The Year of YES!

During my wonderful Christmas vacation, I spent some time with my friends. And as always, they all have a lot to say, but something Amanda said I took to heart.

Amanda and I have (had?) a lot in common: we are both young, beautiful, vivacious women who really don't take a lot of shit. Especially from men. And we both have a difficult time finding men because of our general attitude towards life. However, Amanda found a man. A cute man. An awesome man. (I love Curtis, if you couldn't tell.)

Anyway, Amanda had mentioned to me before that I needed to read The Year of Yes, by Maria Dahvana Headley. I wasn't ready to listen to the suggestion at the time , but this time was different. I went to the library (which is literally NEXT DOOR -- how cool is THAT?) and borrowed the book. It wasn't checked out, which I thought was a sign from fate. And it was a memoir -- my emphasis in grad school. It wasn't a self-help book. It was a memoir! How exciting.

Although I am reading another book, and I rarely read more than one book at a time unless forced by the university to do so, I read the first few pages of the book and was immediately enthralled. The premise of the memoir is our beloved author decides to date everyone who asks her out, because she is tired of complaining that she is single. Sound familiar?

Yes, but I do say yes to everyone who asks me. That is part of MY problem. I can't get anyone normal to ask me out. Only freaks can read the invisible sign on my forehead that reads: ASK ME OUT. I AM SINGLE.

Once I read the first few pages, I decided that 2008 is going to be MY Year of Yes. I am going to go out with everyone who asks me, but I am not going to focus my energies on the Internet dating sites, which obviously are not working. But I am going to focus on being positive and outgoing. And do the things I want to do. If I so happen to want to watch TV on a Friday night, then I will, and I will not feel guilty about it, nor will I feel like a loser because I am alone on a Friday. I won't be alone every Friday. I have friends who like to spend time with me, sometimes on Fridays. I am going to say YES to Micaela. And although that sounds totally selfish, I figure, what better time to spend on me than now, when I am single? When I do find that man (which sometimes I doubt I ever will) life will be so different that I won't have time to spend on just me. So, why not spend some me time with myself, say YES to Micaela, and maybe, just possibly, that perfect man will come along and not be too put off by my awesome personality that somehow intimidates men, or just plain pisses them off.

So, a New Year's toast: To Micaela and her Year of Yes!!

A Little Christmas Craft

Every time I go home, I try to make some time to see all my friends from high school and college. Some of us even did both together. This Christmas, Amanda graciously allowed us to come to her house if we all brought an appetizer and some wine.

She even set up a little craft project for us to try.

While perusing my blog, Amanda took a gander at my friend Holli's blog. Holli had made the cutest felt nativity set and Amanda decided to give it a try. But it gave her an idea for a project: we could make our own felt Christmas tree ornaments!

This is what I came up with Miss Amanda's direction:

My beautiful Christmas tree.

OK, OK, it's pretty imperfect. But it's MY imperfections, and I love it.

The Bestest Pre-Christmas Present

Heather asked me one day what I wanted for Christmas. I told her that I wanted the movie Superbad, mainly because that shit was FUNNY. And I wanted to relive the hilarity that is the movie.

Then I saw in an ad in the paper what I really wanted: an iPod alarm clock.

I doth covet the iPod alarm clock.

But I told Heather that I would rather have the movie instead. However, she surprised me with BOTH!!!

I was so exited to wake up to whatever music I wanted, I had to take pictures of it so I can share it with my dear readers.

The first morning I listened to one of my new favorite bands, Idaho, and the next morning I listened to one of the best albums of 2007, Into the Wild (Music from the Major Motion Picture). Eddie Vedder rocks my world. Tomorrow morning, another of my best of 2007, We Were Dead before the Ship Even Sank, by Modest Mouse. No more crazy morning DJs for me!!

A view of my nightstand from my bed.

OK. That's It. I'm Done. Finsihed. Finito. Fin.

I have sworn off men and dating. I've had it. I'm tired. I need to take a nappers from men. I know I have said it before, but this time I mean it. I am going to take care of myself, have fun with my friends, and try not to think about how lonely I will be when I am 60. Because seriously, this is getting ridiculous.

Maybe I'm trying too hard. I don't know. All I DO know is that I:

1) Am rad.

2) Am proud to be awesome.

3) Have NO baggage. (i.e. children from previous relationships; have an incessant need to talk and discuss my exes on a first date, etc.)

4) Have a job.

5) Bathe regularly.

6) Am funny.

7) Am totally worthy.

