For some reason my sister’s Facebook page is a magnet for incredibly strange exchanges. I have no idea why. Actually, I know why… because my family is SUPER weird…
Best road trip EVAR circa 2006 February 1, 2010
I found this old blog post that never got posted. I thought I’d resurrect it and post it now. Oh we were so young and in love back then. This was year two of our relationship, by the way.
“It winds from Chicago to LA, more than 2,000 miles all the way”… yup, Aaron and I took a Route 66 road trip and it was awesome! I flew to Indiana on New Years Eve and then drove w him from there to Oklahoma (where is family lives) and then from Oklahoma back to LA.
INDIANA (New Years Day!)
After a New Years Eve filled with gunfire in the slums of Indianapolis, Aaron and i drove to see his family farm somewhere along the back roads of Indiana… pictures from the farm…
“now it goes through ST. LOUIS”…
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“Proof of [no] Life” photos January 17, 2010
The other day I was “tagged” in a couple of photos from my childhood and I was amazed by the lack of memories that they inspired.
This first one is from a party that a “friend” had where the theme was “dress up like a grown-up/your mom.”
I’m the one in the front that looks like a crazy beauty queen.
The only thing that I thought about this photo was, “man I wish my mom still had that dress.” Other than that, I had no warm thoughts — nothing that inspired any sort of “aw” reaction. But I remember taking that picture and having to sit on that girl’s lap. At one point we were the best of friends. At this point we were not. And it was awkward.
The next picture, from some pool party that I have no real memory of, has been haunting me for the last few days….
I’m the one with the bangs on the far left.
I have no memory of this day except for the fact that I was terrified that I would be one of the unfortunate nerds to get pushed in the pool by one of the popular kids.
As it was posted on Facebook most all of the kids in the picture have been “tagged” and, as you can imagine, there have been a lot of comments. My favorite one was from a guy that I actually remember very well as being a nice kid, (in fact, he’s the only non-white or asian kid in this photo) he said, “this looks like we got kidnapped and this is a “proof of life” picture. all of us except nicole, megan and jackie look like POWs.” Which is was dead-balls-on hilariously true.
The thing that’s been bugging me is that there is now a continuous dialog, in the comments of this photo, about memories from this particular 4th grade class. Schoolmate after schoolmate are posting funny memories and good times of which I have either NO memory of or I had totally forgotten about them until they mentioned it. How do they remember all these things when I can’t even remember even being in this particular class!???
I honestly think I’ve purposely blocked those memories. Going to this school was awful for me. I cried every morning as I put on that itchy uniform. I had been pulled out of a school that I was happy attending and put into this school in the 3rd grade. I think my parents thought that I would have no trouble adapting as all the neighborhood kids went to this school — instant friends! When in fact, becoming friends with me was equal to committing social suicide as, once we were all in a school setting together, it was easy to see that I was VERY different from all of them. So all the neighborhood girls that I used to be friends completely ignored me as a schoolmate. And that was how my life as a nerd became solidified.
So, all because I had been “tagged” in these damn photos just made me realize that I can’t think of ONE good memory from these times. And although that really bugs me, I’m just glad I survived to become the girl I am today. And let me just say that being an adult nerd is a MILLION times better than being a young nerd.
The Real World and women’s body issues January 14, 2010
I admit it, I watch The Real World. I’ve been watching it since I was a youngster and I watch it still. This newest season, the D.C. season, is probably the LEAST interesting bunch of kids that have ever been cast. But beyond boring, the girls got downright PATHETIC in the last episode.
I can’t STAND women and their body issues. I feel like body issues should be like your genitals: keep them to yourself unless invited to share. I have body issues, other women have body issues, boys have body issues, EVERYONE does. I have been fortunate enough to surround myself with friends (boys and girls) who don’t harp on and on about theirs, at least in public. The few times when I’ve actually been on the receiving end of someone saying something negative about their body it’s kind of shocking to me and I don’t know how to act. I don’t want to encourage them by giving them a compliment back, but I don’t want to be a jerk and ignore them. So… I don’t know. I’ve been blessed with really secure friends and those awkward situations have been few and far between.
So it was angering to me to see these “women” on freaking TELEVISION having a pity party about their looks and just being so pathetic! If that damn show had been scripted a more stereotypical scene of women sitting around bitching about “the things that women bitch about” could not have been more perfect. It made me embarrassed to be a woman.
One of the girls spoke up, as I reached my saturation point of disgust, and even noted how pathetic their conversation was becoming. She started to communicate with the others that they, and all women, should really love their bodies. And here I’m thinking, yes! Thank you! Redeem yourself! And in the very next sentence she said, “I’d trade my body for any one of yours in a heartbeat.” NO!!!!! That is the fucking opposite of what you had just said! That one totally sane thing that you have probably EVER said. And you went and canceled that out.
And do you know what started the whole pathetic, whiny-woman body issue conversation? Well, apparently one of the girls made a comment about how she wanted to model for Playboy and one of the boys in the house said, “you’re not skinny enough.” To which, later, she admitted that he was right, but that even though he was right, he just shouldn’t have said that. That statement that was, admittedly, right.
My brain twisted into a pretzel of confusion and outrage and I thought my head was going to explode. My reaction, of course, was to Twitter my total disgust, but what I felt while watching it couldn’t be contained within 140 characters so here I blog.
