trivia night

Tonight is the night that I test the amount and accuracy of my useless knowledge. That's right—it's pub trivia night at Ballydoyle's. 

Trivia makes me happy. Trivia is the spice of the intellectual world—the rainbow sprinkles in a sea of nuts, if you will. The great thing about trivia, is that we all know something interesting. Like, did you know that Io, one of the four moons of Jupiter, is the most volcanically active area in our solar system? Or, that hydrogen bonding is the essence of paper. You get the idea... 

Like like spice. It makes me happy, and for me, spice is what makes life so worth living. 

Watch out Trebek! 

My First Pie :)

the mall

The post will start out sort of gloom and doom, but I promise, I will make it uplifting and button it up at the end. 

As some of you may know, I loath [to the infinity power] mediocrity, therefore, the mall is a very testing experience for me. I live in Elmhurst, an upscale community just busting at the buttons with normalcy. I work in Oakbrook Terrace, an even more upscale, small yippy dog-toting [in Louis Vuitton, of course (p.s. I had to google how to spell that)], giant luxury SUV-driving com-residential [commercial and residential] neighborhood, also, of course, stuffed with middle-ness. I'm sure that these two places in which I spend so much of my time are not the norm of America because of their higher per capita income, but from a different perspective am pretty sure that they are not all that far off in terms of a general atmosphere in which we are all surrounded by. 

This middle ground, mediocre, normal, complacent life gets to me not because of the good that it represents, but more so the fear that it encompasses. A fear to live one's life for themselves, to follow their heart, to freely emotionally breathe and follow one's dreams. 

When I talk to Sam and I refer to a "minivan," it is not the vehicle I am referring to. It is the very lifestyle where people feel as if they need, must and desire to be so "in the middle" that they have lost a perspective of all that is truly good in and on this earth. As individuals we are guaranteed by God a life that is full of choices—this embodiment of choices is known as our freewill. Please, my friends, live life. Do good not because it is what is expected of you, but because it what you know and feel in your heart. Fear not the rejection of others, be steadfast, stay strong and have faith that your heart will always guide you where you need to be. 

I read a very funny blog called "Stuff White People Like". This blog humorously illustrates what I mean when I say, "minivan." If you can relate with my words on this page, I'm sure you'll find this as satisfying as I do. 

sometimes....

Sometimes I think life is cheating on me... You know—it's horrible feeling in your gut when you just know something is wrong, but can't figure out what it is and then all of a sudden it happens and you confirm what you've known all along. 

I do really try to keep my posts upbeat and happy, but lately it has been increasingly difficult to continue the happy-go-lucky type of attitude when I'm not so happy nor have I been so lucky. 

The scientist inside tells me that speaking in terms of probability, something good has to happen eventually. The optimist within tells me everything will be O.K. The spiritualist reasons that there is a balance to all parts of life; specifically that there is a time to reflect and a time to act. However, it is the Believer in me that truly knows that whatever I am going through, good, bad or indifferent, at this point in time does indeed have it's purpose and life is going along just the way it is supposed to. 

I know that I sound a friggin Hallmark card and I apologize... 

P.S. — I can't seem to lose like these 2 pesky pounds I've been hanging on to since last month... grrr. I think my words to a co-worker summed it up yesterday. As I'm walking out the door to go the B & N for lunch across the street, I put on my sunglasses and said out loud, "I'm having a Jackie O type of day!" She joyfully agreed much to my delight. While this was initially in reference that my dress, hair and sunglasses were of 'Jackie O' likeness, I was really feeling like the world was not being very fair to me at the present moment and as I forcefully place my oversized, yet classic sunglass on my face I was actually hiding behind them because those are just the types of days I've been havin! 

P.P.S. — If at this very moment you're thinking about stalking me, just stop right now. Thanks, but no thanks...