If your ever in West Virginia…

I know West Virginia isnt a top destination on most of your all’s travel lists, but if you are passing though I do suggest you stay a day and experience the cool things the state has to offer. I might gripe about West Virginia being behind the times and stuff, but really the state has some pretty awesome things that you should consider checking out, especially if you are a history buff like myself. So if you are ever in West Virginia, here is a list of a couple of things you HAVE to do:

1. Eat at Tudor’s Biscuit World: I know what your thinking: What in the world is Tudor’s biscuit world and why does it have such an unfortunate name? Well the joint serves up the most delicious, fatty, heart clogging biscuits you could ever ask for. Each biscuit has a cool West Virginia themed name like the Mountaineer and the Herd, and some not so West Virginia themed names like the Ron and the Mary B. What you really need to know is that they are delicious, in fact I had a Peppi this morning (pepperoni and melted cheese).

2. Visit the State Capitol in Charleston: Looks familiar huh? That’s because the one in Washington D.C. is modeled after it. It is something that West Virginians are very proud of. The interior is ornate and gorgeous. It is definitely something you need to see in person.

3. Visit Harper’s Ferry: Remember that anti slavery guy named John Brown you were taught about in grade school? That fateful raid on the federal arsenal to arm slaves and march south to free slaves all over almost occurred right here in WV. Not only is Harper’s Ferry a historical site, it also is a beautiful place to go hiking.

4. Visit New River Gorge to get your adrenaline fix: The place is a haven for adventure seekers of all types. Every year the bridge is shut down for one day for “Bridge Day”. It’s a day where people from all around the world come to base jump off the bridge. Its one of the tallest structures that you can jump off of in the entire world. The area recently opened up a zip lining park and it has gotten excellent reviews so far. White Water Rafting in the area is legendary. People from all around the world come to do it in New River. They boost having level 3 rapids.

5. The Clay Center for the Preforming Arts: This museum was built just a few short years ago and has brought many interesting exhibits, shows and performances to the area. It has an excellent children’s museum with interactive things for them to do. It also has a large ampitheater that has boasted performances from Lando Eugene Murphy (WV’s America’s Got Talent Winner) to Wayne Newton.

6. Fall Foliage and Festivals: Fall foliage in West Virginia is nation-wide known. With dense forests and many undeveloped areas, WV is the ideal place to see the leaves turning colors. West Virginia is also host to many fall festivals such as the Pumpkin Festival and the Fall Harvest Festival. These festivals bring crafters from all around the state to sell their goods and services. They are also the place to get some amazing culinary confections (pumpkin ice cream anyone?).

So next time you have the opportunity to stop by West Virginia, you most definitely should. Our people are known for their hospitality and kindness. The scenery is beautiful and where else can you get a melted cheese and pepperoni biscuit?

J.

The Truth About Redheads

Ever since the dawn of time, redheads have been cloaked in a veil of mystery. In Egypt, they believed red hair to be unlucky and as a result they burned many young women alive for it. The Greeks believed people who had red hair turned into vampires after they died. The myths are pervasive and abundant. So I have decided to take the myths found in popular culture and see how I measure up (I am a natural redhead).

1. Fiery Temperament: For me, this is most definitely true. I don’t get mad often, but when I do its not a pretty sight. I’ve been told I scare people when I get mad. Not something I am exactly proud of, but it’s just the way things are.

2. Alien Hybrid: You think i’m joking right? I’m not. There is a conspiracy theory out there that says redheads are alien hybrids as a way to explain the prevalence of redheads on the throne in Europe. I suppose I could be a alien hybrid and just not know it. Although I kinda wish it were true because that would be awesome!

3. Higher Pain Tolerance: I have to say this is very true for me. I don’t get a hurt as the people around me when I do the same thing. It takes a lot for me to take a Tylenol. I do have to say that I have no tolerance towards burns. Burns of any kind make me wine all day long.

4. Highly Sexualized: For me, this is a bit true. I am a virgin, so I cant fully attest to this. But, I do the solo act quite a bit more then any of my friends do.

5. The Carpets Match the Drapes: yes they do, but that is all i’m saying about that one.

Hopes this clears up your questions about redheads. Since we compose only 4% of the total world population, we will continue to permeate folklore and mystery.

J.

Why I Love F. Scott Fitzgerald

I am a big classic book worm. I have read Hemingway, the Bronte Sisters, Jane Austen, etc. If there is a book in the classic literature genre out there, I have most likely read it at one point or another. I really enjoy the idea of reading something that millions of other people in the past have read. Its astonishing to think that they may be getting the exact same message that someone else received 30 years ago. That they could be going though the exact same things you are going though and experiencing the magic that can only come from a good book that touches your heart.

Out of my vast experience with classic literature, no other author has touched my soul the way Fitzgerald has. He can evoke complex emotions within myself with just a simple sentence. I’m currently working my way though all of his works. I am currently on The Beautiful and the Dammed.

He understands the independent women that wants a partner in life to stand by her rather then dominate her. He creates characters with flaws that are realistic. They mirror the flaws that I have within myself.

