Confessions

          Hey there everyone! I'm sorry it's been awhile (a week?), but I just haven't really had any inspiration to write. However, last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I made the decision to tell you all something. I have two confessions that I need to make. Both are things that I have tried very hard to repress. I've tried not thinking about it and I've tried to turn my thoughts towards other things. And it is tough for me to admit this, but I can't live with this secret anymore. I will no longer be ashamed! Although, I'm not quite sure how to even go about telling all of you. I suppose the best way would be to just do, right? Alright. Well, here goes...
          I secretly like Taylor Swift and think man buns are attractive. There! I said it! It's out in the world now and there's no going back. Shall I expand these thoughts? Yes. Yes I shall.

          We'll start with Taylor Swift. I went through a phase when I loved her (I own two of her albums: Fearless and Speak Now). Then I didn't like her. At all. I hated that she sang pop music, but was nominated for country awards. I hated that all her songs were about love interests. I hated when she 'officially left the country scene', because, honestly, she was only really there for her first album, maybe even her second one. But from then on, she was pop. Not country. To me, she was a traitor. Then, I slowly was exposed to how awkward and weird she was. And I saw her 'Shake it Off' video and I can't help but like the song. She started to seem like a person, rather than a 'celebrity pop star'. Then I started listening to her music again and I remembered that I actually liked it once upon a time. Needless to say, I am a (does T Swift have a pet name for her fans?) fan of Taylor Swift once again.

         Man buns. I love them. I've always kind of had a thing for men with flowing locks (thanks a lot, J.R.R. Tolkien) and the man bun just looks really good on some people. My favorite man buns are those of Orlando Bloom (he was just made for long hair and he's gorgeous), Chris Hemsworth, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Jared Leto. I didn't even know who Jared Leto was until I saw his man bun on Pinterest. And I don't know if Johnny Depp has a man bun or not, but he could definitely pull it off. (I just looked it up and I did find a picture of him with a man bun. I don't know if it's current, but it looked darn good!) However, as oddly appealing as this hair style is, it doesn't work for everyone. Would you like a list of people that (in my opinion) just don't pull it off? Of course you would! Shia LeBeouf, Colin Farrell, Leonardo DiCaprio (sorry Leo, I love you, but I just don't love your bun), and Harry Styles (I apologize to the Directioners out there who would sell their soul to touch his hair, but I think he should cut it. Or at least grow some facial hair if he's going to keep the hair long).

          Okay. Well, I'm glad I got that out there! In other news, I have no other news. Honestly, I have nothing for you. I would take recommendations for a book to read, because I would love to write another book review, but I'm a bit at loss for what to read. I definitely want to read something new. For once in my life, I'm slightly sick of re-reading my books. I was actually asked to read a coworker's book today, but I can't put a review up because it isn't published yet. He's going for it though! It sounds like he's actually really close to getting it published, which will be very exciting for him. Well, and me...I'll get to read it before it's published! And I'll be on a first name basis with an author. Sounds pretty cool to me.

          So. List of things for you to do:
                 1. Recommend a book for me in the comment section
                 2. Look up pictures of Jared Leto's hair (it's gorgeous and I am jealous)
                 3. Rock out to Shake it Off
                 4. Talk to someone you haven't talked to in awhile; call them! (It's a New Year's                                    Resolution thing)

*Update* Taylor Swift fans are called 'Swifties'.


"Confession is not betrayal. What you say or do doesn't matter; only feelings matter. If they could make me stop loving you-that would be the real betrayal." -1984 by George Orwell 
                 

It's a News Kind of Day

          Well, I'm back! And boy, do I have a lot to tell you! It's been a very busy few weeks (when was the last time I posted?) I have some good news and a bit of slightly bad news. I'll start with the bad and work up to the really good.
          Slightly bad: I almost lost my forever alone status. I came very, very close to going on a date (a first!). At first, I was really excited and happy and downright giddy about it. But then reality slapped me pretty hard and I realized that I didn't actually have the feelings for the person, but rather the idea of having a person to be with. I was terribly stressed and anxious about all of it, because I didn't know how to tell him that. However, him being the great guy that he is, saw that it wasn't what either of us needed and ended it all for me. So that's the bad news. See, it's only slightly bad. And it's only bad because it forced me to look at myself and figure our what I want and need. (But isn't that good news? Yes and no. I'll tell you why not when I finish that writing challenge. Which I feel like I can do now. Well, no...not right now, not today. But in the near future.)

