Secret Identity

I've been gone for a while; but I'm slowly coming back. [Didja miss me?] Still, I have a whole bunch of blogs that I want to share, but this isn't the place for what I have to say.

I'm been toying with the idea of creating an anonymous blog. I know some really great bloggers who've done this successfully, and it definitely has its benefits.  

My only hesitation has been that I really don't want to hide behind a fake name, and a shadow avatar. I like putting myself out there and saying what's on my mind. I don't mind commenter's backlash (so far, anyway). Mostly - I'm proud of what I have to say and want people to know it's coming from me.

This could be me. You'd never figure it out.

Still - some of what I want to share might bother some friends. Since I'd never want to hurt anyone, and especially not anyone important to me, I've been hitting "save now" instead of "publish" for a while. But I'm pretty proud of some of the things I want to say, and I'd like to share them. I'd just prefer to do so responsibly. 

So, I think I might. I'd keep this blog going, of course. But I may start another blog where I can share some of my stories and no one will know it's me; or who I'm talking about. 

What do you think? Do you blog anonymously? Would you?

Scary Me

I went out with a group of people this weekend to celebrate Halloween. Originally, I had no plans, and thus, no costume. I was in the middle of putting together a mediocre witch costume that I was at all happy with, when my sometimes-roommate came home to put together her outfit.

She was dressing as a Red Sox fan. No, I wasn't happy. In fact, the only thing that made me less happy than her costume was finding out that her Red Sox hat and t-shirts had been sitting in her bedroom. The room used to be my office, and is painted in Yankee pinstripes. It's a wonder lightening hasn't struck the house.

Anyway...

In order to restore balance to the universe and appease the baseball gods, I scrapped my witch costume and put together a Yankee costume. I called myself the Yankee Spirit.

There was a ton of glitter involved, too.
Don't judge too harshly; I was doing it for the greater good.

If you follow me on twitter, you know it turned out to be a pretty scary costume - since my group of friends decided we'd go to dinner and then to a bar in Bennington, VT. There I was, dressed as a Yankee fan in the heart of New England - otherwise known as Red Sox Nation. Awesome.

My friends were all worried I would be beat up or stalked in the ladies room. In the restaurant, a bunch of fans did laugh, reminding me the Yankees weren't playing that night. (You're all class, Red Sox Nation.) I politely reminded them that, since October started, the only balls the Red Sox have been hitting are made by Titleist.

Game. Over.

In the bar, one (likely drunk) guy growled at me, "Yankee fan, huh?" while trying to stop me from passing to get to the restroom. I guess he thought he was all tough, dressed like a pirate and picking on a single girl, who is all of 5'2" in heels. Way to impress, my friend. Of course, I turned tail and ran away...wait, no I didn't. Let me think...did I beg for forgiveness, or bat my eyelashes and flirt my way out of the situation? Nope, that doesn't sound right, either.

*Thinking* 

Now I remember! I glared and pushed past him, reminding him who bested who this year. (A word to drinkers: sober people can stand their ground much better, no matter how bad their knees or how high their heels.) He stared at me with a stunned look - and walked away. Neither he, nor any other Red Sox fans bothered me the rest of the night.

The lesson here? Just because a girl carries herself like a lady, can be cute without being slutty, is quiet and *gasp* not a drunken mess doesn't make her a push over. Please make a note of it.

What was your scariest costume ever?

Happy Girls Are Pretty Girls

"I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls." Audrey Hepburn

I haven't been feeling very happy (or pretty) lately. My cousin (the one who gives the good advice) told me that one way to get past that is to look for at least one thing every day to be happy about. It doesn't have to be a big thing; those will come in time. 

She's right, of course; but some days it's easier said than done.  But we all know that happiness comes from within, and I'm determined to find mine. To that end, here's a list of things that always make me smile.

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My kitties. They stick by me when I'm sad or sick. No matter how long I've been gone, or what mood I'm in, they are always happy to see me. How can that not make me smile? 

Purses and shoes. They always fit, and they are easy to add to my wardrobe. If I can find them on the cheap, even better. What can I say; I'm a girl.

Baseball. I've talked before about what baseball means to me. Plus, it's awfully hard to look at Derek Jeter and not smile. *sigh*

Flowers. I like to grow them, arrange them and I love to smell them. Roses and lilies are my favorite. I'm inspired when I garden, knowing that I brought beauty into the world and helped it grow. When I arrange cut flowers, I'm happy knowing that I created something that will bring a smile to someone else.

Chocolate. They say that chocolate triggers a chemical reaction in your brain that is similar to love. Well, I don't know much about love - but I know dark chocolate makes me awfully happy. In the immortal words of Author Unknown - "Forget love - I'd rather fall into chocolate!" Amen.

My "nieces and nephews." I don't have any kids of my own (that's its own post). I'm also an only child, so I don't actually have any nieces or nephews. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by some of the most wonderful children in the world. My best friend's son and daughter are little angels who brought me back to life. My cousins are the sweetest, kindest (and coolest) kids around, and always make me smile.

So that's my list. Well, part of my list - the most consistent parts - anyway. That's the great thing about happiness - even when it's not right in front of you, you never know where you might find it next.

What's on your list?