Belated Christmas Entry...

Sorry about missing my second annual Christmas blog. Christmas didn't really feel much like "Christmas" this year, on account of the fact that the weather is unseasonably warm and I didn't give or receive any presents. Not yet anyway. My Christmas is technically this weekend when my parents and my best friend (accompanied by her wonderful husband) pay a visit. So... until then, I will not write a Christmas blog and save up all my sappy, year in review type stuff until the year, in my opinion, is finished.

In the meantime, however, I will write a little something I came up with last night. I got home from working at the coffee shop late last night, but wasn't feeling tired in the slightest. I'm sure that was a combination of my excitement and anticipation of the upcoming weekend and the Venti Sugar-free White Chocolate Mocha I downed at about 8:45. Regardless, I spent the early morning hours writing songs and this little snipit of an idea that I will share with you...

The Romantic Comedy of my Dreams:
Our last relationships ended at roughly the same time. We both move to vintage brownstone apartments on a charming city block from which you can walk to the weekly farmer's market or the nearby family-owned bookstore. How surprising that we'd find ourselves to be neighbors. Between that and our similar status of broken-heartedness, it's only natural that we'd form some sort of bond. Quickly, we become good friends... eating dinner together most nights because it's no fun cooking alone, taking care of each other's pets when we're out of town...even though I don't think your abnormally large dog likes me very much. We spend hours laughing together over drinks about embarrassing moments in past relationships and every so often we agree that although neither of us is yet to find "The One"... all we want is to be married, settled, happy and in love. When, we wonder, will this happen? When, we say to ourselves- to proud to speak it aloud, will it be our turn?

Later that same year, I throw a party for all our hip and witty single friends. A Christmas party or, ironically, an anti-Valentine's Day party. You have a few too many of my famous "Love Potion #9" cocktails and stay to help me clean up. "You don't need to stay" I say as I load the stainless steel dishwasher. "I want to" you reply. "What? Why?" I ask, thinking it odd that any man would choose cleaning over sleeping. "Just 'cause." You flash me a coy half-smile and drink the remaining liquids in the glasses from the table. Later that night, you, seemingly a bit tipsy, gaze deep into my eyes and slur, "I love you." I laugh, thinking you mean it in the X-box playing pal Budweiser commercial sense, and set you up with a pillow and a blanket on my couch. "Thanks for your help" I say as you quickly fall asleep. The next morning, we behave as if nothing has happened. But you wonder...

A few months later, I tag along with you to a family party as your "platonic" back-up date. A wedding would be best, but a graduation party or family reunion would work too. We are separated briefly... you head to the mens room or get caught up in conversation with the good ol' boys... when I am drawn into speaking with a well-meaning but slightly meddling female relative of yours. I'm thinking it's your sister - who asks me quite bluntly why we're not together. I shy away at first: "We're just friends... really." But she presses me. "Have you seen the way he looks at you?" she asks. "He talks about you all the time. Believe me, I've known him his whole life, and I know he's into you. You both are like a episode of the Newlyweds circa 2003!" After chuckling at her pathetically dated joke, I face her head-on and give her my big speech. The speech I had gone over in my head numerous times before. The speech about how you are such an all-around perfect guy: smart, funny, sensitive, handsome, successful, charming, etc.. the list goes on. "I'm not the girl who gets that guy," I tell her. "I'm the girl who is that guy's sassy best friend. That's just the way things work." As I attempt to drown the truth with the last sip of my Chardonnay, she takes matters into her own hands. I watch her march across a crowded room and sternly order you to come and get me. She loves you, after all she is your older sister and it seems she knows you better than you think she does. Suddenly, the realization dawns on you: you love me. Just like you said you did that night at my apartment. Only you didn't realize how deep this love went because it was more than any love you had experienced before. It was more than a stupid feeling in the pit of your stomach or the butterflies you feel as you steady your head near one's lips to kiss. All you've wanted was this kind of love and here I've been right down the sidewalk the whole time! Unbeknownst to your realization, I stare blankly into my empty wine glass. You startle me as you touch my shoulder and sweep me into your arms for a first-kiss worthy of all the butterflies in the world. "What was that for?" I ask coyly, as I already suspected what your answer might be. "Just 'cause." you answer as you place your hands on my face and kiss me again. I pull away to ask something along the lines of 'what does this mean', but just as I am about to speak you softly "shh" me and ask me not to speak. "I love you" you say "and it's the 100% don't worry be happy, kind of love." I smile as you take my hand into yours. My mind draws blank, which is odd as I am usually one with many things to say, and all I can muster is "I love you too."

