This has actually been a big thing for me in the last few weeks… “self forgiveness.” I was recently forced to make the toughest decision of my life and sometimes I feel like hitting myself over the head with a stapler, because I’m not sure I did the right thing.

Lately, I feel like I’ve really been struggling with the concept of “let it be.” I curse myself for my lack of self confidence and my inability to be content. I carry on a facade of being “happy go lucky,” which is usually true in the moment. It’s later on, once my brain takes some time to process things that I go on this irrational rollercoaster of emotions.

It’s not only my mind that I have to forgive myself for, my relationship with my physical self has always been a bit rocky.

I don’t think I’ve been particularly kind to my body in the past.

I have starved it and overfed it. I’ve allowed myself to drown in alcoholic binges. There have been times in my past where I’ve gone on blind food binges.
I haven’t always respected myself when it comes to men. I’ve consciously let myself be taken advantage of.

I know that I have some issues, but I think I do a pretty good job at facing them. At least I have self awareness, but I’m not always sure that’s a good thing. There’s quite a bit of truth to that old saying “Ignorance is Bliss.” Oh Plato, you genius you.

I doubt there will ever be a time in my life when I’m not struggling with myself… when I’m not punishing myself or pushing myself to be better at life, but I do hope to get a little bit closer to being content.

A couple weeks ago you may recall me telling you a story about my, ahem, ” friend “that I shall call “Cari.” It seems that Cari has a way of putting her way into interesting situations with guys. Today I will be sharing another one of Cari’s “hook -up” stories. This one is actually a little lamer than some, but still quite funny.

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Once upon a time, there was a girl named Cari.

There was about a 5 year period when Cari had a humongous, nearly embarrassing obsession with the popular boy band *NSYNC. If you asked her about it these days, she would probably deny it at first, but then she would spend 15 minutes telling you the details of how she got to meet them, and even got a kiss from Joey.

But I digress, that is a whole nother story.

One thing you should know about Cari, is that she, at least at the time, tended to fall for boys hard.  She doesn’t have a single “type,” per se, but she does seem to always fall for boys who are passionate. Whether they have passion for riding horses, Nascar, comedy, politics, sports, or music, it doesn’t really matter… as  long as it is  something. I guess you could say she falls with a passion, for boys who have passion. She falls even harder for those who love the same things she does.

Back in her sophomore year in college, Cari met a boy, who we will call Jack, with whom she shared a very special something. Something that should have sent off crazy alarms in Cari’s brain, but you know- sometimes she choose to ignore those blaring signs for the sake of a little attention.

Like many of the boys that Cari met, she met Jack at a local bar. She knew of Jack and his reputation of a ladies man, but didn’t know him personally, and certainly didn’t think he would give her the time of day.

This particular night was Cari’s lucky night. The bar started playing several *NSYNC songs, to which Cari had taken the time to memorize all of the dance moves to. She wasted no time jumping on the dance floor and showing off her moves, and her ability to perform them in a way that would give her favorite boys the justice they deserved. After only a few short beats, Cari was surprised to see that Jack had joined her on the floor, and he too knew all the moves perfectly.

“SWEEEEEEEETTTTT”

At the time, none of this struck Cari as in the least bit odd.

After they successfully pleased the crowd with several performances, Jack offered to buy Cari a drink and they were quickly engaged in a deep conversation about their favorite boy band. Cari casually mentioned that she had several tapes that she had compiled and edited of every single *NSYNC video and performance that they had ever made. Jack seemed very interested in Cari, and she was all too quick to invite him back to her place after the bar.

When they got to Cari’s bedroom, (where there was a wall size poster of the boys that she had stolen from outside McDonalds)  they quickly began kissing. After a while, Jack asked Cari if he could see the tapes, he said he wanted to see her fantastic editing job. She blushed and quickly jumped to get the tape. Afterall, this guy did seem very interested, and what would set the mood better than a little “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You?”

She popped the tape in and the kissing and petting commenced. After a few minutes he grabbed her hand and placed it on his buttocks.

Ooohhh Naugh-ty, she thought, and rubbed his cheek awkwardly for a few seconds before she pulled her hand away…

They continued kissing and after a few more minutes he grabbed her hand and put it back  on his butt cheek, this time a little closer to the crevice. This time after a few quick rubs, as she attempted to pull her hand away, he grabbed it and placed it back on his cheek.

Cari was a little confused as to what he wanted her to do, so she tried her best to shut it out and just concentrate on “No Strings Attached” playing in the background, when suddenly he put his mouth to her ear and whispered loudly with his beer scented breath, “PLAYYY WITTHHH MY BUTTTHOLLE…”

Cari was quite taken aback, as no one had ever asked her to compete such a task before. She wasn’t quite sure if she had heard correctly.

