Pride and Prejudice

I want to begin this blog by apologizing. My mom brought it to my attention that I have not blogged since JUNE 5TH! Oh my goodness! I am just flattered that people are missing them (and I am aware that using the word "people" and meaning my mom, who is one of my biggest fans, is a little liberal, but oh well. Deal!). Anyway, worry not.... The lack of blogs has not been due to lack of material. In fact, it has been quite the opposite. I have been so busy with random absurdity and things to add to the "what in hell" files, that I truly have a list that is well into the double-digits of things to blog.

Anyway, here we go!

So this blog, like many of mine, is a combination. I am actually going to cover three different events. And I'm sorry, but the title is a little misleading, in that I am going to begin with the prejudice and end with the pride, because I want to end on a positive note.

Also, another apology.... I am aware that my last blog wasn't funny.... This one most likely won't be either, for the most part. The next several probably will be, though! So just sit tight.... Now that I have no job of which to speak, I have more time to blog. So make room in your schedule to read these bad boys - I am told they take upwards of fifteen minutes! Brut swoop!

Alright.... So this first part (unless you count all of the aopologies and random babbling above as the first part, which would technically make this the second part) is a bit of a rant.

Which reminds me, if you haven't yet, go and buy the book "Rant" by Chuck Palahniuk, or check it out of the library, or something. Read his other books, too. He's one of my favorites, especially "Invisible Monsters."

Wow, holy tangent.

Anyway, so the other weekend (last weekend, to be exact), Danielle and I went out, or rather she met me out after/in conjunction with Lers' going away party (she's in Peru for 6 weeks and I miss her intensely already!). And, as always, after such events, I was hungry (I always am). So, she and I went to Michael's, which is a 24-hour diner by our house.

As we are eating, some weirdo comes and sits next to me and tells me that I am "as cute as a Chinese baby." That's absurd. And, to top it off, he reminds both Danielle and I of the guy who talks on the Kanye cd about his degrees. But I was so crabby and sick of getting hit on, that I didn't even really look at him. I also didn't pay attention to him when he snatched my phone off the counter (I had been doing some texting - shocking) and called himself with it, so as to ascertain my number. Brut. Shortly thereafter, some other guy came up and gave me his number, and for some reason, I was convinced that he was the same guy who said I was as cute as a Chinese baby.... I truly hadn't looked at either of them. But then the first guy called while the second one was standing there, which really confused me, until Danielle informed me that they were separate people. I guess I was incredibly focused on my grilled cheese sandwich, which shouldn't shock anyone who knows me. I love cheese!

Anyway, after all of this absurdity, Danielle and I depart Michael's and begin the treacherous walk to her car, which is parked around the corner. These are not the parts of Milwaukee that two not-so-large girls should be walking around in the middle of the night, let me tell you!

Shortly into our jaunt to her car, a man appears and asks what time it is. Since my cell is in my hand (as usual), I tell him that it is three thirty am. Then, as if from nowhere, a woman whom I am assuming is his girlfriend appears and angrily asks what we said to him. I inform her that we just told him what time it was, and she was incredulous. She starts yelling at me, and I am just in shock, but he kinda calms her down, and she goes away. As D and I are continuing our journey, I remark that that was bizarre, and we get in D's car (ha, that rhymes!).

Shortly thereafter, this chick pulls up right next to D's car, blocking us so that we can't get out of the parking spot, and starts asking again what was said to her man. I tell her again, "We just told him what time it is."

Now, in my head, I am thinking, "Is this woman serious? This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever experienced in my life. What is she so mad about? We don't want her damn man...."

And at this point, he is pretty much holding her back, whilst she is leaning across the interior of her car, to drive her point home or something.

Well, my thoughts must've been written on my face, because she tells me not to look at her all stupid. Well, ma'am, don't be a ridiculous stupid person, and I won't look at you that way!

Anyway, she just starts flipping out and telling me not to speak to her, but it is ok for Danielle to speak to her. And of course, since I'm lippy and in shock, I tell her that she has no business telling me when I can't and can't speak, and then she snaps and says a bunch of unintelligible angry nonsense and drives off.

How annoying? Is she serious about life? Seems so, but it also seems like she sucks at it....

And speaking of sucking at life, that brings me to the second portion of ranting part of the story... This is a bit more recent.... Saturday night. Danielle and I decide to go to Can's and have a couple cocktails. Afterward, we decide to go to Murphy's, because we agree that playing some photohunt would be money at that point. We get our drinks (from Buddha, by the way, who was in a fashion show with me) and go over to the photo hunt machine.

Now, if you've been to Murphy's (which most of my readers, I am assuming, actually haven't), you know that the set-up (and most other things about this place) leaves a bit to be desired. The individuals and small groups playing Photo Hunt, such as Danielle and myself on Saturday, can be, at times, in the way of individuals trying to make certain shots whilst playing pool.

Well, at the beginning of this Photo Hunt session, I apparently was in the way of a "gentleman" who was playing pool. He said "excuse me" to me, and I moved over a little bit. The amount that I moved over is usually enough to get out of the way of such individuals, as I have learned from my literal years of experience of photo hunt in Murph's. Evidently, this time, it was not.

I must admit, I was not giving this man my full attention. In fact, I was being quite the multi-tasker - playing photo hunt, socializing with Danielle, enjoying a vanilla vodka and Sprite, and sending Ous a text. I was unaware that I did not move sufficiently out of his way. Had this man simply stated, "hey, could you please get out of my way," there would have been no problem.

