You're Getting Very Sleepy

Is anyone else exhausted? I mean, eyes heavy, body dragging by 4PM kind of exhausted? In the last month I have slept more than in the 3 months before that combined. I get home from work and instead of being excited for drinks with a friend or a new episode of Castle, I’m wondering if 7:30 is too early to climb in to bed. (In case you’re wondering- 7:30 is too early, but 8:30 is NOT).

About a month ago I was really sick for the better part of week- high fever, aches, the whole nine yards. All I did for those 4 days was sleep, answer emails from work, sleep, watch really bad movies, sleep, eat and sleep. I went back to work on the 5th day and I was still tired. I got home from work that night and was in bed before 8. This started the vicious cycle of sleeping for 12 hours and waking up exhausted.

Last weekend was my brother’s birthday. Not only did I have to drive home from St. Joe after a really long day on Thursday, but we were going out on Saturday. It would NOT be an early night. I had to start staying awake longer or I was going to crash on the toll road, probably outside of Toledo.

So, all last week I forced myself to stay up until 10PM and get out of bed by 7AM. Oh my god, it was TORTURE- Pure, freaking, torture that I’ve yet to recover from. Obviously, I didn’t die on the toll road outside of Toledo… but geez. It was touch and go there for awhile (PS? Thank you, Starbucks and your over-caffeinated EVERYTHING- you save lives).

This week hasn’t been any better. I’ve been in the studio filming all week. Being the director, I’m kind of expected to stay awake, so I’ve been sleeping a TON again in preparation. In bed early, up at the latest possible minute… and still, with all this sleep, I’m exhausted.

I refuse to believe that I’m just going to be tired for the rest of my life, so I’ve decided there’s something wrong with me. I googled “exhausted all the time” and wasn’t happy with any of the options provided. If I’m going to be suffering from something, it should at least sound more interesting than “anemia.”

I think I’m just going to have to find a doctor willing to make up a smart enough to discover a new disease.

In the meantime? I’m going to bed.

Love, Megan

Occupy the Internet?

Today, the Internet is blacking out. No, we didn't all binge drink... This isn't a memory loss thing.

Today we're protesting two bills: SOPA (US House of Representatives) and PIPA (US Senate). To learn more about these bills, check out Wikipedia. The site is blacked out, but they have a link to learn more that directs you their article on the subject.

 If you have a blog or website, here's a link to JavaScript code that allows you to blackout with the rest of us: 

sopablackout.org 

 Anything you can do helps- tweet, facebook, email and call your Senators and Congress People. Notify your friends and family. Stand up and fight!

Love,
Megan

Seriously, WHAT is that?

Alright, so I’ve had blonde hair for, like, the last 4 or 5 years- highlighted blonde hair that managed to look halfway decent for a little over 6 weeks so I could stretch out my hair appointments.  Recently, I decided I needed a change… A big change.  I was going to dye my hair a color I’ve never had before.  It turned out to be this beautiful, rich, dark, slightly Auburn color.  Awesome.  Flash forward 2 weeks, and it’s faded to what I’m pretty sure is my natural hair color.

This picture was taken two days ago- 6 weeks after my hair appointment!  If it wasn’t my natural hair color, I’d have roots! 









Oh, but I do.  Look closely.  Closer.  My roots are gray.  That’s right, GRAY.  At least some of them are.


Holy crap. Oh my god. WTF?

I’m 30.  I am not supposed to have gray hair.  How long has the gray been there? Just recently?  Since I moved to Michigan?  Since I turned 25?  AUGH!  It’s killing me.  KILLING ME.  I guess somewhere in the back of my mind I’ve always held on to the idea that I can always grown my natural hair color out and start fresh… You know, if my hair gets too damaged, or if I’m ever sick of going to the salon.  That will never happen now.  EVER. 

Look, in the scheme of things I know this isn’t the end of the world.  It’s just the first sign that I’m getting older and I guess that’s a little harder to process than I thought.  Yikes.

