Here it is...

The Comebacks

2008-06-13T13:21:00.001-07:00

Turn on the radio this summer and you’ll hear New Kids on the Block and Cyndi Lauper with new songs (and new CDs!). That’s right, musical artists from the 80’s are making a comeback, but will they succeed as they did before? What happened to ending on a high note (pun intended)?

Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s 2008 now, right? That means these bands haven’t been performing since the late 80’s: Cyndi Lauper had her first hit in 1983 and New Kids on the Block hit their big time in 1988.

Who decided that reuniting bands from that era and having them perform now with new material will be just as wildly successful as before? That’s like deciding that the boom box is going to make a return and be just as popular. Our culture has changed tremendously since the 1980’s, and I wonder if these stars can make music for today’s predominant audience.

Is the American entertainment industry interested in a pop idol who is 54 (Cyndi Lauper)? Or a boy band who’s average age is 38 (Donny Wahlberg is 38, Danny Wood is 39, Joey McIntyre is 36, Jordan Knight is 38 and Jonathan Knight is 39)?

According to www.wikipedia.org, New Kids on the Block performed on The Today Show on May 16, 2008, and the performance attracted one of the biggest crowds, some 4,000 people, in the show's concert series history.

Cyndi Lauper’s release of her new song, “Same ol’ Story” was the number one downloaded song on the day of its release.

Maybe I’m wrong and their success will top what they had previously, however, looking at statistics from preceding bands who have tried to return, it may be short lived.

Numerous other bands have tried to make a comeback, but after their first released single, they weren’t successful either. Are Cyndi and the New Kids on the Block’s recent popularity a passing fancy?

The Backstreet Boys reunited in 2004, and their first CD out after their four year hiatus had only one song that made it to the charts in the US, “Incomplete.” Their newest CD, sans Kevin Richardson, Unbreakable, dropped out of the charts two weeks after its release.

Does this mean New Kids on the Block and Cyndi Lauper are in style just this month? Probably. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if these bands can really make a comeback.

From the archives: The Two Sides

2008-05-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is from a column I wrote in my fifth-year of college.

We have been told there are always two sides to every story, but what no one tells you is that even if you know both sides, you never will know the entire story.

Relationships are a classic example.

The beginning of a relationship is great. Both people get along and have manners, and there is no drama.

No drama, that is, for a month or so, until someone says something the other takes out of context, and the inevitable first fight begins. You can communicate, but two people never hear the same conversation, especially when they both already know what they want to hear. We've all had it happen and had the chance to look back, talk with the other person and realize the way you interpreted certain comments wasn't the way they were meant.

Sometimes, however, the talk about the miscommunication never happens, and everything falls apart.For example, let's look at Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. When they first ended their marriage, it seemed Lachey had plenty to say about what happened and how horrible Simpson made him feel. Many fans took sides.

A little later, Jessica started to say what she thought happened, and her side seemed just as sad. It made everyone think again. Who was in the wrong?

I'm sure their friends were taking sides. However, how can anyone take sides when no one really knows what happened? Jessica and Nick themselves might not know exactly what happened. One of them could have said something that was taken completely out of context by the other. The only way to figure out what happened would to have been a fly on the wall during their entire relationship. Only then could things be figured out.

But what about couples on campus? When they break up, someone always says, "Oh it was her fault," or "It was his fault. He did this; she said that." Usually, in a relationship, both parties blame each other, and then friends choose sides based on what one of the people formerly in the relationship said. But what about the other side?

Even if the other person has a chance to say what he or she thinks happened, no one ever really will know, because people see what they want, and once sides are chosen, it's hard to get people to switch.

How can we, as friends, decide to be mad or not speak to one person in a relationship and blame the end of it on the other when it's impossible to know precisely what happened?

Things always can be sugar-coated, or seen differently, because people never think - or want to think - it's their fault. But in a relationship - ended or not - no one can be to blame. It didn't work, even if you wanted it to more than anything. The two weren't the same person. They didn't think the same, and they probably didn't know the other's entire history, those things that make people do quirky things. Yes, they loved each other, but they saw things differently.

I do know that when a relationship ends, both people still love the person they thought they knew. But with enough time, they are able to forgive their ex for things they thought were done maliciously. Things that, in fact, were not done with evil intent. So who is right? No one.

