The Things to Know

Men and women at times seem to be two entirely different species. Or at least that is what we tend to (jokingly) believe. Many times women will say that men just “do not understand” them, and many men agree with this statement. So what is there to understand?

The first thing men should know about women is that we can be sensitive. Now, this does not mean we cry all the time or are overemotional. It simply means that sometimes we take what others have to say to heart and believe it or not, it may “hurt our feelings.” For example, a man may jokingly call a woman fat or chubby or make some sort of small, backhand remark about her weight. Though she may only weigh 130 pounds and know for a fact that she is not overweight, she may suddenly start thinking that she needs to lose a few pounds. With that said, we also think far too much — we are over-analytical. A man can say one thing and not mean any harm by it, but a woman will take it to mean so much more than what was really said. On the other hand, a man can make a vague remark and a woman will turn it into about a thousand different things with all sorts of meanings.  However, with these two last things being said . . . we want to know the truth (at least when it comes to important matters). We much rather a man just tell us the complete truth and be upfront about things than lying about them or sugarcoating it in order to avoid hurting us emotionally.

Yet another thing that men should know about women is that nodding, smiling and saying “yeah” and “okay” are not considered listening or even part of holding a conversation. Do it more than once or twice in a single conversation and we are sure to get frustrated. We know that you really do not care about the “most gorgeous and perfect pair of stilettos that have ever existed” or about the latest gossip but try to play along for a little bit.

Also, women love compliments . . . but in moderation. We do not necessarily want nor need to be complimented all day, every day, but it is nice to hear a good compliment at least once a day. Moreover, we much rather be called beautiful, stunning, or gorgeous than hot, cute or sexy. Make a compliment regarding our intelligence (when the time calls for it) and you can guarantee a hint of a smile. Another thing, women hate being told they are wrong just as much as men hate it; therefore, do not do it. If need be, tell us we are right even if we are actually wrong (we know when we’re wrong).

Last but certainly not least, women want and need affection. The simplest things make us the happiest in this department. Though we may not say anything, we love the fact that a guy is willing to walk around holding our hand in public. It says to us that he does not care who sees him right now because he’s confident and not at all ashamed to be with the person who he is temporary connected to. Also, random hugs and unexpected moments of affection (whether it be an “I love you” or a bouquet of roses “just because”) are greatly appreciated by women and give us that “Aww” moment.

The Proposal

No, no, not the movie. Although, I must admit the Ryan Reynolds/Sandra Bullock match-up was quite enjoyable. I’ve noticed lately that love is definitely in the air. I’m not exactly sure why though. Perhaps the lovely spring weather just has that effect on people. Who knows! But I swear it’s almost as if everyone that I went to high school and graduated with is either getting engaged, getting close to a marriage date, or have already tied the knot. And for the record, I graduated a mere four years ago.

Yes, I know it’s perfectly normal for people in their twenties to do this, but it just seems like everyone is getting married! Either that or having children, and in some cases all of the above. Of course, people fall in love and sometimes it happens insanely fast, but is that really the case here? Is everyone just falling head over heels in love with each other?

The Ring Heard ‘Round the World

Gaga ooh-la-la!

Anyone with a pulse has at least heard that Lady Gaga has recently released a new music video. You thought ‘Bad Romance’ was great/weird/awesome/badass/horrible? Just wait until you see ‘Telephone.’

Lady Gaga meant it when she said, “Pop music will never be low-brow.”  At least, not if she has anything to do with it.

The video is a continuation of  ’Paparazzi’ in which Gaga poisons and kills her boyfriend and is sent to jail. However, Beyonce comes to the Lady’s rescue and bails her out (that’s what friends are for, right?) stating that she’s been “a very bad girl.”

Enough of the chit-chat. Get ready for over nine minutes of lipstick, super high-heels, fishnets, extraordinary fashion and an always pantsless Gaga dancing her ass off.

