Carrie, Carrie, Carrie (part Une):

Just like every other fan of the phenomenon, watching Carrie Bradshaw has always been familiar to me.

"...But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous."



We get to hear her thoughts through the genius of voice overs as well as her column. She is the relationship journalist just reporting on the world in which she lives.

She asks questions. She has doubts. She does her best to solve all the problems while leaving some of it up to fate.

We think we are Carrie. We want to be able to wear what Carrie wears. We love her, plain and simple, because we also love ourself.

"So many roads. So many detours. So many choices. So many mistakes."

There is the Carrie I will never be: five-foot-four and a size 0!

There is the Carrie I am: inquisitive, thoughtful, full of vices & complexities, surrounded by a few really good friends who care, understand, and love me no matter what happens.

There is the Carrie I want to be: True to herself, even if it takes a while to figure out exactly what "herself" is...and always look good doing it!

"When real people fall down in life, they get right back up and keep walking."

~~J

SATC (the full trailer):

I'm definitely a Miranda:

"Your good friend has just taken a piece of cake out of the garbage and eaten it. You will probably need this information when you check me into the Betty Crocker Clinic."

Carrie's voice of reason and generally the girl who tries to act tougher than she really is, I have always had a soft spot for Miranda Hobbes.

Maybe it is her "single comedy routines" or her fear of dying alone in her apartment and being eaten by her cat, but Miranda seems to live out the most relatable fears and situations for me.

Before going on a date with a detective who was too "hot" for her, she had one too many cocktails to loosen up and HE ends up NOT giving her his card, but a card for AA instead. She even pretended to be "less" than herself (a stewardess versus a lawyer) to date a guy who was actually pretending to be a doctor instead of a sporting goods store manager.

"Go Get Our Girl!"

There is the Miranda I will never be: cat-person, successful lawyer via Harvard with a rigid Type A personality who looks great in bold, bright prints and short hair.

There is the Miranda I am: cynical, sarcastic and most likely to hide or walk the other direction when faced with an ex on the street. Also we both love our sports teams and wearing sweats!

There is the Miranda I want to be: able to handle everything life throws her way with a little bit of humor and grace!

My Favorite Miranda Moments:

Heartwarming: After being completely cynical after Carrie's first big break-up with Big, Miranda meets her at the coffee shop late at night to talk about it anyway AND at their son's first birthday part, Miranda realizes that Steve is THE one and they rekindle their relationship.

Heart wrenching: The fight between Miranda and Carrie in the middle of Season 6 about Carrie moving to Paris STILL makes me tear up as does the episode in which Miranda's mother passes away and she has to walk behind her casket alone, until Carrie joins her.

Hilarious: Miranda spends night after night playing “peek a boo” with a stranger in the building across from her only to find out he is actually cruising the man who lives below her AND Miranda becomes an unexpected participant during a Sex class held in a couple's apartment--she gets a face full of love!

Honorable Mentions: Miranda explains to her new housekeeper what tools a single woman needs (goodie drawer) and doesn't need (rolling pin) AND Miranda becomes addicted to chocolate while on a "sex break" and ends up eating a piece of cake out of the garbage can.

“Maybe it's time I stopped being so angry.”

~~J

and I'm a Samantha:

"Practically all the relationships I know are based on a foundation of lies and mutually accepted delusions."

Older, wiser & more comfortable in her skin, Samantha Jones is the resident sex-pert of the four friends. She is lusty, strong and outspoken--but behind her confidence is a soft spot that few get to see (her heart).

There is the Samantha I will never be--head of my own PR company, wearing real fur coats or excessively large earrings!

There is the Samantha I am--fluent in German, able to give straightforward advice to friends (without judgement) and willingly to critic fire fighters for a calendar ANY day of the week!


There is the Samantha I want to be--able to speak my mind or live my life without fear of what other people might be thinking or saying about me...(and throw a drink dirty martini in any one's face--who truly deserves it)!

My Most Memorable Samantha Moments:

Heartwarming: Giving into her own insecurities, Samantha finally allows "Smith" to hold her hand in public AND when she knew Miranda was in desperate need of "alone" time, she came over to watch Brady so Miranda could take her own appointment at a salon.