Now that I’ve gotten that out, I’m ignoring this.  I went to the salon yesterday and my hair is the beautiful deep red color.  Not a single strand of gray in sight. 

Let’s forget I said anything, OK?  OK.

Love, Megan

The Best Grilled Cheese Ever or How my Aunt Nancy and Melt Saved Dinner

I love grilled cheese. It goes remarkably well with tomato soup, which I also happen to love. I forgot to take out the chicken for dinner this morning, so when I got home, I needed to come up with something quick for dinner.

I conveniently had the fixings for grilled cheese in the house because of a conversation I had with my Aunt Nancy on New Year's Eve. For some reason, we were talking about TV Food Network, and my Aunt was telling us all about watching an episode of Man vs. Food that took place in Cleveland. They happened to visit Melt so the host could best some challenge they have. That part of the story is gross. I don't watch that show, mainly because I want to eat again someday. I was waiting for the subject to change when Aunt Nancy told us how Melt makes their grilled cheese... That's when my whole world changed.

Ok, a little background. I make grilled cheese in a grill pan on the cooktop. I use a little bit of butter on the bread and spray the grill pan. I haven't found the perfect timing of grilled bread and melted cheese. The damn cheese never melts before the bread burns and I set off the smoke alarm in my apartment. So, what should be an easy dinner turns into an ordeal- burned bread, cold cheese, 911... Needless to say, my local fire departments prefers I don't make it very often.

But now? Oh, now I don't have to worry about that anymore. So how does Melt make perfect grilled cheese? Are you ready?

They grill the bread first. Just bread, no cheese. Once the bread is grilled- they pop it oven (I did 3 minutes at 350 degrees). That's it. Simple as anything and I don't think it ever would have dawned on me.

That's how Aunt Nancy and Melt saved my dinner tonight. Thanks, Auntie.

Love, Megan  

Happy New Year! I've been gone for... awhile. One of my New Year's resolutions is to hang out here a little more often. Hope y'all will join me! <3M

Location:St. Joseph, MI

An open letter to everyone that is actually a Christmas card...

Dear... Everyone,

Instead of sending out Christmas cards this year, I thought I'd share some Christmas magic in a way that's a little more...me.

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Love, Megan

An open letter to Whit Anderson

Dear Whit,

I have to say I’m kinda impressed. You actually convinced a major Hollywood studio that you could re-imagine a character and world that was created by a respected and admired writer, and no one even knows who you are! That takes nerve, guts, balls, cajones! A little bit of research, and I find that you’re a 29-year old actress with 3 credits on her IMDB page and no apparent writing experience.

Well, that’s about to change, isn’t it? Thanks to Warner Brothers and Atlas Entertainment, you are now attached to the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer film. The script isn’t done yet, but apparently the “fresh take” you had on the story in your treatment was enough to sell them.

In several articles (that seem to be quoting the same interview or press release), you said that you identified with Buffy because you were the same age as the character. I get that. I felt the same way. We went to prom at the same time, graduated the same year, started college together, struggled through first jobs, loves, heartbreaks . But who made Buffy, well, Buffy? Like any character, she was a combination of the talented actor who played her and the person who created her. Without Sarah Michelle Gellar and Joss Whedon, Buffy doesn’t exist.

“…I just loved this character… it was so rare to have a female lead character on TV… who was strong and capable and smart but also allowed to be feminine.” That character you love, Whit? You can’t create her, because someone else already did. She doesn’t exist without them.

Alright, here’s where it gets confusing. This “reimagining” isn’t even technically of the show. Warner Brothers optioned the rights to the film from the company that produced the 1992 movie (you know the one with Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry and Pee-Wee Herman?). Joss Whedon wrote the film, but had little to nothing to do with the finished product. This movie bombed. At best, it’s a campy “cult classic.” It lacked the warmth, intelligence and relevance of the series.

