Reason #38 as to why you should move back home.

 

Fashion inspiration and insight from younger siblings.

But really- it's been great, spending time with my "little" brother.

(Since I've moved back to the B-town. )

I'll expand more on that later.

Cheers.

"How to Become Disillusioned with Finding Love"

I'm not sure how or where, but quite some time ago, I discovered a blogger. "I am Fickle Cattle" is the name of his blog. He maintains a very liberal, opinion-filled, entertaining blog. Fickle Cattle is an extremely talented writer. I so appreciate a good writer. My sister is such a beautiful writer. I wish she would blog more (ahem). Anyway........

He wrote a post today. Entertaining and interesting.
This is me, re-posting the entire thing.
Many thanks, Fickle Cattle.


How to Become Disillusioned with Finding Love
Written by: Fickle Cattle
<ficklecattle.blogspot.com>

Watch Hollywood romantic movies.  Believe that everyone has a one true love.  Etch into your soul the conviction that you will find that one guy who will inevitably accept you for everything that you are.  Who will love you unconditionally and without question.

Create a list of the qualities the love of your life must have. Set high standards.  Reach for the stars.  He must be tall, handsome, brooding and mysterious.  Intelligent and quirky.  Wealthy.  He must go to the gym regularly. He must have dimples dotting his face when he smiles. His hair must fall a certain way all the time.  

Envision showing him off to your friends and telling them how you fell in love with him because of his lovable personality, or because of how good a person he is.  How you fell in love with the way he laughed.   Or touched your hand.  Or played with your baby sister. Or any other quirky little habit that remind people of how cute he is. Subtly insert a few anecdotes that show how great in the sack he can be.  

Know that you don’t need to tell them how impossibly handsome, intelligent, and wealthy he is; they would see that for themselves. Imagine seeing your friends’ eyes widen with envy.

Stamp down any notion that there might be something wrong with you.  That’s impossible. Remind yourself that you are perfect, or as close to it as anyone can be.  You deserve this, and you deserve someone like him. Cosmopolitan said so, and it can’t be wrong.

Go out on date after date after date.  Constantly be disappointed. Rejection, both rejecting and being rejected, makes you cynical. Build up walls. Surround yourself with the emotional equivalent of a moat. Insult people, and point out how they can never live up to your standards.  Stop dating. Or date with the knowledge that these people will only prove why you are better off single in the first place.

Watch Hollywood romantic movies only so you can make contemptuous comments on the stupidity of their plot. Smile patronizingly at friends who believe in a one true love.  Remind yourself that it doesn’t exist.  That it couldn’t exist. That its existence would imply that there might be something wrong with you.  And that couldn’t be true.   Convince yourself that you like being alone.  No, that you love being alone.  That you don’t feel lonely, and that whatever hole you feel in your life can be filled up by friends and family.  Sleep at night with the nagging sentiment that you are missing something, and hope for the best that things will be better in the morning.

Here's something tender.

"They're In Love, Where Am I?"

The Weepies

[Feel free to disregard the stick figure video.]

Another Earth

I saw the trailer for Another Earth a few nights ago. (Every couple months or so I indulge in a late night of watching movie trailers- it's fun.) Another Earth looked quite interesting. The idea and concept of essentially having another you exist on an earth #2 was thought provoking. Also, I fell completely in love with the song on the trailer [That Home by the Cinematic Orchestra].

Today, Mother, Jake, and I decided to see this flick- they were interested as well after showing them the trailer. Another Earth was a Sundance Film Festival award winner. In other words, the only theatre playing it in Salt Lake City was the Broadway Centre Theatre downtown.

The movie was nothing short of bizarre. Definitely glad that we brought the 15 year old brother for this one. So many uncomfortable moments I wanted to laugh at, but couldn't, and then did because Jacob initiated for me. My beloved trailer ended up being completely misleading. The plot was aggravating, the "twist" in the movie was absolutely horrific, and Mother while walking to the car identified the movie as "gross, morbid, disgusting, etc."

