Dog Eat Dog World

I'm convinced that dog owners are crazy. Yes, I realize that owning a dog can be very fulfilling and fun, but man, are they a pain in the arse to take care of or what?

Goldie had me up three times last night with various scratching, random noise-making, and just general dogginess. This should be great practice for when I eventually have children, but right now I am so not up for the challenge. I'd like to get a full night's sleep in while I still can.

P.S. I love dogs but I could never own one, similarly to how some people feel about other people's children. They're cute when you don't have to look after them.

Up On The Roof

Every once in a while, I come across a song that makes me really happy to be alive and that I obsess over for several days. I think my new song is "Up On the Roof," written by Carole King, first recorded by the Drifters but put on the charts by James Taylor. Neither of these versions do it for me. If you want to hear this song, you must listen to the version by Laura Nyro, somewhat of a contemporary of Carole King, but a little more under the radar. She also happened to be related to some of my Dad's cousins. Her version is live and it appears on the "Gonna Take A Miracle" album. Oh man is it good! She has such great dynamics and really uses her voice so expressively. It's very emotive. Just be warned that when you start listening to it, you might never want to stop.

My new travel writing career

Hey everybody! I've been published on the web! Check 'em out, 'cause if you don't, nobody will...

http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/backpacker-resources/travel-stories

http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/backpacker-resources/travel-stories?result_page=4

Also, does anyone need vouchers for two free nights at a St. Christopher's hostel?

Whole Foods: The new dating mecca?

Have you ever noticed that almost everyone who shops at Whole Foods is attractive? Seriously, has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? Next time you're there, see if this happens--maybe 4 out of 5 people will be good-looking, not to mention the staff. I mean, do they even hire ugly people? There was a really cute stock boy (and when I say boy, I mean man) there today who had upper arm tattoos, but a really sweet demeanor (not that the two are mutually exclusive or anything). It sort of seemed like I was stalking him, but really what happened is that we kept on meeting in the aisles (at least that's what I'll tell the police lol). I would have flirted, but I had my arms filled with groceries (I forgo the basket or :::GASP::: the cart usually because I only pick up a few things at a time when I'm there, but of course I always end up needing a basket). Also, isn't it kind of weird/desperate to pick up guys in grocery stores, especially if they work there? I don't know, who thinks I should go back and try to get his phone number?

The Bill Bryson reading was great! I am so glad I went and for those who missed out, please make sure you catch him next time you have the opportunity. His new book sounds really funny and I can't wait to read it. I even got to meet him and he signed my book. I was totally gushing over him, telling him how big a fan I am and how the first 15 pages of "In A Sunburned Country" was histerical. He seems really humble and appreciative of his fans, which is really cool. He also has this really funky weird accent, a cross between American mid-western and British, the result of living half his life in America and half in England...strange.

I think the fake illness I invented yesterday to take off from work might actually be real...ahhhhhh!

Tomorrow is Love Your Body Day. As hokey as it might seem, I think this is a great opportunity for women to stop examining themselves and start realizing what's really important in life. All women, no matter how confident or perfect they appear to be, look at their bodies with a critical eye, noting their imperfections and thinking up ways to make themselves more aesthetically beautiful. What's the point? To conform to some ideal of what's "beautiful?" To make other people like them? Everyone is built a different way, which I think is pretty cool. I'm not going to go on and on about how we should love people for who they are on the inside because that's what really counts, because we've all heard it before and it's a sentimental notion people tend to shy away from. I would really like to believe in a world where people don't place so much importance on looks, but I realize that's impossible. I'm guilty of it myself--sometimes I look at my body and dislike what I see. I can hardly look at photos of myself sometimes and, in a room full of gorgeous girls, I tend to feel inadequate. But I really do try to make a conscious effort to accept who I am and not try to fight nature. I feel like, most of the time, I really do love my body, as large and awkward as it might be. I know not all women are ready to accept themselves as they are, and that's sad. It's okay to have bad days when you don't want to look in the mirror, but it's never okay to hate yourself. What does a "perfect" body have to do with real life anyway? In the end, does it matter that you're not a size 4 and 5'8"?

Dell

I don't know whether to be really pissed at Dell for giving me an Mp3 player that breaks after a year and a half or praising them for having such good customer service and sending me another one for half the price in such a timely manner. Seriously, a day after I spoke with a customer service rep, I got a new refurbished DJ in the mail. That's awesome, however, I'm still annoyed that I had to pay for it. Oh well, these things do happen.