“Whhaattt?”

“PLAYYYY WITH MY BUTTHOLE,” he said, unmistakenly this time.

It was at this point that Cari  noticed that during all of this fondling, Jack had shifted so that he could keep a steady eye on the television.

It wasn’t so much the asking to play with his butthole that bothered her, but more so the realization that Jack was way more interested in the boys of *NSYNC, than he would ever be in her.

At that point, Cari  quickly made up an excuse as to why she needed to get up early.. and Jack didn’t seem to be too bothered.

Just as he was about to walk out the door he got a sheepish look on his face.

“Do you think I could borrow that video for a few days?”

Cari obliged to get him to leave, and he promised to return it in a few days, and also that he would be calling her to go out soon.

Cari never saw that tape again.

Cari lived happily after after, and hopefully Jack finally came out of the closet so he could too.

Note: To Cari and all of her friends, Jack is, and will forever be known as simply “play with my butthole.”

The End.

Today, though… I am determined to make today a good day.  I have no excuse for it not to be!

For one, I’m off work today! I know a lot of you suckers had Monday off to celebrate the dude who discovered America… well I, for one would much rather be off on a Friday when I actually feel good.

Things have been kind of hectic in my life lately, and I haven’t exactly been in the best of spirits.

But by george, I’ve got plenty of reasons why I know this weekend WILL be a success.

First thing this morning, I’m heading to the post office to get myself a passport.  I am a total loser, and I haven’t been out of the country since my senior trip after high school, but I’m tentatively planning on going to Mexico in December- and I’m pumped!

Note to self: Your passport has the potential for being around for the next 10 or so years. Do not make this like your license. Fix your hair. Put on a descent shirt, and for the love of God- at least use spit and a t-shirt to remove the black from under your eyes.

OK.

Back to my weekend.

I get to see my sister, for the third weekend in a row! I know that doesn’t sound like a huge deal, but we sometimes go months without seeing each other, and right now there is no one in the world that I would rather spend time with.

Additionally, one of my best friends who I haven’t seen in forever is in town this weekend. This is the girl who sent me a pair of traveling pants a few months ago when I was upset about a boy. Have I mentioned how great my friends are?

At some point this weekend, even if it isn’t until Sunday, I am going to go see Where the Wild Things Are. I have seriously been neglecting the cinema lately, and my insides are starting to ache a little.

On top of that, I am going to the State Fair today! I’ve never been before. I’m going to try my best to resist trying this fried butter that I keep hearing so much about. ( BARRRRFFF) But mostly I want to act like a fourteen year old who just got their braces off and is running around yelling “yippeeeeee,” and riding every ride.  Maybe I’ll even find a dreamy boy to ride the ferris wheel with… and maybe just maybe, he’ll pull the stretch yawn move and put his arm over my shoulder. (Anyone remember that?)

As if I need to add anything to make this weekend even more perfect, but Saturday is homecoming at my college- and I am super excited to get to go back. I’m sure I’ll run into people who I haven’t seen in a long time, and for the first time in a while- I am actually kind of excited about running into people!

I’m usually that girl who puts her head down I see you, and feigns that I don’t recognize you. But today I have a bit of an incentive to be a little more confident.

If you’ve been following me you know that a few years ago I was pretty close to becoming a contestant on The Biggest Loser. For the trip to the final round of eliminations in Los Angeles, they told everyone to pack a “goal” item of clothing. I chose a black dress that I had kept from my senior year in high school. It wasn’t anything special, just a sleeveless dress from Express, but it has become a very important item of clothing for me in the last couple years as I have been struggling to lose weight. I have kept it tucked away at my parent’s house, and every few months I pull it out and try it on… just to see. Well this last weekend I pulled it out from it’s hiding place, you know… just to see…

And sweet baby Jesus!  It actually  fit!!!! I don’t plan on actually wearing this dress anytime soon… or maybe I will… to get my passport picture taken in. You know, just because I can.

Just so you get a better idea as to why I am so excited, you have to realize that I couldn’t even get this dress over my boobies 2 years ago.

I don’t have many pictures left of myself from that size, (because I destroyed them all) but here is the best I can find… And I can’t believe I’m resurrecting this.

yeah, that's me on the left.

But alas, after 2 long years, about a million trips to the gym, and very little bread… Here I am in this very old dress that I have grown a tiny bit obsessed with. (Please ignore my face in this picture. No makeup+no sleep= kinda scary.)

Welp, I can’t believe I’m going to post this. But there it is! That’s me!

Happy weekend yall!