Scenes from an Italian Restaurant Match Making Internet Dating Site?

 For Emma - Because we only know our true strength when our ability to endure has come to pass. x.x.

                        Author's note: All links are always yellow.
 
Okay..do we even make it past coffee anymore? I'm beginning to wonder. Let's talk about a subject that I've been putting off for some time; Maybe not for any other reason than it seems to me, much like continually repeating the simulation of a car crash. Are there casualties? Most definitely. You may even know some.

Roughly twelve years ago, YAHOO had a fantastic idea, people could meet online, date, get married, and have babies, all through the portal called "IM" (instant messaging). AND you could invite your entire family and friends via web cam to your virtual NUPS, call it good and spend all your wedding dough on a vacation to the Bahamas. NO DOUGH? The virtual trip may be just as good and you'll save even more, cause you don't have to TIP.

YAHOO's initial brilliant idea morphed into INTERNET DATING 

Insert Wavy Flashback here.

Video dating, by that time had become a defunct and quite extinct animal (frankly, I'm not quite sure it ever escaped the BETA phase)....but INTERNET DATING was just getting started and it was FRESH!!!

I probably don't need to name all the sites, and not sure that I could, but I am quite certain that you've seen them both online and on the TV (for those of you who do watch TV, I mean). And they've grown, exponentially since their meager beginnings. 

Hundreds if not thousands of internet dating sites boast that THEY are the ONE who can match YOU  "scientifically" or by using their special "formula," with your spouse, perfect mate, soul mate, best friend, acquaintance, girlfriend, boyfriend, school mate, band mate, bed mate, stand up comic, one night stand, slam dance buddy, tattoo artist...Whew! I'm sure I've forgotten some of them, but none the less...let's get to the fun part.

The first part of the fun is picking the Internet Dating site that will bring you one step closer to your TRUE LOVE. Know that you are going to spend at least a part time jobs worth of time finding the perfect site and possibly have to pony up some cash on a monthly basis to belong to that "exclusive" dating site. 

Fortunately Frugal people are still dating (who actually pays for the date is another blog altogether) and there are several FREE dating sites as well (Yes, we can include Craigs List with that.)  And you gotta wade through a little more crap to distinguish between FRUGAL and CHEAP. I don't think Wal-mart has quite gotten in the game yet, but they have their grubs in everything else, so don't count them out.

Once you've decided on the site or sites (you can become a member of more than one) You can do one of several things: 

• You can take a week or two to construct your own Power Point Presentation of the reasons you deserve that perfect person, who you know (or at least have been assured) is also a member, somewhere in the vast data banks of this Match Making site.
• Forgo actually answering any of those silly formulated questions and simply say " I Rock." and "If you have questions, just ask." Which at first glance to most proves how lazy you really are.
• You can hire a professional writer to write your perfect bio.
• You can pretend you're something you're not and write your life the way you wish it REALLY was, and tell the truth to your TRUE LOVE later, because you're pretty darn sure they'll understand, Hey, they are after all, your TRUE LOVE.

Add a Photo of your beautiful self....ummm preferably NOT the one that you had to Photoshop your former significant other out of - you know the one where you were actually smiling and you can barely see their hand or arm..but let's be honest..no one actually poses the way you look in it, without Photoshop. Maybe you're TRUE LOVE won't mind?

LET THE GAMES BEGIN.....At first, it seems an awful lot like the card game "Go Fish" And you excitedly check your e-mail and mobile for "hits" on your profile...and you find that loads of people are actually like fish....too big, too small, too skinny, unable to land, throw backs and the occasional "keeper" or "match."

If in fact you don't catch a "Keeper" after months of playing the game, "Go Fish" begins to vaguely but curiously resemble another famous card game called "Old Maid." And you wonder, "Was it something I said?.. Something I didn't say?....Something I could have said?...or  "D - All of the Above?" 

Truth is, if you can't keep someones attention in person, online is not gonna help you much, no matter who you are. 

Also, let's not overlook the fact that if you belong to one or more "social networks." You've gotten yourself what resembles a part-time job without pay. If it makes ya feel better, we can call it an "Internship."  :)

Either way, you now have to maintain a certain web presence in order to actively participate in Internet Dating. 

