Run around, scrape your knees, get dirty...Get into trouble, for cryingout loud.

There are times in your life for certain things. For instance, when you're one, it's time for sticking your hands in a cake. When you're nine years old, it's time to go play outside and get dirty. Get into trouble. Build a fort. Play. When you're in middle school, it's time to have a crush; dance 2 feet from each other. Have fun. High school is when you are pressured to start figuring it all out. Say you live to be 100. What makes people think that at age 17, you will know what you want to do for the rest of your life? Ride in a car with a friend who has terrible driving skills. Make out with someone.

I hit it hard at 25. REALLY hard. I had what some might consider to be a quarter-life crisis. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?!? Why am I not married or even on the road to that path? My parents were married and had both my brother and I by that age. NOTE: my parents are divorced and so are many of yours who did the same thing. I didn't have some fantastic job or a college degree yet, and felt as though I had accomplished nothing. I am so glad I went through that when I did. Some don't hit the questioning phase until much later. Clarity is something wonderful. Clarity for me means having no idea.

There were a few times when I thought I was on the road to marriage. Hell, I've been on the road to a college degree now for 10 years. I'm not married and I'm so glad that I'm not. Do I want to get married one day and have kids? Fo' Sho! Do I know when it will happen? Nope. I sure am glad that I don't. I have nothing against anyone who is my age and married with kids. I'm terrified of getting divorced, and for personal reasons, I'm glad I am single. EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

My clarity recently came when I realized I want to be nine again. Okay, wait, that sounds weird. To better explain: I want to have fun. I think you can be responsible and make good, "grown-up" decisions, while having a blast at the same time. You live ONCE. (Unless you believe in reincarnation, I guess.)

I'm not going to judge anyone for what they believe but I am a Christian and I believe God made this awesome place in which we reside for us to fully enjoy it's beauty. Fall in love. Fall out of love. Fall in love again. Hang out with friends. Make new ones. GO OUTSIDE. GO EXPLORE. Take a trip. Catch a plane. Travel to another space, place or destination. I want to go EVERYWHERE. I want to see it all. Maybe that is why I like hiking and doing stuff like that. You get to see the little details. Your eyes are the camera and your mind is the video recorder. Take images.

I feel sorry for those people who do not have this same clarity. There are people who sit at home and watch TV everyday. There are folks who sit in a cubicle all week and are so tired on the weekend, they stay home and do nothing. Some people struggle financially that they feel they need to stay in and avoid spending money. Outside is free, FYI. I feel so sad for these people. I want to take advantage of this life while I have it. When it is time for me to go, I'll feel confident that I led an awesome life. Bucket Lists are for people who live in fear. Do crazy things all the time. Be spontaneous. Make mistakes. Go to a park. "Go out and sit on the lawn and do nothing.  Cause it's just what you must do and nobody does it anymore."

*Above quote: Fiona Apple, "Waltz (Better Than Fine)"

Why do you hate heart shaped candy?

February 14. You see it on a calendar and immediately have feelings or some kind of emotion. Perhaps you have a memory of a great romantic day in your past spent with someone you care for or someone in love's past. Maybe it reminds you of heart shaped candy and cardboard cutouts in grade school. 

Acid reflux, nausea, and utter annoyance. These are my feelings towards Valentines day. Though the origin of the "holiday" may have had meaning at one point, Americans are so far past this now. February 14 is now a Hallmark holiday when men feel the need to be forcefully over romantic (I can only imagine how busy the manscapers are on Valentines) and single women feel the need to down a bottle of wine and a pint of Ben and Jerry's. Funny how if you hate this day and you're single, you obviously are just pissed that you're alone. If you're in a relationship, things must not be going so well.  No, I have not had some man wrong me in the past. I've never even had my heart broken. Oops. No, I'm not bitter because I'm single. Ask guys I've dated in the past. I DON'T DO VALENTINES DAY.

Valentines is day when couples feel the need to come up with the perfect gift for their significant other. Have you ever tried to go to dinner on this said day? Say you're in a relationship and you decide to go out for a nice dinner. Good luck getting reservations. How about roses? Guys wait until the day of to purchase and then there aren't any left. Chocolates? Yes! Rotting teeth! So sexy. Okay, so I personally don't like chocolate but you get the picture. Any of the previously listed items will set you back but any other gifts bought and I hope you have a separate savings account for this ridiculous day.

