Mother Bear Syndrome

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I tend to be overprotective of those whom I care about. Whether it be family, best friends, or those I know just need someone to step in for them I will intervene when necessary. Sometimes my protection comes off as quite strong and I like to refer to this as Mother Bear Syndrome. Here let me try to explain this to you in pictures.


First we can all hangout and be like

But then if someone says something inappropriate or insulting or puts a threat (physically or otherwise) on one of my people like this

I feel the need to jump in and protect them. I've done it for my brothers and I've done it for my friends. This is usually how I react

And trust me, you don't want to see me when I'm angry. This usually continues until the offender admits they were sorry/wrong/an asshole and we can return to the first picture of hanging out. I wouldn't say I'm extremely overprotective of those in my life, but everyone needs help to stand up to the bullies in this world. I always have the back of my friends and will also be there at the drop of a pin when they need help. I will always protect them as a mama bear protects her cubs. When I know my cubs can stand up for themselves or don't need me assistance, I hang back. But as soon as my blood boils, as soon as their cheeks flush or they cry, once an innocent needs someone to speak up you better bet your ass I'll be there.

Amature Winemaker

I am currently taking a class about viticulture and enology. That is, wine appreciation. It has sparked my interest in my already present love of wine. And I think I would want to try to produce my own bottle of wine some time. I know friends who have brewed their own beer or developed their own moonshine, but none who have attempted to tackle wine.

I know it takes a long time and a lot of effort. I don't think I have the ability currently, but hope that once I have my own place that I can undertake this task. If I should attempt to ferment my own bottle, be sure I will keep updates here. Hopefully they would all be good things and the final product would be bearable.

If anyone has any advice or tips, I would greatly appreciate it!

Stranger conversations 1

I was out the other  night with a few friends and on the way home we decided to pick up some McDonald's. I'm a little disgusted with the amount I ate but it was delicious. While I was waiting for my order I had a conversation with a guy there which has now got me thinking. 

Do we thrive on being hit on? I personally don't think so. But our conversation was about different bars on campus and which one was best. We agreed on the ultimate best bar (Harry's) but this is where it got interesting. A few bars have become hotspots for the Greek community to drink at. Being that I'm GDI and do not care to participate in said community (read this) I tend to avoid those bars on certain nights. Also I think their drink specials are just bullshit (I'll post later about this).  This fellow, however, placed one of the bars Brothers at the top of his list. I said how I didn't like going there too often and he started to argue for it. I asked him if he was in a frat or GDI. He looked down at the ground and mumbled he was in a frat. It was rather shameful the way he said it. Almost like he was embarrassed (he's a delta sig for anyone curious). But I said that's why he likes going to Brothers so much. He tried to get me on board with ranking Brothers higher with the dumbest argument.

He said that I should like going there because of the large amount of frat guys to hit on me. I said that is the exact reason I don't like going. He insisted that everyone likes to be flirted with and hit on. And sure to a certain degree people do. But when I'm in a relationship, I rather look to my boyfriend for that attention not drunk strangers in a bar. He countered that by saying ex-girlfriends of his still liked getting all done up and having other guys put their moves on them and he liked it when pretty girls would come up and flirt with him. I think there's a good reason that they're all exes.

The thing is, I don't feel like I'd need a self esteem boost from drunk frat boys hitting on me. Often I just feel dirty. And if you have the looks that guys are literally drooling on you, it won't matter where you are. They are still going to try to talk you up and buy you drinks. So that kind of voided this guy's whole argument. Then my order was ready. This guy tried to convince me to come sit with him and his friends instead of my boyfriend and my friends. Really fratster? Just back off.

It just makes me wonder about how much people wish to be desired. To what extent do people go to achieve that feeling? If you are in a relationship, you shouldn't feel the need to go to bars you know are full of drunks trying to score all the time. You should feel content and confident without that. I don't often suggest going to Brothers because I'd rather not worry about jerks trying to make moves. I don't go out to get hit on, I go out to have fun with my friends.

