Curious Notions

1. Today is Brandi’s birthday. We have a full weekend of birthday activities planned that include a bacon SXSW event and maybe rock climbing! I’ve had some pretty amazing adventures with Miss Brandi (can’t beat skydiving) and have enjoyed living with her this year. Lots of roommate bonding that may or may not include lots of ice cream, episodes of Ally McBeal, extremely candid conversations, and beauty nights! Sadly, she’s moving to Dallas after our lease is up :( 2. Brandi’s a cake decorator. She’s made a couple of birthday cakes for me. Pictured below are my 24th birthday cake and my 26th birthday cake. I was feeling the pressure when making her cake last night. I’m a complete novice. I had her help me shave the top of the cake off for me so it was even to ice. Then I experimented with my first piping experience. Brandi has all sorts of tips in her cupboard of baking supplies but intimidated, I thought I’d just cut a hole in a bag and use that. Ummm. It’s not as effortless as people (namely, Brandi) make it look! I just never got full command and control over how the icing would come out. The lettering looks as if I’m still learning how to write. Poor Brandi! 3. There’s a superstition on the University of Texas at Austin campus that if you see an albino squirrel, you’ll have success on your next test. I’ve never come across one as an actual college student but I had my second sighting since working on the campus this week. Both sightings were on 24th Street. The first time I scared it away with my camera. This time we practically had a photo shoot. Here are my two favorite pictures. 4. It’s also Thomas’s birthday this weekend. We’ve been friends going on 10 years now. Since graduating college, he’s lived in Taiwan, Dallas, and now Los Angeles. He hasn’t lived in Austin for about 5 years now and I’m so thankful that we still manage to remain great friends despite being miles apart. You might also notice, I use a lot of his photos on my blog. Happy early birthday to him too! 5. I was getting my afternoon coffee on campus when I saw this post-it on the wall. I like the message and I think it’s true for everyone. There are people who would kill for your job. Your family. Your health. Your friends. The fact that you have a car. No matter who we are, we all have blessings worth treasuring. 6. As always I keep my reading plate full. Currently am reading One for the Money (This month’s book club selection), How to Save Your Own Life (because I really love Erica Jong), The Last Lecture (because it was 5 dollars at Half Priced Books), and still working through Stumbling on Happiness (because Nam recommended it ages ago). 7. On a whim, I signed up for my first food blogging workshop that is part of SXSW. I did this without looking at the roster of attendees and boy after studying the roster, I have to say I’m intimidated. I feel like the lowly water boy who dreams to be good enough just to warm the bench! That said, as nervous as I am and as much as I feel like I’m out of my league, I’m excited to soak in these big food bloggers energies.

1. This weekend one of my top priorities is to do laundry. I haven’t done it in over two weeks and today at work I’m wearing my I-can-see-your-butt-cheeks-jeans (formerly known as my “babysitter jeans” until it got demoted). Rest assured, I’m still modestly covered thanks to a super long cardigan. 2. This video had me giggling like a maniac. 3. My last two blog posts are book reviews and I have 3 more that I want to write and share. I’m half way through another book that I’m sure will be done by the weekend so that’s 4 book reviews. Just to give you a heads up there will be a theme next week on Curious Notions. :) 4. I had a wonderful and inspiring conversation with Nev of Nevblog.com. We catch up every few months and I always walk away from our conversations super motivated and inspired. He gave me great tips geared towards watering and growing my food blog. He reminds me all the time just by example to dream bigger. If you go to his blog and sift through his posts you’ll definitely see what I mean. I’m thankful to know him. 5. A close friend who lives in Madison, WI just made a bold move in pursuing her happiness which may have her leaving Wisconsin in the summer. I want to visit every state in the US and am only at, what, 14? With her maybe leaving, I’m contemplating going to eat cheese in Wisconsin. When else would I go? 6. I had a light butt cheek itch just now and forgot I was wearing my butt cheek jeans and shocked myself when I scratched skin. Yes. You needed to know that and I needed 2 more things to share. 7. This week, I’m done with juggling two jobs til my night job starts again mid March. I guess that’s why I don’t have many quick takes to share, I’ve been waking up at 6am and working til 10pm. Not much to update you on when I’m in this routine. Suffice to say, I’m content in life right now.

