Meg Ryan
Posted by: commonsensegirl on: January 5, 2009
- In: Rants
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I love the idea of aging gracefully. In my mind, age is something to be proud of. So many people, particularly women, show such shame in their age. But in all honesty, shouldn’t we all be happy that we get to enjoy as much time as possible in our lives? I certainly wouldn’t wish away decades of a great life just so I would die beautiful.
Where I’m headed with this is…Meg Ryan. I love Meg Ryan because I love (most) chick flicks. You’ve Got Mail, while painfully predictable, is a great movie and every time I see it on cable I stop to watch it.
What I have loved the most of about Meg Ryan is that, in addition to her endlessly bubbly personality in all the characters she plays, she was aging gracefully. She was clearly getting older, but not in a “Wow, she looks old” way but in a “How refreshing she isn’t trying to hide her age” way. And the most important thing to note was that she looked GREAT!
This is the Meg Ryan I loved:
This is the Meg Ryan that has replaced her:
I’m not sure what you do to make your face look like this Meg, but whatever it was it had to be painful. It looks like it must hurt to even talk or chew. I think when they did your face lift/botox/laser treatment they gave you a perma-smile to go along with it. It doesn’t look like that smile will even move. There must have been a lip injection done too. Which maybe wouldn’t be so obvious or look so bad if it wasn’t surrounded by spandex-skin.
I know that plastic surgery in Hollywood has become common place. What am I saying – plastic surgery in general has become common place. But I always took solace in the fact that there are still some people out there who are OK with their age – and there still are, of course. I used to think Meg Ryan was one of them. So much for that.
Now I can’t even watch her movies. My skin hurts at the sight of her.
Top 5 Hated Forwards
Posted by: commonsensegirl on: January 2, 2009
- In: Rants| Top 5s
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1. Forward this to (insert ridiculous number here) people and you’ll receive some absurd amount of money from Bill Gates/Government/Unknown Rich Person.
While I understand the optimism behind sending these on, let’s be serious. Do you honestly believe that in his spare time Bill Gates developed a forward and attached some incredibly sophisticated tracking software to it so that for every person you forward that on to, he will give you $5? I want to find the people who make these up. They must be laughing their asses off when it finally circles back to them, and it’s been forwarded thousands of times, with thousands of people waiting for a check to come in the mail.
2. Send this on and something incredible will appear on your screen.
I’ll admit, I even went for this one the first few times it made its way to my inbox. But nothing ever appears. I learned my lesson. Why hasn’t anyone else?
3. Send this on if you believe in God.
I do believe in God. I have strong faith. But I don’t want that faith tested by my forwarding on an idiotic email to all of my contacts, for two reasons. One, I almost never send forwards. If you do get one from me, it’s going to be pretty damn funny, or at least get a smile out of you. Second, I don’t think God will call my faith into question because I don’t find it necessary to waste my time and yours with an email that requires you to prove yourself to me and to God. He knows what you’re up to. No emails necessary.
4. Send this on if you support the troops.
Once again, I agree with the premise. I do support the troops. But how does me flooding your email with photos of flags and soldiers make things for them any better. If you support the troops the way your email claims you do, then your time is better spent visiting one of these websites:
http://www.uso.org/donate
http://supportyourtroops.us
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil
I guarantee they will appreciate that much more than an email going out to 50 of your closes friends.
5. You’re my friend. Send this on if I’m yours.
If you’re my friend, you should know it by now. I will have given you a gift on your birthday, we’d go out to dinner, catch a movie, or go shopping together. I would know what’s going on in your life, and you’d know what’s going on in mine. If you need me to forward an email filled with flowers and smiley faces to 30 people, including you, to show you that I’m your friend, then I’m not your friend. You shouldn’t need an email to validate our friendship. I sure as hell don’t.
This list could go on and on, but these are my current most-hated. Maybe because they are the ones I receive the most frequently.
Is there a polite way to tell someone “your emails suck and I’d prefer it if you remove me from your list of contacts?” Because I haven’t found one yet.
I’m Not the Only One….Right?
Posted by: commonsensegirl on: January 2, 2009
Happy New Year! I hope all of you had a wonderful new year celebration, and are looking forward to 2009 as much as I am.
I was able to celebrate New Year’s Eve with an amazing group of friends. We headed out for dinner, only to have to wait two hours for the reservation we had made several days earlier. And then after ordering had our food shoved down our throats, as the kitchen was closing and the staff made it very clear that they weren’t about to wait around for us.
But I digress…
New Year’s Eve, while extraordinarily fun, offered some amusing insights. To set the stage, take note of the following facts: I am 23 years old. I have graduated from college, and working full time, and live with my boyfriend of nearly two years. I am very happy with my life as it is. And despite numerous negative reactions, my boyfriend and I have made it clear to those who ask that while we plan to (someday) get married, we do not plan to have kids…ever.
My friends, while educated, successful people in their own right, are all either married or engaged. They tend to hang out almost exclusively with other married or engaged couples. They talk about their wedding plans, or what they would change about their wedding. Discuss color schemes, honeymoon destinations, and menu options. I am not implying that I’m bored at these conversations. I know someday I will get married and those topics will be as important to me as they have been to every other bride.
However, when these discussions take place, this is typically what happens: I attempt to chime in. I offer my opinions, tell them how great their ideas are, etc. and while they smile and take my input, the conversation inevitably leads to the question: “Well, when are you guys getting married?” And when my honest answer is that we have no plans to right now, but someday, they give me this “Don’t worry, it’ll happen” smile and continue their conversation with the other marrieds or engageds. Apparently, because by being 23 and not engaged or married, I have somehow missed this essential deadline, and am now a pity case until I get a ring on my left hand.