Why would anyone remake, reboot or reimagine a movie that bombed the first time around? For a reboot to be successful, it would have to use elements from the TV series, something that’s impossible because Warner Brothers only owns rights to Buffy (the character) and the general storyline. Everything else we love about the TV series (the Scooby Gang, Angel, Spike, Giles, Sunnydale) ceases to exist in the film world.

So, why would you want to write this movie? Why would you want to write a movie that couldn’t possibly compete with the series? The only answer I can come up with is greed. Obviously the studio is greedy. Vampires are all the rage right now. Why not jump on the “True Blood- Twilight- Vampire Diaries” craze with your very own smash hit, right?

But I think you have a slightly different motivation, Whit. No one knew who you were a week ago. Pretty soon everyone will know who you are. But there’s more, right? Let’s see, you’re an actress, and you’re blonde (just like Kristy and Sarah!). Gee, I wonder who you think should play Buffy in your “reimagining”?

I hate to break it to you, but the word on Twitter is that they’re considering Beyonce for the part.

Love,
Megan

P.S. Back when the Star Trek “reboot” came out, my brother was righteously indignant about what a terrible idea it was and how J.J. Abrams ruined everything that was good in the world. I made fun of him (naturally). But now, I really get it. Of course, I think this is different (At least Abrams had an actual career, Rodenberry wasn’t alive and fully capable of writing/directing/producing and Shatner wasn’t still young enough to star), but I totally get how bad it sucks. So, Bri? I am boycotting that movie for you. Hey, better late than never, right? :)

An open letter to 2009

Dear 2009,

A couple of Decembers ago, back when things were REALLY shitty, Abby and I decided that the next year was going to be our year. Well, we were wrong. That next year was ALMOST worse than the previous. I learned that you can’t really tell the year who it belongs to… I’m not sure how 2010 would react, but when we told 2008 it was our year, it laughed in our faces, said “I don’t belong to anyone, bitches” and then preceded to beat the crap out of us just to drive the point home. OK. We get it. So, ‘09, I let you do your thing. I didn’t lay claim or anything… all in all… I can say “Thank You.” Mostly, for not beating the crap out of me, but a lot for some really good things, too.

So, on this, the last day of the first decade of a brand new millennium, let’s “wrap it up” (as my good friend, Sarah, used to say). What did I do in 2009 (in no particular order)?

• I started a blog and spent the entire month of November writing everyday in it.
  
• I looked for a job… like it was my job.
• I applied for a job to blog about wine, made a video, drank a lot of wine, had a blast, found some cool twitter friends, didn’t get the job.
• I became obsessed with Twitter and then mellowed my obsession and we developed a healthy relationship
• I went to Orlando with my family.
• I went to Oklahoma City and Norman. I hung out, relaxed and celebrated with some of the best friends I’ll ever have in my entire life. I was lucky enough to be in one of their weddings. <3
• I got an iPhone and immediately wondered how I EVER lived without it.
  
• I came home for Thanksgiving for the first time in 8 years.
• I discovered Chicago for the first time since I was little and fell in love. I don’t care what anyone says, it’s a cute city.
• I flew to Connecticut for a job interview and learned that apparently companies WILL fly you all the way across the country, put you up in a hotel, feed you all day and fly you back, but still not hire you.
• I started tutoring a ridiculously awesome 2nd grader- Best hour of my week. :)
  
• I spent ridiculous amounts of time in a room with someone who I really can’t be in the same room with and I didn’t kill that person OR say something inexcusable.
• I went to three weddings!
• I started a 401(k).
• I flew roundtrip 6 times.
• I both lived and vacationed in Vegas.
• I flew to Michigan for a job interview and left with a job. I received validation for the work I’ve done and the things I’ve learned. Everything paid off.
• I moved to Michigan for a job that was inspiring and challenging.
• I moved to Michigan where there’s no sun and I’m freezing cold all the time.
• I quit smoking.