Once you've been actively maintaining your Internet Dating Presence (IDP for compulsive acronym users), you will begin what I'll call the "Interviewing Process."  

During the 'Interviewing Process' you many find many candidates who simply are NOT cut out for the 'position' you are offering.

Once you've weeded through the stalkers, the 40 somethings still living with my parents, the I'm married but I wanna get wit u baby, need a sugar momma/daddy, and closet trannys; you know that you are one step closer to meeting your TRUE LOVE, because you have endurance, sticktuitiveness, and stamina. Let's face it, you are loyal until you hate yourself.

The first date.....

Coffee...because coffee only lasts 20 to 30 minutes, it's less time than lunch and considerably less time and effort than dinner or a movie.

You've made it through the first few days of actual conversation through email, text and phone, with someone who you find quite attractive (or so their online pics would show) and whom you feel has quite a few things in common with you. So you make a coffee date and head for the plaza that has good coffee, is close enough to your house, yet far enough away from it, that if your date is a stalker or some other unmentionable freak, you can make a hasty and well plotted escape and lose them if they attempt to follow.

You arrive, you are waved over to a table by someone whom you have never seen before (not even in pictures...curious). As you get closer, you realize that the pictures of this person, are ones that you have seen, and are in fact representative of a much younger and thinner person than sits before you now.

Introductions ensue and you sit for 20 minutes politely listening to this person tell you all of the miserable things life has dumped upon their shoulders...you make it through, but decide that calling back would obligate you for more than you're willing with this person.

Back at home, your inbox is full of potential candidates once again. So you perform the same ritual...read, throw away, contact, set a date for coffee....drive home frustrated, check the email...read, throw away, contact, set a date for coffee..

A few months later, you decide that you just DON'T have enough time for the frustrations of accelerated (internet) dating and you delete all of your IDP's.

Later that evening, while you're taking out the trash, you run into your single neighbor, who happens to have loads in common with you. You talk for an hour and make a dinner date at your favorite Italian restaurant.


Copyright 2014 - Noelle Sangster/Sangster Entertainment LLC - All rights reserved

Noelle Sangster on Amazon

"GOODWILL" Hunting

   It's the weekend again.... and any Phoenician Bargain Hunter will tell you that the place to be, if you're NOT at Last Chance is Goodwill, as every other weekend is Super Saving Saturdays (50% off everything!) at the Goodwill's of Arizona...Please tag along while we share a weekend shopping adventure. 
   This Goodwill Hunting is about treasure finding and has nothing to do with Matt Damon (darn!), but is loads of fun none the less. 
   As the saying goes "One man's TRASH is another man's TREASURE." or in the case of a woman... another gal's treasure. 
    Treasure, however, does not have to be gender specific, as we will find that TREASURE is TREASURE, no matter who owned it first. 
   I am joined by three other TREASURE  seekers. My good friend Emily and my sons Jason and Joseph. 
   Jason doesn't seem to be seeking as much as he's hiding. Joe on the other hand is a natural born "I want" shopper and he finds some...ah...treasures..(let's keep in mind the earlier slogan about "one man's trash....") 
     
   I can't help but eaves drop on a couple in the housewares...as a man shouts to his wife 
    "Honey!!! Look it's brand new, still in the box!..." His voice tapers into a loud excited whisper "AND it's a Dell!!" 
    I look at the box and think  " Silly man, Adele is a British Pop Star, that's obviously an HP" Apparently I said this out loud, and realized it when Jason, shushed me and tried to pull me in an opposite direction. The gal standing next me giggled and continued her shopping.

    
   We catch up to Emily who has found some fantastic colored glassware. Not just any glassware, a Genie lamp! perhaps we can have a wish or 3?

 I wish that Joe would dress in some really cool "Pimp Daddy Clothes"   

BAM!!!!

and that some tasty grooving music would play.....Oh My Gaw....wish granted... Gotta love Genie lamps. I wish for a leprechaun  
BAM!! BAM!! SHAZAM!!

