30 Day Blog Challenge: Days 16-19

As was expected, I've fallen behind YET again on the 30 day blog challenge. My bad.

Day 16: Your Dream House

I honestly don't have a dream house. I would like to live in a suburb of a big city. I love being 40 minutes from Cincinnati. I would want a big yard (although I don't really want to care for it) if I had kids. I would want a baby grand piano, a big shower, and a home theater with comfy chairs. I would also want a kitchen bigger than the one in Central Perk (but that isn't really asking for much). That's about it. Most importantly, I would want people I love inside the house. THAT is what makes it home to me.

Day 17: Something You're Looking Forward To

I am looking forward to tomorrow - Halloween in Newport!
I am looking forward to the Pens game tonight.
I am looking forward to seeing my best girlfriends next weekend.
I am looking forward to seeing Daniel Tosh next month!
I am looking forward to seeing DAVE in Charlottesville (hopefully twice) next month.
I am looking forward to Bengals vs. Steelers - Monday night game. I MUST go.
I am looking forward to Penguins vs. Blue Jackets in December. Again, I MUST go.
I am looking forward to figuring out my life. It will happen eventually, right?
I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. The food and football. Duh.
I am looking forward to HARRY POTTER and the DEATHLY HALLOWS.
I am looking forward to trivia night. No surprise there.
I am looking forward to Jenn's week off! Best friend time!!

Day 18: Something You Regret

I can honestly say that I don't regret much. My biggest regret in 22 years is quitting piano lessons. I would be so good by now if I had continued. I also regret not deferring my acceptance into UC's law school. I'm starting to wonder if going there would have been a good idea for next year. That's about it.

Day 19: Something You Miss

Unfortunately, this list is always pretty long. I miss my extended family a lot. I never get to see them. Cameron's 1st birthday is next weekend and I have to miss his party. :( I also miss Derailed. Big time. Especially Ben...Ugh. I miss my sister. I know she is having the time of her life in Oxford, but I miss having her around. I miss TJ living in Lebanon. I miss Cara, Claire(s), Alex, Toddy, Devon, Jessica, Sarah, Kristin, Kenny, Rob, Tim, Shawn and Jac, and so many others.

Rocky Horror Glee Show.

Today was a truly momentous day in my life. It marked the day where two of my favorite things came together: Glee and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I have anxiously awaited this episode for quite some time now. My Dad introduced me to RHPS at an incredibly young age and it didn't take long before I was hooked. When I heard Glee was doing a tribute episode, I was ecstatic. Having seen it, however, I'm left with mixed emotions. Here are my pros and cons of the highly-anticipated "Rocky Horror Glee Show:"

+ The costumes were amazing. Kurt's make-up for Riff Raff was incredible. Quinn looked a lot like Magenta. Brittany looked like Columbia. With the exception of Rachel looking like...Rachel, the costume designers and make-up artists did a phenomenal job.

- I am officially creeped out by Schue. I don't like where his character has gone on the show. He used to be inspirational and touching, caught between re-living his glorious high school days and wanting to be a good husband and father. Since the amazing meltdown between Will and Terri in Season 1, Will's character has been going downhill. His obsession with Emma is freaking me out and his speeches have remarkably gotten cheesier and cheesier.

+ I love me some Finn Hudson. Seriously. He is delicious. If I wasn't obsessed before (and trust me - I was), I certainly am now. He looked SEXY in those thick-rimmed glasses. Plus, he got to walk around for about ten seconds in nothing but boxers. The gods have smiled upon me tonight. If there is a problem with that body, then there is something seriously wrong with society.


...and to be fair to Cory Monteith, he did a great impression of Brad Majors. I loved "Dammit, Janet."

- The cameo appearances by Meatloaf and Barry Bostwick were stupid. Don't get me wrong. I love that they made an appearance. Fans of the original movie appreciated it. Still, couldn't the producers have worked them in more seamlessly? Their characters were ridiculous and disappeared after a brief talk with Sue.

+ Santana's lips at the beginning singing "Science Fiction Double Feature." Perfect.

- I wasn't quite sure if this was a regular episode of Glee or a tribute to RHPS. Gleeks who haven't seen RHPS must have been unbelievably confused...and probably upset with the episode. Fans of the movie probably wanted more RH and less Will/Emma/Carl drama. As much as I love Glee, I wanted a closer tribute to the movie. I think the episode switched between the two awkwardly...unsure of its target audience.

- Why was this marketed as a Halloween episode? Just because people were wearing costumes doesn't make this Halloween-related. The movie itself has nothing to do with Halloween.

- I want more Puckerman. Please.

+ "Time Warp" and "Sweet Transvestite" were well-done. Lyrics were changed from "Transexual Transylvania" to "Sensational Transylvania." Also, during "Touch-a," lyrics were changed from "heavy petting" to "heavy sweating." HA!

- Mercedes did a nice job as Frank-n-Furter, but did anyone else want a transvestite? I really wanted a male to play that role and wear the iconic outfit. Instead, Glee seemed to skirt the idea of transvestites, making a few quick jokes and avoiding any controversy for the network. Boo.

+ John Stamos is impressive.

- I don't like that Sue has become an enemy with no real motivation. Sabotage the high school musical in order to win a local Emmy? Come on. It frustrates me that the show has lost its long-term plotlines. It has become nothing more than random episodes each week with no connection except that nationals are coming up. Ugh.

So, as you can see, my general impression of the episode was mixed. Don't worry. I'm still a huge Gleek...and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

UnBEARable Sunday

Last post of the night. I promise.

After the Bears' second straight loss by a field goal, my beloved Bear boo, Brian Urlacher, said some things that made me stop dead in my tracks:

"Disappointing, frustrating, all the adjectives or verbs, whatever they're called, I don't know what they're called, whatever you want..."