A plane crashed into an IRS building here in Austin yesterday morning, killing two people. I just read the pilot’s 6 paged suicide note. I’m really sad for the innocent man who showed up for work and never came home because some sad twisted man could not take rein of his life and own responsibility for his unhappiness. Yesterday, during my lunch and on my own, I went to the Blanton Museum to see their exhibit on desire, aptly named On Desire. No photos were allowed at this exhibit but if you’re in Austin, I recommend it. It highlights a great span of desire, touching on heartbreak, confusion, sex, love… I sometimes find art hard to relate to but a lot of the pieces on display in On Desire really touched me and spoke to me. Very.. human. I’ve always loved the Blanton’s peaceful grandeur. Lately, I have a lot of mind chatter that is self-deprecating. I’m starting to worry that it’s excessively self-deprecating and I can’t seem to find my way out of it. Yet, anyway. I’m toying with the idea of talking to a counselor. My insurance covers it after a deductible. This video of a three year old sobbing over Justin Bieber is heartbreakingly CUTE. Such anguish for a little one. In the last week I finished the first three books of 2010: Fup, The Shack, Bonk, and am almost done with 50th Law. I think it’s amusing that when you read a handful of books all at once, there’s a lag in finishing books but then you start to finish them at the same time. Book reviews to come of all three (four?) books soon. My mom had my fortune told by this Asian dude who records his take on your life on tape. According to him, per my mom, the funnest years of my life is from age 24-34. She said according to him, I’ll get married and start a family at around 34/35. Interesting. Everything that has happened in my life, my mom claims she already knew was going to happen to me. My dad, a skeptic of fortunes, was gleeful to report that the fortune teller thinks that any degree of charismatic magnetism I possess comes from his side of the family. Ha! My parents crack me up. I’m most hungry for reassurance right now. Cuddles. Chicken soup. Hugs. Murmurs that everything will pan out. For now, I settle for still wearing Valentine’s day socks and knickers, and chocolate chip cookies.

Had a good weekend. I don’t have too many photos uploaded yet but the one on top is from Friday night. Will came down from Dallas and those are some of his old frat brothers.

I had a pretty joyful weekend. Here’s my weekend joy list.

• Will came to visit. We hardly got to see each other because unexpected events (my bad) but we managed a few drinks Friday and we’re grabbing yogurt on campus today before he heads back to Dallas.
• I treated Brandi (because she cooks and spoils me) to Dear John. She’s a big Nicholas Sparks fan. I have to say Channing tatum is hot!
• Dave, Brandi, and I tipped our hats off to Valentine’s day (I do this often- acknowledge love day) by watching a film screening on desire at the Blanton Museum. More on this later.
• Tried out a new dim sum place (more on this later).
• Watched the second half of the Super Bowl.
• Had homemade green chicken enchiladas while watching a comedy with Brandi and Jessica.
• I had 8 hours of sleep Saturday night. Something I hardly ever swing.

What’s on your weekend joy list?

1. Share your orders When I went to Gourdough’s last week, I hardly knew 5 of the 6 other people there. One of guys announces that they’re all foodies, so they “know how to eat.” What he’s talking about is sharing and tasting your company’s order. We discussed how some people get a little possessive and snobby about sampling from other people’s order or vice versa. That’s fine and all but to truly be a foodie, you must get down and dirty with your friends. Share! The point is to try as much as you can. 2. Talk to the owner whenever possible I always try to chat up the owners whenever possible. It’s a treat to see the faces behinds the great ideas. One of Gourdough’s owners (there are two) is Ryan, pictured above in the photo. Commend them if you had a great experience and introduce yourself! We all said hello to Ryan and gave him a few recommendations for new donuts. (We jokingly suggested he make a Papa John’s donut.) There’s no real purpose for this rule except etiquette and gratitude. 3. Roll with the misadventures If you’re out in the field long enough, you’re bound to get shot by the bad luck sniper every now and again. Restaurants closing down before you get a chance of trying, food poisoning, trying something you don’t really like (for me it was octopus), throwing up because you ate so much (not me, but my opponent in an eating contest, hehehehe), or GETTING FARTED ON! That was such a bizarre moment for Kim and me. We were eating brunch at Backstreet Cafe, when a man (pictured above with his back to us), lifted his butt and let one rip. We were aghast! We could almost taste it!! Ug. I’m gagging as I relive this. The point is though, we didn’t let it ruin our experience at Backstreet. Don’t let the snags deter you from your pursuit of great food experiences. Yuck. That fart. Do you have any foodie rules to add?

