The Secrets of Happy Couples

Cosmo runs articles once every few months or so (less common than their monthly rewrite of "how to keep your man happy by doing weird kinky things in bed") about secrets of happy couples. They talk about how you have to keep your significant other happy by reminding him of how sexy you think he is, putting out in bed, not being spiteful during fights. Happy couples apparently always try to be kind to one another, take time out of their busy work lives to reconnect, try not to say mean things during fights, and make lots of time for love-making to keep the "spark".

This brings me to the newest phenomenon in dating: "Faking it on Facebook". Dear fake happy couples, stop putting up pictures of "the unit" in your profile pictures, talking about how happy you are that you are dating the person in your status, announcing anniversaries and talking about how you are looking forward to more in your statuses, and in general announcing every little thing that your significant other has done for you or bought for you ever. Please also stop with the vacation albums where you stand in front of exceedingly touristy landmarks and pose as if this may end up on your future wedding invitations, because you're probably not engaged yet. Statistically, you probably won't end up engaged to everyone you take these types of pictures with, they will just stay with you in your bedroom as reminders of what didn't work, what you could have done differently, the good times, and eventually lead to a mental breakdown of sorts if you choose not to do the healthy thing and burn them in the fireplace or feed them to your ex's dog when they're not looking.

The reason these "happy couples" need to stop publicizing their relationship is as follows:

1. Usually, if I know anything about the people in couples pictures showing coupley bliss, I know that they're miserable, insecure in their relationships, have trust issues, cheat on each other constantly, and fight continuously in between shots (the pictures kind, not the drinking kind - which may make them nicer and happier)

2. No one cares.

3. It makes breakups via facebook relationship status ---> single super embarrassing.

4. Makes single friends feel bad for not having someone to take cheesy pictures with

5. It's a coverup that most therapists would agree is unhealthy.

6. See #2.

Today

Today: I watched the New Orleans Saint's Super Bowl Parade through the Central Business District of New Orleans on two forms of media (both on TV and a live stream on my computer). Teared up a bit thinking about the city.

Today: I watched an Indian movie with the family about life and school and doing things your own way. Somehow, even though it was my first Indian movie in years, it's just the kind of movie I needed.

Today: I failed (again) to unpack my boxes from moving

Today: I considered how ridiculous it is that there's another snow storm outside even though we just had 34.5 inches of snow over the weekend. Excessive much? Also, all government offices and the library is closed. WTF am I supposed to do with my time????
Clearly I brought the snow with me from Minnesota ...in my carry-on.

WHO DAT Say They Gon Beat Them Saints?!!

No One.

We Are the Champions

Saints are the Super Bowl Champions 2010. Who could have predicted I would use all those words in the same sentence until that win last night. That decisive, controversy-less, NON-Field Goal win.

For a moment I remembered the loss in 2006 to the Chicago Bears in the NFC championship. We were so close. Everyone felt victory being within fingers grasp. I read an article on espn a week later about the team and the city that made me cry. It was about those who had lost their home after the hurricane and got their hope from watching the Saints play. It was about Katrina. It was about New Orleans. It was about everything we had all gone through evacuating months ago.
It was beautiful.



This is why last night was redemption. Last night we made the nation BELIEVE in New Orleans, believe that we would make a come back.

New Orleans Always Believed. This is for everyone who evacuated in 2005. For everyone who came back. For everyone who went to New Orleans, fell in love, and never recovered their heart.

I believe.
I believe in Who Dat Nation. I believe in New Orleans. I believe in the Saints.

(NOT) Wanted: Date for Valentine's Day

I hate this time of the year because of the TV commercials, and due to my newfound job-less status, I am seeing more commercials than ever. All the commercials are about losing weight or finding love, which makes me feel terrible and single as I sat on the couch scarfing down ice-cream. I should be relishing the fact that the super bowl is 3 days away and my team is there for the first time, or that it's basketball season and Kentucky is good for the first time in forever (yeah, I've liked them for years now, not sure why). Instead, I'm caught up on the fact that I will be single on Valentine's Day, again.

I have never had a boyfriend on Valentine's Day. I am not even sure what having a boyfriend for V-Day means. I'm assuming it means flowers or chocolates or hyped up dinner reservations. For some reason, for me relationship season is between September and December. Almost all my relationships have an expiration date in December, whether it be due to a change in colleges or pressure from the holiday season who knows.

The good part about being single on Valentines Day is the following: as a male, it's cheaper. As a female, there's less pressure. You get to choose who to go home with. Two years ago I did sake bombing with my girls. Last year I went to Das Klub III (UVA law school's Feb Club annual Euro Trash party). It's far better being single than having a significant other who I considered "okay" at best. It would be great to have a guy to spend time with on VD, even if that's staying in and watching a basketball game on the couch and giggling and stealing kisses, but that's an ideal day for me no matter what, and I don't think we need a Hallmark holiday to get those kinds of magical days/dates.

I think what I'm trying to say is, it's okay to be single for Valentines Day. Much better than settling for someone you don't want to spend $100 for dinner and flowers for or spreading your legs for and wondering whats on your todo list for the day while someone is in between. Settling is worse than being alone.


I just got asked by an old friend who's currently traveling around for me to join in traveling around South America this fall. I asked her what I should plan on needing should I choose to join her. Her response (and I quote): passport, visas, $$$$, condoms.


You see, that's the fabulous life of a girl single, unemployed, and with everything to look forward to in the future and no restrictions. With any luck, come September I'll either choose to stay in New Orleans because of love: for my job and the city, or for a man and the city, or travel around like a vagabond without a care in the world. Either option seems pretty freaking fantastic.