Amber the Crier

So my addiction to Big Brother 8 is pretty strong. Strong enough that I’ve actually spent a significant amount of time watching Big Brother After Dark on Showtime, which basically amounts to watching other people play beer pong and whisper to each about strategy for hours on end.

While Dick and Danielle are the most obvious houseguests to hate on, I find myself more often laughing at Amber, who cries every five minutes (with like the most awful ugly cry ever – one that she will surely regret when she is finally out of the house and gets to watch her many scrunchy-faced moments), tells everyone she loves them, has crazy visions sent from God and, more amusingly, has absolutely no grasp of the English language.

Ugh. Misery.

So somehow I ended up with a pinched nerve in my back and I’ve been moving like a slug all day because the slightest move in the wrong direction sends shooting pain all over the place. Sucks. Balls. This AND a not-right stomach all day have equaled some serious misery. A dear friend from work took pity on me and brought me my work laptop, soup, dark chocolate, Icy Hot and a heating pad thing during lunchtime. I had been dying for soup all morning (weird, I know) and when he brought me some, you would have thought he gave me an iPhone. I was excited.

So here’s what I’ve spent my day doing: napping, trying not to move, cuddling with the Pug, checking emails and watching copious amounts of TV saved up on the ol’ DVR (The Hills, Big Brother, Damages, Rescue Me, and, shamefully, High School Musical – 1 and 2).

That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. Just some Zac Efron and killer back pain.

A few kind of amazing things…

1. Did you know that bars in Kansas City, Mo. are open until 3 am? Craziness!

2. I spent my belated birthday gift card to Sephora (thanks Big Sis) and got the worlds largest bottle of Marc Jacobs cucumber eau de toilette. It smells heavenly.

3. Because I’ve been rather culturally deprived, I spent some time at the Nelson-Atkins museum doing the audio tour thing and checking out the new Bloch building. It was really cool.

4. I experienced the nightlife in Westport, which knocks Wichita’s Old Town clear out of the water. Not that there was any question…

5. I enjoyed brunch this morning at McCormick & Schmick. It was delish.

All and all, my random KC getaway has been excellent- lots of pampering (pedicure), yummy eats, Boulevard beer, good shopping, a comfy hotel bed and drive time in my new car!

I Heart Michael Cera

I’ve loved Michael Cera since his painfully awkward portrayal of George Michael Bluth on Arrested Development (one of the greatest shows basically ever) and now I’m definitely planning to watch him in the new movie Superbad.

Here’s a pretty classic George Michael clip from Arrested Development. If you’re a fan of the show, there are so many hilariously subtle comedic moments that it’s impossible not to giggle.

Better World Shopper

Janet talked about Better World Shopper over at Slice of Pink recently and I was instantly curious. What is it? A ranking of companies based on their overall social and environmental responsibility over the past 20 years. The idea as that you should use their rankings to basically vote with your wallet – support the companies that excel in areas like human rights, the environment, animal protection, community involvement and social justice. Being kind of a granola-crunching California girl at heart, I had to check it out.

Luckily, my hair products rank highly, as do my choices in retail stores. Same with my pick when it comes to drinking water (out of a PUR water filter attached to the tap that I bought after reading THIS. Check it out – it might change your perspective on bottled water too). Because I believe in rewarding companies that strive to be good corporate citizens, I may be re-evaluating my shopping habits in the categories where my choices didn’t fare so well…

What do you think? Is this a lot of hooey or should we, as responsible consumers, use this kind of data when we make our decisions?

The Blogger Meetup

Ok, so there’s been some confusion about this blogger meetup thing. And it’s my fault because I swear I have adult onset ADD (well, only about certain things).

Anyway, the Blogger meetup is on SUNDAY, August 19th at 3 pm at Fred P. Otts at the Plaza.

As for Saturday night, I got a bit ahead of myself… I actually have another commitment that has come up, but thanks to everyone who volunteered to hang out with my sad self.

Really looking forward to meeting all of you that plan to attend!

Should you have any questions, you can email me at shea@b5media.com

The Rusty Anchor

I have just finished up four days at the Delta Gamma house here in the ‘ta where I helped with all things sorority. I haven’t been an active alum for years, but got back into it this year when I received an invitation to the Founder’s Day brunch and thought, “Aw, hell. Why not?” And then I took an office and made a bunch of new friends. I’ve always teased Martine that she is the most expensive friend I’ve ever had. We met during recruitment and became fast friends during our semester as “new members.” And then came the poverty when the financial aid checks went to things like pizza and satellite TV and a shopping spree or two at the Gap outlet. Anyway, with the addition of cool new DG friends, Martine’s price tag has gone down a bit. She’s still my favorite though.

So after being immersed in DG stuff (I wish I were kidding when I say I braided 46 friendship bracelets. It’s embarrassing, but true…) pretty much non-stop, I have finally returned to my normal life of work, Jazzercise, Pug, naps, shopping, reality TV and regular blogging.

Yay!

On Saturday Night… Saturday Night

Um, so my plans have changed a wee bit this weekend and I was wondering if anyone might be available for some dinner/drinks on Saturday night? Preferably at the Plaza.

