nerd

May 9, 2014

I’d rather be happy

If you know anything about me at all, you know that I am ridiculously obsessed with free stuff. I spend hours researching free activities, entering contests, trying to get free money, etc., etc., so the following might seem a BIT out of character. Do not be too alarmed. (I still like free stuff don’t worry).

This is something that I have always kind of lived by, but today it really like hit me in the face for absolutely no discernible reason. Another contradiction that I am a walking example of is that I like to do new things, try and have unique experiences and take advantage of what I can do while I can! Of course at the same time, I’m like terrified of trying new things, but in the end, to me the experience is always worth it.

So what hit me today was that I would rather be happy than “rich.” Ok I know that sounds cliche and stupid. So let me explain. This week I spent $70.00 at bookstores. Some people may think that is absurd when I already have a zillion books and the pile of “to-read” books is getting taller than I am, but finding a book, picking it up and imagining the possibilities within it? That’s thrilling to me! Finding really random kitchy things that I don’t really need or something I find really funny, I love that. I want to buy all of it. I don’t care if other people think it’s a waste of money or if people think I’m crazy, it’s something that really makes me happy.

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True Story

I feel the same way about spending a little extra money to go do something that I know I truly enjoy. Or to try something I’ve always wanted to do. I know that pretty much everyone else does not share this opinion. Especially as someone in their mid-twenties, the main focus for so many people my age is money. And I totally understand, I know that I have to (and I do) save money for school and for bills and for rent and for becoming a “real adult.” And it might seem irresponsible for me to write this, especially since I work 3 fake jobs and make very little money, but I save almost all of it so why shouldn’t I spend a little more to do things that make me happy. Would I like to have a good job and a really solid savings account and enough money to be a “real adult”? Absolutely, I’d love that! But that isn’t my reality right now, so while I can I want to try new things. I want to go out for a fancy dinner or go to a play or try  a random kayaking adventure.

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So that’s what I’ve been doing for the past several years, well really ever since high school. Unfortunately I remain alone in this venture, because my friends are sensible real adults who have real lives to worry about! So I’m awkward loner in the corner at a random event, or literally the only person who goes to like a Paint/Drink place alone, but I enjoy it. I don’t like blow all my money on some crazy vacation that I’ll never be able to pay off or something like that, but I will spend a little more if I know that even for just a few hours, I will get to enjoy my life. I may never be a rich woman, but I won’t regret doing what makes me happy.

Happy Weekend!

May 4, 2014

What You’ve Missed

Ok, yeah. My last post was in March, so lets all just give me an A+ on that….But when you see what you have missed out on this past month and a half, oh boy will you understand.

Things that have happened in my extremely riveting life since March 21, 2014:

1. I wrote myself some super encouraging notes to get myself to actually DO MY SCHOOL WORK

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This is what it has come to

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Some scare tactics…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. I became best friends with a horse because I feel he is the only one who truly understands me.

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Please Note the “I’m Grumpy, Please do NOT pet me sign”

3. I achieved a life goal and saw Idina Menzel live on Broadway and I cried when she came out. And I also almost attacked Anthony Rapp. Casual.

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SO GOOD. The entire cast was fantastic but ohmygod Idina Menzel is a goddess!

4. I read a lot of books, I watched a lot of Netflix.

And that’s it! Can you believe it? Like WOAHHHH slow down there Kelly don’t push yourself too hard there!

Aren’t we all glad now I didn’t write anything? Yes. I wish I could say that in a flash my life will become exponentially more exciting but that is obviously false. If anyone has any ideas for fun secret missions or FREE adventures, please let me know. I love free things and secret missions. And there just has not been enough of that in my life recently.

Forever avoiding the real world, Kelly.

February 5, 2014

If you don’t like books don’t read this

…..and also you are practically dead to me. But regardless, the following is a list of books I’ve read recently/within the past year that I absolutely recommend to anyone who likes to read. And I do this only because I love sharing wonderfulness I find in books/movies with the world!! Also now next time someone asks me for a book suggestion they may refer to this list! Soooo here are some books for a snow day like today, books I believe that we should be required to read AS HUMAN BEINGS.

1. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

yes Gone Girl was the one that got all the hype (and I did like that book quite a bit too!) but I don’t think nearly enough credit has gone to her two earlier novels. Dark Places is my favorite. I find it more mysterious and thrilling, scary and captivating than Gone Girl. Definitely not a “beach read” but an excellent psychological thriller.

2. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

I honestly did not know about this part of history and it is horribly fascinating and makes for a damn good book. A very nice combination of historical fiction and the present foster family system.

3. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

Do you like dogs? Do you like to laugh out loud? Do you miss the days of picture books? This book is for you.

4. January First by Michael Schofield

A  definite must for anyone interested in mental illness, it is written by the father of an 8 year old girl with schizophrenia. Fascinating! You may have seen them on a special on Discovery Health/TLC/other channels “Born Schizophrenic.”

5. The Glass Castle  by Jeanette Walls

So interesting! If you think your childhood was difficult, read this and then be really thankful that you did not have her childhood. I am amazed that the author and her siblings made themselves into something out of literally nothing. I really don’t think I would have been so strong. The tenacity of children is quite remarkable.

6. The Night Circus  by Erin Morgenstern

My only advice would be that if you choose to listen to this on audiobook, DO NOT under any circumstances, start this when you are alone at night because Track 1 slash the entire little intro section is just the creepiest music ever and it probably should not have been the last thing I heard before I went to bed that night. Just saying. Other than that, excellent 🙂 I want to go to The Night Circus, I’m going to believe in it’s magic and that it’s still out there…..

7. Fellow Mortals by Dennis Mahoney

When I read the back cover all I really saw was that it was about a postal worker or something and I was like umm sounds weird but I was going to read it for a book club because the author is actually from my area so yeah. ANYWAY. Point is, it is WAY more than a book about a postal worker. It is a story of love and loss and trying to make up for ones mistakes. And while it is primarily from the point of view of the mailman, I love that the author also includes everyone else that was affected, even the dog. And not in a cheesy stupid ‘oh the dog is talking now’ kind of way. Very well done.

8. Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson

There is really nothing I can say, that will do this book any justice. I will say (and this is absolutely true, not an exaggeration) I was physically unable to put this book down. The one time I did put it down because I was forced to, because I was supposed to be at work (dumb), all I did for the next several hours was talk about the book. I have not been THAT captivated by a book since the final Harry Potter book came out. So, we know I mean business! haha

I could seriously write at least 10 more and I am not pleased that I only gave y’all 8 (because 8 is not a great number but I’m doing exposure AH #teamanxiety #winning!) but I know that no one probably cares. Because we all have different tastes! So you may not like any of these! But if you find one you like, I’ll feel that my job is done.

READ ALL THE BOOKS EVER ❤ Kelly

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There is nothing better….

p.s. I realize that there seems to be (with one clear exception) a theme in this list of fairly dark/serious/emotional books and I do want people to know that I do read fluffy shit too. And all other kinds of books. I’m not just like this weird dark and twisty evil book lover. At least, I don’t think I am…..

July 5, 2013

But when are we seriously going to get our act together on this time travel thing?

Happy 5th of July! Hope everyone had a nice and fun 4th and didn’t end up burned to a crisp like I did. That’s what I get for falling asleep outside in direct sunlight with no sunscreen on. Sigh. I never learn. So today is painful. Like walking, is hard. Not so much a fan. And although today would probably be another great pool day, I think I’m going to skip that today. Also, if you saw the weather this morning or look online it literally just says “Oppressive.” I’ll stick with air conditioning thank you very much.

I don’t really know what got me thinking about the topic of this blog, but I thought about it a couple days ago and my crazy imagination just went to town. Basically here’s the deal. Back in the 80s and 90s like how many movies were made about having the ability to time travel? Roughly a million (*that may not be a factual statistic hard to say). But seriously, Back to the Future? Right? Like we are supposed to have the technology to time travel by now. And I think it is simply criminal that we don’t! We have figured out how to have a car parallel park itself and developed innovations like the “Pizza Pizzazz” but we can’t like figure out time travel? Really? That’s appalling.

