Top 10-Greatest Bad Girls of Fiction

I have a theory, yet again.

Since I was a teenager, I have heard guys whine about how nice guys finish last and Blah Blah Blah. Girls like guys who treat them like crap, girls like bad boys.  And yeah, that's true in SOME cases, just like anything is sometimes true.  I won't deny that this does seem to be the trend, at least for younger girls who haven't figured out that marrying a guy like this is a really bad idea.  Note to girls: You can't fix guys, so stop trying.  Love them as is or don't try at all.  It doesn't mean you're awesome if you can get a bad boy to fall in love with you, it means you're stupid.  All men are fickle, and when he is bored of you, he will revert.  PLUS, you liked him bad, and if he goes good you'll be bored.  It's simply a bad idea.  Anyway, I have something to add to this, something that has been overlooked.   Guys, a lot of you like bitches just like a lot of us like bad boys.  A lot of you don't like sweet girls and if you get one, you have no boundaries and therefore take advantage of them and treat them like crap.  Seriously.  We have to TURN INTO bitches.  You want girls who torture your soul and keep you physically begging, just as we like guys who do the same thing to us.  All this does is make me want to become something that I have never been....a person who hides myself, stuffs my feelings, and pretends to be callous....but I will never do it.  I wouldn't know how to shut up.  One last thing, if this theory isn't true, then PLEASE EXPLAIN ANGELINA JOLIE.  Yep.  I know.  I am right.

I was telling a friend that I saw "Gatsby" over the weekend and we were talking about Daisy and how 2-dimensional she is.  I said that in the new movie, they humanize her a bit, which I liked.  There isn't any background info to support her or give a reason for her shallowness in the book or the first movie.  I have a theory that it's because she is a metaphor for the era.  Greed is shallow and cold, plain and simple, so therefore so is Daisy.  So then we started discussing other bitches of literature.  I thought about this a while and knew that this would be today's Top 10.   Things you have to consider when looking at the list.....Who is the author?  A man or woman?  Are they creating the women to be 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional and why would they do this?  These things make a difference. Did the authors give the women a reason for being a bitch or are the authors simply scorned men who are probably misogynistic bastards themselves and take it out on paper like Taylor Swift does with a guitar?  How do the female authors differ in the way they present these characters?  Do we feel sorry for them?

Let us look at the Greatest Bitches of Fiction, well, in MY opinion:

 1.Estella, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens.  This girl knows exactly what she is doing, because she was taught to do it.  She meets Pip as a child and because the woman who looks like a waxy skeleton raises her (Miss Havisham), she doesn't know how to love.  Pip is tantalized by her games and lives for her even though she will never be free to love him.  She is beautiful and uses her sexuality to reel him in. As soon as she has him right where she wants to keep him, she messes him up in the head and darts away.  I feel a little sorry for Estella because she is indeed, wounded, and she probably loves Pip in a way.  Nevertheless, she is written as a cold-hearted bitch.

 2.Miss Havisham, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens.  It wouldn't be fair to put Estella on this list without Miss Havisham, because she is the reason Estella is the way she is.  She has  stunted Estella emotionally and this character is totally two dimensional because there isn't a good reason why someone would be like this.  As I always say, you can't reason with crazy.

 3.Daisy, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald. "Her voice was full of money, that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it…High in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden girl.”  Ok, so first of all, Gatsby builds a life for Daisy and she wants to run away with him because she is a coward.  This crushes him.  THEN, this bitch lets Gatsby take the blame for hitting and killing Myrtle and then when he was murdered because of what she did, she didn't even come to the funeral.  Her voice was full of money because she was an empty, cold, bored, snobbish, bad human being.   Nothing anyone could do for her would ever be enough because she was soulless.  The only thing that I can say to defend Daisy is that maybe when you are raised in such a wealthy, shallow environment and everyone tells you what to do and teaches you to care about status, whether it's moral or not, you end up losing your soul. Still, no doubt that if Daisy were a real person, she wouldn't deserve Gatsby and would rot in hell with her snobby, rich, bored friends.

 4.Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.  I'm not sure there is another female character who plots more than this one.  Vicomte de Valmont is in love with her and therefore acts as a chess piece in her evil games, games that destroy the innocence of other girls simply because she enjoys it.  For those of you who have never read this book, the movie "Cruel Intentions" was based on Dangerous Liaisons. 

5.Scarlett O'Hara, Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell.  I love Scarlett.  I think that she is very smart.  She knows she's cute, and is it her fault that she can use her beauty and brains to her advantage?  No.  Guys use what they have all the time to get ahead, and Scarlett had her looks.  If she were a man, no one would say anything but "What a resourceful and charming man!"   Plus, every guy but Rhett bored her silly without giving her a slight challenge.  (Well, and Ashley, but he is so dull I don't even think I should mention him.)  I prefer to think of her as spunky.  She doesn't do things maliciously, but she does do things without others in mind.  She is careless with people and their hearts, but there is innocence to her logic, or lack thereof.  I find it interesting that a woman wrote her and therefore, she is more endearing.  Did I mention that Scarlett (in the book) has three babies with three different guys?  I mean, that's an unspoken rule for girls even today: Don't do that! (unless you're on Maury Povich).  You're allowed two baby daddies, but three and your friends aren't saying anything to your face about it. 

6.Medea, Medea, Euripides. Medea isn't just a bad girl, she is really sick.  She lives in an unfair world where her butthead husband, Jason, replaces her and her children with a younger model.  To get even, she kills their children.  Euripides was, in my opinion, one of the first feminists. He is really remarkable considering he was a man and wrote this play back in I don't know, the year 400 BC?  This play was sprung from his compassion for women and was trying to tell everyone, "Look.  Start treating them fairly or they'll snap!"  This really is one of the most amazing things I have read simply because the Greeks truly did "get" everything and much sooner than anyone else.  Maybe what he was saying is "Deep down there's a crazy bitch in every woman.  Do not scorn them or you will regret it." 

