Bang, Pow, Crash

Oh today is just one of those days - when I feel so overwhelmed with all that's going on in life, and like there's no time to do anything.

In college, my days were planned. I had specific assignments I was working on, club meetings, rehearsals - I knew what my activities were, I knew who my friends were, I knew my major, and I knew what I was working toward. In the real world that kind of structure doesn't exist. And so I have days like today, when I wonder where I'm going with my life and what happened to all my dreams and hobbies and interests. I make long lists in my head of everything I'd ideally like to do: take photography classes, speak Spanish, learn to make jewelry, sing, force myself into a regular gym routine, find a job that I love, volunteer at the animal shelter, decorate the apartment, clean the apartment, find some freelance writing gigs, become a better cook, accrue a more professional wardrobe, blog... GAH it's enough to make my head explode.

I feel as though I have no direction right now. There is so much I'd like to do, as you can see, but I have such trouble prioritizing and finding time and keeping my desires consistent. It gets very overwhelming, like I have a giant post-it note on my brain.

The biggest question I want to answer right now is: What thing(s) am I passionate about and how can I go about making a life out of that? But if I don't try a bunch of different things, how will I ever get an answer?

Boo to feeling this way. On one hand it's exciting to have so many possibilities, on the other hand...

...it's exhausting.

Things to find out BEFORE marriage

Oh Google ads, you never fail to make me laugh.



Also, the usage of the word "if" is incorrect. It should be whether. So there. Also, I posted something just like this a while ago, but I had forgotten about it until now. So who cares?

Issues are just alright with me

Besides the fact that Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black may possibly be my most favoritest people on the planet, this clip explains why I CANNOT WAIT for the new Comedy Central show Michael & Michael Have Issues. WATCH IT!

Michael & Michael Have Issues	Premieres Wed, July 15, 10:30pm / 9:30c
Preview - The Farting Butterfly Sketch
www.comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

People are dying, lashes are extending?

As I was huffing and puffing away on the elliptical at the gym this morning, I had the pleasure of viewing a commercial for a novel product called Latisse. This product is the "first and only FDA approved prescription treatment for inadequate or not enough eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller, and darker."

I kid you not.

Yes, folks. While people around the world are dying of all kinds of malicious diseases - AIDS, cancer, diabetes, heart disease - there are scientists toiling away in a lab to find out how women can LENGTHEN their INADEQUATE eyelashes.

All I have to say is thank god this product is here. My life depends on my eyelashes, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Finally, I can breathe easier. Or... bat my eyes at people easier. Same thing.

This just goes to show that Americans will buy anything.

Speaking of Baby Killers...

Judging from what Korena Roberts did (faked pregnancy, killed an actual pregnant woman and cut out her baby) she's probably crazy.

But if you needed extra proof, check out her mug shot.

I'll be having nightmares for weeks.

Justifiable Homicide... YEAH RIGHT

The story of the death of Dr. George Tiller (the guy who gives late-term abortions... but as commenters on the NYTimes article pointed out, shouldn't be reduced to simply an "abortion doctor") has really been eating at me.

I just finished reading the book This Common Secret by another "abortion doctor" Susan Wicklund, and so it's weird that this murder occurred when it did. Wicklund spends a lot of time describing her encounters with pro-lifers. They were often outside her clinic terrorizing women as they tried to enter, and Wicklund herself received death threats and feared for her safety so much that she requested police protection. There was even one incident where protesters camped out on her property, and Wicklund was scared to leave her own house (the police didn't do much to mitigate the situation).

It just baffles me that people are allowed to go so far and take such strong action against something that is legal. And all because their faith tells them it's not right. Sure, I don't like abortion protesters, but I wouldn't go and kill one of them just because of what they are. I truly believe these people are crazy, immature, and unwilling to have a dialogue, which makes them all the more dangerous.

Pro-life groups are coming out and saying that this man doesn't represent them, but I think the example of this murder should bring to light the terrifying and uneccesary tactics these people use to scare doctors who are providing legal and life-saving services to women in need.

In the NYTimes article one group, Operation Rescue, says they always used "nonviolent" measures to "challenge" Dr. Tiller. Things like bringing lawsuits against him and trying to put him out of business. They may be nonviolent, but how are they in any way right? Trying to put a doctor out of business because he does something you don't agree with? Something that's legal in this country? Something that several women need? Something that, without safe methods, could kill women or cause them mental and physical suffering?

It just seems that these people are so hateful. And it really makes me hate them in return. But still, I won't kill them, because killing is wrong. And there is no such thing as "justifiable homicide" as the murdered believed in. That is just insane. I hope Scott Roeder gets put in jail for the rest of his life, and that this story brings to light the problem of anti-abortion protesters.

Summer in the city...

... is most glorious. It's warm enough to enjoy long walks, people are having sidewalk sales, there are festivals and flea markets everywhere, and Penn's Landing has started it's series of cultural celebrations. I wouldn't trade summer in the city for anything, except maybe summer on my own private beach. But since THAT won't be happening anytime soon, I'll take summer in the city. I wanted to share a few photos of one activity we did recently: the Italian Market festival.

The Italian Market is an amazing area down 9th Street south of South that's full of little cheese, pasta, and herb places, along with vendors that sell fresh fruits and vegetables. The festival included these vendors, but also added a bunch of craft tents, live music, ready-to-eat foods on sale on the street, and a "stickball" tournament. Yeah, I didn't know what it was either, but apparently it's a traditional game in South Philly. It's much like baseball, except played with cut-in-half tennis balls and broomsticks. That's so people can play without breaking windows. And it's played up against a wall and each level of the wall entails what the hit was - like the lowest tier of the wall is a single.

















And here's a kid playing stickball.



















I know I've said this before but still one of my favorite things about being in the city is that there's so much to see and it's all within walking distance. I encourage everyone to check out Yelp.com or gophila.com to find nearby events. You won't be sorry!