Ahh... a girl can dream can't she? It's one of those movies in my mind kind of deals. No, I dont want this to actually happen to me. I just want someone to make it a movie and then I can watch it happen to other people ;-) Que Romantico!

ANyway... more to come later this weekend!
Peace, Love, and washer fluid~
Tempa

Random Sunday, Random Thoughts

Hello there,

First off... I got say...

I loves me some Jake Gyllenhaal!

Ok, moving on to more important and worthwhile topics....

7 days until Christmas. That's only one week. Seven days placed together in succession and then it will be Christmas day. This might be an odd holiday for me. Not only is it my first Christmas away from the family, it's my first Christmas as an "adult". True, the United States government has recognized me as an adult for the last five years, but according to the laws of all things reality, TRUE adulthood comes when you pack up your belongings (being careful to leave behind the Pillow Person you've had since you were four) and head out on your own. I realize that the meaning of Christmas is anything but the presents one receives, but this gradual advancement into adulthood has quite an effect on the giving and receiving parts of this joy-filled Holiday. Gifts from parents that began as socks and bras somehow morph into gift cards and checks. Cards from relatives are now addressed only to you and you are suddenly responsible for the giving of gifts to all those to whom you used to just add your name onto the card. Christmas is different as an adult, there's no doubt about that, but I think that those differences just add to the excitement and newness of adulthood!

Ok, enough of that babble. I don't have much else to write about this afternoon and I think the frigid temperatures of this office are causing my brain fluids to freeze. Therefore, I will have to bid you adieu and write more at another time!

Haul out the Holly,

Tempa

Fotolog

Greetings, friends.

Well, I know it has been a while since my last blog (only a week?? I guess that's not that long) but I fear I have no time to write tonight. I am preparing my house for the arrival of a few friends in a few hours. A girl's gotta make her home presentable, ya know :)

BUT... I did want to let you all in on a new venture of mine. In the past year or so, I have really started to love photography. Granted, other than the "point and shoot" method, I know absolutely nothing about taking photos... but I'd like to think the small bit of artistry running through my blood will lead me to something good once and a while. So... I've started a Fotolog (aka: picture blog;)). Check me out! I'm web savvy!

http://www.fotolog.com/vodkatempini/

Anyway, feel free to leave your opinions and thoughts. I'd love some feedback. Otherwise... happy 9 days before Christmas!

G*night friends,
tempa

Thoughts on a Winters night

Hello friends,

Tonight, I come to you in front of an unusually bright computer screen on an unusually warm winters night. I sit confused and contradicted by all I think I know. It's pretty amazing, whenever I think I have it all figured out, life goes and throws me for a loop. Whenever I think I am on the right track... I am ripped away, strapped into another chair, and "while keeping my arms and legs inside the cart at all times" I am sent whirling and twirling on the ride we call life. I'm not really worried, however, about my sudden lack of confidence in the path my life has taken. I just seem to be experiencing what I like to call a "human moment". One of those moments in life that our mortal doubting nature overshadows the omnipotence of the Lord. It happens to the best of us.. Heck, it happens to the worst of us... And it just so happens that it is happening to me tonight. I'm sure it doesn't help that I have worked a total of 73 hours in the past week and I'm about to be greeted by the lovely "lady of the month", thanks to the X's and Y's from my parents that made me into a woman.

