Me, Myself, and I

I think I'm a loner. I genuinely enjoy being alone. I have no issue going places alone or even just hanging out alone at home. I used to think my main reason for "laying low" was to save money, but in actuality I enjoy solitude. I don't think it impedes my social skills or that I change my bubbly personality based on the fact that I prefer being by myself. I just think that because I am a talkative person that there is this misconception that I'm incredibly social or must love being around others at all times.
     If anything I've realized that being with people for extended periods of time is a tad exhausting and I end up looking forward to a solo retreat to just be alone. I can go whole weekends without any human interaction and not think twice about it. I doubt I could pull that off for weeks on end, but most people have a social engagement of some sorts and don't usually stay by themselves all weekend long. One tends to have plans either through obligation or actual desire, however at some point through out a weekend they are socializing. Many times I catch myself shying away from avoidable outings or events in order to just hang alone. I will go out when its absolutely necessary, but not more than that. It is not that I don't have a lovely set of friends, family members, boyfriend, colleagues etc and I actually enjoy myself thoroughly on the rare occasion that I do go out, but sometimes I just covet some time to do me.
    

GNO

      So apparently, I'm the only 28 yr. old that didn't know girls night out was code for let's go & pick up guys. I, foolishly, thought it meant all female friends (sans significant others & other male friends) go out to eat & drink heavily (dance a lot even) and to talk about guys, fashion, etc. I don't think I ever used a girls night out as a man hunt. Now in my defense, being overweight 95% of my life I wasn't really much of a guy picker up anyway. Sure I have gotten hit on, asked for a dance, or even for my digits but that was a) never my intent of the night and b) the interaction/flirtation usually was contained to that night/weekend. 
      Now apparently gno's are used as man hunts often because (unbeknownst to me yet again) single girls "allegedly" go out more than taken girls. (Go ahead inner feminist get mad that I used "taken" vs "girls in relationships") 
      Anyway I digress, I vehemently disagree with this notion that single girls are more socially active than others. Wouldn't common sense suggest that a girl in a couple goes out more because now not only does she have colleagues, friends, family of her own, but now she has a significant other (and his social circle) ep so facto making the going out much more. It bothers me to think that the sole premise of single people going out more is based on the fact that going out is a mere mating ritual. Has anyone gone out to watch a sporting event/game? For a concert? To celebrate a birthday, promotion, house purchase, etc? Do you go out to catch up with friends, listen to music, have good food or drink? I mean why is it that there is this ridiculous stigma that girls only go out to pick up or meet guys? Anyway, apparently, I use girl's nights to dish on life and obtain blog worthy material. So, who am I to judge?

America the beautiful

   So I'll admit it, I've been anti the home land ever since I came back a quick recharge vacation in Italia. I was all anti american coffee, men, and pasta. However, today I had a revelation about my land of the free, home of the brave.
    So, I'm sitting down at my every other Tuesday manicure (listen we are coming off a recession so you know weekly manis had to be cut down). Anyway, I literally had a laugh out loud moment and unlike the rest of my generation who usually uses LOL as a conversation filler or generic response to something moderately humorous, I actually chuckled aloud.
This crazed hispanic woman came in and yelled to my vietnamese manicurist hablas espanol (which obviously she did not) and proceeded to ask if she was "gunna work on her body" (mind you chick just wanted a mani/pedi) Anyway, my puzzled manicurist proceeded to explain the pricing of both services and how there would be an extra surcharge for getting a french manicure to which this hispanic woman barked back that it was ridiculous to charge more and that walmart's nail salon is significantly cheaper. This is when the owner (a vietnamese male) yelled "ok go get your nails done at walmart" and proceeded to kick the babbling incoherent woman out. Now I'm fully aware that my written rendition of this didn't really relay the comedic exchange as accurately as it was to witness it, but the underlying humor of the two minorities and their respective accents was quite humorous. (take my word for it) Moreover, the implications of what transpired made me re fall in love with this great country. The encounter displayed this nations strength in small businesses, the melting pot of ethnicities, the capitalism, the freedom of speech, the empowerment and equality of women, among the plethora of reasons why this country is still one of the greatest places to live.