7.Eve, The Bible.  How can Eve not be on here?  Whether you believe she existed or not (I believe she did), this woman is the reason for all of the other women on the list.  Not to mention, Man's Excuse for why the world is so bad.  We rolled in all beautiful with the apple, seduced Adam, and now look at the world.  Thanks for that, Eve.  We'll never live it down.

8.Countess Olenska, The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton. The Countess is a girl who likes to have sex in the 20's, she doesn't give a damn what people think of her, and she sleeps with a married man.  Not only does the man sleep with her, he falls in love with her.  She is complicated where his wife, May, is a simple-minded socialite.  Is it just me or do those women always get cheated on? 

9.Emma Bovary, Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert. Emma has affairs to escape a mundane existence.  She is careless, deceitful, and lusts often.  She is aware, completely, of what she is doing and hurts innocent men while searching for her next high.  Flaubert was not kind to Emma in this novel.  Her fate is very sad and karma bites her right where she deserves it.  She is a cautionary tale.  You chase the wrong things, you will die alone and unhappy.

10.Dolores Haze "Lolita", Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov.  I hesitate to put this young lady on here because she's a child, but if we are talking strictly text, Nabokov writes her as if she is intentional with her seduction and she is definitely written as a bad girl.  The disturbing thing about this novel, and when I say disturbing I mean I was physically ill at points while reading it, is that it's written in first person and through the eyes of her molester.  It's written to make you feel sorry for the man, a man who is "tortured" by this young girl.  It's pretty hard to read.  However, Lolita has become a term to describe naughty young girls, so here she goes, on the list.

 

 

Muse

Am I mad, or does the Muse call out to me?
Don't you hear her? Don't you hear her
in the rustling leaves, in the wind's soft voice,
in the water's laughter? Don't you hear her?
If this is madness, let me go insane!
Let me go in search of her, calling out
to the bright sky: descend, singing goddess,
descend! Bring us your immortal music:
the sound of flutes playing like wind
over bending grass, the sound of strings
plucked like sudden sunshine, the clear bell
of your voice thrilling through the world.
from The Odes of Horace

 I love people who inspire me to write something, or when art and music reminds me of them.  The Arts are so important for the soul to breathe in this world. 

Do you ever feel like you need a Muse?  Maybe you are lucky enough to have a person who acts as a Muse in your life.  I have a lot of people in my life who inspire me and I know a few people who come to me for a little life if they're feeling blah.  Being inspiration for someone else is so important because it's crucial for everyone to feel inspired....you only live once and if you can express yourself through music, or words, or art, well you're blessed. 

I often think about how I would much rather be like a charging station....where others come to get a little energy, life, and love, than to be something that drains the energy, life, and love from someone else.  I am sure that we are both, according to different people, and we are probably both at different times in our lives.  To one person, I know that I am a scratching pad.  I know that to that person, I lift them up, make them feel better and happy....they scratch a little, get their claws sharp and then they're on their way.  To others, I am sure I am a real pain in the ass.  The best kinds of relationships are the ones where the roles change and you both give and receive equally.   I had a tough time last year and the hardest thing for me was needing so much from other people.  I prefer to be the person lifting people up, not dragging them down.  When I die I want to be remembered as a person who gave life and smiles and ideas and thoughts to others, not a pain in the ass who made people miserable with frowns and whining.  We should all want to be so bright that when we are no longer on the planet, it seems a little dimmer. 

Whoever inspires you today, give back to them somehow.  Let them know....I am. 

I hope that everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend!  Have an awesome Tuesday!

The GREAT Gatsby

I have written about "The Great Gatsby" a few times since starting this blog.  It's one of my favorite books and I have been awaiting this movie for about a year and a half. It was supposed to be released last December, but they waited.  I am surprised that I waited as long as I did to go see it, but I have been busy.  I took Logan and he loved it.  Being that it is my favorite, I thought there was a good chance I would be disappointed, but I LOVED it.  I thought they did a really good job.  They stuck to the story, enhanced certain points in the novel and while they risked taking an artistic approach on a classic, they didn't make it too strange.  Baz Luhrmann is the director; he also did the 90's version of "Romeo and Juliet" with Claire Danes and Leo Di Caprio. 

   

Some points about the film:

· First of all, it isn't fair for one person to be allowed to be so good-looking for so long, but Leonardo Di Caprio is and I am happy that he is blessed physically because I like looking at him. Ha ha.  Damn, that's a good-looking man.  He was a perfect Gatsby.

· Secondly, I have always HATED Daisy.  Who doesn't?  This movie made her more likeable and endearing, which was good because I never liked what she did to Gatsby.  You actually feel sorry for her though in this movie and believe that she loves him; she just knows you can't erase the past. (Which is exactly the opposite of what Gatsby believes.)

· The soundtrack is awesome.

· The cast was perfect.

The story is still so tragic and I wanted to cry.  I love Gatsby.  Gatsby is great.  I love him for being a dreamer and hate that he lived in a world and era of greed and injustice.  I was telling a friend that I love how much Gatsby loved Daisy, but then I realized that if a guy waited for five years, plotting and building a life for me, I would probably get freaked out and feel like the guy was a stalker.  It's better on paper.  Or is it?  Can a man love a woman that much?

Here's Lana Del Ray's Young and Beautiful.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te11UaHOHMQ

 Andre and Beyonce re-do Amy Winehouse's Back in Black

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxQWckbhVTU

Peachy Pyron, Sunday Morning

Here's another one from Peachy; I love this kid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTHWu_de4Uw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Also, I'm not sure what happened but I added a video rather than a link yesterday and it didn't show up in the email nor mobile devices. I'm still having a hard time posting the ones that I want to post, so I guess you'll have to Google it if you want to hear it. Sorry!

I Know You Care, Ellie Goulding

This song is so pretty.

Flashback Friday-Cherry Hi Ho

Do you remember this game?

I remember it.  I remember playing this game in kindergarten.  I remember nothing about what I learned in kindergarten.  I don't remember one child from my class.  I barely remember my teacher's face, but I remember this game. Why?  Because I remember throwing up on it.  I was on my stomach playing with another child (I don't remember who) when I felt funny.  I remember thinking "What is happening? This is an odd feeling."  And Bluggghhhhhh, I barfed all over the game.  I remember crying because I had thrown up and then I remember thinking that everyone would be mad at me for throwing up on the Community Hi Ho Cherry Oh.  I thought everyone was thinking Great, Brittany.  Now what are we supposed to play with???

You know, I really do sometimes take for granted the things I've learned in life.  I have learned how to tie my shoes, how to drive a car, how to send an email, how to write my long ass middle name.....this took forever, I won't lie.  I mean, my full name had 25 letters in it.  That's almost an entire alphabet that I had to learn as a child.  Look:

BRITTANY ELIZABETH WAGGONER
ABCCEFGH IJKLMNOPQ RSTUVWXY

And Z.  See?  My parents shouldn't have stopped there.  They should've named me Brittanny. 

Well I have gotten off track.  The best thing that you learn is when you're about to throw up.  Seriously.  It's something that you take for granted.  Think about it.  You can always tell when you are about to throw up and usually get to the toilet in time.

Unless you're wasted. 

The worst barfing incidents have been in my adult life....when I was drunk.  I remember two times, I was the girl at the bar who threw up at the bar.  The first time was New Year's Eve when I was 22.  My sister was yelling "Brittany!  Get up!  Now!"  And I barfed all over myself.  All over my cashmere sweater, actually.  I remember thinking it was my payback for making fun of girls who threw up in bars.  I got carried out to the cab like a carcass.  My brother had my feet, his friend had my arms, and I was shoveled into the cab while they laughed. 

The other time was last year on my birthday.  I didn't even try to get up, but at least I leaned over to hit the ground.  At least I was outside.  I remember a lady screaming at my friend.  She called her a bad friend and told her to check my pulse.  When the lady tried checking herself, she almost set my hair on fire, and the only reason I knew that is because my friend screamed at her "You're going to set her hair on fire" and smacked her hand away from me.  I wanted to yell "NOOOOO!  My hair!"  And then I wanted to yell "I'm OKAYYYY!"  But I couldn't talk.  So I guess I wasn't.

There are a few reasons why throwing up in public is one of the worst things that can happen to you.

1. You're the drunk girl puking at the bar.  You immediately deserve a crown.
2. You are probably puking on yourself and others.
3. You usually lose something in the process.  (For me, it was my shoes.  For one of my friends, it was my other friend's memory card in her camera because when we went to tend to her, a guy stole it.)
4. You stink.
5. Your hair is matted and smelley.
6. Everyone around you starts to lie and tell you that it's ok, when really you are a stinky, disgusting drunk girl in a bar.
7. No one will kiss you.
8. No one will sleep with you.
9. When you get home, you may possibly sleep in vomit. Or.........
10. Someone is seeing you naked because your clothes need to be changed.

By far, the worst thought is "I am going to feel like ass tomorrow."

How Well Do You Know The Godfather?

I took this yesterday and I did terribly!  I only got 11 right out of 20, BUT I haven't watched The Godfather in probably 7 years or so.  I am usually the Quote Queen though! 

Take it and see how you do.....

http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/films/the-godfather-quote-quiz

Top 10-Best Villians Ever

EVIL MUGATU! Zoolander-Ha ha, he is so funny. "He's so hot right now."



Derek Foreal, Blow-Who doesn't like this guy? Pee-Wee as a gay pot dealer
is the best.  "Oh my GOD!  Barbie and Ken!  That is SOOOOO perfect." He was
so likeable that you almost couldn't get mad when he screwed over Johnny Depp.



Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada-I actually feel sorry for
boys because more than likely, they haven't had the pleasure of seeing
this movie.  Anddddddd......it's hilarious. Miranda is horrible.



Ursula, The Little Mermaid-Ursula is such a creative character. 
Everything about her is just lovely in an evil kind of way.

Kaiser Soze, The Hungarian from The Usual Suspects-I won't ever
forget how shocked I was when I saw this movie.  My jaw dropped. 
KAISER SOZEEEEEEEE!  CREEPY!

The Godfather-He is the best because he is so likeable.  I mean, so what
if he was a criminal?  He was a family man.  I love him. Everyone does. I don't
even think he should even be on this list actually, because he is a protagonist.
The real villians would be the cops or the Tattaglia or Barzini families, but
no one likes those thugs.

Tommy, Good Fellas-Yes, he is a clown.  He IS here to f'n amuse me.

Regina George-She has two Fendis and a silver Lexus.

Monkeys from Wizard of Oz-Can you imagine if this
type of creature existed? I really don't think there's
anything scarier than a flying monkey. 

The Butcher, Gangs of New York-There's something so
confusing when you like the villian in a movie.  Do you remember
how funny this character was?  It was jarring because he was
so strange.

The Neighborhood

I am blogging really late today because the past two days have pretty much killed me.  Mondays are rough because everyone gets stupid and arrested over the weekend and those who have court on Tuesday and Wednesday call the office in a panic making sure everything is straight for their case. Today was better than yesterday, but it was still a difficult day.  It's otay though because I love my job!  I love the guys I work for and I love the field.  Monday nights are my worst of the week because I pick up the kids, go home and change, we all go to the gym at 7, take Lindsey to dance, go home around 8:15 to shower and eat, and then I pile the boys back into the car to pick Lindsey up at 9:15.  By the time I get everyone to bed and fed and showered, it's pretty late.  I would say I'd be excited for this monstrosity to be over, but it never is because Lindsey is a year-round athlete.  As soon as school is out, she has dance camp, then the kids will be gone for a week on vacation, then she goes to cheer camp, and I believe cheer practices start in the summer.  My head spins thinking about how I am going to get the boys to t-ball this fall.  And Logan has football.  Crazy, right?  I am skipping the gym tonight to hang out with my baby boys. 

Anyway......

I blogged about "Sweater Weather" last week and since then I have listened to more of The Neighborhood.  I have decided that I really like them.  They sort of remind me of Linkin Park, but I don't know; they're different.  Linkin Park might not be a good comparison.  See what you think of this five-man band from Cali.  They formed in 2011.  They're a little dark.  Or a lotta.  Ha ha. 

Here are some links:

Sweater Weather (again, in case you missed it.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCdwKhTtNNw

Afraid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4InBfAdg-xU

Flawless
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xvSESgUw5E

Staying Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex6zjTQ6QRk

A Little Death
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVqGRJLEj28

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

There's a new series coming to ABC this fall.  It's a spin-off from "Once Upon a Time" which came out a couple of years ago.  The new one is called "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland", and of course, it is about Alice.  I wonder how many times Lewis Carroll's story can be spun and twisted.  I am curious about how he would feel and if he would be surprised that Alice is still as relevant as it is. 

Here's the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-ir6JhV2Zs

Sunday Morning

I feel like I have a 48 hour case of mono.  I have slept so much!  It's been a very chill weekend for me. I have cleaned my house, I ran a couple of errands, went to hot yoga, and chilled with myself.  I have woken up to the sound of rain, watched a couple of movies, read a book....it's just what I needed. I'm such a social creature by nature, but sometimes it's nice not to hear my voice talking to someone else and to hear my thoughts instead.   Mine is a noisy body to live in. I am always busy, running around, talking, laughing....I need to slow down and be quiet sometimes.  We all do.

Tonight my mom is flying back from Florida and has a layover in Atlanta, so I'm going to hang ou with her at the airport for a while.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

By the way, this is such a good song. It makes me happy.

http://www.slack-time.com/music-video-334-Maroon-5-Sunday-Morning

Who is Ben Ghazi.....Ha ha

This is actually really sad, but it's pretty funny too.

http://clashdaily.com/2013/05/liberal-chick-asks-beach-goers-if-they-know-who-this-ben-ghazi-guy-is/


If YOU thought Benghazi was a person too, well here ya go.....I just made you smarter. 



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/republicans-benghazi-emails_n_3289428.html

Flashback Friday-Love Will Never Do Without You

I LOVED this Janet song......


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x210em_janet-jackson-love-will-never-do-wi_music

Documentary 3-Happy

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched-they must be felt with the heart."-Helen Keller

Last night I watched a documentary about happiness, called simply "Happy".  It was about happiness and what scientifically makes us happy. 

I took notes:

•Happiness improves all areas of your life.

•50% of happiness is genetic.  10% is your circumstances (money, job, family, etc).  40% is intentional activity or behavior.  This means that 40% of how you feel is what you decide to do and is controlled, by YOU. 

•Dopamine has a lot to do with your happiness, and as you start to age you lose it.  If you keep doing things that make you happy, like exercise and laughing, your dopamine production goes up and you keep it for longer.

•There's something called "Flowing".  This is the practice of getting "into a zone" and doing something you love, that you could do forever.  People who do this on regular basis are happier than those who don't.

•People overestimate "good things" and "bad things" happening to them.  Neither lasts as long as you originally think that they will.  They're temporary highs or lows and people actually do have the capability of rebounding and growing through rough times.  There's no pleasure without pain.

•Your income: The national income keeps rising but the happiness that people feel is actually staying the same. There's a big difference in your happiness when you make 20K versus 50K a year, but there's not a huge difference between 50K and $50 billion.  Plus, there's something called the Hedonic Treadmill.  The more you have in excess leaves you wanting more and more.  Have you ever noticed that the more you make, the more you spend and you're really not any happier?  This is because you’re walking on the Hedonic Treadmill.

•There are two kids of goals.  Extrinsic and Intrinsic.  Extrinsic are money, image or status, and popularity.  Intrinsic are personal growth, relationships, and the desire to help the world be a better place.   The two are competing and scientists have found that people who are more successful in their intrinsic goals are happier.  (No surprise to me.)

So this is crazy....the people of Japan are actually working themselves to DEATH.  It's called Karoshi.  It's very common for people to die of exhaustion from working long hours.  I mean, that is nuts, right?  So remember.....relax sometimes.

Other things that make us happy:

·         Meditation

·         Cooperating, not competing

·         Laughing

·         Counting your blessings once a week and doing things for others

So knowing all of this, SMILE today!  Talk to people who love you and whom you love.  Count your blessings, do something good for your body, and take five minutes of silence to appreciate yourself and your life.

 

Top 10-Rolling Stone's Worst Bands of the Nineties

I have placed the link below so you can read this for yourself.   I agree with most of them but like Rolling Stone says about Nirvana "WTF happened here?"  I think people voted by tweeting, which tells me that it's young kids?  I don't know but it's so bizarre.  People who grew up in the 90's have the most eclectic taste in music because we had it all.  I guess I feel sorry for the young, close-minded kids who must have voted because they've been exposed to canned crap. 

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-ten-worst-bands-of-the-nineties-20130509

Here's the list and my commentary.  Ha ha.

10. Dave Matthews Band-I don't get this at all, although I can see how you could hate them if you simply don't like that kind of music.  But really, they have no business on this list.  I really don't get it.

9. Ace of Base-Agreed.  I wanted to stab my ears with a fork when they came on. And I was like 13, so it's not like I have just grown out of them.  I never grew into them.

8.  Spin Doctors-Yeah, I don't know.  This doesn't bother me.  I could probably think of worse, but I didn't really love them either.

7. Bush-Whatever.  That's ridiculous.  Just because you WORE OUT SIXTEEN STONE  doesn't mean that they were one of the worst bands of the 90's. 

6. Hootie and the Blowfish-I'm sorry, I really didn't like Hootie, but again, I could think of worse.

5. Nirvana-I just don't get this.  Why don't we just start saying that The Beatles were terrible too?  I mean, come on!  Just because music has become this canned, marketed, piece of crap on reality shows where everyone has to be perfect doesn't mean that's what music actually is.  What I would say to people who voted for this: That guy with all of the money, you know, the one manipulating your tastes and feeding you crappy, unoriginal music?  He's winning, because you're lame.

4. Hanson-MMMMMMYep.

3.  Limp Bizkit-I'm not gonna lie.  When Faith came out, I loved it.  But by the time Nookie came around, I was already over them.  Fred Durst is a tremendous douche bag, no matter what he says.  He says he's "Sensitive".  What is, his penis?

2. Nickelback-Glad someone agrees with me.

1.  Creed-Not surprising, but kind of sad for them that they beat Hanson and Ace of Base.  I'd be pretty embarrassed if I were them. 

Documentary 2-Vegucated

I can't say that I have ever had a terrible diet, at least in comparison to a lot of Americans, but it has definitely improved over the last few years and continues to do so.  One reason I have a healthy diet is because I work out constantly.  Another reason, I am aware of what I am eating and why.  I haven't ever been a "foodie" so it's easy for me to see food as it should be seen, as energy and to be eaten with an actual purpose.  Sure, enjoy it, but it is fuel for your body....that's the purpose of eating, to keep you healthy and alive.  Actually, to be quite honest, I think stopping to eat is a nuisance.  I am rarely hungry and have to force meals down my throat most of the time.  I eat standing up next to the sink most nights.  I shovel it down and move on.   I say all of this only to admit to you that I probably have an easier time being a healthy eater and giving things up.  I respect and understand others' choice to eat whatever they want and like and I respect that it is more difficult for people who enjoy food more than I do.  That being said, people should be socially responsible and that starts with at least having an understanding of what is going on in the world.  By now I think everyone knows about what's going on within our food system, but sometimes until you see it with your own eyes, you don't get it.

I saw "Food, Inc." a few years ago and I was "accidentally vegan" for a while because I literally couldn't put meat and dairy into my mouth because it disgusted me.  If you haven't seen this documentary, be prepared to change the way you view our food system for good.  What you should gain from this film is an overall understanding of food, where it comes from, and you should leave with an awareness of what you are putting into your mouth.  The environment, your body, the economy....it is all so tied to what we eat and a lot of these animals are treated terribly.  I call the food industry "White Collar Mafia" because they are greedy liars who get away with horrific acts on the American people and animals.  And the lobbyists are, you know what?  I can't even talk about the government and the FDA and all of the lying bastards who control our food source.  Look into it.  They're all liars and it's all about money.  Aren't you curious as to why everyone is so unhealthy and everything causes cancer?  Why do people always say "Oh, everything causes cancer nowadays."  Yeah, ANDDDD????  You don't want to know why or how you can change it?  Ugh.  Just promise me you'll look into it.  I am totally open for debate, if you'll attempt to prove me wrong.  We are very screwed up when it comes to our diet and we have infected the rest of the world.  It's a big deal and I don't know why people aren't more upset.

*Let me add that I have not recently researched the laws, the changes, and MAYBE things are turning around....but I don't think much has changed and I feel sure that it isn't enough, just like it never really is when politicians are involved.

 

Vegucated

The documentary I watched last night is about veganism.  Here is the link...

http://www.getvegucated.com/

 

What is a Vegan exactly?

Veganism is a type of vegetarianism that excludes meat, dairy products and all other animal-derived ingredients.  A lot of vegans also do not eat foods that are processed using animal products.  They avoid products that are tested on animals and do not buy other products made from animals, such as leather.  Well, I love my Coach bag; so clearly, true veganism is out for me.  Although I do have a Mat and Nat bag that I love; it's vegan. (http://www.mattandnat.com/) 

Veganism takes a lot of planning and it's hard to practice in a world so amped up and on the go; this is the only reason I am not a vegan.    If I had a personal chef or loads of money, I would easily be vegan because I am lactose intolerant and don't give a crap about eating meat.  I also have empathy for the animals.  I could definitely be "vegan-ish", meaning that I cut out dairy where I can and don't eat meat at all.  In fact, this is what I am starting to do.  I'll let you know how it goes.  I intend on inserting more plant-derived meals into my diet, and given the fact that I am never hungry, this should be pretty easy.  I already eat a very healthy diet.

Why become a vegan? 

 

I warn you. The first link is disturbing.

Vegucated-Farming 101

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihxs0I97Tek

What is food? Michael Pollen explains the hidden nightmares behind the food system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqQVll-MP3I

Chicken farms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRDWabqAXvU

Undercover at Smithfield

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_vqIGTKuQE

To close, please understand that I don't have a problem with people eating animals if they are killed humanely, but the problem for me is that it's so hard to sort the good guys from the bad. I find it easier to just say "Ehhh, I just won't eat it" because I don't want to spend half my life reading between labels. A lot of the words like "organic" and "cage free" aren't as good as you think. The system has learned to manipulate these "safe words".  That being said, I would be so happy if everyone DID start reading labels and shopping at places like Whole Foods.  That would make a huge difference.  We wonder why our veggies are contaminated with E. Coli?  Well if we didn't feed cows corn instead of grass, they wouldn't develop the bacteria in their stomachs which then turns into crap, which they stand in while it runs down into the soil and out to the plants....plants that we end up eating. 

What's wrong with this picture???  Seriously.  Who is running this country? 

Documentary 1-First Position

I have decided to catch up on my documentaries because I am a huge nerd.  I don't watch TV, and I mean, at all.  I work, I go to the gym, I take a shower, snuggle with the kids and maybe listen to some music before I pass out.  That's all I do.  On the weekends, I am out and about and if I do watch TV, it's usually a movie or a show that I don't watch, but my friends do.  In this case, I have no idea what's going on and it's apparent that I am "the alien who does not watch TV".  You should have heard me watching the "Weeds" marathon last week with a group of friends.  I was so lost.  I hadn't watched it in like 6 years.  The only show I watch is "Mad Men" but not until the season is over and on Netflix because I don't like to wait and I don't bother having cable because I don't watch TV.  My daughter doesn't even have time to watch TV.

I also have a twitching problem when I watch TV.  I am bored, I can't sit down, and even if I do, I am not paying attention and I realize that it's a waste of my time.  However, documentaries actually hold my attention and there are a lot on Netflix that I haven't seen, so I am going to watch one every night this week and tell you what I think.  Sound good?

Last night Lindsey and I watched a documentary called "First Position"; it's about ballet.  This film follows a group of young dancers as they prepare for the world's largest ballet competition.

If you don't want to watch the whole thing, at least watch the trailer.  I have said it before and I will say it again....dancers have the most amazing bodies.  They show you what the human body is capable of. 

http://www.balletdocumentary.com/official-trailer/

Lindsey says she's watching it again and again.  And you know how I know she loves dance more than anything on the planet?  She has SEEN dancers' FEET and it doesn't scare her.  These feet are bloody, blistered, and sometimes their toenails turn black and fall off.  But their bodies are beautiful. 


By the way, check out this link.  Thanks, Matti T.....sexy mugshots?  OMG.


http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/attractive-convict

Happy Mother's Day!

I found this on my mom's Facebook page the other day and I always laugh when I see a picture of myself at 2.  I have been mothering twins since I was two years and one month old. 

My first twin experience, Ashli and Tyson

I always wanted to be a mom.  There were many things I wanted to do, but before all else, I wanted to have kids.  It is true what they say, that the love you have for your children cannot be described until you have your own.  The second you hear your baby cry, you are never the same.  For a while, you look down at your baby and stare at his or her chest, making sure there's still air in their lungs.  Your baby is the sweetest, most beautiful creature you've ever seen and sometimes you cry just because the love in your chest has no where else to go.  Then you let go a little and trust that your child is breathing, but then they are walking, and then running, and climbing.  Before you know it they're learning and you're guarding them from the world.  Then they get older and you realize that you can't shelter them as much anymore and you just start praying.  You beat yourself up for every mistake you make, you beg God to make you better, them better, and you hope that all of the factors influencing your child, who is your heart, your love, and your life, will not defeat your dream.  Your dream for your child is to be alive, happy, healthy, safe, and your baby forever even when they are grown. 

You also appreciate your own mother when you become one.  I definitely appreciate my parents more since I have had kids. Lucky for them, I have been a mom for 12 years now and they got the "appreciative Brittany" early on.  Ha ha. 

Mom, Happy Mother's Day.  You are the greatest.  I know you know how I feel because I tell you a lot.  If I have ever been a pain in the butt, rest assured that I am getting it all back, times 50.  I love you.

-Britt

Girl Drama

Being 11, almost 12, is rough.  Lindsey will be 12 next month.  Middle school sucked, didn't it?  It's awkward in every way and it's even harder nowadays with Instagram and Facebook.  First of all, they are growing up more quickly because they have access to more information.  Secondly, they fight differently than we did.  Now, you can block someone or post something terrible online....the worst we did was three-way call each other, which actually, was mortifying on the receiving end, now that I think about it. Ugh,  I don't even like to think about a three-way call.  Luckily, I didn't have to deal with getting bullied or anything, however, one time these girls (who I didn't even know, but it had something to do with my boyfriend) called and said they were going to beat me up and to meet them at the flagpole.  I laughed at them and told them that I wouldn't be there.  I got off the phone and thought "How dumb would you have to be to go alone to meet a group of girls who already said they were going to beat you up?"  I still don't get it.  They never bothered me after that phone call. 

Before I go any further, let me specify what I am talking about.  When I say DRAMA, I am talking about situations arising because of girls being nasty because they are mean.  When I say I don't like drama, I don't like fighting and being upset about people and vice versa.  There are actually girls who love it.  I don't get it.  Now, I am a DRAMA QUEEN sometimes.  I dramatically tell stories, I get overly upset about myself and my feelings, and I sometimes think things are a big deal when they really aren't.....but it's probably most likely aimed at myself.  I am very hard on myself.  I am chill with other people and like people to be happy. 

Anyway, I don't feel like I have ever dealt well with girl drama in my own life.  It makes me sick.  But, I don't feel like I have friends who cause it and never really have.  I last about 2 seconds with a girl who is, let's see....stupid and shallow?  I have a lot of guy friends for a reason, and I only have one type of girlfriend.....cool.  So considering that I hate drama, imagine how I feel dealing with my kid's and how horrified I am when I realize that she is behaving like a girl who I wouldn't hang out with.  Thursday night I got home and told Lindsey to stop texting and get ready for bed, so I held out my hand for her phone.  She acted funny when I asked for it, so I told her to unlock it.  I started looking through all of her texts and she freaked out and yelled at me.  She said I had no right, blah blah blah....and I laughed and told her she was wrong and to go to her room.  I never raised my voice, I just continued about my business.  (Or her business.  Ha ha.)  She was yelling that she hated me.  I laughed and said "Ok.  That's fine.  I don't care.  Go to bed."

I saw that she and her friend had been fighting over a bobby pin.  Yes.  A bobby pin with sparkles that probably cost 10 cents.  They started accusing each other of having greasy hair and dandruff.  Lindsey's friend said "I just threw it away, so HA!"  And Lindsey said "Well I just threw away your sleep mask, so HA RIGHT BACK!"  Omg.  I would go on, but I can't even waste my finger strength.  I called the girl's mom (who is also my friend) and told her to take her daughter's phone and read this ridiculous conversation.  We laughed our asses off at them.  I said that I was happy it wasn't worse and about boys or something, but it was still so stupid!!!  Oh, and one day it will be about boys and not bobby pins.  I can't WAIT for THAT!!!  We both sat on the phone, puzzled.  We decided to tell the girls that they were either going to get along or not be friends anymore.  We are tired of watching them treat each other badly.  We said that we were going to stay friends, so whatever they decided was fine, but we weren't dealing with it anymore. 

Really, it's runs deeper than a bobby pin.  They are competitive with friends and jealous and weird with each other.  There's more to the story.  I know that.

Lindsey and I are struggling with each other right now because we are very different.  We are alike in some ways, like our sense of humor and interests, but really, we realize that we have very different personalities.  She makes fun of me for talking to strangers all the time, but she actually likes it and says she wishes she were more like that.  I like her the way she is because sometimes I wish I were quieter.  Yesterday I made a friend in line at Subway.  The lady is from Chicago and has two little girls and they just moved here three weeks ago and didn't know one person, but now she does.  I gave her my number.  Lindsey thought it was cool, but she also teased me for talking to everything but trees. 

I forget that Lindsey is more reserved than I am because I see her around kids she has known all her life, and then I see her introduce herself.  She just smiles and speaks quietly.  When she was a little girl, I didn't know anything other than the fact that she was so extremely sweet.  Now that she is older, I realize that she is quiet; she lets her emotions bubble up and then explodes at people.  She is uptight sometimes and is easily irritated and doesn't like when I tell her to relax and chill.  She's more reserved and shy in general, and she doesn't like being different than others.  She gets her feelings hurt easily, actually, I do too.  The difference is that she gets angry and defensive and reacts vindictively when someone hurts her.  This is the part that I am so upset about.  It's very upsetting to me.  Anyway, she is very serious and she worries a lot.  She is also very driven.  Gosh, that kid is driven.  Lindsey is always awesome at everything she tries or wants to be good at.  She is amazing.  She decides to learn how to tumble; she goes outside and does it.  She is focused on dance like a professional, she handles the lack of time in her life well, she gets good grades....she is an amazing kid.  On the other hand, if she doesn't care about something, well, it's obvious.  Lindsey is hilarious.  She is smart.  She has a sweet heart.  She's a good girl.

One thing that I saw her write to another friend that I was proud of was "We shouldn't be fighting about a boy.  Boys aren't as important as friendships because friendships are forever.  Don't let a boy come between us. "  Right????

I am trying to spend more time with her, especially giving her tips on how to handle her emotions and other girls.  Her anger, I do not understand at all, but I have to remember that she isn't like me and that's ok.  I love her for who she is and how she is, and in many ways I adore that she isn't afraid to be feisty and say something when she's upset.  She just needs to tweak it.  I think she really does want to do the right thing, she just doesn't know how.  That's where I come in. 

Pray hard for me.  Pre-teen girls....omg.  I am so happy I only have one girl.  Boys are so easy. 

By the way, I think Lindsey is on the verge of becoming a vegetarian.  I really do think she's going to decide to drop meat completely one of these days.  I can't get her to eat anything except (and this sounds funny) cheeseburgers, and that is even dwindling.  She doesn't like the taste of meat, she doesn't like chewing it, and now she says she thinks it's mean. She used to at least eat Chick-fil-a, but now she has decided she hates chicken.  She won't EVER eat steak, she doesn't really like fish....I don't know what to do with her.  I am in a constant battle with her and food.  I could scream.  The only thing she ever wants is a ham and cheese sandwich.  That's it.

Flashback Friday-That Moment

I discovered this song and it reminded me of infatuation; that moment in a relationship that we all love.

The Neighbourhood, Sweater Weather

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCdwKhTtNNw

Your eyes look different when you're in love.  There's no faking it.  You feel the look gleaming on your face and they see it when you look at them, and only at them.  You know the look.  And you both know when it's gone. 

Remember back to that moment when you fell in love.  It was just you two, stuck in a moment where no one else was around even in a crowded room, where you were so curious that you couldn't wait to know everything, where you felt like you'd die if you didn't kiss and throw yourself into their arms.  Everything was new, everything was innocent, everything was sacred in this moment.  Before you screwed it up, called each other names, made mistakes.....you were in love.  You glowed and wanted to be a better person.  In this moment, you have to have them, you crave their body, their voice, everything they have to say.  You stay up all night, thrive on no sleep, forget to eat, you smile for no reason, you are giddy......

I could be responsible and talk about how it isn't supposed to stay this way, that you can't keep feeling this way, that it's just lust, infatuation.....but remember how that moment feels?  It's euphoric, it can't be explained, and you can't just feel it for anyone.  There isn't an explanation as to why you have this connection with some and not others.  And then as time goes on, you sense it disappearing and you try to cling to it, but it eventually fades and true love takes over (or doesn't).  You can't keep chasing this high because it will always fade away, but it sure is nice when it lasts.  Am I right?

Peachy Pyron-Radioactive

I have talked about Peachy Pyron before.  You have to check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4A-rd0xKIg

Top 10-Things That Make Me Happy Lately

1. My kids are always on this list.  Duh.  Their smiles and voices are what I live for.
2. Driving with my sunroof and windows down and playing music....because I am in Georgia and I can.  Of course, I mean on sunny days.
3. My job. I love my job.  I love it.  I am learning so much and it comes natural to me.
4. The Naked and the Famous, Young Blood. 
5. 105.7
6. Sundresses and flip flops.
7. My friends. I am one of those blessed girls who have to schedule my family and friends for the phone....on the way to work, lunch, after work.  I am so lucky.
8. My attitude. I think the day has come when I just don't care about people who aren't worth my time.  If you are mean, rude, selfish, you dip on me....I don't care.  I have too many people who actually give a crap and that I care about.  I don't pretend to be perfect, but I deserve more than I demand...and I just don't care anymore. 
9. My clean house-I have everything working right now.  I am in a rhythm and I like it.
10. Coffee. Every morning. of my life.

You have to enjoy the little things while they're there.  What are the little things you love?

Mugshots....should you smile or not?

One of my jobs in the morning is pulling all of the arrests from the past 24 hours and deciding which cases we want to take and mailing letters to those who were recently arrested.  Mondays are really tough days for us because a lot of people get arrested over the weekend.  Yesterday there were close to 200 arrests in just Cobb County.  This makes me think three things.  Number 1, I think about all of the people who DIDN'T get caught.  Number 2, I realize that this is only in one county.  Number 3, I am so clueless and naïve.

 I stare at these faces every morning and I can't figure out whether it's better to smile or frown or look stupid or mean. 

 

The Smiler-What kind of person smiles in a mugshot?

