Oh Hi March!

It's that time again...

First, a Friendship February re-cap.  The first weekend of February was full of showering my friend Brooke and her baby boy with gifts and a ridiculous amount of food.  The next weekend, Chelcie and I made an impromptu trip to Charleston to house sit for my mother.  On the way back we stopped in Columbia to meet Mary Ann's beautiful baby girl, Mary Elizabeth.  The next weekend was Super Saturday in Rock Hill - full of crap I never do.  And last weekend I spent 3 days with my very best friends in a beach house for our 10 year class reunion.  Granted, I may have gone against the resolution a bit and spent time with a few people I normally hang out with - I think February was a total success in so many ways.

Ok, onto March.  I've debated about this for a couple of days, and I'm making an executive decision - I'm gonna do what I really never thought I could do.  I've contemplated whether or not I have the will power to make it thru 31 days without this, but if it were an easy thing to do I would do it every day of my life.  It's going to be hard, but easy restrictions are...well easy.  As if I need any more hardships in my life right now...either way, I'm pushing myself to do different things just because, well, I want to push myself.

Drum roll please...Meatless March.

Yep, I'm going to attempt to go thru the next 31 days as a vegetarian.  Not like the crazy "eggs come from chickens, and chicken is meat" kind of vegetarian.  But the "I'm not eating MEAT" vegetarian.

This was a tough decision, just knowing that my company is having dinner tomorrow night at Wild Wing and I'm craving a Buffarella like nobody's business.  Even worse, the weather is so nice and people were grilling out tonight when I got home - the smell of burgers on charcoal park grills was intoxicating.  So, I went all crazy for dinner and baked a chicken breast (one of 12 I JUST bought BOGO - meh), slapped it on a salad, and topped it with my mother's homemade ginger dressing.  Crazy, right?  No.  I want steak...dammit, steak.  I NEVER eat steak: a.) I have no grill (lost it in the 'divorce') and b.) apparently my friends never want to invite me over for a nice steak dinner.  WTF, friends?

In all honesty, I don't eat a lot of meat anyway.  Most of my meals are salads, soups or pasta.  And when there's meat involved, it's chicken - the only white meat (that's what she said).  But seriously, I always wonder how vegetarians feel when they're sitting around a bunch of people mowing down on beef while they find themselves asking "how are the veggie burgers"? 

Can I do it?  Yes.  Will I like it?  Probably not.  What's going to be the hardest part of this?  Not going to Taco Bell on the way home from McHale's. 

To keep this interesting, I'll be trying some new recipes (that I'll more than likely google) in order not to go insane eating the same crap over and over again this month.  If any of you have some good ones, please share - it's going to be a long month...I need support!

Again, I'm not doing this for any other reason than to see if I can do it.  To my asshole friends who (I know you will) find it funny to tempt me with burgers and (now) invite me to steak dinners - you suck.

This should be interesting.

Cheers y'all!

The Bachelor - Week 9

OMG!  The greatest place to fall in love (again) – Switzerland.

Before I get into this, I have to say something.  I love Us Weekly and People just as much as the next 20 something girl in America, but PLEASE stop ruining things for everyone!  I get it – that’s your job…report ridiculousness in the world of entertainment, but it’s ENTERTAINING because we follow this crap from day one to the end for a reason – the story.  You’ve totally ruined it for us by telling us the “ever after” before the story gets good!  Ok, I’m done…for now.

First gal up is Nikki, and the two head up to the top of a mountain via (you guessed it) helicopter.  “This is beautiful,” “I’m falling for him more and more” and “I like where this is going”…typical date stuff.  The second part of the date is in a log cabin, and I have to say – it’s pretty romantic.  Ben gives Nikki the date card from Chris and offers up a fantasy suite for the couple to stay in for the night.  Seriously, hasn’t anyone seen the show before – you know the fantasy card is coming…and you know that bitch shaved her legs anticipating the evening.  Just saying.  What’s a fantasy suite without a hot tub?

Lindzi is up next and Ben has an “adrenaline date” planned for her: repelling down a 300 ft cliff.  Nothing like wanting to piss yourself to make a couple come together!  They live…and then make it to hot tub #2.  Oops…I just realized I was lured into Pinterest for the past 10 minutes – I’m sure it wasn’t a really interesting conversation.  Lindzi accepts the fantasy suite too…do they ever say “no”? 

