New Dawn Nashville

Mornings I Wish I Lived Alone

2008-08-06T16:52:43Z

Woke up this morning. Walked out of my room. Said a cheery " Good morning!" to my roommate who just got back from a trip. His response was " Well it's certainly a good thing I won't be cleaning up the patio after you."

What?

To which I respond? " You know, roomie, you can ask me to do something without being an asshole. Here I'll show you how to do it. 'Good Morning, Vandy. When you get a chance can you clean up the back patio? Looks like you had a good time last night'."

Not to mention thanking me for getting the lawn mowed, feeding his fish and birds, watering his plants while he was gone.
Instead he chose to instantly piss me off. Most days we get along really well, but sometimes he turns his anger and bitterness on me simply because I'm around. Not cool.

So, I'm usually Mary Sunshine in the morning, but if you want to throw down, I'll throw down. My response to my roomie's bitchfest. "I'll clean it up, in fact it was the first thing I was planning on doing this morning. You don't have to be an asshole about it. Look dude, It's not my fault you aren't getting laid. "

I Love Paris

2008-08-06T07:55:24Z

OK, seriously, this is the best thing Paris Hilton has ever done.

I Just Threw Up A little Bit In My Mouth

2008-08-02T22:36:42Z

Apparently John Rich, of Nashville country duo Big& Rich ( a modern country duo I actually like) wrote a song for ~~CryptKeeper~~ Senator John McCain, entitled " Raising McCain" .

These are the moments it's tough to defend my town.

Silver and Gold

2008-08-02T20:00:29Z

Today I am reminded of my favorite girl scout song:

Make new friends
But keep the old
One is silver, and the other's gold.

These days I'm looking for silver. I love the friends I have but unfortunately all of them are now in long term committed relationships. They've settled down, and quite frankly, most of the time are too busy with trips to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to hang out with their sad, single friend . I'd fit in better if I had a partner, too.
Oh, I sound bitter.
I'm not. It's part of life, people move on and move into different phases of their lives.
That's natural.
I just need to meet some new people. I need some new friends so I can stop going out by myself all the time. Who knows maybe I'll learn something new.

The Rev. Wright You're Not Helping Awards

2008-08-01T19:39:41Z

I am starting a weekly post called the "The Reverend Jeremiah Wright You Are Not Helping!" Award.

This week's award goes to The Idiot Brother Heckling Obama in Florida.

Brother! YOU ARE NOT HELPING!!!!

I love how Barack handled it, he got all gangsta on the fool's ass!

Race Card? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Race Cards

2008-08-01T19:28:34Z

Well it's finally happened...The John McCain campaign has gone dirty. John Mccain's all for it! So much for the maverick, and the different kind of campaign. After Obama did so well in Europe, McCain said " Well, ok, the only way I can beat him is by destroying his character. I don't have anything myself." I wonder if he was smoking a cigarette lit by Satan when he decided to sell his soul.

Let's see he's called Obama, unpatriotic and a traitor even.

He's compared him to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

Seriously. I'm not making this up. I'm not embellishing. I don't need to, he's actually doing things this horrible. Honestly I didn't think he'd go so negative this early. I mean where can he go from here? I guess he could come out with an ad claiming Obama will rape and impregnate all white daughters in America. That could be lower.

Now McCain is accusing Obama of playing the race card. Apparently Obama mentioning that he's different and that people might use it against him is off limits. Preparing people against false attacks using the race card?
I'm incredulous. But hey, negative attacks work right?

Well, ok, since McCain is going there. I say, let's go there too. I want Obama to feature ads highlighting McCain's age, his confusion, his lack of intellectual vigor .( Like creating an Iraq and Pakistan border when none exists) His unpatriotic votes against the troops. ( He voted against the new GI Bill, because hey? who wants soldiers getting educated. We need them to run Iraq for the next 100 years.

Attack! Attack! Attack!

Also since Obama is such a celebrity in McCain's eyes, he should keep it up by meeting more people, having events in major cities across the country leading all the way to the convention in Denver. What about a surprise trip to support US Olympians? I say go with it. Americans love celebrities.