Now I’m not talking just simply “turning back time” like in Harry Potter. I mean that would have been nice too but all those time turners were destroyed at the Ministry of Magic so we are out of luck there. No, I want like full out going back into a totally different era. As a kid I always fantasized about living in different time periods. Coupled with my obsession with the “Dear America” books, “Magic Attic Club”,  Oregon Trail, and American Girl dolls I thought about this allllllll the time. So I have lots of stories that I made up as a kid of me living in different centuries, different countries, etc etc. And now, at 24, I think its time something is done about this!

Think about it. How cool would it be to go back to the Medieval Ages or be a Pilgrim or a crazy flapper girl of the 20s? And the weird part is, I don’t even want to go back to “just the good parts.” I want to know what it was like living through the depression. I want to experience growing up in the 1800s and working all day. I want to walk across the country to Oregon for the possibility of a new beginning. Not saying the good parts are a no go, just saying I really wish I could experience it all. And while I can read all I want about history, it could never compare to knowing that feeling, that experience of truly living a different life.

The point is, I am not smart and so I need someone with actual intelligence to start making me a time machine. And make it snappy. I personally don’t think enough of our resources are going towards time travel research. Like, maybe we could take a break on improving cell phones and focus on a time machine for a bit? Maybe? I think people would be happier. And its educational soooo I am not understanding why this isn’t a priority. Since I’m such an important person I’m sure the government is on the edge of their seats waiting to see what I’ll say next, so as soon as they see this they will get right on my time machine. But if they are “too busy” or whatever I challenge anyone else to make me a time machine. I will let you ride in it! I just think that its 2013 and it is practically unbelievable that we can’t time travel. I want to change that. Well, I want someone else to change that so I can benefit from it. Really, I’m just looking out for people everywhere.

Hopefully next time I’ll see you we could ACTUALLY party like its 1776!

June 7, 2013

And this is why I need to rethink my priorities

I am definitely not a normal person. Meaning, I think I would happily categorize myself as a nerd slash social outcast slash awkward person. I don’t know. Point is, I’m super special. I have a tattoo in Elvish on my foot. Harry Potter is the closest thing I know to religion. I have cried more over the plight of fictional characters than I ever have about anything in my own life. It upsets me that Starbucks/Barnes and Noble/other coffee places aren’t open 24/7 so I can just go there and be awesome and alone. My favorite part of school has always been buying school supplies. To this day I agonize over choosing the perfect pen and I love getting new highlighters and sharpies. Almost the entirety of my free time is spent doing research on really random topics. Or sometimes not so random (aka, I really need to move on from the otter thing but that’s never going to happen!). And of course, I’d rather go to see a show at the theater than a movie. So yes I’m a little different. But that’s how I like it. There are times however, when I realize how lame I really am sometimes. Today was one of them.

I should also mention that what occurred today has in fact happened before. Last time it was just a weird kind of awkward thing, but today I was like…. umm need to rethink some priorities here Kelly! Basically, as most of you know, the library is the best place on earth. FREE BOOKS?!?! Like are you kidding?? That is heaven. So yes, I totally take advantage of the library! I don’t know why more people don’t. Daily I think of new movies, CDs, and books that I want to check out and then I request them from the library. So my request list is usually pretty long, but because I am sadly not the most important person in the entire world, sometimes it takes a while to get what I want. Today however, the library called me because I had too many books on hold at the library and they didn’t have enough room to store them all. Again, this is not the first time this has happened to me. I think the experience is so humiliating because the library staff are totally judgmental when you get to this point. As she stood there scanning each book, she just shook her head, repeatedly saying “You’re not going to be able to do it” under her breath. And I was like Hey! Give me a chance! I mean in all reality she is probably right, I’m not going to finish all of them before they need to go back, but she could at least encourage me to try! Jerks!

The point of that randomly long and pointless little story is that if I put as much effort into something more self – improving, I would probably not be where I am right now. It seems as if my priorities and energy are being directed mostly at the library these days. And while reading is obviously great, considering the present situation, my time might be better used elsewhere. But what on earth could I do that would ever be as much fun as carrying bags of free books out of the library? Riddle me that.Imagethe above picture is of me in Hawaii on the day Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince came out, at like 7 in the morning. I did not move much that day.