On a more positive note, I did enjoy a lot of things about it. The acting was superb, and the emotion was absolutely tangible. I wish it would have taken a different dynamic from the initial plot... Can't say much more. Wouldn't want to give it away. (You're welcome)

"What would you say to yourself if you could meet yourself?"
"There's another you out there. . . Now you begin to wonder: has the other me made the same mistakes I've made? 
And is that me better than this me?" 

These fantastic one-liners gave me a few things to think about.

• Would I be more pleased or disappointed to see myself and the way I've conducted my life?
• Would I be happy or annoyed with the people I chose to admire and associate with?
• Would I be satisfied or embarrassed with the way I treated others?
• Am I living remotely close to my potential?

This film was an absolute acid trip: C+ or B- . . . Can't decide.

What happened this summer.

Thoughts
School began last week. Monday. Drove back from West Yellowstone that morning. Good gravy the summer flew by. Just as always, I was devastated to leave. Happy to kiss goodbye 80 hour work weeks but so sad to say farewell to so many people I care about. Onto the next.

Work
Work was good. Day shifts in the Saloon. Lots of encounters with locals during this day shift. Just loved the clientele, wearing whatever I wanted that day, and eating lots and lots and lots of pizza. Night shift at the Bar N Ranch was rather nice as well. My first experience waitressing in a fine dining environment. It was nice to work at a place where the food at the restaurant was truly the priority. The restaurant I served at was gorgeous. Brand spanking new cabin-esque building decorated with all sorts of taxidermied animals (think Cabellas). Commuting to Utah a few times a month also was also a large part of the summer. Pulling into Logan at 3 a.m. (or later) became normal, and orientation at USU was a blast- i especially enjoyed getting to know the others on the orientation staff. Did not especially enjoying the 6 a.m. wake up after 2 or 3 hours of sleep.

Free Time
Hiking, swimming at Hebgen Lake, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, boating, cruising through the park, biking, you name it. Managed to also take a few moments at the Three Bear outdoor pool. Does it pay to have connections? It does.

Personas
Lots of visitors from back home. Absolutely loved this. Why is it- that we can see someone back home or where we've met them, and it's nothing special. But the minute we cross paths in a different location or setting it's the happiest thing on earth? I do not know. But the phenomenon I just described was a recurring event this summer. Friends and family constantly saying hello or meeting up with me. It was great. Also had the opportunity to meet many many people. Tourists- the absolute bulk of my interactions. Co-workers and locals occupied most of my spare time. Became extremely close with many and found much satisfaction through good conversation, various outings, etc. The only bad thing about this remains a constant- goodbye is always just around the corner. Bleh.

This summer as compared to others
 The best. More difficult in some ways but overall a top notch summer. Excellent living accommodations with one of my closest friends, an appreciation better than previous summers for the gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous outdoors, a full summer to utilize the cruiser, more familiar faces, less early morning shifts, a fresh fruit stand on the corner, and many many a good times.


And the random assortment of photos that I had to throw in there.

Our friends/co-workers were wed this summer. Melissa and I decided to join in the festivities.

This is the view from the restaurant I worked at.

This is a photo of my thumb after I decided to cut the better half of the top off (slicing limes).

I LOVE Island Park. Dear friend Joseph and I canoed down this beauty not too long ago.

Spending just enough time to get that Vitamin D. Ahem.

I missed Jack. Mosely was my step-puppy for the summer.

Meleesa.

Brett and Diane's fam. We met up for church and dinner at Old Faithful.

Harold and Kaari's fam. Enjoying breakfast at Bar N Ranch. (Delicious)

Trying to look somewhat conscious at orientation.

I. Love. Hebgen.

Gearing up for my 2nd attempt at wakeboarding.

Cal is amazing. This was my attempt at photographing one of his many tricks.

Learning that I could get up and stay up for longer than .5 seconds. Success!

Melissa- picking it up like it's nothing. Her athleticism- impeccable.

Awwwwwwwwwwww.

Drying off in the sun. Before Parker decided to push me in the water (again).

Saying farewell to Bean, my favorite local.

Sunrise off Denny Creek Road. Until next time, Montana.

I love MT.

Jacob, my brother.

I love this gem found via photobooth. 

Filmed about two years ago.