For the most part, there can be no Team Jessica and no Team Nick, because we don't know their history and never will. Even with our closest friends and their relationships, we'll never know exactly what happened, even after hearing both sides of the story.

Just remember: there are always two sides to a story, and no one, including those involved, will ever understand exactly what happened. If you take nothing else from this column, remember this: no one can be blamed in a relationship. There are no sides. It's life, and we're still learning about and from each other.

The secret agent

2008-04-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

In stealth mode, the secret agent and protector of all humans slowly snuck up to the dangerous blue monster of terror through a field of white. This blue monster had been wreaking havoc on one particular human female and this secret agent was determined that this did not happen again. The blue monster had struck the day before, making its victim lay down and sleep; and produced a horrible noise, almost like a train horn.

This secret agent knew it was only him who could help the world survive.

Quietly, he crept behind the tall, wooden ledge where the blue monster stood guard. The secret agent climbed at a slow pace up the wooden plateau and then POUNCED! The blue monster started fighting back, but the secret agent managed to hold the blue box steady, ripping and shredding it to pieces. The secret agent, although not new at this, was surprised when the blue monster tried to fight back again, but the secret agent would not give up. He was the protector of all humans and this blue monster must die!

He threw the monster to one corner of the white expanse, holding a part of the blue monster while the rest of his body went in a different direction. The blue monster was incredibly hurt, but still alive. The secret agent ran to the blue monster to finish his mission. He shredded and ripped and ultimately killed the blue monster, flinging his body parts to the far reaches of the universe to save the human race –

“Rambo! No!” The human female yelled at her dog, who was surrounded by blue Kleenex. She had come home early because her cold was still making her sneeze and feel tired and had caught Rambo, her black, one-year old Chihuahua, red-handed, shredding an entire box of Kleenex, covering her living room and coffee table.

As Rambo ran for cover under the couch, he couldn’t help but think that it was a good thing his human had come so late, otherwise, the secret agent couldn’t have completed his mission and saved the world….

I'm Yours!

2008-04-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

If you know me at all, you know that music is a huge, gigantic part of me. I listen to everything from Britney to Flyleaf to Bob Dylan to Sublime. Frequently, I find a song that is not well known, but so good that I feel like everyone should hear it.

I discovered this song on VH1, one of my personal favorite Web sites. It reminded me of what it means to be in a relationship (I haven’t been in one for more than a year and a half). It also struck a cord with me since at the beginning of the song he’s been trying to not have these feelings, but he couldn’t help it.

I feel like this is when the you-are-the-one-love really hits you. It makes me happy and hopeful that there is such a thing. I realize that I found this song a bit late, and probably should have posted it on Valentine’s day, but doesn’t it seem to mean more when you get flowers on any OTHER day than V-Day?

Since we’ve been little we’ve been conditioned to think that the once-in-a-lifetime-love does, and will, happen. I’m not sure whether it does or not, or if it actually lasts, but, this song made me think of who I want to be with. If you’ve ever seen the movie “When Harry Met Sally,” you know the part where Harry realizes he wants to be with Sally. He says, “Once you figure out who you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want to start right then!”

This makes sense. If this happens rarely, let’s start now. I’m yours!

I’m Yours
Jason Mraz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QedgzsjouXU

Well you done done me

and you bet I felt it

I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted

I fell right through the cracks

and now I'm trying to get back

Before the cool done run out

I'll be giving it my bestest

Nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention

I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some

I won't hesitate no more, no more

It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me

Open up your plans and damn you're free

Look into your heart and you'll find love love love

Listen to the music of the moment

maybe sing with mei love peaceful melody

It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love loved

Chorus: So I won't hesitate no more, no more

It cannot wait I'm sure

There's no need to complicate

Our time is short

This is our fate, I'm yours

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror

And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer

My breath fogged up the glass

And so I drew a new face and laughed

I guess what I'ma saying is there ain't no better reason

To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons

It's what we aim to do

Our name is our virtue

Chorus

Well no no, well open up your mind and see like me

Open up your plans and damn you're free

Look into your heart and you'll find the sky is yours

Once upon a time...

2008-03-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

…there was a beautiful, talented, wholesome girl. We’ll call her Rhoda. * Rhoda was a girl who was frequently asked out by boys, and on good days, men; however, Rhoda was never truly interested in the people from this species who chose to ask her out. Instead, she kept waiting for someone to sweep her off her feet, or, as she put it, “be lucky enough to have me be somewhat interested…oh, and carry a bottle of wine at all times.”