Another coblog with Mary Ellen. Read her version here.
Last and first coblog we did: 10 more rules to live by (me) | 10 Rules to Live By (her)

1. Have something to wake up for

No matter how old you are, there’s always something good to look forward to.
Lynn Johnston

Having something to look forward to helps with maintaining happiness. Even when you’re in the throes of deadlines and sickness and other life stresses, having a rainbow waiting after the rain will put our problems into perspective, that is, it lets us realize that the bad will pass and something good is coming.

2. Be curious

I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.
Albert Einstein

Let your curiosity do some leading and you’ll make wonderful discoveries that are both little and grand. There’s something fun about following your curiosities as there’s no telling where they may lead you.

3. Be hungry

Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.
Thomas A. Edison

Hunger, like curiosity is a force of motion. Having a dangling carrot ahead of you tempting you with desire is quite motivating in terms of setting you into action. It’s not enough to just simply want success, life experiences, happiness; be hungry for it. There is an urgency in hunger that is important not to lose; our time here on earth and with our people is very limited.

4. Have friends

A true friend freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unmanageably.
William Penn

Who else are you to have joyful belly laughs with, if not with your friends? Friends make great partners in crime in your pursuit for joy.

5. Let bygones be bygones

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
Henry Ellis

This is especially helpful to me in terms of relationships. Most trespasses cannot be taken back so why mull and suffer over something that cannot be undone? Growing up, my dad always asked me whenever I’d cry about a broken friendship or relationship, “Are they crying over you right now? …No? Then why are you crying over them?” In the spirit of Richard Fish from Ally McBeal, “Bygones!”

6. Appreciate the ridiculous

The privilege of absurdity; to which no living creature is subject, but man only.
Thomas Hobbes
Another way of putting this, find the humor in life’s absurdities. Something hilarious about life’s difficulties. Sometimes things are so absurd or so bad that it’s just downright funny. A good movie to watch about appreciating the absurdities of life is Little Miss Sunshine.

7. Be present

Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.
Albert Camus
Life happens fast. If you don’t consciously open your eyes and savour it, you might miss out on the joy. An easy way of doing this is concentrate on your body and its five senses. Instead of worrying about your to do list while listening to your child talk about her day in school, focus on the feel of her small hand in yours, the lightness of her voice, the music in her laugh and enjoy how small and innocent she is now. Be present.

8. Be deliberate

I believe that we are solely responsible for our choices, and we have to accept the consequences of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

This can be achieved simply by being aware of the consequences of your actions.

9. Celebrate

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
Oprah Winfrey

There are infinite things to celebrate: Health, accomplishments, love, youth, wisdom, the color purple. Possibilities are endless. The act of celebrating and honoring something forces us to step back and appreciate. Blowing out the candles, shooting the fireworks, clinking champagne glasses, dancing to a good beat, these actions in themselves are joyful. Make your life a party.

10. Be thankful

In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican.
- H. L. Mencken

When we reflect back on what we have as opposed to what we don’t have, it’s really hard not to be happy and see that we’re all very blessed.

So tell me, how do you find joy in your life?

I love making resolutions. I think it helps me to progress in life. I had a really good year in 2008 and completed almost ALL of my resolutions. In 2009, namely due to resigning my job as a research coordinator and being unemployed for 5 months, I didn’t do well keeping my resolutions. The only three resolutions I accomplished from my list was have a whole year’s worth of funds saved up as an emergency fund (it ended up being VERY useful during my stint with unemployment), write in my paper journal once a week, I reading 20 books in 2009 (I read between 24-30 books), and continue doing my new things of the week (going on 5 years now!).

I’m feel like I have better footing this year and here are my resolutions for 2010.

Financial

• Rebuild year’s worth of emergency fund. (5.5K) I just transferred over 500 (1/11).
• Transfer over my 401K from my previous job to my Roth IRA.
• Do my own taxes.
• Keep outings with my little from Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America on a budget.

Leisure/Cultural/Fun

• Continue doing 1 new thing a week.
• Visit a new state from my list.
• Read 40 books.
• Organize a book club. (If you’re in Austin, Texas and are interested email me. First meeting is scheduled for 1/31/2010.
• Be more or less abreast with updates on 202 things in 1001 days.
• Leave the country.
• Write 15 letters.
• Try out 20 new recipes
• Update movie, gratitude, quotations, and collage, and reading journal at least twice a month.