What happened to showing someone you care all of the other days of the year? Though there are some guys out there that can actually say that they buy flowers for no occasion at all, most don't even think about it until the world celebrates the IDEA of love, mid February. Barf. Grow some balls and show the person you care that you love them on a random day in October. Buy flowers because you are thinking about how much you enjoy their smile or their laugh. Go to a fancy dinner on a Tuesday in May. I can't tell you how many girlfriends over the years have had high expectations on Valentines, only to be left upset. 

So, what do I do on February 14th? Though I don't generally "celebrate" the day, I can't help but think about what the day has so popularly come to mean. Do I buy myself flowers and chocolate or take myself to dinner? No way. I drink a bottle of wine and watch a movie or something. Do I sometimes secretly wish, deep down, that I was madly in love and was spending the day in a fairytale of romance? Perhaps. But only for a minute...

Hugs and Kisses from yours truely.

And, p.s.: red and pink don't even match. And, seriously, it's initials are VD. RED FLAG.

Spandex is a privilege, not a right.

This first blog was originally posted on Facebook. It is about the lack of a satisfactory workout facility in my hometown. Enjoy.


I recently turned 27. I'm not old or young. I'm in some limbo nearing 30 but still trying to hang on to my youth as tightly as I possibly can. Things are different than I thought they would be. I didn't think I would be on a 12 year college path. Alas, here I am. I'm happy but I also realize that 27 isn't 20. I need to get my stuff together. By stuff, I mean jiggle.

The gym has been calling my name off and on for years now. I heed to its beckoning on occasion but I also listen only at convenience. No more I say! I'm determined to be in the best shape of my life. Therefore, with a purchase of new workout clothes, kicks and the new iPod Nano (highly recommend because it clips to your workout gear), I am back at the gym on a regular basis.

Dear Chattanooga, can you please provide a place to tone ones self that doesn't include old people, 18 year olds, or a million year contract where you have to sign away your life? My dear friend Emmy and I have gone the the downtown Y recently. No Maam. There was an old guy hovering over my bike the second I quit using it. He was all, "hey are you gonna ride or what?" I wanted to say "EFF OFF GRANDPA!" but I didn't. There as a strange combination of career people in their 30's and old people trying to not die. I don't know about you but I need people that are in shape working out around me. Old people with their flabby skin don't make me want to be on American Gladiators. They were all sweaty and... IN SPANDEX.

Then there was the Arc. For those of you unaware, the Arc is UTC's newest addition. It is equipped with 3 stories of new equipment and fun things to keep you entertained while working out. I loved it at first. Since I am on the 12 year track at college, I have a "free" membership included in my $5,000/year tuition. When we first started going regularly to the Arc, it was fantastic. Hardly ever any people there, with a nice array of toned hot boys closer to our age to look at. (Don't pretend to judge me here, everyone wants eye candy at the gym.) Now that all these 100lb. idiots have new years resolutions, you can hardly walk in the place anymore. Emmy and I came the other day and there were 6 girls sitting on a yoga mat socializing the entire hour and a half that we were there, working out. I'm pretty sure rush week has been moved to the gym. (I have no problem with people in the Greek community that don't fall under this category. However, if you head to the Arc anytime soon you will see what I mean.) As I have said previously, some of us are there to actually work out. I can't handle these 18 year old girls with their designer workout clothes and hair did that stand around the machines, blocking their use, with no attempts to actually do anything physically. I just can't take it anymore! P.S. fat girls that think you're in shape...
You're not foolin anyone with your sports bra and t-shirt cut to resemble a guys muscle tank. When the arm holes gape to your waist, we can see those rolls of yours.

So, next will be the Rush. I worked out there for about a year and a half before and liked it. It's not bad if you don't mind meatheads staring at each other more than they're looking at you. Plus, the downtown location has like hardly anything in there. Oh, that's right... YOU HAVE TO SIGN CONTRACTS. I think last time it was a 2 year contract. Have you met me? I'm a nomad. I move too much for that. Who knows where I'll be in two years? I don't want to pay the $239487234987 that you have to in order to work out at the sports barn either. The 24/7 gym has like nothing in it. I JUST WANT TO WORK OUT WITH LESS PEOPLE AROUND ME AND A VARIETY OF EQUIPMENT WITHOUT SPENDING A MILLION DOLLARS. C'mon Chatty, help a sista out.

Want to air your dirty thoughts and hatred for me? Or perhaps you want to show some love? Feel free to do so now. I can handle it. After all, thats what these "P.S.'s" are for...