If anyone attempts to interrupt you as you watch “Telephone” ft. Beyonce, just tell them you’re k-kinda busy.

The Farmer

You have a Facebook account, correct? Of course you do. And even if you don’t, I’m sure you have heard of the ever-so infamous Farmville. It is a virtual farm where you can grow and harvest crops, raise animals like cows, chickens, pigs, etc. and have an endless supply of neighbors who you can send gifts to and fertilize their crops in hopes that they return the favor. Everyone has at least that one friend who is constantly spamming your News Feed with Farmville madness — everything from lost, lonely bulls to mystery eggs and a desperate plea for someone to fertilize their crops . . . I am that friend. I love Farmville and many of my friends do, too. However, there are those who just do not see the point. Now, I must agree that Farmville is totally pointless and it’s only played to pass some time while being half-entertained. Many have said to me, “Why do this? You know it’s not real, right?” Of course I know it’s not real, but goodness, let me have my fun. Farmville is a mere game and nothing more. It will not solve world hunger nor earn you hundreds of thousands of real gold coins. Although, it definitely has me thinking . . . perhaps I would like to own a real farm one day.

Now, I fully and completely understand that having a real farm is far more labor and time intensive than the point-and-click stuff online. I mean, seriously, you can’t just let your cows stand around for days on end waiting to be milked — works on Farmville, not in reality. And there are no neighbors stopping by your farm daily to lend a helping hand if your crops need fertilizing. Owning and operating a real farm takes time, compassionate, and let’s face it: money.

I live off a five-mile road and along that stretch of road is about six farms. Most of them fairly small, but one does appear to have at least a hundred cows. I’m so tempted to pull over one day when I see the cows out near the fence and go eagerly pet them. I’ve even thought about contacting some neighbors who are close to my house to simply ask them if I could ever help out with their animals (perhaps I’ll actually do that since the weather is improving). You see, I love and adore animals with every fiber of my being. Whenever I see one I automatically get slapped in the face with happiness and glee and on occasion, I giggle like a little girl . . . I’m weird, I know.

It makes me sick to my stomach when I read stories about how some people mistreat their animals. Why put all that money, time and effort into having a farm if you’re simple going to use and abuse your animals? There are better ways to make money if that’s all you’re interested in.

Cows are my favorite animals and I’ve never even been up close and personal with one. Although, one day I hope to be able to purchase maybe about 10 acres of land and just own a handful of dairy cows and perhaps some other small animals. It may never happen and well, that’s alright, but it’s definitely something to consider. For now, I’ll have to stick with Farmville.

Here are some interesting links for you to check out:
How to Start a Dairy Farm
Information about Buying Dairy Cows
How to Start a Cattle Ranch

The Chef

It being Spring Break and all, I haven’t quite been taking the time to eat as properly as I should. Honestly, I’ve been living off jellybeans, M&Ms and coffee. The only real thing I ate yesterday was a delicious soy burger for lunch.

When I woke up this morning, I got my coffee and M&Ms and started about my random madness that I’ve been doing. However, I began to feel a wee bit . . . bleh, so I decided it’d be a good idea to actually eat something. After poking around my kitchen for a few minutes I decided to make soy tacos. Mmm, delicious soy tacos — you have to love them! They’re super easy to make, too.

Heat up a skillet with either a little bit of oil, butter or non-stick spray in it. Then throw in your choice of meatless “beef” crumbles and add anything you want. Personally, I add chunky salsa and taco seasoning. Once the mixture is heated through, shred up some lettuce, dice a tomato and put everything in either a hard or soft-shelled taco. Top it off with your favorite cheese, or soy cheese if you’re vegan.