When Rhoda wasn’t being asked on dates, she kept a very busy schedule with friends, Maggie*, Amanda* and work. She was an incredibly sought after marketing executive who had recently spun off from her former boss’s company to create her own, Rhoda’s Awesome Marketing.

Rhoda’s Awesome Marketing came about after she had an elicit affair with her boss of one year, Dave,* and soon found out he was balding and quite a bit older than she had originally thought. Overall, their relationship had been a good one for that week, but she eventually figured out that she deserved better.

Her marketing firm was doing fantastic business and was recently the front-page article detailing her new business invention, Being Nice, for Fortune magazine. It was a huge hit and helped many companies to be more adept at their business. Because of the publicity of this article, even Microsoft contacted Rhoda directly and asked for her help as a consultant in the marketing department.

Of course, Rhoda agreed – how could she not consider making $1 million for a short-term contract? – and called up her friend Maggie, the only Project Team Assistant who had worked her way up in the consulting firm Vain & Company to manager.

When Rhoda called asking her for consulting help, Maggie quickly obliged and sent one of her most accomplished consultants to be by Rhoda’s side.

Josh Tugudtobtru,* who had his undergrad from Harvard and MBA from Stanford, quickly became one of Rhoda’s greatest side kicks. Rhoda and Josh became instant friends and told each other everything, except Josh had a secret that he didn’t dare share with Rhoda.

He had seen her stunning picture on the cover of Fortune magazine and had been crazy about her since, and only a month after beginning working with Rhoda was soon deep in love with the marketing temptress.

Maggie had not known of Josh’s admiration of her good friend and had been on the prowl looking for a perfect guy for Rhoda. She had been scouring every place she could think to find Rhoda’s perfect man, the pizza place, the wine store, every happy hour in town and even Rhoda’s firm, but she found none good enough for Rhoda; until one day when a co-worker of Maggie’s set up camp at the computer behind hers to work on a program. His name was John Hotforeigner,* from England. Maggie had spoken with him a few times before, at Vain sponsored parties, and one of the interns thought he was interested in Maggie, but Maggie dismissed this assumption. In her mind, he was already dating Rhoda.

He was handsome, a gentleman, had a great job and knew three different languages fluently. Not to mention he was tall and from England. Oh, and he also had a good personality.

Maggie decided to introduce him to Rhoda at one of their Italian club meetings. She spoke with John throughout that Wednesday and eventually persuaded him to come to the ICTD meeting by informing him of a great business contact he could meet, James Gandolfini, the meeting coordinator.

That evening, Rhoda and John met, ate pasta and chatted about their careers and hobbies. Maggie was pleased to see that they got along well, but was surprised when Rhoda later said that she wasn’t that interested in John and he seemed interested in Maggie. Being that this was the second time that she had now heard he might be interested in her, Maggie thought this was ridiculous, but decided to really look into it.

In the meantime, Rhoda and Josh continued to work together, however Josh was beginning to feel that he needed to kiss Rhoda, touch her or do anything just to be near her. Pretending his feelings weren’t real wasn’t working anymore - he could barely contain himself!

Finally, one evening, when Rhoda and Josh were working late, Josh suggested getting a bottle of wine to share for a break since they’d been working almost 12 hours straight. Rhoda agreed and the two sat in the middle of the firm sipping wine together and working on the presentation for the next day.

A few glasses of wine and 20 excel spreadsheets later; Josh could help himself no longer. Without thinking he reached over, grasped Rhoda’s arm with his right hand, brought his face closer to hers and kissed her.

At first Rhoda resisted, but then she slowly gave in as the magic of his kiss touched her. Then, Josh let go, astounded at what he had done, but more surprised at how incredible it was to kiss her.

This started the beginning of a beautiful relationship and soon, marriage. During Rhoda’s marriage ceremony, she said in her speech that without Maggie, she never would have found Josh.

And what about Maggie and John? Well, Maggie finally realized that John spoke mostly to her and he had asked her out on two dates already but she hadn’t noticed that’s what he had intended. The two began to date frequently and had a good relationship for a month before Maggie got bored and moved on to someone else at her work, Richard Finallybrkeupwhisgirlfriend.*

* Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

The weight game

2008-03-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

More and more lately, I've been hearing about every woman’s fight with her looks. Although this isn’t a new subject, I have been bombarded with information surrounding weight and plastic surgery more so than usual.

