Cliff Pant-one

Am I Cute of Crazy?

A while ago on Tough Love, Steve had the girls participate in a game called CUTE OR CRAZY?  In this game, a random quirk or idiosyncrasy about each girl was announced to all male audience.  Then the guys would determine whether their quirk was "cute" or "crazy."  For example: one of the girls had unicorn tapestries all over her apartment.  Another woman always wore an engagement ring that she'd proposed to herself with.  It was all very chauvinistic, but that's besides the point.

All of this got me thinking, because I do do some pretty weird things.  I mean, I don't propose to myself or anything, but I do have my fair share of eccentricities.  Like, I think it's hilarious to buy tacky needle-points and porcelain figurines at thrift store and then decorate my house with them.  I mean, it's pretty much a joke, but some people don't "get it."  I mean, when I have a guest over for the first time, will they understand that my wooden plaque with mother/daughter unicorns drinking serenely from a babbling brook is just for kicks?  Will they get the ironic, it's hip to be square kind of thing?

Another thing that causes me even more concern is my snowglobe collection.  I've been collecting them since I was in high school, and I'm completely obsessed with them.  Since it's been almost 10 years since I began assembling my assortment, the number of domes I've gathered has really grown.  I mean, I buy snowglobes when I go out of town AND people buy them for me.  I have A LOT.  And they're proudly displayed in my room, right next to my bed.  In other words, they're not a joke like the needle-points.

I always loved my snowglobes.  I'd dust them often and wrap them individually whenever I moved.  But one day, I had a new visitor.  This visitor looked at my beloved collection and said, "ARE THOSE SNOWGLOBES?!"  I said, "YES."  I mean, what did he think they were?  Big earrings?  Then he started laughing really hard.  I was just thinking he was drunk or something, but later he told me that it reminded him of Christine Taylor's character in Dodge Ball and how she had a massive collection of unicorns in her house.  And how in the movie when a guy who was interested in her came over, he was all freaked out by her unis. 

So ever since then, I've been self-conscious of my snowglobe collection.  For a size reference: it takes up about two shelves on my bookshelf.  I didn't even buy any snowglobes when I went to Europe this year, because this has really been weighing on my mind.  It was kind of sad, but maybe it's just something I need to grow out of. I kind of think I should just be true to myself and keep on with the snowglobes.  I mean, how are snowglobes any different from magnet collections or cookie jar collections? Maybe this guy was simply intimidated?  But who knows, maybe it IS CRAZY and not cute? 

Whatever, I'm keeping them.

(PS That is an actual picture of part of my collection)

Cliff's Favorite Reality TV Bromances

Oh me.  Oh my.  You know I love some reality TV.  You can't really blame me; it's enthralling stuff!  I've noticed a trend on some of these shows.  Sometimes when people join the cast of a reality show, they form stronger relationships than they'd ever bargained for.  Friendships that will last a lifetime, if you will.  Some of the most touching bonds that have been formed have been between men, and I'm not talking gay men.  I'm talking bromances.  I just love it when two men can lean on one another and shed a tear.  I love it when they can talk about emotions and wipe bits of salsa off their bro's cheek.  And I especially love it when the producers of such shows create video montages of the two bros set to the backdrop of cheesy love songs, as if they were really romantically in love.

So this has led me to some thinking, which in turn resulted in Cliff Pant-one's Favorite Bromances of Reality TV (in no particular order) list!  Hold onto your socks, cuz I'm about to knock 'em off:

Ryan and Chet (Real World: Brooklyn)

 

These two had a connection that was undeniable.  From the moment they entered the house, it was them against the world.

Nick and Aaron Carter (House of Carters)

 

Just because they're brothers doesn't mean they can't be bromantical.  Nick's tough love helped strengthen Aaron's grasp on the ropes of life, and in the process, created a bromance that could make the toughest meat-head weep.

Luke and Alex(Bromance)

 

They were competing for a Bromance with Brody Jenner, but they found something they could never have dreamed of: each other.

Tim Gunn and Andrae Gonzalo (Project Runway, Season 2)

 

This was a classic case of teacher falls for student (and vice versa).  So adorable!  -(and yes they are gay, but not romantically involved, so I conside it a bromance)- Somebody also made a hysterical video about this one.  Check it below!

There is something to say for these bromances: they are real.  That is why it's called REALITY TV.  Beavis and Butthead, Rickey and Fred, Jerry and George- they got nothing on these guys. 

Spotted: Not So Uplifting Greeting Cards at Hallmark

 

The photo above was taken at the Hallmark store in Crabtree Mall. 