Heart wrenching: After finding out she has breast cancer, Samantha decides NOT to tell the girls and ruin Miranda's wedding until they FINALLY get her to tell them the truth. AND Samantha decides shave her head before chemotherapy takes all her hair (then Smith walks in and shaves his head as well).

Hilarious: Samantha meets an old "boyfriend" who is now a drag queen who uses HER name in season 2 AND Samantha gets herself (and her friends) thrown out of the Playboy pool party during season 3, after she accuses a bunny of stealing her fake Fendi.


Honorable Mention: Sam Jones (college student) becomes obsessed with Samantha after she finally gives in and sleeps with him AND Samantha decides to do a full frontal photo shoot so she can always remember herself as young and beautiful.

"Men aren't that complicated. They're kind of like plants."

~~J

I'm a Charlotte:

(not really, just a little)

“Maybe we could be each others’ soul mates and then we could let men be these great, nice guys to have fun with.”

It was the "Park Avenue Pollyanna" aka Charlotte York Goldenblatt who said these wonderful words and really helped to define the whole series to me.

After watching the last section of "The Agony and the Ex-tacy" of Season 4 (first episode), I started thinking about all the soul mates (best friends), in my own life in a completely different way--more love, more respect and more laughter.

There is the Charlotte I will never be—prom queen, cheerleader, teen model, conservative young Republican who graduated from Smith with a degree in Art (minor in Finance).

There is the Charlotte I am—knitter, Episcopalian (she was), "Mommy" to her lovely four-legged child and absolutely always there for her friends despite difference of opinion.

There is the Charlotte I want to be--"eternal optimist, who always believes in love" (as Carrie pointed out with her book dedication).

Some of my favorite Charlotte Moments:

Heartwarming: it’s a tie between Season 4, episode 1—Charlotte suggests that her and the girls are really each other’s soul mates. AND later during the same season, episode 16—she offers up her engagement ring to Carrie as a down payment for her apartment.

Heart wrenching: Season 6, episode 12—Charlotte suffers a miscarriage after finally getting pregnant after a very long time of trying.

Hilarious: It’s a tie between "The Rabbit" AND the Season 3 opener when Charlotte gets completely hammered on Staten Island ice teas and dances to disco and later proclaims to New York that she’s getting married (even though she has no beau).

Honorable Mentions: Charlotte in the Hampton's (lying about her age) & Charlotte Harlotte in Atlantic City.

Alrighty!

~~J

Let's talk about SEX...:

(and the City)

Plenty has been written about the HBO blockbuster hit Sex and the City (which still lives on in edited reruns on at least two stations).

I've read sparkling reviews and negative critiques about everything from the fashion & friendships, the sex & men and all the relationships (on screen and off). It's all been analyzed to death, if you don't mind me saying so.

Nevertheless, you want MY opinion, right? Especially since the movie will be released at the end of the week (which is why my blog turned pink).

LOVED IT!

First, I do not (past or present) have HBO. I fell into the series when it was practically over. I was tired HEARING about it, but NEVER watching it and so I bought Season 2 circa the summer of 2002.

I was absolutely HOOKED! Less than a week later, I bought Season 3 and while waiting for Season 4 to become available I finally got my hands on Season 1. And I watched all of them over and over again!

I did some crazy things to be able to follow Season 5 (I won't mention them here).

When the final Season was announced, I actually had people TAPE episodes for me & hand them over on Monday...so we could discuss them properly on Tuesday.

Y'all, these were straight MEN that did the taping (so don't even go there).

You get the idea. Obsessed. LOVED! LUSTED!

Do women really talk that way?
Do women really have bonds & friendships like that?
Do women really DO those things?

Yes, Yes, and Yes!

So in honor of my four favorite television ladies (Golden Girls & the Original Designing Women are a close 2nd and 3rd) vaulting onto the big screen--I am going to do a daily dish on each one of them...in reverse alphabetical order.

Tuesday: Charlotte York (MacDougal) (York-Goldenblatt)
Wednesday: Samantha Jones
Thursday: Miranda Hobbes
Friday: Carrie Bradshaw

~~J

p.s. IF ANYONE WANTS TO PLAY TRIVIA....just comment away!