It turns out, however that he is quite reluctant to tell me where he's hiding his pot o' gold. So, I wish for a leprechaun with less of an attitude, and nothing happens....then I realize I've used my three wishes and I am now fresh out (Pimp Daddy clothes, tasty grooves and a leprechaun = 3).
    You may be wondering 'How much adventure can someone have in a thrift store?'  Well, I have to answer...as much as your imagination will allow; without completely disturbing the other shoppers or being hauled off by the cops for doing something weird and unacceptable.  
      Books, furniture, cds, dvds, housewares, small appliances...Slice -O-Matic, A Darth Vadar mask..the entire SG-1 dvd series...oh what treasures to behold!

and when you're ready to take a break, simply pop in the jeans wardrobe and be carted off to Narnia for a refreshing spot of tea, and nearly your entire teen years....Return ten years later and you arrive looking exactly the same as you did the entire five minutes (from this side of the wardrobe anyway) that your mother was looking for you. 

Cheers!....until the next adventure





Copyright 2014 - Noelle Sangster/Sangster Entertainment LLC - All rights reserved

Noelle Sangster on Amazon

WTH!! TALK about some serious TEXT?

Maestro Please - This Blog May contain offensive language.

   There's a new talk in town. Not just your town. Towns across the globe. New York to Vancouver, Sydney to Wellington, London to Paris and everything in between. 
   The past few years have brought about the emergence of TEXTING. Its a phenom really, isn't it? There are so many different ways to send a message, that no longer require "a bottle;" sorry Sting.
     I must say, I've become accustomed to people not only TEXTing, but speaking in TEXT. Often when I ask my oldest son a question he does not know the answer to, he simply states IDK..which we all should know means I don't know. But let's also not forget the ever popular WTH (what the heck/ what the hell) or WTF (what the f***k) which people tend to not only TEXT but also frequently say aloud. 
   Or in the case of my six year old ...who simply says "WHAT THE"...and while all of the adults stand in awe waiting....thankfully he never finishes. Not because he wouldn't if given the chance, but because I'm quite certain he doesn't know the rest of the phrase. Whew!
      So with all this TEXT floating around, it seems quite natural to TRY to figure out WTH everyone is on about. If you're new to the TEXT scene, it may even sound or read like THIS
     Some of these wonderful acronyms have more than one meaning..like ATM - at the moment, automatic teller machine (we like this one) and the one that I've never really heard anyone use Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ok. I bet Wayne uses that one.)
      What about GAP? We all know it's the store right? No. It also is an acronym for Got a pic? or Gay Ass People (seriously)
      One of my personal favorites has always been FAQ - which stands for Frequently Asked Questions, or phonetically... Fah - Q. (thanks again Wayne)
     OMG is another lovely TEXT or shout word isn't it? meaning Oh my Gosh or Oh My God. I have voluntarily changed this one in my vocabulary realm to Oh My Gaw (No thanks to Wayne, but thanks to Deb)
    Now I have to tell you that I was quite perplexed the other day, when I received an instant message that said 
    "ICK on the snow."  I spent hours trying to figure out the TEXT meaning for I. C. K . I even asked my fourteen year old 
    "What does that mean?" He in turn answered
    " I have no idea. Never heard of it. IDK"
     Then a few days later, while instant messaging a friend about the weather, I told her it was 107 degrees in Phoenix, Arizona and my friend said 
     "ICK 80's here and I'm dying." There it was again.
     I thought 'the best way to just get this over with is to simply ask WTF she means.' So I said
     "What does that mean?" and she answered
     " Its like 83-87 and my tits are sweating. and the ICK is the 107."
      It hit me just then. LOL was completely inappropriate. This was a LMFAO if not a ROFLMAO moment. 
      This is where I like to drive home my point that things are not always as they seem. As it seemed to me that ICK was something that I had never heard of before. When in fact I had heard it before, but not in the context of TEXT, rather in the context of what it actually is and was being used as...an INTERJECTION .
     So in conclusion, or possibly confusion here we are ADIP, hoping that this whole lot isn't FUBAR for you. And that I've provided just enough and not TMI. Most of what's been said here is true and not PDOMA. I really hope you've been able to QYB and have a laugh. Most of what I've told you here is a SEWAG and only the SNERTs will probably figure it out. Now, if you're still having a laugh and not ticked off and JUADLAM, then I have accomplished what I set out to do!