It’s a quick and easy meal, and you don’t have to be vegetarian to enjoy these healthy tacos.  Here’s a link to a taco recipe using my favorite, Morningstar Farms Soy Crumbles: Morningstar Taco Recipe

The Nature Freak

Some of the best things in life are simple, free and yet so exhilarating. Have you ever looked out your window in the morning or in the evening to notice the sunrise/sunset? Or have you noticed how the sky lights up after a thunderstorm? Or perhaps you’ve gone for a Sunday drive in the spring or fall and saw how beautiful the leaves of trees looked. Such sights have the power to render us speechless sometimes. Personally, I get so excited over these things. Nature is absolutely gorgeous and it’s necessary to remember that. We are all so busy sometimes that we fail to notice the most simple and beautiful things of life. Here are some photos that I took today after the storm passed. Enjoy.

Backyard Sunset

Cloudy sky in my backyard

Front Yard/Across the Street

Rainbow after a thunderstorm

The Life Change

Having many Southern influences in my life, I never questioned certain principles or common practices. I always assumed things were the way they are just because that is how they always have been. No need to alter tradition, right? However, after I turned 18 I began to think slightly outside the proverbial box. Little did I know that my contemplation would lead me to make a decision that would affect my life from that point on.

It all began when my best friend (at the time) decided to become a vegetarian and then slowly transition to a vegan diet. I remember I stared at her with a profoundly dumb look on my face. I did not fully understand. No meat whatsoever? Moreover, veganism means no animal products at all; no meat, no dairy items, nor any wool, leather or silk articles of clothing. I illogically believed she was the only one in the  state of North Carolina who had considered doing such a thing. Southerners are known for having first-class cooking, most of which contains some variety of meat. At the time, I could not imagine missing out on spicy hot wings drenched in thick ranch salad dressing, crispy, deep-fried catfish, or the North Carolinian favorite: pork barbecue. Regardless, I supported her. Week after week passed and she firmly stood her ground. Impressive. We frequently went out for lunch and while I always ate a cheeseburger and fries, she contently consumed a crunchy garden salad with bright, fresh vegetables and a steaming hot bowl of broccoli and cheese soup. It perplexed me. Not to mention, I always felt somewhat ashamed to be eating a non-vegetarian meal alongside a newly die-hard vegetarian. But where was this feeling of “shame” coming from?

I finally decided to take matters in my own hands and attempted to see what the big deal was all about. Initially, I possessed no interest in why my friend chose to stop eating meat; the decision was hers. However, I eventually grew more curious and began to research the topic at length. A simple search on Google yielded over three million results. Needless to say, the amount of information overwhelmed me. As a result, my friend suggested the website of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Within minutes my way of thinking broadened as I read through all the data, statistics and common misconceptions concerning vegetarianism and veganism. I learned that I did not need meat products for survival or for good health. In fact, a meatless diet could help lower the risks of certain cancers, hear disease and obesity. Plus, one vegetarian saves, on average, 100 animal lives per year. Overall, it appeared as a good idea. I came across a list of videos PETA offered on their site for viewing. “Meet Your Meat” sounded interesting enough; therefore, I clicked play.

It began:

“What you are about to see is beyond your worst nightmares . . . once you see for yourself the routine cruelty involved in raising animals for food, you’ll understand why millions of compassionate people have decided to leave meat off their plates for good.”

I nervously cleared my throat, sat back in my chair and awaited the unknown. A mere two minutes, I witnessed hundred, if not thousands, of chickens being hung upside down and snapped into shackles by their legs. With feathers of wings furiously flapping away, the chickens had their throats slit. Some remained conscious when they were dipped into a tank of scalding hot water for feather removal. I was shaken, to say the least. The documentary continued. I never knew pigs could scream until I watched what cold, heartless factory workers did to them. Newborn pigs had their ears mutilated, the tips of their teeth filed down, their tails chopped off and underwent castration . . . all without the presence of painkillers. They squirmed and squealed in agony before my eyes. Did you know that if an adult pig has not grown quick enough or to substantial size, they are murdered by being picked up and slammed repeatedly against a concrete floor? At the slaughterhouse, after being electrically prodded,  I watched as pigs suffered the same fate as chickens. The horror went on. I stared in shocked as a slaughterhouse worker swiftly ripped through a squirming cow’s throat with an elongated knife. I gasped in shock. His effort did not produce the effect he wanted so he slashed through the animal’s flesh again. I followed with another gasp. Immediately, coagulated blood gurgled out of the animal like spoiled milk. Rushing out of the laceration, over the conscious cow’s face, blood splashed onto the floor and walls. It looked like something out of a horror movie. My stomach turned. Finally, the movie ended with clips of free-range animals enjoying their lives outside and as I watched eight piglets chase each other happily around an open field, I knew my mind was made up. After a traumatizing 13 minutes, I decided  to never eat meat again. I vowed to not support the  suffering and distress of animals.