Crazy Courtney is up last – save the beast for last, right?  Can’t wait to see if she’s back to crazy or hovering above normal while abroad.  They go for a train ride thru the countryside and then to a market to buy stuff for – wait for it – a picnic.  Favorite quote “I feel like the luckiest girl in the world” …read: “I feel like the luckiest girl in the world – and I’m sure the other two girls Ben is dating now feel the same way too.”  Ben brings up how he was concerned when Courtney was having issues in the house with all the other girls being ‘mean to her’…little does he know SHE was the issue – not the other girls.  Ben tells her at dinner that he’s concerned about how Courtney interacts with other females in general – ie: his mom, sister and his friends that are girls.  Dude, if you have issues with a female not being able to be nice to other females – that’ what we call a “bitch”.  Period.  Oh, and hot tub #3.

Yay it’s Emily – the next Bachelorette, Allie and Ashley!  Love these girls!  Oh, and I’m pretty sure I want to see Titanic 3D!  

Back to the Bachelor – and enter Kacie B.  Whoa…didn’t see that one coming!  There’s always someone that comes back, but I really didn’t see this happening!  And neither did Ben…haha!  After about 20 “I’m Sorry’s”, Kacie tells Ben that she wants answers as to why he ended things with her.  Ben tells her that he didn’t feel like he could give her everything she needed and that he didn’t see his life going in the direction it would need to go with Kacie.  Kacie tells Ben that she loves him and doesn’t want to get his heart broken, and that if he chooses Courtney he will get his heart broken.  Kacie hits the nail on the head and says that Courtney makes it seem like she’s only in this to “win it”.  Amen girl!  All in all, it was hard to watch her pour her heart out…but it seemed like a good plug for a future Bachelorette.

It is the FINAL Rose Ceremony and Ben chooses Lindzi and Courtney as his final two.  Poor Nikki, but she takes it like a lady.

Ben tells the final two that they're staying in Switzerland!

Oh man!  The "Women Tell All" episode is next week!!!  I can't wait!!!  This is my favorite part of the show!

The Bachelor - Week 8

It’s hometown date week!  

First up is Lindzi’s family.  Just as she entered this craziness, she brings Ben to her folk’s house via horse.  And whoa Nelly, what a house it is!  Lindzi’s mom confirms that she thinks Lindzi is ready to be engaged and be in a serious relationship.  This family may be the most normal family on the Bachelor in a long time.  I have nothing bad to say about them – and I can usually come up with something!  Lindzi will be in the final two.

Next up, Kacie B’s family in TN.  Kacie starts the day off with a marching band in the field that was named after her grandfather.  Kacie tells Ben that her father is a probation officer who doesn’t drink – oh boy, let the craziness begin.  Wine maker vs. non-drinker…this could get good.  During Kacie’s talk with her sister, we find out that Kacie’s parents are skeptical and not they are NOT risk takers…pretty much two things you have to not be when going thru this process.  Ben is terrified while talking to her father – I would be too…he looks like the granddad on King of the Hill.  Kacie’s mom has concerns: her daughter moving away from home and even worse: her daughter moving in with a boy before marriage.  Oh boy.  I totally understand these people’s point of view about them getting to know each other better and take their time – but come on people…she’s an adult.  Pretty sure her parents just destroyed this hometown date for her.

Ben heads to Texas to meet Nikki’s family next.  After Nikki makes Ben look like a total nerd in western gear, they head to a bar (excuse me…saloon) then out for yet another picnic.  Seriously girls, haven’t you had enough picnics???  Once the couple gets to her Mom’s house (her parents are divorced – so is she) it gets a little somber.  Her poor daddy is scared to give her hand away AGAIN because the first time he did that his daughter married a man who wasn’t perfect for her.  BUT, at dinner her father gives them his blessing in a truly touching speech.  Awww.  Nikki then takes Ben away and tells him that she loves him.

On to Crazy Town (Arizona) to meet Crazy Lady’s (Courtney’s) family.  Oh damn, they look normal.  OH, but momma has a touch of crazy – I can tell!  Somehow, Courtney has left her crazy at the door – she’s acting normal now.  All proof that she is being herself NOW around her family, and all the crap before this was a total act.  So, Crazy Courtney is gone, for now – I’m sure she’ll reappear soon.  So Courtney takes Ben on a picnic – how original – to tell him that she is in love with him…with a wedding ceremony.  I told you she would be back!  Cray Cray Courtney is BAAAACK!  She forces him to write vows and recite them in front of a pastor, under an arbor.  Oh dammit…he really likes her.

Now it’s time for Benny Boo Boo to figure out who he’s going to keep, and who’s daddy is gonna come after him with a shot gun.  