Hold the phone.

Now, I understand that he was upset. I would be, too. Without question. Cutler threw four interceptions in their 17-14 loss to the Redskins. The Bears' defense scored almost as many points as they gave up. They forced three turnovers and held the Redskins to just one offensive touchdown.

That being said, I'm a bit concerned with Brian's lack of grammatical prowess. As most of you know, I'm a borderline obsessive-compulsive editor. I point out spelling mistakes, correct grammar mistakes, etc. I know it makes me sound like a snob, but I can't help it. Not surprisingly, it follows that I find good grammar (or at least some knowledge of the basic parts of speech) sexy. Yes, sexy. If a guy articulates himself well, he scores points with me.

At the very least, Brian should understand what a verb is. Right? I know his sole purpose on the team is to run down opposing offenses like they just insulted his mother, but come on. He is also the man of my dreams. Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to right this horrific wrong. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my services as an English tutor to Mr. Urlacher. With his consent, I would like to teach him the eight parts of speech...

He seems to be a visual learner. So, to make things easier, I could even create visual depictions. They would go something like this:

Noun: a person, place, thing, or idea. You, Brian, are a noun. So is football.

Pronoun: a word that can replace a noun. For example, "I want you." In this sentence, 'I' replaces 'Brittany' while 'you' replaces 'Brian.'

Verb: an action word or a state of being. An example sentence would be, "I would do anything to fondle you right now." In this case, 'do' and 'fondle' are the verbs. Hint, hint. That was a not-so-subtle message.

Adjective: describes or quantifies a noun. For example, "Your bulging biceps make me want to tear off your shirt." The adjective 'bulging' describes your biceps...and, seriously. Lose the shirt.

Adverb: a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. For example, "While tenderly making love in the shower, Brittany taught Brian about adverbs." Of course, the word 'tenderly' describes how we carried out the verbal phrase 'make love.'

Preposition: a word that describes the relationship of an object with the rest of the sentence. "I am on you." Here, the word 'on' describes where I am in relation to you. Want to trade places?

Conjunction: a word used to link words or clauses. "You and I belong together." In this case, the word 'and' links us together. Forever. And ever. And ever.

Interjection: a word used to convey emotion (usually followed by an exclamation mark). "YES! Don't stop!" Enough said.

...and there you have it. I think I could be a highly-effective teacher.

In other Bears' news, Jay Cutler is looking better and better...and by 'looking better,' I do NOT mean on the football field. Although his play has been dismal since the game against the Giants, I can't resist my attraction to him. Check out the new facial hair and plaid...and disregard the horrendous stat underneath his name.

If loving him is wrong, then I don't want to be right.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 15 ...sorta.

It seems that nearly everyone in the blogosphere is religious, so I wasn't too shocked to learn the topic for Day 15.

Day 15: Bible Verse

Oh boy. I'm not taking anything away from the Bible. I have read the entire Old Testament and know that there are many great verses in the New Testament. It is filled with inspirational quotes, bits of wisdom, and profoundly insightful verses. Still, I don't have a favorite verse nor do I feel comfortable choosing one.

That being said, I will choose some of my favorite quotes from my favorite Chuck Palahniuk book, Choke.

Disclaimer: I am in no way comparing Chuck Palahniuk to God. Haha...

"The unreal is more powerful than the real. Because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it. Because it's only intangibles, ideas, concepts, beliefs, fantasies that last. Stone crumbles. Wood roots. People, well, they die. But things as fragile as a thought, a dream, a legend, they can go on and on. If you can change the way people think. The way they see themselves. The way they see the world. You can change the way people live their lives. That's the only lasting thing you can create."

- This is what I long to do. I am terrified by the idea that, one day, I will die and the world will move on without me. I don't believe in an afterlife, so I feel that this life is the only time I have. I hope to make the best of it and I want to leave the world a better place than it was when I came into it. I'm not naive enough to think that I will make a lasting difference on everyone. I just want to make some kind of positive change that endures longer than I will.

"It's pathetic how we can't live with the things we can't understand. How we need everything labeled and explained and deconstructed."

- I can relate to this quote. I won't believe anything unless it's explained to me. I suppose this explains my struggle with faith.

"Torture is torture and humiliation is humiliation only when you choose to suffer."

- I absolutely believe this. It is completely up to me how I choose to react to different situations. My attitude dictates my feelings. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to react positively in the heat of the moment.

"We can spend our lives letting the world tell us who we are. Sane or insane. Saints or sex addicts. Heroes or victims. Letting history tell us how good or bad we are. Letting our past decide our future. Or we can decide for ourselves."

- I like to think that I am the master of my own destiny. I am a firm believer in free will, second chances, and the will to succeed. I truly believe that I could do anything if I set my mind to it.

Chuck = Genius. I wish I could eat dinner with him and tell him how much he has changed my life. I want to tell him that he eloquently puts into words my deepest fears and my hardest feelings. I wish more than anything that I could give this same gift to others struggling to find the right words.

Going 'home' for Homecoming.

As I've already mentioned, I had a lovely weekend retreat to Oxford. It is always so wonderful to be back with my best friends in one of my favorite places.

Thursday, I left for Oxford with my mom to hear the 14th Dalai Lama speak at Millett Hall. We walked from Jamie's house and got there just in time. Miami awarded the Dalai Lama with an honorary doctorate before his speech. Although he was soft-spoken and often difficult to understand, it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to hear him speak. The title of his talk was 'Ethics in the Modern World,' but he had no clue what the topic was until he started speaking. After learning the topic, he spoke extemporaneously, weaving stories and bits of wisdom in with this speech. He spoke mostly of the importance of kindness to all living things and explained how creating inner peace leads to a much happier and longer life. He also spoke about the importance of harmony between all living things (and all religions). I was surprised at how lovable he seemed. He laughed quite often, made numerous jokes, and even took his shoes off in the middle of his talk (and sat indian-style) to get more comfortable. He even wore a Miami visor throughout his speech! It was an incredible opportunity to hear him speak and I'm very proud that my school hosted the event.