Cheers.... Until next time

Translations

ADIP - Another Day in Paradise
 FUBAR - F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition (or Repair)
 JUADLAM - Jumping Up And Down Like A Monkey
 PDOMA - Pulled Directly Out Of My Ass

QYB - Quit Your Bitching

ROFLMAO - Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Ass Off

SEWAG - Scientifically Engineered Wild Ass Guess

SNERT - Snotty Nosed Egotistical Rotten Teenager

 TMI - Too Much Information

FAQ - Frequently asked questions or F*** You.

Copyright 2014 - Noelle Sangster/Sangster Entertainment LLC - All rights reserved

Drunk Shopping Internet vs. The Mall Day 2

 Drunk mall shopping has some potentially different causes, let's have a look at what those may be. Then we can successfully continue our in depth look at look at the Pros and Cons of drunk shopping via both the Internet and the Mall. Follow me please :>)
NOTE: THERE WAS NO ACTUAL DRUNK DRIVING INVOLVED IN THIS EXPERIMENT. NO ANIMALS WERE TESTED AND NO ONE GOT HURT. ALL STUNTS WERE PERFORMED BY THE ACTUAL CHARACTERS, WHOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THEIR DIGNITY

     Friday night has left you with a slight headache. You were able to avoid a complete hangover, by matching your shots with a glass of water and you still can't believe that it actually worked.
      Breakfast isn't going to be anything heavy, cause your tummy is still a smidge on the queasy side. Coffee, a couple slices of toast and some scrambled eggs. 
       Later, you begin your quest for your hubby's car part. The one that you have absolutely no idea what to call it and a vague idea of what it does. 
       You decide to spend an hour, maybe two looking for this elusive car part. You grab the yellow pages, your cell, and open up your notebook (the computer kind). You dial the first number.
        While you're waiting for the bloke on the other end to answer, your mind keeps drifting to that great leather hand bag that you saw last week in Dillard's at the mall. 
         He answers. You describe the part as a "bushing for the rack and pinion steering." You can almost feel the guy nodding with his "uh huhs" at your brilliant description. This is way easier than you thought it was gonna be. He knows exactly what you're talking about, right? WRONG! He tells you, you're gonna have to bring the part in, so he can see it.
       'Yeah right,' you think. Now even though, you're hubby is somewhat of a self proclaimed, expert back yard mechanic, you know darn well that his friend's car is getting a new alternator installed, before that part he's looking for is ever getting removed from his truck. Your thinking, 'The only way that's coming off before I actually find this part, Buddy is if it FALLS off.' That call goes in your phoned column marked, doesn't have.
        The next two guys are as knowledgeable as the first, and you know that you're gonna have to break down and just show up at the parts store, looking for someone who looks like they have a clue, or you're gonna be in hot water with the hubby, because you acted like it was no big deal to do this one thing for him...you're mind wanders to the little bar next to parts store that you saw a Margarita Happy Hour sign in on your way to the mall last weekend. 
       The last guy on the phone made it sound as though you wanted spare parts for your rocket ship. He said you were looking for a "Steering Vibration Dampener." What The...?
       You gather your list of things that you need while you're out, and quickly jot down a few more things that you had forgotten to add, like Cranberry and Orange juice for the frozen drinks you and your girlfriend will be sipping on after your mall excursion. You've already rang her and she's meeting you in thirty minutes, at the bar next to the parts store.
         
         At the parts store, you figure out rather quickly that the newest, youngest kid has more knowledge than the manager and his two assistants put together. You describe the part, he hands it to you, charges you eight bucks plus tax and you leave with your Steering Coupling Disc and it's receipt in your purse, and cross the parking lot to the Happy Hour bar, where your dear friend is waiting with Margaritas!
         One...no two... quite Happy Hours later, you and your friend decide you absolutely have to go to Dillard's to find that handbag. It would be a criminal offence, if you didn't. 
         Fortunately, the parts store, and the bar are on the outskirts of the Mall property, so you make a great decision to walk to the mall.
         As the two of you enter through the main entrance, you make a mental note of a Ruby Tuesdays location, in case you get thirsty later.
         You are in Dillards, and there it is! That fabulous bag and the exact color you saw here last week. You can't believe that there's even one left. You were certain that everyone through the door, would have snagged up that gorgeous bag.   