Roses go to: Courtney, Lindzi, and Nikki.  Awww, Kacie!

Well, two out of three for my picks isn't too terrible!  

Next week the three remaining girls and Ben are going to Switzerland!  So cool!

Super Saturday in the 'Hill

Have you ever had one of those days when it starts out so terrible that you are certain that there’s no possible way for redemption?  Me too…until yesterday.

7:45am: woke up – angry…Saturdays are for sleeping in, right?  Yea, that’s what I thought.

7:55am: finally went back to sleep

8:30am: woke back up – gave in.

8:45am: coffee brewing, teeth brushed, face washed, gym clothes on.

9:00am: Out the door.  Before I get into this too much further, this past weekend has been the first weekend since the New Year that I haven’t had any places to be.  Therefore, my to-do list was getting longer and longer.  Yesterday was supposed to be D-day – aka, “Get sh*t Done Day”.  Key word: SUPPOSED TO BE.

9:15am to 10:00am: Dick’s Sporting Goods, TjMaxx and Ross – just in case there was something on sale that I absolutely Neeeeeded.  There wasn’t.

10:10am: Ultra Tan for ½ price upgrades in which I chose to spend 8 minutes in a bed that looked like it was designed by NASA.  Go on, judge me all you want.

10:20am: Called Tire Kingdom to see if I could bring my car in for an oil change and alternator belt replacement.  “Sure, we have time to do it now – shouldn’t take more than an hour and a half” says Mr. Mechanic.  “Perfect,” I say…”be there in a minute”.

10:32am: Arrive at Tire Kingdom – tell them what I need done, and let them know that I’m going across the street to get a mani-pedi while I wait the hour and a half that it’s going to take for my car.  “Have fun” says Mr. Mechanic – this is the last time that I ever thought Mr. Mechanic was a nice person.

10:55am: Mr. Mechanic calls to let me know which belt needed replacing and the cost.  ½ way thru pedicure – perfect timing so far!

12:00 NOON: Finish up at the salon and head back across the street to fetch my rig.

12:02pm: realize that my car is STILL in the bay.  “Mr. Mechanic,” I say, “Is my car not ready?”.  Mr. Mechanic replies “Oh, they’re putting the belt on right now and you should be ready to roll in about 30 minutes”.

12:02:03pm: Lindsey loses her cool…for the FIRST time.

12:03pm: I sit in the waiting area after being told “Thirty minutes tops – putting my two best mechanics on it”.  Meh.

12:34pm: Mechanic #2 comes into waiting area with a busted ass looking belt from my car and a very small – imagine headband sized – belt in the other hand.  He then tells me that “they” sent the wrong belt over and that “they’ve” called for the correct one and it’s on the way.  Deep breaths.  We’re now on hour 2 – and you’re JUST NOW realizing that the headband won’t fit on the engine?!?

12:50pm: had a great conversation with a lady in the waiting room about how long we both had been waiting and how it’s totally sucking because the weather is so beautiful.

1:20pm: “Maam, they’re finishing up and will be pulling your car around soon”…OH THANKS!  “I’m really sorry it took longer than expected” says Mechanic #1.  “Longer than expected would be 30 minutes over the time you told me – you officially took twice as long to do something, lied to me, and completely ruined my schedule for the day.”  There’s a lot more dialogue here, but I’ll spare you.  All you need to know is that I paid for the belt labor, and that’s all.  Savings of about $80 – in which I spend later – keep reading.

1:30pm: I wait outside for them to “pull my car around”.

1:38pm: my car finally comes around.

At exactly 1:42pm I realized I was not going to do ANYTHING else off my to do list the rest of the day!

1:50pm: I arrive at The White Horse for lunch and the beginning to a very long day of drinking.

2:50pm: I find myself stuffing mini bottles of rum and Red Stag in my purse to go to the Winthrop baseball game against Kent State.

3:15pm: Rum and Coke in the stands of opening weekend – Life is Good.

5:15pm: buzzed and hungry – again.  

5:25pm: Ordering a medium gold margarita at El Cancun.

6:15pm: Talks of going to the 7:00pm GA Tech ball game start…then dissolve.

7:00pm: The beginning of the end – at Striker’s bowling alley.  

7:30pm: beers and karaoke in the bar until our two hour wait for a lane ends.

8:15pm: The worst rendition of “Shoop” is performed by Chelcie and myself.