After the speech, Mom and I went to lunch at Smokin' Ox, walked around Wal-Mart, and hung out until Jamie got home from MUM. Then, we went to BW3's for dinner and to watch the Penguins beat the Predators in OT! (Crosby scored two goals and Malkin scored one!)

Friday, I woke up late, went to lunch with Jamie and her housemate Sally, and got in line for the hockey game against Northern Michigan. TJ and Nick met us at the game. It felt wonderful to be back at Goggin, watching a win and doing "Jump Around." Miami won, 4-0.

After the game, we met up with Jenn and CJ before heading to Underground for Latina Locura.

Saturday, Jenn, TJ, Nick, and I went to the Miami homecoming game against Ohio University. As is often the case, the game was pretty painful to watch and we ended up leaving at the beginning of the 4th quarter (like the rest of the crowd). Miami lost the game, 34-13. Yikes.

After the game, we walked uptown for lunch at Chipotle. Later, Mom picked me up to see Bill Maher at the Aronoff Center downtown. He did not disappoint. He was absolutely hilarious and incredibly offensive - just the way I love him. He joked about religion (of course), the upcoming election, the Obama administration, Sarah Palin, and other current issues. I would not hesitate to see him again.

When I got back to Oxford, I went to Neal's birthday party at Derailed. It was strange to be back 'at home.' Of course, it was decorated differently, but I must say that it felt good to have a dance party in the living room (just like the old days).

Sunday was filled with football, football, and more football. The Bengals lost to the Falcons in a nail-biter (39-32). The Bears lost to the Redskins (17-14). Luckily, the Packers beat the Vikings (28-24)! They look to be the only hope I have left this season. We'll see.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Days 11-14

Due to my wonderful weekend in Oxford, I have to play catch-up on the blog challenge.

Day 11: Your Favorite TV Shows

Jeopardy! Entourage. Glee. - My three favorites

...but I also love: Real Time with Bill Maher. The Office. Friends. Tosh.0. Sportscenter. American Idol. Family Guy. How I Met Your Mother. Cash Cab.

Day 12: What You Believe

Due to my tendency toward skepticism, there are very few things that I believe unconditionally. Those things are: I love my family and friends. I can always be a better person. I am incredibly lucky. Time both heals and changes everything. Love is the reason why we are here. The quest for knowledge is endless. My personal happiness is not dependent on my surroundings or things outside of my control. It is entirely based on how I choose to respond to those things. I love the Cincinnati Bengals.

Day 13: Goals

There are always so many things I want to do, so here are a few:

- Figure out my life. I'm not sure if that means get a job, apply for graduate (or law) school, etc.

- Clean my room totally.

- Continue going to the Y regularly.

- Volunteer with ESL.

- Vote next month.

- Go to Pittsburgh for a Penguins game (this season).

- Continue writing in my blog regularly.

Day 14: A Picture You Love

This is my favorite picture that I have ever taken. I took this my senior year of high school after our last home football game. The game ended in a loss and all of my friends were really upset. As we were all talking (and reminiscing) in the parking lot, I sauntered over to the field and snapped a shot of one of my favorite places on earth. Everyone had left the stadium, but the lights were still on...giving the field an almost sacred appearance. For me, this picture represents everything I loved about high school: my friends, the games, our relationships, and, of course, those Friday night lights.

Weekend update coming tomorrow!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 10

Day 10: Something You're Afraid of

My biggest fear is, by far and away, death.

I've always been amazed by people who say they aren't afraid to die. I am terrified. This is partially due to my uncertainty about an afterlife. I have no religious beliefs and no inclination on the afterlife. I'm absolutely terrified that death will be an eternity of nothing-ness.

Along these same lines, I'm scared of suffering. This explains my immense fear of cancer (and other diseases). If I have to go, PLEASE make it quick. I don't want to think about it.

I'm even more afraid of losing a loved one. I have been incredibly lucky and I haven't lost anyone close to me (besides my Grandad). I'm a huge worrier and I say 'I love you' every time that I leave someone important to me.

I'm also afraid that I will die alone. I have these wonderful dreams that I will meet Mr. Right (notice that I didn't say Mr. Perfect), we will get married, and have kids. However, deep down, I worry that I will never find him. I want love more than anything in the world - and I have been blessed with love from family and friends. Now, I'm ready for romantic love...but I worry it won't come.

On a less serious note, I'm also terrified of sharks, moths, cockroaches, and bees. I think that's about it.

Little miss update her blog is updating her blog.

Things I'm Loving Right Now:

- The T.Ocho Show on Versus. I was skeptical at first, but Chad and TO are absolutely hilarious together. I think I could watch them for hours.

- Cooler weather. It finally feels like football season and I can wear hoodies and cardigans again!

- Peach yogurt. The kind with the chunks in it. It's amazing.

- Jason Segel. I suppose he isn't a 'right now.' He's more of an 'always.' Still, he's having a current resurgence into my celeb obsessions. I'm more than convinced that we belong together.

- Apple cider from Iron's Fruit Farm. Delish.

- Bill Maher. I love his show. Maybe it's the politics nerd in me, but I love political humor. Jon Stewart, too.

- Glee is doing a Rocky Horror Picture Show episode. Two of my favorite things are combining one week from today. I grew up watching that movie and I can't wait to see their rendition.

