Fond of Quirkiness

Have you ever laughed uncontrollably all by yourself?  If you haven't, you can stop reading because I'm about to really embarrass myself.  If you're with me, enjoy this commentary and laugh out loud with me!

I seem to do this all.the.time.  My friends will attest to this as well, as I'm often the only one to laugh at certain scenarios.  Sometimes it's just in my head, but other times, it's a full-out laugh.  Most of the time it happens when I'm remembering funny things that have happened to me.  Case in point... two months ago, while making Jiffy Pop in my Blacksburg apartment with two of my friends watching, I proceeded to run in place while I was shaking the metal pan uncontrollably.  It seemed to make the task of popping that popcorn that much easier.  Andy why not get a little workout in before indulging in a butter-drenched snack?  I think I was even singing to myself at one point.  The memory of this adventure cracks me up.  Embarrassing? Yes. Funny? Even more so.

I also tend to laugh out loud with myself when I'm watching a TV show or a movie.  Modern Family gets me every time.  Romantic comedies...of course, but it's usually at lines that no one else would notice like lines from this scene in Two Weeks Notice:



The final thing I tend to laugh with myself about are just situational.  Take yesterday for example.  I was trying to find a card that I bought for my cousin for his birthday, so I ran upstairs to get it.  After coming down, I realized I forgot my pen, and then I found that my stamps were upstairs too, so I made three trips up and down the stairs of my house in a matter of a minute.  The thought of that alone made me laugh all the way up the stairs the third time and shake my head at how silly that minute was.

Maybe it's just my care-free attitude, but this quirky trait of mine doesn't even bother me.  I'm actually rather fond of it.  Keep the hysterical situations coming, God, and I'll keep laughing.

A new project

The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is check the mail.  I walk from my bedroom, down the stairs, through the front door, expecting to just bring in the familiar stack of letter-sized envelopes addressed to random past tenants of 216 Division Street scattered with a random circular or two.  But there it is, the misfit 5"x7" hand-addressed colored envelope bringing a smile and a changed day.

I'm starting a new project in June to send a personal note to one person every week of the year.  I know what joy and excitement it brings to my day; so why not give it to 52 other people this upcoming year?  Take on this "pay it forward" challenge with me.  Keep sending the love.

This can't be happening!

SNL will never be the same because of this.

The ABCs of Me.

A. Age: 24


B. Bed size: normally a twin, but I'm going Queen come the fall!

C. Chores you hate: taking out the trash and vacuuming

D. Dogs: none, but I'm coming around to the idea of having one someday.

E. Essential start to your day: A good breakfast (small mug of coffee, cereal or oatmeal, and fruit)

F. Favorite color: Green

G. Gold or silver: Silver 

H. Height: 5’6”, maybe a little less, but I like to round up...

I. Instruments you play: Well, I can plunk out notes on a piano. I wish I played the guitar and I hope to get back into the piano once I settle down.

J. Job Title: Collegiate Leadership Consultant

K. Kids: Someday, absolutely!

L. Live: As of now, Blacksburg, VA.  In two months, Ames, IA!

M. Movie/TV Crush: Phil Dunphy from Modern Family, hands down.

N. Nicknames: Giesch, LC, Lysers, "E"

O. Overnight hospital stays: Thankfully, none yet.

P. Pet peeve: Teeth scraping on silverware.

Q. Quote from a movie: "Well that's silly. Have you met everyone on the planet?" -Two Weeks Notice

R. Right or left handed: Left. Holla, south paws!

S. Siblings: Three lovely younger sisters. Love 'em!

T. Time you wake up: Around 8:30am or 9am.  But the alarm is usually set for 8:15am. Yup, I'm a snoozer...

U. Unbelievable life moment: Making JiffyPop yesterday night.  If you haven't done it before, try it.

V. Vegetable you dislike: Beets

W. What makes you run late: Choosing my shoes and forgetting things at home. Dumb, but it happens!

X. X-Rays you’ve had: A few actually... An MRI for migraine research and another when I had mono. No idea why.

Y. Yummy food you make: Salmon on salad with mango salsa. Enough said.

Z. Zoo animal: Favorite=elephants or giraffes.  Least favorite=any bird.

A new (to me) love.

I recently started listening to Mumford & Sons.  Now, I'm sure you music buffs out there will be quick to tell me that they've been around for a few years, and yes, I know this.  But man, am I glad I at least got into the game late instead of never.  This London-based bands surely has a great sound and can really be a great start to any morning.

Try this playlist for a taste, and if you're anything like me, you'll quickly want to purchase the album!

On this day in history...

I like to take time in the morning while enjoying my coffee and breakfast to think about what the day will bring.  OK, I'll be the 800th person to say, "Can you believe it's already MARCH?"  And of course the answer is an obligatory "no", but let's be real...  We're that much closer to spring and summer.  So in my mind, bring it on!

Just to tickle your historical curiosity, here are some of the more or less popular March 1st of the past.  What will March 1, 2011, bring?

1565 - The city of Rio de Janeiro is founded.
1790 - The first United States census is authorized.
1803 - Ohio is admitted as the 17th U.S. state.
1847 - The state of Michigan formally abolishes capital punishment.
1872 - Yellowstone National Park is established as the world's first national park.
1896 - Henri Becquerel discovers radioactivity.
1912 - Albert Berry makes the first parachute jump from a moving airplane.
1936 - The Hoover Dam is completed.
1941 - W47NV (now known as WSM-FM) begins operations in Nashville, Tennessee, becoming the first FM radio station in the U.S.
1961 - President of the United State John F. Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps.
1961 - Uganda becomes self-governing and holds its first elections.
1989 - Beer Day first celebrated, marking the end of beer prohibition in Iceland.
1995 - Yahoo! is incorporated.
2002 - U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda begins in eastern Afghanistan.

Visit this site for the citing and full listing.

Girls are Like Apples.

Well, this made me smile today.