Moments

Whenever I’m feeling a little Scrooge-like, I try to fake myself into a good mood.  Does that sound horrible?  Wouldn’t it be better to be, I don’t know, an emotionally intelligent person and just actually change my mood, genuinely, on the spot? 

Prob to the lee.  

Alas, that’s not (usually) in store for me, so I stick with my tried and mostly true motto of fake it til you make it.  If I’m in a shit mood I’ll go watch funny Youtube videos or read one of the happier blog posts I’ve written or eat pizza rolls and watch Gilmore Girls while sending messages to Liz to tell her I’m eating pizza rolls and watching Gilmore Girls.  

And sometimes, it’s enough to trick me into a good mood.  Like magic.  Hermione Granger ain’t got nothing on me. 

(Okay fine, Hermione Granger could probably take me if not for her fictionality.)  

Back to the topic, Char. 

One of these tricks is thinking of some of my favorite moments.  

“Oh, won’t you please write down your favorite moments?!  We want to read all about your favorite moments!”
– None of my blog readers. 

But my word of the year was “persevere” so let’s do this thang: 

1. Olivia and I went out to eat a few months ago.  We were sitting at our table and could overhear the conversation at the next table.  Sadly (but beautifully), someone’s family member had died.  But being a horrible person, I suppose I thought it was okay to joke about.  They said, “Yeah, well, 101 years old, you can’t beat that!”  I texted Liv and said, “WATCH ME.”  And she kind of gave a stifled laugh (make the joke, yeah, but don’t be outwardly rude) and said, “102!  102!”  

This is all nice and good but what I remember most is O’s face when she got the text and then responded.  Liv and I are essentially family, and I don’t know.  Remembering her stupid sparkling eyes and genuine happy face makes me happy.  

I just called her eyes stupid because I felt like I was treading into the waters of “Too Sentimental for Emotionally Unintelligent People.”

2. I guess because I've known her forever, Olivia's going to go ahead and take another spot up here. 

Her family has this awesome blue house with an awesome porch and a big yard (at least for the area) and have had more parties than I can remember.  Her family is a big Irish family and some of them are ridiculous.  In the best way!  I vividly remember sitting there eating something during a bbq and cracking up because her dad and uncle were talking in absurd voices to each other.  And because they're the kind of jokers that find themselves funny AND each other funny, they couldn't keep straight faces.  So it's just two massive guys cracking up and making everyone else crack up.  This happens at basically all of their family gatherings, but every time I picture it again it makes me smile.

3. Olivia is here yet again.  What a greedy B. 

We were camping and it was her turn to do the dishes.  A guy who was at the spot next to us and had talked to us before said something like, "Hey, you're already done with dinner?  I haven't even started yet!  I'm envious."  

My main B replied, "...I'm Olivia."  

Then she asked me if "envious" was a word or a name and I'm dying laughing just thinking about it. 

4. In high school my friend Dana and I were a doubles team in tennis.  We were so good.  Our trick was eating Taco Bell before each match.  Our coach didn't know this, so the one day he walks by and sees us sitting on the sidewalk, each of us with two tacos and a Coke, he gave us the most surprised/angry look.  We explained that we always did this, and that we always won.  He was in disbelief. 

We won the match that day. 

5. When I went to have surgery, my asshole friend Lizette was there.  I was super paranoid about an air bubble in my IV so my much nicer friend, Alison, went to get a nurse.  Before they came back, Liz looks at me, looks at the air bubble, and starts saying, "tick tock tick tock" as it gets closer to entering my body.  IT WAS SO MEAN. 

But thinking about it cracks me up and usually puts me in a better mood.  

There are so, so, so many more of these!  But it just occurred to me that I can bunch them in groups of five, that way I can write a post like this whenever I need a little non-alcoholic pick-me-up.  (Also I'm getting lazy and don't feel like writing anymore.)

Cheers for years. 

__

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 

Weeklings Are Back! W.16 - Valentine's Day and Pre-Lent Edition

For previous posts in this series, go here: Weeklings 

A few months ago I stopped writing these because they became repetitive.  Every week was pretty much a new health problem, going crazy without having a job, and basically just stressing. 