The Bible of the Newspaper Industry:

(no really, that’s actually what it says on the front cover)

aka The Associated Press Stylebook, is quite an exciting read. I had a spiral bound copy about 11 years ago (status: missing) and since it is required for at least one class this fall semester, I got another copy as part of my birthday textbook extravaganza.

It’s a fully revised and updated copy of the AP’s rules on grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviation and word and numeral usage.

(that's what it says on the back cover)

Things I have Learned Today:
3-D is preferred over three-D
use till or until but NOT 'til
gale force winds are from 39-54 mph
do NOT capitalize primary (Democratic primary)
Novocain is a trademark
it's Down Syndrome (not Down's)
faze means to embarrass or disturb
hurly-burly is hyphenated
i.e. is the abbreviation for id est (should always be followed by a comma)

See how awesome this book is?? (I realize YOU might not find this stuff interesting, but I definitely do)

Newspaper Geeks UNITE aka (no spacing is correct) Journalists!

~~J

Friends, Readers, countrypersons,

lend me your ears;

I have come to let you know that my ability to blog has not fallen by the wayside after turning the lovely age of 30. It only got a bit muddy or extremely busy.

Since I am "off" from school during the month of May, I have spent enough time in the pharmacy aka "at work" to basically demand my own inflatable mattress to be set up at night so I don't have to bother with EVER leaving.

It's been a rough one (and there is two weeks to go). My body is practically begging to return to an educational setting AND fast.

There is nothing exciting to report from my short "breaks" from all the RX madness. I haven't had more than ONE day off "in a row" all month. Seriously. So with this 1 day off, I find myself wanting to sleep in as opposed to getting up and becoming a viable member of society for a few hours.

My favorite Orbit Gum:
5. Bubblemint
4. Spearmint
3. Mint Mojito
2. Sweet Mint
1. Positively Pomegranate

I discovered my "new favorite" this week. Positively Pomegranate is very tart and has a "smack you in the face" type smell. But I wouldn't say it's a "bad" smell. So yes, I just ranked gum & gave one flavor a mini-review.

Who knew I was a Gum connoisseur?

Moral of the blog? I shall do my best to keep you updated...especially now that class resumes in relatively short amount of time (thank goodness).

~~J

Honest to Blog:

So much time, so little blog.

*Although I have completed my Spring semester & have "nothing but" work to worry about, I have given you so little of my free time, and I hope you forgive me--Blog.

(but apparently I've had time to catch up on some movies, JUNO, hence the witty title)

*We are actually in the middle of a record-setting, drug-counting, volume-splitting week in the Pharmacy. I've already donated extra hours of my time to the cause and it's only Thursday.

*Back (back back) to the Spring Semester for a moment. The grades were posted and I actually ended up with a 4.0 semester. *shocked face* (remember though, I only took 2 classes) I didn't realize it was mathematically possible to get an A in Math 1410 until our professor offered up an extra credit assignment.

(the photo is actually a skylight in Patterson Hall<---the English building, I looked up & snapped it with my cell while looking for my Adviser's office last week)

Random list of Current Favorite Songs:
The Verve -- "Sonnet"
Toad the Wet Sprocket -- "Fall Down"
The Weepies -- "Painting by Chagall"
The Pretenders -- "Brass in Pocket"
Death Cab for Cutie -- "Crooked Teeth"
Antsy Pants -- "Tree Hugger"
Rachael Yamagata -- "Letter Read"
The Police -- "Message in a Bottle"

~~J

Lyrical Rundown:

(runnin' down a dream)

Finished:
Math 1410 (successfully)
History 2120 (successfully)
a meeting with my Adviser
season one of The Tudors

(that never would come to me)

Added:
another class to my Fall semester--Fiction Writing

Received:
textbooks for History 3122, English 3210, & Journalism 3130
the opportunity to serve as a Juror in the month of August
Hello, student: revisited, the Juror!

(workin' on a mystery)

To Do:
return to work
turn 30 years old

(goin' where ever it leads)

~~J

(thanks for the lyrics, Tom Petty)

Oh Hey, It's May:

nataliedee.com

A very simple equation:

Memphis in May = lots of rain!

~~J