8:17-9:30pm: I have no clue.  SO I’ll take this time to remind everyone that I’m STILL IN MY GYM CLOTHES…yep.

9:30pm-ish: our lane is open.  FINALLY!

10:00 to 11:30pm: I kick asses and take names in two games of intense bowling. 196 the first game, and then a 120 the second game…it got worse the longer I played.

11:33pm: I’m done.

So, the morals of this story are:

• When your day starts out in the crapper, the only way it can go is UP.
• If you don’t get what you want, get loud
• Yesterday was the most fun I’ve had in Rock Hill in a very long time…thanks to everyone that played.  You have no idea how bad I needed that.  Special thanks to the DD as well! J

Unfortunately, I still have a to do list and a rockin’ headache– ugh.

The Bachelor - Week 7

I can’t Belize we’re in Belize!  Hardy-har-har.  In all seriousness, this week is the week that leads up to the home town dates where Ben gets to meet the (probably crazy) families of the ladies he chooses.  There’s 6 girls left…is it just me or is this season going by REALLY fast?

Lindzi gets the first of three one on one dates in Belize.  Ben, Ben, Ben…enough with the tank tops.  I dislike a man in a tank top as much, if not more, than Courtney.  In true Bachelor form, the date starts with a helicopter ride to “The Blue Hole”…a 500 ft deep coral surrounded thingy in the middle of the ocean.  Don’t get me wrong…it’s beautiful…but it looks like a shark’s paradise.  The second half of the date is at the Coco Beach Resort for a dockside din-din.  Lindzi tells Ben that she would love to bring him home to her family and that she’s “falling” for him.  Cliché of the night numero uno.  They write a message and put it in a bottle and send it off to sea.  Sweet baby Jesus, please let Courtney pick up that bottle on the beach and bring her down a level.  Amen.

Ben uses my line in his date card to Emily “Do you Belize in love”…see…it WAS funny!  The love birds go on a bike ride through one of the towns, play a little b-ball and shop.  Just like a normal vacation – but with 5 other girls back at the hotel.  They stumble upon a lobster diver and he invites them to go diving with him to catch some lobster for dinner.  OMG, this looks amazing!  I want to go!  At dinner Emily extends an invitation to Ben to come meet her family, and Ben extends his tongue into Emily’s mouth.

Courtney went from suicidal to her usual bitchy self once she got the last one on one date.  Ben takes the skank to a Mayan temple in the jungle where Courtney tells Ben that she wasn’t going to accept a rose from him if she didn’t get the one on one date.  Ben tells Courtney that he liked her on the group dates because she stood out and made herself the center of attention and that showed him that she cared.  Um, sweetheart…she thinks this is a game…those were just the tactics of her evil plan.  They hike up the temple and I hope a strong breeze comes by and pushes her off.  I know, that’s mean…sorry.  I don’t even want to see her face anymore…Ben, please send her home.  She’s so freaking fake!  Now I’m just angry.  I just tuned her out, but what I caught was that she has been putting down the other girls for the past 3 minutes.  Keep diggin’ bitch, keep diggin’.

Ben wakes the three girls he’s taking on the group date at 4:00am and the girls are frantically shaving themselves to get ready for the really early morning date.  As the sun rises, the girls and Ben head out to sea on a catamaran.  Ben is wearing another tank top…come on dude.  Ben tells the girls that they’re going shark diving and that the sharks get aggressive to punch them in the nose.  Good tip.  Rachel is terrified and monopolizing on her fear by taking up all of Ben’s attention…and the other girls are not too happy about that.  Kacie B tells Ben that she’s falling in love with him during the second part of the date – finally someone who isn’t afraid to say the “L” word and not just “I’m falling for you”.  And Ben gives her the rose for opening up to him so much.  Yay!

The girls start talking to Ben about their concerns with Courtney and that he should “tread lightly”.  Understatement of the year.

At the beginning of the cocktail party Courtney tells everyone that she’s not nervous and that “Ben isn’t the only guy in the world” and they shouldn’t be so somber.  WHOA, girl…you’re seriously crazy.  Uh oh, Ben isn’t having a cocktail party – Chris Harrison tells the girls they are going straight to the rose ceremony.  OMG, is it going to happen???  Is he really going to send Courtney home???  

Before Ben starts the ceremony, he steals Courtney away to talk to her about the week.  Ben asks her if she's there for the right reason and she responds by saying that she's there for him and it's been hard but she wasn't there to make friends.  Blah Blah Blah.

