BJ's Dating Tips

Jean, "Big Jean" (BJ), "Grandmama", Tipton is my dad's mother. She is 95 years old and still lives alone and is mentally sharper than I could ever hope to be. When I was home for Easter, the family got together at her house for supper cooked by Sherri, a dear family friend and the lady who helps BJ out during the day. It had been a while since we had all gotten together and my sister and cousin, both a year younger than I, have both obtained boyfriends since I last saw them. They have both been dating their designated men for 3 months. This inevitably came up - more often than I would have liked - over the course of the weekend and during our meal. I value my Grandmama's opinion and she always has something worth noting, if only for a bit of laugh (she is understandably a bit old fashioned sometimes). When she found out that they were both dating people, she gave us all a bit of worldly advice that I plan to take very seriously. It went something like this: I think it's terrible young people date. How are you supposed to know what's out there, if you don't date a lot of people? You can't know what you want if you only date one person. You girls have to date a lot of people until you get tired of it and then you just give up and marry one of them. Like I did with your grandfather. I have to say, I agree whole-heartedly with her dating philosophy.

Octobeastie

The endearing term "Octomom," as monster like as it may sound to the untrained ear, is the loving mother of octuplets...and six other children. Now, I'm not one to judge because, hey, she could just love kids. But, seriously? As a single mother with no job and currently being supported by public assistance programs, I think I'll get in-vitro treatments! Again!
Well, I congradulate her on her on being capable of having 8 babies at once, at least. At the same time, I can't help but think that at this point she's just exploiting the media attention that was given her. And why shouldn't she, I suppose? There are worse things. She plans to trademark her name for use selling diapers. I guess by now she should be pretty familiar with them. Good luck to the kids though! I'm sorry that you're subject to the destroying effects of the media.

Well, at least she turned down the porn career that was offered to her...at least until the baby fat is gone.

I'm blogging about the weather

Oscar Wilde said that only the most boring, unimaginative people talk about the weather. I am one of those people. It's most unfortunate. However, since it's spring time and the weather couldn't be nicer, I feel like it is a crime to be forced to blog inside on such days. This is the kind of weather that makes me want to be in victorian England taking a stroll down a country lane, picking wild flowers beneath ancient trees while handsome men ride by in coats atop gleaming black steads. That sounds a lot better than blogging.

Reality of Fiction

Do you ever imagine conversations that you haven't had with people? It can be a conversation that you are dreading/planning to have with a friend or colleague or boss. Or a conversation that you may or may not ever even have with the person. It could be with a total stranger that you pass on the street or the conversation that would ensue should you ever meet that celebrity. For example, the conversation that I expect to have should I ever meet Jason Mraz would go something like this:

Me: Hello, Jason Mraz. I am obviously a fan because I had to wait in line for so long to meet you, but I'm not here to have another fade away fan conversation or to alert you to the fact that you have a freak stalker fan that wants to kill you or anything.

Jason: So this is different?

Me: Yes. And don't take that joke seriously. You know like in Forgetting Sarah Marshall how he -

Jason: -sees her for the first time in Hawaii and makes that joke. Of course. It's a great movie. What's your point?

Me: Right. My point is that I feel like we are supposed to be friends. Every time I hear your music I feel like that. And I know your music isn't hard to relate to and there are a lot of other people that like it too, but don't get the impression that I am only intrigued by your music. I'm not. Some of the lyrics are good, but none of it's really all that impressive. Which is why it's so relatable.

Jason: That's kind of mean. Why are you telling me all this?

Me: I'm not saying it to be mean. I'm just saying that it's not because of your songs that I want to be friends with you exactly. It's more the idea that you present of yourself, which, admittedly is through your songs, but it's something else. I just think we should be friends is what it comes down to.

Jason: You and me? Well, that's kind of weird.

Me: I know it is. I thought so too. But trust me. I'm not a freak. I'm not exactly sure why you should believe that, but I think you should.

Jason: So you think we should be friends because of the idea I present through my songs that suck?

Me: Kind of. It's more that the idea of your style mixes well with what I know about my style. I think we would click. I also think that you're probably a reasonably intelligent person and you remind me of a friend of mine. Not that I really know you.

Jason: Yeah, you don't. But I don't know you either, right?

Me: See. We're on the same page here. I knew you would get it.

Jason: So who are you?

Me: Oh! Right. I'm Kate Robinson. And I'm going to give you my phone number not in order to become your next hook up, but so we can be friends. Because it must be lonely on the road. Or a whole lot of fun where you never get lonely. In that case, I still think we would be good friends.

Jason: So I'm supposed to call you?

Me: Yep.

Jason: Next time I'm in Charlotte?

Me: Unless you want to fly me to wherever you happen to be.

Jason: And you're not a freak fan?

Me: Jason. I'm obviously not, okay? I'm leaving this up to you, not begging for your number. I would be way too awkward to call you. I don't want to be that person.

Jason:Great. Well I'm convinced. I could use someone like you in my life. I'll give you a call.

Me: I'm glad you agree. It's been lovely talking with you.

April 20 - Spring: It's in the Air

Today is a magical day. The scent of grass floats by on a wisp of wind. But it's not just in the air. It's in my clothes, my hair, my very being! Dusk coolly settles down on the ground, a colorful blanket of sky and I pull my sweater around me. People pass by on the other side of the soccer field on their way somewhere. The ground is so flat and clean! I've never noticed. It makes everything stand out. The chain-link fence on the other end stands especially tall and separated from the flat houses across the street. Oh yes. Yes...Yes, spring is in the air tonight. The budding scents of spring bring the night to life. People are coughing a lot. Must be allergies.

Where's that music coming from?

I just spent 10 minutes of my life trying to figure out which window I had open on my internet was replaying the same 3 guitar chords over and over again. For those of you who have had this experience before, it is incredibly frustrating when you think you have 7 reputable websites open and none of them should be playing music.

A brief comment on scooters, vacation, and fall

I like the examples the blog people give for possible labels for your post: scooters, vacation, and fall. My favorite is scooters. I have never actually owned a scooter, but I think I did try to ride one once. I definitely got to ride an electric scooter once, which was fun because we crammed 3 to 4 people onto the narrow metal base, seat, and handles. It was also great because my intimidating German rowing coach tried it out after us. Needless to say, he looked ridiculuos. Aside from that, my knowledge of scooters is decidedly limited. I would really like to read a blog specifically dedicated to a serious discussion about scooters.