Apparently, though, that is not his style. His style, as it seems, is to be a huge douchebag and scream at me. I don't even remember what he started out with, but I do remember that the first words I said to him were, "Are you serious?"

Yes, he was. And not only was he serious, but he was incredibly angry.

Someone special to me uses the phrase "angry in my pants." I think this man was angry everywhere. But I KNOW that he was angry AT my pants. The next time he was near me, he rubbed his backside against mine, in a club-like dancing sort of way. I turned around and gave him an annoyed "What are you doing?" look, and he called me a few names, including (but not limited to) a whore. Really, not-so-kind Sir? A whore? You can rate the level of my promiscuity by the fact that I did not get out of your way amply? Brut.

Let me explain my pants..... Those of you know me, probably already know what pants I am talking about. They are my favorite pants, and I wear them once every couple weeks in the summer.... They are abercrombie kids pants that I bleached like crazy and basically destroyed. They've since been destroyed even more just from being worn and washed, but they look like they've been through some things.... And I guess that's because now they have! But I don't care what anyone says.... These pants are hot. (I know, some of you hate them. Oh well, you don't have to wear them!)

Anyway, he puts his fingers in one of the holes on the back (pretty close to my "bottom") and tells me to get some real pants.

At this point, I am still unclear as to what he's upset about, so I ask Danielle. She explains that she thinks that I wasn't all the way out of his way. This is what he is so mad about?

Then he's over by us again to take another shot, and he puts his pool stick between my legs and kinda hits it against my inner thigh. I turn around and say, "What is your deal?"

And he starts yelling at me.... Says something like, "Oh, you're so hot, I want to marry you. blah blah blah something something, you blonde bitch!"

I pretty much told him to get a life.

He just kept on! He was gesturing and just generally being ridiculous, and it was putting me on edge. Every time anyone walked past, I was kinda freaking out. I decided to tell Buddha what happened, so he could keep an eye on me, so that is what I did.

Two weekends in a row? It made me not want to go out anymore. How is it that I can go out in Madison or Chicago and not have anything happen, but in my own stupid neighborhood, it's a big ass struggle? Bru-tality. I miss Madison. I hate Milwaukee.

So that's my rant. I guess I titled it "Prejudice" because of the blonde bitch comment. I don't know if this guy thinks all blondes are conceited and self-centered, or bitchy, or what, but it was super lame.

I'd like to think I am a nice girl, and that I am considerate and nice to anyone who shows me the same respect, but evidently I give off a different sort of vibe?

What do y'all think? Any advice?

Alright, time for the pride.

A couple weeks ago, my "little" sister graduated 8th grade. I don't recall it being a huge deal when I did such things, but apparently now it is a huge thing to celebrate, and people go all out for it. Who knew?

Anyway, I am soooo proud of her....

At the beginning of the ceremony, she played a flute solo.... Here are a couple pictures (sorry that they are not superb):

Then, they did some sort of processional thing. Each 8th grade boy had an 8th grade girl (or, in a couple cases, two - PIMPS!!) to walk in with. Here's my "little" sis and her escort! Isn't she beautiful?

So I am sitting there, and they give out these awards for like.... "Excellent Boy" and "Excellent Girl," and I am kinda disappointed that my sister, Danielle, didn't win.

But then they start talking about this other award, this Humanitarian award, and I start thinking that this one would be a better one for her to win anyway. It seems more distinctive, and like it takes more to earn it (who doesn't love a humanitarian?). Also, she gets a medal, and a plaque that stays in the school with her name on it.

I just gave it away with my pronouns, but my sister won! I was so proud of her! I almost cried.... I don't know how I kept the tears in the whole time, but I managed!

Here's a shot of her getting the medal put on her neck.

Then they did a slideshow and some speeches, which of course made me emotional. I was just straight up an emotional girl that day.

Especially, because in the slideshow, they had baby pictures, and I clearly remembered when I first saw Danielle in the hospital, or how before I went to bed every night when I slept at my dad's house that my parents would lay her in bed with me for a little bit. She was so tiny, and I remember every day of her life!

Then, I just started thinking about how in only four years, she will be graduating high school and going off to college. How weird is that? I still, for some reason, kinda consider myself college-aged. Hopefully by the time she's in college, I will be a bit more over that, but it will be weird for she and I, who have always felt like 2 separate generations, will be truly peers? I just can't imagine her being so grown up. Damn, I can't even imagine myself being all that grown up!

Anyway, here's a picture of Danielle shaking hands as she crosses the stage.

Alright, here we are.... Both of us are wearing heels, but mine is higher. She's 14 years old and 5'8". Yes, I am intensely jealous. But I am also so proud! She is so beautiful, smart, and talented.... So down-to-earth, and caring and compassionate! I could go on forever, but I'll spare you the big sister bragging and gushing. I just literally so proud.

And here's the whole group.... On the left, we have my dad, then my stepmom, then Danielle, then me. Front row has my brothers Dylan and Lukas, also from left to right. They are adorable, and I love them to death as well. In fact, just tonight I confessed that if one of them were to rob a bank, I would apparently not turn them in to the police.

And here it is again, but vertical....

So there's the pride!

Ok, a little more pride.... Thanks to you, I made it to phase 2 of the Smashbox Model Search Competition. YAY! Thanks so mcuh! I really appreciate all of your help!!!

This phase is over in a week, so that means that is how much longer you have to keep voting for me!

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