Artist of the Week- AOTW

I love music. In an obsessive, spend all my money on it, hear a song anywhere and have to find it kind of way. I am the person that can listen to one song 100 times in a row and not get sick of it. I just am that obsessive. I am a very ADHD music listener and generally skip a song mid stream if it is mediocre. My absolute favorite feeling is when I find an album that I can listen to every song on it without skipping anything. That's a great moment. All this blabbering is the lead-in into this post.

I'm going to choose an artist of the week. Someone I love and could listen to their entire album without skipping a song. Their music will be featured on my play list and in my heart (sigh).

AOTW- Joshua Radin

If you know me at all you know that this guy snuck his way into my music liking and then took up residence. I love his deep scratchy voice and acoustical sound. He calms me down. I love his lyrics and feel many of his songs explain the craziness of my life.

I first fell in love with his song Winter when I heard it randomly one day. It stuck. Both his albums (We Were Here and Simple Times) are non-song-skipper albums. I love it. If you don't know his stuff, check it out. If nothing else listen to "I'd Rather Be With You." You won't regret it.

Things I hate....

It's officially becoming Thanksgiving time, a time to show our gratitude, to express appreciation, and really reflect on all the blessings we have. I hate to be Debby Downer but I don't really want to do that today. I'm not in a pissy mood and I haven't had a horrible day. It's actually been a great day and I'm feeling good about life, I just don't feel like spreading sunshine to everyone I see.

I love when people post about "things they hate," or "why they suck at life". I think it is empowering when someone outs all their inadequacies or quirks and then moves on. It's entertaining and makes me feel better about myself to read that other people have issues too.

So it's my turn. I just can't get enough of hating the following things....

1. My hair. I feel like a shaggy dog. It's too long, but not long enough. I have this horrible cowlick at my hair line. The hair there doesn't lay flat and it creates this 80's Flock of Seagulls look with my side swooper bangs that is super sexy. My roots are also grown out to my ears. It's gross.

2. I hate my dryer. It shrunk all my pants. Literally. 6 pairs of jeans and 6 pairs of dress pants. It's awful. It had to be the dryer because there is no way I'm gaining weight. The muffin top I've been sporting lately is all due to the dryer. I'm thinking about calling the appliance company. It's getting out of hand.

3. I hate making my bed. Fancy pillows, special bed spread. What was I think. It's so pretty when it's done but I hate feeling like I have to do it everyday.

4. I also am hating all the political talk right now. I'm ready for the election to be over. I know this election is very important and there is a lot to say about. However, every issue and side has been stated, hashed out, restated, mocked, stated differently, and so on. I'm just kind of done hearing about it.

5. I hate that food spoils so quickly when only one person is eating it. I'm trying to be healthy and not eat out. That's really difficult when a half gallon of milk goes bad before I can drink it. I have to put my loaf of expensive 10,000% whole wheat bread in the fridge so it doesn't mold. There's nothing I hate more than fridge bread. My raspberries get spots on them before I can eat the whole container. My apples go soggy. Yuck. If it isn't crisp I won't touch it. I swear I'm not even buying excessive amounts of these items but I just can't make it happen. I'm so annoyed.

6. I hate that my favorite shows (Prison Break specifically) were rescheduled or cancelled during the week because of The World Series. I understood when it was for Presidential campaigns but baseball. I'm just not okay with that. I know it's over so I should move on but I'm still bugged about it.

7. I hate that I still have one room in my new condo that is full of boxes. I have now purchased, assembled, and installed all the bookshelves, drawers, cupboards, and organizers needed to empty the boxes. Yet still they sit.

8. Parent Teacher Conferences.

9. I hate that I compulsively buy an item fully knowing I don't need it, want it, have money for it, or won't use it. I come home feeling like a fool and before it even comes out of the bag it goes by the door to return to the store. Such a waist of time and energy.

10. I hate that it looks like I live out of my car. I kind of do but I hate it still.

11. The whole Hannah Montana obsession. I really hate hearing how awesome/irresponsible/good role model/bad role model/smart/dumb she is all the time. Who cares? It's interesting that I hate this due to my love for High School Musical, Jonas Brothers, and all things cheesy. Plain and simple, Miley just doesn't rock my socks.