Three and half years ago, “Meet Your Meat” changed my life. I learned that I have to sometimes question things and not always “go with the flow.” It’s completely fine to be different and have your own opinions and views that differ from the norm. Those 13 minutes changed my outlook on society, culture, and how we treat those around us.  To this day, I still get outbursts of “WHAT?! WHY?!” when I state that I’m a vegetarian. I still get teased about it by some of my friends and family. And now living in Georgia, I’m still the odd one out.  But that’s completely fine with me because I’m happy with that life-changing choice I made. Vegetarianism is not just a diet or a fad, it is a way of life and thinking.

For more information on vegetarianism, check out the following sites:
PETA
GoVeg.Com: Vegetarian and Vegan Information>
Meet Your Meat Video

The Homebody

It’s about that time again, kiddos. Ah, yes the wonderful breeze is settling in and the trees are blooming. Kids are out playing in their yards, and we’re all breaking out our favorite short-sleeved shirts and enjoying the weather as it warms up. Spring is in the air! However, if you happen to be a college student, you’re probably shouting, “Spring break is here!” instead.

It’s true. March is already here and with March comes thousands, if not millions of happy college students excited for a little break from the (at times) monotonous college life.

So where’s the party at? Anywhere BUT your hometown, I’m sure. Unlike many of my peers, I will not be getting on the first flight out of here tomorrow morning. You can party it up all you want in Cancun, Acapulco, Key West, oh and let’s not forget: Panama City, but I will not be participating in any of the “normal” spring break activities. One may ask, “Well, why not? Don’t you need a break, too?” Well, of course I do! But I don’t feel the need to waste hundreds of dollars to go someplace with thousands of people that I do not know and drink until my liver cries bloody murder. I mean, if you’re into that, then . . . well, that’s . . . cool. I guess. Also, have fun flashing the creepy guy who just slipped something in your drink.

As for me, I’ll be sitting at home doing absolutely nothing. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have a fascinating life. Honestly, this is precisely what I need. I’m always so busy and I go and go and go. I hardly ever have a chance to just chill and be completely stress free. This is my third college Spring Break and hopefully, it’ll be the less stressful one. I don’t have any homework that needs to get done over break and there’s no impending doom that I’m dreading.  It’s going to be a completely relaxing (yet boring) break, and that’s fine by me.

So while you’re off unknowingly re-enacting scenes out “The Hangover”, I’ll be here in my small town of 5,000 sitting in my PJs sipping hot chocolate and enjoying the beautiful days to come.

The Copycat

Why hello there, world!

‘Tis my very first blog ever. How exciting. Okay, perhaps not really. Honestly, I’ve always wanted to try my hand (ha, no pun intended) at blogging, but until tonight I never did. I decided to do so now because . . . well, why the hell not, right? Everyone is doing it (or so it seems). I wouldn’t be surprised to find a blog or two of my great-grandmother . . . may she rest in peace. A good friend of mine is a fabulous blogger. I never fail to smirk or giggle at some of the things she says. My boyfriend has even started a blog and he used to be a crappy writer!  I love the guy though and I must admit, he has turned into a pretty decent writer.

So with all this said and done, we have blog post numero uno. Because I am in fact, the copycat.