- Having time to read. A lot of time. It's been incredible. I've gone almost four years without serious free reading.

- Pumpkin ice cream. It's the most wonderful time of the year.

- Black nail polish. This is another 'always.'

- The smokin' hot guy that I see daily at the YMCA. I feel bad for him in a way. He undoubtedly knows that I'm gawking at him without shame, but I can't help it. Watching him lift is like staring at a car wreck...a sexy car wreck with awesome biceps.

- Brown Sugar and Fig lotion from Bath & Body Works.

- Tim Tebow scored his first NFL touchdown on Sunday against the Jets.

- Getting comments on my blog. Seriously, it's one of the best parts of my day. Is that pathetic?

- The free preview of NHL Center Ice. I'm contemplating buying the real thing. I suppose that's why they do the preview - they hook you and reel you in...

- Oh...and please don't think I forgot.

Evgeni Malkin.

I was soooo tempted to make a raunchy joke regarding 'stick-handling'...but I'll save you the torment. You're welcome.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 9

Day 9: A Picture of Your Friends

Well, it's nearly impossible to get all of my friends together for a picture, so I'll give a couple.

My best friends on the planet. I can't say enough about these three. They make me laugh, listen to me complain, put up with my celebrity crushes, give me advice, and are willing to drop anything to hear me out. I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have them as my best friends.

The Derailed crew. After my freshman year of college, I was tempted to transfer. I am SO happy that I decided to stick it out because I never would have met these amazing people. They made my experience at Miami the best years of my life. I practically lived with them for two years. They know the best and the worst of me - and they love me still. That's saying something.

I'm leaving out a lot of amazing friends, but I could easily spend hours talking about them.

Football Frenzy!

I had a wonderfully eventful weekend.

Friday morning, Mom, Dad, and I left for Charlottesville very early. When we got there, we met up with my dad's college roommates, Sidney and Mike, and their wives. We got dinner at Wild Wing Cafe so that I could watch the Pens beat the Islanders in overtime! YAY!

Saturday, we went to UVA's campus for some tailgating before their homecoming game. Unfortunately, UVA got crushed by UNC, 44-10. Ouch. Still, it's always fun to go to UVA games, tailgate, and hang out on the beautiful campus. After the game, I caught the final quarter of the OSU game and cried myself to sleep.

Sunday, we left Charlottesville and drove to Rockville, Maryland. We ate dinner at Qdoba before Dad and I left for the Redskins vs. Colts Sunday night game.

I must say a few things:

- Redskins fans are insane! They put Bengals fans to shame...they were so loud and supportive throughout the whole game...and the tailgaters were so intense. It was awesome.

- FedEx Field is amazing. We had club seats, so we walked around on the club level. Inside were tons of bars, comfortable seating, and restaurants (ex. Famous Dave's, Phillip's Seafood, Hooters, etc.). Our seats were cushioned and right in front of the suites. It was an amazing view of an incredible stadium.

- Also, the bathroom was like a dance club. P. Diddy's "Hello Good Morning" was blasting and I was tempted to break it down while drying my hands.

- There were tributes to the late Sean Taylor everywhere. They had a display case of the things from his locker and many people were wearing his jersey.

- The game itself was awesome, too. It was Redskins' homecoming weekend, so many Redskin alumni were back on the field to support the team. At half time, Russ Grimm was commended on his recent induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.

- Unfortunately, the Colts ended up winning, 27-24, but it was an interesting game until the very end. Peyton Manning is always fun to watch and I will NEVER complain about watching Chris Cooley. Mmm...

...but thanks in part to my luck, Cooley suffered a concussion sometime during the fourth quarter...and since I spent an embarrassing amount of time stalking him on the sidelines, I noticed his early departure for the locker room. Oops. More bad luck stemming from yours truly.

Stay tuned to find out who I unintentionally curse this week.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Days 5-8

I was out of town this weekend, so I have a LOT of catching up to do on my blog challenge.

I'll try to keep them short.

Day 5: Your Siblings

Once again, I got incredibly lucky in the family department. My siblings are, for lack of a better word, awesome. They also happen to be some of my best friends and I know that I could rely on them for anything. Like normal siblings, we fight from time to time, but it's never very serious or long-lasting. I absolutely love them with my whole heart and I'm so lucky to have them in my life. Love you, Jamie and LP!

Day 6: A Picture of Something that Makes you Happy

I'm a maniac with pictures, so I have more than a few that fit this category. BUT, I'll go with this one:

I absolutely love that Jenn and I can have the best time ever...doing nothing, stuck for hours in traffic. She is the perfect definition of a best friend.

Day 7: Favorite Movies

I wrote an entry about this already, but I'll recap and add a few more. The Sandlot. The Departed. Fight Club. American Beauty. Moulin Rouge. Boondock Saints. Matchstick Men. Closer. Forrest Gump. Friday Night Lights. Dogma. Closer. Wedding Crashers. Swingers. 300. Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Slumdog Millionaire. A Chorus Line. Harry Potter. Ocean's series. Animal House. Dodgeball. Walk the Line. The Dark Knight. The Town. Inside Man. We Own the Night. I Love You, Man. Old School. The Phantom of the Opera. Anchorman. Sin City. Into the Wild.

...I could drone on and on...

Day 8: A Place You've Traveled

I am lucky enough to struggle with an answer to this question. I have been to so many incredible places in my life. So, I'll just go with my favorite one. When I was a sophomore in high school, I went to London for a week with my family. It instantly became my favorite place on the planet. The people were incredibly friendly, the history was overwhelming, and, contrary to popular belief, the food was good, too. It didn't rain the entire time we were there. We saw the Tower of London, the Eye, Parliament, Madame Tussaud's wax museum, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Picadilly Circus, Platform 9-3/4 in King's Cross Station, and so many other things. We also took a day trip to Paris for the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, I didn't have a digital camera at the time, so I didn't get any pictures of the trip.

