Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Dear Anaheim Ducks,

Today is my birthday, and, in celebration, me and my brother are going to the game tonight.

I won't be holding up a sign that tells everyone that I was born twenty-two years ago.  My picture won't be on the scoreboard.  I'm not going to ask you for kisses or propose marriage to you.  The only thing I want from you tonight is a win.  Because I know you can win.

There's no need to fire people, to trade anyone, to snatch captaincy away.  You have all the parts you need.

I still and will continue to believe in you, no matter what happens.  Because that's what fans do. 

I may not be able to go to every game, but I watch every game.  I may not be able to purchase all of your merchandise or go to watch parties or attend all of the amazing activities you hold every year.  I still don't understand certain things, especially player stats and why people get kicked out of a faceoff.  But I believe in you.

I'm looking forward to watching you play tonight.  Hockey is something that makes me so incredibly happy, so thank you for providing me with that, especially with a home game on my birthday.

Good luck tonight and all the best!

Sincerely,
Heather 

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Traditions

This isn't a post on Thanksgiving or what I should be thankful for (lots of things, I know!) or anything like that.  I feel like Facebook has that covered.

Today, I want to talk about D.B. Cooper.  40 years ago today, the man we barely know anything about completely changed the way we view traveling in the sky.  First and foremost, he was an air pirate.  Nuff said, as far as I'm concerned.  Secondly, D. B. Cooper wasn't even his real name.  Third, he got away with $200,000 and was never heard from again.  Finally?  His case is the only hijacking case in American history to be unsolved.

You all know my love for gangsters, and while this one lived in 1971, it's still hard not to admire the guy.

Up in Washington, people are gathering this weekend in order to honor the legend that is D. B. Cooper.  I entered a poetry contest with him being the prompt.  If you're interested in reading it, you can find it here.  If you want more information on D. B. Cooper, I'd suggest buying the book SKYJACK: The Hunt For D. B. Cooper by Geoffrey Gray.  It's amazing, let me tell you.

Okay, I lied: Happy Thanksgiving!  Keep tradition - whatever that tradition may be - alive.  And, as long as I'm alive, so will D. B. Cooper.  And Dillinger.  And Karpis.  And many, many more.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

In which I talk about fashion

Let's get one thing straight:  I have no idea about fashion.  A lot of the time, I flip through those sections of my magazines without even a second glance because a) I don't really care and b) the clothes are just not my taste.

I don't really a have a "style," so to speak.  I guess if I had to label it, it would be comfortable mixed with conservative-classy, with hints of edge every now and then.  Yeah, I tend not to fit anywhere, really.  But that's okay.

So why am I talking about this?

Last Friday, I went to my charity event in a beautiful dress that I looked pretty damn good in.  But I didn't feel comfortable.  I knew I looked good but I felt like I was faking it, like this wasn't me.  Like I was pretending to be someone I wasn't.  Luckily, my friend was there and kicked my butt about saying so and I enjoyed the night.

But!

I realized that clothes that typically are supposed to make girls feel beautiful: prom dresses, wedding dresses, that sort of thing; and sexy: mini skirts, short dresses, don't really make me feel that way, whether I know I look good in them or not.

As such, I found that the clothes I feel sexy in are simply jeans and a t-shirt, flip flops, converses, or a pair of amazing boots.  That's me.  My hair's down.  I have minimal if any makeup on.  I can't explain why, but in that outfit, I have swagger.  In a cocktail dress, I'm afraid everyone can tell I'm pretending.

And then this led to an even bigger realization - which, for you fashion people, is probably common sense and I apologize for my ignorance - Fashion isn't about what you wear, but what you feel when you wear clothes.

Confidence is sexy, and I feel confident in jeans.  Ergo, if I'm meeting someone important - a hockey player, perhaps? - I should probably dress jeans.  No, I probably won't reveal too much skin and thus won't be dubbed as 'sexy,' but I'll be myself and as cheesy as that sounds, that's what matters.

So wear whatever it is that makes you comfortable.  Be confident, because when you are, you shine.

*On a related note, my mother and I were heading to the grocery store, and I turned to her and said, "I feel like a supermodel today."  She turned to me and said, "You should feel like a supermodel every day."

So every time I step out of the house, I try and think like that: I don't care if I'm wearing sweats or jeans or a sundress, I pretend I'm a supermodel on a runway.  And you should feel that way too because in one way or the other, aren't we all supermodels?  (Okay, I know, I know, that was bad.)

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Quick update

Um, hi.

I'm sorry I've been AWOL lately.  My mother and I have both experienced unrelated, non-life threatening medical emergencies which have rendered me pretty much without a social life (and missing one hockey game) more so than usual and running around doing everything since my mother couldn't.  My poor car, unused to this new strain, died so it's being towed to my auto shop today.

This, of course, has resulted me in missing more classes than I would have liked (though, realistically speaking, I don't like to miss class at all).

Which has subsequently resulted in me dropping out of NanoWriMo.  Inspiration has run dry, as Natalie Imbruglia, would sing and I simply don't have the time.  However, hope is not lost: once I finish with finals, I plan to use my three-ish weeks of winter break to make up for it.

Speaking of which, I registered for classes next quarter: 4 classes back-to-back, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I've never crammed all my classes on two days a week before, but since I refuse to take night classes, that's how it ended up.  We'll see what happens...

Yesterday night, Jeshicka and I went to my hockey charity event.  It was fun but not what I expected.  I met a lot of the players - all of whom were extraordinary - and we had a fun night.  And no, I didn't even have to use any of my pre-planned conversations.

Today is my mother's birthday.  Me and my brother got her some spa gift certificates - which she needs and totally deserves - and a card.

Finally, the Ducks have only won 2 out of their last 14 games.  It totally bums me out because I know they're better than this, but I have faith that they'll pull through.  Somehow they always do.