Some of that is still the same.  I'm not in good health yet and I had to move and have not found a job yet, but it feels different because at least some of my health stuff has been handled (had surgery) and so I can look for a job without worrying about needing to take off for medical procedures all the time.  So that's cool and I guess it might be time to bring these back.

Happenings

Like I said, I had surgery.  That was probably the biggest thing.  They diagnosed endometriosis.  The surgery was mostly successful, but there was more growth than they anticipated and some of my organs are still "stuck together" which leads to a lot of pain.  The hope is that I don't need another surgery, but my doctor did warn that there was a solid chance I might need a more extensive surgery involving an additional surgeon.  Thanks, Obama.

I needed to move to North Carolina.  I'll probably be here for a year, year and a half.  I miss New York and that's where I really want to be, but wow the weather here is amazing.  It was 65 degrees the other day.  In February.  Swoon.  

I'm also watching all the Star Wars movies, so there's that.  Probably the most important thing in my life at the moment, no?

  

Also, Valentine's Day.  Nothing special, really, since I'm single (and probably not that special if I wasn't) but I do like any reason to bake pretty things.  I wasn't going to do anything, but there are more people here than we were expecting (winter break), so FOOD. 

Thankful for

Aforementioned beautiful weather.  The best fitting jeans ever, making it possible for me to dress without hurting the incisions from surgery.  My friends, Olivia who is always entertaining (and pulled me out of freezing water after I fell through ice - I forgot to include that in her post) and Liz, who is joining me in some penances for Lent even though she is Jewish.  What a friend. 

Books I'm reading now

Currently working through Red China Blues.  

Random

On Saturday (Valentine's Day) I started having chest pains.  I've had chest pains before, but not like these.  But, I didn't want to be a drama queen and I figured it was nothing so I ignored it for 10-15 minutes until it got so bad that I couldn't.  At that point I woke up my grandpa and it was so bad that I hardly got the word "hospital" out.  My hands got tingly and numb and then my hearing got muffled and I got really dizzy.  

I've been scared plenty of times, but I have only been that scared a few times.  The single worst time was when my sister was taking a bath.  I knocked on the door or called her name every few minutes to check on her, and one time she didn't answer.  So I said her name again, louder.  (My palms are getting sweaty just thinking of this again.)  She didn't answer.  I freaked so bad.  I threw the door open, putting a hole in the wall with the knob in the process, and saw that she was under the water, eyes closed.  That was the single scariest thing I've experienced.  I pulled her up out of the water and she was fine.  In fact, she said she was just relaxing and she yelled at me for ruining her bath.  I could have killed her.  I told her she'd never take a bath again.  Reasonable and Rational are my middle names.  (She has taken baths since.) 

Another time was recently, when another little sister and I went to the movies, and at the end this man in the front near the exit stood up and pointed his hand toward the rest of the theater and started yelling.  It was obviously pretty dark, and no one could see well, but the way he was pointing his hand, combined with the facts that he was yelling and was near the exit, made everyone think the worst.  The first thing that came to mind was the theater shooting a few years back.  I felt numb and started putting Rebecca to the floor, telling her to get down and other people in the theater started doing the same with their kids and friends.  It turned out to just be an angry man yelling about something pissing him off (after the movie he was in the hallway complaining about getting hit with popcorn).  That was another terrifying thing.  

This Saturday was the third scariest thing I've experienced.  After the pains didn't go away and once my hearing got muffled I thought that I had been wrong, it wasn't nothing, and that there was a chance I was going to die.  It was horrible.  

Turns out, I had the perfect cocktail of way too much caffeine paired with post-surgery medicine and that little combo triggered something very similar to an anxiety attack, causing the exact symptoms of a heart attack.  Fun, fun, fun.  

To-do

Ah.  No fun DIY things.  I need neeeeeeed to find a job. 

Links worth looking at

Cartoon goes viral after this Biblical scholar schools a Fox News host - Blue Nation Review

Watch this video of a host implying that a Muslim man is incapable of writing anything valid about Jesus.  (And, the way he describes his book and talks about Jesus as a revolutionary makes me want to go get read the book right now.) 

