What Happened to American Pride?

When was the last time that Americans stood united?  And I mean for an elongated period of time, without a tragedy to prompt it.

I know you already think I’m going to turn this into some right-winged country song–but I’m not.

Don’t get me wrong–I’m sure we all felt a lot more American and a lot more united after 9/11.  Who wouldn’t?  And 10 years later, we had this:

But why should we only unite over tragedy?  I just feel like it’s been a long time since we’ve all simply felt proud to be Americans.  And I know that Americans get a bad rap, and that we’re terribly ignorant tourists who wear fanny packs and complain about our first world problems.  I’m not saying we’re perfect, particularly to the outside eye, but when did we lose pride just being American?

The last time that I recall was the 1990′s.  Maybe it’s because I was a kid not facing adult issues, but weren’t we all proud of where we lived, where we worked, what we did?  And before that, the 1950′s when folks were proud of the lives they lead.  The times were great–kids got to be kids, people took pride in their homes and their jobs, and they were truly enjoying the times.  Everyone was united and proud to be American.  But the 1950′s came right after a war…and the 1990′s?  Do we count Desert Storm?

I think part of the problem is this:  People are too focused on celebrating their individualism and accentuating their differences that they’ve forgotten that they are a part of something bigger.  

I’m sure that some of you don’t actually think I believe this, but I do appreciate individualism, and I do think it should be celebrated.  I’m not sure if there’s really anything we can do about it.  Maybe we only feel that pride when something goes really great for the USA, or when something bad happens to the USA.

I don’t know.  I just think this whole country would be stronger and happier if we realized that we’re a part of something bigger and if we quit focusing so much on being different from one another.

 

Pitching a Tent

I need to go camping.  It’s no longer a want.  It’s a need.

Not quite Ohio...but you know.

I don’t know when it started, but it’s only grown.  I want to go tent camping, to drink whiskey, to sleep under the stars, to roast marshmallows, and pluck a banjo (shut it).

Time out.  Why are you all so opposed to me getting a banjo?  I’m re-polling:

Anyway.  I want to camp, and I think it’d be a great summer activity.  Plus, it’s easy to bring your friends or just go by yourself (or with Mike, of course, because raccoons scare me).  We could hike around all day or just get drunk by a fire.  And I truly can’t think of a better way to go to sleep than crawling into a tent with a lover (or your friends) and cozying up in the fresh air.

Gah.

So I’m putting together a Camping Pinterest Board so that I can start pinning all of the things that I need/want for my camping desire.  Feel free to buy them for me.  I’ll give you my shipping address.

More importantly, if you’d like to go camping this summer, PLEASE let me know.  It’d be so much fun.  Maybe I’ll even have a big camping party for my birthday in April.  Thoughts?

 

The Monday From Heaven/Hell

It’s been one week since I met David Tutera.  I saw him on TV yesterday and yelled embarrassingly loud, “I hugged him!”

That was the “Heaven” part.

But I didn’t tell you about the rest of that day.

People had been lining up for a meet and greet at Pat Catan’s since 10:00 that morning, and I knew that it was going to be a madhouse.  Mike’s 4:00 appointment had cancelled and we thought, “Let’s go take advantage of Cleveland.”

So we decided that we were going to go to the art museum near Case Western.  Once we got up there and paid for parking, we realized it was closed.  Instead, we walked around campus and laughed at all the worried little undergrads rushing about with laptops and exams and both decided that we didn’t miss it at all.

There are Botanical Gardens on campus, so we tried to go there.  Closed.

See where the Hell part is coming in?

Originally, we had wanted to go to the new aquarium, but didn’t want to spend $20 a ticket, but the way the day was going, we thought, “Well, at least we know it’s a sure thing.”

Not.

We got there (after a lot of turning around and second guessing) and paid for parking again (I don’t know how these city folks do it).  We got in line to go into the aquarium.  Yeah, a line to get to another line to get to another line to buy tickets and THEN go in.  Mike looked at me and said, “If ever there was a day that the sharks were going to bust through the glass and eat some people, it would be today, and it would be us.”

So we bolted out of there, too.  At this point, we were so disgusted that we’d wasted our day that I just said, “Let’s just go to the West Side Market.”  Neither of us had been there, so at 3:51, we parked (FOR FREE) and walked up to the doors…only to realize that the West Side Market closes at 4:00.

So we had a quick 10 minute jaunt through and then said, “Well, let’s go home.”

Instead, we had Asian food and watched some Redbox movies.  And that was good enough for us.

 

Should I Get a Banjo?

POLL BELOW!

Mike’s taking me to a Bluegrass festival…THIS WEEKEND!  The Oil City Bluegrass Festival.

I’m pretty excited.  You see, for two years now, I’ve wanted a banjo.  I always talk myself out of it, though, because I think, “I have no musical talent.  I probably can’t learn to pluck.”

