The Greatest People I Ever Knew

One of the greatest men I've ever known died 12 years ago Friday.

I had completely forgotten about this.

His death hasn't really effected me, but he was like a dad to me. He was my second dad. He loved me like I was another daughter and I loved him like he was my dad.

He was my dad's best friend and a great man. A policeman who cared about his family more than anything. My parents have never been the same since their best friends moved away about 15 or more years ago, and my dad has never really found someone quite like John.

He was a special man, and will always have a place in my heart.


THE greatest woman I have ever known died four years ago on Tuesday. I miss her greatly and not a day goes by that I don't think about her. I walk for her. I breath for her. I experiance, because she can't. She's with me always and I am stronger because I knew her and I believe a piece of her soul lives in me, for I have never been the same since she died. I haven't been weaker, i've been stronger. Her voice tells me that it's okay to challenge and be brave and be STRONG.

and to love. Above all else, love.

I miss you Christina, every second of every day and I'd give the world just to see you again.

Dating 101: An Introduction

Alright, girls, listen up.

Class is in session.

About two weeks ago, I asked you guys on twitter if you wanted a Boy Advice blog, since...I don't know. I seem to just have The Knowledge.

So, Boy Advice 101.

My general advice for this post has to do with YOU, not him. YOU should be the most important thing in his world. If he wants you, he'll talk to you. If he wants you in his life, he'll make sure you are. Anything less is unacceptable. So if he puts something else before you, dump his ass. YOU are better than TV, friends, chores, homework, EVERYTHING. Except his mother. Respect that he has this weird bond with his mother. Girls usually have this with their father.

If you get to the point where you know his mother, make sure she thinks you're awesome. If she thinks your perfect for her son, she'll convince him to marry you. Swear down.


SO. QUESTIONS.

"Boy needs to file taxes. How do I convince him that mommy doing it for him is NOT cool and extremely unattractive?" - @KenzieAudacious

First of all, I know the situation here, and you two are going to get married within the next five years, so there's a lot of time and love invested into this situation. This can be used as leverage, but use it WISELY. "Boy, we are going to be getting married. *WE* will need to do taxes one day. Mom can NOT do it for you when you're married, but since this is the first time filing, it would be better for Mom to SHOW you the process and help you through it."

I will say the following phrase over and over again. MAN UP. While we call them our "boy," they really need to be a man and act like a man, especially if this is the boy you're going to spend the rest of your life with.

I'm also very big on honesty. Tell him you think it's lame. As your future husband, it's lame and unattractive.



"If a person, say, lived in rural Indiana, where would she find boys that aren't addicted to meth?" -THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. She knows who she is.

So, love of my life, since *I* do not live in rural Indiana, I do not know the answer to this question.

But I can still help you.

You, my gorgeous friend, work in a WONDERFUL place. A library. The best men come into libraries. Unfortunately, you are in an office all day, but it's a start. When you take your break, walk around. See if you can find an attractive man.

WHEN you see an attractive man, smile at him. Sweet, but mysterious. The NEXT time you see him, you say "hi." From here, if he's into you, he should take the reins. But NEVER stop saying "hi" when you see him. Get into his head.

Other than that, you need to BE MORE OPEN. Smile at guys. Say hi. You are gorgeous. You are the shit. Act like it, and they will automatically be into you.

STORY TIME:
Last St. Patrick's Day I went to the bar with SO many people. I met people there, I walked with people, it was a little crazy. At one point, I got separated from everyone. I was out on the padio just looking around a guy came up to me.

"You look lost." he said, in a sexy British accent

"I'm not lost, just don't know where my friends are." I said, in my American accent.

"You're a Yank?" He said, in surprise. I smiled at him.*

"Yes, I am. I'm from NYC." I said.

"Then I need to buy you a drink." he said. And BOOM. Drink bought for me.



Yes, the accent helped SO MUCH, but the really nice guys I met, liked me for WHO I was and not because I had an American accent. But the accent helps when you want someone to buy drinks for you. Also, the helpless act. or the Confidence act. The right guy will come into your life when you're ready to let him in. You have to be ready and open to love in order for love to find you.



FINAL QUESTION, since this post is kind of long already.

"what do you do when one of your ex boyfriends has one of your books and you never talk to them or see them anymore?"

Call his mother. Ask for them back from her. Have nothing to do with him.



Okay, that was fun. You can email me questions at kellelucas @ gmail.com OR @ reply me at @Kellelucas on twitter.

Till next time,
KEEP SMILING
=D





*Smiling. Key to EVERYTHING.

2010 Christmas

Every year, around October, I sit down and make a list of what I want to find under the Christmas tree [besides the fact that I don't believe in it anymore, there is still a tree in my house]. This year, I decided I wanted a TV. Mine was really old and had a VCR, and no way to get a DVD hooked up to it.

As I sit in front of my brand new TV with working DVD player, I know that Christmas is more than just getting presents.

Like in the Jewish faith, I believe the holiday is more about the miracle, and THAT'S what we should celebrate.

