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Wish List: 2012

I’m totally pumped after having just finished watching the State of the Union address given tonight by President Obama. As a fellow tweeter said:

 

Obama made me proud tonight, as he usually does after a powerful speech but there was something really special about this one. Howard Fineman said it best:

 

In keeping with my “GO GET ‘EM” motivation, I logged on to BarackObama.com and searched around for things to buy to show my support. Here are things I’m loving:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can find these awesome Obama 2012 items and more by clicking {here}.

And don’t forget, get out and vote in November!

 

Baby Mama Drama

{note: click pictures to enlarge. click underlined words for links to accompanying music videos}

Through 2006-2007, I claimed Beyonce’s ‘Irreplacable‘ as the anthem to the relationship I was in at the time. It was always awkward in the car when him and I would be driving and I’d make a point to turn up the volume to remind him that I was a strong, empowered woman who wouldn’t think twice about kicking him to the curb if he ever betrayed me.

But beyond this one Gloria Gaynor, “I Will Survive“-esque song, I have never been a fan of Beyonce’s music. I can’t tell you how much I hated,’Bootylicious‘ by Destiny’s Child and how irritated I was that Stevie Nicks would ever agree to a cameo in their music video, given that they tainted a perfectly good intro tune to the classic song, “Edge of Seventeen” (now that’s real music).

I remember visiting my friend in Dallas a while back where we met up with her old sorority sisters and went to a trendy, packed bar in downtown Dallas. In the back of the bar they were playing dance, showing the accompanying music videos on large screens along the back wall. Suddenly ‘Single Ladies’ came on and the sorority sisters all seemed to freeze in place, fixated on the images of Beyonce dancing. Suddenly, as if they’d morphed into 6-year old girls emulating their hero, they began mirroring her every move. It was the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen.

But that aside, and omitting that I think her music is grossly overrated, I am happy to wish a warm congratulations on the birth of their surrogate’s baby.

That’s right, I am one of the many who believe Beyonce, that booty shakin’, toe tappin’, sassy sista didn’t give birth to little Baby Blue. Or Baby Louie. Or was it Blue River?

Who knows.

Anyway – let’s face the facts, folks: Female celebrities, especially beautiful, curvy ones, usually don’t want to run the risk of losing their sexy physique by widening their hips and succumbing to saggy boobs all in the name of having a baby. I mean, why have a baby when you can pay for one ?

 

So here I give you, a little food for thought: Reasons leading me to believe Beyonce faked being preggers.

#1. In October, Beyonce appeared on an Australian talk show. As she began to sit down, her belly appears to fold and/or deflate:

Take a closer look:

 

Weird.

#2. Rumor mill.

Okay, I agree – celebrity rumors aren’t always true. Rumors in general aren’t always true. But there was SO much speculation surrounding Beyonce’s pregnancy, you have to wonder…

 

You didn’t have to look hard to find one report after another speculating:

here

or here

here

and here too

even this one

 

#3. Check out this article from Yahoo Music where they post their pics for Beyonce’s chicest baby bump looks. Then talk to a woman who has actually had a baby and tell me if she’d leave the house 6/7/8 months pregnant in 5 inch heels.

 #4. Paying to close off a whole floor to have your baby?

I mean, look – I’m not a celebrity, so I can’t imagine living my life followed by paparazzi and crazed fans. But I have to believe that Beyonce could have easily had a baby in the hospital without causing such chaos. I tend to believe this was a publicity stunt and the heightened security was for the surrogate and the protection of the truth.

 

#5. I decided to search on Twitter for “Beyonce”, scoping out what others had to say about all this. Here’s what I found:

Sure, this photo could be photoshopped, but maybe it’s not?

The caption at the bottom is the most amusing: “Beyonce baby is adorable with her lil white self“

Hm.

I also found this on Twitter:

Good for Joan Rivers, that witty old bat!

Anyway, I’m not a detective and I don’t claim to be. But I enjoy a little gossip now and then, so cheers to the happy parents and the surrogate who just made enough money to never work another day in her life.

Next blog post: Beyonce’s Baby, Satan on Earth?

Reflection

With a glass of wine in my hand and Joni Mitchell sweetly singing ‘Both Sides Now’, I’m quietly tucking away 2011.

Sure, I had disappointments, moments of weakness, periods of self-doubt and even a peppering of being total unaware. But this year has brought about so many changes. I was handed puzzle pieces of my life and now as 2012 approaches I’m challenging myself to put those pieces where they belong.

For me, 2012 is all about the road less traveled both figuratively and literally. I’ve begun a journey of self-discovery that I’m both excited and anxious about. I can’t wait to fill my passport and put hundreds of miles on my car, camera by my side, music in my hear, and a smile on my face.

