Postsecret That I Recognized

Just three weeks ago, PostSecret posted this secret:
And I recognized the handwriting. There are only four or five people whose handwriting I would recognize. This one screamed her name to me. I'd written notes after notes for years on end to this friend, we'd kept friendship notebooks. I'm too afraid to contact her because it's such a sad secret. What would I say to her? How would I say it? Calling? Facebook? Would she deny that it was hers?

In a lame attempt to avoid the awkward conversation with her, I'm going to blog what I think, what I'd say if I knew the proper etiquette of finding an old friend's secret on the internet.

Dearest friend,
I love you, and I remembered how much I missed exchanging notes with you when I saw your writing. I read your blog, and we exchange heartfelt email updates often. I wish you could tell me you feel like this, so I could tell you how proud of you I am.

You've found the love of your life, you're living in the city in which you fell in love and you are dreaming big. You're writing a lot, and you're dipping your toes in the industry you want to spend your career. I think you're doing fantastic! In fact, I'm upset that you don't want anyone to turn out like you. Hell, if we had a world of yous, we'd be a skinny, proactive world-changing society.

I'm sorry it feels like you've gone off the path you wanted to be on. Perhaps you'll be able to travel to Africa and change lives. Perhaps you'll be a pastor. Perhaps God just wants you where you are. I think if you left your town, you would be missed. There would be a gaping hole where you were, and someday, you'll need to leave. You'll need to leave for a fantastic audition or a yearlong mission trip or something else amazing. Right now, focus on yourself, focus on your man, focus on your writing, and continue to be amazing. I think you are amazing, and I know you used to, too.

I hope to see you soon. Because I'm taking you to Wendy's and we'll do it up like old times.

Love,
Alyssa

To my other readers, excuse me for the this blatant exclusion. If you have ideas on how to handle anonymous secrets that aren't so anonymous, fill me in.

Christmas at Disney

I'm in for a Christmas to remember (and I deserve it after living in a silly small town in the middle of nowhere in Oklahoma).

Bryan's parents and sister are coming to Orlando along with his aunt, uncle and two cousins for a Buckley Magical Christmas at Disney World. And then we're seeing my family for actual Christmas which includes my parents, my sisters, my cousins, my aunts and uncles, my grandparents and my high school favs: Allie and Fiorela.

Sweet baby Jesus in a manger, I am excited!! We leave today to fly to the magical place that is Disney World. We're staying at the resort until Christmas Eve and hitting all the parks!

Happy (Hiccup) Holidays

It's that time of the year: parties for work associates, long periods of time with family and getting to escape all of that with friends from out of town.

The common denominator is drinking. So before you go thinking that all alcohol is created equal or that Santa will bring you a razor to rid yourself of the extra fat on your body, check out this helpful drinking guide.

Calories in Your Drinks
BEER (12 oz. Serving)

• Regular Beer: 150 calories
• Light Beer: 116 calories
• Ale: 126 calories
• Stout: 178 calories

WINE (5 oz. Serving)

• Dry White (e.g. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay): 110 calories
• Off Dry (e.g. Reisling, Chenin Blanc): 118 calories
• Dry Red (e.g. Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon): 114 calories

CHAMPAGNE (5 oz. serving)

• Dry Champagne or Sparkling Wine (e.g. Extra Brut, Brut): 116 calories
• Sweet Champagne or Sparkling Wine (e.g. Asti Spumante): 138 calories

DESSERT WINES

• Dry Sherry: 146 calories (fortified, 3.5 oz. serving)
• Port: 154 calories (fortified, 3.5 oz. serving)
• Sweet Late Harvest Wine: 178 calories (unfortified, with 13% alcohol by volume minimum, a standard drink is close to 5 oz.)

LIQUERS (2.5 oz. serving)

• Amaretto: 266 calories
• Bailey's Irish Cream: 170 calories
• Coffee Liqueur (e.g. Kahlua): 258 calories
• Creme de Menthe: 238 calories
• Grand Marnier: 166 calories
• Triple Sec: 206 calories

DISTILLED BEVERAGES (1.5 oz serving)

• Brandy / 80 Proof Gin, Vodka, Whiskey etc.: 98 calories
• 86 Proof Gin, Vodka, Whiskey etc.: 105 calories
• 90 Proof Gin, Vodka, Whiskey etc.: 111 calories
• 94 Proof Gin, Vodka, Whiskey etc.: 116 calories
• 100 Proof Gin, Vodka, Whiskey etc.: 125 calories

Choose your drinks wisely and enjoy the holidays!

Finals Week

It's finals week, and the library is open 24 hours. I'm a day staff, so I open the library at 7:30 in the morning, and I get to leave at a lovely 4:00 in the afternoon. But, in an effort to bond with my friends on the night staff and mix it up a little (and help with staffing, I suppose), I'm working today from 3pm to midnight.

