"I" Statements

I am: a lover, not a fighter; a writer; a woman; a thinker; an investigator; a pop-culture enthusiast; much more positive than I used to be; a friend; a sister; a daughter; creative; a brunette; a Libra with a Capricorn rising and Taurus moon; spiritual; a questioner; indecisive; unique.

I said: way too many things I shouldn’t have; “I love you” and they were the last words my dad heard from me; “I can.”

I want: to be happy; to make others happy; to see the world; to succeed as a person; to write; to be read; to learn; to fall in love; to have a family.

I wish: I knew what to say at the right time; I didn’t worry so much; I could give her hope; I had answers.

I strongly dislike: red meat; beets; prejudice; fake-ness; big egos; stupidity/chosen ignorance; throwing up; bigots; suffering; cantaloupe; feeling stupid; the first college I went to; wind (I picked the wrong city, I’m aware); potty humor, my stomach.

I miss: naps; not having a care in the world.

I fear: knives; centipedes; snakes; that I won’t find someone.

I hear: conversations; music; keyboards clicking.

I wonder: what I should be doing in my life; what will happen to me in the next year.

I regret: that I pushed my dad away when he tried to reach out to me the summer before he died.

I am not: fake; weak; dependent; judgmental; always confident.

I dance: like I mean it.

I sing: in the shower; in my car; when I’m alone; with my friends.

I cry: when I’m sad; when I am frustrated; at movies and TV shows and sometimes even Hallmark commercials; too much.

I am not always: certain; active; attractive (inside or out)

I made: good decisions; peace with my father; strides in forgiving myself.

I write: because I have to.

I confuse: alligators and crocodiles; “lie” and “lay;” my friends when I say or do things really out of character.

I need: to trust more; to become financially secure; laughter; chocolate; food; air; water; love.

I should: get back to work; get more sleep; watch less TV.

I start: every day with bleary eyes; writing things but don’t finish; lists constantly.

I finish: most of the books I start; my day with reflection; all my desserts.

I tag: whoever wants to do this.

PS>I got this from a year in the life.

I’ve Got to Be Movin’ On

It’s done. I’m a mixture of emotions. Excited. Nervous. Happy. Anxious. Optimistic. Uncertain. They’re all bubbling down deep. The time has come for a major change.

I just turned in my two-week notice. My last day of work will be the 26th. Unlike most people who leave a job for another, my change is going to be an even-bigger transition. I’m finally going to grad school, full-time this summer. While it is exciting and wonderful, it’s a little bit scary.

Gone are the days of steady income, workplace commeraderie, and staff meetings. Also gone are the frustrating days we all have that mimic the commercial of a man in an office with a bunch of monkeys. Here, instead, come days of classes, homework, tight budgets, and dream pursuits. It’s exciting; it’s scary. Because this is what I know, what is coming is new territory. And while it would be easy to stay, it’s time to move on.

“Have you ever seen stagnant water?” I asked my sister last week. “It’s smelly and gross.” We don’t necessarily want to change, but life does and we have to move along with it. This chapter is coming to a close, the next one is uncharted–it’s one I can’t wait to discover.

Fishy Business

Or, Why I Don’t Like the Little Mermaid

So, it seems you all were actually interested in finding out what I have against the Little Mermaid. I wasn’t sure if it’d be well received originally. I guess you could say in my last post I was fishing for a response.…Fishing! Get it? Anyway, moving on…

I saw the Little Mermaid with a friend and her family. She was a few years younger and they took us and her little sister to see the movie. If the movie came out in 1989 (which according to the IMDB, it did) then I was 10 years old, as I believe it was around Christmas time. Being 10 years old, I didn’t give much thought to the movie beyond bright colors, comedy, fun songs, and the Disney-fied oh-so-happy ending. I liked the movie when it came out. I even had my mom buy me the movie on VHS. Then, it happened.

It’s not so much that I don’t like the movie The Little Mermaid so much as I don’t like the little mermaid. I really can’t stand Ariel. There, I’ve said it. She annoys the crap out of me. She’s whiny and selfish. There’s a whole damn song where all she says is “I want…I want…I want.”

She knowingly goes to a witch for help and puts multiple lives in danger because, once again, she’s selfish and she only cares about what she wants. I think she’s kind of ditzy too. Oh, and she falls in love with someone before she even meets him? Before she talks to him? Gets to know him? And because of that, she goes to said witch for help in her selfish pursuits. Whatever!

I realize that the original story may be to blame. Although in the original story, the mermaid ends up pretty pathetic and sad. Here she is rewarded for that whiny, selfish behavior. Oh, and also? I haven’t read the Hans Christian Anderson story.

When the Disney boom happened in the 90’s, I partook. I enjoyed. But for some reason, Ariel just started to grate on my nerves. I think she’s a horrible role model. I’ve always liked Belle from Beauty and the Beast better. She reads and thinks for herself. She falls in love with the Beast despite his appearance and does it once she knows him. She was willing to make a sacrifice for someone else. A much better role model, yet still flawed of course.

Generally speaking, I think Disney movies have some real problems. Of late, the general problem is that they look really bad and the sequel thing, please Disney animators, have an original thought. The only thing Disney had going for it in regard to its animated movies was associating itself with Pixar and that appears to be over. I think Disney’s heyday is over.

So there you have it. I don’t like the little mermaid. She bugs me. The only reason I care if she has her happy ending is so it will shut her up. Feel free to disagree. But know this, I have strongly disliked her for about 10 years. I probably won’t change my mind now. Because in addition to not caring for whiny selfish cartoon characters, I’m also pretty stubborn.