Another year closer...

To the Best. 30th Birthday Party. Ever.

Well, I did. It is official. I am now 28.
In honor of my 28 years of life I will post 28 stories about my birthday.
Wait... Come back... Don't stop reading... I am only kidding. I am not quite that narcissistic.

While there are number of stories to tell, and I do live my E-dub's motto "Do it for the story!", I will only highlight a few now. If I am going to blog every day in May, I really should conserve some material. So, here is a quick and detailed summary of the day.


8am- Run for Reading 5K (Yes, Junior Leaguers I love you enough to wake up early on my birthday)
11am- Go back to the dry cleaners to find the lining of my red dress. Success.
12noon- Food Glorious Food with Sarah (and guest appearances by Carol, Cindy, Lea and Rosie)
2pm- Pedicure (so needed!)
3pm- Harry's for Blair and Holly's Wedding Shower
6pm- FSU Baseball Game (where I was NOT the junior nole announcer...but I did get to sit in a Dugout Suite...and it was Sweet!)
9pm- El Tapatio (Thank you Blair, Holly, Erin and Shane for tricking me into wear a nasty sombrero and eating fried ice cream. And I SOOO think that Shane picked out that card.)
11pm- Bed

Oh and NO birthday is complete without a Hannah Montana Tropical themed party! Thank you Marshalls! And with those MoTEAto's, we really partied! (Note the red dress is complete!)

And here E-dub is thinking... If only I had some limes and salt.... hmm... then I could properly celebrate "Will Liner Day".

Oh... stay tuned for my perspective on re-gifting and "it's the thought that counts"...

Red+Blue

I am interrupting the "Ode to Customer Service" to bring you a tale from my week...

On Monday, I attended a screening for Purple State of Mind (thank you Lea) and I was reminded that Tallahassee DOES have cool stuff going on. Oh The Village Square, how I love thee! (1) I got to pose in a "red" and "blue" photograph with the most attractive Democrat that I know. Yes, that is you Ms. Vita. (2) I got to see one of my new favorite Tallahassee girls. Yes, Whitney that would be you and not just because you brought an orange into a movie theater... (3) I attempted to prove Dr. Systma WRONG!* (4) I viewed a film that definitely provoked my thoughts and heard first hand from the men who made it. Twenty-five years after they were college roommates, John Marks and Craig Detwiller, with such differing worldviews got together to have a series of conversations...and filmed them all for us to observe and experience. When John would challenge Craig with very pointed questions, (I'm talking..."Do YOU think that I am going to HELL?" type questions.) I couldn't help but wonder... How would I answer that question if a friend asked me? Do I even have any relationships with people where we can ask such pointed and challenging questions? What could I learn from someone if I was less afraid and brave enough to actually go there? Would there be a difference in the world- if we were able to engage in more dialogue for the sole purpose of wanting to know someone else and to understand why they think the way that they do and abandon all hidden agendas?
See these guys really are friends...they have on matching pants. Democrats and Republicans really can be friends...we both can agree on great leather totes.

Just look at how strong that bond is!


*Dr. Systma is a Christian Sex Therapist in Atlanta who does freelance work for me :) and conveniently was my friend Lea's neighbor when she lived in Atlanta... He is of the school of thought that if I am ever going to meet a man, I should probably spend less time with Lea and her family and more time in environments where there are men my age. Little does he know, but Lea and I are on a mission to prove him wrong. And I am happy to report that there were some attractive guys at the film screening on Monday. Granted I was too shy to talk to them...but they were there and that is half the battle! (Oh, and if any of my friends reading happen to know any of the above mentioned attractive fellas....have them call me...k thanks.)

Well Done #3

Dear Cole Couture,

Now as a small, local boutique, one would expect your service levels to be high. But, you, without fail, time and again exceed expectations. After living in Charlotte and frequenting many boutiques, I often experienced the "pretty woman snob effect". Heaven forbid I walk into a shop sans make-up, sporting a t-shirt and jeans. Do I not deserve attention? When I would walk into the shop in all my fashion glory... sales girls would drop their cell phones and commence drooling over me and waiting on me hand and foot.

At Cole, it is consistent. I receive the right amount of attention EVERY time I walk in (regardless of appearance). You give me room to browse and assistance when I need it. You pull countless pairs of denim, as I am incredibly picky and never seem to wear the same size. You wait patiently as I try on pair after pair. And if I leave without buying anything... it is OK. You welcome me kindly on my return visit. Oh, and I thank you for adding ME as a friend on facebook and not waiting for me to add you! I also appreciate knowing that as soon as you get a shipment with those trouser jeans in my size, you will call me and I can't wait!

Fondly,
Meghan

Well Done #2

I can't believe that these words are going to come out of my mouth but.....

Dear Figg Dining Hall/ Training Table/ Student-Athlete Nutrient Supplier,

Well done.