The language he uses is stunning. My favorite quote from the books of his I have read thus far is:

“He smiled understandingly—much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced–or seemed to face–the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.”

It convey’s how we want everyone to see us and how we should try to see others. We all want to be understood in the way we present ourselves and Fitzgerald gets that.

If you haven’t read Fitzgerald before, I highly recommend that you do.

J.

What I Want In Love

Theme Song of the Day

This song is really what my day is all about today. I want everything 😀 Check out these awesome lyrics:

As sly as a fox, as strong as an ox
As fast as a hare, as brave as a bear
As free as a bird, as neat as a word
As quite as a mouse, as big as a house
All I wanna be, all I wanna be, oh
All I wanna be is everything
As mean as a wolf, as sharp as a tooth
As deep as a bite, as dark as the night
As sweet as a song, as right as a wrong
As long as a road, as ugly as a toad
As pretty as a picture hanging from a fixture
Strong like a family, strong as I wanna be
Bright as day, as light as play
As hard as nails, as grand as a whale
All I wanna be, all I wanna be, oh
All I wanna be is everything
As warm as the, the sun, as silly as fun
As cool as a tree, as scary as the sea
As hot as fire, cold as ice
Sweet as sugar and everything nice
As old as time, as straight as a line
As royal as a queen, as buzzed as a bee
Stealth as a tiger, smooth as a glide
Pure as a melody, pure as I wanna be
All I wanna be, all I wanna be, oh
All I wanna be is everything

Enjoy the day,
J.

Looks of Sympathy: I Don’t Need Them

We all have had that dreaded experience of running into people you went to high school with. The problem with living in your home town is that it happens on at least a weekly basis. Not fun right?

It starts out with the, “OMG, you look great! How have you been!?”. Even when chances are that they look like hell and you couldn’t careless how they are. Well lately this has happened to me a lot. Yesterday, I had the unfortunate pleasure of running into one such person.

Let me give you a little history of T. T was the cheerleader in high school who dated the same guy on and off again. Poor thing was not the brightest crayon in the box. Well T came into the place I wait tables (part time, mind you, I’m in school). We exchange the typical pleasantries, and then the question that is dreaded by every single women my age is posed: “So, are you dating anyone?”.

Oh how I dread that question! I am 21 years old, I have my entire life ahead of me to get serious about someone. Why must society dictate that I get into a serious relationship in college? For this question, I have no answer.

I politely tell her that I am not dating anyone when she proceeds to tell me all about her boyfriend and how he chased her for 8 months and how in love she is with him and then has the audacity to give me the look that all single women my age despise: the look of sympathy. She then follows it up with a phrase that makes me cringe just as I’m writing it: “oh well, you will find someone”.

Really?! How dare you dictate that my life’s purpose is to find a man! I subscribe to the theory that if the right person is out there for me, we will happen across one another while we are leading our everyday lives and actively pursuing our individual goals. Does this mean I wouldn’t like to have someone there for me right now? Definitely not. I would love to be in love, but I’m not going to center my life around that goal. I have other ambitions. I want to succeed professionally, travel around the world, and move to the big city (which one? I have no clue yet).

I will continue to live my life and pursue my goals while I keep one eye open for that magical man who will join me on my grand adventures. I will never center my life around finding him.

J.

My First Bar Experience/ New Drama

And what an experience it was! I had a great time!

It was my best friend’s bachelorette party last night, so we went out to celebrate. I suppose I’ve lived a very sheltered life because I’ve never, in my 21 years, been to a bar. Just never thought that it was my kinda place, I suppose. I’m not one to hook up with people at random or to go out and get trashed.

We went to this little hole in the wall bar called Bobby’s. Well most bars in WV are hole in the walls actually. They had a DJ come and we danced all evening. I have not a bit of rhythm and I still had a fantastic time. I believe I resemble Eliane from Seinfeld when I try bust a move (refer to the below video if you don’t watch Seinfeld). I defiantly want to do it again.

But in addition to a really good night out, I was confronted with more dilemmas. A little background to start you all off: a good bit of people that I hung out with last night are friends with or know my ex C. Which I never even thought about before really, its just the way things are.

Last night, A and B told me that C is still incredibly hung up on me. Really really really hung up. A even went as far to say that he was in love with me. It scared me (excuse my french) shitless. My best friend, G who the party is in honor of, ran into him too and was talking about how hung up on me he still is. If you have read some of my earlier posts, then you know that I am commitment-phobic. Love scares me to death, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t still have feelings for the guy.

He is just so kind, sweet, and considerate. He cares about me and around him, I feel safe and comfortable to be myself. If only he would get his life together and make plans for his future. He lives so much in the day to day, he fails to see where his decisions will get him 10 years down the road and it really frustrates me. Plus my mom doesn’t like him for that reason, and my mother’s opinion matters to me a great deal.

I broke down and texted him last night and he said he just says just the right things. I don’t understand how someone could know just the things to make my heart melt. I’m just lost on what I should do. I know if I was to say I wanted to get back together today, he would be over at my house before you could blink.