      You check the price tag; $225.00! Yikes! AND you rationalize it's marked down from $325.00. You gotta have it, it goes with......with...it goes with something. And even if it doesn't, HEY, you're at the Mall with a credit card, your best friend and a decent buzz. It's all good.
         Feeling very satisfied with your purchase, the two of you make your way to Robinson's May to look for dress boots. It's at the other end of the mall.
          A few stores down, the thirst begins. It is temporarily diffused as you see this 

  and decide that maybe you just need to sit for a few minutes and rest. So the two of you hunker down in this this little trove, take in the scenery and talk about more life stuff. 
       The conversation turns back to clothes, boots, bags and shopping, so you both get up and head to the Buckle store, just in case you missed anything online last night.  
        You escape Buckle for just under four hundred bucks and auspiciously decide that you'll find out what you picked when you get home and check the bag, cause you just can't remember right now. 
         The thirst is back, yours and hers. Ruby Tuesdays is the next door over. It's time for appetizers and hard to pronounce beers. 
         You order the one that the waiter tells you is "Not from here, beer, made by celibate Monks, that are not from here." 
         About an hour and a six pack (between the two of you) later you head back out into the mall towards Robinson's May, but are detoured by a quaint accessories store that has sunglasses, jewelry, handbags and 

masquerade ball masks (quinceanera - pronounced - kin-sin y' aira) and even belly dancer outfits. Uh oh.

          You don't need a belly dancer outfit, because miraculously, you already have one or two (you're not quite sure). But you certainly could always use more shades; and the the deal here today is ' buy one, get one half off.' Almost your favorite deal.
           You and your girlfriend each get six pairs. Then you spot them and have to have them. The bracelets 

that are so darn close to the ones that Linda Carter wore as Wonder Woman; one of the most awesome Super Heroes of all time! All you need to complete your outfit now is the 'lasso of truth.' Even as buzzed as you are after the Monk beer, you keep that to yourself. You're out the door for about one fifty. You are the Master Shopper!!
         Your friend and you are both smiling and the perfect shopping theme music begins. Not sure if it's in your head or actually in the mall, but who cares, you're having too much fun. 
         You make your way through the mall and you both decide that The Cheesecake Factory 

will be the stop after Robinson's May.
         Robinson's May has hats, scarfs and hand bags on sale and a really cool pair of boots that are a Chippewa motorcycle boot, knock off.  

Marked down from 40% make that 60% off. You sure have scored at the mall today!
         Now it's off to the Cheesecake Factory for 

 Taquitos and Skinny Mojitos. Too bad the mall doesn't rent golf carts to take you and your lute back to the car. You could use one, just now. 


          A few more drinks at the Cheesecake Factory and you and your friend, verbally agree that it would be best to have someone who's not either of you, drive you home. 
          You call a cab, and wake up Sunday morning with your clothes and makeup still on, surrounded by your purchases and a thumping noggin.

Pros - Drunk Mall Shopping

• You're not driving, so you won't kill yourself or anyone else (however maiming and injuring yourself cannot be completely left out of the equation).
• You get to actually try on your purchases.
• You have some one who's willing to go with you.
• You have the instant gratification of taking your stuff home that day.

Cons - Drunk Mall Shopping

• There is potential to actually maim or injure yourself or someone else, even walking.
• Your companion may decline your next invitation to the mall.
• You spent too much money.
• The credit card bill arrived in the mail, just after you left for the mall and your hubby saw it.

• The Skinny Mojitos did not off set the calories in the cheesecake that you ate.

Thanks for reading.Cheers! Until the next adventure...

       

Drunk Shopping - Internet vs. The Mall Day 1

      First, let's have a look at what may be the causes of drunk shopping. Then we will take a further and more in depth look at the Pros and Cons of drunk shopping via both the Internet and the Mall. Follow me please :>)
NOTE: THERE WAS NO ACTUAL DRUNK DRIVING INVOLVED IN THIS EXPERIMENT. NO ANIMALS WERE TESTED AND NO ONE GOT HURT. ALL STUNTS WERE PERFORMED BY THE ACTUAL CHARACTERS, WHOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THEIR DIGNITY

Day 1: The Internet

    As the summer in Phoenix heats up, and more and more people that are here for the winter months (snowbirds) return to their respective homes and climates else where....many of us will be sitting poolside with Mojitos and Margaritas, enjoying the heat and refreshing cool... uh warm...okay, even the pool water gets hot here after 10 a.m. in the summer.