“Let Us Keep the Fast?” What to do about Sundays during Lent. - Daniel Bearman: Acts of Idiot Praise

Do you ever need help with Lent?  I usually need help with Lent.  This ended a lot of confusion for me. 

Taking Risks in Love - NYT

I read this and gave an "awww" and then ignored the advice come Valentine's Day. 

These incredible sliding images turn Sprawlsville, U.S.A., into an urban utopia - Grist

I love this kind of stuff.  

This Little Girl’s Dad Lies To Her Every Day. When I Found Out Why, It Broke My Heart. - Praying Today

So I've seen a few of these commercials and they always give me feels.  Whoever is behind the commercials is doing his or her job right. 

The Powerful Statement Almost Everyone Missed from Pharrell's Grammy Performance - Music.Mic

More of this, please.  

Severus Snape Does Not Deserve Your Pity - Tor.Com

I love Snape, but this article is on point.  He's a good character and all, but the worship is a little much.  And the article is right, he probably would be uncomfortable with Harry naming his son after him.  

Jesus is Not My Personal Savior - Becoming Peculiar 

I looooove this.  "So I don’t feel right saying things like “Jesus is my personal lord and saviour.” For starters, I almost never feel like he speaks directly to me in private. I almost exclusively know him through you folks, and he only enters my heart through interactions with you... Jesus is our lord and saviour. We are saved collectively."  On point. 

6 Reasons Why We Don’t Like Ourselves When We’re 23 - Elite Daily

Accurate x10, unfortunately.  

Random 

Valentine's Day - Maybe I should have concentrated all of my Valentine's Day-themed stories for one spot in this post, but hindsight, right?  The day before Valentine's Day, I decided I'd throw myself a little pity party and went to the store to buy myself some chocolate.  Then, when I got there, I was like, "Is this really treating yourself or are you just making excuses and doing something you'll be annoyed with yourself for later?"  And then, probably for the first time ever, I turned away from the chocolate aisle, left the store, and went for a walk.  I told myself that was probably actually treating yourself and whatnot.  And then I did a little research on some vitamins, because I'm sick of feeling lousy all the time. 

Lent - I already mentioned that Liz is "doing Lent" with me this year.  We just made a semi-plan.  She's giving up candy and not eating meat on Fridays.  And she's taking up exercising a bit.  (She recommends morning yoga.  Bunny edition...)

On top of fasting and of not having meat on Fridays, I'm giving up Coke completely.  I wasn't sure what to do, because I've already tried giving up or at least decreasing the amount of bad crap I do.  I eat and drink way less sugar (and wow, am I ever going to enjoy coffee again?), I don't buy as much stuff, etc. etc.  So I think not drinking any Coke at all (as opposed to letting myself have some, but not as much as I used to) is good.  I'm also limiting myself to one cup of coffee a day, but that's something I was going to need to do for health reasons anyway.  Liz and I also agreed to work on doing some of these every day: 25 Science-Backed Ways to Change Your Life by Taking Better Care of Yourself.  Annnnnnd I'll be reading some of this every day: God Is on the Cross: Reflections on Lent and Easter.  

Bonus 

That nice weather I was just loving on?  Yeah, it just started snowing.  

 __

Charlotte

Person: Olivia

Olivia is my oldest friend.  We've known each other for around 18 years now (almost 80% of our lives!!!).  She's got the guaranteed spot as my maid of honor unless she does something really, really bad before then.  (So, Liv, no killing anyone or anything like that, mkay?)  

She and I are complete opposites in so many ways.  She basically doesn't sleep at night, I go to bed early.  I get up at the crack of dawn, she can sleep well past 10am.  She listens to horrible music, I listen to great music.  (kidding.. mostly.)  Olivia is like, hella fancy and always looks good, and I usually look, well, regular.  She's loud, I'm quiet.  She's got this great big family who like each other and have parties and gatherings, and I have a family that is complicated, let's say.  She is not a fan of politics, I am.  She acts her age, I act like an old lady.  We're just very different people. 

example: Liv like, "let's take a pic, it will be fun!" Char like, "can we not?"

