Expectations

Meeting new people is always interesting. Sometimes you spend time with new people and you think "wow, they are awesome". Or you move in with someone you've never met before and it turns out (one month in) to fit really well. Or you date someone you've known for a few months and are surprised, when the time is right, how attracted you are to them when you'd never even thought about kissing them before.

Then there's online dating and dating in general. You are contacting someone and spending time with someone in the hopes of (eventual) love or sex or marriage. Going in with expectations is tricky. You expect (or hope) it to go a certain way and it probably won't.

And then you get aggravated and post a Facebook status like this:

The gap between expectations and reality is unfortunately large. This, boys and girls, is called disappointment.

(Sarcasm, bitterness and surprising insight, all rolled into one.)

Just another thing to approach in life with an open mind. Who knows where it'll lead you?

Kelly

I got to see Kelly Clarkson this past Saturday and, thankfully, someone there put videos on youtube...

Kelly singing "Walking After Midnight"...amazing. (Obviously, this video isn't the greatest sound quality so it was MUCH BETTER live.)



"Cry", an absolutely heart-breaking song, love it (This video probably has the best sound quality.)


And, the encore.... "My Life Would Suck Without You" is amazingly more upbeat live, you can't help but jump and pump your fists in the air!


"Behind These Hazel Eyes", first time singing this song acoustically, an audience sing-a-long, obviously!

say what?

I wish you could just choose who and what to stop caring about. But after awhile, you're just emotionally invested and you cannot. In that case, if you cannot, revert to passive aggressiveness. It's the mature decision.





from lauren nicole, who is fabulous.

dude, I share your sentiments

from this flickr site

As if I didn't love Kings of Leon enough...

...they go and make a video like this. Beautiful.

Kings Of Leon - New Music - More Music Videos

Caleb Followill has a voice like sex. Loves.

you must fall in love 3 times

“Before you can grow up, you must fall in love 3 times. Once you must fall in love with your best friend, ruining your friendship forever. This will teach you who your true friends are, and the fine line between friendship and more.

Once you must fall in love with someone you believe to be perfect. You will learn that no one is perfect, and that you should never be treated as any less than you deserve. And once you must fall in love with someone that is exactly like you. This will teach you about who you are, and who you want to be.And when you’re through with all that, you learn that the people who care about you the most are the ones that you hurt, and the ones that hurt you are the ones that you needed the most.

But most of all, you learn that love is only a concept and is not something that can be defined, it is different to each person that experiences it. And you will learn to respect each and every person on this earth, knowing that everyone only wants to be loved.”

— Unknown

(via mcompton)

language and soul

"Women speak two languages.
One of them is verbal."
-William Shakespeare

"You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.”
-C.S. Lewis

"'Twas not my lips you kissed
But my soul"
-Judy Garland

Photograph from my favorite new etsy shop by Tim Irving.

Questions

Where's the line between having hope and being delusional?

What's the difference between he's just not that into you and actually having too much work to do?

Where do you differentiate between lazy and taking the time to relax (especially in regards to unpacking...)?

Do you ask the question even if you're afraid of the answer? Even if not knowing is driving you insane?

When does "standing your grand" become too stubborn (and childish)?

Why is it easier to ask an unending amount of questions than finding the answers?

Edited to add: What's the difference in being the headstrong, independent woman who won't give up and being "that crazy chick" who doesn't have and won't take a clue. (I'd like to think my self-preservation instincts allow me to be the former... because I'd also like to think my levels of common sense won't allow me to be the latter. *crosses fingers*

From xkcd.com, obviously.

My twittascope for July 26...
You aren't afraid to tell someone how you feel, but surprisingly you might be a lot more flexible today than you appear to others. You don't want to come across as wishy-washy, so you'll choose sides and then remain loyal to whatever you pick. It doesn't really matter if you are right; what matters now is that you're following your bliss.

I guess they read my blog. Done and done.

Things I like about coffee...

I love coffee.



And I expect these are good reasons to like someone, too. :)
From le love.

A quote kind of day

"If you want him to fall head over heels, give him something to trip over."

-Unknown

Image from Wooster Collective.

sometimes, unexpectedly lovely

Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4 and write down what it says.

"last blossoms from the pot marigolds and asters all around"

-The Birth House, Ami McKay

What just happened?

Wow, the last 3 months of my life have been an absolute whirlwind. I've (almost) survived my first real wedding season (one of many to come, I know), I started grad school and will most likely pass my summer course, I somehow navigated and planned a tricky living/moving situation and I am making the most of a somewhat interesting (yet, totally exciting) dating situation.

I am overly-sensitive, obsessive and barely hanging on but am loving 97% of every moment. The three percent is me clinging too much to the negative/unknown and me working to get out of that low-point on the emotional roller coaster of life. Because it can be negative and it's all unknown and you can never change that.

I've had a wonderful time with old friends, new friends and the meeting of the two. I've gone to a Kansas City T-Bones game for the first time, drank too much on a Wednesday night (at least two or three times), danced like a fool (at three different weddings) and have decided I'm eloping when I decide to get married.

Currently, I'm avoiding writing my paper for class by thinking about what a bad idea summer school is and trading flirty glances with the guy working at the coffee shop.

