May into June | 2015

A couple of weeks ago, I decided I no longer wanted to post "Weeklings," the weekly round up of events, great links, and goings-on.  But I knew I didn't want to ditch the concept entirely.  So I'm going to try out a monthly version instead, and hopefully it'll feel less forced to me and just as enjoyable (or not) to my readers.  

So here's what I've been up to lately. 

1. Got my hair cut

It's much, much shorter than I expected and at first I was a little.. eh.  But I don't think it looks terrible, I think it makes me look older, and it's SOOO unbelievably easy to take care of, so I might be a short hair convert. 

2. Gardening

I read things like this or this or this and I want to drop everything right.this.instant and immediately plant a massive vegetable garden and wear overalls and never have to go food shopping (exaggert.) again.  

But the world is a cold, hard place, and you can't be a farmer while you're living with your family.

So we improvise: 

Nothing super special, but it's pretty and it's already producing edible tomatoes and I haven't killed it yet.  This is a vast improvement from last year's attempt: 

P.S. Here's the link for that whole blessed article. 

P.P.S. Ah that led to a little gut-wrench - I miss my old apartment and life in Albany and my friends. 

But yes, so garden I did.  I've also done a little gardening for $.   

I've got some issues with things touching me or weird textures on my hands (makes applying lotion fun) and I hate hate hate dirt under my finger nails, so this was an adjustment.  And I'm sure the water bill is going to go up thanks to many a hand-washing sessions because I'm so anal with it and cannot leave any dirt under my nails AT ALL.  I'm good for the environment. 

3. Rebecca

Rebecca, my 15 year old cousin (I sometimes refer to her as my sister because we grew up together) came up from Georgia and will be here for most of the summer so that's been fun.  

My bball skills, by the way, are nil. I shot probably 6 for 100.  To think I used to be somewhat decent.... 

We saw Pitch Perfect 2.  

It was funny, but it wasn't as good as the first one.  Not even close. 

4. Studying

Oh, man.  Since I'm trying to go back to school, I've been studying physics and math a bit.  I never took physics (I've taken and done at least semi-well in biology, chemistry, environmental science, and exploration of space) and it's been a while since I've done math so........ studying is basically going like this: 

I've got a few books and I'm using Khan Academy.  My hope is that if I stick to it, I'll be able to teach myself a little something before jumping into classes. 

5. Eating better & getting more exercise

I've been eating more vegetables and cutting down on carbs.  I'm not cutting them out entirely because I love them and I think the main cause of my weight gain in the first place was a combo of becoming completely sedentary and eating fast food literally at least once a day.  I don't eat nearly as much crap now and I've done a little switch-a-roo so that instead of taking a heaping helping of pasta or mashed potatoes at meals and a tiny helping of vegetables, I try taking a heaping helping of vegetables and a tiny helping of pasta or mashed potatoes.  It's mostly working.  

I've been doing at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, and while I think I still LOOK fat as hell, I can feel the difference and sort of see it too.  My arms are starting to get less flabby and slightly (again, still overweight) more defined.  It's cool.  

* * * 

Some other mentionables: 

- My health insurance company STILL has not sent me my cards.  They say I haven't paid, even though it's on my bank statement.  So I'm in the process of dealing with that. 

This is how I feel about it.

- I'm getting nervous about the whole school thing.  Nothing is set in stone, and while I've decided it's what I'm doing, I'm worried that things won't work out perfectly and that I won't be able to start when I want to start.  I don't know if this is legitimate foreboding or just me being ridiculous and paranoid. 

- I really want a job.  (Side eye at insurance company)

- I read this post and realized I haven't gone to confession in 17 years and haven't been able to stop thinking about it since.  Which means... I'm probably going to need to go to confession soon.  Eek. 

- I'm in the midst of some blog changes.  Nothing major, just trying to make it a bit better.

- I finally got around to watching Interstellar.  I cannot believe I waited so long to see that.  I loved it.  It was amazing.

THAT scene, however, did not help my fear of tidal waves. 

* * * 

Books 

I've read: 

An Enemy of the People (good, not great),

Awaken the Spirit Within (eh..)

Better Than Before (wonderful) 

Hopefully book reviews coming soon. 

