10 Things I wish I'd know 10 years ago...

I'm fighting going to bed for some reason. Boredom led me to troll the internet for old hair "idols." Shawnta immediately came to mind. I went to Youtube to see what's she's been up to in the last year or so. I chose this video. She only got around to actually mentioning 6 things but I still appreciated her candor. While listening, I felt compelled to blog on this topic, more for myself than anyone else.

I'll be 30 years old in less than one month. Thirty. 3-0. Ten years from 40. I know people who throw huge, celebratory parties, making much adieu about leaving their twenties behind. I'm not one of those people.Truthfully, I don't know where my twenties went and I actually spend quite of bit of time thinking about what I'd do differently if given a chance. Actually, I've always thought about what I'd do differently, even from my early twenties, only I thought about how I'd change my teenage years.

Is it really possible to have a quarter life crisis for 6-7 years? LOL... Seriously, though, I know I'm not supposed to say I dread turning thirty or that I mourn lost time and perceived missed opportunities. I know the right answers about God's sovereignty, my salvation and how all things were orchestrated leading me to this very moment. All the same, here are some things that 29 year old Glo would tell 19 year old Glo.

1. Don't second guess your gifts, skills and/or talents.
2. Nurture relationships.
3. Be you, beautiful.
4. Live at a 10.
5. It feels really important now, but it's not.
6. Move to DC after graduation, at least for a little while.
7. Throw away all your CDs.
8. Sometimes you have to start from scratch.
9. EXERCISE.
10. Go veg or vegan.

Ideally, I'll do a post on several of these topics in coming weeks.

So funny, as I typed that I have things 19 year old Glo would tell 29 year old Glo...may visit that topic one day.

Goodnight moon.

Facebook characters

I've been on Facebook since 2005. I've seen interesting characters emerge in this time. Below is a list of the most notable.

1. The Hated: These people are ALWAYS being hated on. I can never really understand why, but each day they post another rant about people hating on them and their life achievements. Whether it be their recent purchase of a '97 Pontiac Grand Am or finishing up their degree at Everest College, haters just don't want to see them living large.
2. The Random Capitalization Crew: The rules are capitalization are quite easy. Always use a capital letter when writing/typing proper nouns and the first word of sentences. The RCCs don't respect these rules and for this they must die (or be hidden). Nothing is quite as annoying as scrolling down my news feed only to see a status message tYpeD LiKe THis. Why do people do this? It's much more difficult to type this way. It's unnatural and hard on the eyes. 
3. The Three Namers: Okay. I don't use my real name on Facebook. Why? Well, because I already have my face in over 100 pictures. Call me crazy, but I think pairing my name and my face on the internet is asking for problems in the future. Many Facebook fans have chosen to use their real names and many women include their maiden and married names to avoid confusion and to assist others in finding them in searches. When I think of the "three namers" I think of people like: John Morethanjustanoption Smith, Tanisha QueenBee Hall, and Andre BigThangsPoppin Holloway. My message to them. Please stop.
4. The Wise Old Owls: These are the Facebook friends who put up like 10 cliched quotes a day about success. They have the answers to all of life's problems...and if they don't, they know a dead person who does. 
5. The Likers: They've never seen a page, group, photo album or status message they didn't disagree with. They people "like" about 50 things a day. They even like their own status message updates. They're a happy, simple people. Easy to please.
6. The Gamers: Ever looked to the left side of your home page and noticed that you have 74  game requests? Thank the gamers. Whether it's Farmville, Mafia Wars or Sorority Life, these Facebook friends live to play, especially during the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. So...don't be rude. Go help them on their farm, join their gang or become a member of their sorority...or...just do what I do and ignore most of the requests (unless it's Family Feud #judgeme)
7. The Theologians:  They read Spurgeon, Packer, Macarthur and Piper. They ponder the implications of Christ's atonement. They study the Protestant Reformation all day long. They are the theologians. Always ready with a relevant Bible verse, they fill your feed with nuggets notes and thoughts from their daily devotions. They also post hymn lyrics.... Actually beneficial most days.
8. The Models: You love them. You hate them. You know they have seahorses on their shower curtains due to all the bathroom mirror shots they've posted. You are familiar with their entire wardrobe. You know the interior of their car is gray leather. They fill your news feed with at least 5-10 mobile uploads a day. They've perfected the duck lips and they know they look best when photographed from the left side. #hateisawastedemotion
9. The Randoms: They rarely post new status messages and when they do, it's always something random like: "I'm hungry" or "Just saw a squirrel on a trashcan eating a lifesaver" or "Ligers>Tigons". 
10. The News Reporters: They give you the latest on topics ranging from sports to politics. Love them or hate them, you wouldn't know half of what you know without them. You don't need a newspaper if you have at least 5 reporters on your friends list.