It's a strange phenomena, this "lady of the month". She rolls in twelve times a year, makes herself comfortable for 3-5 days bringing with her a cloak of over-emotional sappiness and short-tempered hostility, all the while causing a stir that even the hostess can not figure out. I gotta be honest with you, I don't remember always being like this. My ability to be affected by this unpleasant, yet necessary, monthly visitor seems to have gotten worse in the last couple years. To be honest, I can't remember a time where I even noticed a change in my overall demeanor. I used to think I was immune to everything. I'm not allergic to anything, I never puked, I never cried, I never had cramps, I rarely got a cold. Whatever it was... it certainly couldn't take me down. But, in the last year alone, I've thrown up twice, gotten bronchitis, had two of the world's worst colds and, to top that off, it seems I am somehow getting far more papercuts at work than I ever remember before. Now, 3 or 4 days before the courses of nature assure me that I am in fact not carrying a human life in my uterus... I find myself getting angry at my TiVo and crying crocodile tears along with the Jessica Simpson Christmas album. The weirdest thing to me is that I am 100% aware of the whole thing. Bizzaro-world!! It's either like being a six year old or like being on drugs. I mean, I know the TiVo didn't forget to tape Oprah on purpose, but I still have the undeniable urge to propel it, with great force, though the picture window in my living room! Sure, it's weird and uncharacteristic, but above all else... it's just annoying. I turn into this crazy irritable cry-fest of a woman... the very type of woman that I despise, in fact. Anyway... annoying!

I guess it could be that I had some time away from work (works, I guess) last week and this week seemed unbearably long in comparison. Don't get me wrong, days off are good, but they tend to lend me far too much time to think about what needs to be done. Then I have to go back to work the next day in this half-relaxed half-wishing-I-had-another-day-off-to-finish-all-the-things-I-thought-off haze. Nobody likes an at-work haze. Nobody.

It's just crazy this season. Being the girl that I was created to be, I am trying to do everything at once. I'm juggling two jobs (one of which I don't really need, but just got to make myself feel like less of a lazyass douchebag), attempting to keep a clean home, starting to write my Christmas cards, making crafty gifts for friends, finding time to complete my daily devotionals, and all the while trying my hardest to get in at least six hours of sleep each night only to attack the next day like a hungry mountain lion. I can't say it's not a blessing to be exhausted from doing too much, though. I mean, I have two jobs when others don't have any. I have a home to clean and friends to celebrate the upcoming holidays with. I have the freedom to devote my time to Christ and a warm bed to retire to every evening. I just wish... in addition to all that is great in my life right now... I had just a few extra hours at my leisure.

Oh sweet mystery of time. How do I loathe thee?

Goodnight, friends.
TEH

My name is Tempa and I'm an...

Internet Addict.

It's true. I am addicted...Stay up till 2, butt marks in the computer chair, watery eyes addicted... to the internet.

Here's my story... Growing up, it was never hard for me to make friends. Not to toot my own proverbial horn, but I'm a pretty personable gal and relating to people has never been something I struggle with. Whether it was a group of popular girls discussing the newest Clinique fragrance or a group of library geeks comparing Star Wars sequels, I could usually form some sort of opinion on the subject and jump right in the conversation. Movies, Music, Sports... I could chat with the best of them. Granted, I never knew much about sports, but I could at least make a joke about how crappy the Bears were doing, make a few people laugh and *poof*... I'm in. Making connections, interacting with people, being friendly... it's just always been natural for me. Now, this natural ability didn't make me Prom Queen or crown me Miss Popularity by any means, but I don't remember having many enemies during a time where making enemies came easy.

