Dream a Little Dream

I’ve always wanted to travel through Europe.  And if you consider two layovers in the Frankfurt airport…I’ve been to Europe. 

And, more specifically, I’ve always wanted to go to Italy.  See the history.  Eat the food. 

But, I’ve kind of always pictured myself doing this specific trip (to Italy) as part of a couple.

Because really…doesn’t traveling through Venice…sound romantic…?

Yeah, I think so too.

But you know what?  I’m single.  And almost 30.  And REALLY tired of postponing the things I dream about for a time when I’m less-single. 

So I think I’m going to Italy.

Not tomorrow.

Or next week.

Or even next month.

More like…next September. 

And I think I might go by myself.

And do exactly what I want to do.

And go where I want to go.

And take two hours to stare at a fountain if I want to.

Because…guess what…I’m single and I can.

I might even stay in a convent.

Complete with nuns that serve breakfast.

Because, again, I’m single and I can.

Will my plans change?  Maybe.  We all know that sometimes life intervenes and choices must be made.  But for now…I’m feeling good about this idea.

A Rant – Current Event Edition

I rarely write about current events.  Sure…I wrote about the presidential election once or twice.  And occasionally I will post links to a funny or interesting news story, but I would rather write comical ramblings about my boss…or satire chronicling my love life than spend time focused on current events.

 Does that make me uncultured or something?  Perhaps.  And I couldn’t care less.

It’s not that I don’t read the news…I do…every single day…

And today, during my lunch-time news reading…I came across a story about students protesting in California because of a tuition increase…

You can read more and watch a video here…

Do I have an opinion on this story?  For sure.  I went to a private university and paid nearly $400 per semester hour.  (I’m sure it’s more now.)  I know college is expensive.  But you know what?  I chose to go to the university I attended.  I knew it wasn’t cheap.  And I always had the freedom to transfer if the cost became something I wasn’t comfortable with.  (And after three years in Abilene, that is exactly what I did!)

I understand that these students are frustrated.  Each time I saw the tuition creep ever so higher at my alma mater…I cringed. 

I get it.

But here is what I don’t get…

Why you thought the following chant would be effective at a rally…

“We’re fired up. Can’t take it no more,” students chanted as they marched and waved signs at UCLA. “Education only for the rich,” one sign read.

A few suggestions…

You might be taken more seriously if you made grammatically correct arguments that were a little more logical.  First, the double negative in the phrase “We’re fired up. Can’t take it no more” makes me want to vomit on the floor.  Second, I can’t see what part of this situation indicates to you that education is only for the rich.  The real issue is that the education is available to those that are willing to fork up the dough or take out a loan. 

That’s my take anyway!

This is Sad

Grinch! North Pole irked at end to Santa replies

Hindsight…and All That

Last night after taking in a (moderately funny) movie with friends, I became a little pensive during the drive home.  I have a tendency to think too much when I drive. 

I was thinking about the moments that have defined my life thus far.  And…more importantly the life events that seemed so big at the time…but, in retrospect, were far more insignificant than I realized.   

For instance…those moments of high school heart-break.  Yeah…that seemed…MONUMENTAL…at the time.  But now?  Not so much. 

That C I got in Algebra II in 1996.  Man…that was HUGE.  Not.

That boy in college that never asked me out?  Can barely remember his name.

Those really bad days during the first days of my career…merely a funny memory now!

And I wonder about the things I’m dealing with now.  And the life events that seem SO HUGE. 

What will I remember of this in ten years?

(Davita takes a moment to deal with the thought that in ten years she will be knock-knock-knockin’ on 40’s door.)

It’s almost comforting to know that some of the things that seem so BIG right now…so powerful…so dramatic…so hurtful. 

That someday…sooner or later…those feelings will be put into perspective by nothing less than time.

And that things on my plate now…things that I feel like will never get better…they will.  I don’t know when…but…

This too shall pass. 

In fact…I just realized…that much of it already has.

An Update…Random Edition

My mind has been a mess today…nothing involving enough thought to devote an entire post to, for sure.  But…thoughts none the less.

So…here you go…

*I read online today that we are on the verge of a waffle shortage.  Since I haven’t purchased a box of frozen waffles in years…I doubt this will affect me too much. 

*The whole eHarmony thing is kind of at a stand-still.  Am I apathetic?  Maybe.  Pessimistic?  A little.  Lazy?  Perhaps.  Not quite as “ready” to date as I thought?  Seems that way.  Regardless, I’ve tabled the idea for a while.

*Have you ever heard the song “Toes” by the Zac Brown Band?  I enjoy hearing it on the radio.  Heard the unedited version this weekend while driving through OK.  Apparently it’s been edited QUITE A BIT for PG radio play. 

*My sister and 2/3 of her kids are coming to visit in two weeks.  I wanted to take the male child to tour the new Cowboys Stadium.  Did you know that they charge you $15 just to tour the stadium?

*I’ve started walking regularly again.  And now my shins hurt…again.  So…I’m trying to ice them now after I work out.