Speaking of that, how about a picture of Obama with Brad and Angelina's twins???

What's Your Fantasy???

2008-07-31T13:10:46Z

I have dcecided that Ludacris's "What's Your Fantasy" is the best song about sex. It's sheer encyclopedic categorization of sexual adventures, combined with it's throbbing beat that makes you want to shake that ass, make it the best song about fornication ever created.

Let's be clear, Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" and " Sexual Healing" are about making love, Luda is talking about something totally different.

Speaking of shaking that ass...
Who's coming with me to Funky Good Time at Cabana tonight?

Breaking news: Just got a paper back with a completely undeserved low grade. I'm all for accepting bad grades when I deserve them, but this particular time it is complete and utter bullshit. I hit every mark of the diagnosis, and he insists I was being too general.
Ah well, fuck it.

My Gut has Shit for Brains

2008-07-30T19:14:42Z

I'm grumpy today. I was probably mislead last night by someone I thought was always honest with me. Grrrrrrrr.
Honestly I can't worry about that right now.
I've got a paper to write and a final exam to study for, I'm really looking forward to a break from school. I need a break from Nashville.

Completely unrelated note: Seriously, who wants to work for Diddy? He's an insane megalomaniac. I'm going to run my own shit, not be his bitch.

Obama's World Tour!!!!

2008-07-25T19:31:15Z

In case you've been under a rock for the past week, let me inform you Obama has been on a World Tour. All the cool kids went with him!!!
Can we be honest? Have you seen the pictures? Well, do you want that America? To be loved and adored.
Can you even imagine John McCain causing that kind of excitement and hope around the world? Gramps wouldn't even have the energy to keep up.
This was my first and best reason for supporting Barack Obama's for President. He is the most likely to restore our image around the world. If we are going to solve our really large problems, energy, fighting terrorism, creating more favorable trade agreements; we need the world's help or at least not open hostility.

Enough said.

Has this ever happened to you?

2008-07-24T22:16:14Z

So I;m coming home from downtown. I'm waiting for the bus back to my side of town. A young man in a suit and tie carrying papers approaches me. I assume he wants to talk politics, and I'm all for that when I've got a second which I did at that moment.
The man says in a friendly, professional manner. " Hi, I'm John." I respond " Vandy." He says " Do you have a moment to talk?" I say " Sure." " He then says " I have a business proposition for you."
I think " Oh no. What is this Amway? Some pyramid scheme?" Then he says ......

Are you ready for this???

No, seriously, sit down.

" Have you ever considered a career making adult films?"

I was shocked. Seriously? I was getting scouted for porn on the street? In my jeans and t-shirt? With my messenger bag and ipod?

Does this happen to other people?

Of course I said " Stop talking. I'm not interested. Walk away." In all honesty the guy was respectful, but WTF? Is he going around looking for working class girls hard up for money? Did my college student look scream "will strip for tuition money?"

Life is wild.

Who Says 27 is Too Young for a Facelift? I Do!!!

2008-07-22T06:16:17Z

I was at one of my local watering holes earlier this evening. The call of nature came and I went to the ladies room while I was peeing I gazed at the sign on the back of the door. I almost fell in the toilet when I read

" Who says 27 is too young for a facelift? Dr. Jackass Plastic Surgeon."

Are...you...fucking...kidding...me???

What the hell is there to lift when you are in your twenties? Unless you lived on the surface of the sun?
Maybe there are more women out there who want to look like this:

Certainly this "Doctor" is making money off of women and men with body dysmorphic disorder. Personally, I think plastic surgeons such as Dr. Jackass should be barred from the practice.
Plastic surgery can help people improve or enhance, but to suggest that women in their mid twenties might need wrinkle reducing procedures borders on malpractice in my opinion.   I am continually amazed at how much money is made in our country profiting on self hatred.