That's all I've got, but I'm sure more exist.

So...about that...

So...about that class reunion in October that I was pumped about.

 I received an e-mail today informing me that it's been canceled due to "low participation."

The brief convo to the left happened after I mentioned the cancellation in my status message.  Boooo I say...BOOOOOO!

My main question is why someone who told me directly that she didn't want to attend because of "wahh wahhh wahhhhh" is asking why it's cancelled...Puzzles me. There are some who really CAN'T come. I don't know what to make of those who live within an hour (or worse yet, in Hinesville) and plan on staying home.

I don't have much else to say about this aside from the fact that I hope those of us who wanted to go will still come together for a small but very spirited gathering...

There's actually a guy who's booked his flight from California to attend yet it was those who are a stone's throw away who pretty much broke up the party. They are lame. I hope they read this...

#thatisall

Note to self (and whoever's reading this)

I'm an avid blog reader. Blog topics ranging from saving money, to being a SAHM, to fashion and makeup fill my Blogger.com RSS feed equivalent ("Following"). I love reading about the lives of others, the views of others and the interests of others. I guess I'm naturally inquisitive. I get to journey other states and meet seemingly exciting, creative, humble, orderly people with the click of a button. Some days I chuckle, some days I'm in awe, other days I'm inspired to try new things or to approach life from a different perspective. The internet is truly a wonderful place, when used properly and in moderation.

In my first or second post, I divulged my relationship with blogs. I love them and then I leave them for a number of reasons. It's been easy to do because all of my blogs have served a particular and specific purpose in my life at the time they were written. My life immediately after undergrad was documented. My life as a young, single Christian in my first "real" job was documented. I documented loves and losses and all the foibles in between. Blogging, to me, is free therapy. Sometimes I visit my old blogs and I'm amazed at the person I find. Sometimes she's bitter. Sometimes she's thoughtful. Sometimes she's creative. Sometimes she's down right snarky. Other times she's one of the most focused and impressive women I've ever encountered.

Looking back at this blog, I see a change of tone that is both refreshing and depressing. The woman here has struggled with her role as a wife and eventual mother. The woman here doesn't know what she wants to be, or where she wants to go. The woman here is sometimes funny, mostly transparent and  trying to spiritually navigate her way through this life, for better and for worse. She's not perfect. She doesn't pretend to be.

Many of my blog posts will not be rainbows and butterflies. I don't want to create a different "internet" Glo that is more satisfying to the common palette (mine included). I need to be who I am. I need to see myself, flaws and all, so I can confront them and hopefully address them by his spirit.

Unsolicited advice

A past situation suddenly invaded my brain a few days ago.

I worked at Express for about 9 months several years ago. One night, near closing, two women walked into the store to take a peek at some of the newest addition to our fall line. I was standing next to the counter and one of the women approached me.

I assumed she was going to ask me about an article of clothing or a fitting room. She had something else in mind.

