A Conversation, a Giveaway and a Getaway

Happy Friday ladies! Look! I’m actually posting something when I said I would! Now that is a novel idea. Truth be told I am sitting at a rest stop in Delaware. 

RFN

I went looking for a Starbucks in Maryland somewhere off the beaten path and it ended up to be a wash. An hour long wash. 

ORLY? NO. NONONO. #lies

I hope you all had a very lovely week. I know I did, but it got rather crazy. I was in North Carolina last week and headed home on Monday to change luggage. I then headed back down South to meet up with Buff before I drove her (and Iris!) back up North for the weekend. 

The RL Bufflettes. I can't handle the cuteness

We went to the aquarium yesterday with her perfect and beautiful children. The Bufflettes are the bomb. Did you know that her 3-year-old daughter can sing Buffalo Soldier word for word? I nearly peed myself. Seriously. Bob freaking Marley. At three? Hell, I think I just found my best friend. 

Why am I telling you this? For this week’s story, you need to know that I am on the road. 

Remember how on Wednesday I stopped at a random Starbucks for the free WiFi? As I was sitting there I began fighting with blogger. I fucking hate this host, and Buff and I have discussed moving many times. That may be happening some day.

Cat quota. CHECK.

Please excuse the tangent. Let’s return to Starbucks. Anyhow, I was sitting and doing my own thing when I man sat down on the couch next to me in my final stages of posting.

What the Forks?

I come from a very unfriendly place. You leave me alone and it will be MORE than my pleasure to leave you alone. But he was staring at me as if he needed me to speak to him. Uno problemo….

KSIBTU is open on my computer and the gif of R/K going at it is on repeat. I need to get this freaking post up. I finally finish and hit publish before closing the computer and reaching for my phone on the table. I give in and look at him. 

In the following conversation, picture the heaviest southern drawl [note: he wasn’t creepy at all, actually. 45 years old, from South Carolina, and the nicest guy ever placed on this earth. Also, it is advantageous for you to understand that I am OBSESSED with an accent of any kind.]:

Him: Hi there.

Me: Hi.

Him: How you doing darlin?

Me: I’m okay.

Him: That’s good.

…awkward pause bc I refuse to initiate a conversation with a stranger…

Him: You from around here?

Me: No. I’m from up North.

Him: vacation?

Me: Sort of. Picking up a few friends.

Him: First time in Maryland? [pronounced merry-land]

Me: No.*chuckle* I drive through this state a lot.

Him: Pretty around these parts.

Me: Oh absolutely. 

Him: Just a stop over?

Me: Literally driving through.

Him: Oh, well hello and goodbye!

*cue obligatory chuckle at something that isn’t even funny*

Me: Where are you headed?

Him: Maine.

Me: That’s far.

Him: Ever been there?

Me: As a kid. What about you? Ever been there?

Him: Me? No. *chuckle* Why I’ve never been north of the Mason-Dixon line.

STOP.

Did you read that?

is this real life?

HE USED THE MASON FUCKING DIXON LINE IN A CONVERSATION IN A STARBUCKS IN THE YEAR 2010.

It was the best moment I’ve encountered in a while. It was so charming. It was awesome. It was everything I love about this southern man. 

Me: So what's in Maine?

Him: Trees.

Me: Trees?

Him: You know, big evergreen trees. I just want to see really big trees.

Me: Oh. *pauses to think about how there really aren’t big trees in the Northeast, at least compared to out West*

Him: You ever seen big trees?

Me: I mean, yeah? I’ve been to the Redwood Forest, those are big trees.

Him: Oh yeah! I’ve seen pictures of it out there in Oregon and Washington. Those are amazing trees.

Real life Oregon

Redwood Forest. That is a human being on the bottom right. Some perspective.

I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that the Redwood Forest is in California. What also stopped me? My ignorant brain went to Twilight. Because now when thinking of beautiful trees, I think of vampires scampering all over them and driving to the Cullen house. 

like THIS

Me: Maybe some day you’ll get out there…

Him: Sweetheart, maybe you didn’t hear me, but this is the first time I’ve ever been north of here…. and I’m 45. As a yankee  (for reals he said that. Check that off my list of things I desperately needed to hear before death. The rest of the words are all for you Brits.) I know you can’t understand, but this has been a dream of mine since I was a boy.

I was a little worried that this conversation was going to turn into the War of Northern Aggression/Southern Secession and time was of the essence so I had to go.

But you know what? I think I love this man. He was so nice and so charming. People in the South are so freaking nice that it almost puts me off, you know? I’m too cynical for my own well-being. 

Anyhow, I love him, and I hope he gets to see those fucking trees, and I hope they are big and beautiful because he has been waiting so long to see some big trees—and he was honest about it. Imagine being 45 and bumping into some twentysomething year old girl sitting on her MaBbook just trying to get in her car and speed away to get Buff. I was speeding through it all. He, instead, was taking his time and enjoying every single step on the way to his trees. That is admirable. He was in control of his destiny. 

oh you have no idea how much win is in this picture

This week’s movie is going to be The Yellow Handkerchief.  In this movie, Kristen’s character, Martine, is running away from her life.  She feels like a misfit, like she doesn’t belong, and through her experiences ‘on the road’ she realizes she isn’t alone.  I love this story, and it arguably places in my top 3 or 4 Kristen movies of all time. Please watch it and be ready to discuss.

This week has been a whirlwind for Kristen. She has been papped and consequently shat on for Random Acts of Awesomeness such as this:

Fuck all ya'll

Kristen has been chastised, yet again, by those who just don't understand. This has nothing to do with carrying herself properly because she simply doesn't have to. Her acting capabilities have been praised by the highest critics out there today. For her it literally isn't about being famous. If she wants to give you the finger she is going to. And guess what? Scripts won't stop showing up by the droves on her doorstep. This is who she is. This is her life, emphasis on the her. Imagine if she tried to live the life that everyone else wanted her to? Imagine yourself doing that? That would be miserable. Kristen is doing what she's doing because she wants to. Because she is owning what is hers. 

This week’s giveaway is very near and dear to my heart. This Kristen quote is one of the best ones she has ever said and can be applied to nearly all aspects of all of our lives.

In addition to that, the Nylon shoot is one of my most favorite ones ever. It’s my twitter background and avi for crying out loud.

Put these two together and you have one powerful and inspiring painting.

Oh, Jamie. Ohhhhhhhhhhh I want this.

This slays me. HOW TRUE. If only more people listened. 

My question for you this week is this: 

If you could go anywhere in this very moment, where would you go and what would you do?

My answer: 

Right now? I would go to Idaho. I want to sit on a ranch. I want to gaze out at glorious mountains that reflect upon undisturbed lakes. I want to see cattle and tall grass. I want to see something beautiful. In this moment, that’s where I would love to be.

REMEMBER TO LEAVE A TWITTER NAME AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU IN THE EVENT THAT YOU WIN.

Winners will be announced TUESDAY because I will be busy this weekend with some awesome KSIBTU girls. A reunion is in order. 

Although unrelated, why not share the pretty when you can?

Please be sure to watch The Yellow Handkerchief and for the love of God, have a STUPENDOUS weekend!!

[A/N: If you have never seen TYH and want to… drop me an email. Have a great one!]