Nikki, Lindzi, and Courtney (I just yelled GD) get roses.  Rachel and Emily are headed home...guess Ben doesn't like blondes. 

Next week is hometown dates and I hope that Courtney's family is crazy enough to scare Ben away - since he obviously doesn't see the crazy gushing out of her big ass head.

By the way...just wanted to remind you that in Week 3 I picked Kacie B, Lindzi, and Nikki as my final 3.  That is all.  Goodnight.

The Bachelor - Week 6

The gang is in Panama City this week and the drama is going to be at an all time high this week according to the previews.  Everyone gets a date this week.

The first date goes to Kacie B. and Ben tells her to pack three things.  Kacie B is the first one to have two one on one dates this season.  Of course the date starts with a helicopter ride to San Blas Island…deserted.  Kacie B. packed a stuffed monkey, a wine bottle opener and a bag of candy.  OMG, this girl is my long lost sister.  Ben packs a machete, a cast net and matches.  He may as well have packed a bed sheet because the man can’t throw a damn cast net!  After they are rescued from the “deserted” island they clean up and go to dinner.  Kacie tells Ben that in high school she had an eating disorder and it helped her grow up faster than normally.  Ben gives Kacie the rose.

Group date card is for Emily, Nikki, Lindzi, Cacie S., Courtney and Jamie.  Meaning Blakeley and Rachel get stuck with the two on one date – where only one girl comes back.

On the group date, Ben takes 6 of the girls out on a ridiculously unsafe looking “boat” down a river into the rainforest.  Luckily they chose a tribe to hang out with that doesn’t like to cut people’s heads off…they just like to be kind of naked.  Slutty McSlutface, Courtney, is going topless with the tribal attire on…seriously, did you expect any less of her?  I didn’t.  Ben is rocking a sweet loin cloth.  OMG, Courtney sucks.  I really dislike this girl…a lot.  

The second half of the date is a little more modern back in the city and thankfully Courtney has clothes on – for now.   However, she does invite Ben back to her hotel room…what a slut.  I hate to keep talking about Courtney but the bitch is everywhere!  Even while Ben is talking to Jamie the skank is in the pool behind them like a super creeper!  Jamie is like the only one who hasn’t gotten a kiss from Kissy McKisserface and Courtney ruins her first chance to do so.  Seriously, someone drown this girl.  Emily apologizes to Courtney about talking bad about her and Courtney “appreciates she acknowledges that she knew she was wrong”.  Seriously, this girl can’t even accept an apology.  Lindzi gets the rose as an affirmation from Ben that he sees something in her and in their relationship going forward.  YAY!

Courtney gets what she deserves and sits up waiting for Ben to come to her room…and he never shows. HAHA!  

Blakeley and Rachel’s two on one date with Ben is to learn to Salsa!  Side note: I’ve always wanted to learn to Salsa.  Blakeley says she’s “a much better dancer than Rachel”…this isn’t the Gentleman’s Club sweetheart.  Blakeley shares her scrapbook with Ben on the date – lame.  And apparently Ben thought it was lame too and gives Rachel the rose.  Blakeley storms off and won’t even talk to Ben…boo hoo…get over it.  You’ve known him for 6 weeks.

Finally we get to find out why Cacie S. has been crying during the previews.  Enter Chris Harrison; and he pulls Cacie S. out of the room.  Chris tells Cacie S. that it was brought to his attention that she was in love with somebody else back in the US – Michael her “ex” boyfriend.  Chris says that Michael told him that they are still in a relationship and were practically living together before she left for the show.  Cacie tells Chris that she doesn’t want to be in love with Michael but she still is.  Chris tells her that they need to go talk to Ben.  WOW…  So when Ben gets the news he’s upset that she didn’t tell him sooner because it took away from other girls’ time there.  So Ben agrees that he thinks she should go home.  Ouch. 

With 7 girls left, the cocktail party begins.  Jamie is ready to be aggressive with Ben and pulls him aside tells him that she thinks about him at night when she goes to bed…then she straddles him and makes out with him.  And THEN she analyzes the kiss…and then tells him how they should kiss…step by step.  Wow, this is just plain awkward.  

At the Rose Ceremony, Kacie B., Lindzi and Rachel already have roses.  Ben gives the three remaining roses to Nikki, Courtney (dammit), and Emily.  Guess Jamie’s strip tease wasn’t working for Ben either.

Side Note: text from my mother “Courtney needs to be pushed off a steep cliff”.  Amen, mommy, AMEN!

With 6 girls remaining they are headed to Belize next week!

Night Y’all!