    Statistically, not everyone does the pool thing, some people go to work early in the morning, sit in rush hour traffic and wish the morning snack girl that pops in the office around ten, had tequila shots on her cart instead of cookies and bagels. 

    I think there's some sort of law against portable liquor distribution in that sense, not to mention, employers probably don't want you drinking on the job...unless you're a "tequila taste tester" for Jose Cuervo. (Hey, it could happen.)

     If you have a typical office job; after lunch, you make your way back to your desk, sleepy and lethargic from the toxins of your so not healthy burger, fries, and chocolate milk shake lunch, and 'accidentally' doze for ten or twenty minutes, before the boss comes around asking for the report he gave you to do two days ago. You know you have it somewhere and quickly make up an excuse to bring it to his office by the end of the day. Thankfully, you know he'll forget about it, while he's thinking of 'beer thirty,' football and chicken wings at the local pub. 

    In your mind, you're picturing it lying on the kitchen counter next to the blow dryer, that you used to dry the document, while hoping the type wouldn't smear after your hubby spilled his orange juice on your file. 

    It's Friday, and you know, at this point, the boss is not getting his hands on that report anytime before Monday morning. You're thinking, you may even have to re-type it. 

    You're mind wanders to the Bloody Mary mix sitting in the fridge next to that jar of dill pickles fresh celery, and Absolut vodka that you bought the night before. 

     It's getting close to quitting time. Okay, quitting time isn't for another hour. But in anticipation of that, you send your phone line to voice mail, clear your desk and hop on Facebook for the last hour of your shift, briefly stopping to check the online balance of your checking account, because you have a pretty good idea what you'll be doing after the party.

    You drive home in rush hour traffic wishing that your car was equipped with a fridge and those cute little mini bar mini bottles, because a Captain Morgan's and Coke would go down just right, as your watching the Mercedes in the next lane cut off  a young driver in a Cavalier, to end up an extra car length ahead on the 101 Free Parking lot. 

     The thermometer and the tensions are climbing and you're starting to feel like you're in a Snickers candy bar commercial, as the narrator says " gonna be a while." 

      And since you know that you are going to be a while, you light up a cigarette and channel surf on the radio, passing by all the stations with commercials, looking for something resembling some kind of music.

      Finally, the traffic starts moving again. And from the point where you are now, you know that it will only take you another forty five minutes to get home.

       You pull in the driveway of your Phoenix suburbia home near six thirty and wonder the same thing you always do 'Why it takes an hour and a half to get home from your job that is twenty minutes away.' 
       Now the food alarm in your tummy is going off and you know you better get something to eat before the Frequent Friday Nighters start showing up.
      
      Fast forward the night and your guests have left,you're snacking on things that you think may absorb some of the alcohol that is now making your vision a slight bit blurry.
       After you've made a complete mess of the kitchen and found your handbag and credit card, you make your way to the computer.
       You are a sharp shooter when it comes to the art of shopping. The bumper sticker "Born to Shop" was coined after you. You know a good deal, find it, and conquer it.
       Earlier, you made a list of things you really needed; just after you checked your bank account balance.
        You are supposed to find a part for your hubby's car, but neither of you know what it's called. You realize you won't have any shopping fun if you try looking for that part tonight, so you move it to the 'look for tomorrow' list.
         First order of business is find some 'shoppable' music on You Tube.     
      Onward and upward, first stop is American Eagle Outfitters. 

The sale is 'Buy one, get one 50% off ' fifteen minutes, six blouses, two jeans and a pair of shoes later, you're off to the next store.
         Next stop, the new arrivals at Old Navy, and OhMyGaw, you can't believe the deals on sundresses. You take four, and you're out the door.
          You visit Buckle, 

Dillards, Robinsons May and Macys. 


You even grabbed a few things at Amazon.com 

and found a replacement pair of your most favorite shoes on Ebay. Oh the boxes that will be at your door this week!
          You shuffle off to bed, because now you are truly worn out. Note to Self: If you shop til you drop from home on the Internet.... at least the bedroom is close by.

