Now, I know I mentioned I was going on a date last night but what I didn’t explain was how we met. As abnormally cheezy and cliché as it may sound, it was through blogging. Actually, it was through the blogosphere, then twitter and finally facebook.

I won’t mention him by name. I won’t tell you which blog he has.

I think that’s my way of keeping the personal life as private as possible, considering I’m quick to talk about any and everything.

For that matter, we had a brief discussion about it because the both of us are pretty damn honest in our blog posts and tend to write about what’s going on in our real lives. If something goes on that I would normally write about, then I will continue to do so.

What I’ll refrain from doing, however, is discussing something important to you all in Blogland before I’ve given him the respect to tell him to his face.

Otherwise? There will be no holds barred.

There are a few folks in Blog-land who have recently gone through some tumultuous times with people who read their posts and somehow their blogs veered into this odd “no-man’s land.”

It’s gotten me to sort of ponder the whole idea of venting in a blog prior to talking it out with whomever the situation involved.

Granted, some situations were different. It’s a bit difficult to typecast any of the specific events as everyone has had such varying circumstances to deal with.

I think what I’m trying to get at is this: I’ll blog what I want to blog and when I want to blog it. But I don’t exactly agree with venting to the blogosphere if I can’t grow the balls to tell someone I’m having an issue with first.

I mean, a LOT of my friends read my blog and you won’t see me dissing them, or explaining how much something has upset me without talking to them first.

It just seems so childish? Because… if I know they’re reading this and I blog about it anyway without having given them the respect to talk about it first, am I not inviting drama?

On the other hand, this is my piece of the internets and I will use it as I see fit.

…I obviously enjoy contradicting myself. Sort’ve.

I’d almost forgotten how much I love Blacksburg, Virginia. My roadtrip with Maxie was both enlightening and disheartening. We had good times, despite her reluctance to admit it (being that she is a West Virginia Mountaineer and all). If you weren’t aware, Mountaineers and Hokies mix like oil and water. For salad dressings, it works. Other wise? Not so much.

Either way, we both choose to ignore these aspects of each other’s lives. School rivalries aside, we’re both quite fantabulous (but Hokies are definitely still better).

Going back this weekend turned out to be a great idea for several reasons, the weather being at the forefront. I can’t even begin to explain how breath-taking the region is during this time of the year. Thankfully, I took pictures.

Tons and tons of pictures.

See?

Taken on the way to my friend’s house.

Taken from the aforementioned friend’s deck.

This is the hotel at Mountain Lake used in Dirty Dancing. It’s about 20 minutes away from campus.

The view leaving Mountain Lake.

We took the scenic way out of Blacksburg, back towards Roanoke.

Random bridge.

While these types of things will never change, the original face of Blacksburg is being surgically removed. Where we once only had a motel or diner, there are now huge buildings being erected for future profit. Stores like Ann Taylor’s Loft will soon grace Main Street and it is an odd thing to behold. B’burg has always been very low-key. The town in and of itself gives off an aura of simplicity, relaxation and hippie-like freedoms. I mean, downtown can pretty much be captured in these two pictures:

Yet, somehow, the town has been inundated with yuppies. I’m sure this has to do with the increasingly good stats formed by the Hokie Football Team. I’m also sure that the basketball team, women’s softball team and several other sports-related reasons have a bit to do with it.

Yes, our academics are stellar and frankly we wouldn’t be able to maintain if it weren’t for that. But let’s face it, sports equals money and money equals opportunity to expand and branch out.

What I always enjoyed about Blacksburg was the quiet nature with which it is nestled in the mountains. Within 15-20 minutes you can find yourself knee deep in mountainous terrain, lakes, water falls, hiking trails, camping grounds and the like.

It also reminded me of how desperately I need change. I miss the simplicity. I miss the camaraderie. I miss the friendliness. While I’d move back there in a heartbeat, it doesn’t fit in right now… it may in the future, but right now I have to continue fleshing out my career and Blacksburg is not the place to do it.

Not at this moment, that is.

While I sit here at work, I am steadfastly pretending as though I am not. I have not been productive in about a week. I stare at my moniter and will myself to work, only to find seven different fun things to distract me.

I am exhausted and I feel guilty for not giving a damn about what goes on here.

It’s why I’d like some change.

I need some change.

I’ve already driven this point into the ground, but I felt like reiterating the statement. This Memorial Day’s festivity just cemented the idea.

I loathe Northern Virginia with a fiery burning passion.

So, it’s never ceased to amaze me that we’re operating against our own laws. I mean, how is it that we can go after our own citizens (and those of other countries) for breaking OUR laws but we can do it all we want?

If you’re unsure of what I’m referring to, it is definitely Guantanamo Bay.

There are people being held without due process. Unimaginably young children being detained. Horrendous torture practices and all because “we’re at war.”

I don’t get it.. because if anyone was holding our citizens like we are theirs, we’d be pissing ourself with anger and retaliating in the “most diplomatic” manner, whatever the hell that might mean.

First of all, this is reminiscent of the camps in which Japanese were detained during WWII.  That? Just grosses me the hell out.

Secondly, how do we expect to maintain any semblence of dignity if we’re out being assholes?

Third, do we really expect those people to come out of Gitmo and be all, “oh, it’s okay — there’s a war going on.”

Oh HELL no. Those folks are going to get out of there scarred, angry and pissed the fuck off.

And then what?

Hate only begets hate. Fire only causes more fire.

I don’t care what excuses people come up with, it is NOT right for us to act like our shit doesn’t stink, thereby perpetuating a problem instead of rectifying it.

We have done some seriously fucked up shit in the past, and no one seems to want to pay attention to that.. and THEN folks are all, “Why’d they blow up the World Trade Centers like that??? What’d we do?!”

…uhm…

Google that shit.

While I think it’s terribly adorable when people cuddle bug in public, I draw the line at full on make-out sessions. If there is one thing I do not ever need to see, it’s some random assholes tongue shoved down someone else’s throat.

It’s something that just hits a squick button me with me that I can’t properly explain.

I used to wonder if it had to do with the fact that I’ve been single so long, that I don’t want it thrust in my face. But that’s really not the case because, as I mentioned, cuddle bugging is adorable. Little pecks and hugs and things of that nature just make me smile.

Slobbery saliva fests do not.

Case in point: I was staying at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia a few years back when I happened to notice Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova walk past my breakfast table.

At first, I was too excited because, hello, it’s Enrique! HOTTY!

Then they started to make out like angsty teenagers… at the breakfast table… at the Rits-fuckin-Carlton.

I couldn’t decide if I should feel special or not because this was during that time they were still denying their relationship and here I had PROOF! Then I remembered how much I didn’t care and reverted back to disgust.

I could hardly finish breakfast because every time I looked up, there they were, making complete asses of themselves. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more gross public display of affection than I did that day.

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Currently listening to: Radiohead – Climbing up the Walls

If you’re visiting me here in WP land, it’s obvious you already know I’ve moved.

I needed change.

So … here it is.

There are a few things I still need to tweak (like the full blogroll) but I’ll get there eventually.