Can you imagine a more depressing group of cards all lumped together?   "Miscarriage," "Divorce," and "Recovery Support" are sad enough.  Then they go and add "Menopause" and "Weight Loss Encouragement!" Well, those two are actually kind of funny to me.  I'm sure that going through menopause is probably sucky and depressing, and I KNOW that giving up cakes, pies and pizzas for the sake of a smaller pant size can makes life seem lackluster and meaningless.  BUT I don't think I'd want a greeting card reminding me of all that.  In fact, I really don't think I'd want a card for a divorce either.  Or a miscarriage!  It's just funny to me that they have cards for all this stuff, and strangely, it looks like most of them have been bought up.  Maybe people purchased them as jokes? Like a bunch of college kids sending out the recovery ones.  Or maybe some girls who drunk eat a lot send out the weight loss encouragement?  I don't know.  Do you buy cards of the "unique needs" nature?  Send me one!

XOXO~ Cliff Pant-one

RIP Meredith Laptop, We Pour Out Some Liquor for You.

Well, it's a sad day for me.  My Meredith College laptop finally died.  The computer man says there is no hope!  Since the beginning of junior  year, I've had that thing.  I played on it for hours a day.  Everybody told me to get a new one after graduation, but I held fast to the MC Thinkpad.  I liked it.  I didn't want a new one.  Everybody always complained about their MC laptops, but I loved mine.  It was always working.  It never let me down.  I looked past the corny Meredith plaque, and toted it with me to far away locations.  It has seen Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, and...well mostly Myrtle Beach.  I figured its days were numbered, but I was hoping to hang on to the poor ole guy til Christmas.  I will likely be replacing it very soon, but whatever I acquire will never be held as dear as my 2nd MC Thinkpad.  Call me old fashioned, but I loved my PC!

I made a commemorative drawing in "paint."   

A little emo: Travis Barker and Blink 182

I'm sure most people have heard that Travis Barker was in a plane crash and is now in critical condition at a hospital burn unit in GA.  It just reminded me how about how great the Blink182 trio was.  It makes me so sad that they broke up.  No matter what anybody thinks of Blink, I think they're hilarious, and I'm sad that they aren't all together anymore.  They reminded me of me and my friends (not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...).  Either way, their Urethra Chronicles DVD always puts a smile on my face. 

Here is the ending to one of those DVDs.  Maybe Travis's injuries will bring Tom and them closer.  Either way, I hope and pray that Travis, DJ AM and all the families of the victims are doing as well as possible in the given situation.

Misty Water Colored Memories: 606 Dixie

Thinking about Dixie Trail got me feeling all nostalgic.  Soooo many good times there.  Soooo many crazy characters around there. I am having a sensation urging me to provide a bulleted-type list:

Miss Isea, Thurlin, and Scotty Diamond (who lived in the basement):   
*The smell of [what I presume to be] crack wafting through the air vents.
*Sitting by the air vents listening to the screaming, breaking dishes, and MOANING that would also slip through the vents.
*Thurlin hitting golf balls in the backyard. 
*Scotty's friend, Jay, who sold knit shoes.  One time I didn't recognize him when he came to the door, and I told him that I couldn't talk because I was "bathing my sister."  His girlfriend would come by looking for him after he moved out.  She was pissed about something!
*Giving Jay and Scotty a ride to the store to buy alcohol.
*Cops looking for Scotty.
*The weekend visitor in the PT Cruiser.
*Receiving Xmas cards from Thurlin after he moved to FL (and Applebees gift cards).
*Thurlin helping me move the kitchen table into the house.
*Jumping on the floor and screaming at the top of my lungs to piss them off.      

Stan
*Chatting about poetry at night.  Reading his poetry book- Stealing Teacups From the Sea.
*Listening to the engine of his car at all hours.
*Going to his house with Amy at like 3am, because we were locked out.  He was very kind to help us!  Then I made him a poundcake to express my gratitude.
*Hearing about his Yogarate and war stories.
*Seeing him at Cup-A-Joe everyday.

Laura and Bob (who lived in the basement after Miss Isea's crew)
*Their cat who wore diapers and a leash and had a frequent urination problem.
*When I found Bob's underwear (tighty whitey briefs) mixed in with mine (complete with SKIDMARKS).
*When me and Katie walked by and saw Laura in her underwear, and she ran over and shut the blinds.

*The lady across the street who got mad whenever we parked near her house.
*The lady who taught piano lessons and hung her shirts on her porch.
*Mickey and Laura- the nicest people ever! 
*The hot military dad with a bitter wife.
*Crazy lady who said her husband was chasing her.
*All the crew from the Spanish Trace.
*Lady who came to talk to us and wouldn't leave and told us about the "shaft" on the wind chime.

So many others.  I will stop, because this has no relevance to most of you.  But to those of you who know what I'm talking about, I hope it brings some good memories! And feel free to comment with people who I forgot.  I know Meg has a better memory than I do!  : )