...oh well...at least I have a good excuse to go back!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: Your Parents

I love this topic...because my parents are the two coolest human beings on the planet. I am so unbelievably lucky to have them in my life. Every ounce of coolness that I am should be credited directly to them.

First, my wonderful Mommles.

My mom has been (and always will be) my very best friend. We do practically every single thing together. I tell her everything, she supports me in every thing I do, she makes me laugh. Essentially, I am a younger version of my mom. She home-schooled me in the 1st grade, I inherited her compassion and her remarkable capacity to love. She sacrifices daily for me (and my brother and sister). Her selflessness, dedication, and strength still blow my mind. She is everything I am and I'm still not HALF the woman she is. In short, she is incredible. :)

Next, my awesome Daddles.

Over the years, my dad has also been a best friend to me. He has instilled in me the will to succeed, an insatiable thirst for knowledge, a love of different cultures, and especially a love for travel. Since I was a child, my dad has taken me to Costa Rica, Belize, the Virgin Islands, Panama, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, England, France, and Italy. He has shown me the world and taught me to appreciate it. He keeps me humble, pushes me to be the best person I can be, and supports my every decision.

So, as you can see, I got incredibly lucky in the parent department. I can't imagine life without them.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 3

Day 3: Your First Love

Oh boy...this is a pretty loaded topic.

Unlike the rest of the blogging world, my first love wasn't Jesus or my current boyfriend/husband. So, I'm struggling with this one.

It always feels like love, doesn't it? In the moment, you are absolutely convinced it's love until the next one. Then, you're convinced you love him...until the next one.

**Names are changed for privacy purposes**

In 6th grade, I was convinced that I was in love with B. However, as the year progressed, I realized more and more that it was infatuation. I changed who I was to impress him, I hung around him all the time in hopes of getting his attention. Slowly (and painfully), I realized that he only liked me as a friend and eventually, I stopped pretending to be someone else. I can honestly say that since the 6th grade, I haven't changed myself one bit for a guy. Lesson learned...so, thanks B!

A came into my life in 7th grade. Once again, I was sure this was love. This was very different than B. Feelings were reciprocated and I fell hard. However, the 'relationship' (I really wouldn't call it that) was extremely unhealthy, especially for a middle schooler. How I felt for him vacillated between love and infatuation. Eventually, I reached the point where I couldn't handle being 'loved' in private and ignored in public. Hence, my self-esteem issues? ...but that's another post altogether.

Freshman year, I met S. He was unlike B and A in every way. He was a senior and served as the quintessential older crush. He played football, had a car, made me feel special, etc. Talking to him gave me serious butterflies. Stereotypical young girl putting everything on the line for the older guy. As could be expected, he graduated and there I was...searching for someone else.

...and then came Z. The whole point of this entry. I think I would classify Z as my 'first real love.' He was everything I wanted and more. Physically, he looked like my ideal guy. Mentally, he was my ideal guy. Very intelligent, hilarious, football lover/player. The down side? He was emotionally 7 years old...and that might be generous. Still, everything felt comfortable with him. He made me laugh and it just clicked. We were practically inseparable for three years. I had some of the best times of my life with him. (Don't let me over-romanticize this. He was a disaster in many ways and never really treated me right. I see that now.)

When college started and we were separated, I was hell-bent on keeping 'us' the same. Time, however, had different plans for us and we made our separate ways. I fought against change for at least a year and put myself (and Jenn) through utter hell. However, when I finally spent more time with him, I slowly began to realize that he wasn't the person I loved anymore. It's amazing how time both hurts and heals. I wish more than anything that I could have comforted my 18-year old self...but I know better. That girl, the one so deeply and blindly in love, wouldn't have listened.

BUT, I don't regret it at all. I learned so much about myself from Z...and I'm a much stronger person today because of him.

Sweet heavens. Sorry for the novel.

Oh yeah - the Pens are now 1-3 and still winless at home. Not good.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Days 1 and 2

I've decided to partake in the 30 day blog challenge over at Katie's journal. I'm a day late, so here are days 1 and 2.

Day 1: Introduce, Recent Picture, and 15 Interesting Facts

My name is Brittany and I'm a 22 year-old college graduate living in Ohio.

1. I love my family and friends more than anything in the whole world. I'm unbelievably lucky to have them.

2. My favorite author is Chuck Palahniuk. He is raw, edgy, and amazing.

3. I absolutely HATE bananas. I can't even smell them without gagging.

4. I have an unhealthy obsession with sports, particularly football and recently hockey. I closely follow the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Miami Redhawks (hockey).

5. I am a hypochondriac. I always worry I have some kind of cancer.

6. I absolutely love babies. They make me so happy.

7. I cry a lot...often for no reason. I'm also a HUGE worrier and incredibly self-conscious. I know, I know. I sound like someone you want to meet.

8. I have no clue what I want to do with my life. I'm living at home and I'm jobless. I'm also trying to decide whether to re-apply to law school or not.

9. I am so tired of explaining to everyone what I'm doing at home. I have no clue about my future and I feel stupid telling people that I'm doing nothing right now.

10. I love cardigans. A lot.

11. I really, really want a boyfriend. I wish I didn't care, but I do. I desperately want to fall in love, but I haven't found the right guy yet.

12. I speak in different voices and accents all the time. Really. All the time. I feel bad for my family and friends sometimes.