But, I think, we totally compliment each other when we are together.  We have fun together.  Also, we are both incredibly funny.  Like, very, very funny.  

Olivia is a bit more assertive than I am, and she helps me to be like that when I need to be.  It's good, because I have very little confidence and don't always speak up for myself when I should.  So tg for Liv, you know? 

We grew up in sort of rough circumstances.  This one woman down the street used to actually call us (and our other friends) names because she didn't like our parents and we didn't have money.  And I sort of wish that lady was still living in the neighborhood and could see that Olivia went to school to become a sort of medical person (I don't know the technical things, but I mean, she gets to wear scrubs), and that she works in a doctor's office and is responsible and helps sick little kids all day.  In other words, I wish she could see that Olivia is: 

and resilient and accomplished and NOT a snooty tooty a-hole.  You know, not the kind of person who makes fun of poor kids.  

She's always been outspoken and between the two of us she was the bossier one, but also the one who had a lot of the fun ideas.  And also the bad ideas, like having a fight with stuffed animals that had batteries in them aka were capable of giving bloody noses if hit in the right way.  A house was built in our neighborhood (in my backyard, actually) and we used to go in the house when the construction crews left.  Trespassing.  But so much fun.  Her dad built a fort in their backyard and I remember just hanging out in there in cooler weather and on top of it in warmer weather (because Olivia thought tanning burning was a good idea).  

Her family treats me like family.  She helps me out when I need it and I'm pretty confident she'd do anything for me.  (It's mutual, Oliver.  I gotchyu.)  I mean, the girl shared her bed with me when I had nowhere else to really go.  

I dread/cannot wait until we have kids.  I say dread because like, she's going to be the aunt that thinks it's a good idea to go swimming in a storm or some shit and I'll be worried, but I think that my kids will end up having a good relationship with her and hers with me.  It'll be sweet.  

As for dreams, Olivia wants to...... own horses.  And one day she will.  Because she hesitates for a little while (mostly because she worries about the people around her), but when it comes down to it she does what she needs/wants to.  

I keep trying to get her to move to Albany so we can live out our childhood dream of living together.

She just sent me a message asking me when this post will be published, so maybe I should wrap it up?  

She is that friend where we can go months/years without seeing each other (but let's not, okay?) and we'd pick up right from the start.  She kind of feels like part of me more than a friend.  I constantly doubt myself and my ability to like, keep people in my life, but I have never had a doubt about Olivia.  She and I are going to be in each other's lives, annoying and enriching one another, until one of us dies.  And even then, we'll probably haunt each other.  

18 years and counting. 

xoxo. 

__

Charlotte 

2014 --> 2015

Oh Lord.

I opened a package from Stephanie, one of my closest friends, a few weeks before Christmas.  Inside was a notebook with a picture of Dr. Seuss on it.  I opened the cover and saw that Steph had written "The Parking Lot" on the first page.  Other than that, there were just blank pages.

"So, is this like a little game?  She gives me a title and I have to write a story or something?  That's very cool.  And a little demanding..."

Alas, that was not the purpose.  I found a letter she had folded and stealthily placed in the back of the book.

Something you need to know about Stephanie: she is one of those people who believe in "positive thinking."  I mean, I believe in positive thinking.  I'm pretty positive this glass of Coke I'm about to have is going to be delicious.  My point is that Stephanie would read The Secret and believe it.  I'm a little more cynical and don't know if writing down things that I like about myself are going to make me happier or more confident or productive, you know?  But yes.  Steph has always been into making lists and reading positive quotes and all that.  She is also very organized and she does have really good habits that I probably should have picked up on while we were roomies, but hindsight, right?

"The Parking Lot" is a blank book where you write any random thoughts or notes you may have throughout the day and want to think about or dive a little deeper into later on.  I make fun of Stephanie (and other positive thinking followers...) but it's a good idea.  So good that I've actually told all three people I talk to about it.  YOU MUST DO IT.