It has been one helluva year. What did you do?

Love, Megan

An open letter to my cat, Erin

Dear Erin,

I’ve never had a pet die before, so I don’t really know how to handle this or start this… I don’t know why you got sick or what happened really, but I do know we did everything we could to save you.

You were very loved by people from 4 different states. You lived through college with me and the insanity that was the Vegas house. I wanted to do something to celebrate you, even in some small way. I figured telling my favorite stories about you (for better or worse) was the best way.

That’s a cute name.
I found Erin in 2003… well, more specifically, she found us. I don’t remember how many times Lindsey and I saw her wandering around the apartment complex, but one time she was with a guy our age. They were standing in what was (for all intensive purposes) our backyard. So, we talked to them. Well, him.
“She’s a cute cat,” I said, because all cats are girls… duh.
“Thanks,” he replied.
“What’s her name?” I asked
“Erin.”
“Oh, that’s a cute name.”
The guy looked at me like I was NUTS and shortly made his way far from our backyard. Lindsey and I looked at each other with “oh-my-god-he-was-so-weird” looks on our faces. Then Linds goes, “Oh my god. Do you think HIS name was Aaron?” Well, that must have been it. No wonder he thought I was nuts. Who tells a guy his name is cute? We laughed so hard… The next few times Erin came around, Aaron was NOT with her… then one day she just wandered into the apartment. She was mine from that point on… My cat named after the boy who I weirdly complimented on accident. To this day, I still don’t know if we accidentally stole her from him or if he she was even his cat...

A Great Judge of Character
Erin was trekked all over the country: from Oklahoma to California to Ohio to Nevada and finally to Michigan. When we first moved to NV, we lived in this really cute house with three other people. At first, it was awesome. I loved my roommates and was having so much fun. The only problem was that Erin kept peeing in one of the girl’s rooms (we’ll call her M)- ON HER BED! She hadn’t EVER done this before. It was completely out of character and seemingly unexplainable. Well, M turned out to be the worst roommate I ever had (yup, even worse than the guy who committed check fraud and stole a Hummer!), so really… Erin was just warning me.

It’s her Vacation Home!
While I was living in Vegas, Abby’s parents would watch her for me whenever I went out of town. It was such a relief knowing she was in good hands and in a wonderful place. The only downside to it was that she NEVER wanted to come home. I worked a lot and lived in a small apartment, so the much larger home that had more people and cats in it was like a resort to her, I’d imagine. It never failed, EVERY TIME I went to pick her up, she’d dart off and hide under a bed, on the top shelf of a linen closet or in the darkest corner she could find. It broke my heart, but made me feel a little less guilty about leaving sometimes.

I’m right HERE.
As I mentioned, my place in Vegas was small. That didn’t stop Er from getting lost. Nope. The first month we lived in that apartment she’d be in the kitchen after I’d already go to bed and all of sudden start screaming like something horrible was happening to her. As soon as I would say, “I’m right here,” she was fine. She’d meow normally and come to me. I’ll never know if it was the dark or the new apartment, but she didn’t do it in the first house in Vegas, or any place prior to that. When we moved to St. Joe, she’d be behind the couch that I was sitting on and “get lost.” She’d scream, wait, I’d call to her, and then the cycle would start over immediately if she didn’t find me. So bizarre.

There are million other stories I could tell, funny nicknames I could explain, quirks I could share… but these are my favorite. They made me smile to type.

Like I said, I never had a pet die before and I never had pets growing up (aside from ten cent goldfish). I hate that I didn’t know how much this was going to suck, how sad it was going to be.

Erin, you were an awesome cat- crazy, loud, weird, cuddly, funny, skinny, neurotic and a tiny bit ditzy- but awesome. I’ll miss you.

Love, Megan

An open letter to Amtrak

Dear Amtrak,

I'm riding one of your trains home for Christmas. There are some things I don't like about it (inconvenient schedule, a lot of stops while on the train), but this has mostly been awesome.