After two years and four months of hitting the dating scene hard, I've given up. There is no one in Reno for me. And if there ever was, he is either deceased (God rest his soul) or gay. Or married. Because he is certainly not out there.

And frankly, I am totally sick of looking. It is a sad day in hell when I would rather be sitting at home, playing Neverwinter Nights and listening to my iTunes. It is way more enjoyable than sitting somewhere with a complete stranger, thinking to myself, "I have absolutely nothing in common with this person. Why am I doing this to myself?"

I know what all of you are thinking: "Yeah, sure. I've heard this one before. Whatever."

But this time, I mean it.

OK, This is Kinda Strange

So, I have this cool thing on my blog here that tracks who looks at my page (Big Brother is always watching!). I find the following QUITE disturbing.

When people search on Google for "Micaela" and "porn", my blog shows up because of my earlier post about the neighbor guy watching porn. Now, I didn't KNOW there was a porn star with the name of Micaela, spelled the same way and everything! And I certainly didn't think if you searched for some sort of porn, my BLOG would come up, because seriously, this blog is TAME compared to the things this porn star is known for.

I won't mention what she is known for, but just know that it is a specialized type of porn.

But I think it hilarious that when people are searching the Internet for porn, they come across my site. To me, that is high humor. HA HA The joke's on you, buddy!

The Joshua Tree

In honor of U2 re-releasing one of the greatest albums of all time (although when they re-release Achtung Baby, I will seriously have a melt-down and an all-out party!!!!!!!), I am going to write about some of my favorite memories of the album and how it affected my life.

1) During Christmas break of my senior year of high school, I was forced to have all of my impacted molars removed surgically. I was miserable because the pain meds only made me sick. I literally slept for 24 hours straight, while listening to The Joshua Tree on repeat that entire time. From then on, I think of the album as my sleepy music.

2) My sister INSISTS that she learned to love U2 through osmosis. My bedroom was directly below her bedroom, and I was constantly listening to either The Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby throughout high school. Every night, she would fall asleep listening to the soft beats and drum lines of U2. Now, she shares my love. Osmosis ROCKS! Also, I had to drive her to school every day in my cool little car, and since it was MY car, and I was driving, she had to listen to what I wanted. Inevitably, The Joshua Tree. Sometimes I threw Violator by Depeche Mode in there just to mix it up a bit.

3) In college, my girlfriends and I drove from Pocatello, ID all the way to San Diego, CA. It was a long trip, but in those days it was all about the trip and not the destination. (I like to think that life is like that now, too. I try to, anyway.) When we arrived in San Diego, I insisted we drive a few hours back out of our way to The Joshua Tree National Monument. I knew that Bono and the gang did not have their photo shoot with Anton Corbijin in the actual park, and it was actually somewhere in Death Valley, but I really wanted to go out there. We drove in, took some pictures, I bought a patch for my world-travelling backpack, and we left. It was a very short trip. I also insisted we listen to The Joshua Tree the entire time. My friends were quite annoyed with me, but put up with my obsession because they love me.

4) For the very longest time, my most prized possession was The Joshua Tree on vinyl. (Now it is Bono's water bottle, but it still runs a close second.) Unfortunately, when I moved and put my things in storage for three months, a rat got to one of the corners. But I still love it and now I put it in a special frame because the thought of another rodent or animal getting to my most prized possession absolutely freaks me out. One of the reasons it was most prized possession is because my friend, Chris, and I used to talk about The Joshua Tree all the time: her parents owned the album on vinyl and she used to listen to it all the time with them. My parents were not exactly that hip, so I never had that cool experience, but we still talk about it with nostalgia in our hearts.

5) And I totally forgot, until Chris reminded me, that we used to have our own personal U2 air-band. I was Bono, of course. What good times we had.

So, in honor of my favorite band re-releasing my second most favorite U2 album of all time, I dedicate this blog to them: the band that stuck with me through thick and thin. The band that never ticked me off. The band that never disappointed me, even when they disappointed the critics. The band that always puts out the hits.

Thank you.

Sweet Potatoes ROCK!

Aidan had his first solid food on the 4th: sweet potatoes. Apparently, he is like Matilda with the Yo Baby: Gimmie my sweet potatoes, bitch! This picture was taken after Steph said, "No more." What she is feeding him is his SECOND helping of sweet potatoes. I TOLD her he was part Malaxechebarria. He HAS to be hungry. All the time. Seriously. I am not joking.