And here's a funny thing. Last night I was at Brothers meeting up with some people. I was at the bar waiting to get a drink when I saw someone next to me I recognized. We said hello and his friend introduced himself. We chatted a bit while we waited for the bartender and both realized how much we'd rather be at a different bar, preferably one over the river. It's so refreshing to find others who feel the same way. And he didn't even try hitting on me.

Do your pants hang low?

So being a college educated woman, I would have thought that most other people who accept their new maturity and both act and dress appropriately. I'm not saying weather appropriate (unlike these ladies here) I'm just saying age appropriate. I know that many fashionable outfits for women are not always the must functional for the weather, but they are still appropriate for the age they are. I suppose this was a silly assumption to make.

The weather outside is frightful. It lingers around a chilly 30 degrees Fahrenheit and usually has a brisk wind. I thought I was surrounded by other educated people. But I turn around and see a line of fellas (I refuse to call them men) walking around with their pants belted to hang below their asses. And even then they had to continually pull up their pants. It is just embarrassing for them. They look like they are young fools about to get caught for spraying graffiti on the side of a school building. Which is just juvenile and immature.

What is the purpose to wear your pants like this anyways? It doesn't look "cool" and it isn't functional. Is it a status symbol that you are gangster or badass? If someone was chasing you and you wore your pants like that, you'd be dead. You couldn't possibly run while holding your pants. That's just moronic

Now I know I don't know much about fashion and I'm trying to keep up with trends, but at least I don't look like an idiot on consistent basis.

Bikini faux pas

Since I have grown up quite the tomboy, I don't understand the need to have pushup swimsuits. I don't, in fact, understand a lot of designs on swimsuits for women. Men don't really have this issue, they can wear one of approximately three types of swim trunks. Which is lucky for them. But women are exposed to so many  unlimited styles of swim wear, let alone the different designs on them. Here are the things I don't understand.

1. Sequins. Sure a few here or there look nice. But are you trying to do anything in this swimsuit? For example, swim? Play beach volleyball? Do anything than show off your body? When the swimsuit is covered with sequins, I feel like it isn't conducive for activity. It seems to me that these would get ruined rather quickly if you planned on doing anything other than lay on a beach towel.

2. All white swimsuits. I understand  that it will make you look more tan. I get that being tan is a big deal in American society because it is considered to be beautiful to be consistently brown or orange. I don't understand tanning (but that's another post) so I understand wanting to appear tanner than you are. But there is something my mama taught me when I was younger and will never forget. It can be awful if it is during that time of the month. Constantly being worried if your white suit will actually not be so white after all. Maybe if you have a plethora of bikinis it would be okay, but when you only have a few (such as myself) then an all white swimsuit is not a staple.

3. Super padded bikini tops. Or just any swim wear top. Yeah let's put those titties out there! But seriously you are already essentially in longerie. That's pretty much putting your breasts out there. Why do you need to have a pushup on in addition to that? How is that functional? Ever tried going down a water slide and plunging into water very fast and coming up to the air and the ladies aren't covered anymore? Pushups don't help that. They make it worse. Playing volleyball on the beach? Better not jump or dive unless you want to flash the other team. I can understand a little padding but have seen some styles this season already with more padding than fabric covering the boobs.

You see I'm not a girl who owns 10+ swimsuits. I have a modest amount and mix it up when I need to. I'm never at a place where I need a new swimsuit each day of the week. I'm an active girl and like my swimsuit to be function rather than sexy. And the bikinis that are only about the sexy, then maybe they shouldn't be called swimsuits. Since you clearly aren't going to do any actual swimming in them. Just call them beach wear or something. You aren't fooling anyone, we know you are just trying to enhance your nearly naked body.

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent for many people. In case you don't know what Lent is, it is the 40 days and 40 nights leading up until Easter. These 40 days are supposed to represent the time that Jesus spent fasting in the desert leading up to his work as a prophet and minister. On Ash Wednesday, many Christians (including myself) attend mass and are blessed with ashes on their forehead. These ashes are of burned palm leaves which are saved from previous past Palm Sunday celebrations. Christians who receive ashes on their foreheads usually leave their foreheads marked with the sign of the cross all day to show their religion. Lent is usually time for people to reflect and grow in their relationship with God, show sacrifice through abstinence, and prayer.