Fast forward 7 years or so and now, not only do we have to make friends in the real world, but making friends on the internet seems to be the thing to do. I must admit, the idea of meeting people on the Internet still seems weird to me. Somehow, between watching those abnormally cheesy E*harmony commercials and receiving an abundance of "Meet me at Hot or Not" spam emails, I have been duped into connecting with friends via the world wide web. It was about a year ago that I joined my very first online friend database... Friendster.com. Long ago (back in 2004!), Friendster was the be-all-end-all of internet friend cafe's. Now, it seems to be more like the corner table of Denny's at 11:30pm on a Friday. I couldn't be seen there, so I hopped on the bandwagon and rode it all the way to Facebook.. not forgetting, however, to make a quick stop at MySpace... and I have been on that computerized train ever since. I can't stop. I spend hours (or at least a substantial amount of minutes) sifting through people's profiles, checking out their interests, and trying my best to remember names from my 4th grade gifted and talented program. People I haven't seen for years...people I haven't thought of for years...Instantaneously appear on the screen before me and my life is somehow improved.

Don't get me wrong... I know full well that the sole purpose of websites like these is not to reconnect with friends of yore, but really to have an opportunity to show those friends how great your life has turned out to be. The first thing that one is required to do when they join these sites is come up with a profile. This gives you the opportunity to tell the world what you've done with yourself. The subject line looms over the rest of the profile box taunting "About Me..." and in order to fill said profile box, one must suddenly become charming, creative, successful, and develop a fairly keen sense of humor. I've filled in the margins of many an "about me" box and each time I feel like I must be more creative and far more original than the time before. When in reality, if all those who try so hard to fill those boxes with something witty were truly looking for friends, than they would realize that no one gives a crap what they write in the box. You could write something like "I like to smell other people's farts and sleeping in football mascot costumes makes me horny"... it really wouldn't matter. Spending so much time on these websites has given me the profound ability to become fluent in "Netspeak". Let me show you what I mean...

What "About me..." says:
Hey there! I am kind of new to this site, but I thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm a 24 year old, college-educated, young professional. I like painting, writing, playing guitar and anything that requires creativity. I can handle my own out on the town, but a quiet night with popcorn and the couch is just as enjoyable. I work a lot, but try and keep up with health and fitness. Hit me up if you want to talk. Let's see what happens...

What "About me..." means:
Hi. I am 26 years old, work guest service at Kohl's, and have very few friends. I check my e-mail approximately once every ten minutes and spend an unbelievable amount of time on Friendster, Facebook, and MySpace. I really don't do much as far as hobbies and interests go, but I know what the cool people do so I'll just put that. I usually go out about once a month, with the exception of the time I spend at the local Starbucks while I wait for my grandma to finish her workout at Curves. This picture is from some other website, or maybe a magazine. I posted it because I don't want you to know that I actually resemble a Troll Doll circa 1994.

Needless to say, the "About Me..." box can never be trusted. (Except mine... you can totally trust mine!)

The other boxes include some assortment of favorite movies, music, books, and/or TV shows. There is usually some theme between these all, too. "Sisterhood of theTravelingg Pants-Kelly Clarkson", "Josh Groban-Oprah", "Third Day-Three Wishes". You can usually sense what kind of person you're reading about by the movie/music/book/tv show connection.

So, making your profile is an arduous process... but the people that you decide to include as your friends is also a pretty big decision. Aside from including everyone you remember from both your high school and college graduating classes, you have the opportunity to add an endless amount of people to your friends list. You don't want to have too many uglies, unless of course you are, in fact, an ugly. Than you'd want more uglies to make yourself less..well...ugly. Beyond that, if your friend list is filled with half naked men or women, people will think you're a netskank (I made that up, it's not a real thing... but it's catchy, no?). If you have a bunch of names with no pictures, people will assume they are made up names that you have added to make yourself seem far less lonely than you may be in reality. People you've never met will write you messages to the effect of "Hey you. Cool Pic. Let's chat..." Seems a bit forward, don't you think? Walking down University Avenue, I'd be a bit shocked by someone approaching me with "Hey there. Sweet Kicks. Wanna do lunch?" It's just weird.

The idea of the internet friendship database is such a foreign concept for me. But, much like chopsticks and Shakira, it's a foreign concept that I can't get enough of!

G*night friends,
Tempa