           Pros - Drunk Internet Shopping

• You're not driving, so you won't kill, maim, or slightly injure yourself or anyone else.
• There are some SMOKING deals, that you're pretty darn sure you just can't get anywhere else.
• You saved money in gasoline (petrol) by not driving.
• You helped NOT add anymore pollution to the world by NOT driving.
• They always have your size.
• All your new stuff will be conveniently delivered right to your door.
• You can return anything that doesn't fit, and get your money back.
• You had a great time!

          Cons - Drunk Internet Shopping

• You'll find out later that The SMOKING deals you got are the same ones at the local mall.
• You spent too much money (even with the gasoline (petrol) savings)
• You don't get to try on anything to see if it fits
•  The postal carrier is slowly figuring out that someone has an uncontrollable Friday night shopping disorder.
• You generally never return anything that doesn't fit. It simply sits in the closet until you're tired of looking it and it eventually gets shuffled off as a thrift store donation.
• The reality of how much money you blew hits home when you wake up to your credit card next to the laptop. 

To Be Continued......

and this year's "Distraction Award" goes to.......

I've been tending to a load of distractions in my life lately. So once again, I thank you all for your continued patience...

For those who already know ( and those who don't ), I recently moved home to Phoenix, AZ. 

Okay, so it's not where I was "born" but it is the place I've called home for a very long time. 

Besides I always knew the place I was meant to be had more Sunshine than Prozac. 

Some of the distractions have been nice, while others a bit more challenging. 

On the challenging side of things :

We have been spending a lot of time working on videos that will appear both on You Tube and the NoelleSangster.com home page

The challenge in that is, ME learning film editing. My hat's off to my former band mates and friends Dax & Josh, and anyone in that profession for having the patience to deal with that task on a daily basis! I have a new admiration for the people in the "film credits" at the end of the film.

My dear friend, Natashia has been a wonderful support, as she always is. And even though the "audio" isn't so challenging for me, because of my training in that field; she makes it easier to deal with. :>)

 On the nice side of things:

I get to spend time with my sons & my friend, Emily, who I have missed terribly since I been away. 

The Sunshine is better here than in any other state!!! I know it definitely causes "Lizard on a Rock Syndrome." ( For anyone into acronyms, that's "LRS" ) For those, who have never heard that term.... It's basically, you came from a state that had lack of sunshine and now you can't seem to drag yourself away from the pool, even when it's 102. Yeah, I still have that :>)

I have met some lovely, interesting & inspirational people since I've been back, who know how to laugh and have fun. Thank you :>)

Well, and then there's the "Marlboro Man." Some days, I KNOW why I put up with him. 'Cause, he's always been a part of my life...kinda like Mark, George & Wayne :>) 

More adventures here soon....once we get out of the 'Editing Cave'

              And this year's Distraction Award

                                 goes to.... 

                                     THE COWBOY
                          (Click the link for Music...go ahead...it's Kid Rock)


 As always stay tuned here for the fun Adventures of the Writing Junkie. Cheers!! Until the next adventure...

Over Hair, Over There

Another super fun Thursday Adventure with my dear friend Emily Wrenn (they always are).

    Our adventure today begins with a mid afternoon appointment to get her hair done.
It's time to turn those gorgeous locks back to bombshell blonde. Hey I promised I wouldn't show pictures. I didn't say I wouldn't blog about it, Love :>)

      Our destination is the upscale Arcadia District of Phoenix (44th Street). Specifically a salon called Leidan Mitchell Salon & Spa. 
The appointment is with Ashley and we are a slight bit late (about ten minutes).
       East Mesa to the Arcadia District via the 202 is about twenty minutes. Emily is driving, so that means the co-pilot (me) has to text, that we are on our way. she texts back immediately
 "No worries." 
       Phew!  You never wanna burn into someone else's appointment time. It's bad karma. I still remember, years earlier, the couple behind us at the Wedding Chapel of Mesa, being pretty ticked off that my wedding ceremony was burning into their appointment time.....Hair, nail, wax and massage appointments, generally speaking, are no different.
      We roll into the parking lot and within minutes are nearly crushed by some idiot, I mean "careless driver," in an SUV who is not paying attention while they are backing up. Emily hurries past and I escape the near death of having a tow package rammed through my throat and glass shards driven into my eye lids. Thank you Emily. I'm thinking that probably would have hurt.
We find a parking spot directly in front of the salon and go in. I absolutely love the doors on this place.  