Most things at the library are quite normal: students needing help finding books for class or a paper, students needing help with Word or Excel, patrons not believing that we let you borrow dvds for free, helping with printing and a student staff that is (for the most part) stellar.

Most things that happen at the library during finals week are not normal: a group of two guys streaking the first floor, a unibomber in the corner talking loudly about blowing people up, stolen toilet paper, stolen "free" energy drinks, snoring on the couches, bathroom (sex) quickies, laptop crashes and day staff working nights.

It's nearly the end of the semester, and it's been a tough one for me. I'm thankful that tomorrow is the last day of finals and next week is my last day of work of 2010. (Reflections coming soon.) Tonight, I'm ordering Chinese food for the students (and my friend Stephanie, the other supervisor). I am betting none of them will call in sick. Let's just hope I can keep alert and be helpful until midnight.

Things I Don't Want For Christmas, Internet

Happy Cyber Monday, everyone. The day when we all spend hours at work getting paid to buy crappy gifts for friends and family. The internet has suggested all sorts of ideas for gifts to me, and I'd like to publicly renounce my interest in the following gifts.

Bacon Soap

I love bacon, and I love being clean. But please, let's keep these worlds separate. That's like making a macaroni-and-cheese hat.

Sandwich Coasters

The key marketing ploy was the first line of the product description: What goes better with a cocktail than a sandwich? I'll tell you, a tiny napkin. I am not a cheesy burger joint; I am a person who likes real food, not pretend food which might be helpful for keeping condensation drinks from hurting my coffee table.

Pooping Santa

Oh, come on.

Come with Me Kitty Harness

I love LOLcats, but I'm not interested in watching me or a loved one walk a cat on leash. I'm also against child leashes.

Lastly, a Penguin Booty Buddy

For all your friends who love penguins, staying inside and looking like a penguin-y lump of lazy, this is the gift. The only reason I don't want this is because it's a penguin. Had it been an owl, it would be on my list.

Gobble gobble.

Thanksgiving was odd this year. I slept in. I had to make dishes. I had to wash dishes. It was freezing. We talked about Asian holidays and industrialization. We played Dominion. We drank a lot of wine.

Though, I may have made converts to pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole. Everyone loves sugar.

Thanksgiving

This is my first Family-Free Friend Thanksgiving.

I'm bringing pecan pie, pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole and scalloped potatoes to Bryan's friend and fellow economist's house. They're making the turkey and the rest of the sides. Bryan is bringing some games like Dominion, Settlers of Catan and Hoopla. The other guests are bringing alcohol. I think it's going to be a fun day!

In honor of Thanksgiving tradition, here's my list of thanks:
I am thankful for...

• Bryan, his resilient economic mind and his sweet husband skills
• my job
• chocolate
• freedom in America
• my family (wish I was there!)
• my inlaws (wish I was there!)
• my car still holding out, ten years later
• my friends at the library
• our new Dave Ramsey envelope spending policy
• improv (the new team, Red Letters, MTS, DSI, N Crowd, all of it)
• Dr. Scholl's heel cushions
• friends like Isaac and Julia who are willing to open up their home and host us for Thanksgiving

Happy (Early) Thanksgiving

Turkeys and their group think.



I am looking forward to my two day work week...and the lovely turkey dinner on Thursday.

Homemade Fireworks...BOOM!

The newest college improv team is rocking it out.

They had their first show with 125 people in the audience and a great profit. They had their first elections, and we've got a great board. The VP was won through rock-paper-scissors after three tie votes. They are learning long form and how to do scenes with more than two people. They are being hilarious more regularly.


I'm so proud of these guys. In just three months, they've come so far. I love going to practices because I love coaching improv but also because I love to watch improv - and they make me laugh. I'm posting videos from their show on their youtube account. My favorite game of the show was Blind Freeze. It's not yet posted. When it is, I will share.

Improv

My heart is happy when I'm improvising. I have been improvising since 2005 without break with Bryan. I've been on several teams in several states, I've been an ensemble member, a founding member, a new member, a coach, a teacher and a quitter. Through it all, I've found peace and fun.

Tonight is a big deal. Tonight is the showcase of all my and Bryan's hard work in Oklahoma. Everything since we moved here has led up to this. Our promo for ourselves, our show at the Jazz Lab, our trips to Oklahoma City, our auditions, our twice weekly practices with students, the posters, the coupons, the newspaper articles. Everything has led us to tonight.

Tonight is the NSU Improv Team Homemade Fireworks' first show.

These twelve students have come from a hodgepodge of weird kids to a team of improvisers who can't get enough of Circle Scream. They have practice the games, and they know the fundamentals. It's about as ready as any team with only a month and a half of practice could be. But I believe it's going to be amazing. I think they will really shine.

A lot of my coworkers are coming, and I hope the student body makes a good showing. I am both nervous and excited, as I am with most really important shows. I am fully aware that this show will be the first reputation of the group. I want it to be amazing. We've armed them with knowledge and confidence (and the color blue), let's see how it does.