A Post About Nothing

I haven’t been feeling very inspired to write anything recently. Sometimes I feel like I’ve talked about everything there is to talk about. Sometimes I can’t even remember if I’ve written about a certain topic already or if I just dreamed that I did.

These days if you have writer’s block (or any kind of block at all really) you go onto Google and see what there is to write about. I typed “what should I blog about?” into Google, clicked on the first entry, and this is what it said:

1. What is your expertise? Readers want to read about what you know and your special experiences. Really!

Okay, geeze. I believe you. Problem is, I don’t have an expertise. Unless you count being able to name every Pokemon an expertise, I’ve got nothin. Are most people experts in a certain area? Is this some sort of life requirement that I missed out on? Should I look into something? I guess history would be my expertise because I got my degree in it, but we all know that’s a lie and I forgot everything I learned right after the final exam.

2. What’s the news? While you don’t have to necessarily be a news breaker, you can give your view on what’s happening in your industry and how it relates to your hobby, life, etc.

Am I supposed to have an industry? I don’t even know what day of the week it is, never mind what my industry should be. I feel like I break the news occasionally, but I usually sway towards celebrity gossip more than newsy news. Can we call it newsy news from now on? The reason I didn’t write about the newest celebrity news is because my heart is broken and talking about it just makes it hurt more.

I’ll give you a hint: It has to do with these two.

3. What is your personality? Do you like to take a stance? Are you funny? Do you like being a contrarian? These insights can help you to write about your topic.

Can’t I just be everything? Why do I have to choose just one of those things? Can’t I be a funny contrarian that likes to take a stance? Maybe I don’t want to be defined by one personality type. I think there are sides of me that are soft and kind and other parts that are funny and playful and other parts that are deep and thoughtful. Notice how I didn’t name any character flaws? It’s because I don’t have any, in case you’re wondering.

4. What are your hopes and fears? Things that you can’t stop thinking about or what keeps you up at night could be good things to share with others.

I would say one of my hopes is trying to live a good solid life. A life I can look back at and feel proud of. A lot of the time I get caught up in trying to make other people proud, but I think I should just be focusing on making myself proud. I try to be the best example to others that I can be.

My fear is that I’ll go to a restaurant and they won’t have my favorite thing on the menu anymore. This scenario has happened to me multiple times and it’s scarred me for life.

5. What are your hobbies? Things that you like to do on your free time are often great topics to discuss.

Um let’s see here. Sleeping is a big hobby of mine. Eating is also another big one. Going online. Driving and listening to music. Walking and listening to music. Just listening to music in general. Traveling to new places. Did I say eating? Um petting soft animals. Laughing at people. Laughing at myself. Not exercising. Shopping. Painting my nails (but only when they’re grown out). Going to movies. Eating popcorn. Eating chocolate. Eating.

I think that’s about it.

Were those prompts supposed to solve my writer’s block? Because I think they made it worse. And they made my self esteem plummet because I don’t have an industry or an expertise.

I guess technically you can’t have writer’s block if you’re not a writer, so I probably have nothing to worry about, right?

WoW

So ummm ehm I started playing World of Warcraft. I honestly don’t know what I’m doing half the time, but I like it. And my character looks cool. And my friend plays too so we can skype and run around playing the game together.

The thing is, for some reason (and people have warned me about this), it’s very addicting. I don’t know if you’ve seen the Youtube video of the boy whose mother cancels his WoW account, but he literally goes ballistic. It’s one of the best things I’ve seen.

I don’t know what it is that I find so addicting really. You have to complete quests which causes you to level up. I’m only level 9, but that’s after 2 days of playing. Collecting items and completing quests is what really hooked me in. If I look back into my childhood, every interest that I had, had to do with collecting something. Whether it be Beanie Babies, collecting stars on Super Mario 64, or catching all of the Pokemon (I mean, their tagline was “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!” Genius!) Kids and apparently 24 year olds like trying to complete missions by getting everything they need. Maybe it gives us a sense of purpose. Hey, I don’t pay the bills, but maybe I can become a level 15 Draenei and everything will be okay.

That’s another thing. Draenei. I love saying all of the names in the game because they make me sound so nerdy and weird. Like most games, it’s a battle of good against evil. I’m on the good side obviously.

So much likeness.

I can see why people play so much. It’s probably like a Catfish thing where they get to be someone else…like an elf or a dwarf. My friend knows someone who’s girlfriend dumped them for someone she met on World of Warcraft. No joke! What would happen when they went to meet each other? Immediate disappointment because neither of them looked like mythical creatures?