Procrastination thy name is Vandygoddess

2008-07-17T04:25:42Z

Uggh, it's test night which means I can't sleep. I was never like this as an undergrad. I was supremely confident. Now I'm basically a nervous wreck. I'm not even trying to sleep. I actually dream my subject matter. I took a nap and I was dreaming about various diagnosis. Running through numbers in my head.
I'm going to have to totally let it go after the exam.

Can Studying Anxiety Actually Lead to Anxiety?

2008-07-16T21:34:15Z

I have a test, a huge freaking test. I have not and will not be able to prepare for it as well as I would like. For one, I don't have the textbook which has been as difficult for me to find as the Holy Grail. I am working with an online version of the DSM IV, which is oddly not as easy to use as the book version. I have to do well in this class. For one thing, I love it. For another, I am an overachiever and I don't like to produce anything less than my best in things I truly care about.
I really enjoy my professor but he's scary. He has a reputation for being a hardcore test creator with no mercy. I have been second guessing every diagnosis I've made, I'm developing Generalized Anxiety Disorder by studying Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

I'm just stressed out in general. I'm just working and working and working. I understand that this is just a necessary evil at this moment in my life, still I hate feeling like I'm just treading water.
I'm going to take a study break for So You Think You Can Dance.
I really wish I could afford to take ballroom dance classes again. Dancing really brings me a lot of joy and peace. I could sure use some joy and peace right now.

Take Me As I Am

2008-07-16T07:55:39Z

The internet has been on a war against my self esteem:
Every banner ad I get is:
30? Single? Still looking?
Lane Bryant Sizes 14- 3000 , 50% off!
Why Does A Guy Get Physical? Then Pull Away?
Lose Weight With Hoodia?
10 bad Dating Habits that drive men away?

Ahhhhhhh!!!!! Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!!!
As if it's not hard enough being on my own, trying to pay my bills, going to grad school, working a night job.

Ugggh. I am who I am , I wear a size 10 or 12. I am single. I am 28 years old.

I actually think I'm a pretty interesting, good, fairly attractive person.

If I am the only one that thinks that than so fucking be it. All the love I have to give, I'll just give it to myself

You Are Not Helping-Part 4

2008-07-14T19:36:19Z

I feel like Jon Stweart today, and since he's on vacation, I will happily do his work for him.
The New Yorker magazine used this as a cover for their latest edition:

Ugggh. The New Yorker, of course, says that it was meant to be satire. A comment on the " Politics of Fear" . Riiiiigggghhhhhht. Doesn't the New Yorker realize that not everyone is a New Yorker? Oh, wait. It' the New Yorker. Unfortunately, their little inside joke looks like a blatant perpetuation of every bad rumor and innuendo about the Obamas ever made in one perfect image. If you have to explain your joke, it didn't work. Someone call Stephen Colbert so he can tell them how it's done. You better believe the "New Yorker" words will be photoshopped out of this image and added to GOP mailers and smear e-mails that your grandma will open.
12% of Americans think Obama is a practicing Muslim, that's up 4% since his nomination. This just adds fuel to the fire of misinformation.
Before any of the first amendment bunnies get on my case, they have every right to publish anything they want, STILL you're NOT HELPING!!!
In my mind there is too much at stake in this election, if the left is going to win back the White House poorly thought out antics like this are going to have to stop.

Semi-Irrational Patriotism

2008-07-11T17:59:00Z

Well it looks like InBev raised it's offer for Anhueser- Busch. InBev is a Belgian beer company, Anheuser-Busch brings us Budweiser and many, many other beers.

I've got to tell you I don't want Budweiser to be owned by a foreign conglomerate. I just don't. Budweiser! think of the Bud Bowl, the bud frogs (Bud! Wei! Ser!) It says on the damn bottle " American Lager".
Damn it, it's like selling the Statue of Liberty, or Apple Pie! Cheeseburgers! Some things should just not be for sale to foreign investors. I mean sometimes I feel Americans are willing to sell away anything. Yes, anything. I mean besides beer and (now shitty) cars, what do we still make?
The quintessentially American beer should not be sold. It just feels wrong.
If it gets sold, I swear I will only drink Yuengling, and Microbrews. I'll even give up Stella Artois. Sad, but I'll do it.
And yes, most Americans won't even pay attention when it happens and like sheep to the slaughter we go pushing our country's economy further and further into ruin. Seriously, am I the only one that feels like we are heading for third world status?

