Sporty Joy?? Who knew...

January has been quite the sportsfest up in here!!  

Last Week

My friend Shawn got a swwwwwweeeet job with the NJ Nets, so we took a field trip (and saw Kris Humphries play in the meantime.  I felt like a Kardashian.

OF COURSE I got my picture with the mascot, but I really wanted to have one with the little guy...

This Week

I went to my first hockey game.  And it was freakin' awesome.  

The goal song can be heard HERE.  I love it.  I even dreamed about the song.

As much as I hate violence (and blood and teeth being knocked out), this fight happened and it was kinda cool.  I would definitely go again.

Next Week

Let's Go Giants! [clap, clap, clapclapclap]

 Which cutie pie will win??

Sick and Tired

I've been sick practically all week.  It's not strep or tonsillitis this time (imagine that), though the regular pea-sized nodules were practically blueberry-sized earlier this week.  I even had to call in sick half the week... crazy.  And I'm sick of it.

So my week's adventures have consisted of the following:

On my kindle, I'm currently reading this:

And on the television between NyQuil induced comas, I've been catching up on these:

On the internet, I've been entertained with these:

And when I awake, I have the pleasure of facing this:

I think she can't decide whether to be angry that I'm cramping her style, or glad that I'm home and have her favorite blanket out.  I gave her a break earlier and went to get a pedicure for which I think she was very grateful.

I think I'm finally on the mend and life can resume tomorrow... good timing since I have tickets to see Miranda Lambert in NJ!!!

2011 And All That That Implies

I gotta admit, folks, when I think about 2011, my initial reaction is to say it wasn't the best.  Work was tough.  Dating was dumb.  Running was hard.  Indy was expensive.  Theatre was boring.  Fashion was just ok.  Food was an enemy.  And my body tried to rebel a few times more than I'd like.

Then I went back over my calendar when putting the birthdays and anniversaries onto the new 2012 one (which btdubs is an Arkansas calendar from the fabulous Roberta Sims showing a different glorious Arkansonian scene each month... yes, I just made that word up).  After that, I scanned this blog and other writings done in 2011.  And I realized that I learned more in 2011 than a lot of my other years combined.  So here's my list:

1.  Work is what you make it.  When I have a bad attitude, or more importantly when I let others' bad attitudes around me set in, of course work days are longer and less productive.  Work is also just that - a job.  My career could change with the next flick of my pen or stroke on my MacBook.  I found this quote on a blog I try to read somewhat regularly.

Don’t lament so much about how your career is going to turn out. You don’t have a career. You have a life. Do the work. Keep the faith. Be true blue. You are a writer because you write. Keep writing and quit your bitching. Your book has a birthday. You don’t know what it is yet.

Until then I need to just go with it and realize that without this current job, pics and memories like these and so many more would not have happened...

And even this one.  At least I make myself laugh, right?  (Look how ANGRY she is!)

2. Dumb dating gets you to a point that you look for good dating. It makes you reevaluate what you want, what you don't want, and the level of vulnerability required. Lord knows I don't have this one figured out, but I can't say the experiences in 2011 didn't help in my journey. Because they did. The year I spent not completely sitting back, but not completely hunting actually did me a world of good. Remember THIS, gentle readers? Yeah. Still true. And remember THIS, Mr. Right? Yep. Pretty much the same. Although I would add that bringing small gifts to dates earns you major points. Just sayin'...

The same blog from above provided this thought-provoking piece of advice:

When you meet a man in the doorway of a Mexican restaurant who later kisses you while explaining that this kiss doesn’t “mean anything” because, much as he likes you, he is not interested in having a relationship with you or anyone right now, just laugh and kiss him back. Your daughter will have his sense of humor. Your son will have his eyes.

Insightful, Sugar.  Very insightful. 

3.  Hard running leads to things like THIS.  The other night I ran half of the half at a great pace for me.  I'm less than five weeks out, and I'm terrified.  But I'm excited.  A year ago I couldn't have done this.  And five years ago??  I can't even go there.

*The compromise I made with myself to stop running from important things led to running toward a healthy life.

**And if you run hard enough, a cute guy might treat you to the below for use on your aches... fo sho.

4. Indy was expensive, but seriously... look at her.  Even when she's being bad like she is here, she's worth every penny.  Her undying love and affection absolutely makes my day nearly every day.  Period.

5.  Theatre and fashion were just so-so.  However, we had these 2 things which kinda blows that theory out of the water...

*"Book of Mormon" is one of the best shows I've ever had the pleasure of paying $155 for.  And I'd do it again tomorrow

*Need I go over the glory that was the McQueen Exhibit at The Met?? 

 In search of the coffee table book if anyone is looking to get me a gift :)

2011 showed as most years have that I can't say enough (I'm sure you guys get sick of hearing it but it's my personal blog about my life and adventures so deal) about just how freakin' incredible my friends are.  Not generally overly emotional, this is the one area of my life that just brings tears to my eyes at the sheer fortune I've hit with these people.  I can't even list them all here, but you know who you are.  From helping me with computer problems when I do dumb things, to joining me for random concerts and chain restaurants, to requiring a bulleted list of the highlights of a great date, to drinking Sangria whilst watching trash tv, to insisting I stop yelling for no reason when I get mad at myself for not being Superwoman, I have a stupid awesome group of people surrounding me.

All that to say (and imply) 2011 had some great lessons, some great art, and some great memories.  And now 2012... here we go.

Life Blew Up

It does that sometimes around these parts.  But I'm here.  And I'll write soon.  Like tonight.  Stay tuned, loving gentle readers...

Oddly Speechless

I have very little to say about this.  What in the world does prayer in schools (which not just non-Christians are against) have to do with gays in the military (which many Christians are for)??  It just makes me sick that in 2011 there are still people who are ok with this:

At least we have bravery and intelligence like this to combat the small-minded thoughts above (I promise it's worth the 30 minutes... I've now watched it 3 times):

Crazy Princess

This is happening.