          Good news part one: I was just in Punta Cana for six days. I didn't bring my phone on the trip and there was no WiFi (Well, you could buy some for $60 a day. No, thank you!). So I had six days of freedom from the outside world and let me tell you, it was great. Just me, the beach, and a book (and my family). It was a very cleansing week for me, considering how rough the few weeks before had been. (You know, with the whole slightly bad news thing, what I'll write about in my last writing challenge, and exams.) Let me tell you a bit about my trip. I discovered that I was not meant to be in a plane. Especially very early in the morning or very late at night (when it's dark out). Claustrophobia and acrophobia are a poor combination when you're above the clouds in a very crowded and cramped plane. Let's just say it was a very long 12 hour journey to get to Punta Cana. Getting there, however, was worth it. The water is so blue and the sky is so blue and the sun was so warm. I could have stayed there much longer than a week. I think I spent three days in a row just lounging on the beach, reading and napping, with occasional breaks to jump in the pool or the ocean. More often than not, I jumped in the pool because I also discovered that I'm a bit of a baby when it comes to the ocean. Or rather, I'm a spoiled Michigander that has the Great Lakes and they don't taste like salt. I could not stand the taste of the ocean. If there had been shells or less seaweed, I may have been tempted to go in it more. But as it was, the pool worked just swell for me. While I was there I had my first drink (it was alright, but I didn't like the aftertaste), took a picture with a monkey and a half naked man (not out of my own free will), and met a guy who has the unfortunate, yet uncanny, appearance of Justin Bieber (I asked...he's not Justin Bieber, but he is from Canada! There are a surprisingly large amount of Canadians in Punta Cana). I also met a woman who was British/Canadian (she moved to Canada) and she had been to Ireland several times. She told me a lot about the politics between the North and the South and about how beautiful it is there. She also told me that half of Giant's Causeway is in Scotland. Who knew? I didn't! She got to tell me all these cool things about her time in Ireland and you know what? I got to tell her that...

I'M GOING TO IRELAND!!!!

          Just look at this beautiful country! And I get to go there! Guys, I'm going to IRELAND!!!!! I can't tell you how ridiculously excited I am that I was accepted. I found out on December 6th and I've been trying to sell scarves to raise money to go and I'm working two jobs and teaching piano along with that. So I've been very busy between making scarves, piano lessons, my job, and school (however we're on break now, which is nice). I'm just so excited that I actually have the opportunity to go to the one place that I am just dying to go to. And it's for Literature! I just can't believe I'm going. I am so blessed to have this opportunity. 

          Guys. I'm going to Ireland!

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." -Oscar Wilde (In case you didn't know, Oscar Wilde is one of the authors I'll be studying in Ireland :o)

Day 27

         Hey guys, sorry it's been awhile. In my defense, I was gone all weekend on a retreat. And it was very good. For me, it was like a deep, calming breath. That last retreat I want on was a very intense, in your face kind of retreat. Not in a bad way, of course. That one was very fun. It's just that this one was relaxing and reassuring and exactly what I needed. Anyway, onto the challenge!

Writing Challenge Day #27: Your Favorite Place to Eat

         Oh boy. There are several places that I love to eat at. I really enjoy eating at the Mongolian Grill. I mean, I am a huge fan of stir fry and that is the place to go if you want a stir fry. Yumm...But. It's not my favorite. I also really enjoy getting frozen yogurt from Sugar Berry. Oh my gosh, I love Sugar Berry and I love frozen yogurt and I love their method of pricing (leave me alone, I like it, okay?) However, that is also not my favorite place to eat. Unfortunately for me, my favorite place to eat is no longer in business. The Oakwood Lounge, the only place to eat in my tiny town (technically a village), felt like home to me. For a while last year, I went there on a weekly basis. I became a regular at my favorite restaurant (which was pretty cool). I always got water and deep fried pickles. I haven't had a deep fried pickle since it closed at the beginning of May. It was only five months ago, but it feels like it's been ages. I really do miss it. I made some great memories in that restaurant, both with the people who want there with me and those who worked there. Every Thursday night, I would go to the Oakwood with my brother and we would each go to our teams for DJ Trivia (a trivia game). It was free to participate in and usually lasted about an hour and a half. Ugh. You just don't know how much I miss it. I don't think any other restaurant will ever measure up to my beloved Oakwood and I don't think I will ever stop missing it.



“‘Fear not!’ said a strange voice behind him. Frodo turned and saw Strider, and yet not Strider; for the weatherworn Ranger was no longer there. In the stern sat Aragorn son of Arathorn, proud and erect, guiding the boat with skillful strokes; his hood was cast back, and his dark hair was blowing in the wind, a light was in his eyes: a king returning from exile to his own land.” -The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkein