Cell Hell

Cell phones. A mixed blessing in my eyes. I never really want to feel like I'm tied down to one, but I will be the first to admit that I always feel like something's missing if I forget my phone at home for the day. I just feel safer with one, IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

However, my track record with cell phones is somewhat checkered. While I've never actually LOST my phone (for longer than 48 hours at a time), I have had issues maintaining them. I have a slight problem of dropping my cell phones. No matter where I am I average about two drops a day. Often one occurs first thing in the morning when I reach over to turn off the alarm. And can I get some empathy here? I think we've all had the moment where we get out of our cars and send our cell phones FLYING because we've forgotten we put them in our laps. This exact scenario happens 2-3 times a week for me...

Some of my phones, like the most recent blackberry (affectionately called blackbaby) was SUPER RESILIENT to my every drop. That is, until, it reverted back to the date of December 29, 2009, and refused to live in the present. It would delete all my voicemails, texts, and numbers that were entered after said date. I'm sure there's some underlying significance to why my little red phone decided to permanently make residence in the week after Christmas, but I've resolved to be happy with the fact that December 29 is my parents' wedding anniversary, and that's reason enough.

I thought it might be nice to provide a small pictorial representation of my various cellular devices. We'll start with my humble beginnings, and move to the phone I JUST purchased yesterday because I can't stand to live in the past anymore!

Ok. I never really had "the brick" phone. But my dad did!! So that counts for something. And still, it's amazing that people actually carried these things around.

My beloved first Nokia. Best. Phone. Ever. In fact, if only I still had this baby I'd put my SIM card in and i'd be off to the races!

This little flipper signifies round 1 of many cell phones purchase in a matching set with my mom and sister's. Yes. We all three had the same cell in the same color. It was awesome.

The Pantech. First of many of my "go-phones." This one had the most AMAZING ring tones. Unfortunately, it had horrible service and connection, and the buttons were nearly impossible to push. But don't worry, I still battled using it for a good year and a half.

If I had one word of wisdom to impart in this post, it would be to NEVER BUY THIS NOKIA PHONE!! Worst phone in the world. I'm serious. It's almost like the creators sat down, discussed how they could make this the LEAST user friendly, and then went for it. Not to toot my own horn here, but I'm pretty technologically savvy, and this phone was a loser.

The red phone. This little guy has been with me through thick and thin. And it's been a good in-betweener from all the times I've needed to order new phones and had to have one to use in the meantime. In fact, it the phone in current use as I type this post. Round 2 of matching family phones. Mine - Red. Mom's - Gold. Abbey's - Black. This one has some great features which have allowed friends to record some truly amazing ringtones. I have blackmail whenever I need it for the following people.

- Madeline Jacks

- Anna Lewis

- Abigail Davis

- Spencer Sheets

The 9.99 in-btetweener phone.

The blackbaby who loves to live in the past...

And FINALLY, the NEW phone, which I will receive TOMORROW!! Don't be fooled. I still want an iphone.

Don't be fooled. I still want an iphone.

*Hair Update*

Thoughtsies? Whimsical perhaps? Romantic? Good or bad?

NOW IS THE TIME FOR INPUT PEOPLE!!

Thank you Aunt Beeuh for wisely pointing out that I have not labeled that fact that these latest pictures are actually MY head. :)

how to wear my hair...

T minus 38 days until my wedding. Things are starting to get serious around here. I knew the procrastination period would eventually have to end. We're getting close to the home-stretch, the final lap, I can almost hear the fans cheering as approach the proverbial destination!! What am I saying...we still have 38 days. Soooooooo much time.

BUT...there is a pressing issue that has come to pass. My hair, and how it should present itself on the wedding day. The DIY hairstyle was not even an option. If you know me at all you would know that any creativity and skill that I might possess in any area of my life, does most certainly NOT translate to being stylish and nifty with my hair. I basically go for three looks.

1) The "straight blow-dry look."

2) The "pony-tail."

and

3) The "I went to bed with my hair wet and it looks like this" look.

Hence, I will be going to an actual stylist to have my hairs done for the wedding. Someone who has actually gone to school for this sort of thing. Someone who has skillzzz.

I have my trial run TODAY in 3 hours, and I'm not sure what I want. I DO know that I want something relatively simple and loose. Because of my affinity for a complete lack of hair-style, I wouldn't want to have some lavish up-do on my wedding that doesn't even look like me. No-sir. I have concerns, however, based off of two, less than ideal prom up-do's. Whatever. I have a sense that Nicole [the lucky stylist who gets to style my locks] will have just the sort of eye and creativity that I need to make my hair AWESOME for my wedding.

P.S. I need to think of something GREAT to do tonight because I'm going to have super pretty hair to show off (assuming all goes well!)

Viva la!!!

Right now, Santa Barbara is in recovery mode. The beginning of this week marked the end of what is always an EPIC celebration in the city of SB. The celebration is called Fiesta. It's a big deal. This is my first summer away from Fiesta in a few years, and to be perfectly honest, I've had a bit of a withdrawal.

While it's pretty clear that almost NO-ONE in Santa Barbara knows why the heck we celebrate Fiesta, with some quick internet research, I myself have just discovered the origins [which I will of course share]. Taking the liberty to summarize, Fiesta is meant to be a celebration of the city's heritage from Spanish founders from the Spanish, Mexican, and North American pioneers who first settled in SB and built the city. Basically, this translates into a week-long party throughout the whole city.

State street shuts down for a HUGE parade that is filled with bizarre and random floats (although the Summer Solstice celebration takes the cake for the craziest parade). The Fiesta parade usually has bunches of people in traditional Mexican costumes, and lots of men riding horses. It's safe to say that one of the horses usually freaks out, and there are often incidents involving spectator injury. No big deal. It's all very entertaining to watch while you're eating street taco's from one of the many vendors.

Did I mention that the entire city of SB is also covered in a layer of confetti during this week as well? There are TONS of people selling confetti filled eggs on the streets. The purpose of these eggs is simply to purchase them, and ultimately smash them onto the heads of your friends and/or complete strangers--henceforth showering them in a blanket of multicolored tiny pieces of paper. From about August-February you'll continue to find confetti in the strangest of places throughout your house and the city. We're talking THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of these eggs. I'm sure the production of these little gems starts the week after Fiesta and goes through the whole year to prepare aggressive and over-zealous egg smashers. To note: any future Fiesta attendee's must be willing to eat some confetti with their traditional Mexican food.

For Fiesta entertainment you can enjoy several carnival-like rides, watch the cutest little Mexican Hat dancers you've ever seen in your life (little girls who are 3 and 4 years old), go to various performances at the Court House, listen to the mariachi bands that are meandering on State Street, and if you're lucky...search and take a picture with the SPIRIT of FIESTA!

It's truly a great week in Santa Barbara. However, it comes with the drawbacks of epically high cover prices to all restaurants and bars, NO available parking, clothing staining confetti, and crazy out-of-towners. I'm sure there's a sigh of relief in SB to have completed another successful Fiesta. I'll make it back one of these years. Maybe I'll apply to be the Spirit of Fiesta 2011. I'm pretty sure that one of the pre-requisites is to be fully Mexican, but maybe I can somehow get around that rule....