Community

• Run a 5k for a charity.
• See my little from Big Brothers & Sisters 2-3 times a month
• Donate to every sponsorship for charity my friends take part in.

Personal

• Try at least 3 times to mend a relationship with a family member.
• Not leave drawers and cabinet doors open. (I don’t know how this bad habit started!)
• Go to Houston ten times this year to visit friends and family.
• Be more organized.

What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Do you make them?

In comparison to 2008, 2009 was awful! The one thing I can think of that 2009 had over 2008 was that I read more than double the books I read in 2008. I’m anticipating the fresh feel of a new year that is 2010. In the meantime, here’s a review of how my year has gone with heavier emphasis on my blessings verses my misfortunes.

Note: All links open in a new window.

January 2009

• Celebrated New Years with Alan and his friends.
• I worked a lot. Logged a lot of hours.
• Saw one of my favorite movies of the year, Slumdog Millionaire.
• Kim sent me Tiff’s Treats at work to cheer me up about something.

Celebrating New Year’s with the boyfriend

February 2009

• Alan took me to my third Killer’s concert as a Christmas gift.
• Tried out Joe Dimaggio’s for the first of three times this year. Went as a Valentine’s date with Alan.
• Got flowers from Alan at work.
• Alan, his roommate, and I all played Bingo for the first time.
• I worked a lot. Logged a lot of hours.

Alan and I at the Killer’s Concert

March 2009

• I worked a lot. Logged a lot of hours.
• Went to my first rodeo with some work friends and Brandi.
• Ate at Mighty Fine for the first time, now my favorite burger joint of the year.
• Celebrated Brandi’s birthday at Pete’s Dueling Pianos.

Rodeo, Austin, TX

April 2009

• Went to Houston for my daddy’s birthday.
• I worked a lot. Logged a lot of hours.
• Was supposed to be Jamie’s date for a wedding. We got lost in West Austin and ended up exploring Salado, Texas instead.
• Celebrated Selina’s birthday at her house on same day Jamie and I almost went to that wedding.

Selina’s Birthday

May

• Worked a lot; logged a lot of hours.
• Visited San Francisco for the first time and went with Alan. It was our first vacation together and we ate very very well.
• Put in notice at my Clincial Research Job and thus ending that career path (for now at least?)
• I finished out May working at that job and I stopped logging too many hours.
• Celebrated Sae’s graduation from Law School.
• Kim visited from Houston for Memorial Day Weekend.
• Katambra introduced me to a snowcone stand that I frequented often in the summer.
• Saw Star Trek in IMAX, was surprised to love it.

Celebrating Sae’s law school graduation

June 2009

• Ate at a lot of happy hours with old coworkers, with Alan, Sae, and his girlfriend with new free time.
• I took a certification class to become a teacher
• I went to Houston for Father’s Day
• Kim and I tried out Feast, voted best new restaurant in Houston by a handful of magazines.
• I saw Thomas in Houston and we ate at Fufu’s.
• Went on a lot of double dates with Sae and Young. (Here’s our first time at North)

Cindy and me at Grand Lux Cafe in Houston

July

• Celebrated Fourth of July with Brandi and her boyfriend at Zilker Park..
• Went on a lot of double dates with Sae and Young.
• Went to Houston for my mom’s birthday.
• Saw Cindy in Houston and we ate at Classic Kitchen.
• Kim and I discovered Hugo’s, hands down my favorite restaurant in 2009.
• Moved in with my current roommate, and long time friend, Brandi.
• Celebrated my birthday with tons of great people at Trailer Park Eatery.
• At one point, had 4 bouquets of flowers delivered at our apartment and they were all to me from different people. Felt very loved.
• I took and passed my state certification test to become a middle school teacher for science.

Brandi and me on Fourth of July

August

• The first two weeks of August, I tried to squeeze in as much time as I can with Alan because he was about to leave for Korea for up to 4.5 months.
• Starting, August 16, I started counting days Alan was gone.
• Kim came to visit the weekend of the 22nd and we saw Wicked.
• I saw 500 Days of Summer three times this month, in theatre, of course. This is the first movie I’ve done that.
• Jon visited from NYC.
• I got a part-time, part-time (yes you read that right) job, thanks to Brittany dropping a good word for me.

Alan’s last night out with friends before going to Korea.