Who can complain about the snow when breathing in the air, or feel miserable about the heat when you’re alive to soak up the sun? Life is a journey, so get in your car.

What are you waiting for?

{click picture to enjoy 'both sides now'}

Food for thought: Dining Out Alone

For most people, the thought of eating out alone is unimaginable. Eating out alone tends to get a bad rap and in my opinion eating out alone is liberating and sometimes more enjoyable than eating with others.

Prague, Czech Republic

I’m writing this blog post from Prague, Czech Republic. This has been my first adventure in Europe, my first journey abroad, and my first international trip alone. When I was preparing to leave on my adventure, several people exclaimed, “You’re traveling alone?! You’re so brave!” I assume they also thought I was a little crazy. But I enjoy being alone: traveling alone, eating alone, watching tv alone, and even living alone. I always relate it back to being an only child and spending years playing by myself and entertaining myself, but I think it’s also part of my personality – the part where I’m independent and self-reliant.

The “you’re so brave” crowd are probably also some folks who would might never eat out alone. I assume they’re afraid that people would judge them, make snapshot conclusions on their social status, relationship status, or maybe even their sanity. I sometimes feel the same way, but it’s less likely for me to care what others think of me dining alone than it might be for the “you’re so brave” folks.

One of the first meals I remember eating alone was breakfast at a Denny’s in Brandon, Florida, near Tampa. To add to the level of proposed anxiety, it was around 10am on a Sunday morning (during the post-church rush). But there I sat, ordering my meal like I was a champion of dining alone. I suppose at the time I was, and from there I found eating out alone to become one of my favorite ways to dine.

Back home in Chicago, I rarely dine out alone. This is due in part to the fact that I often cook at home for myself. In the meantime, I travel quite a bit. In New York City, where I travel to for work nearly twice a month, I am always eating alone. I’ve had sushi near Times Square, I’ve sipped coffee in a Crumbs shop on a busy street in Midtown East, I’ve enjoyed a glass of wine at a trendy Chelsea eatery, I’ve enjoyed a bagel at my now-favorite NYC coffee shop in the West Village…do you get the idea yet?

So in Europe, I wasn’t shy to step into a local eatery and order away. Here’s a few places I’ve visited throughout my journey:

Munich, Germany

Munich, Germany

Berlin, Germany

This isn’t to say that my dining adventures haven’t sometimes been uncomfortable or awkward. For instance:

 

As expected in Europe, it’s often difficult to understand what you’re getting into with certain restaurants because of the language barrier in reading signs posted outside. Most restaurants keep a copy of their menus outside for passers-by to glance at and be enticed by. Sometimes you can gauge the restaurant by peaking in a window and looking at the crown inside. For me, I missed all the clues when picking a restaurant in Berlin one night.

 

When I arrived, I wasn’t put off by the fancy waiters or the fact that there were candles lit and soft music playing in the background. When I was rushed to the back of the restaurant near the hostess, I was sat at a table facing away from the diners and instead facing the side entry door. As I sipped a glass of wine I realized from the diners coming in and out that I was at a very high-end restaurant. I felt out-of-place in my jeans and mildly dressy sweater and was thankful for the cover of the table to mask the fact that I wasn’t dressed correctly for such a fancy joint (normally my dining out attire isn’t an issue. However in this instance I lost my luggage in transit to Germany, the piece that had ALL of my clothes). In fact, the waiter didn’t even serve me a dinner menu when I sat down, instead giving me a drink list. Once I requested a dinner menu he offered for me to sit in the dining room. After a little embarrassment, I enjoyed a delicious, pricey meal anyway.

 

In Prague, when I arrived at the mildly-fancy hotel restaurant, I was seated in the far back room where the only other people there were a couple who were holding hands over candlelight  and bottle of wine. I felt like such a mood-killer.

 

In those situations, I held my own. I could have easily had a glass of wine and left. But instead I enjoyed myself by reminding myself that I was a paying customer and was there to enjoy the same experience.

 

Eating out alone doesn’t mean you have to eat fast or order small portions. In fact, some of the most delicious meals I have ever had have been from dining out alone. Just today I had the most delicious creme brulee in a Prague restaurant! Most of the time I eat alone without something to read or something to distract me while waiting for my meal. I mostly like to people-watch or read the menu, especially here in Europe where the menus are full of interesting meals and mixes of food.

 

Amway, the point of this blog isn’t to convince you that I eat alone, it’s to convince you to try it yourself. Bring a book to distract you if needed, but remember: the first step to enjoying your own company is being alone!

 

C’est la vie!