Then when he got what he wanted from Mommy, he said, "Oh, thank God. I thought I would never be able to eat whatever that is again!"
Then he said, "I CANNOT get enough of this little slice of heaven!"

"Yeah! Sweet potatoes!"

Wait until he tastes bacon, aka manna from heaven. Or Kalimotxos! Or lamb. Or Tortilla de Patatak. Oh, this kid is in for some good stuff!

Just Tell Me

Don't tell me that you will call me tomorrow if you don't mean it.

And be a man. Tell me if you aren't interested anymore. You can do it the chicken-shit way I always do it: via email. But at least tell me. Don't tell me that you will call me then conveniently forget to call me when all you want me to do is get the point that you aren't interested anymore.

In other words, just tell me the truth.

My Bio

So, as I contemplate how it never rains, but pours, I am taking a gander at my profile on the online dating service. I think I might need to revise it. This is how it appears to everyone:

"I am an intelligent, articulate, beautiful young woman with a very stable head on my shoulders. Sometimes this intimidates men, although I don't actually want to intimidate people. I enjoy new experiences, but I also know what I like in what I do and who I date. My best quality is my ability to have fun--anytime, anywhere. My date will share a love for the same things: going to the movies, eating out, going to see live music (from small local bands to big concert venues), reading (I love to read, thus my BA in English Lit.), hanging out with friends (alone or together), playing video or board games, traveling.

I'm looking for a match who wants to have fun with me whether we're doing something new and crazy or if we're just sitting around drinking beer. I'm interested in meeting a man who is funny, interesting, and a blast to be around. I'm looking for a person who is accommodating but not a push-over; who is nice but willing to call me on my crap when I need it; and who is looking to commit to a fun and caring relationship.

I am really looking for someone who is funny, intelligent, and interesting, but someone who also has manners, and who wants to make a good impression."

This is how I think it should look:

"My date won't be a f'ing idiot. He will posses manners and good personal hygiene. He will pay for most of everything when we go on a date. He will make me laugh. This is a must. And if you don't make me laugh, I WILL kick you to the curb. Don't feel bad. I don't mean it as a dis to you, you just aren't THE ONE and I am looking for my own personal Neo.

I call things how they are: if I think you are slovenly, I will tell you. Or if I think you need a shower. Or if I think you drive like a jackass. Or if you eat with your mouth open. I do not ask of outrageous things from you, but I do expect you to act like a normal human that wasn't born in the bush of Australia.

I am intelligent. If that bothers you, then don't bother me. I am pretty. And not the skinniest person on the planet. If that bothers you, then don't bother me. And I like to do things, but not crazy things. I will not drive to Las Vegas with your loser band and sleep in the back of a truck just because you think it is 'punk rock.' I'm 30. Nothing I do is punk rock, although I am totally rockin' in the free world. And I like Star Wars and U2. I always have and always will. If you can't deal with the fact that I could probably kick your ass in Star Wars trivia, then don't bother me.

And I am proud to be awesome."

What do you think? Is it too much? Too brazen? Need to be shorter? Longer? More blunt, because seriously, these guys are freaking missing the point. (And no, I am not talking about Matt, who actually is one of the most honest and most forthcoming of all the men I have met online.)

The 11th Annual Christmas Tree Decorating Party

Oh, how I love the Tree Decorating Party. You know, the one where Heather, Crystal and I work our asses off decorating the tree to Christmas light perfection, while everyone else stands around, eating and drinking, while pretending to feel bad about not doing anything.

Except for Tracy and Ian, of course, who put on an excellent spread, if you ask me! Tail of the Monkey gets me every time!

Well, here are a few pictures of how I spent my last Saturday.

1) Decorating the Tree.
2) Eating and Drinking


3) Playing Werewolf


4) Watching Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo
Now, Werewolf is one of best party games known to mankind. It is always fun. And remember, Megan is ALWAYS the werewolf:

First Date

OK, so I went out on my first date with Cool-Guy-I-Met-Online (aka Matt) and I think it went pretty well! Way better than some other first dates I remember. No horrify facial features to politely not look at. No debilitating breath to contend with. No embarrassing, awkward silences to deal with. And I didn't put my foot in my mouth once! Nor did I drop anything onto my un-napkined lap or spill ranch dressing on my shirt. All in all, I was very proud of myself.

He actually carried on conversation with me. Miracles of all miracles. And he finds me attractive. That's always a plus.

He is a lot like me. He is funny and laid-back. And kinda random in some of the things he says, but that's OK. And he totally kicked my ass in Guitar Hero III. Even though I am now a PRO at "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benetar.