The Good Life

Oh numerous readers of mine - forgive me for not having posted in a while (a while being a few days). I've been busy doing absolutely nothing. And when I say absolutely nothing, I mean...absolutely nothing. That's right folks, my days consist of the following:

• Morning coffee
• Checking the daily websites (Facebook, Gmail, The Pioneer Woman, etc.)
• Talking to Molly and Emma
• Going to the gym
• Job hunting

Jealous? I know, I know. It's a tough life but somebody's gotta live it. This is, of course, a direct result of my current lack of employment. And it's getting kind of lame. So I hope that explains where I've been as of late. I hope you can find it in your hearts to understand.

Wanderlust

Ever since I decided to turn down an amazing opportunity for the sake of reason and sanity, I've found myself with an unquenchable thirst to travel.

During my junior year of college - just a couple of years ago, though it seems like forever - I attempted to follow in my roommate's footsteps and apply to study theatre abroad in England. I was this (holds fingers together to emphasize the word "this") close to making it all happen but, since timing tends to be a real bitch, I didn't end up going. Having just realized that I wanted to pick up another major (Journalism) in addition to Drama, it suddenly occurred to me that if I wanted to maintain any form of rationale, I had to remain on the home turf to make that all happen first. England could come later.

Now, at a ripe 22 years old (I just like to say ripe for dramatic effect), here I am, 2 BAs in hand (well, that's a lie...my diplomas have yet to come...should I be nervous yet?), and currently (keyword being "currently") unemployed. And if this travel thirst was literal, I'd be a camel. (Okay, that didn't make much sense, but I think I'm getting my point across. I'm also using a lot of parentheses, don't you think?)

So here I am. Trying to get out of here, yet not quite sure how. Yes, money is a major component here, but above all, I'm not exactly sure where to start. And this excites me. Everything about seeing the world excites me. And I know this excitement will only increase until I can satisfy this gigantic urge.

Thank you for your time.

Hollywood Monikers? Or Hollywood MORONikers?

First off, Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck.

Let's talk.

Or we don't have to talk at all. I can just say that I actually thought Ben and Jen were two normal ones. Oy vey.

I wish this whole weird Hollywood baby moniker thing didn't bother me, but it actually does. It really does. Before you come to the conclusion that I'm an idiot who cares about irrelevant things, allow us to take inventory:

• Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's daughter)
• Thijs (Matt and Annette Lauer's son)
• Coco (Courtney Cox and David Arquette's daughter)
• Kal-el (Nicolas Cage and Alice Kim's son)
• Diezel Ky (Toni Braxton and Keri Lewis's son)
• Daisy Boo and Poppy Honey (Jools Norton and Jamie Oliver's twin girls)
• Bluebell Madonna (Geri Halliwell and Sacha Gervasi's daughter)
• Fifi-Trixibelle, Peaches, Little Trixie, Honeyblossom (Paula Yates and Bob Geldof's daughters)
• Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily (Paula Yates again; this time, with another stupid man)
• Satchel (Tonya Linette and Spike Lee's daughter)

...and my personal favorites, it's a tie and I think that's only necessary...

Audio Science and Pilot Inspektor.

If ever I run into Shannyn Sossaman and Dallas Clayton or Beth Riesgraf and Jason Lee, mark my words: I will induce harm. Mental harm, but harm nonetheless.

I understand the desire to be unique and different since it's Hollywood and these people - aside from being screwed up from that alone - feel the need to outdo themselves in every sense of the word. But to do that to their children! Their own children, that's just plain cruel. I can just hear it now.

"Hey Science! Wanna come over later?"

Not only will Audio's friend feel stupid calling his buddy by his name, but anyone on the street will no doubt think they're mentally ill for calling out to a school subject.

Just a pet peeve. No big deal.

Insert Interesting Title Here

In college, whenever I was having a lame day or was just in a bad mood, this woman always seemed to make me (and my roommate) feel better.

That continues to be the case. I'm such a girl in that sense - not in the greatest of spirits? Turn on Sex and the City, and you're good to go. That's me.

Well, so much for that whole one-a-day-Glamour-quote thing I was planning on doing. Good intentions Ali, bad follow through. Sigh...

I realized that it would probably be in my best interests to start honing in on a particular topic to write about, if not limiting it to one then making it a tad more focused. Like anyone else, there are lots of things I'm into/passionate about (and being an enthusiastic person who loves the small stuff in life, it doesn't take much to get me excited about...well, lots of things), so the brainstorming has begun. What to blog about? Dun dun dun...

In other news, when I (eventually, after settling in as a real, live adult who can afford to be an adult and do adult things and) get my own dog, this will most definitely be a possibility...