My miracle this year is the amazing group of people I am lucky to call my friends. I have met so many amazing people this year who I cannot imagine my life without.

That is the best gift I could have gotten this year and I never want to return it. I treasure my friendships greatly and don't know what I would do without you all.

I can't seem to write this post without being cliche, so I'm going to stop.

Remember your non-tangible gifts that you don't have to unwrap; your friends, your family, your health, and so much more.



Today is awesome because.....new tv. pretty new tv.
Listening to.... the LAKERRR GAME.

The Surprise

About two months ago, one of my very best friends, Liz, texted me.

"What would you say to surprising Dom for her 21st?"

My answer? Pretty simple: "YES!"

After two more minutes of thinking, I knew it would be tough. I'd be flying to England the weekend of Thanksgiving and missing a whole week of classes right before finals. And the prices of plane tickets were out of my price range.

Then I found out that I would be Dom's 21st birthday present and my beautiful friends were going to help me pay for the ticket [as well as get me to and from the airport and put me up for the week].

I couldn't say no. I talked to my parents, my professors, and my boss who were all okay with me going.

I cannot tell you how happy I was. I was going back. and not just back - but back home to where my second family lives.

SO since it was a surprise, I couldn't post anything on facebook or twitter. I had to remain silent. I spoke about it quite often, but my social network life knew nothing (yes, this means I surprised the WGCC too).

Even the day I arrived in England Dom, who we were surprising, checked my facebook and saw that my status about how cold it was. She had no idea I was coming, and was shocked to see me.

But once I surprised in our favourite restaurant, life was....perfect. It was back to the way it was. I was surrounded by the people I love and did not need anything else to be happy.

I love all of my American friends and family, really, but my family here is....nothing like I could have asked for. They go above and beyond for everyone they care about and it's truly clear that they missed me as much as I missed them.

Surprising my other friends here was just....fun. Their faces were great and they were shocked, but obviously happy to see me.

So I have been having the perfect week. and will continue to have a perfect week.

I don't just love this country because it's beyond anything like America and I love how different it is - I love this country because my favorite people in the world live here. I seriously cannot describe how much I love them. They mean the whole world to me and when I say they are my best friends in the world - I honestly mean it. I want to spend the rest of my life with these people. I know they feel the same, and I hope they continue to - 'cause there's no way they're getting rid of me now.



Today is awesome because.....I'm in England. seriously, AWESOME. oh, and I went to Primark and got a Batman t-shirt. =D
I'm listening to..... EAST ENDERS, BABYY!!

The Jungle Lunchroom

So today I decided to get cafeteria lunch and sit in the cafeteria.

Wow. I forgot the lunchroom was this....immature? It's rushing season [for sororities and frats] and they are EVERYWHERE. Prissy girls, annoying boys and lots of greek letters.

Don't get me wrong. I understand the need for sisterhood/brotherhood, but I have two sisters, a loving fandom community, and a brilliant Nerdfighteria life. I wouldn't change that for the WORLD.

In high school i didn't MIND the cafeteria. I like it a lot. I got to sit with my friends, eat, study, and could go out whenever I wanted. Whether it was home or to get pizza, or run a quick errand. I loved my lunch. Here is another story. I get my food and look for a place to eat and I know....no one. it's rare that i see someone i know and even if i do, its because we were hanging out anyways.

We've matriculated [8pt word ftw!] and nothing has changed. There's still cliques, there's still social and racial stereotypes, there's still the jerk in the corner making South Park impersonations because if he doesn't he'll probably be humiliated later tonight, and there's still people like me. The outcasts who don't belong. I'm not sitting at a tabel alone, but we're not conversing anyways. I tried, really I did, she looked niced. and I love her headband, but come one, I'll never see her again.

One difference is that there's a baby in here who's ADORABLE. I love babies [hint, hint my soon-to-be-married friends Kendra, Linds, Bailey. Not that you should be getting preggos any time soon but I LOVE KIDS. I will take them for a week so you can go to Hawaii. HONEST. I will come play with them all day so you can write. I love them. A lot.].

This blog doesn't really have a point except for the fact that...well....I wanted to write what I was observing.



Today is awesome because.....there are marines here recruiting. They're pretty.
I'm listening to....Touch-a Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me from Rocky Horror. (What? COME ON. I like this song.)

Spirit Day 2010 - Why I Support

Most of you probably don't know this, but I'm a gay rights activist. I wrote my senior thesis on gay marriage and actually went down to DC to talk to some politicians and the APA about it.

I was also bullied all throughout grammar, middle, and high school. It wasn't because I was gay, but because I was a little naive and a bit of a nerd.

One day in eighth grade, my best friends played a really mean joke on me.

From here, it all went downhill. I didn't want to be at school anymore. I didn't know who I could trust, and I had four friends and I didn't even know if they cared about me, or just took me back in because they pitied me [they did care about me. a lot.]