I'm feeling better than I was earlier this afternoon when I was upset about a not-so-nice person and when I was contemplating what it takes to make a marriage work. Not an easy part of life, for sure. But, what is easy? And at what point is it all worth the effort and challenge?

I am loving all the great blogs that I follow (even though my google reader is horribly full!) I especially love when they do giveaways ala Mrs. Newlywed. (Quick, current giveaway ends Tuesday!)

Life in my house

Live in my house, I’ll be your shelter. Just pay pay me back with one thousand kisses. Be my lover and I’ll cover you. Open your door; I’ll be your tenant. Don’t got much baggage to lay at your feet, but sweet kisses I’ve got to spare. I’ll be there and I’ll cover you. Just slip me on; I’ll be your blanket. Wherever, whatever, I’ll be your coat. You’ll be my King, and I’ll be your castle. All my life I’ve longed to discover something as true as this is. So with a thousand sweet kisses, I’ll cover you. If you’re cold and you’re lonely, I’ll cover you. When you’re worn out and tired, I’ll cover you. When your heart has expired, oh lover, I’ll cover you.

— Rent


from lelove

Why we're friends

I have awesome and hilarious friends. And sometimes, they say things, and I remember why I love them. Maybe this is one of those "had to be there" moments, but it's my blog, so I'm sharing.

On the phone with a friend and she says:

So, this boy came in the office the other day and I was like, "whoa I hope he flirts with me!" and that was the end of that story.

my movie persona

Well, that's it. I've decided. If my ridiculous (romantic) life was reflected in one story line, it would be Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility. I've never read the book (I have heard it is not Jane Austen's best) but the movie is delightful (and star-studded - but that is another post!)

The gray area. The unclear signals. The awkward expectations. The unknown feelings. The constant doubt. What's he REALLY thinking?

*sigh* I wish this were easier. Right, like that's going to happen.

So, my plan now is to take my friend Megan's advice. She didn't even have to give it this time, I just knew this is what she would say: "Just make out with him!"

Well, ok.

edit: as I was looking for a lovely photograph to accompany this post, I found a quiz: Which Jane Austen character are you? Apparently, it thinks I'm Marianne Dashwood.

Take the Quiz here!

I changed a couple answers to questions I was on the line about and got Elinor.

Take the Quiz here!

Favorite quotes, lyrics from this week

From Australia (which is an epically, beautiful movie that I WISH I could have seen in theatres):
"Just because it is, doesn't mean it should be."

James Otto's new song, Since You Brought it Up



You call me up, the conversation goes, in the usual way,
Oh what ya doin’, a whole lot of nothin’,
Oh it’s been a long, long day.
And then you mention,
You got this bottle of wine
You’ve been saving’ for a while
Ya it’s just waitin’ to be opened
I can only almost hear you smile.

Chorus
Since you brought it up, why don’t you bring it over,
I’d love to see you standin’ in my door,
Your auburn hair fallin’ on your shoulders,
Come on baby are you waiting for ,
You got the wine, I’ve got all night,
We’re only getting’ older,
Since you brought it up, why don’t you bring it over?

(um, totally sexy, no?)


And a song courtesy of Pandora, by Michelle Branch, Something to Sleep To:
She's his yellow brick road
Leading him on
And letting him go as far
as she lets him go
Going down to nowhere

In my mind
Everything we did was right
Open your eyes, I'll still be by your side
How could I ever have been so blind?
You give me something to sleep to
at night

K-10 chasing the sunset

The best reason of all to a have a camera phone.



Because you never know when the beauty of the place you live will take your breath away.

A perfect end to a lovely dinner with an old friend.

"a man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life."
-Charles Darwin

It was good because it was SO ridiculous!

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is the ultimate movie about things high school students cannot really do. But do you hate it for that? No, you embrace it because you WISH you could have done that in high school!

Recently, I stumbled upon Ultra-Condensed movies which gives hilarious summaries of movies. Like, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. If you've seen the movie, you must read the review. Because it's awesome. And true.

Differing Views

Not a happy post, but read this first: Tiller Shot to death at Wichita church

A rather controversial Wichita, Kansas doctor, George Tiller, was shot to death this morning. He was most likely targeted because of his abortion practices that have been a source of news in the past years.

I cannot identify with either side of the pro-life/pro-choice debate. Personally, I could never go through with an abortion but I know that's MY belief and my choice. But I also know there are exceptions I completely understand.

I live in a liberal college town in one of the most conservative states in the country. Suffice to say, I know a lot of interesting people with varied backgrounds and beliefs. I have a good friend whose number one political issue is abortion. He votes based on someone's abortion views. This is so bothersome to me because of all the issues to be your number one priority - this is one that will least affect him, no matter WHAT the law is. If my friend believes in his heart of hearts that abortion is wrong, then he does not need to choose to do that. So, why does he believe his belief should be the belief of everyone else?

There are a lot of words on comment boards and twitter right now about this: martyr, pro-life, pro-choice, targeted, assassinated, activists, advocates, anti-abortion, liberals, wingnuts, extremists. No matter what you want to call the incident or the argument or the people involved, this will likely stir the abortion debate pot; and this debate, no matter how much it is discussed, will NEVER be resolved with a compromise. The only thing we can hope for is an agreement to disagree and to understand that as much as you 100% believe in something, someone else can believe 100% in the very opposite.