Ohh decisions, decisions, how will I ever decide what I should do

J.

Should I rename my blog: awkwardness at the gym?

My life is usually pretty run of the mill most days, with sporadic awkwardness sprinkled in. But the past couple of days they have been one thing: awkward!

As I’m returning into the women’s locker room for my post workout potty break, what do I happen upon you ask? A NAKED women, I mean I’m not talking about a person who is in the middle of changing clothes. I’m talking about a women who was running around getting ready in the nude. The look on my face was most likely horrific. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like to take off my clothes to get into the shower, none the less walk around nude.

And what also happens while I’m working out. I have to watch a girl’s pathetic attempts at flirting with the cute athletes that are working out. If you have to lift up your shirt and ask guys to see their abs you really should not be aloud to flirt with guys. The point is further enforced when you start feeling a guys muscles while they are lifting free weights. Sad sad sad…

Women like this set back the women’s rights movement about 100 years.

Weird day update will follow later,
J.

People of WV: Like People of Walmart, Only Better

While at the gym today, I saw something I never thought I would see: a women working out in a three piece suit. I promise you reader, I couldn’t make this up if I tried. I walk into the cardio room, expecting it to be empty like it is most days, and I see this interesting specimen. Dress shoes and all, she was peddling away on the stationary bike. And the most peculiar thing about her was what she was intently watching on the television.

Drum roll please……. The hunting channel, I kid you not! I mean, I suppose I can see wanting to look good while working out, but to combine this with such a redneck activity is beyond my comprehension.

People of West Virginia have an overwhelming interesting concept of style. It is the state where mullets are a daily occurrence and little kids frequent the playgrounds with rat tails. Camouflage clothing is a wardrobe stable and baseball hats with the bills rolled up as tight as they can get them are acceptable at the finest of dinning establishments.

Regardless of our people’s inability to get with the times, we sure are a friendly bunch. We are the kind of people who love to give people directions. We saY things like, “Well buddy, ya go up there on 64 and you’ll pass a green house and it’s right there on the left. If you go past a pink house you’ve gone too far”. It seems that other places I go just aren’t as friendly or kind. Here, people still stop to help someone who is broke down on the side of the road and can leave there houses unlocked at night because they know their neighbors will keep an eye out for them.

I love West Virginia! It’s been a wonderful place to grow up and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

Love always,
J.

P.S. Here is the unofficial anthem of WV, enjoy:

Ms. Unavailable: That is me

Some wise person on my facebook posted this link about Mr. Unavaliable. (http://www.baggagereclaim.co.uk/coping-with-feeling-rejected-by-mr-unavailables-assclowns-part-three/). She posted this warning that we should be looking out for this person, so naturally I read it to inform myself about this dangerous guy, only to learn I am the female version of Mr. Unavailable. I am Ms. Unavailable.

I exhibit all of the characteristics:

1. He starts off relationships telling the other person how busy he is, but really I am! I have two jobs, have classes, am in the process of starting a college club, and I’m studying for the LSAT. Let me also say that I don’t ask guys out, so its not like i’m pursing these guys when I know I lead a busy life. I just like to go out occasionally, which I don’t think is a bad quality for someone in my position.

2. He blame’s timing as the cause of bad things in relationships. I have done that every single time I break up with someone.

3. He is all about the chase. I love the chase in the beginning of a relationship! Its so thrilling and interesting because you never know what is going to happen. I do loose interest as the relationship progresses.

4. He is reliant on text messages as primary means of communication. I love text messaging. That is how I talk to just about everyone in my life. Talking on the phone just really irritates me.

5. He is ambiguous about his relationship status. I am very ambiguous about my status with someone. I DO NOT want to rush into something with someone, I want things to flow naturally. So I don’t see the big deal with just say, “Oh we have been seeing each other a bit lately”, and leave it at that.

6. He mentions old relationships. This was an issue in my last relationship. I just can not help it. I feel like your past relationships are what have made you who you are today. So I don’t quite relate with people who refuse to talk about them. I want to know where you have been so I can see where you are going. (Those who don’t learn from past mistakes are doomed to repeat it).

7. He is a momma’s boy. I am definitely a momma’s girl. My mother and I are very close. Especially since I still live at home, we hang out together quite a bit.

8. He sticks to a stringent routine. I am such a habit former. Once I find a routine that works for me I will stick with it, with very few alterations. I’m very type A in that matter.

9. He determines the momentum of the relationship. I know this might surprise you considering the statement made above (drum roll please), but I am a control freak. There I said it. I like to be in control of how fast the relationship progresses. I am not big on things not going the way I think they should go. And I definitely use my virgin status to my advantage in how fast a relationship progresses

Well, thats me. Ms. Unavailable. I know can put a label on my dating behavior. So fellas, be sure you look out for women like me, we are dangerous. We will hurt you with out even realizing it (I’ve come to realize I did this to my ex and I feel terrible about it).

J.