12. Scary movies. I hate them. They give me nightmares and make me nervous. I not only have low tolerance for scary movies I have pretty much no tolerance. Give me sunshine, butterflies, and rainbows. No blood, guts, and slasher tales. I've been under pressure lately to watch them and I'm so glad that Halloween is past and people will get over the scary movie desire.

That's it for now. That was fun. I feel free and lighter now. I'm for sure going to do this again.

Why don't you try it too? I challenge you!

Don't think of it as being pessimistic. Think of it as being realistic, getting your feelings out so that you don't snap later on. It's a good idea.

Let me know if you try it!

Hell Month

So in football there is a tradition called "hell week". The players participate in two practices a day. They are pushed hard by their coaches and a lot is expected of them. The point is for the players skills to improve and to unify the team.

I have decided to participate in NaBloPoMo. I will be posting once a day for the entire month of November. I like to think of this challenge as my own personal blogging "hell month".

I realize coming up with a post every day will be challenging however I see it as a great opportunity. I feel like I can definitely improve my skills and become a little bit better blogger. Besides, I feel like I have a ton to say lately. So it's time to make it rain!

***Side note: I liked this challenge anyway but with an abbreviated name like NaBloPoMo, how could I resist?

He doesn't exsist...

My friend, Brittney Cribbs Strebel, always used to say (insert sappy sweet voice here) "I want to marry a boy that is so so so so so so nice. He will think I hung the moon." This statement was always followed by a sarcastic Lindsi comment and some gaging noises. (Brittney loves me anyway.)

I have always really admired the true romantic in Brittney. I have also always told her that I completely disagree and would never want to marry someone so so so so so so nice because that makes him sound like a pansy boy. When she describes a man like that I picture a guy in an argyle sweater, bow tie, and a purse. It's just the way my mind works.

However, the older I get (I'm not old, I just reflect on things now) the more I realize I actually am looking for a nice guy. Not a so so so so so so nice guy, but a nice guy.

I, of course, also want him to be a funny, entertaining, slightly rebellious, sarcastic, edgy, exciting, wise, and an all around good guy*. Does he exist? Probably not.

So, moving on. I have admitted it before but I am a TV addict. Addicted.

There are a few shows/movies I watch in which I find myself saying,

"Yep, find me a man just like him and I'll marry him tomorrow."

Each of these TV personalities I'm drawn to holds multiple characteristics that I can't really resist. I have told several different people find me a man just like _____________ and I'll commit. So, if I could take any movie/TV character and marry him today these five are the winners. I am picky enough that there were only five really good candidates but they are all nice guys.

5. Sam Coulson- Never Been Kissed He's a teacher, so he's in the profession because he loves it and for the greater good (not $). He also dumps the hot girl for the slightly less attractive and most definitely awkward girl. I'm always cheering for the awkward girl, I don't know why. ;)

4. Michael Scoffield- Prison Break I know, I know. He broke into and out of prison, he tattooed his entire upper body, his friends are bad people, he has seen and done some not great things but....

He is so dang attractive. He's loyal, extremely intelligent (like genius style), practical, a problem-solver, and SO DANG ATTRACTIVE.

3. Pete Monash-Win a Date With Tad Hamilton He's quirky, small town goodness. He sings to his dog, talks about his vicious rhetoric, and reads Modern Grocer. He's got the sarcasm to match mine and well he really SO nice. He also fits into the short and skinny requirement I have established for myself.

2. Jim Halpert- The Office This wouldn't be a real list without Jim. He needs no explanation, we all know why he's here. He's earned his spot.

1. Chuck Bartowski- Chuck He is the one for me. So referring to my list of needed characteristics above* Chuck is not rebellious or edgy, however he fits the other six characteristics exactly. 6 and 2. Not a bad record. Chuck is the man of my dreams including the nerdiness, the curly hair, the complete adoration for the girl he loves, the smirk, the humility, the awkwardness. His only flaw... the video games. I don't do gamers.

If anyone knows a single man with strong similarities to any of these fictional characters let me know. I might just be aggressive and go for him (probably not though).

Lexie Courageous

From this day forward my name is Lexie Courageous. I will not be answering to any other name so don't even try it. My students will now call me Miss Courageous, all my friends can just call me Lex C.

Ridiculous you say.
Absurd.
Bizarre.

Well Beyonce... excuse me, "Sasha Fierce" can do it. So why can't I?

To find out what the heck I am talking about click here.

Now that I have officially announced my name change I already feel more sensual, aggressive, and glamorous. It's amazing.