September

• Hosted the first Alphabet pot luck. We started with the letter P.
• Wrote a blog entry about my journals, surprisingly my favorite blog entry of the year.
• Friends and I got dressed up for Deesh’s brother’s wedding reception.
• Visited Mary Ellen for a long weekend in Boston. First time I’ve gone to see her since 2005. Had best breakfast ever at Mike and Patty’s and most interesting hot pot.
• Alan surprised me by coming home from Korea early.
• Went out for Selina’s Bachelorette Party.

October

• Celebrated Alan’s birthday at Joe Dimaggio’s. Was very happy to have him back in Texas and to be able to celebrate his birthday with him and take him as a date to weddings. He had good timing :)
• Stood in Selina & Ryan’s Wedding and witnessed strong love.
• Realised I don’t really want to be a teacher.
• Threw 2nd Alphabet Potluck.
• Dressed up as a cow girl for Halloween.

November

• Went to Wurst Fest with friends.
• Went to Cathedral of Junk for the first time with Brandi.
• Texas Renaissance with Jessica and Brandi
• Had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Houston where I reunited with people I don’t normally see! (Willis, Thomas, Kim, Shane, Kelvin, Chris, Aishah, Kym, Hillary, Alex)
• Had my second progressive meal this year.

Having hot chocolate at Ren Fest.

December

• I started my new full time job and kept my part time night job.
• I struggled with what it means to be someone’s family.
• I struggled with what it means to be someone’s friend.
• I made truffles for the first time!
• Saw Avatar in IMAX opening night. Awesome.
• Attended and witnessed proudly, Bing graduate from college
• Attended annual Christmas Party for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America with my little and her family.
• Jennifer from Philly is in town and I introduced her to Teucsher.
• I went home to Houston for Christmas break and was able to see Mary Ellen, Aishah, Pinky, Cindy, and Kim of course my lovely family.
• Had hot pot on Christmas day twice. Lunch with Mary Ellen and her mom and dinner with my own family. Hot potted out! (Blog entry to come.)
• Released balloons 4 days early as part of a New Year’s Tradition with Kim. (Blog entry to come.)
• Tonight, most likely will be going downtown for New Year’s and spending it with Alan.

After party in the car.

I’m a blessed girl. Instinctively, I’d tell you my 2009 was pretty awful but when I write it all out like this and focused on the good rather than the bad, I can see now I’m still quite lucky. Farewell, 2009.

Tell me how your year went. Or better yet, if you have a year in review entry, I’d love to read yours.

If you missed part one, here it is. Mary Ellen joined me for Part II and blogged the same rules on her blog. Read her version here.

1. “Childlike wonderment is essential.”
   This statement made by my new boss is the rule that inspired Part II. I was working at my new job, trying my best to be useful, when my boss walks into the lab and announces very matter-of-factly, “It’s snowing!” and then he left to go outside. We all scurried and put on our coats to go see the snow. Now when I say snow, I mean Texas flurries that don’t stick. (I heard it stuck in Houston though that same day!) We stood underneath the awning and watched in quiet wonderment. Suddenly, Boss states, “Let’s go get some,” and he walked out into the “snow” and stood facing upward with his eyes closed. He said very authoritatively, “Childhood wonderment is essential, guys.” What a wonderful way of summing up something I strive for daily. Not but a minute later, he announces that it’s time to go back to work.

   So transitory that moment but it really calls to attention something I find, well, essential in life. Childlike wonderment. I’ve been around a lot of children in my life with all the babysitting and work I’ve done with them and the one thing I truly appreciate about kids is their amazement of things that snooty adults take for granted. The world ceases to be magical when you don’t let yourself be moved by the little miracles. Like snow.
   
   

2. Sometimes having the last word isn’t a sign of winning. Everyone knows the picture of a stubborn donkey and his owner yanking and beating on him to try and get him to budge. Arguing with a human jackass is exactly like that. At least donkeys eventually get tired and move. Human jackasses might move away, but they won’t change their mind. You don’t want to argue with a Jackass. There are no winners in the argument. I know the last word is highly coveted by everyone, myself included, but a rule I try to live by is when it’s becoming clear that you’re arguing with a jackass, it’s in your best interest to cease. A Jackass is not only someone with a limited perspective, but someone who is also vehement in not expanding his view and not acknowledging there is more to be said and discussed. Someone with blinders on and whose argument could be broken down to a repetitive, “HEE HAW, HEE HAW.” Repeat. There are no winners when arguing with a Jackass.
   
