The Most Perplexing Question You Might Ever Be Asked

Is Ryan Gosling cuter than a puppy?



George Clooney with Ryan or George Clooney with a puppy.  Which is cuter?  You be the judge.

I'm speechless.  I think this is the best thing I have seen in my life or today at least. 

What is it about Ryan Gosling? 

How would you answer?

And if these few pictures are not enough for you, I know they weren't for me, check out the tumblr link above.  Amazing, I'm telling you.

Ketchup

Something kind of funny happened today.  My sister helped serve food at a community function.  She was responsible to bring salad and condiments for hot dogs.  Since we buy everything at Trader Joe's, we bought the ketchup, mustard, and dressing there.  We bought Trader Joe's Goddess Dressing which is about the best dressing you have ever tasted.  Although, we were slightly worried people would be scared off when they didn't see the standard ranch on the table. 

Sure enough, everyone kept asking what the Goddess dressing was all about and my sister would answer that there are no words to describe it.  They would have to try it. Some would stare at it, before hesitantly pouring it on their naked salads.  That's right.  Bravo.  Trying something new today.  You're not going to die.

What got even more looks and comments was the Organic Ketchup.  As soon as someone sees the word Organic that means it's healthy, which to some people means danger this might taste weird and I might die due to lack of chemically processed, sugar added ketchup.  Is it that big of deal?  Does it taste that much different?  No.  One guy even commented on how he thought tomatoes tasted like tomatoes, so what's with this organic stuff.  Excuse me, my eyes just naturally roll out of my head when I hear something ridiculous. 

The comments didn't end there.  As they were eating, one lady even asked, "What is a Trader Joe?" Someone answered, "I think it's a restaurant."  WHAT?! 

Our day had new meaning just by introducing a few people to Trader Joe's and making them eat something organic.  I'm sure we made quite an impression.  They all survived and hopefully will tell the tale of that restaurant, Trader Joe's.  Where have these people been living under a rock?

The Hamburger

Let's talk first impressions at a restaurant.  First impressions are a big deal.  Not that I always make a stellar first impression.  It's something I'm constantly working on and often failing at.  With that said, here's some insight into what first impression I think you're making from what you order at a gourmet restaurant. 

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A friend was describing a first date just recently and after going through how she wasn't quite sure if this guy was exactly her type, she threw in this tidbit of information.  "At least, he didn't order the hamburger.  You know?"  Thank you.  I know.

The hamburger.  I have nothing against hamburgers.  I love going to the local hamburger joints and trying to find the best one.  There is a time and a place for a hamburger.  The hamburger at a gourmet restaurant, however, is there for those people who are too scared or stubborn to try anything different.  If he had ordered a hamburger, the safest most bland thing off this delectable menu, does he only eat hamburgers?  Or is he just incredibly cheap? If he chose the hamburger here, then what will he do at my favorite Vietnamese, Mediterranean, Thai, Indian, Peruvian, Ethiopian  restaurants?  There will be no hamburgers to fall back on there.  He wouldn't even go, would he?  And everything comes crashing down.

I bet he doesn't like to travel.  How could a person who ordered spaghetti and meatballs at this Italian Bistro like to travel?  He must be incredibly close-minded.  Hey Buddy, there is a whole world out there of sensational flavors just waiting to be tasted.  While he is still searching for spaghetti and meatballs on the vast menu of ridiculously delicious concoctions, I will have left. 
There is always the exception.  Maybe he was brought up on meat and potatoes and he had never thought to try anything but that.  Is he willing to experience life for the first time?  For life without food of every variety is sorely lacking.  I'm not expecting him to like everything, but he must try it.  Just once.  He'll be glad he did and might be surprised at what he had been missing.  He will follow me to far away lands hidden right in this city.  The moments we will share of spices, sauces, sweet aromas, and curries.  Pleasure for the palate. 

And if he says no, if he isn't ready to take this relatively harmless food journey, what other things will he turn down?  What sad life will he lead?  I know some people like this, people I don't like. Maybe he will make me eat my words, but for now we will take our seperate ways. 