Stubborn

I am stubborn. Very, very stubborn. It is really a very obnoxious thing about me and generally I annoy myself with how stubborn I am. However, it's not going to go away.

You know people that are so stubborn, if you tell them how to do something they will not do it that way. I'm one of those people. I not only don't do what they tell me to I usually do the exact opposite. I don't even really do it on purpose. It just happens. It must be built into the processing system of my brain. Someone will provide me with the simplest of advice and I just can't seem to take it. It is extremely annoying, it really is.

Here are a few examples of my stubbornness.

• My friends (Carly and Brittney) frequently tell me that I need to pluck my eyebrows. They are just trying to help a girl out and whenever they tell me this they are right. However, I usually wait about 3-4 days until I feel like it is no longer their idea and now my idea.I end up with eyebrows like this by the time I get around to plucking.

• Last week I asked a colleague for a recipe she had told me about. She went through and listed the ingredients to me. She then said, "You'll never be able to remember this, let me write it down." That was just the challenge I needed. I insisted I would remember every little ingredient and didn't need to write it down. I made the brownies... I also threw them away. I guess I didn't remember.
• My sister-in-law is a hair dresser. Last winter my hair was getting really long but it was also in need of a trim. One day Jac mentioned in passing that I really needed a trim. She let me know she was available to do it, all I had to do was set up a time. Well, I finally went in 4 months later and ended up chopping A LOT of my hair off because it was so damaged.

So in conclusion, I am a serious pain. This is not a good trait I hold and I am not proud of my silly actions. I usually come around, admit I'm wrong, and correct my actions. I am working on not being so stubborn but one word of advice. If you ever want me to do something just tell me the opposite of what you want and it will get done right the first time. :)

Freezing My Butt Off

This is how I feel right now...

I guess a 55 degree house is what you get when you leave for the weekend with the AC still on and then it snows. I'm still learning with this whole homeowner thing. It will come.

So Completely Random

I got tagged. I'm supposed to pick the fourth picture in the fourth folder of my picture files on my computer. Here it is..
This is Joe Crane and I catching up on our celebrity gossip. We wanted to get the inside scoop on Brittney while we chilled at a Hilton hotel pool. We were waiting to board our cruise ship for the Crane Family Cruise last February. I sure do love that Crane family!
I tag Emily, Kim, Tori, Lauren, Jackie, and Katie... Just do it.

You're So Vain...

I was looking for an old picture on my computer. As I went through pictures from the past 5+ years, I started to notice a theme. Which one is your favorite?

Happy First Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Bloggy Bloggerson! Happy Birthday to you!

It's been a year and the blog and I have had some great times. I kind of can't believe it's been a year and this post will be number 78. This started out as kind a trial and I feel it has been successful, to me at least. Let's take a look back at the past year. I remember when...

I got my very first comment from the one and only Kim Crane. That was the moment I realized the high that comes with creating comment worthy posts. My personal favorite posts were Miss Sullivan's Class Says the Darndest Things, one and two, which became a huge success (the kids are creating installment 3 now.) There was that month where Kim went to Europe and I didn't know if I would make it through. It's good she came home. My First Love was the first time I really opened up with my emotions on the blog. It was a good moment. The Sullivan Family Popularity Contest didn't go as planned, but it made for some good friendly competition. The Quest for Sleep came and thankfully went. I had great support from the readers during the quest, you genuinely cared. I set a personal record on guitar hero and felt proud. There was my graceful moment with the Cruise, the scooter crash, and the antibiotics. You endured endless TV posts including Survivor (that really happened, it wasn't a bad dream you had), American Idol, SYTYCD, and The Office. My drinking addiction was referred to frequently and I was never judged (or rarely) for it. We traveled to many states and countries including the Ugandan Adventures. I was consistent and inconsistent with the frequency and timing. I think that kept things interesting. I had a few loyal followers in that past year. I looked through the past comments and decided to see who my most loyal follower were/are. They include the following peeps... Kim, Emily, Carly, Hannah, Laney are the frequent commenters. Their is one person who commented 40 times (I really did count) on my blog and I now know supports me in all my endeavors. That person is... Emily Russon! Congratulations! You win a prize! (You really don't, it just sounded good.)

So overall, it has been a busy year in the blogospheare but a successful one at that. Thanks for all the sharing and caring this year! It's been a good one.