Polly "not-so" Pocket

So in a lunch table discussion today about children's toys, Polly Pocket was brought up-don't remember how or why. But I brought up the fact that they have changed Polly Pocket! Is anyone else outraged by this fact? I used to LOVE Polly Pocket, I used to carry around like 7 of those things everywhere I went-because they were SMALL! (note the first image) And then I got excited when I heard my niece likes Polly Pocket now, so I was psyched to go buy her a couple of the little Polly Pocket houses. I found myself standing in the toy aisle at Target dumbfounded at what they have done to her...she is no longer pocket size (bottom image)...she is like a mini Barbie. WTF is this about?? You cannot change a product's size and still call her Polly "POCKET" that is BS! You might as well change her name while your at it..call her Mini Molly or something-anything but Polly Pocket. Traders!

I seeeee you!

It has been awhile since I blogged-that whole "work" thing keeps getting in the way. Lame excuse I know-to be honest I am not sure I have had anything creative or interesting to blog about. Last Friday I was in a horrible mood or maybe it was Thursday-who knows. Anyway, I was in a horrible mood and glaring down everyone on the bus on the way home. I wanted to take off my very cute snow boots and throw it at a guy with this iPod blaring so loud I could hear it over my own iPod. My plan was to come home and blog about all the horrible people who pissed me off on the bus by doing nothing except being in my presence. But that went south when I came home to a sick boyfriend and then I felt bad that I was in a craptastic mood-so I dropped that whole thing and became "Nurse Kristin" for the next 4 days. 

But today I had something to blog about that was not a bitch session. I have decided that people should have thought bubbles attached to them. I am a HUGE people watcher- so I always find myself checking out people's shoes, purses, outfits, jackets, etc. And then I think if you are wearing that on the bus in the morning are you going to an office? School? Do you have a relaxed office setting so you can wear sweatpants and hi-tops? (did you know hi-tops are still worn? like the Reebok kind? Crazy!) So because I have all of these questions and I want to know where these people are going and what they are doing I have proposed there should be some sort of digital bubble above everyone's heads so I know what they are doing and where they are going. I am pretty sure all of the people watchers out there would agree this is a fabulous idea! It is like a walking Twitter feed! Or maybe I am alone on this one...o well.

Unoriginal Post

I listened to this song on the way to work today...I have nothing original to say so I am copying and pasting the lyrics. The song is by Buz Luhrman, it his advice set to music.


If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.

But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum.

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you Sing Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you
should hold on.

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get,
the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will
look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

Sunday Breakfast

Breakfast is my most favorite meal of the day-more so on weekends. I love going out for breakfast-each Saturday or Sunday I wake up my boyfriend smiling and saying "Breakfast? Breakfast?" Every now and then he tries to get up early and make me breakfast in bed but it never seems to work out because I always wake up before him or wake up 2 minutes later and wander into the kitchen to ask what he is doing. I really would love breakfast in bed-I just can't seem to stay there. So for Valentine's day we decided we would go out for breakfast to a place around the corner that has the best breakfast sandwiches ever- Old Oak Tap-delizioso! So I am sitting here awake at 9:58am while my boyfriend is still sleeping away and my stomach won't stop rumbling. Unfortunately this amazing breakfast place does not open until 11am. I am counting the hours/minutes until it is a reasonable time to wake him up so we can get ready and walk over. Is it time yet? At least writing this took about 20 minutes of time, now I just need to kill another 20 and we will be good.

Snow Snow Everywhere!

I love the snow,  I love the prettiness of it when it falls and how bright and pretty it all looks the morning after. It reminds me of when I was little and would have snow days (something that does not appear to exist in Chicago) and I would run into my brother's room and ask him to play in the snow. He would start with this really exciting sounding voice and say "ahhhhh, NO!" but he would always play with me anyway because I was his annoying little sister and secretly I think he had fun. One year we built this sweet fort that took the whole day. It was awesome. We would also make snow apples and eat them...which is really gross looking back on it, but at the time was fun. Then for lunch we would always have grilled cheese and tomato soup. And now every time it snows that is all I want-I may have a Pavlov situation on my hands. When I got off the bus from work last night I had this urge to plop down in the unpaved road (I also learned anything west of Ashland does not get plowed) and do snow angels. I didn't end up doing it...but I REALLY wanted to! I wish Chicago wasn't so flat...I would totally go sledding today!

Nicknames

I made a discovery this morning...well maybe not this morning but a few days ago. I nickname people. And I am sure you're thinking yea sure-everyone does. Perhaps, but I am nicknaming strangers on the bus. Although to me they are not strangers because they are the same people I see each morning. There is Russell Crowe-self explanatory I think (look-a-like), Big Guy-looks like he could be on the defensive line of the Pats, Strega (from a posting a few weeks back), Pink Phone, who always has her phone in her hand when she gets on the bus, it has a bright metallic pink cover. And several "Creep Shows"-which I always feel the need to say "What's Up Creep show" in my head when I see them. 

Today I created a new nickname...helmet head. Man with a horrible haircut. Everytime I see my nicknamed friends on the bus I always say Whats up to them in my head. I have no idea why I do this but I have found out recently that I can't stop myself. And I should also be a lot more creative with my names...

First Impressions

Does anyone else have that first impression on the places they have been that first time. For example the first time you walked into your office for the interview, it had a look to it. Now you see it totally differently but can still remember what that first impression was. Or the first time you walked into your house but now it looks just like your house, nothing special. 

I have this feeling of all familiar places. Especially with this city because all my first time places were only about 2 years ago so I can still remember. The Hampton Inn we stayed at when we were searching for places now looks totally different to me. My office looks very different, although on my interview I only thought it consisted of 4 rooms because that is all I could see from the reception area. I tried to explain this thought or "vision" to the boyfriend-he thought it was bizarre, but I swear everyone thinks this way...right? Everything looks different after you know it. Just like the first impression of a person-you can hate that girl upon first meeting her but realize she is actually really nice and funny. Ironically enough-that was my first impression of my now best friend. Her and her damn jean jacket!

Addicted to Reading?

I used to only read at a crazy pace in the summer because I was always at the beach on the weekends and that is when I would get my quality reading time in. But now...I can't stop. I read about 1-2 books a month, which I guess isn't that crazy when you think about it. Last night I had about 80 pages or so left of my book, probably more, and I couldn't stop until I was finished. Granted it was a really good book (Family Affair by Caprice Crane), but I literally could not put it down because it kills me to put a book down with only 20 pages left. How can I not finish it? I am so close. I went to bed a little past 9 and then once my boyfriend got into bed he was shocked that I was still reading and not fast asleep at 10:45. I was shocked it was so late but I still could not stop, I only had 10 more pages. And now I am sad because the book is over and I really liked the story. Is that weird? That I want my books to go on forever? Does it make me a nerd that I would rather stay in bed all day reading than watch TV? Although....put a Friends or a Sex and the City DVD in and I am hooked for that whole season.

There is one thing that I have yet to overcome as a reading obstacle...I cannot read on the bus, or any moving vehicle for that matter. I always gaze longingly at those lucky people who can read on the bus. I few times I have been so desperate I glance over the person's shoulder and start reading what they are reading. A friend of mine told me I should not admit that to people...o well. So what is the point? I am not sure I have one....but I haven't written in awhile so I thought I should.