We’ll be home for Christmas. December 23, 2009
So Aaron and I were supposed to leave for Texas on the 21st, have an easy time of driving there with the two dogs and make it easily before Christmas. Well, work got in the way and suddenly Aaron was working until the 23rd. He was ready to cancel Christmas. But I offered to drive all night while he slept if he drove all day the next day and now we’re heading to Texas tonight! With a stop for some proper rest (and present opening) in some Motel 6 on Christmas Eve, we should make it to the in-laws in time for Christmas!
I feel like we’ll be starring in our own “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” movie, JTT style.
Though we’ve made this road trip several times together over the years, this one is going to be a little different.
* We’re bringing BOTH the dogs this time. Usually we only take Jackson who is a wonderful little traveler. Not sure how Peezu’s gonna fair, but we’ll soon find out.
* It’s the first time we’re taking a car other than Aaron’s Camry. Aaron’s car is a stick-shift. I don’t drive stick. I’ve tried and I just end up having major anxiety attacks. This has made for many a fight on our road trips. I keep promising every year to get over the fear that I’m going to cause his car to explode and help drive, but then I always freak out and end up a sobbing mess on the side of the road. Poor Aaron.
Well this year my dad offered us his Civic Hybrid and it’s an automatic! Which means we both get to pitch in. I’m happy about this.
* This is the first year (for me) that we are actually going to go to his folk’s house ON Christmas. Which means, this is the first year that I will be away from my family on Christmas. No opening presents in their living room in front of a fire. No stockings that my mother needlepointed. No Nat King Cole Christmas music blaring on speakers all over the house. No Boston Terrier dog drowning in ribbons. No trading gifts with my sister. No coffee and hot chocolate on a tray in Christmas mugs while we open presents. For the first time ever. Weird.
Luckily my family has all decided to head to San Francisco to watch the USC bowl game this year, so I won’t feel like they’re doing all that without me. AND I love my in-laws so much that I know I’m going to be just as happy and comfy and Christmas-y.
* And this is the first year we’re leaving in the cover of darkness, which worries me. But I’m sure we’ll be fine.
Well, on that note, I should really finish getting everything ready to go.
Happy Holidays my lovely readers… all 5 of you.
Merry Christmas, love the Finleys
So, I think Spock is hot December 16, 2009
Last night I watched the new Star Trek with Coco, Aaron and Daren. I, of course, developed a huge crush on Spock. What!? He’s weird looking AND he’s smart and he’s an emotional rebel. 
Needless to say I got made fun of for this to no end by Coco and Aaron. And then today this conversation happened on gchat with Coco…
courtney: i wanna watch star trek now
me: oh NOW you wanna watch it!
courtney: haha not really
i just wanna see the hot guy again
me: ha
you mean “guyS”
courtney: NOT SPOCK
me: damn
So what, I’m a hopeless nerd who loves nerds.
Octopi + coconuts 4eva’ December 15, 2009
This video is definitely making it’s rounds ’round the interwebs like mad, but I have a super sweet spot for octopi and a history of featuring cool videos of “awesome sea creatures that aren’t sharks” especially a cool octopus so I thought I’d share this on the Funk as well…
“Octopuses have been discovered tip-toeing with coconut-shell halves suctioned to their undersides, then reassembling the halves and disappearing inside for protection or deception, a new study says.”
-National Geographic News
And then there’s this…
Christmas cat December 11, 2009
I rarely get to take pictures of my cat, because I rarely ever SEE my cat. He defines the term “fraidy cat.” But I caught him last night in a rare relaxed state. Just thought I’d share…
The Funk in Deep Freeze holiday ‘09 gift guide December 7, 2009
It’s December! And that means another round of furious internet shopping for the perfect xmas gifts. This year, while finding the perfect gifts for everyone on my list, I’ve found a LOT of other cool stuff that I thought I’d share with you.
Coin storage from Molla Space
I love this thing, I think it’s a great gift for guys to leave by the front door or bedroom for when they empty out there pockets. I think the white is sold out, but it comes in black.
Adopt-A-Creature from Oceana
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for me, anything from Oceana will do. I especially love these sea creature cookie cutters that use the money from them to help adopt a sea turtle or shark.
Design your own decorative home accessories from Jonathan Adler
This is super pricey, but super cool if you can afford it. You can even design your own rug!
Flash drives!
(click on the drives to learn more)
Flash drives are way useful and now they keep coming out with cooler and cooler designs to make them into more personal gifts. Like the Star Wars flash drives for your favorite geek. Or a credit card sized flash drives for the man in your life. And Swarovski crystal flash drives for the fancy lady in your life.
Hit the jump for more gift ideas!
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Dating and Star Wars December 3, 2009
Ollie and I were having a conversation over gchat about a girl he’s been dating…
Oliver: but megan, there is still a VERY important subject i have not broached with her
and I am talking HUGE
me: [censored]
Oliver: bigger than that
me: what’s bigger than THAT?
Oliver: STAR WARS.
me: WHA!?
you have not had a convo about The Wars?
Oliver: i don’t know her feelings on it yet
i know i know…
me: search her feelings Oliver!
Oliver: appreciate the trilogy she must
me: text her right now and ask
pop the question!
Oliver: “i’m sorry but megan has something to ask you on my behalf. You harbor which of the following feelings towards the original Star Wars trilogy: hatred. love. indifference. Pick one that applies.”
He never did ask her, but we’ve decided to invite her over for one of our Star Wars nights and just see what she does.