In our American culture today, a large part is about weight and body image. When women get together, a majority of the time, at least one says something about how they are dissatisfied with their body image. Appalachian State University calls this “fat talk,” and it requires the conversers to say something negative about their body, too. In fact, women in the conversation are looked down upon if they don’t say anything negative about themselves.

Consequently, one in five young women now take diet pills. The University of Minnesota conducted a study of 2500 teens and found that 63 percent of teenage girls are engaging in unhealthy weight behaviors, such as the use of diet pills, laxatives, vomiting, and skipping meals. Although the girls think this will help them lose weight, ironically, it actually is more likely to contribute to weight gain.

Some women are so upset with their looks, that they are demanding drastic changes to their body through plastic surgery. One woman asked for her belly button to be taken completely off.

How has it gotten so bad that we hate how we look? Models in the 1980s, such as Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell, were regularly a size 4 to 6, however, now, model sizes are 0 to 4. When did a size 6 become fat? We need to embrace ourselves for who we are and what weight we are normally. One study has shown that actually being happy with yourself leads you to be at a healthy, normal weight.

Tracy Tylka, assistant professor of psychology at Ohio State University, demonstrated how women who are more comfortable with their bodies are far more likely to follow a healthy eating regimen.

"The message that women often hear is that some degree of body dissatisfaction is healthy because it could help them strive to take care of their bodies. But it may be just the opposite: an appreciation of your body is needed to really adopt better eating habits," Tylka said.

If everyone looked the same, it would be boring. Variety is the spice of life, so let’s live it up!

MEMORANDUM

2008-03-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

TO: Laos
COPY: Dallas Fire Department
FROM: Former client
DATE: March 3, 2008
SUBJECT: Your duty

Dear Laos,

Recently, I had the misfortune (I say fortune) to call your station as an emergency arose. My dog, Mudd, fell into a hole in our house that we were remodeling. Being that Mudd is blind and deaf and certainly cannot get out from underneath the house, we had to call your services.

I must say that it was a privilege to see you at work, saving our beloved dog from certain doom. I admired your valor (and strong arms) as you pried up floorboards and hacked your way through darkness while not once showing any fear. (I have to ask, do you work out often?)

After successfully saving part of my family and departing back to the station, I decided I needed to thank you for your undying devotion to the art of saving kittens in trees and dogs under houses. So, I did what any single, hot-blooded, young woman would do. I made you banana bread and delivered it to you the next day, with phone number attached. But this time, you failed me.

I noticed on your Web site that your mission statement says, “Our mission is to prevent and suppress fires, educate and rescue citizens, provide emergency medical services, promote public safety and foster community relations.” However, you failed to do the last one. I know you felt it as much as I did Laos, so why did you not call? Your chiseled features and strong legs, lifting my toy poodle from a hazardous situation; your smile to me when I say we’ll do this again soon; the way you seemed so concerned when you asked what the problem was… *sigh.*

I’m sure the fireman’s code says it is your duty to romance a woman in distress, but yet, I have not heard from you. You came to my house and rescued a damsel/dog in distress, arriving on your big, red steed; wearing your large, princely pants to hide your huge…muscles, but left this princess all alone even after the giving of sacred banana bread.

I feel I must remind you that you have not yet completed your duties, but I shall forgive you once you arrive at my doorstep after reading this memo. I look forward to your speedy return.

Love,
Rita

The man, the myth, the legend

2008-02-25T14:21:00.000-08:00

As an avid music lover and fan of legendary artists, I must write about Bob Dylan. Not just because he’s been having a stellar career for more than five decades; not because his most recent album, Modern Times, topped the album charts at number 1, making him the oldest to head those charts; not because he is a legendary American artist; and not because he’s multi-talented: playing the harmonica, keyboard and guitar. No sir, this man deserves to be written about because, at age 66, he hasn’t stopped touring, he’s still playing and hasn’t lost a beat; and I was there to see it.

I was fortunate enough to go to his concert this past Saturday at the House of Blues in Dallas. As soon as I stepped through the doors to the large concert hall, the smells of something hookah-like filled the entire auditorium. Mix this with people who have traveled miles and paid thousands for tickets to see this legendary man and you have a massive, full-blown hippie party of all ages. All concert halls at the House of Blues are built to seem smaller and more intimate, where people can see the stage from all angles. My seat was located in the balcony, and even though it was higher up than I’d like, I did get a nice view of one of the greatest artists of all time and the music was fantastic. (How could it not be?)