I can handle this in and of itself. But it leads to another awkward conversation…
These couples that are married or engaged also begin the discussion of children. When they plan to start having kids, how many, look how cute that baby at the next table is, I think I’ll paint the nursery yellow….those conversations start. Again, no real problem with the conversation. Until it’s my turn to answer the questions. And when my answer is “We don’t plan on having children” the women around me tend to gasp, and go into a flurry of “Oh my gosh why not?!” questions.
It’s not that I hate kids. I love them. They are fabulous. I have so much fun hanging out with my relatives, friends’ kids, etc. And I think I’m good with kids. I can get down and dirty and play like a kid, but still play a responsible adult roll and dole out the discipline if it’s needed. But the fact that I have no desire for kids of my own is a statement that I worry will eventually cause me to be ostracized from my group of friends.
Am I the only woman out there who loves her life, and isn’t willing to change it for a child? And I am the only woman who thinks that it’s OK to not be married, and am willing to wait until the time is right? I seriously doubt it. I know there are more of you out there. Unfortunately, I worry we are the silent minority.
Top 5 of 2008
Posted by: commonsensegirl on: December 29, 2008
1. Jason Mraz
The album “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.” came out this year and has been by far one of my favorites. The lyrics are incredibly insightful and catchy. The songs are musically perfect. And I think “Beautiful Mess” is one of my favorite songs of all time. Beyond this, I had the chance to see Jason perform this year, and he was incredible. No lip syncing. No over the top effects. No cheesy costumes or dance moves. Just genuinely great music from a truly gifted musician. Can’t ask for more than that.
2. Perez Hilton
I love this blog. Despite his typos, which are frequent, his posts are hilarious, and he shows no mercy. Perez feeds my daily gossip craving.
3. Big Bang Theory
Not as in the idea that the universe has expanded from a primordial hot and dense initial condition a billion years ago. Referring to the sitcom featuring Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons, which is absolutely hysterical. There are so few sitcoms that can elicite genuine laughs – at least for me. This one is awesome. And while I realize that it is not new as of 2008, this is the year I became addicted to it. So it still deserves a place on my list.
Sheldon: (Knocking on Penny’s door early in the morning). Penny, Penny, Penny!
(Penny opens the door).
Sheldon: Good morning.
Penny: Do you have any idea what time it is?
Sheldon: Of course I do, my watch is linked to the atomic clock in Boulder, Colorado. It’s accurate to one-tenth of a second, but as I’m saying this it occurs to me once again your question may have been rhetorical.
Again, awesome.
4. Target
Target has earned a spot in my top 5 for some time now. I go there for everything. Shampoo. Socks. DVDs. Books. Board games. It is literally the first place I look for nearly anything I need. Without a Target near me, I don’t even know where to begin looking for a new tooth brush.
5. Barack Obama
I cried watching the results on election night. I have never been so happy over the results of an election, or thrilled by the decision of voters. I have spent the last 8 years embarassed by our leadership, and ashamed at the direction our country was headed. I can’t wait to see what he can accomplish.
Rants with Reason
Posted by: commonsensegirl on: December 29, 2008
- In: Rants
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It is a sad state in my world. The need to maintain relationships, present an exceptional professional image, and further my career make it nearly impossible for me to express an honest opinion on anything controversial. More often than not, it isn’t even something controversial. Sometimes it’s nothing more than wanting to express my disdain for nurses who wear scrubs with cartoon characters on them (is Spongebob Squarepants really the image you want to present as a health care professional?).
I am a self-confessed “judger.” I judge. Of course, most of us do. Many of us claim to be “live and let live-ers”, but deep down, our opinions take shape. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
The current focus of my judgement is poseurs. But not in the “I have a need to stand out so I dress like a bad-ass for no particular reason” kind of poseur. Let me explain…
In the community I live in, there are hundreds people who claim education is their top priority. Their opinion, if you were to ask them, is ensuring that our area has the best schools, that our children have access to the best resources, and that we remain at the forefront of the education system.
Nothing wrong with those answers, right? They’re probably what you would say too. What most of us would answer. Which is ironic, because those same parents are the ones voting against referendums to fund our school district. Who show up at school board meetings to complain about issues they are indescribably ignorant on. And who despite all their claims to have education as a priority, have no desire to take steps to make that happen.
Apparently, education is a priority which someone else should take care of for them.
So for the sake of all of us and our proclaimed values, let me present you this message:
Right now, name what your top values are – personally, professionally, whatever. Now, what are you doing to live your values? If your faith is one of your top values, do you regularly attend church? Do you pray? Do you make offerings to the religion of your choice?
If education is your priority – do you pursue your own? Do you serve on committees to ensure the best education for the children in your community? Do you sit at a call bank for hours in the evening organizing “yes” votes for the latest district referendum?
The point of this is nothing more than to say live your values. Live your values. Choose what is important to you and serve it with vigor. Because if you don’t make the effort to pursue it, it was never important to you to begin with.
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- towp: Well the way I see it is Ms California did exactly what she was asked to to-answer a question. Ms California is from a state that just passed a propos
- Jesse: To start off, let me address your comment on "no offense." I don't know what Miss CA meant by saying that, but I can tell you that when I use that ph
- Ian: A tip is not guaranteed. I worked 10 years in food service to help put myself through college and eventually getting my MBA. Having been on both sides
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