I bring this up because I have a case of procrastination, and I keep meaning to put this book into my bag, but I continue to not do that.  Because God forbid I have to walk back up a flight of stairs to get it out of the drawer and place it in said bag.  Since I haven't done it yet, I haven't written down any of the blog post ideas I've had over the last few days-weeks.  Which means I sat down at my computer a little while ago and had absolutely no idea what I wanted write. 

Which brings me to another close friend, Liz.  Liz, bless her soul, is pretty much my go-to person when I am experiencing any problem or non-problem.  Sorry Liz!  So I go on Facebook and I tell Liz that I want to write a blog post, but I have no idea what to write about.  Liz suggests using a topic generator.  So one google search later, and I get this:

"How to take a screen shot" in my screen shot.  I am a real professional.  (Also, I am good about reading emails.  Also, in case you're really looking at the pic and want to know what I was reading, go check out this post about Catholics and politics.)

After looking at those suggestions, I was like............ what.  So, obviously, I looked up another generator, and it suggested I write about people who cut in line.  This is hilarious and I will be writing it.  Just not now.  But I mean, something to look forward to, amirite?

I don't have an idea for a nice cohesive post to write, so time for everyone's favorite thing to read: rambling.

I know it's January 10th, but I guess a good thing to do is be a huge follower and do what every other blogger on the planet does - reflect on 2014 and lay down some hope and plans (hahahahaha) for 2015. 

Semi-quick vent about a big part of 2014.  Skip if you don't like whiny vents.

This may be a bitch thing to do, but I have not written much about someone who really screwed me over this year, and I am going to do that now.  I haven't because I'm not really into the idea of talking about people and not to them, but now that I am thinking about it, this blog has maybe two regular readers and both of them know about this person.  Pretty much this is venting to no one, and my hope is that I stop fucking dwelling on this one person's horrible effect on my life this year.  Also, I don't use names, so really, who cares.    

I had a few "bosses" at my job.  One of them, the one most involved in our work, hired me with the understanding that I was going to work in the main office 2-3 days a week and in the other offices (each between one and two hours away) 2-3 days a week.  That was the deal.  I did that for a while, and it was a strain, but it was doable.  A few months into the job, and this person told me I needed to start going to the other, distant offices five days a week.  Well, I got sick (like, to the point of being hospitalized and needing surgery) and was not physically capable of doing that.  It would mean never being able to get to the doctor because I'd be out of my city from 8am until 6-8pm.  On top of that, it would have cost me $800 after partial reimbursement every month.  That's literally half of what I was bringing home every month.  So, I was "let go" because I couldn't do DOUBLE what I was hired to do.  And the explanation was that the 2-3 days/week plan was only temporary.  Seems like something I should have known, no?  But then, just to make it worse, during the meeting in which they let me know I was being let go, this person guaranteed me that I'd still have the medical reimbursement program.  Guaranteed that for the rest of the year, I'd be able to get my health costs paid.  So, I sent in my receipts for various appointments that totaled around $500 only to find out that nope, I was not allowed to be reimbursed.  Ha.  I know $500 is not the end of the world, but when you're trying to figure out how to pay your rent and you would have put the appointments off until medicaid kicked in a month later, that shit can hurt.  I can't even explain how angry I was an sometimes still am.  I do really need to just stop thinking about it though, because there's nothing I can do about it.  But not thinking about things that shouldn't be thought about is not my strong suit. 

Vent over.  

So yes, 2014.  Of course there were a lot of good things, but overall, the things I remember most are rough.  Needing surgery, losing my job.  Finding out there was something wrong with my liver, then my spleen, then finding out there is something wrong with a lymph node in my abdomen.  I've had abnormal blood results every time I've had blood drawn this year (20+ times).  Finding out there's a mass on my ovary (and stressing about what that could mean when it comes to having kids).    

One of my coworkers lost her son when he suddenly passed away.  Another found out her dad has cancer.  One is struggling to survive financially.  One whose family is losing their home.  Just a lot of bad things. 