Before Dylan even stepped on stage, the atmosphere in the auditorium was euphoric. Audience members aged from 12 to 60 filled the concert hall’s seats and couldn’t do anything more than have a continual smile and revel in the fact that they were going to see Bob Dylan. As soon as he walked on stage, the entire audience gasped and screamed, all at the same time, creating a cacophony of excitement. He wore his typical black suit and white hat. No introduction was necessary and he immediately began to play.

A few times during the two-hour show, I had to remind myself that I really was seeing Bob Dylan live in concert. The fact that one of the most influential singer and songwriters was performing right in front of me was hard for my brain to fully comprehend. Although he couldn’t sing his songs much anymore, when he spoke the words it seemed as if his voice hadn’t really changed.

When the concert ended, the audience stood and clapped for minutes. After that nothing could really make my night any better, so I went home and listened to some more of his songs. He is incredible, he is amazing, and I want to see him again.

A lot of people can't stand touring but to me it's like breathing. I do it because I'm driven to do it. –Bob Dylan

I've got a heart on

2008-02-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s day. No one can escape it. It’s on the radio, on the TV, displayed in restaurants and grocery stores, and on the tip of everyone’s (those that have a significant others) tongue. But what about the rest of us? The ones who choose not to have a valentine (or just can’t seem to find a good one)?

My best friend is not thrilled about Valentine’s day. She claims she’s never had a valentine, and each time this day comes around, she is in a bad mood. She attempted to warn me of the dangers this holiday may bring to our friendship earlier this week.

“Just to let you know, I’ll be in a bad mood Thursday,” she said. “It’s just because of Valentine’s day and the whole couple’s thing.”

“Well, why not treat it like every other day?” I ask.

“Because it’s not like every other day,” She says.

This is true. She has a point. Try as us singles might, it is not just another day. It’s a pink, red, hearts, flowers, box-of-chocolates, singles-awareness, day. Valentine’s day is a lot of things, but nice to singles it’s not. It’s impossible to escape, it’s everywhere.

More than 61% of the population will celebrate this holiday. That’s more than celebrate Christmas! (about.com)

Of fresh flower purchases only, Valentine's Day ranks No. 1, capturing 36% of holiday transactions and 40% of dollar volume. Valentine's Day is also the No. 1 holiday for florists. (aboutflowers.com)

Americans spent as much as 13.7 billion last Valentine's Day 2006. (MSNBC)

The hottest day to get married in Vegas is on V-day. (Bridesclub.com)

Valentine's Day is the most popular holiday for text messaging. From February 13th to the 14th, there's a 33% spike in texting traffic. (AT&T)

Number of condoms used per second in America on Valentine's Day: 87 (LifeStyles Condoms)

Ok, those are all fine and dandy, but here’s the equally awesome, if not more important, statistics for the singles:

Percentage of women who claim that if their dog was a man, they'd want him as their boyfriend: 34 (American Kennel Club)

Percentage of married mothers who'd rather spend Valentine's Day alone than with their husbands: 51 (Momjunction.com)

Number of single men (either never married, widowed or divorced) who are in their 20s for every 100 single women of the same ages: 120 (Families and Living Arrangements: 2006)

One of the most romantic countries in the world, Italy, does not celebrate Valentine’s Day.

That should make us singles feel a bit better. And, at least we don’t have to rush around like crazy looking for a place to make reservations, get cards, save for presents, get presents, decide if we even want to be with said other on that day, etc.

And think about it, this is the BEST time to go out and have a night on the town. What better night to find singles than go out on international date night?

One of the most interesting things I’ve found in my research of Valentine haters, is a blogger, Leigh Orf, who shares with us what we can do to get even, http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~norm/love.html. My favorite is listed below:

“Upon coming in contact with aforementioned amorous starry-eyed couples, proceed to exclaim loudly to either one, "Why didn't you call me! You told me our passionate night together was only the beginning?! Who the hell is *this* cretin? Don't you know that s/he could never love you like I can?! You're coming with *me*!" Etc., ad nauseum. Be very animated, and feel free to physically get in between these two clueless sots. To be especially effective, do your research ahead of time and seek out certain couples. Learn their names, their habits and lifestyles, and capitalize on this. By ruining their holiday of love together, you will be adding them to the ranks of bitter V.D. malcontents.”