In my other life, I was a Real Estate Entrepreneur. And my serious love, Architecture, still gets a yearly Valentine's Day card from yours truly.
       

Ashley greets us, as soon as we open the doors and she whisks Emily over to her station. 
       During the "hair" process we find out that a tasty place to have a late lunch is a Modern style restaurant called called the The Vig (40th Street and Indian School). We also discuss other fun places to visit like My Sister's Closet (an upscale resale shop) and Last Chance close outs at Town & Country (20th Street & Camelback).
       The hair is done and Ashley bids us a good day. We head for The Vig on the South East corner of 40th Street and Indian School road.
        We are first time visitors to this restaurant. The door is a bit of an odd thing; first placement - it's at the very end of the building. Second, it doesn't appear to have a door handle or even resemble what you would think a door might actually look like. But we're hungry, so we figure it out pretty fast. FYI -It's on the southwest corner of the building.   
          It's 4 p.m., which is happy hour, and appetizers are part of the happy hour special. We ask to be seated on the patio. It is a spectacularly sunny day in Phoenix and sitting inside would just be a waste of it.

         The ambiance at the Vig is Jazz Fusion 
and as such incorporates the same type of music. Not too loud and quite tasteful. The decor inside is 

Modern Dungeon. Not sure if that's an actual style, but it's what I'm calling this one.
        We order coffee for me, ice tea for Emily and also get the flat bread pizza with Tandori Chicken.. "Hello taste buds." This is a tantalizing and gratifying taste, that mixes pear cardamon and cashew chutney. It lends itself to a unique type of southwest sweet n sour. 
         We also order the 16th Street Tacos. The Vig apparently changes the taco recipe daily.Today they were served open face on a corn tortilla, with chunks of carne (beef), with pico de geyo and guacamole under a mild and tasty salsa verde. Completely delicious!
          By the time we finish our appetizers and beverages, it's rush hour in Phoenix. Rather than sit in the I-10 parking lot with loads of other Phoenicians, Mesanites, and Tempe Dwellers, we decide to kill some time at a favorite of mine, Last Chance - the close out store for Nordstorm,in the Camelback Corridor, 20th street and Camelback. This is Emily's first time to Last Chance and all I can say is
       "Be glad it's not a Saturday." I have been there on a Saturday, once, and I vowed never to return on a Saturday again. It was like Raw or WWF Smack Down. A Free Saturday spectator sport, the likes of which you've not seen, except for maybe when the gloves are off at a hockey game.
        Rows and rows of shoes, bins of handbags, dresses, blouses, dress slacks, jeans, winter coats, suits, and a line to the fitting room beyond imagination. 

 

       The deal with Last Chance is 'you buy it, it's yours.' Discounts like you can't imagine on items that some people wouldn't even want to buy retail directly from Nordstrom's.  Example: We saw the ugliest handbag discounted to six hundred bucks from twenty five hundred. Then again, there were some pretty  awesome deals on shoes. I bought two summer tops for $11 out the door and I think Emily got out for about the same.
       Last Chance is a great place to buy dresses, suits, and nice dress shoes. I bought a Halston dress there once for $20. 
       If you don't know how to shop, don't go here. You could get run over. Don't go if you are less than an intermediate shopper on a Saturday or you could spend the rest of your afternoon in the E.R. (just kidding).
       
      If you've been to Leidan Mitchell Salon & Spa, I'm just betting you looked fabulous when you left! If you haven't been, you should go and have fun getting yourself looking more fabulous..Make an appointment and bring some friends. Ask for Ashley and tell her Emily and Noelle sent you.
     Leave time in your schedule for The Vig, because it's awesome! I'd stop again just for the fab coffee and great service!
     All jokes aside, Last Chance is some really great shopping, and if I remember correctly, My Sister's Closet is in the plaza across the street. "On your mark, get set.....SHOP!" and have fun.
    After the rush hour traffic died down and the sun was going down on our beautiful city, 

 we headed back to Mesa and made one last stop to visit Emily's brother at his work and this lovely chap walked in. 

 It made me miss the Country Kitchen and Thursdays "Kid's Night." The one night of the week where I got to dress up and be silly.  

                                     

Cheers! Until the next Adventure.....