Sign of the Times

2008-07-10T21:38:42Z

Today I took the bus home from school.
I hadn't done it for awhile, because, well I'm a bit of a princess and I like taking taxis. I picked up the 3:30 bus from campus to downtown, and then the 12 south bus to my house. Both of the buses were filled to the brim , and the main bus concourse downtown was swarming with people. I saw a lot more executives and students than I did a year ago. Along with the working class folk that typically take the bus.
This is despite the fare rate raises from 1.25 to 1.60 a ride.
This is just a personal anecdote, but I think it's a great real life example of how high gas prices are really changing people's habits. Even in Tennessee! I remember being amazed by how much and how far Tennesseeans would drive on a daily basis. But the changes in this economy are making long commutes costly and unmanageable in big gas guzzling trucks and SUVs. I've seen more and more small cars on the roads, and people are staying closer to home. Sales of homes in town are solid, if not stellar, while houses are going vacant or staying for sale longer in the suburbs.

In short, the city life is winning the lifestyle war. Makes me wonder what the typical middle class life will look like in twenty years.

Mopping My Way to Dr. Vandygoddess

2008-07-08T19:16:18Z

This picture sums up my life at the moment

You see when I see this photo, I think " She's going to finish this mopping, put it away,put on a sexy skirt and go to the club". My life has always been about this dichotomy between hard work and something better just out of reach. I love that she's doing something ordinary but making it glam.
I've been in school for what seems like for, fucking, ever. I've literally mopped my way through most of it. Cleaning floors at Starbucks and bars through all of college and grad school. I hate mopping but when you don't come from money that's just what you've got to do ( the myth of stripping for tuition is exactly that, a myth) but damn I can't wait until I can put that mop away for the last time, put my sexy skirt on and join the Dr.'s club.

Why Does This Worry Me?

2008-07-07T18:22:02Z

I just got this in my inbox:

At the Democratic National Convention next month, we're going to kick off the general election with an event that opens up the political process the same way we've opened it up throughout this campaign.

Barack has made it clear that this is your convention, not his.

On Thursday, August 28th, he's scheduled to formally accept the Democratic nomination in a speech at the convention hall in front of the assembled delegates.

Instead, Barack will leave the convention hall and join more than 75,000 people for a huge, free, open-air event where he will deliver his acceptance speech to the American people.

This is sooo not PC, and I am a huge supporter, but I don't know, I opened this and I just had a sense of foreboding.

How I Helped Nadal Win Wimbeldon

2008-07-06T23:54:20Z

Tennis is a great sport. Player versus player. Win and lose by your own actions. Tennis players can't blame the offensive line or corrupt officials. Nope, you're out there on your own.
I figured I was going to miss the final match of Wimbeldon today between Roger Federer and Raphael Nadal because it came on at eight am, that's my prime sleeping time. So I was pleasantly surprised when I went into the gym today to find the match was still going on, and I had turned it to watch the final set.
Personally, I've always routed for Nadal. He's the underdog. He doesn't have tons of ad campaigns. He continually chasing after Federer the big wins ( except for the French Open) always just out of reach. People accusing him of really only being great on one surface.
The gym was empty. I got on the elliptical, cranked up the intensity, and said aloud " OK, Raffe, I'm with you. You can win. I'm not going to stop running until you win. "
I didn't stop, and neither did Raffe, it was incredibly inspiring. He won! When he won the championship point, and fell to the ground, I let out a shout of joy!
One because I had just witnessed one of the best tennis matches of all time. More importantly for me, I've been feeling a bit cynical lately, not my usual hopeful, driven, optimistic self. I'm sure Nadal has felt like that some time too. Like maybe he would never beat Federer at Wimbeldon. He'd always be second best, never have his moment of glory. But Nadal didn't give up, and today on my extra long, extra hard jog neither did I.
Today Raphael Nadal won the Wimbeldon championship, and I won a big piece of myself back.