Still not feeling better? There’s a web site devoted to people who absolutely hate Valentine’s day: http://www.antivday.com/.

Self-discovery, growth needed before marriage

2008-02-07T15:33:00.000-08:00

I wouldn’t think that something I thought in college would be as prudent as it is today, however, I found something that I wrote that is even more relevant today than it was then.

After a very long day at work, I took a five minute break as an opportunity to google myself. Amazingly enough, I found a few things.

I am quoted on http://www.thinkexist.com/ from an article I wrote in college. And of course, my blogger user profile comes up (there’s not much in there). There’s also a link to my college newspaper.

One of the best things I found was a story I wrote a year and a half ago (this should give you a pretty good idea of who I am):

Self-discovery, growth needed before marriage

Note: I went to school in Manhattan, KS, it’s your typical college town and Aggieville is the bar area.

“As a fifth-year student, I've learned quite a bit and seen a lot happen here in Manhattan. For example, I remember when the old Wal-Mart was where Hobby Lobby is today; I remember when we didn't have a Target, and I can recall when Aggie Station, a former bar in Aggieville, burned down. But the thing that has changed most since I started my education at K-State is the relationship scene.

What has surprised me lately is how everyone seems to talk to only one person and immediately consider himself or herself to be in a relationship. Maybe it is because I am a fifth-year, and many students my age are getting married, but I feel like a lot of students years younger than I am already are in serious relationships.

I have to ask: what happened to casual dating? What ever happened to just having fun and getting to know people? It almost seems now that if you kiss someone or go on a date with someone, you're immediately considered "in a relationship"; and if you're in a relationship, the thoughts and talk of getting married to that person come pretty quickly.

There is no time even to think!In 2002, the Census Bureau reported that 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. Half! Doesn't that mean we really should take our time and look at the person we think is "the one"? I am pretty sure no one wants to go through the heartache of divorce, so can't we slow down?

Where did casual dating go? I understand some people are fortunate enough to find the person of their dreams and marry him or her while still in college or immediately after.

But we change after we graduate and get a job. It's like the transition from high school to college; there's a huge growth in your maturity. This is the time to figure out what we want in a person with whom we will spend our entire lives, not to mention the time to develop our personalities and get to know ourselves.

"Early marriage is a key predictor of later divorce," the Atlanta Journal Constitution said in 2005. According to the newspaper, the divorce rate drops to 24 percent for people who marry after age 25.

College used to be about having fun (and I don't mean being promiscuous; I mean fun), meeting people and possibly starting a relationship. But when did a kiss become the beginning of a relationship? And when did a relationship become a marriage proposal?

I am 22 years old, and there is no way I am ready for a serious relationship. I've just gotten started with my life.

My favorite thing to do on a casual date is to eat pizza with a guy and watch a movie. If we get along romantically, great. If we don't, then we'll be friends. There'll be no awkward moment when one has to tell the other the frequent 1980s excuse, "It's not you; it's me."

I'm ready to have fun, meet people and learn about myself. Then when the right guy does come along, I'll be ready to fully make that commitment.

Top 5 Superbowl ads

2008-02-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

Ah yes, the Superbowl. Happy times for football fans and even happier times for advertising executives. The likes of J. Walter Thompson, GSD&M and all advertising companies have done it again and produced another successful, and entertaining, showing of advertisements.

The realm of commercials stretched from disgusting (Careerbuilder.com) to classic (Coca-cola – “It’s mine”); off the wall imaginatives (Vitaminwater - “Horsin’ Around with Shaq”) to Superbowl commercial staples (Budweiser). The one thing all these commercials tried to hit, besides advertising their product, was being funny. These ones achieved both.

Top 5 Superbowl commercials:

1. E*Trade banking baby – this one is definitely the best this year. Much more advanced than the previous dancing baby from the 90’s, this one actually keeps your attention and appeals to the masses (and the computer animation is a lot better). It also gets the point across that anyone can do E*trading.

2. Tide - “Silence the Stain” – as a messy someone who has applied for jobs and been on an interview, this commercial really hit home for me. This ad helps to solidify what you think of when you see a stain on your clothes: I need the Tide stick so my stain doesn’t scream at my future employer.