As you are now well aware, E-dub and I frequent your establishment for our weekly lunch. (And before I was there with her on a weekly basis... I was there with Brian, Jeffrey, Maggie and Co.- What can I say? I like a routine.) But back to the point of this commendation. We usually have a very pleasant dining experience at Figg, which is surprising given the campus dining/ cafeteria nature of the place, but today took the cake. I would like to point out that the circumstances today in the dining hall were the recipe for disaster. I even whispered in a wide eyed panic state to Erin as we walked toward the entrance... "kids, kids, kids, kiiiiddss, there are kids everywhere!" Low and behold, a field trip of magnificent proportions had thrown up on the Athletic Center. While I usually don't mind kids, I am not used to seeing them outnumber the adults at lunch. I braced myself for the worst. I saw grubby little paws pushing each other out of the way and touching all of the cookies that I love, I saw Coke flowing freely from the fountain, I saw a line for corndogs that was out of control... and no room to sit and dine. When suddenly I was brought from this overwhelmed state by a staff member who kindly told me that if I wanted salmon or baked chicken, I could walk over to the far corner where there was NO line of kiddos. Score! Erin and I were on our way. That little customer service tip allowed us to masterly skirt the lines and fill our plates with goods. Not a second after I filled my tray and turned to frantically find a seat, another staff member invited us to eat down the hall in the museum (a.k.a. kid free zone). As we walked into the room, chairs were set for us, the napkins that we needed were provided without request. Figg, today you made our day. Erin and I were able to discuss the finer things in life. (Yes, recounting are favorite lines from The Office counts as "finer things".)

And while your chicken may be dry, your staff is top notch. Well done, well done, well done.

We will see you next Friday!

Meghan

Should I?

At the risk of losing 100% of my male readership, here goes...

Reasons why Thomas should be banned from reading my blog:

- He will catch EVERY single little typo or misspelling and CALL me out publicly. (Whatever happened to a courtesy e-mail?)

- He dissed the title of my blog. (If we had more face time, he would realize that whenever something funny happens, one of my taglines is... wait for it... "If only I had a blog!")

- He selfishly believes that my starting a blog was a birthday gift to HIM. Afraid not. The timing was just coincidental.

But since I am a compassionate, caring and beautiful woman and I know that he only puts others down to build himself up... I will not actually ban Thomas from reading my blog. Well, that and the fact that I am WAY too busy to monitor his excessive internet use. So, Thomas, Happy belated birthday!

Well Done #1

I'll admit it. It really is no secret. My friends have blogged about it. My name has been mentioned. There is no denying....

I am SO over poor customer service. And that means you- Home Depot, ForNEVER 21 and Jerry's Artarama! (Yes, I have a bone to pick with a place called "Jerry's Artarama".) But you all deserve NO more of my time, thoughts, and energy. Although, I did enjoy creating a gang to fight against your customer service injustice. Thanks E-dub! (Don't worry... I still have my skull scarf waiting in the event that we need to move to action.)

Friends, it is official, I am going to focus my attention on the businesses who deserve it. Those that exude customer service excellence. They have earned my praise! So, prepare yourselves for a little series that I like to call "Well Done". Now my obvious first choice to highlight would be JCrew... in the store, online and on the phone... all EXCELLENT. But E-dub got that shout out covered- so on to the next...



Dear Publix,

Shopping in your store really is a pleasure. Your store is always clean and stocked with goodness. Your staff is always offering tasty treats for me to salivate over while I shop and I appreciate that, as I am a hungry gal. Your staff rushes to my aid when they see me struggling to reach the SmartWater. (p.s.- could you move it to a lower shelf?) They make my subs with such delight (even when I ask that they be cut in fourths- thank you Brandon! And for the record, he is the nicest deli guy EVER). When Brandon the cashier (not to be confused with Brandon the deli guy or the Brandon in the bakery- although all three are great) asks me how my day was... I really thinks that he wants to know. So, I tell him. And he has a nice smile. I think that he likes his job. (If there wasn't a line behind me, I would have asked.) Publix you are so good to your customers and I THANK you.

Lots of love,


Meghan

P.S.-I also really like those $5 off of a $30 purchase coupons, so if you would be so kind as to drop some in the mail, that would be great!

Pop it. Lock it. Polka dot it.

Me: I need one ticket for.. Hannah Montana

Ticket girl: what?

Me: Hannah Montana

Ticket girl: huh?

Me: HANNAH MONTANA ... you know... THE MOVIE

Ticket girl: (laughs out loud)

Lea: I need two tickets for "whatever she's seeing" .

Thanks Lea. Way to leave me hanging there!

Our Saturday at movies was quite an undercover adventure. And I do mean undercover...
But my love for that Miley Cyrus and for her pop hit "The Climb" was too strong to keep me out of that theater and that theater filled with adults! Well, adults with little girls.... but there were other adults in there and that is all that matters!

For those who have not seen this little cinematic masterpiece (I will safely assume all of you), it is quite a fun movie. Well, once you get past Billy Ray's poor acting ability. But Miley's cutie boyfriend makes up for all the weak acting. (Little public service announcement... Lea has been stalking him on the internet... no not Billy Ray... I'm talking cutie boyfriend... looks like Zac Efron has some competition!) The scene with Miley and Tyra Banks fighting over a pair of shoes is worth forking over the cash to see! Oh and it may even have you to dancing to this little number... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtQo1_9mED4. I am quite the fan of anything called "Hoedown Throwdown". (No comments, please.)

Well, here is the kicker.... my mom and I both saw Vanessa Williams on Saturday. I saw her starring in HMTM. My mom saw her at the pool at the beach resort where they were both staying. I have reached a new low. My mom's life is cooler than mine.

(Oh... and my mom said that she was with an LA Laker... hmm... are Rick and Vanessa getting back together... or does she just have a "type".)