Later this evening I will attend mass with a friend and receive my ashes. Nowadays, a lot of attention attributed to Lent is what to give up and sacrifice for the next 40 days. Religious individuals would not make this the highlight of the season, but the general public does.

I have given up many different things in the past. Usually they are some sort of guilty pleasure of food. Chocolate is a biggie for most people and I have given it up for several years. I decided to give up ice cream one year in high school because I had a bad habit of coming home from school and eat a huge bowl (probably almost a quart) of ice cream pretty much every day. I have given up Facebook my first years in college. I have given up drinking pop (not included in alcoholic drinks). The majority of the time, I am successful at abstaining from my behavior of choice. And there are excellent results at the end. When I give up different foods, it is usually because it is unhealthy or I need to kick a bad habit. After Lent, I tend to not indulge in such habits nearly as often.

From many years I have been refining my eating habits and try to eat healthier on a daily basis. I don't eat fast food very often, I try not to snack (so I don't buy them at the store), I don't keep sweets around my apartment or have desserts laying around. I work out with my boyfriend about twice a week depending on schedules. So I've been at a dilemma on what I should give up this year.

And I know I'm going to be upset about this a few weeks in, but I shall stay off Twitter for 40 days. I go on Twitter so many times a day I don't think I could even count them all. If you are going to sacrifice something, it should be something that you engage in frequently. Otherwise it isn't really sacrifice at all, now is it? I could give up candy... but I don't eat candy all that often. So what's the point of giving that up? My goal is to give up the tweet machine.

Lent is also a time where you can do something extra. I want to keep a list of things that I am thankful for during this season. Maybe I will post it after Easter on here. But since I won't be on Twitter, I would guess that I might post here more often.

I don't understand smoking

So it's 2013. There is so much information available on how to improve your health and how to avoid unnecessary evils that will harm you and your body. So why do people start to smoke cigarettes still? There are no health benefits for beginning such an addictive and dirty habit. Non-smokers don't enjoy being around people smoking; the smell permeates everything and lingers in the air. You can taste the smoke when you breathe as it burns your tongue. Nonsmokers don't like to date smokers either. The appeal of a potential mate greatly decreases once the individual reveals that he or she smokes.

They say that it is calming or that it is a social activity. I don't understand why you wouldn't just start talking to people without trying to decay your lungs at the same time. We have the technology and the knowledge that this is a harmful act. If you need to be social, pick up bowling or join a book club or go to the bar. There are so many ways to be social without destroying a vital organ. And if you need something to calm the nerves, take up yoga or meditation.

The start of this rant came because someone flicked their cigarette butt out their window at my as I was walking by. Seriously? What the fuck dude? Why on Earth does it seem okay to throw smoldering cigarettes at people? Asshole.

Women stand up for your rights!

I don't know about you, but I try to keep up with current affairs throughout the world. My homepage is CNN and I like to look around to see what's big in the US as well as over the pond. And India is catching my eye.

The lack of equality in different areas of the world is appalling. It's nauseating how people treat each other of different races, religions, or sexes. I know this is nothing new, but there has been lots of attention in the media recently. If you haven't been paying attention, then listen up. And if you don't care, then you are a horrible person.

In December there was a brutal gang rape of a 23 year old woman that resulted in her death. She was a women's rights activist. There were 6 men involved that are currently being tried for the crime, with one of them being a minor. Just think about that for a minute. A woman was raped by 6 different people over and over again in a horrific manner and died. One of the attackers was a teenager.

The Indian media and citizens have been pushing for reform on women's rights. Not all of rape or sexual assault accusations are examined. Many times, they are pushed under the rug. There have been talks and some change, and now they are working on getting rid of a terrible "scientific" rape test. Part of the exam is the "two finger test." It sounds just as awful as it is. In addition to a doctor examining the woman's hymen to see if it is intact (which can be broken by many different ways), they stick two fingers in her to see if she is used to sexual interactions. By their logic, if she is used to this penetration, then she must not have been raped.

