state of the fran

Hi.

Well my email getting hacked resulted in some funny/strange emails from random people in my address book so I thought I would take some time to let everyone know what's going on in my life. I am taking summer classes. It is far too hot and I think my brain is melting. Gainesville is an oven. My garden is not doing so well because of this. It is so hot I cannot think. Seriously, it's taken me like an hour to type this.

I am very excited about my internship. I am interning with Lady Vanderbilt, a wonderful jewelry/accessories brand. It has been a lot of fun so far. I am interested in branding, web design, and social media marketing so this is perfect for me. Plus it gives me an excuse to find and look at awesome fashion blogs.

I am excited to see my good friend Jen soon. We plan on going to The Ravenous Pig and eating something decadent. I love Jen because she is the first person to show me that Orlando actually has cool non-touristy places to be. Actually, that's only one of the reasons I love Jen. And I get a break between summer classes and I am so excited to go back to South Florida. Another good friend Amy will be down visiting her family so I am really excited to see her. It's been way too long. As a grad student, I have very small classes and much less time to socialize so it is alot harder to meet new friends. Getting older I have really come to appreciate the friends I have.

I miss you Katy! And Lindsey! And Erica! And Jill!

mostly about bears

I want to preface this by saying I am not sure if anyone else will find this amusing. This isn't a post about a cool artist or a serious issue. If you want that, go to design sponge or someplace that doesn't ramble as much as I do.

I have a few close girl friends and they all live in different cities. Katy is in Dallas for now, Lindsey is in Virginia, Amy is in Chicago,Erica is moving to New York City, and Jen is in Orlando. We are all doing vastly different things so it is nice to check in using the internet from time to time.

This post will mostly concern Katy and Jen. Katy has had this dream of opening a bakery for a long time. I should also add that she is a genius that has interned for the Clinton Foundation and already has her Master's Degree in Public Health at 23. Jen works at Lockheed Martin and has a very grownup job and big people furniture. She also drives a beautiful car which I am all too happy to have her pick me up in.

I love the idea of opening a bakery but have no money. Katy suggested small business loans, I suggested illict activities. I then suggested we get Jen to be our investor, as she is the only friend who is gainfully employed. Katy then suggested the most logical next move - we steal Jen's car. This exchange followed:

me: i dont think jen will like this plan
let's not tell her
katy: ok
do you know how to steal a car?
me: hm
katy: i'm sure it's on the internets

We quickly realized that Jen's car is probably fancier than the average car. It has bluetooth. I am still not quite sure what bluetooth is. Since Jen was online during this planning, we decided to covertly gain information.

katy:jen said her car has antitheft protection
i'm going to ask if it has bears
me: now she has to know we are up to something!
katy:she said it has attack grizzlies
we're screwed
me: crap. i saw grizzly man, bears dont play

We had mostly given up on this plan until Katy let me know one fact. Jen identified the attack bears as Russian. Then I identified myself as a huge nerd.


me: i know about animals
grizzlies are the largest land carnivore
and are only native to north america
katy: oh man
you should call jen out
me: i am calling jen out

I called Jen out and thought we had victory. But this was her response.

jen: grizzlies were given to stalin as a peace making present, post cold war
and as they roamed near the arctic circle, they adapted
and became more vicious
and someone got the bright idea to sell them as attack bears
and i profit from that man's ingenuity

Your car is safe for now Jen. But I know something you don't: bears sleep. And Katy and I will only wait.

fierce five

We sorta look like the fanta girls. Oh well...

we should be models!

Happy Birthday Jen!

Giant Cupcake cake from capital cupcakes

Dry & Tame: Orlando weekend

I went to Wet & Wild with my best girls. This was my first time at a water park and I think I like them. It was really fun but it might have also been the company.
FINALLY got to see Amy. A reunion of sorts. You know, sometimes you don't realize how much you miss someone until you see them again. It was cool to have Fish, Jen, Katy, Amy, and myself all in one place.
Amy is so awesome. She arranged for us to all stay in a hotel that was more like a townhouse. It was really nice. And it was nice to get to know her boyfriend better because he's great too. Lucky duck! Amy's sister Lisa also came and brought her betrothed Adam.
We all had a ridiculous amount of fun. Conversational highlights include Katy and I trying to decide which one of us would be the butch one if we were really in a relationship* and what delicious enormous chain restaurant we were going to eat at. I finally tried Bahama Breeze. I was not disappointed though I do wish I would have ordered one of those cute margaritas. Cheesecake Factory has got to open a restaurant in Gainesville!
Orlando is funny place. It's mostly made of plastic. But the memories are decidedly not plastic. Not even close.

*Interestingly enough, both of us were arguing for the butch role. In the end we decided to not let male/female dynamics define our same-sex relationship.

I fought the mall and the mall won

So far I have done nothing of merit during our spring break. Our dear Katy is currently in El Salvador saving the world. Amy is working hard in DC. Zi is teaching. Jen and I are currently on the Mall tour of Florida. Oh and watching way too much television. And eating food. It feels goooood.

Today we went to my old hangout, the sawgrass mills mall. It was pretty sweet. Only one slightly sketchy thing happened. A man approached Jen and I while we were at the food court. He asked Jen what time the mall closed. Jen replied that she didnt know. He said that he came here all the time. Then he asked me if I was going to finish my food. I said no and gave him the rest of my Sbarro pasta.

WHO ASKS STRANGERS FOR THEIR PARTIALLY EATEN FOOD?

Tongiht I am writing a new cover letter for some jobs. Someone give me a good job. I might end up asking strangers if they are going to finish that pasta.

random thoughts on amy winehouse

My friend Jen and I talk online constantly. I thought this was funny:

me: is it bad that i like amy winehouse ?
salty jen: no. but you have to hate her hair by default.
me: ugh. i think the updo is an interesting look but her's is too big.
salty jen: yeah
me: i do sorta like the bardot on crack eyeliner
salty jen: it looks like if it got any bigger, her head would snap off her neck
me: lol. im adding this part of the conversation to my blog. winehouse is british?
salty jen: i don't think so. i don't know where she's from.
me: i dont think i have ever heard her speak
salty jen: i just know that she doesn't want to go to rehab
me: no no no

"I love sugar.... I'm like an ant!" - Our friend Erica after enjoying a super sweet pink drink with a sugared ring at The Top. By the way, I hate it when people refer to The Top as Tops.

And as much as I like Amy Winehouse I like another Amy better. She's like my guru.

"it's easy to look back on past relationships and only see how they ended, and only see what you could have done differently. but i honestly think that relationships are learning experiences, and a failed relationship is not a reflection on you, or on anyone."