Please, just don't order the hamburger. 

Great Expectations

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I learned something.  Maybe I should go into things with extremely low expectations more often.  The other day there were numerous things I needed to do based wholly on feeling obligated to do them.  There wasn't even the slightest bit of excitement or of wanting on my part to go.  Obligation, though, always wins in the end.  To bring myself to say no and be selfish, to sleep in, to think of only my own interests, this is not how to live.  That is not the way to make friends. 

And so I dragged myself out the door with heavy boots and little to no expectations of enjoying myself.  The change came in the words of a friend.  "I'm so happy that you came."  With those few words, I knew the fight against myself, my bed, my Saturday morning plans of doing absolutely nothing was worth it.  My being there meant something to someone. 

A bridal shower was next on the agenda of dreaded things.  I have been to one too many bridal showers where half the time is spent sitting around waiting for the food, waiting for the awful opening of the gifts to be over, waiting for anything remotely interesting to happen.  Yet again, my bad attitude was showed who's boss.  It wasn't half as bad as I thought.  It was actually somewhat entertaining and they kept the night moving with some silly games.  It's all about time management.  Another good idea is always have a reason to leave before they start opening the gifts.  My reason was a movie.

A dance movie.  Yes, Footloose.  I don't think there is a dance movie that has disappointed, even Step Up 2 which wasn't as good as Step Up or surprisingly Step Up 3.  Give me a good dance movie any day.  The desire to dance to end an exhausting day is never a bad thing. 

In conclusion, maybe it was good to go into the day with low expectations, because I learned that often times my expectations are completely and utterly wrong. 

Except for Footloose, which was exactly how I was expecting it to be.  Sometimes I get it right.

Le Sigh



Found on a number of my favorite blogs.  Here and Here

 "Go places and do things and travel lighter."  Sometimes I hear stories of people who just make things happen.  They go and do without cares and somehow they make it work.  It might not always be the easy route, but oh the stories they have to tell.  I feel like I've always been responsible, thinking everything through before acting on it.  Right now, I have to keep reminding myself of the things I have done in the past few years.  Four years ago was my first trip to Europe, then there was New York, Toronto, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, San Francisco twice, Portland, all in four short years.  That's not too bad a list.  Somehow this year has made me forget.  There seems to be such a distance between those places and where I am right now.  I don't mean to be all whiny, but I just don't feel like it's enough.  Please tell me how crazy I am to feel this way.  This yearning is deep and not easily thrown aside.  If you don't want to tell me how crazy I am, I'm taking suggestions for how to make money while traveling or living in another country. 

In the meantime, I'm taking these lovely words to heart.

A Handy Tip for the Easily Distracted

Excellent, isn't it?  I am so easily distracted.  I don't know what I would do without these distractions.  Something productive, no doubt.  Imagine that. 

And I Can Breathe Again

There is something about live music that is so refreshing.  For those few hours, it's you and the music.  Even though you are sharing this moment with a crowded room full of strangers, they are there and yet they are not there.  The music literally pulsing through you.  Let's just say Portugal. The Man put on a good show.  And I breathed it all in.

I'm breathing in that fresh, crisp autumn air that has been gone for so long.  Waking up early for a hike to the top of a mountain watching as the sun peeks out over the hills is grand.  I'm starting to enjoy mornings while holding onto my nights, losing precious hours of sleep.  It's an adjustment and my blogging has fallen to the wayside.  For no reason at all, besides the fact that I've just had nothing. I hope that this isn't chronic writer's block, like what happened between the years of 2004 to just recently.  2004 - when I moved to Arizona.  That's when the life was sucked out of me and with it my writing.  Okay, it hasn't been all that bad, but sometimes it feels like it. 

I'll try to pull from somewhere deep down or maybe just something that's right in front of me to get out of this rut.  Bear with me, will you.  In the meantime, while I give you this pathetic excuse of a post, read this because it's just so lovely.