Thoughts from my Couch

I Love to Laugh

Posted on by Megan

Mary Poppins Movie Poster

Growing up my sister and I split our weekends at our Grandmothers’ homes. This is the last in a series of two reminiscing about those weekends.

On the weekends we stayed with GranMerle, we’d make spaghetti, eat Oatmeal Creme Pies like they were going out of style, play smut, dominoes, and a host of other card games, listen to GranMerle recall moments from her childhood, listen to 8-track tapes, play with the Playmobil dollhouse, and eat the best homemade banana pudding (made by GranMerle, of course). Not to mention accompanying her to her weekly hair appointment, playing Barbies, and generally being her shadow for about 36 hours.

But one of the things I remember most is watching Mary Poppins practically every weekend we stayed with her. [Which led me to buy it when the limited DVD edition came out]. What is it about Mary Poppins that is so intriguing? Is it the fantasy sidewalk chalk world they jump into? The practically perfect measuring tape Mary uses? The spoonfuls of sugar she encourages the children to take medicine with? Or maybe dancing chimney sweeps, which I’m pretty sure led to me inquiring to my parents about a chimney sweep of our own once or twice. There’s also that hilarious guy named Dick van Dyke…Through it all, I fondly remember Grandmerle often opening up her hide-a-bed sofa for us to pile up and watch Mary Poppins on, she would always be totally concentrated on the movie just as we were, until we bribed her for another Oatmeal Creme Pie, that is…

I don’t know if it was coincidence or not that Julie Andrews had the starring role in both movies that we obsessively watched at our Grandmothers’ homes, but either way it helped me name her one of my favorite actresses of all time. To this day, I cannot get over how much love our grandmothers gave us when we visited them. I’m sure they could quote the movies in their sleep, but they never once complained about having to watch them over and over and over again with us. There truly is nothing like a grandmother’s love.

The Hills are Alive…

Posted on by Megan

Sound of Music Movie Poster

Growing up my sister and I split our weekends at our Grandmothers’ homes. This is the first in a series of two reminiscing about those weekends.

On the weekends we stayed with Ottie, we’d make homemade potato chips, walk across the street to Maxine’s Diner (now Mama Max’s) for burgers, “ice skate” on [aka polish] her hardwood floors to a Dolly Parton record, play with our aunts’ old Barbies and make their furniture out of shoeboxes, have a nightcap of Coca-Cola in a small glass, and pick cherries off her cherry tree. Not to mention playing with her dog, Foo-Foo, planting flowers in her flower beds, and generally being her shadow for about 36 hours.

But the thing I remember most is watching The Sound of Music practically every weekend we stayed with her. So it shouldn’t surprise you that it is one of my favorite movies of all time. In fact, I consider the opening scene to be one of the best in the industry. It’s perfect: the blue ski, the lush mountains, the perfection in Julie Andrews’ voice. Every time I watch it, I want to be her. There are so many things about the movie that I love, like the confidence she finds in herself, because really? What is so fearsome about 7 children? Then there’s the strapping Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp. I mean, hello. Then towards the end of the movie there’s one of the best scenes, the talent contest. I remember Maddie and me laughing and laughing at the lady who bows her way across the stage to accept her award, then bows her way off the stage with flowers in her arms when we watched it with Ottie, sometimes even rewinding just to laugh some more.

I don’t know how Ottie never got tired of watching this movie over and over again with us. I mean even classics can get old after a while, but she was always there, in her chair doing needlepoint or a word puzzle or absolutely nothing but watching along with us. It’s just one of the many ways I remember Ottie today.

Up next? Weekends with GrandMerle…

Alpha Delta Pi Directory Update

Posted on by Megan

Alpha Delta Pi Lawn Letters

Oh how I love sorority directory update time.

Today, I [finally] stopped putting off calling to verify/update my information for the Alpha Delta Pi international directory. Luckily on the other end of the line was a very nice black woman (I could tell her race from her voice, you know). Anyway, she’s asking me about my initiation year [2002], college [University of Arkansas] and major [Journalism] and then goes into my current job title [Training and Development Specialist]. All of a sudden she stops and says (in that ghetto fabulous way) “Giiiiiirl, why you giving up that degree? That’s a heavy major, you could be the next Diane Sawyer.”  [I smile, I’m sure she felt it through the phone.]

After we finish my updates I’m told for 2 easy payments of 49.95 I can have the newest international directory. I said thanks but no thanks, I’ve got Facebook.