But every time I hear a banjo, I want to do it again.  So Mike and I are going to go listen to some banjos and have some beers (well, probably Mike will have some beers…I don’t feel like it since my cousin’s bachelorette party).

The point is that I am super excited.  Just me and my baby listenin’ to some bluegrass.  If you’re in the area, let me know!

But before I go…do you think I should get a banjo?

 

“Parenthood”: The Best Show on TV

That’s right.  I’m downright saying it, because there’s absolutely nothing any of you could say that could make me believe otherwise.

I love Parenthood.  So much.  I believe Dustin Rowles of Pajiba.com said it best when he said that if he could live in a show, it would be Parenthood.  I love each and every family in a different way, and it’s no secret that I’m in love with Joel, played by Sam Jaeger of Perrysburg, Ohio.

But it’s such a good show!  I’m so excited about everything that has happened in the show and that is going to happen.  And here’s another amazing reason to love Parenthood.  Dustin Rowles posted this on Pajiba.com today.

Mae Whitman’s boyfriend, Landon Pigg, took an LFO song from the ’90′s and had the cast of the show star in the video!  Seriously.  Watch it.  All of it.  It gets so funny.

RIGHT?  Gah I love this show.

 

Giving It Up–for LENT!

Hey ya’ll.  So I want to give up multiple things this year for Lent.  So here’s the list:

• Cussing
• Sweets
• Roseanne

What are you giving up?   (I’m so busy.)

Happy Ash Wednesday!

 

I. Met. David. Tutera!

Oh. My. God.  Yes, that’s David Tutera.  WITH ME.

Mom and I got to meet him on Monday at about 10:30 a.m.  I gave him a hug.  We talked for about 10 minutes, during which I told him that I wanted him to be my “something blue” on my wedding day and handed him a bridal handkerchief with a blue bow on it.

David said, “Can I sign it?!”  OF COURSE YOU CAN!

So now, when I get married, even though I may not be able to get David Tutera to plan my wedding, I will have a little piece of his pizzazz and style with me as my something blue.  I am so excited!  I’ll post pictures of the handkerchief later, but for now…  DUN DUN DUN!

I just really want to thank Kort, Chris, Phyllis, Jeannie, Mary Kay, and anyone else who was involved with making this happen.  I’m so lucky to have gotten to meet him.  ***SQUEAL***

 

 

A busy weekend…

And a busy day to segue in!

Tonight:  Maybe baking inappropriate cakes for Saturday night

Saturday:  Shopping

Saturday Night:  Joint Bachelor/Bachelorette Party for my cousin Hilary who will marry Josh on March 10, 2012

Sunday:  Planning for…

Monday:  DAVID TUTERA!  And some other exciting exciting things.

 

Valentine’s Day Round-Up

Okay, so it turns out I didn’t take as many pictures as I thought I did over Valentine’s Day, but I did have great hair…

Valentine’s Day started amazingly (slight sarcasm).  On the Turnpike, my car began alerting me that there was not enough air in my tire.  Turns out it was the same one that kept losing air earlier in the winter.  A very slow leak.  I aired it up and then continued to Mike, who had tuna steaks, shrimp, veggies, and WINE waiting for me–all by candlelight!  Helluva guy, right?

We spent all night listening to music and talking to each other.  The next morning, we took my car to Sears so they could look at the tire.  They proceeded to tell me that there was a nail in it at an odd angle and that it couldn’t be plugged.  And because Delilah is an all-wheel-drive vehicle, I would have to buy four brand new tires…totally $817.00.  WHA?!

I called my daddy and whined and he told me to find a tire place that could do a vulcanized patch.  So being that we were in Franklin, PA on a weekend, there were hardly ANY tire places open.  But we found one!  They agreed to do it (although it might take a little while to squeeze me in).  I told the greasy guy behind the counter that he was my hero, and he laughed.

So Mike and I went to Franklin On Ice and saw all the ice sculptures.  Cute right?

Reminded me of Arctic Blast at Ashland University.

It was frigidly cold so we hurried back, and they called for me to come pick up my car.  Know how much they charged me?  $18.00.  AND THOSE DAMN PEOPLE AT SEARS WANTED ME TO PAY $817.00!!!!!!!

Such bull.

After that we went bowling:

I look angry and disheveled but it’s okay.

Then we got dinner at Foxtales and watched a movie.  It was such a good night.  :)

So there you have it!  My Valentine’s Day weekend!

 

I’m Going to Meet DAVID TUTERA

It’s freaking true!!!  I am going to meet celebrity wedding planner DAVID TUTERA!

That man.  Oh that man!  He’ll be in Ohio soon, and I am going to meet him thanks to my wonderful friends.  Details and a post after!