• First of all, I'm writing this blog while I'm still on the freakin' train! You could never do that on a plane. Ever.
• Second of all, I'm drinking a beer. Which is Awesome, because I really needed one since I almost died about 47 times on the way to the train station. I know you can drink beer on planes, but this is a full size Sam Adams.
• Ok, next- I can walk around wherever and whenever, no seat belt, no annoying flight attendants. My seat is big and I have tons of legroom and a leg rest!
• I brought a whole bunch of stuff with me, too... Clothes, shoes, coats, Christmas presents, major appliances (you think I'm kidding...). No extra baggage fee or anything.

Oh!! Did I mention there OUTLETS at the seats?? Two of them. I could charge my laptop and my iPhone. Amazing. I may not get home until 2:30, but at least I can relax on my trip. You definitely can't do THAT on a plane.

Love, Megan

An open letter to NaBloWriMo, again.

Dear NaBloWriMo,

I DID IT!!! Today is November 30th and I have officially blogged for every day of November. I definitely had fun, but blogging every day is not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes I just didn't have a good idea, but I still wrote the post- Even if I thought it was kinda lame. Some posts I had wanted to write for a long time and some popped in to my head at the last minute. Some posts I wrote early in the day or days in advance and some I wrote as the minutes counted down to midnight. But, I made it- 30 days and 30 blog posts.

I know that I will not keep blogging EVERY day after this, but I'll definitely blog more frequently (probably only when I ACTUALLY have something to say). Like most things in life, blogs need attention to thrive, writing needs attention to improve. I've started my habit and now I'll have to keep it up.

Congratulations to everyone else who completed NaBloWriMo!

Love, Megan

An open letter to my blog, again.

Dear blog,

Sigh. I'm trying my best. I swear. But, I had to get this post in before midnight and I just got barely got home from my parent's. I'm unpacking and decorating... I promise a great post tomorrow.

Love, Megan

An open letter to my Santa Claus

Dear Santa,

I haven't written to you in a long time. This letter is definitely different than previous letters to you. I hope all is well. :)

Anyway, I was just writing to say I'm done with my Christmas shopping. I'm done!! I started just a few days ago, braved savages in Kohl's and now I'm done!!!

That whole making a list, checking it twice thing really does work. How's your list coming?

Love, Megan

An open letter to everyone at Kohl's today

Dear fellow Kohl's shoppers,

I understand that today was Black Friday and that the doorbuster sales at Kohl's were AMAZING, but oh MY God. It was insanity in there. Insanity. I know I was there, too, but it was a fluke. Kohl's had something on a great sale that I needed. Ok, I know I'm totally making excuses, but those are my reasons. I'd love to hear everyone else's excuses.

Both lines literally stretched half way around the (very big) store and practically met in the middle. Everyone was bumping in to each other and cutting each other off. I can't figure out what was so amazing at that store.

I hope everyone got what they wanted and you can all rest easy that I got what I needed for the sale price. There would have been hell to pay if I hadn't.

Love, Megan

An open letter on Thanksgiving

Dear Everyone,

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a wonderful day. I had Thanksgiving with my family this year for the first time in years. It was fantastic. I've had some wonderful Thanksgiving holidays the last few years. The people that invited me into their homes when I couldn't make it to be with my family made me feel welcomed and loved. I have some AWESOME memories from those dinners (tofurkey and private planes, anyone?).

But, I gotta be honest... NOTHING beats family tradition. I couldn't have been happier today. It was so wonderful to be there. I don't plan on missing it again. ;)

Love, Megan

An open letter to my iPhone

Dear iPhone,

Thanks to you, I can blog really quick while I'm at a dive bar drinking beer with some of my favorite people. The band is covering Third Eye Blind and I'm not going to miss a day of NaBloWriMo. Awesome.

Love, Megan