This is so offensive. That assumes that only virgins get raped. That married women or other sexually active women cannot be raped. In addition to that, it would be incredibly traumatic for these women to have a strange man put anything into her after being raped. It can cause serious psychological damage. You can learn more about this here. I recommend going and learning more about the incidences going on in developing countries.


Things like these happen around the world all the time, and in many developing or undeveloped nation, go uninvestigated and the woman is blamed or is a liar. This makes me so grateful to be living in the US where I have the right to persecute any attacker and know that it won't be ignored. I know that if I speak my mind, like the Indian woman did, I won't be raped and killed for it. When people start saying that the US is a terrible place to live or that the country is going down the tubes, I automatically assume the don't read the news. Because if they think that living here is so awful, how could they imagine living in these other countries?

Be grateful you can vote, dress how you want, say what you want, go wherever you want, believe in a god or not, and not worried that you're committing a crime or will be treated as though you did. This is a wonderful place to live.

I'm obsessed with ZZ Ward

I found out about ZZ Ward through another blog a couple months ago. I was impressed but busy and never got her album. Until last week. I love everything on it. She doesn't have a lot of her songs on YouTube yet and the people who put them up speed them up to avoid copywright laws. I don't want to recommend those since they don't do justice to her soulful and beautiful voice. So here is her current single. Although it isn't my favorite. I just want to share her with everyone.

Be prepared to fall in love.

Super Bowl Commercials

I was not a huge fan of either of the teams in the Super Bowl this year. So instead I decided to talk about my favorite thing... the commercials! There are always decent ones but stemming from past years, this is where you have the best of the best. The  Here are some of my favorite commercials of the year, not in any particular order.

1. M&M What I would do for love... but I won't do that. M&Ms tend to have a funny entertaining commercial every Super Bowl. Last year they debuted the ad where Red removed his coloring and danced to Sexy and I Know It. So funny. This year Red was singing what he would do for love with clips of him and his human girlfriend playing. Then what he wouldn't do. For example, get in the oven. Or let people gnaw on him. I don't know. Maybe I just have a soft spot for the chocolate candy.

2. The Sketchers commercial. I love the whole animal kingdom thing and then a man tackling a cheetah? How great is that? The dude was running so fast he tacled and tied it up by its tail to save an antelope. How can it not be a great commercial?

3. Cars.com. This was the only commercial of theirs that I have ever liked. It had a couple finishing buying a car from a dealer and saying how they missed the drama usually expected. So they are handed a puppy. Well not a puppy, a baby wolf. Only to learn that the overly protective mother was 20 feet away. The reactions in it made me laugh.







4. Of course the classic Budweiser Clydesdale commercial. Watching the horse being reared as a pony with his owner and then he goes away to be a famous Budweiser Clydesdale. The reuniting moment between horse and owner friends tugged at everyone's heart strings. Classic Bud.

5. Best Buy with Amy Poehler. She is just HILARIOUS. I love everything she stars in because she is just one of the funniest women out there (including Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig). She just says the darnedest things. 

So those were my top favorites. The commercials were a little lackluster this year and somewhat disappointing. If you want to see any of them I'm sure they are all on YouTube.

And naturally the Beyonce concert BLEW MY MIND. I was gonna flip out if she didn't have a little Destiny's Child reunion up there. I'm just glad that B is back from being a full time mom for Blue. If Destiny's Child does a reunion tour you bet your ass I will be there. And if you want to join me hit me up.

Eggy Sandwich

I know I don't do this often, but I was so excited by this creation of mine that I just had to take pictures and post. I definitely bragged about it. I made a delicious sandwich and drooled over it.

These glorious pictures show what a fabulous sandwich it was. It was a sandwich composed of turkey, bacon, an a fried egg all on two pieces of toast. Sure it was a little messy. But what sort of yummy goodness isn't? When the yolk broke and squirmed all over the sandwich and ran onto the plate. When that happened, I just sopped it back up into the sandwich right before a big bite.

I think eggs get type casted. They are thought of to be used in baking or just for breakfast. And I want to experiment more with them to see how to incorporate them into different meals. If you have suggestions, leave a comment and let me know!