Otherwise, it will be me and some takeout in my hotel room. Wah.

Mild Sauce, Please.

My idea of the perfect evening: a new episode of Big Brother 8 and a Taco Bell bean burrito (with mild sauce) and an order of regular nachos. When else can you have so much fun for $2.02?

Martine and I subsisted on that meal during our poverty days in college. That and the Big Cheeseburger and two tacos from Jack in the Box to be washed down with vodka and V8 Splash.

Ahhh… poor enough to max out our credit cards, get our cell phones turned off and never be able to make rent, yet wealthy enough to always have booze on hand.

The Kansas City Blogger Extraveganza

Ok, y’all. I’m having a hard time making decisions about where we should meet in KC, especially since I don’t live there…

I was thinking meeting somewhere at the Plaza would be easiest, especially since that’s, like, the one place I know how to get to (hello…. shopping….) and there are plenty of spots to dine, drink or sip coffee at.

So. I’ve narrowed it down to general location. You guys have to help me pick a specific spot. What do you think about 3 or 4-ish for the meet? Would earlier be better?

You have to know that I am the most indecisive person ever about this kind of stuff…

HELP!

A Pic!

I’ll post actual pictures later… Though those of you who are coming to the KC Blogger Extraveganza will get to see it live and in person. I’m sorry that I am so excited about this. Give me a few days to simmer down.

Goodbye Beetle, Hello Versa

I did it. I bought a new car. A brand new, never driven by anyone but me (seriously), smells deliciously of new upholstery and plastic and metal and carpet, never been dented or spilled in or made out the backseat of, BRAND SPANKING NEW CAR.

It’s the end of an era, really. Well, a brief era, but an era nonetheless.

I thought I might actually get a little misty about it. I mean, the Beetle was quintessential ACGIK. I am the girl with the Beetle and the Pug and the iBook and the addiction to Starbucks, Gap and Target… and reality TV. Well, I guess I’m still all of those, just minus the first one on the list. I really thought I’d cry. But the truth is, that car was hell from day one. Well, more like day three when the check engine light went on and the dealership (ahem, Mike Steven Volkswagen Stealership) refused to fix it. And then I became poor and The Ex and I broke up and I moved into a slightly ghetto apartment that apparently was once a meth lab and then I lost my job and… Well, y’all probably remember some of that.

But I digress… It was time to do a little out with the old, in with the new. And, in case you were wondering, the Beetle’s A/C was fixed for a whopping $74. $74 that translated to many thousands of trade in value which basically made my new car a fantastic deal.

So I now own a 2008 Nissan Versa SL. It’s adorable. I mean, really. And it has gadgets! GADGETS! I love gadgets! I have Bluetooth – In. The. Car. How effing amazing is that? I just push a button on the steering wheel and press the talk button on my Blackberry and I am talking to people over the radio. There is, however, a lot of gesturing going on from inside the car and while I am in love with this feature, I also fear that random passers-by will think I’m a crazy person.

But I digress again… Gadgets. It has this crazy smart key thing that you don’t actually really use. You just, like, have it on your person. And you turn the ignition with your hand and, bam, there you go. There is XM satellite radio which means that Linda B. and I can sing along to the best of the 60’s and 70’s anytime we want, not just when we are in a rental car, driving back from Atlantic City. There is an auxiliary port for my iPod. And a six disc, in-dash CD changer. And a sunroof. And many airbags and safety-type items. It’s fantastic. I’m in love with it. I want to hug it.

I’ll take pics. It’s adorable.

And now I can relax and focus on everything else in this world that doesn’t have four wheels. Phew!

BB8

Uhhh… is anyone else obsessing over Big Brother 8?

Things I Don’t Get #346

People who can poo in public restrooms like it’s no big deal. I have public poo stage fright. I’ve been known to go home at lunch if the moment arises. I can’t handle the idea of someone sitting three feet away from me, separated only by a metal stall, while I have a bowel movement. I also fear ridicule if there is a stink or a loud plop. Or a fart for that matter. Lord knows that a plop or a fart coming from another stall will send me into a fit of elementary school style giggles. And stink will send me into a gagging fit.

Who knew that poo could be so complicated?

Obsessed

The updated plan goes a little something like this:

1. Take Beetle to have A/C serviced by nice, if not slightly crazy, men at small, independent VW shop in seriously sketchy and hood-like part of town because Mike Steven Volkswagen, the local dealer, is working for Satan. Try not to pass out from heat exhaustion on way there.
2. Avoid car shopping for a night, no matter how strong desire may be. Even though real reason avoidance is occurring is because car will be at shop, thus no method of transportation will be available.
3. Dream of new car incessantly.
4. Read edmunds.com incessantly (though obviously not at work because that would make Really Cool Boss unhappy).
5. Pray that cost of repairing air conditioning falls more into the “two hundred bucks” range than the “one thousand bucks” range.
6. Test drive Nissan Versa and maybe check the Mazda 3 again. And the Scion. And maybe the Prius, which I can’t afford, but want to drive again just because I loved it so very much.
7. Buy new car.
8. Stop being obsessive.
9. Find new thing to obsess over. Preferably something less costly.