly inventive. I had a hard time deciding between the Bison Benedict and the Crab Cakes topped with Poached Eggs, so I went with an old standby--Huevos Rancheros. The result? Best. Breakfast. Ever. They also had wonderfully potent but smooth coffee blend, which was a bonus. Yum again.

Other than the two aforementioned gems, I've mostly been eating at chain establishments (mainly because they are easy to get to and offer take-out), which sucks. Eating alone sucks in general, especially when you're doing it every day for a month. When I get back to DC, I'm going to take a break from eating out, so hopefully it will cease being a chore and return to being an experience.

To make Monday a tad more interesting...

...I've compiled a fascinating list of trivia about my most recent home away from home, the great state of Minnesota. Hey, the Gophers AND the Vikings lost this weekend, so the least I can do is throw these nice folks a bone on my blog.

* Minnesotan baseball commentator Halsey Hal was the first to say 'Holy Cow' during a baseball broadcast.
* The Mall of America in Bloomington is the size of 78 football fields --- 9.5 million square feet.
* Minnesota Inventions: Masking and Scotch tape, Wheaties cereal, Bisquick, HMOs, the bundt pan, Aveda beauty products, and Green Giant vegetables
* The original name of the settlement that became St. Paul was Pig's Eye. Named for the French-Canadian whiskey trader, Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant, who had led squatters to the settlement.
* Minneapolis’ famed skyway system connecting 52 blocks (nearly five miles) of downtown makes it possible to live, eat, work and shop without going outside.
* Minneapolis has more golfers per capita than any other city in the country.
* The climate-controlled Metrodome is the only facility in the country to host a Super Bowl, a World Series and a NCAA Final Four Basketball Championship.
* Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shoreline, more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.
* The first open heart surgery and the first bone marrow transplant in the United States were done at the University of Minnesota.
* For many years, the world's largest twine ball has sat in Darwin. It weighs 17,400 pounds, is twelve feet in diameter, and was the creation of Francis A. Johnson.
* The stapler was invented in Spring Valley.
* The first Automatic Pop-up toaster was marketed in June 1926 by McGraw Electric Co. in Minneapolis under the name Toastmaster. The retail price was $13.50.
* Rollerblades were the first commercially successful in-line Roller Skates. Minnesota students Scott and Brennan Olson invented them in 1980, when they were looking for a way to practice Hockey during the off-season. Their design was an ice hockey boot with 3 inline wheels instead of a blade.
* Tonka Trucks were developed and are continued to be manufactured in Minnetonka.
* Hormel Company of Austin marketed the first canned ham in 1926. Hormel introduced Spam in 1937.
* Candy maker Frank C. Mars of Minnesota introduced the Milky Way candy bar in 1923. Mars marketed the Snickers bar in 1930 and introduced the 5 cent Three Musketeers bar in 1937. The original 3 Musketeers bar contained 3 bars in one wrapper. Each with different flavor nougat.
* A Jehovah's Witness was the first patient to receive a transfusion of artificial blood in 1979 at the University of Minnesota Hospital. He had refused a transfusion of real blood because of his religious beliefs.
* Minnesota has one recreational boat per every six people, more than any other state.
* Minnesota's waters flow outward in three directions: north to Hudson Bay in Canada, east to the Atlantic Ocean, and south to the Gulf of Mexico.
* Akeley is birthplace and home of world's largest Paul Bunyan Statue. The kneeling Paul Bunyan is 20 feet tall. He might be the claimed 33 feet tall, if he were standing.

I know I feel smarter--don't you? :-)

What a tease!

I probably shouldn't have come home this weekend. I actually found myself contemplating what would happen if I--oops!--missed my flight back to Minneapolis and never returned. Let's just say I don't think it would be good for my job security.

My weekend back in DC, though it was short, was a nice break from "Minnesota nice." I guess that's my biggest issue with the Midwest--after living in a big city for a while, a state like Minnesota just seems bland to me. Luckily, I was able to fit in some DC staples before traveling back to the land of 10,000 lakes--a very un-kosher sandwich from The Italian Store, and fajitas and 'ritas from Lauriol Plaza. Yummy. Oh, and I also had a dream that I was dating Benjamin McKenzie from "The O.C." Double yummy.

Back to packing for my last week as a Minnesotan...