The first thing I think is what anyone would think...."What are you smiling about?  You just got arrested for possession of narcotics."  However, I wonder if it says something about you to go in there and keep your chin up.  Maybe you're a positive person, a cheerleader, a real go-getter!  Or maybe you're just a smartass, you're crazy, or you're still happy from the bowl you just smoked.  These crack me up.  If you think about it though, this picture will be around longer than your yearbook picture, so I mean, I guess you should make it a good one.  Personally, I love to see people posing for a mugshot.  It's entertaining. 

 

Monday Morning Fog

Yeah, I am in a fog from the weekend.  I found out I had the flu all last week, so I finally slowed down this past weekend.  All I did was watch TV in my jammies and hit my inhaler and take cold medicine.  I have a NyQuil hangover this morning because I can't seem to wake up and my cough is still pretty bad. 

On another note, I am addicted to this song.  It makes me happy. 

Young the Giant, My Body.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQYpF2pCkLI

Flashback Friday-Got You Where I Want You, The Flys

THIS was one of my FAVORITES.  I always get really excited when I hear this song because sometimes I forget about it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Wd_6Vf7yI

Got You (Where I Want You) by Flys

Hey what's the point of this
Hey what's your favorite song
Maybe we could hum along

I think you're smart
You sweet thing
Tell me your name
I'm dying here

Ooh got you where I want you
Ooh got you where I want you
Oh yeah

Hey maybe just a smile
Oh hey do you know that I can dance
Could we talk for a while

I think you're smart
You sweet thing
Tell me your sign
I'm dying here

Ooh got you where I want you
Ooh got you where I want you
Oh yea
Ooh got you where I want you
I want you bad

I think you're smart
You sweet thing
Tell me your name
I'm dying here

Ooh got you where I want you
Got you where I want you
YEAH
Got you where I want you
I want you
Want You

Got you where I want you

Walking around
screaming at you in my head,
"Please find me!"
Then you did,
driving around El Paso together...
looking for that head shop...

The Devil Himself

Chardon, this one is for you....

Let me first state that Chardon and our friend, Lauren, are two bad ass girls.  They just are.  Although we have a lot in common, they are completely different than me in that way and I love them for it.  They would never allow things to happen to them the way I have allowed them to happen to myself, and I get a kick out of these girls.  I am also learning a few things.  So yesterday I was telling Chardon that I love her and Lauren for being this way.  I said I can get mean and run my mouth if someone messes with my friends or family, but if someone comes after me, I always stand there so shocked, I don't know what to say.  They aren’t like that.  With me, it has to register first and then later, I think "I totally should have said that!"  Chardon said she is the opposite, she always says “Why did I say that?  I shouldn’t have said that!” 

For instance, one night at Macos in Buckhead (we were out for my bachelorette party), I was dancing with my girlfriends and I had a crown on my head that said "Bachelorette”—this was our first mistake because it was like a creep-magnet—anyway, we were dancing and this guy kept coming up and grinding on me.  I said nicely "I'm getting married, just here to dance with my girlfriends, would you please mind backing up and not dancing with me?"  He ignored me, so we left.  I came back, he did it again, I was meaner this time.  We had to leave again.  The third time to the dance floor, he grinds up on me again and I turn around and push him as hard as a can to get him off of me.  He SPITS ON MY ARM.  (I may have written about this before, but if so, oh well because it paints a picture.)  I stand there with my arm out, jaw open, not moving or saying a word.  He is just standing there, staring at me, watching me say nothing.  I don't even remember the rest.  I left and cleaned myself up and freaked out about his spit.  When my sister saw this, she immediately ran to a bouncer to tell him and I am pretty sure she screamed at the guy.  Another guy that saw it came up to me after I had wiped it off and he said "That was so wrong.  I told a bouncer and the guy is lucky I'm not beating his ass.  Who the hell spits on a girl?  And you’re getting married?  Wrong."  Anyway, the bouncers threw the guy out....he CAME BACK....they threw him out again.  We left. That guy was a weirdo.

So, back to my conversation with Chardon…..we were talking about a guy that I know yesterday.  I said he's acted funny around me lately and I don't get it.  We think he may like me or something.  He's cool and all, but I mean, as a friend.  Anyway, I said that I would never drink around this person because I wouldn't trust him not to put something in my drink.  Chardon said "Um, yeah.  He would.  Totally."  I then backpedaled and said "But I don't think that he would do it intentionally, I don’t think he would mean to or plan to, I mean, he wouldn't do it sober.  I think he would do it when he was messed up or drunk or something."  Chardon started squealing and saying "BRITTANY!!!!  You could defend ANYONE!  I mean, I know that he would probably drug me and rape me, but he wouldn't do it unless he was drunk. Oh my GOD!   STOP DEFENDING PEOPLE!  OMG!  Listen to what you are saying!!!!"  The rest of what she said was not coherent.  She started laughing hard and said "Britt, you'd defend the devil himself.  You would.  You would try to CONVERT the damn devil!"  Now that was funny.  We both started laughing because it’s true.  There must be a reason that every time my church has ever said anything about Prison Ministry, I feel my hand itching to rise up and volunteer.

What's funny is that I am now working for defense attorneys.

In all seriousness, I know this about myself, and you may think that I shouldn’t be admitting it, but I am transparent.  It doesn’t matter.  Everyone knows it, especially bad people.  I think the problem is that I don’t physically see myself or things happening.  I don’t see someone hurting me with my own eyes and what it physically looks like; it’s like I need a mirror to see my face, to see how I react.  Once at my last job, I watched a guy get screamed and cussed at and I went in the kitchen and cried.  I couldn’t stand watching him being belittled in front of me.  There's something about watching a man being belittled that upsets me.  It's just heartbreaking.  It's like an old person's face when it's sad....horrible.  I wonder if I would have been as upset right away had the guy been belittling me instead of this guy.

Chardon told me that she’s so happy I am smart.  If I weren’t smart and picked up hitchhikers and stuff, I would really be in trouble.  Very true, Chardon.  Very true.  I would never do something stupid like that. 

Have a good day!  I have to get ready for work.