Tuesday, June 12, 2012

pancakes vs. mistletoe

Listening To: Mykonos by Fleet Foxes
Quotable: "The reason we struggle with our insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel." - Steven Furtick


I just sent in my December article for Susie Magazine, which will (probably) be called "The Story Doesn't End Here".

You know what's weird? Thinking about the New Year while actually living in the middle of the year. Weirder still is the fact that 2013 seems so far away, but it really isn't. In the immortal words of the great poet Meatloaf: "Objects in the rearview mirror may appear closer than they are." (I hope you get that song stuck in your head all day long ; )

While I wrote the December article, I was thinking about all the hopes and dreams and plans I'm always holding close to me when the year starts ... and how, when December rolls around, some of those hopes ... dreams ... and plans are inevitably unmet. How do you press on when disappointment squishes you flat? Even as I think of all the good, I can't help but think about the sad parts, the still-waiting parts. I won't rehash the whole article here but I wanted to share my very favorite part with you. 

Because I'm 99% certain that this part will be edited out. 

Behold the (most likely) deleted scene from December's His Time

Maybe, finally, this is the year you got kissed under the mistletoe. (Mistletoe is totally a parasite. I don’t really get the allure, but whatever.) (But seriously: I think it’d be more awesome to be kissed under an IHOP sign. And then you could go inside and split some chocolate chip pancakes. That’s romantic.) 

And there you have it. Advice for the masses! (... and also the reason I never write about relationships. ; ) 

Speaking of advice!


I have an idea for a summer blog feature. Sometimes I get questions in the email abyss that I think might be interesting blog topics. I would never, ever make a post of the personal emails you send ... those are very and heartfelt and private. But sometimes I also get questions that are a little more conversational. 

Random Example: I've had a few emails asking how I feel about tattoos and piercings. And I thought that could be a fun topic to tackle on here. So I'm going to try something here on the blog this summer called ... Q&A Tuesday. 

Bearing in mind that I'm a expert at absolutely nothing (besides Twizzler consumption), here's how it works:  
- If you have a fun question for Q&A Tuesday email it to me (nat.lloyd at yahoo). Be sure you put "Q&A Tuesday" or "Question" or something creative like that in the subject line. I won't use your name on the post; I'll just use your question. 
- You can toss out a question down in the comments too, if you prefer. 
Do note: The questions can be fun-for-kicks. They don't have to be serious. 
- Very Important: There are questions I'll probably choose not to answer on here for whatever reason. (In general, I like to veer toward the positive on this blog.) I'll keep the tone pretty light, think of this more of a conversation starter than me dispensing any kind of advice. Like I said, I really can't advise on much. Besides the direction I think Downton Abbey should go in Season 3. 

... I'm not even sure how well this will go over so well. But I thought we might be able to have some fun with it! 

Remember: I won't the more personal, private emails here on the blog. I just think this could be a fun little summer series for the more conversational stuff. And if I don't have a good answer for your question, which is likely ... I'll make like the guys on Pawn Stars and bring in my team of experts. By which I mean: I'll ask The Rogue Accountant. And while his advice may not be poetic or even G-rated, it will definitely be funny. 

Next week for our inaugural Q&A Tuesday, we'll discuss le permanent inkage. Email me if you can think of a fun question (or a few fun questions). I can't wait to hear them!

How's your summer going so far? Are you at the beach? Because if you are I am very, very jealous.

9 comments:

  1. Ooo, I love questions...I must think of some.
    LF

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  2. no, not at the beach, sadly. i am here, with a broken computer which is really doing no good for helping me study for my exams next week, and also with a heavy heart. so i am eating icecream. i would love to get kissed under an IHOP sign.
    loved this post, love you and can't wait to see what comes out of question tuesdays!

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    1. REALLY feeling you in the exams department. UGH. School needs to be OUT already. Hoping you ace those exams and keep on keeping on!

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  3. If you need someone to weigh in on the pro-side of tattoos and piercings, you know who to call. :)

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  4. If your platform is pancakes, I'll vote for you. I'm in an office under fluorescent lights, not such a glamorous summer.

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  5. I think Q&A Tuesdays sound awesome! :) I can't think of any questions right now but will definitely keep it in mind.

    I'm not at the beach, unfortunately. :)

    ~Kristin

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  6. I love this!! Just got back from the beach. And I'm going to borrow your quote :)

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  7. I have been spending my summer with my husband : D Being married is great and after dating for 4 years, it is definitely a sweet, welcome change. Other than work and spending time with him and grocery shopping ;) I have been on the hunt for new books!!! Any suggestions? I am seriously in need of new stories. I have Dinner: A Love Story lined up to buy this weekend, which I am super excited about, being that I am the most un-inventive cook but that I love sitting down to dinner with Tucker at the end of our day.It's a memoir cookbook and I can't wait to read it. Have you heard of it?

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  8. Your articles are what I miss most about Susie magazine (I stopped subscribing last year)! I hope your quote makes it in :)

    Summer has been good but busy! We went on a road trip throughout the south stopping at the University of Alabama and Georgia and ending up on the beach for my birthday. It was fun! I was also a counselor for my church's wakeboard camp for middle schoolers and I'm leaving for a missions trip in 10 days. It's been a fun summer so far though!

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