Have I lost my mind?  Possibly.  Are my shins gonna scream at me?  Likely.  Am I ridiculously excited? You have no idea...

As stoked as I am to potentially run in a tiara and/or tutu (does anyone still say "stoked"), I am actually looking forward to the next 12 weeks of training.  I know, I know... insane.  But it's true.

I've known for awhile that I was going to attempt this.  I've been working on my training schedule for a few weeks.  But I had a doctor checkup today to get full permission to continue to the next level of training, and I'm happy to share that everything looks good! 

13.1 miles.  That's a lot.  Send me good thoughts.  Maybe I'll be as happy and pretty as this gal when I run through the castle in 82 days...

Oh my gosh.  This is happening.

Top 5 (and worst 5) Dates of 2011... thus far

I was asked to be a part of a Blog Carnival, and I have nearly missed the deadline due to a emergency new bathroom installation and endless amounts of shopping that shouldn't have happened.  But I digress... the Blog Carnival's objective this time was to do a Top 5 List for 2011.  I thought about doing my Top 5 movies, my Top 5 theatrical experiences, or my Top 5 fashion finds.  Then I narrowed it down to my Top 5 awkward moments or my Top 5 dates.  Since narrowing awkward moments to 5 is a daunting task and I haven't spent much time talking about boys in awhile, I picked dates.

Joy's Top 5 Dates of 2011

5. During one of the many blizzards NYC experienced earlier this year, I had a lovely stay-at-home date with a fella.  We talked and laughed for hours sitting on the couch.  It was a great night and made me realize that asking a guy over doesn't mean they necessarily assume they get more than conversation.  I should have more faith in guys who show an interest...

4. Along the same lines of my lack of confidence in men comes my surprise when simple things can be romantic and fun.  I had a date with a guy I wasn't particularly excited to go out with initially.  He more than proved me wrong and our date ended with a stroll through Astoria Park.  We wound up just being good friends, but the date was lovely nonetheless.

3. Sometimes seeing an ex is horrific.  Other times you wind up at Professor Thom's in the East Village on a Sunday night out of the blue laughing and remembering why you dug each other in the first place and wondering if you can fix whatever went wrong the first time around.

2. Who knew a traditional date of dinner and a movie could top my list of dates with boys in 2011??  A couple of months ago I went out with an amazing guy.  We had southern food.  We made fun of Jersey girls at the bar while we killed time waiting for a late-night comedy.  We laughed a lot.  And at one point I looked over at him and just thought about how comfortable it was.  That's a date I could do again (and would love to if you're reading this...)

1. Since it looks like I'm ending the year single, I would be remiss to top the list of best dates as one with a boy.  So I'm dedicating my #1 date as a multi-way tie among dates with friends.  I have one friend who takes me on Groupon French food dates which are some of my most cherished times.  Another friend went to a macaron cooking class with me and turned out to be a wonderful partner in the kitchen!  Going to a movie in Astoria on a Friday night with all the Queens teenagers... especially when we see things like "PROM" on opening night only to have your friend shout at all the teenagers for using their phones is priceless.  Shooting off to Atlantic City to spend free money and hit outlet malls with a friend makes me thankful for spontaneity.  And going out of town to visit a friend only to have said friend take you to get matching eagle tattoos.  Best dates of 2011 definitely go to my plutonic friends.

Joy's Worst 5 Dates of 2011

5. When meeting up with a guy for Starbucks, be sure to keep your story in check before divulging the details of your writings - especially when these writings are about dates.  Primarily dates with other guys including those you don't really like but know you'll get a good story out of.  Also know that dates can go poorly when it's your own fault and be thankful when the guy doesn't completely hold it against you and continues corresponding with you.

4. Ice cream in Chinatown followed by driving around on a rainy Sunday afternoon looking for a parking spot to go to the Natural History Museum that isn't even open isn't cool even if the guy is insanely wealthy.  Even less cool when the guy is lying about his age by 12 years, thus making him closer to your parents' age than your own.

3. Unlike Great Date #2 above, this traditional date to Nizza followed by a children's movie was lame.  Less because of what the date entailed and more because of the company.  When a guy pulls out the movie times on a piece of torn out newspaper and refuses to let you look up the showtimes on your smartphone, end the date there.  Don't continue on and give him a chance for...

2. ...a second date.  Yes, worst dates #3 and #2 are from the same guy.  Gentle reader of the masculine variety, take note: wearing old school, too tight sweatpants on a date isn't sexy even if someone lied to you and told you it was at some point in the 90s.  The conversation was terrible too.  This guy gave me rules... you KNOW I loved that.  My favorite rule?  Don't text him because it's impersonal.  Needless to say, 2 dates was all he got... it's 2011, sir and I don't do rules well.

1. I may or may not have been known to go out with guys on occasion who are not remotely my type just for the story and potentially to broaden my horizons.  An obnoxious steroid-infused, fake-baked, car-obsessed, meathead (no judgement of course) took me out to the Astoria Brewhouse.  He asked me about my plans for kids and marriage.  He talked about his ex-wife incessantly.  Then he tried to plan our 2nd date.  When I attempted to be elusive in order to avoid putting myself in an uncomfortable situation, he pressed.  Then he went in for a kiss... not a peck, but a full-on mouth kiss which I somewhat successfully dodged (I've become a pro at that over the years... ask my friend Darryl about my dodge with a kiss from Zenny).  Worst date of the year, hands down goes to the guy who wore this...

I'm still holding out hope for maybe one or two more dates in 2011, but I'm not sure they can top either list.  I wonder what 2012 will have in store on this front??