Day 160

I seriously had a case of insomnia last night. Er, this morning? What do you call it when you get home around two in the morning and then don't fall asleep until six thirty?

Or maybe it wasn't insomnia. Maybe it was just winding down.

Either way, Zee was worried about me. I had to be awake again in six hours to get ready for my Saturday afternoon/evening shift - which I am currently at...

We had a discussion this morn- er, afternoon about energy drinks versus water. This is a common debate between us. She is pro-water (to the point of obsession), and I am pro-anythingelse (to the point of as long as it's not tasteless water).

Now, don't get me wrong. I do drink water. Not often, to be sure, but I can recognize when there's a thirst upon me that requires the quenching tastelessness of water.

I simply prefer sweet tea. Or gatorade.

Or alcohol.

In any case, it makes me smile a goofy grin when she gets all worried and concerned over me. It's wonderful to be loved.

Shift starts in a few minutes. Gonna drink this GATORADE...

...and then go fill up a cup of water to drink during my shift like I promised Zee.

Day 161

I begrudgingly woke up this afternoon, and I started to think about what I wanted to do with myself in the spare hours I have between bed and work.

Shower. Check.

Eat. Check.

Send Care Package. Check.

Write in Blog. Chee...ck?

It occurred to me that I had no idea what I wanted to write about today.

I know sometimes I flake and put up a pointless blog, but it's not because there wasnt' something I had been thinking about writing. It's because I ran out of time and energy.

So I tossed and turned in bed, mentally bouncing around in search of a topic.

Disney Princesses occurred to me.

The topic always fascinates me for two reasons:

1) These are THE role models for our culture's young girls. And I find that rather sad. These girls aren't doctors, lawyers, superheros, athletes, or teachers. They're just princesses - their entire identity is based off who their father is or who they are married to - which seems to be their obsession.

2) Not all of the Disney Princesses started out as princesses. Just like Kate Middleton, they were just minding their own business in their little common lives until Mr. Pompous, Famous, and Rich waltzed into the picture. And some of these claims to royalty are iffy. The Beast, from Beauty & the Beast - what country does he rule? The story takes place in France, but France didn't seem to mind that they were without a humanoid King/Prince for a long period of time...

Early on, my favorite princess was Belle.

I wanted to be her.

Mostly because she got the kick-ass library.

But I also admired Belle because she wasn't just some damsel in distress. She stood up for herself! She was educated! And when the village threatened to kill the Beast, SHE went to rescue HIM.

Girl is a balla'.

But then I had an even better Princess come into my life...

*sigh*

I was in love - pure and simple. At times I wanted to be her, and at others I just wanted to be with her.

Educated, tough, kick-ass.

Oh, and instead of saving her beastly, would-be boyfriend, she saves all of freaking CHINA.

The best part of all though?

She's not a princess.

She was not born a princess.

And she didn't marry a prince.

In fact, did she get married at all? Even in the sequel, which I refuse to watch?

In any case, her true love is a Captain in the Chinese Army who was on the verge of going gay for Mulan.

Can we see why this movie is Disney Heaven for me?

Oh, it also has Donny Osmond...

Singing in the best Disney song EVER

In "researching" this topic, I might have spent about a half-hour playing on the Disney's Princess Website....

Day 162

Since it's technically already Thursday, and since several people are already doing their Thursday link-ups, and since I'm still awake....

I think this is a song that many people following my blog can relate to...

When I listen to this song, personally I think of how the distance has made our relationship strange. How, even know I know Zee so much, she can become something of a stranger to me. How, even though she becomes like a stranger, I still long for her and miss her so much.

So, this song has been on my mind a lot these past couple weeks. I put the translated lyrics below.

I hope you enjoy.

Witness the genius that is A. R. Rhaman....

Wandering bird... paakhi paakhi pardesi Distant bird...
Chorus:
e ajnabi tu bhi kabhii awaaz de kahii.n se	Hey stranger, you're calling out from somewhere too.
mai.n yahaa.n TukDo me.n jii raha huu.n	I'm living here in pieces --
tuu kahii.n TukDo.n me.n jii rahii hai	somewhere you're living in pieces, too.
roz roz resham sii hava aate-jaate kahatii hai bata	Each day, as it comes and goes, the silken wind says, "Tell me!"
resham si hava kahatii hai bata	The silken wind says, "Tell me!"
vo jo duudh dhulii maasuum kalii	The one who is like a pale, innocent flowerbud --
vo hai kahaa.n kahaa.n hai	that girl, where, where is she?
vo roshanii kahaa.n hai	Where is her light?
vo jaan si kahaa.n hai	The one who is my very life - where is she?
mai.n adhura tuu adhuri jii rahii hai	I am incomplete, and you're only half-alive.
Chorus
tuu to nahii.n hai lekin terii muskaraahaT hai	You're not here, but your smile is.
chehara kahii.n nahii.n hai par terii aahaTe.n hai	Your face is nowhere to be found, but the sound of your footsteps are.
tuu hai kahaa.n kahaa.n hai	Where are you, where?
tera nishaan kahaa.n hai	Where is there a sign of you,
mera jahaa.n kahaa.n hai	where is my world?
mai.n adhura tu adhuri jii rahii hai	I'm incomplete, and you're only half-alive.

