it is NOT easy to be a teenager

This is going to sound like a commercial, and I don't care.

On Friday Mac & I went to the Step Up Women's Network Inspiration Awards Luncheon. Which, wow, that's a mouthful, huh? Step Up is a really cool organization, though. They do a lot, but primarily focus on helping young girls living in challenging environments (like, say, south central LA) to build their confidence, engage in healthy activities, improve their education, and ultimately go to college. The goal is to break the destructive cycle so many at-risk youths find themselves in today.

While we were there, we saw a row of young teenagers declare they were going to college for all different reasons--and they'd all be the first in their families to do so. We heard from one girl who, although she used to be painfully shy and down on herself, got up in front of a room full of people and unabashedly informed us all that it is NOT easy to be a teenager. Another girl read the essay that won her a college scholarship, in which she talked about how her biological mother chose drugs over her and her two siblings. And her adoptive parents told her that she'd never amount to anything, and probably just end up knocked up and on drugs just like her mother. Her parents. And yet, because of Step Up, she's getting out of that environment, and going to college.

Needless to say, it was an emotional, amazing event. There were some celebrity guest speakers too, but really they weren't nearly as cool as those kids. If you haven't clicked through already, check out their website to see if there are ways you could get involved, and help change a young girl's life for the better!

Interesting

I take a lot of these online quizzes, I rarely post the results. But I've been thinking lately, would I ever go back to school? If I did, what would I study? What if I could have done it over? As it is, I completed my undergrad in 4 years and got a degree in Journalism, from a school that didn't have the best journalism department. By the time I was a junior, I'd figured out that I should have switched to Communications because their classes/profs were better, but that would have extended my overall stay at university and well. No, thank you. I was done after almost 3 years, 4 was pushing my patience. So I stuck with Journalism.

Anyway, I took this quiz. I find the results interesting.

You scored as Dance. You should be a Dance major! Like a lithe ballerina, you dance because you believe there is beauty in expressing the physical form. Dance 100% Journalism 83% Sociology 75% Linguistics 75% Theater 67% Anthropology 58% English 58% Mathematics 58% Biology 58% Philosophy 50% Psychology 50% Art 42% Chemistry 42% Engineering 42% What is your Perfect Major? (PLEASE RATE ME!!<3) created with QuizFarm.com

The top pick? Is because, of everything they asked me about, Dancing was the one I was like, YES! I love dancing! Which, it's kind of funny. I pretty much took all the dance classes I could in college without becoming an proper athletic dancer/dance major. I'd say it's time to take more dance classes, wouldn't you?

I'M HUNGRY

I wish that I'd gotten all my girls together to go see Music & Lyrics. Every time I listen to the soundtrack I laugh and sing along. It truly is some of the funnest new music ever.

That said, I have started listening to the mixes Amy and Mike made for me. They are absolutely sensational.

Amy's mix is all duets. Depending on my mood, I'll listen to certain tracks on repeat and pretending I'm doing a duet karaoke with one of my guy friends (Mac is not down with The Karaoke). How have I never had the Iggy Pop/Kate Pierson classic "Candy" in my collection until now? I don't know, but I'm in love. Also, this band Faux Jean that Amy's put on a couple mixes for me is absolutely fabulous. I think they're local to Minnesota, but they should be big nationwide in my opinion. There are 18 tracks of goodness on this mix, those two are just highlights off the top of my head.

Mike's mixes are totally different. One is more high energy, one is more dreamy. I have a hard time getting all the way through the energetic one, because it kicks off with KT Tunstall's "You're Not the One For Me," and goll-darnit-to-heck I DON'T CARE how uncool KT Tunstall is. That is some damn catchy shit, and I keep listening to it on repeat and not playing the rest of the CD. I want to listen to this song on every road trip ever.

Mike's dreamier mix sounds like the Rocky Mountains to me. Or any mountains. I spent 10 years in Colorado so maybe this is just my take from my own experiences, but this collection of songs sounds like, I don't know... It sounds like winding roads with switchback turns, wind tickling delicate gold Aspen leaves, crisp mountain air, elks in the distance, crackling bonfires and snow falling at night. It's wild and inspiring and relaxing. It was especially soothing over this past week.

Which, okay. I have a lot of news. I'm not going to blog all of it yet.

I got my wisdom teeth out! That was a weird experience. I went in, they stuck a needle in my arm, and the next thing I knew I was laying on a gurney with my mouth full of gauze and tears in my eyes from the anesthetic. My recovery has been painful, but I'm getting there. The whole "knocked out for surgery" thing really threw me for a loop, too. I'm glad I finally got it done, but I am so ready to be recovered. For one thing? I'M HUNGRY! This liquid/soft foods diet sucks. (HA! I'm awesome. Wait, was that only funny to me and my mom? Oh, fine.) I've already started to make a list of food I'm going to eat when I get back on solids. That list so far:
BBQ - all kinds. Ribs, brisket, chicken, whatever. With a side of cold cole slaw.
A BLT - on white, with mayo. I haven't had one of these in ages, where did this craving come from??
Cajun food - I suddenly require gumbo, jambalaya and etoufee.
Steak - A petit filet would suffice.
Mexican food - Oh, all of it.

I'm sure the more soup and Slimfast I consume, the longer that list will get. I am going to make myself some decadent mashed potatoes, though. Oh, yes I am.

I have so much more to blog, but it's going to have to wait. You'll see.