   
3. Blog about the stuff that you want to remember and not the stuff you don’t want to remember. This is pretty self-explanatory. I don’t always succeed in doing this and it’s taken me YEARS (I’ve been doing this since high school!) to come to where I am now, but I’ve made it my personal policy to not blog things I don’t want to remember.
   
   

4. Sometimes you just gotta sit on the floor. I actually had notes for 10 Rules to Live by Part II in my notation notebook from earlier on the day when I told Mary Ellen about this blog post. I had a full day of shopping with Brandi and was so exhausted that I could not move to the couch from the floor and definitely could not will myself to walk to my purse and pull out the notebook to get the rest of my rules. I only remembered “Child like wonderment is essential.” So Mary Ellen worked with me and that’s how we decided it would be fun to come up with nine more and then blog the same ten individually on our blogs. My sitting on the floor became a rule. Sometimes, you have to grant yourself permission to take a load off and veg where ever you may be. In my case, it was the floor.
   
   
5. Be careful what you wish for. I like the idea that the universe gives you what you want. If you play your cards right, don’t piss off too many people, the Universe will conspire to grant you your deepest desires. (I think I first got this notion off of Paulo Coelho.) I don’t know if I actually believe that the Universe has an agenda, but I do believe that sometimes the world works in a funny way and actually gives you what you want. That can be scary! Wanting the wrong person, the wrong job, the wrong crowd of friends… Worse, what if you wanted a mullet? And you got it? See what I mean? Be careful what you wish for.
   
   
6. Best friends are essential. So you’re probably thinking, BLAH BLAH BLAH. Best friends are wonderful. Yada yada yada. There are a lot of obvious benefits of having best friends. You have a go to person, a confidant, etc. However, I think it’s also important to realize how important best friends are in your own personal development. We grow into the people we are because our loved ones give us the security and confidence to do so. They do this by guiding, reprimanding, not judging, encouraging, and supporting. When we screw up and are given the opportunity to grow and better ourselves, they don’t let us get away without at least a knowng guilt inducing glance or a long lecture. Most importantly, they have your back.
   
   

7. When things go down the shitter, pamper yourself. The good thing about shitty times and shitty moods is that one of your first goals is to try to feel better. Depending on the catastrophe and your budget, this can range from a home manicures, a cup of hot chocolate, truffles, a weekend trip, a new book, a jigsaw puzzle. (Welcome to my comfort toolbox.)
   
   
8. Don’t wait for growing up to get easier. It doesn’t get easier! Enjoy today!
   
   
9. Appreciate your body. I know in 20 years I’m going to miss what I have now. Positive self-image is not only hard to achieve these days, but also once achieved you can’t just sit back and relax. It’s always going to be a work in progress. We’re fish swimming against the current of airbrushed models and impossible, unattainable, highly publicized social standards of beauty. It’s important to step back a little, dim the lighting, and gaze lovingly at your body. We’re going to miss what we have when we’re older. Knowing that, shouldn’t we try to appreciate it while we have it?
   
   
10. Don’t use other people to define yourself. I knew a girl once who went to college on an autumn day wearing flip flops. In class, she noticed everyone was wearing closed toed shoes. I asked if her feet were cold and she said she was just fine. What bothered her was that she stood out and didn’t “fit in.” Mind you, she was 23 at the time. She actually drove home from college to put on different shoes and went back. She missed out on a lot of lecture time to just pacify her anxiety of being different. This was just one example of all the ways she tried to emulate everyone around her in hopes she could find something that was her. There’s nothing wrong with being inspired, but there’s a reason why the saying goes, “Imitation is suicide.” It’s important to get to know yourself. It’s important to be authentic.

Photos taken from and by my talented friend, Thomas.

Pros of Having Girlfriends You can borrow clothes, accessories, shoes. You can bitch about men and have an understanding ear. Girls are more sensitive. Girlfriends never complain about watching click flicks Girls are more enthusiastic shopping buddies. Girls are more enthusiastic gossip buddies. Girls give great thoughtful gifts. Girls let you break down situations down to the minute detail and will sit there and overanalyze with you. If that is indeed what you want. Girls are quicker to send flowers. Girls are quicker to dance with you. Girls would let you vent without invalidating your feelings as silly or ask you if you’re on your period. Girls would plan an outing just to get dressed up.

Cons of Having Girlfriends Girls hold grudges Girls are more sensitive. Girls gossip.