Just a quick little poll (but I’m not gonna make an actual poll–just tell me) : Which do you think is nerdier, World of Warcraft or Magic: The Gathering?

Butchart Gardens

I had a fun Christmas experience last night. It was so fun that I almost forgot I was in Canada. Paul’s family and I went to this place called Butchart Gardens where, during the summer, acres of beautiful flowers grow. During winter, they completely light it up–turning it into an amazing winter wonderland.

When we first entered, there was an ice skating rink. I felt like I was in Charlie Brown’s Christmas. So precious that people like to do that for fun. Ice skating is the most effective way to torture me. I’m always interested in watching (with narrowed eyes) how graceful people can be on two blades.

Butchart Gardens was better than I thought it would be, to be completely honest. I thought it was just going to be a bunch of trees wrapped in lights that you walk around for hours. Instead, there was a 12 Days of Christmas theme. So as you walked, you would spot a partridge in a pear tree, 2 turtle doves, and so on. It definitely gave me a sense of purpose. Kind of like I was collecting each line of the song. Anything that involves collecting makes me feel like life is worth living. Beanie Babies and Pokemon ruled my world at one point in my life.

I would have to say that my favorite “Day of Christmas” that they depicted was 5 golden rings. Unlike the others, the rings were lit up and floating in a pond. I liked that.

Paul and I rode on a carosel that was in the middle of the park. I think his parents were wondering why their 30 year old son was riding on a merry-go-round. It was really fun for me because I got to ride on the giraffe after pushing some kids out of the way. Only the strongest survive. Sorry I’m not sorry.

When we were leaving the gardens, I realized that we missed 12 drummers drumming. But I stopped caring after about 10 seconds. There were so many dogs there that I had trouble concentrating on anything else. I often make a bee-line for every dog that I spot. I like to think that in another life, I was a dog. I would’ve been the best companion anyone could’ve had.

More importantly, on the way out we got hot apple cider and signed the guest book below some German folks. Paul wrote “Lovin’ it up!” in the space where you’re supposed to write how much Butchard Gardens changed your life. “Lovin’ it up!” sufficed.

As we were driving out of the parking lot, we drove under 12 drummers drumming–how clever!  I kind of guessed that we would though. Because I’m so smart.

The only thing that’s slightly off-putting about the whole experience is that everyone is singing 12 Days of Christmas. This one woman in particular was awful. I wanted so badly to give her the stink eye, but it was too dark to be effective.

Top 1000

Gift from the gods.

Last night I reached 1000 views on my blog! Just so you know, I played no part in 994 of those views. I feel like this joyous moment should be commemorated with my list of 1000’s.  I do not have 1000 items on this list, and its definitely not a “1000 things to do before you die” type of thing. Its just a compilation of things in life that contain the number 1000.

I’m pretty sure I’ve missed 1000 days of class Kindergarten-Undergrad. School is just so…mundane.

There are definitely 1000 people that I can’t stand. I will name 20 just so you get an idea. Susan Sarandon, Joy Behar, Guiliana Rancic, Kris Humphries, LuAnn de Lesseps, Teresa Guidice, Casey Anthony, Bono, Julianne Moore, Martha Stewart, Jennifer Aniston, Kristen Stewart, Kelly Ripa, Kelly Bensimon, George Lopez, Alison Pill, Dakota Fanning, Jenna Fischer, Anne Hathaway, Blake Lively.

The profusion of 1000 flowers to make the smell of Flowerbomb perfume by Viktor & Rolf. Come to think of it, I use 1000 sprays daily.

The number of times I have been to Disney World.

The amount of calories I usually eat in 5 minutes.

How many steps I won’t be taking on a walk today.

The number of strange dogs I have pet.

How much I weigh. Yep, in pounds.

The time when Paul said David Gray’s album was in his top 1000 albums. Hahahaa

Number of times that Avril Lavigne’s teeth have mesmerized me.

Times I have watched Clueless. And Titanic.

Barbie’s I have given a haircut.

Number of sports I don’t like.

Number of bugs that freak me out.

The amount of tater tots I can eat.

The amount of times I have randomly burst into tears.

How many times I wish I wasn’t washing dishes.

The number of Pokemon I wish were real.

Times I wished I looked like Frida Pinto.

Times I’ve laughed at my own jokes.