Seriously

My trusty iPhone tells me that the current temperature in Eagle River, Alaska is a balmy -6.

Seriously.

Earlier it was -10. 

So, the good news is that it’s getting warmer. 

Seriously.

I’ve only been gone for two months…but it’s already hard for me to find a frame of reference for that. 

It was 45 degrees yesterday and I made a fire. 

Because I was cold.

Seriously.

My Soundtrack

Sometimes…when I’m feeling reflective and a little silly, I imagine what the “soundtrack” of my life would be.

Yeah…I know it’s corny…and I don’t care.  At all.

In all seriousness, music has always been important to me, and I’ve always been fascinated with the way that a really good song can embody one emotion entirely.

So…today…I give you the “soundtrack of my life”, November 2009 edition…

1.  Window of Opportunity, Marijke JANE

2.  I Need You Now, Lady Antebellum

3.  White Horse, Taylor Swift

4.  Find Out Who Your Friends Are, Tracy Lawrence

5.  I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘Til Monday), Steve Azar

6.  Cowboy Casanova, Carrie Underwood

7.  Undo It, Carrie Underwood

8.   When It Rains, Eli Young Band

9.  Wild at Heart, Gloriana

10.  Lot of Leavin’ Left To Do, Dierks Bentley

Ten songs seems like a nice round number to include in a soundtrack, right?

Now, I’m not saying that all of these songs illustrate what’s going on in my life right now.  But, each song in it’s own way encapsulates a feeling…or something like that…

Gather Round Boys and Girls…

I need to tell you a little story.

Once upon a time (and by that I mean last week) there was a girl named Davita (aka…me) that was fed up with her immediate dating prospects and disgusted by her own history of choices in men.

So Davita decided to sign up for eHarmony.

Davita was PERPLEXED by the hours (slight exaggeration) that it took her to fill out the eHarmony questionnaire regarding her 40,000 dimensions of compatibility.  I mean for real folks…it took A WHILE. 

But, fill it out she did.  And then she added pictures.  And then she sat on it for a few days trying to decide if she wanted to open her profile up for “matches”. 

And…after some consideration she (I) did. 

And, at first eHarmony told me I was not compatible with ANYONE.  (I found that mildly depressing.)  Must have been a glitch because the next day I had like 25 “matches”. 

So…I get matches every day that I don’t always have the time to “maintenance” because, quite frankly, I’m a busy person and I don’t have hours each day to “close matches” and participate in “guided communication”. 

Subsequently, I’m thinking about outsourcing the maintenance of my eHarmony profile to my friend S…I know she would hook a sister up. 

And, because I have no embarrassment threshold whatsoever, I’m apparently bringing you along as I go through this “process”.  That’s right.  I’m going to blog about it. 

eHarmony related topic #1…

“Closing” Matches

You see…”Closing” someone is the eHarmony equivalent of telling someone that you “just aren’t that into them”. 

And when you “close” someone, you choose a reason explaining why you aren’t interested.

There are some predictable reasons…

*I want to pursue another relationship.

*I think our age difference is too great.

*I think we live too far apart.

Etc…Etc…

But I want to propose adding a few less traditional responses to my profile specifically that would greatly benefit me in this process…

*You are too short.  Yes…I know that I’m only 5’5” and should subsequently be “okay” with dating someone who is 5’9”…but I’m a sister who likes to wear heels…and I, quite frankly, think tall guys are hot.

*Really?  You didn’t think about using some type of spell check on your profile?  Because when you say that… “I’m looking for a girl with a great sense of humir.”… Yeah… That’s a turn-off for me. 

*You were wearing Ed Hardy in your profile picture.  Enough said. 

My favorite reason to “close” someone is “OTHER”.  Yeah…when people close me and use the reason “OTHER”… I just take that to mean that they pretty much think I look like a troll and/or…  They are not a fan of the witty sarcasm (aka…cynicism) in my profile. 

So…am I being too petty?  Or too picky?  Or maybe…just picky enough? 

Only time will tell, I guess…but for now…I’m finding the whole thing mildly entertaining and that’s just enough motivation for me to keep it up!

Man Oh Man

I’ve had occasion recently to be mad at men.

Men at work.

Men in my personal life.

Men I’m related too.

Men that make me mad.

Men that make me cry.

Men that make me wish I had decided to join a convent years ago.

I think you get the point. 

And, I’ve said some not very nice words about men in general. 

But here’s the thing…

I believe that the Bible mentions men being made “in the image of God”…

(Genesis 1:26)

Hmmm…convicting, yes?

So today, exactly three weeks from my 30^th birthday…

I’m trying to have a little faith that there are “good guys” still standing.

And that maybe, just maybe, God will bring one into my life that doesn’t make me want to use dirty words.

Things Davita Likes

I like this movie quote…

“In the movies, we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason, you’re behaving like the best friend.” – The Holiday, Arthur Abbott

I like these shoes…

 

I like this weather…

 

I like this verse…

“”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)