In an ironic twist, the movie this song is from? Yeah, it's about a suicide bomber.

Coincidence? I think not.

Day 163

I didn't post much yesterday, because I was just a little tired after having spent 11 and a half hours on my feet!

But even though the hours were long, I did make some good money! And my tables loved me! And how could they not? I am amazing, right?

In fact, one table made sure to tell me I was "wonderful" and "magnificent."

Booyah.

{one} what’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?Wow, not sure. I know I've had some sucky ones, but I guess I've blocked them.I'll say it was any date with this guy my senior year of high school. I think he had a mild form of autism, and it made all of interactions awkward. But I made the best of it!Until I dumped him, of course.
{two} if you could be any other person for one day, who would it be?Don't we all wish we could be someone rich? But I don't want to be rich for a day and then have it all taken back. If I could be anyone for a day, I think I would like to be the President. His wife wouldn't get any sex, and he wouldn't get to shower for that day (or pee - gross), but he would kick certain butts into getting rid of DADT and the "Defense' of Marriage Act.
{three} what is your favorite kind of cheese?I really like gouda.I also just like saying "gouda."
{four} do you remember your 1st grade teacher?Bizarre that this is today's question. Because she was in my dream last night.Like I said - Bizarre. I haven't thought of her in years.
{five} who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?Well, I immediately send Zee an email. Then I try either Heather or Spargo, depending on who's available. Yay for great best friends!
{six} were you ever in a school talent show?Yes. I convinced my high school color guard to perform in our senior year.
{seven} who is your favorite fictional character?Captain Jack Sparrow.Saavy?
{eight} can you open your eyes underwater?When I was little, I used to all the time, knowing full-well that my eyes would be red and burning for hours afterwards. Now that I'm grown, I prefer to spend a few dollars on goggles...
{nine} do you look at the keyboard when you type?No. My mom made sure that my siblings and I learned to type early on. It's pretty much second nature to me.
{ten} when was the last time you took a nap?Does decided to sleep for a couple more hours after waking up count as a nap? Because I definitely did that this morning... But my last nap was Friday afternoon, right before my sister's graduation.I love naps.

Day 164

I worked a 12 hour day...

...and I think I enjoyed it.

Still... good-bye 164.

Day 165

I find a wonderful sense of contentment to be working tonight. I work right next door to where Zee and I had our first date, exactly one year ago.

Happy One Year to me and Zee!!

Day 166

PICTURES GALORE

This past Friday was my sister's graduation!

Her high school years were full of trials and tribulations for all of us,

BUT SHE MADE IT!

I almost caught them all in the air, but I was too busy focusing on...

...catching my baby sis tossing her hat, just like we practiced earlier.

(photo is several down)

Accepting her fake diploma!!

Mom and I passed the time "rating" the shoes of all the students crossing the stage. We were bored, and, no, it wasn't my idea. I came by my superficial ideals honestly.

Our little family.

Love.

Afterwards we watched my little brother play a set at a local open mic.

He dedicated one of his songs (Hannah's favorite) to his "little sister" and offered congratulations to the new graduate. He can be surprisingly sweet sometimes!

Hannah and I had a pre-ceremony photoshoot.

I told her we should practice the hat-toss.

She's a natural.

It took FOREVER to find the perfect white dress.

I can't understand why the high school would pick the most difficult color as the one they would require all the girls to wear under their gowns.

My pretty sister!

MORE RANDOM PHOTOS

We didn't realize at first (in the previous photo) that the branch behind her head was covered in cicadas. It's the Summer Of the Eleven-Year Cicadas here in the South.

And it is my worst nightmare.

Hannah's graduation had me reminiscing about my own senior year of high school.

Browsing through my yearbook, I found this gem.

DDR in the classroom, anyone?

I had to take a photo of myself on the way to my first official shift at my new job.

And tonight is my last night of my first week at my new job.

How fitting!

(Don't my orange glasses make me look so sassy??)

No picture post is complete without photos of my kitties.

I love it when they sleep so cutely.

Pahdu just cuddles up on the bed or a pile of clothes.

Margo is a little more creative.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!