13. In high school, I won two superlatives: Best Friends (with Jenn) and Most Likely to Succeed. We'll see about that. ;)

14. I watch every awards show. Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, Espys, Tonys, Golden Globes, etc.

15. I was home-schooled in 1st grade and I loved it. I got to sleep in and spend all day with my mom, brother, and sister.

Day 2: Meaning Behind Your Blog Name

I know how boring this is, but there is absolutely no meaning behind my blog name. In hindsight, I wish I had spent some more time coming up with something clever. I don't censor myself at all in my blog posts, so I figured it was kind of like 'thinking out loud.' Hence, the name.

They're all gonna laugh at you!

As usual, this weekend was nice. Friday, I had some friends over to watch the Reds play-off game. Despite the game's outcome, we had a great time, hanging out and eating pizza. Saturday, Jenn, Sib, TJ, Ashley, and I went to Little River Cafe for probably the last time of the year. Cara and Jake met us there and it was wonderful to see them again. I miss them a lot and I can't wait for their big day!

Sunday, my mom, dad, and I went downtown for the Bengals vs. Buccaneers game. LP went out on the field at halftime and swore in to the Marines. Somehow, I held it together and didn't cry. I'm so unbelievably proud of him. It was great to see how supportive the crowd was of the recruits. As I've already mentioned, the game itself was pretty painful. We lost, 24-21, because of a last-second field goal. Ouch. Still, I love every opportunity to go to Paul Brown and watch the guys play.

For lack of other things to say, I've decided to count down the top 5 places I would like to be right now.

1. Oxford - I really miss being with everyone at school. It's certainly not the classes or the homework that I miss, but I miss hanging out with everyone at night and going uptown. Hockey season started this weekend and I really wanted to be at the games. GO REDHAWKS!

2. London - I really want to go back. End of story.

3. UDF - The pumpkin pie ice cream is back. At long last. Try it. It will change your world.

4. Charlottesville - Charlottesville is a wonderful place to be in the fall. It might be too early for the leaves to change, but it's always beautiful there. Luckily, I'm going there this weekend for a UVA and a Redskins game.

5. Anywhere that Evgeni Malkin is horizontal. Self-explanatory.

I mean...Pittsburgh for a Penguins game. I think that will be on my Christmas list this year. I'm currently debating with myself on whether to buy NHL Center Ice or not. It's a lot of money for a lot of games I won't watch...but the Pens might be worth it. We'll see.

Geno strikes again.

Oh. My. God.

Evgeni Malkin has absolutely stolen my heart. His English has gotten SO much better, but I would do almost anything to be his private tutor.



Seriously girls (and guys), please comment on this post and tell me if you think he is amazing, too. Do I have the worst taste in the world or am I actually validated in this crush?

The maniacal musings of a disappointed fan.

To my fellow Cincinnati sports' fans:

Tonight, I write to you from a very dark place: a dismal, self-imposed mixture of disappointment, sadness, and desperation. Like you, I am reeling in the unwelcoming arms of defeat. Double defeat, in fact. October 10, 2010 will forever go down as a bad day in Cincinnati.

Of course, most of us have become relatively accustomed to this feeling. Life-long Bengals and Reds fans know the misery of embarrassing defeat all too well. We've spent numerous years, faithfully and enthusiastically cheering on teams that, more often than not, leave us disappointed and speechless at the end of the season. Although we cheer endlessly, tailgate, buy merchandise and game tickets, and fill bars and restaurants during gametime, we always end up the same way: in tears and/or screaming curse words at the television.

Cincinnati is no stranger to sports misery. Two Superbowl losses for the Bengals in the '80s to the 49ers. The horrifying decade of the '90s (which happened to coincide with the death of Paul Brown. Coincidence? I think not). The Bengals or the Reds haven't won a world championship in 20 years. This was the first winning season for the Reds since 2000. The Bengals have had only 2 winning seasons since 2000. This, my devoted sports fans, is a problem. Still, we enter new seasons with optimism and undying devotion for our teams.

I will admit, however, that the Cincinnati sports fan has adopted a certain level of healthy skepticism. It is a defense mechanism - a way to shield themselves from the pain of inevitable loss. This manifests itself in a number of ways. Bengals fans assume that new draft picks will end up in jail before actually showing up in the playoffs. Reds fans stop watching games in July. There is never a moment of relaxation over the the course of any game...because fans know better...even with a considerable lead.

Many have interpreted my skepticism as pessimism. They are probably right. Long ago, I reached the point where I go into games with zero expectations. I venture predictions, but I don't actually believe them. When I say the Bengals should beat the Browns, I know full well that reality could (and probably will) be different.

As I've mentioned previously, I have never been a fan of Carson Palmer. Drafted first overall in 2003, Carson came to Cincinnati a Heisman winner and a superstar in the making. Finally, Cincinnati fans thought there was an end in sight to our quarterbacking woes. Although his first season as a starter was an improvement (8-8), it wasn't until the 2005 (11-5) season that people began to worship him as Cincinnati's messiah. Even then, I had some major reservations.

There was no denying that Carson was an improvement from Kitna. Still, I wasn't overly impressed with the USC superstar and Heisman winner. As the seasons wore on (and our record vacillated between losing and breaking even), I fortified my arguments against Palmer. Endlessly, I argued with friends and family who claimed that Palmer was among the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. This all brings me to this season.

It has been blatantly clear to me that Carson Palmer is a major problem. He is not a definitive team leader, the offense has been sloppy all season, Carson has had trouble throwing the ball on the money, and even more trouble making smart decisions. Today, my beloved Bengals fell in the last minute of the game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...ultimately because of a third interception thrown by Carson.

