Proof That I Have a Pen Habit

Purse Crisis

Equal to the calamity of the current NFL officials crisis is the ongoing Purse Crisis of 2012. The following list shows why it is near impossible to find the perfect purse, as these are our only options:

• Option 1: Really awesome purses that cost anywhere from $200 to $600 and up. Way way up. Even if you can do that, do you want to do that?
• Option 2: Cheap purses. These are, well, cheap.
• Option 3: Affordable handmade purses. Etsy is lousy with these. Sometimes they are great, but they run the risk of looking handmade.
• Option 4: Vintage. Vintage can be affordable! It can also smell like a used purse. Vintage isn't always practical for the everyday purse, as ladies of the past did not have key fobs, cell phones, etc.

What's a girl to do? Will I ever remain happy with a purse purchase? Will Green Bay not get into the playoffs because of the replacement refs?

(Purse crisis consultation provided by Memphisotan)

My Favorite Things To Do While Visiting My Grandparents, All Of Which I Did Over Labor Day Weekend

1. went to Publix
2. cooked with Mom
3. napped
4. read
5. watched the wildlife in the backyard (deer, hummingbirds, butterflies)
6. talked to, ate with, watched TV with, and played games with family
7. sketched
8. ate chocolate cake
9. used the Rotato

Office Nicknames

(some of which I just made up, but mostly long-established names thought up by my co-worker)

1. The Sigher
2. The Nail-Clipper
3. Fake Kid-Cough, a.k.a. Creepy Gollum Laugh
4. Scaryface Grumpypants (actually a really nice guy)
5. Loudermilk
6. Skinner (as in Principal Skinner)
7. Side Show Bob
8. The Whistler a.k.a. The One-Man Band
9. Beeker
10. Curse Mumbler (I made that one up for myself)

Southern Specialties That I Don't Have to Know How to Make Because They Are So Readily Available

1. Biscuits (the secret to happiness is access to good biscuits)
2. Pimiento cheese
3. Greens
4. Black-eyed peas/field peas/crowder peas, etc.
5. Fried chicken
6. Fried green tomatoes
7. Fried okra (basically anything fried)
8. Catfish! Fried or otherwise
9. Delicious Memphis barbecue pulled pork sandwiches with slaw
10. Banana pudding

Southern Foods I Make Anyway

1. Deviled eggs
2. Pecan pie
3. Cornbread

Why Studying Art in School Is Not a Bad Idea for the Artistically Inclined

I recently heard an artistically talented young man say that a high school teacher suggested that he not attend college because he already knows how to draw. I had an immediate negative reaction, but it took me a few days to figure out exactly why. I think I've summed it up below.

Also want to point out I didn't go to an "art school," rather I majored in art at University of Memphis (which was awesome).

1. Art majors learn an actual skill (such as how to paint).
2. Majoring in art/going to art school is about putting in the time and making the work. Do you already have talent and skills? Great. Will you use them to make work every day? Probably not.
3. Art classes teach you how to talk about art. And you have to be able to talk about your art.
4. If you want a career in something art/design related you have to know how to write, which is a skill you don't always learn in high school.
5. Regardless of the type of art you are interested in, critical thinking is necessary, and can be developed in college, when you are slightly more mature and your brain has had a chance to finish developing (guys!).
6. When you major in art/go to art school you meet other like-minded people and you have those connections for the rest of your life.

Colors of Highlighters Currently Sitting on My Desk from Recent Use

• green
• blue
• pink
• yellow
• orange

bonus! pens:

• light blue
• green