Thursday, February 19, 2009
Book Smarts
Okay, because the stretch of I-40 between Knoxville and Memphis so frequently sees my SUV I have discovered the joy of audio books. Cracker Barrel has this awesome thing where you can buy an audio book from them and if you return it within a week they reimburse you minus $3.50. I think this is so great because it's cheap and convenient. Honestly, if I buy an audio book (which is rare), I'm not going to listen to it again (with the exception of Harry Potter and the Shopaholic series) so this just makes so much sense. However, this situation brings up a question: If I listen to a book on CD, can I say I've read it? I love to read, and I admit, I judge people who say they do not. I feel like I'm cheating. I love books on CD and they make car rides much more enjoyable, but I'm not actually reading the book. So can I say I read it?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Stop!! Ladies, read this first before leaving the house!
Okay gals, before you leave your house I want you to reach back and feel your hair. Are you wearing a banana clip or a scrunchie? No? Okay, go on and do your thing. If you are, I want you to take it out and put in the drawer with your leg warmers and tee-shirt tie. Sorry for the dramatics, but I saw the most disturbing thing yesterday. I saw, now one, but TWO girls wearing banana clips! First let me say, it was two different instances. It wasn't like two girls walking together going to a "Hey, remember the 80's?" party. The worst part is this was on campus, and they had to have been freshmen or sophomores! They shouldn't even be old enough to know what a banana clip is. Does this mean they still sell them in stores?! That should be a crime!
This whole banana clip episode got me thinking about a very disturbing episode of Sex and the City. No, I'm not talking about the one where Samantha thinks she's a lesbian (all that one was bizarre), I'm talking about the one wear Berger and Carrie get into the debate about the scrunchie. Yes, the writers were absolutely accurate in saying that they are out of style and should only be used when ay home, washing your face. But, the disturbing part was when they ran into a woman in a bar wearing one. Carrie says the woman can't be from New York, hinting that no self-respecting New York woman would be caught dead in public wearing a SCRUNCHIE! (imaging her screaming the word scrunchie in a high pitched voice) They ask the woman what part of New York she's from and the woman turns and says (in the worst fake Southern accent I've ever heard) "Why! I'm from Macon, Georgia!" She then turns to her husband and says "Can you believe it? They thought I was a New Yorker!" She says this very excitedly as if someone had just mistook her for Victoria Beckham.
Okay folks, this is the problem:
1. No self-respecting, Southern woman would be caught dead wearing a SCRUNCHIE! Southern women pride themselves on their looks. Contrary to what pop culture might tell you, we DO wear shoes down here and if you're a woman they more than likely have a spiky heel. Hello! This is the part of the country where Neiman Marcus started for goodness sake!
2. No true Southerner would ever be excited about being mistaken for a New Yorker. We down here in the South are extremely proud of our Southern roots. Why do you think we get dressed up in Antebellum costumes and give tours of 200-year-old homes? Why do you think we have decorative license plates on the fronts of our cars with our state flag emblazoned on them? (you see this a lot in South Carolina)
So, one of two things happened with this particular episode of SATC. Either the writers didn't do their research or the Georgia woman's character was a traitor to her Southern heritage. I'm thinking it's the former. Please know that I love SATC and that I do not judge anyone who wears a banana clip or scrunchie if they are in the privacy of their own home. But the minute you leave the house sporting either one, you're fair game.
This whole banana clip episode got me thinking about a very disturbing episode of Sex and the City. No, I'm not talking about the one where Samantha thinks she's a lesbian (all that one was bizarre), I'm talking about the one wear Berger and Carrie get into the debate about the scrunchie. Yes, the writers were absolutely accurate in saying that they are out of style and should only be used when ay home, washing your face. But, the disturbing part was when they ran into a woman in a bar wearing one. Carrie says the woman can't be from New York, hinting that no self-respecting New York woman would be caught dead in public wearing a SCRUNCHIE! (imaging her screaming the word scrunchie in a high pitched voice) They ask the woman what part of New York she's from and the woman turns and says (in the worst fake Southern accent I've ever heard) "Why! I'm from Macon, Georgia!" She then turns to her husband and says "Can you believe it? They thought I was a New Yorker!" She says this very excitedly as if someone had just mistook her for Victoria Beckham.
Okay folks, this is the problem:
1. No self-respecting, Southern woman would be caught dead wearing a SCRUNCHIE! Southern women pride themselves on their looks. Contrary to what pop culture might tell you, we DO wear shoes down here and if you're a woman they more than likely have a spiky heel. Hello! This is the part of the country where Neiman Marcus started for goodness sake!
2. No true Southerner would ever be excited about being mistaken for a New Yorker. We down here in the South are extremely proud of our Southern roots. Why do you think we get dressed up in Antebellum costumes and give tours of 200-year-old homes? Why do you think we have decorative license plates on the fronts of our cars with our state flag emblazoned on them? (you see this a lot in South Carolina)
So, one of two things happened with this particular episode of SATC. Either the writers didn't do their research or the Georgia woman's character was a traitor to her Southern heritage. I'm thinking it's the former. Please know that I love SATC and that I do not judge anyone who wears a banana clip or scrunchie if they are in the privacy of their own home. But the minute you leave the house sporting either one, you're fair game.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Southern Hospitality is not an urban legend
This morning I was in line at Starbucks and there was a gentleman behind me. He was probably in his mid-fifties. The lady behind the drink station asked what she could get started for me, "a grande, vanilla, no water, chai, please." I pull out my wallet waiting to pay, and the guy behind me tells me he's got it. I notice he has a 50 in his hand. I tell him no, that's ok and think, "great, I'm in here in my sweats, he probably thinks I'm a hobo." (just kidding I knew he didn't think that) I tell him thanks and give him my Starbucks Gold Card so he can get the 10% discount and he orders his drink and a co-worker's. Again, I thank him and he says "don't thank me, thank Don. He's buying, he just doesn't know it yet." I walk over to Don and thank him for the drink he's bought me that he didn't know about. He says you're welcome and asks if "Steve" apparently that's the name of the guy behind me in line, bought everyone else's drink, too. "No," I say, "just mine." Again, he says you're welcome and I leave.
That made my day. There was no ulterior motive behind it, just a kind act. It makes me think of that bumper sticker that says, "Practice random acts of kindness." I urge you all to do so.
That made my day. There was no ulterior motive behind it, just a kind act. It makes me think of that bumper sticker that says, "Practice random acts of kindness." I urge you all to do so.
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