Don't get me wrong. I know there are plenty of other issues with our team. The offensive play calling is questionable. 'Hall of Fame' receivers drop balls when they are wide open. I can't remember the last time I've seen so many false start penalties. Every so often, the defense forgets to show up on certain huge plays. I will not place all of the blame on Carson. Still, I'm starting to be concerned with the future of the Bengals.

Who is our backup quarterback? Carson's less talented brother, Jordan. We need another quarterback. At least a young one to sit back and learn for a few years from a veteran...even if that veteran is Carson.

Unfortunately, today also marks the day that the Reds were swept by the Phillies in the NLDS. In only three games, the Reds made 7 errors that ultimately drove the nail in their own coffin. Keep in mind: this is the team that led the NL with the fewest amount of regular-season errors. Snake-bitten much? This, coupled with Roy Halladay's amazing no-hitter in game 1, crushed Cincinnati fans' post-season hopes.

Let me be clear. This post is in no way an attack on the Reds. They had a wonderful season - one that the players and the fans should be proud of and remember. I'm not taking that from them. Still, I can't help but wallow in the 'close-but-no-cigar' misery of it all.

I suppose it could be worse. The Bengals made the play-offs last year. They were the AFC North Champions. The Reds made the play-offs for the first time since 1995. These are all necessary steps in the right direction. We'll take it. It still pains me to be the national laughing stock of professional sports.

We, the devoted fans, deserve better. We need some positive reinforcement. Our unwavering support must eventually be rewarded. I can't count how many tears I've cried over the Cincinnati Bengals. I do know, however, that I will never give up on them. No matter how many losing seasons, horrible plays, interceptions, play-off defeats, errors, or player injuries there are, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cincinnati Reds will forever be my teams.

So, tonight, I implore you to stay true. Do not lose faith. Don't boo. I know how trying it is to stay faithful and enthusiastic in the midst of such utter chaos. We will be rewarded. It will pay off and that day will be glorious. That day, we will fully comprehend and appreciate all of the pain and suffering we have endured for years. That day, we will stand in solidarity as true fans. We will finally reap the benefits from the hundreds of dedicated hours. WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS!

For the Bengals and the Reds, it clearly won't be this year. Yes, we have become the seasoned pros of 'There's always next year"...but you know what? There is.

So, until then, my dearest friends, WAY TO GO, REDS! and WHO-DEY?!

Sincerely,

Someone who should seek immediate help for these absurd obsessions

I want to punch Prince.

While surfing the blogosphere today, I came across some fun questions. Since I have nothing to do until the Reds start their second play-off game, I will answer them.

1. Who was your first celebrity crush?

My first small celeb crush? Chris O'Donnell. I fell in love during Batman and Robin. Clearly, my taste wasn't refined yet and I didn't realize how flawless George Clooney truly is.

My first intense celeb crush? Brian Littrell from the Backstreet Boys. I had it BAD.

2. If you could only listen to one artist for the rest of your life, who would it be?

This would be incredibly painful, but I have to choose Dave Matthews Band. They have a vast musical library and they have more than enough songs to cover all of my moods.

3. What's the ringtone on your cell phone?

Ringtone - "Jump Around" - House of Pain

Text tone - A commentator screaming, "CROSBY SCORES!!!"

4. What's your favorite thing to cook?

Unfortunately, I don't cook very often. I have to go with sauteed mushrooms and onions...or cupcakes.

5. What was the hardest conversation you've ever had?

Hmm...good question. Either discussing my religious views with friends, talking to my brother about him joining the Marines, or talking to Jenn about my confidence issues (and what that stems from).

6. What was the best gift you've ever received?

This is tough, too. I've gotten some amazing things over the years. Probably my graduation present - a trip to Italy and a new digital camera.

7. When your phone rings, who do you hope it is?

Well, I hate the phone...so I usually hope it's a wrong number.

8. Who is your favorite comedian?

Either Daniel Tosh or Bill Maher. I also love Seth Macfarlane, but I'm not sure he classifies as a comedian because he doesn't do stand-up.

9. What song defines your current mood?

Uhh...what is my current mood? "No Hands" by Waka Flocka Flame because I feel like dancing and it pumps me up for the game? Haha...wow. I'm so white.

10. If your life was a reality show, what would it be called?

Probably What Next? Mostly because I never know what I'm doing next, but also because there always seems to be some issue in my life. Same with everyone though, I suppose.

Now, YOU answer them. Please? :)

Celebaholics Anonymous.

Blah. The Penguins lost their home opener, 3-2. Oh well - I'm just glad the season has started and I can obsess over these two again.

I apologize in advance. Hey! The perk of having your own blog is the discretion to post anything you want...and what do I want (besides my own fountain soda dispenser and Bengals' season tickets)?

Geno and his stereotypical European haircut.

Hello. My name is Brittany and I am an addict.

I suffer from an unhealthy and debilitating obsession with at least 40 different male celebrities. Over the course of the year, they cycle in and out of my consciousness. One week, it's Tim Tebow. The next, it's Sidney Crosby...and so on. They cause me to waste (...and I use that term loosely here) countless hours online, listening to music, or watching TV and movies. They also aid in the creation of the unrealistic expectations I have for every other male on the planet.

I need to face the facts. Not every guy can sing like Michael Buble. Not every guy can benchpress as much as Brian Urlacher. Not every guy is as hilarious as Vince Vaughn. I cannot judge every guy I meet by these same standards.

Hopefully, someday in the relatively near future, I meet a guy that is actually worth my time and attention. Someone who is kind, intelligent, and funny. I just want someone who I can't live without, someone who loves me for me, and someone to prove that this long wait was worth it.

...oh yeah, and someone who understands my celeb infatuations and can make at least 5 pre-approved one-night stand exceptions to the monogamy rule. ;)

In Russia, hockey puck shoots YOU!