Happy Birthday, America!

2008-07-05T18:31:58Z

Yesterday was the fourth of July. Fireworks! We're still independent. I'm just like America. But a little younger.

Flotsam

2008-07-02T21:18:21Z

So umm yeah totally random collection of thoughts:

1. Sometimes I try to be sexy and fail miserably. This can happen many ways. I wear sexy high heels then fall and twist my ankle. I try to caress with my nose only to have a booger fall out. I send sexy text messages late at night for someone to read in the morning and end up waking them up instead. I wear lace panties only to get them caught in the door and rip a giant hole in them. If it weren't for people that find awkwardness cute I'd be completely out of luck.

2. I can't resist Hot Pockets. I love them! Every variety. I try to keep them out of the house, but my roommates keep buying them and I can't resist. I'm eating one right now.

3. I had two weird dreams the first involved me being lost with some dude in Nashville. We were lost and then I found Bell Rd. and wasn't lost anymore. I wonder what the significance of Bell Rd. in Nashville is for me?
The second was clearly an anxiety dream as I had to retake every statistics class I've ever taken. Now that is a nightmare.

4. I hear there is still a campaign for President but I haven't been paying much attention, apparently neither have they, since no one bothered talking about this fun bit of news today.

Overstimulated

2008-07-01T18:05:52Z

First off. Shout out to thespos for being awesome!

Onto today's post.

I need remarkably little time to myself. I am pretty much the definition of a people person. I can even handle people I don't like for a fairly long amount of time. Still there are times when I just want to be alone.
I need time to soak in my bath tub with fragrant bubble bath. I need time to read. I need time to hear myself think. I won't answer the phone or my e-mail. It's nothing personal, I just need a break.

But before I go, let's talk Obama.

I am concerned about his move to the center. He's been pulling a Hillary lately, talking death penalty, guns, courting evangelicals. I can almost see the triangulation with each new story or statement. He didn't get the nomination by compromising his principles. He got the nomination by bring new people to the process and speaking in an honest manner that connects them to a movement. I don't think backing away from this winning strategy now that the general election approaches is the right move. It's the perfectly wrong move. He needs to stick to his core beliefs and convince voters that he should be the next President of the United States.

Lunch Time Demons

2008-06-26T21:03:21Z

The cafeteria is a mildly stress inducing place for me. There are lots of people and lots of food, luckily the cafeteria at Trevecca usually leaves much to be desired so I'm not worried about overeating. Still, I try to make sure I make at least semi healthy choices and don't over fill my plate.
One of my buddies in the class went to go get ice cream, which of course looked delicious, I said so. He asked me why I wasn't getting any, and I responded that I was trying really hard to lose weight and that meant foregoing ice cream. He was incredulous. " Why are you trying to lose weight??!" He looked genuinely perplexed. I gave him my usual speech about wellness, but before I did the truth slipped out
" Because I have to, because my body isn't perfect, and I'm aiming for perfection in all things in my life"

He asked me if I had any health problems that would require me losing weight and I said " No, I'm in pretty much perfect health at the moment."
" So what are you worried about?" he asked.
I talked about my family and health, but the truth is not nearly so noble. The truth is I want to be hot. I want to be sexy. I want people to think I look good. I want the attention. In short, I'm vain. And there is this tiny, niggling voice that tells me if I'm not, if I'm overweight, if I'm not pretty and smart and perfect well, then I'm failing.
And failure is my biggest fear. Failure is not an option.

I'm going to work on my motivations, because I'm not perfect, no one is and I can't beat myself up for not reaching an impossible goal. Honestly, most days I'm doing a pretty good job. I need to be kinder to myself.

You're So Nashville If...

2008-06-26T08:21:05Z

If you get home from a night out and the next door neighbors are having an amazing party with half the people playing instruments on the porch AND those people happen to be Music Row session players.
What a pleasant surprise and a great way to end an evening. Sometimes when you're thinking life is shitty fate steps in and gives you a wonderful moment to lift your spirits.