I ended up trusting a few girls online who "accidentally" im'ed me one day when they "messed up their friend's screen name." These girls ended up being my best friends in disguise to spy on me [to this day I don't know if it was because they really did care about me or if they just wanted to continue to make fun of me irl]. I told these girls how unhappy I was at my school and that I was considering killing myself.

I was very depressed and did consider suicide. It was a scary time and I hated feeling that way.

Well, one of the girls got so scared that she went to our guidance counselor and told her that I was suicidal. I was called down, interviewed, my parents were called - it was a big deal. When I found out who told, I wasn't touched. I was hurt more. She had decieved me again and I didn't want to be around her or anyone else anymore. I fell more into a depression and learned to keep my suicidal thoughts to myself.

Two months later, I started feeling better. I found RENT and Jonathan Larson's message made me believe that I was alive for a reason and I needed to find that reason.

I continued to be bullied, but I didn't let it effect me. I had started writing a lot to get out my feelings and I knew that I would be more successful than all of them one day. They peeked in high school - I was going to peek in real life.

Senior year, I really started to stand up for myself and those who couldn't speak out. I began participating in National Day of Silence and being pro-gay and a gay activist. At the end of senior year I discovered I was a nerdfighter and that I really was made of awesome and no one could tell me different. I had finally found a place where I belonged.

So it will get better. It did for me and it gets better everyday. Those feelings of lonelyness suck, but you just have to find something that makes you happy.

It will get better.



Today is awesome because I love wearing purple.
I'm listening to.... Life Support from RENT.

American Eagle: In Review - The Military Skirt

On Tuesday OR Thursday of every week, I will be posting a review blog.

But this won't be your ordinary review.

This is a review of clothing.

My wonderful amazing friend, Bailey, does an AE: What to Wear blog post every Wednesday, and this is where I got my inspiration.

So, since this is the first review post, we'll do some back story.

Why am I a good person to review American Eagle clothing?

Because I'm just like you, my readers. I'm of average height and weight, and I'm working on a budget. I rarely make my mother pay for my clothing, because most of it is my purchase, not a need purchase.

I'm here to give you guys the facts when it comes to whatever I have recently purchased. American Eagle is not paying me or giving me free clothes, these are my purchases.

I've been an American Eagle customer for about 5-6 years now and I have loved every minute of it. I have purchased so much clothing that about 3-4 times a week I can be wearing all American Eagle [down to my undergarments thanks to the wonderful Aerie].

SO: This week in review, we have, The Military Skirt. I bought this skirt on a whim, and when I found it was called the Military Skirt, I pretty much had to buy it. It was on the sale rack and my size so i figured it HAD to be a sign.

I tried it on and it fit. It was a great fit. I would have loved to try on a smaller size, but I didn't want to risk it. I needed to buy this skirt.

So I did.

And wore it the next day. I paired with black tights and a black vneck shirt and converses and my jean jacket. Oh, and a headband with a green bow. I was full on Military Look.

and I LOVED this skirt. It was short, but not too short and not too long. It was comfortable. and its versatile. I know I'll be able to wear it in the spring and summer, but I can also wear it this fall and winter with leggings [which I just purchased - buy one get one 50% off]. It's military green color goes with a lot of colors for shirts, dark, bright, sweaters, tees, sweatshirts, you name it - it goes. I know this because I also own the Flight Skirt. It's the same color and I have worn it with leggings and black tights and on its own and with nude tights. It's brilliant. If you own the Flight Skirt, you will know how awesome it is.*

So, since I was so happy with the Flight Skirt, I bought the Military Skirt. and not just because it's called the Military Skirt.**

Anyway, back to the review. When I said it was short, but not too short, I mean it. I don't know how AE did it. It's called a mini skirt, but it's really not. I read somewhere, and I could have swore it was on AE's website, that "it's a mini skirt without feeling like a mini skirt." That description could not be truer. I'm not a fan of the mini skirt, but I am a fan of the skirt. I don't like them super short because I hate my thighs. Sometimes I feel like the Flight skirt is a little too short, but not the Military skirt. It was the perfect length.

and you can wear it ANYWHERE. I wore it to work [illegally, but with leggings and it was a slow day], I wore it to class, and I would wear it to the club. I don't know if I would wear it to my internship, but I would wear it after, you know, when you're hanging out with your friends at a bar or the bowling alley or Starbucks.

It's beyond fantastic and you should buy it before it sells out.

It's still available online and it's ON SALE. If you can find it in the store, bless you, but my store does not have a good sale section. This is why I normally shop online.

If you any other questions about the skirt, feel free to ask. Obviously I'm new to the whole review thing and new to the whole review clothing thing, so I'll get better when I know what you're looking for.



Today is AWESOME because....this post is FINALLY getting up. Yay, me!
I'm listening to.....Hey Molly, by Mike Lombardo, from Songs for a New Day. [Click the title to listen]


*Its got these side zipper pockets that fit my phone, my id, and money and i didn't need to carry a purse at ALL when wearing this skirt out. Plus, I could wear heels, cons or boots and i still looked good at the club. LOVE THIS SKIRT.
**if you follow me on twitter, you'll know my new fascination with the military.