My Woman Self

>>Work in progress<<

I wear dresses, skirts, heels. I do my make-up almost every single day. I blow dry and straighten my hair while ensuring I am using the latest products to make it shine. I cross my legs and paint my nails and we all know I know each line in every Broadway musical.

I speak up. I refuse to be interrupted. Getting married and having kids is not my supreme purpose and I don't even know if it is in my future. I burp and I play video games. I mix a mean Mojito and I have tattooed my body with reminders of my cause. 

I am loud. My laugh and voice fill the air in any room and I'm not talented at being quiet. I have a lot of energy and will always greet people with a large smile and with lasers of positivity. 

I've been told I shouldn't speak up as much, shouldn't be as confident and should be more like a girl. I've been told if a man interrupts me while I speak I shouldn't get upset and I should just lay low. I've been told this is what girls are supposed to do. I've been led to believe that my dresses and skirts aren't short enough, my make-up isn't sexy enough and I should somehow accentuate and hide my chest simultaneously. I've been called honey and sugar by men I do not know. I've rushed to my vehicle at night fearing the worst. I've been made into an object opposed to viewed as an individual. I've been in a meetings where I was expected to take notes and not be heard. I've been called bitch because I wouldn't say yes. I've browsed magazines wishing I were more, then become angry at myself for ever thinking I was less.

I am a strong woman. I know that has prevented me from being in some relationships. I've been told my identifying as a feminist scared him, and he wasn't sure how to believe in anything egalitarian. I've been told I need to get married to a rich man and I am already late in doing so. As a woman I have consistently been asked if I have kids before being asked anything else about my life. 

While I express my gender in often "correct" ways, I also am aware enough to know why I do so. And how that is okay. That's one choice society can't take away from me (presumably so).  

Adventures to Flagstaff

Howdy from Flagstaff!!

It is official! I am no longer living in Texas. After graduating from graduate school and 3 years of full time experience, I have transitioned to a new space, new office, new lifestyle. I could not be happier. Flagstaff, AZ is truly magical. I wish I could explain it, but one has to experience the thrilling sunshine, crisp air and pine scents to truly understand what this place means to me. I've been waking up every day at 6am, going on a hike, or run and seeing jack rabbits, coyotes and other nature critters I could never find in Texas.

My dad came to College Station, TX to help load me up and drive with me to Lumberjack-land. For anyone who has met my dad, they know he is....a character. Truly one of a kind. He is Clark Griswold without a filter. Throughout our 20 hour drive I decided I needed to document all the crazy phrases he would spit out of his mouth, just to help capture the experience for my sisters. While going through the list he caught us and realized what I had been up to. I told him "Dad, didn't you notice every time I laughed hard I would grab my phone and write in it (using the Notes App)?" He knows it is all out of love for him. So I am going to do my best to explain each quote:

"These are the Dixie Chicks right? More like Dixie Moms now...next the Dixie Nags."
While listening to Dixie Chicks music.

Fuel gauge-About 10 minutes into the drive he said we would need gas soon. I asked how that was possible considering we left with a full tank. He said the Budget Truck must not have great mileage. About 30 minutes later he said it again. I freaked out thinking of how much money this trip would wind up costing. Then I leaned over and saw he was looking at the wrong gauge and we still had a full tank.

"I'll be in the beer cave."
First stop of the trip and I head to the bathroom and say we have to move fast to get back on the road. He finds an actual place in the gas station called the "Beer Cave" and is sure to tell me where I can find him when I'm done.

"Look at what food we missed!....Aw no one's there."
After stopping for a lovely, healthy lunch at Burger King (barf!) we got back on the road only to see a restaurant sign that said: Cow Camp Steakhouse. My Dad loves local road stops most people would be terrified to enter (i.e. who is eating sushi in some of these dinky small towns?) and he was very disappointed that we didn't check out this steakhouse.

"I thought about taking a shower but then a text went off."
Life's distractions can sometimes prevent us from getting clean, I suppose.

Michelle: "If you had to get another dog, what kind would you want?" 
Dad: "A stuffed one."

"Seen any good movies? Have you seen Mama? I want to see Mama." 
I wish I could explain his tone of voice when he says "Mama"....he talks about this movie ALL THE TIME.

"Those are UFO satellites. Oh wow! A sighting!" 
They were satellite dishes on the ground.

"1 and 1 and 1 is 3....why yes it is."
While listening to the Beatles "Come Together" song.

"I'm watching my figure." 
Me offering him a Rolo.

"Dinner....Just kidding Michelle, I've never hunted before, I've fished." 
Road sign with a deer on it...Dad points his finger at it as if it were a gun and shoots at the deer. He apologized knowing I'm a vegetarian and animal lover.

Dad: "Can we listen to A-day-lee?"
Me: "You mean Adele?"

During one of our last gas stops before finding a hotel, he snuck into the gas station to pick up a styrofoam ice chest and bag of ice to ensure his beer would be cold enough once we stopped.

"I hope a possum comes to visit your mother back home. I taught her how to trap it."

"BBQ-Now-ROOF....what is that? We could order it for dinner." 
The sign actually said "888-NOW-ROOF" and is a roofing service.

"I didn't do that one."
He said after seeing a broken curb.

"Your Aunt got a recipe off the line." 
Meaning from the Internet.

Me: "Have you heard of Josh Turner?" 
Dad: "Now you are just making up names, aren't you?"

Me: "What are you doing with that paper?" (He had a Denny's placemat he was folding)
Dad: "Making an airplane." (which he proceeded to try to fly in the parking lot)

"All You Need Is Love....what about money and food?"
While listening to The Beatles song.

"Don't mix beer with espresso."
Dad's advice for the day.

"Baseball is on tonight. I'm going to put my foot down to watch it."

"We're early....casino?" 
We passed by one of the new casinos near Flagstaff. My parents are major gamblers.

"Tell Mom we're going to Vegas. Surprise!"
My mom was in Vegas and there was a turn off on the road to head to Vegas instead of Flagstaff.

Dad: (while taking a picture) "I could've sucked it in more." 
Me: "Dad, I can do wonders with Photoshop." 
Dad: "That would take a big wonder."

"My little flower."
When referring to my Mom.

"How long does it take to find a rag? They should've check the garage, they could've found something close."
My sister and her fiancé left to go find a swatch of fabric with their wedding colors on it to show the staff at David's Bridal and my Dad didn't understand why they just didn't see what rags we had lying around.

Yup, that's my Dad.