If you didn't just die from that picture, you just can't be human. You just can't.

Stuff? Stuff.

I admit the following sans an ounce of guilt: I'm a sucker for love stories. Well, for the good ones anyway. And I've been immersed in a great one by one of my favorite writers, better known as Pioneer Woman. If you're interested in reading a unique kind of story, head on over here, preferably with a cup of coffee. You won't be sorry.

Molly's sitting right next to me in another sock. She's beginning to get really annoyed by this sock, and I can't say that I blame her. It can't be fun stepping in puddles with a sock on either (which she did this afternoon).

And now for a little product placement. And product placement that helps the environment, woo hoo!

Ecoist makes fabulous handbags from recycled newspapers, magazines and wrappers. I love them because a) they're affordable, b) they're eco-friendly and c) they're perfect for going out - they have wristlets so you don't lose track of them and can hold the essentials (keys, ID, phone) perfectly. Here's one of my favorites:

They make ones with Luna Bar wrappers now too. How creative!

Okay, that's enough plugging for tonight.

And now, for yet another weird thing a guy said in bed (to someone else, not to me):

"One guy wanted me to 'lick his face like an ice cream cone.' I kid you not."

These little tidbits entertain me a great deal. I'm going to try to post one a day, or one per post. Hope you don't mind.

I pose a question to anyone that reads this...

What are some ways to attract a sweetheart on Valentine's Day?

It's for an article I'm writing, and any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Gracias!

Sex and Sandwiches

This post may not be entirely about that, but it caught your attention, didn't it? Besides, it's not completely irrelevant, as you'll see in a second.

My little Molly hurt her foot. She's bleeding, and well, who wants dog blood all over their house? Not the Dubrow fam. I took her to the vet, who gave her some meds. So, until the bleeding stops, Molly's even more human than she already was: she wears a sock.

That was my dad's. We just got her a baby one that fits her better. This picture doesn't really do it justice - a dog in a sock is a hilarious thing to see.

In other news, the job hunt continues. And it really is a hunt. I mean, no man is safe from anyone else's job. People are taking what they can get, and if they get it first...too bad. They're the better hunter.

Wow. Look at me and my stupid comparisons.

I'm perusing (okay - not perusing, reading) the new Glamour this afternoon and came across some weird stuff that guys have said in bed. My favorite:

"An ex once asked me to describe, during sex, the kind of sandwich I was going to make him afterward. Example: 'Salami and cheese on toasted bread, with mustard, peppers and onions."

People are so normal sometimes. Moving on...

I just updated this lovely little blog with some of my favorite blogs (on the right hand side). I encourage whoever reads mine to read theirs. They're a lot more interesting, I guarantee it. At least for now. Mwahaha.

I also listed stuff I'm loving on at the moment. Just for kicks and to see if it's fun to anyone besides myself, though I doubt it is. Hooray for experimenting in the least risky way possible?

Oh, and I finally finished the Twilight saga. Whoa. They ain't no Harry Potter, but they good. And the fact that Robert Pattinson and I share the exact same birthday (May 13, 1986) is kind of cool to me.

Don't tell anyone.

Resolutions, Solutions, Delusions

And now ladies and gentlemen, what you've all been waiting for. (Some of) Ali's New Year's resolutions (in no particular order)! Drum roll please...

• Stop cracking my knuckles
• Worry about things that matter
• Take Molly and Emma for more walks
• Write more
• Aspire to love and accept myself
• Work out/be an overall healthy person
• Call Grandma often
• Save, save, save!
• Get a (more) mature wardrobe
• Be productive when possible
• KIT with those that I love

Those seem pretty reasonable to me. Vee shall see.

As more and more time passes since I graduated from good old college, I become more aware of friendships; how, though it may suck, they take work to...well, work. Of course, there's an easy solution to this, and that's to put in the effort to make these bonds last. Personally, I am not a phone person by any means, but I've found myself sucking it up and picking up that phone to talk to the people I want to talk to. It's important. I used to be one of those people who would let time pass, thinking all the while that it would be just like old times when I got together with a friend. But the truth of the matter is, that's just not the case (at least in my opinion).

Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out so well, and friendships fade, drift apart or just plain end. People change, and if people can't change both separately yet together at the same time, then a problem presents itself. I'm not going to ring around the rosy here. I'm obviously going through a situation along these lines. And it's upsetting. And I can't help but wonder if I'm just delusional in thinking things will all be okay. I have a hard time letting things go, and this is no exception. Like my resolutions, I guess I'll just have to see.

By the way, thanks for reading my venting. It's much appreciated. Really.

A Fabulous Way To End '08

I have a new lover, and its name is San Francisco.

Happy New Year!

A better update is on its way.