I’m so McSad

When I was in the 7th (or 8th?) grade, my basset hound Snoopy had puppies.  (Side note: They were the cutest freakin’ things in the world.  We had tri-color and brown and white ones!  The neighborhood girls would knock on our door and ask to play with the puppies.)  When we sold the puppies, my brother and I split the profits.  Get money!  I thought it was going to start raining Nintendo games and Z. Cavericci jeans.  It didn’t.

Instead, my mom made me put 1/2 the money into a mutual fund that she found out about.  The company literature looked like a Highlights magazine had swallowed it and spit it out complete with games and cartoon-y pictures.  It showed me how much money was in the account and how much it was growing (this was in the good ol’ market days, I guess).

And grow it did.  I think only put like $250 in there, and when I graduated college … I emptied it.  It was enough to buy me a return ticket to Rome, Italy; a Eurorail pass; a lot of hostels; my first Birra beer; one night at an amazing hotel in Venice (we splurged); a rental apartment in Cinque Terre, Italy for two days; a ferry trip to Corfu, Greeze.  It was amazing.  I learned about culture.  I learned about food.  I learned about traveling, and my friends, and myself.

I’m not really sure how to bring this together … but, anywho, I was reminded of my Europe trip when I read this article about McDonald’s taking their corporate stick and pushing it into the mouths of the Italians — Italy minister defends boost for McDonald’s burger.

I know the locals need their fast food … but, why don’t you see chain restaurants from Italy, or Japan, or Australia, or wherever, infiltrating our market?

Crazy bed head

I had to post this ridiculous picture!  This is what I think I look like when I get up sometimes.  OK, most of the time.  I get some crazy bed head, and I’m all annoyed-looking.

I’m every woman

It’s 2010.  The 21st Century.  We have movies in 3D.  We have machines that tell us how to find the nearest Target and get there, with or without using toll roads.  We make sure the family picture on the wall is level with our cell phones.  So, I wonder why the fact that today’s women are educated and successful and independent is making headlines.

Yes, some of us make more money than our male counterparts.  This report is semi-old news by now, but I still feel compelled to comment, well, because I can. 

You think Stedman is really bothered by the fact that Oprah, well, banks!?  As he shuffles between his Chicago penthouse and Santa Barbara home, I highly doubt he’s pissed that his woman makes more than  him.

And true that, some of us leave our cheating husbands.

You think Jenny Sanford is sticking around while her soon-to-be ex thinks of another crazy lie.  Sorry, I missed dinner every night this week, I was observing polar bears in Antartica.  And I’m so glad Elizabeth Edwards is separating from her political, cheating hubby.  I’m all for love, but not in the name of self-sacrifice. 

Why is this such news to people?  Women go to college, women have babies, women climb ladders, women are comfortable being single and eating dinner alone, women are comfortable being married and cooking dinner for two.  Is this news?  Apparently it is.  But why?  Ok, ok, sure there are cultural reasons, religious reasons, plain ol’ ignorance.  But really?  

In the end, though, it’s not really anybody’s business — but those involved.  My friend, Bones, told me, there are always three sides to every story: yours, theirs, and the truth.  Ain’t that the truth!?  I always keep this in mind.  Nevertheless, love is supposed to make you better; not rip a piece of your soul out and either hide it in a 1×1 box or smash it on the ground.

Soapbox removed, thank you

thirtysomething in Key West

When you haven’t gone anywhere in awhile, you forget how awesome it is to go away.  To travel.  To see someplace new.  To see someplace old.  To taste new things.  To do something different.

And so it was, we got to escape the humdrum of homeownership last weekend.  We headed south to Key West to celebrate JP turning 30.  (We’ve almost known each other for half our lives.  Strange, and wonderful.)  So Key West was a very good time for us.  Good food.  Good margaritas.  Good wine.  Maybe too much good.  Nah, no such thing as too much good!  Liquid goods aside, we managed to sneak in some touristy things.  Rented scooters.  Snorkeled.  Walked up and down Duval.  Took pictures of roosters.

Some things you probably already knew about Key West:

The Southernmost point.  The crazy cat guy.  The sunsets at Mallory Square.

Some things you might not have known about Key West:

The true southernmost point.  An African cemetery.  The original Sloppy Joe’s.