There were some good things, which I'm going to write because good God I just put myself in a bad mood.  Guardians of the Galaxy came out.  Also Maleficent.  I became closer with some of my friends.  Even though I ended up losing it, I had a job, which is good because now I know what that feels like, and if I didn't I wouldn't be motivated to try hard to get one I love.  I bought a car that I love.  Liz got a job that isn't (I think?  Liz?) completely 100% her dream job but is basically it and is what she is good at and loves and that makes me happy.  Stephanie is in nursing school and reaching her goals.   Emily is student teaching.  I got over the whole paranoia thing (still a nervous person, but I don't turn on all the lights and check every crevice of the house if I hear a noise at night).  And after gaining waaaay too much weight, at the very end of the year I started to actually lose some of it.  So there.  Good things.  

Now for the fun part.

Things I want to do?  I still don't know the answer to that question, really.  I have some ideas, though.

1.  I want to write more.  I don't mean just on here, but in general.  I mean submitting articles to different sites, bidding for freelance work, actually formulating a plan for my own book.  You get the idea.  

2.  Read more.  I made a reading list last year, but didn't stick to it at all.  I did read more than I usually do, though, so that makes me happy.  This year, I think I am going to make monthly lists instead of one list for the whole year.  

3.  Get back to my healthy weight.  I'm not sure what that exact number is, but it's in the 165-180 range.  I think the bmi chart says I should be more like 145-155, but no.  I think I'd have to basically eat lettuce and run 20 miles a day to maintain 145, and I don't think I'd look that good.  I've been at 165 and felt great, mentally and physically.  The same for anything up to 180.  Since I'm in an idgaf mood right now, I'll go ahead and say that I'm at 235 right now, so I have a ton of work to do.  But a month ago I was 246, so at least it's happening.  

4.  Get a job?  I mean, I definitely want and need a job.  What I'm worried about is what kind of job.  I'm going to be in the south for a year living with family while I get my health together and try to save money.  I've had to suddenly move twice in the last two years, and it's meant losing most of my stuff.  It is emotionally exhausting and I can't handle that again, so I'm just staying here for a year so I can save enough money to move back to New York with enough money to hold myself over if I have any sort of emergency.  I miss my friends and my life, but it's not really an option anymore.  So I haven't decided if I should get a job that can turn into a career or look great on a resume when I move, or if I should just get a job that has nothing to do with what I'd theoretically want for a career but will pay enough.  Decisions, decisions.  

That's pretty much where I am at.  I'd say get into a relationship or something, but I don't know if I want to do that only to move away in a year.  Ugh.  

And to continue the theme of "what every blogger has done" here are my favorite posts of 2014:    

1.  Open Letter to Mindy Kaling

2. Pope Francis

3. Spiders and God-Given Talents: Education Policy in America

4. DIY Map Coasters... for the Lazy Person 

5. Good and Uncomfortable

6. Weekling: W.8, W.9, & W.10

7. The Pragmatism and Privilege Arguments - NY Election 2014

8. Black Lives Matter

9. Being a Burden

10. And for this one, I'll do the most popular post (well, the second most popular, but since the #1 post was only really aimed toward NYers I'm gonna go with this one): Twenty PERFECT Pairs of Baby Girl Names for Twins

Whew.  Time for 2015-specific fun things: 

Saint of the year: Saint Anne.

Since apparently e'erybody does a word for the year:  Persevere.

I could not come up with a word, so I googled that bad boy and landed on a website (my one word or something) and it had an image filled with words.  I closed my eyes and pointed to a word (think Cher choosing where to relocate in Mermaids) and it was "persevere."  So there.  In case you're interested, two of my friends who are doing this chose "growth" and "change."

Necessary image of mentioned movie. 

January book list:

1. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
2. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
3. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
4. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
5. The Book Thief (I am almost done with this, but stopped reading it for some reason.  Time to finish.)

Annnnnd I think that is it for now.  8:49pm aka 49 minutes past my ideal bed time.

Thanks for hanging around for the world's longest blog post.

This is Olivia, my oldest friend and guaranteed maid of honor unless she becomes an ahole.  She helped with this post.  In theory.

__
Charlotte