A New Year, A New Blog

Now don't worry, this one won't be going anywhere….though it may get slightly neglected.

I am doing an exciting resolution this year.  I am giving up something different every single month.  And I'm not talking easy stuff here, people.  I'm talking things I LOVE but that may not be the best for me.  (cough, cough FACEBOOK PERHAPS cough, cough SUGAR MAYBE cough, cough)

So please, go over and follow me!  It should be an exciting year of me trying to keep month long resolutions…and probably struggling like CRAZY.

http://laurensyearwithout.blogspot.com/

THIS HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH!

 

I am still just REELING over the fact that one of my dreams has come true.

 

Last Thursday I went to see A Christmas Story on Broadway because my fabulous friend Nick Gaswirth was making his Broadway debut! 

 

The show was adorable and wonderful and they had REAL BLOODHOUNDS for the Bumpus hounds!  I mean, honestly, you won me over right there. 

 

But then, after the show, the most amazing thing happened.  I met my TV Dad. 

 

My TV dad, you say?  What the heck am I talking about?

 

Ok, so here's my Dad:

 

 

And here's my TV Dad:



 

That, my friends, is Dan Lauria.  You may recognize him from a certain late 80's/early 90's television show called THE WONDER YEARS.

 

I have loved this man ever since I first saw him on TV because he has always reminded me of my father.  In later years, I have had this feeling confirmed by multiple boyfriends telling me "Your dad looks like the dad from The Wonder Years." 

 

I know.  I know he does.  That's why I cry anytime his character on TV (or in movies) goes through anything more difficult than a papercut.  He is my dad, just on TV.

 

You're judging me now, aren't you?

 

Whatever.

 

Anyway, I posted the picture of Dan Lauria to my facebook the next day because I was so darn excited (excited enough to write this whole blog post about it...which is turning out to be longer than most posts I write...what does that tell you?) - and I kid you not, multiple people thought it WAS my dad in the photo.  (read my comment and you would've realized that wasn't the case, but that's fine.)

 

No, it's not like they were twins separated at birth, but my gosh, my dad couldn't have a better celebrity doppleganger.  And I got to meet him.  And he was SO NICE.  And I'm still really excited about it.

 

So, there you have it.  That happened.  And I can cross that magical dream of mine off my list.  Because...it SERIOUSLY HAPPENED.

 

Ok, I'm done now. 

 

Just don't forget that it happened, ok?  Cause it did.  It really did.



2-7.

Well, it's happened.  My birthday.  I am now 27 years old.  Why does that sound SO much older to me than 26 did?  And trust me, I had a mini panic attack about 26.  Ugh.

But honestly?  My birthday was great.  I have amazing people in my life who made my day (and basically my entire weekend) super special.  27 feels like a special year.

Every year since I was about...23, I tell myself "this year is going to be the best one yet!"  And uh, every year seems to kind of suck overall.  I'm not saying I haven't had good things happen to me - I've had some great things happen, but I would say ages 23-26 have probably been the suckiest times of my life (can we say, "divorce"?  "death of soulmate dog"?  "some serious yo-yo dieting"?  "career troubles"?  ....yeah.  you can say it all.  and more.)

So this year, I will say two things:  I don't expect anything more than a mediocre year!  BUT I do expect (if this weekend/birthday was any indication) my year at the age of 27 to be full of surprises. 

Are you wondering what kind of surprises I have had these past few days?  Ok, I'll share a couple....

Surprises like this:

My co-workers surprised me with, not one, but 3 birthday cakes!

 

And then I got flowers from another co-worker!!!!!  Puppy shaped ones!

AND...maybe the best surprise ever.  My 3 favorite people in New York City schemed together to throw me a surprise birthday party on Sunday!  I was brought to a super cool Steelers bar to watch the football game with my friends!  Thank you so much to everyone who was there.  I love you.  :)  I ate so many buffalo wings...oh boy.  AND they had pierogies!!!!!!!!!!!  I mean, could you make a Pittsburgh girl any happier?  We had so much fun.

 

The Steelers didn't win...but we had some good moments.  I believe this was after we scored the touchdown and got ahead in the 4th quarter.  I had to snuggle the terrible towel.  

 

 

"Who are we?  USC!"  The Upper St Clair Alumni ...and a random guy photo-bombing the picture. 

 

 

The Inner Circle:  Amanda, Taylor and Abby - thank you so much for an amazing celebration!  I am so lucky to have each of you in my life. 

Some Christmas Confusion

So....I've got a Spotify playlist of Christmas tunes going right now....11 hours worth of music.

It's basically been playing constantly for about 3 weeks. 

So now I know a lot of these random holiday songs (that maybe I wasn't as familiar with 3 weeks ago) by heart.

For example:  Christmas Island

I fell in love with this song a few years ago, actually.  But I kind of just hummed along and never really cared what was being said because it was so cute and pretty.

I've listened closely the last few weeks and now I am confused.

The lyrics say....

How'd ja like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?
How'd ja like to spend the Holiday away across the sea?
How'd ja like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?
How'd ja like to hang your stockin' on a great big coconut tree?

(No problem here...Christmas Island?  Sounds great.  Stocking on a palm tree?  Sure!)

How'd ja like to stay up late, like the islanders do
Wait for Santa to sail in with your presents in a canoe
If you ever spend Christmas on Christmas Island
You will never stray, for ev'ry day
Your Christmas dreams come true
HOLD UP.  What does Santa need a canoe for?!  He has a SLEIGH.  WITH REINDEER.  IT FLIES.  NO NEED TO GRAB A BOAT AND PADDLE YOURSELF ALL THE WAY OVER TO THIS RANDOM ISLAND.

And wait a second, do the islanders get to SEE Santa every year?  How come everyone else has to be asleep?!?!  Why are they so special?  Just because their island is named after the guy's favorite holiday?

Now, I'm also not sure if they are talking about the literal place, Christmas Island, or just some fictional island of their dreams.  But I'm going to guess it's inspired by the actual Christmas Island - and in that case, Santa canoeing there is just about as unrealistic as hoofed creatures pulling a giant man in a sleigh with presents for ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD.

....We're already suspending reality here, people.  Let's not go overboard.

But the song is actually sort of cute, so I'm going to try and look past this MAJOR issue I have and enjoy the islandy Christmas joy.

Photo booths are the funnest things ever.

I'm sorry, they just are.

Photography by Alpha Smoot!  And she rocked it.

And this is how I feel today...

http://canifindamanwho.blogspot.com/

Sigh.

On the bright side, 11 days until my birthday! 

Yes, I'm counting. 

No, I'm not excited to be a year older. 

Yes, I am excited for potential presents.

Scout told me she's not getting me anything this year.  I'm hurt.