Friday Night Lights - Home Alone

Hey now! I am having a quiet night at home, because married life for this old lady is so exciting! I'm talking red box movies, Donatos pizza and sour patch straws exciting. Throw in some Throwback Mountain Dew and I can hardly control myself! Seriously-- after weeks of sunshine and warmth, the weather here in central Ohio has taken a "fall like" turn on this Friday evening. The sky was looking ominous, rain was falling (and I don't do rain) and I am currently having a come to Jesus moment with my job. Not to mention, there are a couple behind the scenes situations that are stressing me out. In short, I needed a night of silence, bad for you food and sickeningly sweet movies. I mean, who needs to talk when you are watching tear-jerker movies and getting a sugar buzz?

When I stopped at Redbox today I was not thinking that I would find something fantastic because 1. I really was only stopping because I had a coupon and 2. I, um, visit the freaking Redbox more than I should. That is to say, I have seen almost all the movies I've wanted to. So tonight I got Bad Words, featuring Jason Bateman and a documentary called Undefeated. Friday night documentary... oh, the glamorous life. I am going to need you all to hold back all that jealousy. 

I am a little behind the times (shocker) because Undefeated was a critically acclaimed documentary... shot in 2009. It is about turning around an awful football team in North Memphis. It shows the triumphs and defeats of members of the football team; the turmoil of the coach's home life; anger issues; passive aggressive craziness; coming back from injury; the uncertainty of life after high school. It was a good movie. I, generally, am not one for documentaries OR feel good movies-- though I did (do) LOVE Remember the Titans and We Are Marshall, so maybe I am a feel good movie freak?!? 

The featured coach, Mr. Bill Courtney just released a book at the beginning of the summer. You can find it here. I think that I am going to get it from the library after I finish Gone Girl. But, I digress-- I can see why the movie was so well received. Exactly what I needed to see tonight, while there was a dog asleep on my lap... ok, ok he was totally faking sleep, waiting for me to drop some pizza topping on him. Minus the crazy animals, the movie was good and gave me a good ol' kick in the butt jolt (not for football, but, you know, life). So, if you are in need (or in the mood) for a football movie of (mostly) goodness, visit the Redbox, grab Undefeated and grab a glass of wine. Good times, Friday Night Lights. 

Soulful Saturday - The Cranberries

I am not exactly sure why fall weather makes me want to relive my high school days. Maybe it is because it is technically 'back to school' season or something. Could be. Ah well, here I am, up WAY past what should have been my bedtime, singing along to youtube videos of forgotten songs that once brought out teenaged angst. When I was in high school (oh my God, I just totally sounded like the old lady in the neighborhood IN MY OWN HEAD when I read that sentence back... What have I become?!) Back in the olden golden days of the mid 90s, the music was full of rebellion. Grunge was king of the airwaves, there was anger, combat boots and flannel shirts. Marry that with teenage hormones and there you have it, Hot, Black and Bitter, the high school years! One of the bands that regularly made it onto my mix tapes, and in heavy rotation were The Cranberries. Hauntingly beautiful sounds that you would not normally think would come out of a human... and notes that you should TOTALLY NOT TRY to emulate, but I do... every time. Hey, it is good singing... check it out.

Dreams

 


 Zombie


 


 I Still Do


 


Ode To My Family

Trip Down Memory Lane

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to head back to my high school for Reunion Weekend! I have to say- it was amazing to be in that place!! My high school experience was a little unusual. First I should type that I went to a small, all girl, private school. My school educates girls in Central Ohio from Pre-K to 12th grade and we are tight group. Every year, no matter when you actually graduated, women gather for a weekend of fun and catching up. I could only participate on Thursday and Friday, because of another commitment (which will probably be the next post), but since I live in the area again, I thought that it was really important that I showed some support.

And yes, I am glad that I did. This year was not a huge reunion year for my class-- 2014 marks 18 years since I gave the graduation speech in my long white dress. In 18 years, the changes around my school have been numerous, but the spirit of what went (goes) on there is still very much the same. Thursday night was a young alumnae get together. Who knew that 18 years out was still considered "young" LOL! I sat around with two ladies from my graduating class, nibbling on finger foods and drinking wine (yum, wine). Near the end of the night I sauntered on over to another table of ladies that graduated in 2009. Um, holy hell, they said 2009. My very first question after their names? "So, were you actually ALIVE when I graduated from high school??" Their answer: "Yes, we were 5." Five freaking years old. Ok, some of them were six, but that did not make the hurt in my heart feel any better. Five.Years.Old. (read: I drank more wine).

The next day--Friday-- I had the day off, so I woke up early and headed over to campus to have lunch with fellow alumnae. I have to let all new readers know: private school lunch kicks the ass of all other lunches available. Like, even grown up lunches; grown up lunches that you pay a lot of money for. I had cheese ravioli, garlic bread and roasted broccoli. And cake. Ok, ok, ok and a cookie bar. Take that. I don't care if you judge-- I ate it off a monogrammed china plate, and that somehow makes calories disappear. Yes!! Then I took a tour of the new theater, saw a program put on by current students, sat around reminiscing, left a note for the seniors, talked to a few of my former teachers (they were some of the first to tell me and my parents that I *may* have a problem talking out of turn), totally crashed a party for the class of 1994 (where I ate their food) and just had an all around good time. I spent ALL day at school. Like a job. And I loved every bit of it. Like a boss.

Lifelong friends 

 

Strong Girls = Strong World. Indeed! 

Can you find me?!?

We are The Fighting Unicorns! Go UNIES!!!

Saturday Mojo with HBB

I received an email that asked "what do you and Lefty do for fun?"

Well… we live in Central Ohio and it IS football season, so we do random stuff around the house (like today, I cleaned the carpets in the master bedroom and the hallway) and then we (read: I) watch football. Living so close to Ohio State gives me a great home team to cheer for. Lefty doesn't really watch all the time, but since he graduated from Ohio State and I am *slightly* fanatic about my love for the Buckeyes, he is coming around!

Also tonight, my (not so) little brother, Big Man, and his high school football team will be playing in the Division V Regional final game against some school I have never heard of, in the middle of nowhere. So not only am I typing this while my Buckeyes are on, Lefty and I are stacking on clothing and getting ready to head to Nelsonville, Ohio to freeze our tushes off while loudly embarrassing my 18 year-old brother. This could most truthfully be characterized as the event that is going to brighten my WHOLE day. I am convinced that the Big Man loves it when I scream his name from the stands… and if he doesn't, he better not tell me. Any revelation like that will only make me scream louder.

Really, we do a lot of other things for fun and I will review what we did this summer… and thank you for the question. Keep them coming!!

Just in case Big Man is reading this, here is an inspirational video from my second favorite football team :) Lefty and I will be there rooting for you!! Go Hawks! Go Bucks!!