The Reds lost their first play-off game against the Phillies today, 4-0. Want some more bad news? Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay pitched a no-hitter, making him only the second pitcher in history to do so in a post-season game. Awesome. Glad we could help make someone's dreams come true. Vomit.

In happier news, the Penguins play another Philadelphia team tomorrow in their season opener. It will also be the first game ever played at the new Consol Energy Center. GO PENS!

I decided to join a hockey fantasy league. After the autodraft, I ended up with a number of players, including Rick Nash, Jaroslav Halak, Dan Boyle, and...my Russian sex slave boyfriend, Evgeni Malkin.

I'm convinced that if I passed both Crosby and Malkin on the street and had absolutely no clue who they were, I would be 100 times more attracted to Malkin. He has that big, somewhat confused, oafish aura that I find so appealing.



Even after hearing them talk, I'd probably choose Malkin. Sure, he's incredibly hard to understand, sounds like an ex-member of the Russian mob, and doesn't understand English slang or sarcasm yet...but he's on his way. At least he seems to have more personality than Crosby. Sid has about as much enthusiasm and spunk in interviews as Ben Stein.

Seriously, I want to marry Malkin, travel back and forth between our homes in the US and Russia, and have three gorgeous bilingual babies. I'm not even opposed to giving them Russian names like Oksana, Svetlana, Viktor, or Aleksey. I do, however, draw the line at Olga.

Also, if you were wondering if I print-screened youtube videos to get those pictures, the answer is yes. If you weren't wondering that, then forget I said anything. ;)

The ONLY exception to my 'No Singing in Public' rule.

Ugh. I've debated back and forth with myself over whether or not to do this post.

I'm feeling brave right now. So, I'll do it.

Warning: I split the song in half AND cut out the middle verse. My version isn't nearly as good as Paramore's or Rachel Berry's. I did both of these in one take. This is also recorded on my digital camera...not a computer or a video camera. So, I apologize in advance for the horrible sound quality. I promise I sound better in person...at least I think.

Also, I cut my face out because I'm mortified...and incredibly nervous. Sorry I'm not sorry.

Part 1:

Part 2:



Seriously, if you want to hear me singing my absolute best, you need to sneak up on me.

Maybe some day I'll find someone worth singing that to? Oh, come on. You knew there was a pitiful, single-girl complaint coming at some point.

Top 2 Tuesday.

This week's Top 2 topic is something that I can't even begin to answer. We are supposed to pick our top 2 dream kitchens. This is a problem for me for a couple reasons.

1. I'm a 22-year old, college graduate living back at home. I don't even know where to find pictures of cute kitchens.

2. I don't cook very often. I've perfected cereal, toast, and mac & cheese. So, I don't even know what I want in my kitchen. I hope one day to cook more often...but we'll see.

Until then, I will do an old Top 2 topic that I missed.

My Top 2 Simple Pleasures.

1. Listening to the rain outside while trying to fall asleep. There is nothing I like more than covering up with a warm blanket and listening to the sound of the rain. To me, it's both relaxing and romantic.

2. Hanging out with Jenn, my mom, or my sister doing absolutely nothing. Those three are my very best friends and I could sit in complete silence with them and still be entertained.

Yes, I love the kissy face. It highlights my rockin' cheekbones.

I love this topic, so I'll list some more. I know. I cheat.

- The smell of clean laundry

- Star-gazing on a clear night in the summer

- The beautiful leaves in the fall

- Watching Jeopardy with my dad or CJ

- Learning a new song on the piano

- Singing in the shower. I do this every single day.

- Sitting around the fire with friends

- Ice cream

- Hugs or cuddling

- Watching fireworks or lightning bugs

- Writing in my blog

- Falling asleep with a good book in my hand

- Ice cold Dr. Pepper

- Dancing when I'm alone

- The sound of football games - cheering, helmets clashing, whistles, etc.

- Taking pictures - particularly of old things and truly seeing them for the first time

- Playing with little kids

- Wandering around aimlessly in new cities

- Hearing my favorite song on the radio

- Watching the beautiful Ohio sunset. I'm convinced that Ohio has the best.

There are so many more, but I think I've cheated enough. :)

Freaky Peens hit Indy.

This weekend was wonderfully refreshing.

Jenn, Clint, TJ, and I headed to Indianapolis on Friday. We stopped at Nick's apartment to pick him and his roommate Tyler up before heading downtown. We went to Howl at the Moon because Jenn won a contest which gave us all no cover, free dinner buffet, and half-price drinks. Dinner consisted of a taco bar, hot dogs, mac & cheese, and potato salad. Interesting choice, yet still delicious. The music, as always, was awesome. We requested a few songs, danced all night, and they even pulled Nick on stage for 'Happy Birthday' and a special song about his masturbation tendencies set to the tune of Green Day's "I Walk Alone." Hilarious.

As per the usual, Nick pursued the oldest woman in the bar. Successfully. Here he is with his GILF.

Saturday, we did nothing but eat and watch football. Perfect. We ordered Chinese for the Ohio State game (a 24-13 win over Illinois). After the game, we headed to Nick's dad's house for some indoor tailgating and watched the Michigan/Indiana game. It was nice to relax with my awesome friends and watch tons of football.

My parents left for Las Vegas last night. WAH! I hate it when they leave. I know it sounds lame, but they are truly my best friends and the house is so very boring without them...especially now that Jamie's away at school.

The Bengals lost to the Cleveland Browns, 23-20. In the words of one Sue Sylvester, I'll say, "SLOPPY FREAKSHOW BABIES!" I refuse to even speak about it. The Packers barely beat the Lions. The Bears finally lost to the Giants. In other sports news, the Penguins have their first game of the season on Thursday against the Flyers. I can't wait.