3. Diet Pepsi Max – “Nod” – the beginning of this commercial is great: Troy Aikman is speaking to his sleepy co-anchor, who slowly begins to dose off and hits the microphone with his head. Troy’s face: Priceless. The amount of cameos alone in this commercial makes a general audience member pay attention even if they don’t like Pepsi (for the record, I don’t). It’s a simple commercial that has a pretty clear answer.

4. Bridgestone – “Scream” – this puts a squirrel into human perspective. I mean, I would definitely scream if a car was going to run me over. The kicker is all the other animals screaming, too. Even the little cricket. What makes an audience pay attention more than a talking baby? Talking animals. In a time where environmental issues are huge, using expensive, road-gripping tires to save a squirrel ranks right up there.

5. Budweiser – “Clydesdale Team,” “Jackie Moon” –Budweiser is definitely one of the top Superbowl commercial advertisers (remember the frogs?) and I must include them in the top five, not only because every year they deliver a decent commercial, but a few different commercials, each one as equally funny and imaginative.

Disagree? Youtube is letting you vote for which game day commercials you deem best. Go to http://www.youtube.com/adblitz.

A breakthrough

2008-02-01T08:01:00.000-08:00

I need to write today. It’s just one of those days when you get up and say, yeah, I need to write. On those days, you know it’s going to be about feelings.

I made a breakthrough last night. I know that’s a pretty strong statement, but I did. More than a year and a half ago my boyfriend and I broke up in a very bad breakup. It wasn’t pretty, and I’m still not sure if I’m entirely over it (yes, sometimes it takes that long), but I’m more than halfway there.

Last night, I went through things from my desk in college. In among the binders, folders and pencils were pictures and notes from that relationship that I had hidden from myself when we had broken up. I managed to look through those pictures, read those notes and feel…fine. I was absolutely fine.

Amazed with myself, I went to the kitchen and made chocolate chip cookies.

I guess the point that I am making here is that I am finally moving on. And I’m proud of myself.

I posted today the beginning of a story I had written about him and I. I never finished the story because every time I started to write, I’d cry, but now, now I think I can finally finish that story.

Unnamed

2008-02-01T07:56:00.000-08:00

You know how there’s always one memory you carry around with you from a relationship? That one good memory that no one else can even come close to recreating?

I’ll never forget ours.
I’ll never forget him.

He once told me, in the very beginning, that he never regretted any relationship he had ever had, because you could always learn something from them. He was right.

I learned more than he’ll ever know.

****

I never thought that I would become a statistic. I never thought I’d ever do some of the things I’ve done in the past year, but I did.

Whenever someone tells you a story about something they did, it is true that you, the listener, might act differently…or exactly the same way…but you’ll never know until it happens to you.

No one knows until it happens.

****

I met him at our college football game. It wasn’t a thing where I was immediately attracted to him or there was a jolt of lightening, but I did enjoy talking with him. He didn’t call until two weeks later and by then, I had forgotten who he was. It took me a second to realize who was inviting me to an October party at their house.

He was two years younger, and if I hadn’t gone to that party and stayed at the university bars where he wasn’t old enough to go, I’m sure my life would have been drastically different than it is now.

But I went.

I brought my friend with me.
I flirted.
Then he kissed me. In the most freshman way possible, by pushing me into another empty room of the house, playfully taking my hands and pulling me towards him. To be honest I didn’t really see it coming at all. And that’s when it began.

****

After that party, he and I saw each other every day. Our first date was two days later, on a Tuesday, and we went to a chain restaurant. It wasn’t anything fancy, but he seemed so much more mature then guys my own age. For one thing, he actually listened and wanted to know about me.

Each kiss was incredible.
Each touch was amazing.
And every time I saw him, I was proud to have him as mine.

Within the first week, I met his friends, he met my friends and he met my parents. It must have seemed fast to the people on the outside, but it felt just right to us.

I do have to stop here and say that I was very scared. I had gotten out of a relationship a year before, and my head was very guarded, but my heart wasn’t. Looking back, I think my heart and my head fought against each other about my relationship with him from the beginning to the end.

My heart wanted to find love.

My head said I wasn’t ready.

Anyway, he and I began to know more and more about each other, both physically and mentally. I remember once he said that he needed to make up a word to describe me because ‘gorgeous’ and ‘perfect’ weren’t enough. He said sweet things like that often. And they weren’t lines either, they were purely and simply his thoughts.