"Have you ever heard of Accutane?"
"Umm...yes."
"Oh okay, well I tried it and...*pauses* You may not believe this but my skin was worse than yours!"
*blank stare*
"What do you use right now?"
*babbling out my skin care regimine while trying to process the situation*
"Well, I mean, you should really consider asking a dermatologist about it."
*comments about the crazy side effects*
"I had the chapped lips and, of course I had to stay out of the sun, but...it's worth it!"

*Dazed and Confused*

I remember driving home to my apartment, utterly disgusted that this broad approached me about something so personal. I switched out my ailment/physical flaw for others to determine if I was overreacting.

*Glo approaching an overweight woman*
"Hi. Have you tried Jenny Craig? You probably won't believe me but, I was as fat as you were about a year ago."

Definitely rude..

How about....

*Glo approaching a person with traction alopecia*
"Hi. Have you ever heard of Dr. Miracle's Temple and Nape Gro Balm? It really works! Just last year, my edges looked as bad as yours. Now look!"

No...still...not...right...

One more shot....

*Glo sees someone with dingy teeth*
"Hi! *toothy smile* Have you ever tried Rembrant Intense Stain Toothpaste? It's really great. My teeth were as yellow as yours just last year, but check me out today!"

I'm sure her heart was in the right place. She found something that worked for her and she wanted to preach the Accutane gospel to all the lost and deprived, but my word!

I told my mother the story and begged her to pay for my visit to the dermatologist (no health insurance). Ever simultaneously love and hate someone? Yeah...I have...that woman. LOL...

Eh...don't know why I shared this. Perhaps it's my effort prolong the eventual abandonment of this blog. I will say that to this day I try not to offer unsolicited advice. Guess I should be thanking that woman for teaching me a life lesson on how to talk to people and consider the feelings of others...#heffa

I know...

Blogging is difficult when tackling a touchy subject. I've come here several times within the past few weeks intent on pouring my thoughts out on particular subjects only to close the browser after a few typed sentences.

Here we go again. Perhaps this will make it to the front page.

I'm growing increasingly impatient with "no it alls." Impatient is the opposite of what I should be, but alas,  more grace Lord. Admittedly, I'm burnt right now. Jaded. Disappointed. There are certain things you expect in "the world" that you don't expect among the brethren. I don't expect perfection (how could I?), but I do expect things to be handled biblically. I'm actually disgusted by the disregard and neglect in the situation...eh...I guess it is what it is. Loyalties run deep among the clique...and the band played on...whatever.

Moving on...

Shot a wedding a couple of weeks ago. Amazing. I haven't produced a video in years and I was in heaven. I swear it's what I was made to do...Maybe I'll get to do it full time one day.

Goos started the job at his new school yesterday. He chattered away about the day's events and showed me all his laminated posters he plans on hanging on the walls of his classroom. I haven't seem him this excited about work in over a year. I'm glad he's in a place where his enthusiasm, love for students and love for English will be appreciated. I swear his eyes were twinkling as he spoke. And he has beautiful eyes, by the way---all big and brown, with those long lashes. It's like he got his mojo back...greatness. He's happy. I'm happy.

Class reunion is in October. Have I really been out of high school for 10 years? Hard to believe. I refuse to play "one up" with anyone. I refuse to play the "what are you doing now?" game. I plan to get on the dinner boat on Saturday, ast some overcooked chicken, drink a couple of glasses of Pino and do the Cupid Shuffle until my feet hurt. No one...and I do mean, NO ONE, is going to make me feel like some kid sitting at the "uncool" table at lunch. I say shame on anyone who is avoiding participating for that reason.

Man...so...this "Double Rainbow" guy is killing me. I laugh everytime I see it. On the otherhand, I think it's awesome that he's so excited about something most regard as so simple. We're overbooked and under stimulated, caught up in the day to day stuff that frankly, won't mean much of anything in 100 years or sometimes 100 seconds. Maranatha.

Working out is my new thing. Walking and weight lifting are totally cool. Thanks BWDW! It's more about getting fit than losing weight now. I still want to slim down, but I also want to be healthy.

*yawn*