Year in Review

Posted on by Megan

It’s that time of year again. The time of year where I reflect over the last 365ish days of my life and post my observations. For your reading pleasure, I present 2009 vs. 2010 (thus far):

  • 2009: Strangers who think flirting while driving is attractive are wrong, extremely.
    2010: Cars with random sayings written on their back window should be taken off the road. Today’s quote? “Porno Country” written in white shoe polish.
  • 2009: One of the best feelings in the world is getting mail that is not a) a bill, b) junk, or c) expected, especially when said mail is on handmade stationery. That is quite possibly the most heartwarming envelope to open.
    2010: Speaking of handmade stationery, I began designing my own stationery this year. You should check it out 🙂
  • 2009: Reading in bed until late at night can be quite relaxing.
    2010:  Watching Food Network in bed is the best way to unwind and head to dreamland.
  • 2009: Season 8 of American Idol was not hyped up enough.
    2010: Season 9 of American Idol was horribly over-hyped. Can we just go ahead an give Crystal Bowersox the title?
  • 2009: Ellen DeGeneres is the new Oprah. If you don’t believe me Google their ratings.
    2010: Ellen DeGeneres is the newest American Idol judge. Watch out, she’s about to take over the World.
  • 20o9: Using Facebook as a verb is acceptable.
    2010: Using “tweet” as a verb is acceptable, so is using “tweep” as a noun.
  • 2009: Watching a wannabe model have a nervous breakdown because ANTM or Make Me a Supermodel wants to chop her hair off is good television, no matter how bad you feel for her.
    2010: Watching crazy housewives act like high school mean girls [or mafia members] all season and then meet up for a reunion long after the filming has wrapped is good television.
  • 2009: Long late night phone calls with your boyfriend who lives 30 minutes away are a great way to relax.
    2010: Long late night phone calls/video chats with your boyfriend, who moved 8 hours away last May, are my favorite way to end a long day.
  • 2009:  My iPod is one of my proudest investments. Every song it plays is either  “my jam”, “my favorite song ever”, or a song “I LOVE”. I’m not ashamed.
    2010: My iPhone is my single greatest investment ever. How did I survive without it? [see also: Words with Friends]
  • 2009: Despite looking like you could break your back doing the workout, Afro-Latin is one of the most fun workouts I have ever done…despite being a sweaty mess afterwards.
    2010: Despite hearing how cheesy it is or remembering the unfortunate neon leotards from 80’s that many still [wrongly] associate with it, Jazzercise is the single best workout I’ve ever done, not to mention the only one I’ve stuck with for over 4 months without complaint. I? LOVE. IT!
  • 2009: Twitter is overrated, sort of.
    2010: Twitter is how I make it through my work day.
  • 2009: Facebook is overrated.
    2010: Since when did Facebook become the place for High School “spirit weeks”. I don’t care about the color of your underwear, your birthplace, or the celebrity you most resemble. What happened to original status updates??
  • 2009: Mini watermelons from Fresh Market are a seasonal yet delectable treat.
    2010: Cupcakes from Cupcakes on Kavanaugh are a delectable treat.
  • 2009: Why have I not seen “Princess Bride”?
    2010: Why have I not seen “This Is It”?
  • 2009: Cooking/Baking is my new stress relief.
    2010: Jazzercise is my new [and hopefully permanent] stress relief.
  • 2009: Girls’ nights will teach you more about your friends that you would know otherwise.
    2010: Girls’ nights, with friends you can be truly yourself around, are few and far between.
  • 2009: Despite how silly you look while doing it, the Masala Bhangra workout really does work.
    2010:  Despite how much of a mistake they were in the 90’s, Hammer Pants are back. did we not learn anything?
  • 2009: Did I mention I’m going to see Billy Joel? In concert? With Elton John?
    2010: Did I mention I’m going to my favorite beach this summer?!?!?!

I’m ADD and Proud

Posted on by Megan

Here’s what my Mac screen looks like on a regular basis:

Desktop

  • Facebook? Check.
  • Work email? Check.
  • Random website? Check. [BTW, you MUST check out Imogen Heap if you haven’t already]
  • Tweetdeck? Check.
  • iTunes? Check.
  • iChat? Check.
  • Adium? Check.

Yep, I’m ready for another productive evening on the couch in front of the TV! What does your screen look like?