* * * 

Links worth looking at

Angst May Be Glamorous, But It Won't Make You Happy - Verily

Lauren Graham's TV Daughters, Alexis Bledel And Mae Whitman, Finally Meet - HuffPo

As Joe Biden Grieves, His Community Unites To Help Him Heal: 'They're Us' - HuffPo

How Growing Up in Poverty Rewires a Child’s Developing Brain

50 ‘I Dos’ You Should Be Able To Commit To Before You Get Married - Elite Daily

The Internet can’t replace libraries: Why they matter more than ever in the age of Google - Salon

37 Questions The “Harry Potter” Movies Need To Answer - Buzzfeed

Rick Santorum wants Pope Francis to leave science to scientists only when it’s convenient for him - The Washington Post

Continued Existence Of Edible Arrangements Disproves Central Tenets Of Capitalism - The Onion

Bagpipes, sainthood, and other passing interests - Daniel Bearman: Acts of Idiot Praise

Saying These 8 Things To Your Kid Every Day Could Change Their Life

MOST IMPORTANTLY Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak’s Massive-Book-Deal-Worthy Relationship: A Timeline - Vulture

Til later. 

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Charlotte 

Nickname-able

My name, obviously, is Charlotte.  

It's unclear what my full first name is, though.  On some birth-related documents, "Charlotte Patricia" is listed as my first name with "Anne" (with an e ;) as my middle, others have "Charlotte" as my first name with "Patricia Anne" as my middle name.  My family, including my parents, aren't clear on this either.  (How?  I don't know.)  

Of course, Charlotte is what I normally go by.  As a kid I badly wanted a nickname because I'm named after someone, so I was always called "Little Charlotte" or "Baby Charlotte."  Alas, I never had a real nickname.  

That said, there are a lot of names I answer to.    

"Char" and "Charl" are used frequently, but neither are nicknames so much as shortened for ease.  (Like "Em" when addressing an Emily or "Cher" when talking to a Cheryl.) 

"CP" is used occasionally, for Charlotte Patricia.  It was used much more often in my pre-college years.

"Charlotte Patricia" is used by certain friends.  Especially Olivia and Stephanie.  I think they just like the sound of it.  I actually like it, too, but it's so long and cumbersome that I never refer to myself as this.  Stephanie swears I introduced myself as this, but I have no recollection of doing so.  (Maybe I did in an attempt to get away from the "Baby Charlotte" dilemma?)

"Char Patty" was used for a bit while I was in school and... I don't miss it. 

I had an uncle who genuinely thought my name was "Scarlet" and........ no one ever corrected him.

I'm also called "Red" frequently (my hair).  

Olivia calls me "Charlie" a lot.  Others have used it, but she does so consistently.  

"Char Char" is used by two friends, but again, not exclusively.  (As in, they call me Charlotte, but sometimes fondly [I think?] go with this instead.) 

In fifth grade - and I know this because a few years ago I looked at my old yearbook and the notes were almost all addressed with it - I was, apparently, called "Chestnut."  I'm not mad that this moniker didn't last. 

For a while, "Charla" was huuuuge.  I'm indifferent to it, but no one really calls me this anymore.

*Edited to add* "Sippee" - Liz read this post and decided she's calling me "Sippee," like for "CP."  She then asked me if I get it, so I'm assuming she wants to know if you, dear reader, also get it?  C-P, Si-ppee.  

And because everyone's got a sense of humor, I'm called "Annie" from time to time: 

Source

Rant: There are different shades of red hair and mine is not the same as orphan Annie's and, STOP CALLING ME THIS. 

Also, I get called "Red Headed Step Child" too often for my liking and while it's fine now, as a kid I hated it because, uh, I was a red headed step child.  So. 

BUT those are the main variations of Charlotte and Charlotte Patricia that people have used for me.

Other nicknames I've heard used for Charlotte are Lottie, Harley, Arlo (in the trend of using boy nicks for girls), and Carla/Carly.  Of those, I like "Lottie" best.

I'm always a fan of hearing new nicknames!

__

Charlotte 

Drink Coke

I have a list of blog post ideas but it's late and my body hurts and it's been a rough week (illness) so instead of writing a post while I'm falling asleep, have some pics:

You're welcome for the heavy, thoughtful post. 

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Charlotte