We became the couple that’s talked about. His friends were happy he had me and told me this. My friends said that there was such a difference about him; he actually cared.

Soon it became ‘we’ are going somewhere and ‘we’ are doing something. I was always included in everything he did and he was always included in everything I did. There was no more ‘him’ and ‘me’; there was just ‘we.’

And we were perfect.

I told him things I never told anyone, and he did the same.

Sure we’d have a few fights every now and then, but it always worked out. Mostly because he actually wanted to know what we were mad about and how we could fix it. He was a very good listener. He always considered us equals.

****

Since I was a senior and he was a sophomore, I had already started to have the mindset that a job was fast approaching and employers were looking at what I was doing.

I worked hard at my college career. I was a strong woman. I had a 4.0 GPA; I was the founder and president of two clubs on campus, held the public relations leadership position in another club and managed to do individual public relations consulting and campaigns for clients around town. I’d also had two internships, but I wanted one more.

I had been looking at internships close to where he lived, and would be living for the summer, but I was also looking at one place in particular that wasn’t where he lived. In May I was offered two internships: one where he lived and one where he didn’t. I chose the one where he didn’t. Around this time, things started to change.

****

We started having big fights. I can’t say that I blame him for most of those, in fact I blame me. Like I said before, my heart and head were in a constant battle. My head was trying to figure out ways to get out of a relationship and my heart wanted to be in love.

He said he wasn’t upset with me for choosing the other internship in the other city, but eventually, towards the end, he told me that he was.

We moved away from each other at the end of May; him to his city and me to mine. We were only three hours apart, but apparently three hours can be an entire world.

We still saw each other every weekend, but something changed. He was now back at home with his close high school friends, reliving times he had with them for much longer than he’d had with me, and I was forgotten…almost.

Meanwhile, I was starting my new internship, with a desk and computer and another intern. I worked hard and soon my internship became one of the only things I could talk about. It was stressful, fun and interesting. I would try to tell him about my day, or have him help me with a work-related problem and at the beginning of the summer he listened, but by the end of the summer, he’d find a way to get off the phone.

I never heard much about his days, although he would say that I never asked, but when I did ask, he would never tell me much. I guess he was back where he was supposed to be and now I was a foreign entity.

We were in a relationship, but we weren’t. It’s cliché to say it, but it was a shell; almost completely empty inside.

****

We ended up almost breaking up three times that summer, but each time we couldn’t let go. Close to the end of my internship, and close to my birthday, he came to my apartment in my city and gave me a diamond necklace. The first he had ever given a girl, and it was perfect.

Even though things had not been going well, we still wanted to hold up the illusion, for ourselves as well as others; that we were meant for each other.

However, our communication between the two cities that summer faltered and by the end of July he was the last to hear about any news that I had and I was the last to hear his.

I remember asking him, and trying so hard, to get him to speak to me more, to get him to communicate so we wouldn’t lose what we had. He always said the same thing.
“I don’t like talking on the phone.”

That’s where we lost the ‘we’ and became ‘him’ and ‘I’ again.

****

I think we both knew it, as most couples know that we were going downhill. We were almost to the end. But like most couples, we refused to admit it.

We came back to school after that summer and both thought that maybe we were just in a phase. Maybe we had had problems because we had been far apart from each other and moving back to within walking distance of each other would fix it.

I tried, but he didn’t.
I wanted to be ‘we’ again, and he couldn’t stop being ‘him.’ I even spoke with him, the good listener, about the way I felt and he said he would fix it.

At one point, he put a bouquet of roses in my apartment while I was out with a girlfriend. When my girlfriend and I came home, I was so stunned we literally sat, sipping wine, staring at the roses. I had become fed up with being taken for granted for so long and I wasn’t sure roses were going to fix that.

I slept alone that night.
I didn’t call him and thank him for the flowers.
I didn’t know how to react.

We spoke about it the next day and I told him I need to be a priority in his life, I was tired of being taken for granted, and I needed him to need me.

Maybe he tried, but he was so used to being ‘him’ from the summer that I was no longer a priority.

Here it is...

2008-01-31T15:42:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is. I'm laying it out for you straight. I never lie or ask a question if I don't want the honest truth, and I'll do the same for you.

I wouldn't say my life is extraordinary, but I would say I find everything interesting and beautiful.

"There is beauty in the darkside
I'm not frightened
Without it I could never feel the sun." - Ashlee Simpson